Thirteen Who monsters due another go
Note, it's out of date by two entries (I'm counting the Nimon) and the death of Michael Gough.
As referenced here.
No, I really do have an idea for the Movellans.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
"The time is always right to do what is right."
There was a Martin Luther King Jr. Google Doodle yesterday in the States.
A hero in a turbulent era of history, Dr. King's life makes obvious subject matter for a time-travelling series, albeit maybe too obvious and potentially not much fun. Political people are sidelined compared to artists (who meet monsters like their own work) and scientists because their life stories are more serious by default. King's most significant enemy was J. Edgar Hoover.
So maybe the travellers meet him in passing, or have a chance to hear the Dream speech for themselves, on the way to another adventure, maybe one where they take on oppressors and help those in need.
"We must use time creatively."
A hero in a turbulent era of history, Dr. King's life makes obvious subject matter for a time-travelling series, albeit maybe too obvious and potentially not much fun. Political people are sidelined compared to artists (who meet monsters like their own work) and scientists because their life stories are more serious by default. King's most significant enemy was J. Edgar Hoover.
So maybe the travellers meet him in passing, or have a chance to hear the Dream speech for themselves, on the way to another adventure, maybe one where they take on oppressors and help those in need.
"We must use time creatively."
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Doctor Who: Nearly A Radio Series In The 60s Too
With Peter Cushing, no less, doing perhaps the first adventure of his Doctor, dropping himself and his granddaughter in the middle of the American Revolution. Lost now, alas, but they have just found the script.
The comic illustrating a key and titular scene from The Dark Dimension unmade script movie-video-special... thing is nice too. Being an unmade stories dork, the enormous article about it does make me rather tempted to get this.
The comic illustrating a key and titular scene from The Dark Dimension unmade script movie-video-special... thing is nice too. Being an unmade stories dork, the enormous article about it does make me rather tempted to get this.
Open the great book at random and...
Due to this I have now noticed that the TARDIS Index File has a "random page" button too.
And...
The Harp Of Rassilon!
Erm. Something about...
--
Example: The Song Of Time
The finest orchestra in the four galaxies is to give a gala performance tonight, in aid of the survivors of the Red Nebula disaster. And rather than the pieces they had rehearsed, one of the guest players has a piece for the harp. A piece not hard since the First Days, said to have been composed by one of the legendary Time Lords. So where did she find it, and who wants it to be played...?
--
Okay, your challenge, skipping an actor and a cut scene, Atif. A journalist discredited by Torchwood One. What has he found now...?
And...
The Harp Of Rassilon!
Erm. Something about...
--
Example: The Song Of Time
The finest orchestra in the four galaxies is to give a gala performance tonight, in aid of the survivors of the Red Nebula disaster. And rather than the pieces they had rehearsed, one of the guest players has a piece for the harp. A piece not hard since the First Days, said to have been composed by one of the legendary Time Lords. So where did she find it, and who wants it to be played...?
--
Okay, your challenge, skipping an actor and a cut scene, Atif. A journalist discredited by Torchwood One. What has he found now...?
Saturday, 14 January 2012
io9 talk to Caroline Skinner, new Doctor Who Executive Producer. Admittedly mostly about the Fades, but about the Yates rumour and 2013.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Who are these people?
Girl On The Moon's take on the NPCs from Worlds In Time, giving them hints of personality. Camille, the human girl and therefore most likely companion, looks like Jodie Whittaker, casting I approve of. The unflappable Catkind gent in the suit and tie would make a fun sidekick.
I am still puzzled by Darren the Silurian though.
And why no female Cheem?
I am still puzzled by Darren the Silurian though.
And why no female Cheem?
Script-To-Screen 2
The Eleventh Doctor needs your help!
If you're a British kid aged between 9 and 11. Otherwise, he's just entertaining as he asks.
"Rescue Amy and me! ... And Rory."
(Where was this when I was between 9 and 11? I'd have given Colin Baker something good...)
Anyway, gives 'em a bit of a theme, the Olympics. And an aside about "killer spaghetti, from someone in Kettering". Which, y'know... could also work if you get Brian Bolland to design it.
If you're a British kid aged between 9 and 11. Otherwise, he's just entertaining as he asks.
"Rescue Amy and me! ... And Rory."
(Where was this when I was between 9 and 11? I'd have given Colin Baker something good...)
Anyway, gives 'em a bit of a theme, the Olympics. And an aside about "killer spaghetti, from someone in Kettering". Which, y'know... could also work if you get Brian Bolland to design it.
The Mysterious Observer
Some discussion over Pandora, the Mysterious Woman in the new DC Universe, posits her as a hero trying to get a broken timeline to work, and someone mentioned the Eleventh Doctor and The Crack as a comparison point.
And my first thought was I’d pick up that comic.
And my second was that this is indeed what someone like the Doctor would look like from the outside, in an ongoing series about a different group of non-time-travelling characters.
Of course, having a boy in a fez run out of a police box and stop the world exploding at the last minute would undercut the importance of the PCs’ actions, but Mysterious People observing and influencing significant events could be woven into games more slyly.
Hmm. I shall expound further on TWH.
--
Example: The Walker
A group of investigators looking into a disappearance notice someone watching them, who leaves if they approach - and vanishes when he rounds a corner if they give chase. And then when they get stuck, someone slips a clue in their letterbox...
And my first thought was I’d pick up that comic.
And my second was that this is indeed what someone like the Doctor would look like from the outside, in an ongoing series about a different group of non-time-travelling characters.
Of course, having a boy in a fez run out of a police box and stop the world exploding at the last minute would undercut the importance of the PCs’ actions, but Mysterious People observing and influencing significant events could be woven into games more slyly.
Hmm. I shall expound further on TWH.
--
Example: The Walker
A group of investigators looking into a disappearance notice someone watching them, who leaves if they approach - and vanishes when he rounds a corner if they give chase. And then when they get stuck, someone slips a clue in their letterbox...
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Nicolas Steno
Nicolas Steno gets a Google Doodle for his 374th birthday. His work may be more immediately relevant to Primeval but the scientist turned bishop turned ascetic who defined stratigraphy and discovered fossils could make an interesting guest star.
Even if you don't have dinosaurs chasing him around an abbey.
Even if you don't have dinosaurs chasing him around an abbey.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
And The Door In Time Annual?
All new material, of course. Behind-the-scenes features on aspects of Who GMing and Door-specific ideas. So things like...
--
The Tarokka - a couple pages of extra background on these guys and the Vas Murb and their issues with one another.
--
How To Destroy The Universe - a guide to creating series-spanning threats.
--
Behind The Door - star and creator interviews (interviewed by, um, who exactly if not me?)
--
Not Necessarily Our Own Original Ideas - how to turn something into an adventure hook.
--
Doors The Door Has Been - because a one or two page silly fluff article is an essential.
--
Episode Guide - for a series-full of episodes that haven’t actually happened.
--
The Tarokka - a couple pages of extra background on these guys and the Vas Murb and their issues with one another.
--
How To Destroy The Universe - a guide to creating series-spanning threats.
--
Behind The Door - star and creator interviews (interviewed by, um, who exactly if not me?)
--
Not Necessarily Our Own Original Ideas - how to turn something into an adventure hook.
--
Doors The Door Has Been - because a one or two page silly fluff article is an essential.
--
Episode Guide - for a series-full of episodes that haven’t actually happened.
So what would a DWAITAS Annual look like?
A grab bag of stuff, obviously, some of it tied to the year's Doctor Who. Stats for new characters and monsters, adventures based on hooks the series dangled, GMing advice on interesting topics it brought up.
So for example, the DWAITAS Annual 2012 might include...
An introduction to RPGs, just in case. A short solo adventure, character sheets for the Doctor, Amy and Rory, just enough info that a new GM could pick this book up if they got it for Christmas instead of the boxed set.
The Silence - stats for the creatures and the cult, rules for EyeDrives, and an article on UFO lore and history and their place in it.
The Corsair - stats for all nine incarnations would be a bit much, but a page or two on him/her?
The Flesh - stats for their various mutations and advice on how to use doppelgangers in a game. With a sidebar about the Teselecta.
A Good Game Goes To War - stats for the Doctor's superhero teamup.
Adventures - a nice straightforward one relating to one of the asides from this year like the Doctor escaping from Colditz, and a Christmas Special because this is in shops in time for Christmas.
And thirteen half-page adventure hooks because that's a good tradition to keep up.
(And as suggested, I am now wondering what I'd put in The Door In Time Annual...)
So for example, the DWAITAS Annual 2012 might include...
An introduction to RPGs, just in case. A short solo adventure, character sheets for the Doctor, Amy and Rory, just enough info that a new GM could pick this book up if they got it for Christmas instead of the boxed set.
The Silence - stats for the creatures and the cult, rules for EyeDrives, and an article on UFO lore and history and their place in it.
The Corsair - stats for all nine incarnations would be a bit much, but a page or two on him/her?
The Flesh - stats for their various mutations and advice on how to use doppelgangers in a game. With a sidebar about the Teselecta.
A Good Game Goes To War - stats for the Doctor's superhero teamup.
Adventures - a nice straightforward one relating to one of the asides from this year like the Doctor escaping from Colditz, and a Christmas Special because this is in shops in time for Christmas.
And thirteen half-page adventure hooks because that's a good tradition to keep up.
(And as suggested, I am now wondering what I'd put in The Door In Time Annual...)
The Doctor Who Annual 2012
It being after Christmas, time to get this for oneself. It’s very much the Doctor Who Adventures Annual, with The Brilliant Book being Doctor Who Magazine’s. So short features, big type, all meant to be read before lunch on Christmas morning, two stories (about Amy and Rory being separated while tangling with alien crooks) and two six-page comics (about light-sensitive alien hunters and... Attack Of The Fifty Foot Rory - if that doesn’t tempt you nothing will) and the short fairytale Snow White And The Seven Keys To Doomsday, set in the ancient days of Gallifrey when everything was a bit mad.
And this rather lovely turn of phrase to describe the travellers:
“Running for their lives - and the lives of everyone else.”
And this rather lovely turn of phrase to describe the travellers:
“Running for their lives - and the lives of everyone else.”
The Year 2000, As Of The Year 1900
According to the Ladies' Home Journal... which as the BBC noted (thanks to SteveD) did pretty well...
And German chocolate makers... which didn't but were charming...
And I always liked this Punch satire of Edison's endless stream of inventions. How wrongfooted would a group of travellers be, stepping into the National Gallery in 1879 and seeing visitors flying up to get a better look at the Turners?
And German chocolate makers... which didn't but were charming...
And I always liked this Punch satire of Edison's endless stream of inventions. How wrongfooted would a group of travellers be, stepping into the National Gallery in 1879 and seeing visitors flying up to get a better look at the Turners?
Midnight... Live
With the serial numbers filed off and RTD's blessing, a nameless traveller boards the Crusader 50...
Of natural interest to anyone who's thought of a Who LARP.
Of natural interest to anyone who's thought of a Who LARP.
Monday, 2 January 2012
Why Is That There?
One of the plot hooks tucked away in The Brilliant Book 2012 had Rory speculating that there's a reason Munch's The Scream keeps getting stolen.
But this sent me haring off in another direction...
A Renaissance group scene stolen from the National Gallery... revealed as the wall it's on turns towards us... on the outside of a satellite high above the Earth.
"And... is that the Mona Lisa?"
"One of the spares. ... Long story. Anyway, look closer, her hair's over one shoulder."
"So, what are they doing here?"
"Good question. Excellent question. For the benefit of passing spacecraft that can fly up and take a closer look? Nobody dedicates a museum to me for another eight hundred years..."
But this sent me haring off in another direction...
A Renaissance group scene stolen from the National Gallery... revealed as the wall it's on turns towards us... on the outside of a satellite high above the Earth.
"And... is that the Mona Lisa?"
"One of the spares. ... Long story. Anyway, look closer, her hair's over one shoulder."
"So, what are they doing here?"
"Good question. Excellent question. For the benefit of passing spacecraft that can fly up and take a closer look? Nobody dedicates a museum to me for another eight hundred years..."
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