T w e n t y S i d e d
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “DM of the Rings Remastered CXL: Leave Everything to Chance”
DM of the Rings Remastered CXL: Leave Everything to Chance
Sick Week
My week was hell. I’ve been sick and miserable. I don’t have anything thought provoking or interesting to share this week as my brain has mostly been concentrating on keeping my insides in the inside. However, I would like you all to have something to engage with this week. So I will leave you with a prompt for your discussion in the comments. Give me your answer and show your work. I want details.
Which 1998 classic is the best? Banjo Kazooie? Half Life? MGS? There are no right answers. You’re all wrong. It’s Glover. Have fun.
Wednesday Action Log 11-19-25
This week was a bit more Slay the Spire, with a few other things on the side.
First off, I finally beat the game as the Watcher. I got a Pressure Point build going while also removing all of the attack cards, including Wrath. I also got Calipers early on, so I just focused on blocking with the occasional Pressure Point for damage.
I also attended the MTG Prerelease that Ethan posted about the other day. I think I finally have at least a lose grasp of the many, many intricacies and rules of Magic the Gathering. Which means that I have a better understanding of just how much more everyone knows than me. I think out of the 24 matches I played, I won 2. On the other hand, most of the people I played against were actually really nice, and willing to explain some of the more niche rules as they came up. Overall I had fun, and I might go to another Magic event sometime.
Lastly I’ve for some reason decided to play a bit of Half-life 2. I guess I’m just achievement hunting at this point, there’s a few achievements that I never bothered to get, and I don’t really have any other reason to play it.
So, How’s everyone else this week?
Slasher Movie Evolution: From Grandma to Zombie
No matter how much one likes any given Friday the 13th film, no matter how creative or how well it performed in theaters, you can always make an argument for some other slasher film doing the same thing but better. The original movie can be excused from this somewhat, as the intention from the beginning was to use the emerging “slasher” formula but crank up the violence and sex. Of course, you still have to ask “Does ‘do the same, but more so!’ count as ‘doing something new?'” Conversely, even if you can find a movie that does the theme better, the Friday the 13th series can legitimately be considered the most “pure” slasher series. Or at least, the first four films certainly fit that description (there are caveats, of course.) And speaking of caveats, Friday the 13th introduced the concept of the “paranormal” slasher. IN THE TERMS that we consider a slasher to be “paranormal” today, to be clear. Both Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger, in their original portrayals, bring paranormal features to the table. However, as I discussed last time, Michael in the first movie, or “The Shape” as he was more commonly known then, was an abstract; a representation of an idea. Freddy was originally written as some form of psychic force…or any number of other ways you want to explain his “dream infection” ability, who could be defeated simply by NOT LETTING him bother you. Or at least until the last scene of the movie was added, which required explanation in the future. I personally view Freddy in his early incarnation as “an unexplained supernatural phenomenon.” I say he is supernatural rather than paranormal because we’re still operating on a basis of “you have to believe in him for him to have power.” And this largely holds throughout the franchise. You don’t “have” to believe in Michael or…the killer…in Friday the 13th; they are functionally physical. As I pointed out, Michael was “made real-real” in the second movie. But the killer in Friday the 13th; they were just a serial killer. At least at first.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Slasher Movie Evolution: From Grandma to Zombie”
DM of the Rings Remastered CXXXIX: Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy!
MTG Prerelease Outing
Magic the Gathering’s newest set is a Universes Beyond release based around Avatar: The Last Airbender. Prior to the full retail release of a new set in Magic there’s events called “prereleases” that allow you to play with the new cards early. My wife, myself, Bay, and Izzy will be heading out to a local event tonight.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “MTG Prerelease Outing”
Wednesday Action Log 11-12-25
More Slay the Spire this week.
I’ve been slowly getting better at playing as the Watcher. My main roadblock has been that the only runs that make it anywhere near the end are usually focused on blocking. They have such little damage that it takes 20 turns to fight a regular monster, let alone a boss. Surely if I just do the same thing again I’ll get a different result.
What’s everyone else up too?
From The Archives:
Why I Hated Resident Evil 4
Ever wonder how seemingly sane people can hate popular games? It can happen!
The Terrible New Thing
Fidget spinners are ruining education! We need to... oh, never mind the fad is over. This is not the first time we've had a dumb moral panic.
If Star Wars Was Made in 2006?
Imagine if the original Star Wars hadn't appeared in the 1970's, but instead was pitched to studios in 2006. How would that turn out?
The Middle Ages
Would you have survived in the middle ages?
Push the Button!
Scenes from Half-Life 2:Episode 2, showing Gordon Freeman being a jerk.
Joker's Last Laugh
Did you anticipate the big plot twist of Batman: Arkham City? Here's all the ways the game hid that secret from you while also rubbing your nose in it.
Resident Evil 4
Who is this imbecile and why is he wandering around Europe unsupervised?
Hardware Review
So what happens when a SOFTWARE engineer tries to review hardware? This. This happens.
Marvel's Civil War
Team Cap or Team Iron Man? More importantly, what basis would you use for making that decision?
How I Plan To Rule This Dumb Industry
Here is how I'd conquer the game-publishing business. (Hint: NOT by copying EA, 2K, Activision, Take-Two, or Ubisoft.)