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Sunday, January 28

Sad News

Yesterday, my grandmother, Mary Tresca, passed away. She was 103.

Rest in peace, gramma.

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posted by Mike Tresca at 6:41 PM | 0 comments


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Deus Ex Machina - Part 7b: Training Room

“This is going to be grand,” said Khorbon. “The Unspeakable One will be so pleased when we arrive at his party.”

The gnome giggled. “Now give us the invitation.”

The marionette whirled closer. Web strands began snapping off one at a time.

“Ilmarė has it,” said Beldin. “And she’s on the other side of your web.”

“No problem,” said Khorbon. “We’ll just let the marionette clear a path.” He grinned. “After it cuts through you of course.” [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 6:40 PM | 0 comments


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Wednesday, January 24

Deus Ex Machina - Part 7a: Training Room

Standing in front of the orrery was a large, white shape. It was too far away to make out, cloaked in the shadows of the room. An older man was moving back and forth behind it, dressed in a workman’s apron.

“That’s got to be Ambrose,” said Ilmarė. She drew her bow. “And if he’s working on an orrery, that means he’s opening a portal to Carcosa.”

“What’s the invitation to, anyway?” asked Beldin.

“It’s a costume party,” said Ilmarė.

A clanking man-sized marionette swung into view, blocking their path to the room beyond.

“He’s going as a puppet? Stupid costume,” said Cal. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 11:15 PM | 0 comments


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Tuesday, January 23

DVD Review: Walking Tall

I like The Rock. He's handsome and sleek in a way that other muscle-bound stars are not, conveying both strength and speed. He doesn't come off as a brutal thug by just looking at him, unless he's standing next to someone else. And because Johnson is famous for arching his eyebrow in ironic "am I for real or what?" pose, he's able to pull off comedy by standing next to someone considerably smaller, like Knoxville.

Walking Tall has both heart and muscle, a feel-good tale about a tough guy who stands up for his hometown in an era when nobody seems to be standing up for anything anymore. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 8:17 AM | 0 comments


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DVD Review: March of the Penguins

Babies die. Parents starve to death. And couples struggle to raise their children in a harsh world. This is March of the Penguins. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 8:16 AM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Saturday, January 20

DVD Review: Chicken Little

Chicken Little is Disney’s first fully rendered computer graphics animation, throwing in its hat to compete with the Pixar folks (who once worked with Disney, but no longer). Now that these kinds of movies have become ubiquitous--see any movies about talking fuzzy animals lately?--there's actually a standard to compare these films. Unfortunately for the competition, Pixar has set the bar very high. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 2:54 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Wednesday, January 17

Deus Ex Machina - Part 6b: Maze

The cultist fell backwards and raised her hands. “I give up!” shouted Orpen.

Beldin lowered his morningstar to point it at the woman’s head. “Don’t move.”

“I won’t,” said Orpen. “None of us will.”

Then the hilt of Captain Bezyli’s dagger appeared in her forehead.

Beldin whirled. “What did you do that for?”

Ilmarė, her hand still extended from the throw. “She hooked her foot around a pole. She was going to pull down the ceiling.” Sure enough, the edge of the woman’s foot was just underneath the wooden panel. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 4:03 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Saturday, January 13

Deus Ex Machina - Part 6a: Maze

“Why didn’t you set off the trap?” asked Cal.

“Osalian blesses my steps,” said Ilmarė with a sniff. “I have nothing to fear from such things.”

Just then, the sound of chanting reached their ears.

“That can’t be good,” said Ilmarė. “Let’s go.”

She turned down a corridor flanked by the wooden panels. The sound of many small balls clattered along the floor.

Ilmarė windmilled as she stepped on them. Beldin caught her on his shield.

“Your god still blessing your steps, huh?” the dwarf said gruffly.

“Very funny,” said Ilmarė. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 8:03 AM | 0 comments


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Tuesday, January 9

Deus Ex Machina - Part 5: Collapsible Room

He took a step forward. Something creaked beneath him.

“Don’t…move,” said Beldin behind him.

The big lizard didn’t move. His black pupils darted everywhere. “What?”

“Those flagstones are trapped,” said Beldin. “They’re loose. Ilmarė was too light to set them off. But you,” he took in Cal’s three-hundred plus pound frame, “are heavier.”

“Now you tell me,” said Cal. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 10:26 PM | 0 comments


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Accidental Survivors: The Modern Gaming Podcast

A gaming podcast for modern campaigns brought to you by Sword's Edge Publishing: Episode 005 - Illegal Aliens

I was the special guest on the most recent Modern Gaming Podcast. Check it out here.


Accidental Survivors: the Modern Gaming Podcastsponsored by Sword's Edge PublishingPodcast music is "Battle Hymn" by Mindscape Music
  1. News & Views: YourGamesNow, RPG Objects and Chuck Rice's World War 2 project, Shadows Over Camelot from Days of Wonder, Alien Vs. Predator 2, Alien Invasion at Lulu.com
  2. Feature - Illegal Aliens: Alien Conspiracies, War of the Worlds, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Marvel comics' Celestials, Cthulu, H.P. Lovecraft, Reptoids, The Greys
  3. Inspiration: V, They Live, 4400, Invasion, Alien Nation and the TV Series, The Hidden, Earth: Final Conflict, Slither, Critters, Creepshow, the Tommyknockers, Pulse
  4. The Hook: No linkage. Plenty above.
  5. Feedback: Ain't It Cool News, Casino Royale review, Michael.Tresca.net, Highlander and the TV Series, Highlander: the Immortals, Highlander: the Gathering, Do You Want to Live Forever?
    You can email us at accidental@swordsedgepublishing.ca
    You can hop on over to the ForgedRPG forums at www.forgedrpg.com
    You can call or fax us at 206-222-2519
    You can leave us an ODEO.
    Direct download: ASP005.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 1:02 AM

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posted by Mike Tresca at 8:16 AM | 0 comments


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Sunday, January 7

DVD Review: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

If you watch Dodgeball with your buddies and a case of beer, it definitely earns five stars. But in comparison to other funny movies, like say, Team America: World Police, Dodgeball misses the mark. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 6:01 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

DVD Review: Team America: World Police

Team America mows down anything and everything with a no holds barred approach. If you take yourself a little too seriously, chances are you’ll find this movie offensive or irrelevant. But if you aren’t afraid to laugh at the inanities of the modern world, as viewed through the seriously warped lens of big-budget action movies, then you’ll probably enjoy Team America: World Police as a hilarious romp through a decade our descendants will most assuredly find amusing. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 6:00 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Friday, January 5

Deus Ex Machina - Part 4b: Psychological Torture Chamber

“How long have I been in here?”

“I don’t know,” said Ilmarė. “I haven’t heard from you in three weeks. I thought,” she fumbled with the words. “I thought that maybe you had changed your mind.”

Quintus shook his head. “Three weeks!” He looked around, too weak to move, as if his eyes could release him. “It was supposed to be a quick favor for the Church of Illiir before I set out for home…you have to stop them!”

“I’m leaving you some food and water. I’ll be back for you.”

Quintus grabbed her arm. “You have to show them. You have to let them know that it didn’t work! I’m still sane!” Quintus’ voice was hoarse. “I’m still sane!” he shouted again, his eyes unfocused. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 8:21 AM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Tuesday, January 2

Alien Invasion Now in Print!

Written by Michael Tresca, Alien Invasion explores all of the above questions and more, exposing the truth about aliens and the governments role in keeping the truth of their existence from the public eye. Alien Invasion takes a look at allegedly real government projects such as Majestic 12, Project Blue Book, Excalibur, Looking Glass and Moondust. Alien Invasion examines military installations, cults and fringe elements, such as the Raelian Movement and Ground Zero Radio. Alien Invasion gives you everything you need to run a campaign involving aliens, providing guidelines on how to handle alien investigations, abductions, the effects of crop circles on the human mind and body. Inside this book you will find new backgrounds and advanced classes, cults, feats, alien technology, templates such as the Horlock, new aliens and much much more! [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 7:52 PM | 0 comments


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Monday, January 1

Deus Ex Machina - Part 4a: Psychological Torture Chamber

The images flickered faster and faster, from faces of the pallid mask, to that of a woman, her eyes glazed, blood vessels burst beneath her delicate skin. Blood stained her distended stomach. Her legs were limp.

“Baebiana!” screamed Quintus.

Then the pallid masks surrounded him. The music stopped.

Khorbon bent down to peer into Quintus’s face. “Poor bastard. It’s a shame they don’t let legionnaires marry. Got her pregnant, then she died on him in childbirth. “

Quintus didn’t move. His eyes were open. Tears stained his cheeks. Quintus’ breathing was slow and shallow.

“Well, we cracked him. He’s catatonic,” said Khorbon from behind his mask. “I think he’ll make an excellent gift for the King in Yellow.”

Then he left. [MORE]

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posted by Mike Tresca at 6:55 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

Movie Review: Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum tries to cater to everybody and stumbles along the way. And yet, it endorses everyone from different cultures getting along. I'm still not entirely convinced that the Museum of Natural History looks like it does in the movie, so I'm planning to visit soon. Maybe that's the point: Any movie that encourages children and adults to visit a museum and learn about history is okay in my book. [MORE]

posted by Mike Tresca at 6:28 PM | 0 comments


Want more? Please consider contributing to my Patreon; Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and the web; buy my books: The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, The Well of Stars, and Awfully Familiar.

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