I know. What in the heck have you been doing all this time!! no one asks. Huh. I'm not even sure. But this much is true sure enough, developing a simple yet actually rather complicated rpg boardgame is, as the Hauflins would say, "Nothing to shake a bobble at and no mistake." One has to have time to play the game, and think about stuff, and then write stuff down (boring), talk about it for a while, go make another cup of coffee, play video games because Breath of the Wild is just that good, come back and talk about stuff again only more serious this time. And theeeeeen, if something's going to change well I don't know but all these files have to get updated and then you have to do a funny blog post -- who said that? okay blog post to get everyone up to date. Then print out new cards and stuff. It's ... alot of work okay. And also our sailing ship the "Endless Horizon" was caught in a storm and we ended up washed ashore with nothing but shoes that wouldn't fit and a talking volleyball that, frankly, kind of made us uneasy so we had to toss it out to sea ...only it keeps coming back and it just sits there, and we just sit there and we're like "...the volleyball is back again. What should we do now" and then the other person is like, "well we need food could we maybe just ignore it" and the other person is like, "no." So we have to take it with us. Okay that story is not entirely true ...sometimes the volleyball is kind of amusing. Where was I going with that? Oh yes. Delays. delays. keep typing the word delaaaaays just to make a point. So there we were. Stuck on a remote island, far from civilization and it's really hard to keep the computer up and running (I mean you should see the contraption we got going just to keep it humming, and don't even ask about connecting to the internet...) and yet somehow, trying to work on a game that, at best can only be played by the most dedicated of quite very special people willing to put ever so much time into building a set. Who would do it? Why would they do it!? You'd have to be pretty much bonkers to think that you could make such a thing (let alone share it with the world on a shoestring budget). But then, maybe not knowing quite what you're getting yourself into can be its own sort of benefit. Hang on. If we're connected to the internet then maybe we could just, ask for help? Eh?! What's that? "Hey mister Hobgoblin, whatcha doing there next to the elaborate contraption? Em, that part there is a rare one-of-a-kind transistor thingy (that we had to go on an epic quest just to find and there's only one and our computer can't work without it, let alone the coffee maker which is like, super important to us)." "Hey! Please don't take that! Stop! You there! I said .... .... ...." End transmission.
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In the previous post we looked at some of the films and characters that have been a source of inspiration for us. It got me thinking about some of the others and then I came across a video featuring the title track for "The Neverending Story." A good find as it gives the perfect opportunity to share a few other sources of inspiration and (more specifically) two magical films with memorable theme songs. In this one scenes and music are blended nicely into a montage but you'd want to possibly skip it if you've never seen the film (or minimize the screen and listen only). If I think of others I may edit/update this post in future. The Neverending Story (1984) is a film adaptation Directed by Wolfgang Petersen based loosely on the original story written by Michael Ende (published 1979) and Illustrated by Roswitha Quadflieg. This movie has many notable qualities, among them the title theme song composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey, and performed by Christopher Hamill. Credit for the song is usually given simply as "Limhal" which I had often thought was the name of a group, but apparently refers to Christopher Hamill's nickname or pseudonym. "The Neverending Story" by Limhal. The film montage version. Of course, one cannot write about memorable theme songs without mentioning... The Princess Bride (1987) is a film adaptation Directed by Rob Reiner. It is based on the novel by William Goldman (published 1973) that takes place in a charming world populated by the most rich assortment of characters. The story has touched the hearts of readers and viewers alike and, for those who grew up watching the film version, become one of the most quotable movies of perhaps an entire generation. A few samples from different moments in the film.
Of course, the magic of the film is made all the more complete thanks to an amazing piece titled "Storybook Love," written and performed by Willy DeVille, produced and accompanied by Mark Knopfler. I couldn't decide which was the best version to point readers to and so have given three possible ways to experience the song, which is the same (studio) cut in all three of the YouTube videos below. The film montage version by Amelie1287. May contain spoilers. The music video version at Mark Knopfler's channel, featuring Willy and Mark with a few snippets from the film. A lyrics only version, if you just want to close your eyes and listen. Also a good choice for those who've never seen the film and want to know as little as possible.
Excerpt from scene four courtesy of https://stuff.mit.edu/people/davidmac/princess_bride.html Sources: YouTube, Wikipedia, the happy places of our childhood
Picture this... a Goblin. There are certain mythical creatures that have been a part of popular culture for generations, inspiring writers, artists, filmmakers and designers to envision myriad iterations on an otherwise singular thing. The spectrum of interpretation can be so broad that people may evoke dramatically different mental imagery when faced with an imaginary group of Goblins in something like a roleplaying game. The world of Feonora has Goblins and we have a pretty good idea about what they're like. A bit comical, somewhat like a collective group of hapless misfits with delusions of grandeur. What kind of picture comes to mind when the party encounters these guys? Well, that probably depends on what part of the boundless pool of reference each person might be drawing from his or her own exposure on the topic. We have definite ideas about it, and thought we'd share a little bit about our own points of reference and sources of inspiration. A proper starting point would probably have to be those well-known Goblins depicted in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Most people would already have a mental image of these unsightly minions just by citing the title of the film. But in a similar vein of interpretation something like the wicked assassin in the [now iconic but] lesser known film "Legend" (1985) may also come to mind. Put them together and these could easily exist in the same world, both being visceral sorts of creatures, realistic in their design and manner. But as we move along the spectrum, making our way toward the other end, you find interpretations of a less sinister nature. It is these that have most informed our own vision of the sort of Goblins that might inhabit the wild lands of Feonora. At least, they have tended to influence how we imagine our encounters with them. Jim Henson's 1986 production of the film "Labyrinth" has come to embody what many of us who grew up watching these films probably now think of when it comes to silly Goblins and goofy mayhem. Conceptual Designer Brian Froud gets credit for his original work on these characters along with the many artists at the Jim Henson Creature Shop and puppeteers who brought them to life. So grateful such films were made before the advent of CG as there is no replacement for practical effects (it's part of the wonder that makes them special). Another source of inspiration hearkens back to a cartoon show from the mid-to-late 1980s that many out there may never have heard of (it was later eclipsed by more popular series). Now, for the subject of this post we are talking about those wacky misguided Goblins who trouble Feonorans but (in fact) the characters that come to mind from that show are not "Goblins" at all but rather, strictly speaking, referred to as "Ogres." The Disney Afternoon "Gummi Bears" cartoon series introduced us to the wonders of Gummiberry Juice and a trio of inept Ogres always looking to get their hands on it by whatever means. They are led by Toadwart, a miniature Ogre who always did the bossing around and subsequently took most of the punishment when their schemes were thwarted. Always funny. So very memorable. Maybe he really was a Goblin who only thought he was an Ogre... (?) The show is perhaps most famous however for it's catchy theme song. For those who remember you may now join along, "Gummi Beeaars! Bouncing here and there and everywhere..." But that's the wonder and magic of roleplaying, especially when things are left to the imagination. We can draw upon various points of reference and then blend and re-imagine things to compliment our own ideas about the kind of fictional world our characters find themselves exploring. Oh. And when we picture Orcs? Yeah; we tend to think of those menacing guys from Lord of the Rings. Detailed Credits
Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) Directed by Peter Jackson John Howe, Conceptual Design Alan Lee, Concept Artist Richard Taylor, Costume Design, Makeup and Visual Effects Legend (1985) Directed by Ridley Scott Alan Lee, Visual Consultant Assheton Gordon, Production Design Labyrinth (1986) Directed by Jim Henson Brian Froud, Conceptual Design Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985-1989) Theme music written by Michael and Patty Silversher Toadwart was voiced by Bill Scott and Corey Burton With respect to Production Design credit typically goes to Disney Television Animation but may also belong more specifically to Jamie Mitchell and David Block on account of their role as Character Designers for the original series Sources: Wikipedia and imdb |
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