Author Archives: Shane

Let’s Play Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear #9

This episode: “Just a few things before we leave” … yeah, right. At least we finally get a cleric and we really are ready to leave Baldur’s Gate and head to Dragonspear Castle now. Onward with many butts to kick.

From developer Beamdog‘s marketing copy:

A major new expansion to Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition adds areas, action, and adventure to the original!

“Fate leads him who follows it, and drags him who resist.” -Plutarch

Though Sarevok is dead and his plan for war averted, peace eludes the citizens of Baldur’s Gate. A crusade marches from the north, seizing supplies, forcing locals into military service, and disrupting trade along the Sword Coast. A charismatic warrior known as the Shining Lady leads this army, her background shrouded in mystery. Can the rumors be true—is she, like you, the child of a god?

The closer you get to the Shining Lady, the more you realize your father, the dead Lord of Murder still casts a long shadow upon your path. Baldur’s Gate has put its faith in you, but you must determine whose interests you truly serve before you face the Shining Lady among the ruins of Dragonspear Castle…

Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear adds a new chapter to the Bhaalspawn saga. The events occurring between Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II are at last revealed in this 25-hour expansion pack for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition.

Let’s Play Sword Coast Legends Story Mode #25

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This episode: Who are the Dragonbloods? Why do they pop up when discussing Jarhild’s missing siblings and Larethar’s friend’s quest? Bums love their boots. We take a beatdown.

This a let’s play of the single player campaign of Sword Coast Legends.

Set in the lush and vibrant world of the Forgotten Realms, Sword Coast Legends offers an all-new way to enjoy the time-tested magic of playing Dungeons & Dragons as a shared storytelling experience. With a deep narrative developed by a team of long-time industry veterans and a partnership with Wizards of the Coast, the single player campaign of Sword Coast Legends brings the world of Faerûn home like never before.

https://swordcoast.com/

DC Rebirth Review #3: 5 Comics (Spoilers)

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Review of 5 DC Comics Rebirth related books with SPOILERS:

Justice League: Rebirth #1
Detective Comics #935
Wonder Woman #1
Aquaman #1
The Flash #1

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Rebirth –
DC Rebirth is a 2016 relaunch by DC Comics of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero comic books. Using the end of The New 52 initiative in May 2016 as its launching point, DC Rebirth is intended to restore the DC Universe to a form much like that prior to the “Flashpoint” storyline while still incorporating numerous elements of The New 52, including its continuity. It will also see many of its titles move to a twice-monthly release schedule, with all titles releasing at US$2.99.

System Shock & Night Dive Studios! – Radio Show / Podcast Ep. 57

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Podcast for the Shane Plays radio show from7/2/2016:
System Shock & Night Dive Studios!

Highlights: Geek news; new System Shock game with Stephen Kick of Night Dive Studios. What’s Chris Avellone’s involvement? An appearance by Fragments of Silicon’s Adam Dayton.

Shane Plays airs on Saturdays at 1:05 PM Central on 96.5 FM The Answer in Little Rock. It can also be heard online at http://965fmtheanswer.com and on the Tune In Radio app and iHeart Radio apps. Call in at 501-823-0965 or tweet @ShanePlays during the show!

Listen to the Shane Plays podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music and Stitcher (and other fine podcast directories) after the live show.

Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Radio on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays

Shane Plays is carried on Krypton Radio!
Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi.
http://kryptonradio.com/

Direct Download:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/shaneplays/Shane_Plays_7-2-16_podcast.mp3
Listen Here via Embed:

SHOW NOTES

New Troll Lord Games Kickstarter coming! Early Bird opens July 6, Official on July 7
The Hallowed Oracle: Troll Lord Games has partnered with Shane Moore of Abyss Walker fame to bring you even more Castles & Crusades! An all new adventure series, complete with new classes, spells and monsters!

NEWS ITEMS

D&D movie THE HAND OF CHAOS Has Title and Lead | Tribality
http://www.tribality.com/2016/06/29/dungeons-dragons-the-hand-of-chaos-has-title-and-lead/

Pacific Rim 2 gets February 2018 release date | Polygon
http://www.polygon.com/2016/6/30/12072770/pacific-rim-2-release-date

Batman vs Superman Ultimate Edition is out on Digital HD now, Blu Ray / DVD out July 19th
(3 hours as opposed to 2.5 hours, reviews indicate it is better than theatrical version)

‘Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Ultimate Edition’ Review: A Superior Cut Of A Doomed Film | Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2016/06/28/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-ultimate-edition-review-a-superior-cut-of-a-doomed-film

Kickstarter: Easy to Learn, Hard to Master – The Fate of Atari documentary
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744798558/easy-to-learn-hard-to-master-the-fate-of-atari

Matt Chat hangout talking RPGs with author Mike Witwer (Gygax biography Empire of the Imagination) and actor Sam Witwer (Battlestar Galactica, Starkiller Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Star Wars Rebels). These guys truly love RPGs and have a long history with them. Great geekout session. Witwers join at the 19:35 mark.
https://youtu.be/_qY8t5Ipfjc?t=19m35s

GUEST: STEPHEN KICK OF NIGHT DIVE STUDIOS

Night Dive Studios founder and CEO Stephen Kick talks their System Shock remaster project.

Nightdive’s mission is to bring lost and forgotten gaming treasures back from the depths.

http://www.nightdivestudios.com

System Shock Remastered, Turok 2, Atari, LucasArts and More: Night Dive Studios on Fragments of Silicon

System Shock Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598858095/system-shock

NEXT WEEK: MONKEY HOUSE GAMES

An update from from Monkey House Games regarding Villains & Vigilantes.

Monkey House Games: http://monkeyhousegames.com/

Villains & Vigilantes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Villains-and-Vigilantes-110965138921803/

Villains & Vigilantes Twitter: @OfficialVandV

Villains & Vigilantes on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villains_and_Vigilantes

Let’s Play Star Wars The Old Republic Trooper #10

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This episode: Our boss gets a demotion. We get a promotion. We finally get a companion (guess who?). Mail call brings another vanity pet and a sweet ride. Some quest cleanup and now we’re on the verge of heading off planet!

This is a let’s play series of the Trooper story line in Star Wars The Old Republic.

Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ is the only massively-multiplayer online game with a Free-to-Play option that puts you at the center of your own story-driven Star Wars™ saga. Play as a Jedi, a Sith, a Bounty Hunter or as one of many other Star Wars iconic roles and explore an age over three-thousand years before the classic films. Become the hero of your own Star Wars adventure as you choose your path down the Light or Dark side of the Force™.

http://www.swtor.com/

Let’s Play System Shock Remake Demo

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This is the System Shock pre-alpha demo from Night Dive Studios. Night Dive is currently remaking the original well remembered game.

It locks up about 20 minutes in, but hey it’s pre-alpha 🙂

Thanks for watching!

D&D Out of the Abyss Notes #18

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This episode: Lots of DM improvisation. A carrion crawler. The final session in Gracklstugh ends on a cliffhanger!

Gracklstugh Help Sheets by PurpleVermont:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/3pf0ga/oota_gracklstugh_help_sheets/

Gracklstugh Encounter Map by Robus:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?do=download&downloadid=1302

This is an ongoing series of Shane’s notes, thoughts and tips for running the D&D adventure Out of the Abyss, which is the tabletop portion of the Rage of Demons story line.

Each video follows the most recent session with his group.

Let’s Play Serpent in the Staglands #34

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This episode: We explore the Woods Edge map which has lots of nice traps and encounters, and then find a surprise right when we think we’re almost done with the area.

Join Shane as he plays through a hardcore computer RPG that has the mechanics and style of a 90s CRPG, and that’s just dripping with beautiful atmosphere!

Thanks for watching!

About Serpent in the Staglands:

A true role-playing adventure.

A campaign within the world of Vol, a fully realized setting inspired by the late bronze age in a Transylvanian landscape, with unique politics, races and gods steeped in history. Featuring a chosen party of five, you role-play Necholai, a minor god of a celestial body who descends to the Staglands for a moonlit festival only to find the way home blocked and immortality slipping away. Seeking answers and aid, you take on a mortal body and the guise of a traveling Spicer. This isn’t a story of good and evil, saving the world or being a hero, it’s about intrigue and your adventure of survival in a harsh land.

Buy on GOG:
https://www.gog.com/game/serpent_in_the_staglands?pp=6a3236f5f213960de5c415fd15c6d1cb5a46d04e

Buy on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/335120/

DC Rebirth Review #2: 10 Comics (Spoilers)

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Review of 10 DC Comics rebirth related books with SPOILERS:
Flash: Rebirth #1
Titans: Rebirth #1
Wonder Woman: Rebirth #1
Aquaman: Rebirth #1
Action Comics #957
Superman #1
Batman #1
Detective Comics #934
Green Lanterns #1
Green Arrow #1

Note: The Titans character referred to in the video seems to be Lilith / Omen.

Michael and Sam Witwer talk RPGs

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I had the unexpected pleasure of talking RPG games and their history with author Michael Witwer (Gary Gygax biography Empire of the Imagination) and actor Sam Witwer (Battlestar Galactica, Once Upon a Time, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Star Wars Rebels) over the weekend during a Google hangout with my friend Matt Barton of Matt Chat.

These guys truly love RPGs and have a long history with them. Great geekout session. Witwers join at the 19:35 mark.