In the Public Sphere

[tcpip]

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.

Comments

[tashiro.livejournal.com]

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*

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

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...)