New Godzilla in 2012!

It's true--Godzilla is back in 2012. And, no, Roland Emmerich will not have anything to do with the big guy's return. I refer you to the estimable Monster Island News on the matter, which sounds like a news program on Monster Island. Oh, how I wish it were!

MIN has also posted the official press release.

Special Edition: Random Space Finds #OSR

Floating flotsam and jetsam, tumbling slowly in the void (1d12), with sincerest appreciation for fellow bloggers. These are just a few of my favorite, recent finds :)

1. Stellar Luminous Tablet
2. Landmaster, slightly used (BYOS*)
3. Psychotic Shards of the Crystal Ship
4. Fluted Helm of Rix
5. KVadrXtsayukd (Low-power Particle Gun)
6. Biobattery Power Clip
7. Holtzman Sheild Generator
8. The Obelisk of Time
9. Sentient Transforming Robot
10. Old Fashioned Strato Gun (BYOS*)
11. Purple-haired beauty in suspended animation capsule (definitely BYOS*)
12. Sarott's Gauntlet

Some of these are "creative leads". Others are fully formed ideas. All material is property of each respective content creator/owner. I'm just pointing you towards the goodness--please check out these wonderful blogs and as always, feel free to add links to more great items in the comments. I'm on a reading tear these days but I'll have some new stuff up in the coming weeks--and yes, it will be more than just random tables. Stay tuned!


*Bring your own stats!

Random Space Finds #8

Floating flotsam and jetsam, tumbling slowly in the void (1d10):

1. Barrel of premium, medium roast Columbian coffee beans (whole)
2. Gene-splicing lab module
3. Ruined monolith, whispers unintelligible language when touched by sentient beings
4. Giant space geode, filled with crystals
5. Space suit patch kit
6. Food replicator, non-terran
7. Moon boots, single pair, one size fits all
8. Armored sensor helmet with high-band rangefinder and thermal scanner, previous owner still occupying
9. Energia Corp. main thruster, slightly used
10. Atmospheric two-person parachute, high-tension guides, ripstop fabric

Intersteller inspriration: hero shots

Click to view larger

Harryhausen Film Fest Has Begun!

The Ray Harryhausen film series at the Trylon Microcinema here in the Twin Cities kicked off this weekend. I'd blogged earlier that I've seen most of the fantasy films he's done, but none of the sci-fi ones. I corrected that oversight this afternoon with a viewing of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers! It's definitely one of the all-time great B-movies, from the height of the cold war and UFO craze of the 50s. The film shares a lot of plot devices similar to War of the Worlds (Earth is invaded by a technologically superior race, etc.) but instead of conquering them through micro-organisms, lead scientist/hero Dr. Russell A. Marvin played by closet-werewolf and crackerjack actor Hugh Marlowe (if you've seen the last scene of the film you'll get that joke) devises a weapon to fight off the aliens. Of course, conventional artillery and firearms are useless because the aliens are using SCIENCE! So we have to use our own to even the odds. Let's just say it's definitely overdue for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 skewering. :)

The Trylon lives up to it's "Microcinema" name with just 50 seats and provides an intimate, cinema-going experience. It's nestled in the back of the XY and Z gallery at 3258 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis.

The proprietors let me snap a few shots of the lobby and box office/concession area:

 

  

As you can tell by the photos, the theater is quite small and really gives the impression of a private theater. Now, I'm all about the multi-plex (usually). As my wife often endures us getting to the theater early--like an HOUR before the doors open just so we can get prime seating. I'm at home hanging out at the cinema, so this isn't really a problem (for me). But when you're angling for your favorite spot, stupid mistakes will get you bad seats (waaaay up front, or waaaay in back). And then there's the rules of theater-going with Jay:

1. Buy tickets online
2. Get there EARLY
3. Seats before treats (find prime seats before visiting the concession stand)

I'm really not this much of a freak with anything else, but I hate sitting in bad seats at the theater. We've been known to swap our tickets if we get to the theater too late--just to avoid neck strain, motion sickness, and a crappy experience. (And believe me, it's worth it.)

At the Trylon, there isn't a bad seat in the theater--there really can't be in a space this size. In fact, after watching the movie in such a cozy set-up I promptly told the box office manager that this was my new favorite theater. I'm seriously looking forward to the rest of the series--next weekend is It Came From Beneath the Sea.  I can hardly wait!

Random Space Finds #7

Floating flotsam and jetsam, tumbling slowly in the void (1d10):

1. Geologist's chisel point rock hammer in holster
2. Case of six poison gas dental fillings (50% molar, 40% bicuspid, 10% incisor)
3. Stylophone, two contact points make no discernible sound to humans, stylus included
4. Spare moon wagon tire 
5. Single, 4 oz. bottle of hand santizer, covered in strange mold
6. Sextant, circa 17th Century Earth
7. One, meter-long organ donation cooler, sealed/delivery sticker intact
8. Book written in alien glyphs, library return card pasted inside front cover
9. GIANT 4 FEET TALL STUFFED KANGAROO 48" BIG JUMBO PLUSH 
10. Two metric tons of installation ready myomer

System neutral? Need suggestions...

So I've got a ton of posts on deck that I want to flesh out, (e.g., gadgets, enemies, etc.) but I'm still wading through rulesets. I'd like to start posting stuff without having to get into the crunchy bits of stat blocks that will essentially need to be converted anyway. I guess, I'd rather there was as little as possible at this point--allowing anyone who wants to yoink an idea can do so and incorporate with ease. So my question is: is there a good template out there for system neutral? Is narrative enough? How much crunch is too much--or not enough?

Ideas? Thoughts? I'd appreciate any suggestions in the comments.

Thanks!