Soda Reviews part two

 A few years back when Rural King first opened a store here they had a large variety of bottled soda's to chose from. My wife and I took this as an opportunity for some fun and wrote up several reviews for them Doing three to four different types each time. Originally posted quite some time ago on a local Facebook page I decided to just post them up here. Some of these brands may not be available anymore. Anyways on with the quick taste test reviews. 

Cherry Ski. Well this was a let down. I really enjoy a good cherry flavored soda however the 'good' part just wasn't there as much. Katie thought it tasted like liquid pixie stix but not in the good way while I thought it was a bit like an unfroze freezer pop. The cherry flavor didn't pop much and while I know that most soda uses artificial flavors for cherry this one tasted really artificial. The little kid version of us may have liked it but the grown up version not so much. It's sort of a 'meh' soda, won't be picking it up again.

Kickapoo Joy Juice. A classic soda that claims to use the original recipe. I could taste the citrus in there without being a full kick like Mtn Dew or Mello Yello. However it also felt really thick as well, Katie thought it had some honey flavor which didn't mesh well with the citrus. I thought it had another flavor in there I couldn't put my finger on that didn't sit well with me. While we said it was okay and we would drink another if somebody offered it we won't be tossing it into our shopping cart on our own. Unless my eleven year old son wants some as he loves it.

Frostie Root Beer. A good straight forward root beer plain and simple. The flavor pops really well and we both think it would be perfect for a soda float root beer right up there with A&W on that. But it's doesn't have that one thing to set it apart from most other mainstream varieties in my humble opinion. But it was good and we may pick it up with some ice cream again.

Cheerwine. I included a picture of the bottle this time. It is hands down my favorite soda on the market. Less of a cherry cola and more of a cherry soda. I, and a few others, gave it much praise when I mentioned it in the last review. Evidently that had an affect because they were running really low on it at Rural King this weekend. So please, leave a bottle or two on the shelf for me.

Soda Reviews part one

 A few years back when Rural King first opened a store here they had a large variety of bottled soda's to chose from. My wife and I took this as an opportunity for some fun and wrote up several reviews for them Doing three to four different types each time. Originally posted quite some time ago on a local Facebook page I decided to just post them up here. Some of these brands may not be available anymore. Anyways on with the quick taste test reviews. 

Druthers Black Cow Vanilla Creme Rootbeer. This was a good solid root beer. We could both taste just a hint of the vanilla to set it off from most others but still plenty of that classic root beer flavor. Two thumbs up.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Coco Fizz Chocolate Soda. Okay we could taste some chocolate here, but is was buried under some really bad taste that I couldn't identify along with an even worse after taste. We ended up pouring it down the drain after only a few sips. Two thumbs down all the way down.

Dang! That's Good Butterscotch Root Beer. I can tell you one thing you can taste the butterscotch. So much that you really can't taste the root beer at all. While good it creates an overly sweet taste that can be a bit much. May want to balance it out with something salty like chips. One thumb up and one down. 

Sponsorship - Tube

 

This is a collection of two companies that sponsor runners, musicians, and other popular figures in a dark future. Games with heavy corporate control or constant television presence work the best. Using sponsors allows the GM to toss a little extra cash to the PC's in their games without creating an overwhelming flow of cash.

All prices included are listed in 'credits'. To transfer over to other settings, you can figure one credit to be worth the amount of a decent coffee purchased at a gas station

One assumption of this resource is that there are numerous AI programs scanning the endless television channels and social media networks all day long. If it is caught on television in any fashion, good or bad, the amount of time is recorded. On social media the amount of likes or views a person receives is recorded. The data is then sent back to the companies so they can determine who gets paid out.

Tube

Sometimes all you need are the basics to keep you going. Our bodies only require a specific amount of nutrition to keep going, with that amount increasing if we are more active. So why would anyone want to digest more than they have to? Why streamline your own body to near perfection if you aren't doing the same thing for your insides? With Tube that's what you do. Giving your body exactly what it needs, no more, no less.

Sold, as their name would lead you to believe, by the tube. Each Basic tube containing enough to replace a normal meal. Other tubes are smaller and for specific activities named Heavy Work, Work Out – Cardio, Work Out – Muscle Building, Extended Activity, and Healing. Also listed on each type of tube is the recommended amount of water that one should drink while consuming the product.

This product started as a more upper class product aimed at physical fitness junkies. Now the popularity has spread out to many other demographics and thus throughout the city. You can find Tube in most markets and convenience stores. Along with several kiosks located throughout the city, usually with a bottle water kiosk built into it. A Basic tube sells for 8 credits while most of the supplemental tubes sell for 5 credits each.

What is inside of the tube is a gray paste that is rather gritty. The taste is usually compared to that of Styrofoam or unflavored jello. The container itself resembles a large toothpaste tube with a wider nozzle at the end.

The franchise tends to sponsor those with athletic and healthy living backgrounds. They are also branching out into backing operators, bounty hunters, and other folks who tend to get air time and have to stay fit in order to do their jobs. They don't sponsor those just starting out and instead go for those who have built themselves up a little already.

Basic Sponsorship package

They are required to wear a high grade plastic wrap shaped to fit their lower leg. Held in place with Velcro straps, colored a light gray with a black logo and a unique serial code underneath. The design is very prominent and can be picked up by the media scanning AI's very easily.

They receive a bonus of 3 credits for each time they appear on television with the logo visible. With an additional 2 credits for every minute they are on. For social media networks they receive 1 credit per 40k 'likes' or similar. There is a maximum of 40 credits payed out per month.

If they hit the monthly maximum, or have done something special to garner notice, they are sent a bonus. A six pack of Tube with one of each of the supplements.

Advanced Sponsorship package

This is achieved once they have collected 200 credit in payout.

They now offer to have the logo and bar code placed on a persons boots or onto a large surface of their armor.

They also receive the same payout based on television appearances/viewers, but the maximum per month is raised to 80 credits.

A special package of six basic Tubes and a eighteen supplemental tubes of their choice are now delivered to the sponsored individual.

Levels beyond this are all privately negotiated

John “The Original” Doe, the first fully successful self aware clone produced by the now defunct genetics company 'Duality' is one of the biggest faces for Tube. Claiming that it's precise nutritional dose is exactly what he needs to keep in top shape for his dark op activities. Appearing on infomercials and leading the front on the 'Tube Lifestyle' that fitness fanatics are raving about. Even the side of their kiosks have his picture down their sides. He is provided all the Basic and supplemental tubes he needs.

“Everything you need, it's in the Tube”

Sponsorship - Sumthin Beer

 

This is a collection of two companies that sponsor runners, musicians, and other popular figures in a dark future. Games with heavy corporate control or constant television presence work the best. Using sponsors allows the GM to toss a little extra cash to the PC's in their games without creating an overwhelming flow of cash.

All prices included are listed in 'credits'. To transfer over to other settings, you can figure one credit to be worth the amount of a decent coffee purchased at a gas station.

One assumption of this resource is that there are numerous AI programs scanning the endless television channels and social media networks all day long. If it is caught on television in any fashion, good or bad, the amount of time is recorded. On social media the amount of likes or views a person receives is recorded. The data is then sent back to the companies so they can determine who gets paid out.

Remember if you enjoy this article and want to see more like hit the 'support this blog' tab at the top and see how you can encourage more work like it. 

Sumthin Beer

When it's been a long day and you need a cold one to help wash away the pain of the day, but you don't have a lot of cash. Well then what you are looking for is Sumthin Beer. Low in price, high in alcohol, as for the taste... well let's just say that after a couple you won't notice it anymore. It's cheap and can get you drunk quick, that's the entire selling point of this product.

Sold almost entirely in the lower class sections of a city. Although some high class individuals like to be seen with a bottle so they can appear as 'slumming it' on their social networks. You can pick it up in nearly every convenience store, bar, night club and they even have street vendors with refrigerated carts selling at, or near, popular events. Comes in three sizes: Regular (4 credits), Big Bottle (6 credits), and the smaller A Little (2 credits). Also there is now Sumthin Different which changes to a random color when opened for only a one extra credit per bottle.

The franchise offers sponsorship opportunities to those who have even the smallest chance of being noticed by the public eye. They particularly like sponsoring those who are known to frequent parties and bars.

Basic Sponsorship package

They are required to wear a plastic wrap shaped to fit on their upper back. Held in place with elastic straps, colored a light brown with the logo in dark colors and a unique serial code underneath. The design is very prominent and can be picked up by the media scanning AI's very easily.

They receive a bonus of 1 credit for each time they appear on television with the logo visible. With an additional 1 credit for every minute they are on. For social media networks they receive 1 credit per 30k 'likes' or similar. There is a maximum of 20 credits payed out per month.

They also receive a coupon that can be cashed in at any place selling Sumthin for a free Regular bottle. This coupon is sent to them once every two weeks. If they hit their maximum credits payout for the month, then five free coupons are immediately sent out. A few folks have been known to save up their coupons and use them for trade and barter in the shadier parts of the city.

Advanced Sponsorship package

This is achieved once they have collected 100 credits in payout.

The logo upper back wrap is upgraded to a higher more durable grade of plastic and is held in place with Velcro straps.

They also receive the same payout based on television appearances/viewers, but the maximum per month is raised to 40 credits.

Their coupons are increased to one a week. Plus, if they make a good appearance on television with the logo very clear, a few more may be mailed out to them as a 'bonus'.

Levels beyond this are all privately negotiated

While Sumthin Beer isn't a company that many stay with on a long term there are exceptions. The once highly popular bounty hunter 'Teeth' Thomson has been with them for years and he is a common feature on many of their television commercials. Even after his retirement from his job, they use him quite often especially during their roll out of Sumthin Different. He is often given stacks of coupons to use or simply give out whenever he feels like. Some people even have him sign them and never cash it in.

“When you need A Little Sumthin.”

Jaded Gamer - Game Shop Auctions

 

Saw this post over on rpgnet and I really wish the local shops in my area would do this. 

Yeah, there's a store here locally that (prior to COVID) held two auctions a year. I'd pack up half a dozen or a dozen crates full of RPG books I didn't want anymore (I've been doing this a long time) and give them a list of the books and the minimum prices for each (aka the amount so low that I'd rather keep the book than the money--I have filled out $0 before for books that had water damage and if literally anyone wanted them they could just have them, but if people wanted to bid up from zero that was fine, too).

Then they do the auction and whatever the games sell for, they keep. I get store credit for the same amount. Since they're buying stock from distributors but my store credit is used to purchase things at retail prices, they're making money on that transaction, but there's no upper limit to my store credit. They're still making whatever the % difference is on wholesale vs. retail. If they gave out cash, they wouldn't make money off the deal and might not make money at all since I could take my cash and use it for groceries or something instead of more games.

But instead we have a shop that will let you sell your used games on their shelf but you only get half of that after it sells and only in store credit. Another one gives you the full amount in store credit but only for purchases of games that are in stock so no special orders... and they don't have much in stock. Another doesn't do anything at all.

I wish they would think a little bit out of the box and do stuff like this. 

Clandestine Societies Issue One

 

Clandestine Societies Issue One is now finished and available over on DrivethruRPG. 

It is also available over on itch at the same price. 

Collecting five articles from my blog, giving them a little touch up and presenting them in an ezine style format. This is a resource for modern, or near modern, day supernatural, horror and occult settings. Presented system agnostic for you to adapt to whatever system you please. 

Articles include:

Sanctuary 

Asbestos Lurker

Player Responsibility

Cursed Candles

The Talking Wall 

All for the low price of a only a dollar. 

Needing some help

Well after my recent fight with Covid that included a month long hospital stay and time spend on a ventilator my family is having some financial issues. Having trouble with my short term disability since I went from one claim for my back and right into Covid with no return to work. Trying to fill the gaps there but it may take some time. 

Meanwhile there are bills to pay and groceries that need to be bought. My wife is on disability as well so we are on a super limited budget that is not going to pay everything. 

So I'm asking for help financially to anyone who is kind enough to help out. Any amount is appreciated.

My paypal is: dekaranger1@gmail.com

My wife's Venmo is: @katie-nixon-22

I have pdfs up for sale on both DrivethruRPG and Itch if you wish to purchase those.

Also the links to Amazon and DrivethruRPG on my blog here give me a little kickback on any purchases made through clicking on them.

If you don't wish to use any electronic form to help out and wish to send something through the mail just email me at: peteramthor AT gmail dot com and I will provide you with my address. 

Thanks ahead of time.

Normally I don't ask for help but right now I'm not seeing much choice in order to make ends meet and have a roof over our heads here. Hopefully I can get some things straightened out soon with my short term disability and get some income rolling in. Then hoping I recover physically enough to return to work within a couple months.