Neal Litherland
Bio
Neal Litherland is an author, freelance blogger, and RPG designer. A regular on the Chicago convention circuit, he works in a variety of genres.
Blog: Improved Initiative and The Literary Mercenary
Stories (338)
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5 Unusual Martial Arts For Your Monks
Every character class has its stereotypes, but out of all the base classes it is the monk who's usually put into the narrowest box. However, sometimes all it can take to change our view of a character class is to look at them through a different lens. If you want to change up the flavor and style of your next monk, then consider using some of the following fighting styles in their template instead of the more traditional ones we see around the table.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Gamers
5 Tips For Roleplaying Characters With Mental Disorders
Roleplaying games allow us to become different people, and to tell stories in unique, unusual worlds. While these characters may vary from nearly-immortal elves, to vampires hiding in the cracks of modern-day society, to grizzled private investigators seeking the truth behind ancient cults, one aspect that's become more common over the years is characters who are created with (or who develop) mental disorders.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Gamers
A Recipe For Poor Man's Crepes
Since I've been keeping to myself even more than usual since Covid-19 hit in March, I've been trying to rebalance my skill set with all of this extra time I found on my hands. While I've had several craft projects from fabric painting to wood burning, one of the big gaps on my resume was cooking. Since I've had roughly half a year of experimentation in my kitchen at this point, I figured it was time to step back and share some of my more successful recipes with you fine, discerning readers.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Feast
Table Attorneys Vs. Rules Lawyers: How To Be Fair Without Bogging Down Your Game
If you've been throwing funny-shaped dice around a table for any length of time, then you've heard the term rules lawyer before. Generally speaking it refers to a player (though it can apply to dungeon masters as well) who in a rules-based environment will attempt to use the letter of the rules rather than the spirit of them in order to leverage advantage for themselves. This term is most commonly found in tabletop RPGs and wargames, but if you've ever worked in a corporate environment you may have met a real-life rules lawyer in the break room.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Gamers
Partners and Polycules: Polyamorous Designations Based Off Dungeons and Dragons Dice
There's a joke in dating circles that the true intention of polyamorous people is not to host debaucherous weekend orgies, but to simply acquire enough partners that they'll always be able to muster a full party for a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Those who are (or who have dated) polyamorous gamers know there's more than a little truth to this particular knee-slapper.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Humans
Creamy Yogurt Jello: An Ideal Dessert For Those Looking To Lose Weight
About a year and some change ago I started getting serious about my weight. I wasn't in my 20s anymore, and I had to acknowledge that I couldn't just spend more time at the gym if I really wanted to slim down and lose my burgeoning stomach. While I managed to get my meals figured out using portion control (more on that struggle in How I Lost 40 Pounds by Eating More Taco Bell), one area that always dogged me was dessert. I have a large sweet tooth, and I am one of those people who firmly believes a serving size of ice cream is whenever you hear your spoon hitting the bottom of the carton.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Feast
What Does "Blood Is Thicker Than Water" Really Mean?
You remember that one time when you really wanted to spend Friday night with your friends, staying up late, watching terrible movies and just blowing off steam from the stress of the week, but you were told in no uncertain terms that you were going to your sister's recital. No matter what logical arguments you could come up with as to why you should be excused from this family outing (you being there won't make the music any better, you've already heard the performance dozens of times thanks to her incessant practicing, your sister actually swore a vow to kill you the next time she saw you), the elders probably intoned some version of the phrase, "blood is thicker than water," to still any further protestations on your part.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Humans
Robocop is Lawful Good
The film Robocop is held up by many as a classic that combines science fiction with political commentary. On its surface it's a story about a cop who finds himself in the center of a clandestine program to create the ultimate law enforcement agent. He struggles to solve his own murder after become a cybernetic agent of the law, uncovers corruption, and does what he can to clean up the city. Beneath the surface, though, it's a movie about how corporations treat people as little more than objects, how power corrupts, and how even those with good intentions are often bound by societal norms that stop them from doing the right thing.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in Gamers
Remaking "The Princess Bride" For Real? Is There a Way To Do It?
The Internet had a collective gasp recently when we heard there was going to be a remake of The Princess Bride. While it turned out to be a parody remake made during quarantine for Quibi by a star-studded cast of performers working from home, according to Tor, the conversations surrounding the film got my brain churning.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Geeks
What is a Wizard?
Thanks to the Harry Potter series, and other works of more modern fantasy like the Dresden Files, wizards have become cool again. Though they were once relegated to the pages of dime novel fantasy and Dungeons and Dragons role playing books, or found only as supporting cast members in old fairy tales and myths, today's wizards have shaved off their beards, hit the gym, and become powerful protectors of humanity in modern fiction. The re-imagining has led a lot of fans to question why wizards were always learned old gray beards with a penchant for philosophy, though. Is it just a stereotype that was built upon cultural touchstones, or was there something more to it?
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Futurism
What is a Witch?
Language evolves over time to fit the needs of the culture that speaks it. Every time a new idea or concept enters that culture, the language changes to embrace it. As time progresses old ideas might fall by the wayside, and the words once used to describe them find new or different meanings. Tracing the definitions and meanings over the years as they spread from one culture to another is a bit like examining the fossil record, showing the full development of a word from what it is today to what it was hundreds of years ago.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Futurism
The Punisher is Evil
The avatar of the modern anti-hero, Frank Castle's death's head symbol is recognized all around the world. A Marine Corps veteran whose family was killed by the mob for witnessing a crime they shouldn't have seen, Frank was failed by the justice system as the men responsible walked free. Taking up the bloody trade of the soldier once again, he declared war on the underworld, and he's been stacking bodies like cordwood ever since.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Geeks
