The Real Monstrous Matters: Japanese scientists get us one step closer to Greenskins...or maybe just solar-powered humans...

This is one that was covered by a lot of mainstream news outlets, so you might have already seen it (you MSM zombie, you)...in a cool little biological trick that I'm honestly surprised hasn't been achieved before, researchers anchored by a group at the University of Tokyo have gotten chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis in hamster cells.  Mammalian cells making food from light...pretty cool if you ask me.  You can check out the paper (from the Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B) at this link, and the university's press release can be found here.

Fluorescence microscopy image from the press release.  The chloroplasts are magenta, while cell nuclei are light blue.

This is one of those things that really gets the imagination firing, and most of us who are drawn to science fiction and/or fantasy have probably already thought about this possibility at some point.  And obviously, it brings to mind the green-skinned characters of fantasy lore, like Warhammer's...er, Greenskins...

It's also a fairly well-known "rule" of biology that mammals aren't green.  When those who craft fantasy fiction feel the need to justify green pigmentation in a humanoid species, the likely explanations are reptilian ancestry or some sort of photosynthetic machinery.  In Warhammer, for example, I believe the lore is that Greenskins, already an assemblage of fungal species, also have a symbiotic relationship with algae.  It's unclear, as far as I know, exactly what the mechanics of this symbiosis may be, but I don't think there's ever been an implication that the algae are inside the creature's cells (but please do correct me if I'm wrong!).

This new paper takes things a step further, with chloroplasts (the site of photosynthesis in plants and algae) being isolated from red algae and incorporated directly into the animal cells, where they kept on working away like all those other organelles you remember from high school biology...the mitochondria and Golgi apparatuses and all.  It's a very different result from the researchers' expectation that the little algae bits would be digested by the hamster cells.  Which, y'know, when in doubt, is probably a good idea for an animal cell to do when it finds it has taken up a random foreign organelle that resembles bacteria.

Also kind of fun: It appears that these hybrid creations are often referred to as "planimal" cells.  It sounds like a failed '80s toyline.

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As far as fantasy species go, orcs and goblins are probably the most commonly green characters, but elves occasionally get this treatment as well.  In Magic: The Gathering, for example, the well-known elf Glissa Sunseeker has been portrayed with green skin.

Image from here

I also think it's interesting to look back at the green elves in the group of MTG sets known as the Onslaught Block.  Over the course of those sets, various creatures were mutated to become purer expressions of the color of mana they represented.  The blue wizards, for example, basically turned into water.  Elves, meanwhile, came to resemble plants more and more.  In the second set, Legions, we see some green (or at least greenish) elves...

Card images from Scryfall

(This included at least one creature that arguably looks, to an outsider, more goblin than elf...)

And then by the third set, Scourge, the elves were even more plant-like:

Something tells me there are chloroplasts in those elves' cells.

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Now, a species for gaming...

Emeraldkin

Attribute Points: 12

Min/Max:

Strength 1-5
Dexterity 1-6
Knowledge 1-5
Presence 1-5

Skill Distribution: 3/2/1

Special Skills: Can use Nature Magic without allocating any skill points to it; if this skill isn't chosen, it is treated as +0, and Nature Magic skill rolls use the character's Knowledge value.

Abilities: Able to see in low-light conditions; resistant to hunger

Emeraldkin are found in many realms among the multiverse.  They appear very similar to Humans but are identified by their pointed ears and the greenish hue of their skin (due to the chloroplasts found in their skin cells).  On some worlds, they are referred to as Elves, while residents of others will call them Orcs or even Goblins.  They identify with none of these terms, however, and refer to themselves as Unliavel, broadly translated as Emeraldkin.  It is thus far unknown what species they are closest to genetically; in general, though, they will associate with all other groups who maintain a similar connection to nature.

The photosynthetic skin cells of Emeraldkin allow them to go much longer than other humanoid species without food.  While they cannot wholly abandon eating, in conditions of sufficient light and water, they can easily go up to 10 days in between meals.  This is rarely necessary; Emeraldkin are usually very knowledgeable about the natural environment and are capable of obtaining food in almost any situation, although the vast majority rely on vegetarian sustenance only.  Overall, their connection to the natural world and low need for resources make them ideal adventuring companions.

Monstrous Mini-Review: The Twenty-Sided Tavern (Off-Broadway Show)

Before I forget...and while I'm thinking about positivity...here's a little writeup I've been meaning to do for a while.  Why is it on the topic of positivity?  Well, in the wake of the election a couple of weeks ago, when a lot of folks (especially in NYC) found themselves a little...eh, somber...the Off-Broadway show The Twenty-Sided Tavern (hereafter "the Tavern") opened the doors to its 11/7 show at Stage 42 to all interested parties on a first-come, first-served basis.  I don't know, maybe they have a lot of empty seats on Thursday nights anyway.  It still seems like a pretty cool gesture.

As for me, on Sunday 10/13, Laura and I took advantage of the ticket deals of NYC Off-Broadway Week to visit the Tavern, which turns the quirks of a D&D adventure into a stage production.  I had been intrigued by this since I first heard about it (maybe before it even became an official D&D entity), so I was pretty happy to see how the game I love translated to the art form I'm increasingly becoming a fan of.  I'm kinda kicking myself for not writing this up sooner...but I guess better late than never in sharing some thoughts on this fairly interesting appearance of RPGs in pop culture...

Let me say up front that for some reason, I imagined we had something a little different in store for us when we entered the theater.  I can't say exactly what set my expectations as they were, but I kind of thought I was going to see a fantasy story with Off-Broadway (so, pretty high) production values and some nods to roleplaying conventions.  And I knew the plot involved audience choices so that every show ends up being a little different.

What we actually watched was somewhere in between an actual-play show (which I don't watch or listen to very much) and a full stage production, with a very heavy dose of improv theater (and indeed...comedy) mixed in.  That description is certainly not to tear it down; I was honestly very impressed by how much it felt like an actual game was in progress (in a way, it really was).  It was like the stage show provided a framework that allowed a full table of over-the-top personalities to shine, when in our games at home, you really can't have too much of that good thing, or it goes off the rails pretty quickly.

There's a lot of audience participation!  (Btw, if you're in these pics and don't want to be on here, please just let me know...)

The story, however, was very skillfully guided by DM Conner Marx and Tavern Keeper Alex Stompoly.  They definitely made some concessions to the fact that they were playing this out on stage for an audience.  When the first combat started, I thought, "Uh...is this what we're doing the rest of the show now?"  But after about three rounds, there was this sort of declaration of "okay, we see how this is playing out," and rewards and consequences were doled out to keep the game flowing.

The story did not lack detail, however.  I lost track of specifics exactly as I do when I'm playing D&D, and I still enjoyed watching it all come together.  I would say that's the thing that cements my ability to declare that I really liked the show...the story was somehow both very linear and all over the place at the same time...and that appeals to me because it's exactly how every D&D adventure ends up feeling.

There's one performer designated each show to be the Warrior, the Mage, and the Trickster, with the exact characters they play changing up each night.  Apparently, there are more than 30 possible characters, and when you combine that with multiple paths for the adventures...and I think there was some rolling for character details (there were certainly some interesting rolls on random tables as the game progressed)...well, it's easy to see how every performance ends up being unique.  I'll probably have to go back at some point just to see how much my two random (heh) experiences differ.

Our Trickster for the evening

In case it needs to be said, all of the cast members are very talented.  (For our show, the Warrior was played by Will Champion, which is just a perfect name for a Warrior.)  They play off of each other and the audience very well.  Some folks are sure to feel that a selection of the jokes are too juvenile (drinking and sex, hahahahaha)...but, uh, I think those jokes probably landed pretty well overall with the target audience.

I left the theater thinking that to fully enjoy the show, you probably need one of (1) familiarity with (and love of) the source material (a lot of the humor is also connected to fantasy RPGs); (2) strong interest in improv; or (3) a tendency to go with the flow and just enjoy chaotic stuff that you might not fully understand but would like to appreciate.  With that said, it's easy to come across testimonials like this Reddit post that indicate it's just a good show that can be enjoyed by someone who's never played D&D before.  The audience participation probably goes a long way in making sure of that.  There's a lot of influence by the crowd (via electronic decision-making polls, trivia, actual stage participation by selected audience members, and at least one pretty cool puzzle that gets you interacting with your neighbors in the crowd).

Oh, and the theater is nicely decorated to evoke the Forgotten Realms...

Hmm.  Maybe I'll go in costume next time...?

The Tavern really is unlike anything else I've experienced, but it was very familiar at the same time (how's that for hedging?).  I know Laura enjoyed it, but I also know (via her own words) that this was influenced somewhat by seeing me enjoy it as much as I did (she's sweet that way).  I'm not sure she would have dug it as much otherwise...but I also think there aren't going to be too many people who just find themselves at that show without a connection to the material, either from their own life or that of someone close to them...or at least who have an interest in watching how this crazy thing we call D&D plays out.  And make no mistake...this is definitely D&D, and a lot more faithful to the game, as it's actually played, than any of those popular dragon shows can claim to be.

I haven't seen an ending date, and I think they're booking shows out through next April, so it appears that there are still plenty of opportunities to experience the Tavern.  Special guests frequently make their way into the cast, and I'm sure a lot of folks are excited to see their favorite figures from nerd culture up there gaming on stage.  Oh, and performances in other locations are coming!  If you like D&D...and if you read this blog, that's a very strong possibility...you'll probably find it worthwhile to see what The Twenty-Sided Tavern is all about.

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And now that I've rambled way more than I intended to, how about I divert this all back to what I've been doing here on the blog?  Here's the Warrior from our show, converted to be a very quick 'n simple Monstrous6 starting character...just a few details short, I suppose...

Alistair

Aarakocra Paladin

15 HP, 19 Defense (plate armor)

Flies (2x walking speed)

Strength 3
Dexterity 5
Knowledge 1
Presence 3

Skills: Perform +4, Swords +2, Divine Magic +1

Goal: Vengeance, I guess...to please his deity...?

Quote: "Open your mouth, I'm going to baby-bird you..."

The Real Monstrous Matters: A Saber-Toothed Kitten in Siberia

I mean, poor kitty...but man is this cool.  A formal description and analysis has just been published for the frozen mummy of a saber-toothed cat cub that was found in Siberia in 2020.  The paper appeared in Scientific Reports on November 14 (open access, so it's free to check out!); the Science homepage also ran a nice summary article here.

Compared to a modern lion cub; from the paper

Radiocarbon dating places it at about 35,000 years old.  The fact that scientists are actually able to write, with experience, on the softness of the fur of an animal that lived that long ago is mind-blowing.

The coolest discovery?  Actually, no, I bet there are cooler ones here; this one just really struck me as something very basic and neat that can only be seen when you have soft tissue preserved like this.  This specific saber-toothed cat is missing a carpal pad (that fifth "toe bean" on your cat's front paws).

See there at the top?  It's missing a toe bean (#2 at the bottom)!  Although I do love that the authors describe the ancient cat's metacarpal pad as "bean-shaped"...so maybe it isn't missing one...?  Anyway...from the paper.

The authors chalk this up (along with the wide paws and the shape of their pads) to adaptation to walking on snow...which makes a ton of sense considering the cat's home, both geographically and temporally.

In case you're wondering, this isn't the famous Smilodon, the icon widely known as a "saber-toothed tiger."  This little tyke is actually from the genus Homotherium, which are more specifically designated "scimitar-toothed cats" (vs. the "dirk-toothed cats" of Smilodon).  Still freaking cool and I dare you to argue otherwise!

Anyway, here's a saber-toothed cat for Monstrous6.  I'm gonna try to convert directly from a 5e critter and see if it makes sense, as one goal with the system is to be able to do that pretty easily.  So here goes.  (Also, I find it a little odd that D&D hasn't changed to calling the Saber-Toothed Tiger a Saber-Toothed Cat...although I think it might have been called a Smilodon in 2e...?  At any rate, I'm going to take that liberty...)

From Pixabay

Saber-toothed Cat

Scale: --

Handling Difficulty: 14

35 HP, 12 Defense

Strength 5

Dexterity 4

Knowledge 1

Presence 2

Skills: Detect (smell) +3

Attacks: Bite (+6, 1d6+6 piercing damage) or Claw (+6, 2d6+5 slashing damage)

Special: If a saber-toothed cat hits with a claw attack after moving at least 20 feet straight in the direction of the target, the target must save [STR (Balance) 14] or fall prone.  If the target falls, the cat may immediately take a free bite.

Geeky SKAturday: Nazi White Trash (Leftöver Crack)

Happy weekend all!  Today's Geeky SKAturday is presented in celebration of Punch a Nazi Week, as presented this past week by Justin over at Halls of the Nephilim.  There's no sense in not getting in on the antifascist fun a little bit!

First, to be crystal clear about it before I'm assumed to be promoting violence, I am not actually in favor of punching Nazis...except, I guess, if it's necessary for the safety of others.  I'm a pretty old school peacenik, anti-violence perhaps to a fault, and I just believe that as humans, we are meant to be better than that.

With that said, any Nazis that do get punched had it coming to them.

Here's one of my favorite anti-Nazi tunes, from the band Leftöver Crack.  I share it with the obligatory acknowledgment that, from what I've heard and read, this band's frontman may not be a very admirable guy himself.  I certainly encourage you to learn what you can about that if it is of concern to you.  However, it doesn't change the fact that Leftöver Crack and the band they grew out of, Choking Victim, are tremendously influential ska/punk/crust/core acts, borderline legendary, and their "crack rock steady" sound absolutely blew many of us away back in the day.  Some of their tracks are still just unforgettable anthems.

Alright, sorry about all the caveats today.  Time to skank.  This one isn't about punching, but there's certainly some ill will wished upon them.  Here's "Nazi White Trash":

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I'm not sure that's the tune I want to turn into a sound for a Rudie to cast, though.  So, I'm gonna go back to the first song I heard from this crew, back when I was introduced to the band Choking Victim on Hellcat Records' first Give 'Em the Boot compilation, a crucial piece in many kids' musical journeys, almost 30 freaking years ago.

I love this track.  This is "Infested"...

Infested

2nd-level Sound

Casting time: 1 action

Range: 60 feet

Duration: 10 minutes

Save: Strength

This sound infests the target's body with lice.  A failed Strength save when cast means the target is treated as if it is Restrained (cannot move from current location, +1 to attacks targeting it, -1 to its attacks and any actions requiring Dexterity).  The target may reroll the save at the beginning of each turn.  With any successful save, the target is treated as Restrained but retains its normal ability to move for the duration of the spell.

If the spell remains in effect for the full 10 minutes, the target makes one final Strength save as it disappears.  If failed, the target takes 1D6-1 Rash damage, which can be healed as any other damage.

Brainstorming on monster training

In revisiting Pokémon Concierge...and thinking more about monsters in this "Monstrous6" set of rules I've somehow managed to not get distracted away from (despite that being my ADHDGMO*)...I've realized how little rules space has ever been devoted to mediating the interactions between player characters and monsters in pretty much any tabletop RPG I've ever played.

I guess the earliest application of this idea would be the monster Reaction Table introduced in 1974's original Dungeons & Dragons and carried through at least the full run of "old school" D&D rules.  Keith Hann, over at the blog Simulacrum: Exploring OSR Design, put together a nice overview of its changes through the editions.  The classic D&D approach is pretty...broad, I guess.  There's a lot for the DM to process and rule on.

In more modern editions of D&D (3rd forward), are there even official Reaction Tables to be used?  Seems to me that the closest analogue would probably be the use of a skill like Animal Handling (or, depending upon the monster, maybe Insight or Persuasion).  Even with these, it isn't clear how difficult to set a check.  Maybe there are just too many factors to take into account...the specific circumstances, the creature's intelligence, its history of interaction with PC-type beings, the intentions of the PCs, etc.  It might just not be worth it trying to nail down a precise procedure for "handling" a monster when that could have so many different looks.

Personally, I like what we see in West End Games' Star Wars Miniatures Battles: the Orneriness Code (which I have started to implement as Handling Difficulty).  I'm pretty sure I'll continue on this path.  I just have to figure out some pretty basic questions around it.  Like...who do I give this score to?  Is it just beings that lack intelligence of a human scale and variety?  What about something as smart (in a human way) as a chimpanzee, for whom the terms handling and training could even be interpreted as a bit insulting?  Surely Pokémon should get one (that's part of what prompted this post)...but the meaning of "handling" seems very different for a Mewtwo compared to, say, a Growlithe.

Images from Bulbapedia

I guess I need to do some thinking on this.  I don't doubt that there's going to be a great deal of DM fiat involved, and that's okay.  I dunno, is there something I'm missing here that needs to be taken into account?  Have I somehow, in my years of roleplaying, managed to avoid something crucial to inform my approach with this?

At any rate, here's Psyduck's evolved form, Golduck...who must be just a little more difficult to handle than its younger self, since as we all know, most Pokémon get tougher and angrier as they evolve...

Golduck

Also from Bulbapedia

5' 7" (1.7 m), 168.9 lbs (76.6 kg), Scale: --

Handling Difficulty (wild): 9

20 HP, 11 Defense

Movement: Swims at 3x walking speed

Type: Mind, Water

Weakness: Electric, Mind

Strength 2

Dexterity 3

Knowledge 1

Presence 3

Skills: Swim +6, Psychic Powers +3, Toughness +2

Attack: Headache (mental attack, 1D6 Mind damage; when hit, the target must make a Presence save or lose their next action) or 2x Claws (1D6 Slashing damage)

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* The G is for gamer.  You probably already know what ADHD and MO stand for.  It only seemed appropriate to initialize the whole thing...

Still worth a very big smile: Pokémon Concierge

On the subject of positivity:  Pokémon Concierge is still amazing.  This past Wednesday, Laura and I both wanted to watch something that would give us a quick boost of serotonin, dopamine, or some other happy little neurotransmitter...BUT we don't always agree on what sort of show fits that mold.  (I tend to go for cheap/cheesy/nostalgic SF or fantasy, while Laura gravitates toward...I guess it'd be fair to say semi-classic but fairly standard American television, often involving adults playing teenagers and that, in her words, "turns her brain off."  Think One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek...)

But then she hit on the answer...and, as stated above, Pokémon Concierge is still amazing.  Hitting Netflix last December, this show is pretty much the streaming embodiment of the word delightful.  The stop-motion animation is just beautiful, and the story is so sweet it'll almost make you forget that it's a franchise based upon combat between intelligent creatures who live in servitude.  In fact, if there's anything negative someone could find with Pokémon Concierge, it's probably that: I'm sure it's just too damn adorable for some tastes.

Here's the trailer, in case you haven't been introduced to this masterpiece...

Yep.  Delightful.

(It's also really short.  I would love for 2025 to bring us a second season.)

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Now...for the violent part!  Here's a Psyduck (as one is a hero of the series) to be thrown into the Underground Elemental Beastfighting pits...

Psyduck

Image from here

2' 7", 43 lbs (Scale: --)

Handling Difficulty (wild): 8

10 HP, 11 Defense (small size)

Types: Mind, Water

Weakness: Electric, Mind

Strength 1

Dexterity 2

Knowledge 1

Presence 3

Skills: Psychic Powers +2, Toughness +1 (it has to endure that headache all the time...)

Attack: Headache (mental attack, 1D6-1 Mind damage; when hit, the target must make a Presence save or lose their next action)

Geeky SKAturday: Rudie Can't Fail (The Clash)

So.

That happened this week.

I'm taking some time to enjoy really positive things at the moment.  I think this song qualifies.  It's sort of about a struggle against a system, but it strikes me as both appropriate and hopeful right now.  Even the title is about as positive a statement as one can put together!

Personal note of interest to few beyond me:  I first heard this song thanks to the awesome Grosse Pointe Blank soundtrack.  That film came out at a critical point of musical exploration for me and some of my friends.  I can actually remember when Father Josh (then just...Josh) told me I had to hear this one.  It really is a top-notch tune, and definitely a strong contender for any desert island mix I would put together.

I guess I wouldn't necessarily even describe "Rudie Can't Fail" as wholly a ska/rocksteady/reggae song, but it's clearly very strongly influenced by Jamaican music.  And the fact that it's about Rudie...well, it fits the trend of these Geeky SKAturdays perfectly...

Another personal note of interest to few:  I would pay good money to hear Joe Strummer's take on the United States right now.  He had a good eye and a way with words.  Actually, you know what?  Just thinking about this song right now...I have to kind of wonder if part of what got us to this point is right here in these lyrics...

I went to the market to realize my soul

What I need I just don't have

So...here's the sound...

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Rudie Can't Fail

1st-level Sound

Casting time: 1 bonus action

Range: Self

Duration: 1 minute

This sound makes your next action very likely to succeed.  The next time you roll a skill check, magic check, attack, or save, you can reroll if the first attempt fails.  You can also reroll if the second attempt fails.  That's it, though!  Just three chances, and you have to use it within a minute of casting the sound (in-game time)...