HM3: The sky is the limit

I've just released the "BackgroundSky" set for use with the HeroMachine 3 Alpha. Here's a taste of the first page of items in the new set:

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While most of these can be used singly, you can get some really nice settings by toggling "multiples" on, and combining some of the Sky items with Floors. For instance, the tree with lawn from Floor layered over the rickety rope bridge also found in Floor, with the waterfall and rock item from Sky, makes for a cool jungle-explorer setting.

Drawing these environments takes a really long time, as you can hopefully see from the level of detail in them. So I understand there are a lot more Sky and Floor and other environmental goodies that could be done, but I frankly am kind of sick of them at this point. We'll circle back and fill in the (sizable) gaps before launch -- for instance, there are lots of "wizard's lab" types of items that would work great.

Also, I realize that "Sky" is probably a bad name for these, since after the first four or five items I kind of ran out of actual "sky" stuff to do, and instead is more like a "middle ground" sort of set. But I didn't think anyone would know what "middle ground" meant. The sets in this slot are all sort of a jumble, but if it's too odd I can always go back and reorganize, just let me know.

Finally, I'll be moving on to Kneepad items next. Would they go better in the FootRight and FootLeft slots, or should I put them in Legwear? And let me know any specific knee-pad types of items you would want specifically to see.

Random Panel: Great moments in bad ideas

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(From "Amazing Man" number 12, 1940.)

Random Panel: The adolescent pranks of Charles Xavier

amazingman-12-1940-sharktv

(From "Amazing Man" number 12, 1940.)

Random Panel: Worst. Super-power. Ever.

amazingman-12-1940-puddle

(From "Amazing Man" number 12, 1940.)

Random Panel: Great moments in bad first dates

amazing-man-10-1940-punch

(From "Amazing Man" number 10, 1940.)

META: Movin’ on up

Just a heads-up, I'll be in San Antonio all day helping a buddy move, so if your comments and whatnot take a while to get approved, that's why.

In the meantime, consider this an open thread, talk about whatever you like.

Tiles tiles tiles

(Hammerknight has been kind enough to assemble another set of recipes for cool stuff you can do with the HeroMachine 3 Alpha. Thanks big guy! Click on any image to embiggen it.)1

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Random Panel: On stating the bloody obvious

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(From "Amazing Man" number 10, 1946.)

Sometimes short is bad

I won't go so far as Randy Neuman did and claim that "short people got no reason to live", but I am willing to say that people who wear purple shorts with purple shirts and purple pointy-topped boots got no reason to be super-heroes:

tommy-tomorrow

Look, if you're wearing an outfit that would fit right in at a McDonaldland Playscape Junior Play Date and you're over the age of ten, you probably shouldn't even be outside, much less adventuring. My hope here is that somehow Mr. Tomorrow badly misread the corporate "Casual Friday" policy and, since he's packing heat, everyone was too scared to say anything.

I could almost live with this ridiculous get-up if it weren't for the pointy-topped skin-tight boots. If he were gadding about space in, say, some fashionable yellow or purple flip-flops, we'd be getting somewhere, like he's "Tommy Tomorrow the Space Cabana Boy" or something. I'd even be willing to spot him a pair of low-slung pointy-toed floppy Robin booties, but those things he's got on now have got to go.

And why, in the name of all that's sartorial, would you wear a long-sleeved shirt with your shorts? Do they not have thermostats in the future?

I do, though, feel happy that in the World of Tomorrow they at least they recognize that anyone willing to go out dressed like that isn't to be trusted to hold on to their gun, and so is forced to wear a tether.

At least someone up-time has some sense.

(Image and character © DC Comics, Inc.)

Random Panel: Walt Disney interviews gone bad

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(From "Day of Vengeance" number 1, ©2005 DC Comics, Inc.)