Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A blurb on Gaming for my project game

Every game in the world does that "What is Gaming" section and its a waste of space.  Either you know, as you just bought the damn book or you are going to be shit confused.  So really the person I need to talk to is unsuspecting person who buys this as a gift or something and the odd few who pick this up all wide eyed and innocent.

Hello my friend, thank you for considering the purchase of this book.  It is what is known as a Role playing game.  While I highly encourage your purchase of this product, I must first offer a warning.  This is not a mere book but a gateway drug to a path not easily walked.  Many great things you will find but it is not without its price.  There is a great social stigma associated with our hobby it is not for all.  The best of us are infinitely sure of ourselves others have little to lose.

OK kidding aside role playing is primarily a bunch of goofy white guys sitting around a table.  There are occasionally some Asian players too but yeah its usually a crackerfest.  If you were to listen you will find there is often more joking around anything else. The game being played often has them talking in funny voices or overtly worrying about the placement of little figurines on a map.  They will be rolling dice sometimes to determine a random element of the game but mostly just fucking off with them. 

If one of these role play games breaks out in your house here are some things to expect.  They are loud!  You will hear lots of shouts and cheers along with cried of Fuck and Shit!  There will be a lot of laughing and such.  There will probably be food, perhaps booze, there will certainly be a smell of some sort.  Expect a clogged toilet from time to time.  Also expect to clear the mess yourself, if you host expect to clean up too.  More often than not you will just want the motherfuckers to leave at the end of the night rather than stay and help.  These things are long too maybe four to six hours of play.  Also expect it to happen again and again.  They things usually are weekly or every other week and can go on for years.  That is where wives and parents usually get pissed, when you have an ongoing commitment to screw around every week.

It's not all lame and gloom though.  Role playing is great for someone who is shy or even high functioning on the autism spectrum.  You are interacting in a safe environment with the same people over and over again.  You are able to be yourself, or even someone else, without judgement.  Our wired in world seems to remove value from face to face interaction.  This is the entire point of the role playing game.  This is not a text message or an online game but an interpersonal game.  Often you make some of the best friends of your life playing games like this. 

These games involve a degree of math skills and problem solving.  These games are often highly mathematical to model real world situations.  I know several instances of geometry being used directly in games.  You are often give situations were a clever idea or trick is called upon.  A great deal of lateral thinking is involved in these games.  There are artistic elements be it painting miniature figurines or drawing a map.

Really I recommend you go to YouTube and search for Freaks and Geeks or Community.  Both of these shows have featured gaming sessions in episodes that while poking fun also seem to get the idea across.  James Franco's, Carlos the dwarf perhaps best shows a new player entering the world of gaming.  Please give it a look if you want to come back we will be here.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Whole milk is Our Birthright

The folks at Formal Sweatpants get the spirit of Krampus 100% right with this fantastic cartoon.  I am not anti vegan but I really hate the Gluten free.  It just seems like a fad like altruism or New Coke.

I think the soy stuff is more offensive Santa is obviously Nordic.  We northern folk have a near 100% occurrence of lactose tolerance.  Whole milk is our birthright.

Monday, December 19, 2011

A tale of the Beltinovites part 1

Books crowded every corner and step of Galav.  It was once the Beltinovites capital now their last city and some would say prison.  It was not a high commanding city but rather a pit dug low into the ground.  It was not something to be assaulted but rather ignored just a hole full of books.

Galav was perhaps the most ancient of all cities it was built and rebuilt and hundred times some in triumph some in defeat.  The Beltinovites have said it was even built before the Architect arose though such talk was reason for much of their current plight.  The stunted race claim to being a higher form of the Aron Veja wise and enlightened.  Few like to to be told such things, though the Aron have said to be thralled by the Beltinovites in their distant past.

These Beltinovites were not dwarves or goblins but rather just short and wide eyed.  Their heads large and hands sleight.  Yes they were quick witted and had hands dexterous none could deny.  They worked magic and understood the genomes the Architect himself played.  They were the first to build the living machines and only now were their works being surpassed.  Carinthis sold either goods as fine works of art and beauty.  

Their city was a library overflowing with books like the sand.  And Linent Siall loved these books like his children.  For a Beltinovite he was a simple man non a wizard nor chemist or breeder of machines. No Linent held the highest of all titles he was a librarian.  

Linus and Lucy

I recently sat the child down and forced her to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas.  She has had little interest in Charlie Brown until now, often asking if it was Caillou.  Yes kid I see the similarities but WTF one is the most sincere depiction of my feelings on Christmas and the other is a spoiled fucking prick.  I was surprised she did well watching it and enjoyed it. 

In watching I really focused in on the Christmas tree, that has a huge amount of symbolism in it. It seems to represent the heroes faith in Christmas as a whole.  You can see through the show the tree gaining branches as the show progresses.  It is not without its down turns though, every time Charlie presents it for others to see it looses needles.  Its as though it has a personal strength but whenever interacted with it fails. 

Oddly this was not an intentional choice, as even Charles Shultz has lamented the constant change in the appearance of the tree.  So it is clearly not a direct decision but rather a happy accident of the production.  These happy accidents seem to have happened everywhere in the show.  Every time someone stuck to their guns it ended up being the right choice, that has forge a timeless classic that captures the holidays in both joy and sadness.

I love the shows conclusion with Charlie "killing" the tree.  Its like he finally tries to put some weight on his new found faith and it really has no strength.  Fleeing his tree and faith the final lesson of the holidays is presented.  Others and community are essential for the holidays, as it is the group of kids accepting the tree and each adding something to it. They in essence accept Charlie and restore his faith.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Omaha

You stitched me up
and I was on my way
I Left my hat and
didn't even say, goodbye

It was raining hard
before I realized
and I'm closer to gone
with every mile.

This is the way with running
and never looking back.
You try not to remember
what you're missing until it's forgot.

it's the white lines
and biting flies on the road
with a few too many
Ladies waiting back home

Ill keep on running
always heading toward
The setting sun
Alone on the road

This was quick and its weak.  I am loaded up on nyquil for a head cold so its sort of the best i can pull out of the toilet

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Monkey gone to Heaven

Well i was finally able to finish up Adam Curtis's All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace.  My thoughts on the piece as a whole is it was good but not a solid as his other work.  It also has a problem in not having a solid wrap up, this is an issue I have with Curtis.  He seems to let his point be implied rather than directly getting at it.

Also It seems that he was coming out against the "Selfish gene" theory, he could have supported this better.  The theory generally is that we are not  individually important but are collectively working to pass our common genes.  Selflessness is also an act to help those with similar genes and conflict worked to hurt those with dissimilar genes.  It seems the Tutsi and Hutu group conflict was manufactured and was actually a group of people with the same genes in conflict.  Mr. Curtis also has mentioned a study in south America in a previous show.  Some researcher took apart a video of a violent conflict between tribal groups.  He claimed those with closers relations sided with each other.  In Fact it was proven to just be a conflict between the haves and have nots after several other researchers reviewed the film.

Also while the show tackles altruism it doesn't seem to address another human ideal that challenged the selfish gene theory, that being justice.  Justice seems to be a large driving force in political environments and is often the source or justification of revolutionary forces.  When you boil fairness down to its base elements it in no way helps the genes.  Rather it works against the selfish gene.

I would liked if Curtis would have addressed the social implications of accepting that we are machines.  That was the original thought that excited me about the series.  I think there is much that could be done with philosophy of loss of self in groups.  There could be another episode just in that. Lack of personal accountability and the desire to accept modes of life that have historically been viewed as less evolved.  I could see Kierkegaard and Heidegger being talked about significantly.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Fascination Street

I was listening to Fascination Street by the Cure on the radio and this is the song that popped in my head.  It sort of goes with that dark droning music of the song.  I have had a few of these sort of songs or alternate lyrics inspired by another song.  If you have a band and want to use them your welcome to.  Just send me a link.  You can even come up with the title.



Why am I falling apart
Why are you walking away
Ill take you down with me
I'm going to tear it down
I'll burn it all up
Then sweep it under the rug

If I ever get through
You'll be the first I see
If it's the last id do
I'm coming for you

Better keep an eye out
Better watch where you go
Don't you ever stray
from the narrow way
I'll be a thorn in your side
You won't be able to hide

If I ever get through
You'll be the first I see
If it's the last id do
I'm coming for you

So don't be so smug
Thinking you've won
I still have another hand
All will go as planned
You've already lost
before the dice were tossed

If I ever get through
You'll be the first I see
If it's the last id do
I'm coming for you

Monday, December 12, 2011

Crescent Star Progressive Rock score card 10

Machines of loving grace is actuall the name of a collection of poetry but it was also used by the band.  Where is a video I really dont know the band or any of their music.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEt86vB1seU

Summer Nights and my radio is something off 5150 Van Halen or Haggar depending.  My cousins cousin played this near constantly way back when so I have most of the record stuck in my head.  It's actually not nearly as good as I remember.  The choruses are solid but alot of the songs are sort of goofy.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LOkTGpaTYA

More Metal than you is something from Brian Posehn the commedian.  I like the D&D with Dio bit, I bet he would have been a fine DM. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y24MmylTeY4

Tin man is by America I really don't know the record, I heard the song and sort of started thinking the piece that is written there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3fI0mLz3ks

Hello It's Me is by Todd Rundgren it's an ok song here check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsezr0qiFIc

Working on a chain gang is by Sam Cooke though I think i was really thinking of Devos' working in a coal mine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2XHYKWLGTg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WRjgv62Ayc

Bron Yr Arur is the the quiet song by Led Zepplin not the Stomp song which has a very similar name.  Its a great acoustic song really much better than a lot of the Zepplin they force feed you on the radio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xHvnMC7KFg

Cinema is by Yes, i know i like them too much.  I think that is from that super poppy record 90125 they had with all the hits from the 80s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqwmK_H0JcI

Everything you want is by Vertical Horizon or someone like that.  They played that song almost too much awhile go I heard it recently and was sort of like this again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZoD8JEFjAE

The song remains the same. Led Zepplin i dont thing you need to say any more on it. I actually was probably thinking of the organ bit in the movie but here is the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcYZlRWWxO0

I should be singing but I am tired out of breath is a line from the fountain of lamneth by Rush this is off of Caress of Steel the kick ass record you should go buy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UeDqx84ND8

Wait for you is by that Bonham group they had in the 80's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mciP59WSnNw&list=PL4D2195630FF548EF&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Back in the Village again is by Iron Maiden off of powerslave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ1tBzH1Cek

Live Undead is the title of Slayers live record from way back when.

The swan is a murderer is Cherry Five/Goblin some hard core italian prog.  The bass player is insane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap6sZMJRWgY

Through fire and flames every guitar hero player will know is Dragonforce they are pretty cool in that they try.  Not enough of us try. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s

In the garage is Weezer they are a bit hipster and lame for my tastes but at least its a song about D&D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCOTW5AD9a8

Meddle is one of Pink floyds records but I am sure you know that.

Bullet hits the bone is by Golden earring they probably play that on your radio all the time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrnDm72sdQE

Who Cares wins is Anthrax http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtD_GUvu-wc

A murder of one is Counting crows on their first record http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ePfsdr94ow

a murder of one

Everything is growing gray on the morning with The things we are left out for the weather The burlap of our skin laying ragged out with the frost  Long forgot all thing mold and rot in a yard left to winter Even the scarecrow wordless bent by the winds that laid us bare the months before  Reaching up with all aware only dark birds left to care in this empty winter air

Friday, December 09, 2011

A tale of Carinthis part 3

From high above the sun broke through the haze of cloud and momentarily bathed the square in light.  It was not dark prior but for a few moments it seemed dazzling almost scintillating bright. As that moment faded Reglin caught the bright gleam of the sun upon an instrument of death, as it fell.

Fell from its perch held upon high lashing through the heavy throat of a stead.  It was a twice handed cleaver of steel, a treasure in and of it self, the butcher a man of the a'ron vega' to Reglin's eyes. Though shrouded Reglin could see a second skin which clung tight and masked all his features with the exception of his mouth.  There it had been scrapped away the true flesh almost that of a broken blister.  A sunless white of flesh and teeth that wordlessly mouthed rage.

The horse fell hard taking its rider with it; A squat Cazz'it dressed for the desert. In a moment the assassin was on him stabbing with a tooth dagger.  Relentless and rhythmic he stabbed again and again. Though the veil of flesh Reglin wondered if his eyes were now on him, he gulped hard and began his blood song.

Thursday, December 08, 2011

A tale of Carinthis part 2

The shops and stalls ranged from fragrant familiar to flavors strange.  Often Reglin stopped staggered in awe of the wonders and horrors he saw.  The green people had some small use of the biomachinary he saw here; but it was autonomous or self contained in living entities they coexisted with.  The green people would call many of the wears sold in the shops parasitic.

Reglin vaguely understood offers allow him to breath in water or for a second skin.  One even tried to purchase his voice with the offer of four solid iron links.  He fled in terror when the process of removal was described.

His feet worn, he almost without mind found himself at the animal pens.  Perhaps he could hire onto an eastward caravan and put more distance between himself and his kin. 

This quarter of the city was the most sparse and in need of open air.  Much of the trade and supply of the pack trains occurred here.  Horse and Camel were hauled up for the desert floor far below, along with the chitin covered Sammis Worms.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Sample Rules part 2 thoughts on spells and combos

Another aspect of the game that I wanted to delve into are spells and combos.  I am not a huge fan of free form magic such as that found in Mage.  I don't want to rule it out as many people really like that sort of thing but I also wanted to keep something like AD&D spell.  Magic that has the same very specific effect time and time again.  The combos I am talking about are similar but for melee combat.

In general when you use magic you are are making a skill roll and then purchasing effects from a list.  These could be damage , area of effect, distance the list goes on.  It can be free form where you and the GM decide the cost or you can have a big of things you can purchase with successes.  A spell instead is a preconstructed set of effects that has a prescribed cost.  It usually can not be extended beyond its description though some may have minor upgrades that can be applied.  Spells are usually the first step of magic with the more free form style being more difficult and costly. 

A spell may give you a requirement of one or more successes needed to cast, if you don't have enough it doesn't work, that's it.  When you succeed it follows the description and the only available success purchases you can make are those within the description.  All extra spell points are lost unless you have some extra purchased ability that specifically allow you to do something else with them.  There are "Feat" like abilities that allow you to purchase magic stones with your extra successes but these will not effect the spell itself.

As for Combos and combat actions they are similar but allow for actions that would not be possible otherwise.  In some ways they are like the linked actions I mentioned in the sample rules section but go beyond that.  They are a specific mapped out attack or attack and movement that require miniatures and a combat grid to fully use.  The idea for these come directly from video games and you may recognize a few of them.  One example is an attack to the hex directly in front of you then moving two hexes forward followed but an increased damage attack to the hex directly in front of you.  Mechanically you would require an acrobatics success and two melee combat successes.  The could be accomplished in a number of ways.  A strong melee with no stones by make an acrobatics roll and then carry over their automatic melee successes.  A character with plenty of stones may make a standard melee attack role and then take two clear stones to make an acrobatic success.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

A tale of Carinthis part 1

The streets of Carinthis were wild and chaotic.  Full of colors in designs that seemed to move constantly. It was as if the city made and unmade itself every moment, which of course it did.  It sat as a crown high atop a pillar of stone which rose out of the desert.  A bazaar of tented streets pierced by six high towers and one low, wind blown against a sky that did not seem to want it.

Reglin was veiled and short but seemed tall and lethe against the throngs of Cazzit which called the city home.  They were a desert race short and stunted their skin almost scaled to fight the wind and sand.  The Green was a head taller than the dwarves, supple skinned and elegant.  His voice was song even though he tried to drive melody from his voice.  He moved with watching eyes to each stall seeking.

He was looking for work or somewhere he could hold up unseen.  He had been hunted most of his life though just as often was the hunter.  His people warred openly with the beastly race that shared their forests.  Now he was hunted by his own.  for Reglin had grown old, nearly twenty five, and wished to live a little more. 

It was common desire but not one allowed by the Green people. Their rites sought rebirth at this time and all would find it, desired or not.  Reglin had not been the first to flee his people, many had tried.  Few made it this far from their territory, perhaps far enough to begin to hope.

Monday, December 05, 2011

A tale of the Gannith part 2

Cornass hoped it would only be death the big steed was to face.  He knew the incantations of animating the dead well, but had little desire to invoke them now.  Wise men often dealt with spirits themselves some of them dark.  Some doorways were crossed by uninvited guests.

The strange faces he painted on the flesh of the fallen were often to confuse these darker spirits.  The bindings were some for show but some to restrain should the wrong ones get in.  The tokens, seals and coins woven into the horses mane were to pay debts unpaid in life but also to clink; chiming away the unseen.

All done Vall finally lead his guest and horse on to the east. The riders alone travelled against the great wheels the Gannith people walked.  The dead man would travel to the east wall just once in his life, though it truth it was his death. 

Cornass held his spear high allowing the banners to stream with the hard wind.  Some marked the dark circle another was for the fallen man.  The last banner that whipped furiously with the wind marked contagion.

Who Cares Wins

I knew the no initiative thing was going to be controversial with my gaming group.  I gave it a try with Pinnacles Savage Worlds rules set to see what they thought.  There was some resistance as expected.

The players were not used to the idea of simultaneous action.  They seemed to think if they won initiative they really won something big.  I was explaining even with initiative they only real benefit is on the round they kill someone they prevent their action.  So in reality they are only avoiding one attack or action.  With simultaneous action that last action goes off.  This really just gave enemies a chance to run, which seemed to piss of the players even more, they are very concerned with wrapping up loose ends i guess.

They were a little hesitant with the opponent going first, this surprised me.  I tried to explain that since everyone acts in a round they were actually better off going last.  They got to see their enemies action and react after.  Again grumbling.

Finally they showed me the real fatal flaw in my evil scheme to speed up combat, players acting against each other.  Damn I didn't even expect this would happen, but first fucking game! First fucking encounter!  In my game there is less of a problem with this as you have the stones you can used to control the actions. But damn they have them in Savage worlds too.  The players just didn't spend them. FUCK!

From here you have a few options some of which will not sit well with players.  Just decided which ever outcome suits your story best happens.  Screw it your the GM you have a hard enough job, you deserve a break.  But players start feeling railroaded.  Go with logic the fastest character wins a chase or whatever.  But here you will get down to some actions were the characters are just equal mechanically and neither have role played out a reason that the scene should go their way.  Coin flip or something?  These are often rather important game defining scenes when two characters are in conflict, you really need something more dramatic.

I am almost thinking I need that initiative roll there just to keep people happy.  It just seems to time consuming and for a less than important aspect of the game.  See I have wasted all this time writing up a post just for my problems with it.

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Sample Rules


Ok this is the start of me putting down some of my game ideas.  I will probably start pretty general and then work on detail as I have more and more feedback.  This is something of my philosophy for the game as well.  I want do a game that has a configurable level of detail. So you can dial up focus in some areas and down in other areas. For example a thief heavy fantasy campaign could increase the level of detail around traps and go with a simplified version of magic rules.

While the above is my philosophy I also have a set of goals in mind that will have effected my ideas.  For example, I really want to be able to capture aspects of brawler video game combat.  I want there to be moves and chained combos.  I also want to be able to simulate timed events with increasing stress.  Finally i want to do things with a percision that allows the difference between success levels to be clearly distinguished.
well lets get down to it. Combat seems to be the heart of most systems, but I have never seen a "Good" system that doesn't derive combat from the basic task/skill resolution mechanic.  having two entirely different systems for combat and general roleplaying sort of sucks for everyone involved, so i want to steer clear of that.

taking that in mind I have stolen from a couple of game and came up with a system based on roles and automatic successes.  Borrowing heavily from hero wars skills are repressented with a number of successes and a modifier to role.  For example Toad has a stealth of 1S3; meaning before roling the dice Toad already has one success and when rolling gets to add 3 to the role.  I am going with a set dice role, say d10, for all skill and attribute checks.  I really hope to do the same in combat and everywhere else but we will see what happens.

For dice i dont know why but I am going with D10+D4, its weird like me.  also it bears out on the earthdawn step math I have been using to check things with.  I am not sure if i will stick with it, but i do know its exploding.  With all the standard open ended dice rules.  I hope everyone reading this will be clear with this but assume you reroll and add the total to your roll if you max out a die.  Keep doing it if you role max again.  In rolling you are going to add you role total with that modifier.  For example Razgum has a seduction skill of 0s7.  When he tries to lay down his best lines at the local bar he starts off with a failure already but he has 7 to add to the die role.  Lets assume he roles 6,4 and 1 for 11 plus his skill of 7 for 18. 

Alright lets talk about different types of skill checks now that we have Razgum's role. I am currently thinking there needs to be two types of skill roles.  A basic skill check where the GM sets the difficulty and the player tries to meet it.  And an actively opposed check.  THis is where you have an undefined difficulty that is set by the defenders resistence role to an action.  Perhaps a parry being made against an attack for example.  So what is the difference here.  When a character makes a basic skill check they are trying to meet the GM defined target number and then every 7 beyond that counts as an additional success.  On the opposed check the lower role just becomes the target number for the higher role.  Every 7 beyond that role counting as an additional success.  Lets go back to Razgum, and lets say the situation is Razgum is trying pick up lines on a no consequence NPC.  So if the GM set a target of 9 then Razgum would have generated 2 successes on his check.  If Razgum had a skill of -1s7 he would have only come up with a single success.  I will talk about multiple successes later on but you need to assume you need a single success to do an action and the rest are considered additional successes.

Moving to the other type of role.  Lets have Razgum try and seduce an improtant leader in the opposing army with his trollish charm.  The GM would probably role some sort of willpower check to resist.  Taking Razgums roll of 18 the army leader rolls 28.  Comparine 18 to 28 that 10 more so the army leader gets two successes.  In this case Razgum needed to suceed to even zero successes would have worked for the army leader.  Normally a role must generate one success, which additional successes being used else where but here both success can be used against razgum.  While thinking about this you will notice it is possible for a 4s2 to generate a lower number than a -1s7 skilled person which could be total bs.  after the roll and the calculation of successes and subtract the lower from the higher.  This makes it a dual step process which sort of sucks but makes stuff more fair.  Giving Toad a chance with a 4s7 seduction and a roll of 18 against the 0s7 army leaders total roll of 28.  We now have Toad with 4 automatic successes and The Army Leader with 2; allowing Toad to succeed with 2 successes.  As opposed to resistence Toad needs 1S for success leaving 1 additional success. 

I am talking a lot about additional successes without really addressing them.  The come out sounding a lot like WOD or Shadowrun, which I actually dislike.  I hate how nebulous the difference between 3 and 4 successes.  Going back to my goals, I really want these things to be clear.  My solution is to allow players to uses additional success to buy better results.  I like this because it give me a clear idea how things resolve and I think it would be fun for the players.  Earthdawn sort of had an example of this where two success levels equalled and armor defeating hits on an attack.  I dont have enough details on this but I would like to say a stealth with a lot of additional successes could spend those successes to make a search or spot check more difficult.  In some cases I think the character could buy options to use additional successes for.  Like having a rogue who can spend 2 additional successes to make it impossible to tell if they picked a lock.

I understand I am talking about tons of additional successes here.  Which brings me to my next component of the games.  I am going to use pente stones as additional successes that anyone can throw in with their role.  You will have a limited pool of these but they will be there when you want them.  Its really a rip off of Karma from Earthdawn or chips in deadlands.  The only real difference is i am going to have three colors of stones.  Green, Clear and Red; which represent Positive, Neutral and Negative alignment. I will be giving out stones as rewards during play.  On occassion I will say ok this represents high magic in the area.  Chris will often be playing a mage and will say oh some of my abilities require magic, so that is positively aligned; meaning i can use it as a green stone to power some specific ability.  Rich is playing a Xambrian who has a hinderance against magic, because he likes to roleplay gothy guys.  He says oh I have a magic hinderance that is a negatively aligned red stone.  I am playing something totally stupid that talks in a funny voice, its nothing to me so I take a clear stone.  We can all use them whenever we want and they function the same (as an additional success) but Chris can also use the red as magic.  Some of his spells/abilities may require a few magic stones.  I will just used the stone as normal, thats all i can do.  Rich may take an exp penalty for using a non aligned stone.  Also these stones could be used at the end of a night for exp.  If you have more than one positive alignment category just count them as flexible, it gets too much of a pain to track many types of things.  I was thinking of having tons and tons of types of these stones but ugh headache.

I wanted to talk about crits and fumbles.  Basically there are no crits that is just a very open ended role that give lots of successes.  Fumbles is a D10+D4 roll of 11 that ends with 0 successes or less.  I know this is going to be a problem with low skilled characters so i will probably give a confirmation reroll if you have 0 or less automatic successes.  You can even throw in you stones, but the GM will probably also be throwing in stones against you knowing what is at stake.

This brings me to another concept the devils hand.  While boss and sub boss NPC's will probably have their own stones the GM can always draw a random stone against you.  this effect happens during a roll.  On the up side the opposed player gets a random draw from the stones immediately after resolution of the action.
I probably should get onto the linked action thing now.  this is my way of doing timed actions and multiple attacks on high skill characters.  You can link actions on top of each other and they will be resolved within the same round.  This can go on indefinetly but the mechanic is going it going to take X+1 successes to link an action; where x is the previous number of actions taken in the round.  So you first link will cost you 2 successes.  This gets you to another action and another roll.  From here you would need 3 successes to link a third action.  I like this because I have always wanted to be able to generate suspense related to quick actions like jumping from a falling pipe into a roll under a portculus.



Combat Round
Ok Lets move onto the meat of this.  COmbat is pretty unfleshed out in my mind but i have a few idea.

Initiative is simultaneous so all actions happen and then are resolved.  So dont even roll it, its 2 second rounds or something.  If you want to interrupt an action you will need the specific ability and then pay the stones.  Or already be doing some sort of reactive action, parry dodge etc.  Chained actions are resolved within the same round but not all at once.  Everyone goes then resolution occurs.  Then the next link of the chain goes and is resolved, and so on.  You may infact die before getting to your linked action in which case it is lost.  Also some characters will have abilities to break linked actions cancelling out your next action.

I have been thinking of just having to hit rolls being based of of size and distance.  That would be assuming a target that is just there for the taking.  Active defense of parrying or dodging, could increase the target number to hit the same way opposed roles work.  that will make it pretty easy for melee hits to occur though.  I am not sure what i want to do with that perhaps we could subtract automatic dodge or parry successes.  Or maybe its just and aspect of the game where you are trading blows if not using an active defense. ONly very defensive characters would be able to dodge and then chain for a return attack.  I would have the defense stand for the rest of the round in this case.
Armor will be deducted from damage rolls just like earthdawn
Damage rolls are going to be opposed roles.  The attacker is trying to generate damage numbers with the roll,their modifiers AND THE DEFENDERS HIT POINTS, the defender will be doing a soak roll.  Your are going to compare the rolls and generate success for the higher rolling party. Next check if the attacker was the high roller if so the damage goes directly onto the defenders hit points.  Now compare successes!  Should the defender have more he could completely soak the wounds from the hit.  A really good role could generate some sort of rage stones or effect on certain defenders.  If the attacker has more successes they are applied to the defender as wounds, which deduct from all actions.  Certain attackers may even be able to force a death save by spending their successes.  Normally a death save are made according to the monsters death save chart which defaults to 5,7,9,10,11,etc.

My one fear of that damage system is i am hitting players twice.  If they are getting a bunch of damage they are going to have a harder and harder time soaking it, and if they have wounds they will have a harder and harder time soaking that damage.
The round would go something like this

1. Dont roll initiative.
2. Resolve Defensive opposed rolls
3. Resolve Attack Roles
4. Role for damage on success
5. Deduct Armor from damage
6. Determine Soak roll as Damage roll + current hits
7. Roll for soak
8. Apply damage and wounds to total
9. Resolve Special Actions
10.Death Checks
11.Check if there are any further linked actions
12a. if yes then proceed with 1 with linked actors.
13b. if no then new round
(an interrupt action can happen whenever the conditions are met) interrupt actions are more like AOO's in a way.

1. Dont roll initiative:  THis should be easy for some players.
2. Resolve Defensive opposed rolls:  Any one useing Parry or dodge as an opposed roll will make that roll at this point.  They may generate linked actions as well.
3. Resolve Attack Roles:  Attackers roll against the opposed roll or a target size ,modified by distance, roll.  Again Linked actions can be created here as well.
4. Role for damage on success:  Attackers make a str roll modified by weapon and make not of damage and any make not of any automatic successes they may have.  they should report a number such as 15 hit points and 1 automatic success.
5. Deduct Armor from damage.  subtract armor from the damage.  AC 5 would mean that 15 is now 10.  This has nothing to do with the 1 automatic sucess and it still remains.
6. Determine Soak roll as Damage roll + current hits:  Ok, add the victims current hit points onto the attack roll.  From above the 10 + 13 from a previous attack for 23.
7. Roll for soak: Ok the victim rolls their soak and has a target number of 23.  Lets say we roll great and get 27.  the damage is soaked but with no automatic successes. 
8. Apply damage and wounds to total: Any damage now officially it added to hit points.  From above we have zero.  This is where we remember that 1 automatic success.  This will normally be applied as a wound, even if no damage was applied.  Some characters may have other options allowed to them and could forces a death save or convert the success to Hit points of damage.
9. Resolve Special Actions.  Here we resolve everything else. players running or doing something else.  Everything is resolved
10.Death Checks: Any player that has hit a number of wounds equal to their death save chart must make a death save now.  Also any character that has been forced to make a death save in set 8
11.Check if there are any further linked actions: If anyone has linked an action in this round we start another action phase.  This will be sort of a side pot, with only those with links going.  At the end we check to see if more linked actions occur.
12a.Run that linked action round
12b.New round for everyone.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Bullet hits the bone

heaving hoisted myself out of bed some minutes before I was vaguely aware of the figure standing at the doorway.  At this point nothing was clear except for the smell of vomit and brute cologne, but things were getting clearer.  Someone In trouble.  I wasn't exactly sure if it was I or the person in the doorway but one of us was in a bad way.  On second thought I was surely in trouble, I just didn't know if it pertained to me or him.

I reached for my pistol but I don't have one, so instead relentlessly scratched at my crotch. He started to speak in a low desperate tone, but I just raised a finger indicating my task needed further work.  I had hoped he would leave at the sight of self abuse but he must have been in truly great need.

At this point my words were only a murmur so I let him speak while I descended the stairs and dug around the kitchen for something to drink.  He spoke of some friend in need. I struggled with some year old room temperature Coke gulping it down as bad medicine.  He said he was in trouble and I had to help.  This was a warm buzz of words at my bleary mind for several minutes.  I was all inward and sleep hoping he might leave but he continued.  This wasn't just his friend this was mine.  Mine, mine are asleep in bed upstairs where I should be.  After several dark moments I understood, I needed to help someone, but who?

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Meddle

there is no illusion just the ground between you and me,
it's where we are falling that isn't where it used to be. 
Broken wings shattered against the us no one made
Now only a could have been lost nights you could have stayed.

Give me back my wonder I've used it all upon on you
Let me find something else so other way to muddle through
Drop down the gossamer give me some loss to grieve
this wordless waiting hold on with no reprieve.

Set ablaze these pyre memories I need finally to be free
Take away us even alone it still isn't me.
Tomorrow I'm setting off walking into the sea
Silent and submarine ending this silly plea

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Only Autumn

She's all the season I am not, and I am only autumn. 
Not her warmth or her winter, I am only autumn.
Only fitting together on the edges in passing
at night and nautically in loneliness and laughing
Given to fits and tantrums of colors, I am only autumn
I'm all closing but can never find an end
All shriek and gust, stealing gails but no mend
She's the fix for everything I break
The traveler already walking the path i wish i could take
She is only everything and I am only autumn.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

In the garage

So you may be wondering what is going on with these vaguely fantasy short stories is.  Well I have been working on a role playing game of my own for some time now.  I was working up some short in game fiction to give some of the feel.  It is a combination of the fantasy genre with elements of biotechnology.  I am hoping these elements to come out more in the stories as I proceed. 

The system I am working on tries to take the ambiguity out of multiple success systems.  I have always found games like those from white wolf as vague when it came down how two or three successes differed. 

I also want to move away from auto failure.  I saw a comic where a player stacked up a huge number of bonuses only to fail when rolling a one.  It got me thinking how the random nature of games can destroy players when there is no need for it.  In reality any time the players role they are screwed.  If you botch an unimportant fight you often derail a game, and if you win well who cares.  Its only when you are doing something important that it valuably affects the game by adding drama.

I really have been liking the Hero wars system of characters just having a success in certain skills, I think this solves problems.  But when you dig into that system it is very much about vague character descriptions being applied to the situation at hand to give some even more vague bonus.  Here I am back to what I disliked with white wolf. I am trying to figure out a system where maybe players can spend their extra successes on concrete effects sort of like Earthdawn's armor defeating hits.  Give them some crunch and fiddly bits so they can tell me how their results differ on two and three success roles.

Monday, November 28, 2011

A tale of the Gannith part 1

Cornass Vall held the title of first rider for six summers at this time.  Six long rides of the ring paths the migratory Gannith people completed each year.  For the Gannith all life worked upon these year rings all locked together like gears.  The only exception was the dark ring of the riders; their duty was to the dead.  Though the Gannith lived clock work lives, death came on it's own time.

Cornass arrived in the high camp of the grain ring in the cold fog filled days of late winter.  This was death's time, the riders were often on hoof now.  Seldom would a first rider attend to the deaths of the grain ring, it was low, but a wise man was to be honored.

Vall would work the rest of the day adorning the corpse with sweet oils and decorating the skin.  Binding the wise man to sit high and proud upon the riders horse.  Even braiding seals of debt into the animals main.  These beasts were a breed unto themselves, huge and heavy for the large Gannith people but strong and unwavering in the face of death or undeath.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A tale of Jethrik part 4

The figure was no phantom dreamed but something of flesh and blood, Nasol was soon to find. A curved blade of bone lashed out from behind the intruders back as he began to advance on Nasol.  The guard was often commended for his ingenuity but seldom for his skill at arms, the would not go well.  Nasol raised the heavy lantern pole, the castle guards armed themselves with, between his foe and himself.

As the intruder came into the light of the lantern Nasol recoiled.  It was a man of some sort the guard understood but the face was not human.  Taught flesh covered a featureless face seeming almost a mask or something lashed to the head.  There we no eyes or mouth to speak of just the flesh.  And it scintillated with color, sometime ruddy or bruised then returned to a dead skin white.

Nasol did not understand what he saw, he only fended off the cuts from the short blade as best he could.  He only understood the burst of red upon the skin when the enemies blade shattered on the iron of the lantern, that was rage. 

Nasol thought himself winning for a moment or two beyond.  Then he gambled on a wider lunge which was to undo him.  The figure slide past and grasp him on the arm.  This brought about an explosive pain as tendrils dung into the flesh of Nasol's forearm.  The feeling almost electric brought the guard to his knees.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A tale of Jethrik part 3

Though Isolated and alone there were still duties to the castle.  Nasol was to travel the lower parapet and light the signal fires upon the Solstice. This was a tradition of the castle and all would take part, even though few would see the entirety of the castle alight. There were many rites to be observed for those that lived in the castle Jethrik, though few required the wide adherence give to the solstice fires.

he travelled solitary through rooms filled with paintings and furniture battered into fire wood.  Gathering material to burn along with several stone jugs of oil he pulled on a hand cart.  The oil taken from a distillery he found several floors below.  Little was left of the yield but Nasol hoped he could put the still back into order and brew something of strength. But that would be later.

He had hauled his cart down many stairs when he first caught a breath of the cool outside seeping into the castle.  It had been a few days within the walls and Nasol was hoping to reach the outside.  Finally he reached the heavily barred doors of the mud room, but a few yards and he would be on the parapet.  Throwing open the third heavy door light filled the room engulfing Nasol's vision but for a blurred darkness that was the wall and just perhaps a figure some distance from the door.  He rubbed his eyes hoping some sight to return.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Krampus for Christmas part 81

Krampus skipped Columbus day which landed after Erikson every year.  There weren't any parades in the towns that Krampus lived near. One even outlawed it saying "we mourn the Indians here."  The monster was a little bitter he would have liked a calzone, he was forced to share dog food with the hound back at home.

After Leif Erikson and Columbus day but still in October the moon rose full and high.  This was a favorite night for hunters with south flying birds filling the sky. It was named the blood moon in times long gone by. This time it feel on fifteen of October and Krampus counted the date.  Don't worry he was just hungry not full of hate.


Just trying to add something to explain what the blood moon is before that section.   I don't know if everyone would know what that is  here is a bit from the farmers almanac.

Full Wolf Moon – January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January’s full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.
Full Snow Moon – February Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, native tribes of the north and east most often called February’s full Moon the Full Snow Moon. Some tribes also referred to this Moon as the Full Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.
Full Worm Moon – March As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins. The more northern tribes knew this Moon as the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signaled the end of winter; or the Full Crust Moon, because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time of tapping maple trees, is another variation. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter.
Full Pink Moon – April This name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
Full Flower Moon – May In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.
Full Strawberry Moon – June This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry!
The Full Buck Moon – July July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month’s Moon was the Full Hay Moon.
Full Sturgeon Moon – August The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.
Full Corn Moon or Full Harvest Moon – September This full moon’s name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested. Most often, the September full moon is actually the Harvest Moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.
Full Hunter’s Moon or Full Harvest Moon – October This full Moon is often referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon. Many moons ago, Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains. Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunter’s Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.
Full Beaver Moon – November
The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon – December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A holiday gift guide for very strange people

I find myself with pretty limited time today.  So no stories but a gift list for particular geeks like me is something I can whip out.  This would be for your gamer, writer and fistula owner friends on your list.

1. Norwegian Eagle & Red tail hawk gauntlet.  Yes completely bad ass I am sure you will agree.  Who the hell doesn't need a gauntlet !?  Still there are some who will not understand so I will explain.  Falconry is awesome but time consuming, still why not have the option.  But for those of us with a Brecia Fistula on our left arms many worlds are closed to us.  A gentle cut and we bleed out.  But no more! Archery , Fencing, all are opened to us again with this very important real world armor.

2. Classes in sword play.  Highly nerdy and highly specific, The Demas school of sword play offers training in may classic European martial art.  Also the California Fencing academy offers classes all local to the San Jose area.  You Dungeons and Dragons playing friends will love it. 

3. Executive Protection Driving Classes.  Again your little role players will nerd out on this, but so will any fan of driving.  Being able to drive backwards and spin a car around is just Macho.

4. For the writer I suggest introspection.  I recommend a stay in a lonely hotel by the seaside.  Here in the bay i suggest East Brother Light Station.  Hotels isolated on mountains are also good. 

5. For weirdo i suggest a trip to the Integration out in Joshua Tree California.  Rent it out for a party or sound bath for your paranormal friends and I'm sure they will be delighted.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Krampus for Christmas part 80

So the great beast worked through September and finally came to a chilly October.  His lights all untangled and checked for shorts.  It was a lot of work for one lone monster he needed a cohort. Krampus recheck his stock of ribbon and bows.  He had lost a few power cords but He always lost those.

Christmas kept Krampus busy through much of the year and he toiled long nights when it was drawing near.  He even skipped lunch he was in such a hurry.  The dog helped himself to his sandwich whilst the big beast scurried.

Krampus did pause a bit just before Columbus day, he had a hunger that just wouldn't go away.  He couldn't wait another day to hold the feast and besides This day was better for the beast.  Columbus may have got all the press but the monster liked the viking day the best.


A bit to link sections one and two and sort of explain the time passing between them.

Friday, November 11, 2011

A tale of Jethrik part 2

The neighbor Nasol had never clearly seen to tell the truth.  It was only at far flung distance did he see the man, though that he only guessed. Their messages mainly passed along word of provisions at first then requests to trade goods.  Later was words of the Castle itself.  Nasol was of little help to the man having such isolated accommodations but the man gave him word of the King himself cut off, holding out in the forges bellow at least he had warmth. His queen had the high keep along with it's servants and retainers. News beyond these facts was banal and uninspiring.

Nasol had considering moving his quarters nearer to this window but this would require moving large provisions farther than he wished.  In truth his was to watch the west and that was what he would do.  He rooms were not uncomfortable.  Generations of guards had served here each claiming more of the royalty's cast offs to appoint their quarters.  The rooms Nasol inherited were grand by his judgement.  The rooms also came with a companion a huge she dog named Swan.  She was of the mountain moliser breed the guards drew from but of a sweeter disposition.  Lacking ferocity she served as companion and bed warmer for these western chambers.

Nasol and Swan waited huddled together on the wall most days, peering into the wilderness.  Sudden sounds were most often the castle itself but on occasion animals ventured near the castle.  Swan would howl down at squirells but anything bigger send the huge hound running in fear.  A deer had approached earlier and Swan was cowering in their quarters. So he guarded alone a wall that would not be attacked with all the determination of one finally left alone with a task.

Smoke trailed up above the high precipice of building that separated Nasol from the castle proper.  By wing it was but few miles of courtyards, towers and cathedrals.  By foot it was days if passage was not blocked but it the season it certainly was.  After some time Nasol worked his way down to the inner ring just before the western gate house.  It was this solid wall of stone that held in the flood waters and filled the castle like a bowl.  Nasol had been chipping through the ice sheet hoping to reach other guards.  They would have been supplied from the pantry near Nasol's room if they were not cut off, but with his bounty they would starve.  So the guard worked trying to reach them.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A tale of Jethrik

Nasol had been watching the play of birds through the winter wood since morning.  Even through meals eyes only faced out, as the stones of the castle had already been counted and recounted.  Every turns and twist of the battlement well memorized and etched in the watchman's bones.  Any uneven stones worn down after centuries of walking but a few swoops and rises still remained.  Nasol knew them all.

The cold came quickly this year, just after the rain.  Freezing the flood a terrible icy deep which walled them in.  All of them everyone was trapped in someway, Kings and commons all were isolated in tiny pools of life struggling through the winter.  The royals were at least high above the city with their kitchens and pantries safely secured form the weather.  Many of the castle would not find food and starved.  They would be found only in the thaw.

Nasol only had himself this winter.  He had been stationed along the western vista when the cold came.  His was to keep watch and burn the cones of colored smoke in alert, should the need arise.  This would have lasted until harvest but it was long past and no replacement had come.  No one had come.  Nothing in the western expanse but birds he could see at a distance. 

His nearest neighbor was perhaps a day and a half distant.  While not far the traveling was slow, working through abandoned halls and rooms often filled full with the decaying remains of the castles opulence.  In places he was forced to crawl through tunnels of furnishings all while working his way to high window in a lonely attic.  Nasol had piled up tables and beds and whatever junk he could find to reach the small window that was the only source of light. 

From the window was a sheer drop well over a hundred feet to the flooded and frozen plaza below.  Across the distance another window was set and he neighbor found.  Their communication often disrupted by the gails that cut through the high walls they finally arrived at passing notes and small items on twine ropes.  They had set up a simple pulley to pass food at first, Nasol had not tasted wine in months before they constructed the line.  His neighbor was hoping for a change of food.  A sparely loaded tin was the most they risked passing on the lines but it worded well for notes, on which they could converse. 

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Krampus Plea for Help

I am sort of at a loss on my little story about Krampus.  It's and short story and I don't want it to be.  It feels done to me so I am not really sure about adding more.  It seems like I have more chance to screw up whats OK, rather than improve anything.

I keep looking and hoping to find some sort of exception for silly little stories about Austrian Demons that allows for publishers to accept them.

Now I am looking into my options and am sort of sad.  If I had some solution I could work on things would be better.  Well I do have a little one.

Please if you have a chance read any of it and send feedback my way, or even pass it along to someone you may feel could be interested.  Have an English teach gosh bass the URL their way.  Have friends in Bavaria or Austria I'd love their thoughts Krampus is there guy I just borrowed him. 

http://crescentstar.blogspot.com/p/krampus-for-christmas.html

jameslrickel@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

through fire and flames

You know I am glad I play Dungeons and Dragons online.  I was looking over at some of the SwTor info and it looks just like world of warcraft.  I hate that sort of game play.  It reminds me of Everquest where i just taunted, bashed and stunned over and over again.  with macros i just hits keys one through four over and over.  That is not a game it's finger exercise.

My friend was talking about playing shards of dalaya the everquest free server again and I just was  like wow screw that.  I don't understand how anyone can devote so much time with so little reward.  My Buddie was always critical of wow for how quickly you were rewarded in that game.  He actually liked the slow EQ alternate experience progression.  With kids I say no way, If I have to spend three hours to get anywhere I could just watch a movie.  And how the hell do you get three hours with a three year old?

to get three quests done and finished in an hour is great.  When I am done with DDO I just shut it off and everything is good.  It's all city so if your out of a quest your done, in a safe spot and have no worries. Raids are an hour not several.  This game just works well with my time.

The billing works for me too, yes there are micro transactions but if you do the monthly payment your a king the way it's currently set up.  I can cruise into any quest I want on elite.  I get extra points every month to get my xp potions.  All is good.

I want to thank you turbine for giving me a game i like so much that works for me.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Caress of Steel

I love Rush!  I am not crippled by the hang ups of cool and Irony so let me say I love them with my whole heart.  I wouldn't be who I am without Neal, Geddy and Alex.  Of all of Canada's exports they are my favorite.  Voivod,Gordon Lightfoot you guys rock but Rush is RUSH!!!

Of all their many many records Caress Of Steel is my favorite.  It's sort of a forgotten gem as they don't normally touch it for their live performances. There is a lot of striving beyond their previous work wrapped up in this album.  I think that is exactly what I like as it isn't quite there.  I find Piece of Mind has this exploratory quality too, and it's my favorite Maiden record.  But back to Rush.

The are a couple of big tracks on this work, The fountain of Lamneth and The necromancer are both over ten minutes in length.  The are comprised of a few smaller piece that in the case of fountain work separately or together.  The necromancer you should take a single entity.  The rest are more standard length songs that have more of a since of humor.  Lakeside Park is pretty nostalgic for Rush getting at fun they had in youth disappearing.  I think I'm going bald is just goofy.

Digging a bit deeper into the long songs I wanted to call out a couple of fragments.  The Bacchus Plateau "song" is just wonderful, I would go berserk if they played it live.  While the album has a lot about aging and change this song sums up all its melancholia.  Its damn near perfect.  The last bit is the melody underlying "Return of the prince" did the wall flowers steal it for 3 Marlaina's?

I have said before I see this as the first Progressive Metal record, I stand by that.  I think it's a critically important record for any collection, please go buy it.  I may be riding in your car someday and I will ask and then you will feel all awkward, lets avoid that.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Krampus for Christmas has been revised and reposted for your pleasure

Hi

Well i took my first shot at revising the whole story.  It will be worked on again, i have re ordered and reworked some bits. Please let me know what you think.  Please pass it along to friends too I need as much feedback as i can get. The story is Krampus for Christmas and you can email me at jameslrickel@gmail.com

Friday, November 04, 2011

Krampus for Christmas part 79


Sort of a clean up of a scene adding idunn 


Krampus shoved up dog crap with Christmas glee, packaging each in a nicely wrapped bag you see.  They tossed them down the chimney when Santa was mad, to add something special to tidings joyous and glad.  A special touch the beast added to the holiday; Krampus's merry mark to a night gentle and gay.  Hurry filled the frigid air it was the day before Christmas all was toil.  The Krampus must polish his chains and boil the oil.  Knives must be sharp and claws nice and dirty.  There wasn't time for Ms. Deroon; no time to be flirty.

Idunn peaked over the fence while he was his task, Krampus almost cried she wore her Halloween Krampus mask.  The monster finally laughed saying it looked just like him, praising the girl but reminding her to stay in.  Good children sleep when Santa was about ,  he would see her tomorrow there was no reason to pout.  He told her of all his work and said this time she couldn’t help,  she was a girl not an elf.   She wished Krampus a happy Christmas then went back in where it was warm.  The girl’s parents  still knew nothing of the beast or his horns.

Krampus chewed on a bone then gave it to the dog, stretching his arms there were children to flog.  He did some deep bends then touched his toes; Christmas wasn't a time for cramps when you rained down blows.
It wasn't quit dark when the fat man sleighed through the yard, Ho ho'ing to Krampus the fat tub of lard.  Krampus was a monster and monsters don't use sleighs, instead he drove a motorbike with a side car to make is way.  Santa thought it slow but seeing only bad kids there were fewer stops; not counting the years the economy drops. 

With Santa so busy, Krampus worked with an elf on Christmas Eve. The monster did the dirty work and elf flew with Santa keeping a few tricks up his sleeve. He delivered a special package for Krampus, if things went bad.  Even good kids had biting dogs or stale cookies which made Santa mad. With a word down the chime a present was tossed, smelling the aftermath your lunch was lost.

This elf wasn't Hermie though he was interested in teeth.  He hoped to pull them from kids and make a wreath.  He never though himself Krampus he wouldn't dare, he just hoped to be a fitting heir.  Besides he wasn't furry he hadn't the hair.  They called him Piet in his wintry home, few wanted to meet him when alone.  On Christmas he radioed Krampus if there was a change of plans.  They had their own frequency not using citizen bands.  If a house turned bad, or rarely good, Krampus radioed back that he heard and understood.