Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil, Movie Review

Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil is a wonderful movie based on Basque folklore. The general story can be found in other cultures as well, and the representation does justice to the tale. However, The Blacksmith and the Devil pays a greater homage to the version the writer/director, Paul Urkijo Alijo grew up with in the Basque region of Spain.

I saw a screening of Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil at the 2018 FilmQuest Film Festival (website). You can also find additional information about Errementari on Internet Movie Database (IMDb link).

Plot Summary

Before the story begins, the introduction to Errementari gives a very brief overview of the tale. Do you believe in Hell? And, there was a blacksmith who the Devil considered so evil that he tried to close the gates of Hell to keep him out.

In the first half of the 19^th century, at the end of the First Carlist War (Wikipedia page) is when the story begins. Soldiers who are trying to return home are being lined up for execution. One survives; the reason is because of the help from a demon.

Jump forward eight years.

The blacksmith, Patxi, (played by Kandido Uranga (IMDb link)) lives a short distance away from town. The people think he is an evil man who captures children and should be left alone. That’s until a government agent comes to find the blacksmith because it is believed he has a stash of gold that went missing at the end of the war. Those who hear about this are easily persuaded to find the man.

But young Usue (Uma Bracaglia (IMDb link)) has also stumbled across the path of Patxi and his forbidding smithy. She finds a boy in a cage and helps free him. Then she finds out the boy is actually the demon Sartael (Eneko Sagardoy (IMDb link)) who came to collect Patxi’s soul and was caught by the blacksmith.

There are a number of twists and turns in the story.  There are fights that takes place between demons, the blacksmith, and the townsfolk. Eventually, Usue bargains her soul to save the blacksmith, who in turn, goes to Hell to save the girl.

Sartael

FilmQuest Cthulhu Awards

Errementari was honored with 12 nominations and won 5 categories.

The 5 winning categories were

Best Feature Film

Best Director—Paul Urkijo Alijo (IMDb link)

Best Supporting Actor – Eneko Sagardoy (IMDb link)

Best Costumes—Nerea Torrijos (IMDb link)

Best Makeup

Errementari was also nominated for

Best Screenplay – Paul Arkijo Alijo and Asier Guirricaechevarria (IMDb link)

Best Ensemble Cast

Best Cinematography – Gorka Gomez Andreu (IMDb link)

Best Sound

Best Score Pascal Gaigne (composer) (IMDb link)

Best Production Design

Best Visual Effects

Usue at the gate of the smithy

Overall

This was an enjoyable film. This telling is a wonderful modern rendition in the classic folktale tradition. It doesn’t tell the story as it is recorded in times past because it is such an old and broadly told tale (Curiosity.com). If you have heard the story of the Smith and the Devil, this is another variant.

Alijo respects his story by keeping it wrapped around the Basque culture and other folktales from the region. The movie was filmed in Basque country and in the Basque language that was fitting for the timeframe of when the story takes place. Along with using the language, the actions are fitting to the time period.

Some of the liberties taken with the story add humor that made the entire audience laugh. You might not realize how funny chick peas (garbanzo beans) are until you see the film. There are also well placed lines and actions that provide humorous breaks from the building tension.

The actors embody their characters and give the audience people to care about. I found myself rooting for the demon Sartael along with Usue and Paxti by the end. The interaction between the main characters carries through the entire cast. Even though it did not receive the award for best ensemble cast, I think Errementari was in a tight race with the movie that won the category.

Although Errementariis currently only on the festival circuit, I would be surprised if it doesn’t get distribution. It probably won’t make the major theaters because it is recorded in the Basque language and is based on a folktale. But, I highly recommend this as a movie worth seeing wherever you get the chance.

And, with the detail given to this production, I believe we will be seeing more from this director.

I give Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil 4 ½ out of 5.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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Patxi

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Rock Steady Row, Movie Review

In the not so distant future in a slightly altered reality the students at Rock Steady University have an issue with the last two remaining fraternities and their monopoly on bikes. The premise might sound a little odd, because it’s supposed to. Rock Steady Row is a parody that adds a sharp edge of outlandish humor to make its point about current social issues.

I saw a screening of Rock Steady Row at the 2018 FilmQuest Film Festival (website). You can also find additional information about Rock Steady Row on Internet Movie Database (IMDb link).

Plot Summary

The future is a dark place for college students. Tuition rates have continued to rise and the university system has taken advantage of the situation to their benefit. Rock Steady University is one such place.

Rock Steady is rundown and caters to generating money for the college without care for the students. This has led to the campus being controlled by the two remaining Greek houses, fraternities, in a gangland scenario.

Leroy, a freshman, on his first day on campus has his bike stolen. (This is a drastic situation because never in the movie is a car seen, or even hinted at.) The bike is stolen by one of the two remaining fraternities and the college administration is unwilling to do anything to help Leroy.

 

Leroy learns the frat houses both operate a theft ring that steals bikes and then sells them back to the students, with a cut going to the dean. It is up to Leroy to recover his bike. And, in turn, bring down the corrupt system.

This leads to having to deal with the heads of the two houses, Andrew Palmer and Augustus Washington III, and their cronies. But he has the help of Piper, the writer/editor of the campus newspaper—she knows the truth and nobody believes her.

Cast

The characters in Rock Steady Row are over-the-top archetypes from college movies. There are strong performances throughout and the interplay makes this a fun film. At FilmQuest Rock Steady Row was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast.

Singular performances were also nominated, and those who were not acknowledged with a nomination portrayed their characters with such flare they give the scenes humor and vitality. Here are the main characters.

The hero, Leroy, is played by Heston Horwin (IMDb link) and was nominated for Best Actor. The naive freshman who doesn’t understand the rules of the game everyone else is playing by. Therefore, he takes on the system to right the wrongs forced on the students and controlled by the frat leaders.

Andrew Palmer is the leader and original thief of Leroy’s bike. Andrew is played by Logan Huffman (IMDb link) and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He is the gang leader who carries sharpened number two pencils in a wristband that he can throw with deadly precision. The knife sound effects associated with his pencils made me chuckle during the film.

 

On the other side, Augustus Washington III is played by Isaac Alisma (IMDb link). Instead of pencils Augustus uses a needle hidden in his glasses.

Diamond White (IMDb link) plays Piper and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Here is the reporter who still uses a manual typewriter and a camera loaded with film.

FilmQuest Cthulhu Awards

Rock Steady Rowreceived 10 nominations at FilmQuest. Along with those listed with the cast above the movie had the following areas of noted quality.

Best Director – Trevor Stevens (IMDb link)

Best Screenplay – Bomani Story (IMDb link)

Best Supporting Actress – Diamond White (IMDb link)

Best Cinematography Nico Aguilar (IMDb link)

Best Editing Jordan Kevin Allen (IMDb link)

Best Score Joshua Mosley (IMDb link)

Best Visual Effects Jordan Kevin Allen (IMDb link)

 

Overall

Rock Steady Row is for a select audience that is looking for a unique movie that has social commentary that can demonstrate issues in a humorous way. Don’t take this movie seriously for the story on its own, it goes with the satire.

I enjoyed Rock Steady Row. The mirror it turns back on the events happening in our world provide one of those “What could be the worst thing to happen if...” scenarios.

Like other satirical movies of this ilk, I see Rock Steady Row becoming an underground classic shared in small theaters on campuses across the country.

I give Rock Steady Row3 ½ out of 5.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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The Appearance, Movie Review

The Inquisition and the black plague was a period of time that is open to storytelling of many different strains. In The Appearance we are treated to a tale of an inquisitor who believes strongly in the scientific method. He is brought to an out of the way abbey and the small town that supports it to determine if a woman is truly a witch.

The Appearance is a thriller/adventure movie with a touch of horror. There are elements to make you jump, but without gore. There is a scene near the end of the movie that implies a sexual situation. The Appearanceis not rated, but I would say it would be a PG-13.

I saw a screening of The Appearance at the 2018 FilmQuest Film Festival (website). You can also find additional information about The Appearance on Internet Movie Database (IMDb link).

Plot Summary

Early on, after we meet the inquisitor, Mateho, we know the abbey he is going to is someplace he has been before. Someplace long ago. He doesn’t have kind memories of the abbey, yet he is going because it is his duty and his own personal calling. He is a man of science and is determined to prove the women accused of being a witch is not.

There are a series of incidents after the inquisitor’s arrival that the abbot, Scipio, and others quickly explain are due to the witch they have in the dungeon. Mateho uses his knowledge in the sciences to show that each is due to natural events. However, the events continue.

Eventually Mateho has to accept the reality of the situation and deal with what is truly the reason behind the events, and the accusation of witchery. It isn’t until he is willing to face the facts of the abbey, past and present, that he is bring the accusation, and the case, to a close.

Cast

Most of the actors listed in The Appearance also have parts in the recent television program The Outpost. One notable exception is the part of Johnny, who is played by Kristian Nairn (IMDb link). He is more widely known for his role of Hodor in Game of Thrones. Kristian Nairn was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. He does a wonderful job in the role of the sidekick/guard/confidant of the inquisitor.

Mateho and Johnny

The inquisitor, Mateho, is played by Jake Stormoen (IMDb link). He has also been a part of the Mythica movies. Jake Stormoen was nominated for Best Actor. His portrayal of the inquisitor sets up from the beginning that he is haunted by his own demons.

One of the monks, Felix, played by Adam Johnson (IMDb link), summoned an inquisitor because of the events at the abbey. Here again, the role is well portrayed as the reasoning, faithful counterpoint to the abbot.

Michael Flynn (IMDb link) plays the abbot, Scipio. I liked how Flynn brought the abbot to life on the screen with his own internal conflicts and justifications. Here is a character who is struggling with what has happened and working to maintain control and loyalty. He presented a man who believes he is doing the right things and works to justify his actions the best way he knows how.

Isabel is the accused and is played by Baylee Self (IMDb link). Her ability to use facial expression in the film adds a lot to the story telling and who the character is, even though hers is a small part.

Together these actors were nominated for Best Ensemble Cast. The interaction between the characters was great. The story is stronger because of how these actors brought their roles into the fold of the overarching story of the movie.

The cast was directed by Kurt Knight (IMDb link) who also wrote The Appearance.

FilmQuest Cthulhu Awards

The Appearance was nominated for nine awards. Along with the three awards listed with the cast the movie was nominated in the following categories.

Best Cinematography: Benjamin Allred

Isabel

Best Sound (Winner)

Best Score (Winner)

Best Production Design

Best Costumes

Best Makeup

Overall

The Appearance was a fun movie to watch. The horror aspect of the movie were in line to the thriller setting. There were points of surprise (horror) to make you jump, but no gore was shown on screen. There is a scene near the end that has implied sexual content. Although there is some foreshadowing on how the movie will end, the use of reoccurring symbols and a slight twist tied up the story nicely.

The visuals and music throughout the movie brought me into the story. Its great settings and look of the characters provided a touch of fantasy with the expected historical aspects. The score complimented without overtaking the storytelling.

Kurt Knight, director and writer, has mentioned that this might just be the beginning of the adventures that Mateho faces.

I give The Appearance 3 out of 5.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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World of Darkness: The Documentary, Movie Review

Roleplaying games have been around for a very long time. Formalized games have been with us for about 50 years. Then, in the early 1990s a game was introduced that caused a change. Not just a change in the roleplaying game industry, or even the game industry, but a change that rippled out and affected many areas of current society. Vampire: The Masquerade introduced us to a dark side, embracing the concepts of being a creature of the dark instead of hunting it.

World of Darkness: The Documentary is an exploration of the phenomenon that came from White Wolf Publishing. It starts back at the roots of White Wolf and brings their story forth to the present day, covering over 30 years.

World of Darkness doesn’t just cover what happened with White Wolf.

It looks at what it meant to be a player in the early days when roleplaying games were just gaining a place on the fringe of society. It brought back memories for me, of being in high school and waiting for the Dungeon and Dragons books to be published. It describes how it influenced the Wieck brothers.

World of Darkness explores how Vampire influenced the roleplaying game industry and influenced other games. The rise of the narrative and movie further away from the heroic fantasy setting that the hobby was known for at the time. How, with the rise of Vampire, more women became a part of the roleplaying community.

It further explores beyond the gaming industry. The influences of Vampire are shown to influence the course of pop culture through the movies that have been influenced or come directly from the World of Darkness created by White Wolf. Modern classic horror films that include the Underworld and Blade franchises. Even popular television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is more to the story besides the influences on the media culture. Profiles of the live action events and the players who attend are sprinkled throughout the movie. The game has influenced many lives and continues to be a part of what many do for regular entertainment.

There have been troubles along the way for White Wolf and the documentary covers some of that and even has commentary from the founder of the fan club who ended up in court with the company of the game they love. It explores the attempt to become an online gaming presence and the hardships faced as the company had to change directions as entertainment modes changed.

Overall

When I look at a documentary, the most important part is the presentation of the information. World of Darkness: The Documentary was a fair and informational presentation of widely known facts and additional information. It is a celebration of the game and the movement it embraced and helped grow. But, it’s not a fan flick. It doesn’t show the company as being perfect, but has a more holistic approach.

The production work of the movie is good. There is the balance of information. And, there is the presentation of the people who are the fans: the misunderstood counterculture.

I enjoyed the documentary. It gave me a broader understanding about a hobby I enjoy and the society I live in.

For fans of Vampire and Werewolf, this is a documentary that can be deeply appreciated.

For fans of roleplaying games, this is a movie that will give you a better understanding of what is happening in your hobby and how it has changed, and how it is still changing, from the influences White Wolf introduced.

For fans of the World of Darkness setting, or the pop culture surrounding it, this might not be where it started, but this is where the first major explosion took place.

I give World of Darkness: The Documentary 3 ½ out of 5 for general viewing and 4 out of five for those who are already familiar with the subject matter.

World of Darkness is releasing September 18, 2018 on multiple platforms, including Amazon (link).

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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Alive. (2018), Movie Review

Alive. is a mystery in a horror setting, even though it is listed as a horror thriller. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail about the plot; it would be easy enough to give up the mystery. I’ll give you a jump on the mystery and other information about the movie.

I saw a screening of Alive.at the 2018 FilmQuest Film Festival (website).

Plot Summary

A man and a woman wake up in an abandoned building. It looks like it was possibly a medical facility of some sort. They have no memory of who they are and how they got there. They are unable to leave, or even see what is beyond the walls of the building.

They have a caretaker who is helping in their recovery. A man who is making sure that while they are getting better they are unable to leave.

I really want to say more about the plot of Alive., but it would spoil the fun.

(Small spoiler) The only fault I give to the story is how the leads don’t solve their own mystery. They are given the information by others which, however, sets the movie up to be a classic tragedy where the characters get what they want and not what they need.

Thomas Cocquerel and Camille Stopps

Cast

The male patient is played by Thomas Cocquerel (IMDb page). He is known recently for his role in Table 19, which is a very different role than what he has in Alive.. Camille Stopps (IMDb page) plays the female patient opposite of him. She is known for her work in television series including Guilt Free Zone. Their caretaker, listed as “The Man,” is Angus Macfadyen (IMDb page). Macfadyen has a long string of credits which include Robert the Bruce in Braveheart and Jeff in Saw III and Saw IV.

The actors are great in their roles. They took on their characters and brought them to life  throughout the movie. The interaction between them was disturbingly moving as they learned more about each other.

I was rooting for the characters to solve their mystery to see how they would react to the situation.

FilmQuest Cthulhu Awards

Alive. was nominated for six awards.

It was in the running for top honor of Best Feature Film.

Camille Stopps was nominated for Best Actress—Feature.

Angus Macfadyen was nominated for Best Supporting Actor—Feature.

Rob Grant (IMDb page) was nominated for Best Director—Feature.

Alive. was also in the running for Best Makeup—Feature.

The screenplay, written by Chuck McCue (IMDb page) and Jules Vincent (IMDb page) was nominated and recognized as the Best Screenplay—Feature.

Angus Macfadyen

Overall

Alive. is a well written mystery worthy of your time. If you are expecting a thriller, you will probably think that the movie moves slower than it should. However, those are the scenes where McCue and Vincent are subtly setting out the clues (and red herrings) to the mystery they have crafted.

I promised a clue to the mystery earlier and it has probably been annoying some you from the beginning of this article. The title is Alive.. Alive with a period. The additional punctuation and lack of capitalization after the period has been purposeful, just like in the title. So, say the title as “Alive Period” and think about how that sounds.

I give Alive. 4 out of 5.

This movie is worth seeing on any size screen if you get a chance to see it on. I know as others figure out the mystery they are going to want to share it.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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FilmQuest 2018 Wrap Up

The FilmQuest Film Festival is an indication that genre movies are on the rise. This year was another nine days of great films, features and shorts. I was able to see 114 out 195 of the entries that made the cut. I’m not sure of the numbers, but from past experience this is about 1 in 10 entries made it to through to be shown. From the quality of what I saw, I’m sure many films not making the cut are worthy of watching.

This was FilmQuest’s fifth year and the entries cover a grand array of genre film making. There was plenty of horror, science fiction, fantasy, comedy, adventure, and even a modern day western. For people who enjoy genre films, FilmQuest fits the bill.

Oscar Winner Joel Harlow

Along with film, there were great presentations throughout the week about film, and the industry. There were workshops on crowd funding, bringing together screenwriters and filmmakers, and a film analysis. Panels included the creators of The Outpost (currently on The CW), and discussions on first films and favorite horror movies. Special guest Mick Strawn provided his insights on production design. And there was a live demonstration by Joel Harlow.

I am looking forward to the reviews I will write for the features. I know some of these films either already have distribution or there are rumors of work for distribution, and they deserve it. Entries from around the world made it to the big screen at FilmQuest. Features included films from the United States, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and China.

Before

The selection of short films and music videos were amazing. Blocks of films covered common ground in many cases. But, even then, every one of them was an enjoyable, unique selection. It was easy to tell that a number of these films were done as proof of concept to get larger funding for producing a feature. There is clear indication the genre film industry is in good hands and we all have some great movies to look forward to.

Alternative media is not forgotten at Filmquest. Web series were well represented with great shows. Another direction where new and exciting stories are in-store for purveyors of genre film making.

I’m not going to list all the award winners here, they will be on the FilmQuest website. I will also include the awards won by the films in the reviews that are forthcoming. But here are the highlights.

After

Short Films

Best Comedy: Lunch Ladies

Best Fantasy: Ovum

Best Horror: C L A W

Best Science Fiction: Laboratory Conditions

Best Screenplay: Heartless

The Coveted Cthulhu Awards

Features

Best Film: The Blacksmith and the Devil

Best Screenplay: Alive.

The full list of award winners is at FilmQuest (website).

I know it sounds cliché to say that every film that showed at FilmQuest is a winner. It is a true statement. The films screened this year were great. I hated missing any of the films after seeing what the lineup included. As any of these come around to the theaters near me, I will be sure to get friends and family out to see the incredible work these filmmakers achieved.

The festival finished last night and I’ve got the next year’s dates on my calendar and am looking forward to the 2019 event.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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Preparing for FilmQuest 2018

I mentioned today I was going to a film festival starting tomorrow and I had someone ask, “What film festival?” The only one they could think of here in Utah is Sundance.

I’ll give Sundance its due that it does well and is internationally recognized, but it is not the only film festival in Utah with those credentials.

FilmQuest (website) is a film festival for science-fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Last year was the first year I attended and I was impressed. In just over a week I watched a lot of movies. They were from short films, presented in blocks, and feature films. Over the year some have made it to theatrical release and awards around the world.

It was an enjoyable time.

Here is a quick list of the reviews I wrote last year with links to the articles.

Dead Shack (link) horror

The Gateway (link) sci-fi/horror

Curvature (link) sci-fi

Dead Leaves (link) sci-fi (post-apocalyptic)

The Secret Garden (link) steampunk

Gnaw (link) horror

Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse (link) comedy sci-fi

Muse (link) horror                                                                   

Flora (link) historical sci-fi/horror

Please, let me know if you enjoy any of these. This year’s reviews will be coming soon.

Thanks,

Dan

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Tower of Madness by Curt Covert, Game Review

The townspeople say it is just another haunted house you and your fellow investigators are approaching. But you know the Elder Gods are stirring. You are one of the few who understand what is happening, and what is ultimately at stake. You enter looking for clues to solve the riddle of this house and how it ties into the greater horror. The things you have seen have already touched your mind, and there are times when you’re not sure what you are seeing is real anymore.

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Tower of Madness, by Curt Covert is a semi-cooperative game based on the Cthulhu mythos. As with other games designed by Curt Covert, there is the possibility of one of the players being or becoming a traitor who works for the demise of the rest of the group, and in this case the rest of the sane world.

I had the opportunity of playing a four person game of Tower of Madness at SaltCon End of Summer Event (website and Facebookpage) 2018.

Setting

Arkham is the easiest way to describe the setting you’re in. This is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s creations of Cthulhu and the rest of the Elder Gods. The look is for the early 1900s. This provides the theme of the game, but you don’t have to worry about getting into the actual horror aspects presented by Lovecraft’s works.

Mechanics

Tower of Madness has several levels of play that players work through.

Investigators search through a series of settings attempting to solve the mystery associated with it. This is done by a random series for the game, and a game doesn’t include all of them. To solve the investigation a variation of the dice game Ship, captain, crew (Wikipedia explanation) is used. If the investigation is successful, then play passes. If more than one investigator is successful, then the high score collects the location for points. If an investor fails, that player pulls a horror.

When a player is unsuccessful in solving the investigation, they pull a horror from the tower. The tower is hollow and the horrors are long “pins” pushed through the tower holding up marbles. This is where the game received a quick nickname of Cthulhu Ker Plunk (here’s a link about Ker Plunk). Unlike Ker Plunk you can’t see the marbles inside the tower. The marbles are different colors representing different affects for the player.

There are four different colors of marbles. One is worth victory points, another grants spell cards to be drawn, the third drives the player’s character insane, and the final one works as a countdown for the unleashing of Cthulhu. The players win if all of the locations are investigated and the three green countdown marbles haven’t all been released. Scores are tallied for the highest score.

However, this is a game from Smirk and Dagger. And, Covert likes to add a traitor aspect.

In Tower of Horror, a traitor is a player whose character goes insane. They are now working to release the Elder God and bring insanity to the world. If they can get the green marbles to drop, they win. If the locations are completely investigated, they automatically lose.

Art

Multiple artists are given credit on Tower of Madness. All of it works together to maintain the Eldritch them. It is age appropriate.

Overall

Tower of Madness is designed to be a lighthearted game based in a horror setting without the horror.

I played a five person game. It was light and we had fun. This doesn’t require developing strategy. You roll the dice, determine the outcome, then, if you have to, you pull a horror. In our case we were moving right along and nearing the end of investigations, one of us went mad. He used his spell cards as soon as another person had to pull a horror and won the game.

The spell cards had their own twist. Each card had two spells, one for when the character is sane, and the other for when the character is insane.

For the fans of the style of play of earlier games from Smirk and Dagger, Tower of Madness will fit right into your game shelf.

Tower of Madness is designed by Curt Covert and distributed by Smirk and Dagger (web page). It is designed for 3–5 players of ages 10+ for 40–60 minutes.

Tower of Madness is available from Amazon (link).

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You follow behind the Reginald as he makes his way through the darkness. His flashlight shows a narrow path down the hall when you hear a giggle coming from in front of you. You don’t see anything unusual until Reginald turns to face the group.

His giggling continues and his shoulders shake. You reach out to shake him back to reality when he smiles and his right eye rolls in his socket while his left one focuses on you.

“Reginald what have you done?”

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

You can also join Guild Master Gaming on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter(@GuildMstrGmng).

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Crystal Queen by John M. Olsen, Book Review

The Kingdom of Riland survived the first thrusts of war against it. The King of the Graven Kingdom and Baron Stoutheart of their own kingdom failed in their attempt to take over and left Riland hard pressed for what may come. Gavin, the Baron’s son, did what he had to do to save his people, which meant breaking the Accords of the Crystal Kingdoms.

That’s where John M. Olsen led us by the end of the first book of the Riland Throne series, Crystal King (link to my review). Now, the author leads us forward with Crystal Queen.

Plot

Princess Lilia Talendor is to marry Gavin to unite the kingdoms of Graven and Riland. At least that’s what the treaty drafted at the end of the two kingdom’s conflict sets forth. Her father Ithan, the defeated king, has his own plans. He is not alone in his workings. Lilia’s mother, Queen Belinda, also has her plans based on the treaty and other information she has been gathering through her own sources.

And, we all know that the best laid plans never go as expected. We must reassess what to do. Incorporate the new information and create new plans.

John M. Olsen continues his adventure of the Crystal Kingdoms by giving more insight into the northern kingdom, Graven. The main part of the story is about Lilia Talendor and how she meets Gavin. Of course it is clear from the beginning she is expected to become the Queen of Riland. This is the story of how she gets there, physically and mentally.

The characters from Crystal King, continue on their journeys as well in Crystal Queen. This is not just the story of one person’s adventure, but the growth of the king, Gavin, and the rest of the people he brought along on his journey to the throne of the Kingdom of Riland.

As with the first book, at the end we learn more about the greater world and the forces watching and directing events. This provides with foreshadowing of future events for the Crystal Kingdoms and how it will impact the Riland Throne.

Characters

Crystal Queen has strong, relatable characters. Where Crystal King is Gavin’s coming of age story, Crystal Queen is Lilia’s. Their world is different than ours with different challenges, however, we all must learn what it means to become an adult.

Beloved characters from Crystal King are present. Each continues facing their own struggles to become better people. New characters are introduced into the fray of the growing struggles of the kingdoms as they deal with their own internal challenges.

Style

Crystal Queen continues in the same manner as book one of the Riland Throne series. The language is easy to follow and there is nothing inappropriate for younger readers. Crystal Queen can be read on its own or shared in a group reading.

Olsen does a great job of reflecting life struggles with his characters. The characters are relatable. We might not be facing the same struggles, hopefully not, but we can relate to facing and overcoming adversities to show those around us we are ready to be a part of the adult world.

Theme

Crystal Queen is about becoming better people. Rising above expectations to become something greater than what we even know about ourselves. There might be a certain honor in doing what is expected, but, there is also another level of honor in going beyond the expectations to achieve something better. When that is accomplished there are unexpected rewards.

A person’s past doesn’t have to dictate their future. No one knowns the true past of another, and Gavin maintains a belief that every person should be given a chance to become better. Because of the way he shows respect to others they usually rise to the situation in an honorable way. Gavin’s is a story of not just trusting other people, but also accepting others for who they are, even when his hopes for them are not achieved.

Overall

Crystal Queen is a feel good book about becoming better people on a personal and societal level. The book is about growing from a past of expected conflict and having a drive for power and control, to a state of acceptance and understanding between people.

The story in Crystal Queen flowed better and created an easier read than the first of the series.  I think it is better book.

Crystal Queen is based for older young adult readers. The number of storylines is well maintained and the pace moves the reader steadily through the book.

I give Crystal Queen 4 out 5.

Crystal Queen is published by Immortal Works.

Crystal Queen is available from Amazon (link).

I received a copy of Crystal Queen for review purposes.

About the Author (from the book)

Motivated by his lifelong love of reading, John M. Olsen writes about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and hopes to entertain and inspire others. His father’s library started him on this journey as a teenager, and he now owns and expands that library to pass his passion on to the next generation of avid readers.

He loves to create things, whether writing novels or short stories or working in his secret lab equipped with dangerous power tools. In all cases, he applies engineering principles and processes to the task at hand, often in unpredictable ways. He usually prefers “Renaissance Man” to “Mad Scientist” as a goal and aesthetic.

He lives in Utah with his lovely wife and a variable number of mostly grown children and a constantly changing subset of extended family.

You can join John’s musings at his blog: johnmolsen.blogspot.com.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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Downforce, Game Review

Sitting in your suite above the track, the crowd at the race looks and feels different. The binoculars allow you a close up view of your car’s driver. A relative newbie in the Grand Prix circuit, he does well. But, he didn’t earn one of the better starting positions. While sipping on your champagne, you’re approached by one of the track’s private stewards, “Would you like to place a bet before the race begins?”

You hold up your index finger to stall as you scan the cars below again. “I’m going to wait. Please, come back in a bit.”

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Downforce by Wolfgang Kramer presents a Grand Prix race where winning the race doesn’t mean you’ll win the game. To win Downforceyou need to earn the most money. Money comes from having your car win and from the bets you place.

I played a couple of games of Downforce while at the St George Gaming Convention (STGCON) 2018 (website and Facebook). Both times was with a full group of 6 people.

Downforce has a dual strategy for playing and winning.

Game play is done by playing cards that control the length of movement every car takes. Each player owns one of the cars and you make more money if your car wins the race. But, you’re only moving the cars once every round as players take turns laying down cards.

Each card lists the cars and the amount of movement they can take. Not every car is represented on every card. Some might also only list one car. When it is your turn to lay down a card, you have to decide which will be the best to play. And, the one that moves your car the farthest might not be best one.

Cars get jammed up in the corners and are not able to move any farther. This strategy can be used to block other players. If you end up in the pack, you have to get the cars in front of yours to move first to open up space.

Winning the race pays the car’s owner. Placing is only part of the way to earn cash. There are three additional times players make private bets on which car will win, place, and show. Each bet pays off at the end of the race. You can bet for any car, not just your own. It might even be advantageous to bet on another car you can move into a winning position in front of your car. In one of my games a player did just that as the two of them neared the finish line.

Where winning the race can provide a bounty for the owner, winning the bets can add up even better. At the end of the race the cash winnings are tallied and the player who won the most money wins the game.

Overall

The additional level of betting included in Downforce gives the game a different feel than games focused on winning the race. Even if you are trapped at the back of the pack and it is clear your car isn’t going to win, you still have a chance to win the game. This keeps everyone in the game until the numbers are tallied.

The mechanics of the movement requires some thinking and planning. Attempting to move your car the farthest, based on the cards you hold might not be the best strategy. I tried doing that at the start of the first game I played when I had the pole position. I jumped out to a great lead, then the other five players took their turns. I ended up jammed up and then blocked by other cars who overtook me in the corner.

The only luck is how the cards are dealt at the beginning of the game. The rest is bidding, betting, and deciding which card to play from your hand.

I was invited back later in the day for another game. I did better. Both times where fun as everyone around the table watched how other players maneuvered through their visible strategy and focused on their private bets.

Downforce is one of a number of games from Wolfgang Kramer (wikipedia page) who has been an award winning game designer for over three decades.

Downforce is from Restoration Games and is designed for 2–6 players aged 14+ and expected to last 30–45 minutes.

Downforce is available on Amazon (link).

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The checkered flag drops for the winner. You look through your betting stubs and consider your winnings as you watch your driver make the last turn before the finish line. No, he didn’t win the race. But you still may have won the day.

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen, Book Review

Have you ever wondered where new private investigators come from? What did they have to learn to earn the right credentials? What makes them the type of person you would want to hire if you needed a private investigator?

If you picture a private investigator needing to be an ex hard-nosed cop who turned to the private sector, then Tony Flaner is not the guy you’d be looking to hire. But, like the book cover says, “When the only way out is deeper in, and your back’s against the wall, even slackers get ambitious.” And, that's what Tony has to do.

The Finger Trap is darkly humorous and hard to put down.

I picked up a copy of The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen from the author at the League of Utah Writers (website) Spring into Books 2018.

This is the third novel, along with a couple of short stories, written by Johnny Worthen I’ve reviewed—the first one that’s not horror. I know Johnny teaches horror and mystery writing at the University of Utah. I wanted to find out if he writes mystery as well as the horror stories I’ve read. I was not disappointed.

The Finger Trap is a noir style detective story set in the present day.

Plot

Tony Flaner has lived an easy life. He’s had the opportunity of following a path of least resistance and chosen to take it. It’s a style that has worked until recently. Tony was accused of committing murder. The police and the district attorney, along with his public defender, see it as a simple case and they are not willing to put in the work to find out more information. That leaves it to Tony to become the detective to prove his innocence.

Tony’s previous life path meant he never stuck with a job, or hobby. He allowed life to push and pull him in new directions almost as assuredly as the changing of the seasons. This ends up making him a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. An unenvied skill set, except when you need to find the clues to prove you didn’t kill someone.

Tony’s plight pulls him into a subculture he never thought he would be involved with. Instead of quitting, he has to push in deeper so he can get out. Tony Flaner breaks more laws, in crime noir fashion, to get to the truth and serve justice. He knows he’ll be in trouble for what he’s doing, but what’s worse than being convicted of murder?

Style

The Finger Trap is narrated by Tony. It starts when he discovers the body. Then we are taken back in time to give the history of how he ended up at the scene of the murder. After that, we are included on his ride of how he proves his innocence.

The book builds from a methodical start and increases pace the more pages you turn. It keeps building as the rollercoaster ride goes from one near catastrophe to another. The pacing works for setting the information at the beginning to be dealt with later. By the end you realize everything was there. I enjoyed having the clues, even if I didn’t recognize them. It gave cohesion to the story. I didn’t come across any breaks in the storyline that left me hanging. Or, revelations the author explains away by having some off the page character came up with the answer.

The Finger Trap is full of humor. Tony Flaner does standup comedy and views the world satirically. Being accused of murder without anyone believing or caring if he did it or not, doesn’t help his outlook. Tony carries his standup quick wit with him as he creates his own private investigator persona developed from the crime detective novels he’s enjoyed.

Theme

Johnny Worthen builds the theme of the title throughout the book. This gives the story a tight feel. Tony admits early on how his life of moving from one thing to the next is because he always responded to the pushes and pulls of life. Always taking the easy path and never seeing anything through to the end.

He is now in his own finger trap. He is caught and unless he is willing to push, he will not be able to pull himself out.

Throughout The Finger Trap we see the mechanics of push and pull of the trap at work. And, for the first time in Tony’s life, he needs to respond to the situation by being an active participant instead of flotsam being pushed around.

Other Points of Interest

The Finger Trap is the Diamond Quill Winner, Best Published Book (2017), from the League of Utah Writers.

Overall

The Finger Trap is a fun read.

We are introduced to Tony Flaner before he’s the detective he has to become. This is his origin story and he gives insights into the type of person he knows himself to be. We are given points of fantasy as he sees them and the brutal honesty as he understands it. Tony was never a hard-nosed cop who hung a shingle out for himself. In his previous life, he wouldn’t have made it through the academy.

Here is a guy we have all met or heard about. He is the guy who has survived by wit and sarcasm without doing anything constructive. The guy who has so much going for him and hasn’t accomplished anything.

I found myself creating time to read a few more pages to see what Tony came up with next.

I give The Finger Trap 5 out of 5.

The Finger Trap is currently changing publishers (08/26/18). However, copies are available on Amazon (link).

Other books by Johnny Worthen I’ve reviewed.

Dr. Stuart’s Heart (link)

What Immortal Hand (link)

Beatrysel (link)

About The Author (from the book)

Johnnty Worthen is an award-winning, best-selling author of books and stories. Trained in modern literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket multi-genre fiction, symbolized by his love of tie-dye and good words. “I wear tie-dye for my friends. I write what I like to read,” he says. “This guarantees me at least one fan.”

Johnny lives in Sandy, Utah, with his wife and sons.

Visit him at http://www.johnnyworthen.com/www.johnnyworthen.com

If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.

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