Shotgun Game

When I got into gaming in the 80s, my other gaming friends and I used to say "shotgun game" when we got together and had no plans and decided to play some D&D. "I'll run a shotgun game" was a common phrase. It just meant you were going to run something on the fly, zero prep or low prep.

Comes from the idea of a shotgun wedding, where a guy knocks up a girl and then her father forces him to marry her, at the point of a gun. The idea, I think, is that since you are typically the DM, you're kind of forced into the arrangement when you friends wanted to game all of a sudden.

I've fished around online for this phrase and I can't find where it is in use in this context. If anyone knows otherwise, has used it themselves in the past, or understands where it came from, comment and let me know. I'm just curious about it.

Is this hyper local RPG lingo? Maybe just my gaming friends invented it. I don't know. I picked it up from them, though. I didn't originate the phrase. I believe one of my original DMs got it from some older kids who taught him how to play D&D in the early 80s. 

Game Design Hoots 1

I love old school D&D, but I don't want to tie all my work to it. The setting implied or described in Black Pudding is important to me and I want it to have its own original RPG at some point. Of course the Black Pudding Play Book will always be around, but I'm probably going to do another game at some point for the world of Pan-Gea > Yria.

Here's a system I'm mucking around with right now. It's from 1998 or so, before I even got online. It's very basic, which is what appeals to me. I ran it many times back then and it was mostly GM rulings because there was almost no rules written down for it other than this:

Spend 20 points on any kind of traits you like. Roll 1d20 + Trait vs. a target number or an opposing roll. Each adventure you earn 1-3 points and you can spend them to add or improve Traits.

In recent times I've developed the idea further to give it more tooth and grit. I like it.

Of course it's also very possible that the game will use GOZR rules. Right now I'm torn between these two darlings of mine. Story of my life.

But both feature rolling 1d20 + mods vs. a target number so you can call me a basic bitch all you want. It's fine. I own that shit.

Comic Grabs

I picked up a few comics this weekend. Here they are.

I got this Toxic Avengers book because the cover looked fun. I figured why not? I do like the interior art by Tristan Wright.

Eventually I'll read it.

I will never pay money for any of these Ultraverse comics... unless they have a Dan Brereton cover. Putting his art on your cover is like reaching into my pocket and taking my money.

But the interiors... I mean, no shade the creators and all that... but this shit is shite.

I tried to read a few pages but it was difficult. I know this is like mid-story. It's just irritating to be thrown into an epic and expected to buy a whole line of comics and respect all these characters you've never seen before as if they were classic icons of superheroes. Spoiler alert: it did not work out for Malibu.

This Thundarr #1 just sang to me. I love that cover art by Michael Cho (one of MANY ALTERNATE COVERS... but that's a whole other rant).

The real treasures I found! I got that fat Nexus book for $2 and that complete Eternals for $5. Amazing. This is what flea markets and vendor malls are for. I'm actually excited to read these! I might never read any of the comics I mentioned before this, but I'll probably read Eternals (I've never read it before).

So yeah, that's my little haul. Got me in a comics mood.