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PRE-SHOW
Aiden English def. Tye Dillinger

BATTLEGROUND
The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and/or Xavier Woods) def. The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) (c) for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura def. Baron Corbin
Natalya def. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Tamina and Lana Fatal 5-Way #1 contender for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
Kevin Owens def. AJ Styles (c) for the WWE Championship
John Cena def. Rusev Flag match
Sami Zayn def. Mike Kanellis (with Maria Kanellis)
Jinder Mahal (c) (with The Singh Brothers) def. Randy Orton Punjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship

Most Creative Store Sale: Comic Quest – Lake Forest, CA

Best Staff Morale Booster: Jesse James Comics – Glendale, AZ

Best Store Sign: AA Comics and Cards – Lebanon, PA

Best T-Shirt Display: Haywood Comics – Asheville, NC

“I don’t hear well, so when others are talking I miss out on most of the communication.  Others watch movies or are involved in games or activities but I just watch from the distance.  Sometimes I feel so alone.  Since my husband passed away the feeling of loneliness has increased, his companionship is deeply missed.”

These were the thoughts behind a conversation with an elderly partly deaf woman, who in some sense was alone in life.  “But I am not alone!” she said.  “Years ago I asked Jesus to come into my life.  He is always with me.  At night when I feel the most lonely I picture myself in the arms of Jesus.  I visualize Him hugging me and I know that everything will be all right.” “Jesus is my husband now and He will never leave me.”                      The presence of our Lord Jesus, is not to be something which is only theoretical in nature.  It is to be real, effective and tangible in our lives.  This aged woman, though she could barely hear the voices and communication of others, could clearly sense the affirmation, touch, and words of her beloved Jesus.  We too should be sensing His closeness to us.

It is unfortunate that, though we can hear clearly the voice of many of the people around us, we can rarely hear the voice of the most important one, our Lord Jesus.  Could it be that our ability to hear the noise and voice around us actually drowns out the voice of our God.  In focusing on what others are saying we fail to hear what our Lord is saying.

I am not advocating that we should wish to become deaf, but rather that we would pull aside to the quiet place of solitude and prayer,  where the sweet and comforting  words of our lord Jesus can be heard more clearly.

Venger Satanis recently suggested that the OSR has a fourth wave and sketched out what he thought set it apart from the earlier phases within the scene:

4th wave OSR incorporates the spirit, tone, objectives, aesthetics, play-style, rules philosophy, mechanical principles, and hobbyist attitude from the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s into RPG material that does it’s own thing.  Many consider these products neo-OSR, OSRish, OSR adjacent, or quasi-OSR because they’ve taken the next logical, evolutionary step away from original D&D, Traveller, Call of Cthulhu, Gamma World, Ghostbusters, Toon, Vampire: the Masquerade, etc.

I think he’s right that this did in fact happen.

Dungeon Grappling is of course a fusion of the best ideas of the old school D&D scene mixed together with one of the most innovative designers to come out of the GURPS side of the hobby. Cirsova takes the “git it done”, “do it yourself” approach to ‘zines that fueled magazines like Fight On! and applies it to an effort to create a science fiction and fantasy magazine that is more in line with the sort of thing that inspired fantasy role-playing in the first place. My own Appendix N takes the sort of gaming commentary that typified the second wave of the OSR (and which was subsequently repudiated by third wavers), gives it a first class treatment, and then takes outside of the OSR scene and into an entirely new audience.

That’s just the stuff that I have on hand here, but there is of course more on the way. The Mixed GM’s Demons In Space fuses a popular video game franchise with a reskin of a very familiar game. And Autarch’s Heroic Fantasy & Barbarian Conquerors supplements promise to take some of the discoveries of the pulp revival and consciously apply them to one of the best retroclones on the market. (Adventure Conqueror King System, natch!)

The OSR didn’t simply declare victory and call it day when 5th edition back away from some of the more mind-splitting elements of 4th edition. A new wave of designers came along that took what the OSR had proven to work, returned to the roots of the hobby, and then went forward with their own way of doing things.

And it’s just getting started!

The post TRAILER: Doctor Who Returns Xmas with Twice Upon a Time appeared first on Blogtor Who.

The post VIDEO: BBC America’s Tribute to Peter Capaldi’s Doctor appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Well it has been an exciting month for Doctor Who.  The final episode of series 10 aired,  Thirteen Doctor has been announced and now we have some details and a new trailer for the 2017 Christmas Special.  The episode, entitled Twice Upon a Time is the final episode for Peter Capaldi’s Doctor before he regenerates […]

The post PIX – Christmas 2017 – Doctor Who returns with Twice Upon a Time appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Hall H was all a’buzz in San Diego Comic Con this weekend for Doctor Who news. And boy did the BBC deliver! Spoilers, ahoy! Seriously, here be spoilers. Don’t read if you don’t want to know any details. Twice Upon a Trailer We can reveal the 2017 Christmas Special will be entitled ‘Twice Upon a […]

The post ‘Twice Upon a Time’ – Christmas Special Trailer, Title and Cast Details Announced appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Today's RPGNow Deal of the Day is The Wreckers of Windward Isle. So, what actually is The Wreckers of Windward Isle, as the boilerplate doesn't say much:Sitting at the entrance to the Bay of Spirits is an imposing rocky island that has been a hazard to ships and seafarers since the early years of exploration in the region. The weather, rough seas, pirates and the damnable Wreckers make ocean voyage in the area perilous at best. The land itself can be just as dangerous with adventure and intrigue around every corner. Yeah, doesn't really tell squat. Good news is that I ponied up my $1.79 (as it is 40% off of the usual $2.99) so I can tell you what it is. It is an OSR setting with adventure hooks and such. Maybe it is more accurately a micro-setting as it covers all of about 1.75 square miles.

I'm actually less interested in that than the locations and personalities within the setting, as they are generally the easiest to port to your own campaign, and stuff looks highly portable. Well laid out with pleasing art, this is well worth your 3 bucks, let alone a buck seventy nine. If I have a complaint, and its a fairly common one, the NPCs have too much magic. But that's my perspective and it may not be yours.

OSR non denominational, it should fit the ruleset of your choice with relative ease.

Normally $2.99, The Wreckers of Windward Isle is on sale until tomorrow morning for $1.79.

Remember, The Tavern gets paid a small amount from every purchase that uses affiliate links like the ones above. Please remember to tip your barman.

The post Doctor Who Cast and Crew Talk 13th Doctor at SDCC appeared first on Blogtor Who.

The Hey Kids Comics Radio Show – Episode 69

Sixty-niner is all the finer!! On this special episode we welcome Neon Black creator, Kevin Birones. Kev’s a local lad that moved to the big city and is living the dream creating his own comic. Sam takes the lead and we chat about Neon Black, SDCC leaks, and melty chocolate treats!

If you are interested in older episodes please head to http://heykidscomics.ca !

If you haven’t heard a Companion Chronicle from Big Finish you’re missing out on some well told and unique stories. Not all stories translate to screen, or even to full blown audio drama, as well as an excellently written and wonderfully narrated story can. Accompany that with some nicely constructed music and a few well […]

The post REVIEW: 10/10 Doctor Who The Early Adventures Vol. 2 – Champion of the Companion Chronicles appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Seems like anytime DC Publisher Dan DiDio is involved in a Comic-Con panel, he’s always got something up his sleeve, even at the end of the day. As if the “DC Master Class” panel wasn’t stacked deep enough with world-class comic art talent – Amanda Conner, Greg Capullo, Tony Daniel, Andy Kubert, Jim Lee and John Romita Jr, another unexpected guest stopped by: Comic book legend Frank Miller!

Fresh off of his completion of BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT: MASTER RACE, Miller thought he’d come chill with his friends as they talked with Dan about their first forays into comics as well as their various upcoming projects for DARK NIGHTS: METAL, DARK MATTER and other upcoming books. Frank didn’t want to feel left out, so he decided to up the ante, revealing some news of his own; he’s got a new DC title in the works, and he revealed concept art for a project he’s really excited about: SUPERMAN: YEAR ONE.

At Comic-Con this year, Dan DiDio-moderated panels have given fans the following exclusive news: Grant Morrison and WONDER WOMAN EARTH ONE Volume Two, new DARK MATTER titles and Jeff Lemire’s return to DC and two new titles from one of the greatest writers in comic book history. The moral of this story: Always keep your eyes open for a panel moderated by Dan, you never know what you might find out!

In celebration of Harley Quinn’s 25th Anniversary, this year the bubbly Super-Villain will take over DC’s annual Batman Day celebration on September 23, 2017. The announcement was made today on the DC Harley Quinn: Celebrating 25 Years panel at SDCC. The panel included moderator and current HARLEY QUINN writer Jimmy Palmiotti, and panelists Amanda Conner, Paul Dini, Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair, Tara Strong and more!

Harley Quinn debuted on Batman: The Animated Series in the episode “Joker’s Favor,” which originally aired in September 1992. Co-created by the acclaimed Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, DARK NIGHT: A TRUE BATMAN STORY) and Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond) Harley Quinn spawned the now popular and plentiful comic series and is one of the fastest growing characters in DC history, becoming a top ten character in only the last 25 years.

DC will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Harley Quinn in a big way, with key new releases in the coming months including, HARLEY QUINN: A ROGUES GALLERY—THE DELUXE COVER ART COLLECTION, HARLEY QUINN 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1, and an oversized anniversary issue featuring Harley’s entire cast of crazy characters, HARLEY QUINN #25.

Stay tuned for more details on Harley Quinn’s takeover of Batman Day on September 23.

Today, fans at SDCC were treated to an electrifying panel celebrating the 25th anniversary of WildStorm Studios! The panel served as a reunion for the imprint’s most influential members and included founder and current DC Publisher Jim Lee, along with fellow artists Carlos D’Anda, Scott Williams, Adam Archer, Ryan Benjamin, Lee Bermejo, J. Scott Campbell, Sandra Hope, Dustin Nguyen and Alex Sinclair. The panel was moderated by former WildStorm editor and DC Talent Relations Director Ben Abernathy.

Panelists shared new details on WILDSTORM: A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS—an oversized hardcover collection coming this fall. The book will include thrilling new stories from some of comics’ legendary creative teams, including a WILDCATS story from Jim Lee and Brandon Choi, a GEN13 tale from J. Scott Campbell, THE AUTHORITY story from Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch, and a BACKLASH short from Brett Booth; brand-new pinups of classic characters from Adam Hughes, Ryan Benjamin, Adam Archer, Fiona Staples, Carlos D’Anda, Lee Bermejo and more; behind-the-scenes material; and reprints of WildStorm’s greatest stories!

Attendees were treated to live art demonstrations throughout the conversation, first looks at exclusive new artwork from WILDSTORM: A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS, and everyone in attendance left with their own Grifter mask! To catch a glimpse of the new art and stories in the collection, check out the gallery here.

Some background on my end. I ran Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (hereafter referred to as WFRP 1e) pretty much from release until the campaign ended when the party's aspiring mage fumbled a fireball as he wore a bandolier of flasks of oil. It was certainly a way to end a campaign on a fiery note.

When WFRP 2e was releases by Green Ronin, I grabbed much of that line. When FFG releases WFRP 3e, I picked up the boxed rules and realized the latest edition of WFRP was not for me. Cubicle 7 is releasing a 4th edition, which will harken back to 1st and 2nd edition.

So, where does that put Zweihander? Its pretty much a house ruled WFRP 1e with many of the serial numbers scratched off. It has the right feel even if much of the WFRP tropes aren't accessible due to trademarks and the like.

Oh, and its big. 631 pages big. The PWYW version is sans art and called "early access" but really, its the full game. The full art, finalized version is available for 20 bucks in PDF.

Do you have fond memories of WFRP? Never played it and want a glimpse of what it was before the horrors of 3rd edition? Here's you chance at no risk.
ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is a bloodier, grimmer and grittier version of classic tabletop role-playing games you may already familiar with. The community calls this style of gaming the “pathetic aesthetic”, but we simply call it grim & perilous gaming. WHAT IS ZWEIHÄNDER? ZWEIHÄNDER Grim & Perilous RPG is an OSR Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay loveletter/retroclone/heartbreaker released under Creative Commons License Share-Alike. It is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game, one where adventurers will: Live in a gritty, ‘realistic’ fantasy world
Make morally grey decisions & enact vicious reprisals
Uncover insidious plots & political intrigue
Desperately fight in clandestine & open field combat
Defend themselves from injuries, madness & mutations
Take part in heart-pumping chase scenes
Venture into the wilderness & survive its perils
Encounter sanity-blasting creatures & their minions Using the classical D100 system, you will create grim characters, write perilous adventures and build low fantasy & dark fantasy campaigns. These rules are perfectly suitable to run Renaissance and medieval-styled adventures, too. You can also use this book to craft homebrew stories set in the works of Andrzej Sapkowski, George R.R. Martin, Glen Cook, Scott Lynch and other ‘grimdark’-inspired worlds. This all-in-one game includes most of what you need to play: a character creation guide, game mastery rules and a bestiary brimming with creatures both fair & foul. All that’s left to gather are a few friends, pencils and a handful of dice.A percentage of sales made through The Tavern's RPGNow affiliate links are returned to The Tavern. We appreciate your support. We'll keep the doors open late...