tcpip | In the Public Sphere

Last week the VLSCI announced their new HPC system, dedicated to disease research. The Age reported on the matter, which included a few errors. My letter elaborating on these was published, alas they cut probably the most important part (that it will probably be the fifth most powerful in the world when it is complete - in two/three years), and the more humourful remark (that I have doubts that the system will "speed up time").

Whilst I was in New Zealand I also received an invitation from Intelligence Squared/St James Ethics Centre to speak on their debate on the representative quality of the Senate; alas it seems they have found somebody (Senator Nick Sherry) but will follow up with the topic on the Isocracy Network and with the organisation in the next couple of days.

Over the past several days I've been working on background chapter on Japan for

tashiro's game Fox Magic; at the moment it concentrates largely on classic and medieval Japan, with modern Japan being added; it's currently about seven thousand words. Finally, on a minor note, I have received an acknowledgement in Ken Westmoreland's book on Timor-Leste, A Pretty Unfair Place.

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You have no idea how much I appreciate the work being put in, too. I never figured Fox Magic to be a 'classic' game, I've always played it modern, but a friend mentioned he expected most players to play in the classic periods. As long as both are available and information is presented for both, I think we're fine. :)

It can work in both, but life as a fox (even a shapechanging one) in modern Japan is a lot harder. Where there are people, wildlife suffer. Not only that, given contemporary Japan's fairly radical attachment to secular-rationalism a fox spirit which reared its head would be in a lot of trouble - whereas in classic times it would even have been protected and helped..

The other side of this is of course that I ran for many months a historical fantasy game of the Ainu in the form of humanoid rats.

I must do a write-up of the final sessions. It was really enjoyable.

You know... that sounds pretty cool. Ever considered publishing the setting? :)

I have, but would probably prefer to push it forward in time to the Edo period. The Sengoku is pretty well covered already, imo. Of course, I do have to publish my Transylvania game, my Malay archipelago game and my Armenian game as well ;)

Busy busy! :) You know, I've always been interested in seeing games that are set in different regions which aren't normally covered. One concept I've had, and I've wanted to flesh out, was a sort of cross-pollinization of Egypt and Japanese cultural ideals. I think I've only ever seen one solid, Egyptian-based game, ever.

I can think of a few;

"Testament" for biblical era D&D games
"OGL Ancients" also using D&D3.x rules
"Nile Empire: War in Heliopolis" and another one
"Necropolis" Gary Gygaxes version - probably originally for Mythus
"Egypt" for GURPS
"Mythic Egypt" for Rolemaster/Fantasy Hero (this is superb!)
"Nile Empire" for Torg; pulp-era
"The Egyptian Trilogy" for Man, Myth and Magic
"Valley of the Pharaohs", one of the earliest publications for Palladium.

Plus a bunch of others here:
http://rpg.geekdo.com/geeklist/46063/ancient-egypt-themed-rpgs

I have a copy of Testament, and I had Nile Empire. I was thinking more of a 'this is a fantasy Egypt RPG' without having it be a spin off of other mechanics, or another game line, just having it stand on its own merits. Sort of like L5R for Japan or RUS for Russia (I guess, I've never had the opportunity to sit down and look at that one).

Come to think of it, you don't really see that many RPGs which break out of the European mold. I'm curious what a dedicated Mezoamerican RPG might be like, or Native American. Or, heck, go down to Australia, and do a Dreamtime RPG.

Hmm. *ponder ponder*

Well, most of the mechanics of L5R found their way into 7th Sea... Rus is pretty cool, tho', I have the first edition (produced locally).

A flexible game system should be able to adopt the various memes of a cultural context without too much damage to the game system. GURPS Aztecs was a pretty fine product, and the Timemaster scenario for the fall of the Aztec empire was just spectacular.

As for Australia a couple of locals did the supplement "Terror Australis" which is simply one of the best summary studies of Australian 1920s culture and indigenous mythology available. I had a player in tears one of the scenarios was so moving (I'm sure it wasn't just my execution of it...)

Oh, and for cross-polinisation I once ran Everway using the Mythic Greece and Mythic Egypt supplments with a almost excellent supplement called Aesheba: Greek Africa...

My friend, I salute your creativity. :)

Oh the authors of said products deserve a lot of the kudos. Aesheba was a pretty good cultural product and concept. The Mythic Greece product assumed the PCs started as lesser or greater heroes, favoured mortals or children of the Gods. Mythic Egypt was also an excellent cultural product. Everway's scale seemed to match the Mythic Greece character levels (indeed, far better than RM or maybe even Fantasy Hero, did).

It all just came together rather nicely...

Is your Senate elected in any way, shape or form?

The one here remains appointed. There's been a lot of talk about changing that, but as issues go it has been pushed back in the queue behind Afghan detainees, proroguing the federal parliament, and the Vancouver Winter Circus.

Appointed?! Well, I knew that Ireland had some weird neo-fascist structure for their upper house (appointments from mass organisations), but I'm surprised to discover that the Canadian one is appointed.

In Australia each state (regardless of population) elects the same number of Senators (at least six, currently twelve, iirc) with the ACT and the NT electing two each. They are elected for six year terms, meaning that at most lower house elections (every three years) there is half-senate elections as well.

The Senate is elected by proportional representation, perhaps the only saving grace of what is otherwise a ridiculous chamber.

Appointed by the Governor General on advice of the Prime Minister.

Rarely does the Upper House reject any bill, and the Prime Minister and his cabinet are responsible to the Commons. The majority of bills originate in the Commons, and as per the Constitution of Canada, all "money bills" must originate in the Commons.

Senators used to be able to hold their position for life, but now cannot be Senators past age 75.

Wikipedia has a decent take on it.

There have been grumblings that the Senate is a glorified pension house, and that it should either become more democratic or be abolished outright.

Well, if it rarely rejects bills and a sensible governor has the upper house more or less party equivalent to lower house, and the responsibility is all lower house..

What's the point of it then?

Oh sweet jesus, I have to go to this debate.

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