Author Archives: Shane

Baldur's Gate Siege of Dragonspear title

Let’s Play Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear #4

This episode: Finishing up Korlasz’s tomb and off to the Ducal Palace. First level ups.

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.

Baldur's Gate Siege of Dragonspear title

Let’s Play Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear #3

This episode: We confront Korlasz… but do we let her live? We climb a rope and the beginning dungeon crawl draws ever closer to a close.

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.

Baldur's Gate Siege of Dragonspear title

Let’s Play Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear #2

This episode: More dungeon crawling and lots of filthy undead. We get reacquainted with old school healing and inventory management.

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.

Baldur's Gate Siege of Dragonspear title

Let’s Play Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear #1

This episode: Once again into the Baldur’s Gate breach, after all these years! Things kick right off with a stolen sword and a dungeon crawl. And just who is the mysterious woman bearing down on the Sword Coast with an army, anyway?

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.

D&D Out of the Abyss Notes Title

D&D Out of the Abyss Notes #7

This episode: The party makes it to the duergar city of Gracklstugh, that tourist paradise of the Underdark that is going mad like everywhere else underground at the moment. This portion of the adventure has a lot of moving parts game wise! Will they be arrested, eaten by a red dragon or both?

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.

shane plays podcast extra title Randy Duncan the uniqueness of comic books 3-30-2016

The Uniqueness of Comic Books (Dr. Randy Duncan, Part 2) – Podcast Extra

shane plays podcast extra title Randy Duncan the uniqueness of comic books 3-30-2016

Podcast Extra:
The Uniqueness of Comic Books (Dr. Randy Duncan, Part 2)

This is a Shane Plays podcast extra, featuring content that was not recorded as part of the live Shane Plays radio show.

Highlights: Comics scholar, professor and author Dr. Randy Duncan discusses what makes comic books so unique as a medium.

This is part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Randy Duncan.

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

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


NOTES

More about Dr. Randy Duncan:

The Power of Comics on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1472535707/

Creating Comics as Journalism, Memoir and Nonfiction on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Comics-Journalism-Memoir-Nonfiction/dp/0415730082/

Randy Duncan: Creating a class filled with costumes, iconic characters and CRASH!
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/oct/14/randy-duncan-creating-class-filled-costumes-iconic/?f=trilakes

Sword Coast Legends

Let’s Play Sword Coast Legends Story Mode #22

This episode: We begin Act 2 by completely ignoring the main story line and heading to the Vintner’s Keep. Oh yeah, Jarhild comes along.

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/

shane plays podcast title 3-26-2016

Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear! – Radio Show / Podcast Ep. 43

shane plays podcast title 3-26-2016

Podcast for the Shane Plays radio show from 3/26/2016:
Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear!

Highlights: Phillip Daigle and Amber Scott of Beamdog, Inc. talk Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear!

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!

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

KryptonRadio1 Shane Plays is carried on Krypton Radio!
Krypton Radio is SciFi for your Wifi.
http://kryptonradio.com/


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

SHOW NOTES

NEWS ITEMS

Shane’s Spoiler Free, Knee Jerk Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Review
https://youtu.be/EmffZ_PUtEg

Brain Trust’s Batman V Superman reaction video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsU9E98qETI

Batman V Superman Rotten Tomatoes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_v_superman_dawn_of_justice/

GUEST: BEAMDOG

Phillip Daigle – Lead Designer

Amber Scott – Publishing and Marketing Coordinator

Beamdog, Inc.
https://www.beamdog.com/

Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear Presentation
http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=257103

TWEET OF THE WEEK

@Slaktus: GAME DESIGN JARGON OF THE DAY
“COYOTE TIME”
The number of frames during which you can still execute a jump after running off a ledge.

NEXT WEEK:

Super Hero movies.

 

Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice Superman and Batman stare down

Batman V Superman Spoiler Free, Knee Jerk Review

Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice Superman and Batman stare down

I caught Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Thursday evening during the so-called advanced showings (what does that even mean if it’s been known it will open on Thursday night for a while, anyway?)  and here’s my spoiler free, knee jerk review:

Spoiler free because, well, there are no spoilers.

Knee jerk because it’s my initial thoughts within a couple of hours of seeing the movie for the first time, and without reading any other reviews to avoid biasing my own opinion and expectations.

Don’t want to watch the video review? Here’s a very quick summary:
*The video above has a lot more information and thoughts, not just the below summary points

Should you see it? Yeah of course, if you’re an action movie or super hero movie fan. There are several good scenes and of course some big action and it’s good to see the so-called DC trinity go into action on the big screen.

Otherwise, meh not so much. I don’t think it has the same general appeal for the average movie goer that the Marvel movies do.

It’s rough and uneven and almost two different movies pacing wise. The first half is uneven and ponderous, while the second half pulls together much better.

If any movie ever needed re-editing, it’s BvS.

Rotten Tomatoes currently has BvS at 29%. I wouldn’t go that low but it’s not as good as what Marvel’s putting out these days, that’s for sure.

D&D Out of the Abyss Notes Title

D&D Out of the Abyss Notes #6

This episode: Betrayal, madness and role play repercussions on the verge of Gracklstugh.

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.