Light A Candle, And Begin Your Epic Adventure!

We all like having a little ambiance at our tables to help get us in the mood. Maybe it's drinking from a mug instead of a can. Perhaps your DM plays a few hand-crafted tracks from Tabletop Audio to set the mood, and tone. And, sometimes, we like to light a few candles. However, if you're going to go for that last one, then you might as well get a wood wick candle from the Epic Adventure Candle Company.

Ho, villains! Beware my fresh, charismatic scent!

What Makes These Candles So Special?

I ran into the Epic Adventure Candle Company in the dealer's room at Capricon this year, and I stopped in my tracks. Firstly, because seeing a candle booth at a sci-fi con was an unexpected occurrence that I had to investigate. Secondly, because the candles had scents like Dungeon, The Rains of Castamere, and Butterbeer. Terra, the shop owner, noted my interest, and when I offered to help her spread the word, she gave me the candle you see above. After all, you can hardly write about a product if you never really used it yourself. Hard logic to argue with, especially when I was being handed a candle.

For my two cents, Epic Adventure makes some great candles. The scents are unique (I also picked up a Winter is Coming as a gift for someone), without being overpowering. More than that, though, they're are highly portable, since they come in a convenient can or jar with a top to stop the wax from getting all over your game books and dice. And, while I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, the wood wick actually does lend a kind of authentic crackle to the candle once you light it. That, and the candles burn a hell of a lot longer with a wood wick than with a more traditional one.

My DM didn't give me the +2 bonus at my next Friday game, sadly, but even without it I was pleased I'd brought my candle to the table.

Give It A Try!

So, while it isn't precisely the sort of gaming accessory a lot of folks feel compelled to have at their table, consider giving one of the Epic Adventure Candle Company's wood wicks a try. Or, if you're looking for a little something to show your appreciation to a fellow geek, they've probably got something in their size. Check them out over on the Epic Adventure Candle Company Etsy store, and follow them on Facebook to stay up on their latest doings.

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday update. If you'd like to see more content from yours truly, then check out my Vocal archive, or head over to the YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio where I and other talented gamers create all sorts of shows and skits for our viewers. Follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter to stay on top of all my releases. If you want to support Improved Initiative then head over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page, or follow this link to Buy Me A Coffee! Either way, I'll be happy to send you some sweet gaming swag as a thank you.

Spoons or Spell Slots? How Much Energy Do You Have?

Many of us are fortunate that we do not have to plan every aspect of our day around an illness. We can get up, take a shower, go to work, and generally function without too much thought put into the actions. However, those who do have an illness, or a disability, do not have that option. They have to plan their day, and their lives, entirely around their conditions. This is bad enough when someone has an obvious physical condition, such as an amputee, but it can be even worse when someone is coping with an invisible illness. People who suffer from fibromyalgia, for example, or those who deal with lupus, chronic migraines, or other conditions that affect the sufferer, but which other people cannot see. And because they do not see it, they don't understand what your problem is.

Anxiety? What do you need to be anxious about? Look at how friggin' RIPPED you are!

Attempting to explain to normal people that just because you look fine that you can still be suffering is exasperating for those who live with a sickness. One method created to explain the energy it takes to live under an illness's constraints is called Spoon Theory (you can check it out at You Don't Look Sick). The basic idea behind it is that most people can perform certain actions thoughtlessly, because they aren't carrying a weight with them. People who suffer from a condition, though, begin their day with a certain number of spoons. Every action they take, from getting out of bed, to taking a shower, to getting dressed, to eating, takes a certain number of spoons. So they have to budget their actions in order to get as much stuff done as they can with the resources they have for that day.

And Then We Made It Geeky

This isn't a hard metaphor to understand, but someone's DM just wasn't getting it. Which is where the post by lesbianspaceprincess on Tumblr comes in. You see, explaining a spoon-based economy didn't catch... but when the DM realized that energy economy sounded a lot like spell slots, a new way of explaining how much energy one to work with has was born.

New... an extraordinarily geeky.

Anyone who's ever played a spellcaster knows you have to budget out your magic. Because sure, you could cast knock to open every door in the dungeon, but how many times can you cast that before you're out of magic? Better to let the rogue handle it. A well-placed fireball or lightning bolt can wipe the field clean... but do you need to use it now? Is that really the best use of your resources?

That is the way people suffering from an invisible sickness have to look at their lives. Small tasks use relatively small spell slots. Getting dressed, for example, might be a first-level spell. Driving in the city, well, that might be a second-level spell. Having a meeting with your boss, or making that difficult call to your doctor? Well, that might be a fifth-level spell slot. The great thing about your slots, though, is you can use higher-level slots to cast lower-level spells. So if it turns out you didn't have to deal with a particular crisis that day, or a big problem solved itself, you can use that fifth-level slot to deal with a few first and second-level problems.

Hopefully there are some folks who found this week's Moon Pope Monday post interesting, or helpful if you've had to explain this very kind of situation to the people in your life. If you'd like me to keep bringing you content like this, consider heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a patron. All it takes is $1 a month to help me keep the content coming, and to get yourself some sweet swag! Lastly, if you haven't followed me on Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter yet, now would be a great time to do so.

The Key Armory is Here to Help You Unlock Adventure

Geeks love nothing more than to declare what we love. We plaster our favorite games on our tee shirts, dress up for conventions, put stickers on our cars, and more often than not have symbols tattooed on us, just in case someone tries to question how much we love our fandom. For those of you who've been looking for a new, subtle way to declare your fandom, though, The Key Armory has got your back.

Whomsoever pulls the sword from the stone will open the mythical Apartment 2B...

In case you didn't gather from the picture, The Key Armory sells key blanks in the shape of some of geekdom's favorite, and most famous, blades. Whether you prefer Longclaw from A Song of Ice and Fire, Anduril from Lord of The Rings, or the Sword of Omens from Thundercats, The Key Armory has got you covered. While they have ten designs at the moment (including stuff for all you Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy fans), chances are good we're going to see that list expand fairly quickly.

So how does this process work? Well, you go to The Key Armory website, and find the key that best defines you and your needs. Then you order it, along with any other accessories you feel you must have, like the stone key holder pictured above. The keys are fairly cheap, as far as such things go, and they make excellent gifts or impulse buys. The Armory sends you your blank key, and then you take it to your friendly neighborhood key cutting service to have the proper teeth put on it.

As quests go, it isn't exactly The Temple of Elemental Evil. Still, as far as swag goes, it looks like entirely too much fun. So, whether you need a special key for your cabin in the woods, or you want people to know you're the lord of your castle, check out The Key Armory today!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday post. Hopefully you got a bit of a chuckle, or found a gift for that hard to shop for friend on your list. If you'd like to see more posts like this one, why not support Improved Initiative by becoming a patron over on The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page? Lastly, if you haven't followed me over on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter yet, well, why not start today?

Why HeroQuest is So Great!

The Internet is home to entire reservoirs of great gaming humor. Whether it's the latest memes about murderhobos, or another round of dice shaming, there's no bottom to the chuckle bucket. However, in the event that you missed the Bardic Broadcasts video on why HeroQuest is so great, then you need to have it in your life. Seriously, click play. You can thank me once the video is over.

While entertaining for me as a lover of RPGs, I'd never actually played HeroQuest. Like so many other older games that hadn't found its way past the censors into my childhood, I thought I'd see if I could find a copy. What I found was that this game, cashing in on the fantasy boom in the 1980s and 1990s (1989 release in the UK and Europe, 1990 release in the U.S.), is extremely rare. This adventure game scion, produced by the partnership of Milton Bradley and Games Workshop back before they evolved into what they are today, can run several hundred dollars for a used copy. With missing cards. And broken figures.

And if you want a new version of the game, in mint condition? Then you had better have a pocket book that doesn't shrivel up when it hears you say words like mint condition.

Seriously, though, you've spent more on less from Games Workshop.

And that's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday update. I hope you all enjoyed it, and that you learned a little something about one of the cornerstones of fantasy gaming for older generations. If you'd like to help support Improved Initiative, then why not stop by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page? All it takes is $1 a month to keep the content coming, and you get free swag just for signing up! Lastly, if you haven't done so already, why not follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter? That way you won't miss any of my future updates.

OffWorld Designs Has The Geek and Gaming Gear You Need

So, as you all know, I attend a fair number of cons every year. I'm a panelist, I often work a stint doing signings and book sales, and I network with all the other creative professionals who show up to engage the public the same way I do. Which means I meet a lot of other creative types, and companies, who are putting out some really cool stuff.

You know, stuff like this!

You know you want this shirt.

That design, in case you somehow got to this post without reading the title, is from OffWorld Designs. And, if you're pretty sure it looks familiar, that's probably because you've been to a geek or gaming convention somewhere in America at some point. They have a huge library of shirts, hats, bags, caps, and other gear bearing your favorite characters, clever designs, and in-your-face declarations. They even have an entire section dedicated expressly to Cthulhu and Lovecraft references!

You thought I was exaggerating, didn't you?

In addition to being the bearers of cool stuff, though, OffWorld Designs was kind enough to give me a few secrets to share with you, my weekly readers. The first, which will soon be no more, is the promo code 16SpringClean. Just enter it while you check out, and it will get you 50% off on any clearance shirt you buy (at a minimum of $10), until March 27th. The other bargain, which doesn't have an expiration date on it, is the code 15conpc. This code gets you 20% off your next Internet order, assuming you haven't used it before. Be warned, though, it has no power over convention souvenir items. Everything else, though, is fair game.

As always, thanks for tuning in to see what news is afoot this Monday! If you'd like to help support Improved Initiative, why not drop by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a patron today? As little as $1 a month can be a big help, and it will keep the content coming straight to your screen. Also, if you haven't yet, why not follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter?

Heckler & Koch Design Real-Life Boba Fett Armor

Boba Fett is remembered as one of the biggest badasses in sci-fi history, despite his complete failure to deliver on his reputation (check this list at Cracked for some of the others). There's just something about him as a character, from the nervous silence his presence causes, to the battle-worn look he boasts. If Star Wars taught us nothing else, it taught us that anyone hard enough to wear Mandalorian armor is not someone to be fucked with.

Which may be why you can now buy your very own set of ballistic armor, inspired by one of film's most infamous bounty hunters.

Wait till they get a load of me.

That isn't a prop test that got scrapped for a different design, either. According to Tribunist, that is real ballistic armor from firearms giant Heckler & Koch. H&K teamed up with AR500, SOG knives, artist Ryan Flowers, Armasight, and several other companies to create a field-ready suit of Mandalorian ballistic armor. The plates are contoured for comfort and protection, the helmet-mounted flip sight is a night vision monocle, and the suit will protect the wearer from handgun and rifle rounds. At time of writing there has been no word regarding the development of a jet pack to go with it.

If we needed any more proof that geeks have won the culture war, this is it. A big-name gun manufacturer is creating body armor based on a science fiction character. Now quit whining, strap on, and charge for the glory of Mandalor!

As always, thanks for stopping in to check out my Monday update. If you want to help support me in delivering the latest in geeky news, and gaming info, then consider becoming a patron by pledging your support on my Patreon page! $1 a month is all it takes to help keep the hits coming week after week. Also, if you want to make sure you don't miss any of my updates, then follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, too!

Obscure Belts Look Like Something Adventurers Would Wear on a Dungeon Crawl!

Have you ever stopped to consider the role that belts play in an adventurer's life? From sword and gun belts, to the baldrics that keep their treasures secured, there's a reason fantasy mercenaries and sci-fi explorers always seem to be a little strapped-in.

If you'd like something that looks this cool while still being practical you should check out Obscure Belts.

Do you have what it takes to unlock The Enigma.

Obscure Belts was started in 2005, and the company's stated goal is to make belts that are truly different. Unlike other fashion designers who will just change the buckle, Obscure Belts is dedicated to making a complete product that is unlike anything you've ever seen before. The brain child of Bryan Schultz, these belts capture the imagination in ways basic, practical belts simply don't.

Seriously, check out their collection!

I ran into Obscure Belts at this past C2E2 2015, and my brain immediately started building character concepts to represent each belt design I saw. It's only through a miracle that I managed to walk away from their booth with nothing more than a brochure. Still, I found these belts unique enough that I wanted to tell my readers about them, and provide a signal boost for a company producing something so unique just a few hours north of Chicago.


As always, thanks for stopping by Improved Initiative, and if you'd like to support this project just stop by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page and become a patron today! In order to keep up to the minute with all of my updates make sure to follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter as well!