Games, General Geekery, and what knots found on the web
Monday, October 31, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
The making of medieval embroidery
Medieval embroidery was a painstaking and precise art form, performed by skilled embroiderers – both men and women – mostly based in the city of London. This film shows contemporary embroiderer Rosie Taylor-Davies recreating a detail from a 700-year-old fragment of English embroidery. Working entirely by hand, she demonstrates the intricate process and skill of 14th-century embroiderers, who created some of England’s most beautiful and elaborate textile art.
First the design is drawn out on paper and transferred to the fabric with charcoal in a technique known as 'pouncing'. The design is then embroidered using two techniques which were characteristic of English medieval embroidery: split stitch (shown here with white and colored silk thread), and underside couching (usually silver or gold, as here).
Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery
1 October 2016 – 5 February 2017
vam.ac.uk/opus
First the design is drawn out on paper and transferred to the fabric with charcoal in a technique known as 'pouncing'. The design is then embroidered using two techniques which were characteristic of English medieval embroidery: split stitch (shown here with white and colored silk thread), and underside couching (usually silver or gold, as here).
Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery
1 October 2016 – 5 February 2017
vam.ac.uk/opus
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Mausoleum of Augustus Reconstruction, Circa 28bc
The video below (created by Christopher Antoniou) gives us a three-dimensional glimpse into the possible plan, elevation and sectional attributes of the Mausoleum of Augustus, including the internal setup of the massive tomb.
Archaeological reconstruction of Mausoleum of Augustus, circa 28bc on the Campus Martius in Rome (currently unrendered). Cypress trees were said to be used as imposing ornamentation upon the various tiers of the super-structure. Coming soon: Completed and fully rendered version of the Mausoleum dedicated to the first Roman Emperor with actual topography and surrounding buildings in situ. Archaeological reconstruction created by Christopher Antoniou ©.
Archaeological reconstruction of Mausoleum of Augustus, circa 28bc on the Campus Martius in Rome (currently unrendered). Cypress trees were said to be used as imposing ornamentation upon the various tiers of the super-structure. Coming soon: Completed and fully rendered version of the Mausoleum dedicated to the first Roman Emperor with actual topography and surrounding buildings in situ. Archaeological reconstruction created by Christopher Antoniou ©.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Old School Style character Sheet
Old school style character sheet for 5th edition
https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/fifth-edition-dungeons-dragons-permanent-character-folder/
https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/fifth-edition-dungeons-dragons-permanent-character-folder/
AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide - APPENDIX N
Words from Gary Gygax From Appendix N
APPENDIX N: INSPIRATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL READING
Inspiration for all the fantasy work I have done stems directly from the love my father showed when I was a tad, for he spent many hours telling me stories he made up as he went along, tales of cloaked old men who could grant wishes, of magic rings and enchanted swords, or wicked sorcerors [sic] and dauntless swordsmen.
Then too, countless hundreds of comic books went down, and the long-gone EC ones certainly had their effect. Science fiction, fantasy, and horror movies were a big influence. In fact, all of us tend to get ample helpings of fantasy when we are very young from fairy tales such as those written by the Brothers Grimm and Andrew Lang. This often leads to reading books of mythology, paging through bestiaries, and consultation of compilations of the myths of various lands and peoples.
Upon such a base I built my interest in fantasy, being an avid reader of all science fiction and fantasy literature since 1950.
The following authors were of particular inspiration to me. In some cases I cite specific works, in others, I simply recommend all of their fantasy writing to you. From such sources, as well as any other imaginative writing or screenplay, you will be able to pluck kernels from which will grow the fruits of exciting campaigns. Good reading!
Anderson, Poul: THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS; THE HIGH CRUSADE; THE BROKEN SWORD  The most immediate influences upon AD&D were probably de Camp & Pratt, R. E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, H. P. Lovecraft, and A. Merritt; but all of the above authors, as well as many not listed, certainly helped to shape the form of the game. For this reason, and for the hours of reading enjoyment, I heartily recommend the works of these fine authors to you.
- E. Gary Gygax, 1979, AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide, p. 224
|
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Evolution of Ancient Myths Across Continents | Tor.com
Psychologist Carl Jung believed that many cultures across the globe produced similar myths due to a sort of unified subconscious, the idea that deep down in our collective psyche, we all embraced the same symbols in an effort to explain the world. But what if it were far more simple than that? What if these linked myths merely migrated along with the people who told them? One scientist has provided strong evidence to that tune, piecing together a global mythic tapestry that is thousands of years in the making.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-trace-society-s-myths-to-primordial-origins/
Scientist Tracks the Movement and Evolution of Ancient Myths Across Continents | Tor.com
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Teaser Trailer: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is in theaters May 2017 in 3D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D! Watch first look. #APiratesDeathForMe
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Myths of Khoralla Intro - Immersion Studios
Here's a short introduction to Myths of Khoralla, the epic fantasy setting currently in development by the mad minds behind Immersion Studios.
There are a number of themes we wanted to follow in this - for starters, not using the "traditional" fantasy races of Elves, Dwarves, etc., but instead creating our own, making them as realistic as possible, and not defined as an entire race as "Evil" or "Good" (people are who they are... the race on the other hand...).
Then there's gods, the power of gods, how their power works, and the balance of power that stops the champions and heroes of the world just wreaking havoc everywhere (well... they probably still will, but there has to be *some* balance to it!).
This is our intro, but there is more to come. Hope you like it :)
There are a number of themes we wanted to follow in this - for starters, not using the "traditional" fantasy races of Elves, Dwarves, etc., but instead creating our own, making them as realistic as possible, and not defined as an entire race as "Evil" or "Good" (people are who they are... the race on the other hand...).
Then there's gods, the power of gods, how their power works, and the balance of power that stops the champions and heroes of the world just wreaking havoc everywhere (well... they probably still will, but there has to be *some* balance to it!).
This is our intro, but there is more to come. Hope you like it :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)