The latest entry in NUELOW Games's Robert E. Howard Collection series is also one of the most unusual projects we've released to date--it's part poetry collection, part dual-system RPG supplement.
Shadows of Dreams: Poems and Verse by Robert E. Howard collects a small but broad sample of poetry from the creator of Conan and Solomon Kane, thus offering a look at what is perhaps the most obscure of is output. Poems featured range in length from a couple of lines to a couple of pages, and they range in tone from the humorous through contemplative and into the horrific. Here's a sample page (click to enlarge):
Verse by R.E. Howard. Illo by Derek Stevens.
(Illo Copyright 2012 Otherworld Creations. Used under license.)
In addition, the book contains "Artifacts of the Eternals", which features four magical items created by NUELOW's lead designer Steve Miller with inspiration drawn from Howard's poetry and the artwork selected to illustrate it. Each of the four items has game stats for OGL d20 Systems and OpenD6.
While you're checking out the latest offering from NUELOW Games, we want to recommend you consider grabbing a copy of a very excellent roleplaying game from the mind of James Desborough--ImagiNation.
It's been speculated that Robert E. Howard suffered from clinical depression, and that the condition was what caused him to obsess about death and to ultimately take his own life. Desborough has commented that ImagiNation was "made around my experiences with depression and creativity" and that the game was written to help people gain an understanding of what depression is like.
While in high school, Robert E. Howard wrote several satirical short stories that were published in "The Tattler," the school newspaper. Being big advocates of recycling, we here at NUELOW Games have incorporated one of young Robert's stories into our latest ROLF! supplement, The Sheik: A Literary (?) Spoof.
The Sheik is a savage spoof of romance novels that features Howard's short story, ROLF! stats for its main characters, and a battle scenario--although the story itself is probably the best series of ROLF! Battle Scenarios we have never published.
"Robert E. Howard wrote better ROLF! fiction than anyone we might ask to write ROLF! fiction," said L.L. Hundal, the co-creator of ROLF!: The Rollplaying Game of Big Dumb Fighters and designer of The Sheik: A Literary (?) Spoof by Robert E. Howard. "I didn't think anyone would ever have the combination of silliness and writing ability to capture the spirit of ROLF!... yet here's someone who was doing it in the 1920s. And he grew up to be the creator of Conan no less."
We have a ROLF! release planned in celebration, but the nefarious Agents of HUMMUS (Human Underlings of the Martian Military Unified Services and the sinister forces of POTS (People's Organization for Terrorism and Socialism) raided our offices and absconded with L.L. Hundal and the computer files for ROLF!: "Bond. Jane Bond."
We're still hoping that she wlll be rescued in time for us to release the product for Bond Day--but if all else fails we'll put it out to coincide with the new James Bond film Skyfall. (And for the record, the NUELOW Games staff thinks that this looks like the first real Bond movie in quite some time--Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace don't count; they may have aspired to be Bond movies, but they didn't hit the mark.
Meanwhile, by way of a preview of ROLF!: "Bond. Jane Bond.", here's the cover illo by Charles Baskerville and Karl M.), as well as game stats for Agent 002, the ultimate Bond Girl!
JANE BOND, AGENT 002 (Female)
Brawn 31; Body 16; Brains 11.
Traits: Dead-Eye, Hard to Kill, Improv Master, Nimble, Stone Cold Killer
Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Designer Evening Gown (Clothes). Mini-bombs (Ranged Weapons. 3 shots. Attached to dress. Deals 2 points of damage, ignores armor.) Automatic Pistol (Ranged Weapon. 10 shots. Deals 2 points of damage), Knife (Melee Weapon. Deals 2 points of damage).
And here are the two reasons we here at NUELOW are excited about the new Bond flick, which will be in theaters in November. First, there's the theme song--it's a proper James Bond theme song unlike the crap that opened the last two movies.
And then there's this... the preview that made me think that this is going to be the first real James Bond movie since Daniel Craig took over the role.
It looks like it's going to be lots of fun!
(Speaking of fun, you might also want to take a look at The Sheik: A Literary (?) Spoof, a ROLF! supplement containing a short story by Robert E. Howard that DID make it through our process successfully! Check here to see previews and get a copy.
The latest NUELOW Games supplement for ROLF!: The Rollplaying Game of Big Dumb Fighters unveils a massive conspiracy while giving those of your crazy enough to run actual ROLF! campaigns some jumping off points for your own creativity.
"Red Robin vs. The Editor & the Clones of Romney" is a must-have if you've enjoyed any of our recent superhero-themed efforts, or ROLF! products like "The Breast Hope for Peace" and "Gaddafi's Angels." In addition to three linked battle scenarios of global importance, it features rules for having cloned characters, statistics for three pre-grenerated characters, and new Traits and Combat Maneuvers.
Here's a pre-generated character that can be used to augment ROLF! scenarios like The Breast Hope for Peace or Gaddafi's Angels, Flem El Lahab (aka Bruce Gevlam aka The Flamer aka Bruce the Flamer aka Suger Buns). His favorite things to do are attending al-Qaeda meetings, killing Infidels, taking long showers with his fellow terrorists, and singing along with ABBA and Boney M. songs. His sign is Virgo.
Flem El Lahab, aka Bruce the Flamer (Male)
Brawn 16, Body 14, Brains 6 Traits: Dumb, Nimble, Misogynist, Same Sex Preference Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Dance Move, Double Strike, Yodel, Seduce, Strike Pose
Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: AK-47 Assault Rifle (Large Ranged Weapon, deals 4 points of damage that ignore armor. Can also be used as melee weapon and deal 2 points of damage).
El Lahab strutting his stuff at a recent al Qaeda get-together in Libya
It may come as a shock to you, but I am not terribly hip or with-it, so pop culture phenomenons often leave me scratching my head. (L.L. Hundal is slightly more in touch with the coolness of the universe, but that's because she lives in the pop cultural mecca that is Salt Lake City.)
When I first started listening to Psy's "Gangnam Style", I was thinking "Geeze, another cookie-cutter piece of crap." But I then I noticed how hilarious the video was. The VIDEO is what makes this thing worth listening to. It's full of hilarity, some screamingly obvious and others subtle but all perfectly timed.
As for the lyrics, I've now know what they say, courtesy of this webpage, and the video does them justice:
- Gangnam Style -
Oppa is Gangnam style Gangnam style A girl who is warm and humanle during the day A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes A girl with that kind of twist I’m a guy A guy who is as warm as you during the day A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down A guy whose heart bursts when night comes That kind of guy Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Now let’s go until the end Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all A sensable girl like that I’m a guy A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles That kind of guy Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Beautiful, loveable Yes you, hey, yes you, hey Now let’s go until the end Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby I’m a man who knows a thing or two On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby I’m a man who knows a thing or two You know what I’m saying Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh
And the video and the lyrics become even funnier if you know how they fit into the map of Korean society. This article explains that nicely.
With every success, comes parodies and covers... and "Gangnam Syle" is no exception. I keep typing it "Gundam Style", so there may be a good parody based off that coming eventually... but not yet.)
We're going to give you the best parody up front... it takes "Gangnam Style" and crosses it with the characters and music from one of the greatest movies ever made--"Big Trouble in Little China." The result is "Lo Pan Style"... and watch for the great cameo from James Wong.
Here's one from Jervy Hou that's almost as funny as the original. For your amusement: "Gunman Style."
And not to be outdone, the Klingons and Trekkies are getting in on the action with the hilarious "Oppa Klingon Style".
And here's a Japanese perspective with "You Study Like Sh*t"....
And then there's this:
Finally, here's an alternate English translation being performed. :)
NUELOW Games is aggressively pursuing the RPG license for a forthcoming cinematic masterpiece of existential modern-day psychological horror. We are, truly, the only RPG publisher with the level of style and class who could do it justice.
Prepare yourself for the terror of GHOST TITS by watching the bone-chilling preview...
