A to Z Challenge

Tomorrow begins the April A to Z blogging challenge. This year I am doing it not just once, but twice.I have signed up my other blog, The Freedom of Nonbelief, to the challenge as well.I felt that my other blog could also gain from the exposure and it would help me collect my thoughts some on what I think that blog should be about. So please join me over there as I go through the A to Z of atheism, skepticism and free thought. Here at the Other Side, I am going to be doing the A to Z of RPGs. I am going to pick a game for each letter and talk about it. I am though having trouble with the letter I. I am thinking I should do In Nomine, but not sure yet.I am open to suggestions!If you are coming here from the Challenge, then please...

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Zatannurday: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying

Continuing my exploration of the new Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game. So here is everyone's favorite Sorceress Supreme, it's Saturday it must be Zatanna!We worked this the same night as Justice.  Again, I am happy with this build and see it as a nice compliment to the DCA/M&M3 stats.   Both have a place in my world.Name: ZatannaID: Zatanna Zatara (public)Affiliations: Solo d10, Buddy d8, Team d6 (Zee is not a team player, but she has teamed up with John Constantine, Hawkman and Batman)Distinctions:Most Power Magician in the World (she is. And all the supernatural baddies know it too)Celebrity in the Spotlight (Everyone knows who she is and she likes that)Shades of Grey (Zee sees more grey than most Supers, even...

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What Does D&D Sound Like?

What Does D&D Sound like? D&D sounds like D...

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Justice: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying

Earlier this week I mentioned I spent some time over the last month with Marvel Heroic Roleplaying.  One of the first characters I though about was my paragon character "Justice".The great thing about Justice is I have a great grasp on who this character is, what motivates her and what she wants to be.  So a game like MHR is really a good fit.  Plus is gives me the chance to compare her "Marvel" universe counterpart with her "DC Universe" counterpart.For Issue 5 I spoke to my regular GM Greg, the guy likely to be the GM of any supers game I'll play in and my go to guy for Marvel questions, suggested an adventure where Kara travels to Madripoor.  Kara is there as part of a delegation with one of her law professors....

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White Dwarf Wednesday #10

I little late, but still Wednesday!Issue 10 starts us off with some fantastic cover art.  Maybe the best we have seen so far.  It unites the two themes of Sci-fi and Fantasy well.The editorial is a mix bunch, attendance at Game Day and the release of the new AD&D Player's Handbook and the late release date of the new "AD&D Referee's Guide".  Doesn't really have the same ring to it as DMG does it.Plus the shipping costs of WD overseas is going up due to the fall of the Dollar.  Must have been the Carter Era.We have some new magic items for Tekumel.Nine new monsters for Fiend Facotry, of which only one graduated to the Fiend Folio.  The others though are worth looking at.  In particular a couple of interesting...

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My Month with Marvel

I have now had Marvel Heroic Roleplaying now for about a month.  I have read it. Re-read it. Watched games, read reviews and even detailed some characters.  Here are my thoughts.First, I have to be honest, I am still and probably always be a DC fan foremost.  I "dabbled" in Marvel back in the 80's like others.  I enjoyed the X-Men, loved Spider-Man, enjoyed Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider...and that was about it.  I didn't have any dislike for Marvel, I just like DC better.I enjoyed the old TSR Marvel game, but I also liked DC Heroes from Mayfair and Villains and Vigilantes.Secondly, MHR is about as far away from the OSR as you can possibly get and still use the same set of dice.Ok. So there...

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Some Updates ...

Hi guys, before I realised, this blog has been inactive for more than 10 days already.I apologise in advance but I've just been busy with life and my own cosplays. Yes, I just suck at multi tasking and dressmaking =\ I guess I'm feeling pretty burnt out too. My head says yes but my body says no, LOL.Nevertheless, I just had a Lovely Complex Photoshoot so look forward to the photographs soon! The costume's pretty simple but if you guys want, I might do a tutorial sort of blog entry about the costume and make up. Those of you who have been following TheCosplayChronicles on Facebook would know of my obsession with makeup and looking like a man these few days xDThis is one of the trial Special Effects makeup I did. Virtual love for anyone who can...

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On the Road

On the road at the moment. Will post later today if I c...

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Zatannurday: Fred Hembeck

Today I have a special treat. Not only something original, but something inspired by Zatannurday!Look at what I got!It's a Fred Hembeck original! I got this as a gift from George Vasliakos, the editor and Zombie Lord at Eden Studios.  He got this for me because he knows I am a big Zatanna fan and this weekly feature!That is really awesome!So thanks George and thanks Fr...

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Vastra and Jenny

Been thinking some more about Vastra and Jenny.I did some posts back when "A Good Man Goes to War" first aired.Introduction and Ghosts of Albion stats.Doctor Who RPG statsI have found some very cool links recently that expand their story more.Vastra and JennyI have a Ghosts of Albion game coming up and I'd love to work them in somehow.  Just not sure how to do that yet.  Especially since the idea I have in mind is already dangerously close to "The Hungry Earth" except I am basing it of of a real riot that happened in London in 18...

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Redesigning a wig

I haven’t styled too many wigs during my cosplay career. Years ago I somehow came to a conclusion that it was difficult, messy and altogether a long process. It became something I consciously avoided…until recently. After styling two wigs in one week with major style change, I can finally trash my prejudices. It’s not hard and it doesn’t take hours after hours. All that is required is some clean table space and patience. Maybe that is the trick; I might have become more patient. First thing was to raid our closet, which somehow has been invaded by costumes and other supplies. I grabbed one of my many second-hand wigs. (Greetings to all the Finnish cosplayers who kindly pass on their old wigs at Aniki!) The wig is nice quality, but pretty...

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Walking to Mordor

Go to Google Maps.For your starting point enter "The Shire", for your destination enter "Mordor".Change to Walking and get directions.It works for Rivendell t...

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Blog Roll Fixed

The simple solution was to split up my blog rolls.You will now see I have an RPG one and an Everything Else one that has all the writing, horror, comic and other stuff I read.My RPG one though is now just as full as it was before, so even if it is an RPG site chances are I'll have to add you to the other blog ro...

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Another new Blog on the block

Jason Vey of Spellcraft & Swordplay, has a new blog out for movie reviews.Overpriced Popcorn: Film Reviews for the Rest of Us!http://overpricedpopcorn.blogspot.com/ You can read his introductory post on what he plans to do with and why. It promises to be very interesting.  Jason and I talk about movies all the time and while we don't always agree, the conversation is never dull.So check out this new blog and tell your frien...

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Blog Roll

You might notice my blog roll is gone.I am attempting to fix it and add the new blogs I am following and maybe even arrange them in some sort of ord...

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White Dwarf Wednesday Issue 9

Issue 9 of White Dwarf nearly finishes up the transitional year of 1978.  We saw a lot of changes int he magazine in the last year and there are still more to come.In another editorial that seems taken from today's blogs or posting boards is the amount of "Realism" people want in their game.  So much so in fact that they opted to withhold their letters page till next issue since so many were on the topic of realism.Mike Ferguson gives us some new skills and rules for Traveller. The Fiend Factory is up and running again with FF faves such as the Svart and Umpleby.  Ok, faves might be too strong of a word. There are half a dozen monsters here that didn't make the cut for the Fiend Folio and I have been wondering if there is enough...

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White Dwarf Wednesday...

Will be happening later today.  Got stuck in meetings all morning lo...

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Itching for the Tomb of Horrors

As I posted yesterday my son is going to get to play some of the classic greats, B1, B2, and X1. This along with the idea that 4e is on the wane and 5e coming up, I don't really need to complete my 3.x game just yet.  Plus there are still so many classics I want to play again.So my kids' characters are at 20th level.  I was thinking that I could take the Tomb of Horrors (3.5 revision), link in some of the ideas (and maps) from the 4e version.  Add some monsters from the Tome of Horrors complete edition and just through it all together in a meat grinder.They have already gone through S2 and S4 (not sure about S3 yet)It really could be awesome.It is one of the all time greats.  And even though the characters are twice the...

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Kinda jealous of my son right now...

My oldest son, in addition to playing a 3.x game with me and my younger son, plays "D&D" every Saturday for about 3 hours.He is playing with my sometimes DM, sometimes player, Greg, his sons and a couple of other kids all between the ages of 11 and 12.You can read about those games on Greg's blog: http://rhoninsramblings.blogspot.com/They are playing ACKS right now and my son loves it.  He likes that it is so old school and there are not a bunch of rules he needs to play.  But they are going to do B1 and B2 and maybe even X1. How much better can that be really?Anyway, go to Greg's blog and you can be jealous t...

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Marvel Maybe??

I'd love to get some posts in this week about Marvel Heroic Roleplay.I have a bunch of things ready to go, I just need to post them. In the meantime, here is another review.http://stuffershack.com/make-mine-marv...

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Trollolollolol

Well, I didn’t finish the red wig… But I might as well reveal that the costumes we are certainly going to make this year are female trolls from World of Warcraft. They weren’t mentioned in the post where I revolved around costume plans for this year. To be frank, I might as well delete the whole post because the content isn’t anyhow correct anymore. It seems that I’m at work for whole holiday season. So it's no for going to conventions or at least for two days, which means no competitions as they usually are held at Saturdays.You’d think that I would be a wreck, but I’m not! I’m too excited about our trolls. They are going to be our characters for Tracon’s show competition, if that kind of contest is part of the repertory. Plans changed also...

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Game Day

Well.  I went to game day today but only had one person show up.Still though I had a good time.  Got to chat with some people, got to buy some minis and check out some new games.I am looking forward to the next EN World game day and I hope tosee you all the...

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Zatannurday: Justice League Dark, the first 5

Switching from Young Justice Zatanna to the more mature and tattooed Justice League Dark Zatanna.Justice League Dark concluded it's first story arc, the threat of Enchnatress and the mystery of June Moon. Tattoos and a chain wallet?To be honest I liked it.  I like the idea that sometimes there is crap out there so scary that even the Justice League is incapable of dealing with it.  That it takes a misfit group like this to deal with it.Lets be honest here.  This is a messed up group.  I am not sure if Enchnatress will be a regular, but there are signs pointing to that.  If so she might be more powerful than Zee. Zatanna, in this incarnation seems to be bit over her daddy issues.  Course that doesn't mean she...

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I think I need one of these

A pop-o-matic d20.You can get yours here:http://www.etsy.com/listing/95300176/pop-able-d20?utm_source=OpenGraph&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=ShareI might need to get one of the...

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Dark Shadows

Oh Angelique...still doing bad things to bad people.  It looks campy as all hell, but damn I want to see ...

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Blended wefts and high ponytail

I didn’t remember that making wefts was so easy! I really surprised myself with them and with my old wig, which actually has been featured in our blog. Here is the link to my previous post. In short, we dropped the costumes I had planned the wig for. Over a year and a half ago I just shoved the wig into my closet and almost forgot all about it. Until this morning that is, when I looked it up thrilled and motivated to re-style it. I got free day from work and because we had discussed about our costume plans with Yoki last weekend, I decided to start on that front. And this is what I got done today.Oh, a shovel!I’m really, really pleased with the wig. I made some blended wefts from the long ponytail I had cut off the wig mixed with burgundy red...

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New Blog

I have started up a new blog.I wanted a place where I could talk about some things that really would not be in place here.  Namely my views on various world political topics, science advocacy and my atheism.The Freedom of Nonbeliefhttp://freedomofnonbelief.blogspot.com/ You can read what it is all about in the posts there, but here is the selling blurb.A blog about skepticism, atheism and the freedom of not believing in irrational or magical thoughts. I am not going to use this blog to attack religions, but instead talk about how throwing of the mental shackles off belief has been a freeing experience.I seriously doubt there will be crossover between The Freedom of Nonbelief and The Other Side. But one never really kno...

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Costume Interview: Heishiro Mitsurugi (Soul Calibur 4)

img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('aa1fd452-41a6-41cb-8749-cbde7a573531'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "";" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9MXfi-4Cok4r3A-lWZlKwnF88-dXbTcsfVrZHzGCvkmZO8J9Ulnwe2_bUToS2EWUJPh4ov3knWfQJqOcoF6whhEmGSOB85J-jM7Nyl3a9ybvq1QT0GJlxQ3lKPPe6NHETHyHZF9l0wfz/?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"> Drefano http://drefano.deviantart.com/ Here we are again with another Costume interview video! Much thanks to Drefano for obliging the interview! My apologies if the special effects at the beginning was a tad bit tacky. I kind of screwed up the camera works so that was my way of covering up. This interview was actually filmed during Cosfest...

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Don't Forget!

EN World Game Day Chicago is this weekend!Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by coming to the the aid of Ireland in her darkest hour.Ghosts of Albion: BlightIreland is dying. Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.Game System: Cinematic UnisystemRules Edition: Ghosts of AlbionPlayers: Minimum 5, Max 8.Minimum Age: Teen (13+) (PG for some violence, and problem solving)Experience Required: None (never played before), some knowledge of "Ghosts of Albion" is helpful.Materials Provided:  Yes, materials...

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White Dwarf Wednesday Issue 8

Back at it!  Sorry for that.White Dwarf #8 came out Aug/Sept of 1978.  The cover art for this is really cool.  I am not sure what is going on here, but it is cool and very evocative of what I feel was D&D at the time.The editorial laments that there are so few gaming companies overseas, especially in England and Europe. There is a neat article on making your own monsters.  Not stats, but making models of monsters.  They skew heavy on recent additions from the Fiend Factory, but the Carrion Crawler is rather cool.  I personally never had the skills for these "arts and crafts" sort of articles.The Fiend Factory introduces to future Fiend Folio entries such as the Tween and the Coffer Corpse. Lew Pulsipher...

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DriveThruRPG March Sale

Time for the DriveThruRPG monthly sale.Here are the products you can get 20% off of:SAWS+ Character Sheet [Dire Giraffe Publishing]SAWS+ Character Sheet for Pathfinder [Dire Giraffe Publishing]HELLAS: Princes of the Universe [Khepera Publishing]Bard's Tales [Raging Swan Press]Iconic Characters [Raging Swan Press]So What's That Shiny Thing Like, Anyway? [Raging Swan Press]Caladon Falls [Savage Mojo]Castle Builder Volume 1: Strongholds [Skirmisher Publishing]And here is the code to use: WhenIrishDiceAreRollin This code is good until April 10th, 2012.Enj...

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Random links

On the run today.  Many meetings and much ado to do.So here are some links I have found useful in the last couple of days.Running an alt-history game? Thinking of writing one?  Well here are some things to keep in mind.IO9: 10 Worst Mistakes That Authors of Alternate History Make,http://io9.com/5884879/10-worst-mistakes-that-authors-make-in-alternate-historyWant to learn more about the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying system?Well here is the site to go to.Exploring Infinity: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying: Collected Miscellanieshttp://atminn.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/marvel-heroic-roleplaying-collected-miscellanies/Elizabeth J Kolodziej is working on getting her next book published.Send her a buck or two for "The Last Witch Series"http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1960643778/help-publish-the-last-witch-seriesSpeaking...

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Rurouni Kenshin Live Action Trailer

Yes, 2012 is a golden year! The live action adaptation of the highly popular and highly anticipated Anime/Manga "Rurouni Kenshin" is scheduled to screen this August! The 3rd quarter of 2012 is a happy season for us fans! Here's some trailers to help the fangirl/boy in you last till then!Official trailerNew trailer!And some production photos!I admit , I was pretty disappointed when Takeru Sato was announced as Kenshin. But it appears like I will be eating my words (happily) :D Trailers by far looks deadly *_*!I just found out Takeru is 170cm tall XD *amus...

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Tiger & Bunny Animated film 2012

Yes, 2012 is a year of golden opportunities and this is especially true for Animanga fans! Remember this entry?  Heads up all Tiger & Bunny fans! TB's animated films is target to screen in the big screens this coming september! "Sunrise producer Masayuki Ozaki confirmed on Sunday that his anime studio plans to screen the Tiger & Bunny film project in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore simultaneously. He added that other regions (including Europe and the United States) are slated to be added afterwards.   Ozaki had just appeared with voice actor Masakazu Morita (Tiger & Bunny's Barnaby Brooks Jr.) at a Tiger & Bunny Special Talk Show event during the C3 expo in Hong Kong. Two other producers, Kazuhiko Tamura and Chika...

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Anime Festival Asia (Malaysia) 2012 !

And this is the year dreams come true before we all die on 12th Dec 2012.   JUST KIDDING! So not buying the apocalypse thingy. I think it's probably near but not this year! Yes, I digressed. I'm sure most of you would have heard, the highly popular Anime Festival Asia event is going to Malaysia this june! Probably relenting to the countless request to move AFA to another country.   Date & Time: 9th - 10th June 20012Location: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)AFA FB: http://www.facebook.com/animefestivalasiaAFA12 : http://www.animefestival.asia/AFA MY : http://www.animefestival.asia/my/Should I apply for Media Pass ??? Would they give me =|...

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EN World Game Day Chicago

I am going to be running a game at EN World Game Day Chicago!I'll be running Ghosts of Albion: Blight. Seems appropriate given that Game Day this year in March 17.Here is the blurb for the game:Ghosts of Albion: BlightIreland is dying. Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.Game System: Cinematic UnisystemRules Edition: Ghosts of AlbionPlayers: Minimum 5, Max 8.Minimum Age: Teen (13+) (PG for some violence, and problem solving)Experience Required: None (never played before), some knowledge of...

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Question to OSR publishers and authors

I have been getting a couple of products ready to go for release and I am not getting the look and feel I want.So a question to OSR publishing community from the professionals all the way over to the enthusiastic amateurs.What desktop publishing/layout program do you all use?I have tried a few myself including picking up a new one this weekend.  I am hoping to get some better results than what I have had been getti...

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J-Obsession 2011 @ The Cathay ( Cosplay photo pimps)

How many of you went to the IT Show last weekend? Well I did. went to the IT Show for my long desired Canon G12 and then popped by J-Obsession 2011 @ The Cathay since it was so nearby. There was a Cosplay Competition happening when I was there. Most of the cosplayers who took part were singing =) I wish I knew who won. Anyway, I’m sorry I don’t have as much photographs to show today. The event was really small and I found it really hard to ask for pictures. The shaded lighting conditions also made for blurry pictures =( Either way, enjoy! ...

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