[RPG] Character Ideas I Can't Use #1 -Effigy

A long time ago, I played in a Champions 4th edition game TheDude ran. I played a "Green Arrow" type, but as a girl. The character's name was Huntress, and she was pretty much utterly devoid of personality or motivation whatsoever.

I got to a point where "going through the motions" got really boring and I wanted my character to die.I talked to TheDude about it, and he agreed.  For those of you that read TheDude's blog, don't be fooled by the genial tie-wearing demeanor. The man is pure evil, in red-haired maniacal form. He listened to my pleas, and actually went through with kill- just in a way I ^^^REALLY^^^ did not expect.

Not only did he kill my character, the then brought her back- as a villain. Not any villain, nope. He brought her back as a she-demon from Hell. Instead of bows and arrows, she used claws and blood. She could project "blood bullets/needles", and then once they punctured a victim's skin, track the victim anywhere for a day. She had some other cool talents, but the ability to track her victim by her blood really intrigued me.

I had that concept in my head for a while, and I played with ways to make it cooler, different, or just interesting in some way. I finally came up with something that took TheDude's basic idea and turned it on it's ear. I came up with Effigy.

Effigy is a shapeshifter with mentalist abilities- and absorption. Effigy does a mental attack on someone across the battlefield, and then takes on their shape. Once he does so, his defensive absorption abilities kick on, and his teammates start to beat on Effigy. The damage done to Effigy is absorbed and directed to the mental attack, and the opponent goes out in just a few well placed blows.

It's a simple, beautiful and effective idea. It's also, admittedly, insanely powerful. Even when I first built him at 250 points, Effigy had an effectiveness of 400+ points, if not more. I've pitched it to no less than 5 separate GM's, and each and every one of them has said "NO".

Effigy has a reputation, and I didn't even do the work. TheDude did all of the warning- he was so impressed with the idea and so sure he didn't want it in his game he figured he'd share the news. I've had fun conversations where I'm about to pitch ANY idea and the GM will come up with "but first, let me say- NO EFFIGY".

I've accepted this as a fact, and tried to move on. I throw around the idea of turning him into a villain, but it never feels right. Maybe I need to build a "Foster's Home For Unloved Heroes", or something.

That's just the first of at least a couple ideas that are beautiful in theory, but improbable and/or impractical in "reality". I mean, we are talking about games...

[40K] League Silliness

This week wraps up the league's tournament, and I saw some free play going on as well.

We have a light-hearted, generous group- one of our regulars brought in a piece of terrain that he donated to the store. Here's a shot of his lovely work.

The Defiler and space marine are for scale comparison. I love the marbling effects he got in there.

I also saw some very pretty Dark Eldar raiders - I've wanted to show them off for a while now.

I'm really taken with the colors here... truly vibrant and well done.

And last, I have one of the silliest conversions around. I can't help but giggle when I see it.

The guy did a lot of work- he made 6 of them... I just love them.

Whimsy but not the Weekly Kind

Please take a moment to read my missive on GW's price increases over

here

I hope it's a good, worthwhile read.

[40K] This Guy's Got It All

What a hunk!

He has a really great rear side, too!

Check out this guy's guns!

I love his biceps- so well defined!

Very striking!

Better Late Than Never

I knew it was coming... I just forgot to announce it and all that stuff.

My blog is officially 1 year old- 2 weeks ago.

I've been on kind of a slowdown for a little, and didn't feel good about celebrating the fact that I haven't blogged terribly consistently lately...

but who cares? It's my blog and I've been talking about games and all of the things that amuse me here for over a year now!

I'm debating a couple of thoughts, elements, ideas and so on for y'all... Maybe having a laptop and wireless will help me get writing again.

Be Well,

'Lo

Stylin' and Profilin' WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A nod or two to the Naitch, Ric Flair. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

So I've been nominated as a Stylish Blogger by my pal Lefteris (AKA, the Anti-Pope) over at 122nd Cadian.

Lefteris/Antipope,


σας ευχαριστούμε!

Thank you so much for the fabulous honor, and for being ever-so-generous to me and my blog. I am especially grateful for your assistance with my MOST POPULAR post ever, "Show Some Skin". Your kindness and willingness to share your lovely tats was most appreciated by yours truly. Your blog is a true asset to the Greek community. I've found some great articles, fabulous writers, fun models and really interesting lists over your way, and learned some more Greek. I'm truly honored to be so well regarded by such a treasure.

This award is a way for us bloggers to show appreciation for each others' work and efforts in the community- something I can really get behind. 

Here are the rules:

-- Thank and link back to the person giving you the award (see above)
-- Share seven things about yourself
-- Select 10-15 blogs who you think deserve this award
-- Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award

Seven things...


1- I've spoken on the phone to over 1000 people in 60 different countries and 10 different time zones. 


2- As a result of #1, I can speak roughly 10 phrases in about 20 languages. I can also read basic phrases in most Romance and Germanic languages, and infer or deduce content in many others. 


3- I am a certified Francophile.


4- I love serial killer fiction, facts, films, novels and much more. I especially love to read how they are CAUGHT. 


5- I am a terrible housekeeper, but TheDude married me anyway.


6- I can bake anything except pie. 
7- I've already admitted this several times, but I love professional wrestling. I'll totally admit to marking out! (At the moment, not watching, as the writing truly stinks.)

Now it's time to return the favor!  Let's plug the community. My community is a little larger and a little more diverse than just 40K, so I've got some real treats for you. 




http://netherwerks.blogspot.com/  A lovely couple, who produce some mind-blowing, non-traditional work. 


http://unknownzine.blogspot.com/ I'd be hard pressed to find a more generous, creative, innovative and WOD digging dude. 

http://www.implausiblenature.net/laeroths-blog.html Has had a large hand in my ability to actually win games with my Black Templar in 40K.

http://lauby.blogspot.com/ A guy who gets the call of roleplaying, miniatures, and the community in general.

http://craftworldkahos.blogspot.com/ I pushed him to start his own blog, and he's doing a grand job with it. I'm especially fond of his rants.

http://dicerolla.blogspot.com/ Thanks for stopping in, and your blog is always a treasure.

http://digital-waaagh.blogspot.com/ Has done a ton for Orks, and 'Old Skool' 40K.


http://kennedy40k.blogspot.com/ The Resident Professional! With all kinds of shiny advice and fantastic goodies.

http://creativetwilight.com/  Thor is the man, with some of the best information for a new player available- he totally puts my "40K for Beginners" to shame and I love it.

http://touchedbygreatness.blogspot.com/ Stormy has a ridiculous sense of humor and a great army. His blog is a trove of information and fun for those on the other side of the ocean.

http://thefallenprinces.blogspot.com/ Who else is doing the Badab Project? Who else has the Eldar Dictionary? How cool is this blog?

http://defendinghumanity.blogspot.com/ I really love this IG oriented blog, and I'm still hunting for the beer he showcased during his live tournament blogging. 

http://von-gameover.blogspot.com/  Von's another voice with a blend of RPG, miniatures, and other obscura. I find his wealth and depth of knowledge, intuition and experience a genuine pleasure to read. 

http://jrients.blogspot.com/ Simply, the best OSR RPG blogger. Great wit, wonderful insanity, and genuinely nice guy.

http://gopherdave.blogspot.com/  I might be a little prejudiced, but the man wears a tie every day. How much more stylin' can you get?

So there you have it, a list of some very styling blogs and a big huge thank you!

Be Well,

'Lo

[RPG] Who We Want

Inspired in part by Christian's post, "I Need To Recruit These People", I started thinking about the social aspect of games. I was really struck by certain facts: I'm not actively in an RPG at the moment, and it's a pretty deliberate choice.

I want to have a good time when I play a game- and I want a truly social experience. I've discovered that there are a lot of people I want to TALK to, but not near as many that I want to game with. I deliberately try to play with people that have an idea of what "cinematic" and "thematic" visions are, and aren't afraid to share their creative genius (but do so without hogging the spotlight). I try to play with people that have some manners, respect for others, and a sense of irreverent frivolity as much as an ability to carry a serious scene.

There are some people who have all these abilities in spades, but I don't play with them. A good example: The Dude. He's a brilliant roleplayer, fantastic and dynamic, understands a meaty plothook as well as a goofy spinoff or tangent, and can pull heady sexuality, morbid or terrifying equally well. I'd forgotten until we played in TheJoe's HS6E together how hard it is for me to game with him. I find myself falling into a "follower" position very quickly and easily, because I'm generally his supporter in real life- it's just easy. I don't really LIKE this particular behavior and it's usually not appropriate for the character I am trying to play- and it's hard to admit that as much as I respect and admire him, I can't play with him and have a good time. I'm constantly battling myself- which I don't enjoy; even a little bit.

I was recently offered a chance to play in a different HS6E game, and I passed on it. Between logistics and knowing I'd be playing with TheDude, I knew it would be a struggle. I don't want to struggle with the real life aspects. I want any struggle I deal with to be game oriented.

I know who I'd like to play with, and I'll just wait until those opportunities are available, rather than playing "just because" and maybe not having a good time.  Maybe a little selfish, but I'm tired of struggling.