Neal Litherland
Neal Litherland is an author, freelance blogger, and RPG designer. A regular on the Chicago convention circuit, he works in a variety of genres.
The Vikings Helped Spread Cats Across The World
Vicious opportunists who take what they want, they're rightly feared by those smaller and weaker than they are. On the other hand they're also beautiful, paying constant attention to grooming and presentation in a way that might seem at-odds with their otherwise brutal instincts. Adored by women, lionized in mythology, and plastered across they Internet, they seem to be everywhere.
Neal LitherlandPublished 4 days ago in FYI
5 Things You Can Do To Be a Better Ambassador For Your Hobby
We all have hobbies. From historical reenactment, to tabletop RPGs, to horror movies, comic books, and more, these are the things that make us happy. They're the activities and media we turn to when we need to decompress, and they're often where we go to find community. However, something we often forget is that in order for our hobbies to grow, we need to actually expand our numbers. Without fresh blood coming in, our communities will shrivel. Worse, for those built around a particular type of media or a certain franchise, it's possible that a shrunken community won't be able to support production of more of the content we want to see. Which is why it behooves us to be ambassadors for our hobbies if we want to see them grow and flourish.
Neal LitherlandPublished 21 days ago in Geeks
Which Space Marine Chapters Best Represent The Garou Tribes of Werewolf: The Apocalypse?
They are some of the most powerful beings ever risen from humanity. The few who had the will, and the fortitude, to survive the transformation to become what they are. They are the sword and the shield, the bastion against corruption, and the balance point that will stave off Armageddon.
Neal LitherlandPublished 28 days ago in Gamers
Anti-Fascist Role Models: Joe "The Mighty Atom" Greenstein
Nazis have been with us a long time. Though the patches they're wearing these days might be different, and they're often wearing snappy ball caps and sunglasses, they've still got the same flags and the same slogans. They might call themselves something different, but if you scratch beneath the new coat of paint they're the same old fascists they've always been.
Neal LitherlandPublished about a month ago in The Swamp
The 5 Awful Paladins You Will Meet in Your Gaming Career
The paladin. Originally a term used to refer to the 12 Peers of Charlemagne (more on that in What is a Paladin?), the idea of these characters has grown and changed in our stories over the years. Whether we see them as shining knights on white chargers, leather-clad monster hunters protecting the populace, or as gruff warriors with a heart of gold beneath their beard stubble and growling voices, paladins take many forms.
Neal LitherlandPublished about a month ago in Gamers
Can We All Finally Agree That White Supremacy is Bad?
When I was in 3rd grade Wolfenstein 3D got ported onto the Super Nintendo. I remember renting the cartridge from my local Blockbuster on Friday, and spending the entire weekend with my controller heating up in my hands and my fingers developing blisters as I sent a storm of lead into the pixelated agents of the Third Reich. While charging a brain case cyborg with the face of Adolf Hitler on it with guns blazing and rockets blasting isn't exactly a subtle message, it was one I'd been hearing my whole life.
Neal LitherlandPublished 2 months ago in The Swamp
What is a Barbarian?
When you hear the word "barbarian" you immediately picture a certain type of character. On the one hand they're strong and tough, dauntless, driven, and iron-willed. On the other they often lack sophistication, are prone to dangerous outbursts of temper, and are often cruel, bestial, or unfeeling.
Neal LitherlandPublished 2 months ago in Geeks
How The Cane Replaced The Sword in Everyday Carry
When was the last time you saw someone just walking down the street, a sword at their hip? For most of us this is not something we see outside of historical reenactments, officers' balls, or particularly large conventions dedicated to comic books and roleplaying games. However, there was a time when belting on a sword was just something you did when you stepped out your door... it was as much a status symbol as it was a sign that you were not someone to be messed with.
Neal LitherlandPublished 2 months ago in Futurism
