Moments when a piece of entertainment completely rocked you.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Mon May 06, 2013 9:48 pm

Again,

Trevor Slatery can still find ten alien rings, put them on, and become the true Mandarin

infected slut princess · Mon May 06, 2013 10:37 pm

Prak_Anima wrote:Again,
Trevor Slatery can still find ten alien rings, put them on, and become the true Mandarin

Personally I think that would be pretty lame. Trevor was just a regular dude with some acting talent. He is easily one of the worst villains I have ever seen in a superhero story.

He totally lacks the cool factor to get ten crazy alien artifact rings and be a supervillain. In the books, the Mandarin was some kind of scientific genius businessman, like Mr Stark himself. So he's a cool nemesis for Iron Man.

He was also a hardcore supernatural martial artist or something. He could break Iron Man's armor with his punches, which is bad ass. It would be cool if a guy like that got the rings, but no, I guess that would've just been way too awesome to put in the movie.

Let's face it -- the last two Iron Man movies have seriously lacked awesome foes for Iron Man to fight. Iron Man 3 totally wasted the Mandarin.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Mon May 06, 2013 10:48 pm

Well, there's also the fact that the movie all but explicitly said Aldridge was the real Mandarin. I am vaguely aware of a more direct connection between Fin Fang Foom and the Mandarin in the comics than just being allies, as they seem to be now, with the Madarin actually turning into FFF. The movie definitely set up for Aldridge to become FFF (Firebreath, dragon tattoos), but at the same time, as much as there actually was a Mandarin in IM3, it was Aldridge, just using a puppet for his public face.

shadzar · Post by **shadzar** » Mon May 06, 2013 11:25 pm

Page of spoilers... Hears Stormtrooper #2857 "Nothing to see here, move along."

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Fri May 10, 2013 6:36 am

I cannot believe that there is one more episode of Scandal. Tonight would have been a great season finale. But no. There's going to be another one. God, I love that show.

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sat May 18, 2013 3:29 am

http://guide-to-orbs.tumblr.com/page/5

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Sun May 19, 2013 2:02 am

hheeheheheheheheeehehhe

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Sun May 19, 2013 7:07 am

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/ha ... atives.php

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Mon May 20, 2013 7:42 pm

http://chipandironicus.com/videos/mgr/1u.html

...You Lost Me · Post by **...You Lost Me** » Tue May 21, 2013 4:31 am

Iron Man 3 totally could have been cooler, but they do the Tony Stark aspect really well. I love Robert Downey Jr. as an actor, even if the plotline of the movie he's in kind of sucks.

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Tue May 21, 2013 5:41 pm

In a couple of weeks, Ursula Vernon will be having a kickstarter for a Digger Omnibus.

This is about the only thing I'd donate money for.

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Tue May 21, 2013 7:11 pm

He She promises pickaxes and a tree to be named after donors. I don't even know what he she wants Kickstarted, but those sound deliciously awesomesauce.

If only everyone on Kickstarter made such promises.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Tue May 21, 2013 11:59 pm

Shrapnel, Ursula Vernon is a chick. I would think the name would give that away. She's kickstarting a print run of her completed, quite popular from what I've heard, webcomic about an anthropomorphic wombat, Digger. Yes, I know, it may seem odd or even dumb to ask people to pay money for a webcomic in print form, but I myself have several webcomics in hard copy form (Real Life vol 1, Megatokyo vol 1 and 2). There's demand for it, but it's expensive, so, as she is an independent writer and artist, she's using kickstarter as it was intended.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Wed May 22, 2013 12:51 am

Okay, A) I've known dudes named Carly and dudettes named Paul. Not Paula. Paul. Thus, names are not always a good indication of gender.

Also, a subset of A), it's the internet, names mean are an even worse way of discerning identity. For all you know, I could be a forty-year-old lesbian biker with a pierced clit. I'm not, at least, last time I checked I wasn't. Hey, Darth, I'm not a lesbian biker chick, right?

B), I don't think it's silly to pay for webcomics in hardcover book form; I have two Oatmeal books and a collection of Cyanide and Happiness. I actually love it when webcomics get printed into physical form.

And finally, C), I shall amend my previous post to reflect this startling change.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Wed May 22, 2013 1:19 am

Saturday, the moms came with us to look at our final choices of houses to buy. We had six homes on the list, and by the time we were done, we were so bloody exhausted that none of us could really move (I hurt my knee pretty bad). I declared that Sunday, after everyone was gone, I was going to sit on my butt and do nothing except watch all four Mission: Impossible movies back to back.

Turns out, that's just what we did. Ghost Protocol seriously rocked it. Of the four, the second one sucked the most, but I still enjoyed it. Ess and I both wished that there were a bit more mind-fuckery in the last three, though. There are lots of surprises, but there's not as much puzzle. I think they have done a really great job of continuity with the character of Ethan Hunt - aging him gracefully through the films. And there's a new one in the works. Oh, yeah...

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Wed May 22, 2013 1:26 am

For me, Peter Graves will always be the top IMF agent...

Screw Steven Hill.

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:43 am

Shrapnel wrote:He She promises pickaxes and a tree to be named after donors. I don't even know what he she wants Kickstarted, but those sound deliciously awesomesauce.

If only everyone on Kickstarter made such promises.

www.diggercomic.com

Go read it. It's awesome.

Ursula is also an awesome person. I'm in cahoots with an indie bookstore, they saw her at a con, got her then-latest book for me (on the house, me being a constant customer), and told her about me being a Digger fan. So for the autograph, she drew the little Sharpie sketch of Digger, waving. That you see to your left.

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:23 am

Politician denounces gold coins as "fiat money", demands kingdom return to economy based on +1 longswords.

Wizard constantly casts Hold Person on the Gnome and leaves him in people's lawns.

Town guard gets grant money; buys siege engine for town of 200; uses it to bust down your party's mud safehouse searching for hemp rope

Party monk claims to be practicing mind over matter, party wizard gives him a condescending pat on the head.

Duo of gentlemanly warblades stall combat by constantly using White Raven Tactics on each other as an "after you" contest of politeness.

The only human in an all octomorph team never stops whining about not being able to squeeze through cracks the size of his head.

Lizardman accuses shamans and elders of being plants from a race of shape shifting scaleless aliens who are controlling the swamp's economy.

Crazed adventurer slays his party members in a fit of insanity. Claims to hear the voice of an extraplanar being named "Ted Mitchell" instructing him to do it because "his friends are being dicks."

Six-year campaign turns out in last session to be world's most elaborate Aristocrats joke.

DM abruptly declares campaign is over, claims he has only enough personal time for one campaign and that campaign requires him to stuff envelopes for Santorum.

Paladin of Sune on epic quest to bring sexy back. Constantly complains that the rest of the party doesn't know how to act.

Wizard puts Prestidigitation in every spell slot, tries to amaze dragons and pit lords by pulling coins from behind their ears and rabbits from out of his hat.

Dwarf keeps "accidentally" drinking the Assassin's poisons, tells him to stop bringing those fruity girly drinks on missions.

Atheist Dwarf who doesn't believe in his ancestors.

Cleric insists existence of dungeons is proof of intelligent designer. Wizard counter-argues that existance of nonsensical dungeons is proof of a unintelligent designer. Wizard and Cleric miss an extended rest debating.

Necromancer King issues edict, stripping undead of collective bargaining rights.

Ancient racist vampire tells you he doesn't trust people from countries that haven't existed for hundreds of years.

Cunning thief steals from his party despite being caught repeatedly. Claims to hear the voice of an extraplanar being named "Joe Stafford" instructing him to do it because "I'm just playing my character it's what he would do"

Star player of the Oakland Owlbears discovered to have used wishes and books to gain attribute boosts.

Malicious AI discovered to be final iteration of Dwarf Fortress

Firesoul Genasi recruited to party for "unique talents", is used to start campfires.

Cleric holds party members hostage with Raise Dead monopoly. Disgusted with monopoly, party takes dead Paladin to Crazy Ned's House of Necromancy. Paladin is ressurected and falls.

Techpriest refuses to come on adventure, is standing in line all night to be the first to buy the next generation of mechadendrites.

Wizard puts party under geas to "not fuck up."

Painfully obvious trap distracts trespassers from well hidden trap that triggers if obvious trap is disarmed.

Bear ranger frequently cautions party on the dangers of pollution; disallows campfires within forested areas.

Decker is early adopter; has 14,4 modem irretrievably hardwired into cerebral cortex.

Decker hacked by spambot during campaign. Has tourettes-like symptoms where he offers penis enlargement and shady real estate deals.

Party prepares for battle of wits with the Lord of Lies, ends up stranded on an island in a survival situation due to not hearing the "f".

Technomancer calls his buddies 'otaku,' but declares it a slur when the decker uses it.

Human-raised grandson of a half-elf only speaks in common with random elven words injected into his speech and talks about 'reuniting the fae', only wears clothes made of woven leaves, wears ear extensions, gets gaudy elm leaf tattoo with ELF PRIDE written underneath in gothic font over his heart.

Blackguard slaughters dozens including children, says that from his point of view paladins are evil.

Fighter decides to sell his tanking services for 500 gp per mission, so Pally and Cleric start selling healing services to him. Soon the rogue is selling location of traps for 50 gp each. Combat now requires a spreadsheet to handle finances during battle.

Hobbit calls all other races doublelings

Broke kingdom hears of an invasion coming. King waits until they build proper kingdom infrastructure to retake the land.

Slaaneshi declares 'That's what she said' after every penetrating hit.

Tzeentch cultist insists this is what he had planned all along as he is beaten to death by arbites enforcers.

Hipster fighter won't shut up about his favorite club.

Warforged uninterested in becoming "more human", desires to become more Lizardman. Suns self on rocks, points out lack of limbic system at every given opportunity.

Warforged wishes to become more "eladrin-y", figures he has long lifespan and lack of sleep requirements down pat; takes scrap metal, spot welder and blacksmith tools to make "pointy ears".

Party keeps failing to guess the plot twists. Because there are none. The DM is unbearably smug about this.

Postmodern Bard only adventuring as commentary on fundamental nature of adventure.

DM allows people to roll social skills with no more description than "I persuade the king I'm right"; demands every attack roll be accompanied with a real-life demonstration of the player's skill with a broadsword.

Dark skinned wights demand to be renamed. Bhlaachs. Dungeon crawl through an ancient barrow-mound gets really awkward.

Druid casts Awaken on animals at slaughterhouse.

Ex-adventurers hired as "White Hat" dungeon designers.

Wizard creates a bird called the geas just to fuck with people

Mage circle attempt to play Everbody is John, consensus reality leads to tragedy. Last words spoken in universe are "Wait a second, consensus reality doesn't make any goddamn sen--"

Malkavian's derangement is bipolar disorder, player only shows up every other game. Storyteller admits that it's still the least annoying Malkavian concept ever played.

Alchemist claims to have discovered potion that simulates barbarian rage; is actually just really mean drunk.

Orc pride parade cut short when dwarven army exterminates the "invading force." Injured performer quoted as saying "It's not easy being green!".

Poweful telepathic and telekinetic superhero uses powers to simultaneously be absentee father and physically abusive father.

Dark Elf sorceress who always crashes parties and shouts "Yo where the Surface Elf boys at?"

Quest-giving wizard-king casts Hold Person on entire adventuring party when they deny his request, repeatedly says nothing but "BUT THOU MUST!" and refuses to release them until they relent

Shadar-kai teenager refuses to get body piercings and gets grounded for it.

An animated financial record book possessed by the ghost of the florist who once owned it joins the party, insists on being called Heath Ledger.

Vegan rust monster only eats cold iron, tells other rust monsters 'that processed stuff is terrible for you'. Breatharian Rust Monster spotted eating +1 plate armor in out-of-state dungeon by followers, loses position as head of church.

Sharn mayoral candidate panders for adventurer vote, makes racially insensitive remarks about goblins.

Party members won't stop partying.

“Hello, I am Eladrin prince. I need to hide my vast fortune before local government seizes it in taxes and kills my family. I would ask to transfer 25,000,000,000 gold of Eladrin gold to your Bag of Holding. I will give you 1% after my family and estate are secure. All I need is for you to place a Portable Hole into your Bag and I will transfer funds immediately.”

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Thu May 23, 2013 3:54 am

Wizard puts party under geas to "not fuck up."

That one made me unreasonably happy.

Maxus · Post by **Maxus** » Sat May 25, 2013 3:15 pm

And a very good 25th of May to all, whether you're a Discworld or a Hitchhiker's fan.

I'm taking a moment to say that Discworld as a whole is my favorite book series. It hasn't been as good lately, but, dammit, five and ten years ago, it was exactly what I needed at the time. Small Gods, Night Watch, Reaper Man, Going Postal, The Wee Free Men...Sam Vimes remains one of my favorite characters, and I've worn out multiple copies of Small Gods over the years.

Terry Pratchett shaped a lot of how I think about fantasy (I tend to think of magic as a kind of radiation, and Discworld Death being a pretty nice guy who does his job led to me having a slightly more sophisticated view on death and necromancy rather than just THEY R BAD), and those books got me through middle and high school with my sanity intact and my brain unatrophied.

To keep this short, here's an essay by Sir Terry called When The Children Read Fantasy.

Guyr Adamantine · Post by **Guyr Adamantine** » Sat May 25, 2013 4:08 pm

Thank you Maxus for expressing my thoughts so clearly that I don't have to.

Also, because she didn't get mentionned: Granny Weatherwax kicks ass.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Sat May 25, 2013 9:44 pm

I trained my towel to kill today. What'd you do with yours?

Avoraciopoctules · Post by **Avoraciopoctules** » Tue May 28, 2013 4:34 am

Today I got a startling reminder about just how much theme music can make a difference in how you perceive characters in a game. I'm following a Metal Gear Rising LP, and the first two talking bosses you get to fight struck me as kind of unimpressive at first. Then I checked out their theme music, thought about the significance of the lyrics a little, and the characters suddenly became a lot more compelling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TazywZDuj9I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5DrFoimH9c

To a lesser extent, the same is true for the first boss fight of the game, but it's a nonsentient battle mech. Its theme song, Rules of Nature, touches on how old generations of military technology get obsoleted by new innovations, sort-of paralleling biological evolution. The thing used to be a final boss, and now it's only good as a throwaway speed bump to keep Raiden from catching up with the real bad guys. That connects the battle with the rest of the story's themes, and I suddenly stopped thinking of it as a shoehorned-in excuse to show off Raiden's fancy QTE moves.

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Tue May 28, 2013 5:23 am

Shrapnel wrote:I trained my towel to kill today. What'd you do with yours?

Turns out that a cat got into my shed and gave birth sometime in the last week or so, so I ended giving the kittens the gift of towel, which as expected has resulted in 100% survival rate.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Tue May 28, 2013 5:38 am

A towel, truly the most amazingly useful thing one can own.