Neal Litherland
Founding member
Bio
Neal Litherland is an author, freelance blogger, and RPG designer. A regular on the Chicago convention circuit, he works in a variety of genres.
Blog: Improved Initiative and The Literary Mercenary
Stories (309/0)
Secret Societies: Who Were The Assassins?
The Assassins were a group so feared, and whose reach was so far, that their very name became synonymous with murder for political means. While most of their history was lost with the fall of their strongholds, we do know some things about this organization, its founder, and the actions of its followers. And while they didn't invent parkour (at least not officially), they were certainly the auteur geniuses who came up with using the constant threat of knives in the dark as a way to keep a populace in line.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in The Swamp
How To Build Killer Croc in The Pathfinder RPG
Waylon Jones, more famously known as Killer Croc, did not lead a happy life. Raised by an alcoholic aunt, universally reviled and outcast for a skin condition that gave him a beastly appearance, he spent his youth in and out of juvenile correction. When he reached manhood, and had done a stretch of hard time, he took a job wrestling crocodiles in a sideshow. With his colossal strength, natural swimming abilities, and hunger for power and control, he took the name Killer Croc before turning to a life of crime. Quite the resume, and if you'd like to have your own brand of heavy-hitting thug that fits Killer Croc's M.O. in your Pathfinder game, this guide should get you started.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
The Truth About "The Anarchist Cookbook"
The Anarchist Cookbook is, at least according to street legends and the chatroom rumor mill, the holy grail of do-it-yourself mayhem. The book supposedly gives you the knowledge to brew your own at-home drugs, teaches you how to build bombs, and shows you how to make zip guns.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Lifehack
How To Build Catwoman in The Pathfinder RPG
Selina Kyle, alias Catwoman, has had nearly as many incarnations as Batman. A sometime hero, sometime villain, Catwoman is out for herself as often as she is on the side of either right or wrong. No one can deny her phenomenal skills as a burglar and thief though, and having her in your party can mean the difference between getting the treasure with no one the wiser, and having to fight tooth and nail for every inch of dungeon you get through.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
Was The Pirate Code a Real Thing?
Pirates remain one of our most romanticized groups of villains, from Captain Hook in Peter Pan to Long John Silver in Treasure Island, pirates have become a part of our stories, and our cultural mythology. Even in this modern day, buccaneers have taken center stage thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which brings back the legends of Davy Jones, The Flying Dutchman, and other common myths that were found in general sailing culture, and specifically in the golden age of piracy during the 1600s.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Criminal
Who Was The Real Captain Morgan?
Captain Morgan is a name known far and wide, but today the only fear it generates is in people who can't quite remember what they did after their eighth shot of rum on Saturday night. However, unlike some products that come up with catchy names and memorable mascots to go with them, Captain Morgan was a real person. Beyond simply existing though, Captain Henry Morgan wrote his name in gunpowder and blood all throughout the Caribbean in the 1600s.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Proof
How To Build The Punisher in The Pathfinder RPG
Frank Castle was just an average family man, until that fateful day when a storm of bullets took his wife and two children away from him. When the smoke cleared, and the smell of cordite faded, Frank watched as the criminals responsible for his loss walked away. That was when he took up the bloody trade of soldiering again, and brought a war to New York's underworld that rocked it to its foundations. A vigilante killer who is alternatively on the side of heroes, and against them, the Punisher's single-minded determination makes him a unique persona in a world of gods and monsters. If you'd like to bring his brand of justice to your Pathfinder game, here's a guide to help you get started.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
5 True Facts About Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is one of the most easily recognized actors in American films today. From roles in huge successes like Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and M. Night Shymalan's The Sixth Sense, to movies that his fans would rather forget like Hudson Hawk, Willis has carved out a niche for himself in Hollywood history. However, there are a lot of little moments that movie buffs and celebrity trivia fans alike might find interesting about how Willis got to where he is today. These are some of those.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Geeks
How To Build Luke Cage in The Pathfinder RPG
Carl Lucas, the man who would one day be known as Luke Cage, was arrested for a crime he didn't commit. While in Seagate prison he was nearly consumed by rage, fighting constantly with his fellow inmates. When he became the subject of an unusual experiment, though, he gained superhuman strength, and skin as tough as steel. With these abilities at his command, he tried to better himself, and to clear his name. If you want to bring this kind of character to your Pathfinder game, then this guide should help you get started.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
5 (Specific) Tips For Increasing Your Vocal Reads Using Social Media
One of the more commonly asked questions by Vocal creators is how to use social media to increase your readership, and to drive up your overall reads per day. And while there's a lot of very general advice out there that talks about making your titles pop, or how you need to get images that make people stop scrolling, that isn't very actionable.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Resources
How To Build Guts (From "Berserk") in The Pathfinder RPG
Berserk, as both a manga and an anime series, is a dark, brooding, brutal journey. While it has light hearted moments, they only succeed in rendering the darker parts of the story into pitch black pools. The protagonist of this series is Guts, a hulking warrior with a mysterious, violent past, and an indomitable spirit that pushes him through any and all obstacles. From abuse that should have crippled him, to betrayal at the hands of his closest friend, nothing will stop him from achieving his goals. If you want to try and re-create Guts, this guide will help you bring the Black Swordsman era of the character to your Pathfinder table.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Gamers
How To Take a Punch (3 Tips)
Whenever you watch an action hero on the silver screen, the camera tends to focus on them winning fights. In fact, between expert technique, a rock hard physique, and an iron jaw there's no possibility the hero could ever lose; foes fall with broken faces and shattered spirits under the hammer blows of their fists, but when the bad guys get a solid blow in the hero just keeps on coming. On the one hand this could be blatant abuse of main character powers... on the other hand it's entirely possible that our lead has simply learned the most important skill any fighter needs to have in his or her arsenal.
By Neal Litherland4 years ago in Unbalanced