On A Lighter Note

Looks like we're playing a planar campaign adventure tomorrow by yours truly. Scot recently ran an adventure that nearly ended in a TPK. Only my ninja and our spiker fighter survived the Steel Dragons' assault (a FR power group Scot made up). The centaur and paladin were either slain and then taken away or simply stolen away by the force, our PCs weren't sure. That little thread will be played out under Scot's able DMing another time while the rest of the characters (with spikey Ahre and sneaky Silfaan having time to recover now) are off on another mission for the Protectorate.

For this adventure, which I'm calling "Calamar," the trip might be one-way. But what they cannot expect is a reunion with a PC who went MIA during the season premiere. Should be an exciting adventure!

Bitchy People

How many of you know/are related to/work with this type of person? These are the folks who, it seems, nothing pleases them. Sometimes they seem happy but, oh my, don't get on their bad side or they'll snipe you while your back is turned something fierce. What happened to their smile? Why do they turn on their fellow human beings like rabid animals at the drop of a hat? I'd suggest doing a study if only they were safe enough to be near for any amount of time. Unfortunately, when you do work with these people, it affects you negatively as well. Can't be helped...you start turning into one of them and only until you realize and admit it can you start to pull away. I say if you have a problem with someone, take it to them face to face.

We've only got one turn on this earth here so why not make the best of it? Smile and be cordial to your fellow man. If more of us did this, than maybe the world would be a better place.

(Nothing recent prompted this post...just felt like venting as it was stewing inside me for a long time)

Sanctuary

It's been awhile since the last release, but I'm still slowly writing the Behind the Spells series. This time it's Sanctuary that comes under my edition-spanning magnifier. Even after 38 releases now, it's fun to come up alternate ideas and histories for these classic spells. See the Tricky Owlbear blog for links to this latest product.

Okay, my last Gygax tribute link

I told myself I wouldn't post another link about the great DM's passing, but this article is simply too excellent not to pass along: http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/news/2008/03/ff_gygax?currentPage=all#

I appreciate that you get insight from both Gygax and Arneson, as I'd never really understood the rift between the two. It's a shame no one knows the terms of the settlement with Arneson suing TSR.

New Dog!

Although still in mourning for Veronica, a situation arose that we could not turn a blind eye to. A pure-bred cocker spaniel, of slightly darker coloring than Veronica, was being given away by a woman Linda and Kristi know. After discussing it with them, my family agreed the 8-week old female sounded very promising. Kristi brought the pup (named Princess by the other family) to her place so my mom and I could go have a look. Well, we were certain she'd be coming home with us before we even got there. Sure enough, this puppy is too cute and has a spunky personality to boot! Since the other family wanted nothing for the pup except that she get a nice home, we took her home as our own. En route, I suggested the name Jasmine since none of us were happy with Princess (although it went with the Princess theme and this is my favorite Disney animated princess--er, as much as a grown man can have one of those :-)).

We're keeping Jasmine in the laundry room for now to sleep and, now on night #2, she appears to be taking it in stride. We're all happy to have her as a member of the family and hope she gives us as many or more happy years as Veronica.

Good Gygax Obit

By the NY Times no less: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/arts/05gygax.html?_r=2&ref=arts&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

And, for a bit of fun: http://www.woot.com/Blog/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryId=4118

On the rpg.net thread I took this link from, a witty poster remarked, "I just hope someone took his stuff." Priceless! :-)

Vantage Point

Caught this movie last night with Scot and Zlaty. It was pretty good. The story comes at you from several different--you guessed--vantages and that works well enough as a story-telling device (although I sure wouldn't want it with every movie). Dennis Quaid and the gang show up with decent performances all but nothing that wowed me. I caught most of the plot twists before they happened so, while my movie watching has been at an all-time low of late, I'm not too rusty yet. There's a good car chase and the President tries to kick some terrorist ass as well*. Overall, I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Has this been out for awhile? There were only 3 other people in the theater aside from our trio.

*For the best in terrorist ass-kicking from a U.S. President, make sure to watch Air Force One with Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman; definitely a nail-biter worth your time.

RIP E. Gary Gygax

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=49750

His was a name that will forever be mingled with my formative years. I wouldn't be published today without Gary and the inspiring creation that is Dungeons & Dragons.

4E and Me

I look at information like this and it looks like gobbledy-gook to me: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=220481

Okay, I shouldn't make snap judgements against a game that isn't off the assembly line yet. But I can tell you this--4E may be a fine game, but it is not Dungeons & Dragons.

Powerball!

Played $20 tonight and won $100. Not too shabby. One white ball shy of paying off my credit card debt. Maybe next time. :)