Visits and Rats, Philosophy and Politics, Gaming

[tcpip]

caseopaya's mother is visiting; she's a rather spritely and sharp lass in her seventies and I've enjoyed her company. The rodents are a little confused why they have to spend most of the day in their cage, and caseopaya herself is finding the entire visit rather stressful. On ratty-topics, saw Ratatoullie last week; it's quite charming. Particularly impressed by the effort taken to accurately display rat movements and mannerisms.

Last Sunday gave my presentation on "Women in Philosophy and Philosophy of Women" at the Unitarian Philosophy Forum. It generated a lot of discussion and was well-received; will get a write-up as soon as possible. On Tuesday attended the Atheist Society to hear Rick Barker speak on "Bertrand Russell's Adventures on the Road to Damascus". Quite a good potted history of the philosopher-activist of whom there seems to be a modicum of renewed interest.

APEC has finished; I took the opportunity to compare current world leaders with the "great leaders" of their various States. The Age published my short letter on the matter. I wonder about the mentality of our world's leaders; it rather reminds me of a pithy remark that claudine_c once made: Why would someone want to take on a new task but not want to learn to do it well? I'm afraid I don't understand this person's motivation.". Well in the case of politics, the motivation is power.

Gaming this week consisted of D&D3e Ralia on Thursday night, and Polaris last night. Found the Thursday session especially dull, and feel pretty indifferent about the latter. Last Sunday, with a new GM, our "Norman Britain" (now in Iceland) finished most of G3: The Hall of the Fire Giant King. On-topic, recently reviewed The Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl. Still have many games available for sale on Ebay.

Comments

[sorscha.livejournal.com]

I can't believe that not only do you know caseopaya, you actually LIVE with her! Australia is way too small.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've known her for about eighteen years.

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

Lev. You own.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I do try.

[jamiltr0n.livejournal.com]

What did you think of Polaris?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

At this stage I'll mostly reserve my judgement. The setting is good, the theme - which I enjoy - is limited only to that theme, and I'm not sure whether the shared-gm mechanism works as well as it could.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

On that issue, I wanted to say that although we got off to a rocky start, I like the stuff you're throwing at my character - you've given me a plot to work with, and I find myself planning ahead for ways that I'm going to address that plot.

On the other side of the coin, I've worked out some rather fiendish plans for being absolutely horrible to your character, but I'm thinking that maybe we should have shuffled the seating; I'm not sure that my style of approaching your character is creating the experience that you want to have. (To put it less diplomatically, my blatantly sadistic side really quite enjoys controlling the forces of evil and darkness, and I think maybe you're not as kinky in that respect as I am.)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

but I'm thinking that maybe we should have shuffled the seating

Rotations like that was one of the first things that came to mind...

my blatantly sadistic side really quite enjoys controlling the forces of evil and darkness, and I think maybe you're not as kinky in that respect as I am

That is probably the case. I shall endeavour to work more with my evil hat on.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

See recent post about BDSM. On reflection, you tried to talk about these issues a few times and didn't get the support you should have been given. You are under no obligation whatsoever to match my level of kinkiness.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You are under no obligation whatsoever to match my level of kinkiness.

*snicker* Maybe I should play the tragic hero role out to the nth degree... :-)

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

So long as it's the character who is doing that, and not the player, I'll be happy.

I was really pleased when I thought up ways of torturing you more effectively than I did last session, but on reflection, that might not be something you'd enjoy. When it comes to showing off my expertise at screwing people over, I'd really much rather do that to someone who enjoys being screwed over. I don't think we should rotate or randomly shuffle the seating, but I think we can and should respect your desire to set limits, and with a little luck, there will be a volunteer to have me twist their entrails around my fingers.

Perhaps we should discuss this via email? I feel disappointed that I didn't back you up when you tried to send signals on Friday, so I want to try to do that now and next session.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I feel disappointed that I didn't back you up when you tried to send signals on Friday, so I want to try to do that now and next session.

Don't let it worry you; (a) I'm made of pretty stern stuff (b) It's a game and (c) My greatest frustration was internal - I wasn't grokking the rules.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

Cool, I feel reassured :)

[jamiltr0n.livejournal.com]

That's cool. Polaris is like, my second favorite game that I have ever played, but you REALLY REALLY need everyone to immediately jive and click on the game, both mechanically and thematically. If you have to sell it to even one person I don't think it will shine.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

I don't think the problem was a lack of enthusiasm. I have a (well deserved) reputation for cruelty, and when tcpip noticed that he was sitting opposite me (and what that meant), he said "Oh no." That was when we should have done something, but it didn't work out that way.

[claudine-c.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I think that quote is going to come and bite me some day.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I doubt it; everything you do you seem to put your heart and soul into.

[claudine-c.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that.

Right now I'm looking at the material for my exegetical essay and thinking, "I'll get dinner after quickly checking Facebook updates." I guess I can't write on an empty, humourless stomach.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I guess I can't write on an empty, humourless stomach.

Well no, and nor should one. Which is probably why Mr. Engels suggested that the species needed food before philosophy.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

Heh. Finally noticed that I hadn't friended you yet. Ooops!