THE NEW HOME FOR "PAETER'S BRAIN"!

Paeter is no longer posting to this blog. His new reviews and thoughts on geek entertainment (including all those previously posted here!) can now be found conveniently organized and archived at The Spirit Blade Underground!

Monday, March 31, 2008

The Reliance #12



The Doomsday Program, Part 2

With Iron Hand pinned down and Surge outnumbered, it seemed like "doomsday" would arrive early. Thankfully, Phanuel came swoopinjg down on the scene to provide much needed assistance.

Where had she been? And why did she seem strangely more confident in her abilities? Answers would have to wait for another time. Each reliance member seemed to fight their own private war as Surge blasted the robotic insects in a flurry of electrical activity, Phanuel charged around the room at their attackers and Iron Hand ripped and tore at the hardening puss-like substance that held him to the ground.
The robotic ants proved to be no problem for Iron hand and Phanuel, although Surge had to repeatedly call upon reserves of strength to press through their damaging attacks. Iron Hand managed to rip free and rejoin the battle, only to be distracted by the mess his armor had become in the conflict.

As though driven to the edge of sanity, Surge unleashed a primal scream and vaporized the giant, puss-shooting robotic spider.

After cleaning his armor sufficiently, Iron Hand quickly scanned the warehouse with his newly installed x-ray visual interface. Just upstairs lay Superman, encased in some kind of clear bubble on a metal pad. Nearly unconscious, the Man of Steel seemed plagued by a glowing piece of green rock sitting next to him.

The Reliance raced upstairs to rescue the man who had been a savior to so many. But a moment after their arrival, they witness a robotic ant activate a teleport device that causes Superman, the ant and the kryptonite all to vanish away to some mysterious location.

Phanuel quickly begins collecting materials that may potentially be useful later, should she decipher a detection spell from among her arcane books. Iron Hand and Surge combine their analytical efforts with great effect. The Reliance learns that the robots were constructed using circuit boards from the "InfoTech" warehouse they found Superman in. InfoTech is a subsidiary of the Omega Corporation, a groundbreaking software company preparing to release the powerful and coveted Omega 1701 personal computer.

The design of the robots matches the M.O. of a creepy Superman villain called, The Toyman. Winslow Schott is a genius with robotics, but the design of these particular robots is clearly beyond what any human mind is capable of creating.

After wrapping up their investigation for the night, the Reliance returns to their Headquarters to get what little sleep they can.

Monday morning, Iron Hand gets up at 7am to repair the damage to his armor's defense and flight systems. Surge, as Tommy Franklin, arrives for his first day on the job at S.T.A.R. Labs with Dr. McGee.

As Phanuel staggers groggily into the main room back at HQ, Iron Hand catches a report of a robbery on police band radio. The Toyman is robbing the First Metropolitan Bank of Coast City! Iron Hand and Phanuel are out the door and into the air in moments, letting Tommy know what's going on via communicator.

The Toyman is quickly apprehended by a magic blast from Phanuel, although his robot insects strangely flee upon his capture, rather then coming to his defense. Requesting to be involved in Toyman's questioning, Iron Hand and Phanuel find themselves playing a child's game with the timid yet creepy villain. They seem about to win him over when the Toyman suddenly shoots a spark from his nose twitches sharply before becoming still.

Clearly, this is not the Toyman. But if not, then what is he? Why did a magical attack have any effect on him? Where did he come from? And what could possibly be the cause of these increasingly strange events?

http://paetersbrain.blogspot.com

Friday, March 28, 2008

It's Really Gonna Happen!



Last night my wife and I stayed up late searching for the best flight/hotel/rental car package for our big trip out to GenCon this coming August. We weren't sure if we'd be able to pull it off. We needed to find a suite with a separate bedroom so that I can come home in the wee hours of the morning after a game and sleep in while mommy and baby do their thing in the morning.

Now before you go calling me the absentee dad, I've gotta explain that this trip is my big 30th birthday present(even though I'm actually 30 this April) and orginally I was going to go alone. But my wife really wanted to come along(mostly just to get away from her work for a week) and, understanding the nature of a game convention, knew we'd need to figure out a way for me to get the most out of such a rare event.

So mom planned all along to be a single parent for the five days of GenCon either way. (I know, isn't she awesome!) Still, I'm gonna see if I can get her to register for the Con since she'll be there anyway. You never know, I might even find a geeky game that I can hook my wife on. Now THAT would be like having GenCon every WEEKEND here at home!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Descent: The Road To Legend



I've finally got it! This weekend I managed to find one of the first copies of the new Descent expansion. I'm still working my way through the MASSIVE rulebook. I can say straight away that this expansion completely changes the game experience! It's almost overwhelming. If you were one of the people that didn't use the "order" rules until you'd played Descent a few times, you might find the rule additions and changes a little complex at first as well.

The basic play of the game is the same, and if you love Descent, I don't think this expansion will destroy your beloved gaming experience. But it WILL take some time to adjust to.

I still have two buddies that need to get through the last expansion pack before we move onto this one, but I think when they're ready, this expansion will be a welcome new experience.

I may give a more detailed review down the road once I've played the expansion some with my friends, but for now I'll say that I'm VERY impressed and excited!

Hoody hoo!

Monday, March 24, 2008

My Beef With Star Trek



Been awhile since I plugged the ol' podcast, but this week I finally spelled out why I think shows like Battlestar Galactica and Farscape leave the Star Trek franchise in the dust. Thought some of you might dig that if you haven't heard it already.

I also give an account of my "experience" at the Las Vegas "Star Trek: The Experience" last week.

Just go to http://paeter.libsyn.com and listen to the show titled "Matrix Messiah And My Beef With Trek".

See ya!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Why Not "Farscape The Experience"?

Next week my wife and I will be joining my parents and siblings for a week in Las Vegas. One item on the agenda is "Star Trek: The Experience".

The basic idea, as I understand it, is a hotel lobby has been transformed into a "Deep Space 9" type station, with a couple "Star Tours" type rides to go on. For years I've dreamed of checking this place out, but I have to admit that my interest has faded quite a bit. I mean, Star Trek? C'mon. Until its (hopeful) revival with next year's movie, the franchise is dead in the water, with only the most hard core fans still talking about it. "Farscape" has been off the air for about five years now, but would make a much more interesting attraction. Or how about a "Battlestar Galactica Experience"?

Granted, those two shows don't have the cult following that the Star Trek Franchise does, but either one would be a much more welcome highlight to my vacation.

Oh well....

Monday, March 10, 2008

Two Face In "Dark Knight"



I'm pressed for time and can't comment on it today, but I found an interesting article about how Two-Face is being portrayed in this summer's Batman movie. (No Plot Spoilers)

Check it out at:

http://www.comics2film.com/index.php?a=story&b=31798

Friday, March 7, 2008

Red Lantern!



I'll be honest, I'm not sold yet on the concept of a rainbow of lantern corps. That seems like an idea born from the same mind that gave the rings a weakness to the color yellow. A red, orange and blue lantern corps feels kinda dated at first glance.

That said, so far I'm very impressed with the execution. The introduction of the Red Lantern concept has me very interested. Bringing the Controllers back into the picture with the Orange Lantern concept is a step in the right direction. (Once again, Geoff Johns breathing life into old continuity.)

Somehow between the artwork and the writing, I'm actually REALLY enjoying these stories. I shouldn't be terribly surprised. I'm a BIG fan of Johns' writing. Still, at the outset I wasn't sure about these new lantern corps concepts.

I'm thrilled to be proven wrong!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

GenCon!!



I've never been to a major gaming convention before, but I've just registered to attend the mother of them all... GenCon Indiana 2008! I'll be turning 30 this April and my big present is a trip to Indiana for the four day gaming event.

As a geek, I've been reading about this convention for years, but come this August I'll be able to experience it for myself. New game demos, strategy board games, a life-size dungeon to explore and hours upon hours of role-playing!

Hoody hoo!

Monday, March 3, 2008

He-Man Defect


Last week I discovered a defect on disc one of this set that cuts about three minutes from an episode! Luckily, BCI is aware of the problem and is sending out replacements discs to customers. So my glowing review on the last podcast still stands!
Well, I'm sick, so I better go rest. (Blech. Sleep is a thief of time.)