Watched Oblivion today.  It was ... OK.  Good visuals, mediocre cinematography.  My wife said it had a slow start and then informed me that she stayed awake because, "it had to get better but, it didn't."  I guess I deprived her of an afternoon nap.  Oh, well.  Better luck next time.

Starting to wonder if Morgan Freeman is having money trouble given the shear amount of movies he's been in recently.

Nonetheless, this looks interesting:
Now You See Me

Oh sure, you still need a metal firing pin, and it looks like it breechloads somehow. It's not real efficient. It just makes my inner gun libertarian squee. 

That makes two of us.

Internet Rule 63: For every character that exists, there is another version of the opposite gender.

First, I discuss what the overlying world looks like in broad strokes and ask what type of campaign we're looking at.  (I build differently for a one shot than I do for an evolving campaign.)

Second, I develop a rough concept that fits in that frame.  Double check with GM to make sure it's cool, and then move on.

Third, I glance through character options to see how concept fits into mechanics - this is aided/hindered by my familiarity with the rules.

Fourth, I pick those options that I decided would work to my advantage.  I try to minimize the amount of optimization* I use but there is always some.

Finally, I round out the rough concept with a finished concept once I understand all the interactions with the mechanics.

*One man's optimization is another man's min-max but we all do a certain amount of fiddling with the mechanics.

MovieBob, and The Boot.
The Re-Boot, pt 1.

10 TV/Movie franchises that could stand to come back.

And part two.

Not a  bad list at all ...  If only I had the kind of money to make that happen.

Perhaps a change from maximum vitality to current vitality.  After so much of a beating, the change of max vitality may not do anything.  However, I also see the need to prevent it from becoming insta-death, too.

Max vitality lets you wear down the party over multiple encounters.  Otherwise the quick vitality refresh means players can always press forward (in the absence of something like defeat and rally)

What advantages do you see for changing max to current?

Ah, I must have missed a piece in there somewhere.  I didn't realize that you were applying that vitality modification to the PC's.  It makes more sense why you are doing max vitality.  However, I still wonder how it plays out in a fight against a high health special NPC.  Seems to me that you still have the potential for a huge grind-fest for those.

Blankbeard,

I'm following  your thought process.  Not sure I'm on the train with you but I see which station you're headed toward.

Perhaps a change from maximum vitality to current vitality.  After so much of a beating, the change of max vitality may not do anything.  However, I also see the need to prevent it from becoming insta-death, too.

I assume you are familiar with Green Ronin's damage save mechanic for PC's and didn't want to go that route?

Anyone seen this?
Jet Li - The Sorcerer and the White Snake Trailer (2013)

Well, I like Lost Girl, and I like Stargate, and I like William Gibson.  So... cautious optimism?

I'll second that.

Don't know enough about the setting to intelligently comment but I like what I see.

Hey, Everyone — Stop Taking This Picture! (No, I Mean It.)

I'm always amazed that I can be so dense as to not notice this type of thing until someone literally shoves it in my face.  Thanks for the article and the food for thought.

Finnish Defense Forces photographic archives

From the front line to the home front 1939-1945

That's a LOT of pictures to go through ...

[Monsters University trailer 3]

Monsters University trailer 3

I think we're going to see a first (for Pixar at any rate): a truly horrible movie as a sequel to something that was completely awesome.  AND that's not the curse of being the fourth in a series.

I think I was one of maybe 9 people on Earth that liked the Daredevil movie (a lot actually. I was so happy they did NOT dink around for 60+ minutes on an origin story...).

I would totally watch a Daredevil TV series. Even better some sort of street-level view of Marvel New York with a couple different heroes rotating through.

Arrow's got me kinda spoiled at the moment. Amazes me the pace that show keeps up.

So with me, we only have to find the other 7.

I'd watch a TV version as well.

[Will & Tale's Man of Steel Title Sequence]

I love it when really talented folks take it upon themselves to pay tribute to something they love. Case in point...

Will & Tale's Man of Steel Title Sequence

Admittedly, this is from a creative firm, and they can use this for their show reel. Doesn't make it any less awesome.

Very nice.