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Elections, Wargaming/Roleplaying, Rockclimbing/Work, WA people
Costello apparently has "called" the election. Even Telstra wants Howard to go. So do a lot of Australians, at least according to a collection of opinion polls. In more important political news, radical left liberal and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has been nominated as the presidential candidate in an umbrella group against Putin. Let's hope for a checkmate. Of course, this all compares well to Burma who don't have the luxury of elections; or the right of dissent.
I have found a use for Facebook (apart from Scrabble). It's Warbook, a low-intensity (couple of minutes per hour) fantasy wargame. Speaking of wargames, played Decipher's LoTR on Sunday with the Church of Gaming crowd - once again we found the combat system wanting, to say the least. How could they have put such great effort into production quality and make such a mess of the rules? Played more Polaris on Friday night with the Melbourne Roleplaying Salon. I'm beginning to get some sense of what it is that bugs me about the game; it's narrativist without a narrative.
To ensure that we actually get up from our desks and not pour over hot code all day, VPAC took us rockclimbing last week. The ideal body shape seems to be wiry with strong forearms. I'm exactly not that, but it was fun nonetheless. Looking forward to what other shenanigens this place gets up to. This is, of course, in between working on some of the more annoying aspects of Python (which I usually like) and the oddities of IBMs recommended data backup system.
Had a pleasant visit from Stean V. last week who dropped in from his normal abode in Southern Cross to attend a wedding and catch up with old friends; we dined at a cheerful Korean restaurant in Elsternwick. In a fortnight's time will be visited by the wonderful 'Lornie Llama'. I've made promises to take to many and sundry local bars.
I have found a use for Facebook (apart from Scrabble). It's Warbook, a low-intensity (couple of minutes per hour) fantasy wargame. Speaking of wargames, played Decipher's LoTR on Sunday with the Church of Gaming crowd - once again we found the combat system wanting, to say the least. How could they have put such great effort into production quality and make such a mess of the rules? Played more Polaris on Friday night with the Melbourne Roleplaying Salon. I'm beginning to get some sense of what it is that bugs me about the game; it's narrativist without a narrative.
To ensure that we actually get up from our desks and not pour over hot code all day, VPAC took us rockclimbing last week. The ideal body shape seems to be wiry with strong forearms. I'm exactly not that, but it was fun nonetheless. Looking forward to what other shenanigens this place gets up to. This is, of course, in between working on some of the more annoying aspects of Python (which I usually like) and the oddities of IBMs recommended data backup system.
Had a pleasant visit from Stean V. last week who dropped in from his normal abode in Southern Cross to attend a wedding and catch up with old friends; we dined at a cheerful Korean restaurant in Elsternwick. In a fortnight's time will be visited by the wonderful 'Lornie Llama'. I've made promises to take to many and sundry local bars.
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Computer games have always suffered from attempts of style over substance. That's why those with excellent gameplay stand out despite their age (e.g., Sword of Aragon).
Tabletop roleplaying games tend to do a little better than that - especially with the big ticket items (the 'fantasy heartbreakers' are a different kettle of fish). But Decipher's LoTR has such a bad combat system I refuse to believe that they even bothered to playtest it, even mentally.
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I'm not too sure they particularly cared about that. It looks pretty and has brand recognition value. I mean there's enough people out there who would buy a steaming turd wrapped in a ribbon as long as it had the official endorsement of Tolkien Estate.
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Sounds just like Half-Life 2...