the Groom |
We are normally a motley crew, but after a week on a raft, we are likely a true sight to behold.
On a different note: Sort of gaming related. I sort of dragged the wife to see John Carter last night. I thought it was really good. Not particularly faithful to the books, but an obvious labor of love by the writers and director. The Tharks are particularly well done, which I think is why this project took so long to gt to the screen. There is a particular scene that is so graphic thta it could almost be a Frazetta painting...good stuff.
It got an update for modern audiences, Dejah Thores wore clothes (it is Disney after all, but still managed to keep things minimal), but also was a much stronger character than ERB ever let his women be. My wife ended up liking the film too, so that saves me from having it count as a reason I have to go to an overtly chick flick...phew! It is just the press has been beating up on the film as not able to make its money back, and seemingly scaring away audiences, but if you are a fan of sword and sorcery style action you will not be disappointed. I figure word-of-mouth is the only hopes their is to get people to see it in the states (as I hear it is doing well over seas.) But our theater was 1/3 full but the crowd cheered and clapped at the end (a good sign I take it others enjoyed it too.)
Actually the wife is easier to drag to big action movies these days because Hollywood has finally figured out that woman don't want to go see Stallone and Schwarzenegger (ie, big musclebound guys who are ugly and dumb), but will get in line to see Robert Downey Jr and whoever plays Thor and John Carter. She is telling me now, how soon The Avengers is coming out, so they are doing something right. :-)
Cap'n Voodoo |
I just caught a matinee and was pleasantly surprised. I'm always dubious of mouse house, but I'd give them a thumbs up this time. Most of the criticism I've seen is more based on the cost than the merits of the movie. If a movie doesn't gross 100 mil or something opening weekend then it sucks I guess. I think it has done well overseas. It is embarassing when a floater like the Lorax is way ahead of JC.
ERB wasn't known for his character development, but I found it really engaging and well done. The story changes were pretty cool and it looked great, too. I think perhaps LOTR and HP have just set the bar really high for fantasy and SF right now. I'll bet Hunger Games is gonna be huge though.
BTW I just picked up Distant Worlds and I'll say Bully for Paizo once again!
Dibbets |
I've been tempted to go see it, but have held off. Don't really go to the cinemas that often so I tend to be pretty picky. I was initially skeptical and haven't read the books - though I figured it would be a decent ride given the director.
The Thor guy is an Australian - Chris Helmsworth.
As far as box office goes - it's $53 MM in the states, and $126 MM overseas so far. So when you add in marketing and such I'd guess it'll still turn a decent profit.
I've not gotten Distant Worlds yet - though will probably have to open the wallet again now ;)
Dibbets |
O Cap'n our Cap'n,
The time has come to cast aside the veil of secrecy and elucidate you as to the nefarious purpose for which I surreptitiously requested your address recently. It is my dear hope that you shall be pleasantly surprised ;)
As I'm sure you're more than aware, almost one year ago to the day you ventured into the recruitment boards seeking crew for a rollicking Freeport adventure. We lucky few leapt at the chance and the auspicious journey of our crew began when we met to do the bidding of one with a skelpt arse for a face. Since that time we've been blessed with the lick of a rough tongue, tangled with a racist a#!%~~+& who we have unfinished business with, sailed the ocean fair and succumbed to the near-deadly aftermath of what happens when Madman tries to get his end away.
Throughout it all you've been our stout guide and torturer both, instilling in me a very healthy fear of the bedchambers of Freeport and swarms of the little bitey things. Hopefully you've also enjoyed reading up on our own particular brands of insanity as we've gotten drunk, passed out and started worshiping nuts.
By means of showing our appreciation, we've collaborated and are getting you a small gift of thanks in commemoration of our 1st birthday and in the hope for many further happy returns. As we've never had the pleasure of meeting face to face, we thought it would be cool if we could send ourselves to you.... or at least small cuboid replacements.
A kickstarter started up a couple of weeks ago for fabrication of handmade dice from exotic hardwoods - and we're custom ordering a set of five assorted dice - and each of us has chosen a wood type that we think best hints at our characters.
The motley crew - d6 format:
Dibbets - Bocote (dense and fairly oily)
Kaul - Spalted Northern Maple (heavy, strong hard wood, thats very durable [oh the irony] - looks mottled like our thug too :)
Groom - Dakota Burl (pale, has a Chitinous look to it, kind of like limestone full of sea shells)
Madman Jim - Claro Walnut Burl (sort-of Taldan-colored and durable, not to mention easy to work with)
Dingus - Tulip Wood
So hopefully in late April / early May the postman will come a knocking and deliver our dice-shaped motley crew unto yourself so that you can roll them bones whenever you're inflicting pain and suffering upon us...
Cheers,
Cap'n Voodoo's Motley Crew
Cap'n Voodoo |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Yo ho! Thanks guys! No explanation needed for Dingus and the tulip wood btw ; )
I'm having a fine old time with this crew of crazies. Thanks for sharing the madness and in fact I believe some of you can boast far more Insanity Points than I.
Here's to another year! and I truly appreciate the gift- they do float, right? ; ) very timely as this week is my real life Day o' Birth on March 22. Can't wait to see these beauties! I will post pics when they arrive.
so grab some grog and I offer a toast:
“There are good ships and wood ships, ship that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be!"
Dingus Mack |
Yo ho! Thanks guys! No explanation needed for Dingus and the tulip wood btw ; )
I'm having a fine old time with this crew of crazies. Thanks for sharing the madness and in fact I believe some of you can boast far more Insanity Points than I.
Here's to another year! and I truly appreciate the gift- they do float, right? ; ) very timely as this week is my real life Day o' Birth on March 22. Can't wait to see these beauties! I will post pics when they arrive.
so grab some grog and I offer a toast:
“There are good ships and wood ships, ship that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be!"
What a coincidence my DOB is also March 22...though probably a few years before you.
Dibbets |
Looks to be 22 - two little ducks all around as I'm an April 22'er myself.
Glad that the gift will be well received Cap'n - I think the Artisan Dice guy will have his work cut out as he set a target of $300 for himself and he'll be staring down the barrel of probably $30 grand or more in orders by the end of it.
I've ponied up for a set of Liar's Dice meself :)
Dibbets |
You're a generous man Cap'n.... o' course I just know this means that the horde of zombies is going to be particularly nasty....
Orison: spark
2nd Level Spells!: aid, cure moderate wounds, gust of wind
Swap out read weather for doom
HP: 1d5 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
BAB +1, Will +1
Skills: Bluff, Perception, Sense Motive, Swim Hold 3 for Craft (Tattoo) if/when we get back tae Freeport
the Groom |
+ 1 Wisdom
+1 BaB, +1 Will, +1 Fort
+1 Judgement/day
HP: 1d5 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Spells: I want to go 1 defensive, 1 offensive. So Lesser Restoration for sure, and maybe [/i]Blistering Invective[/i] although this is a fire spell, so a guess I can flavor it as St. Elmo's fire as Besmara has a Water domain, or flavor it as ice damage, and instead of catching fire, the targets that fail take continual cold (like from dry ice) unless they scrape it off their skin (as opposed to putting themselves out if they caught fire).
Skills: Intimidate, Know (Dungeon), Know (Religion), Perception, Proffesion (Sailor), Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth, Survival.
James "Madman Jim" Patterson |
Jim's taking +1 DEX, HP 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7, incrementing all his current skills, and picking up Weapon Specialization in rapier as his bonus feat.
Dingus Mack |
+1 to DEX...He's been dodging a lot since forming up with you guys.
1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 HP +1 +5 HP
Spells:
0 - Disrupt Undead
2 - Invisibility
No new skills...just upped current ones.
"Keelhaul" Kaul |
Hur-Hur HP increase:
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 +1 Toughness & +1 favoured class = 11 in total :)
BAB +1
REF +1
Skills: increase Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb,Intimidate,Perception, Profession: Sailor, Stealth & Swim all by one rank.
Gain Uncanny Dodge & Rogue Talent (ain't decided and am open to suggestions on this one - leaning towards Resiliancy) class abilities
Raising DEX by 1 (to avoid Dibbs and his cows tongue lol)
Cap'n Voodoo |
SO who's going to be quartermaster? seein' as you've pirated your first ship, er raft... you should start thinking about positions. and keeping better track of party loot.
Also as a special loyal crew bonus, I was thinking of bestowing each of you with a special ability in the way of Besmara's favor. Let me know what you think:
Dibbets- Pickled-+2 fort saves
Dingus- Stolen Lore- bonus spell known
the Groom- Sheltering Sea- immune to fear on the water
Jim- Keep your blade close- trusty blade gains a +1 enhance
Kaul- Takes a Lickin'-auto stabilize or resiliency bonus
also Groom- the blistering cold idea was fine too. however you want to fluff it up.
the Groom |
Nice bonuses. Thanks. I really like Kaul's. Hah!
That's cool about the flavor. I figure fire and cold have about the same amount of creatures immune or with DR, so I'm not trying to get away with something. I would also like to swap out for that Barmaran Trait at this time.
Cheat Death: 1/day when reduced to 0 or fewer HP as a result of a failure on your part (ability / skill / save) can invoke to reroll the failed check. Must take result of second roll.
"Keelhaul" Kaul |
Cap'n LOVE the favours - I actually think The Groom's is excellent and they're a great touch to a great game.
Do I have tae choose one or other regards Takes a Lickin' skipper?
As for roles aboard ship, here's my suggestions:
Captain: The Groom
1st Mate: Madman Jim
Quartermaster: Dingus?
Ship Master/Sail Master: Dibbs?
Bosun/ABS: Kaul?
Powder Monkey: Tum Bo-Bo :)
Dibbets |
I think the bonus perfectly fits Dibbs ;)
And Dibbets is the Lookout! (and boozemaster)
Though in line with the Cap'n's comment on loot tracking - I suppose I'll put my hand up to help keep a better grip on it.
Edit: Kauly's bonus could be getting back the half-orc ferocity ability that he traded out for the tattoo?
James "Madman Jim" Patterson |
I like the bonuses, too. Thanks!
Regarding shipboard roles, I put analogs of the Freebooters into a campaign as NPCs, hired to transport two groups of characters from Absalom to Cassomir. The first group, Jim was the captain (but he phrased his orders as suggestions, for some reason); the second group, Dingus was captain--the way I imagined it, they drew straws before each trip to see who'd wear the fancy hat.
Cap'n Voodoo |
Edit: Kauly's bonus could be getting back the half-orc ferocity ability that he traded out for the tattoo?
I thought about that, but ferocity makes me a little nervous as there might be the temptation to keep fighting in the negs when another hit might make you dead dead. unconsciousness is nature's way of telling you to slow down.
Jim- my thought was that your sword could be a signature weapon and automatically gain abilities as you advance- maybe given the favor's name i'll also allow you to recall from anywhere back to your hand as a move action.
"Keelhaul" Kaul |
Dibbets wrote:Edit: Kauly's bonus could be getting back the half-orc ferocity ability that he traded out for the tattoo?I thought about that, but ferocity makes me a little nervous as there might be the temptation to keep fighting in the negs when another hit might make you dead dead. unconsciousness is nature's way of telling you to slow down.
Jim- my thought was that your sword could be a signature weapon and automatically gain abilities as you advance- maybe given the favor's name i'll also allow you to recall from anywhere back to your hand as a move action.
Bonus to resilency sounds dandy skipper... Great idea regards letting Jimmer recall his weapon from anywhere (perhaps a radius?) - very supernatural pirate stylee :)
Damn this crew are getting cooler by the level :)
BTW - only pegged Groom as the Captain as thought he'd cut quite the figure on the foredeck, but Madman Jim sounds mighty fine as a Pirate Cap'n too :)
Dingus Mack |
Dingus likey extra spells. What level would this bit of stolen lore be from? Unfortunately I don't think I have time to track the loot, but could spend a skill point at level up, and learn some navigating.
James "Madman Jim" Patterson |
There's something else I've been thinking about for Jim wrt his swordfighting, especially after some of the fights from the '70s Three Musketeers/Four Musketeers movies, the ones with Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, and Raquel Welch. I can't see Jim as a particularly elegant fencer, so I was thinking that if he sharpened some of the edge and really used the basket hilt he'd be able to use a rapier as either a 1d6 piercing weapon, a 1d4 slashing weapon equivalent to a dagger in terms of crit potential, or a 1d3 bludgeoning weapon equivalent to an armored gauntlet in terms of crit potential (also able to do nonlethal damage with no penalties). He'd only be able to attack one way at a time (i.e., this is not a double or triple weapon), but he'd get the benefits of all his rapier feats with all of the attack modes. What do you think?
Cap'n Voodoo |
Dingus- bonus spell can be any level you currently cast.
and yes you are all L4 for this encounter- Besmara's Favors will be forthcoming if you live through the night ; )
Jim- using the basket hilt for bludgeoning is kosher and a good idea (rapier feats could apply.) i'm not sure i follow the sharpened edge part- is there a ridge on the basket?
"Keelhaul" Kaul |
There's something else I've been thinking about for Jim wrt his swordfighting, especially after some of the fights from the '70s Three Musketeers/Four Musketeers movies, the ones with Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, and Raquel Welch. I can't see Jim as a particularly elegant fencer, so I was thinking that if he sharpened some of the edge and really used the basket hilt he'd be able to use a rapier as either a 1d6 piercing weapon, a 1d4 slashing weapon equivalent to a dagger in terms of crit potential, or a 1d3 bludgeoning weapon equivalent to an armored gauntlet in terms of crit potential (also able to do nonlethal damage with no penalties). He'd only be able to attack one way at a time (i.e., this is not a double or triple weapon), but he'd get the benefits of all his rapier feats with all of the attack modes. What do you think?
Great movies - Ollie Reed is one of my heroes :)
Aye can see Jimmer being a real fencer-brawler in the style of those movies...
James "Madman Jim" Patterson |
Dingus- bonus spell can be any level you currently cast.
and yes you are all L4 for this encounter- Besmara's Favors will be forthcoming if you live through the night ; )
Jim- using the basket hilt for bludgeoning is kosher and a good idea (rapier feats could apply.) i'm not sure i follow the sharpened edge part- is there a ridge on the basket?
No, I was thinking of putting an edge on the forte of the actual blade, the part closest to the hilt.
Kaul--Yeah, he was great in those. He had one of the best dangerous glowers in the movies.
James "Madman Jim" Patterson |
Yeah, this week is spring break at my wife's school, so I've taken the week off--we were on the road yesterday and doing homeowner hell today. You'd think vacation would give me more time to keep up with games, but nooooo.
Dibbets |
Spring is one of those lies that those who live in non-tropical countries spread about the changing of weather with the passage of time. We'll be busy enough soon enough though - as Mrs Dibbets is roughly 37 weeks pregnant or so... so she'll be popping soonish returning me to the 24 hour diaper and no sleep maelstrom :)
"Keelhaul" Kaul |
Well last week it was record breaking hot temperatures in Aberdeen, this week we have snow... Spring sprung lol
Congrats on the impending fatherhood Dibbs... although the thought of wee Dibbers did make me chuckle!
Dibbets |
Putting on his professor's coat that comes in tweed with leather patches at the elbows...
Technically a full term baby is anywhere from 38-42 weeks... assuming that you get the EDD (Estimated Due Date) right, which you usually don't. EDD is based solely off of the recalled end date of last period; and not on actual ovulation or conception date - so can be out by a couple of weeks itself.
So you're kind of left with a nebulous 6-ish week period where the volcano could erupt at any time. So yep, waiting game ensues - though at least you'll know where I've disappeared to if I fall off the boards for a few days.
Diaper explosions happen - especially with breastfed babies that can go for up to two weeks between number twos! I prefer the term poo-nami, or poo-splosion though... a matter of semantics I guess.