Saturday, October 22, 2011

New Episode posted!

My apologies for the tardiness of this update... some minor computer problems (I'm gonna blame the operator for good measure). But our Latest Episode is up... Episode 40: Boffer? I hardly even know her!
On this weeks show we have two special guests, Razorvine as becoming more and more regular... and Wieze our resident expert on Boffer LARPing... we pull back the curtain on this great past time and tell you alot of in depth stuff about the game amtgard. Check it out!

Download the show HERE
Check out our Show Page

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Oct 13th Show posted!


New Episode of Difficulty Check is up!

This week we talk more about the Song of Ice and Fire, specifically the social combat and warfare mechanics. We are also joined by Razorvine in our initiative check for LARPing 101.

Download the Show HERE!


Thursday, October 6, 2011

DC2E: Episode 38


Difficulty Check: 2nd Edition: Episode 38 - A house built on sand is only worth 10 points

This week the boys talk about A Song of Fire and Ice RPG system, and really indepth about house stats... also in Aberrant Theater, Daksa and Grail from Casually Hardcore find out that Seatle really does get earthquakes at the worst times.

Music for this Episode is brought to you by Jeff Workman. Check out his work at reverbnation.com/jeffworkman or check out his album Love, Lust, and Dancin' on amazon or other fine retailers.

Download the Episode HERE!
RSS Link to the Feed Here

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Versus the World mission v1 COMPLETE!


After some more tinkering and toiling, the Versus the World mission is complete.

For some background, City of Heroes added a feature in the game that allowed you to script your own missions, based within their custom mission system. You can make your own characters, choose their powers, choose from hundreds of maps, and set mission objectives to your heart's content.

So I present the 4 part mission - Versus the World by Ursine Master


(Amelia OBD is your contact for the missions)

A good mission needs a good contact, and Amelia Overbay-Day has lent her Gnorthrend Gnews likeness to the cause... she warns you that several VtW shows are under attack!


(The crew of Show X- Docdead, Lord Octale, and Gohex)

Your first mission will be at the condominium lair of Show X, where you must meet up with Docdead, Octale, and Gohex before confronting the boss of archinos soldiers that have infested the lair.


(The crew of Casually Hardcore - Daksa, Grail, Iolite, Gnomewise, and Gwenora)

The next phase of your adventure is to join the CH crew as they defend against an onslaught of redcaps. Their leaders can be difficult, so you may wish to have powerful allies on your side.


(The crew of Difficulty Check: 2nd Edition - Ursi and Mr. NNJ)
The third leg of your journey takes you to the Difficulty Check Towers where the circle of thorns have invaded, looking for key fragments for a portal generator. Collect the pieces first, before they fall into the wrong hands.



(Who is the mystery boss?)

The last leg of the journey takes you to confront the mastermind behind the attacks... but who is it? What does he/she/it want? The answer may shock you... or perhaps it wont.

Give this mission a shot and leave your comment. Also there is a Versus the World super group forming on Pinnicle: Hero side for any interested parties... message Ursine Master in game if interested.


Thursday, September 29, 2011

New episode posted...

This week I'm joined by my good pal, Razorvine as we talk about Old and New World of Darkness... is what's old new again? Or is it still old? And what about the new? I then ask Razor which child is his favorite, to which he gives a surprising answer!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sneak Peek: City of Heroes - Versus the World mission


I've been back on City of Heroes for a couple weeks now... and have always loved the Architect builder, where you can design your own missions and story arcs... as a proud member of the versus the world network as well, I decided to try my hand at some fan created fun.

Here is a sneak peek at the work in progress for Versus the World (created by Ursine Master)






The super heroes/villians are greeted by the station and internet's own Amelia Overbay-Day and her Gnorthrend Gnews persona. She warns you that the shows are under attack and could use your help.




Your first stop is the condominium lair of Show X, with Gohex and Octale fighting side by side as you remove the spider soldier threat that has taken over.


Your next step is to join the casuals come to life as they fight for their lives against redcaps in a burning forest... nobody really knows how they got there, nor why they look like characters from another MMO, but if they ever hope to escape, they will need your help.

I am continuing to build and tweak missions during the next couple weeks... I plan to add the difficulty check towers level with myself Ursi and Mr. NNJ... and a finale mission where everything comes clear as to who's behind the madness.

Stay tuned!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Difficulty Check: Second Edition - Episode 33




New Show posted.

Episode 33 - Pass the popcorn, it's MEGA-GNOME

This week the boys are joined by Amelia Overbay-Day as they discuss movi
es that are wonderful research material for your table top and larping games.



And in the initiative check, we are joined by Gnomewise from Casually Hardcore as he delves deep into the world of Aberrant, and discovers that all the time working in EM fields has paid off.




Monday, May 16, 2011

New xoom post.

Testing the android blogger app... more to come soon hopefully.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Episode 1: Gaming in the Bear Cave pilot

Premier Episode of Gaming the Bear Cave!

I have finally gotten the stars to align properly to put together my first real podcast.

Gaming in the Bear Cave will be an hourly show about traditional gaming (such as pen and paper rpg's, larping, miniature strategy games, and the like)


Thanks goes out to John, better known as The Big Bear Butt, for his great stories and thoughts about play by post gaming and GURPS.


I am looking for more guest hosts to discuss topics related to traditional gaming. Please leave a comment here if you would be interested in joining me to record future episodes.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Episode 3: This time it's Quantum powered


Episode 3 of Gaming in the bear cave... Aberrant.

Soon I will be looking for people to interview and possibly co-host a podcast for vtwproductions.com

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Episode 2: The Quickening

Episode 2: Dungeon and Dragon's 4th Ed.

Check out my run down of the newest edition of the Dungeons and Dragon's universe.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Changeling the Lost


First Week Testing of Gaming in the Bear Cave:

Check out the audio for this posting, it's a submission for The World Strikes Back, a Versus the World Production

Changeling the Lost


Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Personal Horror in a Modern Time

Setting: Changelings are basically humans who have been taken and escaped from True Fae, and have been changed in some fashion. They are no longer human, and they are not fae, but they are lost in the world and trying to simultaneously survive and fit into the world that now looks and feels dramatically different... and while trying to keep their sanity in check. Many horrors are out to get the lost, including the True Fae, Beasts from the Hedge, Hunters, and anything else you could possibly imagine.

Character Types: The characters have two major choices that define what type of changeling they are... although it is left wide open for options and variety...

Seemings: Basically represent the race they are, giving some overall advantage and disadvantage. It also chooses what types of seeming contracts they may choose from with a lower experience cost.

-Beasts: Animalistic, Primal, generally a hybrid of human and animal.
-Elementals: Hybrid of Man and Element... from fire to water to earth and air, to metal, and plant, and ether, and energy... They often serve as fae tools or power sources for engines.
-Darklings: The bogeymen of the world, they are creepy, secretive, and tend to hang out in the shadows
-Fairest: The fairest of the all... they are beautiful and socially powerful... From Elven to Dragon to Artist... they are certainly as diverse as they are beautiful.
-Ogre: Cruel, Mean, and Strong as mountains. Ogres have a stubborn streak about them and places high importance on honoring one's word.
-Wizend: Servants, thought to be meek and worthless... but incredibly skilled and dexterous... and can easily become a problem for you if you look the wrong direction.


Courts: A much more important distinction, you align yourself with a court that appeals to your outlook and how you choose to survive in this strange new world. Each court is tied to a season, and tied to an emotion that is easier to feed off of (Changelings power themselves off of human emotions)

Summer: They have an affinity for Wrath... They tend to be the soldiers, warriors, protectors of the homesteads. They choose to fight the powers that be head on, and strive to be stronger then them.

Fall: They have an affinity for Fear... They try to research and learn all they can about the mysteries of the headge and universe. To understand the tools and powers of the hedge is to gain it's power and they can use that knowledge to stay safe.

Winter: They have an affinity for Sorrow... they have lost so much already, they find the best way to survive is to not be seen for what they are. Stealth and Subterfuge go a long way to living for another day... not that it's going to get any better.

Spring: They have an affinity for Greed and Gluttony... You might not live tomorrow, so you might as well live today like it was your last... nurturing your fae side makes you stronger, and nurturing growth in all things makes this court the life of the party.

Courtless: There are those who choose no allegiance, and face the world's dangers alone... in their own way.



Powers you get to wield:

Two major categories of powers are Contracts and Pledges... the basis for all powers and life in general is based in the concept of contracts. Without a contract with water, you could not quench your thirst... with a contract with fire, you could freeze to death. Many of these deals have been made a long time ago... you may have forgotten them, but they exist.

Each Changeling can use this power to gain contracts they can use... based on their court and seeming, experience costs will vary. Each contract group has 5 levels that you much purchase in order to gain the next level.

Goblin Contracts are different from that rule set... they can be bought singularly, no matter what level they are... and they are generally much more powerful... BUT they always have a cost associated to them as well.

Pledges: Another more free form power is the pledge... where you can use the same contract magic of the universe and gain power (like stat, ability, and merit boosts) so long as you don't break your word and go back on your contract. There are free form rules that keep these bonuses in check and balanced... and you are limited to the number of pledges you may take by your overall power level.


What do you need to play this game?: The tabletop game uses the new World of Darkness base system, to which you will want a main World of Darkness book, and a series of D10's (around 10 or so). You will also need the core book for Changeling the Lost, which can be found at most book stores that sell tabletop games, or a PDF can be purchased at DriveThurRPG.com.

There are about 8-9 supplemental books which greatly expand on aspects of the game, and while nice, they are not required to play a good game.

The game is a pretty fascinating game, with a really dark creepy fairy tale feel to it. What if the wolf ate little red robin hood? What is snow white managed to be saved by a kiss... and had to give her first child to a Goblin who powered the magic behind the scenes. And how do you survive in a world where the very boundaries of reality and supernatural are ripping apart more and more each day?

Check this game out...


Changing things up a little

No longer am I doing a lushious lady review... For VtW productions, I am instead changing up and submitting a table top game review as often as possible, and some basic notes will be posted at this blog... The blogs name will now be Gaming at the Bear Cave, with Ursi.

Friday, June 4, 2010
















This week we return to Lovely Ladies of Serenity, because frankly... there was simply too much geek hotness for one blog post in Firefly crew.

Gina Torres appears in a hodgepodge of sci-fi fantasy roles through out her career, including Hercules the Legendary Journey, Xena Warrior Princess, the latter two Matrix Movies, the short lived Cleopatra 2525, recent voice work as Superwoman in the DC animation Crisis on Two Earths, and of course, Zoe in the always epic Firefly series.

Gina has a pretense to play strong female rolls, proving that the lovely ladies can kick as much ass as their fairer male gender... but she also proves that strength and tenderness can easily go hand in hand.

As for Zoe, good news geeks... she's single now! Other then that, I'm the bear healer, and I believe that closes the matter to all debate.

Thursday, May 27, 2010




















This week we take a more classic look at hotness... Idina Menzel is known in two iconic roles from theater and movies... Starting her career as Maureen in RENT, and later taking up a second amazing role as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of West, in Wicked. She has done other work since, including her most recent appearance in Glee.

To truly appreciate Idina's full angelic qualities though, you must allow her to open her mouth and bless the world with her voice... When it comes to singing, Idina follows suit with several amazing voices throughout history... and her presence both on stage and film easily brings everyone's attention straight to her.

She is FAB-U-LOUS... and I don't drop the "F" word that often.




Check out this beauty and her amazing voice... as for me, I'm the bear healer... and I believe that closes the matter to all debate.

-Ursiheil

Friday, May 21, 2010

















Incoming transmission from Hotness...

This weeks lovely lady is partially responsible for bringing in almost 3 quarters of a BILLION dollars back to the US economy... and over 2 billion to the world's economy as the female lead in the epic film, Avatar... but Zoe Saldana can do so much more then just play a 10 foot blue skinned legend. She is also fondly remembered in the Star Trek Reboot movie as Noyta Uhura, the highly intelligent and mega-lingual communications officer.

So check out this luscious lady of the big screen, especially in her more recent film, the Losers, or Death at a Funeral... If Steven Colbert claims she saved the US economy, how can it be wrong?

I'm the Bear Healer, Ursiheil... and I believe that closes the matter to all debate!


Monday, May 3, 2010

Everything's shiny, Capt'n

















This week we get a little dirty... and this lady isn't afraid of a little engine grease

Jewel Staite, native to British Colombia, is the leading lady in many geeks hearts. As Kaylee her sun shine personality, intuitive mechanical empathy, and cute jump suit make her the ultimate mechanic from Firefly.

So enjoy this weeks luscious lady of wild wild space... just make sure your heart isn't flying with a Capissen 38 engine... they fall right out of the sky!

The bear healer
-Ursiheil

Friday, April 16, 2010

Pink!

















This week we provide exhibit B... or is that Exhibit P... Pink's got the sweet crazy bad girl down... each song she does is filled with emotion and spunk. She wont take crap from men, yet at the same time there is a spot of vulnerability in her heart that makes her enduring.

So for this week... Pink in my opinion is INDEED HOT
And I believe that closes the matter to further debate!

The bear healer
-Ursiheil

Where it all began...














Speaking as a gay man... Milla Jovovich is INDEED HOT

That was the message posted to the fine folks at VtW production, Casually Hardcore! A popular geek podcast.

In addition to becoming a pretty compelling e-mail during the initial episode, it even turned into a light hearted drop in with one of the hosts.

That of course sparked the next logical course in a geek podcast network full of straight men (and no doubt some awesome appreciative ladies)... Speaking as a gay man! My irrelevant opinion on who's hot... and even though it will not end all debate on the matter... I will indeed put forth a persuasive argument!

So ladies and gents... Milla Jovovich has got the moves, the dynamic smile, and the long legs to pull off a commanding presence... whether she is slaying zombies or saving the universe... she is always a winner in my book.

The bear healer has spoken
-Ursiheil