The big-ass move started Sunday. We've been packing for a while, but as of Sunday evening I've begun residence in Atlanta again. Peculiarly, I feel something like a newlywed, standing up around the kitchen counter to eat sammiches purchased at the grocery store because we have no furniture yet. Sleeping on a futon mattress because that's what fit ( Read more... )

I always enjoy GenCon, but this year it's definitely a stressor as well as something enjoyable. So much stuff to do before I go. Aileen not going this time. About a week when I get back, or less, before taking Aileen down to Atlanta to start her apprenticeship. GenCon and moving and all this stuff... it's a rough season. At least we won't be ( Read more... )

I actually enjoy reading the occasional Old School Renaissance-type blog post, such as those done by James Malizewski over at Grognardia. I think it's interesting to watch people go back to their old favorite games and strip out all sorts of "modern" methods and techniques of gameplay to find a new (old) experience. The process is neat - even I ( Read more... )

One of the little delights about generic fantasy is the trope of the inn or tavern. Yes, "you all meet in a tavern" is a tremendous cliché - but the tavern, being a snapshot of a culture when they're not at work, is the first and easiest way to establish the character of a place. You could, if you so desired, trace the gamer "fantasy tavern" back ( Read more... )

The Internet's a pretty miraculous thing. Between Aileen's original criteria and the realtor ability to put together a website where you can look at houses online, it's pretty neat to be able to narrow down your options for houses with a weekend spent at home, and then go rapid-tour those suckers in person over a couple of days. And with it being a ( Read more... )

One of the things that I find damn interesting about D&D 4e's design is the concept of the skill challenge. For anyone out there who doesn't chuck around the twenty-siders, essentially these break down as moments where players go in turn to try different skills and accumulate successes in order to achieve a goal. It's sort of like an extended roll ( Read more... )

I wrapped up Season Three of the Azuros game last night, completing Paku's ascension to godhood in time for the move back South. It went well; suitable epicness happened. I'll probably pick up Season Four once we go to Atlanta; no telling whether it'll be a one-on-one season with Aileen, or if I'll recruit other players yet. We'll see how the mood ( Read more... )

Late to the party yet again, as Aileen and I actually wound up getting around to Chronicles of Riddick. Can you tell we're not serious genre fans?

You know, it's not a terrific movie. We knew it wasn't going to be. Yet I am pretty sure that if I had seen it at, say, anywhere between the ages of 8-14, it would have been one of those movies that I ( Read more... )

Scale is something that I maybe don't use to full extent in my home games. For someone who enjoys building fantasy worlds, I don't build many of them. For someone who really enjoyed Planescape, loved working on Umbral supplements for Werewolf, and wound up drawing on Champions in 3-D to close out his college-era Champions game, I actually don't ( Read more... )

Because it's possible that some people might have missed this, and that would be a shame.