| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hi everyone.
HOLZDEPPE !!!!!!!!
Back home and getting ready for GenCon. The funeral was sad as expected, however when ended up having a party in her honor Saturday night. Lots of trading stories and laughing.
Ullo, Crim-J.
HOLZDEPPE !!!!!!!!
Um... das ist gut?
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Bloodstock Open Air Festival - UK's best metal festival (15,000 capacity this year)
Well I was intrigued by the line-up this year, lots of bands I haven't seen much of before. But some big name headliners, however the preponderance of North American bands was slightly stylistically annoying (more thrash and metal-core, rather than doom, folk & power metal).
There seemed a lot more smokers than usual and more weed too (though our van was next to a skunk wagon) which was a bit annoying. The security was fine although there were virtually no searches and the WC's were amazing by festival standards. There were the usual array of costumes: Mario & Luigi, Cookie Monster, Barney, Nurse Clown, Studded G-string, many in kilts.
Oaf - Well the lead singer was utterly off his head, not professional but fun prog-punk. They had one of the most catchy song titles of the weekend. "**** off seagull", but a decent performance overall. Not a terrible way to start the weekend.
Ravenage - Also caught them on the acoustic stage the next day. Second time I've seen them and they proved excellent, fulfilling the Korpiklaani/ Turisas mould. An amazing folk-metal with accordions, catchy riffs and fun enthusiastic lyrics - one of the highlights.
Tragedy - "The Worlds' Premier Metal Tribute Act to the Bee-Gees" Should have been brilliant fun, however they murdered the songs....or maybe I needed More Beer... a lot more .
Ex Deo - With most of the members of Kataklysm, who were to play the next day, and I happened to miss. This was a delightful Roman inspired folk/pagan metal, with deep death-metal vocals and stirring epic sounds. It's a nice twist on the genre rather than the usual celtic influences.
Dark Funeral - The most generic of black metal bands, they reminded me there should be more of the genre performing. The set was mediocre, though from my experience that is Dark Funeral - average black metal.
Skiltron - Excellent, one of the prizes of the weekend. Of course as soon as a description mentioned 'bagpipes' I was sold. An Argentinian band with a passion for Scotland and folk-metal, they were brilliant.
Got right on the edge of the circle pit, which of course merged into a folk dancing pit - swinging your partner around 'dosie-do' is more dangerous than the usual pits. Although I have found that circle pits and walls of death aren't that dangerous, with people helping up anyone who falls. But Ash and Pikachu in a circle pit was hilarious.
I really hope I get to see them again.
Voivod - A classic band that I haven't heard much by. A marvellous set, though I feel I'll need to listen to some more of them. Although my companions were more enthused than me.
Mair - The last of the day on the unsigned stage, this was certainly deserving of that position. This Glaswegian band were interesting with their powerful rhythm and fast heavy style.
King Diamond - Ozzy style warblings with a distinct black metal/gothic theme. This was a fabulous stage show, making up for the other 2 Main-Eventers lack of props. A huge backdrop of arches, balcony's and showmanship born over the decades - this certainly was grandiose. Friday was a day to treasure.
Well we were meant to see Stormbringer & Beholder just based upon their name but woke up late and decided to skip them. But I did see:
3 Inches of Blood - Managing the biggest pit of the weekend, they certainly commanded the stage and played some brilliant songs - I can certainly see why paizo recommended them.
Hell - Now these were the most amazing stage show. Even more theatrical than King Diamond, especially for the time-slot (they'd even give Marilyn Manson a run foe his $). Heavy metal veterans, they got the crowd rocking along and gasping at the costumes. The front-man was amazing.
Scarab - Just caught a bit of this. They were quite good and an actual Egyptian Death metal band from Egpyt - shocking.
Mael Mordha - Brilliant Celtic metal and hopefully I get to see them again before next month is out.
Sabaton - SWEDEN ROCKS! (except that their customs officials took away the lead singers armoured top - though a fan in the audience leant him one) The banter and charisma was brilliant especially for a man 'who has little English vocabulary'. (Even getting the crowd to chant IKEA, by accident) The music too only enhanced the entertainment, definitely something I'll be checking out more of.
In fact, this was the only band that really enforced the no swearing between songs rule that some other bands ignored.
Avantasia - With the Infernal Sea in the middle of their 90 minute set, it was always going to be tough to get really enthused about these. Though I am a sucker for some melodic warbling of the Power metal variety - however they were too slick and soulless (or just the wind ruined the set).
Infernal Sea - Brilliant misanthropic black metal, a bit reminiscent of Anaal Nathrak. A smaller band on the unsigned stage, reminded me why this is one of my favourite stages. Close to the doom-laden music with the blast-beats, this was a great show.
*Announcement* - The were to announced a band for next year, a man walked past and whispered 'Emperor'. My heart leapt could it be??
Then the strains of 'Curse you all men' blasted out and I was Squee-ing more than FHDM at Pacific Rim 2. ;)
Lamb of God - Maybe I was feeling a bit curmudgeonly or just coming down from the excitement of the announcement. Firstly there were technical difficulties that delayed the start. Then when they took to the stage. There was a problem with the barricades which meant that they had to pause, rather than some banter with the crowd whilst it was fixed the stage was silent. However whenever Randy (the singer) did try to banter, it left me cold & IMO showed a lack of charisma that annoyed me.
The music did very little for me, I spend the best part of an hour trying to figure why they were so lauded by many (including much of the crowd). Thus I left early, with 30 minutes left in the set - to go to the van and listen to decent music.
Whitechapel - Monotone screaming of the hard-core variety spoilt some very good playing. So a nice performance overall, worth the time.
Grifter - Southern Doomy, sludgy. Really good and even a Sabbath cover.
Fozzy - Very interesting performance. I (and some the audience) went into this with assuming that it'd be 'Heavy Rock' in the trans-Atlantic/Nickleback style; with wrestler/front-man being a bit of side-show. Which was actually true...
The music was pretty bland, not bad but not exactly my cup of tea. However the performances was fantastic, truly Chris Jericho overcame the limitations of the music and injected enthusiasm. Climbing the scaffolding, climbing into the crowd and even flaming strippers.
Amorphis - Near the front for this one, as they return after 2009's brilliant performance. Possibly the best music of the weekend - they put on an excellent performance. Equal parts elegant and brutal.
Belphegor - Well, I was really tired for this set. The first 2 songs passed in a hazy, which in no way diminishes this brilliant black metal outfit. The performance was the standard smoke and standing around, just letting their music doing the talking.
Anthrax - So despite being utterly knackered we went straight to see them. However the thrash legends seemed to be playing a Cover set-list, with Dio tribute, TNT cover and a couple of others. Wasn't the most inspiring, so back to the van to rest up for....
Slayer - Marvellous, a marvellous end to the weekend.
Today is Monday, and I do not think there is much else to say about that.
That's what she said!!
Avantasia - With the Infernal Sea in the middle of their 90 minute set, it was always going to be tough to get really enthused about these. Though I am a sucker for some melodic warbling of the Power metal variety - however they were too slick and soulless (or just the wind ruined the set).
I love Avantasia and Edguy, but Tobias Sammet cannot sing live worth anything. Their songs performed live always sound like he's straining trying to get out the notes and lacks range compared to what he can do in the studio.
Avantasia - With the Infernal Sea in the middle of their 90 minute set, it was always going to be tough to get really enthused about these. Though I am a sucker for some melodic warbling of the Power metal variety - however they were too slick and soulless (or just the wind ruined the set).I love Avantasia and Edguy, but Tobias Sammet cannot sing live worth anything. Their songs performed live always sound like he's straining trying to get out the notes and lacks range compared to what he can do in the studio.
Yeah, we did listen to some of the songs back in the van - which was impressive on recording.
That's why Therion were amazing a couple of years ago, they blew everyone away.
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Back home and getting ready for GenCon. The funeral was sad as expected, however when ended up having a party in her honor Saturday night. Lots of trading stories and laughing.
There's no way they can avoid being sad, but it sounds like you guys went about it all in the best way possible. :)
Wow this xombrero browser is fast. It makes chrome seem slow.
My cats say "Hi". Or "mreooooooouw!", but that's really the same thing.
They made some presents for me. I found them when I got home. They made them all by themselves.
Excuse me while I get the industrial cleaners out...
Mew mew!
Is it raining again?
Is it raining again?
Yup.
Gnight FAWTL.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ugh I so look forward and dread my subscriptions arriving this month. I get to see all the awesomeness, but I have a huge amount of study ahead as I will be running Wrath of the Righteous in the near future which means I must understand both Mythic, and the Adventure Path and supporting materials.
Is it raining again?Yup.
Gnight FAWTL.
♪ It can't rain all the time.♫
Lovely Tuesday to all.
Wow, hope you have fun Tordek..... actually how could you not?
Anyway so jealous.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
You know that whole being a responsible adult thing? Screw that, I'm having cake for dinner today and none of youse can stop me!
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
You know that whole being a responsible adult thing? Screw that, I'm having cake for dinner today and none of youse can stop me!
Well you better eat it all up, or no ice-cream for afters.
|
|
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ugh I so look forward and dread my subscriptions arriving this month. I get to see all the awesomeness, but I have a huge amount of study ahead as I will be running Wrath of the Righteous in the near future which means I must understand both Mythic, and the Adventure Path and supporting materials.
I want to like this post more than once.
I *really* want to run this. I think it owuld be awesome to run it as a paladin only thing. although maybe Paladins, Clerics and Inquisitors would be fun. Run it as a troop from a religious order. That would be soooo cool.
That'd be so much fun. A single order of Holy knights banishing the Evil - or an amalgamation of Knights like in Sparhawk.
Hmmmm
*DSX remembers his players end up as sociopaths*
:(
hi everyone
HOLZDEPPE !!!!!!!!Um... das ist gut?
Ja!
Pole Vault Gold Medal
HOLZDEPPE !!!!!!!!Um... das ist gut?Ja!
Pole Vault Gold Medal
Wow, now I'm sad I've missed most of the athletics (& the cricket).
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
an amalgamation of Knights like in Sparhawk.
Yeah, exactly!!! It'd be cool to run something like that!
Pitch it to your players as an experiment in trying something different and stretching their roleplaying. and if they really go off the rails, you could even have fun roleplaying that, if your players trust you. :)
I'd love to play/run an all-Paladin or all-Holy Knights type campaign, heck yeah.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Bard party.
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Bard party.
I had a player once who HATED bards. And gnomes. They wanted to play in a pirate game, so I created their major antagonist as a group of gnome bards on a gnome sized ship, that were pirate hunters.
One had been on a ship taken by pirates, and had been marooned. He was a Bard / Avenging Executioner. His wife was a battledancer, who eventually rescued him from the island. The rest of the group had a lyric thaumaturge, a warchanter, a sublime chord, a stormsinger...I forget all what. I thought it'd be the perfect group!
Alas, for out of game reasons that campaign never happened.
Bard party.
Want to play in!
And you just know that bard parties throw the best victory parties too.
2-½ weeks left until I go on vacation... And boy how I need it.
HOLZDEPPE !!!!!!!!Um... das ist gut?Ja!
Pole Vault Gold Medal
Ah! I think I was finally getting some sleep while that was on. :(
Bard party.Want to play in!
And you just know that bard parties throw the best victory parties too.
Bards are just fun and super versatile.
I would also play in this party.
You know that whole being a responsible adult thing? Screw that, I'm having cake for dinner today and none of youse can stop me!
Stop you? Why would we be trying to stop you? We could take away your cake and eat it ourselves if we were nearby but we would not stop you.
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ugh I so look forward and dread my subscriptions arriving this month. I get to see all the awesomeness, but I have a huge amount of study ahead as I will be running Wrath of the Righteous in the near future which means I must understand both Mythic, and the Adventure Path and supporting materials.I want to like this post more than once.
I *really* want to run this. I think it owuld be awesome to run it as a paladin only thing. although maybe Paladins, Clerics and Inquisitors would be fun. Run it as a troop from a religious order. That would be soooo cool.
PbP? ;)