Monday, March 30, 2015

Mecha's Thoughts On Wrestlemania And Its Aftermath

This is not the sort of thing I normally post here, but I've been thinking a fair bit about last night's Wrestlemania and what I've seen from wrestling fans on the internet about it.

First off, overall, I rather enjoyed a lot of this year's Wrestlemania. There were parts I didn't like, but the end of the show was fucking gold. But I've been reading a fair bit of displeasure about the event and where the WWE is online.

What amazes me is how many wrestling fans forget where the WWE was a year+ ago, and how we got to where we are now.

While Reigns was clearly a rising star (and virtually everybody was cool with that), he was clearly not going to be in the title picture. Then the following happened.

1) Punk leaves/quits/retires/whatever you want to call it. 2) Bryan has neck surgery. 3) EVERYBODY is sick of Cena vs. Orton.

So, what does the WWE do? Well, first step, they can take advantage of Brock's contract. Give him the title, and the fact that he's not always around gives them time to figure out a few things.

So, who is going to be the guy? Punk's out. Bryan's hurt. Cena and Orton are stale. The fans would go crazy for Ziggler, but WWE is concerned about his ability to stay healthy. The bumps and risks he takes and the fact that he doesn't dial it back ever worry them given what happened to Bryan and the nasty concussion Ziggler had. (so, part of what endears him to his fans) Del Rio is gone. So, who does that leave? We need someone who's been around, but is relatively new.

1) Seth Rollins? It's happened, and it's been brilliant. He's a fabulous heel and relentlessly entertaining. And he's now the champ.
2) Dean Ambrose? Possible, but Seth's going to be our new top heel and Dean really isn't a face wrestler... I love the guy, but he's clearly a Piper/Pillman type.
3) Ryback? Bahahahhahahahaha... sorry, no.
4) Cesaro? ... Fuck, I'm just not sure why not. He's great. They even hooked him up with Heyman, which was a gold pairing. And then he proceeded to fall off a mountain. I honestly think he should have been the guy.
5) Bray Wyatt? Too ensconced as a heel. And he's FAR too good at it to move him face. That said, I don't get what they've done with him. He never gets to win important matches. But there is clearly some reason WWE doesn't want him at the very top right now. (even if it's a reason I simply cannot fathom)
6) Reigns... well he's not quite ready yet, but he's got off the charts athleticism, he's got "the look" (tm), and he's been getting better very quickly. His mic work needs to improve, let's give him a shot.

So, they went with Reigns. (eventually) And the fans, who *used* to like him... HATED the fuck out it. He wasn't supposed to be the guy yet. And I *think* most of the WWE brass would agree, but who else?

So, where are we now? Bryan won the ladder match and is now Intercontinental Champ, yet people are somehow upset about it. (Bryan's not the #1 guy! Ziggler was buried! Moan moan moan) Reigns isn't champ, Rollins is! (but he got to have a comeback against Lesnar! Rollins' win was awesome in the moment, but we know it won't last! Moan moan moan)

I may not be the happiest about where things are right now, but I'm just not sure what else WWE could do all things considered. They did a remakably good job considering that their two most popular guys either quit (Punk) or just came back from neck surgery (Bryan)... much like they did at last year's Wrestlemania.

-Peter "MechaGM" Bowman

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

The Surly Grognards Episode 115, "Live Long And Prosper"

This week Eric and I pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

The Surly Grognards Episode 114 "Stuck On Mechanics"

This week Eric and I talk about game mechanics that players and game masters get stuck on and bring with them from game to game.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

"What's In A Name?" a D&D 4th ed Campaign, Episode Seven

This week our heroes continue to investigate the mines below Ironhame.



Players: Eric Carlson, Nik "Y Ruler of Time" Freeman, Michael "Skitch" Schiciano, Word on the Wind & Alice "Mjolna"
GM: Peter "MechaGM" Bowman
Campaign doc can be found here.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

IKRPG Tutorial Game?

Hey guys,

So, Zeenith in my Twitch chat suggsted the possiblity of me running a one-shot Iron Kingdoms adventure aimed at teaching new players the system.

I honestly wish I had thought of that myself. XD

So, if there is enough interest, I will do so.

I will provide characters. :)

Let me know if you are interested, either here, or you can email me at: mechagm@hotmail.com. If there is enough interest, I'll run the adventure multiple times.

Not sure what day of the week this will happen, but let me know what days work for you.

-Peter "MechaGM" Bowman

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Surly Grognards Episode 113, "Conversions"

This week Eric and I talk about converting already existing material for one RPG system into another system.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

"What's In A Name" D&D 4th ed Campaign, episode 6

This week our heroes run afoul of Ironhame's city watch and may have to strike a deal for their freedom.



Players: Eric Carlson, Nik "Y Ruler of Time" Freeman, Michael "Skitch" Schiciano, Word on the Wind & Alice "Mjolna"
GM: Peter "MechaGM" Bowman
Campaign doc can be found here.

Monday, February 9, 2015

The Surly Grognards Episode 112, "Musings On Mecha"

This week Eric and I talk about designing a tabletop wargame, both on some mechanical ideas and on world building for it. Then we talk about what we've been watching/reading for a bit.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The Surly Grognards Episode 111, "Live Sci-Fi Campaign Brainstorming"

This week Eric and I have another campaign brainstorming session... this time, we're doing Science Fiction. We focus almost entirely on creating the structure of the campaign universe, as opposed to coming up with a specific campaign idea.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

The Surly Grognards Episode 110

No specific topic this week, but Eric and I talk about some of the Anime we've been watching, some of the games we've been playing and a bit about comics and books we've been enjoying recently.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

The Surly Grognards Episode 109, "Playing in the Sandbox"

This week Eric and I talk about some of the challenges and strengths of Sandbox-style RPG campaigns.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

"What's In A Name?" D&D 4th Edition RPG Campaign, Episode 5

This week our heroes set out for Ironhame, where one of the party's troubled past surfaces.
This session is broken into two videos since my connection to Twitch dropped mid-session. Sorry!

Part 1


Part 2


Players: Eric Carlson, Nik "Y Ruler of Time" Freeman, Michael "Skitch" Schiciano, Word on the Wind & Alice "Mjolna" GM: Peter "MechaGM" Bowman Campaign doc can be found here.

"What's In A Name?" D&D 4th Ed Campaign, Episode 4

This week our heroes and the chief of the Black Wolves go to Greystone to try and resolve the conflict between the tribe and the town.



Players: Eric Carlson, Nik "Y Ruler of Time" Freeman, Michael "Skitch" Schiciano, Word on the Wind & Alice "Mjolna" GM: Peter "MechaGM" Bowman Campaign doc can be found here.

The Surly Grognards Episode 108, "A New Year and Genre Mashups"

The first episode of 2015! This week Eric and I talk about some of the things we are looking forward to in the new year, and then talk a bit about genre mashups.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com

"Who Ya Gonna Call?" - A Ghostbusters RPG Adventure

Due to logistical reasons, we couldn't do D&D this week, so I decided to run a one-shot adventure using West End Games' Ghostbusters RPG from 1986.



Players: Eric Carlson, Nikolas Freeman & Michael Schiciano GM: Peter Bowman

The Surly Grognards Episode 107

This week Eric and I discuss a varied selection of things including: board games, anime and Bioware's video games.



If you have any feedback, suggestions (show topic or other) or questions you'd like answered during an episode, please feel free to email us at: surlygrognards@yahoo.com or you can post them on our forums at: http://mechagm.forumer.com