TRAILER: The Last Jedi official trailer is here! And a new poster too!

Behold the latest poster for The Last Jedi. Let there be no question that this is still a Skywalker clan story!

And this now is THE trailer--not the teaser or a commercial! And it's squarely focused on Luke, Rey, Leia, and Kylo. Beware, there's mild spoilers.

This is the point of no return!

How I prep and run my games: RPG a Day revisited

Last month, I participated in the RPG A Day 2017 series of Q&A on Google Plus, and I thought I'd throw together a bit of the "best of" posts on GM process, etc. This here is a modified version of what I posted the for...

Day 27: What are your essential tools for good gaming?

A: I'll break these into two categories: game prep (as a GM, mostly) and at the table (as GM and as a player).

GAME PREP TOOLS

EVERNOTE for note taking
There are a lot of these types of programs out there but I like Evernote since it has the same support for both mobile and desktop. Mostly, I'll just hit the text icon, then the microphone and speak my idea directly into the phone. Then, I add tags/labels

If I get an idea from an article I just hit the SHARE button on my phone, choose Evernote and it saves the article. then I can go back and pin a few tags on it so I can quickly find it later -- and more importantly -- recall the context of why I saved it.

For example, if I find an article online that has a great character I could use for an NPC, I'll share to Evernote, tag it as "NPC" maybe even "Villain" and the [campaign] name. Later, when I begin the writing process, and I need to call up my notes for that campaign I'll easily find it when I click search one of those tags.

PINTEREST for image aggregation and selection
Pinterest allows me to create Boards by virtually pinning images or links. I've several private boards that I use to collect art and photos to help me sketch out the look of my games. It's a fantastic way to quickly visualize your worldbuilding.

I can search easily by keyword, artist name, or whatever else you think will help me find the right picture. Or I can Google search an image and pin it from there. It's great for making a "look board" for my games.

TRELLO for organizing GM notes
I don't know how I ever lived without Trello. Seriously one of the best online tools out there for organizing your game. With it, I'm able to basically create digital notecards that I can organize by category and color. I usally do the prep part on a computer, to speed up data entry.

For a Rad Astra game I ran a while back, I made different categories (think of them as "stacks" of cards) for things like Weapons, Items, Vehicles, Monsters, Villains, Other NPCs, etc. Then with each category, I was able to color them according to which location they were found.

Color coding made it super easy to correlate where stuff belonged and voilà! An encounter takes shape. It's a more associative way of building your encounters and MUCH easier to mentally wrap your brain at the table.

I'll add a short description, maybe some bullet points with "rumors" or other clues. But at the very least, I'll enter all the stats I need so I don't need to look them up. I can even make a card with an empty stat block and copy/paste that as many times as I need -- filling in the blanks as I go.

Finally, I'll add in some images that I've now cherry-picked off Pinterest. Or maybe a map, that can be shown to players later.

Oh, and if there are any tables or charts you need for the game, I can just take a picture of that table, give it a title and then it's right there for me so I don't have to go searching for it in the book.

All the cards are searchable, FYI -- so if you've got a ton of them for your game, you can just search like you would any other website. 

AT THE TABLE TOOLS

TRELLO for Running Games
Here's where the mobile version of Trello comes in. I've got a tablet I use to run Trello which allows me to quickly access all of my game notes (just need to make sure it's got a wireless connection to grab all the updated cards -- something you can do before coming to the table if there's no wi-fi where you game).

I'll have the stats and descriptions at the ready. I might even have a clip of music linked. But the biggest/best part is being able to flip my tablet around for players to see an image or a map. It's right there! I can even pinch/stretch to zoom in on a map.

Image: TheNoteboard.com

NOTEBOARD for quick map sketch-ups or tracking initiative

One of the best accessories I've found to be really useful at the table was this folding white board that's made exclusively for RPGing. It's got both a grid and hexes on one side and is blank on the reverse. It comes with one dry erase, but it will take any, really. And the carrying pouch doubles as an eraser! Throw in a d20 (like I have) and you've literally got yourself everything you need for a game-on-the-spot RPG!

Other stuff

• Pencils? Check! 
• Paper notecards and Sharpie markers for tabletop name badges (we do a lot of public gaming) Check!
• Hand sanitizer? CHECK!

Yep. I'm a germaphobe. Well not really, but did you ever get sick after a convention? Congrats! You've had Con Crud, the staple cold bug that get passed around from gamer to gamer. I get it. Every. Time. At least I used to. With this stuff, you're warding off quite a bit.

Yes, yes DO tell me how I'm hurting my own immune system by not exposing myself to bugs. You'd be wrong, mostly because I have a preschooler and she's FAR more infectious than any gamers. This just reduces the amount of exposure and general grunge encountered at the game store. Also, I only use the alcohol-based stuff, so it actually KILLS germs. Don't get the triclosan stuff, it's proven to not work.

In any case, I throw a few bottles around the table so other folks can use it to. Or just make fun of me. I'm not afraid of a little ridicule. :-)

So there you have it, a few cool tools to help lighten the load when it comes to prepping and running games!

Another awesome Guardians poster design

The posters for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have been fantastically colorful and cool. Here's another one to adorn the bedroom ceiling of your soul:

Baby Groot and the Gang are back in theaters on May 5!

Hidden space game in Watch Dogs 2?

This video, taken from Watch Dogs 2, looks like it might hint at a secret space opera-esque project. The art production is like a candy-colored goulash of acclaimed science fiction artists Chris Foss and John Harris spaceship art!

Plus, the twangy soundtrack brings me back to Cowboy Bebop.The big question--when is it coming out? (If ever?)

I'd play the heck out of this!!

Hat tip to Kotaku

Space dungeon: Perry Rhodan spaceship cutaway

Found this one on Facebook. Looks like mini stunt double for the Death Star, but it's actually a cutaway image of a battleship--the Leif Eriksson--from a Perry Rhodan story. (Odd that it's not the sharp-nosed cruiser you usually find images of online.)

Though I'm not 100% confident in my Google-fu, I suspect this what the exterior looks like:

In any case, go ahead and embiggen that top image and you've got yerself a nifty space megadungeon map! 

New poster for Valerian movie, plus LOTS of pics!

Hey space opera fans! If you've been living under a ROCK, you may not have heard that Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) is directing a film adaption of the Valerian & Laureline comics.

The first poster was just released at New York Comic Con and it's a DOOZY:

Nice aft view of their XB982 astroship, which--so far--looks fairfly faithful to the comic:

We'll have to wait until July 21st, 2017 for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets to hit theaters. Strangely, the heroine Laureline's name has been dropped from the title of the film, though she had equal billing with Valerian in the comics.

As for the film version, we have a bevy of concept art and official images from the set to tide us over until the trailer comes out (right click to enlarge images):

Here's the film's official synopsis:

Rooted in the classic graphic novel series, Valerian and Laureline -- visionary writer/director Luc Besson advances this iconic source material into a contemporary, unique and epic science fiction saga.

Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne) are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe. Valerian has more in mind than a professional relationship with his partner, blatantly chasing after her with propositions of romance. But his extensive history with women, and her traditional values, drive Laureline to continuously rebuff him.

Under directive from their Commander (Clive Owen), Valerian and Laureline embark on a mission to the breathtaking intergalactic city of Alpha, an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe. Alpha's seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time -- uniting their talents, technology and resources for the betterment of all. Unfortunately, not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives; in fact, unseen forces are at work, placing our race in great danger.

It's been proposed that Star Wars drew inspiration from the comic by Jean-Claude Mezieres, though that's never been confirmed. I think there's similarities, for sure, but it's tough to draw a straight line from one to the other. One round ship doesn't quite merit paternity, but it's fun to think how Lucas might have been informed (and he's said as much, once upon a time). Still, the comic's influence in popular culture is widely apparent.

Besson has always looked to comics for inspiration in his films (see: Fifth Elements ties to Moebius and Mezieres) so I'm expecting some fantastic visuals to light up the screen next year!

Images: Luc Besson on Instagram, Entertainment Weekly, and others.

New spaceship art from Chris Foss on awesome space opera anthology!

GLORIOUS new candy-colored spaceship art from Chris Foss for Cosmic Powers: A Saga Anthology of Far-Away Galaxies, an upcoming space opera anthology by editor John Joseph Adams!

Cover copy:

A collection of original, epic science fiction stories by some of today’s best writers—for fans who want a little less science and a lot more action—and edited by two-time Hugo Award winner John Joseph Adams. Inspired by movies like The Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars, this anthology features brand-new stories from some of science fiction’s best authors including Dan Abnett, Jack Campbell, Linda Nagata, Seanan McGuire, Alan Dean Foster, Charlie Jane Anders, Kameron Hurley, and many others

Aside from the storied career that Foss had forged in space opera art over the decades, it makes sense that he would be tapped for this project in particular since his art inspired Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn during the concept phase for that film. With GG being a touchstone for the anthology, Foss is an easy sell.

If you're looking for more Foss art, his art book Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss is full of awesome spaceship art and a worthy companion.

Okay, I've vamped long enough--time to take in the view. Click to enlarge this gorgeous artwork!

More details at Adam's website!

New logo! Playtesting! Convention planning!

It's been a while since I've had free time to post, so here's a quick round up of what's going on in this neck of the universe:

Saturday Night Space Opera has AWESOME new artwork!

An illustrator pal o'mine, Bill Hauser completed one HELL of a masthead banner and logo for the SNSO website. It far outshines the previous one I did in MS Paint! Check it out in all it's stupendous, fully detailed glory!

Rad Astra in playtest...

The first full test of character creation and basic rules has begun on my space opera roleplaying game. Hoping to have the core rules completed by Labor Day. I'm filling in bits of setting material as I go, but it'll be nice once I finish the rules and just whole-hog focus on setting again soon. More details here. 

$25 with a T-shirt!

Con of the North 2017 planning underway

It's funny how quickly Saturday Night Space Opera games come and go. By the time one rolls around, I'm already working on promotional materials for the next one. It's no different with Con of the North, the local, big tabletop game convention. It's typically in February every year, but scheduling for 2017 has already begun. Co-captain John Till and will be sitting down shortly to work on plans for SNSO's second year at the con. I still haven't written a wrap-up of 2016's games!

First on the agenda: get our GMs to REGISTER NOW WHILE IT'S ONLY $20. It's harder than you think.

Stay tuned to this frequency for more updates...

Luke, before the Awakening...

by Adam Hughes

by Stuart Immonen

by Terese Nielsen

GALLERY: Feast your eyes on the spaceships of THE EXPANSE

SyFy has released a cargo hold-size cache of white-hot spaceship and space station art for The Expanse TV series. There's some seriously fantastic designs here--plenty to drool over and get excited for the first season, which officially starts Monday, December 14. SyFy already released the first episode though, which you can watch right now!

These also serve as great inspiration for your next hard scifi campaign or interplanetary space opera. Click to enlarge!

 

 

 

Images courtesy: SyFy