As a dungeon master it's easy to go for the usual goblins and dragons when you're building your campaign. But deep within the Monster Manual you will find a plethora of fun critters to put your players up against. Here are five you may want to slip into your next session.
A Lovecraftian horror, the Gibbering Mouther is an unusual critter to say the least. It's a mass of everchanging mouths and eyes that constantly gibbers nonsense and can drive anything around it insane. This is a fun way to give that barbarian or fighter in the party something to mess with, giving some of the characters that don't get a lot of play time a chance to shine.
A pit trap is good, a pit trap with spikes is better, an elegant rug that strangles the first person to step on it is the best. Rug of Smothering (Found under "Animated Objects") is a fun and twisted way to further fuel your player's trust issues. The rug not only does bludgeoning damage, it suffocates whoever it wraps around until they pass out. That puts a fun time mechanic into the combat on top of trying to figure out where the weak spot is on an angry bath mat.
Another Lovecraftian throwback, these little fishy slime monsters make a great alternative to the overused goblins. Their sticky shield ability can steal players weapons and only being a 1/4 challenge rating you can throw a lot of them up against the party without feeling too guilty. Kuo-Toa come in their basic form, a stronger warrior form called the Kuo-Toa whip and a formidable magic user called the Kuo-Toa Archpriest, so you can build a colorful encounter for any level adventurers.
Used a lot in the Dungeons and Dragons video games, these folks still haven't had their just due (the upcoming Baulder's Gate III might change that). Essentially these folks used to be a slave race under the Illithids, or mind flayers, until they broke out and crippled the multiverse spanning empire. Divided into two people, they now travel the multiverse hunting their former masters and pillaging worlds for resources. They can make for either fun one-time encounters or be the catalyst for hours of adventures.
1: Magmin
This thing is a fun surprise for anyone who doesn't immediately recognize them. They look like little on-fire goblins, but once killed they explode and cause fire damage. They're like little fiery pinatas that your players will be both annoyed by and delighted to fight. Make them a big encounter for a low level party or an extra obstacle for a high level party, either way they make for a great touch of madness.
Full disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored video. Although if you know or are the people who want to make us a sponsor let us know.
Anyway....
So you've probably seen Raid: Shadow Legends advertised across the internet more than ads for singles in your area. Well this new little segment is meant to review the plethora of free to play mobile games fighting for your attention and help you answer the question-
Is it worth clicking on?
Yet Another Fantasy Game
Raid is based in the generic fantasy setting, meaning elves, dwarves and orcs all competing for the same world. The catch is that no one race is necessarily evil, just with their own views and goals. This is necessary since nearly every creature and character you meet can be recruited onto your team, to be leveled up and equipped and thrown up against more enemies to capture, like Pokemon but with better graphics.
A combination selling point and drawback is the graphics. While absolutely beautiful, more than a few of the female characters skew towards the chain mail bikini look. Probably not great for the prepubescent crowd, or those who prefer to maintain modesty.
The game touts an engaging story, but to be honest the story to me seemed pretty generic, with some great evil guy who's trying to cause a war of some kind bla bla bla we've heard it before. This is one game you probably won't be playing for the story, unless you become intrigued by mediocrity.
The Grind of Raid Game play Raid is the basic combat from JRPG's but sped up for the attention deficient mobile players. You fight battles to gain experience, level up to fight bigger creatures, collect loot drops to make your guys even stronger, rinse and repeat. The game play is competent if unimaginative. All the challenges are just stronger monsters with unique drops, with your choice being who you bring to the fight.
Where they Try To Get You
As with all free to play games, free to play means consistently asking for money for in-game items. Raid is actually pretty light on this. There's few ads, none of which stop the game and everything you can buy in the shop you can easily earn in game. The temptation comes when you know you can either grind for some more strength or just pay a couple bucks for a few new characters to unlock. It's the most sinister of in-game spending, where it's not play to win, but play to make the game just a little easier... for now. The Verdict
Overall Raid: Shadow Legends is a fun to play if grindy game for mobile. It's worth checking out if you like the fantasy genre but don't want to commit to something like Witcher 3 or Skyrim. Worth checking out for something to do, and to see what characters you can get if nothing else.
This coming weekend is the tenth anniversary of the finale one of the largest fandoms I’ve been a part of: LOST. It feels like it was surrounded by controversy the whole time the series was around. A shipwreck, a mysterious island, time travel, conspiracy theories, and purgatory. I’d never been part of a fandom with such intense theories along the way and I’m not sure another will ever compare. But with a fandom that was so critical with its theories during its run, it was only natural that the show ended up with a lot of criticisms by the end.
The series ending was good
The series finale was NEVER going to appease everyone. In particular, the flash-sideways were widely misunderstood. Throughout the series’ run, a theory kept popping up that the Island was purgatory. Repeatedly, the writers said that wasn’t the case. However, in the final season a “flash-sideways” timeline came into play. It was assumed to be a result of time travel, but in the series finale it was revealed to be a form of purgatory. Let me repeat, the Island WAS NOT purgatory. The flash-sideways WAS purgatory. I never understood why people struggle to understand that.
Not all the questions needed answers
Similar to the series finale controversy, after the series was over I felt like all I heard were complaints about how there were still so many unanswered questions about the show. What was the heart of the Island? What’s the deal with Libby? Who built all the Egyptian-esque ruins? The writers said that some of these (like Libby) were supposed to be answered, but due to actor availability and such they weren’t able to. That being said, not everything needed to be answered. If we got a massive info-dump in the final episode, it would’ve been boring. Personally, I’m okay with the Island still having an air of mystery in the end.
Nikki and Paulo weren’t so bad
The problem with Nikki and Paulo is that they appeared out of the blue and tried to take center-stage after months of being invisible. At the time, the writers were trying to appease viewers by exploring more of the other survivors and their stories. I think it backfired because they tried to make Nikki and Paulo main characters. If they’d been recurring characters, like Rose and Bernard, who periodically appeared through season 3-4, it would have been better. Also, they just didn’t bother me as much as they apparently bothered other people. Just would have been better if they introduced obscure survivors periodically like they did with Arzt or Frogurt.
Ana Lucia was a good character
I’m not saying you have to like her, but she was a great character. In fact, I started re-watching the series during social distancing and my wife (who’s only watched bits and pieces) had an immediate dislike of Ana Lucia. I feel like that was pretty common back in the day. But it’s not because she’s a bad character. If anything it’s because she’s a good character. I think you’re meant to hate her at first and you may never actually like her as a person… but as her complexities and backstory get revealed, she gets more depth and substance. And all in the course of one season.
I liked Season 3 (with minor exceptions)
Season 3 of LOST started to drag on, especially in the first half. It’s because of all the filler and lowered ratings that the show runners got the deal to end the show after a total of six seasons. It gave the writers a chance to play out their preferred end game, instead of fishing for stories (that’s how Jack’s tattoo backstory happened….). But other than a few filler episodes, like the tattoo backstory, I liked season 3. The pacing kind of failed at times, but when doesn’t it? Every show has downtime. You can’t expect every episode to be groundbreaking.
Time travel from Season 5 was genius
I mentioned this in a post about time travel, but I really enjoyed the time travel in LOST. I don't have a problem with the Back to the Future time travel set up, but there's something about LOST that makes sense to me. And yet the time travel arc from LOST got quite a bit of flack. But to me it gave the show a needed change of pace and it gave them a chance to tell the stories they wanted (like Rousseau and DHARMA) in a way that would have been impossible. Or at the very least, disjointed and awkward. Instead, we got to see DHARMA close up and personal. I'm still not sure I like how they did Rousseau's story (I was hoping for more mystery) but it was still good, as far as time travel.
Man in Black wasn’t such a bad guy (at first)
I’m not sure this one is so much of an “opinion” as an observation. Toward the tail end of season 6, we got the backstory to the “villain” of the story. But the thing is that he didn’t start as a villain. In the flashback episode that gives us backstory for Jacob and the Man in Black, we see how the “Mother” treated them. If anything she was the bad guy of the series. She killed Jacob and MIB’s mom and took the babies, she killed a village of people on the Island for digging a hole, and she refused to let MIB leave the Island. At first, before becoming Smokified, MIB wasn’t bad. He just wanted to see what was in the outside world. He wanted to know where his birth mother came from. It wasn’t until he was pitted against Jacob that he started being a bad guy. And he did all his bad guy deeds out of desperation, to find a way to leave the Island finally.
What do you think? Did you watch LOST until the end? Where would you disagree? LOST is still one of my favorite shows and I don't think there could be another show like it. It's always worth a re-watch.
“..Almost there. I’m almost there. People down here think I’m crazy. But I don’t care. Trials and tribulations, I’ve had my share. There ain’t nothing gonna stop me now, cause I’m almost there.”
Over ten years ago, on the 11th of December 2009, Walt Disney Pictures debuted their newest princess. Making animation history in The Princess and the Frog, Tiana became the first African American Disney Princess. From the moment I saw her on the big screen, Tiana has been one of my favorite Disney Princesses. I feel a personal connection with Tiana, drawn inspiration from her, and love her courage.
Personal Connection
As a boy, one of my favorite role-playing activities was as a chef, pretending to whip up and serve my own culinary creations. I would imagine managing my own restaurant or cafe. In fact, my childhood dream was to have my own restaurant where I would have specific decor and serve specialty pizzas. I had long abandoned that dream by the time I saw The Princess and the Frog. But when I learned that Tiana loved to cook, and dreamed of owning a restaurant like her daddy, James, I grew nostalgic. I recalled the excitement of my childhood dream. And while I don’t want to be a chef or restaurant owner, I still felt (and still do feel) a personal connection to Tiana. As she sang how she was “almost there” in achieving her dreams, I teared up, and was so happy when they were fully realized.
Inspiration
After a long period of unemployment, I was hired as a server at a restaurant. Working in food service wasn’t my first choice, but it was a job to pay the bills, and Tiana and her work ethic inspired me to remain positive. I greeted guests warmly, served them their favorite meals, and ensured they had a great experience just like Tiana did at her morning job at Duke’s Cafe. There were times I worked double shifts. True, I wasn’t saving up for my own restaurant like Tiana was, but she still inspired me when the hours were long and I went home really tired.
Courage
Kindness, determination, generosity, friendship, and hard work, among others make Tiana a princess. However, what I think truly makes Tiana the princess heroine of her film is her courage in the face of temptation. In an effort to retrieve his voodoo blood talisman from her possession, Dr. Facilier conjures up an illusion of “Tiana’s Place” (the name of her future restaurant), complete with Tiana wearing the white gown imagined in the "Almost There" musical sequence. The “Shadow Man” negotiates the exchange of the magical object by promising to fulfill Tiana’s dream. As part of his effort to persuade her, the voodoo doctor reminds the young woman who has had to work hard all her life of the unsupportive and discouraging comments made by a coworker, friends, and businessmen through visual memories. To try to seal the deal, a visual memory of Tiana’s hardworking father appears, reminding her of James’ unfulfilled restaurant dream. As Tiana intently stares at the image of her family, her grip on the talisman begins to loosen, and Dr. Facilier whispers into her ear that she’s “almost there.”
In that powerful moment of temptation, when her dream could finally come true, Tiana remembers her father and mother’s counsel and definitively and courageously rejects the Shadow Man’s deal. Tightening her hold again on the valuable magical piece, Tiana declares “my daddy never did get what he wanted. But he had what he needed. He had love! He never lost sight of what was really important. And NEITHER WILL I!” The courage to make this crucial decision, to not take the offer, Tiana held fast to her values and standards. Even if it meant remaining a frog the rest of her life, she willingly sacrificed her lifelong dream and smashed the talisman. Tiana embraced what she needed, which was Naveen and the love that they shared.
I love Tiana today just as much as I did the day when I first saw her on the big screen. I feel just as connected to her, find her just as inspiring, and love her courage just as much; which is why Tiana is one of my all-time favorite Disney Princesses!!!!! “Grab somebody, come on down. Bring your paintbrush, we’re paintin’ the town. There’s some sweetness goin’ around. Dreams do come true in New Orleans!”
So I've had a lot of downtime lately (like a lot of you) so I've been playing Pokemon a bit more frequently. Currently working on a dog-themed team on Ultra Sun. But regardless of my current team, it felt like as good a time as ever to do some more Pokemon/Disney nicknames. This time I'll cover a few Gen II favorites to complement the Gen I names I did a couple months ago.
If you haven't seen Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, you're missing out on something, well, extraordinary. Yes, the music is fun, the acting is spot on, and the choreography is something like you've probably never seen on TV unless you watch a lot of So You Think You Can Dance. But moreover, the story is compelling, the emotions are real, and the message is clear: Zoey is on a journey (see here for more about that journey). Just like the button-down shirts Zoey wears under her cardigans, there is so much more beneath the surface. You can focus on the meticulously chosen music (as I do below), but when you get down to it, there is a real beating heart of emotion subtly hidden beneath the fun and the comedy (which I also subtly hide within my review below). So without further ado, here are the top 11 songs from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (and some subtly disguised emotional realizations because, hey, that's what we do!)...
Minor spoilers below if you haven't watched the series ... SO GO WATCH IT FIRST!!
11) "The Boy Is Mine"
Hearing Joan and Ava fight over Max was a treat. The dancing was fun, the singing was impeccable (who doesn't want to hear Angelica Schuyler sing a Brandy & Monica song with Lorelai Gilmore?), and the production was perfect. But underneath, two women fighting over Max mirrored Zoey's own emotional fight over being Team Max or Team Whatshisface. (Uh, duh. Team Max all the way!)
10) "Great Pretender"
I mean, Mo has an amazing voice. He has several great songs I could have chosen ("Bailamos", "Issues", "I Will Follow Him") but I really liked this raw version where we get to see inside the heart of a truly intriguing character. Mo's genderfluidity is a minor plot point, but really we just love Mo for Mo. And isn't that what it's all about, great pretending aside?
9) "Pressure"
If you weren't Team Max by this point, are you even watching the show? The entire "Glitch" episode was cringey and wonderful, much like most musical television shows. But watching Max pretend like Zoey's outlandish performance was supposed to be a thing all along? How can you not love Max?! Zoey sings, "Don't ask for help / You're all alone", but she realizes she's simply not all alone. And it makes her "I'm Yours" ode to Max so much sweeter.
8) "Everybody Hurts"
Oh, Leif. We love you and we hate you. I mean, "All I Do Is Win" was an absurdly funny and sad look into Leif's mindset. But "Everybody Hurts" really acted as a bookend to his ridiculousness when he realized that people could see right through him. Plus this is the song that my first girlfriend played on her answering machine after I broke up with her in high school, so it hits a little close to home.
7) "How Do I Live?"
At the end of a ridiculously glitchy episode ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"? Hilarious, and painful, and silly), Zoey sings this heartbreaking rendition of LeAnn Rimes's song. But really, underneath the raw emotion, we learn the simple truth that the best way to fix stress in your life is to face your problems head on. Zoey faces her father's deteriorating health, and that snaps her doubly glitchy glitch back to just a singly glitchy glitch.
Again, why are you not Team Max? I could have chosen so many of his love songs ("I Think I Love You", "Sucker", the hilarious "All of Me"), but "I'm Gonna Be" is just the tops. No song showed how true Max's love for Zoey is, or to what lengths he would go to help her, more than this song by The Pretenders. And if you don't think of Team Max every time you hear this song now, you might need to see a doctor, because what in the world is wrong with you?! (Go Team Max!)
4) "Mad World"
The first version when he's sitting at his desk, thank you very much. The second version was good, but that first version when Simon is singing to himself? And Zoey's expressions as she is listening in on this extremely personal heart song? Ho. Lee. Cow. It's perfect. And again, not only are we seeing into Simon's heart, but we are also seeing into Zoey's new world of whatever this power is. Telepathy? Legilimency? Eavesdropping?
3) "True Colors"
Quite simply, this song captures Mitch's relationship with Zoey so accurately. Coupled with his "Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)" in the season finale sung to David, I've decided that Mitch is the best dad on television, which is really saying something for a guy with progressive supranuclear palsy who doesn't "actually" say a word the entire season. And Peter Gallagher might be the best actor on the series. Just sayin'.
2) "Fight Song"
I run to this song regularly. But after hearing (seeing?) the version performed in American Sign Language, while an independent daughter is expressing her desire to be able to grow up and experience life? Well that version is now emblazoned on my soul as my own heart song. What an amazing moment. Just watch the video and be moved.
1) "American Pie"
Okay, this was just perfect. Nobody really knows what all the meanings are in Don McLean's beautiful folk rock poem, and that just allows so much more interpretation to be layered on this song, as each character (except Mitch, RIP) sings their part. But oh my goodness, it's so much more than that. It's the conclusion to a season with a roller coaster of emotions. It's a fitting ode to great music. It's a masterclass in retrofitting lyrics to fit a story. It's a perfect use of a terrific ensemble cast. It's a showcase of technical wizardry as the camera doesn't stop for seven minutes. It's a meticulously planned and choreographed sequence. And maybe most importantly, it's a cathartic release of emotions that mirrors an ideal way of viewing death. It happens, it's sad, but it doesn't mean that everybody else's life has to stop fully. My friend TJ and I dreaded the season finale because we knew Mitch was going to die, and we just didn't want to become emotional wrecks as the characters we have grown to love mourn this wonderful man. But "American Pie" allowed us to feel sad and shed some tears and mourn, without feeling crushed and depressed and broken. And isn't that an extraordinary way to view life?
"Everything's not awesome, But that doesn't mean that it's hopeless and bleak..."
Have you seen Lego Movie 2? If not, get off your couch or chair or floor (wherever you are) and find a copy--it's $10 at Target, just FYI. I won't go into the plot details of the Lego Movie series, but that's not so important I suppose.
It's been a crazy the last couple months with quarantines and lock-downs and whatever else has been happening. It's easy to get caught up in it all (I've shared my fair share of memes, as you know if you've been watching our Facebook page). It's easy to get bummed out (even while chuckling the whole time) at all the "2020 can't get any worse" memes. I try to stay generally positive (despite life's anxieties and insecurities) and I actually generally avoid the this-year-sucks-uggghh memes. Generally just don't think that kind of humor helps me out at all.
"Everything's not awesome, but in my heart, I believe..."
Things have been rough. I actually count myself very blessed with everything that's been going on. My family hasn't been hit near as hard as many others. But whether it's this pandemic or some personal trial, there'll always be something to bring us down. Everything may not be "awesome", but it doesn't have to be the end. If we stick together and support each other, we can build a better future. Lately that's involved social distancing, but it also involves ministering to those around us.
I typically cringe when I see Facebook spammed with the inspirational memes and quotes are preachy about positive thinking, but there is some truth to it. "Everything's not awesome" but if we give up on things getting better, it really won't be. I think it's part of having free will. We get to choose what we think about what, we get to choose how we react to life, and we get to choose the path we want to take in our lives. So while we can't change what's going on outside, we can change how we think about it. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Count your blessings. Whatever it takes.
"We can make things better if we stick together, side by side, you and I, we will build it together."
A few months ago, I went to my first comic con, and I was hooked. So naturally, like the geek I am, I got tickets to Awesome Con, which sounded ... well, awesome. Held yearly in Washington DC, Awesome Con boasts more than 70,000 fans who celebrate geek culture, along with side areas like Awesome Con Junior, Pride Alley, and Future Con (this is where I wanted to go, where "science and science fiction meet"). My brother and I were all set to go, ready to stay at our sister's house in Maryland, and looking forward to the opportunity to bond and geek out together. We even picked out our cosplay outfits: Seinfeld and Newman!
And then ... coronavirus. Awesome Con was postponed. No trip to DC. No Future Con. NO SEINFELD!
But even though Awesome Con is postponed until December (count me in!), they made the decision to continue with the con this past weekend -- ONLINE! Now this was a unique prospect! "Party in your pajamas" indeed! What a great way for people all over (not just in the DC metro area) to enjoy the comic con. During these strange times, what an equally strange – and awesome – way to connect people in a geeky community. It gave us a chance to forget the stresses of living in a world where a virus has taken the lives of so many. It was an opportunity to bond with other geeks and feel like we are part of a community, despite the limits of social distancing. And it was a moment of escape back to normalcy in this topsy-turvy world. (Yes, that was a Hunchback of Notre Dame reference.) So let's look at this party we throw here in town once a year! (See what I did there?)
The pet cosplay was hands down the cutest and best use of the unique at-home comic con format.
Can we make this a regular part of every comic con?
I won't be able to bring my kids to Awesome Con in December because 💸.
But I could bring them to Awesome Con Online!
The best part was the three movie watchalongs: Tangled, TMNT, and my personal favorite Into the Spider-Verse!
Q&A sessions were held with Zachary Levi, Ross Marquand, and Mikal Mosley.
Zachary Levi is always a treat. He is down to earth, personal, funny, and just a great geek.
There were a ton of wonderful events, tutorials, segments, and forums throughout the weekend.
I especially enjoyed how to make face masks, the trivia games, and the drawing demo.
But the most apropos segment was how to play D&D (and other tabletop RPGs) online.
This was a growing trend, even before #stayathome. And it's needed now more than ever.
And of course there was this! 🕺💃
Overall, Awesome Con Online was a success. There was a ton of work that went into it. It wasn't the live comic con we were all hoping for, but as far as at home entertainment goes, this event really was mad and crazy, upsy-daisy! So kudos to Awesome Con for pulling out all the stops, making the best of a tough situation, and bringing joy and distraction to a world in crisis.
My favorite movie theater, the one with the ratty leather sofas and the really good cheeseburgers and jalapeno fries is closed. Disneyland, where I cry every time I walk through the front gate and collect pins and autographs from characters I know for a fact are just people in costumes is closed. The game store that sells board games a little cheaper than anyone else and would let me sit there whenever I had a bad day at work and unwind before getting home to do homework isn't letting people into the store. Even my apartment, which was decorated with all my wife and I's souvenirs, pictures of loved ones and the art I made is currently in a pile of boxes due to a recent move.
My happy places are gone.
It's depressing to have all the familiar and warm places no longer be operating. It's hard to know what to do or what to plan. Luckily, I have a few places to go that aren't subject to quarantine, though I may have to deal with the occasional creeper or feral ghoul.
Base Building Games
This concept isn't new. Minecraft pioneered the idea though prototypes can be found in The Sims and a select few other games before it. The idea is that a player's goal among others is to build their own safe spot, their own base to heal, resupply and generally have control over between fighting monsters with the occasional defense needed to keep the more pesky jerks away. These games are highly addicting and sought after, since there's something to the game play of scavenging for resources to build that new terrarium to your doom fortress, but in times like now it takes on an even bigger appeal: building a virtual stability when reality can't offer the same.
The Other Obvious One
Of course if you follow video game news at all you know that besides Minecraft right now the hottest base building game on the market is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released near the beginning of the pandemic, Animal Crossing has become the social video game experience we needed beyond all others. You can customize your little island with whatever decorations you want and invite adorable little animal villagers to live with you and make your own cute community. Even the hardest of the hardcore gamers can't deny the appeal of trying to collect all the fish and fossils to please the plaid wearing owl in the museum.
Updates and Upvotes
For the more hardcore gamer looking for some combat in their new happy place, Fallout 76 offers a unique perspective to the concept. While it was almost universally panned when it first released, Fallout 76 has since been patched and updated due to the vocalization of its fans on sites like Reddit, where people saw the potential of the game and begged Bethesda not to abandon it. Now we can roam the wastelands in search of treasure with actual NPCs, There is something appealing to not only building a base where you can rest and craft but that can also defend you while you're working, plus earn you some extra caps from traveling players.
The OG
They're are hundreds more examples of great base building games (Dragon Quest: Builders, Terraria, Trove...) but none compare to the daddy of them all Minecraft. People have built some mind blowing structures since the game first released, and coupled with the fact that it can be a co-op couch experience the appeal of this one isn't going to go away anytime soon. It's a good way to bond with the kids while we wait for this horror show to pass.
Self Care
There's a loss of normalcy in the world right now, and while we wait for everything to return to somewhat the way it was we need to make our own normal for the time being. Games like Animal Crossing and Fallout 76 offer a reason to add to the routine with daily quests and updates, making them worlds that can easily become a habit. That habit can be just the escape you need in these times to help give a sense of stability and fun, plus you get your pick between exploding bush monsters, radioactive zombies and penguins in adorable sweaters.
Day 600 of social distancing (it feels like). How many shows and movies have you finished binging so far? In case you need some suggestions, here are a few unofficial Disney Princess movies for you to check out on Disney+ while you're stuck at home.
The Princess Diaries
Who doesn't love Anne Hathaway as the lovable misfit turned princess? Mia may not be the most elegant of princesses, but I think that's what makes her relatable. Growing up, she wasn't a princess; she was a regular person like any of us. In the end, it's a nice uplifting movie when you're having a bad day. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." Also, check out its sequel on Disney+.
Star Wars
Say what you will about the Star Wars movies new and old, but Princess Leia (or General Organa, as she's known more recently) is amazing. She was feminism before forced representation in the media happened. She was a tireless hero in the original trilogy and a fearless advocate of freedom (as well as a fierce mother) in the sequel trilogy.
Wreck-It Ralph
Long before Vanellope met the official Disney Princesses on the internet, she was Princess Vanellope in Sugar Rush. A lot can be learned from this little ball of spunk. She's a great example of self-acceptance and of following your dreams. Also she's witty. She's one big reason I love the Wreck-It Ralph movies.
Black Panther
The movie may focus on Prince T'Challa, but let's not forget his sister Shuri, Princess of Wakanda. If it weren't for her intelligence and technological prowess, her brother would only have his Black Panther powers and fighting stills, none of the tech. She also quickly outwitted Banner in Infinity War, when she instantly knew how to separate Vision from the Mind Stone, which had never even occurred to Banner.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
I honestly don't know why Kida isn't an official Disney Princess. It's probably just because her movie was released at a downer point in Disney's history. All the same, she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Like Ariel, she defied her father because of what she believed was right. Like Belle, she was willing to sacrifice her for the ones she loved. If you haven't watched Atlantis in a while, turn it on and enjoy.
Hang in there while you're stuck at home. If you're feeling stressed, try to laugh it off (that's my goal). At least we know this will eventually pass.
As a dungeon master it's easy to go for the usual goblins and dragons when you're building your campaign. But deep within the Monster Manual you will find a plethora of fun critters to put your players up against. Here are five you may want to slip into your next session.
4: Rug of Smothering (Animated Object) 
Another Lovecraftian throwback, these little fishy slime monsters make a great alternative to the overused goblins. Their sticky shield ability can steal players weapons and only being a 1/4 challenge rating you can throw a lot of them up against the party without feeling too guilty. Kuo-Toa come in their basic form, a stronger warrior form called the Kuo-Toa whip and a formidable magic user called the Kuo-Toa Archpriest, so you can build a colorful encounter for any level adventurers.
Used a lot in the Dungeons and Dragons video games, these folks still haven't had their just due (the upcoming Baulder's Gate III might change that). Essentially these folks used to be a slave race under the Illithids, or mind flayers, until they broke out and crippled the multiverse spanning empire. Divided into two people, they now travel the multiverse hunting their former masters and pillaging worlds for resources. They can make for either fun one-time encounters or be the catalyst for hours of adventures.
