tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73739790855989902112024-03-14T01:21:08.888-07:00I Must be Remembering the FutureAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-2197308281039335342013-09-24T13:21:00.003-07:002013-09-24T13:21:49.900-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge: Day 6 – Favorite Deity<div class="MsoNormal">
Favorite Deity… man, this is a tough one, because I don’t
often play a cleric or other divine classes, and most of the time I’m the DM,
so I usually end up playing whatever deity is needed for the story. Plus, there
were so many pantheons and mythos available in D&D over the years,
including all the ones made up for the various settings as well as the real
world mythos that were made available in various incarnations of the Deities
and Demigods books.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, in really thinking about it, I think if it came
down to it and I had to pick just one deity that I really liked above all the
others, it would be the Raven Queen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAW4dTRlwmMm31watGlAkVu1gX6l9JcaIq3u2JZ2sD8lMaynRB9TCaAGbR8nqG_J0O5eSTvxfAefMMFxHHc0NFFBAqcjRUI7pw9QyhBAP13FmSVtNBYsGcwKPPokVVHbUEIz5RPew1FkA/s1600/Raven+Queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAW4dTRlwmMm31watGlAkVu1gX6l9JcaIq3u2JZ2sD8lMaynRB9TCaAGbR8nqG_J0O5eSTvxfAefMMFxHHc0NFFBAqcjRUI7pw9QyhBAP13FmSVtNBYsGcwKPPokVVHbUEIz5RPew1FkA/s200/Raven+Queen.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean, let’s be honest, she’s a total bad-ass. She went from
being the girlfriend of the old God of the Dead only to kick his ass and take
his place. Then, she went on to demand the portfolio of winter as payment for
her participation in a godly war. She’s fair in her judgments of the dead,
manages to be one of the few neutral gods that is actual neutral, and her most
hated enemy is Orcus. How cool is that?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Plus, I’m kind of a Neil Gaiman fan, and I love the idea of
a death goddess that looks like Death from the Sandman graphic novels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, there you have it. Short write up today, but I just didn't
have much to say about this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Until next time, keep remembering the future!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-71723861497137613432013-09-17T20:32:00.000-07:002013-09-17T20:32:06.755-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge, Day 5 – Favorite Set of Dice\Individual DieThis day poses an interesting question… favorite set of
dice. Or individual die, if you choose. I’m slightly confused by this… is this
the favorite dice I own? Or a favorite die that a particular die manufacture makes?<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m assuming that it’s a set I own. So, going by that, I
have a couple of answers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAIUVevp7B6fx6CYK9szWP7G5lqJnaMx9ilKZ9f2qVA1v3aD2u8xInvV29socxVI0D-Z6M2j2lLeRf4rcCSbfp5GokjgmJGMXIrpXwNwqHZUdG8XC3M102BJbSWTK6nnUbxZwYGMa0fk/s1600/Torg+Die.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAIUVevp7B6fx6CYK9szWP7G5lqJnaMx9ilKZ9f2qVA1v3aD2u8xInvV29socxVI0D-Z6M2j2lLeRf4rcCSbfp5GokjgmJGMXIrpXwNwqHZUdG8XC3M102BJbSWTK6nnUbxZwYGMa0fk/s1600/Torg+Die.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For individual dice, I’d have to say it’s my Torg d20. For
those that don’t remember, Torg was an RPG created by West End Games back in
the ‘90’s, in which Earth was invaded by different realities, who brought their
realities and universe rules with them, transforming pieces of Earth into their
reality. The die came with the boxed set of the game, and is a red and blue
swirl pattern that, I believe, is unique to each die. The colors are important
in game, because items that have this blue and red swirl pattern are usually
special artifacts. It’s a pretty unique die, and with all the people that I
have gamed with over the years, I’m the only one I know that has one. And I
just love it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv68d1vZcVmsES3b9cQIZ3kM3WfLATi-BLxUVP0WfbhMsnVUXt_8dJCsjOO96tOd2UPJ1JQyAcUVcGq1guIw57jiN6FvRVNst7_hqS6tvh9JpoPjw0g1j-NKEMHXn6CI8jU_LBpvA4OmI/s1600/Vampire+Dice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv68d1vZcVmsES3b9cQIZ3kM3WfLATi-BLxUVP0WfbhMsnVUXt_8dJCsjOO96tOd2UPJ1JQyAcUVcGq1guIw57jiN6FvRVNst7_hqS6tvh9JpoPjw0g1j-NKEMHXn6CI8jU_LBpvA4OmI/s1600/Vampire+Dice.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for a set of dice, I’m not sure if this counts, because they’re
all d10’s, but my favorite set is the Vampire The Masquerade set I bought
several years ago. They are also a pretty unique looking, with the green
textured color that matches the book covers, including a little splotch of red
on one point. The numbers are colored gold, and the 1 on the die is actually a
rose, matching the cover of the main rule book. They’re completely awesome
looking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW51DTqOndMU-BN0fHqSPyfrHdOzLj5r44_KCRIVaSh_9jVdYWzS-Ry9uMvPI8X2ZNtD41OM_nxwZVcDoeWeJ0RjGKXCdJtPl18qmFg39JKgHKc3W-WJ94Xf-8vbjKzRx4Y4fJIlOYi8/s1600/Artisan+Dice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW51DTqOndMU-BN0fHqSPyfrHdOzLj5r44_KCRIVaSh_9jVdYWzS-Ry9uMvPI8X2ZNtD41OM_nxwZVcDoeWeJ0RjGKXCdJtPl18qmFg39JKgHKc3W-WJ94Xf-8vbjKzRx4Y4fJIlOYi8/s1600/Artisan+Dice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for dice that I don’t own, this one is easy. Hand’s down,
it has to be any die made by Artisan Dice. This guy takes all kinds of woods,
from pretty common to very rare, and makes dice sets out of them. They are
totally awesome looking, and again, are a pretty unique looking set. I’d own a
set, but they cost more than I can currently afford for dice. Worth the cost, I
just can’t afford it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, there you have it, my favorite dice/individual die.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, until next time, when I discuss my favorite Deity, keep
on remembering the future!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-42423420501686320812013-09-15T21:10:00.001-07:002013-09-15T21:10:54.992-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge – Day 4: Favorite Gameworld<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I sat down to write this post and then realized that I
didn’t know what my answer was. So, I got up, and started doing whatever chores
I could think to do… washed the dishes, got the bed ready for sleeping, forced
my son to finish his bath (as opposed to just laying around in the water
half-assedly moving lego boats around)… and then I ran out of things to do, so
I came back here and still didn’t have an answer. So, I went to my game shelf,
hoping that looking at my D&D books would refresh my memory.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have played or ran so many games set in so many published
settings… Mystara, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, The World’s Largest
Dungeon, and quite a few others that might not count as D&D settings, such
as Dragon-Star. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then, of course, was my home brewed world of Yerth. I
had been working on Yerth for about 5 years before I finally ran a campaign
set it in. The campaign was based around the idea that the prophesied End Times
had finally arrived, and only the party could stop the world from being
destroyed. It ran for over a year, and everyone had a great time and loved the
setting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But when I was looking at my books, I remembered one setting
that I just loved to pieces, even though most of my players just thought it was
too silly. And that setting was…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spelljammer!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, D&D in space! I loved it all. Wooden space ships!
Crystal Spheres! Traveling to any game world you wanted to, and a few you didn't!
It was completely awesome. I even briefly ran a Star Trek themed setting using
Spelljammer as the basis and the D&D races as replacement races for Trek ones
(elves for Vulcans, drow for Romulans, orcs for Klingons, dwarves for
Tellerites, etc..). We didn’t get through to many setting of Spell Trek, but it
was fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, it’s true the setting got a little silly (I shall
ignore all comments about Giant Space Hamsters), but some of that silliness was
part of its charm. I mean, where else were you going to find hippo-men with
flint lock pistols sailing across a rainbow colored sea of space alongside swashbuckling
dwarves and tinker gnomes everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, short post today, but there you have it. My favorite
Gamworld: Spelljammer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until next time, when I discuss my favorite Game World, keep
on remembering the future!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-64787157426532695312013-09-13T19:38:00.000-07:002013-09-13T19:38:45.621-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge: Day 3 – Favorite Playable ClassSo, yesterday turned out to be way busier than I had
expected (busy in a good way, though), and It didn't occur to me that I never
got in a blog post yesterday until half way through today. And now here it is
tonight, and I still haven’t done today’s post. So, I have a few moments now,
and thought I’d get it down.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Continuing on with our D&D 30 day challenge, today I
will attempt to figure out which of all the playable classes that have existed
in this game is my favorite. And believe me, there are a LOT of classes to
choose from. Beyond the old standards of Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Rogue, there’s
the odd classes ranging from the ones from TSR’s Unearthed Arcana like the
Thief Acrobat and the Cavalier, to the plethora of classes released for 3<sup>rd</sup>
edition, including the Psionicist, the Warlock and the Favored Soul, never mind
the mind-mindbogglingly large array of prestige classes, to the ever growing list
of classes in 4<sup>th</sup> edition that include the new takes on old classes
like the Shaman and the Artificer to its more original classes like the
Warlord. It’s kind of hard to narrow it down to just one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I've decided to talk about my favorite class from each
edition. Bear with me, there are far fewer of those than overall classes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A quick note here to state that I am playing the D&D
Next Playtest, but I won’t talk about character classes for that one because A)
they’re not complete and B) for now, they’re the old stand by classes of
Fighter, Cleric, Rogue and Wizard (and a few others).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1<sup>st</sup> edition: I was going to say Bard, due to the
fact that it wasn't a base class like these young whippersnappers have today,
but a class you had to work hard to get into, and even then it wasn't a
guarantee. In 1<sup>st</sup> edition, when someone said they were a Bard, he
was a bad-ass, and you knew it. However, as cool as that was, the truth of the matter
is, my favorite class to play back in the day was the Thief. I never went in
for the thief sub-classes like assassin or thief-acrobat, just a straight up
thief. My favorite character from when I played back then was a half-elf thief.
I decided that if I were going to play a half-breed with a class called thief,
I was going to play it up. So he was the bastard son of a whore and some random
elf dude, who grew up poor learning to thieve on the streets. I had no idea at
the time just how cliche that really was, but he was a total blast to play.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2<sup>nd</sup> edition: I never really played 2<sup>nd</sup>
edition much. I was so used to 1<sup>st</sup> ed, I had a hard time adjusting
to it all being streamlined like it was. Still, a friend ran a 2<sup>nd</sup>
edition game once, and I had a good time in it. But, given that there really
wasn't a huge difference between 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> edition, I
would still say thief. Being able to unlock the cage you’re trapped in by using
straw from the floor rocks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3<sup>rd</sup> edition: This one gets a little tricky. As I
noted above, there are a whole bunch of “core” classes for this edition, not
only released by Wizards, but also by third party publishers. In addition,
there are all the prestige classes, to make things more interesting. That said,
I think I’m going to have to go with the sorcerer. This is mostly for flavor, I
love the idea of a spell caster who gets his ability from having dragon blood
in his family history. My favorite all time character was a half-orc sorcerer,
who took a prestige lass that bound a demon to him as his skin. Creepy as hell,
and he made the rest of the party nervous, but he was a complete blast to play!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4<sup>th</sup> edition: Here’s where we enter the territory
of the most bitter battles of the Edition Wars. I know that there are a LOT of
people out there that just HATE 4<sup>th</sup> edition with the passion of a
1000 burning suns. I, however, am a part of the even larger group of people that
happened to enjoy 4<sup>th</sup> edition. I played as a PC in a few games and
ran a campaign for over a year before it finally broke up due to a lot of
changes happening in my life at the time. And one of the reasons I love this edition
is because of the introduction of class “roles.” You could now make a party that
did not NEED to include specific classes to survive. You just needed to
included one of each of the four roles, and you were good. And my favorite
class from this edition? Warlord, hands down. I love the idea of a fighter that’s
also a leader and a healer. His healing powers are a little wonky from a flavor
standpoint, but it worked out great mechanically, and he was one of the most
unique and fun classes to play. And combine a Warlord with a Rogue on the
battle field, and watch out! The enemy doesn't stand a chance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, there you have it. My favorite classes from each
edition of D&D.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, until next time, when I discuss my favorite Game World,
keep on remembering the future!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-65290515231869941182013-09-11T17:21:00.003-07:002013-09-11T17:23:06.329-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge, Day 2: Favorite Playable Race<div class="MsoNormal">
What is my favorite playable race? Hmmm… that’s a tough one
to answer. It really depends on the type of character I’m making. I tend to
like to play characters that mix odd race-class combinations. I’ve made
everything from Halfling fighters in 1<sup>st</sup> edition to gnome barbarians
in 3<sup>rd</sup> edition, including one of my favorite characters, a half-orc sorcerer,
whom I’ll discuss more in the Favorite Character post. I’ve only DMed in 4<sup>th</sup>
edition, I haven’t actually played in as a player yet, so as far as the new
races there goes, I rather liked the Goliath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think, though, that if I were forced to choose one playable
race out of all the available races in all the editions available to me, I
would have to go with Halfling. The wee folk tend to get over looked a lot,
unless you’re planning on playing a rogue, which I think is a shame. Not as
much as gnomes, true, but still, they do get looked over for any class other
than rogue. But Halflings offer so much potential, in terms of role playing,
that it’s far too munchkiney to just pick it for one class because it’s best at
it for me. I love Halflings in other roles, because no one expects it. DMs don’t
often know how to deal with a Halfling monk, and it really screws with the
minds of your fellow players when you make the Halfling a cleric. And a
Halfling fighter is just great. Getting right up there in combat, short sword
and shield at the ready. They just offer
so much great fun for the odd class combinations. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/374744371?view_mode=2#skins" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs37wWdRAMwDPOBJ8xYdy0BQPmTAU3jWC9npjUahftoYz4MDpvtrNkx7Na_kqLIAmrDldSKN-z75WzuZTTJjQ9rUjgNwSe8wgqk4IKVb2aYxAK3IaJ7G0JIbMWWrMpTe0iuz-lJWRQog/s200/Halfling_Bard_by_Skippy_E.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He will, he will, rock you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love to imagine all the
role-playing opportunities I could have with a Halfling bard, singing the song
of his long wandering people, having traveled the world for long before
becoming an adventurer, his bardic lore is represented by stories and fables
told by his people. He’s basically a gypsy with a lute. How can you not love a
character like that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, so, there you have it. My favorite playable race. Halflings. I guess that was an awful lot to go through just to get to that one answer... still, this is a blog, and a simple "My favorite race is..." just wouldn't have done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll
see you all again tomorrow for a discussion of my favorite playable class. Until then, keep on remembering the future!<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-7349953498082051312013-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:002013-09-10T00:00:15.279-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day Challenge, Day 1: How I Got Started<div class="MsoNormal">
How did I get started? Wow, that’s a question shrouded in
the mists of history. I’m not sure I can remember all the details.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2NaIPHfy-YcI27S5zqtIW6fHNNIWvWp-kN-LssCgvSa0P7aSqUwQdrQAD31hYlh1u7v3tPC3n7OLO1dqGUNchojLaxmHeXOAtYE4nXyTLwoHipMJok7LXga80FGKPUU141a6iMzUkTI/s1600/dndredbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2NaIPHfy-YcI27S5zqtIW6fHNNIWvWp-kN-LssCgvSa0P7aSqUwQdrQAD31hYlh1u7v3tPC3n7OLO1dqGUNchojLaxmHeXOAtYE4nXyTLwoHipMJok7LXga80FGKPUU141a6iMzUkTI/s320/dndredbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This thing right here started it all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had to have been about 8. My brother had been playing
Dungeons & Dragons for a little while at this point, using the now classic
original Red Box that my father had bought him. And all I can remember was that
big dragon on the cover, and being told that it was like playing a game of the
Hobbit, only we get to be the characters and decide on what happens. And with
that description, I knew I wanted to play.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t remember who the DM in that first game was, my dad
or my brother, but it was my dad that convinced my brother to let me play. I
remember being in a small group, I think of friends of mine at the time from
school. We rolled up characters, which was a cool experience. Remember, we knew
nothing of min/maxing or race/class combo’s. Races weren't even an option,
really, Elf and Dwarf were classes. What we did know was that we could make up
our own fantasy heroes, characters that novels would be written about, and that
would maybe show up in a Rankin/Bass animated movie.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made up a dwarf, because I loved the idea of a burly,
stocky warrior with a massive battle axe. I can’t remember what I called him,
but I remember that many goblins were slain by his axe that first adventure. I
also don’t recall there being much of an actual story in that first game.
We entered an underground complex, fought monsters and took their loot. I do
remember that this dwarf of mine died in a blaze of glory taking on some large
creature, like an ogre or something similar.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the years, my dad was the DM for many of the adventures
that my friends and I would play through, and eventually, I started DMing on my
own, because my dad wasn't always available, because I wanted to tell the
stories, and because I had the rule books. I've since gone on to play other
games over time, but I always seem to come back to good old Dungeons &
Dragons. Not for nostalgia’s sake. But because it’s a good game, and always a
lot of fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-49463942322874066282013-09-09T08:23:00.000-07:002013-09-09T08:23:32.627-07:00Dungeons & Dragons 30 Day ChallengeSo, I've realized the past few days that I've totally neglected my blog. I thought that I should remedy that, but couldn't figure out what to talk about. Then, I saw this on a <a href="http://wishfulgaming.blogspot.com/2013/08/d-challenge.html" target="_blank">friend's website</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm0GlDepCIk48YuwDUSX8b1vrvawvNZholRaVmZNvsLCH9J7GOzWQD-HMlIXLm8pZVh2rSLNXSvvoV0-MP-Hel2XThnqs575Yty0__anBUGmnj1KwdONEgaM2hSUzOaBez_Z1IkeFtjE/s1600/D&D30DayChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm0GlDepCIk48YuwDUSX8b1vrvawvNZholRaVmZNvsLCH9J7GOzWQD-HMlIXLm8pZVh2rSLNXSvvoV0-MP-Hel2XThnqs575Yty0__anBUGmnj1KwdONEgaM2hSUzOaBez_Z1IkeFtjE/s1600/D&D30DayChallenge.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I though this sounded fun, and figured that, if nothing else, it would get me writing a blog post every day for a month. Hopefully, by the end, I'll be in the habit of writing every day again, and will keep things up. I guess we'll see.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the mean time, starting tomorrow (or later today, if work permits), I'll be doing this. Should be a blast, and I hope you all enjoy it.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-58648245277256210562013-06-19T08:30:00.001-07:002013-06-19T08:30:38.701-07:00Daddy, I’m Bored, a true story of me and my son<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a true story, that happened to me this morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m getting ready to leave for work, putting on my shoes,
when I look over at my kid eating his breakfast with this forlorn look on his
face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What’s wrong, kiddo?” I ask.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m bored,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I laughed, but he looked at me with all the seriousness that
an 8 year old can.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So, go do something,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought for a moment. Then, I responded with this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Go in your room and get a figure. Put it on the bookshelf
behind you, and say it’s a Prince that’s been captured and locked in a tower.
Get another figure and put it next to him. That’s the evil villain that’s
captured the prince. Then, get some other toys in your room, and make them the
heroes that have to rescue the prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He giggled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They have to travel all the way from your room, across the
living room, into the dining room and up the bookshelf to face the villain and
rescue the prince. Along the way they have to face many dangers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Like what?” he asks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Monsters and traps,” I answer. “The haunted couch. The
giant cat that guards the door.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He giggled again, but this time he got up. He went to the
cat to look at her staring out the door at the birds outside, and smiled. I
smiled back at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Get some of your stuffed animals and placed them around the
house,” I said. “Those are the monsters that the heroes have to battle on the
way to the bookshelf.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, we went into his room, and I look around. I found a
lego knock-off figure that looked something like an astronaut. I picked him up,
and held it up to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This is the Prince,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He picked up his stuffed Yoda doll.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And this is the evil Yoda that has captured him,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We walked out to the dining room and put the prince in a
corner of the bookshelf, and he placed the Yoda doll next to him. Then we went
back to his room, and I grabbed two teddy bears that were on the floor. I
brought them out into the living room and put them on the green lazy-boy chair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“These are the two dire bears that live on the Green
Mountain and guard the weapon the heroes need to defeat the evil Yoda.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You mean, the Golden Lightsaber?” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes, the Golden Lightsaber.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, he picked up two clothes hangers and hooked them
together. He pointed to the white blanked that was on top of the chair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“On top of the Green Mountain was the White Hills, where the
hook trap is.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Fantastic,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, that was when I noticed the time, and realized I had
to leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I gotta go, kiddo,” I said. “But you keep going. And when I
pick you up from camp today, I want to hear the story of the heroes that
rescued the Prince.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay,” he said, as he carefully put the hook trap on top of
the White Hills.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I left the house with a good feeling in my heart, and the
promise of a good story at the end of my day. I don’t think it gets much better
than that.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-89390384733547029932013-02-11T21:52:00.001-08:002013-02-11T21:52:58.251-08:00Life and This Weekend<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I had a good time this weekend, and I figured,
since I hadn’t blogged about anything at all in several months now, I figured I
would talk about this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right now, work is pretty stressful. I work in the flower
industry, so as its Valentine’s Day time (yes, that’s right, it’s that time)
this is one of the two busiest times of the year for us (the other being Mother’s
Day). Add to this normal amount of stress just from things being three times as
busy, I’ve been given a new job to perform, one that is very complex and that I
just didn’t have the time to perfect doing before the peak period hit. So, like I said, I’m pretty stressed out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I was looking forward to a good weekend. And boy, did I
get it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, I went to <a href="http://www.gam3rcon.com/gam3s-bowl.html" target="_blank">Games Bowl</a>, an RPG/board/card/video game
event hosted by <a href="http://www.gam3rcon.com/" target="_blank">Gam3rCon</a>. They put on several small Games Days throughout the
year, and they are just a ton of fun. Games Bowl was a kind of Super-Bowl party
for game geeks, and it was scheduled for two days. I only went for one, but
man, I had a total blast! I didn’t get into any RPG’s while I was there, as
most of them were pretty main stream games (I tend to want to use one shot
games at events like this to play something I might not otherwise play), but I
did play a ton of cool card and board games.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First up was a game called <a href="http://poothecardgame.com/" target="_blank">Poo</a>. It’s a card game where
everyone is monkeys flinging poo at each other. Juvenile, simple, and a ton of
fun. It was easy to learn, and played out in about twenty minutes, and everyone
that played laughed, smiled and cheered as the game went on. This is one I’m
going to look into buying to play with my wife and son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next, we played a board game called <a href="http://www.tsuro.com/" target="_blank">Tsuro</a>. I’d played it
before, but it was still a blast again. Another simple, quick game, but still,
a lot of fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I had a little bit of a break as I tried to hunt down
some quarters to pay the meter. When I got back, I joined into what was the biggest
game I played that day… <a href="http://cardsagainsthumanity.com/" target="_blank">Cards Against Humanity</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you know nothing about this game, just know that it is an
adult, dark, twisted version of Apples to Apples. It’s wrong, and yet you can’t
help but laugh your ass off as you play. We were all in tears, and I think we
played for about an hour after I jumped in, and I joined the game already in
progress. So much fun that I’ve decided I need to own it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After leaving Cards Against Humanity, I played a game called
<a href="http://sentinelsofthemultiverse.com/" target="_blank">Sentinels of the Multiverse</a>, a kickstarter funded super-hero card game. I
rather liked it, the mechanics of it gave the fell of playing a super-hero RPG
more than a card game, but it was all focused on combat. It featured a
cooperative play, in which everyone was members of a super-group that fought
against a bad guy and tried to defeat him. It also featured an environment deck
that threw twists into the combat, and I really liked how that played out. I didn’t
have time to stick around and finish, which was too bad, because I was having a
good time playing that. But the time on my parking meter was up, I was out of
quarters, and it was time for dinner with my family.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, there’s more!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because as if all that great gaming wasn't enough, later
that night, my wife and I went to learn something called <a href="http://www.sandiegocontra.org/" target="_blank">Contra Dance</a>. It’s
kind of like Irish square dancing. Only, of course, it’s not square dancing. It’s
similar, it’s obvious the two are related, but this is an older dance, and, in
my opinion, a lot more fun. We learned the basics of how it worked, and just
before each dance, learned the moves from the caller. Then, we danced, and
mostly spent the first half of each dance trying to remember the moves and get
them right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a total blast dancing this way, and the best part
was, I got to dance with my wife, which is not something I do often. She’s a
far better dancer than I am, and honestly, I don’t often enjoy dancing. But Contra
Dance? That was some good fun. So much fun, I think the wife and I are going to
go back on Valentine’s Day weekend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday was also a good day, where housework was done and
then time was spent watching some TV. I’ve been watching the Avengers cartoon on
Netflix, which I think will be the subject of my next blog post.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all, a good weekend was had by me, which is a good
thing, because today was super stressful at work. But at least I went into it
relaxed.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-16795704904619603992012-10-29T16:43:00.003-07:002012-10-29T16:43:31.560-07:00Abraham and the Dragon<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham woke up in the empty boxcar and stretched. His back
ached and his head hurt from the wine last night. He crawled outside, yawning.
The rail yard was by the seashore, and that made for cool mornings, which he
loved. He reached back into the car and pulled out the broadsword. He looked at
the cursed thing, his albatross. He still wasn't sure where it came from, but
when he pulled it from the scabbard, it glowed with an effulgent light that blinded
him. Even now, it pulled at him. It was leading him somewhere, some place
Abraham didn't want to be. The home of the red dragon that had forged it.
Abraham knew only one thing about that place. He had dreamed about it, so he
knew it would be true. The steel and concrete skyscraper the dragon lived in would
be the place where Abraham would die.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
150 words</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
@blanchardauthor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also going for the overachiever title with the use of five prompt words. :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-56039081967475534662012-07-31T12:29:00.001-07:002012-07-31T12:29:41.641-07:00Men, Women and Geek Culture<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I’m throwing my two cents into this arena. I really
feel like I have to. It’s a long post today, but I really have a lot to say on
this topic, so bear with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As anyone with an internet connection and any kind of link
to the geek community at large is aware of, the topic of harassment and the
treatment of women has been huge recently. And, in my opinion, this is a good
thing. It’s an important topic, and one that we, as geeks, need to talk about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I get too deep into this, however, let me start by
talking about why this is important to me, and basically what my geek credentials
are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been a geek my whole life. And when I say geek, I mean I
cross over many strata of the geek spectrum. I am a fan of Fantasy and Sci-Fi,
be it film, TV or books. I love comic books, from the flashy, four color world
of superheroes to the darker, more serious books like Sandman and everything in
between. I’ve played Dungeons & Dragons, and various other RPG’s, since I
was six years old. I’ve owned some form of a Nintendo home game system since I
was eight, including the Game Boy, NES, N64, Game Cube and now the Wii. I’ve
also owned an Atari 2600, an Intellivision and a PS2. I’ve played MMOs of some
sort since Everquest, and various other PC video games since the original Zork.
I was an arcade junky back in the 80’s. I have owned and wore in public Star
Trek costumes, including bajorin nose make up and ear ring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dad probably is who started me on the road to geek
culture. He gave me a good grounding in sci-fi, starting with E.E. Doc Smith
and Ray Bradbury when I was a kid. He added fantasy later with the Hobbit. He
expanded my instruction with the introduction of Isaac Asimov when I got older.
He continued my education with TV and movies, with such classics shows as Star
Trek (TOS), Lost in Space, Battlestar Galactica (the original) and movies such Forbidden
Planet, the Day the Earth Stood Still and Them. He was also the one that introduced
me to Dungeons & Dragons, when he bought for my older brother and then we
all got into playing it. My dad ran many a campaign for me and my friends over
the years, and has since played in campaigns I’ve run, including one I’m doing
to play test the new D&DNext.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I expanded much on my own, finding new authors I loved,
finding the joy of comic books and discovering video games. My geekiness just
grew and flourished, all thanks to those initial seeds planted and nurtured by
my father.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, even back then, as a kid, I realized that geekdom was
predominantly a boys club. My friends and I in high-school would lament that there
just weren’t any girls with the same interests as us, and how much we would
love it if women could just discover the sheer joy of geeky goodness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That changed for me when, in high-school, I found such a
girl. My first real, serious relationship was with a wonderful girl who came
into my life already interested in geek related stuff. In fact, she introduced
me to several things that I still love to this day, such as Anne McCraffy and
the Dragonriders of Pern, and the Sandman comic series and Neil Gaiman. She
even played in all of my D&D games that we ran during the time. And I
realized then just what how wonderful it was to have women in the geek
community. My D&D games changed for the better with the introduction of a
single woman to the group. My awareness of woman authors expanded as she introduced
me to the ones she loved to read. I realized, at the tender age of 17, that
women only added to the geek culture, they made it better. And it would only be
to the betterment of geek culture to seek out and welcome more women.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that leads me to today. I’m sure we’ve all heard the
things happening in the geek world. The stories of <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/the-all-too-familiar-harassment-against-feminist-frequency-and-what-the-gaming-community-can-do-about-it/" target="_blank">Anita Sarkeesian</a> and <a href="http://blog.bcholmes.org/the-readercon-thing/#more-169" target="_blank">GenevieveValentine</a> are all over the place, and I won’t be re-hashing them here.
The links will bring you to all the information you need to know.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I will say this. I’m honestly shocked at the treatment
these women have received. And here’s why.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even back in high school, my friends and I (all male) lamented
the lack of women with interest in our favorite genres, mostly role playing
games, but TV shows and books too. We discussed why it was and how things could
be changed to make our favorite geek things more accessible. We talked about
role playing games, especially fantasy ones, penchant for chain male bikinis,
and sci-fi’s insistence on skin tight space suites that get strategically torn.
We weren’t really aware at the time of terms like sexualization and misogyny,
but it occurred to us, even back then, that maybe these kinds of images were
not attractive to women.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We weren’t sure what the answer was, but we knew that
continuing to show women that were half naked while the men wore full armor
with massive swords was probably not it. And so I am shocked that a woman who
says she wants to investigate these very tropes in the video game industry,
people get outraged. As if she is declaring she wants to take away your
favorite toys or something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And while I’ve always had crushes on women who appeared in
my favorite shows, or authors of my favorite books, I never tried to make
passes at them or stalk them. I admit, this was mostly out of cowardness, but I
also know what my father taught me about treating women, and that included the
lesson that “no means no.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then came the <a href="http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/25/overheard-on-cnn-com-readers-take-issue-with-booth-babes-she-geek-stereotypes/" target="_blank">news story</a> about someone who was angry at
pretty women who claimed to be geeks, but clearly couldn’t be. Because, after
all, <a href="http://tomdoolan.blogspot.com/2012/07/geeksexual.html" target="_blank">pretty women don’t like geeky things, right</a>? They MUST be seeking
attention and to manipulate all those lonely, looser geek boys.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I particularly hate this kind of talk, because not only does
it reinforce two very negative sterotypes of both sexes, but it shows a lack of
awareness of modern geek cultures. Most of the male geek friends I have are
married, many of them to geek women. They have children, who they are raising
to be the next generation of geeks. The idea of the lonely geek boy in his
parents basement is an image that needs to die and be buried with other things
from the eighties that should never return, like leg warmers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But most of all, I’m shocked at the lack of welcome that
geek women are getting from geek men. For years, my friends and I lamented the
lack of women in our culture. Now, I look around and see that there are
thousands of geek women out there, as many, if not more, as there are men. And
yet, there are a number of very vocal geek men that seem to not want them here.
As if this were some kind of tree house, and the sign on the door clearly said “No
Gurls Alowed!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As if we have a choice in allowing into the geek culture who
we want. As if there is a gate to be guarded. Geekdom isn’t some kind of
exclusive club. Hell, it’s not even a club, it’s more a state of mind. Sports
fans that love to paint themselves up in team colors and wear the jerseys of
their favorite players, that memorize the stats of all the players in the
league, those are geeks. People that have memorized every line of dialogue from
every play written by William Shakespeare and love to not only watch his plays,
but perform in them, or maybe design costumes for them, they are geeks. The guy
that has every single phone that BlackBerry has ever created and keeps up with their
blog, tweets, news about the latest product, how it affects his life and business
and what he can do with it in the future, that’s a geek.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a geek isn’t about loving something obscure or being
able to quote lines from episode 5 of season 2 of the original Star Trek. It’s
about being passionate about what you love. It’s about expressing that passion
with other people that share it. And it should be about welcoming anyone that
shares that love, or that is even interested in learning about what you love.
It should never, ever, be about isolation and exclusivity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Geek culture has grown tremendously since I was a kid. Part
of that is due to the inclusion of women. I’ve been starting to see it grow due
to the inclusion of other cultures, and I look forward to that as well. But in
the mean time… guys, seriously, knock this shit off. Women are a part of our
culture. If we’re really honest with ourselves, they always have been. And this
idea that there’s a gate and they’re not allowed to pass it unless the meet
some kind of critiea needs to stop. And the treatment of women as if they were
something other than fellow geeks, that also needs to stop. These geek girls
out there, they’re not some strange, magical beast or mythical sexual conquest.
They’re fellow geeks, and we need to be embracing them, as people, as we would
any other person that shares our passion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It took geeks a long time to escape (if we truly have) the stereotype
that we’re all fat boys living in our parent’s basement with our funny shaped
dice and video games. I would really hate to see us replace that view with one of us being a bunch of angry, woman hating losers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, come on guys. Stop fighting against what has already
happened, and embrace the growth and enrichment of our community. Give it a
try. I’ll bet you find you’ll actually like it.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-79087090657775097912012-07-19T16:57:00.000-07:002012-07-19T16:59:03.633-07:00The Old Beggar WomanWow, it's been a while since I posted, eh?<br />
<br />
So, I like to listen to this podcast called <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/" target="_blank">Writing Excuses.</a> It features some authors I really admire: Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal and Dan Wells. It's an awesome show, if you're not listening to it, you really should be.<br />
<br />
Anyway, at the end of each episode, they offer a writing prompt. Well, <a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/05/13/writing-excuses-7-20-cathartic-horror/" target="_blank">a few episodes back</a>, they offered this prompt:<br />
<br />
Adapt the unadaptable fairy tale Mary introduced us to (the one about the little old lady who catches on fire and dies.)<br />
<br />
After some research, I find out that the fairy tale they are referring to is from Grimm's Fairy Tales, and it's called <a href="http://www.familymanagement.com/literacy/grimms/grimms184.html" target="_blank">The Old Beggar Woman</a>. It's incredibly short and very strange. I decided to take the challenge, and wrote the below story. Note that before you read my version, you should read the original, to get an idea of what I was going for. Then, let me know what you think of mine! ('Cause I'm self serving that way. I mean, why else have a blog if it's not to get approval from strangers?)<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
<br />
The Old Beggar Woman<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once there was an old woman who had been driven to a life of poverty and forced to beg on the streets of San Diego. If you’ve ever been there, you’ve most likely passed her getting on the trolley, or walking through Balboa Park. Late one night, she found herself in Mission Bay, and made her way towards one of the few bonfires that were still raging. She came as close as she dared, trying to get some warmth from the fire without disturbing the young man who was tending it. When he looked up and saw her there, he smiled and offered her a place by his fire.<br />
<br />
<br />
“My friends have all left for the night, but I just wasn’t ready to go home,” he said. “Come, share the warmth here, and I’ll make you a hot dog.”<br />
<br />
It was the kindest thing she had heard in years, and quickly ambled over to the fire. She sat down next to the pit and warmed herself, happily eating her hot dog. After a short while, she fell asleep, not noticing that her clothing, dry and raggedy, had caught fire.<br />
<br />
The young man noticed, and immediately pulled out his phone. But instead of calling the police, he switched it to camera mode and filmed the old woman burning.<br />
<br />
“Man, this is going to be awesome when I post this to YouTube!” he thought.<br />
<br />
The woman slept through the fire, but after filming for a minute, the young man could smell burning flesh. He jumped up and started screaming. He pulled out his phone again and called 911, who sent a fire truck and an ambulance. All he did afterwards was stand there and watch her burn.<br />
<br />
When the trucks arrived, the old beggar woman was dead.<br />
<br />
“Why didn’t you try to put out the fire?” the fireman said. “You could have thrown sand on it, or tossed one of these sodas onto it. Instead, you stood there letting her burn.”<br />
<br />
All the young man could do was stare at his phone. He didn’t have an answer for the fireman. He just didn’t know what else to have done. Playing on his phone was the video he took of her burning. It didn’t seem so funny now.<br />
<br />
The EndAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-1114364918517735092012-04-21T15:41:00.000-07:002012-04-21T15:41:29.749-07:00Daily Word Count<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, last week, I finished the first draft of my novel,
Mythic America. It ended up being close to 94,000 words long, which was 14,000
words more than what I was aiming for. It’s also pretty bloated, too, and when
I edit it, I know that there will be lots cut from it. My second draft will be
leaner, and stronger for it. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started this novel during NaNoWriMo last year. I made a
great effort to finish it after NaNo was done. And during the past few months,
I set myself the goal of writing every day until I was finished. Well, really,
I just set the goal of writing every day. I’m getting ahead of myself again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I’ve tried writing every day in the past, and was
never very successful at it. This time around, however, I was, and I think I
figured out why.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all hear pro and self-published authors tell newbies that
the first rule of writing is that you need to write, every single day, no
matter what. Rain or shine, birthday or holiday, in-laws or dirty house, in
sickness and in health, till death do you in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s all well and good, but almost none of them tell you
how to do it. Well, I figured out the secret. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s all about word count.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that right now, you’re screaming at the monitor,
“but, Chris, I’ve been told not to worry about word count and just to write!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, yeah, sure, that’s true. I’m not denying that. But,
what that really means is, don’t worry about the word count of your story, just
write it. For example, though I had a goal of 80,000 words, I didn’t let it
constrain me. I didn’t try to force my story to fit in those 80,000 words when
it wouldn’t. I just wrote until the story was finished.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I’m talking about is a daily word count goal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See, the problem I always had in the past when trying to
write every day was that I was trying to do what I did during NaNoWriMo every
single day for the rest of the year. That wasn’t feasible. At least, not for
me. 1,667 words a day may not seem like much when considering an 80,000 word
novel, but that represents about an hour and a half, maybe two hours worth of
writing. And, for me, that amount of time was difficult to pull off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I would get that done for a day or two, get tired, have
a day where the best I could squeeze out was 500 words, and then get frustrated
that I couldn’t keep up with my goal and quite writing for about a week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that, my friends, is why I kept failing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, I discovered this wonderful little hashtag on Twitter.
It was #WIP500. And I discovered that it was an online movement, similar to
NaNo, where writers would vow to write 500 words a day. 500. That’s it. That’s
about a half hour of work for me, maybe forty five minutes if I’m dorking
around on Twitter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought, hell, I can do 500 words a day. In fact, this
blog post is already just over 500 words. (for the record, I never counted blog
posts as part of my daily word count, only what went into a WIP). 500 is no
sweat. And the best part about it is, it’s a minimum. If I write 600, 700, or
even 1,000, that’s all just bonus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, that’s what I started doing. 500 words a day. And I did
that for around three months. Now, my novel is finished, and I’ve started
writing two short stories for an anthology I’m working on with some friends.
All at 500 words a day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s working out great.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get to write every single day, which makes me feel better.
I don’t have to stress about not getting time with my family on the weekend, or
even during the week when they want to
watch a new movie on the TV. I have time to play a video game if I get my
writing done early, and I even get some sleep at night because I’m not forcing
myself to stay up late to get 1500 words written. I’m way less stressed, and in
fact feel pretty good about myself when I do get some writing in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve started putting a
‘X’ on my calendar at work for each day I write. And it looks and feels pretty
damn good when I get a whole month marked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the lesson I learned about writing every day is that you
need to set a realistic word count goal for your self. It doesn’t matter how
small or how big that is, as long as it’s something that you think you can
commit to every day. 200? Fantastic! 2,000 words? You go! It doesn’t matter,
because after you do it for long enough, eventually you’ll get to those sweet,
sweet words: ‘The End.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, the sweet spot was 500, and I owe that to a
fantastic little hashtag.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s all I got for now. I’ll be back later with some other
lessons I’ve learned from writing every single day, including that sometimes,
it’s okay to NOT write. Until then, keep on writing!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-23463015601326112432012-03-17T14:13:00.005-07:002012-03-17T14:38:32.020-07:00Friday Picture Show Win!Hey, check it out! This week, I participated in a little writing contest (nothing major, just a group of writers doing flash ficiton for fun), called #FridayPictureShow. And guess what? I won!<br />
<br />
Here's the link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jendauthor.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/results-fridaypictureshow-week-19/">http://jendauthor.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/results-fridaypictureshow-week-19/</a><br />
<br />
And for your enjoyment, here's the story I told.<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">The World’s End resort was exactly what Cameron needed after Sarah died. Sun, beaches, an amazing view of the edge of the world, Casino’s, theaters, movies, meaningless sex with beautiful women. There was just one last thing to do before he left. He got down to the beach in his swing trunks, to the dock, and rented a Jet Ski. He smiled as the man behind the counter took the last of his money. It had all been worth it. He put on his life jacket, got on the Jet Ski, and drove at top speed straight for the edge.</span> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-11120889414675126822012-02-26T18:19:00.000-08:002012-02-26T18:19:44.318-08:00A Story Told to Me by My SonToday, before dinner, my son told me he wanted to tell me a story. And this is what he said:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once upon a time, there was a great big, scary monster. A
young boy and his cat fought him. Now, the cat bit and scratched at the
monster, but that only made it bleed. So the boy pulled out his sword and
sliced it five times in the chest and stomach. And that killed it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then, bunches more monsters showed up! So, the boy
ordered more warriors and cats, and they all fought the monsters together. The
cats bit and scratched, helping the warriors kill the monsters, until eventually
there were no more monsters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then, the daddy monster showed up. It was huge! All the
warriors and cats attacked, and they had to slice and stab it twenty times
before they killed the daddy monster.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that was when the last monster showed up. It was the
biggest monster of all. Bigger than you, bigger than me, even bigger than
mommy! Now, the boy and the warriors could have stayed and fought it, but
instead they screamed in fear and ran away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They ran all the way through the gate of the castle, and
turned on its waterproof force field. There were two force fields, one inside
and one outside. The biggest monster made it through the outside force field,
but couldn’t make it past the inner force field. It got stuck. And that was
when they filled the space between the two force fields with water. And crocodiles!
The crocodiles began biting and eating the biggest monster, and the water
scratched at it like the cats did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
500 years later, the water and the crocodiles finally killed
the monster!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The end</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-80049989142737598602012-02-21T13:49:00.000-08:002012-02-21T13:49:10.655-08:00Writing and Exercising<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, recently, I have been on task with my writing. I've written
every single day during these past ten days, and for nine of them, met that
writing goal. It’s a great feeling. And it led me to a question:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This feels great, why am I not doing this every day?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realized that this is the same question I ask right after
exercising. And it occurred to me that the two are remarkable similar. Which
means that the answer to the question is the same for both. And here it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s hard and it’s not fun doing it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, that’s right, fellow writers; I’m saying that writing
is not fun. And I stand by that, it’s not.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s stick with the exercise for a moment. Exercise is
hard. It requires a lot of movement, first off. Let’s all be honest. Given the
choice of running around the block in sweat pants or sitting on the couch
watching Doctor Who in sweat pants, which would you choose? I know what my
choice is. Running is hard. Especially for me, as I am not in good shape. And it’s
not fun while doing it. I run out of breath, I sweat up a storm. The same goes
for when I work out in the gym on the weight machines. My muscles hurt. My face
get’s red, and I grunt and moan as I try to breath during the workout.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, exercising is so much not fun that I bring along my
phone to play audio books while I work out, just to have a little entertainment
value. Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it at all. Probably.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, when I’m done exercising, I feel great. I’m awake, my
blood is pumping, and I’m filled with endorphins. Sure, I may be a little sore,
but it’s a good feeling. It means my muscles are growing. It means I have a
goal to reach, for that day when this same workout will not leave me sore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same is true for writing. Given the choice of sitting at
my computer and banging out words on a blank document, or sitting on the couch
watching Doctor Who, again, I know what I’d rather choose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And like exercise, writing is not fun. It’s a lot of hard
work. Picking the right words, putting them in the right order, following an
outline, or just winging it. There’s a lot of moments of frustration during the
actual process of writing, at least for me. I write a sentence and then look at
it and thing “man, that sucks. It took me ten minutes to write down those seven
words, and they suck.” And they do. And sometimes, I fix them, and sometimes I
move on, because it took me twenty minutes to get those seven sucky words down,
and it’s just the best I can do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grunt and moan and sweat my way through each word, each
sentence, each paragraph, each scene. But when it’s done, when I’ve hit my word
count goal for the day, I feel great. I’ve accomplished something, and even
though parts of it suck, most of it is pretty good. I’m flush with endorphins.
And just like exercise, sometimes, I’m sore. Not physically, maybe, but my
brain hurt from stretching it to find a proper resolution to that scene, or how
to get myself out of that corner I wrote myself into. And just like exercising,
I know that my goal is to write until I don’t feel that soreness anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in both cases, I wonder “why don’t I do this every day?
I feel great!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s because at that moment, I forget how hard it was to
start. To even just get dressed in my sweat pants, or sit my ass down in front
of my keyboard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing is hard work, and not a lot of fun. But in the end,
it is so, so worth it. Because in the end, I feel better than I did when I
started.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-52314556820607538092012-02-12T15:50:00.000-08:002012-02-12T15:50:13.261-08:00Impostor Syndrome<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lately, I have been experiencing Impostor Syndrome. Not in
the traditional sense, in that I’m afraid that people will read my stuff and go
“man, he’s no real writer.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More like, I’ve been questioning my ability. Am I really any
good? Is this something that I should be pursuing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s hard. I sit down to write, and just can’t get my self
to write more than a few hundred words before the doubts start to crowd in.
First, it’s those words I just wrote. They’re utter crap. They are, in fact, such
total shit that there is just no way I can even edit them into something that’s
just bad, never mind into something someone else will want to read. And if
those words are horrible, than the rest of the book I’ve just spent time on
getting to 56,000 words on has to be the worst piece of tripe ever written.
Ever. Because I’m that bad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It takes a very special kind of ego-manic to think that your
own work is the absolute worst example of work ever, in the whole history of
mankind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully, I have some support. First, there’s my wonderful
wife, who loves to hear about the stories I’m writing, even if the genre isn’t
always something she’s interested. In the case of this particular book I’m
writing right now, Mythic America, she’s excited to read it, and so encourages
me to just finish the damn thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, I have my friends on Google Plus, Twitter and
Facebook. The other writers out there who’ve been through this, who know where
I’m coming from, who can tell me that if I just push on, it’ll get better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then I discovered today something else that helps.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My stories are really, really good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I discovered this by re-reading a few. See, here’s the
thing. There’s this saying “fake it ‘till you make it.” So, I was reminded of
that when I mentioned to someone that I was feeling like a writing fraud. So, I
kept on writing, no matter how much of a struggle it got, or how much I thought
what I was writing was shit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, the other day, my wife sent me the link to sign up for
Clarion writer’s workshop. So, I said I would fill it out, even though I’m
convinced that I’m nowhere near good enough to even get accepted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part of the requirements is that I find two stories to
submit. So, I’m going back through some of my shorts to find the best two to
send in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m reading a couple, some I can’t even remember writing,
and I find myself thinking, “Man, this is really good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over and over again. Yes, some of those stories sucked, but
there was a surprising number of them that were good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stories that I wrote. That I thought were good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s important.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s freeing. It helps to remind me that I’m not a
fraud. I really am a good writer. One that’s good enough to get into Clarion.
And so now I’m filling out this application for myself, because, damnit, I AM
good enough for this workshop. I AM good enough to be published.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a damn good writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m not going to let anyone, not even myself, tell me
otherwise.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-86194811640316554672012-01-25T08:58:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:58:04.743-08:00Why is Writing Every Day so Hard?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Write every day. It’s advice that every single professional
writer that I have ever read or seen in an interview has given. And for a
reason, too, it’s good advice. Advice I've given myself, because I’ve done it,
and it does work in improving your skills as a writer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the question I find myself facing right now is, why is
this so hard?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is it difficult for me to write every day?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean, it’s not like I’m asking myself to finish a complete
novel every day. Hell, I’ve set myself a goal this year of writing 500 words a
day. That’s only a half hour of writing. So, it’s not a matter of time, because
I can easily find a half hour every day to sit down and write something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dialogue, a description, the opening of a scene.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, here we are, twenty five days into the year, and I’ve
only written on nine of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is that?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know. It’s not like the book I’m currently writing
has suddenly stopped being interesting. It’s still a ton of fun. In fact, I have
a few other ideas, one for a short story, that I am working on as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it’s not inspiration that prevents me from writing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what is it that prevents me from writing?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, I don’t have any real answers today. I’m mostly here
to write down my thoughts, get them out, in the hopes that writing this blog
post today, sharing my thoughts and struggles with you, will somehow help me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had one thought, though. Over the years, I have
learned that at work, I perform much better if I am entertained somehow. In the
past, that meant music. Today, it means podcasts or audio books. The truth is,
what entertains me isn’t really important, as long as it entertains and allows
me to do my job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I’ve been wondering if I need to do something similar
with my writing. Maybe I need to find a way to entertain myself while I write.
Music seems to be a good start, so I’m going to try and do that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll be sure to come back here and let you know if I find
any answers, to both the question of why is it so hard, and to if the
entertainment helps me write.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-564852192505029162012-01-18T06:06:00.000-08:002012-01-18T06:06:27.212-08:00Blackout<span style="color: white;">In support of the protest against SOPA and PIPA I have blacked out this blog (as much as I can, at any rate).</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">For more information, go <a href="http://americancensorship.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-29837904697214899722012-01-09T17:05:00.000-08:002012-01-09T17:06:14.938-08:00A New Edition of an Old Game<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, normally, I use this blog to talk about writing stuff.
Which makes sense. I mean, I am a writer, after all. But, today, I want to talk
about something else. I believe that I have mentioned before that I am a
Dungeons and Dragons geek. I have been playing that game since I was around 8
years old, thanks to my Dad and big brother.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And today, Wizards of the Coast, the current manufacture of
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), <a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20120109"><b>announced that they are producing a new editionof the game</b></a>. If you’re into table top gaming, then let me tell you that this is
a really big deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, a few years ago, Wizard’s released what is called
the 4<sup>th</sup> Edition of D&D, and it was met with mixed reception, at
best. The previous edition (3E, or 3.0, or 3.5 even), was well loved by pretty
much everyone that played D&D, and even those that hated it didn’t hate it
as much as the 4E detractors hated that version. And 4E was, let’s be honest,
an attempt to bring some of the esthetics of an MMO to the tabletop. Now,
personally, I don’t have an issue with that. It makes a certain amount of
sense. D&D inspired many video games, up to and including World of Warcraft
and Skyrim, and so it seemed only natural that the last edition of D&D be
inspired by video games.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, many didn’t agree. They hated the video game like
properties of the game.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Myself, I ran a 4E campaign for around a year, and I enjoyed
the system. It was streamlined in a lot of ways, and playing went a lot
quicker, especially combat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, after playing for a year, I discovered the things
about the edition I didn’t like. The first is that the game is really focused
on mechanics. REALLY focused. I mean, sure, mechanics are important to every
tabletop RPG. But, in 4E, the mechanics started becoming the REASON for the
game, and not the way to play it. Story got lost in mechanics.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And note that I am saying mechanics here, not rules. There’s
a difference.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, in my campaign, I got caught up in making sure
that each adventure I wrote had the correct number of encounters in it, and
that each encounter was perfectly balanced to my party. I made sure that there
was enough treasure to keep the party balanced. Balance was super important.
But, at one point, I noticed that keeping the balance, sticking to the
mechanics of the game, became more important than the story I wanted to tell. I
was adding encounters and treasure that didn’t make sense story-wise. And my
players noticed and were starting to complain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that 4E sucks and
you should never play it. I have learned from this what rules to ignore in
order to play the kind of adventures I want to play. It’s been the same in
every edition of D&D I’ve played. Some rules you learn to ignore or ditch
altogether. Some rules you replace with house rules. 4E wasn’t any different.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this case, I learned that to make my games work, I needed to ignore the mechanics of adventure construction, and just write the stories I wanted to tell. The rules would remain the same, but the mechanics would be different.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, as I stated, 4E divided the D&D community, in a way
that previous editions had never done before.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so instead of finding a D&D game to join, or getting
some players from the local game store, finding a game became a matter of “what
edition are you playing?”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if it wasn’t the “right” edition, it could lead to
blows.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Geeks takes this shit seriously.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, when I heard this morning that Wizard’s was announcing
that they were going to work on a new edition of D&D, I sighed in relief.
Because as much as I enjoyed 4E, and still love 3.5, a fix for both the
community and Wizard’s plummeting PR was needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And they have done two things with this new edition that
will help with these problems.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first is that they’ve re-hired <b><a href="http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?splash">Monty Cook</a>,</b> who helped
craft 3E when it first came out. He’s a wildly popular game designer, and there’s
a reason for that. He’s good at what he does. So, having him on the new edition
team bodes well for it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second thing, and probably the more important of the
two, is that they are crowdsourcing the new edition.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to the official announcement, they want player
participation. They plan on sending out emails to volunteers to playtest rules
and provide feedback. Kind of like an alpha version, later to a beta version.
Or perhaps this is the open beta. I’m not sure.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At any rate, I’ve signed up for this. Because I’m a big
D&D fan, and I want to have some kind of say in the development of a game
that has meant so much to me for so long. I want to have a game I can enjoy
playing, and one that I can introduce to my own son. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, personally, I’m excited for 5E D&D. I can’t wait to
see not only what Wizard’s comes up with, but what all my fellow gamers come up
with.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-21624893689316806752012-01-03T16:50:00.001-08:002012-01-03T16:50:58.061-08:00Writing Resolutions<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, here we are, at the beginning of a new year. It’s that
time when most people are making all kinds of resolutions, and writers are no
exceptions.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not really one for resolutions, however. I’ve discovered
that they’re just big targets for disappointments. They hardly ever get accomplished,
and they just serve as a reminder of the failure of not meeting them through
the year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, I did feel that I needed to set some writing goals
this year. Last year, while I did get in some good writing, I didn’t get in as
much as I could have. Most of it, in fact, came during NaNoWriMo. The year
before that, however, I managed to write one 5,000 word story a week for the
whole year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I thought, why is that? Well, it’s because I set myself
a goal, and then set up a blog to hold myself responsible to.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I’ve decided to do the same thing this year. I am going
to set myself a writing goal, and find some way to hold myself responsible to
meet it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I found it the other day with this fantastic little Twitter
hashtag and site started by Cara Michaels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
#WIP500</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/wip500/">http://www.caramichaels.com/defiantlyliterate/wip500/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The idea is simple. Write 500 words a day for the whole
year.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
500. That’s not so hard. It’s about a half hour of solid
writing for me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, that’s my plan. I’ve signed up to this sight, and plan
on writing 500 words a day for the year, and will log my progress with the site
above.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks, Cara, for providing me with this much needed tool.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-19883168707134906752011-12-28T14:01:00.000-08:002011-12-28T14:01:40.992-08:00A Letter from SantaNo, I haven't abandoned this blog. I'm not planning on doing that any time soon. Though, I suppose, no one really PLANS on abandoning a blog. Things just happen that way, eh? Still, I'm still here, and I have plenty of things I want to blog about.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, though, I thought I would share with you a new regular tradition in my family. On Christmas Eve, Santa leaves my son a letter on the tree, usually depicting some adventure the big man went on during the year. I thought I'd share with you this year's letter. It's pretty fun.<br />
<br />
So, enjoy A Letter from Santa, 2011.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6n9nO7iOcU/TvuRifV4sDI/AAAAAAAAAJk/0Mfpq1HbbhI/s1600/filigree-divider_2_lg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6n9nO7iOcU/TvuRifV4sDI/AAAAAAAAAJk/0Mfpq1HbbhI/s320/filigree-divider_2_lg.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello again, my dear friend! When I didn’t get a letter from
you this year, I was concerned. Had something happened to you? Were you angry
with me? But then, I saw you at the Bernardo Winery, and was gratified to know
that not only were you well, but you were happy and telling jokes. I still
smile at that candy cane you pulled on me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thinking of letters reminds me of something that happened this
year. Just a few weeks ago, in fact. Our letter carrier, a young elf named
Jeffery, came running into the workshop in a panic. I was called down
immediately, and managed to calm Jeffery down enough to get the full story out
of him. He had gone down to the receiving room, where all the letters to Santa
from all over the world arrive, to pick up the latest deliveries and bring them
to me. However, when he got there, there were no letters!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What had happened? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we watched, new letters arrived. Jeffery assured me that
new letters had arrived after he noticed before, too, but there should be a
pile of letters he had yet to sort. And that the whole pile disappeared from as
he made his last delivery. We quickly set about searching the room when I
discovered a small, elf sized hole in the wall under some discarded present
boxes. I took one sniff of the foul odor that came from its depths, and knew
instantly what had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Goblins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, there are goblins in the North Pole. Goblins are elves
that end up on the naughty list and never get off. They are very, very bad. And
for many years, the goblins have been trying to ruin Christmas for everyone.
They’ve done everything from trying to wreck my sleigh to kidnapping Rudolph to
even stealing my magic sack one year. This year, they were trying to stop
Christmas by stealing all the mail. Without that mail, I won’t know what the
little boys and girls of the world want, and if I don’t know that, I can’t
deliver it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was no other choice. We needed to go into the
underground tunnels the goblins live in, and try to recover the mail. I told
Jeffrey the news and he agreed with me. He pulled down his cap and said he was
ready to go. Just then, we saw something out the window. It was a friend of
mine, one you might remember. It was the polar bear from last year, the one
with the bicycle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He asked what was going on, and when we told him, he agreed to
come along and help out. Polar bears don’t like goblins. So, with the same
magic that allows me to slide down chimneys’, I got the three of us into the
hole and down to the goblin tunnels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was dark down there, but Jeffrey had been smart enough to
bring along a candle. He lit it with elf magic and we made our way down. It was
dark and scary in the tunnels, but I kept on going. I knew I had to get those
letters, because children like you were counting on me. Eventually, we could
hear something in the caves ahead. It was the goblins! They were laughing and
carrying on and bragging about their plan and how they had ruined Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lights up ahead showed us where they were. When we peaked
around the corner, we could see them, throwing the letters in the air and
dancing on the pile. I shushed the polar bear and Jeffrey. Mr. Bear nodded and
me and pointed his noise into the room with the goblins. I nodded at him, and
he moved off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With a mighty roar, he charged into the room. The goblins were
so startled that they dropped all the letters and started running away from the
polar bear as fast as they could, screaming the whole time. Jeffrey and I
laughed and laughed to watch them, and the polar bear chased them down the tunnel.
Jeffrey and I quickly gathered up all the missing letters and put them into
Jeffrey’s mail sack. We carried them all back to the receiving room. Jeffrey
smiled, and then sighed. This would put him behind schedule!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That was when Mr. Polar Bear came back. We told him the
situation, and he said he would stay and help Jeffrey sort the mail, and make
sure that no more goblins stole it. I said I would have a repair crew in to fix
the hole in the wall, and we all agreed to meet for hot coco later that night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was all quite the adventure, but in the end, it all worked
out okay, and Christmas was on schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you enjoy your presents this year, and I look forward
to seeing you again next year. Just make sure to try and write me. I thought
the goblins still had your letter, and I’d had to think they had done it again
next year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Much Love,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Santa Claus </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-45649361588248487242011-12-02T11:44:00.001-08:002011-12-02T11:46:15.962-08:00NaNoWriMo Round-up!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that it’s a day late at this point, but NaNoWriMo is
officially over, so I thought I would do a post Novel-Writing post.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love NaNo. I’ve done it five times now, counting this
year, and have won all five times. And I learn something near each time, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time, I learned that I can, in fact, finish a
project. This was important to me, and I know many other authors out there that
have trouble finishing projects, so I think it’s a worthwhile point to make.
Finishing that novel was a huge success, and the fact that it was also a GOOD
novel was even better. I spent the last few years editing and polishing it,
true, but that’s not the point here. It could have been utter crap that I never
touched again. The fact was, I finished it, and that was damn good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next time I won, I did it with 60,000 words, and a half-finished
novel. That year taught me that, when I put my mind to it, I can find the time
to write. A few hundred words in the morning before anyone else is up, and the
same at the end of the day. My 15 minutes breaks at work to get in a few
hundred words more. I found that getting in 2,000 words a day was pretty damn
easy. Sadly, this novel has not been finished. I did like it, though, and I
believe that one day I shall revisit it, and finish it off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The third year, I tried something different. I outlined a
novel as much as I was able to. I learned during this run that while outlining
helps me to a certain degree, by giving me a guideline when I get lost in the narrative,
I need to be careful to not over outline a novel. I am what many call a “seat
of the pants” writer, meaning I do best when I just sit down and write. I
prefer the term “discovery writer,” myself, but it means the same thing. I have
learned, however, that pure discovery writing doesn’t always work, and some
outlining helps keep the discovery writing flowing. This story, for those
interested, turned out to be utter crap, and I have simply tossed it aside and
moved on. Sometimes, you win in word count, but not in story. Another lesson
learned that year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a side note, that same year, I had also done Script
Frenzy, for the first and last time. I did it because I had always wondered if
I could write a TV show script. I learned that I could not. At least, not at my
current level of skill. Script writing is much harder for me that straight
prose. It requires a certain kind of thought processes that I would have to
train myself to do, and so I’ve put that desire aside for now. But, I can at
least say I gave it a try, and I’m happy about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My fourth win was part of another project I was doing at the
time. I took a challenge from Ray Bradbury, which was to write one short story
a week for a full year, and I blogged my stories. (You can read them all here, <a href="http://1storyaweek.blogspot.com/">http://1storyaweek.blogspot.com</a>).
So, last year I combined NaNo and 1 Story a Week by writing a novel that was a
collection of short stories. I learned that writing short stories was much
different than a novel, and making the individual stories complete stories in
and of themselves while still telling one big story was also pretty hard. I’m
not sure how successful I was, but I can tell you that I learned a lot doing
it, and that if I ever did it again, I would be better.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, I decided to write a story that I had been
keeping in a drawer labeled “really good ideas that I don’t want to fuck up.” I’m
sure many of you authors out there know this drawer. I had avoided writing this
story out of a fear that I would do just that. The idea was a good one, and it
deserved good prose to make it come to life. Well, I learned this year that,
unless I actually write it, unless I am willing to risk writing something
really shitty with that great idea, I will never write that idea at all. Taking
a good idea and writing something bad, I learned, is better than not doing it
at all. Also, it turned out that the story I am writing is pretty damn good, up
to par with the idea, I believe. So much so that, even though I won NaNo, I am
still writing this book. Because unlike my second win, I want to finish this
novel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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And that’s my NaNo journey so far. I am looking forward to
NaNo next year. I have no idea what I will write about, or what I will learn,
but I’m sure that I will have a blast doing both.</div>
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So, until next year, I hope that those of you who did NaNo
had fun, win or lose, and I hope you keep writing your novel, win or lose.
Because in the end, the best thing about NaNo isn’t winning, it’s getting that
novel started.</div>
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Oh, speaking of this year’s Novel, I am planning on posting
the first chapter up here soon. Maybe tonight or tomorrow, so stay tuned.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-67901806374878622682011-11-23T12:01:00.001-08:002011-11-23T12:02:50.214-08:00The Things I am Thankful For<br />
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Yes, that’s right, it’s been nearly a month since I did a
post here, and the first one I do is a Thanksgiving themed one. Original,
right? But, I felt the need to write this one, so I am.</div>
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So, let me start by saying that I’m thankful for all the
stuff one would expect to be thankful for:</div>
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My job. It’s a great place to work, with good people. It’s
not the best pay in the world, but it’s better than not having a job, as so
many do right now. And it has great benefits. On top of all that, it allows me
to write. Not really AT work, but I don’t have work that I have to bring home,
so I can write when I’m there. Also, I was able to take a week off work to stay
home for week 2 of NaNoWriMo, which enabled me to get a good lead on my word count.
This place also has a gym, which allows me to work out without taking time away
from my schedule in other places, which I really like. So, I’m thankful for my
job.</div>
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My family. By this, I mean my immediate family, my wife and
son. They are beautiful, loving and wonderful people. They can also both be
pains in the asses, but then, so can I. They are supportive, too, my wife
especially. My wife has supported me in my writing carrerr, not only by being a
cheerleader, but also by being a drill sergent. Several times this month, my
wife could be heard throwing this phrase in my direction: “You’re supposed to
be writing, mister!” And while I love that, what she’s really saying is that
she knows it’s important for me to get some writing done, and so while she
would rather that I was getting housework, she understands and supports it. As
long as, you know, I’m actually writing. And I love her for that!</div>
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I am thankful for my brother and sister. They were both huge
influences on me as a kid. I got into drawing cartoons because my brother did
that, and I learned to appreciate musicals as a result of my sister’s love of
them. And my music tastes were definitely shaped by the two of them. My
relationship with them has changed, of course, and it continues to change as we
all grow and evolve, and I’m thankful for that, as well.</div>
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I’m thankful for my parents. Without them, I wouldn’t be
here. Seriously, though, I am thankful for them. When I grew up, all my friends
had parents that were divorced. Even the one kid that didn’t have divorced
parents when we first met, his parents divorced during high school. My parents
are still together, and I appreciate now how much work goes into making a
relationship last as long as theirs has. I also want to give a special shout
out to my dad, from whom I got my love of all things sci-fi and fantasy. When I
was a kid, my dad had me read the Hobbit, and the Lensmen series. Both remain
some of my favorites from the genre to this day. So, thanks for that, Dad!</div>
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I’m thankful for my health. My parents have recently been
both having some health concerns, some of which have made me realize I need to
take better care of myself. And so, I have. I’m thankful that I have health
now, and that I have the opportunity now to make sure I don’t have some of the
health problems they are having now.</div>
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I’m thankful for some of the stuff I have. I know this may
sound shallow, but I don’t really think it is. I’m lucky compared to some, in
that I have a roof over my head, a computer to work on and play on, and a TV to
watch. I have a smart phone that allows me to keep in touch with my wife in
numerous ways, as well as keep up with friends and relatives that might live in
whole different states. So, shallow or not, I’m thankful for my stuff.</div>
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I’m thankful for the fellow writers I have connected to
online. Without some of you, I wouldn’t be the writer I am now. And that’s just
the simple truth.</div>
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Mostly, though, I think I am thankful the most for the
relationship I have with God now.</div>
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I know that may come as a surprise to some, and for others
it’s probably leading them to click the little red X up in the corner. And that’s
okay. Everyone is allowed their opinion, and I’m not here to try and change
that.</div>
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I feel like I should point out here that I’m not a
Christian. This is not to say that I don’t believe in Christ, or the Bible, I
do. Jut not in the same way as most who identify as Christian. It seems to be a
select group, like a nationality or ethnicity, and I’m just not a part of that
group. It’s really as simple as that.</div>
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But, I do have a relationship with God, and that’s the only
way I know how to put it. I’ve learned in the last few years how to communicate
with God, how to pray to him, and how to turn over things in my life that I can’t
do on my own. And my life has become better for it.</div>
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So, I’m thankful for my relationship with God.</div>
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Also, I’m thankful for you guys, the ones reading this blog
right now. Knowing that there’s at least a few people out there interested in
my opinions on things makes this all worthwhile.</div>
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So, thanks! And I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving
weekend.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373979085598990211.post-8560267669027506552011-10-25T16:17:00.000-07:002011-10-25T16:17:25.759-07:00Book Review: The Prodigal’s Foole<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmWxdr_D7DJfyOvS82iR0QwUDXTJPTT5RpuuG6hwBfa_4v4FE6GO402yOZFj_rS8HGfgWsjmCG7AblUyRC-fpLxvW1T9_3TeiZbk9xk0Mp3bdo8DQvSU_xH7trLBvB71Lhcox5zdS1Ao/s1600/TPF_Alternate1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmWxdr_D7DJfyOvS82iR0QwUDXTJPTT5RpuuG6hwBfa_4v4FE6GO402yOZFj_rS8HGfgWsjmCG7AblUyRC-fpLxvW1T9_3TeiZbk9xk0Mp3bdo8DQvSU_xH7trLBvB71Lhcox5zdS1Ao/s320/TPF_Alternate1.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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The Prodigal’s Foole by <a href="http://www.rbwood.com/">R. B. Wood</a> is an action packed story that’s equal
parts X-Men, Harry Potter and Angel’s and Demons.</div>
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It follows the story of Symon Bryson, returning to his home
town of Boston to reconnect with his old mentor, a Catholic priest named
Charles. Symon soon learns, however, that Charles has been kidnapped by demons,
and set’s of on a quest with his fellow former class mates to rescue Charles,
defeat the demons, and confront Symon’s past.</div>
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Oh, and did I mention that Symon, his mentor and his friends
are all mages? Yup, that’s right, magic. Used by the Church to fight against a
very real evil. All in all, a very awesome set up, and a damn good story. The
action is well paced and well written, and once it starts, it’s almost non-stop.
The characters are all well developed, and Symon goes through hell (both literally
and metaphorically) before it all ends.</div>
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All in all, this was a fabulous book, and a fun read. I highly recommend it for
anyone into fantasy or urban fantasy.</div>
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If I have one complaint about the book, it’s that I feel the
story ends before the book does. Don’t get me wrong, the end of the book does a
good job of tying up some loose ends and sets up book two well, but I feel that
the story ended before this point, with the heroes sailing off into the sunset.</div>
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That’s just my opinion, however, you mileage may vary.</div>
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I give this book four out of five stars, and suggest that if
you are even a remote fan of urban fantasy, you pick this book up. You’ll be
happy that you did.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835457803350119002noreply@blogger.com0