#the curse of skeleton munroe

[skeletonmunroe]

Playing Card RPG Framework Notes 001

These are very initial, untested notes. I was playing Balatro and had an urge to mess up a deck of cards so thought up a way to do so in an RPG way. Gonna dig up some one page adventures and run them later but here's the gist of the system:

playing cards as both stats and randomizers. and more! right now I'm picturing a simplified Mind/Body/Social stat sheet with each being a (randomly drawn?) card and stat checks being resolved by drawing another card. likewise weapons, armour etc. also regional challenge rating (added to checks in area), challenge difficulty etc.

some sort of suit-based roshambo system of strengths and weaknesses

other suit-based stuff? even if it's just elemental etc.

messing up cards by writing on them or using label stickers etc. this is the fun part. the three things I'm picturing right now are: a. adding numbers, b. adding suits for the roshambo, c. adding tags or other text such as "flaming" or "sly" that would allow for an extra card draw if the context is right

card messing up can happen on the fly. draw a card, add "mighty" or "+1" to your axe attack and then the card goes in the discard pile and so over time the deck becomes very weird.

Bunch of things to solve obviously: is it going to be too hard or easy, when do you get to mod the cards, etc. also I keep picturing a move where you flip a card and make another card on the back but I don't know what the point of that would be.

[sewerpeaches]

I’m blown away but how much of a hot mess the TMNT 2k7 movie would have been if Peter Laird hadn’t torn apart Munroe’s original idea 😭

23.) Re: the following: "We discover that Joe is being kept alive by his own EXO-SKELETON, hidden under his clothes. He’s spent the past decades trying to stay alive and end this curse for the sake of Bella. He ends up taking off his own exo-skeleton support system and placing it on Raphael – bringing him back to life! In his dying breath, Joe clutches a photo of Bella. He tells Raph to “finish this”… not just for her, but for the world. Raph knows what he must do. He’s not a warrior… HE’S A HERO. Raph steps out in the streets filled with mayhem. He looks like half-Turtle, half-Terminator." I fail to see how an exo-skeleton can bring Raph back to life. I mean, just a few paragraphs ago, he was killed. Dead. This is starting to get really goofy. And while the image of a Turtle Terminator is somewhat intriguing, in this context it makes not a whole lot of sense. 24.) Re: the following: "During the battle, Mikey keeps on getting calls from their Temp Agent Mitzy who is convinced they’re moonlighting for someone else. “I can hear your party in the background! Are you working for Jeannie Templeton?! Why that conniving little…”" I have to say that this bit had me reaching for my barf bag. 25.) Re: the following: "The Leader Warrior is furious. He and his three partners MELD TOGETHER to form a Mighty Joe Young-sized creature. They square off against Raphael. Leo tries to help Raph, but then stops himself. Raph says he can handle this. So for the first time, Leo steps back… just as a good leader should every now and again. …as Raphael proceeds to rip this creature apart limb from limb. In a final blow, the Warrior Creature is blasted into a thousand pieces, red light shooting out of it! ON STREETS – One by one, the thousands of soldiers FREEZE WHERE THEY ARE. All is quiet. Until… Slowly at first, a swirling begins in the sky. Then a BRIGHT LIGHT shines down upon the darkened city. Then… one by one… we see the most beautiful sight of all… the souls of thousands of soldiers leaving their stone prisons and ascending into the afterlife with their loved ones. In the spirit form, we see the Soldiers as the men they once were. The Curse of Valdez finally broken." One of the things I really dislike in modern movies is the introduction of some special powers or abilities (for either hero or villain) that are not even hinted at throughout the movie, coming out of left field at some late point in the story just to solve some plot point or set up some new action sequence. This transformation of the Warriors is one such thing.  And although it's sweet -- and I'm a sucker for sentimentality as much as the next guy -- the whole "redemption of the army through the destruction of the Warriors" bit seems like yet another "deus ex machina" solution to the central problem of the plot, coming out of nowhere, with no set up. And I also find it hard to believe that, even with an exoskeleton (even one of those "it wasn't made for you, probably doesn't fit, and you don't know how to use it -- but somehow you can put it on BY YOURSELF within minutes and have it transform you into a Turtle Terminator"-type exoskeletons), Raph can tear this Mighty Joe Young-sized multi-Warrior thing limb from limb. 26.) Re: the following: "And finally, Raph’s body is lifted into the air. Blue swirls around him. His exo-skeleton is ripped off! The spirits of thousands of warriors shoot through him as he is GIVEN LIFE AGAIN." This is wicked cheesy. And let me see if I get this right -- all this time Raph was fighting inside his new exoskeleton, he was still DEAD???!!!

— Peter Laird's critiques during development of TMNT (2007) [Blast from the Past #649: February 8, 2005: PL notes on Imagi movie treatment first draft 12/24/04]

I implore you guys to click the link and read what Laird spared us from.

(Munroe was really gonna have Raph’s dead body flailing around in a mech suit I’m losing it. 😭😭😭)

[theonlinemuse]

And even more Black witches for the list:

Bonnie Bennett, Sheila Bennett, Lucy Bennett, Ayana Bennett, Beatrice Bennett, Emily Bennett, Abby Bennett Wilson, Greta Martin, and Gloria || The Vampire Diaries

Rochelle Zimmerman || The Craft

Cleo Sowande || Legacies

Prudence Blackwood, Rosalind “Roz” Walker, Marie LaFleur, and Judith Blackwood || Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Triss Merigold, Francesca Findabair, and Philippa Eilhart || The Witcher

Céleste Dubois, Eva Sinclair, Sabine Laurent, Agnes, and Amy || The Originals

Astrid Malchance || The Originals: The Awakening

Alexandra “Alex” Fielding/Artemis DuBaer and Camryn “Cam” Barnes/Apolla DuBaer || Twitches

Ruby Cherrytree || The Worst Witch (1998)

Dr. Jenny Wendle || Weirdsister College

Crescentmoon “Cressie” Winterchild, Dyllis Mustardseed, Roseanne Speedwell, and Miss Nightingale || The New Worst Witch

Enid Nightshade, Beatrice Bunch, Drusilla Paddock, and Miss Dimity Drill || The Worst Witch (2017)

Miranda DuBaer || Twitches Too

Hypolita Laveau Kropotkin || Witch Hunt (1994)

The Seer || Charmed (1998)

Madame Zeroni || Holes

The Dust Witch || Something Wicked This Way Comes

Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet || Harry Potter

Klili Gordon || Ouanga

Mama Rata-loi || Macumba Love

Lisa Fortier || Scream Blacula Scream

Eve Batiste, Mozelle Batiste Delacroix, and Elzora || Eve’s Bayou

Epiphany Proudfoot || Angel Heart

Babina || Babina

Tasha Masterson || A Little Bit Strange

Zsa Zsa Goowhiggie || Sabrina, The Teenage Witch

Jude Thomas || Switch

Mama Cecile || The Skeleton Key

Dr. Mary-Beth Evilini || Wizards of Waverly Place

Esme || The Initiation of Sarah (2006)

Tasha Banes || Supernatural

Professor Mirna || Grachi

Marchessa || Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic

Cookie || Jinx

Marie Laveau and Queenie || American Horror Story: Coven

Grace Dixon || Sleepy Hollow

Plum Chatwin and Gretchen Alsop || The Magicians

Melissa Glaser || The Secret Circle

Dinah Stevens || American Horror Story: Apocalypse

East/The Witch of the East and Tip/Ozma || Emerald City

Fiji Cavanaugh || Midnight, Texas

Catarina Loss and Madzie || Shadowhunters

Nova Bordelon || Queen Sugar

Eva Callero, Alma, and Selina || Witches of East End

Emily Mather, Agatha Wilson, and Margaret Wilson || A Discovery of Witches

Sister Igraine/Morgana || Cursed (2020)

Tituba || Salem

Minerva West || Murdoch Mysteries

Astra Logue and The Enchantress || Legends of Tomorrow

Uma || Sea Witch/Pirate/Cecaelia || Descendant 2

Celia Facilier || Descendants 3

Ursula || Sea Witch/Mermaid/Cecaelia || Once Upon a Time

Imara, Kiya, Charlotte, Shay, Dayla, and Cat Covington || The Covington Witches

Hermione Granger and Rose Granger-Weasley || Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Evillene/The Wicked Witch of the West, Addaperle/The Good Witch of the North, and Glinda/The Good Witch of the South || The Wiz Live!

Carmen Eguiluz || Siempre Bruja

Selena Izard || The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Madame Xanadu || Swamp Thing (2019)

Ruta Skadi || His Dark Materials

Mrs. Which || A Wrinkle in Time

Alice Monaghan and Lady Hatton || Hellboy (2019)

Nadia Zhabin || Shadow and Bone

Abigail Bellweather, Petra Bellweather, Edith Bellweather, Minerva Bellweather, Charvel Bellweather, Anacostia Quartermain, and Nicte Batan || Motherland: Fort Salem

Yaya, Gigi, Ally, and Ada || Juju

Eloise || Spell

Annie Carbey/Bonfire Annie || The Nevers

Elinor “Nory” Boxwood-Horace || Upside-Down Magic

Peggy Drood || A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

Zelda || The Witches (2020)

Glinda and Madame Morrible || Wicked

Becca || Hocus Pocus 2

Malvina Monroe || Disenchanted

Jordan Davis, Mona De La Cruz, Angela Harris, Sherise Baker, Camille Sullivan, and Tabitha Rene || Wicked City (2022)

Ulyana || Sea Witch/Cecaelia || The Pocketwatch

Ellie Mayfair || Mayfair Witches

Medea || Medea

Elphaba and Nessarose Thropp || Wicked: Part One

Jennifer Kale and Vertigo || Agatha All Along

Bonus:

Karaba || Kirikou and the Sorceress

Ororo Munroe/Storm || Witch-Priestess/Mutant || X-Men: The Animated Series

Fallon || Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders

Anthy Himemiya || Revolutionary Girl Utena

Caldina || Magic Knight Rayearth

Urd || Ah! My Goddess

Glenda || Puchi Puri Yucie

April || Darker Than Black

Taranee Cook || W.I.T.C.H.

Luna || Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost

Amanda Sefton || X-Men: Evolution

Yao Ro Dushi || Gate

Princess Irmaplotz || Dave the Barbarian

Wuya || Xiaolin Showdown

Yoruichi Shihouin || Bleach

Freddie Facilier || Descendants: Wicked World

Mama Odie || The Princess and the Frog

The Alchemist || Castlevania

Enid Mettle || Witch/Ninja || OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes

Wangari || Little Witch Academia

Lavender || Little Charmers

Melosa "Mel" || Di-Gata Defenders

Ariel Valtiel Westcott || Day Break Illusion

Chloe von Einzbern || Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA

Haggar/Honerva || Witch/Alchemist || Voltron: Legendary Defender

Talia and Izira || LoliRock

Netossa || She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Frida || Hilda

Luz Noceda and Skara || The Owl House

Queen of Fables || Harley Quinn

Terra || Supernatural Academy

Lucy Santana || Daniel Spellbound

Annette and Esther || Castlevania: Nocturne

Black Witches

Black Witches

Tabby || The Craft: Legacy

Nynaeve al'Meara || Wisdom || The Wheel of Time

Calypso || Sea Goddess/Witch || Pirates of The Carribean

Jada Sheilds || Whitelighter-Witch || Charmed (2018)

Leta Lestrange || Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald

Eulalie Hicks || Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore

Fringilla Vigo || The Witcher

Seraphina Picquery || Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Kaela Danso || Charmed (2018)

Macy Vaughn and Maggie Vera || Charmed (2018)

[skeletonmunroe]

The second ever pseudoscorpion I have ever seen after maybe 30 years of keeping an eye out for them. This little fellow was stuck in a strand of webbing at the corner of my bedroom. What a joy to encounte!

[skeletonmunroe]

It's the Sign of the Blue Beetle!

[skeletonmunroe]

went for a long walk with the pup and he decided to take a rest on the steps of the cathedral

"SANCTUARY... from my tired feets"

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Villain 664: the Devil

Featuring what is perhaps the grodiest version of the Devil in Golden Age comics?

[skeletonmunroe]

Look at this meat loaf. two years old and not at all interested in looking at the camera

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Hero Round-Up 029

You ever want to know what the Purple Zombie's deal is? How about Hyper the Phenomenal? Now's your chance!

[skeletonmunroe]

Supercut: Samson Does the Thing

Specifically, stands between two pillars and pushes them outward to collapse a structure.

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Villain 617: Morosio

Morosio is a somewhat sassy space scientist living on Ganymede. Regular stuff, I know. The important thing about him is that his minions are these little winged lobster tail/crab claw things and I love them.

[skeletonmunroe]

This is the most unsettling drawing of an octopus I have ever encountered.

six arms, human hands, made of skin

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Villain 605: Eelo the Fish Man

A complicated guy.

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Villain 602: the Talking Ape

This one's got a talking ape and beast-men and Delphic oracles. Plus a big reveal at the end!

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Hero Round-Up 024

Do you want to know the origin of that one guy that Terror 2000 insults in Terra Obscura? This is the place for that.

[skeletonmunroe]

Minor Super-Hero Round-Up 023

Portmanteau!