Mister Valiant

@mistervaliant

Still offering 31 flavors of nerd, all day every day. Giant robots and TRPGs a specialty.

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Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 12d

It's here and it's gorgeous. Thanks for the heads up on the reprint, @evilhat.bsky.social !

My copy of the Thousand Arrows TRPG book that just arrived.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 13d

Lol the jank I set up for this hobby

A quick snapshot of the same figures from a different perspective, showing off the lightbox, stands, books, and random detritus I had to stack to get the perspective I wanted. And even after all that, I'm still not super happy with the results - glare and reflections on the stands forced distance and angles, so it didn't turn out exactly as I'd hoped. One of these days I really should get back into GIMP.

Featuring Newage Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, Studio Series Thundercracker for his size, and Skywarp from a three-pack of knockoff what I *believe* to have been Newage Seekers.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 13d

"OKAY, BIG NOISE - LET'S SEE HOW TOUGH YOU ARE!" #toyphotography #transformers #deskbot #jetjudo

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe perform their famous "jet judo" maneuver on Thundercracker and Skywarp from S1E5 "Roll For It" from the G1 Transformers cartoon - unaware that Starscream lurks just behind and will soon knock them both off.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 13d

A two-panel caption from The Good Place. The text has been altered to read "Linkedin figured it out? Linkedin? This is a real low point. Yeah, this one hurts."

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 14d

The pose isn't mine but it was so stinking cute I had to recreate it.

Soundwave kneels for Ravage, opening his palm to allow him to sniff his hand and inspect for treats. I have no doubt he will get at least a few energon goodies because Ravage is a good boy.

Pose idea comes from the Newage Scaramanga page on TF Safari

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 14d

If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you're using without explanation.

Now this is a conundrum, for the prompt asks us to display these pictures without explanation, and yet by filling out the alt text, we must inherently give some. But I suppose if you're looking here in the first place, you WANT an explanation, and I want to give it, so here it is.

This is an archer piece, from a Risk Europe board game. The bow has been hastily dabbed with a Sharpie marker.

The reason WHY I did this dates back more than two decades. My friends and I were all big nerds in college, and we played a lot of games together. Back then, among many others, we just did regular old Risk, because a lot of the versions and offshoots you see today weren't a thing yet. Anyway, the deal was that every once in a while, things would just go your way, and you'd end up having an INCREDIBLE turn. Inevitably at least some of the valor would be awarded to the participating playing pieces, and we'd decorate them with a little dab of paint or a smudge of Sharpie. I believe the first one we did this to was a yellow army trooper that we have zebra stripes, in honor of his work defending Madagascar.

This archer unit wasn't alone when the turn started, but he and his friends had no hope. However, the dice decided to favor him. This little dude ultimately fell, but not before taking down 10 invaders all by himself, which is big for Risk and MASSIVE for Risk Europe. For this he was awarded the Black Bow of Bulgaria. I haven't seen or heard from most of my old college crew in a very long time, but it's things like this that remind me that no one is ever truly gone as long as we remember them.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 14d

Pictured: magic

I mean I'm kind of forced to say it again: nothing this small has any business being this intricate AND this good. Do I wish Newage figures were a little bigger? Sometimes. But it's very, very difficult to argue with the results, and I can fit more of them on the shelf at a time when space is becoming a problem, so I guess it works out.

But seriously, just look at this. The Lamborghini modes are perfect and damn near identical aside from Sunny's extra intake. But they transform WILDLY differently and don't look anything alike when you're done. They could have cut corners. They could have just done a reverse job like Classics did all those years ago. But no, these guys too the time to do this RIGHT, and I respect the hell out of them for it. These are just magic.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 14d

YEEEEEESSSSS AT LAAAAAAAST

Finally, finally, finally, FINALLY, an actual matched pair of two of my all-time favorite Transformers: an impressive Sideswipe and a Sunstreaker that not only isn't total shit but is actually really damn good in its own damn right. This day has been far too long coming. Thank you so, so much, Newage. You really do not know what this means to me. You are my master now.

A clip of Jafar from Aladdin, in his old man disguise, clutching the lamp in hiss greedy little claws much like I'm doing with my new Lambro sons.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 16d

My Newage Optimus just arrived from eBay and honestly I could not be (a) happier or (b) more impressed.

Optimus Prime, pointing, gives his fellow Autobots the order to ROLL OUT

Here, Optimus strikes a somewhat silly, "bwaaaah!" sort of pose, even though I wasn't intending that. I was mostly just testing the articulation and... I mean by Primus, these Newage lads are just plain witchcraft, aren't they? There's zero reason why something this small should be this detailed or articulated. He looks, feels, and poses amazingly. All of the Newage guys I've snapped up so far have been really really good, but this is another level entirely.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 29d

Not to toot my own horn but I'm extremely please I was able to get these three posed like this, free-standing without stands or anything, on this rickety-ass setup

The same figures, but in a shot that includes the lightbox they were standing in, perched upon a folding TV tray. Also pictured: a frequently-forgotten umbrella, my sorting box of Perler beads, and a box of books I've been meaning to sell for months, just so y'all can appreciate the miracle that are shots like these. This is how the sausage is made, folks. This is how the sausage is *always* made.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 29d

"I have lots but these are two of my favorites." #toyphotography

Spider-Gwen shows off a selection of toys: Bumblebee and Cliffjumper

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· 29d

"Vrrroooom, brrrum-brum-brum, eeerrrrrrrr!!" #toyphotography

Spider-Gwen takes a moment to play with a Bumblebee

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jul 5

The standard "scrunched-up robot" that Hasbro loves to do, but, IMO, it's less egregious here from most angles. Probably the most offensive part is the exposed fists, and even that isn't that big of a deal to me since they're Cybertronian forms.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 30

I absolutely LOVE how grumpy the new Skywarp looks. Thanks again, Toy Dojo!

Studio Series 86 Skywarp in all his grumpy glory

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 28

She's beauty. She's grace. She'll kick you in the face. #toyphotography

Basically what I've done is searched for ballet poses, and then had her model them at impossible angles to match how I imagine her movement style to be. Here she is throwing a web-line on which to swing.

A leap from a normal human, spun about 90 degrees, becomes an elegant backflip.

And here, what would normally be a dancer en pointe is instead here a flying twist.

I love doing this shit. I need to dig my light box back out.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 27

The nightmare is over at work. I got myself a reward.

Figuarts "Across the Spider-verse" Spider-Gwen. She's posed as if she's halfway through a jump backwards while firing off a web-line. As with all of their stuff, it's an amazing figure.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 23

A quick snap of some of the components you can be asked to provide for a spell in the East Texas University TRPG for Savage Worlds. Seriously, this book is cheap as hell and is the gift that keeps on giving. If slaying monsters while trying to keep your GPA up isn't your bag, most of the game can be re-purposed for other genres. It's worth it just to see how it operates.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 5

Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies. This game fucking rules and no one has ever heard of it. Sky pirates and floating islands. Permissive rules and fun characters. You're wasting time reading this blurb when you could he reading the book. Go go go go go.

Root the RPG. I'll be the first to admit that PBTA doest always work or explain itself well. This one makes some damn fine use out of it, and includes some wonderful rules that make the setting itself almost feel like its own character, reacting to everything you do. It's spectacular.

The Mecha Hack. This book is amazing. It's like 25 pages and I like it so much better than most mecha games out there because it cuts through a ton of the bullshit but still lets you feel like you're made an impressive machine AND that you need to make important decisions about how to use it. Has you asking "why can't more games be like this?"

East Texas University is technically a supplement for Savage Worlds, but it uses it remarkably well. Balance saving the world with saving your grades - fun ways to hunt monsters before MOTW was a thing. Tons of bang for your buck with this little booklet and still one of the best adventure generators I've ever seen.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 5

Not only Fate, but Awakened? And not only Awakened, but the 2nd edition?

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· Jun 4

But there are plenty of examples in the core book. AL&L adds more playbooks more setting examples, and a few premade adventures. It's worth it if you really love the game or want some ideas to explore. Not required but a lot of bang for your buck.

The table of contents for Advanced Lovers and Lesbians

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 30

I also find it handy to take the picture from a bit farther away than I need to, then go back and crop it to the size and dimensions that suit the subject. THEN you can mess with light levels and camera settings. It's hard to nail that as you're taking the pic, so give yourself some breathing room.

The same pic, now cropped and adjusted. This was taken with my cell phone that allows me to go back and adjust settings after taking the pic - many phones and digital cameras do. All I usually do is up the light balance and maaaaaybe the contrast until it looks right. It's tempting to crank up the saturation but unless the original light is really bad it's usually not necessary and can quickly overwhelm your shot. Less is often more with this stuff! Start small until you're used to the setup and tools you're using. You don't need super fancy stuff - good light and a steady hand will get you so much farther in photography than anything else. Good luck and welcome!

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 28

A Doctor Who title card made with the quoted generator. It reads "Oh Nevermind It's a Steven Moffat Episode" which pretty well sums up my feelings about that particular writer.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 26

Also here's me meeting my mom's roommate's dogs last year

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 26

My growing collection of Legends-scale Transformers

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 20

If you see this, post your getaway vehicle.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 18

Okay you know what it is I think it's that his head is just a little large for his body, it throws his proportions off But he still looks CORRECT, y'know? Like there's something very G1/Go-Botian about him that just WORKS

Powerglide looking heroic.

Yeah. I like him. I really gotta hand it to these, some of the ones I'd expected to like the least have been the greatest of the line. Powerglide doesn't beat out Seaspray or Huffer or Gears, but he definitely gives Beachcomber a run for his money and beats the servos off of Bumblebee.

Not Bumper, though. Bumper makes that mold work and I'm looking forward to Cliffjumper as well. It just doesn't work for Bee, IMHO.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 18

I was not expecting to love him But I love him

Look at this cute little stunt plane! Seriously, Powerglide is way better in-hand than he is in pictures. He doesn't do anything truly new or surprising, but he's pretty solid. And the faux rubsign!! That's just adorable.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 18

Okay why Why does every picture make him look like this He is not this squat in person I am immediately charmed by the actual figure but every single picture I've ever seen - including my own! - make him look like he's been squished I don't understand

Studio Series Powerglide FINALLY made it. The last few I got out of this line of microbots had been so-so so I wasn't really sure what to expect. And as I said above, pictures apparently cannot do him justice. I have no idea why.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 12

Dang. Y'know I really didn't mind the weird add-ons and the battlecruiser starship mode, but on color and details alone this is a night and day difference.

Studio Series Shockwave along with the previous Siege version. The latter has some custom paint and parts.

I like that while the engineering is identical, the molding is extremely different. All the greebles have been smoothed out, the head is a different shape, etc. Very cool.

Mister Valiant@mistervaliant· May 9

Behold: the reason we're all here. A word of caution: PLEASE watch a detailed video review of how to transform him. I suggest Emgo. There's an absolutely crucial mid-section adjustment between vehicle modes that I nearly missed, and in my confusion I put undue stress on the wings. Could have