# John Wick ## Posts - [Unreview: The Batman](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-the-batman/): Let’s start with the picture of me in a Batman costume when I was two years old. That would have been October, 1970. My grandmother made it for me. I’ve been through Adam West’s friendly neighborhood Batman, Denny O’Neil’s Detective, Frank Miller’s Dark Knight, Alan Moore’s Killing Joke, and even Scott Snyder’s Court of Owls. I’ve seen ’em all. That’s because I love Batman. My Holy Trinity of Superheroes is Batman, Wonder Woman and Spider-Man. Those were the three I grew up with. The first comic books I ever owned. I still remember the covers and stories. I’ve seen them […] - [Halloween Kills](https://thejohnwick.com/halloween-kills/): 1963: In Haddonfield, IL, young Michael Myers kills his sister. He’s captured by police and sent to an institution. 1978. Myers escapes and returns to his home. Along the way, he murders a handful of people. The only person to survive Myers is Laurie Straud. Again, police capture Myers and he returns to the institution. 2018. Forty years later, Myers escapes again. He begins another killing rampage. 2021. The people of Haddonfield are finally done with this Michael Myers fellow. They gather together in a mob and murder him. At least they try to. All right. Let’s talk about this. […] - [Back 4 Blood (Unreview)](https://thejohnwick.com/back-4-blood-unreview/): For a few months, I got completely lost in Left 4 Dead versus mode. I mean completely lost. I was up until 4:00 AM playing the game, sleeping for a few hours, then going right back in for more. I got good. Really good. I had the maps memorized. I knew the perfect ambush spots. I could snipe a Smoker at 400 meters. I could kite Tanks. And I carried Gnome Chomsky all the way through that damn carnival more times than I can remember, helping other people gain that pesky achievement. And that’s one of the reasons I loved […] - [No Time to Die (Unreview)](https://thejohnwick.com/no-time-to-die-unreview/): This year, at North America’s biggest gaming convention, I had the unique opportunity to grab a couple members of Chaosium (the makers of Call of Cthulhu, Runequest, and Pendragon, as well as 7th Sea) and walk around the dealer’s room, showing them the booths where little games were on display. I told them, “This is where real innovation happens.” That’s because small game companies have nothing to lose. They aren’t like Hasbro with Dungeons & Dragons who make an announcement like “Not all orks are evil,” and have to suddenly duck behind blast shields because the fan base may explode […] - [Don't Let Go of Your Balloon](https://thejohnwick.com/dont-let-go-of-your-balloon/): On my birthday, I perform a “spelling” for my friends. It’s a magical performance. Like, literal magic. Stuff happens. Freya showed up one time, I summoned fire from my fingers, Kachiko and Mr. Finger have made appearances. I called this particular spelling, “Demons, Daemons and Balloons.” It was a depression exorcism. At the end of it, balloons appeared, falling on the audience. Everyone took their balloon home. A year later, people sent me pictures of their balloon: still full. The spelling concluded with “Balloon #3”, performed by The Candle Thieves. I’ve provided a link below. * * * Listen closely […] - [Let Me Tell You About Brandon Cutler](https://thejohnwick.com/let-me-tell-you-about-brandon-cutler/): As things are crazy here in the United States on November 4th, 2020, I needed to find something that made me smile. Something that reminded me that good things do happen to good people. That the American Dream of honest, hard work paying off isn’t completely dead. And, because I am who I am, it should also involve gaming… and professional wrestling. I have said this before, and I’ll say it again: I love professional wrestling. And if you love stories of good vs evil, dynastic warfare fought over generations, blood feuds, friendship, romance, betrayal, and live, death-defying stunt work […] - [Medeiun: A 7th Sea Short Story](https://thejohnwick.com/medeiun-a-7th-sea-short-story/): I wrote this after reading a story about Luciano Garbati’s statue called “Medusa with the Head of Perseus” by Jessica Mason. When I was a boy, I read illustrated versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey and fell in love with Greek myth. I spent a summer reading all the way through the full versions, making sure I selected the biggest translation of the two books I could find. I wanted it all. Then, I read Ovid and anything else I could get my hands on. That was when I first discovered Socrates and Plato as well. And, finally, Joseph […] - [From "A Magician Looks at 40"](https://thejohnwick.com/from-a-magician-looks-at-40/):   On my birthday, I try to present a magical ritual/performance for my friends. I call them “spellings.” The first one I ever performed was called “A Magician Looks at 40.” While I do write the thing down, there’s a lot of improvisation and extemperaneous stuff going on, so what you’re about to read isn’t exactly what I said or did, but made for the basis of it. By the way, this is also the first chapter of my RPG about magic called Secret. I’m posting this because a couple of friends posted some stuff about astrology and it made me […] - [Playing at Eternity: Moorcock's Eternal Champion](https://thejohnwick.com/playing-at-eternity-moorcocks-eternal-champion/): I played Call of Cthulhu before I played D&D and I read Michael Moorcock’s Elric before I read Lord of the Rings. What can I say? I was always like this. I discovered Moorcock the way most people in the Twin Cities did: by hanging out in Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Bookstore. I was looking for something to read and the guy at the counter pointed me in the right direction. I had already discovered Robert E. Howard and Conan via H.P. Lovecraft, and once I mentioned those two, he knew where to lead me. The first Moorcock […] - [Santa Vaca: Alignment](https://thejohnwick.com/santa-vaca-alignment/): Recently on my FB page, a very long chat about D&D’s alignment system came up. Instead of bitching about how much I dislike it (and whoah, do I have reasons), I’d like to offer an alternative. This is the Alignment system from Santa Vaca, my hack of the World’s Most Famous Roleplaying Game. Enjoy. And if you want a copy of the whole book, you can get it here. ___ In this world, there are no gods, but four Primal Powers: Order, Chaos, Good, and Evil. These Powers are necessary elements in the world. Without them, the world falls apart. […] - [The Pegasus Plateau & Other Stories (A Shameless Plug)](https://thejohnwick.com/the-pegasus-plateau-other-stories-a-shameless-plug/): The Deepest Dive The Pegasus Plateau and Other Stories is a collection of adventures for players new to Runequest and its world of Glorantha. I wrote for this book. I wrote two adventures (which got squished into one big adventure) and a small environment for new players to get a foothold in Glorantha. Also, this is the first writing I ever did for Chaosium. After being a fan and a customer for most of my life (ever since 1981), I had never done any official writing for the company until now. And it was for a game I hardly ever […] - [For a Few Tarts](https://thejohnwick.com/for-a-few-tarts/): A lot of talk about orks recently (the proper spelling is “ork”; “orc” is how the elves spell it with their silly hard c’s) and so here’s a story inspired by a game I ran not too long ago. It has orks. I hope you like it.   * * *   This is a story about the city and the rules of the street. Those who are wise will listen and learn.  Circles always come around. And never invoke the wrath of the Baking Lady.   1. On the third day of the second moon, Javis Tal and his […] - [The Courage of Tamyn Taval: Part 1, Chapter 2](https://thejohnwick.com/the-courage-of-tamyn-taval-part-1-chapter-2/): 2   Later that night, she stood with Shy in a library. Count Jonsen held a book in his hand. He was tall, dark-haired, well-dressed, and well-groomed. Everything a count should be. He wore a heavy cloak—the room was cold with the autumn evening—and purple velvets. He set the book down, took a breath, then sat. He looked at them. “All dead?” he asked. Tamyn nodded. “Yes, sir.” Her hair was matted and her clothes torn. The scar on her face was no longer bleeding but had turned an awful red color. Her elven blood was working on it. She […] - [The Courage of Tamyn Taval: Part 1, Chapter 1](https://thejohnwick.com/the-courage-of-tamyn-taval-part-1-chapter-1/): Part One Shy and Tam   1 Tamyn Taval looked at the dead man in front of her, his empty eyes glaring into hers. A moment ago he was alive, but now, he was like a doll, silently staring. The arrow in his throat was meant for her. It skimmed by her cheek, ripping skin. She ducked, fell from her horse and hit the ground hard. Her shoulder disagreed with that tactic. She rolled and found cover under a fallen tree. From under the tree, she looked back and saw who the arrow had struck. It was Jenns. The big […] - [The Courage of Tamyn Taval: Prelude](https://thejohnwick.com/the-courage-of-tamyn-taval-prelude/): Back when I was working on Wicked Fantasy, I wrote a novella set in that world called “The Courage of Tamyn Taval.” Years later, I expanded the novella, adding a whole bunch of new words and some subplots. It’s been sitting on my CPU for a couple of years, not really doing anything. This seemed like a good opportunity to make it public and let folks read through it. I’ll be releasing one chapter per day. Enjoy!   * * *   THE COURAGE OF TAMYN TAVAL by John Wick     courage The ability to act despite fear, withstand […] - [Cthulhu and the Wreck of the Sloop John B](https://thejohnwick.com/cthulhu-and-the-wreck-of-the-sloop-john-b/): (This is from a spelling I performed on my 50th birthday and part of a roleplaying game called “Secret: A Little Game about Magic,” which will be the last RPG I ever publish.) Thursday November 15, 2018 Spent all day listening to different versions of the Sloop John B. All day. The Kingston Trio version invokes the original language of Nassau. “Well, I feel so broke up, I want to go home.” Every song a sailor sings is about going home. When I first heard Brian Wilson’s poppy, happy, melancholy chimes and perfect chorus, I thought the music undermined the […] - [Unreview: 1917](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-1917/):   Unreview Rules: I must pay for it. I must like it. I try my best to use E-Prime   The only thing that eclipses my hatred of war is my admiration for soldiers. — J. Berek   My favorite war movies are are about soldiers, not battles. I lived for five years in Georgia. Before that, I lived in Minnesota and a little while in Iowa. While I lived there, I heard the Southern version of what happened during “The War of Northern Aggression” in history class. In the middle of 10th grade, I moved back to Minnesota, just […] - [Unreview: Knives Out](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-knives-out/): Unreview Rules I have to like it I have to pay for it I do my best to use E-Prime NO SPOILERS I grew up with Sherlock Holmes. He taught me the value of reason and logic (even if he did mix up “induction” and “deduction”). The quirky detective with all his faults and foibles served as one of my first heroes. Later, I learned of Hercule Poirot through The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Even later, Dashiell Hammett introduced me to the Continental Op and Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler gave me Philip Marlowe. But my favorite—my all time favorite—has got to be Columbo […] - [Unreview: Doctor Sleep](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-doctor-sleep/):   In 1980, I was twelve years old, reading the books my father brought home and stuck on a small shelf in our living room. There were never more than five or six, but all of them were big. My dad likes to read, but he reads very slowly, and he likes to enjoy books, he likes savoring them. That’s how I got my hands on Dune. My dad was reading it, taking his time. I read it in a weekend. That was one of the few things my father and I shared: reading big, heavy books. One day, he brought home […] - [Unreview: The Lighthouse](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-the-lighthouse/): Unreview Rules: I have to like it, I have to pay for it, I do my best to use E-Prime.   Jennifer and I were married once. We live different lives now, but we keep up with each other, send book and movie recommendations, chat about this and that. She loves a good ghost story, and has exceptional taste, so when she told me to see The Witch, I knew I should check it out. When I was done, we chatted for an hour, talking about the different implications of the ending. That started me on a binge of movies that […] - [My D&D Character: Barbarian](https://thejohnwick.com/my-dd-character-barbarian/): My name? I do not have a name. I am called The Heinig. My people were a peaceful tribe living in the mountains. We abhorred violence, but we understood its necessity. That is why I was chosen to carry the wrath of the tribe. When I was old enough, I went with the other children of my tribe to stand before the shaman. I remember it now. A dark night, we sat around the fire and drank what she gave us. We went before the Goddess, and we were tested. When it was done, the Goddess chose me. And I […] - [Gencon 7th Sea Larp](https://thejohnwick.com/gencon-7th-sea-larp/):   At Gencon this year, I ran a 7th Sea LARP for about 40 people. Afterward, I got a lot of positive feedback and people asking me exactly how it worked, what game design process I went through and a bunch of other questions. Since I’ve gotten so many questions, here are some answers. Now, just to let you know, this is a behind the curtain essay. If you’re the kind of person who watches a magic trick and doesn’t want to know how it works, I highly suggest not reading after a certain point. I’ll let you know when […] - [My Superman](https://thejohnwick.com/my-superman/):   (With acknowledgement to Mike Curry without whom this story wouldn’t exist.) A bank robbery. Six suspects, all with incredible, inhuman speed and strength. Their eyes glowing an eerie cobalt blue. Fortunately for them, they decided to rob a Metropolis bank and not a Gotham bank. If they had chosen the latter, they’d all have broken bones and possibly brain tissue trauma. Fortunately for them, they chose Metropolis. About one minute and fifteen seconds after the robbery starts, he shows up. Like a blue and red blur, he moves through the bank, grabbing guns and bending them around the robbers’ […] - [Unreview: Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood/):   I think it’s safe to say that one of the reasons I love Tarrentino movies is because he always seems to be ahead of me. Catching me off guard. Start with Reservoir Dogs. A bunch of clearly criminal elements sitting around in a diner talking about Madonna. I did not see that coming. Then, the credits followed with a smash to a backseat full of blood. Nope. Didn’t see that coming. Pulp Fiction kept me on my toes the whole time. Honeybunny and Pumpkin suddenly jumping up with guns in their hands, “Royale with Cheese,” and exactly how far are […] - [The Map is Not the Territory](https://thejohnwick.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/): Someone asked me about my Unreview rules recently: I have to pay for it, I have to like it, I do my best to use E-Prime. Well, here’s why.   Imagine someone who reviews movies after only seeing the trailer. Or reviews books after reading the back cover. Or reviews games after only reading the rules. I know what you’re thinking. Nobody does that. Those people don’t exist. Well, you’d only be partly right. The first two don’t exist. But the last one is actually commonplace. I see it all over the internet. The fact of the matter is, reviewing […] - [[REDACTED] Died For Your Sins: A Reflection on Avengers Endgame](https://thejohnwick.com/redacted-died-for-your-sins-a-reflection-on-avengers-endgame/):   I was at a game convention somewhere and a young lady was talking to me about Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea. Specifically, she was telling me about characters she loved and how her GM put those characters in their game so she could interact with them. She not only got to do that, but she got to save one of her favorite characters from danger. “That was amazing!” she told me. “That was the point,” I said. “Make players fall in love with the setting, then put it in jeopardy.” “But how do you make characters […] - [Unreview: Captain Marvel (No Spoilers)](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-captain-marvel-no-spoilers/): Unreview Rules: I have to like it, I have to pay for it, I try my best to use E-Prime (avoid using any iteration of the verb “to be”) whenever I talk about the thing.   The thing I liked most about Captain Marvel and the thing I liked least are both liked to such a huge spoiler, I can’t talk about it. That means I can’t tell you the main reason why I liked the movie so much and the one thing I felt… Well, dammit. I can’t say that without breaking Rule #3. Let me try that again. I […] - [Weird Weird West: A Hack of the World's Most Popular Weird West RPG](https://thejohnwick.com/weird-weird-west-a-hack-of-the-worlds-most-popular-weird-west-rpg/): Introduction I turn fifty this year. Wow. Five-Oh. This weekend, as part of my birthday celebration, I had the opportunity to run Deadlands for Shane Hensley. We were chatting over the internet a couple weeks ago and I said, “I’d really like to play Deadlands.” Shane said, “You should run it. I’d drive up (from Chandler to Phoenix) for that. But it would have to be your own weird take on the system.” Well, I like the idea of giving away things on my birthday, and I know game designers secretly love seeing what other people do with their own […] - [Presuppositional Apologetics: An Apology](https://thejohnwick.com/presuppositional-apologetics-an-apology/):     “So, those with depression and schizophrenia can just choose to not be depressed and schizophrenic?” — Me, debating freewill   I suffer from depression. All my life. Actually, it’s more than depression. Recently, I was re-diagnosed with bipolar disorder because the older you get, the faster your body breaks down. And that means there are times I’m not completely in charge of my brain. (Actually, nobody is really in charge of their brain, but I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole. Let’s just say that once you discover you have something wrong in your head, you start […] - [Unreview: WWE 2018 Survivor Series](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-wwe-2018-survivor-series/):   Vince McMahon has committed many sins in his life (And by “sin,” I mean the original meaning of the word: “falling short.”), but this is perhaps the one sin for which a wrestling promoter can never be forgiven: he has lost control of his audience. Everything you see in a wrestling show leads to a single purpose: to control the audience. Make them cheer, make them boo, make them laugh, make them cry. Wrestlers do this in their matches by structuring the contest in such a way that you feel what they want you to feel. The villain cheats, […] - [Unreview: Suspiria](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-suspiria/):   Unreview Rules: I have to pay for it, I have to like it, I do my best to use E-Prime   Go see it. I mean what I say. Go see it. Don’t read reviews, don’t listen to anyone else. Just go see it. Sit in a dark theater—alone or with someone you trust—and sit through the whole movie, even through the credits. The whole thing, start to end, to after the end. Go see it. Why? Because I’m sick and @#$%ing tired of Vancian magic. What is “Vancian magic?” Well, according to TV Tropes.com:   Magical effects are […] - [Unreview: Bohemian Rhapsody](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-bohemian-rhapsody/): Unreview Rules: I have to like it, I have to pay for it, I do my best to use E-Prime when talking about the thing itself I write “unreviews” to highlight the subjective nature of reviews in general, and as you’ll see, talking about this film exposes the fact that I cannot be “objective” about it. I loved Freddie Mercury and Queen remains one of the bands who continue to play my emotional heartstrings. I cannot listen to music passively. When other writers like Stephen King say he listens to music while he writes, I just don’t understand that. When […] - [Unreview: Halloween (2018)](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-halloween-2018/): Let’s review the Unreview Rules: I have to like it, I have to pay for it, I try my best to use E-Prime. See that first rule? Read it again. All right. Let’s talk about Halloween. I mean, the movie that scared me witless when I was ten years old.     See that frame right above here? See it? That’s the first time I ever stood and screamed while watching a movie. I saw it in Ames, Iowa. That theater was in a mall and had only two screens. The one on the left was generally G and PG rated […] - [Santa Vaca: "Fun Happens Between the Rules"](https://thejohnwick.com/santa-vaca-fun-happens-between-the-rules/): (From the introduction to the Santa Vaca Companion—coming soon.) I have a lot of respect for James Ernest. We tend to hang out at conventions and spend a lot of time talking about games and everything but games. We agree, we disagree, we argue, but there’s always respect. I have never felt as if James was talking down to me and I do my best never to talk down to him. And here’s something that everyone should say about someone else: James is a better game designer than I am. Like, way better. I can patch together some rules for […] - [Play Dirty: DemonXBunny](https://thejohnwick.com/play-dirty-demonxbunny/): (This is a slightly edited version of the Play Dirty episode published in Wicked Words #11, which you can get a copy of here! Support my Patreon for only $2.99 per issue. Your subscription also includes ALL back issues. Every issue of Wicked Words contains one Play Dirty episode plus additional gaming/fiction stuff!)     You’re about to enter a new world. No, scratch that. You’re about to enter a new multiverse. And we’ll answer three very important questions. 1. What happens when pro wrestlers are geeks instead of jocks? 2. And what happens when women tell stories about women […] - [The Grey Crane](https://thejohnwick.com/the-grey-crane/): If you play roleplaying games, you owe Greg Stafford. You may not even know it, but you do. Greg was brilliant. He was ahead of his time. You know the Stafford Rule? Every game designer knows the Stafford Rule: “If you believe you’ve come up with a clever mechanic, Greg Stafford already did it.” You know how brilliant Greg was? Let me show you how brilliant he was. In Runequest, one of the things your character can do is sit with a shaman and take a spiritual trip to the God Realm where your character walks in the footsteps of an […] - [Ten Years Ago: Santa Vaca & Game Balance](https://thejohnwick.com/ten-years-ago-santa-vaca-game-balance/): I wrote the following essay ten years ago (2008). I reprint it here without edit or revision. The first time I ever mentioned the phrase “santa vaca” in conjunction with D&D. Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition was on the verge of release and after hearing so many people talk about “game balance” as the primary design consideration, I thought I’d talk about how little I consider “game balance” when I design roleplaying games. Chiefly because it doesn’t matter. Anyway, on with the essay…   * * *   Listening to people talk about the fourthcoming (intentional) edition of D&D, I hear a lot […] - [Unreview: A Simple Favor](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-a-simple-favor/): Unreview Rules: 1) I must like it, 2) I had to pay for it, 3) I do my best to use E-Prime. I love a movie that refuses to fit genre stereotypes but uses them to its advantage. I also hate genre. Movies that defy genre with a unique and compelling voice always bring me to the theater. That’s one of the reasons I love the Coen Brothers. They own their own genre. “Coen-esque.” And, of course, as a fan, I’ve watched The Big Lebowski about a billion times. The gimmick always makes me smile: a film noir with the most […] - [Finally, Santa Vaca](https://thejohnwick.com/finally-santa-vaca/): So, I did a hack. Begin the jokes now. “A hack did a hack.” There, I beat you to it. When I say, “I did a hack,” I mean I did a hack of the world’s most famous RPG. This has been years in the making. I had the…wait. Stop. Let’s start over. Just below, you can read the introduction to Santa Vaca: A Hack of the World’s Most Famous Roleplaying Game. I’ll be releasing the “DIY” version as a PDF next week. The introduction goes through some of the why’s and wherefore’s of how this whole project came to be […] - [Unreview: Adjustment Day](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-adjustment-day/): Normally, my rules for an unreview include an attempt to use E-Prime. In other words, I try my best to avoid using any iteration of the verb “to be.” Let me start this unreview by breaking that rule. This shit is mean. I mean bleak. I mean if the Red Wedding got you to throw a book across the room, this one is gonna make you head out to the garage for the gas can and start a bonfire. I mean this shit makes Fight Club look like Club Med. In an interview, Chuck said, “My parents are dead. I […] - [A Justification for a Lightsaber](https://thejohnwick.com/a-justification-for-a-lightsaber/): (This essay is SPOILER FREE. So, continue reading.) I’m finally doing it. I’m getting a lightsaber. I was nine years old when I saw Star Wars—not Episode IV, but goddamn Star Wars—for the first time. Of course, I saw it a few more times that year. I raked leaves and cut grass to buy a ticket. I sat in the dark theater spellbound to the screen. I memorized every word, every visual. I bought the novel and read it and read it and read it until it fell apart. That year, at Halloween, I had a homemade Luke Skywalker costume, […] - [Supposed Former 7th Sea Junkie](https://thejohnwick.com/supposed-former-7th-sea-junkie/): Way back in 1998 (geez, I’m old), Alanis Morissette released her follow up to Jagged Little Pill, an album that sold over 16 million copies (thus going platinum 16 times). JLP was a phenomenon, breaking records every which way. Of course, her follow up, had the impossible task of meeting the same expectations. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie sold 2.2 million copies worldwide on its first week of release, but was considered “a disappointment” by the record companies. The woman went double platinum in seven days and the record company was unimpressed. For her third album, they spent less money on […] - [DragonCon Part 2: Antitheism and Forbeck's Law](https://thejohnwick.com/dragoncon-part-2-antitheism-and-forbecks-law/): Let’s start with the latter, shall we? Matt Forbeck writes a lot of words. Tons of them. I used to hang out with him a lot at conventions, although we don’t get the chance to do that anymore. One time, I was sitting in a seminar with seven people on the panel. Seven! Meanwhile, out in the audience, we counted only three. That’s pretty typical for a gaming panel. I mean, if you get more than a dozen, you’re cooking with gas. Looking at the audience, Matt says, “Time to move the panel to the bar!” Which is exactly what […] - [Heroic Stories in Khitai](https://thejohnwick.com/heroic-stories-in-khitai/): Khitai presents opportunities for heroic stories very different than the ones we see in western culture. The typical western hero is a renegade, rebelling against the corrupt tyranny of society. In the west, we distrust authority, often casting such figures and structures as villains. Think of Darth Vader and the Emperor in Star Wars, the Alliance in Firefly, or even Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. These people and entities exist as villains in the west because we, as a people, feel distrust of authority is virtuous. A citizen’s duty is to guard and monitor people and structures of […] - [DragonCon Part 1: "Can't I Have Just a Little Peril?"](https://thejohnwick.com/dragoncon-part-1/): This is the first part of a series of blog posts about DragonCon. Part 2 and 3 will be up soon! I was at DragonCon this weekend and addition to staying up way too late and dancing way too much, I was also a panelist. The panels at DragonCon are different from the ones at gaming conventions because…well, people attend them.  (For those of you who don’t know the Forbeck Rule—named for Matt Forbeck—”When the panelists outnumber the attendees, the panel moves to the bar.”) The rooms were packed to capacity. Standing room only. In fact, on many occasions, there […] - [Vote for 7th Sea at the ENnies](https://thejohnwick.com/vote-for-7th-sea-at-the-ennies/): Summer is con season, but that also means it’s awards season. We got nominated for an Origins Award, won a Golden Geek, and now, it’s time for the ENnies. Usually, I don’t get excited about awards, because I’ve won my share, but this year is a little different. People like Mike Curry, Rob Justice and Mark Richardson are up for the first time and it would be really cool to let them take the stage. That’s my plan, anyway. So, yeah. I’d like to see the people who worked so hard to bring 7th Sea: Second Edition to life get […] - [GLOW](https://thejohnwick.com/glow/): Every GM should watch professional wrestling. Let me amend that. Every GM should watch good professional wrestling. And yes, before you ask, let me say that there is such a thing. For most people, their experience with the genre is limited to 80’s style WWF kick-punch-repeat. Well, my fellow gamers, that’s like someone saying, “I don’t like gaming” after playing Tomb of Horrors. When friends of mine ask me how I can watch pro wrestling, I ask them for twenty-five minutes of their time so they can watch Max Landis’ Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling. And if you aren’t a wrestling fan […] - [The War of the Cross: A Letter From John](https://thejohnwick.com/the-war-of-the-cross-a-letter-from-john/): Hi everybody! It’s hard to believe that the Kickstarter launch for The War of the Cross is just one week away. We’re going to be publishing updates every day this week to talk more about the game and to share our excitement. Today, I’m here to tell you a little bit about the history of The War of the Cross board game. It all starts twenty years ago. Actually, twenty-two, but who’s counting? Back in Rancho Cucamonga, California, in the AEG offices, Dave Williams and I (and others) were working on the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game. […] - [Wonder Woman](https://thejohnwick.com/wonder-woman/): The first person I fell in love with was Wonder Woman. In 1975, when I saw her first, I was only seven years old. Sitting in the little room where our family set up the TV, watching her on the screen, I fell in love. Now, being only seven, I had no idea what I was feeling or even why I felt it. All I knew was I felt good when I saw her or thought about her. She wasn’t the first superhero I saw—I had already been collecting comics and drawing my own by then—but she was the first […] - [Awards Suck...Until You Win One](https://thejohnwick.com/awards-suck-until-you-win-one/): That picture is me holding the “Golden Geek” award for Best RPG from Boardgamegeek.com. See that look on my face? It’s a look of suspicion. As in, “I don’t trust you.” I have mixed feelings about awards. And as award season begins this year, I find myself thinking a lot about them. I mean, I could write an essay about awards after awards season, but that seems…you know…disingenuous. Best to do it before all the nominations start so I can sabotage my company’s efforts up front rather than seeming to bitch about them afterward. I’ve won a pretty good number […] - [#trekforthefirsttime](https://thejohnwick.com/trekforthefirsttime/): Last week, I got sick. The kind of sick that sits on your chest and won’t let you breathe. The kind of sick that gets into your head and screams until your skull starts to crack. The kind of sick that you have to fight all day long, so by the late afternoon, the only thing you want to do is just lay down. That kind of sick. My doctor tells me I caught a cold. No big deal. But the cold triggered asthma. I said, “Asthma?” She nodded and said, “Asthma.” Well, ain’t that fun? So, I got sick. […] - [D& Acquisition](https://thejohnwick.com/d-and-acquisition/): Game designer John Wick, via his company John Wick Presents, has acquired the rights to the Dungeons & half of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. “The 7th Sea Kickstarter was so successful, we had enough cash to do something important.” While the dragons are still out of reach, Wick is excited for the possibility of taking the dungeons to new heights. “It turns out the dragons are pretty expensive,” Wick said. “But we’ve got some neat things planned for the dungeons part.” Wick announced Dungeons & would be released into the public domain in five years, making the gaming public […] - [Distractions and Mans](https://thejohnwick.com/distractions-and-mans/): So, I’ve tried to write three different blog posts. I’m supposed to do this twice a week, and this time, it just isn’t happening. Why? Well, this little gif pretty much lays out why. Writing is different for everyone—which is why there are so many different writing advice books—but one thing seems to be true among the writers I read and admire. That’s momentum. It’s hard to get started, but once you’ve got momentum, once you’ve been writing for ten-to-twenty minutes straight, you just keep going. You’ve found a rhythm and that rhythm keeps you going. Unless, of course, the […] - [Let It Go](https://thejohnwick.com/let-it-go/): I do a lot of game design seminars and I always meet “The Guy.” He always says the same thing, too. He raises his hand and says, “I’ve been designing a roleplaying game for twenty years now…” I stop him. Right there. I know exactly where this is going and I need to stop it before it gets any further. I say, “In twenty years, I’ve designed almost thirty roleplaying games. You need to crap or get off the pot, pal.” That’s usually when The Guy gets up and walks out. And in twenty years, he’ll still be designing the […] - [We Are the Heroes of the Stories We Tell](https://thejohnwick.com/we-are-the-heroes-of-the-stories-we-tell/): I’m starting my own church. A church of one. This is what I believe. I. I believe in a reality that is very close to our own, a reality that sometimes touches our own, and sometimes even crosses over. This reality has been called many things by many people. It has been called the Astral Plane, the Dreaming, the Tellurian, and Ideaspace. We feed this place with our dreams, our ideas, our inspirations and aspirations. We visit this place when we dream. When our minds are set at the right speed. Shamans used peyote to reach this place. Tibetan monks […] - [THE TOWN: A Twin Peaks-Inspired RPG](https://thejohnwick.com/the-town-a-twin-peaks-inspired-rpg/): THE TOWN Diane, It is 3:50 AM. I just woke from a dream with a sharp pain on my back. When I looked in the bathroom mirror, I saw it was a mole on my back that has grown dangerous large and swollen. But the dream showed me a secret. A secret I must share with the others… It’s true. It is 3:50 (now, 3:53) and I did wake from a dream with a sharp pain on my back. And I do have a mole on my back that is dangerously large and has become painful. And the dream is […] - [Get out and Vote!](https://thejohnwick.com/get-out-and-vote/): Hey everybody! Today in America is election day! And in case you felt like staying at home, I suggest you take a look through history—even fake history like 7th Sea—and remember what Americans fought and died for. Your right to choose our government. I know the choices aren’t the best, but as someone who’s been voting since 1984, I can tell you, they never are. You might even say the choices are worse than they’ve ever been. Yeah, that might be true, but here’s something you should remember: You’re not just voting for President. Here in Arizona, we have a […] - [A Candid Post About Depression](https://thejohnwick.com/a-candid-post-about-depression/): I’m supposed to write a blog post every week. Hannah, my Marketing Director, tells me so. And as I type those words, I have to ask myself, “When the hell did I get a Marketing Director?” And then, I remember… oh, yeah. 7th Sea. However, for the last five days, I’ve been in a deep depression. Like, struggle to get out of bed kinda depression. As in, my brain chemistry is so bad, when I stumbled across the Try Anything video from Zootopia, I started to cry. I didn’t even hit “play.” I just started to cry. Okay. Time to […] - [Evil Thrives on Silence](https://thejohnwick.com/evil-thrives-on-silence/): Just yesterday, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Since hearing the news, his words have been dancing around in my head, demanding attention. I was never a big Dylan fan when I was younger. I didn’t like his voice, felt his guitar playing was… adequate… and put my attention to musicians who were more devoted to playing in strange time signatures. (Yes, I’m a Rush fan.) But as I got older, I started appreciating his work more. Especially his poetry. Describing what makes Dylan’s words so special is not an easy task. The subtlety and nuance, the pure […] - [UnReview: Luke Cage](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-luke-cage/): I just finished watching the first four episodes of Luke Cage and after the first, I came to a realization. I could not write this show. The other two Marvel shows, I could have taken a swing at. I could write about Daredevil, I could have written about Jessica Jones. Whether or not the shows would have increased or decreased in quality isn’t the issue. I could have taken a swing at those shows and written with some skill. I watched the first fifty minutes of Luke Cage and knew I wouldn’t have stood a chance at making something this […] - [My Wonder Woman](https://thejohnwick.com/my-wonder-woman/): EXT. DAY – TWO DAYS AFTER DIANA’S FIRST APPEARANCE AS WW IN NY PANEL ONE JESSIE WILKINS, a professional ambush reporter, approaches DIANA after she stops a bank robbery. He rushes up, putting the microphone directly in her face. DIANA looks confused. WILKINS Wonder Woman! Can you answer a few questions for me! Why are you dressed this way? Do you think it’s a good example for young girls? DIANA Excuse me? PANEL TWO WILKINS pushes closer, pressing on the advantage of confusion. WILKINS Do you think you’re a good example for young girls running around dressed in your underwear? […] - [UnReview: Suicide Squad](https://thejohnwick.com/unreview-suicide-squad/): A desperate plea to all screenwriters. Please stop trying to destroy the Earth. Or, if you’re gonna do it, have some guts and actually do it. I have a notion for a Star Trek campaign for my friends. They’re Federation cops on the fringe of Federation space handling smugglers, renegade Klingon captains and other miscreants. Their ship is small (a command crew of five with a squad of marines) but heavily armored and armed. Yes, they try to use diplomacy, but their job sometimes calls for a little firepower. They stumble on a shapeshifter plot to destroy Earth and cripple the Federation. […] - [BATMAN v (supersomeguymaybe) PLUS WONDER OMG WOMAN](https://thejohnwick.com/batman-v-supersomeguymaybe-plus-wonder-omg-woman/): Before I begin, I feel the need to reintroduce my concept of an “unreview.” I write reviews using e-prime, a linguistical tool that excludes all uses of the verb “to be.” In other words, I can’t say “the movie is bad” or “the plot is confusing” or anything like that. I put this limitation on myself because I feel most reviewers would be out of a job if they couldn’t utilize that language. Instead of telling you whether or not the movie is good or bad, I just talk about my own reactions to it. My own highly subjective reactions that you evaluate on your […] - [Rulings, Not Rules](https://thejohnwick.com/rulings-not-rules/): (from the forthcoming 7th Sea: Second Edition Game Master chapter) People always ask me how I feel about hearing GMs change the rules of games I’ve published. I always say the same thing: “Great! I’d love to see what they came up with.” That answer tends to confuse people, so then I often have to explain that I see RPGs as a kind of oral tradition. You can go to different cities, sit down at different game tables and play different versions of 7th Sea. To me, that’s exciting. And it was hard for me to explain why… until recently. A few […] - [7th Sea Quickstart FAQ v2](https://thejohnwick.com/7th-sea-quickstart-faq-v2/): After consulting with Mike Curry, here are answers to your questions. Can you please clarify how Wounds now work as a Consequence? The explanation seems clear in the rules, and the adventure Risk box seems to have been adjusted to reflect Wounds as a group consequence, but then the walk through of how the risk works immediately after is confusing because it references the Hero taking two wounds if they haven’t spent raises. The walkthrough is an artifact of the earlier version of the Quick Start. Use the explanation in the rules portion. Also, under taking wounds for another hero, […] - [7th Sea Quickstart v2 FAQ](https://thejohnwick.com/7th-sea-quickstart-v2-faq/): Hey folks! This is the place to ask questions about the new Quickstart. I’ll try to answer as many questions as I can. Post them below. - [7th Sea 2nd Edition Quickstart FAQ](https://thejohnwick.com/7th-sea-2nd-edition-quickstart-faq/): Here are the biggest questions. We’ll be adding/updating/editing them as we go. If you have a question we didn’t address, just add it as a comment! Who goes first in Contested Risks? Whoever has the most Raises spends the first Raise. By the way, we are re-designing contested risks in a big way. You should see something soon. What if a player/GM uses a rule to be a jerk? Sorry, I can’t fix that, and honestly, that’s the GM’s job. She maintains the order at the table. To quote our friend Jesse Heinig, “Best you can do is encourage desired […] - [The Best Adventure of All Times](https://thejohnwick.com/the-best-adventure-of-all-times/): (Be sure to read the counterpoint piece: The Worst Adventure of All Times)   When I do game design seminars—where I actually take time to listen to you talk about your game, give you advice, challenge your assumptions, etc.—there’s one question I ask that usually knocks people off their feet. “Can characters die in your game?” Usually, the answer I get—after a stunned silence—is, “Yes. Of course.” I follow that up with, “Why?” Standard answer: “Because if characters can’t die, there’s no real danger.” That’s when I laugh. Because, like some other GMs out there, I know a deep, dark, nasty […] - [The Worst Adventure of All Times](https://thejohnwick.com/the-worst-adventure-of-all-times/): (Be sure to read the counterpart piece: The Best Adventure of All Times) This, right here, is a symbol. A personal symbol of mine. It represents all the wrong, backward thinking that people have about being a GM. I first encountered it in the early ’80’s when I was a player and not a GM. I didn’t have the actual adventure, rather, I heard about it from someone else. “Have you heard about the Tomb of Horrors?” they asked me. I shook my head. “No.” “It’s supposed to be the deadliest dungeon ever made!” Now, at the time, that sounded impressive to me. The deadliest […] - [Chino Bandito](https://thejohnwick.com/chino-bandito/): I’m here at this wonderful dive called Chino Bandito. It’s a combination Mexican/Chinese restaurant. Yeah, I know that sound completely insane, but it’s also fuckin’ delicious! My meal (pictured below) is the highly spicy pulled chicken and another chicken I can’t remember right now. The black beans have a hint of mint and the rice is your standard Chinese variety. Hot damn, this is great! Posted via LiveJournal.app. - [](https://thejohnwick.com/2970-2/) - [(Once Again) Roger Ebert Can (tentatively) Suck My Cock](https://thejohnwick.com/once-again-roger-ebert-can-tentatively-suck-my-cock/): I say "tentative" because I may be making an unfair assumption. However, in his review of "Role Models," he says,"Danny gets Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), whose life is entirely absorbed in a medieval fantasy game where bizarrely costumed "armies" do battle in parks with fake swords. There are mostly younger teenagers and lonely men with mountain-man beards. Sort of a combination of Dungeons and Dragons and pederasty." Ahem. Mr. Ebert, while I am a LARPer, I am not a pederast. Nor are my friends who participate in "boffer LARPs." Now, to be fair, the movie may portray LARPers as pederasts and he’s […] - [Play Dirty: Sylvie Hates the Bye-Bye Box](https://thejohnwick.com/play-dirty-sylvie-hates-the-bye-bye-box/): Chris, if your daughter is around when you watch this, make sure to send her out of the room. - [Melissa Etheridge Has a Great Idea...](https://thejohnwick.com/melissa-etheridge-has-a-great-idea/): … she’s not paying her state taxes anymore. - [Japanese researchers make brain tissues from stem cells](https://thejohnwick.com/japanese-researchers-make-brain-tissues-from-stem-cells/): Holy shit."A handout released from Japan’s natural science research center Riken shows a functional human brain tissue made from stem cells at their laboratory in Kobe. Japanese researchers said they had created functioning human brain tissues from stem cells, a world first that has raised new hopes for the treatment of disease." This is why we have to ditch the superstitions of the Bronze Age.This is why anyone who wants to throw their Bible into the science room should be considered for the nuthouse.This is why the Republicans have to get rid of their neo-con usurpers. This is why.We are […] - [November 5](https://thejohnwick.com/november-5/): Remember, remember, the 5th of NovemberThe Gunpowder Treason and plot ;I know of no reason why Gunpowder TreasonShould ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,‘Twas his intent.To blow up the King and the Parliament.Three score barrels of powder below.Poor old England to overthrow.By God’s providence he was catch’d,With a dark lantern and burning match Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ringHolloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King! Hip hip Hoorah !Hip hip Hoorah ! A penny loaf to feed ol’Pope,A farthing cheese to choke him.A pint of beer to rinse it down,A faggot of sticks to burn him.Burn him in a […] - [This Isn't Going to be Popular](https://thejohnwick.com/this-isnt-going-to-be-popular/): We still need vigilance. We still need watchfulness. We still need skepticism. We still need vigilance. Obama is a break from the last eight years. That is true. But the House and the Senate are still filled with the same people who voted for the Patriot Act. Still filled with people who voted to allow the President to go to war. Still filled with the people who voted to nationalize the banking industry. Still filled with liars, cheats, and scoundrels. Proposition 102 passed and it looks like Prop 8 will pass as well. Religious bigotry is now law and part […] - [Gobi Says It Best](https://thejohnwick.com/gobi-says-it-best/): Up, Up, Down, Down, A, A, B, B, Start! - [WARNING: Obama, McCain Missing from Some Ohio Ballots](https://thejohnwick.com/warning-obama-mccain-missing-from-some-ohio-ballots/): (from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch) The lines this morning for Precinct B were a little longer than for Precinct A at the Pleasant Township Hall in Knox County. One of the precinct’s three touch-screen voting machines was out of order for a time because it would only cast ballots for independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader. "You can use it if you want to vote for him," a poll worker said. There were no takers. A board of elections worker reset the machine and it was back in service just before 9:30 a.m. - [WARNING: Philadelphia Machines Changing Obama (not McCain) Votes](https://thejohnwick.com/warning-philadelphia-machines-changing-obama-not-mccain-votes/): (from the daily kos) "If you are in Philadelphia, PA and you click the box for Obama, and then click straight Democratic ticket, it will cancel out your vote for Obama. No one is quite sure why, but it’s happening . I just talked to the Obama campaign , and they are urging folks either to just vote straight Democratic ticket , or to choose each candidate individually- but not both. Please Digg and spread this piece of information to anyone widely. My understanding is there are Obama folks in Philly trying to work through this problem, but please let […] - [It's Called a Spell Checker](https://thejohnwick.com/its-called-a-spell-checker/): If you can’t even bother to spell check your ads, asshole, maybe you won’t bother checking anything else.Like intelligence reports. Asshole. - [Double Plus Good](https://thejohnwick.com/double-plus-good/): (thanks to  chadu ) And oldiegoodie with a bonus. - [EPIC CHRISTIAN FAIL](https://thejohnwick.com/epic-christian-fail/): Christians gathered at Wall Street to pray for help in the financial crisis. They laid hands on the bull and prayed for help. They laid hands on the bull and prayed for help. They laid hands on the bull and prayed for help. Jesus fucking god. Would these people please READ THEIR OWN FUCKING BOOK?!?!?!?!?!?  - [Defining Marriage](https://thejohnwick.com/defining-marriage/): Non-gaming. All politics. You’ve been warned. - [The Future of America](https://thejohnwick.com/the-future-of-america/): The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday, October 24, 2008 Some students burst into tears when a high school biology told them they’d be studying evolution. Another teacher said some students repeatedly screamed “no” when he began talking about it. Other teachers said students demanded to know whether they pray and questioned why they had to learn about evolution if it was just a theory. - [Sometimes, you just need to think about happy trees](https://thejohnwick.com/sometimes-you-just-need-to-think-about-happy-trees/): Discordia bless you, Bob Ross. - [Bad News, Good News, Bad News](https://thejohnwick.com/bad-news-good-news-bad-news/): Bad NewsMy cpu’s hard drive died. I backed up most of the stuff I had on it, but not enough. I’ve lost a lot of data. It’ll cost about 300 bucks for a restore, but I really don’t have much choice. C’est la vie. Good NewsI’m writing a series of articles for a magazine (unnamed at the moment) called "Wicked Fantasy." It’s me taking a look at the classic D&D races, providing my own versions. The John Wick elf. The John Wick dwarf. The John Wick halfling. No, it isn’t Halflingworld. Should be fun. When I get a contract from the […] - [Play Dirty: The Magician](https://thejohnwick.com/play-dirty-the-magician/): A bit of nonsense. A segue. An aside. Not particularly useful. More poetry than polemic. Enjoy, nonetheless. - [The Magnificent 600 Fell...](https://thejohnwick.com/the-magnificent-600-fell/): October 25, 1854. Half a league, half a league,Half a league onward,All in the valley of DeathRode the six hundred."Forward the Light Brigade!Charge for the guns!" he said.Into the valley of DeathRode the six hundred. (and the best fuckin’ Maiden song evaaaar.) - [Christianity Lite](https://thejohnwick.com/christianity-lite/) - [Mitchell and Webb: Henchmen](https://thejohnwick.com/mitchell-and-webb-henchmen/): On suggestion from  wunderworks , I went looking for the two chaps in the British Mac vs PC ads. They’re Mitchell and Webb, and as it turns out, they’re a riot. The whole scene reminded me of playing in a Vampire LARP. I was laughing so hard, I started coughing. - [& Teller 2](https://thejohnwick.com/teller-2/): A sequel to the "& Teller" zombie short by the less talkative half of Penn & Teller. Penn says they’re gonna do a "& Teller 3." I can’t wait. - [(Agreeing with Savageplanet) Pure Awesome](https://thejohnwick.com/agreeing-with-savageplanet-pure-awesome/) - [Houses of the Blooded Design Blog: Slumming, Part 2](https://thejohnwick.com/houses-of-the-blooded-design-blog-slumming-part-2/) - [Houses of the Blooded Design Blog: Slumming, Part 1](https://thejohnwick.com/houses-of-the-blooded-design-blog-slumming-part-1/) - [Mac vs PC, America vs Britain](https://thejohnwick.com/mac-vs-pc-america-vs-britain/): I didn’t know this, but there’s a British version of the Mac vs PC commercials. Here are two for comparison. - [Selective Memory](https://thejohnwick.com/selective-memory/): ScienceDaily (Oct. 23, 2008) — Targeted memory erasure is no longer limited to the realm of science fiction. A new study describes a method through which a selected set of memories can be rapidly and specifically erased from the mouse brain in a controlled and inducible manner. New and old memories have been selectively and safely removed from mice by scientists. - [The Real America](https://thejohnwick.com/the-real-america/): Go on and keep believing that people like Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell and Sarah Palin are extremists who fall far outside the mainstream. Go on and keep believing that. - [Dan Akroyd's Crystal Head Vodka](https://thejohnwick.com/dan-akroyds-crystal-head-vodka/): Elwood Blues.Raymond Stantz.The House of Blues. Could Dan Akroyd be cooler? Yes. Check out his Crystal Head Vodka (the video is worth the price of admission alone). - [The Room](https://thejohnwick.com/the-room/): The kind and creepy folks over at Flames Rising asked me to write up something scaaaaryyyy for Halloween. They’re doing a whole series of creepy crawley monsters/horrors/things, written by professionals from all over the industry. I gave them The Room. Go check it out. And tell ’em who sent you. ## Pages - [Blog](https://thejohnwick.com/blog/): Game Design Insights About John Wick John Wick is an acclaimed game designer known for immersive role-playing games like Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea. Explore his latest projects. [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)