Month: September 2016

English historical re-creationists re-create march to Hastings.

I have never met these men and women; and they have never met me.  But we would understand each other extremely well.  Instantly, too:

A group of “warriors” are staging a 300-mile march to echo King Harold’s journey to the Battle of Hastings.

English Heritage has organised the trek on horseback and foot from York to East Sussex to mark the 950th anniversary of the famous clash.

The volunteers will arrive on the battlefield 950 years to the day since Harold fought William of Normandy.

 

And then they’ll recreate the battle itself.  Because that’s what you do.  No, seriously: that’s what you do.

If you find this interesting, the link to the site covering the march is here.

GURPS Martial Art: Umbrella-Fighting [GURPS 4E]

Umbrella-Fighting (7pt)

This style is not really suited for realistic campaigns, but it should work fine in urban magical or steampunk ones.  It need hardly be said that anyone planning to use this style should invest in a specially-reinforced umbrella (or a weapon that simply looks like an umbrella).  Still, as a fighting weapon the classic unfolding umbrella has its charms.  Adepts typically use a long, heavy umbrella (Staff) with a pointy ferrule (Rapier) and a curved handle (Axe/Mace); sudden switches and reversals of grip and stance are practiced until they become second nature. Note that the umbrella must be reversed in order to use it as a mace.

Continue reading GURPS Martial Art: Umbrella-Fighting [GURPS 4E]

Pouch of Wind [GURPS 4e]

Pouch of Wind  (Regular)

This spell pushes air into an inverted container with enough force to cause it to take flight. The exact angle of the thrust can be altered at will by the spellcaster, allowing for directed flight.  Lifted objects have a Move of 3; add 1 Move for every point of mana spent above the base cost.  This spell explicitly can be used on a parachute, parasail, or umbrella.

This spell is part of the Air College, not Movement.

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Umbrella-chute [GURPS 4E]

You ever have one of those days where you just had three ideas at once?  Today mine was on umbrellas.  Happy GURPS Day!

 

Umbrella-chute   (DX/Easy)

Defaults: DX-4, Parachuting -2

This is the ability to maneuver and land while using an umbrella as an improvised parachute.  This skill does absolutely nothing to reduce velocity; use an appropriate spell or power for that.  What it can do is allow the user to aim for a precise landing zone on the ground, and to avoid injuries from a bad controlled landing.

This @stef Startup text ‘game’ is funny even if…

…you don’t speak Startup.  Just keep scrolling:

And being funny even when people don’t completely understand the language that you’re speaking is no small feat. I am legit impressed.

 

Quiet night tonight.

Well, I could put up that other video I worked on today.  That should interest people, right?  By the way: I’m getting why churches aren’t a bad venue for bands like this.  It was a ‘free’ concert… which meant that I dropped about fifty bucks, between the CDs at the merch table and the collection plate. Good acoustics, decent seating, low cost for a weeknight rental. Keep it in mind, folks.

Justin Lin to direct Hot Wheels movie.

…OK. From Hollywood Reporter:

Justin Lin is revving up Hot Wheels.

The Star Trek Beyond filmmaker has closed a deal to develop, direct and produce, via his Perfect Storm Entertainment, a feature based on popular car toyline from Mattel.

Lin and Perfect Storm will also have an option to co-finance the project.

It’s not coming out any time soon, but:  if we simply must have a Hot Wheels movie – and it seems that we must – Justin Lin is not the worst pick in the world to direct/produce it. It… it could function. It will not win a single Oscar except in the technical categories, but it could function.

Adventure Seed: Operation MIDNIGHT PUMPKIN.

Blame this.

Operation MIDNIGHT PUMPKIN

What they’re doing in the airports is a facade. A sham. A ruse, to keep our attention occupied. The TSA’s real focus is much, much more esoteric.  After all, who would think to look there for a secret coven of herbalists and natural alchemists?

Don’t think that such things exist in the modern world?  OK.  But consider the following herbal ingredients:

Continue reading Adventure Seed: Operation MIDNIGHT PUMPKIN.