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xxxdragonfucker69xxx · 6 years ago

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will you PLEASE explain chuubo's to me? i only have ever played 5e and i run a campaign for some friends and it sounds like a really fun platform

oh hell yes gather round the campfire friends

ok so chuubo’s marvelous wish-granting engine, a tatterpig by the inestimable dr jenna katerin moran, is a game for… simulating narratives? i dont know how to put it but its entirely focused on character arcs. if youve played dnd then youre used to character classes being written around and balanced for combat, but in chuubos combat and even conflict in general take a huge backseat

anyways the general core loop of dnd is ‘go to place, kill monsters, get treasure’ even if a lot of dnd campaigns end up veering away from that, the basic thing you do in dnd is fight things and get stuff for it. the core loop in chuubos is to basically enact certain scenes where you do something appropriate to the genre or character, and accumulate a little xp for it. in this way xp tracks not your combat prowess, but your general character growth. you get xp from genre actions, from making the other players feel things (i believe one of the sample characters gets it for making them facepalm), and from ‘quests’ which are not skyrim-style quests, but rather… hang on let me start a new paragraph

a quest is pretty much ‘something thats happening in your life’, something that goes on for a while and shapes your day to day life. the sample quest given is ‘cleaning up an old house’ but there are also quests like ‘falling in love with an old friend’ and ‘slowly turning into the sun’

thats all you need to know for the most basic grokking of chuubos but im gonna talk about colors now. there are eight colors that dr jkm uses to kind of group together general concepts: purple is the color of the pastoral genre, of hard work and simple living, of shared connections with other people, of shepherds, of taking care of things. a color isnt really a mechanical thing, so you dont absolutely have to know what they mean, but you get a feel for what things are and you understand when people talk about ‘oh thats very gold of you’ or ‘im feeling orange today’.

the analogy of dnd classes, i guess, is miraculous arcs. there are 24 of these, 3 for each color, and they range from ‘noir detective’ to ‘cardcaptor sakura’ to ‘godzilla’ to ‘i am literally the sun’. as we’ve said, though, theres not really situations where people get smashed against each other for miraculous combat (i mean, there are, but its not required or even expected), so its ok for one guy to literally have a wish-granting engine while this other guy just… has a spotlight sometimes? actually there are more than 24, and not all of them are in the book, but you can go on dr jkm’s tumblr to see all the others that she intends to put in another book

the last thing you should know is that theres a sample campaign with sample characters, the glassmaker’s dragon, and that these sample characters are extremely compelling so a lot of the fandom talks about them, a lot of games end up with people playing some variation on them. for example leonardo da montreal is a mad scientist who ripped his heart out to replace the sun and whose nightmares are full of a blasphemy, but the book also talks about an example dulcinea d’avignon who is a dark magician instead of a mad scientist, or a leonardo vii who is in fact a robotic copy of the original leo, etc. so a lot of the fandom loves these characters and treats them like shared characters

so thats what chuubos is, why chuubo appeals to me is…. a) dr jkm has some incredible writing, not just the style (which some people actually don’t like) but in the content. her writing in nobilis could legit be used without editing in a church sermon, and move people to tears. chuubo involves a lot of talk about the wishing power of the heart, about the fundamental nature of people, so on and so forth. she says a lot of beautiful stuff. b) the structure of chuubos makes it a really good model for tatterpigs where you progress in something slowly, especially in character growth or enlightenment or whatever, so i steal the ‘hit x trigger to gain xp’ structure all the god damn time. c) it’s a well written game that lets you do all kinds of wacky stuff, ive heard described as a miyazaki movie simulator, and you can also do stuff like be a talking rat who pulls giant robots out of peoples chests and like, thats fine. thats good

anyways if you ever want to know more you can talk to me or to a wide variety of people who i am sure will soon attach their names to this post, theres a discord, its all good fun

#chuubilis #woodwrit #is it a little embarrassing how much i just ranted? perhaps

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smokeybrandreviews · 6 years ago

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Anticipation

Tokyo Comic con is underway and it’s dropping gems left and right, specifically stuff about Godzilla: King of Monsters. There are some designs from the Figuarts designs and, holy sh*t! My hype is real! Dat Mothra! Dem concept arts. But dat Ghidorah, tho! I can’t wait until next year! Which kind of made me realize that next year is 30 days away. Like, this year is almost over. An entire year of movies, has come and gone. There were some surprises and some let-downs but, overall, i had a great time. So, with my little kaiju fanboy heart a flutter, i want to look forward to next year and all the films i plan to check out then.

1. Glass

F*cking Glass, man! Look, Unbreakable was my favorite Shamalamamanlan film until Spit happened. To find out that they are part of the same universe and The Beats will square of against Dunn due to the machination of Mr. Glass? Are you f*cking serious? I also adore the fact that Sarah Paulson is in this thing. I genuinely just love Sarah Paulson. My hype for this movie is at maximum and it is easily my most anticipated film of next year.

2. Godzilla: King of the Monsters

I am massive Godzilla fan. I have been since i was a youngster. Godzilla, Spider-Man, and Transformers are the holy trinity of my childhood and, as a an adult, i still worship at the alter of Kaiju. After seeing those Figurarts leaks from Tokyo Comic Con, i cannot wait for this flick to drop! I’ve heard mixed reviews from the rough cut screening but i don’t even care! Ghidorah looks fan-f*cking-tastic!

3. Spider-Man: Far From Home

As mentioned above, Spider-Man is one of the tent poles of my childhood. I love Pete and try to consume any media he happens to grace. Generally speaking, i always have a great time with it. I particularly enjoyed last year’s Homecoming. I think Tom Holland captures the spirit of Peter Parker perfectly and i look forward to his next adventure with batted breath.

4. IT: Chapter Two

Yo, i did not expect IT to be that good! Easily one of my favorite films from last year. Bill Skarsgard was f*cking horrifying but the chemistry the kids had is what really sold that film. The adult cast for Part II is a f*cking masterpiece and there are whispers the kids are coming back, too. This thing should be dope. I hope it’s dope. God, i hope it’s dope...

5. Avengers: Endgame

It’s rare that films keep me on my toes. Ive seen enough of them to know the tropes and cliches. Infinity War destroyed all of that. It destroyed me. I have no idea where we go from here and i am going into this next phase of Marvel, completely blind.

6. Under The Silver Lake

My requisite A24 outing. I don’t know much about this flick but my favorite studio never slacks so my confidence this flick will be amazing is pretty high.

7. John Wick 3: Parabellum

John Wick has been a real surprise. I passed on the first in theaters but rectified that folly with Chapter 2. These films have been f*cking incredible and i look forward to, not only Chapter 3, but the expanded universe, too. The Continental series is just SO enticing! Almost as enticing as the final chapter in John Wick’s story.

8. Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers is my chick! She’s my fifth favorite Marvel character after Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Illyanna Rasputin, and Venom. Brie Larson is one of my favorite actresses working. Plus, anything with Sam Jackson is gold in my book. Still, i am little worried about this thing’s reception with the masses. While Carol is Marvel’s nuclear option, her mythos is a little lax. I don’t know that Captain Marvel has enough to carry a full movie but i trust Feige. Dude knows what he’s doing.

9. Pet Sematary

I didn’t particularly care for the first Pet Sematary. I thought it was corny. But that trailer for this new one? Man, f*ck that thing! That sh*t looks genuinely terrifying. It looks like someone took a lesson from IT and made a proper Stephen King adaption. This one might be a sleeper hit for me.

10. Jacob’s Ladder

I’m a huge fan of the original Jacob’s Ladder. Tim Robbins was spectacular in that flick and the imagery was intense. So intense, in fact, it was a major inspiration for the Silent Hill franchise. Those games are crazy f*cked up, particularly the first four, so seeing what they can do with modern tech is more than interest piquing.

11. Terminator 6

I’m a sucker for a terminator movie. I am. I’ve seen all of them, even that cinematic abortion, Genisys. With the return of Arnold, Linda, and Cameron, i have expectations for this thing. They’re not high but i’m confident it won’t suck crazy hard.

12. Zombieland Too

I didn’t even know this was coming out next year. I heard there was a sequel but i had no idea it was ready to drop so soon. I adored the first Zombieland. I don’t really know where you go from there but i look forward to finding out.

13. Pokemon Detective Pikachu

This is on the list strictly for the Deadpool 3 fodder. That sh*t is about to be amazing!

14. Captive State

I saw a preview for this in front of some Youtube video and was kind of enthralled. Admittedly, i looks real Battle: Los Angeles, but the premise kind of speaks to me. I’m a sucker for that science fiction life so i think this might work out in the end. r it’ll be as sh*tty as Kin. This one is my gamble. I hope i don’t crap out.

15. Alita: Battle Angel

Last year, this was my most anticipated film. Since it got pushed back, it slipped down the line a bit. After the first trailer, all the way back to the top. after that last trailer, all the way to the bottom. Look, i adore GUNNM tremendously. Gally’s adventures have had a special place in my heart since those old-timey OVAs. While i’m confident that this thing won’t crash and burn like Ghost in the Shell, i’m still a little apprehensive about where this thing can land.

This thing ended up longer than last year, mostly because i couldn’t stop at just ten. There’s just so much coming out next year. Hell, i even have a pretty healthy list of honorable mentions: Episode IX, Joker, Dark Phoenix, New Mutants, What Men Want, Charlie’s Angels, Sonic the Hedgehog, Artemis Fowl, Kingsman: The Great Game, Hellboy, Shazam!, MIB, Happy Death Day 2U, and Eli. I’m crazy excited to see what surprises pop up. Suspiria came out of left field this year and took top honors in my top-ten list. Next year is looking pretty chunky in cinema!

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smokeybrand · 6 years ago

Text

Anticipation

1. Glass

2. Godzilla: King of the Monsters

3. Spider-Man: Far From Home

4. IT: Chapter Two

5. Avengers 4

6. Under The Silver Lake

My requisite A24 outing. I don’t know much about this flick but my favorite studio never slacks so my confidence this flick will be amazing is pretty high.

7. John Wick 3: Parabellum

8. Captain Marvel

9. Pet Sematary

10. Jacob’s Ladder

11. Terminator 6

12. Zombieland Too

13. Pokemon Detective Pikachu

This is on the list strictly for the Deadpool 3 fodder. That sh*t is about to be amazing!

14. Captive State

15. Alita: Battle Angel

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focalwriterworks · 7 years ago

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ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

The path to new Star Wars stories has been carved and cut and whether you like this first one or not—the first live action Star Wars product to arrive outside of the Skywalker saga (and by product let’s call it Star Wars product B, C, or D to the original main series A)—it's a success for Disney. And though it’s different, let’s say it has a pleasant Star Wars veneer, it still works competitively well in the new episodic, binge watching digital TV and theater world we live in.

The Story: A band of Alliance Rebels—think French and British underground rebels fighting the Nazis in WWII—know the power and destruction of the Empire’s latest weapon called the Death Star. They must at all costs steal the digital blueprints of the planet-destroying spaceship in order to stop the tyranny of an army in possession of such a fearsome device. We do indeed see the Death Star’s strength in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) for which that film acts as a sequel, sort of, to this prequel. Central to the rebel endeavor is Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, whose father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) is one of the weapon’s creators.

The Goods: For the Disney business model, and for Star Wars fans, the film is a huge plus. There is already, and there will continue to be, endless products and programming as the Mouse that bought Luscasfilm for $4 billion in 2012 will be story-mining details of previous films and characters from those films for decades to come. And this will be for all demographics and age groups regardless of whether those products are critically received or not. Which brings us to this semi-inaugural film—not animated like Star Wars Rebels, the Lego Star Wars films or Star Wars: The Clone Wars—but linked in terms of the Rebels’ fight, in a space war, with the Empire just like all of the films and ancillary TV and game commodities before it.

Most diehard fanatics who were there in 1977 won't feel the same however, for Rogue One, as a younger crowd might but that's why rolling these new items out every few years is important—it’s a scientific, mathematic equation that Disney’s quantitative assessment analysts have forecasted accurately—that they will continue to reach out and appeal to a new generation at every turn. But it’s important to point out, spoiler free, that they didn't ruin Star Wars. Disney and Rogue One director Gareth Edwards didn’t harm the Star Wars legacy or universe in any way, and that’s very important to know going into Rogue One.

The genius of all this is that it’s probably impossible to do so because the originals, Episode IV, V, and VI sort of exist in this historic vacuum. Yes, in Rogue One they use props, tools, machines, wardrobe and uniforms from previous films—from the 1977 original, specifically—and used one of an infinite amount of moments from Star Wars lore for the Rogue One story but the rest as a whole is mostly a digression like you might see in a midseason episode of The Walking Dead, or Game of Thrones. That’s to say it’s not a massively impressive “episode” (like season five episode eight of Game of Thrones, Wildlings vs. Walkers) that makes you drool for more, or want to tell people about it the next day at work, even wanting to talk about it with people who don’t watch. Rather that Rogue One is more like one of those sort of book-to-TV adapted filler episodes with 70% talking and character development, and 30% action. Which still gives us the goods to keep us watching until next week though not as hair raising.

Though Rogue One is not as aesthetically pleasing or paced as well as Edwards’ other films, Monsters (2010) and Godzilla (2014), and I can’t believe I’m saying a Godzilla film is better than a Star Wars film, Rogue One is still well put together in terms of the story and plot territory it covers and the actual war battle sequences that ensue. The best parts of Rogue One are the actual “star wars” dog fights between the Rebel X-Wing fighters and the Empire’s TIE fighters, and blaster-laden land battles in exotic locations, which are extremely well done. And then there’s Darth Vader. Vader makes an appearance in the film, not a spoiler here because you see him in the trailers, but let's just say his appearance in the film and the lead-up to Episode IV is worth the cost of admission.

The Flaws: Edwards knows Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick well. He is a student of great cinema, and you can see that in his other work. Most of the awesome, wide vistas and images of great breadth we see in the trailers for Rogue One—very similar to use of great spatial dimensions on screen in Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and found in John Ford films—are missing from Rogue One’s finished presentation and seem to be only found in production stills used in marketing and advertising. In that respect the ads sell a completely different, expansive, wide screen creative work that is opposite of the quick, short, almost TV-like one we see in Rogue One.

It is a well done cover of a Star Wars original, certainly not part of their flagship class A line. To think they may have purposefully set out to make a Star Wars film, for the big screen, that doesn’t try as hard to be better than the rest is disappointing. Like purposefully not using certain John Williams created Star Wars score cues to amplify emotional moments as heard in the A films. Instead there is a completely new though familiar sounding accompaniment to keep the films separate, while visually keeping it all in the family, which defeats the purpose really. Especially when Rogue One needs that familiar Star Wars theme to help when solid character development fails.

In reality Rogue One is no different then something you might see in an NBC Heroes episode circa 2006, or Agents of Shield, or something from the early 2000's on the Syfy channel, like Battlestar Galactica from 2004. That is to say polished, action oriented with long sequences of dialogue for budget purposes. And while several “shows” from the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s paved the way for Netflix, Prime, HBO, Hulu and their bread and butter serial TV, Heroes and Galactica stand out as the kind of new kid on the block products these streaming channels gunned for. Rogue One could be a part of that category. Even though it’s not TV it certainly feels like it. Not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not of the Class A Star Wars echelon we’re familiar with when we go to the theater.

Here’s what watching Rogue One felt like to me: since I mentioned Battlestar Galactica, if you saw the original Star Wars film in 1977, in a theater, and then a year or so later saw Battlestar Galactica, the movie, in the theater, you would understand what it feels like to see Rogue One. Sure they’re different, absolutely. And how can you compare anything to the original Star Wars. George Lucas sued the producers of Battlestar Galactica for certain technical similarities to Star Wars: A New Hope, and John Dykstra who was a special effects supervisor on A New Hope also worked on Battlestar Galactica. Regardless, one felt like the greatest space adventure ever while the other felt like the TV pilot space war surrogate that it was. And that’s sort of what we’re talking about here. Coming from a huge Star Wars fan.

Again, I can’t say enough of how much I appreciate and applaud what Disney and Lucasfilm have done. But it doesn’t mean there aren’t flaws. The major error for me in Rogue One (as if I haven’t been critical enough) is the very limited but highly visible use of computer graphics to create two well known Star Wars characters. It's great CG animation, don’t get me wrong, but it's also noticeable as such. So when the rest of the film looks incredibly real, in terms of old school model making and matte paintings, and shooting on location, when none of the characters are animated and along comes a cartoon you really know and feel it and it removes you quickly from the film. Not quite Jar Jar Binks distraction, but along those lines. More like in Tron: Legacy (2010) when Jeff Bridges' computer likeness appeared.

When George Lucas did this with the prequels, Episodes I, II and III, he interweaved an equal amount of human actors with computer generated ones and the finished product while at first was hard to swallow soon turned into a crafty, acceptable balance we learned to live with through those three films. Like watching a foreign film with subtitles, or a Shakespearean British drama, it takes a good fifteen to twenty minutes to get into it and assimilate the presentation. Whereas here when suddenly after an hour of solid human interaction we get an artificial actor well it just feels out of the norm. There’s not enough of it seasoned throughout the film to allow us to get comfortable with it. Sort of cool, yes. But it fails the movie in its disruption. Especially when compared to nostalgic, organic realism of 2015’s Episode VII, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The Call: Spend the ten. Regardless of my personal petty criticisms, as a long-time Star Wars fan, Rogue One has some hot action adventure sequences—though not as many as talking ones—and an appearance by the one and only Darth Vader (voiced once again, thankfully, by the great James Earl Jones). Kudos to Disney and Kathleen Kennedy, head of Lucasfilm, for successfully planning, executing and inaugurating the Star Wars Story line for Star Wars where we are sure to see a Star Wars story for everyone. And on every device.

Running time is 2 hours and 14 minutes. Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence and action.

By Jon Lamoreaux

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