More and more and more playing!
In Friday's game, we are hunting the elusive Holmes. We so nearly manage to defeat ourselves too! And in the middle of it we are suddenly caught up in an older case that revived itself. Cold Blooded Killing.
I got into Saturday's game not because I tried, but because I happened to be awake. First up, Matt was GMing a game, and since I was awake, I couldn't pass up that opportunity. Does mean I didn't otherwise get a lot of sleep, and I'm still sick. KFWC.
Then while trying to work out which case we deal with, we are distracted by Sofie killing a vampire. At least, she tried to. And, at least, for her it was a vampire. We can't be having with that. Sofie Goes Wild.
Then we are given a case, but Richard as Ulman really got in the way of the rest of us investigating it. If we had been slightly less strictly lawful... (and yes, I do know that Terry Moa is a cop). Kith and Kin.
[END]
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
HC Again
The Chronicles of a DM: Part I
[This is me, trying to run Attack on Nightwyrm Fortress]
While in the town of Whogivesa, Risan has heard rumours of problems in the town of Vaester, of Raise Dead rituals failing, and asks his companions to investigate while he seeks out a temple of the Raven Queen. They (which in this case means Alrick and Reed) head to Vaester and find out that the town is indeed suffering as rituals are failing and they now consider themselves to be cursed and Pelor has abandoned them.
They find Sir Halumoor Ironspell trying to raise his recently killed son Jothan, but once more the ritual fails. This is the fourth such time, and this time the ritual fails as a black mist forms the shape of a dragon, which then dissipates. The crowd disperses, muttering, leaving Alrick, Reed, Sir Halumoor, the priest Beldan and a strange dark skinned woman is introduced as an adventuring partner of Jothan called Moyshanna.
Which is handy when the ground erupts sending up undead to attack them! Sir Halumoor and Beldan scamper off, but Moyshanna joins them in the battle. [Running NPC good guys can be a problem when the GM knows all the best spots to go to, where the loot is, and can easily have their favoured NPC get that stuff. After this fight, I pass off Moyshanna to the others to run in battle.] The wight proves a complete disappointment, but the wraiths deal out some nice amounts of damage. Although there’s plenty of room, there’s mainly clustering and beating up.
After putting them back in the ground, they have more of a chance to talk. Moyshanna says that this is unnatural, the Raven Queen would not approve, and they should go to the Shadowfell to investigate. She will guide them the way through the Gloomdeeps to the Tomb of Sartine, where she believes a portal to the Shadowfell to be. As an added incentive, Sir Halumoor says he will give them money, so after convincing him to pass some loot over up front, the PCs go shopping! [We probably would have gotten more fights in, but shopping was important.]
The next day, they head down in the caverns of the Gloomdeeps. The caverns are tight and annoying, but they do come across a large cavern which contains the remains of a purple worm, some Cyclops, and a huge carrion crawler! [The miniature is so cute!] Roar! The crawler leaps down and thacks the party good, the Cyclops Shamen has a decent chance, the other Cyclops are a complete disappointment. Meh.
There is a large chest, and the shamen has the key, so you can guess what they did… Yep, try to pick open the chest, then smash it open. Their big prize is… a key! After their many hours of travel, they decide this is a good point to call it for now.
[END]
Monday, 30 March 2009
Escapist Magazine gets away
Really weird situation is happening with just one website: The Escapist.
For some reason, when I try to go there, it doesn't exist! And i mean "Host not found", can't even resolve domain name, not there. Reload, reload, reload... not happening.
This is from inside New Zealand. At home, around 49 times out of 50, not happening (just sometimes, I get a brief break in the clouds, and access it). At work, around one in four times nothing happening (and I only access it at work as I can't at home).
Some great stuff there. Yahztee's hilarious video game reviews. Stolen Pixels. ...other stuff... (not that I'm playing any of these games or anything, but it's still amusing!)
No idea, but just can't access. Happening to anyone else? (Note: on TelstraClear/Saturn at home.)
UPDATE: Solution! (And not due to TelstraClear.)
[END]
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Con...scription 2009
[I'm not going, but I'm willing to help promote this here.]
CONSCRIPTION 2009
ConScription, the 30th National New Zealand Science Fiction and Fantasy convention, is bringing Prix Aurora-award winning science fiction author and editor Julie E. Czerneda, and her husband Roger Czerneda, an internationally acclaimed photographer to Auckland. Several other official guests will be in attendance including NZ authors Russell Kirkpatrick, Nalini Singh and Helen Lowe, and American podcaster and writer Tee Morris. ConScription will be held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Kirkbride Rd in Mangere, over the Queen's Birthday weekend, 29th May to the 1st June 2009.
There will be discussion panels, organised gaming, costuming events, the Quiz, a video stream, a renaissance dancing workshop and a chance to buy science fiction related items. Ms Czerneda will be talking about her work as a science fiction author and editor, and will be available to sign books at the convention. Russell Kirkpatrick will be launching his latest book ?Beyond The Wall Of Time?, volume three in his popular Husk series.
For more detailed information, please visit the ConScription web-site at http://conscription.co.nz. Memberships can also be arranged at the convention. Day memberships are available if you wish to attend for one or two days only. Children's prices - under-11s is free admission. The 11 to 17 age group is $15.00 for a day membership.
The winners of the 2009 Sir Julius Vogel Awards for Excellence in New Zealand Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror will be announced on the Sunday night at the Conjunction Banquet. Tickets still available. The ConScription banquet is $39.00 per person. Menu here http://www.conscription.co.nz/ConScription/events.htm
There is a three day writing workshop being led by Julie that is being held before the convention from 27th to 29th May 2009. To enrol please contact conscription@orcon.net.nz . This is at additional cost to attend. See below for details.
Currently it is $90 to sign up for ConScription. Prices go up on the 1st April 2009, so be in quick before the price increases (that's 4 more days on $90.00, then it goes up to $110.00). Sign-up here at http://www.conscription.co.nz/ConScription/registration.htm
When booking your accommodation with the Hotel Grand Chancellor, PLEASE say you are with ConScription. This is important.
[END]
Saturday, 28 March 2009
An Hour of Earth
In around... 12 hours, we have Earth Hour, in which at 8.30pm local time, you switch off lights for an hour. Turn off lights? I barely have them switched on! (Obviously they aren't talking to TV watchers who only light up their lives by the flickering of the idiot box.) And the two lights I have on most often... are energy efficient bulbs!
If Keith Ng is right, this is largely a pointless exercise anyway. The amount of savings versus switching to more basic energy saving devices (such as a compact fluorescent lamp bulb) far outweighs any savings Earth Hour offers. (Note: I'm skeptical about his numbers, but suspect his basic point is true.)
Then there's activities done during Earth Hour. For example, this candlelit concert in Civic Square. Um... candlelit? As in, producing carbon dioxide candles? Emissions are supposed to go down, right? How much of this is really a promotional stunt for climate change, and how much is actual intended effectiveness?
Not to mention there are parts of this city I doubt are safe to walk in the light, and now people will be doing in the dark? (That said, people are encouraged to go out and view the new darkness in groups... and feel free to insert a double entendre in there...) And for other cities... (I had a quick look for crime related statistics, but could only find "I predict mayhem!" posts. Nah.)
Ultimately, I'm not sure of the safety or effectiveness of Earth Hour. Perhaps a more concerted effort towards energy saving devices? (Although that would actually mean people have to make a long term change rather than a one-moment palliative gesture.)
And yes, I am very cynical.
[END]
Friday, 27 March 2009
76 TSVs in the publishing line...
Yep, TSV 76 came out last week, and I have now finished reading it. So, what's in store?
If you look at the contents listing, you'll see there's not a lot of items there... but if you look at the page counts, that's because there are some very large items in there!
It was nice to see the last part of the PDA reviews. What block of books are up next? Will David ever get that missing book and finish the EDAs? Would also like to see a proper take on the Benny books, but suspect I would have to write that myself. (Yes, there was that brief piece many issues ago, but note the word 'brief' there.) Anyway, nice work there Chris.
Also enjoyed the two big interviews, with Peter Davison and Tony Hadoke... and I'll get to see them myself in the upcoming months (the former interview was done without any knowledge at the time of his later visit).
Then there's the series four reviews. Nice to have a humourous take, made reading them a lot easier. Wouldn't mind seeing more by Mike Searl.
But I am wondering why we have the Radio Times piece. Was TSV crying out for coverage of that particular magazine? I'm reminded of the Back to the Vortex coverage of the news, complete and overly detailed. That was a slog to get through, and I'm guessing there's more where that came from.
A slimmer issue than previous tomes (although mine was slightly padded with extra duplicate pages), and a worthy read aside from that one piece.
[END]
Thursday, 26 March 2009
This must be that "new math"
Some memes have flash int he pan moments, others always stay, and some come and go. One such example of the later is the example of Verizon Math Fail, recently brought to my attention via an xkcd strip (check out the alt-text, which you should do with all those strips!). Note that this was posted over two years ago! As the first link says, this is the sort of thing that, thanks to the internet, can haunt a company for years...
[END]
