martinralya - Network

A periodic reminder that if you share my love for movies, and especially for SF, horror, action, and B-movies, you might get some mileage...

A periodic reminder that if you share my love for movies, and especially for SF, horror, action, and B-movies, you might get some mileage out of my Letterboxd profile.

I've rated 3,200+ films and have written 1,600+ reviews* in the past seven years.

Like five people actually read my stuff. Join the elite club! 😅

*Letterboxd calls them reviews, but although I take writing them seriously they're more like comments than SRZ BZNZ critical analyses.

https://letterboxd.com/martinralya/

#movies

Just played Burning Banners with one of my best friends over Vassal. Always a treat!Now I'm going to clip counters for Advanced Squad...

Just played Burning Banners with one of my best friends over Vassal. Always a treat!

Now I'm going to clip counters for Advanced Squad Leader SK1 and set that up on one side of my desk to play solo this weekend.

@kensanata your ASL posts are 100% why I picked up this game. I love reading them!

#wargames

I get to run an #ArsMagica campaign!I pitched the Hibernian Tribunal. The Tribunal book is excellent, but I wanted a second reference to...

I get to run an #ArsMagica campaign!

I pitched the Hibernian Tribunal. The Tribunal book is excellent, but I wanted a second reference to mine for ideas and flavor.

The BGG thread "Please give your vote: Can you shuffle one card?" is nine years old and still going strong. It's closing in on...

The BGG thread "Please give your vote: Can you shuffle one card?" is nine years old and still going strong. It's closing in on 6,000 posts.

I checked in today and saw that the current disagreement is over the nature of reality.

Keep the internet weird, folks.

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1576647/please-give-your-vote-can-you-shuffle-one-card

Rodger B. MacGowan has passed away.He was one of the titans of wargaming art. His artwork was instantly recognizable and always impactful....

Rodger B. MacGowan has passed away.

He was one of the titans of wargaming art. His artwork was instantly recognizable and always impactful. When I think of wargaming box covers, my brain immediately pictures MacGowan's iconic work.

Four of my favorite MacGowan covers appear below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodger_B._MacGowan

#wargames

I've read five Appendix N novels since I got back into that little project last year. It's been...

I've read five Appendix N novels since I got back into that little project last year. It's been great!

https://www.martinralya.com/other-stuff/miscellaneous-geekery/ticking-along-on-appendix-n/

Looking further back, I played my 100th discrete RPG in 2015. It's been a productive decade on that front.

Looking further back, I played my 100th discrete RPG in 2015. It's been a productive decade on that front.

Last week my group played a session of Outgunned (using the Adventure book), which turned out to be the 200th discrete RPG/system I've...

Last week my group played a session of Outgunned (using the Adventure book), which turned out to be the 200th discrete RPG/system I've played since 1987.

I like trying new #TTRPGs!

Solo mission one is now set up. I'm playing Soviet partisans trying to eliminate a German patrol before they discover our base.This game...

Solo mission one is now set up. I'm playing Soviet partisans trying to eliminate a German patrol before they discover our base.

This game is renowned in part for its solo AI. The AI will be running the Germans. Just from looking at the AI card examples this system looks really clever. #wargaming

Learning Conflict of Heroes - Awakening the Bear ahead of a solo game. #wargaming

Learning Conflict of Heroes - Awakening the Bear ahead of a solo game. #wargaming

The best time to abandon anything Meta touches was years ago. The second best time is today.

The best time to abandon anything Meta touches was years ago. The second best time is today.

Last night we partied like it was 1994.

Last night we partied like it was 1994.

I love that feeling!I think I've filled two RPG notebooks since like...2004. 🤣

I love that feeling!

I think I've filled two RPG notebooks since like...2004. 🤣

I've been chipping away at my #chess misconceptions these past few days:- It's all about memorization: I'm nowhere near the...

I've been chipping away at my #chess misconceptions these past few days:

- It's all about memorization: I'm nowhere near the skill level where that's a significant element.

- My brain just isn't wired for chess: I'm decent to great at pattern recognition and I love puzzles. Those are core chess skills.

- I can't think ahead multiple moves: The second I made my first forcing move, I was thinking ahead one move. When I planned what I'd do after that forcing move, I was thinking two moves ahead.

Lose two games of #chess in a row: Fuck, I bet a soup dumpling would be a better player than me.Win two games of chess in a row: I AM A GOD...

Lose two games of #chess in a row: Fuck, I bet a soup dumpling would be a better player than me.

Win two games of chess in a row: I AM A GOD AMONG MORTALS. BEHOLD ME AND WEEP.

Bundle of Holding's offer for all six of Engine Publishing's system-neutral #TTRPG books for GMs for just $10 is ending in a few...

Bundle of Holding's offer for all six of Engine Publishing's system-neutral #TTRPG books for GMs for just $10 is ending in a few days.

I had a blast working on and publishing these books. Every book had an awesome team behind it, and while I'm biased I believe these books have stood the test of time (14 years, in the case of Eureka!) with over 40,000 copies sold.

$10 is basically buy one, get five free -- all DRM-free PDFs with EPUB and plain text versions included.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Engine2024

Don't be fooled by the link including "2023" in the title. It's the 2024 marathon!

Don't be fooled by the link including "2023" in the title. It's the 2024 marathon!

With #MST3K having, at least from where I sit, gone dormant after the failed crowdfunding for season 14, I'm delighted to see that...

With #MST3K having, at least from where I sit, gone dormant after the failed crowdfunding for season 14, I'm delighted to see that there's a 2024 Turkey Day marathon.

The Potluck of the Stars loops Thurs-Sun, with a bevy of MST3K folks and celebrity guests. Plus I believe it's the first time The Final Sacrifice will be streaming (with Joel, too!).

The Gizmoplex is silent on this topic, sadly; that's where I was hoping to watch it. But there are lots of viewing options.

https://shoutfactorytvlive.com/mst3k-turkey-day-marathon-2024

Oh! I almost forgot: Not only are all six PDFs DRM-free, as always, but each includes an EPUB and a plain text version.Use a text-to-speech...

Oh! I almost forgot: Not only are all six PDFs DRM-free, as always, but each includes an EPUB and a plain text version.

Use a text-to-speech reader? Want to cut and paste NPCs straight into your notes? That plain text file should be your jam.

Want to read any of these books on your Kindle (etc.)? Load up that EPUB.

This multi-file, purchaser-friendly approach was a point of pride for Engine and I wanted to make sure I mentioned it here.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Engine2024