Why I've moved to trade paperbacks instead of single issues

Around a year ago I began an experiment in my comic buying habits. I decided that I was spending far too much on books that weren't always hitting the mark for me, so I decided to firstly slash down the number of titles I was reading and then change to purely digital where possible.

Auto Adventure builds dungeons for you, lazy DMs rejoice!

Lennard from Rusty Axe got in touch with me the other week to give me the low down on his new brainchild - Auto Adventure.

It's a virtual mapping tool that automatically generates dungeon maps for when you've got no time to draw your own. You can populate it with objects and eventually player characters and monsters, as well as new dungeon skins.

Check out the latest issue of Fighting Fantazine

Here's something that passed me by, but I'm glad I remembered - #11 of Fighting Fantazine is out now for your to peruse at your merriment. Editor Alex has decided it's high time for a paint job, so we're treated to a new look magazine and a brand new tagline that includes general gamebooks, not just Fighting Fantasy. Praise be to Zanbar bone!

So what are you waiting for? Go read it!

Holdfast: A Gamebook of Dwarven Vengeance

The neo gamebook resurgence continues with Holdfast, a new book that's being funded by Kickstarter (not unlike everything else ever these days). Currently it has three days left to go and has already beaten its goal by almost $4,000, which isn't surprising because Holdfast looks friggin' sweet.

What's your favourite RPG genre?

There was once a time when you could only play in a handful of genres, usually fantasy or straight up sci-fi. However, now there are tonnes of types of RPGs you can play, from stonepunk to professional wrestling to pulp.

But what's your all time favourite RPG genre? Let me know in the comments.

Watch the official trailer for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

After a couple of teasers we're finally treated to the full trailer for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and, oh god, this looks amazing. Just, just watch.

Wow.

How Dungeons & Dragons drove me to devil worship

There's something you may not know about me. I was once league with the one they call Beelzebub. Seriously, this is a hard fact. I loved Satan (although high level worshippers get to call him Stan) and I devoted my life to his foul greatness. Guess what - it was D&D that helped me on the path to fiery righteousness.

Is that Luke Cage in the promo for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

The full promo for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is now on the internet and, man, does this look like an awesome piece of TV. Phil Coulson is amazing.

But who's that mystery dude at the beginning who jumps out of the window holding the woman? There is some speculation that it's none other than Power Man, Luke Cage.

Watch the first footage of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Here's a crazy short clip of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a tease for the real teaser, which airs tonight with Once Upon a Time.

Why I finally 'get' Superman

Image credit: DC Comics

 If you'd asked me two weeks ago what I thought of Superman I'd have made a sound like 'pffft' and a series of sounds that resemble 'he's a bit boring, isn't he?" Past me is a moron. I've had a change of heart in the last week and I'll tell you for why.

So Johnny Storm just outed you as a racist nerd

You might have heard that Chronicle's Michael B. Jordan is in the running to play Johnny Storm in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. I still haven't seen Chronicle, so I can't comment on his acting ability, but I do know it was a well-received flick so chances are it's not going to be below par. However, I do know that Jordan is, and be prepared to gasp in horror, black. For some reason some people (read: racists) aren't taking kindly to these race-swapping shenanigans. After all, we all know that Johnny's character hinges on the fact that he's caucasian.

Celebrate Richard Feynman's birthday with this beautiful video

Today is the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Richard Feynman, an incredible individual who expanded our understanding of quantum electrodynamics, played an important role in the investigation of the Challenger disaster, and was part of the Manhattan Project team.

ABC officially pick up Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, ABC has finally announced that it has picked up Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D for a full season. Clark Gregg fans rejoice!

How does the Man of Steel theme stack up to Williams' original?

There's no doubt that John Williams' theme score for Superman: The Movie is among the most recognisable and, frankly, best in film score history. But how will studio darling Hans Zimmer follow such a class act?

Well, you can listen for yourself over on Soundcloud.

Apes are riding horses in new Dawn of the Planet of the Apes set photo

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves took to Twitter to throw out some photographic goodness of the new film, and we finally get to see the return of apes on horseback.

Dealing with ethics in roleplaying games

Rarely do groups sit down on a Sunday night around a table full of maps, dice and pencils to take part in cerebral sparring matches on the subject of ethics - and why should they? Heroes do what they do generally because they have to. But as a GM, thinking about ethics can provide some fantastic fertile material for adventures - throwing adventurers into moral conundrums that will surely have the party torn.

VFX pioneer Ray Harryhausen passes away aged 93

 The world has just lost one of the greatest visual effects pioneers of all time with the passing of the great Ray Harryhausen.

Read the full statement after the jump.