Did anyone ever play Space Opera back in the day? It was an RPG that tied in all realms of the space genre (Star Trek, Star Wars...). It was released in 1980 by Paladin Press and didn't make it too far despite it being a damn good game.

I was in a really cool used bookstore/collectibles shop recently and found it in the box in mint condition (all books and gaming sheets included). Bought it for $10. The memories are good enough for me. The biggest hurdle of the game was character generation. So many rolls and facets to complete before you could even start up a good game. The math involved could be a bit trying at times too. It was definitely not mainstreamed. Very complex, but once you got to the actual roleplaying, it was a total kick in the butt.

Hope I can find a few old buddies to revive some Space Opera gaming.

I had an Ursoid Battle Starship Commander named Ruse Caliban. I couldn't roll bad with this character. My stat rolls were uncanny and I had a high Psionics to begin. I played a game where Ruse went out in search of an alien species that was threatening innocent planetary settlers. I came upon one and managed to take it out. They had a poisen that fetched a high price, so I decided to find out why. I cut out the poisen sac and chugged it to try and rally some cowardly soldiers.

The GM said in order to survive, I needed to roll a 1, then a 2 & then a 3 in that order on a 10 sided die. I freaking made the saving throws (the odds are pretty insane) and everybody was stunned. Then a buddy playing with me went and did the same and he freaking made the saves! The GM was in shock.

What the poisen did was basically take us into the realm of Superior species. It got to be that we had to retire them due to the extreme nature of their power. Nothing was a challenge. We'd walk in a room and any battle that was to take place was over before it started.

Don't ask why the GM would've made such an elixir or reward, but to make the saving throws we did deserved that kind of payoff.

Anyway, sorry to reminisce so. I just thought I'd share and see if anyone else ever dabbled in it.

I did a Star Wars image a year or so ago. I was in a Jack Kirby tribute mood. This is just a scanned pencil sketch. The foreground hand is Simpsonish and I curse myself for not working it a bit more. Oh well, it's just a sketch.

These are both done well Brad! Your willingness to experiment and play with different media will make you more well-rounded and adept with drawing materials & paper. I actually like how the top drawing looks. Don't ever discount the importance of texture. It can add a dramatic element to your art and add to the feel of the photo. Res Dogs is definitely a rough movie so the texture complements the subject matter.

Your value awareness and shading are improving. Your bottom drawing looks much like an Alex Ross pencil study. It looks more like you are painting with the pencil than drawing (which is cool). Smoothing and smudging and blending are great techniques to master. I might suggest you photo copy this and experiment with some harsher pen & ink hatching/cross-hatching on top of the smooth base art. Combining these could be lethal!

I am proud of you. You have really become dedicated to your creative ability and are beginning to realize how much you can grow if you keep doing it often. Van Gogh started when he was 27 years old. It took him 2 years of hardcore practice before he became a master of art. It's never too late to start if you have the time and you practice a lot. All things require a decent amount of practice if one wants to master it and grow beyond and into their own style. It really shows that you are practicing and making increible strides.

My only constructive criticism is to work on likeness. The drawings are well done, but they could look a bit more like who they are. But it stands on it's own and had I not known it was a montage of Res Dogs characters, I would've sadi it looks like you were inspired by Res Dogs or agents from the Matrix.

Nice Brad. I need to start putting some of my stuff up to back up all this talk and sage advice. Hope to do it soon.

BTW, BD is off the shelf. I'll talk to you soon about it.

Yeah, I do...

But it's probably going to be miniatures for a new RPG and for use congruently with existing RPGs. Pretty sure the 'clix' part will be left out. A little bummed as it looks like Wizkids/WOTC is beginning to get the hang of producing them. The new DC Clix are amazing! The detail in the sculpts and the painting are much higher on the quality scale than any 'Clix' release I have seen. Saw a unique batman with detachable wings and it is the largest clix figure yet and one of the most impressive. The dang thing takes up 2 slots in a 4-pack booster!

I'll keep looking into it and report what I find.

Have not completed a trade with Wai yet. He still needs to decide what he wants from me. Wai sent 3 nice figures to me in good faith and to honor his promise of sending first.

He still has to decide what he wants from me as I realized at the last moment I did not have a figure that he requested. This transaction will be fulfilled soon.

I just wanted to write and say that Wai is worth trading with and he honors his word. The figures arrived in great condition and in a timely manner. Wai hooked me up and I recommend you give him a try.

updated 1/30/04

Does anyone have the 4-Pack of rereleased vintage figures they put out during the Power of the Force (II) era? I am just curious about how the figures look and what they did to change them so they would be obviously more modern. I assume the dates are different, but I am interested in other changes people may have noticed and what those who have this set think of it overall.