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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What is a Paladin?
When you hear the word paladin a certain vision comes to mind; a knight in burnished armor, standing tall on a field of challenge and awaiting his opponent. Perhaps he's astride a white charger, getting ready to do battle with the forces of evil. The word itself tends to refer to champions of honor, duty, and whose inherent goodness is displayed in their acts...
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in The Swamp
How To Build Harley Quinn in The Pathfinder RPG
Harley Quinn is an iconic member of Batman's rogues gallery, and she's perhaps the only villain with staying power created as part of the influential Batman: The Animated Series. She debuted in the early 90s, and it wasn't until 1994 that her backstory was fully explained. A former gymnast, Harleen Quinzel was trying to do good work with the patients are Arkham Asylum. The madman who fascinated her the most, though, was the Joker. Rather than helping him, though, Harleen fell completely under his sway. She helped him escape, and even dressed herself in motley as the infamous Harley Quinn. While she's gone through several changes since then, including a stint as an anti-hero when she joined the Suicide Squad, she remains one of the most popular characters DC has ever created.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
How To Build Poison Ivy in The Pathfinder RPG
In her original life, Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley was something of a shrinking violet. Dedicated to her work, she was naive, and easily led astray. The victim of casual experimentation, Pamela developed strange abilities like an immunity to toxins, and a strange affinity with plants. She also suffered from violent mood swings, and adopted the persona of Poison Ivy. Known primarily as an eco-terrorist, Ivy is not someone you want to cross. For those looking to bring a version of her to your Pathfinder game, here's a simple guide to get you started.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
5 Hacks For A Smoother, Cleaner Shave
If you shave on a regular basis, you might think you know everything you need to about getting a close, smooth shave that leave you looking your best. However, if you've been shaving the same way for a dozen years, you might want to take a closer look at how you're doing it. Because if you're like me (and most folks I talk to), there's a chance you're still doing things the hard way.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Lifehack
How To Build Bane in The Pathfinder RPG
Bane, while he has been criticized for being a villain who came out of nowhere before nearly killing Batman, has risen above his origin to become one of the most feared members of the Rogues' Gallery. Vicious, cunning, and inhumanly strong thanks to his access to the drug known only as Venom, Bane is a serious threat even to someone as skilled and experienced at the Dark Knight. He's been a villain, an anti-hero, and a member of organizations both foul and, at times, heroic. If nothing else, he is a man of great strength and skill, regardless of the cause he happens to be working for. For those who want to bring that kind of powerhouse to their Pathfinder game, this guide should get you started on the right path.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
Secret Societies: Who Were The Assassins?
The Assassins were a group so feared, and whose reach was so far, that their very name became synonymous with murder for political means. While most of their history was lost with the fall of their strongholds, we do know some things about this organization, its founder, and the actions of its followers. And while they didn't invent parkour (at least not officially), they were certainly the auteur geniuses who came up with using the constant threat of knives in the dark as a way to keep a populace in line.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in The Swamp
How To Build Killer Croc in The Pathfinder RPG
Waylon Jones, more famously known as Killer Croc, did not lead a happy life. Raised by an alcoholic aunt, universally reviled and outcast for a skin condition that gave him a beastly appearance, he spent his youth in and out of juvenile correction. When he reached manhood, and had done a stretch of hard time, he took a job wrestling crocodiles in a sideshow. With his colossal strength, natural swimming abilities, and hunger for power and control, he took the name Killer Croc before turning to a life of crime. Quite the resume, and if you'd like to have your own brand of heavy-hitting thug that fits Killer Croc's M.O. in your Pathfinder game, this guide should get you started.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
The Truth About "The Anarchist Cookbook"
The Anarchist Cookbook is, at least according to street legends and the chatroom rumor mill, the holy grail of do-it-yourself mayhem. The book supposedly gives you the knowledge to brew your own at-home drugs, teaches you how to build bombs, and shows you how to make zip guns.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Lifehack
How To Build Catwoman in The Pathfinder RPG
Selina Kyle, alias Catwoman, has had nearly as many incarnations as Batman. A sometime hero, sometime villain, Catwoman is out for herself as often as she is on the side of either right or wrong. No one can deny her phenomenal skills as a burglar and thief though, and having her in your party can mean the difference between getting the treasure with no one the wiser, and having to fight tooth and nail for every inch of dungeon you get through.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
Was The Pirate Code a Real Thing?
Pirates remain one of our most romanticized groups of villains, from Captain Hook in Peter Pan to Long John Silver in Treasure Island, pirates have become a part of our stories, and our cultural mythology. Even in this modern day, buccaneers have taken center stage thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which brings back the legends of Davy Jones, The Flying Dutchman, and other common myths that were found in general sailing culture, and specifically in the golden age of piracy during the 1600s.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Criminal
Who Was The Real Captain Morgan?
Captain Morgan is a name known far and wide, but today the only fear it generates is in people who can't quite remember what they did after their eighth shot of rum on Saturday night. However, unlike some products that come up with catchy names and memorable mascots to go with them, Captain Morgan was a real person. Beyond simply existing though, Captain Henry Morgan wrote his name in gunpowder and blood all throughout the Caribbean in the 1600s.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Proof
How To Build The Punisher in The Pathfinder RPG
Frank Castle was just an average family man, until that fateful day when a storm of bullets took his wife and two children away from him. When the smoke cleared, and the smell of cordite faded, Frank watched as the criminals responsible for his loss walked away. That was when he took up the bloody trade of soldiering again, and brought a war to New York's underworld that rocked it to its foundations. A vigilante killer who is alternatively on the side of heroes, and against them, the Punisher's single-minded determination makes him a unique persona in a world of gods and monsters. If you'd like to bring his brand of justice to your Pathfinder game, here's a guide to help you get started.
By Neal Litherland6 years ago in Gamers
