Rise of the A.I.

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Banner being designed, this was too cute to pass up.

 

One of the things I see happen frequently is people making, sharing and discussing lists that they have created for an event, game night, or tournament appearance that bears some scrutiny by their peers.  The Privateer Press message boards have specific sub-sections for all of their factions to dedicate to list building and critique.  I enjoy building lists as well, and certainly listening to podcasts that discuss list building theories, ideas, and the merits of the pieces and parts to each list included.  With a blog like HH it’s going to be harder to get a full conversation going but it will allow me to get some of my list ideas out there and flesh out the why and what of the list, as well as if it has any merit or play test possibility whatsoever.  I’ll be looking for feedback in the comments section, as well as in any of the forum posts where I link the article.  And go easy on me, I am pretty simple/not that good at this game.  🙂

Further Hysterics →

2013 Year In Review

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I call 2013 the Life and Death of a blog.  Because really, I tried to get it up and running and recruit lots of people to blog, write and talk about what they are doing with their hobbies, but that hasn’t really worked out like I thought it would.  Turns out blogging is like work, and we all try really hard to avoid work at all costs.

 

However we here at HH are not to be deterred.  I am gonna look at the design of the blog, look at getting some more articles up and running, and see about motivating (with a whip) some of the guys whose content I know was well-written and well received by the small audience we have out there.  That being said, let’s talk about what I did accomplish in 2013:

Hey, I know a guy who lives in that city…

Further Hysterics →

NFL(GS) Game Tape

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MPA

Professional sports teams review old game tape for hours in order to improve their own skills and abilities as well as to learn their upcoming opponents’ play style.  These are athletes that are at the top of their game and studying game footage helps to keep them there.  What exactly are they looking for?  Well you can’t control what your opponent will do but you can investigate what they’ve done in the past and possibly learn strategic tendencies and tactics and from that info, you can learn how to counter it.  You can also study your own gameplay and determine what you can improve on.  So if you’re looking to get to the top of the Warmachine/Hordes competitive scene, why wouldn’t you review old games?

 

Enter the NFL(GS) Game Tape (Notable Friendly Local Game Store).  Alright, admittedly competitive Warmachine is not a professional sport but it is a competitive tournament environment where knowing the play styles of the major competitors and the typical models you’ll encounter across the table is essential to success.  More important is learning how to improve the strategies or positioning of models a typical player can make during a game.  Can you learn to recognize that your plan to out-attrition your opponent will fail and you should switch to assassination mode? Maybe reviewing the game a few times can help! As such, following in the footsteps of Matti K from endgamegaming.net, I have taken it upon myself to record a “game of the week” for the local players at our local gaming store, Heroes World.  Several of the players here will be going to Templecon to test their skills against the field and while only one of our local players has aspirations at seriously competing for the Warmachine Masters crown, I felt it would be good to let a variety of players assess their own games to see where improvements can be made.

photo FilmRoom-091213-01_zps63aedba7.jpg

In Play 1, Knowshon Moreno wants to charge into combat but doesn’t know eEiryss is going to shoot all the Focus off of Peyton Manning. After studying the game footage, the player realizes he should have done Play 2, and sent Moreno to charge Eiryss so she can’t shoot Manning.

Further Hysterics →

Shameless Promotion and Celebration of Family

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Today at 7:21 pm marks the 5th anniversary of the day my precious, precocious and adorable little gamer-in-training was born.  Five years ago today I was unshaven, lounging around with my very pregnant partner in a Superbowl tee shirt and a pair of jeans when what we thought were some Braxton-Hicks contractions started, and we packed lightly and headed off to the hospital near us.  Since my child was a breech baby, we knew that we would be a C-section birth and the date was scheduled for Nov 16th or 17th I believe, and we simply assumed we would have a quick check-in at the hospital before heading back home to wait some more for our new family member.

Further Hysterics →

DOOOOOOOM!!!

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Who's back, baby?

Who’s back, baby?

 

All right well it’s been far too long, and some great friends have been nudging me to get back into it and make some things happen, so let’s get going, shall we?  No time like the present and all that!

As an update, I’ll just let you know that I am working on my lists and play for Templecon, which is coming up soon in Warwick, Rhode Island February 6th to 9th, 2014.  If you haven’t yet got tickets, then WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU????  Seriously (Or “for serious” as my daughter likes to say), it is such a great social weekend that people occasionally play games at, you should come and hang out with us.  I am bringing my Legion of Everblight with me to TC, and to that end I am playing some lists and casters that I haven’t used before, and need to get some thoughts down and get some discussion going on what I am doing right, and what I am doing wrong with my lists.  In an effort to get more traffic and more discussions going I am going to get the message out there of what I am playing and how it is going, as well as try to showcase my efforts to improve as a painter with my Legion models.  So here comes the deluge of players and comments I hope!!

Further Hysterics →

This Week’s New Comics!

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5 Comics To Watch

 

Batman #23 (D.C.) – Part 3 of Zero Year hits the shelves this week and Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo continue to raise the bar month after month. It’s getting to the point where there’s just no way that they’ll be able to raise it any higher, and the inevitable ‘it’s not as good as it used to be’ talk will start. This book is and has been so fantastic since issue #1, so Snyder and Capullo are more than allowed to have a so-so arc at some point…if that’s even possible for this duo. It won’t be on Zero Year though.

 

Batman #23

Batman #23

 

 

East of West #5 (Image) – My favourite new series, and my favourite series written by my favourite writer. What more can a comic fan ask for on any given week? Issue #4 literally made me grin ear to ear in satisfaction as Hickman’s epic Western Sci-Fi tale delivered its first big battle scene. This fallout issue no doubt will be full of clues and more loose ends to be tied together in the distant or not too distant future. At this point I don’t care…I am in love with this series.

 

East of West #5

East of West #5

 

 

Infinity #1 (Marvel) – Speaking of Jonathan Hickman…his Infinity ‘Event’ is ready to begin after 5 great prelude issues to go along with all the setup in Avengers and New Avengers. I am 100% on board with this event, and can’t wait to see what happens. If anyone can deliver the goods in an event, it’s Hickman. If you’re a Marvel fan, do not miss this!

 

Infinity #1

Infinity #1

 

 

Saga #13 (Image) – The Eisner Award winning series finally returns after a 4 month layoff with the continuing adventures of Alana, Marko, Baby Hazel, The Will and Lying Cat, Slave Girl, Prince Robot IV, Marko’s mom, Izabel and all the rest. If you haven’t heard about this series (next to impossible) and aren’t reading (what are you waiting for?) then pick up the Vol 1 and Vol 2 trades and this issue and prepare to be transported to a truly amazing place. Sharp dialogue, incredible art (by Canadian artist Fiona Staples) and rocket ship trees.

 

Saga #13

Saga #13

 

 

Thor: God of Thunder #11 (Marvel) – Thor vs. Gorr ends here. The Godbomb is about to ignight, and the Past, Present and Future Thor’s must stop Gorr The God Butcher from destroying every God in the Universe. Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic have crafted an epic story befitting a God, and as much as I’m looking forward to this issue, I almost don’t want it to end. But it will…one way or another.

 

Thor: God of Thunder #11

Thor: God of Thunder #11

 

 

Hidden Gems

 

Nightwing #23 (D.C.) – Ever since Kyle Higgins and Brett Booth took Dick Grayson out of Gotham and moved him to Chicago, this book has really taken off. It’s got a bit of a ‘Mark Waid’s Daredevil’ feel to it, but it’s still a Batbook…only Nightwing isn’t living under the shadow of Bruce anymore. One of the more popular series going right now, and only gaining steam.

 

Nightwing #23

Nightwing #23

 

 

Star Wars #8 (Dark Horse) – With so many different Star Wars books and comics on the shelves, as a fan it’s hard to know which one is worth your time. Let me just say that Star Wars, from Brian Wood, is the best of the bunch. It takes place right after ‘A New Hope’ and re-imagines the classic cast (if only slightly) as they continue their adventures. The art is fantastic, and it’s got a ‘what would Empire Strikes Back be like if it was made today’ feel.

 

Star Wars #8

Star Wars #8

 

 

Also Out This Week

 

 

 

D.C. has Batgirl #23, Batman Lil Gotham #5, Constantine #6, Green Lantern Corps #23, Justice League of America #7, Nightwing #23, Suicide Squad #23, Superboy #23 and World’s Finest #15.

 

Marvel has Deadpool #14 NOW!, Wolverine #8 NOW!, Avengers Arena #13 NOW!, Uncanny X-Men #10!, Uncanny X-Force #10 NOW!, Fantastic Four #11 NOW!, Fearless Defenders #8 NOW!, Scarlet Spider #20, Ultimate Spider-Man #17, Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #2, Ultimate X-Men #30 and Wolverine and the X-Men #34.

 

There’s also Walking Dead #113, Peter Panzerfaust #13, Spawn #234, Buffy Season 9 #24, Astro City #3, Great Pacific #9, Star Trek #24, Doctor Who #12, X-Files Season 10 #3 and True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #3.

 

 

 

Trade Watch

 

There’s the great The Flash Vol 2 HC and Vol 1 TP, Smallville Season 11 Vol 2 TP, Wolverine NOW! Vol 1 TP, Avengers Assemble Vol 1 TP, Fearless Defenders NOW! Vol 1 TP, GI Joe Vol 1 TP, and Frank Cho’s Women Drawings and Illustrations Vol 2 HC.

 

– S-1

This Week’s New Comics!

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5 Comics To Watch

 

All New X-Men #15 (Marvel) – It’s the beginning of the love triangle we all knew was coming. Young Cyclops, Old Cyclops and Jean Gray. Someone’s eye beam is going to get all bent out of shape when this is all said and done!

 

All New X-Men 15

All New X-Men #15

Further Hysterics →

This Week’s New Comics!

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TWNC

Better late than never, right?  – NB

5 Comics To Watch

Batman Annual #2 (D.C.) – Last year’s Annual was a great extra-sized one-shot detailing Mr. Freeze’s new origin. This year’s looks to be a Zero Year tie-in book that may or may not be essential reading. However at this point, anything by Scott Snyder is essential reading. And if that’s not enough…you’ve got a Jock cover to boot!

 

Batman Annual #2

Batman Annual #2

Further Hysterics →

This Week’s New Comics!

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TWNC

5 Comics To Watch

Aquaman #22 (D.C.) – It’s amazing to see how far Aquaman has come in the time since the NEW 52 reboot.  Once the punchline to many non-comic book fan’s (and some comic book fans) jokes about lame superheroes, Aquaman under the direction of Geoff Johns has rocketed up the charts and become a critical and commercial darling thanks to amazing writing, vibrant, colourful art, and one of the most badass heroes in comics.  From The Trench, to The Others, to the awesome Thrones of Atlantis storyline, Aquaman has been great month after month and doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down anytime soon.  Anyone making jokes about Aquaman now clearly isn’t reading…cause the King of Atlantis is a joke no more!

Aquaman #22

Aquaman #22

Further Hysterics →

This Week’s New Comics!

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TWNC

 

5 Comics To Watch

All New X-Men #14 (Marvel) – One of the biggest and most popular of the Marvel NOW! books, All New X-Men is really beginning to pick up steam and the ‘original’ X-Men are now settled into our time period, and are beginning to figure out where they fit in…or don’t.  Brian Michael Bendis seems to be having a lot of fun writing this series, especially as it pertains to Jean Grey.  This issue in particular could be the beginning of something big!

All-New X-Men #14

All-New X-Men #14

 

Avengers #16 (Marvel) – So far this ‘prelude’ to Infinity has been two for two, with this being the third issue leading up to the Jonathan Hickman Summer Marvel Event.  I’ve been following both Avengers and New Avengers since the beginning…and to see the seeds planted in those books now bearing fruit has been great to witness!  And if the sold out back issues of both series are any indication, others are feeling the same way.  Trust in Hickman and ye shall be rewarded!

 

Avengers #16

Avengers #16

 

Batman ’66 #1 (D.C.) – Nana-nana-nana-BATMAN!  If you’re of a certain age, you grew up with the old Batman TV Show as quite possibly your first exposure to the (not so) Dark Knight.  The fact that this colourful, comically tinged series is getting its own comic book is just too enticing a proposition to pass up…even for the most jaded of comic book fans.  Will we see any Bat shark repellant in this series?  Will The Joker still have a semi-visible moustache?  Will Egghead make a return?  This one should be a lot of fun!

Batman `66 #1 (SDCC Variant Cover)

Batman `66 #1 (SDCC Variant Cover)

 

Deadpool #13 (Marvel) – Speaking of fun…there is nothing wrong with a book that tries to put the ‘fun’ back in comic books.  Like Batman ’66, Deadpool certainly qualifies as such a book.  Take this month’s issue for example.  A retro ‘one shot’ where Deadpool sports an afro in a Blaxploitation style story with the tagline ‘Talking jive and Taking Lives’.  Sold.

Deadpool #13

Deadpool #13

 

 

Thor: God of Thunder #10 (Marvel) – Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic’s epic 3 Thor’s vs. Gorr the God Butcher storyline comes to its penultimate chapter as the ‘Godbomb’ is close to being ignited.  This book is easily my favourite Marvel NOW! book, and has been nothing short of incredible from a writing and artistic standpoint since issue #1.

Thor: God of Thunder #10

Thor: God of Thunder #10

 

 

 Hidden Gems

 

Batwoman #22 (D.C.) – One of my personal favourite books month after month.  Kate Kane continues to cut a new path for the Bat franchise as she is now tasked with unmasking the Dark Knight himself for the Gotham D.E.O.  Throw in a new baddie for this issue, and it looks like things are going to get even dicey-er for Batwoman and Co.  Always top-notch art, and a new perspective on Gotham make this one a winner in my opinion.

Batwoman #22

Batwoman #22

 

 

 

Also Out This Week

 

D.C. has Animal Man #22, Batman and Catwoman #22, Birds of Prey #22, Green Lantern New Guardians #22, Legion of Superheroes #22, Supergirl #22, and Wonder Woman #22.

 

Marvel has A+X #10 NOW!, Avengers Assemble #17 NOW!, Cable and X-Force #7 NOW!, Fantastic Four #10 NOW!, FF #9 NOW!, Iron Man #13 NOW!, Nova #6 NOW!, Savage Wolverine #7 NOW!, Superior Carnage #1 NOW!, Thanos Rising #4, Thunderbolts #13 NOW!, Uncanny X-Force #8 NOW!, What If AVX #2, Wolverine MAX #9 and Ultimate Spider-Man #25.

There’s also 100 Bullets: Brother Lono #2, Fables #131, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #4, Scarlet #7, Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #4, Conan the Barbarian #18, X-Files Season 10 #2, TMNT Villain Micro #4, Revival #12, Prophet #37 and Artifacts #29.

 

 

Trade Watch

There’s the finale to Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force Vol 7 TP, Deadpool Vol 1 TP, Ed Brubaker’s Captain America Vol 4 TP, Wolverine MAX Vol 1 TP, recent multiple Harvey Award Nominee Revival Vol 2 TP, Think Tank Vol 2 TP and Batman The Dark Knight Vol 1 TP and Vol 2 HC.