ok, let's see if I can write this.
I grew up with Dungeons & Dragons. 2e is high school, college was 3e, and I played a 1-30 level campaign of 4e. With sessions of up to 12 hours. I've played wizards and fighters and clerics and paladins. I've been astonished at the amount of skills thieves get, and greedily pulled up a dozen d6s to do backstab damage.
After the 4e game, I took a break for a couple of years. Then, got into a session of Fiasco that opened my eyes to games that don't suffer from the 30 minutes of fun crammed into 4 hours problem. From there, Dungeon World.
I've played lots of other things, but this is about elf games.
At Dreamation 2016, I played in The Watch, by Anna Kreider and Andrew Medeiros . It was absolutely fucking glorious; this is an important game about women fighting "the darkness". Beautiful and important and good.
And it let me realize that there's another piece I want that Dungeon World doesn't offer in elf games. I want the piece exhibited by Dragon magazine and The Watch that wasn't in Dungeon magazine; people, places, personalities. I want emotional conflict.
I don't think the game I want exists, so I'm writing it. And I'm stealing from The Watch to do so. In particular, I'm stealing Stress and the single-roll-per-player combats and consequences for fighting.
If this sounds like a game you might be interested in, let me know. I'm putting together playbooks, and am soliciting feedback.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
Tell me what you think is iconic and necessary or just really cool about Paladins, wizards, clerics, fighters,...
Tell me what you think is iconic and necessary or just really cool about Paladins, wizards, clerics, fighters, bards, thieves, rangers, barbarians, druids, and all the rest.
#ExtrovertGameDesign
#ExtrovertGameDesign
Thursday, May 26, 2016
So ... Captain America is a nazi?
So ... Captain America is a nazi?
... Are all WW2 veterans Nazis, then? Or, just the ones chosen due to, ya know, not being douche bags?
... Are all WW2 veterans Nazis, then? Or, just the ones chosen due to, ya know, not being douche bags?
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
You guys. Lands' End. OMG amazorgs.
You guys. Lands' End. OMG amazorgs.
The following:
I wear jeans from there, right. Reasonably priced jeans, under $40 a pair if you find a coupon. Like maybe from retailmenot.
I've got two pair, three years old. I just tossed an even older pair in March, and these two are showing age. On the crappier pair, the button is held on by a thread, and the belt straps are falling off. This is not my usual point of failure on jeans.
These are also the first jeans that have ever fit me correctly: Lands' End does free hemming to the quarter inch. So, these jeans have a 31 inch inseam. If I buy a 30 inch, then it looks ugly and I get made fun of. 32 inch, and the pants drag on the ground. Either way, these pants that last years are the first jeans I've ever had that fit.
Anyway, I go to buy two new pair. Online.
It has been so long, they have the old address. I didn't notice, and had them ship it there. I noticed only after they had shipped; I got the email saying they were enroute, and showing the wrong address.
Oh no! Whatever shall I do?
Dianne Harris has the most brilliant idea: give them a call.
I do. Not only does the wait music have a midwestern accent, the folks on the phone due, too. I talk to two people, and tell both of them that I messed up and I'm hoping they can fix it.
They contact UPS and fix it. Total call time was under 8 minutes, including holding and a transfer.
Ten minutes later, I get a gift card for $20 on my next purchase from them.
To sum up: These are the only jeans that have ever fit. They last 3+ years. I screwed up on ordering, and they fixed it and gave me $20 for the trouble.
That ... is astonishing. And a clear example of Vimes's Boot on this, the Glorious 25th of May.
The following:
I wear jeans from there, right. Reasonably priced jeans, under $40 a pair if you find a coupon. Like maybe from retailmenot.
I've got two pair, three years old. I just tossed an even older pair in March, and these two are showing age. On the crappier pair, the button is held on by a thread, and the belt straps are falling off. This is not my usual point of failure on jeans.
These are also the first jeans that have ever fit me correctly: Lands' End does free hemming to the quarter inch. So, these jeans have a 31 inch inseam. If I buy a 30 inch, then it looks ugly and I get made fun of. 32 inch, and the pants drag on the ground. Either way, these pants that last years are the first jeans I've ever had that fit.
Anyway, I go to buy two new pair. Online.
It has been so long, they have the old address. I didn't notice, and had them ship it there. I noticed only after they had shipped; I got the email saying they were enroute, and showing the wrong address.
Oh no! Whatever shall I do?
Dianne Harris has the most brilliant idea: give them a call.
I do. Not only does the wait music have a midwestern accent, the folks on the phone due, too. I talk to two people, and tell both of them that I messed up and I'm hoping they can fix it.
They contact UPS and fix it. Total call time was under 8 minutes, including holding and a transfer.
Ten minutes later, I get a gift card for $20 on my next purchase from them.
To sum up: These are the only jeans that have ever fit. They last 3+ years. I screwed up on ordering, and they fixed it and gave me $20 for the trouble.
That ... is astonishing. And a clear example of Vimes's Boot on this, the Glorious 25th of May.
What's your favorite memory, idea, quote, philosophy, etc from the Discworld, Good Omens, The book of Nome, or even...
What's your favorite memory, idea, quote, philosophy, etc from the Discworld, Good Omens, The book of Nome, or even the Long series?
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
I talk a lot about how RPGs should be easy to run.
I talk a lot about how RPGs should be easy to run. That is, the barrier to entry to running an RPG should be as low as possible, and design should focus on that.
Pbta games do that, but they also do something else: make it easy to hack your own. I've still found this hard, because I don't have things like inDesign and am no good with formatting. I hate it.
That may be changing, due to some recent work and advances in tech by Andrew Medeiros.
Since Friday, I have written a fantasy pbta hack. I'm calling it Dragon World as a working title. It is more about relationships than hitting things.
I wanted this hack due to my design disagreements with Dungeon World, and not being able to get people to play Fallen Empires. This is designed as much more accessible hack.
Making this possible is The Watch, an unpublished and completely amazing hack by Anna Kreider and Andrew Medeiros. While theirs is important, and about a band of women fighting the darkness, Dragon World is about murderhoboes finding camraderie while struggling to find safety.
Two days and I've got seven classes (Fighter / Thief / Wizard / Cleric / Paladin / Bard / Ranger), a modified version of the combat resolution system from The Watch, and modified Keep rules from AW2E. There are three basic healing moves, and not a single punching basic move. And it is printer ready!
This is the fastest I've ever written a hack. Using The Watch as a baseline (including the sheets, thanks Drew!) meant I could write down what I wanted and have it formatted near instantly. This is already further along than just about any other hack I've done.
This might be a playable game, and I'll pitch it next time I'm gaming.
Here's to folks making designing games easier by building easy to use tools!
Pbta games do that, but they also do something else: make it easy to hack your own. I've still found this hard, because I don't have things like inDesign and am no good with formatting. I hate it.
That may be changing, due to some recent work and advances in tech by Andrew Medeiros.
Since Friday, I have written a fantasy pbta hack. I'm calling it Dragon World as a working title. It is more about relationships than hitting things.
I wanted this hack due to my design disagreements with Dungeon World, and not being able to get people to play Fallen Empires. This is designed as much more accessible hack.
Making this possible is The Watch, an unpublished and completely amazing hack by Anna Kreider and Andrew Medeiros. While theirs is important, and about a band of women fighting the darkness, Dragon World is about murderhoboes finding camraderie while struggling to find safety.
Two days and I've got seven classes (Fighter / Thief / Wizard / Cleric / Paladin / Bard / Ranger), a modified version of the combat resolution system from The Watch, and modified Keep rules from AW2E. There are three basic healing moves, and not a single punching basic move. And it is printer ready!
This is the fastest I've ever written a hack. Using The Watch as a baseline (including the sheets, thanks Drew!) meant I could write down what I wanted and have it formatted near instantly. This is already further along than just about any other hack I've done.
This might be a playable game, and I'll pitch it next time I'm gaming.
Here's to folks making designing games easier by building easy to use tools!
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Descartes was so privileged he had to invent his own catfish.
Descartes was so privileged he had to invent his own catfish.
#FirstPhilosophyProblems
#TooMuchNyQuill
#RobBohlHatesHashTags
#FirstPhilosophyProblems
#TooMuchNyQuill
#RobBohlHatesHashTags
Starship Freeform is somewhere between Star Trek and Firefly; distributed narrative authority.
Starship Freeform is somewhere between Star Trek and Firefly; distributed narrative authority. introduce moral questions as The Captain, talk about weapons as The Warrior, block scenes as the XO. Maybe explore strange new worlds, or maybe be part of a space whale wedding. The decision is yours! A game for 6-10 players by Jay Treat.
#dreamcongame
#dreamcongame
These are things I believe.
These are things I believe. In no real order, but given numbers for reference. There are reasons for these, some of which I'd need to dig out of my dusty brain if asked. I'd also like to know things you believe.
1. The only thing of value is people. And whatever their values are is what matters. Well, that's not quite true: all that groks matters. People are the most obvious, but dogs and cats and space whales and dolphins matter, too. Less, in a way that's unreasonable difficult to really get at.
2. Most of the time when people say god, they mean community: "To love another person is to be a part of a community"
3. Drama is generally unnecessary. If you don't like someone, ghost them. Emphasis, generally.
4. Beliefs -- such as these, even -- ought to be empirically grounded whenever possible, as that is more likely to be right and protects you against Cartesian demons. Empiricism is demon insurance.
5. I do not see the categorical distinction between eating mammals and eating people. Or, even, animals. For that matter, plants, but a boy's gotta eat.
6. It is important to treat other people as full people for a lot of reasons. This means using the pronouns they want, the names they want. It also means not eating them.
7. Violence solves a lot of problems, but is a shitty solution. It almost always has negative long term consequences.
8. Donald Trump will not be President.
9. Gaming within a trusted community brings us closer to self-actualization.
10. Community brings us closer to self-actualization.
11. Thinking deeply about our beliefs and what they mean is positive. Getting others to help with that is tremendously useful.
These are things I believe. They are open to debate, but some rules if that happens. These are stricter than my normal:
R1: Read with a charitable interpretation. No Phaedrusing.
R2: Be honest and open. No Socratizing.
R3: Use accessible language whenever possible. No Kant-like synthetic apriori knowledge.
Don't know who those people are? That's OK, they are probably not guilty of the sins I laid at their feet anyway.
1. The only thing of value is people. And whatever their values are is what matters. Well, that's not quite true: all that groks matters. People are the most obvious, but dogs and cats and space whales and dolphins matter, too. Less, in a way that's unreasonable difficult to really get at.
2. Most of the time when people say god, they mean community: "To love another person is to be a part of a community"
3. Drama is generally unnecessary. If you don't like someone, ghost them. Emphasis, generally.
4. Beliefs -- such as these, even -- ought to be empirically grounded whenever possible, as that is more likely to be right and protects you against Cartesian demons. Empiricism is demon insurance.
5. I do not see the categorical distinction between eating mammals and eating people. Or, even, animals. For that matter, plants, but a boy's gotta eat.
6. It is important to treat other people as full people for a lot of reasons. This means using the pronouns they want, the names they want. It also means not eating them.
7. Violence solves a lot of problems, but is a shitty solution. It almost always has negative long term consequences.
8. Donald Trump will not be President.
9. Gaming within a trusted community brings us closer to self-actualization.
10. Community brings us closer to self-actualization.
11. Thinking deeply about our beliefs and what they mean is positive. Getting others to help with that is tremendously useful.
These are things I believe. They are open to debate, but some rules if that happens. These are stricter than my normal:
R1: Read with a charitable interpretation. No Phaedrusing.
R2: Be honest and open. No Socratizing.
R3: Use accessible language whenever possible. No Kant-like synthetic apriori knowledge.
Don't know who those people are? That's OK, they are probably not guilty of the sins I laid at their feet anyway.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to some neighbors as skeletors ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to some neighbors as skeletors ...
There are no hereditary peerages. Only lifetime appointments.
But that's only mostly true. Sure, just because a parent of yours was a Duke doesn't given you a Duchy.
How do you get into the House of Lords? Here are some, what are others?
-- Have a crapload of money and want in. That probably involves a tithe.
-- Retire from one of the guilds as a grandmaster.
-- Raise the dead without Faithful behind you.
-- Retire as a general.
How else?
There are no hereditary peerages. Only lifetime appointments.
But that's only mostly true. Sure, just because a parent of yours was a Duke doesn't given you a Duchy.
How do you get into the House of Lords? Here are some, what are others?
-- Have a crapload of money and want in. That probably involves a tithe.
-- Retire from one of the guilds as a grandmaster.
-- Raise the dead without Faithful behind you.
-- Retire as a general.
How else?
I often refer to the things other people do with computers as magic.
I often refer to the things other people do with computers as magic.
I kind of want to talk about why, and try not to sound like an idiot while I do so.
There's a lot of computer-related stuff I'm good at. I can built tools in T-sql. I can connect VBA to a sql server. Hell, I can tell you why a two-pivot quick sort is preferable to a one-pivot quick sort, and I'll mostly understand what I'm talking about. I just about cried when I understand Euclid's theorum, and cursed my own dumbness for not figuring out the two-pivot quick sort.
I know things, is what I'm saying. I've got a small degree of cred. And a masters in philosophy.
But.
My stack is a really high level one: Plugging together data and, basically, addition. I do addition, just over and over again. Sometimes, I do subtraction.
How the hell the SQL server works? That's magic. Ports? Magic. . Servers? Magic. Hell, indexes? That's kind of magic.
Hell, indexes? You're going to store every value in some magic location and that's going to make joins faster? OK ...
Other people do work that is really hard -- like building integrated circuits -- and that somehow means I can get paid to do logic puzzles.
That's so astonishing.
I kind of want to talk about why, and try not to sound like an idiot while I do so.
There's a lot of computer-related stuff I'm good at. I can built tools in T-sql. I can connect VBA to a sql server. Hell, I can tell you why a two-pivot quick sort is preferable to a one-pivot quick sort, and I'll mostly understand what I'm talking about. I just about cried when I understand Euclid's theorum, and cursed my own dumbness for not figuring out the two-pivot quick sort.
I know things, is what I'm saying. I've got a small degree of cred. And a masters in philosophy.
But.
My stack is a really high level one: Plugging together data and, basically, addition. I do addition, just over and over again. Sometimes, I do subtraction.
How the hell the SQL server works? That's magic. Ports? Magic. . Servers? Magic. Hell, indexes? That's kind of magic.
Hell, indexes? You're going to store every value in some magic location and that's going to make joins faster? OK ...
Other people do work that is really hard -- like building integrated circuits -- and that somehow means I can get paid to do logic puzzles.
That's so astonishing.
Listening to Hamilton. Finally.
Listening to Hamilton. Finally.
I decided that I don't want to wait 3 years to hear it, partially at the push of +George Austin. I am already singing along, and I'm five minutes in.
How is this possible.
I decided that I don't want to wait 3 years to hear it, partially at the push of +George Austin. I am already singing along, and I'm five minutes in.
How is this possible.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Apportionment.
Apportionment.
With Jason Morningstar's blessing, I'm going to try to build a relationship map. It'll be property of Jason when i finish it, to use as he sees fit.
If you played and have thoughts, write 'em here.
I'm looking for a few things:
1. First and foremost, if you played a character and think there should be a preexisting relationship to someone else, TELL ME HERE.
2. If you thought there should be some relationship out there not related to your own character, give me those, too!
3. If you think the game should be structured a bit different, here's where you tell me.
4. Rules? What rules? should there be rules?
I'll try to incorporate. Ideally, please leave your first comment before responding, so we can get your unedited views. You can always change them later, but knowing what you think before you see a crapload of comments will be helpful, I think.
With Jason Morningstar's blessing, I'm going to try to build a relationship map. It'll be property of Jason when i finish it, to use as he sees fit.
If you played and have thoughts, write 'em here.
I'm looking for a few things:
1. First and foremost, if you played a character and think there should be a preexisting relationship to someone else, TELL ME HERE.
2. If you thought there should be some relationship out there not related to your own character, give me those, too!
3. If you think the game should be structured a bit different, here's where you tell me.
4. Rules? What rules? should there be rules?
I'll try to incorporate. Ideally, please leave your first comment before responding, so we can get your unedited views. You can always change them later, but knowing what you think before you see a crapload of comments will be helpful, I think.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Camp Nerdly continued to be among the best weekends of the year!
Camp Nerdly continued to be among the best weekends of the year!
Every game was great.
The stand out game was Jay Treat 's Starship Freeform. And the best moment was Cinnamon Bunny facilitating a wedding for the chosen of the space whales, who asked for his sex to be flipped to female to match the desires of her beloved.
Friday night, I arrived in time for an 8 o'clock pitch session. I immediately pitched The Forgotten. Despite a couple AV troubles, it went off really well. Any feedback I get in writing I'll send over to Drew.
Saturday morning, Starship Freeform. This pitch has been perfected: star trek meets firefly, with distributed GMful mechanics. Jay Treat . I'm happy to talk at any length about thoughts and suggestions.
At 1 o'clock, I pitched and played in Apportionment. This went a bit different from how I expected, as they drew a map around the world and said one government, rather than making a dividing line.
Dinner, and project blind drop! Hooray for tacos.
After dinner pitch session, I gravitated to Within My Clutches, David Berg 's game. This was one of the first games I played at Nerdly a million years ago. It has changed, but is still recognizably the same game. I got to really connect with Dave and Arnold Cassell
I helped make the fire for Witch: The Road to Lindisfarne. I love camp fires, and building lean toos is lots of fun. We burned the maps from my run of Apportionment, so there is no evidence! Muhahaha.
I missed the super late games and pitches, but I was pretty tired anyway. Hung out in the main cabin for a while, dancing from conversation to conversation. Or at least blundering.
Sunday morning (hooray for french toast!), played With Great Power, Michael Miller 's game of super heroes. This was facilitated by Patty Kirsch , and was absolutely beautiful. The villian wound up being my character's sister, stealing money to take care of our ailing mother and stealing scientist's to cure her dementia. In the end, we reformed her and combined our powers to research together.
Sunday Morning Nerdly game continues to be a positive, uplifting beat to end the weekend.
I'd come prepped to run larps for days straight. To pitch at every session. That proved completely unnecessary, as there what, 3 larps pitched every session? At least?
What's that feeling when you're ready to emphasize something that you love, only to find that the community that you adore also loves it? Peace, maybe? Contentment? Joy?
Something like that.
Which was great, as after Apportionment, I lost a lot of energy. That took more out of me than I expected.
Not really having a chore, because its a work of love the rest of the community is doing meant looking around for more work to do. :-)
I may be missing something. I feel like I am. But jeebs, that's only a half dozen games and joy and tears and wonderment. What a wonderful weekend.
Every game was great.
The stand out game was Jay Treat 's Starship Freeform. And the best moment was Cinnamon Bunny facilitating a wedding for the chosen of the space whales, who asked for his sex to be flipped to female to match the desires of her beloved.
Friday night, I arrived in time for an 8 o'clock pitch session. I immediately pitched The Forgotten. Despite a couple AV troubles, it went off really well. Any feedback I get in writing I'll send over to Drew.
Saturday morning, Starship Freeform. This pitch has been perfected: star trek meets firefly, with distributed GMful mechanics. Jay Treat . I'm happy to talk at any length about thoughts and suggestions.
At 1 o'clock, I pitched and played in Apportionment. This went a bit different from how I expected, as they drew a map around the world and said one government, rather than making a dividing line.
Dinner, and project blind drop! Hooray for tacos.
After dinner pitch session, I gravitated to Within My Clutches, David Berg 's game. This was one of the first games I played at Nerdly a million years ago. It has changed, but is still recognizably the same game. I got to really connect with Dave and Arnold Cassell
I helped make the fire for Witch: The Road to Lindisfarne. I love camp fires, and building lean toos is lots of fun. We burned the maps from my run of Apportionment, so there is no evidence! Muhahaha.
I missed the super late games and pitches, but I was pretty tired anyway. Hung out in the main cabin for a while, dancing from conversation to conversation. Or at least blundering.
Sunday morning (hooray for french toast!), played With Great Power, Michael Miller 's game of super heroes. This was facilitated by Patty Kirsch , and was absolutely beautiful. The villian wound up being my character's sister, stealing money to take care of our ailing mother and stealing scientist's to cure her dementia. In the end, we reformed her and combined our powers to research together.
Sunday Morning Nerdly game continues to be a positive, uplifting beat to end the weekend.
I'd come prepped to run larps for days straight. To pitch at every session. That proved completely unnecessary, as there what, 3 larps pitched every session? At least?
What's that feeling when you're ready to emphasize something that you love, only to find that the community that you adore also loves it? Peace, maybe? Contentment? Joy?
Something like that.
Which was great, as after Apportionment, I lost a lot of energy. That took more out of me than I expected.
Not really having a chore, because its a work of love the rest of the community is doing meant looking around for more work to do. :-)
I may be missing something. I feel like I am. But jeebs, that's only a half dozen games and joy and tears and wonderment. What a wonderful weekend.
Friday, May 13, 2016
It is wonderful to see people who loves games play and teach them with delight.
It is wonderful to see people who loves games play and teach them with delight.
Whitney Beltrán is not only a good host, but brings her excitement for RPGs to let anyone learn.
Not only are the games she's been playing really great (Monsterhearts! which has absolutely fantastic social mechanics), not only do they use novel mechanisms (Fall of Magic!, where the playspace unravels like a scroll), and not only do they cast you into weird positions (play a rabbit in The Warren), but half of them I've never heard of!
I press for a lot of the games I do (Fiasco!) because they have such low prep time, and are so damned accessible. You can facilitate a game like that with very little prep, which does two really virtuous things: it lets busy me run long-term games (hey, I'm selfish), and more importantly, it means people who would not usually GM can do so.
That Strix is brilliant and charming means this is good watching. That she is choosing games by a diverse crowd to publicize could bring more people in with perspectives different from the cultural norm.
In other words: virtuous and enterainment in one!
Originally shared by Whitney “Strix” Beltrán
On my show Weekly Affirmations today @101426386622372860909 and I will be playing @103408183137531371247 and @106995264615192084851's A Scoundrel in the Deep. Super excited to experiment with a game that uses actual fire as a mechanic!
Join us at 3:00 PM PST on Hyper RPG https://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg
And if you want to catch up on my previous episodes, which include Fall of Magic, The Warren, Dread, Our Radios Are Dying, and Monsterhearts, they're all available: http://hyperrabbitpowergo.com/shows/weekly-affirmations/
https://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg
Whitney Beltrán is not only a good host, but brings her excitement for RPGs to let anyone learn.
Not only are the games she's been playing really great (Monsterhearts! which has absolutely fantastic social mechanics), not only do they use novel mechanisms (Fall of Magic!, where the playspace unravels like a scroll), and not only do they cast you into weird positions (play a rabbit in The Warren), but half of them I've never heard of!
I press for a lot of the games I do (Fiasco!) because they have such low prep time, and are so damned accessible. You can facilitate a game like that with very little prep, which does two really virtuous things: it lets busy me run long-term games (hey, I'm selfish), and more importantly, it means people who would not usually GM can do so.
That Strix is brilliant and charming means this is good watching. That she is choosing games by a diverse crowd to publicize could bring more people in with perspectives different from the cultural norm.
In other words: virtuous and enterainment in one!
Originally shared by Whitney “Strix” Beltrán
On my show Weekly Affirmations today @101426386622372860909 and I will be playing @103408183137531371247 and @106995264615192084851's A Scoundrel in the Deep. Super excited to experiment with a game that uses actual fire as a mechanic!
Join us at 3:00 PM PST on Hyper RPG https://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg
And if you want to catch up on my previous episodes, which include Fall of Magic, The Warren, Dread, Our Radios Are Dying, and Monsterhearts, they're all available: http://hyperrabbitpowergo.com/shows/weekly-affirmations/
https://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg
last minute repacking, as I'd forgotten all my drugs.
last minute repacking, as I'd forgotten all my drugs.
What else am i missing?
Now I've got my daily allergy script, ibuprofen, benadryl, sudafed, claritin, nyQuill ...
I might have a problem.
Packed my day bag, dice, gaming notebook for I play but don't run. Packed my sandals, socks, and a spare sleeping bag. Packed Blenheim, games to run, markets, tape, scissors. Phone battery (Because The Forgotten has a soundtrack).
Clothes, pajamas.
SOAP. I don't have any soap.
what else?
What else am i missing?
Now I've got my daily allergy script, ibuprofen, benadryl, sudafed, claritin, nyQuill ...
I might have a problem.
Packed my day bag, dice, gaming notebook for I play but don't run. Packed my sandals, socks, and a spare sleeping bag. Packed Blenheim, games to run, markets, tape, scissors. Phone battery (Because The Forgotten has a soundtrack).
Clothes, pajamas.
SOAP. I don't have any soap.
what else?
What is an appropriate store of value in pre-industrial civilization?
What is an appropriate store of value in pre-industrial civilization?
Trying to stay away from the obvious, like gems and gold.
I'm looking for something more useful. Flour is one, but is dangerous to keep, the value to weight ratio means a slow rate of transfer, and suffers from spoilage.
So, like gold but a consumer good. Salt?
Trying to stay away from the obvious, like gems and gold.
I'm looking for something more useful. Flour is one, but is dangerous to keep, the value to weight ratio means a slow rate of transfer, and suffers from spoilage.
So, like gold but a consumer good. Salt?
In the caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
In the caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
Class distinctions are relevant, as they are in any premodern nation.
At the top is the Royal Family, those direct line descendents of The Prophet. With each generation, the House of Lords and the Skull of the Most Ancient Prophet, as interpreted by the High Priest assists the head of the Royal Family in deciding which child ascends. The rest take positions within the House of Lords, as Dukes. There are so few royals they are a statistical unlikelihood; safely ignorable.
There are the Lords, with titles like Duke, Count, and Baron. They own land and provide expertise. If you can create lifeless without the use of divine energy, you are always offered a seat as a Lord. In exchange for position as a Lord, there is a tacit promise not to overthrow the government. Effectively, this ensures very powerful individuals have a reason to see the Caliphate continue. To be clear, Duke > Count > Baron.
Powerful generals, heads of trades guild, and others are often offered a peership as a Baron.
They form the House of Lords, which has vastly little political power. Maybe one person in a thousand is a noble. They exercise local power over their lands, but not a lot of influence over the body politic. They often have a Priest assigned to help guide their decisions.
Then, there's the priests. At 2% of the population, they form the bulk of the political power. The House of Priests (the lower house from the House of Lords) has the majority of the political power; the head of state is always from the House of Priests.
A priests congregation is their bedrock; lose that, and you lose much political power. Priests often vie for believers, as having more believers behind you means you have more votes in the House.
There are different levels within the priesthood, of course. Information does not propagate as fast as it does for us; the local priests have a great deal of latitude, and the local governors even more.
The Paladins, military leaders, and civil engineers fall somewhere within the priesthood; above a local priest, below a regional governor.
Working for the priests are the Deacons, lay ministers of the church. They help tend to the Faithful during the week; bringing bread and soup to the sick, tending the Lifeless, etc. The work the Church needs that is not best filled by priests nor Lifeless.
The Faithful without direct positions in the Hierarchy make up 75% of the population or more. For them, there is freedom; they can work as they wish, live as they wish. Simply for going to church, they are provided sufficient wealth to live simply, and the rest is free will. They are merchants and bankers, murderhoboes and cobblers. Architects and engineers, tailors and spies.
Lastly, are the Faithless. Perhaps 20% of the population is not of The Faith of the Caliph. There is freedom of religion in the Caliphate, but that doesn't mean you get to participate in government or be relevant to politics. It is easy to join the Church, and they are always looking for Faithful.
Questions and comments are, as always, sought after. Is this too much like the UK? Or, is it obvious that I don't understand power and government?
Class distinctions are relevant, as they are in any premodern nation.
At the top is the Royal Family, those direct line descendents of The Prophet. With each generation, the House of Lords and the Skull of the Most Ancient Prophet, as interpreted by the High Priest assists the head of the Royal Family in deciding which child ascends. The rest take positions within the House of Lords, as Dukes. There are so few royals they are a statistical unlikelihood; safely ignorable.
There are the Lords, with titles like Duke, Count, and Baron. They own land and provide expertise. If you can create lifeless without the use of divine energy, you are always offered a seat as a Lord. In exchange for position as a Lord, there is a tacit promise not to overthrow the government. Effectively, this ensures very powerful individuals have a reason to see the Caliphate continue. To be clear, Duke > Count > Baron.
Powerful generals, heads of trades guild, and others are often offered a peership as a Baron.
They form the House of Lords, which has vastly little political power. Maybe one person in a thousand is a noble. They exercise local power over their lands, but not a lot of influence over the body politic. They often have a Priest assigned to help guide their decisions.
Then, there's the priests. At 2% of the population, they form the bulk of the political power. The House of Priests (the lower house from the House of Lords) has the majority of the political power; the head of state is always from the House of Priests.
A priests congregation is their bedrock; lose that, and you lose much political power. Priests often vie for believers, as having more believers behind you means you have more votes in the House.
There are different levels within the priesthood, of course. Information does not propagate as fast as it does for us; the local priests have a great deal of latitude, and the local governors even more.
The Paladins, military leaders, and civil engineers fall somewhere within the priesthood; above a local priest, below a regional governor.
Working for the priests are the Deacons, lay ministers of the church. They help tend to the Faithful during the week; bringing bread and soup to the sick, tending the Lifeless, etc. The work the Church needs that is not best filled by priests nor Lifeless.
The Faithful without direct positions in the Hierarchy make up 75% of the population or more. For them, there is freedom; they can work as they wish, live as they wish. Simply for going to church, they are provided sufficient wealth to live simply, and the rest is free will. They are merchants and bankers, murderhoboes and cobblers. Architects and engineers, tailors and spies.
Lastly, are the Faithless. Perhaps 20% of the population is not of The Faith of the Caliph. There is freedom of religion in the Caliphate, but that doesn't mean you get to participate in government or be relevant to politics. It is easy to join the Church, and they are always looking for Faithful.
Questions and comments are, as always, sought after. Is this too much like the UK? Or, is it obvious that I don't understand power and government?
Thursday, May 12, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
It is easy to live away from lifeless.
The majority of the lifeless are found in a few places:
-- The large scale agricultural combines that feed the cities.
-- On the city streets. The lifeless clean the streets, cart out manure, etc.
-- the mines. Lifeless harvest salt and a few metals, and can do so without the canary problem.
-- The legions. Better a lifeless take a knife thrust than a living Faithful. Especially as the Lifeless as less likely to bleed out.
-- the Cathedrals, but very few in the local churches. The lifeless move corpses, clean, etc.
-- treadmills, busily providing mechanical energy.
A local church, for a town of a thousand or so souls, acts as a city center and residence for those who need it. The basic design was adopted from the cities, where apartments for the faithful were built. There may be a Lifeless or two in the temple, keeping it clean and working the pumps.
If you wish to get away from the Lifeless for a time, or for a long while, there are lots of ways to do that:
-- Homestead. There's always incentives in place for people with an itch to go out and settle new land for the Caliphate!
-- If you want to stay in a city, don't go out at night. That's when most of the cleaning happens, in star and moon light.
-- Join a church or a principality that uses fewer lifeless.
The market always needs labor, but it rarely needs just a strong back. Those jobs are often taken by the Lifeless. Lifeless wrangling is always in need, as the Priests need focus on the Faithful as well as the Lifeless.
There is a limit on the number of lifeless, and many new tradesmen cannot afford those services. Instead, they turn to apprentices and others willing to work in exchange for coin. Whether through connections, insight, or education, many a Faithful arises past the Faithful's Flour.
As per usual, thoughts, questions, criticisms, insights are all welcome.
It is easy to live away from lifeless.
The majority of the lifeless are found in a few places:
-- The large scale agricultural combines that feed the cities.
-- On the city streets. The lifeless clean the streets, cart out manure, etc.
-- the mines. Lifeless harvest salt and a few metals, and can do so without the canary problem.
-- The legions. Better a lifeless take a knife thrust than a living Faithful. Especially as the Lifeless as less likely to bleed out.
-- the Cathedrals, but very few in the local churches. The lifeless move corpses, clean, etc.
-- treadmills, busily providing mechanical energy.
A local church, for a town of a thousand or so souls, acts as a city center and residence for those who need it. The basic design was adopted from the cities, where apartments for the faithful were built. There may be a Lifeless or two in the temple, keeping it clean and working the pumps.
If you wish to get away from the Lifeless for a time, or for a long while, there are lots of ways to do that:
-- Homestead. There's always incentives in place for people with an itch to go out and settle new land for the Caliphate!
-- If you want to stay in a city, don't go out at night. That's when most of the cleaning happens, in star and moon light.
-- Join a church or a principality that uses fewer lifeless.
The market always needs labor, but it rarely needs just a strong back. Those jobs are often taken by the Lifeless. Lifeless wrangling is always in need, as the Priests need focus on the Faithful as well as the Lifeless.
There is a limit on the number of lifeless, and many new tradesmen cannot afford those services. Instead, they turn to apprentices and others willing to work in exchange for coin. Whether through connections, insight, or education, many a Faithful arises past the Faithful's Flour.
As per usual, thoughts, questions, criticisms, insights are all welcome.
I was just sent A Glorious Disaster, the larp.
I was just sent A Glorious Disaster, the larp.
It is in 32 pdfs. Thirty Two different files. Anybody have a consolidated pdf?
It is in 32 pdfs. Thirty Two different files. Anybody have a consolidated pdf?
Good god, i love sql.
Good god, i love sql.
Solving problems in minutes instead of days. This is my jam.
Solving problems in minutes instead of days. This is my jam.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Novel: Calamity
Novel: Calamity
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Entirely subjective rating: Four hours of fun.
Non-spoiler review: This is the third part of a trilogy. In a world where super powers happened, and people with those powers turn evil ... one ~20 straight cis white dorky man must use his virtue to save the world.
Spoilerific review:
This is YA, and I've got to give it some slack for that. But, I don't want to give it slack for the message: If you are persistent and good enough, then the girl will fall for you, the villain will repent, and you can save those turned to darkness.
This year, I've been trying to be more aware of the fiction I read. This is one of the few books which has a male protagonist, read because I adore Sanderson's other novels. Which, granted, predominately have the same sort of young white male protagonist. Mostly.
This novel is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to stay away from this year. But, not only are habits hard to break, but this really cleansed my pallete after Transcendental. Which had much of the same plot: a dude is caught up in affairs to big for him, and then figures it out because he's awesome -- but Sanderson's writing is so much better.
This isn't a book that'll make me a better person. Heck, I'm pretty sure that if this was all I read and I did so without thinking, I'd eventually become a Mormon. But, still, it is a lot of fun.
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Entirely subjective rating: Four hours of fun.
Non-spoiler review: This is the third part of a trilogy. In a world where super powers happened, and people with those powers turn evil ... one ~20 straight cis white dorky man must use his virtue to save the world.
Spoilerific review:
This is YA, and I've got to give it some slack for that. But, I don't want to give it slack for the message: If you are persistent and good enough, then the girl will fall for you, the villain will repent, and you can save those turned to darkness.
This year, I've been trying to be more aware of the fiction I read. This is one of the few books which has a male protagonist, read because I adore Sanderson's other novels. Which, granted, predominately have the same sort of young white male protagonist. Mostly.
This novel is exactly the sort of thing I'm trying to stay away from this year. But, not only are habits hard to break, but this really cleansed my pallete after Transcendental. Which had much of the same plot: a dude is caught up in affairs to big for him, and then figures it out because he's awesome -- but Sanderson's writing is so much better.
This isn't a book that'll make me a better person. Heck, I'm pretty sure that if this was all I read and I did so without thinking, I'd eventually become a Mormon. But, still, it is a lot of fun.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the necromancer Kingdom ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the necromancer Kingdom ...
These priests. They own the primary source of industry: the lifeless. The nobles own most of the land, and noble positions aren't necessarily hereditary. A goodly chunk of people are within trade guilds, many of the rest provide prayer and little else.
The priests, though. As they've morphed, they've taken on aspects of monks, politicians, researchers, landlords, captains of industry, and moral guidance.
With priests at ~2% of the population, a town of 1,000 would have 20 priests. Fully half of those are local priests, tending to their flocks. One is sent to the house of commons, one is tending to the local Baron, maybe five are involved in the bureaucracy, specializing in everything from keeping records to judging. Maybe the remaining three are outside of the bureaucracy, using their knowledge in the private sector.
Those priests people have a huge amount of power and authority. They control the lifeless, the mills, and keep the records on who has prayed. They rent out rooms in the insulae, are the only ones who vote for members of the lower house, influence policy, find new ways to use lifeless and new Commands to give them, arbitrate the law, lead prayers, and decide which businesses get to rent lifeless.
That's a whole lot of power in a small number of hands! Are we doomed?
These priests. They own the primary source of industry: the lifeless. The nobles own most of the land, and noble positions aren't necessarily hereditary. A goodly chunk of people are within trade guilds, many of the rest provide prayer and little else.
The priests, though. As they've morphed, they've taken on aspects of monks, politicians, researchers, landlords, captains of industry, and moral guidance.
With priests at ~2% of the population, a town of 1,000 would have 20 priests. Fully half of those are local priests, tending to their flocks. One is sent to the house of commons, one is tending to the local Baron, maybe five are involved in the bureaucracy, specializing in everything from keeping records to judging. Maybe the remaining three are outside of the bureaucracy, using their knowledge in the private sector.
Those priests people have a huge amount of power and authority. They control the lifeless, the mills, and keep the records on who has prayed. They rent out rooms in the insulae, are the only ones who vote for members of the lower house, influence policy, find new ways to use lifeless and new Commands to give them, arbitrate the law, lead prayers, and decide which businesses get to rent lifeless.
That's a whole lot of power in a small number of hands! Are we doomed?
Monday, May 9, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
The lifeless are owned by the Church.
Right?
Well, what about the Lifeless that a noble wizard raised? A member of the House of Lords, who can create Lifeless without direct prayers. Maybe raised from the corpses of departed Lifeless from his land.
The Church doesn't send in the Paladin-Marines to take the lifeless. It is important to keep the Nobles happy. The Church not even know that the Lifeless exists, for a time.
Of course, every Noble has a priest. Not only to provide services for the Faithful, but also to council the Noble. Direct political authority is ultimately up to the priests, but the Nobles own a lot of land.
There's often an arrangement between the Priest and the Wizard. While the church owns the lifeless, its often easier for the wizard to keep track of his own. There will be a tax -- a rental fee -- for these Lifeless.
The local assigned priest will collect it.
That can't go wrong. Right?
The lifeless are owned by the Church.
Right?
Well, what about the Lifeless that a noble wizard raised? A member of the House of Lords, who can create Lifeless without direct prayers. Maybe raised from the corpses of departed Lifeless from his land.
The Church doesn't send in the Paladin-Marines to take the lifeless. It is important to keep the Nobles happy. The Church not even know that the Lifeless exists, for a time.
Of course, every Noble has a priest. Not only to provide services for the Faithful, but also to council the Noble. Direct political authority is ultimately up to the priests, but the Nobles own a lot of land.
There's often an arrangement between the Priest and the Wizard. While the church owns the lifeless, its often easier for the wizard to keep track of his own. There will be a tax -- a rental fee -- for these Lifeless.
The local assigned priest will collect it.
That can't go wrong. Right?
Sunday, May 8, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known to its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
The Church seeks to urbanize as many cities as possible. After all, what is a city of Faithful if not a consolidated power source to build lifeless?
The pressure for population means a few things:
The Caliphate sends specialized work groups into towns and cities, building apartments for the Faithful, and bath houses for all. These are the exact same model from city to city.
A basic tenement is a little slice of city by itself: residences, storage for flour, lifeless repair, first floor retail. Even a small shrine, and housing for a humble priest. These are designed to have running water, often impossible in the smaller towns. The lifeless collect refuse and vermin. Many of the apartments have balconies, which support minor crops.
Roads are built from one city to another, made of standardized materials. This is usually concrete or brick. This is made absolutely standard. When two roads merge into each other, the new road is exactly the size of the two contributory roads.
Water is brought in when possible. As always, the rich cut in line and get water first. After that, the first priority is the public bath houses, to ensure people are cleaner. Then, the tenement houses built and run by the church. The lifeless are good at hauling water, and do need to be cleaned and kept in good repair.
The church raises orphans. Those who do not become monks or priests often join settlement parties, bringing in additional population to towns and cities.
Ask questions about the lifeless and cities, or make up your own details.
The Church seeks to urbanize as many cities as possible. After all, what is a city of Faithful if not a consolidated power source to build lifeless?
The pressure for population means a few things:
The Caliphate sends specialized work groups into towns and cities, building apartments for the Faithful, and bath houses for all. These are the exact same model from city to city.
A basic tenement is a little slice of city by itself: residences, storage for flour, lifeless repair, first floor retail. Even a small shrine, and housing for a humble priest. These are designed to have running water, often impossible in the smaller towns. The lifeless collect refuse and vermin. Many of the apartments have balconies, which support minor crops.
Roads are built from one city to another, made of standardized materials. This is usually concrete or brick. This is made absolutely standard. When two roads merge into each other, the new road is exactly the size of the two contributory roads.
Water is brought in when possible. As always, the rich cut in line and get water first. After that, the first priority is the public bath houses, to ensure people are cleaner. Then, the tenement houses built and run by the church. The lifeless are good at hauling water, and do need to be cleaned and kept in good repair.
The church raises orphans. Those who do not become monks or priests often join settlement parties, bringing in additional population to towns and cities.
Ask questions about the lifeless and cities, or make up your own details.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
How do i move this?
How do i move this?
Arts and crafts have never been my thing.
For a game for camp nerdly, I'm bringing a really large map. It goes over 16 letter sized pieces of paper, which I am taping together. There are margins -- call it an inch at top and bottom, and ignorably small on the right and left. I cut off the lower margins, so make fitting together easier.
Four by Four, right? Call the top "A", and the left hand side "1". The top left is A1. The lower right is D4.
I have taped together A1-A4, B1-B4, C1-C4, and D1-D4. This has some flexibility, and I am pretty sure I could fold it back to being letter size with minimal problem.
Combining the A's with the B's makes it harder to fold up. Pretty sure there will be damage to the paper.
Any suggestions?
Arts and crafts have never been my thing.
For a game for camp nerdly, I'm bringing a really large map. It goes over 16 letter sized pieces of paper, which I am taping together. There are margins -- call it an inch at top and bottom, and ignorably small on the right and left. I cut off the lower margins, so make fitting together easier.
Four by Four, right? Call the top "A", and the left hand side "1". The top left is A1. The lower right is D4.
I have taped together A1-A4, B1-B4, C1-C4, and D1-D4. This has some flexibility, and I am pretty sure I could fold it back to being letter size with minimal problem.
Combining the A's with the B's makes it harder to fold up. Pretty sure there will be damage to the paper.
Any suggestions?
Friday, May 6, 2016
Hooray, there's a raceto270 map. Because that's what my end of week productivity needed:
Hooray, there's a raceto270 map. Because that's what my end of week productivity needed:
http://www.270towin.com/maps/qb6lk
The 2016 Toss-up Map makes it pretty clear: Assuming HRC takes North Carolina and Virginia, then she only needs 15 more electoral votes.
States with those still on the table: Ohio, PA, Florida. Any one of those and the election is over.
Not hard.
http://www.270towin.com/maps/qb6lk
http://www.270towin.com/maps/qb6lk
The 2016 Toss-up Map makes it pretty clear: Assuming HRC takes North Carolina and Virginia, then she only needs 15 more electoral votes.
States with those still on the table: Ohio, PA, Florida. Any one of those and the election is over.
Not hard.
http://www.270towin.com/maps/qb6lk
This is not very good science:
This is not very good science:
-- The Soylent 2.0 arrived 7 days ago.
-- I've brought Soylent to work 3 times. Once this week, I brought real food and once I had to buy food out.
-- Over the last 7 days, I've lost 2.8 pounds. This is my largest weekly decrease sense November.
-- I've eaten treats and snacks and drank beer in the last week.
Therefore, clearly this is working.
-- The Soylent 2.0 arrived 7 days ago.
-- I've brought Soylent to work 3 times. Once this week, I brought real food and once I had to buy food out.
-- Over the last 7 days, I've lost 2.8 pounds. This is my largest weekly decrease sense November.
-- I've eaten treats and snacks and drank beer in the last week.
Therefore, clearly this is working.
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known by its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known by its neighbors as the Necromancer Kingdom ...
Missionaries are sent out. Two by two, to the neighbors of the Caliphate and to far distant lands. The Faithful march to these lands. This is a chance to go out and help heal the world. Usually, the two new missionaries will join an established group.
But, sometimes, two will be sent to a land without missionaries. To a different place, helping the whole human race. And that mission will be something incredible!
They don't march door to door. Not when it is just the two of them. Instead, they start looking for social ills that can be solved with lifeless. Oh, and raising lifeless.
If you're going to send two to represent the Caliphate, then one of them should be able to create Lifeless. It'd be silly to do otherwise. the other should be .. maybe a Paladin? Yeah. Paladin and wizard. The strong arm and brain of the Caliphate.
They are really, really nice. If a child goes missing, they find out who did it and have a chat. A conversation. At least until the kidnappers won't talk, and then they murder them and raise their dead bodies as lifeless servants. They are fighting for a cause.
They do cut a nice image; braided hair, stylish clothes. Robes, shirts, and pants kept clean and pressed. Their haircuts are precise. They are the army of the Caliphate.
... How frightening are missionaries who fight to end social ills, have no sense they may be wrong, and hold religious services that power their undead servants?
Missionaries are sent out. Two by two, to the neighbors of the Caliphate and to far distant lands. The Faithful march to these lands. This is a chance to go out and help heal the world. Usually, the two new missionaries will join an established group.
But, sometimes, two will be sent to a land without missionaries. To a different place, helping the whole human race. And that mission will be something incredible!
They don't march door to door. Not when it is just the two of them. Instead, they start looking for social ills that can be solved with lifeless. Oh, and raising lifeless.
If you're going to send two to represent the Caliphate, then one of them should be able to create Lifeless. It'd be silly to do otherwise. the other should be .. maybe a Paladin? Yeah. Paladin and wizard. The strong arm and brain of the Caliphate.
They are really, really nice. If a child goes missing, they find out who did it and have a chat. A conversation. At least until the kidnappers won't talk, and then they murder them and raise their dead bodies as lifeless servants. They are fighting for a cause.
They do cut a nice image; braided hair, stylish clothes. Robes, shirts, and pants kept clean and pressed. Their haircuts are precise. They are the army of the Caliphate.
... How frightening are missionaries who fight to end social ills, have no sense they may be wrong, and hold religious services that power their undead servants?
Thursday, May 5, 2016
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known as the Necromancer Empire ...
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known as the Necromancer Empire ...
the Church uses lifeless are used for public works projects. The most obvious is agriculture: thrashing wheat, grinding flour. Less obvious are the parks, bathhouses, and roads.
I'll ask you: What is special or different or weird about lifeless produced public works projects?
the Church uses lifeless are used for public works projects. The most obvious is agriculture: thrashing wheat, grinding flour. Less obvious are the parks, bathhouses, and roads.
I'll ask you: What is special or different or weird about lifeless produced public works projects?
How do I tell if a laptop that I do not posses meets the requirements of a game?
How do I tell if a laptop that I do not posses meets the requirements of a game?
is there some place where I can figure this out automatically? Or, do I need to go through a laptop's specs line by line?
How do I know if one type of processor is better than another? To figure this out, do I need to do research?
Here's the specs in question:
MINIMUM:
OS: Windows 7 x86 or newer
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 @ 3.0 Ghz / or Intel Core 2 Quad 9400 @ 2.66 Ghz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD HD 5770 / or Nvidia GTX 460, with 1024MB VRAM. Latest available WHQL drivers from both manufacturers.
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 4 GB available space
Sound Card: Direct X 9.0c- compatible sound card
Additional Notes: Controller support: 3-button mouse, keyboard and speakers. Special multiplayer requirements: Internet Connection or LAN for multiplayer.
edit: Because there was confusion.
is there some place where I can figure this out automatically? Or, do I need to go through a laptop's specs line by line?
How do I know if one type of processor is better than another? To figure this out, do I need to do research?
Here's the specs in question:
MINIMUM:
OS: Windows 7 x86 or newer
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 640 @ 3.0 Ghz / or Intel Core 2 Quad 9400 @ 2.66 Ghz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD HD 5770 / or Nvidia GTX 460, with 1024MB VRAM. Latest available WHQL drivers from both manufacturers.
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 4 GB available space
Sound Card: Direct X 9.0c- compatible sound card
Additional Notes: Controller support: 3-button mouse, keyboard and speakers. Special multiplayer requirements: Internet Connection or LAN for multiplayer.
edit: Because there was confusion.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Is it shopped?
Is it shopped?
Originally shared by Robert Bohl
Amy Dallen, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, and Wil Wheaton are playing my RPG!
This is going to be political, and about the horse race.
This is going to be political, and about the horse race.
I think it was yesterday that I heard a bernie bro say something like:
"Only Bernie can beat Trump."
And, well, who cares?
That is: Bernie is not going to be the nominee. He's not. And he's not going to be the nominee because people are voting for HRC. Because people like HRC. Because HRC has all the experience.
To suggest that Bernie should be the nominee is inherently to want to ignore the will of the voters.
Why? Because the people voted and chose HRC.
So, to say that only Bernie can beat Trump is self-defeating nonesense: you're really just saying that the only way to accomplish democracy is to ignore it.
And besides, HRC is going to cream that windbang.
I think it was yesterday that I heard a bernie bro say something like:
"Only Bernie can beat Trump."
And, well, who cares?
That is: Bernie is not going to be the nominee. He's not. And he's not going to be the nominee because people are voting for HRC. Because people like HRC. Because HRC has all the experience.
To suggest that Bernie should be the nominee is inherently to want to ignore the will of the voters.
Why? Because the people voted and chose HRC.
So, to say that only Bernie can beat Trump is self-defeating nonesense: you're really just saying that the only way to accomplish democracy is to ignore it.
And besides, HRC is going to cream that windbang.
In the Necromancer Empire, the Caliphate of Azithan ...
In the Necromancer Empire, the Caliphate of Azithan ...
The lifeless produce sufficient grain and wheat/rice/corn to feed everyone. A week's worth (50 cups) of flour is handed after church services. Services are three times a week. Much of the rest of the time, the priests are tending to their flock.
Ensuring the lifeless do as they ought is a major occupation among the Faithful. A major publication, The Art of Pure Reason, was published in four volumes. These hefty tomes cover much of the nuanced art of lifeless control, but do so at a level most cannot understand.
The Art (as it is often called) does not concern itself with such high level commands as Attack, Defend, Carry, or even Stop. Rather, it delves into how these commands work through the lifeless host. These rhythms form together to create commands that the population is familiar with.
This treatise was a major breakthrough; the priest who wrote the book was immediately offered a position in the House of Lords. Before, he was a Don -- a sequestered priest who has chosen a life of research rather than leadership. Don Kuth accepted the title of Baron.
(With apologies to Donald Knuth. Who, so far as i know, is not a necromancer.)
As per usual, ask questions and I shall attempt to elaborate. Also, give elaboration your own self!
The lifeless produce sufficient grain and wheat/rice/corn to feed everyone. A week's worth (50 cups) of flour is handed after church services. Services are three times a week. Much of the rest of the time, the priests are tending to their flock.
Ensuring the lifeless do as they ought is a major occupation among the Faithful. A major publication, The Art of Pure Reason, was published in four volumes. These hefty tomes cover much of the nuanced art of lifeless control, but do so at a level most cannot understand.
The Art (as it is often called) does not concern itself with such high level commands as Attack, Defend, Carry, or even Stop. Rather, it delves into how these commands work through the lifeless host. These rhythms form together to create commands that the population is familiar with.
This treatise was a major breakthrough; the priest who wrote the book was immediately offered a position in the House of Lords. Before, he was a Don -- a sequestered priest who has chosen a life of research rather than leadership. Don Kuth accepted the title of Baron.
(With apologies to Donald Knuth. Who, so far as i know, is not a necromancer.)
As per usual, ask questions and I shall attempt to elaborate. Also, give elaboration your own self!
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Novel: Transcendental
Novel: Transcendental
Author: James Gunn
Rating: Why the fuck did I finish this?
Synopsis: A man must outsmart, outwit, and outfight aliens and humans to find the transcendental machine. Along the way, he loses his rationality by falling in love (sex makes you irrational, says the book) with a woman.
Spoiler: The woman is already transcendental. Despite her having powers and abilities that he does not, he still outsmarts her in the end.
Because of course he outsmarts her.
Author: James Gunn
Rating: Why the fuck did I finish this?
Synopsis: A man must outsmart, outwit, and outfight aliens and humans to find the transcendental machine. Along the way, he loses his rationality by falling in love (sex makes you irrational, says the book) with a woman.
Spoiler: The woman is already transcendental. Despite her having powers and abilities that he does not, he still outsmarts her in the end.
Because of course he outsmarts her.
On the creation of the Caliphate of Azathan, known outsider its borders as the Necromancer Empire.
On the creation of the Caliphate of Azathan, known outsider its borders as the Necromancer Empire.
The Ancient Great One, the Prophet Azathan, was the first Necromancer. The Prophet created the first lifeless, and created the Faith. Starting from his village of Accam, the Prophets armies took defeated rival warlords, and gained strength. With each victory, the prophets armies grew stronger.
From ten lifeless to a hundred to a thousand, the Prophets armies grew. The greatest warriors he faced became the greatest of his lifeless. As war progressed, the Prophet added commands to his armies. To Attack and March, the Prophet added Defend. As the campaign progressed, the Prophet added Carry.
The Prophet saw that a lifeless should never dominate a living being, for that way leads madness. So was the First Commandment. The prophet saw that a lifeless should never replace the full breadth of a human ability. So was the second commandment. The Prophet saw that the lifeless were not their own masters, but belonged to The Faith. So was the third commandment.
Lifeless cannot rule the living, lifeless cannot posses both a mind and a body, and the lifeless belong to the Faith. These were the greatest of the Caliph's commandments.
The Prophet drew upon the wisdom of his closest advisers. He learned of discontent among his people; the armies conquered vast distances, but did not improve the lives of his people. They feared him, but had no cause to love him.
The Prophet's heart beat with concern for his people, and he marched one in ten of his lifeless back to his Cities. Not as guards, and not to attack. Instead, to carry. To heft the burdens of his people, and to make their lives easier. So became the fourth commandment: the lifeless serve the faithful.
As their burdens were reduced, the people of the Cities no longer needed to carry water or wheat. Some spent their time in relaxing, drinking and frolicking. Others read. Many prayed to the Prophet, who did not know what to do with their worship. Population increased.
The Prophet could not be everywhere at once; he began to train others in the lifeless arts. These he bound to his service, granting them positions of power and influence. The Prophets powers grew with the worship of the Faithful.
After a time, The Prophet perished, as warrior-wizards do, from an infection he could not cure. Neither he nor his priests nor his wizards could cure the Prophet. His lifeless were no help as his life ended.
As he lay on his death bed, the Prophet wished he could continue to guide his burgeoning empire. His wishes along with the worship of his people imbued his skull with the wisdom of the Prophet. The prophet would be with the faithful, always.
The Nobles bickered, but did not shatter. The will of the prophet was unity. That the people's worship came to the Prophet on his death bed was .. remarkable. Word spread.
The nobles bickered; they each had authority. They were bound together, and for a time, the House of Lords ruled the Faithful.
While the nobles ruled, the Empire sagged. With no great central power, the Empire lost land it once considered its own. Panic arose. The faithful prayed harder, hoping their prayers would be answered.
And, they were. The simple prayers of the Faithful imbued their priests with a small measure of the power of the Prophet. At first, this was just enough to maintain the Lifeless. Priests tried different worship, and their power grew as services become more potent. The Priests found that worship from happy and healthy parishioners granted greater power; they began to pay their followers.
The priests gained more power from the worship of their followers; they learned what sacraments were most efficient. They gamed the system. As they did, the power of the priests increased, and so did the power of the Empire.
The power of the Nobles was vast, but the Priests had the Faithful on their side. They joined together, deciding between themselves who would represent them to the Lords. This became the House of Priests, the lower house of the Empire. Those who joined the House of Priests took the title of Bishop. The Bishops elected a council to act in a leadership position within the House.
Over time, as the Empire grew, the House of Priests grew in power as well. The power of the House of Lords reduced, though the Nobles fought their loss of temporal authority. As this progressed, Nobles sought to align themselves closer with the church, taking on priests as advisers. Over time, the role of the priest in governance grew and that of the Nobles reduced.
Even the Nobles could not argue with results: lifeless in every town, armies to reclaim the Prophets lands and then some. Sufficient food for every person, and wealth spread among the nobles. The priests started a school to teach their ways; others were to follow.
The leader of the House of Priests took the title of Caliph. The Caliph was elected by the Bishops, and was a member of the Council.
As per usual, thoughts and questions welcome. There may be changes if something is shown to be ridiculous.
The Ancient Great One, the Prophet Azathan, was the first Necromancer. The Prophet created the first lifeless, and created the Faith. Starting from his village of Accam, the Prophets armies took defeated rival warlords, and gained strength. With each victory, the prophets armies grew stronger.
From ten lifeless to a hundred to a thousand, the Prophets armies grew. The greatest warriors he faced became the greatest of his lifeless. As war progressed, the Prophet added commands to his armies. To Attack and March, the Prophet added Defend. As the campaign progressed, the Prophet added Carry.
The Prophet saw that a lifeless should never dominate a living being, for that way leads madness. So was the First Commandment. The prophet saw that a lifeless should never replace the full breadth of a human ability. So was the second commandment. The Prophet saw that the lifeless were not their own masters, but belonged to The Faith. So was the third commandment.
Lifeless cannot rule the living, lifeless cannot posses both a mind and a body, and the lifeless belong to the Faith. These were the greatest of the Caliph's commandments.
The Prophet drew upon the wisdom of his closest advisers. He learned of discontent among his people; the armies conquered vast distances, but did not improve the lives of his people. They feared him, but had no cause to love him.
The Prophet's heart beat with concern for his people, and he marched one in ten of his lifeless back to his Cities. Not as guards, and not to attack. Instead, to carry. To heft the burdens of his people, and to make their lives easier. So became the fourth commandment: the lifeless serve the faithful.
As their burdens were reduced, the people of the Cities no longer needed to carry water or wheat. Some spent their time in relaxing, drinking and frolicking. Others read. Many prayed to the Prophet, who did not know what to do with their worship. Population increased.
The Prophet could not be everywhere at once; he began to train others in the lifeless arts. These he bound to his service, granting them positions of power and influence. The Prophets powers grew with the worship of the Faithful.
After a time, The Prophet perished, as warrior-wizards do, from an infection he could not cure. Neither he nor his priests nor his wizards could cure the Prophet. His lifeless were no help as his life ended.
As he lay on his death bed, the Prophet wished he could continue to guide his burgeoning empire. His wishes along with the worship of his people imbued his skull with the wisdom of the Prophet. The prophet would be with the faithful, always.
The Nobles bickered, but did not shatter. The will of the prophet was unity. That the people's worship came to the Prophet on his death bed was .. remarkable. Word spread.
The nobles bickered; they each had authority. They were bound together, and for a time, the House of Lords ruled the Faithful.
While the nobles ruled, the Empire sagged. With no great central power, the Empire lost land it once considered its own. Panic arose. The faithful prayed harder, hoping their prayers would be answered.
And, they were. The simple prayers of the Faithful imbued their priests with a small measure of the power of the Prophet. At first, this was just enough to maintain the Lifeless. Priests tried different worship, and their power grew as services become more potent. The Priests found that worship from happy and healthy parishioners granted greater power; they began to pay their followers.
The priests gained more power from the worship of their followers; they learned what sacraments were most efficient. They gamed the system. As they did, the power of the priests increased, and so did the power of the Empire.
The power of the Nobles was vast, but the Priests had the Faithful on their side. They joined together, deciding between themselves who would represent them to the Lords. This became the House of Priests, the lower house of the Empire. Those who joined the House of Priests took the title of Bishop. The Bishops elected a council to act in a leadership position within the House.
Over time, as the Empire grew, the House of Priests grew in power as well. The power of the House of Lords reduced, though the Nobles fought their loss of temporal authority. As this progressed, Nobles sought to align themselves closer with the church, taking on priests as advisers. Over time, the role of the priest in governance grew and that of the Nobles reduced.
Even the Nobles could not argue with results: lifeless in every town, armies to reclaim the Prophets lands and then some. Sufficient food for every person, and wealth spread among the nobles. The priests started a school to teach their ways; others were to follow.
The leader of the House of Priests took the title of Caliph. The Caliph was elected by the Bishops, and was a member of the Council.
As per usual, thoughts and questions welcome. There may be changes if something is shown to be ridiculous.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Today: you tell me what you'd expect to see in a necromancer empire.
Today: you tell me what you'd expect to see in a necromancer empire.
I've been doing some world building on the Necromancer Empire. I've had something like this in mind for at least a decade.
The goal is a government that'd fit into a fantasy land, such as we play in Dungeon World or D&D, which is objectionable but non evil.
That is: There should absolutely be social ills. There should be problems, because utopias are no fun. No one lives in absolute poverty, because of the utility of the dead. It should not be a dystopia. (Unrelated note: G+ says dystopia is spelled wrong, but google disagrees. how very newsspeak of you, G+.)
Yesterday, I did a Q&A and additional world building. That is still ongoing.
Today: you tell me what you'd expect to see in a necromancer empire.
I've been doing some world building on the Necromancer Empire. I've had something like this in mind for at least a decade.
The goal is a government that'd fit into a fantasy land, such as we play in Dungeon World or D&D, which is objectionable but non evil.
That is: There should absolutely be social ills. There should be problems, because utopias are no fun. No one lives in absolute poverty, because of the utility of the dead. It should not be a dystopia. (Unrelated note: G+ says dystopia is spelled wrong, but google disagrees. how very newsspeak of you, G+.)
Yesterday, I did a Q&A and additional world building. That is still ongoing.
Today: you tell me what you'd expect to see in a necromancer empire.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
While in Australia, we had the pleasure of seeing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia.
While in Australia, we had the pleasure of seeing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia.
Among other delights, there is a scene where a professor of English uses rhetoric against a physicist. The physicist gets angry and walks out.
Hannah is a scholar and professional. Bernard is the rhetorician. The following exchange occurs:
Hannah: Well, I think that's everybody. You can leave now, give Lightning a kick on your way out.
Bernard: Yes, I'm sorry about that. It's no fun when it's not among pros, is it?
Hannah: No.
I enjoy the exchange. I can often take up positions that I do not believe simply because they are not being given a charitable interpretation. Doing this with other people who think about arguments and forms is fun; we know it isn't about the subject matter.
Not only is it fun, but it serves to sharpen tools that easily go rusty. Its sport.
It is important to only do this with other people who enjoy the exchange. Or else, there's a huge risk of, basically, being Bernard and getting kicked out of the house.
Among other delights, there is a scene where a professor of English uses rhetoric against a physicist. The physicist gets angry and walks out.
Hannah is a scholar and professional. Bernard is the rhetorician. The following exchange occurs:
Hannah: Well, I think that's everybody. You can leave now, give Lightning a kick on your way out.
Bernard: Yes, I'm sorry about that. It's no fun when it's not among pros, is it?
Hannah: No.
I enjoy the exchange. I can often take up positions that I do not believe simply because they are not being given a charitable interpretation. Doing this with other people who think about arguments and forms is fun; we know it isn't about the subject matter.
Not only is it fun, but it serves to sharpen tools that easily go rusty. Its sport.
It is important to only do this with other people who enjoy the exchange. Or else, there's a huge risk of, basically, being Bernard and getting kicked out of the house.
In the Necromancer Empire, which calls itself the Caliphate of Azathan, there is freedom of worship.
In the Necromancer Empire, which calls itself the Caliphate of Azathan, there is freedom of worship.
The Faithful receive flour when they attend services. Fifty cups of flour. More than enough for a person to live for a week.
Anyone may join the services; to be a citizen is to participate in service. The services are what gives the clerics their power over the undead.
Most untrained labor is done by lifeless undead. Wizards and clerics and others strive to create new types of undead, whether that is to farmer or mine salt or clean the streets. Lifeless are owned by the church, rent-able to private citizens to use.
Towns will usually center around a town, with a priest. These are government centers, flour silos, and religious centers. Priests are elected by their community, and priests elect both members of parliament and local govenors.
Ask question, and I shall answer them. World building is sometimes fun.
The Faithful receive flour when they attend services. Fifty cups of flour. More than enough for a person to live for a week.
Anyone may join the services; to be a citizen is to participate in service. The services are what gives the clerics their power over the undead.
Most untrained labor is done by lifeless undead. Wizards and clerics and others strive to create new types of undead, whether that is to farmer or mine salt or clean the streets. Lifeless are owned by the church, rent-able to private citizens to use.
Towns will usually center around a town, with a priest. These are government centers, flour silos, and religious centers. Priests are elected by their community, and priests elect both members of parliament and local govenors.
Ask question, and I shall answer them. World building is sometimes fun.
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