Sleepy Hollow *Was* a Good Show

Sleepy, sleepy, Sleepy Hollow. Let me start by saying that I loved the first season of Sleepy Hollow. I remember my friends telling me, "This is crap! Bleh! We love Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, etc..." But those did not speak to me. I watched Supernatural and enjoyed it from a distance, and think it should have ended after five seasons and not morphed into whatever it is now.

But Sleepy Hollow... It was a creepy Halloween show that was over the top, incredibly silly at moments, but draped in accessible horror. The show flipped the legend of Ichabod Crane on its head by casting him as an action hero, and it did the same with the cop drama by having the chief trust his detective (even with the crazy supernatural events).

Season 1 was AWESOME! I remember watching the pilot and seeing the Witnesses (what Abby and Ichabod will be called) have to outsmart or keep one step ahead of the Headless Horseman, who, akin to a Lovecraftian mythos creature or Dalek, was resistant to mundane weaponry. The only reprieve from the Horseman's wrath was the light of day. Due to the likely limited expectations, the show moved at a fast clip with the episodes and they threw real punches with plots. The chemistry between Beharie and Mison was electric. 

The most riveting part of the show was the casting. The incredibly diverse cast that was the core of the show and gave it its greatest strength. Featured are two strong, courageous and intelligent black female characters with a deep and complex relationship. They were friends, enemies and always sisters. The two women of color were coupled with the time-displaced action hero Ichabod, the only white member of the team, and rounded out with the determined, clever, family-man Captain. Even the supporting cast was diverse in terms of both race and gender.

It was television written to my demographic, or at least felt like that, as I watched it. Maybe it had the flexibility to be so diverse because Fox figured it was a one-off that no one would watch. I can envision the board members of suits right now: "Come on, Chad! It's a Halloween show. Let the cast be whoever." Unless of course Matt Damon is reading this and wants to tell me otherwise...

But it was a hit and they got another season.

When I read they wanted them to add four more episodes, my heart sank. That would mean watering down what worked on the show and the executives taking a more active role in the show, which rarely turns out well. But that did not dissuade me from the second season; so I watched it. By the third episode, I knew this was not my show anymore. I remember my friends saying how much they loved the show now, how it had gotten better. In my mind, it occurred to me all of that change happened when the cast whitened. I am not saying they consciously understood, as I do, that executives have subtly trained viewers as to what to expect, that anything that goes against that "norm" needs to be on a special network or at a dedicated time for "those" shows. But their praise grew for the show as did my disdain for it. 

Where was Frank? His family? Why is Abby a backseat character in her own show? What happen to my bad ass Jenny that was a double edged sword? Why do I care about this blond-haired second-rate Nathan Drake clone (I love the Uncharted Games and can't wait for the next game)? And WTF! Can we please lose Ichabod's "dead" wife.  Everyone is hoping for Abbey and Ichabod to get together . . . why the constant and frustrating romance roadblocks? (I won't lie, when they put Jenny and Frank together, I liked it. I liked it a lot and thought what a great pair that would have made. ) Don't say, "Because when TV couples get together it is boring." It is not boring; it just requires good writing and it is something that has been done countless times before. 

I suffered through Season 2 of the show, hoping beyond hope that they would pull it together. I hate what they did to Frank; Frank was my guy. I love Orlando Jones and was pleased to see him playing a serious role and killing it! At the end of Season 2, I turned to my lovely wife that listened to me moan throughout most of that season and said, "One more episode and then I am done." She kind of nodded with that "we will see" look, that I have become to which I have become accustomed.

This brings us to today. I watched Season 3, Episode 1: I, Witness, and that was my last episode. You know why if you have read this entire post, but for clarity's sake, let's do this. Let's start with the fact that Frank is totally off of the show; this mostly killed it for me but I had to try. All of the awesomeness has been sucked out of Jenny. It was nice to see Abby, Ichabod and Jenny interact and joke. But the moment that sexy swashbuckler Betty Ross appeared, I have to assume it is yet another stalling tactic against the Abby and Ichabod romance. I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling it for anyone that wants to watch it, but just know that you have one less geek to talk to about the show

I will be watching iZombie and loving it.

RPG Fridays: Top 3 Systems

I am currently working on a DHS-exclusive RPG and have been creating a new system mechanic. This is the toughest part so far. I have a great idea, and the words are kind of flowing out of me to create the setting and the three scenarios that will be included. I have even given Nino (our Chief Artist Officer) some basics about the general concept, but the system mechanic is taking some serious time and effort.

Last weekend, I pulled nearly every RPG I own off of the shelf and surrounded myself (thank you to my wife for not disturbing this epic fort of books in our living room).

I only wish my living room looked this cool.

For inspiration through osmosis, I flipped through each one to refresh myself on things I liked in other systems and was reminded about the joy of reading an RPG. Some of my friends and fellow gamer even got an email asking about their top 3 systems.   

So I asked myself the same question, and here's what I came up with:

#3: Vampire (White Wolf)

One word: AWESOME! The game of my youth, the system that I ran my epic six-year World of Darkness campaign (using all of the White Wolf supplements), and simultaneously ran a three-year Vampire: Dark Ages campaign.  The system is easy to learn for players; just add your stats and skills together to generate a die pool of d10s. Then roll against a set difficulty. Beautiful. Each additional setting book (Werewolf, Mage, etc.) added additional depth. Power sets built on that mechanic and they were mostly compatible with things like Rage for Werewolves and Blood Pool for Vampires. 

Yes, it was easy to break, but it really supported actual roleplaying. 

#2: Shadowrun

This will not come as a surprise for anyone that has been reading my blog, talked to me, or seen my gaming shelf.  I love sci-fi over fantasy--dark gritty futures and people operating on their own moral codes. So the setting instantly won me over. I played 2nd edition when it first came out and loved it.

That visceral thrill of rolling a hand full of d6s, and when you roll a 6, you get to reroll! It's much like the D6 (West End) Star Wars from back in the day, but Shadowrun wins for me due to a better health system, a more inclusive world, more character balance, and the skill matrix.  I am currently reading 5th edition and loving it. 

#1: Marvel Superheroes

My number one is more about nostalgia than anything else, but I would still run it today if I had the time and a group. But it would have to be the old school Marvel Superheroes (TSR).  Let's put the one less-than-stellar aspect of the game up front: character creation! Randomly rolling everything leads to superheroes like Spam (Resistance to Acid, Super Digging and Speed Reading!) with typical stats in everything else. So, in many cases we house ruled character creation. The general house rule was each person has four rerolls for character creation, a set number of points to build a character (like 300 - 400), and two free contacts. For instance, one of my favorite characters today:

Shadowstorm (Alec Winters) was a brilliant (near-Black Panther-level intellect) mutant whose main powers were weather control, regeneration and limited phasing. He was the son of Marcus Winters, the CEO of a multinational weapons manufacturing corporation. After the school for the gifted, and following graduation from college, Alec was placed as head of the special division to "toughen" him up. His father did not know he was a mutant. If he did, he would have turned him over to the government. This leads to a number of interesting stories with tough moral choices. 

The system itself was sooooo simple. All you need are percentile dice and the colorful chart that has all the info required. It is still the greatest superhero RPG to date and my favorite system. Even with my love of crunch, dice and skill trees.

Bonus Systems-of-Interest

Delta Green (there's still time to jump on the Kickstarter for the new edition) and Call of Cthulhu. Both of these are amazing systems with great settings. The new editions will soon be readily available and include incredible advancements that have streamlined a number of issues. I am proud to have been a Delta Green playtester. 

The Fate system is another great system. The use of aspects is empowering for the players and adds incredible roleplaying value. Why it did not make my top three? Character advancement is a real issue for the system. Heroes start strong but they don't really seem to get better. This can be great for short-term gaming but I am a campaign man, and I have to consider if my players want to be doing this in 6 months, 16 months or even 60 months. The first game I ever ran to introduce my wife into the wonderful world of gaming was a Fate game, Dresden Files DC. The character and city creation was intense and fun. 

Our System

For the moment, I am sitting in front of the proverbial drawing board. Does DHS make 1d13 (trademarked) its core die for the system? What about it stands out from all of the other amazing systems? So many choices and they are all good. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for our Kickstarter hopefully to launch in late 2015 or early 2016!

Have a favorite RPG system? Send me ideas!

My Perfect Justice League

It is a well-known fact (and when I say "well known," I mean well known to the entire world, clearly) that I am a Marvel and not a DC. But there's no reason not to give DC a little love. This one will be a bit harder with my relatively-limited knowledge of DC of compared to Marvel.  The Justice League of America is the premiere DC team and should reflect that status. The Marvel equivalent is, of course, the Avengers but they are more of a global team that deals with extraterrestrial threats, while the JLA is more of galactic-level force that deals with global and universal issues. A lot of these ideas demonstrate how DC and Marvel are different. 

DC characters, for the longest time, lacked the level of humanity and vulnerability that Marvel characters had. This is definitely what appealed to me more about Marvel. But DC characters have their charms too. 

The Team

Batman (Dick Grayson): The Leader
Why Dick? Dick takes all of the best parts of Batman (his detective skills, fighting and genius) and adds a layer of comradeship and humanity that Bruce never has. Dick may not be feared how Bruce is, but he would have the members of the team wanting to help him and listen because they are friends. Dick is the leader of my JLA because he has lead multiple teams, lived his life as a hero and grown into the mantel. The fact that he is not Bruce would also add a level of drama, as he would have to live up the man who came before him. 

Green Lantern (John Steward): The Projector
Part of the Green Lantern Corps . . . 'Nuff said.

Powergirl (Kara Zor-L): Powerhouse
Powergirl is Superman's equal, owns a massive corporation bringing in billions, is dating Mr. Terrific for some great subplots, and does not have a boy scout complex that frequently rubs teammates the wrong way. Not only is she the team powerhouse, but she could also be the face of the team based on her corporate experience. 

Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt): The Brains
Third smartest person on Earth and billionaire, with super science, medical training, and a master of Kung Fu. He is also dating Powergirl, which would add a nice romance subplot for the book. Michael's genius will be key for the a number of "issues" that would occur in the comic. 

Zatanna (Zatanna Zatara): Mystic
Zatanna is a mystic powerhouse. She is the premiere go-to mystic for any issue. 

Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz): Backbone
Simply put, J'onn is the backbone of the JLA. He has been on most incarnations of the team, with near-Superman-level-strength, a master shapeshifter with an array of psychic powers. O . . . did I forget to  mention he can also phase? Pretty much a one-martian team. 

BONUS MEMBER:
Starman (Jack Knight): Fan Favorite
I love Jack and read the Starman comics when they came out, and would love to write the character. It would be interesting to write an older Jack Knight that has a kid back on Earth that is concerned that he is falling into his father's footsteps by disappearing for an extended period of time and no one knowing why. His story would be heartbreaking as he constantly tries to do anything to get home.

The Story (Short Version)

My vision for the recently-formed JLA? They are Zeta-beamed (teleported) without consent to Rann by Adam Strange. He believes that his world is about to have another Rann-Thanagar Holy War but there may still be time to stop it. He put out a call but no one responded and he needs to act quickly. The end of the first issue would involve the Zeta beam being destroyed and the heroes coming to the conclusion that they are stranded.

Over the course of the first story arc (roughly seven issues), they become embroiled in a political battle for leadership of a now-unstable Rann and piece the clues together that it is not the Thanagar, but an ancient evil race of aliens masquerading as them to cause the Rann people to start a war and fight on two fronts. The end of the first arc would detail that section of space being sealed off somehow by the ancient evil aliens.

The comic would run for three years in "real" time, meaning none of those characters could have crossovers or be on Earth until the end of the comic. This would give other DC comics a chance to take advantage of the absence of those heroes; the All-Star JLA would have to deal with the aftermath if and when they return to Earth. 

And then the question for the follow up series becomes: 
What happens to your life, loved ones and identity after you've vanished for three years? 

RPG Fridays: Time Is Not on My Side

For gamers, the love of gaming is in our blood, our hearts and resides in the fibers of atoms that make up who we are. You can’t have a happy gamer in your life without the game, occasionally much to non-gamer-significant-others' chagrin. Gaming is so much a part of my being that when my wife and I were discussing our future, she said, "our child will be raised Jewish" and I said, "our child will be raised to be a gamer." It's a family deal. I have even convinced my wife's parents (they may say "tricked" but tomato, tomahto...) to play in a one-shot.

So what do you do when real life puts the crunch on you with too many commitments--your kid's karate class, new job with crazy hours, traveling, writing (or thinking about writing), etc.? This is where I am right now and it SUCKS.  What is a gamer to do?

Take a break. It is the only option; all of that stress, those responsibilities, circling around in your brain weigh on you and affect you, and also affect the vibe you bring to the table and to your fellow gamer. How and when do you do it? That becomes the next issue spiral. You don’t want to upset the GM, the players or leave the game in a lurch.

How To Bow Out (Temporarily)

1.      In the immortal words of Winnie the Pooh, "Think, think, think." 

First, I thought long and hard about the things pulling me in different directions. Was there anything I could move around or triple down on? In previous years, my gaming went on hiatus following the birth of my daughter but slowly increased to a frequency close to its old standards. At the time, I had to sacrifice my bi-weekly Star Wars game that ran from 12pm – 6pm on Saturdays, and my fortnightly Rise of the Runelords game on Mondays). That still left me playing in a bi-weekly Pathfinder game, running a bi-weekly Horror on the Orient Express game, and becoming the One-Shot King for random games and playtests. But my schedule changed again recently and dramatically, so I have to pause all of my actual gaming for a while. It was a hard decision and one that I think about every day.

2.      Figure out how long you need and add a month.

This is a hard one but vital for reintegration and GM planning. If your kid starts taking a swimming class that conflicts with your gaming and it is set to run for three months, let your GM know that you need to step away for four months. Why the extra month? That is to allow you time to reintegrate yourself without disturbing the group. Say you got in the habit of taking the family out to dinner after the swim meet? That is something you can't just stop with a young kid but is something you can transition out of over a couple of weeks. 

3.       If you are a player, tell the GM first.

Give the GM as much time as you can. If you know the GM needs a couple of days to process the info, give it to them and let them know in detail when you hope to return. Be prepared that the GM may find another player for your slot, or the campaign may be at a point where you can't jump in right away. But by giving a solid idea of your return, it allows the GM to plan accordingly and likely keep your seat warm. My move is to have my character do a couple of key things he is known for. In our game, I am playing Porthos basically (or for my Pathfinder peeps, Inspired Blade with a little Mysterious Stranger).  He has a rapier or pistol in one hand and a flask of whiskey in the other and sings a song while exploring. (Due to to watching a lot of Sesame Street lately, the song I have been singing is a little diddy by Sirs Bert & Ernie . . . he he he). In our game, my sister went missing during a raid on the city and my character has left the group to go find her. It is a great in-game reason for Jabari, my character, to step away from the party but still be in the area. 

4.       Spread the word.

Let your fellow players know after you have given the GM a little time to process your temporary departure. It is your responsibly to let the other players know that you need to step away and to relay your intention to return. Also, if  your character has any gear the team needs, you'll want to allow them to access it. 

5.       "Throw me the rope."

Ask to be kept on email chains and communications. By keeping in the loop, you will have a smaller time frame needed for reentry. Plus, if there are any major decisions to be made by the group, you still have a voice and may have an insight the other players have overlooked. After all, you're still a team. 

6.        ^ If this is the type of reception you get, move on. (Quickly.)

If the GM or players, can’t handle it or give you (non-good-natured) grief, you are better off without them. There are plenty of awesome gamers in the world; you can find a new group that is understanding of your time constraints. Luckily, my fellow players and my GMs tend to be some of these awesome gamers.

7.        Lead, guide, and get out of the way.

If you're the GM, let your players know that you have some things to take care of but plan to restart the game on X date. Have a solid date in mind and stick to it. Give them the opportunity to step away either temporarily or permanently. Hopefully you will be able to resume with everyone on board.

Gaming is our life blood but reality doesn't wait for gaming. 

RPG Fridays: A PoC's Love of Lovecraft

I usually get some weird looks from people when I tell them that my favorite game is Call of Cthulhu (7th edition coming soon to physical copies). 

Akin to most people, my first real roleplaying experience was with D&D (the old school Red Box set, to be exact). I was maybe all of seven and my best friend Jay and I bought the game from a local store. I had saved money for months to scrape enough together to buy it. The level of enthusiasm and exhilaration was palpable. 

All of that faded some as we looked at the pictures and flipped through the book; it struck me that there was no one that looked like me, as a PoC, in that mystical land filled with elves, dragons and wizards.  The same happened for me with the Sword of Shannara, which I finished reading in two days. It is those experiences that contributed to my neutral relationship with fantasy and that opened my eyes to the allure of sci-fi and hard-boiled detective stories, which at least had a larger presence of diverse characters.

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. 
- Scooby-Doo

About a seven years later, I was part of a group that had to stay in a house for an estate sell. The owner had passed away and had these massive piles of books, and I stumbled onto H.P. Lovecraft. We were given free reign of the house but chose to all stay in one area together. Come on, empty house + young kids + reading horror fiction = ghosts! 

Reading that Lovecraft collection in the home of a recently dead person, tucked in my sleeping bag, and listening to the sounds of my sleeping friends made it magical. The shadows lurked around the room and every creak caused me to stop reading and stare into the darkness. Chilling!

The ideas that were presented resonated with me as an African American male growing up in the deep South. I understand the concepts of cruelty and the uncaring nature of the universe. Yes! I get it! The best man can do is struggle against the insurmountable evil and win for a day or two, and at the very best, delay the maddening doom and protect humanity.  

Don't get me wrong, it was tough reading. Lovecraft is a racist, shit writer, and a billion other things. But taken for the time when it was written, the ideas behind it are what resonate with me. Let me be clear, I don't forgive, forget or try to deny Lovecraft's racism (as many of his hardcore fans do). But the nuggets of awesomeness (trademark!) in the work help shaped how the modern world views horror, science fiction and detective fiction. You can learn so much about how these genres have been impacted by listening to any one of dozens of great podcasts, like the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast and the Miskatonic University Podcast. 

Lovecraft: It's Not Just for Cthulhu Anymore

My games are usually gritty, have a feeling of the real world and consequences. All of these elements line up perfectly with cosmic horror, the futile struggle, and that-which-cannot-die.  The setting doesn't matter; it is the fire that drives the characters and the human condition. Superheroes, Jedi, Wizards and even Replicants are individuals with power(s), but that power doesn't remove the drama of the struggle.

I devoured the 2nd Edition Call of Cthulhu book ages ago and it was the first game I ever ran. It was rocky but fun. Since then, Cthulhu has been my game. It is the game I use to introduce new gamers or to challenge veterans. Guns and fighting are not what wins the day; Cthulhu is a thinking person's game and that is what I love. As a geek, more than anything else, an ability to think your way though a problem appeals to me. It is also why I have loved Doctor Who; his enemies were usually immune to weapons and needed to be outsmarted. 

The system itself, is simple and elegant.  I love it so much, I run it at cons, at home, in a boat, with a goat . . . heck, anywhere. It is my go-to system . . . But, I will confess, I do have a new love brewing . . . Trail of Cthulhu (future post).

All right. I am off to listen to Dark Adventure Radio Theater's Shadow Over Innsmouth and to finish editing my next Cthulhu scenario. I am always looking for playtesters, if you can handle the horror and sanity-breaking game. Let me know.