Little did you know that with Show 016, you were hearing your final Zone of Lawlessness under the banner of the Colby-Pelf Corporation (CPC).  Now, with the buyout of the league by Faustus Grael, the federation has revived the name from the mid-21st century of Pleiades Outlaw Wrestling (P.O.W.), and all the rebel attitude that entails!  And perhaps surprisingly, the new face of the league is the same as the old one was: that of Jack Hood, who not only has taken back the reins of the commissionership from the departed Tiberius Prell, but says he's going to occasionally step back in the ring and battle it out with whoever thinks they're tough enough!  Trent's got some thoughts about the changeover and about Jack Hood himself, and you might be interested to know...they're not 100% positive.

Trent also tells what he knows of some further background to the saga of Saboteur and Shylock and how the devious one was thwarted in his dramatic return to the fed at Countdown to Destruction.  When did Shylock and Splatter know what they knew, and why did they take the course that they did?  Maybe not everything is answered by the end of the segment, but at least you'll know what Trent knows.  And who gets the Lawless Seal of Approval® this time?  (Hint: It's a pretty blatant attempt at sucking up, but at least Trent seems to realize that.)

Click the POD link and let 'er rip!

Running time: about 15 minutes

Content is rated PG-13

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

The anonymous informer inside the CPC's front offices, "The Mole," has just come forward with some truly stunning news, perhaps the most important development ever for fans of the federation.  He/she has recorded part of a conversation between Magnus Colby and Pleiades Cluster Center owner and promoter Faustus Grael (pictured here) that is without a doubt shocking!  In addition, another recording was later made remotely from an unknown place between Grael and an unidentified person, which you'll also hear here.

After you listen to these revelations, CPC fans, you'll only be asking yourself one question:

What's going to happen now?!

Running time: about 10 minutes.

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

We're getting ever closer to the end of the year when big things always happen, and in this episode of the Zone of Lawlessness, you're gonna hear about plenty of big stuff leading up to them!  Among the tidbits of news you'll hear this time are the details surrounding the suspension of Darwin's Legacy's manager Dr. Barnabas until the year-ending Countdown to Destruction show.  We know he's an evil genius, but what did he do to earn this, and who caught him?  Better yet, what will he get up to in his time off, and what will the repercussions be for his past and present wrestlers?

Also, Mike Fortune has a new employer and a new target.  Who's he going after this time, and what's the cryptic message being delivered?  Then there's the oddest behavior of all, not surprisingly coming from Rhiannon in a contest between her ally Shylock and his archenemy Cypher.  What's the banshee up to now, and what could it all mean?  Listen and find out!

Running time: about 18 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

In the final installment of the interview series conducted at GalactiCon '07, I sat down with Larry Swank (aka BDS), website developer and designer as well as a Champions of the Galaxy fan, to discuss his role in the brave new world of COTGOnline.  While Larry and his wife Holli are largely responsible for the data entry and what many would call the unglamorous work of the venture, they've got creative ideas in their own right when it comes to the look and feel of what you see when you sit at the game table or utilize the site's many features.  His thoughts turn to the genesis of the project, what it takes to root out pesky code problems, and where he'd like to see the Online project go within the next year or so.

Plenty of good stuff here, so click the link above and listen to a humble codesmith at work!  And when you're done, visit www.larryswank.com to learn more about his services.

Running time: about 30 minutes

It's hard to leave a motormouth like Trent Lawless speechless, but for a few moments at the last CPC Goldmine, this creature – Nano – did just that.  What exactly is it?  Or should we say instead, what are they?  This newcomer to the CPC says it "wants to play."  Trent doesn't exactly know what to make of it/them, and after hearing Nano's intentions, maybe you'll be wondering the same things Trent is!  One thing's for sure, it will make things interesting for whatever division it competes in!

Vidtek's back this time to talk about the feud in the GWF between Retribution and Nosfera and the popularity that the rookie has been achieving there.  Why do the fans like him so much, and what's his future beyond this blood vendetta likely to be?  And back on the CPC side, why has Pleiades Cluster Center owner/promoter Faustus Grael been hanging around the main headquarters?  He's not exactly sneaking in, but he's not being forthcoming about his presence.  So what gives?  Trent thinks he knows.  Do you?

Click the POD link above and spend some time in the presence of greatness.  It'll be your pleasure.

Running time: about 17 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Well, Casualties of War is in the books, and what a great main event it was between the teams of Mensar and Brainstorm and Euritar and Dante!  Who did Prodigy pick as the lumberjacks?  Some of the choices will definitely surprise you!  Who won, and more importantly, what the fallout will likely be from the outcome is all detailed in this latest Zone of Lawlessness.

We had heard that Zed Marlowe had been working out with a mixed martial arts trainer to beef up his arsenal of weapons, and it served him well at Casualties of War.  Which former Outlaw Fight Club member is most impressed with his progress?  There's a women's division fighter who has caught the eye of Franco Jesterelli.  What's he going to do to try to win her over?  And there's a certain guy who is wallowing in a tag team feud that has nothing to do with him who is the unlucky recipient of the Lawless Bitchslap this time.  What's he have to do to get back on track with his career?  Trent sets him straight!  Click the POD link above and enjoy!

Running time: about 16 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

In the second installment of the GalactiCon '07 interviews, I spoke with the creative director of Filsinger Games, Kris Osk, who has also served as the writer of the popular three-set aCe series and has spearheaded the exciting COTG Online adventure that debuted earlier this year.  Those of you who are fans of both aCe and the Online platform will no doubt enjoy hearing some of Kris' views on what drives him as a writer, how he came to be involved in his current capacities with Filsinger Games, and what the future might hold both for COTG Online and for the sci-fi drama that is aCe.

Running time: about 23 minutes.

It's time for lucky show #13, Zone fans, and Trent has a bit of a chip on his shoulder this time.  Seems that his "good friend" Vidtek led him down a path of deception last time they spoke when he indicated he wasn't too keen on Sultana's chances against Mother Superior.  Now he's gone and joined Sultana's team – the Sultans of Swagger – for his in-ring comeback!  He and Trent have a little discussion about this, and you'll have to listen to see what sort of unpleasantries might be exchanged.

There's big news in the CPC, of course, too, as the upcoming Casualties of War supercard will have a main event pitting Mensar and Brainstorm against Euritar and Dante in a tag team Hydra Lumberjack Match.  With talent like this in the ring, and unknown enforcers on the outside, what's going to transpire?  All will be told next time in the report from the Pleiades Cluster Center, but you'll get the preview right here.  And two wrestlers – feuding opponents, in fact – receive Lawless Seals of Approval®.  Finally, Trent reports from the site of GalactiCon, with brief interviews with some big nerds ... er, devoted game fans.  All coming your way when you click the link above!

Running time: about 21 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters © Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

At GalactiCon '07, attendees were treated to a first in convention history – a concert by not just a comedy musician, but a comedy musician who plays Champions of the Galaxy and has written songs based specifically on GWF characters.  Grant Baciocco is the Everyman of Throwing Toasters, the guy who comes up with the music and the words, and often the only person playing and singing them.  He's just released Songs in the Key of GWF (available at www.filsingergames.com/home.htm), a must-have for any fan of the game who also enjoys laughing about something that the general public has no clue about.  This interview was conducted on the second day of the convention, and in it, Grant talks about his inspirations, what it's like to turn a character into a song, and his playing of the game over the years.  Listen, learn, and (if you haven't already), go buy every Throwing Toasters CD you can get your hands on.  Just don't be surprised if you do indeed laugh your a** off.  Consider yourself warned!

Running time: about 24 minutes.

She's a mystery to all, even to the men she manages: Payback, Encubus, and Bloodline.  Who exactly is Mother Superior?  What are her motives?  Why is Sultana out to get her?  Will we ever get answers to these questions?  Trent and the returning Vidtek have some thoughts on this, but this enigma is far from solved.  Hear what they have to say about probably the most mysterious woman ever to enter the GWF (or any other fed, for that matter).

Trent's also got some news about the final footage shot for the Dante biopic, and what repercussions it's going to have in the CPC long after the documentary crew is gone.  How are Mensar and Euritar involved?  One things for sure, you know Brainstorm is in the middle of it!  Also, goody-two-shoes Scion Nexus gets himself a stinging Bitchslap and some advice on ditching his teammate to go it alone in the bold new frontier of the group-less CPC.

Now catch up.  I can tell you're already behind.  Click the link and dive on in!

Running time: about 17 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Why in the heck are we talking about this guy again?  Well, if you've been looking hard at Mensar's success lately, you may also be wondering if he really has been doing it on his own, as he claims he has.  Trent's sources say, maybe not!  If what he has to say in this Zone of Lawlessness is true (and come on, it's Trent here, the truth will be proven in the end as always!), Magnus Colby and Sonora Pelf might have this particular blood-sucking parasite on their hands again whether they know it or not.  What could they do?  Listen to Trent's take on the ramifications on the possible (informal but important) involvement in the current CPC!

There's also some more news from Alpha Lyrae and specifically from Dar Gova, hinting that the long-awaited Thayne/Jardiil matchup could be happening soon, but as usual, the Jardiil are being humorless and unforthcoming about it.  What could bring this match to pass?  And which of the CPC's six female competitors gets herself a coveted Lawless Seal of Approval®?  Click the POD link above, and get to listening!

Running time: about 16 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Back for more aural potato salad?  You're in the right place.  Not only does Trent have a full report of what happened in the ex-partner matchups mentioned in Show 009 (T.K. vs. Raze and Rubicon vs. Hadrian), he's got some speculations on the aftermath of those encounters — and what encounters they were!  Plus, Vidtek is back from a slight dietary indiscretion to bring you his take on the latest phenom to enter a GWF squared circle, the Eugenics Project's own behemoth, Monolith.  Can he already be considered among the greatest ever to wrestle, or will he be forced into Disaster and Endgame's shadow as an also-ran?  Vidtek and Trent both have their ideas on this one.  Click the link above; the Zone awaits your arrival.

Running time: about 20 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Have we got some Goldmine news for you in this episode of the Zone of Lawlessness!  Both Commissioner Prell and President Prodigy have created some matches for the same show that pit ex-partners against each other, and no doubt the sparks will fly!  Who is Hadrian (pictured here) going against?  You shouldn't have to think to hard about the answer.  Who's in the other match?  Listen and find out!

Trent's back to dishing out Bitchslaps, so check out which "colorful character" is on the receiving end this time, and you'll get a glimpse into the post-wrestling life of another former CPC great, one who made his name behind a mask, in fact.  The Zone of Lawlessness is back and in your face once again!

(Thanks to Larry "BDS" Swank for the above banner that reeks of awesomeness.)

Running time: about 15 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

In this installment of Mark's Musings, I wanted to talk a bit about my own creative process as I write the sets for the CPC federation of Filsinger Games' Champions of the Galaxy, with specific instances drawn from the most recent installment, Cataclysm 2121.  While I may not be quite at the level of a Dark Menace of the Universe as far as creativity goes (I'm far too much of a planner for that), I hope this will answer some questions that game fans have had in the past about what thoughts go through my head as I tell the stories of these characters.  I know that my approach is different in many ways from Tom's, so if you're interested, this will shed some light on how I go about it.  (Now you can stop asking me questions about it at GalactiCon!)

Running time: 29 minutes.

That's right.  Our eighth show and we're finally getting around to reporting some stuff from that other league, the GWF.  And we've got the perfect reporter to do it.  Who, you ask?  You think we're gonna tell you without you listening?  Remember who you're dealing with here!

Also, there's an injury report on one half of the Punks, no longer the CPC tag team champs now that Darwin's Legacy has dethroned them.  Taurine suffered a beatdown at the hands of Hadrian in their title loss, and wait till you hear how it happened!  The Punks have revenge on their minds, and there's no doubt they're the most popular duo in the CPC right now.

Are you tired of all of Trent's negativity?  Well, you know where you can stick that opinion...  Anyway, rather than dole out a Bitchslap this time, we're happy (we think) to introduce the Lawless Seal of Approval® upon someone who has earned his kudos from our resident smarm-meister.  Who is it?  Well, Trent has to eat a little crow in doing so.  But that's the mark of a real man!

Running time: about 18 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

All right, no more Italian wannabes on this program.  Back to the news!

Trent's got a few issues on his mind, foremost of which is the rumor he's hearing about recently-departed AniMan and Dr. Barnabas' "greatest experiment" Puma, who is reportedly being drilled (and probably drugged) to get him into fighting shape for a return to the CPC by 2122 or maybe even before.  But if he does come back, how will Dr. B get past Prodigy's rule barring him from managing more than two wrestlers?  And what might Gila try to do in the meantime to get him back?  There's also an update on the war in Alpha Lyrae, with the insurgency of the northern people making a cause célèbre out of Thayne's family.  What will the Jardiil response be?  We'll also catch up with a former CPC wrestler in Trent's own version of "Where Are They Now?" (details inside), and the former Duck Boy gets himself a well-deserved Bitchslap.

Ready?  Point.  Click.  Listen...

Running time: about 17 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

It seems that there's been some talk lately (partially started by me) that the time may be right for some sort of Champions of the Galaxy audio project, complete with game fans providing the voices, music, and script for it.  I've devoted the second installment of my intermittent Musings to this topic, one that I've considered on and off for the greater part of two decades of playing now.  Is this a feasible project?  How would we pull it off?  Who would be involved?  And perhaps most importantly, when in the COTG timeline should such a project take place – 2087?  2074?  2119?  2122?  Or some other moment?

If you've got about half an hour to spare, and can put up with me ad libbing my way through most of this, then please help me figure this all out!

Running time: 26 minutes.

At the risk of incurring the wrath of a certain ring announcer, llllllllllllet's get ready to ... rumble?  Well, we're not sure if the confrontation between Trent Lawless and Franco Jesterelli can exactly be described as a rumble, but it sure is entertaining!  Trent thinks he's prepared to drive the ersatz Italian into the ground with his brand of verbal punishment, but one should never underestimate the power of a good laugh, and the surprise factor of the person providing it.  (We'll give you a hint: He's pictured here.)  Who wins this meeting of the minds?  Does Trent live up to his self-billed rhetorical prowess?  Can we understand a word Franco says?  You listen, and you be the judge.  But don't forget to smile!  Honestly, you probably won't be able to help it!

Running time: 15 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Well, you knew it had to happen eventually.  Somebody finally got peeved enough at Trent's fuming on the ZoL to demand to be included on the show, and while he's not a guest this time, you can bet sparks will fly when Franco Jesterelli joins Trent next time around.  Wait till you hear the war of words behind this feud!

Also, Trent follows up on the top 10 singles competitors in the CPC from last time with the top 5 tag teams.  Who grabs the top spot?  Current champs the Punks?  Perennial faves Darwin's Legacy?  Someone else?  Maybe he'll surprise you.  But he'll definitely give you a laugh or two along the way.

Running time: about 18 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

Back from a bit of a hiatus, Trent Lawless takes a cue from a listener who asks him, "If you had to give the Lawless Top 10 of singles competitors in the CPC right now, who would they be and why?"  Never one to mince words, Trent's got his opinions about this, and while most of the members of this elite group may not come as a shock, the order may be somewhat surprising.  Where did Mensar come in on that list?  You'll have to click the link to listen and find out!  Plus, Comedy finds himself on the receiving end of a Lawless you-know-what.

Running time: about 18 minutes.

Content is rated PG-13.

All characters (c) Filsinger Games/Champions of the Galaxy

On December 4, 1986, I was in the eighth grade and had just received a package in the mail from Filsinger Games, a package that contained the introductory set of 24 cards and a handbook for the GWF and Champions of the Galaxy.  On December 4, 2006, 20 years and about a million cards later, I'm still rolling the dice and setting up matches in not just the GWF, but also the CPC and aCe federations, as well.  It's been a long strange trip from the days of Club Galactica (see the picture of me at age 15 here — and then promptly forget you ever saw it!), but I've got a lot of memories over those two decades, some of which I've chosen to share here, along with the results from my 20th anniversary supercard, fresh off the presses!

Thanks to Tom Filsinger for making me a willing slave these past 20 years, and to all the friends I've made along the way.  Here's to another 20 and more!