So Long, Gandalf, and They're Taking the Hobbits None To Seriously

Over on the HollywoodReporter.com, there is a recent article regarding the fond farewell for Ian McKellen as he finishes his shooting for The Hobbit movies which can be read here!

And as Peter Jackson and his crew bid farewell to Orlando Bloom at the end of his shooting, the gang had a little fun with an old meme.  Enjoy!

What to do about a D&D Movie

There is an interesting article on Topless Robot titled "Ten Ways to Make a Dungeons & Dragons Movie Not Suck." Read more here!

Joss Whedon’s Top 10 Writing Tips

Over on the aerogrammestudio.com website, a reproduction of an interview by film critic Catherine Bray of Joss Whedon in 2006 for UK movie magazine Hotdog to find out his top ten screenwriting tips has recently been added. See more here!

Tom Baker Prime Computer Ads

All of the Prime Computer ads featuring Tom Baker have been gathered on the ComputaTech YouTube channel.  Enjoy!

6 Actors Who Took Their Roles Off-Screen

Over on the Mental Floss website, there is a fun and inspiring article titled "6 Actors Who Took Their Roles Off-Screen." See more here!

New Open Gaming Monthly Available

There is a new Open Gaming Monthly available.  It's the fourth issue and you can check out the contents, authors, and artists on RPGNow.com here!

2013-06-23 Boardgaming at Home

Ernie and Scott were in attendance when Tom taught Oddville

Floyd and Keith drove up from Illinois to join in the fun

You can see it was a hot day and, IIRC, Ernie won this one

Tom also taught us Suburbia

Scott kicked our butts in this one

ENnies Awards - Important Dates

Are you going to Gen Con or just want to keep track of how the ENnies Awards are playing out this year?  Well, there are some important dates to keep in mind and you can find them on the ENnies website here (click the "Important Dates" tab)!  But in a nutshell -

July 7th: Those who wish to take up the mantle of “2014 ENnies Judge” can nominate themselves for the position

July 14th: Nominees announced to the public

July 14th: Open nominations for Fan’s Choice for Best Publisher

July 16th: Last day to nominate yourself as a judge

July 19th: Last day to nominate a Publisher

July 22nd – July 31st: Voting for products/publisher and 2014 Judges

August 16th: Ceremony at Gen Con in the Grand Hall of Union Station; cocktail reception begins at 6:30pm and ceremony starts at 8pm

CMG Blog Triad Milestones

Just a note to thank my readers as the CMG Blog Triad ventures beyond 2,000 posts and 200,000 page views.  While that might not be much by the standards of some of the big boys, for this quiet corner of the Intraverse, it feels pretty good.  Thank you, everyone, for coming along for the adventure!

The LEGO Movie Trailer

Over on the Warner Brothers Pictures YouTube channel, a video has been uploaded for The LEGO® Movie - Official Teaser Trailer. Enjoy!

Save the Date for EN World Chicago Gameday 35!

Be sure and save the date for EN World Chicago Gameday 35.  It takes place at Games Plus, 101 West Prospect Ave, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (847-577-9656) on Saturday, July 13, 2013.  Loads of RPG events are in the offing and player signups will take place in about two weeks. Watch the EN World Tabletop Gaming Forum  and this website for more information when it becomes available.  You can view the pre-planning thread for the events here and it includes an original AD&D 1E version of the System-Neutral Fantasy Adventure, Fighting Fire, written in support of the Ernie Gygax Fire Relief Trust.  This adventure will soon be available through Creative Mountain Games on RPGNow.

Tor.com Appendix N Read-Along and Contest

Over on Tor.com, they have put together a Read-Along group covering the storied Appendix N from Gary Gygax's 1E AD&D DMG and included a contest to win one of five sets of dice.  Read more here!

Roll Perception Plus Awareness: Monsters and Magic and the Old School Renaissance

There is an interesting article on the Roll Perception Plus Awareness blog titled "Monsters and Magic and the Old School Renaissance." See more here!

Star Wars Themed Disney Zones

Over on theforce.net, they are reporting on the Star Wars related Disney upgrades in their article "Disney Moving Ahead With Star Wars Land In Florida."  Read more here!

Origins Awards Winners Announced

Congrats to all!

Best CCG - Legend of the Five Rings: Embers of War, AEG

Best Traditional Card Game - Doctor Who: The Card Game, Cubicle 7

Best Family, Party, or Children's Game - Quarriors Dice building Game, WizKids

Best Board Game - Lords of Waterdeep, Wizards of the Coast

Best RPG - Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game, Margaret Weiss Productions

Best RPG Supplement- Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Civil War Event Book

Best Miniature Rules - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Campaign Starter Set

Best Miniature Figure Line - Marvel Heroclix: Galactic Guardians

Best Gaming Accessory - Metal Steampunk Dice, Q Workshop

Best Historical Board Game - Samurai Battles, Zvesda

Best Historical Miniature Rules - Flames of War: Open Fire, Battlefront Miniatures

Best Historical Miniature Rules Supplement - Flames of War: NUTS - Battlefront Miniatures

Best Historical Miniatures Figure or Line - Ancient Greeks, Victrix

Hall of Fame Game Inductees - Munchkin, Steve Jackson Games; Dominion, Rio Grande Games

Hall of Fame Inductees - Lisa Stevens, Paizo Publishing; Loren Coleman, Catalyst Game Labs

(Thanks for the Facebook Share from Alliance Distributors and see more here!)

Tony Robinson is Knighted

Spotted over on the telegraph.co.uk website, it seems our favorite Baldrick, Tony Robinson, has been Knighted. Read more here!

Robert Bevan's Cave of the Kobolds (Caverns and Creatures) Reviews

The excellent reviews keep piling up for Robert Bevan's Cave of the Kobolds (Caverns and Creatures). I haven't had the chance to check it out yet with my recent move to Lake Geneva, WI, but it is on my short list. See more here!

GENCON: Behind the Screen, Full Preview

The full preview from the "GENCON: Behind the Screen" film is up on the Hostile Work Environment YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Fire at Origins

It's being reported on The Columbus Dispatch website (and elsewhere) that there was a fire at the Origins Game Fair but that thankfully no one was hurt.  Read more here!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Official Teaser Trailer

Our first good look at what to expect from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug comes in the form of the first Official Teaser Trailer from the Warner Brothers YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Beautiful Libraries on Film and Television

A recent article on FlavorWire.com features some beautiful libraries on film and television.  See more here!

Science Fiction Becoming Fact

A recent article on MyScienceAcademy.org highlights "27 Science Fictions that became Science Fact in 2102."  Read more here!

Neil Gaiman On Making 'Good Art'

Recently on NPR, Neil Gaiman discussed the making of 'Good Art.' Find out more here!

Free RPG Day - June 15, 2013

Just a reminder that one week from today, June 15, 2013, is Free RPG Day.  Read more about it here!

Swamp Dalek

A Dalek has been discovered lurking in a pond near Hampshire.  Learn more of this treachery here!

Dragons on Celtic Trims

Over on the Celtic Trims website, you'll find more dragons than you can shake a stick at, not that you should shake your stick at dragons.  See more here!

Medieval Dress Making Tutorial

Over on cottesimple.com, there is a bit of a tutorial on "New tutorial lite: Making a dress from your bust-supportive bodice pattern." See more here!

The Science of Storytelling

Over on the Life Hacker website is an interesting article titled "The Science of Storytelling: Why Telling a Story is the Most Powerful Way to Activate Our Brains." Read more here!

Kids ask Strax - Commander Strax's Q&A - Doctor Who

Early last month, on the Doctor Who YouTube channel, a video was posted entitled "Kids ask Strax - Commander Strax's Q&A - Doctor Who." Enjoy!

New US TV Shows for Geeks

Over on DenofGeek.com, there is a recent article detailing 18 new television shows that geeks of all stripes should appreciate.  Read more here!

The Diana Jones Award 2013 Short List

The Diana Jones Award 2013 Short List has been announced. Congrats to all who made the list and read more here!