Category: Review

Books, Review, Role Playing Games, The Laid Back Dungeon Master6 Comments

13th Age – Storytelling and innovation set this Fantasy RPG apart from other D&D-derivatives

Laidback DM

13th Age is an interesting fantasy role playing game. It’s meat and potatoes RPG elements are very much in the vein of Dungeons and Dragons, but it differentiates with a number of interesting and innovative mechanics, some of which are transferrable to other D20 systems. Continue reading 13th Age – Storytelling and innovation set this Fantasy RPG apart from other D&D-derivatives

Alpha Girl, Beta Max and Me, Books, Review, Role Playing Games, Writing6 Comments

Symbaroum – a tabletop fantasy RPG that reeks of deep darkness, blighted evil and drawn out death. Fun!

Laidback DM

A while back I bought a tabletop RPG called Symbaroum. It’s a dark-edged fantasy set in a kingdom on the edge of Davokar, a massive forest consumed with corruption, wherein lies ruins of the ancient kingdom of Symbaroum. Continue reading Symbaroum – a tabletop fantasy RPG that reeks of deep darkness, blighted evil and drawn out death. Fun!

Music, Review5 Comments

Rock Cliché in Spades (“Night People” album review)

Laidback DM

You Me At Six are an English alt-rock band with four successful albums under their belt. They’ve released a new album, Night People.

Night People is short and to the point, clocking in at just over 35 minutes for 10 songs. It has a polished and commercial sound, leaning heavily on 70’s and 80’s hard rock influences. Continue reading Rock Cliché in Spades (“Night People” album review)

Alpha Girl, Beta Max and Me, Review, Writing4 Comments

Finding Disney (or, feeding the beast with two ears)

Laidback DM

I remember a time when Disney was home to saccharine kid’s movies and animated classics. I remember a time when I used to watch the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday night, replaying their catalogue of old movies in two parts, once a week. There weren’t that many Disney products around at the time, aside from a glut of lunchboxes, books and viewmasters (those 3D viewer thingies with the round picture wheels – remember them? Probably not). Disney was just a struggling movie company with some interesting theme parks. Continue reading Finding Disney (or, feeding the beast with two ears)

Alpha Girl, Beta Max and Me, Music, Review, Writing4 Comments

The Muso Who Said: No More! Or was it no, more…

Laidback DM

I have been a serious musician for about 25 years or so. I play guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and sing. I write my own music and have made seven albums. (And, yes, I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my music – so, sue me.) I have very broad musical tastes; I like metal, punk, jazz, pop, funk, rap, classical, and opera, to name a few styles. But in all my time as a serious muso, I have never, ever admitted to liking the music of Taylor Swift. Continue reading The Muso Who Said: No More! Or was it no, more…

Music, Review3 Comments

Sting’s “57th & 9th” – a review through the eyes of a jaded muso

Laidback DM

The first thing that struck me when comparing 57th & 9th with Sting’s previous material is how stripped back it is. His recent reunion tour with The Police has been an obvious influence. I saw Sting playing live on TV the other night and he had a three-piece backing band supporting him as he played bass, rather than the large ensembles he usually tours with. The material on 57th & 9th has a leaner production and drier mix than previously (tighter, less involved arrangements and less reverb, for those not in the know). Continue reading Sting’s “57th & 9th” – a review through the eyes of a jaded muso