Important Storytelling Tips from My Children

On By Charlie BrooksIn ParentingLeave a comment

Originally published on BabyCenter.com January 21, 2014

My son was in a particularly whiny mood one night and wanted a story about dinosaurs and trains. Our e-copy of All Aboard the Dino Train by Deb Lund and Howard Fine was unavailable and everybody in the house was exhausted. Desperate for the sweet release of bedtime, I crafted the following impromptu story, which has since become a big hit with my son. (It turns out that two-year-olds have odd tastes.)

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Greystone Valley: Chapter One

On By Charlie BrooksIn FictionLeave a comment

Somewhere, a dragon lunged.

With a roar like thunder, the monster opened its mouth and shot white-hot fire. Then it folded its wings against its gigantic body and dove toward its prey on the ground. The dragon bellowed, and the earth shook from the noise.

On the ground, the Emerald Enchantress stood with her sword at the ready. She held her ground, waiting patiently until the monster came close enough for her to speak the magic word . . .

“Sarah!”

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4 Curious Questions about “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”

On By Charlie BrooksIn Film, ParentingLeave a comment

Originally published on BabyCenter.com December 13, 2013

The 1966 animated classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Is, in my opinion, the best Christmas special ever. It takes a wonderful story written by Dr. Seuss and actually improved it through terrific animation by Chuck Jones, narration from the great Boris Karloff, and one of the most catchy tunes ever by Thurl Ravenscroft. In terms of must-watch Christmas specials, this is one of only three items that I feel the need to watch every year – and the other two, Die Hard and the American Dad episode “Rapture’s Delight,” aren’t something I can watch with my kids just yet.

I could go on espousing the glory that is this special, but I’m sure many other people have already done so. Instead, I figured I’d take this time to list just a few odds and ends that have popped into my head upon repeat viewings.

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Comics & Quests: Against the Gods

On By Charlie BrooksIn Comics, Role-Playing GamesLeave a comment

The D&D comics produced by DC came out right at the dawn of 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, so the Time of Troubles which shaped that edition’s Forgotten Realms setting played a major role from the beginning. Characters referred to magic going awry, the gods becoming more distant, and so on. However, as the Forgotten Realms comic draws to a close, the Time of Troubles finally arrives.

What happens to the crew of the Realms Master when the gods are suddenly cast down and magic stops working? Let’s find out.

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Comics & Quests: Rites and Wrongs

On By Charlie BrooksIn Comics, Role-Playing GamesLeave a comment

All good things must come to an end. In 1991, TSR decided that they wanted to create their own line of comics, breaking the licensing agreement they had with DC. This meant the end of several ongoing titles at DC, including Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms. As such, “Rites and Wrongs” is our last tale with the adventurers from Waterdeep.

Fittingly, it all begins with some drunken carousing…

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What is the Most Important RPG Rule?

On By Charlie BrooksIn Role-Playing GamesLeave a comment

Originally published on Panic in the Skies! June 30, 2017

Role-playing games are filled with rules, sometimes spanning dozens of different books and supplements. However, most games lead off with some note in the preface that highlights the most important rule. This is Rule 0, and it’s usually there so everybody remembers to have fun. What Rule 0 is, though, varies from game to game and person to person.

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Doctor Who: Fifteen Thoughts on the Fifteenth Doctor’s Era

On By Charlie BrooksIn FilmLeave a comment

Spoilers for Doctor Who, up through June 2025, below.

The Disney+ era of Doctor Who will be the subject of much debate in the years to come, but one thing that feels certain to me is that Russell T. Davies nailed the casting of the Doctor by picking Ncuti Gatwa. With supreme charisma and talent, Ncuti presented a Doctor who was both familiar and much evolved from his previous incarnations. More emotionally open and at peace with himself, he nonetheless had the sort of flaws and inner conflict that we’ve come to expect from our favorite Time Lord.

Unfortunately, all things end, and Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor departed long before many were ready to see him go. So now that his era has come to a close, here’s some reflections on the Fifteenth Doctor’s era and what comes next.

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