OBAMA!
Enough said.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day
I voted. Barack Obama all the way.
I don't think I've ever known a candidate before an election as well as I know Barack Obama. I didn't vote in the primaries, and I've only come to know him from his books, debates, and media appearances. But if I look at that sum of information, there remains no clearer choice for president of our country.
His passion, intelligence, and character remind me of the person I want to be. They remind me of my father. They remind me of what we should all aspire for in this life. We should all have the compassion to give as much to our fellow men as we give to ourselves. We should all have the wisdom of seeing the world through un-American eyes. And we should all have the courage and grace to stand up to violence with calm discourse in preference over impulsive aggression.
As a hope for my son and our country, I pray that Barack Obama becomes President of the United States of America.
I don't think I've ever known a candidate before an election as well as I know Barack Obama. I didn't vote in the primaries, and I've only come to know him from his books, debates, and media appearances. But if I look at that sum of information, there remains no clearer choice for president of our country.
His passion, intelligence, and character remind me of the person I want to be. They remind me of my father. They remind me of what we should all aspire for in this life. We should all have the compassion to give as much to our fellow men as we give to ourselves. We should all have the wisdom of seeing the world through un-American eyes. And we should all have the courage and grace to stand up to violence with calm discourse in preference over impulsive aggression.
As a hope for my son and our country, I pray that Barack Obama becomes President of the United States of America.
Monday, October 20, 2008
A poem from my favorite poet...
Faces
by Sara Teasdale
People that I meet and pass
In the city's broken roar,
Faces that I lose so soon
And have never found before,
Do you know how much you tell
In the meeting of our eyes,
How ashamed I am, and sad
To have pierced your poor disguise?
Secrets rushing without sound
Crying from your hiding places--
Let me go, I cannot bear
The sorrow of the passing faces.
--People in the restless street,
Can it be, oh can it be
In the meeting of our eyes
That you know as much of me?
by Sara Teasdale
People that I meet and pass
In the city's broken roar,
Faces that I lose so soon
And have never found before,
Do you know how much you tell
In the meeting of our eyes,
How ashamed I am, and sad
To have pierced your poor disguise?
Secrets rushing without sound
Crying from your hiding places--
Let me go, I cannot bear
The sorrow of the passing faces.
--People in the restless street,
Can it be, oh can it be
In the meeting of our eyes
That you know as much of me?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Catching my breath
So I finally have some time to write a proper blog entry after being really busy at work for the past two weeks. I'll just give a report on how things are going.
The kid: He's growing up. Getting more dexterous. He's got a ways to go though before we can start playing games. Oh well. I guess playing with mushy plastic toys can be fun.
The game: Another session tonight of Pathfinder. I AM SO PUMPED UP I MIGHT EXPLODE!!! Yeah, you read that right, three (count 'em... 3) exclamation points on that one.
Doing some surfing on YouTube at work today. Gonna find me some scenes from fantasy movies. Awesome.
The kid: He's growing up. Getting more dexterous. He's got a ways to go though before we can start playing games. Oh well. I guess playing with mushy plastic toys can be fun.
The game: Another session tonight of Pathfinder. I AM SO PUMPED UP I MIGHT EXPLODE!!! Yeah, you read that right, three (count 'em... 3) exclamation points on that one.
Doing some surfing on YouTube at work today. Gonna find me some scenes from fantasy movies. Awesome.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Long break between game sessions
Definitely bored, but I need the time to get back to reality. Hopefully when I get back to the game it will be even more fun.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A World View
I had hoped to avoid political posts, but I felt like this was necessary.
The more I hear about the history of the Republican party and their goals, the more I am disheartened. The distinction between Democrats and Republicans used to be about policy. It used to be about political means to achieve the same ends.
Sadly, that is not the case anymore. What I increasingly see in the Republican party is a need to paint themselves as the beset upon minority, crying for attention and justice when no injustice has occurred. Much of this might have to do with the cultural shift in this country that has taken place over the last 40 years. In that time...
You know what? They're right. But the goal should not be to defeat this change. Their goal should not be to say that X is responsible for all our problems and all the affronts I feel from society. Change is scary to people. For many, it represents an unknown quantity forcing it's way into their comfortable equations about life, family, society, and the world. Change is not always necessary, but in this case it is unavoidable.
So what do you do? Scream louder? Lay the blame at more feet? Take the other guy to task for ruining your life just because of his existence?
It's not his fault, but at the same time it's not their fault. Certainly some in American society can be blamed for continuing old traditions while not adapting to a world that changes around them, but the change is not always their doing.
America can not make the world change to the way it wants it to be, so everyone better learn to find that part of a peaceful life amongst the world community that they need in order to progress.
I feel like it's God's version of tough love. "O Mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you" (Quran 49:13)
People better start learning to love thy neighbor, or we won't have any neighbors left.
The more I hear about the history of the Republican party and their goals, the more I am disheartened. The distinction between Democrats and Republicans used to be about policy. It used to be about political means to achieve the same ends.
Sadly, that is not the case anymore. What I increasingly see in the Republican party is a need to paint themselves as the beset upon minority, crying for attention and justice when no injustice has occurred. Much of this might have to do with the cultural shift in this country that has taken place over the last 40 years. In that time...
- The issue of abortion was decided in Roe v. Wade.
- The Vietnam War left a lasting scar on the American psyche about extended wars overseas and the meaning of American Empire.
- It's been a period of larger than usual ups and downs in the American Economy coupled with regulation and then deregulation of various industries.
- There's been a rise in the vocal wants of Christian religious groups in response to (what they see as) the deterioration of American morality.
You know what? They're right. But the goal should not be to defeat this change. Their goal should not be to say that X is responsible for all our problems and all the affronts I feel from society. Change is scary to people. For many, it represents an unknown quantity forcing it's way into their comfortable equations about life, family, society, and the world. Change is not always necessary, but in this case it is unavoidable.
So what do you do? Scream louder? Lay the blame at more feet? Take the other guy to task for ruining your life just because of his existence?
It's not his fault, but at the same time it's not their fault. Certainly some in American society can be blamed for continuing old traditions while not adapting to a world that changes around them, but the change is not always their doing.
America can not make the world change to the way it wants it to be, so everyone better learn to find that part of a peaceful life amongst the world community that they need in order to progress.
I feel like it's God's version of tough love. "O Mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you" (Quran 49:13)
People better start learning to love thy neighbor, or we won't have any neighbors left.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Here comes trouble
The kid has learned to laugh at me. Hopefully only when I do something intentionally funny.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Odd combinations
I remember a day in college when I rented two movies from the local eclectic video store and the clerk remarked: "We may have a winner for oddest double feature of the day."
The two movies were:
Aparajito (1956, Satyajit Ray, 2nd part of the Apu trilogy)
Super Fly (1972 Blaxploitation film)
Today I find myself with an odd CD-swap in the PC...
I took out: The Dark Crystal Soundtrack
And put it in: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan "Live at the Royal Albert Hall"
The two movies were:
Aparajito (1956, Satyajit Ray, 2nd part of the Apu trilogy)
Super Fly (1972 Blaxploitation film)
Today I find myself with an odd CD-swap in the PC...
I took out: The Dark Crystal Soundtrack
And put it in: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan "Live at the Royal Albert Hall"
Friday, September 5, 2008
Old and busted...
Old and busted... Dungeons & Dragons.
New hotness... Pathfinder!
Just had our first game session of Rise of the Runelords. Good times had by all!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Golarion
For many, many years I was a devoted Forgotten Realms guy. It wasn't the stories that came from the novels, it wasn't the writing of Ed Greenwood (who is a scary fantasy geek by the way), and it wasn't the computer games.
What I saw in the Forgotten Realms was a complete world opening up to me as a DM like no other world has ever been. It was a veritable playground of adventure and I loved just thinking about the possibilities the Realms promised.
Well, that all has changed. I still like the Forgotten Realms, but with 4th Edition, it's changed. It's not the same anymore, much like many things in D&D. So I guess you could say I've left the Realms.
I found Paizo picking up the mantle where Wizards of the Coast has dropped it. Golarion is everything I first saw in the Realms. There are some things I would have done differently, but on the whole, it is an amazing world filled with all the wonder I've longed for in a campaign setting.
We're playing our first session tonight of a Pathfinder Beta Rise of the Runelords campaign. It's gonna be great.
What I saw in the Forgotten Realms was a complete world opening up to me as a DM like no other world has ever been. It was a veritable playground of adventure and I loved just thinking about the possibilities the Realms promised.
Well, that all has changed. I still like the Forgotten Realms, but with 4th Edition, it's changed. It's not the same anymore, much like many things in D&D. So I guess you could say I've left the Realms.
I found Paizo picking up the mantle where Wizards of the Coast has dropped it. Golarion is everything I first saw in the Realms. There are some things I would have done differently, but on the whole, it is an amazing world filled with all the wonder I've longed for in a campaign setting.
We're playing our first session tonight of a Pathfinder Beta Rise of the Runelords campaign. It's gonna be great.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Everything looks better in Chrome
Google has a new browser. Do we really need ANOTHER browser? It's not bad, but we're getting back to the height of the browser wars already. Isn't this supposed to be something like Beta vs VHS? HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray?
Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sub-Power!
So I'm sick at home and the wife is out at her folks. Gives me a chance to finally watch Lord of the Rings with the subwoofer turned up a little.
Best disc to try it out with? Well, my favorite of course...
Fellowship of the Ring, Extended Edition, Disc 2
Best disc to try it out with? Well, my favorite of course...
Fellowship of the Ring, Extended Edition, Disc 2
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Dead Poets Society
I don't remember seeing this movie the year it came out, although I know I did. It was 1989, a year after I started high school and the first time I took a chance and started a D&D group.
I had been a player in a campaign run by a friend's boyfriend, and it was a great experience learning the ins and outs of playing D&D.
What I see now in this movie is a group of boys playing D&D. Even if they're only reading poetry to each other, they're engaged in the spirit of D&D. The movie's theme, "Carpe diem", is a bit of a cliche now, but at the time I started playing D&D it meant something to me, even if I didn't know it.
Taking the leadership to get a group together for storytelling and adventure-having was the best decision I ever made in my life.
I had been a player in a campaign run by a friend's boyfriend, and it was a great experience learning the ins and outs of playing D&D.
What I see now in this movie is a group of boys playing D&D. Even if they're only reading poetry to each other, they're engaged in the spirit of D&D. The movie's theme, "Carpe diem", is a bit of a cliche now, but at the time I started playing D&D it meant something to me, even if I didn't know it.
Taking the leadership to get a group together for storytelling and adventure-having was the best decision I ever made in my life.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I don't play Dungeons & Dragons
I've been meaning to post this for a while, but I guess reading the in-print Beta finally made me come out with it.
As I read these pages and look over even the small changes, I realize what the OGL's effect on my hobby really is. Rather than have people ask "Do you play Dungeons & Dragons?" and me responding "Yes", I can now answer "I play Pathfinder". Even if I have to explain it's another roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons, for the first time in a long while, seems like forever, my roleplaying game system of choice is not Dungeons & Dragons.
Long live the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game!
As I read these pages and look over even the small changes, I realize what the OGL's effect on my hobby really is. Rather than have people ask "Do you play Dungeons & Dragons?" and me responding "Yes", I can now answer "I play Pathfinder". Even if I have to explain it's another roleplaying game like Dungeons & Dragons, for the first time in a long while, seems like forever, my roleplaying game system of choice is not Dungeons & Dragons.
Long live the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game!
The voices told me to do it
Ok, for all you roleplaying podlings out there, here's a handy tip for being a great DM...
Use distinct voices for NPCs. Use 'em a lot. It really helps PCs identify with different personalities they meet in the game. If it's a random NPC and you're not sure what to do, go for a neutral voice.
Otherwise, specific NPCs deserve specific voices. Try to immitate people from real life. Is the NPC a government leader? Use the voice of someone from Congress or the White House. Is the NPC a rogue? Use the voice of a notable rogue or someone you liked from the movies.
And always, PRACTICE your voices before you game. It helps. A LOT!
Use distinct voices for NPCs. Use 'em a lot. It really helps PCs identify with different personalities they meet in the game. If it's a random NPC and you're not sure what to do, go for a neutral voice.
Otherwise, specific NPCs deserve specific voices. Try to immitate people from real life. Is the NPC a government leader? Use the voice of someone from Congress or the White House. Is the NPC a rogue? Use the voice of a notable rogue or someone you liked from the movies.
And always, PRACTICE your voices before you game. It helps. A LOT!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The intuhnet sux...
Ok, so I'm searching on YouTube for classical music and I run across this comment. It was made in response to a video of Mozart's oboe concerto.
Whats with all these videos of performances of Mozart wind concertos that start only when the soloist starts?They're skipping over the whole intro...which DOES have a purpose;it lays the ground work for the whole piece...whoever posted this piece of crap should be crucified...youre basically leading us into the piece blind;and its a slap in the face to Mozart. You REALLY make me sick.
I just have to laugh. I could have been reading this kind of comment on a D&D board! LOL.
Whats with all these videos of performances of Mozart wind concertos that start only when the soloist starts?They're skipping over the whole intro...which DOES have a purpose;it lays the ground work for the whole piece...whoever posted this piece of crap should be crucified...youre basically leading us into the piece blind;and its a slap in the face to Mozart. You REALLY make me sick.
I just have to laugh. I could have been reading this kind of comment on a D&D board! LOL.
ASP.NET Triumph
So, I'm a big ASP.NET guy. I feel like I've worked in the realm of ASP.NET for a while and I've struggled a little bit with learning the object-oriented side of things... until now!
I've reworked a small app at work that confirms to myself that I DO know the OOP concepts in C# to a degree. I still have more to learn, but my confidence in my abilities to demonstrate my knowledge is significantly higher.
Awesome.
I've reworked a small app at work that confirms to myself that I DO know the OOP concepts in C# to a degree. I still have more to learn, but my confidence in my abilities to demonstrate my knowledge is significantly higher.
Awesome.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Excalibur Movie Quote
I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite movie quotes:
Merlin: What are you afraid of?
Arthur: I... I don't know.
Merlin: Shall I tell you what's out there?
Arthur: Yes please.
Merlin: The Dragon! A beast of such power that if you were to see it whole and all complete in a single glance it would burn you to cinders!
Arthur: Where is it?
Merlin: It is everywhere! It is everything! It's scales glisten in the bark of trees. It's roar is heard in the wind. And it's forked tongue strikes like... (lightning bolt) Whoah like lightning, yes that's it!
Arthur: How can I...? What shall I...? Must I...?
Merlin: Do nothing. ... Be still. ... Sleep. Rest in the arms of the Dragon. ... Dream!
Merlin: What are you afraid of?
Arthur: I... I don't know.
Merlin: Shall I tell you what's out there?
Arthur: Yes please.
Merlin: The Dragon! A beast of such power that if you were to see it whole and all complete in a single glance it would burn you to cinders!
Arthur: Where is it?
Merlin: It is everywhere! It is everything! It's scales glisten in the bark of trees. It's roar is heard in the wind. And it's forked tongue strikes like... (lightning bolt) Whoah like lightning, yes that's it!
Arthur: How can I...? What shall I...? Must I...?
Merlin: Do nothing. ... Be still. ... Sleep. Rest in the arms of the Dragon. ... Dream!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Awesome post somewhere else
Check this post out.
Oh, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beta is being released today. Go play it. NOW!
Oh, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beta is being released today. Go play it. NOW!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
1980-1982, Years That Changed Everything
A lot of what has formed my interests and tastes in pop culture can be traced back to the formative years of 1980-1982. Even if I didn't see the movies listed below at the time, the tone and style of the movies produced at that time very much entertains me still. Bold movies lie in my favorites for fantasy/sci-fi.
Movies
Airplane! (1980)
Altered States (1980)
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) (don't ask)
Flash Gordon (1980)
The Fog (1980)
Shining, The (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Boot, Das (1981)
Caveman (1981)
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Dragonslayer (1981)
Escape from New York (1981)
Excalibur (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Scanners (1981)
Stripes (1981)
Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Blade Runner (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Creepshow (1982)
Dark Crystal, The (1982)
Firefox (1982)
Megaforce (1982) (again... don't ask, but if you're looking for a cheesy performance by Spin City's Barry Bostwick, look no further!)
The Thing (1982)
TRON (1982)
Secret of NIMH, The (1982)
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) (arguably the best Star Trek movie)
Some of my other interests at the time were in roleplaying games (which I didn't play until 1988) and computer games.
Roleplaying Games
1981 (D&D 2nd Revision - Basic, Expert Sets) (first time I read D&D rules)
Computer Games
1981 Castle Wolfenstein by Warner, Muse.
1981 Olympic Decathlon by Smith, Microsoft.
1981 Wizardry by Greenberg & Woodhead, Sir-Tech.
1982 Ultima II by British, Sierra On-Line.
1982 Swashbuckler by Stephenson, DataMost.
1982 Choplifter by Gorlin, Broderbund.
Movies
Airplane! (1980)
Altered States (1980)
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) (don't ask)
Flash Gordon (1980)
The Fog (1980)
Shining, The (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Boot, Das (1981)
Caveman (1981)
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Dragonslayer (1981)
Escape from New York (1981)
Excalibur (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Scanners (1981)
Stripes (1981)
Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Blade Runner (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Creepshow (1982)
Dark Crystal, The (1982)
Firefox (1982)
Megaforce (1982) (again... don't ask, but if you're looking for a cheesy performance by Spin City's Barry Bostwick, look no further!)
The Thing (1982)
TRON (1982)
Secret of NIMH, The (1982)
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) (arguably the best Star Trek movie)
Some of my other interests at the time were in roleplaying games (which I didn't play until 1988) and computer games.
Roleplaying Games
1981 (D&D 2nd Revision - Basic, Expert Sets) (first time I read D&D rules)
Computer Games
1981 Castle Wolfenstein by Warner, Muse.
1981 Olympic Decathlon by Smith, Microsoft.
1981 Wizardry by Greenberg & Woodhead, Sir-Tech.
1982 Ultima II by British, Sierra On-Line.
1982 Swashbuckler by Stephenson, DataMost.
1982 Choplifter by Gorlin, Broderbund.
Missing my dad
I remember I was in 3rd Grade when I first sat down in front of a computer and programmed something. It was in the low-res graphics of the Apple IIe and my GT program taught us how to do lines and dots to make an image. Many kids couldn't get it right away, but my program ran the first time with only a couple of mistakes (bugs).
I had lost my dad just a year ago and now a whole new world was opening up to me. Specifically, computer games and D&D. I just wish I had had a chance to share any of that with him.
I had lost my dad just a year ago and now a whole new world was opening up to me. Specifically, computer games and D&D. I just wish I had had a chance to share any of that with him.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Wizards comes late
So 4E fans, how're ya likin' the lineup of all that 3rd party 4th Edition content? Huh? What do you mean there isn't that much? GSL? Oh you mean this GSL?
Ok... so they're a bit late. At least in the meantime you have a bunch of cool stuff from D&D Insider. How's that going? Huh? What do you mean it's not ready for prime time? Reduced prices?
Ok... so they're a bit late. At least in the meantime you have a bunch of cool stuff from D&D Insider. How's that going? Huh? What do you mean it's not ready for prime time? Reduced prices?
Paizo comes through
So I heard back from Paizo regarding the maps. I'm just glad they actually listened and tried to find a solution. That's the best any customer can expect.
XPath is named well...
So, I'm trying to get this blog to show up on my web site. Over there, the look and feel of the site is slightly more archaic so I've written code that "subscribes" to the Blogger feed and displays posts accordingly. To get certain posts, you have to use a query language called XPath.
X usually stands for some unknown quantity. And the "path" to the correct post or set of posts is what I'm after. So, translated, some "unknown path" is the tool you need to use to get the results.
Good thing the boys over at marketing didn't get ahold of this one.
Now introducing "EASYXMLQUERYFINDING", the new programming tool to find exactly the items in an XML data source you're looking for in a sleek, easily customizable way!
X usually stands for some unknown quantity. And the "path" to the correct post or set of posts is what I'm after. So, translated, some "unknown path" is the tool you need to use to get the results.
Good thing the boys over at marketing didn't get ahold of this one.
Now introducing "EASYXMLQUERYFINDING", the new programming tool to find exactly the items in an XML data source you're looking for in a sleek, easily customizable way!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CARTOGRAPHY RULES!
In every roleplaying game product that details the locations of an environment, usually a map is provided that will give the DM an accurate assessment of how the players can interact with that environment. For example, the PCs want to travel from Town A to Town B. Well, The DM can see from the map a few things:
So I post the comment to the publishers and they tell me that the issue would be addressed. So when another product came out without a scale in some of the maps, I took that to mean that the publishing date of the first product was so close to the second that they didn't have time to fix those kinds of things. I also know that the lead time in print publishing is a couple of months at times.
What I didn't expect was when I posted a question on the message boards as to the scale of some of the maps in the second product, I got a snarky response on the boards. Um... WTF?
Get it together people. As follows: What All Good Maps Should Have
I'm in a field where visual representations of information count for a great deal, so I understand the need to make visual information work well. Do I need to do your work for you?
- What type of environments the PCs will travel through and what type of encounters to expect.
- How long they will be traveling, what the distance is vs what type of ground they have to cover.
- Any other locations along the way that will influence their travel.
So I post the comment to the publishers and they tell me that the issue would be addressed. So when another product came out without a scale in some of the maps, I took that to mean that the publishing date of the first product was so close to the second that they didn't have time to fix those kinds of things. I also know that the lead time in print publishing is a couple of months at times.
What I didn't expect was when I posted a question on the message boards as to the scale of some of the maps in the second product, I got a snarky response on the boards. Um... WTF?
Get it together people. As follows: What All Good Maps Should Have
I'm in a field where visual representations of information count for a great deal, so I understand the need to make visual information work well. Do I need to do your work for you?
Friday, August 8, 2008
What's this here blog thing anyway?
It may seem like I'm the last guy on the planet to start his own blog, but I don't care. It's more of a personal journal than a blog anyway.
So today, I finally switched to Blogger. It's easier to create posts and keep track of posts.
Go make some snarky comments already.
So today, I finally switched to Blogger. It's easier to create posts and keep track of posts.
Go make some snarky comments already.
Preheat to 452 degrees
452 degrees... the temperature at which roleplaying books burn!
Woohoo! Got some promising players for the new Pathfinder campaign.
Sean, Human Fighter
Budget slasher by day, monster slasher by night
Adam, Dwarf Cleric
Excellent player, but a cleric who leaves a sick kid at home for D&D?
Tom, Human Fighter/Rogue
He's got the stories and the experience of a rogue in real life!
James, Elf Wizard
A very promising magician, and he knows C#!
Game is most definitely... ON!
Woohoo! Got some promising players for the new Pathfinder campaign.
Sean, Human Fighter
Budget slasher by day, monster slasher by night
Adam, Dwarf Cleric
Excellent player, but a cleric who leaves a sick kid at home for D&D?
Tom, Human Fighter/Rogue
He's got the stories and the experience of a rogue in real life!
James, Elf Wizard
A very promising magician, and he knows C#!
Game is most definitely... ON!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Reading Rules
Here's a quote from "Neithan" from the Paizo.com messageboard:
What is at the core of this debate is how some people see it as a fantasy game, and others see it as a fantasy simulation. This is not new, but 4th Edition chose a side in this conflict and some people see it as a great thing. Others do not.
When you read the rules, it totaly seperates you from the things they are meant to represent. Not a fault of the book, but the presentation greatly encourages you to see actions as applications of the rules, not rules as a way to represent the actions happening in the world.This, my friends, is what is wrong with 4th Edition. I've been reading more and more posts lately about the debate between 4E and 3.X. There are a couple of people advocating 4E who refuse to see the personal preference of play style for 3rd Edition. They cite examples where the game goes too far into "simulationist" territory, such as a 1st Level Wizard getting creamed in a first encounter. There's nothing wrong with the game. That's the way it was meant to play. You HAVE to protect the wizard at low levels because he's going to be protecting you at high levels. The roles in the party change from level to level.
What is at the core of this debate is how some people see it as a fantasy game, and others see it as a fantasy simulation. This is not new, but 4th Edition chose a side in this conflict and some people see it as a great thing. Others do not.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Maps Maps Maps
I'm trying to find a good system for utilizing more maps for miniatures/tokens in my game. There are a HUGE number of products online and it's a little scary trying to decide between all of the products.
They basically break down into two categories: maps you can create yourself using various tiles/pdf technologies, OR premade maps that are slightly pricier but you can either print out at home or purchase for not so much money.
I'm still on the fence. I bought some GameMastery Map Packs with locations I think will be common to need: villages, cities, inns, slums. However, I'll still have to draw some situations. It's unavoidable I guess unless they start publishing maps along with the adventures.
Oh well, it will still be good times.
They basically break down into two categories: maps you can create yourself using various tiles/pdf technologies, OR premade maps that are slightly pricier but you can either print out at home or purchase for not so much money.
I'm still on the fence. I bought some GameMastery Map Packs with locations I think will be common to need: villages, cities, inns, slums. However, I'll still have to draw some situations. It's unavoidable I guess unless they start publishing maps along with the adventures.
Oh well, it will still be good times.
Friday, July 25, 2008
We must worry about competition
Hasbro has said that they really want to expand their offering of online content, thus we have the changes to D&D to make the game more like World of WarCraft. Um... no. A roleplaying game is not about pressing buttons on a keyboard. It's about face-to-face content. Call it something else you 17th Level Neutral Evil Corporate Executives!
On the lighter side of the news, I found an awesome image for my desktop background. It's got classic 80s shtick! It's got classic fantasy shtick! It's got classic videogame shtick! Did I mention how awesome it was? Funny thing is, the image was made as an homage to 80s videogame images. This isn't even from a real game! Awesome.
On the lighter side of the news, I found an awesome image for my desktop background. It's got classic 80s shtick! It's got classic fantasy shtick! It's got classic videogame shtick! Did I mention how awesome it was? Funny thing is, the image was made as an homage to 80s videogame images. This isn't even from a real game! Awesome.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
One Month In
The kid is one month old today. So far he hasn't learned what a d20 is. C'mon, we're talking the basics here!
In other news, the local game store that I really like LOVES 4th Edition. I'll stick with Descent thanks.
I keep salivating to play the Pathfinder Beta rules. I've got my order in to get the book as soon as it comes out, but so far, nothing yet. My buddies are the same. Just anxious to get in some great gaming.
In other news, the local game store that I really like LOVES 4th Edition. I'll stick with Descent thanks.
I keep salivating to play the Pathfinder Beta rules. I've got my order in to get the book as soon as it comes out, but so far, nothing yet. My buddies are the same. Just anxious to get in some great gaming.
You'll know what I mean someday...
So... how do you tell someone that what they believe is the most significant improvement to a thing ever is not really an improvement, it just really caters to the way things fit their culture?
Example: 4th Edition D&D
Likewise, as I continue to come to terms that I am of the "older" generation when it comes to gaming, I see the following idea coming to the forefront:
"Player: I need to be explicitly told what my character can and can't do."
*sigh*
Example: 4th Edition D&D
Likewise, as I continue to come to terms that I am of the "older" generation when it comes to gaming, I see the following idea coming to the forefront:
"Player: I need to be explicitly told what my character can and can't do."
*sigh*
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Gamer Grows Old
4th Edition D&D is now a month old. I bought the books when they came out, interested and hopeful that a new edition would improve the game to make it more of the game I love. What I discovered was that I had grown old.
How do you know it? How does the world start telling you that you're old? When companies that make games seem to think you're not young enough to buy the games. Companies survive by introducing new gamers to the game. As older players mature, they're less likely to buy stuff because they have A LOT of stuff already. It's the new guys who have the disposable cash.
I held out hope that I was among many others who were just riled up because our favorite game company had made a decision that wasn't in the best interest of the core fans. But reading this thread definitely showed me that I'm not a core fan anymore. I'm old.
How do you know it? How does the world start telling you that you're old? When companies that make games seem to think you're not young enough to buy the games. Companies survive by introducing new gamers to the game. As older players mature, they're less likely to buy stuff because they have A LOT of stuff already. It's the new guys who have the disposable cash.
I held out hope that I was among many others who were just riled up because our favorite game company had made a decision that wasn't in the best interest of the core fans. But reading this thread definitely showed me that I'm not a core fan anymore. I'm old.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
