Geek Gear: Dice Rings

My friend Sam recently brought this project to my attention. This is a Kickstarter project that has met and exceeded its goal. You can check it out here.

The creative folks behind this Kickstarter have created high quality "dice rings" made out of etched stainless steel. Each ring has one or more independently spinning outer ring that is fitted into a grove on the inner ring. Instead of "2d6" to represent 2 six sided dice, they note each die with and "r" so if you wanted to spin two six siders it would be "2r6."

Pretty clever. I can't say I would necessarily use them myself but I applaud the effort.

Dice Rings

Geek Gear: Tetris Ice Cube Tray

Tetris Ice Cube Maker

Alright, now this may be the coolest of all of the Tetris gear I've seen. It's a Tetris ice cube tray that creates all of the basic Tetris shapes made out of ice.

This just sounds endless hours of mindless fun to me. I would be that person that would buy, like, 15 of them, add food dye to water and make colored frozen blocks and then spend an entire evening playing my own home-made frozen Tetris game. Hey, don't judge! I write for a geek blog, what do you want?

But, if you're normal, you'd just serve drinks to your guest with Tetris block shaped ice cubes in them and smile as they sip from the glasses, blissfully unaware that in the liquid swirling around are the shapes from a video game come to frozen life.

Heh.

Okay, maybe I am weirder than I thought.

Geek Gear: Tetris Heat-Changing Mug

Mugs are boring. Everybody knows that. But this mug has a pretty cool gimmick.


It's a Tetris mug, inspired by the video game Tetris. When you pour hot liquid into it, the display changes to show a more advanced game display. Pretty cool!

Of course, it's not perfect though. The heated display says "Level 11" and "15 Lines" when everyone knows that you need ten lines to pass a level so it should be 115 lines. Duh!

Anyway, perfect or not, this throwback to a simpler era of video games is pretty sweet.

Look! The long blue piece is about to fall and make a Tetris! Sweet!

Geek Gear: Cyclon Target Practice

Cyclon Centurion

Prepare for the coming of the machines with this Cyclon target! Recently these targets have started coming in a wide variety of fantasy themes from Zombies to Lizardmen so why not Cylons? After all, this was the same image used on targets in Battlestar Galactica and it has been reproduced as precisely screen-accurate!

Notice the size of the paper - that's not just a picture taken at an angle. The actual paper is the same trapezoidal shape as all of the paper from Battlestar Galactica! How cool is that?

Geek Gear: Evolution of a Cylon Poster

That last evolutionary jump was the biggest and most important one.

I don't think this one needs a whole lot of explanation. Funny and smart and for any fan of Battlestar Galactica. 

Geek Gear: Hungry Birds T-Shirt

Hungry Birds T-Shirt

This item is a double whammy. It manages to parody TWO major properties at the same time! How clever!

Of course, we all know Angry Birds and the Hunger Games at this point. Replace the Mockingjay from the famous Hunger Games pin with an Angry Bird and you've got the "Hungry Birds" T-Shirt!

This one is sure to make some folks do a double take because they're so used to seeing the Hunger Games pin and this shirt's design is similar but with a major tweak.

So what's next - Angry Games? I'm pretty sure that's already called UFC.

Geek Gear: Fat Tony Figure

Fat Tony the Tiger

This item caught my attention just for its sheer audacity. Fat Tony the Tiger speaks to me on so many levels. It manages to be a parody, social commentary, and a toy at the same time.

Everyone knows that sugary cereals have put a toy in the box for years to entice children into demanding that particular cereal. So to make a toy that points out just how fattening these cereals are is just brilliant.

But then to specifically target Tony the Tiger is beyond brilliant because Tony is often showed succeeding in a variety of athletic endeavors. This implies that if  you eat Frosted Flakes you'll be able to slam dunk and run a marathon. It is doubtful that Olympic level athletes consider Frosted Flakes to be a good part of a diet for serious athletes.

Then look at the box it comes in. Free Ritalin inside! Killkidds, not "Kellogg's!" "A Ton of Tiger with a Short Shelf Life!" Heh. Now that's funny.

Geek Gear: Settlers of Catan Plush Robber Set

Catan Robber Set

This one kinda mystifies me. If you recall, awhile back a set of plush resource dolls was released for Settlers of Catan. Were they cute? Yes. Were they stupid? Yes. Did they have an actual in-game function that allowed you to play with them during the game and impacted how you played the game? Yes. So you ended up with a cute but stupid game accessory.

Which is why these robbers mystify me. I've tried to do research on them and as near as I can tell they have no in-game function. So what are they for? I mean, they don't even really qualify as cute in my opinion. So what you wind up with is are weird and stupid dolls that just happen to have the name Catan attached to them. I mean, there aren't even three robbers in the game - just one.

So, how could you use these dolls in game? Well, here's what I came up with. The dolls start nearby but not "in play." When someone rolls a 7 and moves the in-game robber (but not playing a solider card) they can claim a robber doll from the side until they are all claimed. Once all three robber plushes are claimed by players any further 7's would cause someone to be able to steal a robber plush in addition to stealing resources. The rules for this would be the same - you would have to move the robber onto a hex that that person is getting resources from. If, at any one time, someone has all three robber plushes he scores 2 points, the equivalent of longest road or largest army. He is declared the Thief Lord! As an opinion, you could make these points permanent and say that the robber plushes could no longer be stolen. As another option, you could say that a player could take resources equal to the number of thief plushes they have plus one. For example - if you had two thief plushes and roll a 7 and move the robber you would steal three resources from the players affected in any combination (2 from 1 player and 1 from another, 3 from one player, or 1 from 3 different players).

So while these dolls may not have come with a in-game play mechanic, you can see that you could easily grant them one should you choose to.

Geek Gear: Darth Vader and Son Picture Book

Together, we can rule the galaxy! And go out for ice cream.

Ever wonder what would have happened if Darth Vader has actually raised Luke? Well, wonder no longer! Thanks to the comical picture book "Darth Vader and Son!"

How would Darth Vader deal with the trials and tribulations of an average dad? If you're a father you know what I'm talking about. The reason God hasn't given us force powers is because our children know how to push us to the Dark Side.

But force powers could be quite practical as a parent as well... "No, I said you're going to clean    your     room..." (Wave hands) Who needs a remote when you can change the channel with the force? And imagine being able to force choke any of your daughter's boyfriends. It never works, no matter how hard I try. *sigh*

But I also wonder about Leia. Where's the "Darth Vader's Little Leia" book? Surely that would be equally hilarious.

Geek Gear: Lightsaber Flashlights

Lightsaber flashlight

Seriously? This was never done before?

This one seems like a natural. After all, a flashlight and lightsaber are both the same basic shape and they both shoot light out of the end.

There are currently two - Vader and Luke's lightsabers. They feature sound effects as well as light! They're seven inches... I wonder how well they actually work as a flashlight? For $25 the answer had better be "Very well!"

I do think that they missed out on naming these things. Instead of repeating the word "light" perhaps they should be called a Flashlightsaber.

Geek Gear: Tiger Cologne, Black Widow Perfume

Black Widow Perfume (for Women)

Tiger Cologne (for Men)

These two items speak for themselves. Comic books have now officially been integrated into everything. They even have a car called "Avenger." Surely these two fragrances are the first two comic book-inspired scents.

Tiger is a cologne for men featuring the iconic first image of Miss Mary Jane Watson saying, "Face it tiger... You just hit the Jackpot!" If this was from the movie Anchorman they would say it was made with chunks of real tiger. As it is, the solicitation describes it as "elegant and very masculine" and "It just seems to tingle all over." Well, 1LR would advise against putting Tiger cologne ALL over.

BLack Widow is a perfume for women. Now I'd be worried if my wife actually owned this. I don't want her to romance the notion of being a widow! The solicitation for this perfume frankly just sounds gross, describing the scent of the perfume as "A spider spindling silently from above," and saying it is for, "Those who can navigate the high-tension tightrope of love and duty." What duty are they talking about exactly? I don't want to know.

So while 1LR applauds the inventiveness behind these two fragrances, we question the marketing department's choice of words. They could have just said, "Hey geeks - take a shower, shave, and put on some cologne. Women like Mary Jane will like you more!" They probably would have sold more bottles that way. Just sayin'.

Geek Gear: Nintendo Figures

10-Doh! cartridge figures

From the company 10-Doh! (get it... (Nin)-ten-do!) comes these cut little figures. They're shaped like a classic Nintendo video game cartridge.

Each figure is 3 1/2 inches tall and figures a spoof of a popular video game.

Nostalgia rules!

What's not cool is that they decided to make the gold cartridges "rare" with only one per case! While I wouldn't mind owning some of these cool little buggers and I don't mind even buying blind while do some need to be rarer than others?

So I don't advise trying to buy them all but it would still be cool to sit some out at work and see who recognizes them for what they are.

Geek Gear: Marvel Dolls

Tonner Marvel Doll Collection

What's the difference between a doll and an action figure? Especially when the same characters have been made into both?

I would say that an action figure is designed for "rough play" and recreating battle scenes and the like. You don't dress up an action figure.

A doll, on the other hand, is more about fashion and hair than fighting.

Enter Tonner's Marvel Doll Collection. Tonner has many doll lines including Harry Potter.

This line includes Black Cat, Elektra, Scarlet Witch, Phoenix, Ms. Marvel, Rogue, and more. Essentially, you have Barbie but dressed up as your favorite super heroes.

While I personally can't see myself buying any of these dolls, I thought the development was noteworthy and wanted to report it to my faithful 1LR readers!

Geek Gear: Watchmen Rorschach Toaster

Rorschach Toaster

Hurm. Are you seeing things in your food? Perhaps Mary or Jesus? Well, you can now see anything your twisted psyche can project onto random black blobs thanks to this Watchmen toaster! As you can see, it prints a blob on your toast, just like a Rorschach Test that inspired the character design for Rorschach!

As cool as this toaster is, it would be even cooler still if it made a DIFFERENT blob every time you made toast instead of the same shape over and over again.

The Watchmen Splotch

The Dynamic Forces solicitation in Previews states that this is the first in a line of collector toasters. SERIOUSLY? Who out there is looking to collect toasters? Sure, I understand picking one up just to give yourself a giggle every morning but to collect an entire line of them? Insanity!

The ad smartly advises that you might want to eat your toast with a cold can of beans just like Rorschach does. I personally would say that you should put a single splotch of red jelly in the corner. See if you can get the shape just right.

Geek Gear: Batarang and Grapnel Gun Replicas

Batman Begins Grapnel Gun

Batman Begins Batarang

Prop replicas - how I love you. Let me count the ways. 1) Batarang. 2) Grapnel Gun. Sigh. Love at first sight.

Previously, I had shared a Batarang prop from the Arkham City video game. While I think that one was actually cooler because Batman's hand holding it and the LED lights turned it into a central piece for any room, I think the more subdued framed Batarang presented here is a more subtle approach. 

The Batarang measures nine inches long while the grapnel gun is 16 inches long! They don't come cheap but they'll look amazing on your wall!

Geek Gear: Deadpool Pencil Cup

I think putting this thing on your desk would cause your boss to think twice before dropping that big project on you at noon on Friday. But you've got to keep your pencils and pens organized SOMEHOW, don't you?

The throwing stars are the icing on the cake for me on this one. I don't even like Deadpool but this thing is just cool.

Geek Gear: Cardboard Figures - Cheap Genius!

Let me set the record straight: I strongly dislike using miniatures in role playing games. I'd much rather see the action in my head and ask the DM, "Am I able to..." than move my six squares trying not to give combat advantage and take any opportunity attacks. In my opinion, miniatures slow combat down to a crawl and are no fun.

I don't care about painting miniatures or how cool they look. If you MUST have miniatures, broken piece of glass, bottle cap, or a soggy pretzel would be just fine with me. After all, it's simply a token representing my character's location on a grid. Who cares what it looks like?

All of this is to say that I am happy about several developments: Wizards has been packaging double sided token in with some of their recent releases (Gamma World, DnD4e), Printable PDF markers have been increasing in number and quality, and cardboard stand-up miniatures are making a comeback.

Want a legion of durable, 3D, full color miniatures on the cheap? Cardboard Heroes are for you. I still have my complete classic Marvel RPG cardboard miniature collection. Those were triangular prisms that were fairly easy to knock over. The new line of cardboard miniatures is flat (showing the front and the back of the character) and is affixed to a plastic base or glued onto a penny. This makes for a much more stable miniature.

They make them for every genre you can imagine AND they make cool prop scenery as well. Need a dungeon? How about a castle? Cardboard miniatures are the way to go.

Geek Gear: World's Largest Gummy Worm!

Did you ever have the hankering for... say... 128 gummy worms at once? Well, if you said yes, consider your prayers to be answered! I present to you, from the very sick minds at www.vat19.com, the World's Largest Gummy Worm! It's 4,000 glorious, sugary calories. And, yes, they have the World's Largest Gummy Bear as well (it's five pounds... equal to 1,400 regularly sized gummy bears).

Gear Gear: Table of Catan

This idea was sent in from John C...

I'm a huge Settlers of Catan fan so when John C sent me this link (tableofcatan.com) I couldn't resist checking it out.

Table of Catan!

The Table of Catan is a table with the catan game board build into the table. Sounds pretty cool but... who would buy this? The oak table retails for just under $400. That's a lot of Catan! Doesn't a card table for $10 work just as well? I mean, it might be cool to have if you're super rich but I could think of plenty of ways to spend $400 that don't involve a table specifically designed to play a $40 game on. What about Seafarers or Cities and Knights (or other variants)? They don't fit nicely into this table, apparently.

Good idea, but I wonder how many of these they've actually sold. You've got to REALLY, REALLY love Catan to purchase this table. So, John, invite me over when you buy one so I can play on it.

G.I.JOE #8 Lottery Scratch-Off Cover

Now I've seen some pretty gimmicky comic book covers. There have been holograms, foil, glow-in the dark, die-cuts, lenticular art, sketch variant, gatefold, and embossed covers. I'm sure I even missed a few. But I've never heard of a scratch-off cover... until now. That's right - G.I. Joe #8 has a scratch off cover like a lottery ticket. The prize? You get to see the new Cobra Commander's face... five minutes before you read the issue. Either that or it ruins the surprised for the next issue.

This has got to be the stupidest promotion I've heard of since the cut-and-collect "Marvel Value Stamps" which you were suppose to cut out of your comics and paste into an album. The only thing those stamps did was drive up the value of the comics that weren't cut up! Likewise for this G.I.Joe promotion... who's going to actually scratch off the cover of their comic? This promotion shows a complete lack of understanding of comic book fans. The only people I can see doing that would be folks who actually buy an extra copy just to scratch. Which is probably what IDW is counting on to boost up their sales. Lame.

Oh, and I don't want to ruin it for anybody but the new Cobra Commander is... Polly from Polly Pockets.