Novel: The Dragon's Path
Author: Daniel Abraham
Rating: 3 of 5
Synopsis: A young woman creates a mid-evil bank! Also, something about guys with swords and horses.
Longer (spoilerific) synopsis:
Let me start with: I've adored the work of Daniel Abraham since the Long Price Quartet. He's also half the minds behind The Expanse. I was excited to pick this up.
Sigh. This is very much in the vein of Song of Ice and Fire.
Less than half the book is about banking, which is the really innovative part. A ward of a bank is entrusted with the bank's money to avoid it being stolen by a marauding army, and she protects it by forming her own branch of the bank.
That hook, right there? I'm in. A young woman, about to come into her own, manipulating the system and overcoming the patriarchal elements that want to destroy her, proving herself through her dangerous mind? That's the book I wanted to read.
The book also follows her mercenary captain, a jaded and grizzled combat veteran renown-- who cares? He's a badass and able to make life and death choices, check. I don't really care about his story.
But then, there's this whole other plot. Remember the army that was going to steal the banks money? One of them is also an eye point character, and we follow his rise to greatness and power. And, sure, he's got more book learnin' than sword learning and his rise is based on that, and an unholy alliance he makes. But really?
Let's get back to banking.
It takes 300 pages for our young protagonist to realize she should setup the bank. That the best way to safeguard the bank's wealth is to loan it out. She invests in profitable trade: beer. She gets a nice triangle of trade, with plans of further developing a vertical monopoly.
That's the book I wanted. There just wasn't much of it. I'll continue the series, and hope it focuses more on banking and less on swords.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
June 30: 223.7. On track for 215 by July 15. Down 1.2 pounds from yesterday. Down 3.7 pounds since Saturday.
June 30: 223.7. On track for 215 by July 15. Down 1.2 pounds from yesterday. Down 3.7 pounds since Saturday.
What.
First comment contains what I ate and exercise.
Tonight, I'll be eating out with friends. This weekly event is historically one at which I gain weight, which I kind of expect. And that's fine.
What.
First comment contains what I ate and exercise.
Tonight, I'll be eating out with friends. This weekly event is historically one at which I gain weight, which I kind of expect. And that's fine.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
June 29: 224.9. On track for 215 by July 18. Down 1.6 pounds from yesterday.
June 29: 224.9. On track for 215 by July 18. Down 1.6 pounds from yesterday.
Well, that's absurd. I've lost 2.5 pounds since Saturday, 60% from last night. That'll for sure even out as time goes on,
Still on track, so I'm not worried. First comment contains what I ate., if anyone is worried about such ridiculous weight loss.
Well, that's absurd. I've lost 2.5 pounds since Saturday, 60% from last night. That'll for sure even out as time goes on,
Still on track, so I'm not worried. First comment contains what I ate., if anyone is worried about such ridiculous weight loss.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
June 28: 226.5. On track for 215 by August 7. Up a pound from yesterday.
June 28: 226.5. On track for 215 by August 7. Up a pound from yesterday.
As expected, the slope evened out a bit. I've also got a headache, I think from an overabundance of salt in dinner.
Still on track, so I'm not worried. First comment contains what I ate.
As expected, the slope evened out a bit. I've also got a headache, I think from an overabundance of salt in dinner.
Still on track, so I'm not worried. First comment contains what I ate.
Monday, June 27, 2016
June 27: 225.5, down 1.9 pounds from starting weight of 227.4 in two days.
June 27: 225.5, down 1.9 pounds from starting weight of 227.4 in two days.
I've been less hungry since starting this, probably because every bite isn't just "I'll be fat", but, instead, is also "I'll have to see the Catholic church every time I go for a walk."
So far, so good. That's admittedly a ridiculous slope so far, but I'm sure it'll even out. I've had big changes from a day to day basis in the past, so I'm not incredibly surprised or worried. If this continues for a week at that rate, then I'll be concerned.
I've been less hungry since starting this, probably because every bite isn't just "I'll be fat", but, instead, is also "I'll have to see the Catholic church every time I go for a walk."
So far, so good. That's admittedly a ridiculous slope so far, but I'm sure it'll even out. I've had big changes from a day to day basis in the past, so I'm not incredibly surprised or worried. If this continues for a week at that rate, then I'll be concerned.
This is a new collection. I'm going to shoot for a small post a day.
This is a new collection. I'm going to shoot for a small post a day.
The bad bet (as in, a really bad idea) is one I made on Saturday: Sure, I can lose 12.5 pounds by the end of August. Here's a $200 check, made out to the catholic church of Arlington for social activism. You know, like preventing women from controlling their bodies and making sure marriage is for straights. That sort of crap.
The daily post will be on progress.
The bad bet (as in, a really bad idea) is one I made on Saturday: Sure, I can lose 12.5 pounds by the end of August. Here's a $200 check, made out to the catholic church of Arlington for social activism. You know, like preventing women from controlling their bodies and making sure marriage is for straights. That sort of crap.
The daily post will be on progress.
Friday, June 24, 2016
This article surprised me quite a bit
This article surprised me quite a bit
tl;dr - the UMC has increased from 12% to 30%, defined as $100,000 to $350,000 a year, at least double the U.S. median household income and about five times the poverty level.
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/06/the-middle-class-is-shrinking-because-many-people-are-getting-richer.html
Here's a longer article from the WSJ:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/06/21/not-just-the-1-the-upper-middle-class-is-larger-and-richer-than-ever/
As usual, the comments on such things are a garbage fire. Comments here will be watched, discussed, and possibly deleted on my whim. Not for disagreements, but for jerkery.
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/06/the-middle-class-is-shrinking-because-many-people-are-getting-richer.html
tl;dr - the UMC has increased from 12% to 30%, defined as $100,000 to $350,000 a year, at least double the U.S. median household income and about five times the poverty level.
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/06/the-middle-class-is-shrinking-because-many-people-are-getting-richer.html
Here's a longer article from the WSJ:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/06/21/not-just-the-1-the-upper-middle-class-is-larger-and-richer-than-ever/
As usual, the comments on such things are a garbage fire. Comments here will be watched, discussed, and possibly deleted on my whim. Not for disagreements, but for jerkery.
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2016/06/the-middle-class-is-shrinking-because-many-people-are-getting-richer.html
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Oh, the 2nd amendment. What problems it has caused.
Oh, the 2nd amendment. What problems it has caused.
Riddle me this, for I know not the answer: Why, if it was designed for well-regulated militias only, was Alexander Hamilton shot by Aaron Burr?
Burr was VP, Hamilton was out of power. Right?
I'll forgive the VP having access to weapons, but was Hamilton in some militia that I am not aware of?
Source: Got Milk?
This will probably be solved when I read Justice Steven's book on how we should amend the constitution. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.
Riddle me this, for I know not the answer: Why, if it was designed for well-regulated militias only, was Alexander Hamilton shot by Aaron Burr?
Burr was VP, Hamilton was out of power. Right?
I'll forgive the VP having access to weapons, but was Hamilton in some militia that I am not aware of?
Source: Got Milk?
This will probably be solved when I read Justice Steven's book on how we should amend the constitution. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.
Huh.
Huh. 15% of all apartments in the county are affordable. Fascinating. That seems like a lot, but every time I do the math it comes up to not nearly enough.
Statistics, damn. Belief revision, that's some hard shit.
Statistics, damn. Belief revision, that's some hard shit.
Stats in the first comment, but, I'm going through some really hard belief revision.
Initial Hypothesis: The US is safe enough. Like how my phone is good enough, or standing on a bus to get where I need to go is good enough. Not great, but fine.
I thought this because (and this is legit), the US homicide rate has been dropping for decades. That is, we're safer than we've ever been.
Turns out, we're absolute shit. Stats in the first comment.
Stats in the first comment, but, I'm going through some really hard belief revision.
Initial Hypothesis: The US is safe enough. Like how my phone is good enough, or standing on a bus to get where I need to go is good enough. Not great, but fine.
I thought this because (and this is legit), the US homicide rate has been dropping for decades. That is, we're safer than we've ever been.
Turns out, we're absolute shit. Stats in the first comment.
Every so often, this should take over all social media.
Every so often, this should take over all social media. Not due to the act itself, but to the paying to have it scrubbed.
Originally shared by James House-Lantto
Originally shared by James House-Lantto
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Query: What happens if we go to mandatory gun insurance, such that non-insured guns are confiscated?
Query: What happens if we go to mandatory gun insurance, such that non-insured guns are confiscated?
Premiums based on the measurable negatives caused by that type of gun, maybe indexed to your region and personal profile.
You want a handgun? That's fine. There are 100 (or whatever) handguns in your area, one handgun related death, 20 handgun related non-lethal shootings. That's a cost of 1 million + 20 * 100,000, so three million as the immediately measurable cost. There's 100 handguns, so that's 30,000 per license. One license per gun.
Pay your premium before you can buy a gun.
How tenable is such a solution? Does this make any sense?
Ground Rules: Civility. I'll delete anything I choose, including this post.
Premiums based on the measurable negatives caused by that type of gun, maybe indexed to your region and personal profile.
You want a handgun? That's fine. There are 100 (or whatever) handguns in your area, one handgun related death, 20 handgun related non-lethal shootings. That's a cost of 1 million + 20 * 100,000, so three million as the immediately measurable cost. There's 100 handguns, so that's 30,000 per license. One license per gun.
Pay your premium before you can buy a gun.
How tenable is such a solution? Does this make any sense?
Ground Rules: Civility. I'll delete anything I choose, including this post.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Jason Morningstar was talking (plussing?) about Apocalypse World set now, instead of in the future.
Jason Morningstar was talking (plussing?) about Apocalypse World set now, instead of in the future.
In that vein, here's a barely masked front.
Landscape: The Den of inequity
Instinct: To remove what you hold most worthy
The Den provides food, shelter, and booze. The food is crap, and you'll gain weight trying to eat enough nutrients. The shelter pretends to security through false locks and ensuring the air is poisonois. The booze, though, the booze is perfect -- it'll get you drunk enough to not notice your precious things are being taken one by one.
Moves: Display wealth for all to see, present a guardian, disgorge wealth, Take Away what you love.
I'd fill the front out with grotesques that crave satiety, Brutes that consume and victimize, and an affliction to cause sacrifice. Maybe a Warlord in charge of it all, but it is almost better if there's no head, no person to shoot. Just encroaching horror that slowly sucks away all that makes life worthwhile.
... I spent last week in a casino. How obvious is it that I did not like it?
In that vein, here's a barely masked front.
Landscape: The Den of inequity
Instinct: To remove what you hold most worthy
The Den provides food, shelter, and booze. The food is crap, and you'll gain weight trying to eat enough nutrients. The shelter pretends to security through false locks and ensuring the air is poisonois. The booze, though, the booze is perfect -- it'll get you drunk enough to not notice your precious things are being taken one by one.
Moves: Display wealth for all to see, present a guardian, disgorge wealth, Take Away what you love.
I'd fill the front out with grotesques that crave satiety, Brutes that consume and victimize, and an affliction to cause sacrifice. Maybe a Warlord in charge of it all, but it is almost better if there's no head, no person to shoot. Just encroaching horror that slowly sucks away all that makes life worthwhile.
... I spent last week in a casino. How obvious is it that I did not like it?
Novel: The Ware Tetralogy
Novel: The Ware Tetralogy
Author: Rudy Rucker
Synopsis: computers become alive, and things change. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This is a really odd odd book. It is actually four books of reasonable length, published as one volume. It tells both the story of societal change as technological increases, as well as the story of a family that is at the forefront of change.
There's a lot of drugs and sex, and I'm not sure I liked it very much. There are drugs created by new technology, and different types of human who gets high off different drugs.
I started reading it in February, and have read 10 books between then and now. For the last month, I've been 100 pages from finishing it. Then 20 for a week. Finally picked it up and completed it.
Such a weird-ass book. I'm not sure there was a definitive plot, so much as intermingling stories that eventually all flow together.
Author: Rudy Rucker
Synopsis: computers become alive, and things change. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This is a really odd odd book. It is actually four books of reasonable length, published as one volume. It tells both the story of societal change as technological increases, as well as the story of a family that is at the forefront of change.
There's a lot of drugs and sex, and I'm not sure I liked it very much. There are drugs created by new technology, and different types of human who gets high off different drugs.
I started reading it in February, and have read 10 books between then and now. For the last month, I've been 100 pages from finishing it. Then 20 for a week. Finally picked it up and completed it.
Such a weird-ass book. I'm not sure there was a definitive plot, so much as intermingling stories that eventually all flow together.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Novel: Cibolla Burn
Novel: Cibolla Burn
Author: James SA Corey
Synopsis: This is the fourth book in the Expanse series. I'd read it a couple of years ago, and lost the thread at some point.
I think I know why I stopped reading: this is a depressing world. A mind-shatteringly huge world, real politic, and a protagonist who is kind of a dick. Why else would his name be Holden.
And this is really kind of the problem, for me: the world is so damned huge, and the actions of individuals are so damned insignificant.
I fell in love with these books year's ago, my initial attracting being through Daniel Abraham, whose Long Price Quartet is shocking good and novel. But, the actions of people make a real difference.
Here ... I'm struggling with whether our protagonists have any agency to affect the world, or if the world would be about the same with or without them.
I've got the fifth book. I'm hoping it'll seem different.
Author: James SA Corey
Synopsis: This is the fourth book in the Expanse series. I'd read it a couple of years ago, and lost the thread at some point.
I think I know why I stopped reading: this is a depressing world. A mind-shatteringly huge world, real politic, and a protagonist who is kind of a dick. Why else would his name be Holden.
And this is really kind of the problem, for me: the world is so damned huge, and the actions of individuals are so damned insignificant.
I fell in love with these books year's ago, my initial attracting being through Daniel Abraham, whose Long Price Quartet is shocking good and novel. But, the actions of people make a real difference.
Here ... I'm struggling with whether our protagonists have any agency to affect the world, or if the world would be about the same with or without them.
I've got the fifth book. I'm hoping it'll seem different.
Book: Rat Queens Vol 2
Book: Rat Queens Vol 2
Other Book: Rat Queens Vol 3
Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe
I read these in an airport. They were fun!
Murderhobo women murderhobo it up, get into trouble, do some sex.
In these, there's a lot of concern for a town, for a community that doesn't care for the Rat Queens.
That's pretty great, and I kinda want to bring it into my own world building. I'm just not sure how.
Other Book: Rat Queens Vol 3
Author: Kurtis J. Wiebe
I read these in an airport. They were fun!
Murderhobo women murderhobo it up, get into trouble, do some sex.
In these, there's a lot of concern for a town, for a community that doesn't care for the Rat Queens.
That's pretty great, and I kinda want to bring it into my own world building. I'm just not sure how.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Bernie somehow didn't say feminism, and instead said "women's movement."
Bernie somehow didn't say feminism, and instead said "women's movement."
Is that the same thing?
Is that the same thing?
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
This was pretty interesting:
This was pretty interesting:
http://qz.com/698928/why-suburbia-sucks/
Everything I want to see about this keeps coming out as a humble brag. I'm from the 'burbs, and have no intention of ever coming back.
http://qz.com/698928/why-suburbia-sucks/
http://qz.com/698928/why-suburbia-sucks/
Everything I want to see about this keeps coming out as a humble brag. I'm from the 'burbs, and have no intention of ever coming back.
http://qz.com/698928/why-suburbia-sucks/
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Book: Rat Queens, volume 1
Book: Rat Queens, volume 1
Synopsis: Murder hobo women go out and murder hobo some shit. And sex some other shit.
Longer synopsis:
This was handed to me due to writing Dragon World, which is absolutely about murder hoboes doing murder hobo stuff. And the economic and emotional fallout thereof.
Due to that, it was pretty great. And that really is what's going on here: sexy women murder monsters and deal with problems.
Synopsis: Murder hobo women go out and murder hobo some shit. And sex some other shit.
Longer synopsis:
This was handed to me due to writing Dragon World, which is absolutely about murder hoboes doing murder hobo stuff. And the economic and emotional fallout thereof.
Due to that, it was pretty great. And that really is what's going on here: sexy women murder monsters and deal with problems.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
If I said that half the material from Dragon World was from The Watch, I'd be underestimating.
If I said that half the material from Dragon World was from The Watch, I'd be underestimating. I literally started with their slides.
I got to play this at Dreamation. The mission system is absolutely fantastic, as is camaraderie as the bond mechanic.
Originally shared by Anna Kreider
Today I wrote up a preview about the game that I'm co-designing with Andrew Medeiros: The Watch. The Watch is a low-fantasy PBTA game about women and other female-of-center people fighting a military campaign to free their homeland from the Shadow.
Partly I wrote this as an honest preview, because hey! This thing we're working on is rad! But also I wrote it because there's been some confusion among people who are helping us playtest The Watch and other people "in the know" about how much they're "allowed" to say about The Watch to other folks. And while mostly I've been talking about it in limited circles, that's more a consequence of the fact that 90% of my G+ usage is posting to limited circles - it's not a desire for secrecy or anything.
It's also caused some confusion that because we're still figuring out what our publishing arrangements are going to be and don't have a webpage for The Watch yet. So the people who ARE trying to say nice things about it (hi, Jason Cordova!) don't have anything to point to.
It's going to be a while before we get that stuff figured out, so all I can say for now is that there WILL be a KickStarter... at some point. And in the mean time, this can serve as a pointable thing that gives a good overview of what the project is about.
https://gomakemeasandwich.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/project-preview-the-watch
I got to play this at Dreamation. The mission system is absolutely fantastic, as is camaraderie as the bond mechanic.
Originally shared by Anna Kreider
Today I wrote up a preview about the game that I'm co-designing with Andrew Medeiros: The Watch. The Watch is a low-fantasy PBTA game about women and other female-of-center people fighting a military campaign to free their homeland from the Shadow.
Partly I wrote this as an honest preview, because hey! This thing we're working on is rad! But also I wrote it because there's been some confusion among people who are helping us playtest The Watch and other people "in the know" about how much they're "allowed" to say about The Watch to other folks. And while mostly I've been talking about it in limited circles, that's more a consequence of the fact that 90% of my G+ usage is posting to limited circles - it's not a desire for secrecy or anything.
It's also caused some confusion that because we're still figuring out what our publishing arrangements are going to be and don't have a webpage for The Watch yet. So the people who ARE trying to say nice things about it (hi, Jason Cordova!) don't have anything to point to.
It's going to be a while before we get that stuff figured out, so all I can say for now is that there WILL be a KickStarter... at some point. And in the mean time, this can serve as a pointable thing that gives a good overview of what the project is about.
https://gomakemeasandwich.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/project-preview-the-watch
Is this a thing a Paladin should ever say?
Is this a thing a Paladin should ever say?
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
For years now, my body has had this really fun way of waking me up when it decides I need consciousnesses:...
For years now, my body has had this really fun way of waking me up when it decides I need consciousnesses: nightmares.
When I let it get out of hand, it was that my mom was dead. I had a nice chat with my subconscious about boundaries, and that stopped.
Last night, it was that Trump got 300 electoral votes.
And so it begins: 2016s nightmare scenario.
When I let it get out of hand, it was that my mom was dead. I had a nice chat with my subconscious about boundaries, and that stopped.
Last night, it was that Trump got 300 electoral votes.
And so it begins: 2016s nightmare scenario.
In the world's most popular roleplaying game, whether you play a wizard, a paldin, or a druid .
In the world's most popular roleplaying game, whether you play a wizard, a paldin, or a druid ... you play as someone who rolls bodies and takes their stuff.
There's this article going around on how anything we say is inherently political, and it is absolutely right. I've said similar things in the past, but delivery is everything!
In Dragon World -- my love letter to D&D, using a lot of material from Dungeon World, The Watch and DNA from Night Witches -- by default you play as murder hoboes, sure.
But, three things about that.
First, combat is both fast and terrible; as you do more terrible deeds, you are rewarded more for being a terrible person until you are no longer a player character. Healing is hard. Combat missions are resolved with a single dice role per person, and you always become more jaded. (This is totally stolen.)
Second, and more ... originally? ... a couple classes have different ways to avoid combat. The Wizard can cast a ritual that everyone participates in, and the Thief can lead a heist. Both of these options don't make you become a worse person, though you can choose that as a complication.
Thirdly, the hobo part. If you put down roots, you can start relying on the morale support of NPCs to help with those combats. I'm working on a small scale keep management bit as well, bringing in followers.
Each of these represents how I view the world in major ways: punching people is bad for you, healing is hard. There are alternatives to fighting. Being a part (or leading!) a community is good for you.
Pinging in a few people who have seemed interested in the past: Brandes Stoddard, Andrew Medeiros, Tony Lower-Basch, Adam Dray, Gustavo Iglesias, David Rothfeder, Misha B, Lena Marvin.
There's this article going around on how anything we say is inherently political, and it is absolutely right. I've said similar things in the past, but delivery is everything!
In Dragon World -- my love letter to D&D, using a lot of material from Dungeon World, The Watch and DNA from Night Witches -- by default you play as murder hoboes, sure.
But, three things about that.
First, combat is both fast and terrible; as you do more terrible deeds, you are rewarded more for being a terrible person until you are no longer a player character. Healing is hard. Combat missions are resolved with a single dice role per person, and you always become more jaded. (This is totally stolen.)
Second, and more ... originally? ... a couple classes have different ways to avoid combat. The Wizard can cast a ritual that everyone participates in, and the Thief can lead a heist. Both of these options don't make you become a worse person, though you can choose that as a complication.
Thirdly, the hobo part. If you put down roots, you can start relying on the morale support of NPCs to help with those combats. I'm working on a small scale keep management bit as well, bringing in followers.
Each of these represents how I view the world in major ways: punching people is bad for you, healing is hard. There are alternatives to fighting. Being a part (or leading!) a community is good for you.
Pinging in a few people who have seemed interested in the past: Brandes Stoddard, Andrew Medeiros, Tony Lower-Basch, Adam Dray, Gustavo Iglesias, David Rothfeder, Misha B, Lena Marvin.
Friendly reminder: Eight years ago, when Obama was winning by a wider margin, Hillary Clinton didn't concede until...
Friendly reminder: Eight years ago, when Obama was winning by a wider margin, Hillary Clinton didn't concede until after California. And even then, she held onto her delegates until the convention, releasing them with full and amazing support for Obama.
I have a hope that Sanders will calm down in a few days and concede. We shall see. This is one of those times where I really hope I'm right, and fear I may not be. If he doesn't, it may well destroy what issues he was changing at the DNC.
Time will tell.
I have a hope that Sanders will calm down in a few days and concede. We shall see. This is one of those times where I really hope I'm right, and fear I may not be. If he doesn't, it may well destroy what issues he was changing at the DNC.
Time will tell.
Do I know any gamers in Reno?
Do I know any gamers in Reno?
I'll be there next week for work. I'll likely have some free table, would love to check out the local scene.
I'll be there next week for work. I'll likely have some free table, would love to check out the local scene.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
In Dragon World, I'm going for a certain rhythm.
In Dragon World, I'm going for a certain rhythm.
Basically: go on a mission, pay rent, have a party, go back out.
As you go on missions, you acquire wealth. Hopefully. In sessions after the first, you can start building a safe space and a community. Instead of making characters, you'll answer questions about your community.
Always, there is the threat of upcoming blight upon the land. If you stop for to long to try to build a perfect community, the blight gets worse. It infects those you love, works its way into your community, and makes everything terrible. If you don't build a community at all, then you won't have the morale support to continue to fight the blight; community helps you remain a protagonist.
I've had one successful playtest, and hope to play through a full campaign.
After that, I'll want to toss together a few basic settings. The Caliphate of Azithan. I'd adore a page or two on settings other folks are working on (hint hint, Adam Dray and the city of brass).
That's a ways away. I got to do a full campaign first.
Basically: go on a mission, pay rent, have a party, go back out.
As you go on missions, you acquire wealth. Hopefully. In sessions after the first, you can start building a safe space and a community. Instead of making characters, you'll answer questions about your community.
Always, there is the threat of upcoming blight upon the land. If you stop for to long to try to build a perfect community, the blight gets worse. It infects those you love, works its way into your community, and makes everything terrible. If you don't build a community at all, then you won't have the morale support to continue to fight the blight; community helps you remain a protagonist.
I've had one successful playtest, and hope to play through a full campaign.
After that, I'll want to toss together a few basic settings. The Caliphate of Azithan. I'd adore a page or two on settings other folks are working on (hint hint, Adam Dray and the city of brass).
That's a ways away. I got to do a full campaign first.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
This is an argumentative post, but argument arguments he hypothesis need to use facts and figures.
This is an argumentative post, but argument arguments he hypothesis need to use facts and figures.
Hypothesis: Anyone with a continuous ability to save 20% of their income can retire in 30 years. This is regardless of the actual numbers.
Known Assumptions
1. Retirement income is invested in an S&P500-type fund, a broad market index fund costing not more than 0.5% per year.
2. The market will not do worse than it has in the past; that is, use every year for which there is data and build a model. If each of these models winds up with you having wealth at the end, then success. If any line does not, then failure.
4. Increases in purchasing power offset by inflation. That is, assuming that your income just keeps up with inflation.
5. Steady post-retirement expenses.
6. Assuming zero income after R-day, as well as health care costs not increasing radically.
7. Almost forgot! Assuming 20% goes to taxes, 20% is saved for retirement, and 60% is spent.
Source: http://www.firecalc.com/
Hypothesis: Anyone with a continuous ability to save 20% of their income can retire in 30 years. This is regardless of the actual numbers.
Known Assumptions
1. Retirement income is invested in an S&P500-type fund, a broad market index fund costing not more than 0.5% per year.
2. The market will not do worse than it has in the past; that is, use every year for which there is data and build a model. If each of these models winds up with you having wealth at the end, then success. If any line does not, then failure.
4. Increases in purchasing power offset by inflation. That is, assuming that your income just keeps up with inflation.
5. Steady post-retirement expenses.
6. Assuming zero income after R-day, as well as health care costs not increasing radically.
7. Almost forgot! Assuming 20% goes to taxes, 20% is saved for retirement, and 60% is spent.
Source: http://www.firecalc.com/
Novel: Shift
Novel: Shift
Author: Hugh Howley
Rating: Apple out of watermelon
Non-spoiler Version: This second novel is a prequil to Silo.
Spoilery version:
The original novel, Silo, had a novel premise and a woman protagonist. This shows us where the world came from, and has male protagonists throughout.
I was really disappointed; the author invents nanomachines and has the democratic party destroy the world in order to save it from the self replicating nanomachines.
The novel followers a new member of the House of Reps as he is slowly seduced by his x-girlfriend, who never gave up on him. Its ok: he stays true to his wife for centuries, and when he realizes he was manipulated, murders the x-girlfriend seductress.
... Wait, did i say that was alright? I meant anything but.
That's a small sliver; it also follows Solo as he finds he is alone in Silo 17 and lives there, alone, for decades. His cat even dies.
That's still small; the House Rep designs the silos, and is manipulated into doing so by the old man Senator of his party. Who then destroys the world, because that's a thing Senators can do.
The writing in Silo wasn't excellent, but the premise was novel. Here, the lack of skill in the writing is brought to the forefront due to the lack of novelty in the execution.
I will probably read the third and final in the series, which takes place in the "now" of the first book. That's a time of great change, which should actually be interesting.
Author: Hugh Howley
Rating: Apple out of watermelon
Non-spoiler Version: This second novel is a prequil to Silo.
Spoilery version:
The original novel, Silo, had a novel premise and a woman protagonist. This shows us where the world came from, and has male protagonists throughout.
I was really disappointed; the author invents nanomachines and has the democratic party destroy the world in order to save it from the self replicating nanomachines.
The novel followers a new member of the House of Reps as he is slowly seduced by his x-girlfriend, who never gave up on him. Its ok: he stays true to his wife for centuries, and when he realizes he was manipulated, murders the x-girlfriend seductress.
... Wait, did i say that was alright? I meant anything but.
That's a small sliver; it also follows Solo as he finds he is alone in Silo 17 and lives there, alone, for decades. His cat even dies.
That's still small; the House Rep designs the silos, and is manipulated into doing so by the old man Senator of his party. Who then destroys the world, because that's a thing Senators can do.
The writing in Silo wasn't excellent, but the premise was novel. Here, the lack of skill in the writing is brought to the forefront due to the lack of novelty in the execution.
I will probably read the third and final in the series, which takes place in the "now" of the first book. That's a time of great change, which should actually be interesting.
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known as the necromancer kingdom ..
In the Caliphate of Azithan, known as the necromancer kingdom ..
I'm betting you thought I forgot about this. An economics thought experiment with undead? No way, this remains my jam.
Oh, and what's that? I can make fun of American politics in an oblique way, too? Hot.
Some common positions within the church and weekly incomes include:
Weekly Believer: 50 cups of flour, called a prayer. I'm gonna use Prayer throughout, just remember it is 50 cups of flour and you need ~4 cups/day to live. This weekly believer has the minimum basic income. Call it $12,000 a year, or ~ 250/week.
The following are paid in coinage that is backed by the flour and other commodities in the Temple Storehouse:
Lifeless: 0 prayers
Believer: 1 prayer (4 hours prayer/week)
Devout Believer: 2 prayers (12 hours prayer / week)
Soldier: 4 prayers (serious work)
Non-com (sergeant / corporal): 5 prayers
Officer: 10 prayers -- most are independently wealthy
If the MBI is ~12,000/year, then the common soldiers are paid ~50,000, the non-coms in the 60s, and the officers over 100k. And remember, the common soldiers aren't as numerous as one would suspect, as the Lifeless do a lot of the work.
Occasionally, a priest will have the great idea to cut the funding for the common troops. It'll save so much money! If you've got 100,000 troops, just cut them all down to 3 a week and save 100,000 prayers a week. Its brilliant!
Those priests are eaten by the undead, as the people ultimately control the Lifeless.
Speaking of priests, what are they paid. The following are all-in salaries.
Priest, common: 5 prayers
Priest, house of commons: 10 prayers
Priest acting as Governor of a Principality: 20 prayers
Priest, Prime Minister: 25 prayers
Wizard, House of Lords: 50 prayers
Priests are paid more than soldiers, because they raise and control the Lifeless. Mostly. The wizards are paid so much because, like Thomas Bayes, they are expected to come up with remarkably good new technology.
Because the house of Commons operates with a parliamentary system and the priests vote, there are multiple political parties. These sometimes get color coded for your convenience:
Blue: Use the lifeless to power our economy, use our economic force to control our neighbors. Treadmills and wheat fields!
Red: Use the lifeless to control our neighbors. Build Roads, pillage our neighbors! Turn them into us.
Orange: Kill the priests in charge! And all our neighbors, woo hoo! Lifeless can build a wall, and we'll start raising animals as Lifeless, too!
Black: Everyone should have equal control over the lifeless! State control of the lifeless is tyranny.
Green: Maybe we shouldn't rely so heavily on dead bodies you guys. They are stinky.
Most political contests are between Red and Blue, with the other smaller parties throwing in their weight to give one a majority government.
Some common goods in most Temple Storehouses:
Daily Flour: 0.08 of a Prayer
Weekly Flour: 0.50 of a Prayer (discount for buying it all at once)
Weekly rent: 0.20 of a prayer and up. The Church has a variety of apartments and houses, ranging from just enough room for a bed up to multi-thousand square foot homes.
Commodities provided for free: water, toilets, prayer robes.
The Church is, of course, not the only market. Not only do the Guilds have their own markets, but can also rent space within the Temple Storehouse and sell their goods at whatever price point they want.
They don't even have a monopoly on the monetary system: While within the temple walls, all purchases must be done in prayers, exchange and barter happen in whatever currencies people choose outside those walls.
The Bakers Guild is particularly happy to get their hands on more Prayers, as the church owns most of the flour through the Lifeless labor.
I'm betting you thought I forgot about this. An economics thought experiment with undead? No way, this remains my jam.
Oh, and what's that? I can make fun of American politics in an oblique way, too? Hot.
Some common positions within the church and weekly incomes include:
Weekly Believer: 50 cups of flour, called a prayer. I'm gonna use Prayer throughout, just remember it is 50 cups of flour and you need ~4 cups/day to live. This weekly believer has the minimum basic income. Call it $12,000 a year, or ~ 250/week.
The following are paid in coinage that is backed by the flour and other commodities in the Temple Storehouse:
Lifeless: 0 prayers
Believer: 1 prayer (4 hours prayer/week)
Devout Believer: 2 prayers (12 hours prayer / week)
Soldier: 4 prayers (serious work)
Non-com (sergeant / corporal): 5 prayers
Officer: 10 prayers -- most are independently wealthy
If the MBI is ~12,000/year, then the common soldiers are paid ~50,000, the non-coms in the 60s, and the officers over 100k. And remember, the common soldiers aren't as numerous as one would suspect, as the Lifeless do a lot of the work.
Occasionally, a priest will have the great idea to cut the funding for the common troops. It'll save so much money! If you've got 100,000 troops, just cut them all down to 3 a week and save 100,000 prayers a week. Its brilliant!
Those priests are eaten by the undead, as the people ultimately control the Lifeless.
Speaking of priests, what are they paid. The following are all-in salaries.
Priest, common: 5 prayers
Priest, house of commons: 10 prayers
Priest acting as Governor of a Principality: 20 prayers
Priest, Prime Minister: 25 prayers
Wizard, House of Lords: 50 prayers
Priests are paid more than soldiers, because they raise and control the Lifeless. Mostly. The wizards are paid so much because, like Thomas Bayes, they are expected to come up with remarkably good new technology.
Because the house of Commons operates with a parliamentary system and the priests vote, there are multiple political parties. These sometimes get color coded for your convenience:
Blue: Use the lifeless to power our economy, use our economic force to control our neighbors. Treadmills and wheat fields!
Red: Use the lifeless to control our neighbors. Build Roads, pillage our neighbors! Turn them into us.
Orange: Kill the priests in charge! And all our neighbors, woo hoo! Lifeless can build a wall, and we'll start raising animals as Lifeless, too!
Black: Everyone should have equal control over the lifeless! State control of the lifeless is tyranny.
Green: Maybe we shouldn't rely so heavily on dead bodies you guys. They are stinky.
Most political contests are between Red and Blue, with the other smaller parties throwing in their weight to give one a majority government.
Some common goods in most Temple Storehouses:
Daily Flour: 0.08 of a Prayer
Weekly Flour: 0.50 of a Prayer (discount for buying it all at once)
Weekly rent: 0.20 of a prayer and up. The Church has a variety of apartments and houses, ranging from just enough room for a bed up to multi-thousand square foot homes.
Commodities provided for free: water, toilets, prayer robes.
The Church is, of course, not the only market. Not only do the Guilds have their own markets, but can also rent space within the Temple Storehouse and sell their goods at whatever price point they want.
They don't even have a monopoly on the monetary system: While within the temple walls, all purchases must be done in prayers, exchange and barter happen in whatever currencies people choose outside those walls.
The Bakers Guild is particularly happy to get their hands on more Prayers, as the church owns most of the flour through the Lifeless labor.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
These numbers are approximate, exactly meant to be order of magnitude.
These numbers are approximate, exactly meant to be order of magnitude.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who RPG also GM.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who GM also do some design.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who do some design publish anything.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who publish actually make money.
Maybe 1 in 10 of those make enough to think of it as a profession.
Some RPGs have a firm distinction between player and GM. Some have a small one. Some try to make it easier to GM, or to remove the role entirely. Some put more effort into the GM role, making it so fewer people can really do it. Dungeon and Dragons has historically been like this.
Some games make it easy to hack, AW and fate and Fiasco being the most obvious. AW also makes it easier to make money. Some games have so much going on that it is nearly impossible to hack.
Some gamers ignore rules we don't like. Some are sticklers.
Some systems have fiddly bits, and others have broad rules.
None of these are right or wrong; they produce different experiences. Its those experiences that matter, not some book on a shelf.
I know what my preferences are. What are yours?
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who RPG also GM.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who GM also do some design.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who do some design publish anything.
Maybe 1 in 10 folks who publish actually make money.
Maybe 1 in 10 of those make enough to think of it as a profession.
Some RPGs have a firm distinction between player and GM. Some have a small one. Some try to make it easier to GM, or to remove the role entirely. Some put more effort into the GM role, making it so fewer people can really do it. Dungeon and Dragons has historically been like this.
Some games make it easy to hack, AW and fate and Fiasco being the most obvious. AW also makes it easier to make money. Some games have so much going on that it is nearly impossible to hack.
Some gamers ignore rules we don't like. Some are sticklers.
Some systems have fiddly bits, and others have broad rules.
None of these are right or wrong; they produce different experiences. Its those experiences that matter, not some book on a shelf.
I know what my preferences are. What are yours?
I'm not so great with pain.
I'm not so great with pain.
So, here's what I have to say:
Talk less. Smile more. Fools that run their mouths wind up dead.
So, here's what I have to say:
Talk less. Smile more. Fools that run their mouths wind up dead.
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