RPG Review Issue 2, Israel and Gaza, Season's Festivities

[tcpip]

The second issue of RPG Review has been released. It has a review of Pathfinder Beta Edition, Fantasy Australia, an interview with James Flowers of Redbrick, three Middle Earth articles, including Warhammer FPG linked scenarios in The Shire, Rolemaster PBeMs, three Dragon Warriors articles, a review of Grey Ranks, computer utility programs, a review of Hellboy II, Christmas advice from Orcus, and a Sacred Time song. I must say, I'm particularly impressed with the RPG on the Szare Szeregi; obviously a great (if awful) setting, really cool characters and character development and excellent simple game mechanics to capture the psychology and dramatic tension.

Transferring to a more contemporary warzone, the Israeli offensive in Gaza has claimed some 290 Palestinian lives. Nominally, this is in response to the firing of Qassam rockets by militants (which claimed 1 life) after the ending of a six-month ceasefire. However, it also follows an eighteen month blockade of Gaza by Israel, which has turned the place into a prison, prohibiting the entry of even the most basic supplies of electricity, food, fuel and medicine. Just two weeks ago, following a statement that described the embargo on Gaza as a "crime against humanity" (which indeed it is) the UN Human Rights investigator, Richard Falk, was expelled from the region by Israel.

Far from such troubles in a corpereal sense, the past week has been one of traditional festivities. Spent Christmas eve with Jenne P., at her chanukah/solstice gathering (she's a pagan Jew) and a number of ALP members in Brunswick. Conroy's Internet filter was the subject of much conversation with nobody expressing any approval of his plans. Christmas day was spent at Brendan E's, abode with movies, drinks and an excellent BBQ feast. Best wishes to all of you for the New Year.

Comments

[charlycrash.livejournal.com]

What really gets me about Israel & Palestine is nobody in power seems to be able to appreciate the fact that is mind-meltingly obvious to everyone else on the planet: the only reason the omgz evil ones have attacked you is because YOU attacked THEM. Because they attacked you, because you attacked them, because.. and so on.

I almost wish God exists so his voice could boom down from the heavens, saying "Both of you pack it in, or I'll put a lightning bolt up both your asses".

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I think it goes back to a certain international error made some sixty-odd years ago. Some people lost the place where they lived and they'd like it back. I don't think the conflict will ever end until this is resolved.

Personally, I'm in favour of a one-state solution.

[charlycrash.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't know enough about the situation to say if it's a good idea.. but I'm not sure it would. There's so much acrimony there at this point that it may be more about denying the other side of something than gaining something for yourself. Or it's a childish thing, and they want all the cake for themselves.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I believe it would be an extremely difficult path, but I can't think of any other viable alternative.

[ehintz.livejournal.com]

Figured as much, but appreciate the explanation. Read about it in the papers this morning and my automatic assumption was that they'd come up with an excuse to use their toys again. 1 death is hardly a number worth making such a fuss over, even if the whole blockade thing was not withstanding.

In typical fashion I note the US govt sided with Israel. And they wonder why the muslims hate them so... *shakes head*. Glad to be here in NZ where a bit more sense prevails.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The recognition of how disproportionate Operation Cast Lead is has not escaped international attention, and does not bode well for Israel after the PR disaster that was the bombing of the second Lebanon war in 2006. Aside from the immense human cost and the economic cost, it may be the Israel will lose even further status as a legitimate power in the region as a result.

[ehintz.livejournal.com]

Meh. They lost their credibility ages ago IMHO. Their constant crying victim coupled with aggressive behavior has created some rather insane problems with the region. I've long held that the US should back away. I think they'd behave quite a bit more responsibly if they were left out to dry a bit. As it is, with the backup of the most massive military in the world, they've generally shown that they're quite happy to abuse their power more or less with impunity.

Why the US continues to support them is beyond me. You'd think that the attack on the USS Liberty would give a pretty good indication of their character. Money and politics make some strange bedfellows indeed.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

They lost their credibility ages ago IMHO.

Well, yes. I think so too..

Why the US continues to support them is beyond me.

Reverse the common assumption. Play with the idea that Israel is actually a client state of the United States, furthering US interests in the middle-east, rather than the more common idea that the U.S. is highly influenced by an Israel lobby.

[ehintz.livejournal.com]

Well, that's clearly part of the deal. But other than strategic stuff (bases, listening posts, etc) it seems to me of fairly limited value. I'd think the Saudi association is generally more useful, and at least in theory the new Iraq locale sorts a lot of strategic goals (assuming they can hang on to it, which may not be a safe assumption). Given the antagonism Israel causes to the area, if it were me I'd want to limit my association with 'em.

There's pretty clearly an awful lot of backroom politics going on no matter how you slice it though.

(oh, and then there's the assertions that the Mossad were aware of the 9-11 attacks, and even had agents on the ground to observe, but didn't warn the US, which I recall as being credible if unsubstantiated the last time I looked into them (which would be 5 or more years ago so may be wildly out of date now). Admittedly, their excessive UNSec violations and the Liberty incident have negatively impacted my opinions)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I'm not a big fan of conspiracy theories, but there usually is a kernel of evidence in many of them. The Israeli foreknowledge of 9-11 does have a shred in this instance. Even more interesting is the trading behaviour prior to the attacks.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

The US has to keep Saudi Arabia at arm's length because it may be necessary to drop and distance from them rapidly any time, because a death and succession in the royal family could put a less friendly faction in power, reveal unacceptable support of the US' enemies by family members, or otherwise make them more of liability than an asset.

Mossad agents on the ground at the time of 9/11 is more believeable than that the Mossad had no reason for any agents to be in lower Manhattan on a business day.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Although this said, every single one of the Kings of Saudi Arabia has been very strongly pro-US, even in the same breath they've been anti-Zionist; the example of King Faisal being an extreme version of this - equating communism with zionism.

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

The arm's length posture is mutually beneficial, allowing such rhetoric as you mention as necessary to placate the Arab world.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

I am glad you had a decent holiday season. I just finished the last of the left-over cabbage rolls from a festive feast, with breaded cauliflower, and I am consuming a steady diet of beers left over from the same event. People seemed to appreciate my gifts, which makes me happy.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was pleasant. I've never been much of a "big Christmas" person (probably induced by upbringing), so having some nice food and drink and a laid-back afternoon constitutes an excellent day in my world.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

It's usually a two-parter here; dad's side of the family and mom's. The first half of that equation was downsized this year when we couldn't go to the planned party on account of one of us suddenly fainting and the rest waiting attentively at a hospital. The second half is what elapsed on Sunday the 28th, and I amusingly complicated it by inviting a friend that many proceeded to believe was a girlfriend. So, a strange year's end, but it could easily have been worse.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Goodness that's a combination of events. The fainting part not so good, the ersatz girlfriend very amusing. It's almost worth organising such a specimen (speciwoman?) for as a practical joke at future gatherings ...

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

The fainter is fine. She underwent a series of tests which apparently ruled out a stroke or heart attack in favour of some more mundane and manageable cause. That leads into a more complex discussion on the suspected causes, but I'll nix it there; let's just say everyone's glad it wasn't caused by something more serious.

[jdurall.livejournal.com]

On a less political note, good to see the second issue!

It reminds me of the old Imazine (a good thing!), though with a less self-reflexive letters column (even better!).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Imazine was a great publication... Wonderfully heterogenous in its game systems, good mix of theory and application and with a single-column, excellent for reading via laptop etc...

Yeah, letters column... More of those would be great! *hint*

Hey a "Where BRP is going" article would be good too! :)

[jdurall.livejournal.com]

Hey a "Where BRP is going" article would be good too! :)

I'd love to read that, as I'm just as in the dark as everyone else.

[tzunder.livejournal.com]

Imazine was (is) a great 'zine. I think Paul still does Alarums and Excursion (not sure) and I hope he'll do another Imazine one day.

[tzunder.livejournal.com]

Just finished RPG Review 1. I enjoyed the retro 70s APAzine look, although to achive that fully peeps should send you individually formatted pdfs and you'd simply merge them..

It's a great old skool 'zine with high content and a good read.

Bit like your blog..

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The retro like followed a chat with a graphic designer. In part it comes from simply not wanting to spend time on layout, but more importantly (following her suggestion) if it's being distributed primarily as a PDF it is much easier to read with a single-column presentation.

Bit like your blog..

Hahaha.. Oh you'll keep :)

[tzunder.livejournal.com]

Pathfinder does have some brand recognition in it's name. The Pathfinder adventures are well written and well crafted.

In the setting the Pathfinders Society has a real role, admittedly as a bunch of Indy style adventurers, so there is some internal logic to the name.

OGL 3.6 would be so SPI, man!

Mind you, DragonQuest... mmm.. carefully numbered paragraphs of wargame goodness!

I'm babbling..

[khrysha.livejournal.com]

Interesting you use a photo from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Peace.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well, the Warsaw Uprising (1944), rather than the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943).

But IKWYM.

[khrysha.livejournal.com]

I know the diff. ;)

I was sure that pic was from the Ghetto uprising though. But then I've seen so many photos from both, that occasionally they get a little mixed.

[khrysha.livejournal.com]

Btw, do you have a link to the site it's from?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szare_Szeregi

[khrysha.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, of course. The scouts.

Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[velkun.livejournal.com]

You are leaving like autism's man - in the your fabricated world .
In your fabricated world doesn't exists cannibal medieval regimes , doesn't exists criminal traffic of women for harems , doesn't exists genocide of Christians in Darfur , there Sudan's crime authority (friendly to HAMASTAN) killed already hundred of thousands really peaceful people whose guilt was only that they weren't Moslems ...
In the your artificial world you biggest fighter for freedom and independence of peoples … But where your courage to support really people of Kurdistan ?
People with ancient history, peculiar tradition and folklore in contrary of "Palestinians" , that haven't any sign of different people but only integral party of great Arabic People .
By the way , if anti-Hitler coalition troops were warring according to your principles , Hitler regime till now rules half Europe , because inhabitants of Berlin or Vine and especially Prague were much more innocent then inhabitants of Gaza . Czechs and Poles didn't select for Hitler . But Germans voted for Hitler not by 80-90% and 13 years before capture of Berlin or Dresden by anti-Hitler troops . This cities were destroyed almost totally !
Remind you that they didn't phone to inhabitants of that cities to warn about danger bombing as Israeli authority are doing in Gaza . But even Nazi solders didn't hide after backs of German kids like it doing HAMAS !

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

This is such an ignorant response I think it's best to unscreen this troll account post just to show what sort of knowledge-base we're dealing with here.

I do hope velkun, whomever you are, that one day you'll avail yourself of an education which will teach you to read history with a little more care, and learn some moral reasoning which will advance you beyond the deeply ingrained prejudices that currently rule your mind.

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[(Anonymous)]

You can very long time talk profusely and abstractly about morals , education and even culture and in this manner to elude of direct replying on concrete question …
But take note of I'm began to criticize exclusively your point of view and persuasion but not your education , not your knowledge of history , but not your morality . Never mind – because that I'm know nothing about you except you was voted for Hamas and signed it as Australian left Jews organization . But you know about me even lesser … This is about of culture of agruementation .
However, it's so typical for ultra-left demagogy to argue not about concrete facts , opinions and point of view , but to become personal of opponents . Also it's typical – narcissism of own morality , of own high level education or culture .
Remind to you – a lecture about morals isn't morals , a lecture about culture or education isn't still culture too ! This matter to be proved and only on practice of reality . And culture of argument is good test for this .

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Never mind – because that I'm know nothing about you except you was voted for Hamas and signed it as Australian left Jews organization .

ROFL.

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[(Anonymous)]

Badly reflexive swearing are not a sign of intellectual power but is an evidence of argument scarcity . Especially as somebody (with the mentor tone) are pretending to be a standard of moral , tolerance , peaceableness, culture and education . In such case swearing instead argument is also the evidence of hypocrisy and double moral .
This is so typical for the left-winger's demagogy that can propose to the mankind nothing except the suicide fallacious principles of tolerance to intolerance . If leftists are respecting some ideas except Marxism (or pos-Marxism) and not suppose this sponger's home-dreamer philosophy as peak of mankind way of thinking then these left-wingers knows that many centuries ago Chinese thinker stated :
"Goodness must have the fists !" . Otherwise that's named - feebleness and snivel !
And this is not philosophy of suicide chimera but surviving strategy .

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Either you're a kid or English isn't your first language. What you write is either incomprehensible or just plain wrong.

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[(Anonymous)]

Vary sad that you as Australians can't distinguish a kid from "foreigner" (as Britons like to call) . I'm not claiming to a grammar accuracy ... But I (even with my bad English , that apparently isn't mother's tongue of mine) can clear seen the difference between grammatical errors and something can be wrong . Especially "just plain wrong" .
Concerned to "an incomprehension" (as if …) – I'm almost 100 percent sure , that in case if you received something like this:
" I could kill all Jewish but I left some of them to let the world know why I killed them,.. Hitler" you'll very good understood and will accept this like a friendly opinion as if sick sentence was wrotten with all possible grammar and syntactic error .
But I've clear understood , that you just disable to listen anything what does't coincide at least partly with you theoratical outlook ...
Bye, will not disturb you in future the future .
Only ask ritorically , do you know that does mean in German the term - "nötiger Jude" ?!

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Vary sad that you as Australians can't distinguish a kid from "foreigner" (as Britons like to call).

That's right, I represent all Australians. Good one.

BTW, grammatical errors in writing are common among those who are learning a language and among children. So today you learn something new.

can clear seen the difference between grammatical errors and something can be wrong . Especially "just plain wrong".

Let me give you several examples of statements you've made which are "plain wrong".

You are leaving like autism's man - in the your fabricated world.

Displaying ignorance and insults towards people with autism.

In your fabricated world doesn't exists cannibal medieval regimes , doesn't exists criminal traffic of women for harems , doesn't exists genocide of Christians in Darfur , there Sudan's crime authority (friendly to HAMASTAN) killed already hundred of thousands really peaceful people whose guilt was only that they weren't Moslems

It is really hard to discern what you're trying to suggest here. That Arabs are cannibals? Really? That there is a Christian genocide in Darfur? The Second Sudanese Civil War ended three years ago. Perhaps you are confusing it with the contemporary Darfur conflict which is ethnic, not religious, but which some organisations (but not the UN, the African Union, Médecins sans Frontières, or Amnesty International) have described as 'genocide'.

But where your courage to support really people of Kurdistan?

On several occasions since the mid-1980s (when I was a member of PND), I have taken the opportunity to express support for Kurdish national self-determination and even in direct opposition to those who have a pro-Turkish union approach.

In comparison political conservatives have not always been so consistent, such as when the Bush administration tried to cover up the use of chemical weapons against the Kurds by Saddam Hussein (see point 14).

By the way , if anti-Hitler coalition troops were warring according to your principles , Hitler regime till now rules half Europe , because inhabitants of Berlin or Vine and especially Prague were much more innocent then inhabitants of Gaza

Incorrect again. Engaging in military strategies against civilians serves no military purpose, it is simply an act of physical and psychic violence against people. The comparison you should be looking for is the bombing of Dresden, or more appropriately (as implied by this thread), the Warsaw Uprising

Never mind – because that I'm know nothing about you except you was voted for Hamas and signed it as Australian left Jews organization .

Incorrect again. I never voted for Hamas (I am in not in Palestine), nor have ever suggested that I support that organisation. Nor did I sign the statement by Independent Australian Jewish Voices (I know some of the signatories, but I am not Jewish - contrary to thoughts of a surprising number of people).

This is so typical for the left-winger's demagogy that can propose to the mankind nothing except the suicide fallacious principles of tolerance to intolerance.

This is plain wrong. There is no suggestion of "tolerance to intolerance".

these left-wingers knows that many centuries ago Chinese thinker stated
"Goodness must have the fists !"

From google: No results found for "Goodness must have the fists!".

Bye, will not disturb you in future the future.

Probably a good idea, anyone reading this will not be impressed by the arguments you've expressed.

Re: Anti-HAMAS War in Gaza Strip

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

I dunno...I kinda like the sound of "Goodness must have the fists!" Has a certain kinda poetry to it, along with "Somebody set us up the bomb!"

All your Gaza belong to us!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

You're quite right. My next L5R/Qin/Bushido character is having that as a slogan.

I couldn't help thinking of a sexual reference to it tho'...

Re: All your Gaza belong to us!

[vannak.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't have indulged her/him with a reply!

Re: All your Gaza belong to us!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not (although I would have missed out on the slogan "Goodness must have the fists"). Debating with velkun was a little like shooting fish in a barrel.

As a friend of mine says (incidentally of Jewish heritage)... "Arguing with some people about Israel/Palestine is simply pointless. They cannot remove themselves from their own prejudices to think about what life is like for the other side".

But how else can you find such wondrous claims?