Friday, January 14, 2011

Renaming the Blog

Well, I have been giving some thought as to what name I should choose for the blog.  I have a couple ideas that I will put below.  Tell me what you think.  Maybe some of you have some ideas, feel free to comment.

Thanks,
Rob

 Wooden Steel
Pointless Subdivision
Discarded Dice
Cheerful Winter
Obscure Magiks
Metal Toys of Joy

I might try out some others later.  I am interested in what you all think.

Rob

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Red Star

     I am so stoked- even if just a little. For Christmas, I got an ipad from my folks.  I love that thing.  :)  But I just discovered some apps that feature the first three episodes of one of my favorite comics ever.  It was a little known series called The Red Star.
     The series takes place in an alternate universe, very similar to ours.  There were only 21 total issues set in this universe, I believe.   The series is set in a post WW2 mythical Soviet Russia.  The country is known as The United Republics of the Red Star.  As the series opens, they are at war with the country of Al'lstaan - a country similar to Afghanistan.  What makes the series unique and worth looking up is the incredible artwork and storytelling.  This comic exudes atmosphere and mood.  You don't so much read each issue as savor it for the experience.
      The first story follows Maya, a warkaster, who is part of the red fleet.  The fleet is made up of giant skyfurnaces which are huge skyships that unleash holy terror.  Maya is an instrument of that terror.  The first three issues are a remembrance of the the battle where her husband was lost.  The subsequent issues and volumes follow other citizens of the URR and we see a glimpse into the revolution and the downfall of the URR's greatest hero.
In addition to the comics, there was an almost aborted PS2 game, finally released- to pretty good reviews- and a D20 role playing game based on the D20 Modern rules set.  If you like Warmachine or Hordes- you might like this comic series.  Check it out!
The Red Star Home Page
1st Graphic novel (issues 1 - 4) on Amazon
Some of the Great Artwork!!!!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A Quick New Year's Update

Hi All,
I am sitting here helping out a buddy, and I have decided, once again, to try to make something out of this blog.  It's not like I don't have a lot to say, as my friends will all attest, it's just that I don't know that what I have to contribute is all that interesting or accurate.  That being as it may, I will just press on and let my shit be my shit and not fret too much about what all 12 of you think about what I might have to say.  (12 being the sum total of my readership as of January 8)  As my friend Steve has told me over and over, if I want people to read this then I need to post more often.
The funny thing about this blog is that it started over a year ago as kind of a competition between Steve and I.  We were working out at the gym and just joking around about it and then it just kind of happened.  What I thought was just a gag kind of thing, really turned in to something I wanted to care about.  I got real excited, but my limited knowledge of what I was playing and my total lack of experience with this medium made for a rocky start.  I pride myself on trying to be youthful.  That's why I teach.  I love having a child's outlook on life.  Miniature games and wargames bring me back to that time in my life when everything was possible and toys could bring such joy.  It is my happy place, you could say.  I guess what I am saying is that the joke of me always losing, while true, really constricted my ability to write and enjoy this blog.  What I really want to do is convey the excitement and just plain old joy of playing with toys. To that end, I think I will be changing my blog title.  I will think on it a bit, and post some ideas.  If any of you have any ideas about the title, please let me know.  I don't have any New Year's resolutions, but I do have a new resolve.  I just want to get out there and play!!!
To the multitude of you out there reading this...., er to the hundreds of you tuning in...., er to handful of you who clicked on Steve's link to my page by mistake- I hope you will like what is coming.  To my friends who read this blog and play games with me - You all are the best friends a guy could ask for!  Here is to a great new year!