This is another comic I really like, and I always regretted that I didn’t find other excuses to use the drawing in panel three.

Looking at the drawing now, I probably could have freaked the kid out by just showing him my jacked up right pinky. You may laugh, but I know a guy with a jacked-up pinky, and he does use it to freak people out, so there is precedent.

Note from Missy: the guy with the jacked-up pinky? Plays the role of the Emperor of the Moon’s number-one moon minion. And yeah, his pinky is totes freaky.

 

You can comment on this comic on Facebook.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Kids say the darnedest things and everyday I marvel and laugh at the things that come out of my kids’ mouths.  If you haven’t started keeping a quote journal of everything your kids say…you should!  So with all of your cute kiddos in mind, we set out on a little experiment.  Why not ask kids some of life’s toughest questions and see if they have any unique insights.  That’s exactly what we did, and their answers will melt your heart!

We asked kids some of life’s toughest questions…here’s what they said:

Question 1: How much money is enough money?

“Medium-sized money,” Dallin (age 7)

“Probably a thousand dollars,” Wanda (age 6)

“$100,” Magoo (age 10)

“$50, no 60 dollars,” Paige (age 7)

“5 monies,” Dillon (age 4)

“One MILLION dollars!” Karlie (age 7)

Question 2: What do you think the future will look like?

 

“I’ll be a dad, or a race car driver because you could go really fast.” Jackson (age 4)

“I’ll be a teenager and a nerd because I might have braces, glasses, and those strap things (suspenders).” Page (age 7)

“Hopefully less polluted.” Magoo (age 10)

“People from Earth, like astronauts, will find out more about space and maybe they’ll find a new planet.  I might want to live on the planet, but it matters what’s there.” Lincoln (age 9)

“I’ll probably still have a bed.” Dallin (age 7)

Question 3: What makes you happy?

“Coloring pages” Jane (age 3)  “Going to the park” Keniston (age 4)

“I’m the happiest when I eat ice cream.” Parker (age 4)

“That’s a hard one…when I get macaroni and cheese!” Wanda (age 6)

“I like challenges because they really motivate me to get things done. Especially if it’s a school assignment like if I have 5 minutes left before my paper has to be turned in, I try to think of it as a fun challenge to get it done in 5 minutes.”  Lincoln (age 9)

“Going to Disneyland!” Dallin (age 7)

Question 4: What makes you sad?

“Sucking my thumb.” Jane (age 3)

“Being disappointed.  Like when someone says, “I went to Dairy Queen.” And I don’t.”  

Dallin (age 7)

“When people get in my space.” Lincoln (age 9)

“When I don’t get a playdate with Ella.” Wanda (age 6)

“When a character in a book dies…that I like.” Magoo (age 10)

“People calling me names.” Paige (age 7)

“When someone bonks my head really hard.” Jackson (age 4)

Question 5: What can I do to be a better mom or dad?

 

“Letting me go to the store and get some toys.”  Keniston (age 4)

“Take me to the playground more.”  Karlie (age 7)

“If you would clean up my room more.”  Eric (age 4)

“Get us Mario Sports Mix.  And money.  Like $45.  Wait, $55.”  Dallin (age 7 )

“Go to the library more often.”  Magoo (age 10)

“Take us on a family trip on a sunny day when we use our bikes. We don’t usually go on family bike rides. I like bike rides especially if it’s on a hot day.”  Lincoln (age 9)

Question 6: Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years?

“I’ll be here in our house.  But wait…where will you and dad live?  I want to live wherever you live.”  Trenton (age 5)

“I’ll still be at the house until I’ll be 18.  Then I won’t be here, but not get married.  I don’t want to get married.”  Dallin (age 7)

“College.”  Wanda (age 6)

“I’ll have a boyfriend.  And my driver’s license.”  Paige (age 7)

“I’ll be a grandpa probably.”  Jackson (age 4)

“Taller.”  Keniston (age 4)

Question 7: What would you do with $25,000?

“Buy a WiiU and a fancy chair for my brothers so they can relax.”  Dallin (age 7)

“I would give it to all my  teachers and give a little bit of it to my brothers.  I would also buy an animal for myself, like a dog. I would like a dog that was calm that didn’t attack people.”  Lincoln (age 9)

“I would buy a trampoline for my kids when I’m big.”  Nick (age 5)

“I would buy a quadricopter.  I love quadricoptors.”  Wanda (age 6)

“Buy any toy I want, buy gifts for my Valentines, then buy the newest iPhone 6.”  Paige (age 7)

“Put it in my piggy bank.” Kenton (age 4)

“I would buy a car for you mommy.”  Alec (age 4)

Question 8: What things are really hard to do?

“Cleaning my room, making my bed, and cleaning up ALL the laundry.”  Cash (age 5)

“Math.”  Karlie (age 7)

“Remembering to bring stuff home, or take them to school.”  Magoo (age 10)

“Cleaning my room, cleaning the house and I don’t know why buy I’m gonna say, “Eating cake,” just to be funny.”  Wanda (age 6)

“When I have a job at school and I forget to do it I feel really bad.”  Lincoln (age 9)

“Reading chapter books and making chapter books. And sometimes I carry dad’s hammer when I’m helping build the house and it’s heavy.”  Dallin (age 7)

Question 9: Who should be the president of the United States of America?

 

“A really nice person that is probably a grown-up. I wouldn’t make myself the president because you have to do a lot of work and sometimes I like to relax at night. And if I was sitting down in an office all day and talking to people that would be super boring.”  Lincoln (age 9)

“Somebody who would help the poor like Bill Gates.”  Magoo (age 10)

“Daniel, ’cause he’s my friend.”  Dallin (age 7)

“Santa.”  Keniston (age 4)

Question 10: What makes a person good?

“A good person gives hugs.” Mayzie (age 6)

“Eating cupcakes and being happy.”  Dallin (age 7)

“If they’re nice and they don’t get into my personal space.”  Lincoln (age 9)

“When someone is sad for someone who is sad.”  Wanda (age 6)

“Kindness.” Magoo (age 10)

Question 11: What makes a person bad?

“People that hit.”  Keniston (age 4)

“Calling people names.”  Paige (age 7)

“Saying bad words.”  Mayzie (age 6)

“Lying.” Dallin (age 7)

Question 12: What advice would you give adults to help them be better people?

“Do what you’re supposed to do.  Go to work and listen to your boss.” Dallin (age 7)

“If adults would actually listen to me when I’m trying to help them.” Lincoln (age 9)

“Be a little nicer to kids sometimes.”  Wanda (age 6)

“Help kids clean more.” Keegan (age 4)

“Be nicer to everyone.”  Karlie (age 7)

“Eat more healthy food.” Keniston (age 4)

*****

I think our future is in good hands, how about you?

Our children sure make our lives more fun, don’t they? Here are some ideas to make life more fun for them!

15 Glow Stick Hacks for Camping, Parties, Survival, and More!

Video Performance Treasure Hunt

18 Epic Tween, Teen, and Sweet 16 Parties they won’t think are lame!

The post We Asked Kids Some of Life’s Toughest Questions…Here’s What They Said appeared first on How Does She.

Athlete Wears Tyrannosaurus Rex Costume While Performing Parkour Stunts..(Read...)

Not all battles are fought with weapons. Duels of wits, battles of wills, and blood-pumping bartering matches are all hallmarks of excellent roleplaying games. Dungeons and Dragons says that there are three pillars of the game: combat, interaction, and exploration. Here are some tips to make your social interactions just as exciting as combat!

1. What’s the “battlefield” of this encounter? Look to TV shows and movies filled with intrigue and politics for ideas. Social encounters can take place at locations like:
   1. Fancy balls
   2. Council meetings
   3. Diplomatic missions
   4. Interrogations
   5. Stake-outs and sleuthing
   6. Hot dog stands…if hot dog stands exist in your world
2. You must know the goal of the encounter. In combat, the goal is usually “kill the enemy and not die,” but social encounters often have more complex goals. Be clear with the players and ask your players to be clear with you, to avoid confusion.
3. You’ll have an easier time if you know your NPCs goals and motivations beforehand. Detailed NPCs with Traits, Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws are easier to roleplay than improvised ones.
4. Make a list of vital information these NPCs know. This information can be secrets the PCs need to acquire, or bombshells the NPC can drop to turn the encounter in their favor.
5. Diplomacy often requires making alliances. What factions are involved in this encounter? Which ones want the PCs help? Which ones do the PCs want help from? And which ones want to see the PCs eat dirt?
6. It’s easy for social encounters to lose tension. Think of ways to raise the stakes! How can this encounter affect the world at large?
7. If you have no other way to raise the stakes, most social encounters can become combat encounters if negotiations fail!

Of course these are just the basic tips written out in a handy list format. If you need more detail, check out the video above with Critical Role’s illustrious DM, Matt Mercer. We’ll have more Game Master Tips every Friday, so stay tuned!!

"We tried our best to put together an “E.R.” reunion for George Clooney."..(Read...)

What lived during the Cretaceous period, has tiny arms, and has over 7,000 followers? The T-Rex behind T-Rex Tuesdays! On December 1st, 2015 this image hit Instagram with its foreboding message:

Image Credit: T-Rex Tuesdays

What did it mean? What was coming? How would the world respond? Well, mostly everyone just wanted to know where they could buy a T-Rex costume, but still, it wasn’t long before our burning questions were answered.

T-Rex Tuesdays are the tiny, yet hysterical adventures of a Tyrannosaurus Rex living large in the world. If you are having a bad day and need a little pick me up, just watch T-Rex doing his best to ice skate and feel your spirits soar!

It is kind of amazing he can skate that well, but life isn’t all swizzles and axel jumps. T-Rex understands you struggles. His tiny arms make even the simplest of tasks (like drinking a cup of coffee) indomitable challenges!

There’s no need to worry though. T-rex can find those joyous moments in life to make everything feel great again. And thankfully, T-rex is not always alone on his adventures. He has a T-Rex buddy, because we all need a good friend to cause a little chaos with sometimes.

What will T-Rex do next? Only time will tell, but you can find out yourself today (because it’s Tuesday!) on the T-Rex Tuesday YouTube channel.

What would you want  to see T-Rex doing next? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: T-Rex Tuesdays

Ticket To Ride is the next Monopoly. This train-themed board game is becoming increasingly ubiquitous on my friends’ and families’ shelves at home. It can be played by up to five people and involves each player choosing destination cards that determine the routes that they will try to complete between cities along a map of the United States (there are also Europe and Nordic Countries versions as well). Never played before? Check out the Ticket To Ride episode of TableTop!

For more experienced players (or those looking for a more wild time), this is where the Alvin & Dexter expansion comes into the picture!

Alvin is an alien invader and Dexter is a non-trademarked Godzilla lookalike (aka dinosaur) represented by two figurines. They add a more aggressive and chaotic element to the classic Ticket To Ride board game, giving every player a chance to level the playing field. You notice another player is clearly trying to complete a route from San Francisco to Montreal (and thus securing their lead with the longest train)? Well now you can pay up a few locomotive (wild) train cards and place your alien or dinosaur comrade on a city of your choosing. If your opponent has a route going through that city, their points on that destination card are automatically cut in half. Brutal! This expansion forces players to reevaluate what they know about Ticket To Ride and makes the game a whole lot more uproarious and fun.

Have you played Ticket To Ride with the Alvin & Dexter expansion? Share your stories below and be sure to watch the Ticket To Ride episode of TableTop for a hilarious in-depth look at the game in action!

Big changes have been happening in the Doctor Who universe lately. With the announcement of Steven Moffat ending his reign as fearless leader of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall taking up the helm, and the fact that we’ll have to wait until 2017 for season 10 (which will still be headed by Moffat), things have been a bit shaky for Whovians.

Well, there may be more big change headed our way. Though rumors of the tenth season being Capaldi’s final as The Doctor have been popping around the interwebz for a while (after all, three seasons is about par for a New-Who Doctor), they’ve gained a bit of credence as it would allow Chibnall a fresh start with the classic series.

Of course, this is all internet hearsay, so there’s no use being sad over an unsubstantiated rumor. Plus, we’ll have to wait a full year for season 10 to even see the light of day, so Capaldi’s regeneration is something Future Whovians can mourn. Still, it’s always fun to imagine who will be taking up the helm in the TARDIS once one Doctor leaves; it keeps us from succumbing to the blistering fandom pains of saying goodbye to a Doctor. So in the spirit of soothing fandom pains, here are some actors we’d like to offer for consideration as the Thirteenth Doctor–whenever that day may come.

Hayley Atwell

Hayley’s already expressed that she’d be game to become the Doctor, and with characters like The Master regenerating into a woman and a Time Lord from the Christmas special regenerating into a woman, it’s probably time for a female Doctor. The woman who brought Peggy Carter to life would be a pretty amazing choice, and her popularity would probably bring in new Whovians from the MCU world. Plus, she’s buddies with Doctor Who alum Billie Piper, which makes her an honorary member of the Who-niverse anyway, right?

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Rumors of Ejiofor becoming the Doctor have been swirling around for some time now, so it’s definitely a no-brainer to imagine him captaining the TARDIS once Capaldi regenerates. Ejiofor is an amazingly talented actor, and could bring something truly outstanding to the role of the Doctor.

Jessica Hynes

Hynes has already played the memorable Joan Redfern on Doctor Who, a love interest of the Tenth Doctor while he was in hiding as a human. If we learned anything from Capaldi’s run as a Doctor, regenerations can be inspired by faces the Doctor has encountered in the past. A Jessica Hynes Doctor could continue the themes of the Doctor questioning himself about being a good person, and touch upon how the Doctor connects and loves those people he encounters. Plus, Jessica Hynes is part of the team that brought us Spaced and she’s just brilliant, so she’d be a fantastic Doctor.

Steven Fry

Steven Fry is a classic in British television and cinema, so he’d be a natural for one of the most legendary British roles out there. His dry wit and scathing sarcasm would make him an easy follow up to Capaldi’s Doctor. Fry has also been involved with Doctor Who in the past, lending his voice to an animated Doctor Who webcast and writing an episode that sadly, never saw the light of day. It’d be great to see him helm the TARDIS as the Doctor.

Simon Pegg

Pegg is another who has already been in an episode of Doctor Who, but again, it’s not unheard of for a major character in Doctor Who to play two parts in the series (Karen Gillan, Freema Agyeman, and Peter Capaldi himself have all done it). Plus, he’s already managed to get himself into several other very popular fandoms like Shaun of the Dead, Star Trek, Star Wars, and Spaced, so he’d be a natural to add to the Doctor Who universe in a larger capacity.

How do you feel about Capaldi leaving? Who would you like to see as the next Doctor? Let me know what you think in the comments! 

 

Image credit: Shaun Smith/Flickr.com

One of the biggest lessons a new Game Master learns is that even the best-laid plans never survive contact with your players. Here are some tips to keep you from being thrown for a loop by your creative players!

1. Always remember that your players will surprise you.
2. Don’t railroad your players. In other words, don’t force them to follow a single path: give them options.
3. Stay open to new ideas, and roll with even the weirdest of the players’ actions. The first rule in improvisation—and being a Game Master is at least 50% improv—is to say “Yes, and…”
4. When prepping for a game session, after you outline the main plot, imagine a few scenarios where the PCs will go “off the rails” and make notes for these side quests. That way, you can plan for ways to get them back on the rails once they’ve explored that avenue.
5. No matter what, take notes on the things you improvise! You never know when players will want to become friends with a throwaway NPC you whipped up on the fly. It’d be embarrassing if you forgot her name and backstory right after creating her, or if her broken arm switched sides between games.
6. On that topic, keep a list of male, female, and gender-neutral fantasy names on hand for when you have to create an NPC off-the-cuff.
7. Conversely, you could keep a list of detailed NPCs to throw into any scene.
8. Finally, you can also keep a list of plot hooks and magical rewards on hand in case you didn’t prep a beginning or an end to this week’s quest!

Of course, these are just the basic tips written out in a handy list format. If you need more detail, check out the video above with Critical Role’s illustrious DM, Matt Mercer. We’ll have more Game Master Tips every Friday, so stay tuned!!

There’s something about Monopoly that we all kinda hate. It’s never truly fun to play nor does winning actually feel satisfying. I’ve never thought about why that is, but an Imgur user, Elpher, just posted a brilliant pictorial essay titled, “How to Win At Monopoly and Lose All Your Friends” detailing exactly what we all hate about the game. After reading it, we’ve figured out that it’s mostly because the game turns human beings into Ferengi, and that’s generally a bad thing.

Here’s what we learned, and why this game isn’t fit for humans:

1. Monopoly is designed (and patented) to make people hate their friends and capitalism.

Where it fails in the latter, it more than makes up for with success in the former. Unless, of course, you’re learning your Rules of Acquisition.

The essay points out that, “[b]ecause of the way the game is designed, this inevitably results in one person acquiring a majority of the assets on the board, and beginning the slow, painful, friendship-destroying process of grinding the other players out of the game, turn by turn.”

The essay outlines the game’s history as a rip-off  of a non-patented game (how Ferengi of them). “The Landlord’s Game” was designed by a proponent of Georgism: a land-based communal-wealth sharing philosophy. “The game was designed to teach children about the inherent unfairness of the capitalist land-grabbing system, and demonstrate how it enriches landlords while impoverishing tenants.”

This seems like the sort of game that Ferengi would use to teach their children how to live a good and righteous life, by Ferengi measures.

2. You have to be willing to be a huge jerk to win. 

The path to success in Monopoly is ensuring everyone else has a terrible time playing the game.  “A little-known rule of Monopoly is that the game has exactly 32 houses and 12 hotels. Once you run out of houses, no more can be purchased until they re-enter the supply by being sold or upgraded to hotels.”

After following the path to success elpher describes, which includes manipulating your friends into making trades that benefit you and your strategy, “you will be asked repeatedly to build some friggin’ hotels already so that other people can build houses. Don’t.”

That advice sounds a lot like the 10th Rule of Acquisition: never allow doubt to tarnish your lust for latinum.

3. Winning at Monopoly the way the game intends for you to win grinds the souls of your opponents into talcum powder.
The name of the game is Monopoly, and getting land monopolies and monopolies on the improvements (houses) is how you win. It’s a boring way to win but as the article points out, it’s worse for those who aren’t winning. “A losing opponent essentially has no path to victory, even with lucky rolls. Your goal is to play conservatively, lock up more resources, and let the other players lose by attrition.”

Playing a low-risk, defensive strategy that rates negatively on the scale of fun is the surest way to victory.  After all, you can’t make a deal if you’re dead (Rule of Acquisition 125).

The moral of the story: there are so many better games out there. 

Being a good Ferengi means you’re a bad opponent, a bad friend, and a bad family member. G&S contributor Kendall describes her personal descent into Ferengi-ism thanks to Monopoly – the picture she paints isn’t pretty. Ultimately, you should play a game that makes you want to play it again with your friends and family, and there’s tons of games out there that do that. Monopoly just doesn’t seem to be one of them.

Check out the essay itself and after you do, let us know if you agree with us and with elpher in the comments below!

 

Featured Image Credits: CBS (Fair use), Mark Strozler (CC 2.0)
Image Credits: Cory Doctorow (CC 2.0), Andy Smith (CC 2.0)

There are so many reasons to swear. It relieves stress, it’s somehow more dignified than yelling “owie!” when you stub your toe, and it just feels cool.  But if you’re in situations where you might garner some sideways glances from Grandma, your pastor, or your child’s 3rd grade class, sometimes having a standby replacement swear is the way to go.

Here’s a list of some awesome geeky go-to obscenities that might help keep Grandma from washing out that dirty mouth of yours with soap.

E CHU TA!
This extremely rude Hutteese expression is a standalone statement that not-so-politely asks the subject to do unspeakable things to themselves. C3PO was quite offended when the expression was tossed his way, which indicated how offensive it really is since he’s close friends with an astromech droid whose every word is bleeped out, despite language chips clearly existing in the universe.

Example usage: “YOU JUST SPOILED FORCE AWAKENS! E CHU TA!”

FRAK

From the outside, the original Battlestar Galactica seemed to be about capes, flowing hair, friendly Cylons named Cy, and a lighthearted jaunt through space. Despite this, the show found itself needing to use curse words on network television, in spite of FCC limitations. Hence, the expletive usage of frak was born.  In the modern and highly gritty reincarnation of the show, the swearing became pronounced and the term was revitalized. It’s probably one of the most common geek swears used, likely due to the show’s popularity as well as how wonderfully frak rolls off the tongue with the same punctuated forcefulness as the other four-letter f-word.

Example usage: “My fraking toaster is defective.”

FETH

Another four-letter f-word, feth is a curse that is familiar to geeks who love the Warhammer 40,000 novel series Gaunt’s Ghosts, which is best described as Band of Brothers set in the 40K universe. The story follows the Tanith First-And-Only (named after their home planet). A swear unique to the the natives of Tanith, it’s the name of a supernatural spirit believed to possess the trees of the planet, allowing them to move.

Example usage:  “The fething tree branch smashed up my car!”‘

GORRAM

Captain Malcolm Reynolds of the good ship Serenity would often use this term in place of goddamn. It just sounds cooler coming out with an old-timey western drawl and when used in reference to livestock.

Example usage: “I can’t go to no fancy shindig; I ain’t got a gorram thing to wear.”

ZARK/ZARQUON

Zarquon was a religious prophet in the universe of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  The term is used both as an adjective, zarking, as well as a standalone curse, for zark’s sake.

Example usage: “How did you forget the towels, you zarking idiot!”

PETAQ

Nothing is quite as rich as Klingonese personal insults. There have been no direct translations of the term petaQ, but one can only assume it’s an extremely derogatory term since Klingons value face as much as they value honor, and the only reasonable response to being called a petaQ is violence.

Example usage: “It’s called a signal light, you spineless petaQ!”

What’s your favorite geeky swear? Have another geeky profanity that you love to toss around? Tell us in the comments below (don’t forget to give us an example usage!)

Featured Image Credit: Geek & Sundry Tumblr

 

NPCs; we all love them (or love watching them suffer), but not all NPCs are created equal. Here are some tips for making compelling NPCs!

• First thing is first: you need to decided how detailed you want to go. This includes their name, sex, race, class (if any), alignment/morality, political and social affiliations, guilds, allies, and enemies.
• Figure out the NPC’s ideals, desires, fears, and disposition towards your players.
• Determine their appearance, equipment, special skills, and mannerisms.
• If an NPC is intended for combat, make a battle sheet and keep in mind their combat abilities.
• If your NPC has a voice, keep basic notes on which voice you use.
• When creating a good villain, get inside their head! A lot of villains don’t see themselves as the bad guy: play with their twisted sense of morality and determine how they got to where they are.
• Likewise, black and white characters can be boring – play in the shade of grey.
• The Book of Vile Darkness is a good resource: especially when it comes to villain archetypes. Do you want a scheming liar, tyrant, sophisticate, misguided fool, or a straight up monster? The choice is yours!

Of course, these are just the basic tips written out in a handy list format. If you need more detail, check out the video above with Critical Role’s illustrious DM, Matt Mercer.

We’ll have more Game Master Tips every Friday, so stay tuned!!

The Smartbe Stroller is as high-tech of a stroller as we’ve ever seen. It comes with three driving modes, from full manual, to power-assist (where you’re still pushing, but with minimal effort), to completely self-driving. In this last mode, the stroller always stays ahead of the parent, within arm’s reach, whether you’re walking or even jogging. Additional features are almost too numerous to name: built-in rocker, wireless Bluetooth speakers to play your music to your baby, electric bottle warmer, “climate/temperature-controlled bassinet keeps your baby comfortable no matter the weather, and air filters can protect against pollution and allergens.”  It is funding on IndieGogo. Prices start at $900 for the basic non self-propelled model, and go all the way up to $3,199, with shipping in April 2017..(Read...)

You’re strolling down a side street, listening to some music, when you notice something out of the corner of your eye. Your instinct tells you that you should take a look. Pausing your music, you approach a colorful object on the ground. You lean forward to examine it and realize what lies before you is a treasure chest emblazoned with the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda.

Photo credit: Rebecca L. Bennett

The strange thing is, this is actually happening in Austin, TX. Artist Ezekiel Buchheit has been hiding handmade Zelda trinkets around the city, purely for fun for years. The items include crocheted bombs, sprite-styled mini swords, keychains, Triforce necklaces, and even treasure chests. Plus it’s totally cool for anyone to pick up the item and take it. One time, he placed peeler bead swords under a bridge and a notice that read “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.”

Photo credit Ezekiel Buchheit via Kotaku

Buchheit told Austin.com:

“I just thought it would be a little fun and surreal if you were out hiking and, holy shit, there’s a treasure chest off the road… If you don’t know what Zelda is and you find it, it’s still cool. If you do know what Zelda is, then it’s bonus cool.”

Buchheit started his handmade adventure by inserting piranha plants into local community gardens. From there, he attached items to walls under bridges and hiding chests with items inside. Some people have even replaced the treasures they take with other goodies such as movie and lottery tickets. Currently, Buchheit is collaborating with fellow artists to create a full fledged scavenger hunt. He hopes that others will continue to spread the magic of surprise and adventure. If you’d like to get involved, you can reach him through his Tumblr page Hyrule In Austin.

Currently, Buchheit only works out of Austin, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t go out and sprinkle some fantasy into your own city. What do you think you would want to do in your hometown? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image credit: Nintendo

There are a lot of superhero movies and even more superhero TV shows. While I love everything about superhero shows, sometimes even I have to admit that they can start to feel the same. While I love to think of myself as badass as Jessica Jones, as honorable as Supergirl, and as skilled a fighter as Black Canary, I have to face the facts: I’m just a normal human. But sometimes, it can be nice to watch normal humans try their best to do crazy, super human things to inspire us to do amazing things. Or in the case of the Evil Iguana Production’s latest web series, Vigilant, sometimes we want to watch a normal human try to do super human things and totally suck at it. You know, whatever floats your boat.

Vigilant is the perfect show if you’re looking for a superhero that strays from the normal superhero story. The show follows Wayne, a guy who has no money, no girlfriend, and really no hope. Feeling directionless, he decides to start protecting the city as a vigilante known as The Watchdog. Wayne ends up joining with two other vigilantes, Virago and The Silencer, who do their best to help him go from a hapless wannabe superhero to… a slightly less hapless wannabe superhero. Wayne has a lot of heart, but he’s not fast, he’s not strong, he’s not brave, and he has a really bad habit of getting a violently bloody nose whenever he sneezes. Still, Wayne wants to make a difference, and he continues to work to help people in need.

While the story is a ton of fun, what really makes Vigilant stand out in the saturated world of superhero shows is the characters. Wayne doesn’t have your typical vigilante origin story. Sure, he’s not really been living his best life, but he wasn’t trapped on a hellish island for five years, he didn’t watch his parents die in an alley when he was a kid, and he wasn’t trained by the League of Assassins. Wayne’s got a solid support system in his friends, and while they’ve got their doubts about Wayne’s foray into the vigilante life, they ultimately they support him. I wish I could relate more to someone like Jessica Jones, Sara Lance, Oliver Queen, or Bruce Wayne, but the fact is, out of all of those, I’m definitely more like Wayne than I’d like to admit. He’s just a goofy guy who’s trying to do something bigger than himself. Watching a superhero show where the main character seems very flawed (and not in a tortured, man-tears sort of way), goofy, and very human is a fun change of pace. And while characters like Silencer and Virago are awesome and bad-ass, I love watching Wayne have normal interactions with his friends, and his relationship with Rita, the first person he “saves,” is very normal, despite the fact that he moonlights as The Watchdog. Vigilant is funny, and they manage to weave in humor with superhero story lines in a fun way, but it’s really the characters that kept me watching.

I think a lot of that has to do with the brains behind Vigilant. The show was created by Kyle Bridges and Zac Coleman, and is written by Kyle, Zac, Craig Deering (Wayne), and Allen Murphy (Chris). These guys have been making web videos together for years, and that chemistry absolutely comes through on camera. Allen and Craig play best friends in Vigilant, and their real life friendship makes it almost impossible not to fall in love with their characters.

Vigilant is a great example of what makes YouTube and the internet so awesome. It’s an example of friends having a cool idea, and going out and creating something new and exciting instead of waiting for someone else to create it. Obviously, we at Geek & Sundry have a soft spot for that since our fearless leader, Felicia Day did just that with The Guild.

If you haven’t watched Vigilant, then now’s the time. Take a look at the trailer for the show:

You can check out Vigilant by visiting and subscribing to the Evil Iguana Youtube channel, and you can follow the guys on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Have you watched Vigilant? What did you think of it? What are some other awesome web series that we have to check out? Let us know in the comments! 

Image credit: screen shot/Vigilant, Evil Iguana Productions LLC/Vigilant 

Hold onto your witch’s hat, here’s everything we’ve learned about the characters of the Potterverse since the end of the Second Wizarding War and Harry’s triumph over Voldemort.

Harry

As everyone knows, Harry Potter married and had three children with Ginny Weasley after the war. What wasn’t written in the books was that Harry entered the Auror program and became Head Auror in 2007 at the tender age of 26. Harry occasionally returns to Hogwarts to guest lecture in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Hermione

Hermione Granger was the only member of the Golden Trio to return to Hogwarts and finish her education. She later became employed by the Ministry of Magic and continued her cause for the better treatment of house-elves. She was then promoted to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and eventually married and had two children with Ron Weasely. Hermione is also the godmother of two of Harry’s children, his eldest son, James Sirius, and only daughter, Lily Luna.

Ron

Ron Weasley joined Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom as an Auror after the war, at the invitation of Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic. Their initial work involved tracking down and capturing escaped Death Eaters. Eventually, Ron left the Aurors to work with his brother George at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and married Hermione Granger. He and Hermione’s children are named Rose and Hugo. Ron is godfather to James Sirius Potter.

Ginny

Ginny Weasley became a professional Quidditch player for the Holyhead Harpies. After retiring from the Harpies, she became the senior Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet. She and Harry married in the early 2000s. Their eldest son, James Sirius, was sorted into Gryffindor last September.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom briefly joined Ron and Harry as an Auror after the Second Wizarding War. He moved on to serve as the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts once Pomona Sprout retired. Neville married Hannah Abbot.

Luna Lovegood

Luna Lovegood graduated from Hogwarts and became a Magizoologist. She married Rolf Scamander and had twins, Lorcan and Lysander. The Potter’s only daughter, Lily Luna, was partially named after her.

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall survived the Second Wizarding War and continued as Headmistress of Hogwarts for at least a decade. She retired sometime in the late 2000s or 2010s. Prior to the war, Minerva had an interesting life, including a short marriage and a brief stint at the Ministry of Magic. More on her life can be found here.

Professor Sprout

Professor Pomona Sprout fought bravely at the Battle of Hogwarts and survived the Second Wizarding War. She retired from her position as Herbology Professor of Hogwarts by 2014 and was succeeded by Neville Longbottom.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Kingsley Shacklebolt was appointed acting Minister of Magic after the war, a position which eventually was officially confirmed. He, along with the Golden Trio, worked hard and eventually changed purebred bias and overturned corruption in the Ministry. More information on his early years can be found here.

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy and his family defected to the light side during the Second Wizarding War, which allowed them to avoid Azkaban and extensive punishment. Draco eventually married Astoria Greengrass and had one son, Scorpius Hyperion. Nothing is currently known about Draco’s career, but information about his early life has been revealed and can be found here.

Dudley Dursley

Little information has been revealed about the Dursley’s since the realease of HP7, but it is known that Dudley Dursley eventually married a woman and had two children. It is believed that he and Harry had a better relationship as adults and that Harry may still be in contact with Dudley as well as Vernon and Petunia.

Sadly, several members of the wizarding world passed before or as a result of the Wizarding Wars. Luckily, their lives have been immortalized on the internet so that all fans can learn of their history. Here are links to the lives of Severus Snape, Tom Riddle Sr., Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Sr., Rufus Scrimgeour, Bellatrix Lestrange, Cornelius Fudge, Alastair Moody, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Sirius Black, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort.

J.K. Rowling has also written several companion books that expand our knowledge of the Potterverse, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, and the Harry Potter Prequel.

Rowling also updates information pertaining to the Potterverse on the official HP site, Pottermore. She also regularly tweets about the characters and verse and is giving us a new movie inspired by her book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The movie will be released November 18, 2016.

 

All Images Property of Warner Bros.

 

The newest update allows camera and radar equipped Model S’s to park all by themselves. James Majerus shows off the new feature in this new video...(Read...)

Hulu Original series 11.22.63 is a thriller in which high school English teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy — but his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, falling in love and the past itself, which doesn’t want to be changed.  On theatre February 15th, 2016...(Read...)

David Weiberg built this amazing Star Trek: TOS Enterprise bridge playset for his 8-year old son. It's a playset for his 8-year old son. David’s entire build process is available to view on Instructables. "This project started when I found my old Star Trek TOS playmates figures. I gave them to my eight year old son who had become a fan of the old show. He began building simple cardboard play pieces. Inspired by the clean wooden design of some of his other toys I set out to design and create a modular play set that he could use to assemble various rooms aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. I wanted a set that could break down and store easily. I tried to use scrap materials where I could. The bridge was the biggest challenge so I started there."..(Read...)

In case you’ve been living on another planet for the last couple of years, you’re probably well-aware of the epicness of DC’s current TV lineup. After the success of Arrow on The CW, The Flash was launched, leading to an explosion of characters and possibilities for the DC TV world as a whole. So when I heard about a new show centered on time-traveling super heroes and villains, I was so onboard. That show is Legends of Tomorrow and here’s what you need to know before it premieres on January 21.

The World

Legends of Tomorrow exists in the same world as Arrow and The Flash. In fact, the main reason for bringing the group together is to stop Vandal Savage, who appeared in both The Flash and Arrow crossover episodes. The members of the team trying to stop Savage include Firestorm, Captain Cold, Atom, and Hawkgirl, who all appeared on The Flash. Plus, White Canary, who has played a recurring role on Arrow for several seasons joins the crew. Considering the close ties of the three shows, we can probably assume Barry Allen and Oliver Queen will make an appearance on Legends of Tomorrow at some point if not in the first episode.

The Characters

With new characters like Rip Hunter and old friends like White Canary, Legends of Tomorrow brings together a cast of misfits as they try to align their collective weekly mission–traveling through time and trying not to screw it all up! Here’s a quick look at the main players you should know.

Rip Hunter

Played by Arthur Darvill, Rip Hunter is a time-traveler who shows up just to assemble this team to join forces in order to stop Vandal Savage from ruining–well, everything. In Season 2 of The Flash, Eobard Thawne name drops Rip Hunter as the original creator of the ‘time bubble’.

White Canary

After dying at the end of Arrow Season 3 then being resurrected in Season 4, White Canary is bringing amazing skills as a badass fighter who doesn’t let anyone push her around.

Firestorm

Firestorm is actually the combination of two characters: Martin Stein and Jefferson Jackson. Together, the unlikely duo becomes Firestorm–one flying dude on fire.

Captain Cold

As one of the snarkiest criminals to appear on The Flash, Captain Cold doesn’t seem like much of a team player. How will this lone wolf operate when he’s not the one calling the shots?

Hawkgirl

Poor Cisco fell in love with Hawkgirl, aka Kendra Saunders, just before she realized she’s actually immortal, can fly, and has a bunch of drama from all of her past lives including an obsessed lover. Wow. Tough luck. Hawkgirl’s warrior skills will come in handy with this bunch.

Hawkman

Carter Hall, aka Hawkman, is threatened and killed by Vandal Savage in every life he’s lived. Immortal, just like his lover Hawkgirl, they always lose their fight to Savage. But now that they have teamwork, maybe they’ll succeed.

Heat Wave

Hero of all pyromaniacs out there, Heat Wave isn’t in the business of helping anyone. As Captain Cold’s accomplice in criminal activities, he’s unlikely to win any popularity contests.

Atom

As a charming inventor, who also happens to be a billionaire, Ray Palmer seems like a classic “good guy” hero. But how will a shrinking suit benefit the team?

The Future

Time travel! The possibilities are endless. Because the basic premise allows for time travel, I’d say we can expect a ton of hilarious run-ins across various time periods. Personally, I’d love a trip to the 1980s with lots of bright colors and scrunchies. DC hero Jonah Hex is set to make an appearance set in the wild west. The series is also set to welcome Firefly favorite Jewel Staite in the future where she’ll play a tech genius.

Get a better idea of how cool Legends of Tomorrow will be by watching this epic trailer!

Featured Image Credit: The CW

What are you looking forward to on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow? Let us know in the comments!

We won’t get full-length Justice League and Wonder Woman films until 2017, but DC Films has released promo images for both films to set us in a frenzy in the meantime. We’ll see Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film, but we just got our first look at the characters of Cyborg and The Flash with a new promo photo released.

This is the first full team lineup shot we’ve been lucky enough to see. Ezra Miller’s version of The Flash looks a lot like a slightly shinier and more muscular version of Grant Gustin’s CW version of the hero. But, Ray Fisher as Cyborg looks down-right nightmare-inducing with metal covering his entire chest and portions of his face. Is he supposed to look scary? The promo images released thus far do seem to imply a darker tone for the upcoming films.

Photo Credit: DC Films / Facebook 

Also released is a new badass single shot of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Anyone else feel like she’s staring directly into their soul? Fulfilling many of our female superhero-led film dreams, the expectations for the Wonder Woman film are high. But judging from everything we’ve seen so far, I’m counting down the many days until Wonder Woman is released!

Photo Credit: Wonder Woman / Facebook

Justice League Part One is scheduled for a November 2017 release–a whopping 23 months away. Wonder Woman is slated slightly earlier for Summer 2017. Luckily, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is much closer to reality and will hit theaters on March 25, 2016.

Featured Image Credit: Wonder Woman / Facebook

What do you think of the new promo photos for the Justice League and Wonder Woman films? Let us know in the comments!

This is the first trailer for "Wonder Woman" aired Tuesday night on the CW during a DC Comics special...(Read...)

Ronda Rousey hosts Saturday Night Live on January 23, 2016 with musical guest Selena Gomez...(Read...)

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the TV series, Batman that starred Adam West and Burt Ward as the crime-fighting duo, the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder. Before Christopher Reeve made us believe a Superman could fly, and way before Michael Keaton and Christian Bale donned the cowl, this cheerful, tongue firmly in cheek show was such a hit with viewers it aired twice a week, on back-to-back nights for two seasons on ABC. On that same Bat time same Bat channel, they were the original American idols. The last season petered out as must shows do, but what a glorious run it was.

As we begin the new year, now is the time to revisit not the dark nights, but a version of Gotham that was sunny, where candy red phones where housed in cake containers. There’s even talk of a Batman 1966 animated movie in the works featuring the voices of West and Ward. For now though, before Ben Affleck debuts his version of Billionaire Bruce Wayne in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, let’s admit to ourselves that Adam West is the Batman we deserve: Now more than ever.

Even On Those Days When He Just Couldn’t Get Rid of a Bomb…

In fact, we’d say this is a shining of example of why he’s the Batman we deserve. Before tossing a giant bomb into the ocean, he stops short of such an act because he sees a family of ducks. All life is precious, Robin.

A Batman That Will Take That Rain Check, Catwoman.

Whether she was played by Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar or Lee Meriwether; we don’t think we could ever say ‘no’ to any Catwoman.

A Batman That Can Have A Conversation
With Himself. Like a Boss.

Because this.

A Batman That Dances?
We Definitely Deserve That.

Adam West is up for anything as a performer. Like the can’t look away Batusi. Take note Affleck.

Decades Later, He Tells Bart and Lisa
That His Suit is 100% Pure West.

Having a sense of humor about yourself makes you a class act, Mr. West.

 

This really only scratches the surface though. There’s also, all those moments Batman tutored Robin with daily life lessons, usually, while using a rope to ascend a building. Or how about that episode where the dynamic duo met Bruce Lee and his sidekick, the Green Hornet? Or, all those times Batgirl showed up to show Batman how to properly give a beat down?

What’s your favorite reason to love Adam West’s signature role? Sound off in the comments!

 

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.

It looks delicious. Music: Artec - You Got it (feat. Mike Irving)..(Read...)

The reaction to this comic gave me a harsh lesson in the malleability of words. Many people agreed with me about what constitutes barbecue, but far more did not, and many seemed to believe that I owed them a personal apology for forcing them to call me ignorant.

In several of my later comics I take the position that your life will become easier if you just accept that words mean what people think they mean, regardless of what the OED says. That attitude started here.

Note from Missy: AH! Now I see why we had a conversation yesterday about how my family prepared hot dogs when I was a kid. Yeah, the idea of boiling them makes me shudder. Grill all the way.

Also: I love the playing around with the bottom margin in the 3^rd panel. Sadly, newspapers would hate this.

Note from Scott: Yeah, I had only just started playing with breaking the panel when I got picked up by Seattle Weekly, so I had to stop it.

 

You can comment on this comic on Facebook.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Beloved character of Force Awakens, Poe Dameron, will be getting much more spotlight in the coming months. The ruggedly charming Resistance pilot, as portrayed by scene-stealing Oscar Issac, will have his own comic title, Star Wars: Poe Dameron, written by Charles Soule (who also wrote Star Wars: Lando) and drawn by Phil Noto (artist for Star Wars:Chewbacca).

The pair will be exploring Poe’s status as top pilot under General Leia Organa, as well as introducing a new villain and nemesis for the titular character, emerging from the First Order as they race to find Luke Skywalker.

“Sometimes it can feel like the Star Wars universe is so well trodden and so many stories have already been told,” Soule explains. “But the way the Episode VII galaxy is set up, there are opportunities for new archetypes almost, and the bad guy we’re working with is going to feel fresh and cool.”

The new Marvel comic series will be hitting stands in April. Fans of the character may wish to bone up on their Poe lore, picking up back issues of the Shattered Empire miniseries, which starred Poe’s Rebel Alliance parents,  A-Wing pilot Shara Bey and soldier Kes Dameron, set after the events of Return of the Jedi.

Are you excited for the Poe comic series? Which Force Awakens character would you like to see explored in comics? Let us know in the comments!

 

Featured Image Credit: Marvel Comics (Fair Use)
Image Credits: Marvel Comics (Fair Use)

Building compelling encounters is one of the cornerstones of good RPG storytelling. Here are a few basic tips to keep in mind when you’re ready to terrorize — ahem, challenge — your friends.

1. While creating your foes, consider which region, location, and setting which the encounter takes place. Different kinds of creatures live in different environments, so don’t forget to vary your enemies.
2. Always keep in mind how challenging you want the encounter to be. Is it a quick scuffle, a series of small rapid encounters, or a big confrontation with a crazy looking dude with spikes for eyebrows?
3. If you need help with balancing, check resources such as the Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual, or the website Kobold Fight Club. Even the best Game Masters need a little help once in awhile.
4. Feel free to customize your creatures to fit your own unique vision and story. Resources are great, but you can treat them more as guidelines if you’re going for something specific.
5. Write down any notes of your creatures’ special abilities or defenses. It’s generally terrible for everyone if you forget about those things in the heat of battle.
6. Battlefields can be as important as the enemies themselves. Not all fights need a map but get creative with your terrain and surroundings. Elements like traps or NPCs can add a lot to a fight.
7. It’s viable for smarter foes to flee if they’re losing a battle. You can always stage their amazing comeback later in the campaign.
8. Diplomacy is also viable: not all fights need to end in bloodshed.
9. Not all fights are meant to be won. It’s okay to design fights that are unwinnable if it’s part of your story: just make sure that your more stubborn players don’t hang around and get wiped out. A helpful hint or two goes a long way.

Of course, these are just the basic tips written out in a handy list format. If you need more detail, check out the video above with Critical Role’s illustrious DM, Matt Mercer.

We’ll have more Game Master Tips every Friday, so stay tuned!!

Visual effects artist, Chris Francis  added lightsabers and Star Wars sound effects to a sword fighting scene from the classic martial arts film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Cool."What happens when the world of ancient east and a galaxy far, far away combine? The best of things: An intense lightsaber battle. "..(Read...)

So your young child does something totally and completely out of character– says something he would never say, or does something she knows full well she is not supposed to do.  Of course, your first thought is to go: “Please let me hide under a blanket for eternity so I do not have to take […]