#mike stackpole

[oldschoolfrp]

In 1989 Mayfair released a 2nd edition of their DC Heroes Role-Playing Game (top), and a 2nd ed Batman Sourcebook by Mike Stackpole (middle). The same year they also released a separate Batman Role-Playing Game (bottom) based on the DC Heroes rules, focused on Batman, his allies, and his classic villains.

[jkcorellia]

In terms of having their collective shit together, Alphabet Squadron makes Wraith Squadron look like Rogue Squadron

[jadecrusades]

Star Wars Customizable Card Game promotional and play cards. “Reflections II: Expanding the Galaxy.” January, 2001.

Decipher’s Reflections II: Expanding the Galaxy series brought a handful of Expanded Universe characters to life including Mara Jade, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, Corran Horn, Mirax Terrik, Dash Rendar, Prince Xizor, and Guri. Decipher also created an exclusive 5”x7” Promotional Oversized “Signature” Card depicting Mara, Talon Karrde, and Corran Horn for the summer ‘01 convention circuit. Model Shannon (Baksa) McRandle portrayed Mara Jade, while Timothy Zahn was made up to depict Talon Karrde, and Michael Stackpole was costumed to resemble Corran Horn. Stackpole had these memories to share on his blog:

The stuff done in a photostudio is really magic. At first glance, the guys they got for Corran and Karrde were right, in general. Good on the overall dimensions, hair color, eye color, etc., but they were just guys off the street. Then the hair and makeup folks went to work. Karrde got a wig and a full makeup job, which sharpened his features and totally changed him. By the end of the process - during which Tim's camera was clicking almost incessantly - I was believing the guy was Talon Karrde.

Once Karrde was made up and costumed, he was taken onto the photostage and lit. That's a fascinating process. If they put a yellow filter on a light, the light is considered "hot." A blue filter makes it "cold." The art director, photographer and photographer's assistant all discussed and debated, pulling lights this way and that, setting them up at angles, getting the model to look here or there. Then they took test Polaroid shots and digital shots and finally agreed that things were right. It was almost anticlimactic when the shooting got done, but the results were great. Talon Karrde lived.

Shannon Baksa actually did Corran's makeup, then he got lit and shot. One of my concerns had been that the model was a bit older than Corran would have been at that point, but the makeup and lighting slashed 15 years off him. And the models, they put up with a lot. At one point, while folks were off debating how Corran should be lit, the guy who had done Karrde's makeup commented that Corran was just sitting there rock-still. Corran said, "I'd move, but I'm afraid they'd have to re-light me."

[captaingondolin]

a common theme in early legends books is mike stackpole looking at books/trilogies that came out before the x-wing series and being like "no, no, corran was in that series too, he was just two feet off-page the whole time!!" he's retconned into the thrawn trilogy (but only the final battle, really) and he is VERY retconned into the jedi academy trilogy while his wife is missing

two feet off-page XDD

[bespoke-sharpie]

BATMAN, BATGIRL, ROBIN, ALFRED, GORDON, CATWOMAN, TWO-FACE, RIDDLER, PENGUIN, JOKER.  Front cover of the DC Heroes Role Playing Reference book published in 1986. Cover art by Ed Hannigan. Interior art by various. Written by Mike Stackpole. If you’re a Batman fan, this is a must have. 

[jadecrusades]

Illustration by Duncan Fegredo, “Star Wars: Union” Issue #1. November, 1999.

Though the New Republic is thriving, there are still many who remain true to the spirit and evil designs of Emperor Palpatine. So when Luke Skywalker, the New Republic's greatest hero and sole Jedi master, decides to marry Mara Jade, the woman who was formerly Emperor Palpatine's personal assassin and executor of the Empire's will, you can be sure that somebody is going to raise their hands in protest!

[oldschoolfrp]

Map of lands explored in Tunnels & Trolls, by Liz Danforth, incorporating maps by Bear Peters, Ken St Andre, and Mike Stackpole (from “Ten Days in the Arena of Khazan” by Ken St Andre, Different Worlds 07, Chaosium, April/May 1980)

[fanthatracks]

Rebel Scum Con III: Bryce Dallas Howard is heading to Texas

#BryceDallasHoward #ErnestCline #JonnyCoyle #MikeStackpole #RebelScumCon #StarWars #FanthaTracks Rebel Scum Con is back for 2026, and Bryce Dallas Howard is attending.