A couple of years ago, I successfully hit a writing deadline, and rewarded myself with a Think Geek shopping spree. One of the things I bought was this awesome Black Beast of Arrrggghhh. It has a Brother Maynard on the end of a string, and when you pull it, it makes a terrifying sound. And eats Brother Maynard. And there is much rejoicing. Yaaaaay.
The castle it’s lurking behind is a limited-edition Dungeon Master’s screen that was made to commemorate the release of 4e. Most of them were sent to retailers, but a few were kept and given to people who have made contributions to the gaming industry. My friend John Kovalic was instrumental in making sure this one found its way into my geeky little hands. I haven’t made contributions to the gaming community that are anywhere close to John’s, but I just couldn’t bring myself to refuse this awesome bit of geekery.
Think Geek doesn’t appear to sell the Black Beast any more (you can buy one at paizo if you want) but they sell the Killer Rabbit, and a Black Knight (who is invincible) if you find yourself suddenly in need of Holy Grail items to decorate your home or office.
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You own the Black Beast of Arrrggghhh?!? I have new respect for you. I’d kind of like to own a Holy Hand Grenade… BTW, have considered updating your blog photo? I’m probably the only freak, but now when I see the photo I think of Floyd Hansen and that’s just disturbing. And, don’t you hate it when strangers wander on to your blog and start complaining?
I need to start making deadlines for my self and rewarding my success. Maybe then I’d get some honest writing done instead of spending hours staring at a blank document. Food for thought!
For some reason, that photo made me flash back to the old Dark Tower board game. Man, I wish I still had that.
My mother was standing behind me while I was laughing at the awesomeness of the blog entry and accompanying photo, thereby foiling any and all covert attempts to buy myself a Killer Rabbit.
Guess I’ll just have to amuse myself with the coconuts I got when Spamalot came to town in ’06. They’re marked “Left” and “Right” and even come with INSTRUCTIONS on how to use them. I forsee a hoarde of pissed-off family members chasing me tonight when I’m running around the house banging the coconuts together. 😀
/amused. I want a Black Beast of Aaarrrggghhh
Have you seen that John and TLATJ welcomed a new little geek into the world last week?
See?
And there are more pictures here.
Oh man, that screen is wanted so hard.
That DM screen is beyond amazing.
Hmmmm, however I am no longer one of the Knights who say “Ni!”. I am now one of the Knights who say “neecky neecky neecky neecky neecky patang zoombong …” (that was the closest I could get LOL).
Those killer rabbit slippers is just the thing to torture my kitty with *chuckles*
Saith Wil:
“…this awesome but of geekery.”
Oh, Wil, the difference a single letter makes. 😉
-Alicia
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http://www.thewagband.com
Who needs a moat when you have the Black Beast of Aaarrgghhh peeking out from the castle walls?
And its ‘ecky ecky ecky ecky ecky pTANG! Zoom. ZWORNigm’ Maybe. I think I misspelled ecky and have one to few of them. Hrm. 5 eckys or 6?
*sniggers at the ‘but of geekery thing* Heh.
That is the most beautiful piece of geekery I’ve ever seen.
I literally gasped in awe of it.
That makes me want to break into storage and get all my D & D toys from the 80’s out, I don’t have a D & D castle. Does castle grayskull count? I have an orc, a skeleton horse, a dragon, man! I gotta go diggin. I have battlecat sitting on my desk. I should really get these appraised there atleast, holy shit old. I’d better not, I’ll just get out a shogun warrior and start flinging sharp objects.
They had one of those amazing DM screens at Gameday here in Seattle for the release of 4th edition. And they are seriously awesome. I had to go inspect it closely, and discovered 3 things that aren’t instantly obvious upon looking at it. First they have a nice little shelf on the DM’s side for placing all the figures you plan on throwing at the players that day. Second while you can kind of make it out in the photo, that is indeed the demon face from the old PHB on the front of the screen right above the “gate”. And finally, my god is that thing ever heavy. I mean seriously it weighs a ton. Any thoughts I had of trying to abscond with it quickly went out the door (no, no, I would never steal, but damn that thing is awfully tempting) as any attempt to take it would have required a full team of rogues or a Tenser’s floating disc just to get it out of there. Good on you for scoring one, I hope you put it too good use.
I covet that Black Beast. I found a hat that’s the head of the Black Beast and was trying to persuade my brother to either dress up as that or Tim the Enchanter for Halloween. I’m dressing up as Sir Gallahad (I’ve always had a Michael Palin crush) which is proving to make my weekend a living hell as I’m trying to finish up my tabard. But at least I have the coconut shells! (can I bribe anyone to be my horse?)
Awww, man, that rocks! Be careful though, you know that it can only be vanquished by the death of the writer. 😉
I wish I had sticky fingers way back when I was studying theater. The props guys were teaching us the joys of casting resin. Pulled out an orb with two bands wrapping it and a cross on top. I laughed out loud and called it the Holy Hand Grenade. Only a quarter of the class got the joke. Sooo disappointing.
*is jealous*
I’m the kind of person who, when visiting someone, I find myself perusing their book shelf.
*squints*
I have the killer bunny, still encased in it’s safety box^H^H^Hcage. I’ve had it for a while now. It seems to be the only rabbit I’m not allergic to. Unless you count death as an allergy. I love the picture, though. It is the exactly perfect place for the beast.
Thats very cool!!!
Maybe i should try rewarding myself when i achieve my goals.
I also think its totally freaking tight that you are a gamer!!!
(Xbox 360 gamers Unite!!!)
I also – hope to become a writer , some day, (like you).
Lee
great DM screen!
@ tomservojr
you may not have your old Dark Tower board game but there’s this:
http://www.hotflashgames.com/darktower.htm
Suddenly find the need???
There is ALWAYS the need!! But unfortunately there is never always the money . . . 🙁
“Green with envy” does not begin to describe my feelings right now. Also, envious.
I’d part with a Benjamin without batting an eye, just to be able to hide behind that bad boy while I hurled polyhedral death at the PCs.
Someone needs to start selling them or reasonable facsimiles thereof, preferably in modular kit form, pronto.
It makes me feel like less of a geek that the only book I can recognize from that small selection is the Requiem book.
But to add to the Knights of Ni debate I recall the change as “Icky icky icky icky p-tang and Niii whomp”
^_^
Ok so first off, how awesome can you get by puttin dugeons and dragons with the Holy Grail? It’s like…well the Holy Grail…lol…
As this is my first time posting I also have to say that my other windows open include a WoW forum discussion on Warlocks, a WarHammer 40k site, and of course am looking up The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the galaxy as mine was borrowed and never returned.
Have no idea what to post on this so I’m Abby and if anyone here wants a new friend or wants to talk…e-mail me! should be fun!
Heya, Wil.
I really don’t mean to be a downer, but … wouldn’t it be more true to the spirit of geekery to give that screen to someone who is currently gaming? Just sayin’.
(And no, I don’t mean me. I play every weekend, but I’m not personally a fan of DM screens.)
Black Beast of Arrrggghhh. It has a Brother Maynard on the end of a string, and when you pull it, it makes a terrifying sound. And eats Brother Maynard.
This. Has to be the Best. Toy. Ever. I can’t stop laughing. FTW! *goes shopping* Thank you so much for posting this. 🙂
The addition of the Black Beast really does make that picture work.
Although if I were playing a PC with the Black Beast of Aaarrrggghhh running the game I’d just start rolling up a new character right away, wouldn’t you?
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http://www.thejamesrocket.com
I just gooed all over my computer screen!!
BTW: did a 4e D&D weekend two weekends ago and it was awesome!
Note to geeky parents like me: Playing with your son or daughter is the GREATEST gift. EVER!
Playing with your son or daughter AND YOUR WIFE?? PRICELESS!
My hubby gave me this Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/holy_hand_grenade.jpg
First thou pullest the Holy Pin….
The DM screen is awesome, but maybe it could use a couple of shrubberies in front? You know, with one slightly higher than the other so you get a little two-level effect with a path running down the middle? (A path! A path! Ni!)
On the subject of humor (but otherwise totally OT):
http://www.safenow.org/
A humor site exploring ambiguous symbols on Homeland Security’s readiness web page … one of my favorites shows a split screen of a guy with a whistle, back to back with a bald guy shouting:
“If you spot terrorism, blow your anti-terrorism whistle. If you are Vin Diesel, yell really loud.”