Home Town Advantage - Part III

I know essentially no one but me is a fan of these articles, but I do enjoy writing them, and my follower numbers aren't so huge that I really worry about revenue or anything. The idea is pretty simple, here's another list of cities/towns/general locations which would be good for your superhero gaming as settings. There are a few reasons for wanting to do this, aside from not having the baggage of an existing superhero setting, like not having to make everything from scratch, being able to download online maps and resources and setting tone through location. Even if you do want to play in an existing setting, as will be discussed below, maybe being in Marvel New York or Gotham is just too tied up with continuity and being "off to the side", as it were, will be helpful. I personally find that moving to the locales not hit by the big events is a massive help when playing in the Marvel or DC sandbox myself.

Miskatonic University

Ok, so hear me out on this one. Run a Big Hero 6/Black Summer style game where all the heroes are university postgrads working on super-technology, but the antagonists are from the Lovecraft Mythos. Doesn't that sound cool? A bit like Cthulhu Tech, but superheroes and more modern-day. Or just run a university-based superhero team and leave the Lovecraft angle hanging to annoy your players? New England is lovely after all. Plus if you're roleplaying, there is simply tonnes of information and maps of the University and the area already, meaning you can skip quite a bit of preparation and dive right in.

Knowhere

Probably more known now as the mining colony in Guardians of the Galaxy, the Knowhere of the comics is actually even more interesting and a great base for a superhero team, as the comics demonstrate. Knowhere is a repository of Universal Knowledge, essentially a giant library and tech cave just waiting for the kind of players actually smart enough to research their targets and prepare plans. There's teleportation facilities for away missions and Cosmo the space dog is chief of security, so throw in some lost technology and you can end up with a much different vibe for your Marvel Universe game than you'll get working out of Avengers' Mansion.

Scrapyard

I may have mixed feelings about the "Alita" franchise, but the city of Scrapyard is really cool and worth a good look. Underneath a floating wonder-city of lost technology, scavengers and cyborgs compete for the chance to move to the world above whilst surviving on the garbage that is thrown down. Whilst the concept of 'superheroes' doesn't usually enter this world, it is primed for for exactly that kind of action, with a corrupt government, plenty of street gangs and a massive criminal empire that a rag-tag group of heroes could happily rail against. The setting introduces a great deal of future technology, but is also primitive in many ways, which a clever Game Master will be able to utilise to tell some great stories.

Paris

Look, maybe just run the game in Paris? This may feel like a cop-out, but trust me I'm going somewhere with it. Yes, I'm something of a Francophile and, yes, I really enjoy Miraculous, but I think Paris, or a version of it, has a lot to recommend as a setting. Despite not being strongly associated with superheroes, Paris is at least home to Nightrunner, Ladybug and Chat Noir, and, if you're not playing modern day, Les Hommes Mysterioux. Not being an American city provides a great change of tone and there is a huge history to the city that is lacking in the New World, such as a series of catacombs beneath the streets in which entire societies live, plenty of landmarks and museums and even slummy tower blocks for villains to recruit from. For a different look at the city, check out the District B-13 films or some early Luc Besson crime dramas; you may find some fun ideas for your next game.

Superhero Media: Hellboy (2004)

For a reasonably obscure comic that typically has little in the way of plot, Hellboy made one hell of a film. A collaboration between Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy may well be simultaneously the most faithful adaptation of an existing comic book series and one of the most revisionist. For those who haven't ready much Hellboy or B.P.R.D., the comics tend to be very narrative-light, more focused on ideas and the visuals Mignola wanted to realise; and there's nothing wrong with them or that approach, but it wouldn't translate well to film. What del Toro and Mignola do is take the bones of what works in the comics and fill in the connecting tissue to get a whole world on-screen. Of course, I fucking love Hellboy. From the opening with leather-clad Nazi Science Wizards fighting US Soldiers through to Hellboy getting swallowed by a mythos monster, the film almost doesn't miss a beat. I remember when Hellboy came out, I was in the last year of High School and was the only one of my friends interested in seeing the film before it came out, but this was 2004 and we didn't have the luxury of streaming, so we all saw it on the school holidays and soon I was inundated with questions about who Hellboy was and where to find Dark Horse comics. 

For me, Hellboy demonstrates the "Golden Ratio" of superhero (but also Kaiju and other nice genres) film adaptations, in that the, utterly absurd, premise is played completely straight, but the characters within the world of the film react naturally. Agent John Myers is flabbergasted by real-life monsters, as many would be, but for those working with Hellboy and Abe-Sapien long enough, it is as bland as any workplace, with Special Agent Tom Manning sounding for all the world like a frustrated HR Director. Ron Perlman is brilliant as Hellboy, swaggering in the larger-than-life role, complete with winking one-liners and embodying the "heroic man-child" archetype. Perlman perfectly delivers lines like "I'm not a very good shot... but the Samaritan here uses really big bullets" like he just stepped out of a comic panel. Despite the fact that Mignola often dismisses his own work as "...just want[ed] to draw monsters", there is a subtle genius to the embrace of pulp tropes along with classic monster movies, fairy tales and Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror; that this translated to a film as good as Hellboy is a testament to del Toro's skill and the crew he brought together. 

Keep in mind, the popular superhero film series of the era in which Hellboy was made were Blade, X-Men and Spider-Man, all from the pages of Marvel Comics, and two of which were stripped-down versions without much of the inherent silliness of their series. Bringing to the big screen an adaptation of a cult Indy comic with barely any plot, featuring a team of Monsters fighting Nazi Wizards led by Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, who is trying to summon an Elder God right out of Call of Cthulhu, was pure madness, but it worked. Not only did this mad premise come together, but the film was made with practical effects wherever possible, so it still looks great more than a decade later, the cast is brilliant and the only misstep on the soundtrack was not using the original, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, version of "Red Right Hand". Hellboy is a film to treasure, and not just because the remake is so poor, but because a director and writer getting to put together such a personal project, on their own terms, and to have it come together so well, is pretty rare. This film made me want to start "Weird World War II" gaming, Pulp games and even Cosmic Horror. Hellboy was one of the first Indy Comics characters I painted in miniature and was in my first big Ultimate Alliance game. I will never stop loving this film.

Superhero Media: Ghostbusters

Why is Ghostbusters such a classic? Yes, it's a clever, high-concept comedy from an era that perfected high-concept comedies, with a brilliant cast and bevy of one-liners; but it's certainly not the only film of that era that meets these qualifications. The story is loose, the mythology is nonsensical and Peter Venkman comes across as a sexual predator, but damn if none of that really matters in the end, because Ghostbusters is a genuine classic. In fact, I'm not really going to bother discussing the film in any sense other than how to justify it as superhero media and how to roll it into your superhero gaming. The Ghostbusters themselves work pretty well in a superhero setting, being a group of scientists with fuzzy qualifications that manage to create nuclear-powered super weapons to hunt ghosts because reasons. Venkman is a psychologist, in case you forgot, which kind of just makes his predating on students even the more creepy now that I think of it. As a private entity, the Ghostbusters are free to work for the government only when necessary (like being hired by the Mayor in the final act of the film), placing them among the likes of Damage Control or even Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway. 

Given that the Ghostbusters, as the name implies, bust ghosts, putting them up against, say Gentleman Ghost or Nightmare makes a lot of sense, maybe even a "misunderstanding fight" with Deadman or Ghost Rider. Let's not forget Gozer though, part ancient deity, part Lovecraftian horror, part Prince video, and surely a worthy opponent for Doctors both Strange and Fate. Flip that around, and you could easily have the Ghostbusters taking on Dormammu, Yig or Trigon, which opens up a fun range of allies for them to have, like Detective Chimp, Brother Voodoo, Raven, and many more. If you really run the Lovecraftian route, there's pretty much no better place to go than the BPRD, with Hellboy and Co taking on the big nasty whilst the boys in grey wrangle the nasty ghosts that have been kicked up; there's a game right there I could run tomorrow if I wanted. Actually, I have a display day coming up, maybe I should consider it... Or even just gaming out something like Infestation a bit better, most wargamers have plenty of zombies kicking around, I know I do. 

Now that I'm on this kick, I really can't seem to stop coming up with ideas. Lost Patrol with Ghostbusters vs Zombies. Ghostbusters (all of 'em) as an "Exorcist" unit in a SHIELD or UNIT force. Classic vs 2016 Ghostbusters in a Civil War campaign (or Secret Invasion!). Ghostbusters meet Sandman (Morpheus) and have to clear Nightmare out of the Dreaming. All this just since my last rewatch a couple of days ago, if you're a big fan of the film, you can probably come up with even more. Crooked Dice do a good set of Ghostbusters, even doing Slime Canister versions from Ghostbusters II, Lewis and Janine in full kit and the 2016 versions, so, again, you could have a small force for a skirmish game if that's your kind of thing. I think I'll be leaving Ghostbusters for a bit, having not watched it for a number of years before this last viewing; it certainly felt like the hiatus made it more enjoyable. That said, I think some more Ultimate Alliance games need to feature Venkman, Stanz, Zeddmore and Spengler, so watch out for that.

Superhero Media: Infestation 2

Hot on the "success" of Infestation, IDW launched the second part, Infestation 2, leaner, meaner and with more than a few changes. Rather than a single entity, like the Undermind, Infestation 2 pits its heroes against the entirety of the Cthulhu mythos, which makes for grander stories, but the overall effect is slightly weakened without a recurring villain like Brit to tie the narrative together. Infestation 2 features the Transformers, Dungeons and Dragons, TMNT, GI Joe and 30 Days of Night, most of which are better than the stories in Infestation, but without the kind of crossover promised, like Snake Eyes meeting Optimus Prime and Leonardo, it's still unfulfilling. Once again, the GI Joe story is the best one, with a cult uprising at a Cobra asylum for insane operatives. Crystal Ball (Cobra Old Ones Expert), Storm Shadow, a Cobra Psychologist and a cadre of lunatics have to survive a wave of hybrids to shut down the ritual and escape. I'd watch that film, even without a GI Joe framework and characters. 

The Transformers story takes place, not "now" or in the near future (like the 1986 film), but in 1887, with most of the Autobots and Decepticons in hiding, until Dunwhich is overrun by Deep Ones and corrupted Decepticons and Nikola Tesla has to awaken Optimus Prime to save the day. It's ridiculous nerd-bait, but the fun concept and diesel-punk transformer designs make it worth a look anyway. Nothing else in the anthology is really worth mentioning, though none of it is strictly bad, if you have the Omnibus Edition like I do, the whole Infestation/Infestation 2 does make for a good read and has plenty of inspiration for supers and horror games of all kinds. For me, the Infestation[s] are a nice additional antagonist for a campaign without having to buy additional miniatures, as I already own more than enough zombies and cultists to combine Infestation with Annihilation or to run it as its own series of games.

I've read almost all of HP Lovecraft's published works, and whilst I'm not a huge fan, his ability to evoke the otherworldly, the uncanny and a sense of unknowable horror is unmatched. It's no wonder that his style and mythos have endured and become a major fixture of popular culture. Of course, having such powerful beings as the great old ones leads some writers to wanting to see this power flexed; hence many derivative stories being more action-focused. As I've mentioned a number of times, a certain subset of supers fans are more interested in seeing the fights than the characters, so that superheroes fighting mythos monsters is a pretty expected result. Sometimes, this works really well, like Hellboy or Atomic Robo, but there are far too many poor attempts that leave me mostly disappointed. For me, the best Old Ones in comics are the ones that were there before we knew what they were, Starro, Galactus and Stardust the Super Wizard, for example. What's the point of a mountain-sized monstrosity when Superman can still throw it into space, after all?

Superhero Media: Ghostbusters (2016)

For various reasons, this film was highly contentious and it seems that nothing can be put up on the internet about it without a vitriolic argument forming instantaneously. I trust that, with those who frequent this blog, this shall not be the case. I encourage comments, but please, be respectful and polite, as you guys always are. 

I enjoyed it. Was it as good as the original? No, but what Ghostbusters material has ever been as good as the original? Ghostbusters II certainly didn't manage it, so why are people getting so up in arms about it? The characters are funny, the effects are actually pretty good and the ghostbusting looks better and feels more exciting than the original. The plot isn't great and the villain is nothing to speak of, but, then again, is Gozer really that interesting? From a meta-fictional standpoint, Gozer is a brilliant stand-in for an ancient, Lovecraftian horror, returning to Earth to consume the souls of humanity, only to be defeated by ingenuity and the powers of science. Aside from that, I would argue that it is Dana, Lewis and Mr Staypuft that give Gozer any real gravitas. As mentioned above, it is the cast that brings the most to the new Ghostbusters, Erin, Abby, Patty, Kevin and Holtzmann are fun characters, with some great on-screen chemistry and I would be keen to see what they get up to in any sequels. 

The highlight of the film is a massive fight scene in Times Square, where the new team utilise a variety of new weapons to bust a wave of ghosts released by the forgettable villain. Unlike the original, the action is pretty engaging and takes on more than standing still, firing a Proton Pack at ghosts. Stunts, fight choreography and a banging soundtrack bring the ideas of Ghostbusters into a contemporary blockbuster landscape and make the girls look like superheroes as much as scientists and engineers. Patty feels a lot less token than Winston did, as her knowledge of local history and folklore is pivotal in more than one scene. Overall, Ghostbusters (2016) feels more like a remake of Ghostbusters II than anything else, interesting characters, good humour, crummy villain and not as good as the original. All-in-all, I think that's pretty good, certainly far better than some of the remakes that have been touted over the years.

I understand that part of the vitriol against this incarnation of Ghostbusters is the thought that it is somehow replacing or usurping a possible Ghostbusters III with the original cast, but this reasoning is preposterous. Bill Murray has repeatedly denied any interest in such a project for over a decade, I was shocked to see him in this one, until I realised he was playing a pastiche of his own Wes Anderson characters. Ghostbusters (2016) is not an affront to your childhood; it is an ok remake with an interesting cast, poor premise and a few decent laughs. I'm already eyeing off the Crooked Dice set so that I can have a team-up between both teams against Gentleman Ghost and Baron Mordo wielding the Necronomicon... sounds cool huh? 

Superhero Media: Ash Vs Evil Dead

Full disclosure, I'm not really a fan of the Evil Dead series. Sure, I've seen them all and want to read the Freddy vs Jason vs Ash comic at some point, but I can't say that I've ever viewed them as "classics" in any respect. My guess is that I simply came to them too late, well into my 20s, to have them leave a lasting impression, then again, it was the same for Big Trouble in Little China and that is a goddamned masterpiece. That said, I really enjoyed the first few episodes of Ash Vs Evil Dead, with an ageing, overweight and laughably pathetic Ash eking out an existence in retail. When the dead rise again, Ash does everything he can to ignore the problem until his coworkers force him to strap on his chainsaw and get busy. When Ash finally gains the impetus to go after the Deadites, it's a pretty cool scene, pity that momentum doesn't last the rest of the series. 

To start with Ash Vs Evil Dead is pure Sam Rami, through and through; the splatter quotient is dialed up to eleven and the zombie makeup is actually really good for a television programme. Where it falls down is in terms of plot and verisimilitude. Ash and co basically have to get the Necronomicon back to the cabin to prevent the apocalypse, not sure why it took them a whole season though, as the cabin appears to be in the same state and they're driving. Ok, yes they have to stop to fight deadites every episode to keep the action up, but the lack of progress is distracting, especially when Ash is trying to pick up a random waitress in a diner, who clearly isn't interested; yes, it informs character, but runs contrary to the idea of the chase/road narrative. Also odd is that, in an early episode, deadites are overrunning a shopping centre and people are looting, but one episode later (and one county over), everything seems to be fine and no one is aware of the undead apocalypse bearing down on them. 
 

My guess is that Ash Vs Evil Dead is made for the fans. The references to the films are think and fast and Rami-splatter seems to be used as a kind of caulk for the gaps in narrative. The longer I think about it, the more holes I find; why has Ash not sold the Necronomicon if he's that hard up for cash, he had at least one buyer? Why is all of his Deadite-hunting gear in perfect working order if it's been that long, he seems pretty lazy? Is there really only one Necronomicon, a lot of people seem to know about it and in most fiction there are a few copies rocking around? If, unlike me, you can sit there and not analyse things too much, you should get a kick out of Ash Vs Evil Dead, but I don't think I'll be chasing down the second series now that my 30-day Free Trial has expired. Still want that Hasslefree "Not Ash" for Ultimate Alliance though... 

 

Miniatures Finished: The Illuminated Order [FR]

Who is the Illuminated Order and what plans do they have for the magical artifacts gathered in France? Only time will tell, but for now they're the first completely painted faction for the French Revolution campaign! 

 The Beast (RAFM), The Hermetic (Pathfinder) and The Blood Lotus (RAFM); mysterious foes with unknowable motives. 

 The First Among Equals (Games Workshop) and The Lilit (RAFM, Eureka and Fiendish Fabrications); can the world withstand the onslaught of such daemonic foes? 

 

Supers and Systems: Envoys of Doom - Part 1

So I tend to post a great deal about SuperSystem and my Ultimate Alliance variant, but I do play other games as well. Probably my favorite kind of game is the "gang skirmish", when a small team of minis gains experience and new members over the course of a campaign; I played Necromunda almost exclusively for a good 5 years. Having grown away from the GW market, I find myself playing gang games like Empire of the Dead and the Judge Dredd Miniatures Game, both of which are a great deal of fun. 
However, just because I'm not playing SuperSystem doesn't mean that I can't play with supers. So this will be the first in a series of attempts to sneak Superheroes into other games and genres. The idea is a narrative game of Empire of the Dead to run in a "convention" style, a quick and fun little game that demonstrates the system. 

The Envoys of Doom

I'll improve the game blurb as I go, but the basic idea is that Victorian and Gothic heroes have to stop a ritual being held by foul cultists attempting to usher in the end of the world. The usual Penny Dreadful/Doctor Who/70s BBC setup, a ruined church in the wilderness, dark magic, poor lighting and gravel quarries. 

The Heroes
Players will be able to choose from individual or small teams of heroes to take on the cultists. 

At the moment all I have are Alan Quartermain and Edward Hyde, I'm thinking about adding Tarzan, maybe Victorian Batman, Holmes and Watson or anything else that takes my fancy. I'm not too keen on Batman, I've found that nothing kills a game faster than Batman. 
Alan is Ironclad, Hyde from Wyrd. 

The Cultists
Can't have the end of the world without insane cultists, and everybody knows that Cthulhu cultists are the best insane cultists. 

In game terms, the cult will be a Holy Order with modified Arcane Powers. I'll be getting a few more Eureka cultists to help with the unholy ritual. 
Minis from RAFM, Reaper and Games Workshop. 

Aggressive Flora
Strange magical transformations of the local plant life have been happening. 

I may get another couple of shrooms, these will act as a potential hazard to the heroes and I'll probably use the Clicker or Lycoan Rules. Minis are Reaper and Dungeons and Dragons.

Big Nasties 
Should the ritual be completed, varying forms of alien creature will turn up to wreak havoc. 

Not quite sure how to run these yet, will burn that bridge when I get to it. Minis from Fiendish Fabrications, RAFM, Reaper and Horrorclix. Realised as I posted this that I have an already-painted Black Cat Bases Shoggoth to work in as well. 

Watch this space, more to come...