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Starter DMing

Getting started as a Dungeon Master of any type can be a complicated process. How do I know? I’ve been attempting it since I was 18. I’ve had a couple of successfully run games and a couple that c

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Starter DMing

Gaming with Distractions

This is more of a “how I’m doing it” little article. I’m just going over what’s been going on in my life, and how game fits into it. For starters, let me set the scene &#

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Gaming with Distractions

Dealing with Writer’s Block

A lot of people who want to be dungeon masters or game writers experience a problem, a dread obstacle which faces any who engage in the literary arts. This hurdle is commonly known by the name of Writ

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Dealing with Writer’s Block

New Years, New Resolutions

So now for the stereotypical ”New Years Resolutions”

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New Years, New Resolutions

And I’m back

Ok, so here I am again, finally finding the pull to write something after a long absence. Looking back at the last few months since I last typed something up, I see quite a few things that I have done

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And I’m back

And I’m back

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by on January 10, 2012 at 9:34 am

Ok, so here I am again, finally finding the pull to write something after a long absence. Looking back at the last few months since I last typed something up, I see quite a few things that I have done, some things that have changed, and some news worthy things I feel I should touch upon.

First, and foremost – the news that brings me to type today. The already day old news of a new Dungeons and Dragons in the works over at WotC, and the fact that they are taking the open collective approach that helped Pathfinder take a major market share away from them. Instead of boring you with all the details, I’m just going to link you over to Critical Hits, to someone who actually has talked with the Wizard who lives by the coast, and I think has a very good outlook as to the implications of this new system. (Said Link Right Here)

I also think it’s worth noting that we all saw it coming in September, and that a major point of this is that they will be listening to the fans, and it will still be a ways away from taking over. The official article made mention of playtesting at 2013′s GenCon, not the 2012, 45th anniversary one. So right now, they’ve got a lot to work with.

Also worth noting is Paizo’s recent push, in my opinion, to sell as much products as possible in as short amount of time. They may see it as a need to cash in while still relevant - not sure. Either way – for the full Pathfinder experience, expect to pay somewhere between $50 – $120 a month ($120 when two core books come out in the same month, ie last August). Wheras I like the system and still enjoy playing it, it has this little black scar of me looking at a pile of books going “Ya, and I’m missing so much content”.

Politics wise, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has taken center stage and are forcing people to take sides. I’m against it on the basis that it solves nothing, and it is provided by people that don’t know how things work. For instance, mearly knowing what the IP address for a blocked site will get you there, and startup websites can just get blocked because a competitor reports them for “stealing their idea’s”, regardless of whether it’s true. Everyone will play the cautious role, and the internet will be in shambles. And this is just the American side of things – it’s even more whacked when you consider that the US is essentially saying that we will censor everyone’s internet.

And politics aside, personal stuff now. Lost in dual worlds of Skyrim and Star Wars – The Old Republic, lately. Feel my mind inching farther and farther away from being able to focus on my DM’ing, so I’m taking a break from that for the start of the new year. Going to make sure it’s nothing medical that I can take care of. I’m still gaming, still thinking of idea’s – just not going to sit behind the screen for a little while so I can get all my ducks in a row.

Stay tuned for my New Years Resolutions! When in doubt – copy other blog’s topics.

 

 

PC’s Almost Back, Posts to start again

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by on September 13, 2011 at 10:19 am

So I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated, but I have news on my PC troubles. My PC is almost fixed. Just need to finish loading all my software again, and we’ll be set to go. The motherboard I purchased had been backordered a couple weeks, then I had to get a new network card – whole thing was a giant mess.

Gaming wise – been enjoying Arfles Exalted game – I’m actually really impressed with the system. That, and feeling of having all that power is pretty cool. Herauk’s Pathfinder game had it’s first session post GenCon. I have yet to have a session since, for a number of different reasons.

On one hand, I have an ok story going right now, and am the butt of my players jokes for not doing longer lasting games. But on the other hand, I feel a little D20′d out.  I love Pathfinder and Paizo, but for financial reason’s after the con, I cancelled my pre-orders for a bit to catch up, and I find I’m not really missing them. I just find myself at a point of re-assessing what I want to do with my game, how to best serve my players and myself, and how to help create a really great story. I’ve been reading more systems lately, Rifts, GURPS, Burning Wheel, L5R – and it made me sit down and think about how I didn’t start with D&D – why do I find myself trying to force a derivative as my system of choice.

Mostly it’s because I have players that are in love with the system – and that really helps keep interest in your game. Also, there’s opposition to change. I encounter it now with the exalted game – some get it, some don’t. Some enjoy learning a new system, other despise it, and only have cranial space for one system. So if I where to go and tell them “Hey – we have Pathfinder and Exalted going – now I’m going to teach you GURPS” – their head would explode. Or I’d be flamed into backing down.

Been thinking also about going through and just doing a couple one shots to see if it’s something I just need to get out of my system. Those that are interested in learning a new game – come over and we’ll try it. Any suggestions?

in Site News

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Computer Saga Continues

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by on August 15, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Pointless update #2 – Just an update.  My PC is now in the hands of it’s creator.

My Father-In-Law.

Talked with him about it, as he’s the one that built it for me 5 years ago, and he’s going to look into it. As a PC Technician, I should have no reason to give it another PC Tech, right? Well, my Father-in-law has far more parts then I do, and said he should be able to get it working. So it’s less of a “I don’t know what’s going on” and more of a “he has the things I need to get it up and running”.

So my PC is some hour and a half away, with no ETA at the moment.

But all is not lost! I still have the netbook full of pictures. So I will be updating you with my GenCon travels. Just slower then I had hoped to.

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Awesome Con, Delay in Responce

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by on August 12, 2011 at 9:31 am

So Herauk actually beat me to posting my thoughts about GenCon. And it’s due to a little thing I like to call “my luck”. My PC, the mass media server that it is, is refusing to boot. I’ve diagnosed it down to a short in the PCI Express port on the motherboard. I’m going to attempt one last “Take it all apart, put it back together” move before deeming the board dead, just in case I’m wrong.

But I can’t just leave you for the next couple weeks without my impressions. So I’m going to attempt to post one or two things a day, just to cover all the wonderful things I did and saw.

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Test of the emergency posting system

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by on July 26, 2011 at 11:40 am

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So here is my test to make sure I can still post and update while on the go. The nice thing about this is that I can write as the mood strikes me, not having to wait until I get back to the room.
To prove I mean business, here is my coffee cup.

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