Nerd Culture Podcast

Episode #51 features:

Popcorn Junkie: Star Trek: Into Darkness

Round Table: Tabletop Games

And an awesome Competition! You can win the first 5 Dark Tower HCs, thanks to All Star Comics Melbourne!

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Star Trek blu-ray

Star Trek – Original Films blu-ray box set

Talisman

Magic: The Gathering

Dungeons & Dragons – starter set

Welcome to the thirty-ninth instalment of Who Review, my ongoing quest to review all available episodes of TV’s longest running SF series, Doctor Who. This week, the Doctor celebrates his 10th anniversary by teaming up with his past selves in The Three Doctors.

EPISODES

The Three Doctors

BROADCAST DATES

30 December1972 – 20 January1973 (4 episodes)

THE DOCTOR

Jon Pertwee

Patrick Troughton

William Hartnell

THE COMPANIONS

Jo Grant

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Comic Review by a Comics Newbie

For my review this week I am looking at Green Arrow Year One. With the new show Arrow starting a few months ago (which I must admit I have not watched yet) there seems to be a bit of buzz for Green Arrow so I thought I would get in on it.

I came across Green Arrow Year One a few weeks ago when the great folk at All Star Comics posted that the trade was back in print so I jumped on the opportunity and bought one for myself. I must also admit that I went into reading this with a bit of trepidation after hearing on the Nerd Culture Podcast that the Green Arrow’s venture into the New 52 did not go down to well. Thankfully this series was written a few years before the New 52 (phew).

Green Arrow Year One is a limited series containing 6 issues written by Andy Diggle and Jock. You may remember these two names from my previous review of Snapshot. Green Arrow Year One is the story of how Oliver Queen goes from rich play boy with no care in the world to Green Arrow. The stories main location is a seemingly desolate island where Oliver Queen must recuperate after being left for dead in the ocean.

Andy Diggle did a great job with the story. I am not always a quick comic reader in that I usually will take a break in between issues, but this time I got through the six issues in a non-stop session lasting  just over an hour. The story was very well written and each issue kept building the story and the character of Oliver Queen. If I had been sitting on a chair while reading I would have been sitting on the edge of that chair.

The artwork of Jock was of a very high quality. A highlight in the artwork was when Green Arrow was battling with an aeroplane. Another highlight was a panel showing artistically how opium was affecting Green Arrow during his recovery. The opium related artwork reminded me of the novel Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. If you ever get the chance I highly recommend you give it a read.

I give Green Arrow Year One 5/5 Lukes. This has been one of the most enjoyable comics I have read and definitely the most enjoyable title that I have reviewed so far.

As this was my first Green Arrow read I would love to hear any suggestions for other Green Arrow stories I should sink my teeth into, as well as any feedback you may have. Please comment below or you can contact me via Twitter @bennykane1983.

For my next review I will be looking at Archer & Armstrong Issue 0 which I am looking forward to, as I have been enjoying the Archer & Armstrong series.

Benny

Here is another talent spec that was original inspired by a suggestion from WoW Yoda fan, Zendfrim, for the purpose of Healing in a PvP environment. If you would like to request a certain type of spec for a class, I’m always open, just let me know what class, and what you want it to do!

Click here to see the spec on WoWHead!

Natural Selection is able to heal and if need be, deal some damage while staying alive long enough to have your allies cheer for you afterward. In order to complete this, high amounts of combat mobility is a prerequisite.  Wild Charge more than completes this goal, in the fact that you can fly to an allies location, charge at an enemy, or leap behind your foe. With all of the heal over time spells that are instant cast, mobility is further enhanced, but if those weren’t enough, Nature’s Swiftness was included to allow several heals (which will be empowered), and a few utility spells to be used instantly. Couple that with an instant Swift Mend to make your next spell take 75% less time to cast thanks to your Soul of the Forest. Also, another instant to keep foes off of your back will be Mass Entanglement as well as Glyph of Prowl. For any one on one situations (which you will mostly likely have to wait out until a friend comes along, or use the previously mentioned abilities to get to a friend faster) Mighty Bash will give you a few precious seconds to either heal up or get away.

Also, for just movement in general, the Glyphs of Stag, Aquatic Form and Grace are added for getting around in general, not just for yourself, but for an ally as well in the case of Glyph of the Stag.

As for assistance with your healing or damage, Nature’s Vigil is a real treat (if only it was there before!). This ability increases your damage and healing by 10% for 30 seconds. Not only that, but when you deal damage, 25% gets added as a heal to a nearby ally, or when you heal, 25% of the health gain will be dealt as damage (which is the important part). So, if you have all of your heal over time effects on a friend, you will be constantly be streaming damage to your enemy. Throw in a Moonfire on your enemy, and that will constantly put a small heal on your friend (or yourself). Also, don’t forget about Glyph of Rejuvenation and Healing Touch. These are great not only on their own, but work along with Nature’s Vigil as well to really help turn around any skirmish. Also, for any major situation, don’t forget Iron Bark and that your Mastery: Harmony will greatly increase your survivability as well as your friend’s (especially Harmony for the case of Nature’s Vigil).

Welcome to the thirty-eighth instalment of Who Review, my ongoing quest to review all available episodes of TV’s longest running SF series, Doctor Who. This week, The Master returns once more to battle the Doctor in The Time Monster.

EPISODES

The Time Monster

BROADCAST DATES

20 May – 24 June 1972 (6 episodes)

THE DOCTOR

Jon Pertwee

THE COMPANIONS

Jo Grant

(more…)