Links

Friday Linkdump for December 6

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Back when Renaissance Gamer was still Renaissance Dork, I used to do a weekly link post of stuff I found around the internets I thought was cool and interesting. I want to get back to that, because I’m still finding cool gaming stuff to share, as well as things that are…let’s call them “gaming adjacent”. These would be things that might inspire your campaign prep or spark an idea for a neat location, monster, NPC and so on. And Friday seems a good day to this, since it gives you the weekend to skim through it all and explore.

So I present to you, the first Friday Linkdump:

– Like Attack Wing, but hate the paint jobs on the minis? Calgarian and wargaming enthusiast Teri has some painting tips.

– Given the number of friends I have who are afraid of spiders, I’d need to buy several of these robots; at least one would always be in the shop.

– Re: my earlier post about maps, I can’t believe I forgot to mention Dysan’s Dodecahedron.  A great RPG blog, definitely worth checking out!

– Sticking with maps, here’s a great interview from Wired with Jonathon Roberts, the guy who mapped The Game of Thrones.

– Have some holiday gaming gift ideas, courtesy of io9.

– I love finding little gems like this on YouTube: I give you, Role Initiative: A D&D Musical

– There used to be D&D Summer Camps! I want to go to there!

– The perfect gift for the rogue in your life: Lock Pick Earrings.

– Sticking with jewellery, this is a pretty cool necklace for the geek in your life.

– It’s no secret weird things get said at the gaming table. This blog collects them for you.

– Terry Brooks’ “Shannara” series is in the works to come to television. Cue manly squee of joy in 3…2…

– Looks like the Advanced Bestiary for Pathfinder is going to be pretty cool, if this post by Chris Pramas is any indication.

– And finally: Larry Elmore has begun another KickStarter, this time to fund a new SnarfQuest book. As you would expect it has already reached funding with 41 days to go. I’m interested to see what stretch goals make an appearance; maybe my dream of a Snarf plushie will become reality!

That’s it! Have a great weekend, play games, and I’ll see you on Monday!

Humpday Links for July 3

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As we blaze into summer, why not cool off with some refreshing internet links? Or at least distract yourself from the blistering heat for a few moments.

– A lot more goes into wearing a space suit than you might think.

– The call for submissions has gone out for Wayfinder #10! Start writing those Qadira and Katapesh related articles!

– The important difference between a taxi and an ambulance…

– Crop circles are yesterday’s news. Let’s talk about rice paddy art.

– An important read on con harassment.

– Lego really can be used to build anything!

– In case you needed a recap of Dexter Season 7, these puppets are here to help (NSFW).

– Hate untangling ear-bud wires? Take a cue from this guy…

– Courtesy of Electric Alivia: introducing worbla, a great new cosplay material!

– GMs, if your players ever gripe about what they can and can’t see with torches, point them thisways.

– You’ve likely seen this already, but you can never go wrong with bagpipes and AC/DC.

I don’t know what link could follow that, but if I find one I’ll drop it in later. If you have a link to share, drop it in the comments.

 

 

 

Humpday Links for June 26

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As our nation’s birthday approaches (Oh, Canada! What do you get for the country that has everything?) we say goodbye to the links of June, and welcome the warmer and hopefully drier links of July. If I don’t get a chance to share a Timmie’s and a brew with you on the day, Happy Canada Day, nerds!

– When I am independently wealthy, this will become my new home.

– As part of the online gaming convention ConTessa, Venture-Captain Nani Pratt gave an Intro to Pathfinder Society panel. Hint: skip the first ten minutes, they’re just dealing with technical issues.

– They’re making a Lego movie. True story.

– There are many articles on how to be a better GM; I’ve written a few myself. Here’s one on how to be a better player.

– An interesting interview with Jim Sterling, about sexism in gaming.

– Because a ska version of the Game of Thrones theme is what everyone needed. That’s not sarcasm, I have this on a loop.

– I’m not trying to be the boy that cried Weeping Angel, but…

– If my players ever see this, I might have to rewrite how Diplomacy checks work.

– Waiting for a Fables movie? Here are some thoughts on casting.

– What, no Yoda?

– Great PBS documentary short on the influence of role-playing games. Focuses a lot on D&D, but otherwise pretty balanced.

That’s all for now, folks! Enjoy the day, and as always if you have a link to share drop it in Comments.

Humpday Links for June 19

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Another week, another Humpday. And that means links! At least it does if you’re here, I have no idea what it means anywhere else.

– Chuck Wendig wrote a great piece about sexism in publishing, and then some follow-up pieces.

– For shame, Kickstarter! For shame!

– I’d read these pulp Star Wars books. I’d read ’em good!

– How to pass the love of D&D (and gaming in general) onto the next generation.

– A great article on using duplication to hone your game design skills.

– Like Dark Dungeons, this BADD publication is a wonderful piece of hysterical nostalgia.

– I knew about Bob Ross And James Doohan, but the others were interesting.

– If this comic doesn’t hit at least part of your feels, you are dead inside.

– Some damn fine ideas on a gender-swapped LotR.

– Craig Ferguson talking with Stephen Fry. You’re welcome.

– Guinea Pig Armour. Enough said.

– For whenever you want to complain about slow mail.

– If Game of Thrones is a bit heavy for you, I present Game of Hodor.

– One of many reasons I think Patton Oswalt is a swell guy.

That’s it for this week! If you have a link to share, slip it into comments. Next time will be Part 2 of my Free RPG Day Reviews. Feeling nostalgic for Part 1? Go here.

Humpday Links for May 29

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I’m going against all tradition and declaring June the start of summer.  That allows me to justify calling this the last Humpday Link of spring!  …well it was important to me, anyway.

Your Humpday Links!

– If this discovery is actually true, there are some pretty serious implications. Mammoth farming, anyone?

– Gamers, if you’ve ever found yourself saying any of these things online, just stop and delete your comment.

– This is the kind of cosplay that makes me think, “How am I going to top this!?”

– Yep, this is how I remember Expedition to the Barrier Peaks playing out…

– Holy crap, this is a lot of Lego!

– I will be stealing this location for my next gaming session.  Call of Cthulhu, anyone?

– Want to turn your hobby into a business?  Etsy has some ideas.

– Creators, I present to you the Don’t Be A Dick public license.  Which now covers this site.

– Guys and Dolls, I can’t recommend Sexy Nerd Girl enough!  She’s Canadian, funny as hell, and local favourite Mark Meer appears in some episodes.

– If you play Pathfinder RPG, and a spellcaster in particular, I highly recommend Perram’s Spellbook for all your spell-tracking needs.

– Want nicer gaming maps, but aren’t an artist? This article is for you. (I’m certain I posted this before, but tuff beans, it’s a good article.)

– Here’s a list of writing myths that I touch back to every once in a while.

– We are all going to die. Joss Whedon says so.

That’s a baker’s dozen, and if that isn’t enough…I’ll likely come back and post more later.  Or you could post some links in the comments.  So there!

Humpday Links for May 22

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Long time since my last post, ready to get back, yadda yadda yadda. Let’s get to the good stuff!

– Nerds, I present your new queen.  Bow down!

– I’m making it my mission to do this in every college dorm across Canada.

– Okay artists, it’s official: boob plate armour is dumb because it can kill you. Stop using it in your art.

– Yes, you’ve likely seen the trailer for “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” But it’s cool, so watch it again!

– I personally would welcome a visit from Galactic Groomers.

– I love real life “nerds done good” stories, and the creators of “Cards Against Humanity” fit the bill.

– So if he’s cleaning up the world’s oceans at 19, what does he do for an encore?

– I don’t care what the scientists say, if Canada wanted a Wall, we could build it; we’re Canadians, not Can’tadians.

– Miss those old gaming magazines like “The General” and “Ares”? The internet has your back.

– Speaking of D&D, these are just a few of the ads I grew up with. See? D&D was always cool!

– For the Whovians: sometimes you need a fancier T-shirt.

– Monte Cook has some interesting thoughts on technology and tabletop gaming.

– Are you a Game Chef? Then get cooking, you only have until Sunday!

– Want to vlog for Geek & Sundry? Here’s how you do it.

– And finally: this is the sort of stuff I would spend my time doing, if time and money were no object.

Enjoy the rest of your shortened week; Friday will be here before you know it!

Humpday Links for March 27

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Greetings, internet citizens!  Thanks for coming by and exercising your eCivic Right to amusing internet links.  You are what makes this interweb the best interweb in the world.  Without you, we’d all just be a bunch of lonely people trying to find fulfillment in the consumption of internet memes and cats.  Er…

Anyway, your eCivicly-mandated links are below:

– For my fellow gamers: you are not going to find a better deal on a whole swack of dice than this. Yes, I mean a metric Swack.

– Courtesy of Squidoo, free printable board game templates of some moldy classics.  Now is your chance to make your own, actually enjoyable version of an -opoly.

– Got a friend interested in board games, but doesn’t know where to start? Show them this board game primer courtesy of Tested.

– Ever wonder what Adam Savage keeps in his home office?

– Here are SEO tips made simple. And belligerent.

– If you need a desk for travel, or just because you have a really small place, you can’t do much better than a Ninja.

– Ever wonder how your fav webcomic artists made the leap from a regular job to working full-time on their strip?  Wonder no more!

– Geek’s Dream Girl weighs in on why we attack what people love.

– As if I needed another reason to move there, Scotland may allow Jedi to perform weddings.

– Because sometimes the answer is a nerdy fez.

– Dwarven Forge, makers of really great gaming terrain, have a Kickstarter for their new line of affordable terrain.  It’s already funded, and if you have the cash it’s a no-brainer.

– Speaking of Lord of the Rings fan films (master of the hard segue, that’s me), Born of Hope is a neat, good looking film about Aragorn’s father.

– DIY is a great site if you are a parent, an aunt, an uncle, a babysitter, whatever, and you want to teach your kids how to make things.  Heck, use it for yourself even if you are a beginning “maker” looking to hone skills.

– If you are a writer, here are some suggestions on using Pinterest to aid your work.

– We end with a snowman that pretty much sums up how we all feel about winter hanging on, and on, and on…

That’s it, that’s all!  We’ll see you all next post, gentles.

Humpday Links for March 20

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Guten Tag, nerdlings!  Going to keep things short and sweet; I have to prepare myself, physically and spiritually, to attend a book launch tonight.  Which you should attend, by the way.  Happy Harbor, 5pm, launching not one, but two locally crafted books: Masked Mosaic by Rhonda & Jonathan Parrish; and What Kings Ate and Wizards Drank, by Krista Ball.  Checkout the Facebook thingy for more details.

On to the links!

– If you are a John Green fan (I became one the same way you fall asleep, slowly, then all at once) then here is he with Craig Ferguson.

– I was squeeing pretty hard over the trailers for this season of Doctor Who.  Then this came out.

– I hate to say it, but it looks like physicists win at marriage proposals.  The math checks out.

– While we’re on marriage, Sir Ian McKellan will officiate Sir Patrick Stewart’s wedding.  Because who else would you get?

– Next time you’re in a library, why not make poetry?

– So I wrote a little blurb about places to send your RPG work, and completely missed the Pathmaster contest over at Adventureaweek.com. So get on that!

– Have a deity question, a divine quandary? These guys will sort you out.

– So apparently, an island that everyone thought existed has vanished, because it was never there to start with.

– Personally, I want to spend a vacation on this street with a lawn chair and a popcorn machine.

– Me pal Liana Kerzner wrote an interesting article about EA, the resignation of its CEO and who should have got the sack.

– Staying with computer games, Supergiant is making the first game I’ve been intrigued by in a while.

– This mug will be mine. And it may be the only warning you get…

– Real gamers paint their armies.

– I love the movies and I love Doctor Who; I’d watch this.

– And finally, if you ever need an epic soundtrack for your epic day, this is the site for you.

That is all for this humpday, geekorinos!  If you have a link to share, drop it in the comments.  Otherwise I’ll see you at the book launch tonight or here tomorrow.

Humpday Links for March 13

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The Ides of March draw ever nearer, and while you may not be worried about getting gang-stabbed at work, you could likely still use a tension reliever.  Allow my links to carry you away, O Caesar!

– As part of their Centennial celebrations, the Edmonton Public Library is giving everyone free library cards!  Followers outside of Edmonton won’t care, but those inside should get on this now!

– This link came to me courtesy of my pal Leah, and it excites me for many reasons.  Not the least of which, think how easy building a hobbit-style home will be now…

– If you have ever struggled to make realistic fantasy city/town maps, and I know I have, this tutorial is for you.

– Designing a little bigger than a town or city? Space Engine is for you.

– My pal Brittney might like this: The Loneliest Unicorn.

– This article raises some interesting questions regarding C.S. Lewis and Narnia.

– Last week I wrote a thing about Kickstarter and mentioned Monte Cook’s projects.  Here, Monte Cook talks about David “Zeb” Cook and one of his earliest projects/loves, Planescape.

– Speaking of earlier D&D, here is every issue of Dragon Magazine, digitally archived.  It appears to be above board. Maybe…

– Star Trek: Into Darkness has a new teaser trailer, and all I can say is, “Engage!”

– There’s a Canadian werewolf drama a-comin’, and they’ve cast a familiar face in the lead role…

– If you scroll past my links muttering, “Know that, seen that…” then maybe you are ready to ascend the throne of Nerds as our King.  I’d do it, but I’m more of a “power behind the nerd” type of guy.

– Know a nerd in Boy Scouts? The American Scouts just added a Game Design merit badge.  Hey Scouts Canada, you seeing this?

– Courtesy of Cracked.com, 6 board games that sucked, with suggestions of ones that don’t.

– Iron Man 3, everybody.  Can I get a “Squeeee!”?

– And while we’re on trailers you’ve likely seen but will watch again, Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing.

– Speaking of Nathan Fillion (we were, watch the Much Ado trailer), there is a charity auction on the go that will let you hang out with him for a day.

– And finally, a review of the “geeksploitation” film, Zero Charisma.  When I get a hold of this I’ll have a movie night, promise.

And that’s your links for another week.  Keep on ignoring those seers, and we’ll see you next week!

Humpday Links for March 6

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March in Edmonton has come in like some sort of lamb/lion hybrid, as I’ve come to expect from the prairies under global warming.  Before we get too overwhelmed with thoughts of the impending weatherpocalypse, let us enjoy these special links from around the internet.

– If you’re a gamer popping the big question, why not give the ring that says, “I want to roll crits with you forever.“?

– Ever wonder what goes into making a can of Coca-cola?  I mean, everything that goes into it?

– A look at Star Wars Episode 7, if it were a French film. *shudder*

– To wash the taste of that out of your mouth, check out my personal choice for Father of the Year.

– A NIN/”Call Me Maybe” mashup…not much else to say, actually.

– From an interesting article on asymmetrical game-play comes the rules for Lord Dunsany’s Chess.  I’ll have to give this a try sometime.

– Iron Man 3 trailer.  Iron Man 3 trailer!  IRON MAN 3 TRAILER!!

– I touched on GM’s Day on Monday; here is a special take on it from John Kovalic over at Dork Tower.

– Speaking of John Kovalic: I have been a fan of Kobolds Ate My Baby! since it came out in the original indie version, and I snatched up the Deluxxe Edition because it had John Kovalic’s art.  Well now they have a Kickstarter, and they are going full-colour Kovalic, baby!

– Seriously, if you are just interested in learning about stuff, you can’t go wrong with Crash Course.  I’m learning chemistry!

– For you boardgamers out there, here’s a very cool box insert for sorting your card-based games.

– Would I use a TARDIS soda machine?  Almost exclusively.

– Why?  Because Classical Gas, that’s why!

– And in conclusion, nebulas in 3-D. You’re welcome.

Stay tuned for more exciting nerdery to come.  As always, feel free to share a link to something interesting in the Comments, and have a great Hump Day!