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Events, Games, and Genres
Jul. 8th, 2022 05:58 pmIt has been quite a week. Firstly, with the departure of the dear Mac The Cat, for which I am deeply touched by the messages of support. Then, barely a day later, a notification from the University of Otago that the examiners had passed my thesis, thus completing my Master's in Higher Education and thus degree number six, and the third master's degree. This all came on the back of a weekend where I spent a good portion with Liana F., including an amusing visit to the Neighbourhood Earth exhibition, created in partnership with NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and The US Space and Rocket Center. It probably could have included more interactive components and even more data, but it was OK. The weekend also witnessed more motorcycle riding, and another night of dinner, dancing, and swordplay at The Rookery with Nick, NinjaDan, and Julie A also in attendance, and later in the week Virginia T., where we plotted out replicating the tour of Homer's Odyssey, but not taking the ten years of that story.
Of course, the art of mythmaking is very much in the structure and system of what is now called "traditional RPGs" (you know, pens, papers, and dice) and given my love of mythology it is unsurprising that I still find such a strong attachment to such things - and find others behaviours of "homo ludens" constrained, trivial, and often a harmful distraction. Rather than escapism, which most forms of sport and games do, RPGs allow the free and detailed exploration of alternative realities or historical fiction which actually enhances the understanding of the one we're in (and, it must also be said, cooperative script-writing). Which is a way of saying, yes, still doing regular gaming sessions and, of some importance, the latest issue of RPG Review has been released, which is all about cats (because they're popular on the Internet, right?). On a related topic I should mention that I did go to the Polyfinda boardgame night a Kepler Yard a couple of weeks back, which was excellent for its conversation, drinks, and company. As an astronomy-styled bar, it's pretty good. Also in the field of genre fiction, I must mention an excellent afternoon in the company of Brendan E., reviewer of popular culture, which entertained with The Raid: Redemption and The Admiral: Roaring Currents. Now there are two excellent examples of genre and historical fiction done right.
Of course, the art of mythmaking is very much in the structure and system of what is now called "traditional RPGs" (you know, pens, papers, and dice) and given my love of mythology it is unsurprising that I still find such a strong attachment to such things - and find others behaviours of "homo ludens" constrained, trivial, and often a harmful distraction. Rather than escapism, which most forms of sport and games do, RPGs allow the free and detailed exploration of alternative realities or historical fiction which actually enhances the understanding of the one we're in (and, it must also be said, cooperative script-writing). Which is a way of saying, yes, still doing regular gaming sessions and, of some importance, the latest issue of RPG Review has been released, which is all about cats (because they're popular on the Internet, right?). On a related topic I should mention that I did go to the Polyfinda boardgame night a Kepler Yard a couple of weeks back, which was excellent for its conversation, drinks, and company. As an astronomy-styled bar, it's pretty good. Also in the field of genre fiction, I must mention an excellent afternoon in the company of Brendan E., reviewer of popular culture, which entertained with The Raid: Redemption and The Admiral: Roaring Currents. Now there are two excellent examples of genre and historical fiction done right.
