Monday, June 27, 2011

Nuns on the Run - Board Game Review


In a Nutshell:  
Nuns on the Run is a humorous bluffing game, similar to  Scotland Yard but in the reverse. This game has a catchy title and fun concept, however it is a game that is essentially executed in your head.

I’d like to consider an alternative mechanic that might add interest to the game…my revised version would be called “Nuns with the Runs.”




Specifics:  
You choose between playing a nun or a novice (a nun in training). When you make moves on the game board you don’t actually move your game token if you are a novice. In your mind you select a place that you are “placing” your token. Next, the nun says is there anyone I can hear near me. Honestly this is like playing DND without ever getting to put your miniature on the dungeon map, lame.

The fun part are the many clever and amusing details. The novices sneak around the abbey trying to collect their secret wish, which could be a book of dark magic or forbidden cookies. Its fun to watch the frustration on the face of the person(s) playing the Nuns and the nervousness of the novice players trying to sneak around.



Take Away: 
The only proper way to play this game is if you sing:
“Nuns on the Run” to tune of “Band on the Run” by Wings.


Saturday, February 5, 2011

What Does It Mean?




dolphin double rainbow


free double rainbow dolphin exotic cat
Dolphin Double Rainbow with Antler Cat.

I don't know why I made this.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Brothers Grimm - Sculpting the Boar Head Maquette


Tips for using Polymer Clay
1. Use Vaseline to add non-baked clay to baked clay.
2. If the clay is dried-out and hard soften it by beating it with a rubber hammer.
3. You can bake polymer clay in a toaster oven.
4. Use a mirror to check the symmetry of your sculpture.


Wild Boar's Head Maquette

I'm in the process of sculpting a boar head maquette for the upcoming art show / book release:  Iron John & Other Grimm Brothers Faerie Stories.

The final boar head will be about the size of buffalo's head. Also, instead of using Super Sculpy I plan on using spray foam for the final. Maybe if this mini-boar head turns out well I will say it is one of the boar's babies, muahahaha!

You can see some of the illustrations for the book and my trading screens in the background. Sometimes when you trade stocks there's a lot of sitting around and waiting.


img of Wildschwein and cute baby boars
How can something so ugly be so freaking cute?!?!
I've started referring to the maquette as Boarby, although in the original Grimm Brothers text the boar is called Wildschwein.
In the story called, The Singing Bone, "Boarby" is an evil forrest boar who has killed tons of people with his terrible tusks. Two brothers set off to rid the land of beast and claim for themselves a prize.







Update, several hours later:

polymer clay boar head sculpture for Brothers Grimm Illustration Book
Halfway stage.

polymer clay boar head sculpture for Brothers Grimm Illustration Book
Still have to add his "terrible tusks" and right ear.



Resources:



Monday, January 10, 2011

Ratfist - Webcomic by Doug TenNapel

Ratfist Webcomic Doug TenNapel
Ratfist by Doug TenNapel
Ratfist officially launches today...woot!

Doug TenNapel, creator of  Earthworm Jim, Catscratch, The Neverhood, Ghostopolis, and Creature Tech is a guy that is really freaking tall.

TenNapel's style is reminiscent of the Spaceman Spiff stories within the Calvin and Hobbes universe, but with a little more grit. I love his off-the-wall characters and witty dialogue. What really shines are his original off-beat concepts, paired with loose masterful brushwork.

Something New, Something Old
Ratfist will be his first webcomic. I guess afterwards he will return to his traditional Japanese Sumi paintbrush methods as opposed to the digital drawing process he used in some of his previous graphic novels.
meat donut
Why did they ruin this masterpiece
with tomatoes?!





For me, Doug's stories are like a meat filled doughnut, tasty sugary goodness on  the outside yet centered with meaty meaning and substance.






Some of Doug's other work:
ratfist doug tennapel creature techratfist doug tennapel creature tech



Rat Testicles, Commentary:
I have heard that Doug produces his work very quickly, it must be true because in under a minute he replied to my comment about rat testicles:





Jacobromeo had this to say about Doug's work:


Agricola - Board Game Review (kinda)



The Photoshop Grass Brush was
used to illustrate the sheeps fur...
need I say more? 
 




Supposedly this game Agricola is really fun to play.



The Simpsons, Stonecutter meeting mocking the Masons.

I couldn't get past the initial set up and the lengthy instruction manual. I'm guessing it's like a secret Stonecutter thing. IF, you know how to pronounce Agricola correctly, then you MIGHT be invited to play a round with someone "in the know". Only then will you learn how to properly setup the multiple gameboards and if you still have stamina left, play the game.

The artwork, as with some other popular strategy boardgames on boardgamegeek.com, is shoddy at best. Take a look at: "Social Climber" and "Village Elder". 

< How can they get away with such blatant rip-offs?

The guy on the left is obviously Gaston from Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the guy on the right looks like a Hayao Miyazaki character, from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.




"every last inch of me's covered with hair"


Nausicaa Mustache Man

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Badger Badger Badger Badger Lyrics




Badger Tribute by São Paulo designer Gringo.
 How can you not love this?
More of Gringo's work can be view at his site Work, Gringo.