Lockdown And Live

Posted by Jam on April 18, 2020
Posted in: adventure, competition, Fantasy, Fighting Fantasy, game, Gamebook, Gamers, Games, gaming, garden, hobbies, horror, internet. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Who remembers all those great classic TV programs of the 80s? The Box Of Delights? The Chronicles Of Narnia? Knightmare? The Adventure Game? These were shows that boosted the imaginations of an entire generation, and inspired many. One of those inspired was Mr Oliver McNeil, who has managed to carve himself a career out of said inspirations, creating games, and interactive theatrical performances. Now YOU can join in as he takes the show live online.

Oliver’s latest venture was a hybrid RPG boardgame named The Storymaster’s Tales – Weirding Woods and it’s already became something of a cult hit in the gaming community, with a second game Dracodeep Dungeon currently funding on Kickstarter. However, combining the elements of theatre, game, visual FX and internet you are all able to watch and take part in a LIVE interactive version on his Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/339654010167488/?ref=share

Image © Oliver McNeil

Hosted by Oliver himself alongside other actors and clever puppetry, he brings the Grimm Brothers-esque setting of Weirding Woods to life and you get to explore and take part in subplots as you strive to fulfill your primary mission be it slaying Evil Sorcerer’s or saving the world from a plague of living dead. With an ever expanding land, equipment, foes and treasure, this is a great way to spend time and liven up the pandemic lockdown. If you’d like to take part in one of the upcoming shows, click here and join the group for performance times https://www.facebook.com/groups/339654010167488/?ref=share

Most Unsung Heroes Of All

Posted by Jam on April 10, 2020
Posted in: cleaners, Corona virus, COVID 19, heroes, NHS, poems, poetry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

The public are clapping and quite rightly so,
But remembering everyone? Absolutely no!
NHS and postal staff taking the praise,
We’re not casting across a deep enough gaze.

For behind the scenes lie the most unsung of all,
And it’s about time that they had a call.
For everyday there’s a pandemic or not,
They wipe up blood, urine, excrement and snot.

From urinals and toilets, your desks and bins,
Risking infections day out and day in,
While everyone strikes about not enough pay,
These people only get a low minimum wage.

Their back isn’t covered by union reps,
You ignore the signs saying keep off the steps,
Then threaten action if you should fall down,
When they’re doing their job, use the others you clown!

They are hounded, humiliated, never get praise,
Minimal hours sometimes only a few days,
The manager comes and says “Not enough done.”
Give them hours to suit the workload, you’re dumb.

So next time you push past you cleaning staff,
Make them feel appreciated don’t be all brash,
They’re carrying out their daily tasks too,
Under harsher extreme conditions than you.

Above all while Coronavirus pushes us tough,
And we celebrate heroes who do more than enough,
A group of them should stand out taller than tall,
Our CLEANERS the most unsung heroes of all!

HEALTHCARE Vs COVID-19

Posted by Jam on April 5, 2020
Posted in: Uncategorized.

It’s true. Sadly. Even if this meme went international it wouldn’t compare to the efforts of our health workers. I’m sharing it with pride having worked in that sector myself among these truly amazing people.

Dracodeep Dungeon

Posted by Jam on March 31, 2020
Posted in: adventure, books, cards, Crowdfunding, Fantasy, game, Gamers, gaming, hobbies, Reading, RPG, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Today my dear friend Oliver McNeil launches his new Kickstarter campaign for the sequel to his award winning ( 😉 ) tabletop RPG, The Storymaster’s Tales Weirding Woods. The new adventure sees you as a hero trying to gain glory from the perilous Dracodeep Dungeon. New magic, new monsters and new characters abound in this fantasy Grimm-esque world. Having play-testing it live recently, I can tell you that it has all the makings of another masterpiece like it’s predecessor and it is great to see The Storymaster’s Tales universe expanding with another game in the pipeline even now. If you haven’t gone so yet, check out Mr McNeil’s Kickstarter by clicking this link The StoryMaster’s Tales “Dracodeep Dungeon” Hybrid RPG, via @Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legendphotography/the-storymasters-tales-dracodeep-dungeon-hybrid-rpg?ref=android_project_share

The Storymaster’s Tales LIVE

Posted by Jam on March 21, 2020
Posted in: game, Gamebook, Gamers, Games, gaming, RPG. Tagged: , , , , , .

Regular visitors to my site especially gaming fans will have already seen my write up on The Storymaster’s Tales – Weirding Woods. A hybrid gamebook and tabletop RPG that has achieved wonderful success creates by my good friend Oliver McNeil. Well today it went triple hybrid, with the very first audio streaming experience over several live video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Hangouts.

The Storymaster’s Tales

With my trusty sidekick Colin Deady, aka Wizard Frin, my Pirate character Captain Jam tackled the as yet unreleased Dracodeep Dungeon, the follow up to the Weirding Woods game. Our quest was to slay an evil Vampire Lord that has woken beneath a not desecrated church above the Dungeon. But it wasn’t just about Colin and I communicating, others could also view our progress and call out tips to Ollys wizard presenter. It was a fantastic and modern experience, and the dungeon sported many new locations, items and characters to mingle with making a lovely alternative to the woodland romp. Somehow Colin managed to get a haircut and I purchased a goat that bit me on the arse. Dracodeep Dungeon will be a huge must for those that have played Weirding Woods, and a great standalone if you wish to give the world of RPG a try in a lighter way than D&D. I can only award it 10/10 for all the right reasons.

If you fancy giving this gaming great a go, please visit http://www.storymasterstales.com and for a mere £2.50 you can purchase audio files of the incidental music. This will enter you (but not guarantee you) in a pool for a place for the next game. It also helps if you like The Storymaster’s Tales Facebook page.

Check out Colin and mines progress as we spend two hours in a subterranean deathtrap. 😉 https://youtu.be/Yv-mH-Zzr90

Mistress Of Sorrows – review

Posted by Jam on March 12, 2020
Posted in: adventure, Authors, books, Fantasy, Fighting Fantasy, game, Gamebook, horror, RPG, witchcraft. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I’ve done a little bit of proof reading and play testing for Mark Lain in the past, including the mini’s in Destiny’s Role book 0. Book 1 on the other hand is an absolute epic by comparison. Here we have a single adventure a whopping 500 references long with three artists on board, Alan Langford for the gorgeous cover, the ineffable Malcolm Barter on cartography and Mike Tenebrae for the internal illustrations. Having backed this on Kickstarter my likeness has been included in a very prestigious place in the book. Must admit, Mike did exceptionally well as I’m not easy to photograph let alone draw.

He’s a barman get your minds out the gutter

Anyway back to the story. The premise is to hunt down and destroy the Redcap and her witchly associates before her power becomes far too strong she can take over the land. And boy is it a tough ride. You need to make sure you get as many objects and provisions as possible as you will be in so many situations where these will be useful, not to mention the combats in Mistress Of Sorrows come thick and fast. You’re surely guaranteed not to complete it first time. I stopped counting at my twelfth death, most of them in fights.

Mark has clearly researched a lot on the subject matter, and evidence of this is none so obvious if you manage to get to Covan. This particular part of the book is my favourite area and the descriptive of events therein has writing in a style suitable enough for a film screenplay. This surpasses the authorship of other gamebook writers that have been in the game for years, just like Victoria Hancox did with Nightshift.

Whilst I managed to complete the quest and slay the Bigbad, she took me with her and I succumbed to her final hex. (So didn’t manage to meet myself lol) I hear a third book is in the works as well, so soon after Mistress Of Sorrows and I’m deliberately holding back credit so I can be part of that Kickstarter also when it comes about. If you don’t own Destiny’s Role books, it’s high time you did as you’re missing out on the cream of modern gamebooks crop. 10/10

Weird Experiences

Posted by Jam on October 12, 2019
Posted in: Uncategorized.

One of the weirdest experiences I have had in life is a set of shoes which was purchased for me by my sister when I was at High School. They was made of vinyl rather than leather and after a couple of weeks of wear two small splits appeared just either side of the lace area of the right shoe. I showed it to my sister and she said maybe the shop in town could do something to repair it.

The following weekend, I woke up and there was no sign of the splits anymore. This left my sister and me somewhat dumbfounded and honestly… can their even be a rational explanation?