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.
5 Non-Vampire Movies You Should Watch Before Running a Vampire Game
The World of Darkness is a setting filled with deep shadows, where players are asked to gaze into the abyss and grapple with the questions about the line between the human and the monstrous. While there are numerous spheres of this setting, the flagship has always been Vampire, since it was the game that really launched the World of Darkness into the public eye.
Neal LitherlandPublished 3 days ago in Gamers
How To Build an Imperial Commissar in The Pathfinder RPG
There are few sights as awe-inspiring, or as outright terrifying, as that of an imperial commissar. In their iconic peaked caps and greatcoats, it is their job to motivate the troops... through whatever means necessary. Sometimes that means charging the guns of the enemy with sword in hand, bolt pistol barking. Sometimes it means executing those who falter in their duty, making it clear to every guardsman that no matter the terror before them it cannot be worse than the officer at their backs.
Neal LitherlandPublished 20 days ago in Gamers
The 5 Eye-Rolling Rogues You Meet in Your Gaming Career
If you roll dice long enough you're going to come across examples of every character class that end up being huge red flags for any game night. And while the first installment in this series was The 5 Awful Paladins You Will Meet in Your Gaming Career, I thought it was time to address the aggravating archetypes of another class.
Neal LitherlandPublished 27 days ago in Gamers
What is Chaos Magic?
Magick, according to The Free Dictionary, is when someone uses some form of action or effort to alter the world around them (or to alter themselves) through the power of their will. There's probably as many different definitions of the term as there are spiritual paths surrounding it, but this is the one we'll be using as the jumping off point for today. Also, in the spirit of chaos, I'm dropping the "k" from the word from here on out... you know it's there, however, so just remind yourself as you read.
Neal LitherlandPublished 29 days ago in Futurism
5 Tips For Creating Fantasy Towns and Cities
The fantasy genre often draws us in with promises of the strange, and the wondrous. From wizards' duels, to brooding dragons, to relics of ancient, bygone eras of glory, these stories offer us an escape from our reality. However, the fantastical elements of these tales are like the icing on a cake. They are where a great deal of the sweetness and enjoyment in consumption comes from, but these elements rely on the cake beneath to act as a foundation.
Neal LitherlandPublished 2 months ago in Futurism
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 2 months 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 3 months 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 3 months ago in Gamers
