Taint Dead Yet...

Finally saw this... Really want to see this again:

B-Movie Monday: Rambo Rip-Offs

With the 4th of July only 3days away I thought we would look at some of the more interesting rip-offs, er I mean tributes of Rambo. The quintessential misunderstood Vietnam vet character first hit the screens in First Blood and soon the shelves were full of similar heroes. Filmmakers both foreign and domestic jumped on the bandwagon. Not exactly my B-Movie cup of tea, but they are a part of the Bs too.

And if that wasn't strange enough they even made a 65 episode cartoon featuring Rambo and "The Force of Freedom"...

[Space Princess] Lt. Cali Mitchell & Ursus, Son of Hercules

Among the more unique Mercenaries that frequent the Free World of Kronos are Lt.Calpurnia "Cali" Mitchell, of the Terran Expeditionary Corps, Retired and her mate Ursus, Son of Hercules, Slayer of the Martian Cyclops.

Cali is a third generation bionically enhanced solider who was forcibly removed from exploratory service. She terminated the rest of her squad that declared themselves gods of a backwater planet and began a reign of terror. The service agreed to leave her alone but there are those in the TEC who want revenge.

Ursus, Son of Hercules is one of the Heraclade, a human offshoot who claim direct decent from the Greco-Roman demigod Hercules (Heracles). Both male and female are strong and brawl at the least provocation. Ursus is known as the Slayer of the Martian Cyclops after he prevented the resurrection of the evil buried under the Martian Polar Wastes.

For missions that are in more open arenas Ursus and Cali are often joined by Ursus' childhood pet Victor, a rare kuranmord, a lion-like predator that usually rampages on Metallic Deathworlds. Ursus found Victor when he was a cub, and the two bonded over countless battles. He adores Cali just as much, and many an intruder has found out that Victor doesn't sleep when they do...

Cali and Ursus met during an inconvenient temporal crisis, and their first brawl raged in a world city for two days. After it was broken up, Cali brought Ursus a drink. They kept getting hired by the same employers and grew closer as a result. What the pair lack in wisdom and social graces they make up for endurance and righteous rage.

Lt. Calpurnia "Cali" Mitchell, Terran Exploration Corps
Human Bionic Warrior (Cyber-Woman)

STR 7 DEX 8 MEN 4 KNO 4
Hit Dice 5 Hit Points 40 Skill 6 Luck 2
Defense 18 Fight 12 Shoot 13

Skills: Climb 13, Leap & Swing 13/19, Swim 13
Specials: Bionic Implants: bionic calves (leap with Skill 12), bionic ears (Listens through doors with Skill 12), bionic fists (fists like laser swords 1d10 dmg)
Gear: Combat knife (1d6), Raygun (2d6), snazzy jumpsuit & headband

Ursus, Son of Hercules, Cyclops Slayer
Alien (Heraclade) Primitive (Warlord)

STR 9 DEX 5 MEN 6 KNO 4
Hit Dice 9 Hit Points 68 Skill 10 Luck 0
Defense 15  Fight 18 Shoot 14

Skills: Avoid Notice 15, Climb 19, Leap & Swing 19, Swim 19, Tracking 14
Specials: Double Damage with fists & hand weapons, +1 to Initative, -5 to Super science
Gear: Maciste's Sword (1d6), Astra's Bow (1d6), 20 arrows for bow

Heraclade Characters: Humanoid (+1 STR, -1 KNO)/ +1 STR

Victor
Kuranmord companion


HD 8, DEF 12, FIGHT 18 (1d8), SHOOT -, STR 10, DEX 6, MEN 4, KNO 0, DL 7, Special: Pounce (2 attacks when initiative is won)

B-Movie Monday Is Back! (On A Tuesday...)

My blogging vacation is over!

Oh I have read plenty of your blogs, yet I must admit I just didn't have the gumption to write anything recently. But now I am coming out of my self-imposed exile slowly but surely. Here and now B.Movie Monday rises from the grave!

Here are some trailers. Gotta get back on the bike! Ciao!

Cartoon Action Hour Season 3 Kickstarter: The Home Stretch

It's like the title says: less than 72 hours until the end of the Cartoon Action Hour Season 3 Kickstarter. As someone who doesn't back as many Kickstarters as I would like, this is one I have followed with great interest for a simple reason:

I really love the concept of Cartoon Action Hour. A roleplaying game designed to emulate 80s action cartoons.

Cynthia Celeste Miller created a game that I always wanted to and did a better job than I would have. If the Kickstarter had just made the initial goal of $4500, I'd be a happy man. As of today the total pledged is nearing $15,000. I pledged $25 for a pdf of the rules and a print copy too. As everyone knows, the sweet spot of a Kickstarter is hitting the stretch goals ans seeing what treasures can be unearthed. Many stretch goals have been passed already, and there's more to break in these final hours.

Why not check out the Kickstarter page (click the picture above for the link) and check it out. A tenspot ($10) will get you a pdf of the rules when completed, in addition to some sweet swag. Swag like more art and material in the rules. Mini cartoon series guides written by some of the great names in gaming including Steve Long, Shane Hensley, and John Wick. They even got 80s cartoon legends Flint Dille and Buzz Dixon to contribute material for the game: but only if the stretch goals are met!

Every time I've dealt with Spectrum Games, they've always been decent.  Here's to finishing up this Kickstarter strong!

[Cartoon Action Hour Season 2] Investigator Traloc and Captain Vix Rezlor (With Bonus Stuff!)

The Cartoon Action Hour Season 3 Kickstarter running wild, and one of the new stretch goals is the MotU-esque  The Complete Guide to Warriors of the Cosmos (at the $12,500 level) .  I wanted to share some characters I created for the Cartoon Action Hour Season 2 version of the rules. They haven't seen the light of day since 2009 so lets crack open the packaging and dig right in!

Back to 2009....

Recently I ordered a copy of Cartoon Action Hour Season 2 (CAH S2) from the fine folks at Spectrum Games. This new edition of their 80s cartoon roleplaying game is a great revamp. It has streamlines character creation and utilizes a make it yourself trait system that is extremely flexible.

I created a character for the new rules. The CAH S2 book comes with three ready-made cartoon series: Transbots (Transformers), Strikeforce Freedom (G.I. Joe), and the setting I chose, Warriors of the Cosmos (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe). The CAH S2 Playset here gives you a brief background of the setting. So without further ado I give you:


Investigator Traloc
“Loyal Lizard Centaur Detective of Shadestar”

Yeah  it's a Zoat.

Quick Bio: Traloc is a member of a race of lizard centaurs known as the Xoanon. They are refugees from another dimension that settled in Iconia a century ago. The Xoanon live in small communities scattered throughout Iconia. They are usually a reclusive people, but several of the Xoanon have entered the service of the kingdoms in which they reside. They cannot be changed into goop zombies, so Nekrottus usually imprisons them or forces them to work in one of his pet projects.

Traloc’s family lived in the Kingdom of Shadestar, in a small village near the royal lands. He grew up an inquisitive child, and became renowned for his prowess at solving puzzles. As he grew older, Traloc left his village and entered the Shadestar Guard. He soon became the personal detective for the new queen, a young woman named Noblara.

When Nekrottus attacked Shadestar, Traloc helped fight, but was captured by the Blackskull Empire. He was among those sent to the Castle Suspended, a prison run by the disgraced former Shadestar Guard Captain Rezlor. A raid by the Guardians of Iconia freed Traloc and his fellow prisoners. With Noblara’s support, he offered his services to King Rastor and the people of Haven. Today Traloc uses both his brains and his brawn to fight for the freedom of Iconia.

Appearance: Traloc is a Xoanon of average height (five feet tall) and length (four feet long). His upper torso is humanoid, and his lower body is similar to a small rhino with a long tail at the end. Traloc’s scales are green, with shades of gray here and there. His face is lizard like with no nose and eyes that seem to notice everything. When at official functions he wears a blue sash with his family sigils and symbols of his deeds. He always carries a mace given to him by his father when he became a member of the Shadestar Guard.

Factoids: “Former member of the Shadestar Guard” ”Uses both brains and strength to solve cases” ”Cannot be bought” ”One of the few Xoanon who leave their villages” ”Loyal to Noblara”

Subplots: Archenemy (Captain Rezlor), Vow (To help free his people)

Traits: Xoanon Mace 4 [Enhancer +2, Accessory], Tail Slap 3 [Enhancer +2], Trample 5 [Enhancer +3, Disadvantage (Must make a running start)], Scaly Skin 2, Shadestar Guard Detective 4, Xoanon Lore 1, Stamina 3, Brawling 3, Strong 3, Inconvenient Size 2X.

Oomph 2, Threshold 10, Battle Rating 5

Okay, you got me. Investigator Traloc is a Zoat. I just had to do that. Once you have a general idea of what you want, character creation is pretty easy. It does have some of the same daunting nature of a “make your own trait” system. It emulates the chosen genre well, and that is always a plus.

One of my earlier entries was a new character for Cartoon Action Hour Season 2. Here is the enemy of that character, Captain Vix Rezlor.

Captain Vix Rezlor
“Jailer of the Blackskull Empire”

Captain Vix Rezlor played by American Flagg by Howard Chaykin 

Quick Bio: Vix Rezlor was one of the most decorated members of the Shadestar Guard. The youngest person ever to hold the rank of Captain, he built the Guard under his command into a force to be reckoned with. Vix was well considered by Queen Noblara herself, and was in love with her. His only flaw was a prejudice against non-humanoids. It was slight at first, but soon it grew in intensity.

This began to color Vix’s interactions with both the Shadestar Guard and the people he protected. Seeds of resentment grew when his efforts to “streamline and improve” the Guard were blocked by concerned parties. Vix’s frustration grew to a boiling point. The final straw was the placing of Traloc, a Xoanon guardsman, as Noblara’s personal detective. In his mind Shadestar and Noblara betrayed him, giving something that belonged to him to someone that was beneath him.

When the Blackskull Empire invaded Shadestar, Vix offered his services to Nekrottus. The knowledge that he provided was a great factor in the fall of Shadestar. As a reward, Nekrottus has made Vix Rezlor the main Jailer of the Blackskull Empire. The only blot on his record is the fall of the Castle Suspended, his greatest jail. This is just one more reason for Vix to finish Traloc off once and for all.

Appearance: Vix Rezlor is a handsome dark haired man with an air of confidence about him. He usually dresses all in black with his silver Chain Gun at his side. The Chain Gun looks like an average laser, but it shoots out force chains which can be used to bind or trip Captain Rezlor’s opponents.

Factoids: “Dislikes non-humanoids” ”One of the Betrayers of Shadestar” ”Efficient commander of men” ”Clever designer of jails” ”Loyal to Nekrottus”

Subplots: Archenemy (Traloc), Mental Hang-Up (Prejudiced against Non-Humanoids)

Traits: Jailer 4, Loyalty 3, Tactical Genius 4, Handsome 3, Agile 3, Sword 4 [Enhancer +2, Accessory], Chain Gun 6 [Enhancer +3, Snare, Advantage (Can only be used by Captain Rezlor), Accessory], Former Shadestar Guard Captain 3, By the Book 1x, Competitive 1x

Threshold 10, Battle Rating 6

Note: Captain Rezlor’s prejudice comes into play in the 80s cartoon style. He is polite to everyone he meets accepts non-humanoids (anything that looks too different from humans). To them he has a condescending and short manner. His prejudice also leads Captain Rezlor to underestimate non-humanoids, which can lead to his defeat. Nekrottus knows of his prejudice and usually has him work with henchmen like Shadow Queen, Gatlyna, and Eye-Catcher.

Bonus #1: Rezlor’s Prison Guards

The prison guards of the Blackskull Empire are trained to keep their charges in Nekrottus’ jails. They have a tendency to work better with Nekrottus’ minions than the ordinary guards.

Battle Rating: 1

Goon Modifiers: Ensnare, Natural Born Followers

Bonus #2: A New Vehicle!

Kaptur Karavan

Description: This massive treaded battlewagon was designed to transport dangerous prisoners throughout the Blackskull Empire. The massive claws on the side can grab unwary Guardians and place them in a holding zone. The zone has a field that freezes the prisoner!

Traits: Massive Hull 7, Prisoner Area 5, All Terrain Treads 5, Stun Blasts 8 [Enhancer +4], Side Claws 6 [Enhancer +3, Snare, Area, Situational Setback-2 (When the Karavan takes two Setback Tokens)], Slow 1x, Hard to Repair 2x, Freeze Field 6 [Enhancer +3, Snare, Disadvantage (Only Works on Prisoners in Prison Area), Fickle]

Subplots: none

Kickstarter Swag!

Just sharing the fact that the fruits of some Kickstarter labor is starting to arrive PDF style! Got Great Power and some Stark City goodness for the Icons Super RPG. Plus the Risus and the FATE RPG campaigns are coming along great with stuff beginning to come out.

The Cartoon Action Hour Season 3 Kickstarter hit $11,000 this night and I think that's awesome! I'll talk about the game some more tomorrow.