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The post Video of the Day – Doctor Who: The Sonic Screwdriver, 2026 appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Rutans vs Sontarans reaches its climax in Peace at Last, out now from Big Finish

One war has stretched throughout the history of the Doctor Who universe. Since 1973’s The Time Warrior introduced the Sontarans, they’ve been in a seemingly endless conflict with the Rutans. But now, a conclusion may finally be in sight… Big Finish’s Rutans vs Sontarans series began with the very first stages of the war, and the fourth and final instalment – Peace at Last by Tim Foley, is out now – is set at what could be its end, as the Sontarans propose a peace deal.

The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), Charley Pollard (India Fisher) and C’rizz (Conrad Westmaas) are present to help out, but the ceasefire is a fragile one – there’s a lot of work to do to ensure the peace will last, and there are forces at work to ensure it doesn’t…

The guest cast of Peace at Last includes Dan Starkey (known for playing many Sontarans on television as General Greff, Ajjaz Awad as Selina Carr, Cecelia Appiah as the Rutan Ambassador, and Jonathon Carley as Scur/Hurgo.

 

The universe may soon known peace, but who will be left alive to enjoy it?

Writer Tim Foley said: “I love Charley and C’rizz, and I still haven’t quite forgiven Lizzie Hopley, who wrestled me to the floor in the previous miniseries to write for them. So this time, it was my time to shine with them. I don’t want to make people feel old, but I grew up with them, and they were such a good TARDIS team.

“The title of this story is Peace at Last, as we wanted to play with the idea of the very end of the Rutan-Sontaran War, though maybe it has a double meaning! It’s fun to imagine this eternal war – what were its murky beginnings, and what are its murky ends. And in that way, it really reflects the events of episode one, which kicked off the whole debacle.”

 

Doctor Who: Peace at Last. Cover by Sean Longmore (c) Big Finish Doctor Who: Peace at Last

On the precipice of peace it stands…

After the destruction of a major stronghold, the Sontarans propose something extraordinary. More extraordinary still, the Rutans say yes. The Doctor, Charley and C’rizz are on hand to watch history being made.

Yet history has other ideas. A plan that has taken centuries is about to come to fruition. The Melmoth is returning.

 

Doctor Who – Rutans vs Sontarans: Peace at Last is now available to purchase for just £9.99 (as a digital download to own) or £14.99 (download + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. 

The post Doctor Who: Peace at Last – Out Now appeared first on Blogtor Who.

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The latest BBC Audio original remixes a classic Doctor Who in the style of another era, with pleasing results

Circle of Memory is the latest offering in BBC Audio’s range of original Doctor Who audio dramas. In many ways it’s William Hartnell classic The Savages reborn for the Matt Smith age. It begins in the middle, in true Moffat style. Three strangers awake near a mysterious stone circle, with no memory of how they got there. They’re “Amy and her boys, Rory and the Doctor,” according to the Polaroid photo they carry. But beyond that their only clue is a Dictaphone recording explaining the story so far.

As the recording plays out, it becomes clear our heroes are trapped on a planet where something or someone is parasitically living off the vitality of others. They’ve clearly already fallen victim to at least one attack themselves. And since they can no longer even operate the TARDIS, how can they escape? This mystery angle is another way in which Circle of Memory grounds itself firmly in the milieu of 2010s Doctor Who. The Savages may have attempted to subvert expectations with the Elders, in gold makeup and fine clothes, revealed as villains, but that was a skewering of exploitation and colonialism any child would instantly recognize. But Circle of Memory keeps its secrets much closer. The dynamics of the planet’s ecosystem take longer to reveal themselves.(At least if you avoid reading the official blurb which rather gives the final act twist away.)

And when they do, they may not be entirely what listeners expected.

 

Circle of Memory is a gently untaxing slice of Doctor Who, perfect for departure lounges or road trips

With a resolution also borrowing heavily from The Savages, the various plot twists of Circle of Memory won’t be too jaw dropping to anyone familiar with the earlier story. But there’s still a pleasing novelty to hearing it all play out through the eyes of the Eleventh Doctor and his friends. Dan Starkey reads with a gentle irony, as if with one eyebrow permanently raised. There’s no real attempt at impersonation of our leads, but his diffident Doctor, cautious Rory, and gung ho Amy capture their essences well.

As with most of the BBC Audio originals, the adventure feels all too brief, despite being about half as long again as a television episode of the modern era. But for the next time you’re commuting, or hitting the treadmill, it’s just right for spending that time with the good Doctor and his friends.

 

Doctor Who: Circle of Memory (c) BBC Audio Doctor Who: Circle of Memory

“Hello, I’m the Doctor… Doctor someone… can’t remember who at the moment. Hoping it will come back to me.”

On a planet with twin suns, three people wake in the shadow of a crashed spaceship. They don’t know who they are or where they are. All they have to go on is a photograph of themselves marked ‘Amy and her boys: Rory and the Doctor’. It’s obvious who Amy is – but which of them is the Doctor?

A voice recorder in one of their pockets reveals how the TARDIS materialised some days earlier in the centre of a stone circle and the travellers met blue-skinned Sunaya, apparent sole survivor of the crashed ship.

Yet Sunaya isn’t who she claims to be, and she is also far from alone. She and her children have been waiting to feed on the memories and identities of the living.

And as their own memories fade, the Doctor, Amy and Rory are in danger of being left behind for ever…

You can order Circle of Memory now from your preferred retailer, with the links here.

The post REVIEW: Doctor Who: Circle of Memory appeared first on Blogtor Who.

I have to confess that I discovered Dokyo and its creator, Jonathan Collazo Galindez, through social media. I’ve been a comic book fan for decades, even before I started playing role-playing games. I don’t read comics as frequently as I used to; years ago, I focused on collected editions of the series I’m interested in and on digital comics. But my son’s interest in comics has brought me back to the comic shop regularly.

I’ve become very interested in fantasy and sci-fi series, classic series from my youth, and series based on or influenced by role-playing games. If you have read my posts on Sunglar’s Musings, you know that 70s and 80s fantasy comics have been a topic I’ve written about repeatedly.

Because of this interest, when I saw an ad for Dokyo: Batalla De Los Reinos (Battle of the Realms), I wanted to learn more and wrote to the author to request an interview. Jonathan was very kind and not only answered my questions but also shipped the comics I ordered in record time, along with a few extras, for which I am very grateful.

I haven’t read Leyenda del Reino de Dragones (Legend of the Kingdom of Dragons) yet, but I love the 4 (out of 6) issues of Dokyo: Batalla De Los Reinos (Dokyo: Battle of the Realms) that I have read so far. It is a series clearly influenced by role-playing games, video games, anime, classic animated series, and adventure comics. Jonathan has a style I really love, as it is cartoony, highly appropriate for fantasy adventures, dynamic, and refreshing.

I love seeing local creators producing comics of this quality and caliber. I highly recommend them.

Well, you’ve read my thoughts on his comics, so I’ll leave you with the artist and creator.

Introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you create?

My name is Jonathan Collazo Galindez. I am a local comic book artist and graphic artist. A few of my creations are Dokyo: Batalla De Los Reinos (Dokyo: Battle of the Realms), which currently has 6 chapters, and Leyenda del Reino de Dragones (Legend of the Kingdom of Dragons), whose first chapter was released a few months ago. As a comic creator, I really like fantasy and stories that contain RPG or D&D elements. I grew up watching TV series from that era, like He-Man, ThunderCats, and Dungeons & Dragons, among others.

How would you describe your art?

I describe my comic story as one full of medieval fantasy, capturing the essence of those adventure series from our childhood. In the Dokyo: Batalla de Los Reinos comics, we meet Dokyo and his sister, young siblings who survived the attack on their father’s kingdom, which was destroyed by the dark lord Minamoto.

Dokyo, along with his sister Suiko, learns how to survive by becoming mercenaries and hiding their past. However, by the hand of destiny, they get back on track to fight evil.

How did you discover TTRPGs (tabletop or pen-and-paper role-playing games)?

My beginnings with TTRPGs were at the table with pencil and paper; among them were Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire: The Masquerade, and Marvel Super Heroes.

Since I didn’t have much income, a great friend and I made our own Warhammer game with plastic dragon and monster figures, dice, and cardboard elements. Another one I played and loved for its lore was Magic: The Gathering.

Are you actively playing? What are you playing right now?

Right now, I’m just sticking to playing video games.

Where can people find your projects?

Librería Norberto González in Plaza Las Américas, Librería Bajo el Carambola, Librería El Rincón del Lector, and online, you can find me as Saragoka Studio on both Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks to Jonathan for his kindness in participating in this interview and for sharing his comics with me.

I’ll leave you with a few links if you want to know more about his comics:

• Saragoka Studio Website: https://www.saragokastudio.com/
• Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063949185932
• Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/saragokastudio/

There is a Spanish version of this interview at Sunglar’s Musings.

Last post was about Cunning and Prowess, which are the stats PCs roll against to accomplish almost everything. But that's not the first part of character creation.

First, you come up with two Marks, or "specials". There's a list of 20 fleshed-out examples to build from. Here are a few to give you an idea what I'm talking about.

"2. You have a silver flute that was given to you “for luck” by an old woman on her deathbed. Playing it clears your mind and lets you focus. Sometimes playing the flute allows you to see solutions to problems or divine facts you could not otherwise have known."

"17. A vicious vulture plucked out one of your eyes. You know its name and nature. A desert devil, it is. A supernatural monster with part of your soul inside it. When you close your good eye and concentrate, you can see through the evil old vulture’s eyes. You can often make it fly where you like so you can see distant places. One day it may find you and try to finish the job."

Marks don't include game mechanics. The way they work is to be sorted out between player and Judge, but usually comes down a modifier to an Action Roll (Prowess or Cunning) or an Oracle (1d6)... the two mechanics used in the game.

I'm trying to keep this focused on the setting's theme, on characters, and the stuff that develops naturally through play. The mechanics underpin it, but I wouldn't call this a crunchy or fiddly system at all. 

Téo Pinheiro is a Brazilian comic book artist whose work has steadily earned attention across the independent comics scene and shared-universe superhero publishing. Known for his dynamic inks and vibrant…

 The Archeon Market is a massive, multi-tiered commercial meat-grinder hidden deep within a jagged obsidian chasm on the dying planet. Heavily inspired by the cosmic horrors of Rifts Atlantis, this market is not run by mere desert outlaws; it is a trans-dimensional and hyper-technological bazaar controlled by an ancient, multi-eyed alien cabal known as the Grand Taskmasters. This picks rightNeedleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11243274667834930867noreply@blogger.com0

The post Video of the Day – Doctor Who: Making History, 2024 appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Doctor Who’s Matt Smith performs the new Quinn erotic drama The Wolf, available now

Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star Matt Smith has joined the roster of talent at Quinn. The world’s leading producer of erotic audio dramas has been growing in popularity, particularly among female listeners, since it launched in 2021. Along with high production values, this has helped it attract celebrity readers such as Andrew Scott and Jamie Campbell Bower. Smith performs three episode noir thriller The Wolf. He takes on the role of private investigator James Pierce, lured to the villa of ruthless billionaire Gregory Barclay under false pretenses. Pierce quickly develops a passionate connection to Barclay’s wife Rosalind. But can he really trust her, or anyone else?

As with most Quinn stories, in The Wolf the reader performs in character, with Smith addressing the listener directly as if they were Rosalind.

Matt Smith describes The Wolf as “a dangerous, sexy, seductive murder mystery. The listener is dropped into a very glamorous world. I think this series is for anyone who loves a good murder mystery, and also loves a bit of eroticism in their murder mysteries.”

On the “interesting challenge,” of working in Quinn’s trademark format, Smith said “There’s a great team around you at Quinn. I think there’s something really liberating about telling a story in this way, in this form, and in this tone.”

All three episodes of The Wolf are available now on the Quinn app to subscribers. As of writing, no choice quotes have been mischievously repurposed by Eleventh Doctor cosplayers on TikTok. But Blogtor Who presumes it’s only a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Smith fans can also catch the actor as Daemon Targaryen in the third season of Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, with new episodes every Sunday.

The post Doctor Who Matt Smith Stars in Quinn Erotic Drama The Wolf appeared first on Blogtor Who.

Dead Wizards is a sword and sorcery RPG set in a sandy land. A bit of sand and sorcery, if you will.

The idea came up about ten years ago as an OD&D hack inspired by Corben, Howard, and Tanith Lee. Revamped it later and it changed into something completely different, becoming GOZR.

But now I'm back to the original concept. I started with GOZR mechanics as a base and I've been working from there. I stripped a few things away, added other things.

I'll try to do this as a series of posts over time, just talking about one aspect of the game or another. If you read this, feedback is greatly appreciated.

First up, the core character "stats": Prowess and Cunning. Prowess for all things physical and Cunning for everything else. Why just these two? Because in all the sword and sorcery tales I enjoy, characters deal with their world through only these two modes. I don't think any more are needed.

You roll for your stats. But like GOZR, lower is better because the stat is the target number to meet or beat on a 1d20 roll.

The roll to set the stat is 1d4+2 for each, so you can only get 3-6. A very narrow range, which is extremely on purpose and I spent a lot of time thinking about it, running simulations, and all that. It means the guy who gets a 3 and the guy who gets a 6 are still fully compatible in terms of skill.

The rolled target number is for a Basic level of difficulty. Then each level higher adds 3 to that target number. The difficulties are Basic, Arduous, Grueling, and Epic.

So if your Basic Prowess is 5, then you'd have a spread like this:

Basic 5
Arduous 8
Grueling 11
Epic 14

As with GOZR, this simply means you look at your sheet to see what your target number is. Quick and dirty. But here the Judge has options for increasing difficulty. The Judge can decide case-by-case how difficult a task is.

Bonuses to rolls are low. In most cases, you're not getting one. But you can get a +1 for some things and maybe even +2. That makes those target numbers more challenging, but not daunting. You are playing heroic, capable sword and sorcery characters... not farmers and zeroes.

Once your target numbers are set, they do not easily change. There's a way you can swap points between adventures, making Prowess 1 better and Cunning 1 worse, for example. But 3 is the hard limit. Nobody has a stat target lower than 3.

Characters are more differentiated by their histories and their special traits. More on that later. 

The Fugitive Doctor starts her quest across time and space in a fun and engaging comic

Opening chapter Calling the Doctor set out the parameters for what to expect from Doctor Who’s latest multimedia event Circuit Breaker. Someone is messing with time, removing objects from vital pivot points in history and relocating them to UNIT’s Black Archive. It’s bad enough these objects are giving off dangerous energies, threatening to rip time and space apart in modern London. But more than that, they’re all related somehow to the Doctor. Their absence from their proper place may well have corrupted the Time Lord’s timeline. In fact Osgood fears it may have even erased their existence all together. Osgood and her assistant Andrew have realized that only an incarnation from before the earliest object can help them. An incarnation known as… the Fugitive.

Titan Comics’ Adversary of the Daleks picks up the action in comic book form. The Fugitive Doctor selects a Dalek gun-stick as her first object to return. It’s basically a random choice, with her asking “What’s a Dalek?” when Osgood and Andrew show concern. Improbably, her quest takes her to ancient Greece, where local villager know for a fact the Olympian gods are real… because they’ve seen them in person. The Doctor decides to get to the truth. Before long, though, humans, gods, and Time Lord alike must face the power of the Daleks.

 

The underlying character tensions between the Doctor and UNIT never quite convince, due to the Fugitive never really being as badly behaved as their reactions suggest

Beyond this basic action, Adversary of the Daleks establishes some of Circuit Breaker’s underlying tensions. The Fugitive is only here reluctantly, and perfectly prepared to walk away if pushed too hard. From her point of view, her future isn’t set, and she’s not convinced the fate of her potential future incarnations are her concern. Besides which, she’s not even sure she likes the sound of these soppy do-gooders she allegedly becomes.

Meanwhile, Osgood and Andrew are shocked by this regeneration’s seeming callousness and blunt manner. Unfortunately, this aspect isn’t entirely convincing. It’s a good concept in principle. The Fugitive Doctor is after all described as a more ruthless, violent, and cold-blooded version than the ones we know. However, like the War Doctor before her (or after her… well, you know what Blogtor means), she’s limited by the fact the BBC naturally don’t really want to show any Doctor doing too immoral.

The result is a great deal of talk about how different, even horrible, the Fugitive is. She’s impatient, and has no time for whimsy, while ready to berate stupid pudding brained apes when they mess up her plan. But she’s neither cruel nor cowardly. Her first instinct when she sees people in trouble is to help, and when she sees a bully she drops what she’s doing to stand up to them. On the scale of these things, she’s no more brusque or judgemental than the Sixth or Twelfth Doctors.

As a result, it makes the UNIT team’s criticism seem more like a plot device, rather than something flowing naturally from anything she’s actually done.

 

As a one part Dalek comic, Adversary is a fun time spent in the company of this most mysterious incarnation

That said, the one part story is a fun, if straightforward, Dalek tale. Dulce Montoya and Dan Watters’ scrip also does a credible job of establishing in just a few pages the character dynamics that will carry Circuit Breaker into all the full length novels and audio plays to follow. Roberta Ingranata’s art, meanwhile, is as stylish and imaginative as ever.

As with most of Circuit Breaker, Adversary of the Daleks works well both as a standalone comic and part of the wider arc. It’s not compulsory reading, or likely to challenge Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey for hit Greek myth of the summer. But it’s nevertheless a fun read, and time spent with the Fugitive Doctor is never wasted.

 

Circuit Breaker Cover A by Jay Anacleto (c) Titan Comics Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker #1

The Doctor arrives in Thessaloniki in ancient Greece where she discovers that even the gods fear strange visitors from across the universe.

You can find links to order your copy here.

Circuit Breaker continues with The Honourable Society in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine 632, out on the 23rd of July

The post REVIEW: Doctor Who: Adversary of the Daleks appeared first on Blogtor Who.