Celluloid Tentacles – H.P. Lovecraft in the Cinema

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The pre-eminent American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft doesn’t seem to have been interested in having film adaptations made of his stories. In fact, in a letter to the poet Richard Morse, he said, “I shall never permit anything bearing my signature to be banalised and vulgarised into the flat, infantile twaddle which passes for 'horror tales' amongst radio and cinema audiences." Being an avowed HPL fan, and having seen much of the cinema-related twaddle in question adapted from his … [Read more...]

Scare, Shock, Gross Out, Entertain – Running a Horror-Themed RPG

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By the time you read this article, my friends, I will have gone through the ultimate test of a LARP GM’s experiences. I will have run a weekend that was almost entirely developed by yours truly. From the rules to the setting to the story to the characters…this weekend is all about my vision of how to run a scenario set in a Lovecraft-based setting. Even as experienced a LARP GM as I am, this particular event has had tons of challenges. It’s actually easier for me to run a game set in … [Read more...]

Inspiration from Everywhere – Finding Game Material from Sources Beyond the Obvious

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Imagine the scene: A group of hardy adventurers slip through the woods. They know that they are facing a cult of Bane-worshipping hobgoblins, and they can hear the cultists chanting ahead. They enter the clearing, engaging in battle with the foul foe. But then a howl comes from behind them! Bugbear shock troops charge in from the rear flank, out of dense thickets, and what seemed like it was about to be a decent fight is suddenly a tough one! A battle the players will remember? I would hope … [Read more...]

A Labor of Lovecraft – A Primer to the Father of Modern Horror

cthulhu

I’m running an H. P. Lovecraft-based horror/survival LARP this August, and a friend of mine volunteered to help. “I can make you a really good octopus mask.” I blinked. “Um…well…if we were on the coast, I might do something Cthulhu-y, but we’re playing in the middle of the woods, so no Cthulhu.” My friend seemed baffled. “What else is there?” I don’t blame her. Lovecraft has become so closely linked with his most famous creation that a lot of his other works are … [Read more...]

Geektastic Music: Nine Must-Listen Geek Songs

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I like an eclectic assortment of music. On a daily basis, my playlist can range from country to classical to classic rock. I’ve seen shock rock legend Alice Cooper live, caught the eye of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen and got a thumbs (well, thumb) up from him, and was just three rows back from country dreamboat Kenny Chesney. But for as many different types of music as I like, there is one that really speaks to my heart: geektastic music. That’s right, geektastic music. Everything from … [Read more...]

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Geek

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Nothing says love like losing your sanity! Valentine's Day is on Monday and you're still looking for a gift idea for your geek sweetie? Yikes! Let us give you a hand, but be forewarned, you may be paying some extra shipping to get it there in time. Crochet Cthulhu from CthulhuChick Elder gods know how to love! Check out CthulhuChick's Etsy store, where she has tons of adorable little handmade Cthulhus, just waiting for homes. There's even a Cylon-thulhu and a Chef-thulhu. And a bonus: You … [Read more...]

Indulge Your Creative Side With Geeky Crafts

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EDITOR'S NOTE:  Welcome to the first of our brand new crop of writers, C! She'll be posting every Thursday with all sorts of geeky goodness. Don't miss it. Welcome, C! Imagine your dream store, catering to one of your favorite pastimes. The shop is full of nothing but creative goodness. Aisle upon aisle of things just waiting, hoping you’ll purchase them, take them home, and use them to their full potential. Some items are great for beginners, wanting to try something new but needing a lot … [Read more...]