Blog of an Uncommon Nerd

I'm a nerdy guy with a interest in nerdy things. Wargames, culture and politics are included. You will find that I will post funny shit, interesting factoids and the general nerdy shit I am into on this blog. Beware of the occasional rambling though,...

[swedebeast]

Man, I have a game to GM on Friday and it has been physically impossible to get my brain in a planning mood. I have it so it is open what could happen and it is up for the players to go in any direction they want, and I am confident I can wing-it... but it feels extremely dangerous to not have physical material in my hands that I can reference.

Like, for reference, it is a post-apoc game where the players fled from raiders burning the outskirts of the town they live in, and they got two weeks to prepare for the real assault to come. The first session ended with them at the town just as the raiders are burning, then getting ready to leave but they could not rally any support because the town is so divided.

So, I know there will be a emergency meeting with most of the town attending, and it will show they can't agree on fucking anything. So, the players will have to decide what to do. Unify the leaders of the town to do their job, find treasure out in the overgrown woods (and by treasure I mean big guns), or go out and find allies.

I got locations ready, I got NPC's prepped to give hints, and I got all the different factions in the town prepped and what the ambitions and goals of the leaders are.

Like... what more can I do here? Even with all that, I feel like I am dangerously close to just "winging it", and it feels dangerous to do it - even though I *like* winging shit in TTRPG's.

Maybe I am overthinking it? I sure gosh darn hope so.

[swedebeast]

How about noooo

[swedebeast]

Well, well, well. A dinosaur game that isn't Jurassic Park. Neat.

[titanomancy]

In Memoriam John Blanche October 1948 - June 2026

We're going to be doing this more often, you know.

John Blanche died this week, as reported by fellow former Games Workshop alum Trish Carden, passing away at the age of 78. Intensely private in his personal life - his birthday is observed in "late October" - details of his passing are understandably scarce. Although he retired a few years ago owing to poor health, I hope that his ultimate end was a peaceful one untroubled by sickness or infirmity.

I had the unique pleasure of meeting Blanche in a professional capacity, once, and he was precisely the sort of gregarious weirdo that one might assume from his work. Though our acquaintance was brief, it was one of the highlights of my association with Games Workshop.

In many ways, Blanche is synonymous with Warhammer - throughout much of Games Workshop's golden age in the 1990s, it was Blanche's art which formed people's first impressions of the setting and served as the initial hook to draw them into the grim darkness of the far future. It's certainly what hooked me.

His influence on the 40k aesthetic cannot be understated and is still felt, today, in ways both subtle and gross. In celebration of Blanche's life, take a moment to appreciate some of my favorite pieces of his.

Rest in peace.

[horsefriend]

[putnamspuppeteer]

For those who don't know: Ikumi Nakamura is the woman who was senior artist on Bayonetta, and designed the titular character along with Hideki Kamiya. Their greatest moment of bonding was over their insistence that Bayonetta keep her glasses on at all times. Nakamura cannot go to horny jail. She is the warden.

[brookietf]

[catgirlforeskin]

Happy pride month to her and her exclusively

[seraphiminn]

she made a comic about the experience on twitter

[catboybiologist]

happy pride

[ikindamaybewanthertositonmyface]

An Update from back in October I'm surprised wasn't added to this post. lol

[appalachian-werewolf]

Once again, my former coworkers are dragging me out to dinner. Being well liked is a curse.

[appalachian-werewolf]

I have already been requested to not wear a hat. This life is a prison.

[swedebeast]

Sounds like these former coworkers will soon be former people that you used to know.

[appalachian-werewolf]

Actually had a good time, we talked so much shit for hours. The hat request was by one of my friends who also went because he said I can't keep wearing a hat. I sure as hell can!

And the meal was comped. Never had a comped meal. I tried to leave a tip and my former boss said absolutely not, it's already taken care of. I can get used to this.

[swedebeast]

Man, I wish I had former coworkers like those!

[swedebeast]

John Blanche has passed away. A legend and a titan within the grimdark fantasy and sci fi space is gone. I am grateful for all the art he has gifted us with in these several decades he was active, and his legacy is strong.

[appalachian-werewolf]

Once again, my former coworkers are dragging me out to dinner. Being well liked is a curse.

[appalachian-werewolf]

I have already been requested to not wear a hat. This life is a prison.

[swedebeast]

Sounds like these former coworkers will soon be former people that you used to know.

[kasperl-ruprecht]

STORMCROW ADVENTURE

Yet more fine art work thanks to @pencilbrony

Hit them up some time for some good stuff.

[swedebeast]

I do not appreciate that in this torrential rain that it smells like wet dogfood outside.

I do not want to know how or why that is happening.

[necromanticowboy]

This is how Texarkana smells, I do not have any inkling why. I’m unpleasantly surprised every time.

[swedebeast]

Funny thing is I have never experienced this before. The only thing that's different about today is that it is a couple days after a big car event... and I do not want to know if they are connected, because a ton of alcohol is involved.

I really, really don't want to look outside my window to see if any raggare has left me a gift.

[maniakminis]

God I love the old Wartrakk boxart done by Richard Wright. This was the art that got me into Orks as a faction. Actually it's been a while since I've looked at his 40k art, they're all winners.

[kasperl-ruprecht]

Some of the best box art Warhammer ever saw.

[swedebeast]

Art like this sold the minis, without a doubt.

[swedebeast]

If all goes well - I'll be scoring 23 minis for the club, and 23 (two of each which is to say) of Battletech 'mechs to split between me and my two Battletech partners-in-crime.

For a pittance of 5 SEK each.

[swedebeast]

I do not appreciate that in this torrential rain that it smells like wet dogfood outside.

I do not want to know how or why that is happening.

[swedebeast]

I just got to wonder something.

I wonder what would happen if the creature from 1995's Species got slapped with a Xenomorph Facehugger...

... nothing good, I bet.

[myspace]

[cash4bees]

I think the reason I still enjoy tumblr is that even though this all still pisses me off, I know that anything that makes me mad on here is 100% earnest. It's not ragebait or engagement farming, y'all are actually just that stupid sometimes

[groovysarity]

I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue