“Vortex” Update 5a.20 — It’s a trap!

Scene from Return of the Jedi — Adm. Ackbar

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.20 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 22 August 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Will heroes rise to the challenges?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:

-“Syzygy” [Brian W./absent]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

>>”4 to 7 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The crew of the Blackbird had successfully negotiated a truce between the technocratic city-state of Albahaven and the Corvell Unity, a religious monarchy. The Salvorain were descendants of Aquarian miners beneath the oceans of “Dorian Gray,” a moon of gas giant “Methuselah” orbiting Van Maanen’s Star.

Syzygy realizes that although he has sent reports to the Kharvamid Alliance, the Aquarian homeworld probably won’t send anyone to Van Maanen’s Star anytime soon because it is threatened by the Zarkonian Armada. Tela readies the scout ship’s REM faster-than-light (FTL) drive with help from Dr. Bucket and spider drones.

Chris McKee stashes the crystal-tipped trident he obtained from the Salvorain, and impatient Lt. Kevin Reese asks Aughest-vor… to set a course for Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. Aughest notes that because of the REM drive’s side effect of fatigue on the crew, the Blackbird should stop every few (Terran) days and explore.

The humans lay in a course for LP 771-095, or Cetus Eridani, a trinary star system about 7 parsecs from Sol. They don’t expect to find life because one of the stars emits hazardous flares. The Olvar (mammal-like arboreal alien) database lists three barren planets and numerous asteroids.

The Blackbird receives a distress call from the “Dezorici,” a vessel of unknown origin that says it was disabled by a flare. Syzygy translates using a galactic standard code, and Tela prepares rescue and salvage tools. Chris and Kevin hastily rearrange the cargo bay to accommodate up to 20 short-term passengers.

Aughest-vor taps his astrogation training to approach Cetus Eridani, cruising between complex gravitational pulls and asteroids. Syzygy detects life signs on the derelict ship, but Tela notices an energy surge as the Blackbird passes through a force field, disabling its FTL capabilities! Agent Prometheus suspects a trap and goes to his turret.

As Aughest-vor veers away from the Dezorici, six smaller craft begin pursuit. Lt. Reese scans the ships, which he and Aughest dub “squltures” because of their squid-like tentacles and vulture-like necks and metallic beaks. Chris shoots asteroids to clear an exit route.

Tela scrambles to restore the REM drive and asks for more information about the source of the disruption. Syzygy scans the local star and finds that it has been dormant and couldn’t have disabled any ship, confirming suspicions of a trap.

The squltures fire particle beams at the Blackbird, so engineer Tela sends robot Dr. Bucket and the drones to handle damage control while she focuses on the FTL. Hotshot pilot Aughest-vor flies perpendicular to the ecliptic and heads for open space, and Kevin reroutes systems to help Tela.

Gunner Chris provides cover fire with the particle cannon, and xenologist Syzygy identifies the attackers as Kutalrin, artificial intelligences and scavengers. Interplanetary Patrol officer Lt. Reese finds the FTL disruptor field emitters, which were hidden along a likely approach route through the asteroid field.

One of the pursuers is nearly destroyed by Agent Prometheus’ ion beam, as Syzygy verifies that the life signs on the Dezorici were too regular and therefore fake. Chris asks for a delay to finish off more of the enemies, but Lt. Reese overrules him, concerned about getting rammed.

Rather than swing back around toward the field emitters, Aughest-vor activates the afterburner (aftermarket Yoyodne Oscillation Overthruster) to outrun the squltures. The former solar-sail racer buys Tela the time she needs to finish repairs on the REM drive.

Trinoid Syzygy scans for intraship transmissions and observes that the Kutalrin, still in pursuit, may have a hive mind and might be working with or for someone else lurking in the system. Kevin sends warnings to the United Earth Authority and the Olvar Star League.

In a fraction of the time starship engine repairs should take, by the book, Tela restores the Blackbird‘s FTL. Aughest-vor lays in a course toward Mu Aquilae and punches it, leaving Cetus Eridani and the squltures light-years behind.

For once, pilot Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese aren’t affected by the REM drive in Transit space. They are disturbed to find Syzygy in his quarters, partly enveloped by his biomechanical laboratory, which is plugged into the ship.

Chris stumbles giddily through the corridors, offering brownies to everyone, including Dr. Bucket (whom he normally distrusts). Meanwhile, Tela falls into a deep sleep in her hammock in engineering. Aughest takes the Blackbird out of FTL, and Kevin successfully reprograms the ship’s computers after getting Syzygy to sheepishly disengage.

After a few pots of coffee, Tela is again fit for duty, and the Blackbird heads to Beta Canum Venaticorum, a binary system about 8 parsecs from Sol. According to a 1,000-year-old (Terran time) record in the Olvar database, stars Chara and Asterion are orbited by two gas giants, at least one rockball, and one “Goldilocks” world with two moons.

Leaving the Blackbird in orbit with Dr. Bucket keeping watch, the crew takes the Dragonfly drop ship down to the planet, which has water oceans, lush vegetation, and no signs of modern civilization. As he pilots over herds of feathered beasts and alongside pterodactyl-like avians, Aughest-vor nicknames the planet “Henson” for its exotic life.

Chris notices that some of the flying creatures have humanoid riders! They direct the Dragonfly toward a mountain, where the intrepid offworlders land and take the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle up to some caves.

The Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian shed their vacuum suits and walk toward the alien warriors, who have linked hands in some form of greeting or approach. Syzygy begins recording their speech to automate translation. Tela is greeted warmly because her glider wings are recognized by the beast handlers.

Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese declare that they have landed on “Boobulon” because the greenish female aliens each have three breasts. Three-armed Syzygy doesn’t think that is unusual, but he commences scanning the indigenous life forms as diplomatic overtures are begun….

It was great to see everybody after last month’s hiatus, and I look forward to continuing both “Vortex” teams’ adventures! Team 2, the crew of the Appomattox, is scheduled to meet on Monday, Aug. 29 (weather permitting), and Team 1 is set for Sept. 12. I also hope to resume with the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy game. Take it easy, -Gene

More food and travel

Yummy dinner image — Steak and bleu cheese

On Friday, 29 July 2011, Janice and I met Valery M. and his family for dinner in Boston’s North End. We passed the parade for the feast of Saint Joseph on the way into the traditionally Italian neighborhood. Valery is a colleague I had met at Citrix Synergy in San Francisco last year, and we hit it off immediately. He and his family spent a few weeks in the U.S. before returning to France.

We ate dinner at La Famiglia Giorgio’s, a family-style restaurant. The food and conversation were good, and we had lots of leftovers. It was great to have homemade pasta Bolognese, worthy of the “food porn” on The Phantom Gourmet or TV Diner. At other points in the past few weekends, we’ve eaten at some favorite chains, including Wild Willy’s Burgers, Comella’s, P.F. Chang’s, Farm Grill, Chipotle, and Stone Hearth Pizza.

I noted to Josh C. at lunch recently that after visits by friends and family (including David I.S., Damon F.P., Erik B.L., and my brother Peter) in the first half of 2011, Janice and I are the ones traveling in the latter half of the year. We’ve already been to Maine, Upstate and downstate New York, Chicago, and Northern Virginia, with more trips to New York and Virginia still to come! I look forward to celebrating various birthdays, weddings, and reunions, but I’ll be glad for the occasional quiet weekend at home.

Last week, I met fellow CW alumni Michele L.D. and Jacqui D.B. for dinner at CK Shanghai. I had the sizzling eggplant pot with beef, and it was very good. Michele got Jacqui’s and my leftovers because we were both traveling the next day.

This past weekend, Janice and I flew down from Logan to Dulles Airport. We had dinner with Peter and his family at the Dogfish Head Brewpub, where I had grilled salmon and the Chateau Jiahau. Like Peter’s sweeter Midas Touch Ale, the rice-based beer was recreated from an ancient recipe.

Before going to the Lego BrickFair the next morning, we met my parents for brunch at Eggspectations, where I had a good frittata. We later played Wii Sports Resort with our nieces and watched The Green Hornet, which was a bit disappointing. While I enjoyed stoner comedy Pineapple Express, the high body count and sense of humor wasn’t really a good fit for the superhero.

The Green Hornet started more seriously in radio as a descendant of the Lone Ranger and is best known for Bruce Lee‘s (subject of recent documentaries) U.S. debut as Kato in the late 1960s television show — with the possible exception of a crossover with Adam West’s Batman. While I haven’t been able to keep up with the various spin-off titles, Dynamite Entertainment‘s Green Hornet comics have been pretty good. I’m glad I waited to see Seth Rogen’s version on video.

On Sunday, 7 August 2011, my family and I, plus Peter’s mother-in-law Maureen, went to Old Town Alexandria. We explored the art galleries at the Torpedo Factory and had a birthday meal for my parents at the Chart House on the waterfront. I had excellent crab cakes and shared a decadent chocolate lava cake (Is there any other kind?).

We later all played Uno before my parents returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Later that night, Janice, Kelly, Peter, and I watched Will Smith and Eva Mendez in the romantic comedy Hitch, which was better than I expected. Hitch reminded me of a classier Boomerang.

Even with traveling nearly every other week, I hope to resume my regular Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy and FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera games soon. We’ll see whether the July hiatus has made my role-players more eager, stirred potential Game Masters, or caused more delays. I’ll post more about various RPGs next!

Cowboys & Aliens review

Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig — Indy and Bond

On Sunday, 31 July 2011, Janice and I met Josh C., Thomas K.Y., and Thomas’ girlfriend Kai Yin at the Showcase Cinemas at Legacy Place in Dedham, Massachusetts, for Cowboys & Aliens. Jon Favreau’s western/science fiction mashup was fun, if not especially original.

Loosely based on an independent comic book, Cowboys & Aliens follows amnesiac Jake Lonergan as he finds himself caught between a small-town sheriff, an angry cattle baron, and his former band of bandits. Complicating matters is a mysterious woman who seems to know more about a manacle on his wrist than he does, a gold mine, hostile Indians, and unearthly kidnappers!

James Bond’s Daniel Craig is the laconic Lonergan, and he is supported by an all-star cast, including Keith Carradine as Sheriff Taggart, Harrison Ford as cattle baron Col. Woodrow Dolarhyde, and Tron Legacy‘s Olivia Wilde as the alluring Ella Swenson. Highlander and Superman: the Animated Series‘ Clancy Brown is preacher Meacham, Moon and Iron Man 2‘s Sam Rockwell is barkeep Doc, and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee‘s Adam Beach is Native American scout Nat.

These actors elevate the film from a mere shoot-’em-up to a full-blown popcorn flick (if not at the box office, where Cowboys & Aliens tied with the unnecessary Smurfs movie). I enjoyed seeing Indiana Jones face off with James Bond and the cast and crew’s obvious enjoyment in riding horseback and blowing up alien invaders.

Just as Thor substituted Norse deities for Stargate‘s Egyptian ones, so too does Cowboys & Aliens tap into District 9‘s aliens and body horror, Unforgiven‘s gritty West, and Stargate‘s sense of adventure. Like this past spring’s Rango, which combined computer-animated talking animals with western tropes, Cowboys & Aliens is an alternate-history romp that manages to avoid the steampunk excesses of Wild, Wild West or Jonah Hex, even as it draws on the same clichés.

I’d give Cowboys & Aliens, which is rated PG-13 for violence, three out of five stars, a “B+,” or 7.5 out of 10. After his successes with Iron Man, Favreau continues to inspire confidence with his choice of workmanlike direction rather than the quirky stylings of Burton, Tarantino, del Toro, or Rodriguez. That said, the extended trailer for the sword-and-sorcery Conan the Barbarian was the only preview that was memorable.

Cowboys & Aliens reminded me of my favorite sessions of Boot Hill, Tim M.B.‘s GURPS “Arth,” Castle Falkenstein, Deadlands (arguably the best fit), and my own GURPS Steampunk/D20 Etherscope: “Gaslight Grimoire.” Back in grad school, I also ran a scenario for GURPS 3e Supers: “Visor and the Seer” using GURPS Old West involving time travel.

Coming soon: More Comic-Con roundups, games, and travel!

Comics and race: Can’t we all just get along?

A plea for peaceful coexistence — A plea for peace beyond boundaries

I was going to blog later about the recent controversies over race and comic books, but I’ll weigh in here while the news is still relatively fresh. Warner Bros./DC Comics announced that Laurence Fishbourne has been cast as Daily Planet editor Perry White, and Disney/Marvel revealed that after Peter Parker was killed in Ultimate Spider-Man (in one alternate continuity), the new Spidey is Miles Morales, an African-American/Hispanic youth.

I can understand that many fans will have negative reactions to any changes to well-known characters, from Samuel L. Jackson playing Col. Nick Fury to Jaime Reyes becoming the Blue Beetle. However, I’m distressed by the amount of invective spewed by ignorant people who see such changes as tantamount to destruction of the American way.

I don’t want to return to the “good old days” of the 1950s, when Caucasian males called the shots for much of the world, Jim Crow was still part of the U.S. legal system, and miscegenation (marriage of people of different ethnic backgrounds, of which I’m a product) was still frowned upon at best.

Yes, every ethnic and religious group has been guilty of crimes against humanity, but for the past few centuries, Europeans have shared their culture — and their hang-ups and wars — with the world. I’m not saying that anyone else would be better, but I do think the majority (if only 50%, if one combines people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent) should be mindful of the socioeconomic hurdles that minorities have faced and often still face. Is casting white actors as people of color more offensive than trying for more diverse depictions in fiction?

English settlers discriminated against Irish immigrants, the Irish against Italians, and they all sometimes banded against former slaves. Now, gay marriage is used as a wedge issue while potential federal default, wars overseas, and other more pressing issues are debated without the benefit of a well-informed public or reason and courtesy.

Women still earn less money than men on average for equivalent positions, even after factoring in delays because of childbearing. Comic book fans should be sensitive to Superman‘s “never-ending fight for truth, justice, and the American way.”

I hope that sanity and comity prevail, and several of the articles I’ve linked to above demonstrate patience and tolerance, even as they report about disheartening bigotry that persists among what I hope is only a loudmouthed few. My favorite superheroes, including Superman, Captain America, Batman, and Wonder Woman, have all been depicted with blue eyes, but real-world heroes come in all colors, faiths, and shapes.

Coming soon: More Comic-Con roundups, Cowboys & Aliens, and travel!

Thundercats and other toons

Cartoon Network's new Thundercats — Thundercats, ho!

On Friday, 29 July 2011, I watched the premieres of a few new animated television shows. I especially liked the latest incarnation of Thundercats, which was among the shows previewed at San Diego Comic-Con, on the Cartoon Network.

As with G.I. Joe: Renegades, Transformers: Prime, and the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, intellectual properties from the 1980s are being revived, with more modern production values and writing. Although I’m a bit too old to have childhood nostalgia for the originals of these series, I applaud this trend, mainly because of the rare improvement in quality.

The one-hour premiere of Thundercats was faithful enough to the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, but it has a lot in common with recent animation as well. Our favorite felines inhabit a more populated Third Earth than their predecessors, and their (over-)reliance on agrarian civilization and royal magic in contrast to the technology of their foes is reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings.

The well-designed city of Thundera, varied character archetypes, and new conflict among the Thundercats also reminded me favorably of Avatar: the Last Airbender, which will soon be getting a sequel of its own in Nickelodeon’s Legend of Korra (also previewed at Comic-Con). I liked how Lion-o’s father the king isn’t infallible, not all reptile folk are evil, and even that sidekick Snarf can’t talk.

Thundercats is worth watching for fans of fantasy and related role-playing games, and I’ll definitely be adding Thundercats to my summer TV viewing schedule! We’ll see whether the Kung-Fu Panda series can keep the eastern-flavored martial arts action going and if it’s faithful to the popular Dreamworks movies, which I liked more than the Shrek franchise (the Puss in Boots spin-off does look amusing).

I wish I could say that the other cartoons were as promising as the fantasy Thundercats, Legend of Korra, or Kung-Fu Panda. It was nice to hear Heroes‘ Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia as a smarmy Tony Stark/Iron Man and a youthful Logan/Wolverine in Marvel’s first anime-style series on G4.

As I told Steve M.R., I thought both characters were a good fit for Japanese adventures, with Iron Man‘s technocratic interests and the classic storyline in which Wolverine follows lost love Mariko to Japan. However, I found myself already missing the energy of the computer-animated Iron Man: Armored Adventures and the cleaner lines of X-Men: Evolution, not to mention MTV’s Spider-Man and the fun Spectacular Spider-Man.

I’ll keep watching for a little while in the hope that the latest Iron Man and Wolverine cartoons approach the level of Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (not to be confused with the kid-oriented Super Hero Squad). Marvel also has Blade, X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man (whose print equivalent has replaced Peter Parker in the tights), and Hulk and the Agents of SMASH shows in the works. The direct-to-video Thor: Tales of Asgard was apparently successful enough for a sequel: Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers.

On the DC side of Comic-Con and genre TV news, I’m still looking forward to the return of Young Justice, the premiere of Bruce Timm’s Green Lantern: the Animated Series, and the next inevitable Batman series. I’ve already mentioned the Batman: Year One and Dark Knight Returns releases, and more adaptations are planned, including Justice League: Doom, Superman vs. the Elite, and Batman: the Killing Joke.

Janice and I have been enjoying the Seinfeld-inspired Looney Toons Show, and I hope to catch the dieselpunk War of the Worlds: Goliath, which features the cast of Highlander: the Series, whenever it’s released in the U.S. (thanks to Heavy Metal magazine for the previews).

Coming soon: Toys and games at Comic-Con, Cowboys & Aliens review, and more food and travel!