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State Politics, Gaming, Odds and Ends
Labor wins the NSW state election; whilst the conservative Coalition didn't have a snowflake's chance in hell, I was a little surprised by how minimal the swing was. Much apparently due to the Federal governments unpopular workplace relations laws (despite being a Federal issue). On the other side of the planet, massive swing to conservative separatists in the Quebec elections, but the liberal federalists (Parti libéral du Québec) retains power, albeit with their worst ever result. The social democratic Parti Québécois came in third; leading to three-way split with each major party holding about 1/3 of the votes.
In gaming news have run two games of RuneQuest, one of Traveller: TNE, and the notorious AD&D1e module "Tomb of Horrors" since my last post. Recent reviews include Deities and Demigods (genius and idiocy in one package), Gods of Glorantha (solid content, average production), Spell Law (clear, balanced, but not beautiful) and the AD&D module In the Dungeons of the Slavelords. Oh, and remember the RPGPundit? Get a hold of these comments; Goth women are to be fucked and then mocked, and teenaged goths should be sent to therapists as punishment.
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recumbenteer and partner for their Parkville housewarming; most enjoyable, must have them over dinner soon. caseopaya is on a loose end, employment-wise (although I'm sure this will be a very temporary situation); she found a job where the pay, hours, work and people were good but the company wouldn't shell out the $6K that the agency wanted as a finders fee. Today we had an annual house inspection; the estate agents took (literally) thirty seconds. Rogue the rat hurt his foot during the week and spent a couple of days hopping around on three paws; all better now. LUV meeting next week with an emphasis on beginner's talks (new features of OpenOffice and an Introduction to DNS). Gave an introduction to philosophy talk (doc file, will convert later) at the Melbourne Unitarian Church on Sunday; was extremely well received and will be expanded to further discussion topics.
In gaming news have run two games of RuneQuest, one of Traveller: TNE, and the notorious AD&D1e module "Tomb of Horrors" since my last post. Recent reviews include Deities and Demigods (genius and idiocy in one package), Gods of Glorantha (solid content, average production), Spell Law (clear, balanced, but not beautiful) and the AD&D module In the Dungeons of the Slavelords. Oh, and remember the RPGPundit? Get a hold of these comments; Goth women are to be fucked and then mocked, and teenaged goths should be sent to therapists as punishment.
Visited
recumbenteer and partner for their Parkville housewarming; most enjoyable, must have them over dinner soon. caseopaya is on a loose end, employment-wise (although I'm sure this will be a very temporary situation); she found a job where the pay, hours, work and people were good but the company wouldn't shell out the $6K that the agency wanted as a finders fee. Today we had an annual house inspection; the estate agents took (literally) thirty seconds. Rogue the rat hurt his foot during the week and spent a couple of days hopping around on three paws; all better now. LUV meeting next week with an emphasis on beginner's talks (new features of OpenOffice and an Introduction to DNS). Gave an introduction to philosophy talk (doc file, will convert later) at the Melbourne Unitarian Church on Sunday; was extremely well received and will be expanded to further discussion topics.
Point by point:
1. I have an itchy trigger finger with the Ignore Button on RPG.net, and avoid the RPGsite like the plague, since it seems to be wholly populated with the inadequates who remind me why I am often embarrassed to get so much of my income from writing RPGs ("who do you write for?" "Oh, er, well, I did a book for the Student Christian Movement..."). Every so often, I get validation for those feelings. That is all.
2. Good solid philosophy outline.
3. As for loving D&D, well. Me and AD&D had a tempestuous, passionate relationship when I was a kid. We broke up when I was 18. I had been conducting an affair with Vampire: the Masquerade for some time, and AD&D and me didn't part on the best of terms. Recently, I've effected a reconciliation of sorts, and I'm seriously intending to go play D&D again. One of the things that changed my mind about it was the affectionate series of articles entitled I Was a Goblin on pop culture site Freakytrigger, particularly the one about levels and why they're a good thing. Recommended.
Re: Point by point:
1) I have mixed feelings various Internet denizens and the 'ignore' option. There is a sense that they can all hang out together in the pit of depair together proclaiming their love of free and abusive speech. OTOH, I have a sense of wanting to respond with a "please stop being a dickhead" in the wild hope that it might actually happen.
I remember the SCM very fondly from my early undergraduate days; they didn't engaging in biblical preaching they were just nice people. Once organised a dual meeting with the young socialists and the SCM on liberation theology. The striking poster included a crossed sickle and crucifix!
2) Thanks. There's a couple of typos as well, but I'll clear them up.
3) Like the links; I do like the argumentation of "renegotiating the game" with level systems. I have noticed however that there's just a hint of narrative-based systems beginning to do the same thing. This will, I suppose, within several years find itself in computer-game design as well..
Re: Point by point:
I like SCM. They're good, liberal, gay-rights-supporting, peace-campaigning, social-justice-advocating people. They're also my mates. Hell, if the right job came up, I'd work for them in a shot.
Re: Point by point:
You're probably right; usually it is only direct experience that changes people with crazy opinions or an abusive mindset. There's delightful case of a conservative politician in Australia (Jim Cameron) who used to argue quite strongly against organ transplants... Until he needed one himself!
My first memories of the SCM was a bearded liberal hippy named Joshua wandering around handing out oranges on campus. He'd hand out a newsletter if anyone asked; it portrayed a black woman as god...