Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Secrets Revealed
Colin has noted this.
WotC has published a list of the playtesters for 4th Edition D&D.
I am there. Between Jeff Clare and Jeff Quick.
Yes, I have stories. Buy me a beer sometime.
More later,
WotC has published a list of the playtesters for 4th Edition D&D.
I am there. Between Jeff Clare and Jeff Quick.
Yes, I have stories. Buy me a beer sometime.
More later,
DC: Museums
As tough as the memorials were, the museums were tougher. When I was young, I wanted to "finish" any museum I was in - after all, everyone put so much effort into the work, who was I not to read every plaque, study every exhibit, and search for every hidden gem? In truth, the feet gave out sooner than anticipated and the eyes got that "museum glare" that you see parents get as their kids pinball from display to display. Probably, there has been a study about how much information a museum can contain before the patron's head explodes, but I feel I am below that national average.
The National Air and Space museum was a great example, jam-packed with original equipment and reproductions, packed into a series of huge hangers. Paul Allen's spaceplane it up among the rafters, right next to the Spirit of St. Louis. Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules. The Wright Flyer. The helicopter Ross Perot took non-stop around the world (no, I didn't know he had done that). The original model of the Enterprise (tucked in the toy section of the gift shop - the Lovely Bride had to ask to find it). Interesting, interesting stuff, but by the time I had hit the exhibit on modern aerospace design, I was lagging, and we missed the carrier operations hall entirely. Literally too much stuff, but a harbinger of the future.
It is up in the air which is more depressing, the US Memorial Holocaust Museum or the Museum of the American Indian. The Holocaust museum is still as real and as tangible and as stark as the Vietnam War memorial, and you can see it on the faces of those going through its austre, stark, dramatic halls. A special exhibit on the Munich 1936 Olympics echoes modern situations (I did not know that the Olympic Torch was started for those games, a trek from Greece through territories that would soon be occupied by the Third Reich). The LB and I got into a discussion about whether Olympic boycotts work as far as reducing the evil of hosting countries, or if the Jesse Owens solution (go and beat them) was preferable.
The National Museum of the American Indian is one of the most beautiful buildings on the Mall, but brings with it a different sense of sadness, of the great and diverse cultures that have been lost over the past few centuries. Direct, honest, and up to date (the section on treaties includes the recent Makah whale hunt) it is overwhelming in its force of presenting both an ancient and a modern people.
A small gem was the US Botanical Garden, a small conservatory to one side of the Capitol. They were preparing for a larger show on the ground, but the conservatory itself was a nice stopping point, but I spent way too much time on the benches, resting my aching feet.
Finally, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which shares a building with the National Portrait Gallery. The LB and I, now knowing our limits, chose to eschew the portraits, and even then we were dragging by the time we hit the contemporary phase. A beautiful overview of the American art experience, punctuated by brilliant special shows (Harlem Jazz Era artist Aaron Douglas and a display of movie posters as portraits in particular).
And the frustrating thing in all this is that we had barely scratched the surface, avoiding the Natural History museum and dealing with the American History museum being closed. I suppose there is a next time, but even since one museum may be too much for a day, the host of mall museums may be too much for a typical tourist.
More later,
The National Air and Space museum was a great example, jam-packed with original equipment and reproductions, packed into a series of huge hangers. Paul Allen's spaceplane it up among the rafters, right next to the Spirit of St. Louis. Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules. The Wright Flyer. The helicopter Ross Perot took non-stop around the world (no, I didn't know he had done that). The original model of the Enterprise (tucked in the toy section of the gift shop - the Lovely Bride had to ask to find it). Interesting, interesting stuff, but by the time I had hit the exhibit on modern aerospace design, I was lagging, and we missed the carrier operations hall entirely. Literally too much stuff, but a harbinger of the future.
It is up in the air which is more depressing, the US Memorial Holocaust Museum or the Museum of the American Indian. The Holocaust museum is still as real and as tangible and as stark as the Vietnam War memorial, and you can see it on the faces of those going through its austre, stark, dramatic halls. A special exhibit on the Munich 1936 Olympics echoes modern situations (I did not know that the Olympic Torch was started for those games, a trek from Greece through territories that would soon be occupied by the Third Reich). The LB and I got into a discussion about whether Olympic boycotts work as far as reducing the evil of hosting countries, or if the Jesse Owens solution (go and beat them) was preferable.
The National Museum of the American Indian is one of the most beautiful buildings on the Mall, but brings with it a different sense of sadness, of the great and diverse cultures that have been lost over the past few centuries. Direct, honest, and up to date (the section on treaties includes the recent Makah whale hunt) it is overwhelming in its force of presenting both an ancient and a modern people.
A small gem was the US Botanical Garden, a small conservatory to one side of the Capitol. They were preparing for a larger show on the ground, but the conservatory itself was a nice stopping point, but I spent way too much time on the benches, resting my aching feet.
Finally, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which shares a building with the National Portrait Gallery. The LB and I, now knowing our limits, chose to eschew the portraits, and even then we were dragging by the time we hit the contemporary phase. A beautiful overview of the American art experience, punctuated by brilliant special shows (Harlem Jazz Era artist Aaron Douglas and a display of movie posters as portraits in particular).
And the frustrating thing in all this is that we had barely scratched the surface, avoiding the Natural History museum and dealing with the American History museum being closed. I suppose there is a next time, but even since one museum may be too much for a day, the host of mall museums may be too much for a typical tourist.
More later,
Labels: Washington DC
Sunday, May 11, 2008
DC: Mall, Monuments and Memorials
So the last time I was in Washington DC, it was the Johnson Administration (Lyndon, not Andrew, so keep the smart-alec remarks to yourselves). And the city has changed since then, in that all the buildings are now shorter than they were when I was eight. The Lovely Bride got us a hotel in the Embassy District among the upper letters of the alphabet, and we took the Metro to the mall and walked. A lot.
We did the ever-popular Lincoln and orbitted the queues lines up for the Washington. The Viet Nam memorial, the "Wall" was beautiful and wistful now that all the trees have come in, the depressed pathway cutting off all the street noise. It was also the most packed, a living memorial of school groups and vets and people searching for names. The last is becoming a smaller group over time - the LB and I are 50 and we missed the closing moments of that war.
The Korean War memorial across the way, picks up some of the reflective motifs of the earlier-built Viet Nam, with the reflective wall, this one not filled with names, but with faces. It overlooks a field of ponchoed troops on patrol, silver ghosts moving through the far-off battlefield. It was much less populated, and as a result, more reflective.
The WWII memorial, situated at the feet of the Washington, was grand and expressive, concentrating on the contribution of the states to the larger effort. Open, dramatic, and solid, it was a more triumphant commemoration than either of the walls. It was here that we saw our only protest on the Mall - a group of Filipino WWII Vets seeking their government benefits and pensions.
We also found the Grant memorial, mostly forgotten though it is situated between the Capitol building and the mall itself. At least it is hidden in plain sight, as opposed to the Garfield Memorial (The president, not the cat), which dominates one of the traffic triangles to one side.
We took the long walk around the (overflowing) tidal pool to the Jefferson, a beautiful memorial in my mind in that it is a low dome from a distance, but once you arive it is filled with sweeping, vertical space for the Statue and the man's words. We continued around to find a true gem in the FDR memorial, a series of stone enclaves tracking FDR's terms. The use of stone, water, and bronzes we amazingly effective to make FDR the most humanized of the men honored. His initial bronze was life-sized and shows him in his chair, and at the end has the Yalta-shawled president, larger-than-life, with Fala at his feet worn shiny from the hands. I was impressed deeply by how moving the monument was.
The other thing that dominated the mall was people playing games. We have old pictures of sheep grazing in front of Grant's White House. Now the mall is filled with kickball and fastpitch softball teams from every department and company. That may be the best memorial to modern America, a living one that is always moving, always active.
More later,
We did the ever-popular Lincoln and orbitted the queues lines up for the Washington. The Viet Nam memorial, the "Wall" was beautiful and wistful now that all the trees have come in, the depressed pathway cutting off all the street noise. It was also the most packed, a living memorial of school groups and vets and people searching for names. The last is becoming a smaller group over time - the LB and I are 50 and we missed the closing moments of that war.
The Korean War memorial across the way, picks up some of the reflective motifs of the earlier-built Viet Nam, with the reflective wall, this one not filled with names, but with faces. It overlooks a field of ponchoed troops on patrol, silver ghosts moving through the far-off battlefield. It was much less populated, and as a result, more reflective.
The WWII memorial, situated at the feet of the Washington, was grand and expressive, concentrating on the contribution of the states to the larger effort. Open, dramatic, and solid, it was a more triumphant commemoration than either of the walls. It was here that we saw our only protest on the Mall - a group of Filipino WWII Vets seeking their government benefits and pensions.
We also found the Grant memorial, mostly forgotten though it is situated between the Capitol building and the mall itself. At least it is hidden in plain sight, as opposed to the Garfield Memorial (The president, not the cat), which dominates one of the traffic triangles to one side.
We took the long walk around the (overflowing) tidal pool to the Jefferson, a beautiful memorial in my mind in that it is a low dome from a distance, but once you arive it is filled with sweeping, vertical space for the Statue and the man's words. We continued around to find a true gem in the FDR memorial, a series of stone enclaves tracking FDR's terms. The use of stone, water, and bronzes we amazingly effective to make FDR the most humanized of the men honored. His initial bronze was life-sized and shows him in his chair, and at the end has the Yalta-shawled president, larger-than-life, with Fala at his feet worn shiny from the hands. I was impressed deeply by how moving the monument was.
The other thing that dominated the mall was people playing games. We have old pictures of sheep grazing in front of Grant's White House. Now the mall is filled with kickball and fastpitch softball teams from every department and company. That may be the best memorial to modern America, a living one that is always moving, always active.
More later,
Labels: Washington DC
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Where in the World ...
Friday, May 02, 2008
Cleaning Out the Archive
Natives of Seattle do not have basements. As a result we store all the stuff we would usually keep in a basement in the garage. That's why you pass these homes with three car garages, and the cars are parked in the driveway.
We have a small, narrow, one-car garage that we use primarily for power tools. In addition, we have "The Archive Room" on the first floor. Described in the original brief as a "Mother-In-Law" apartment, it is just a first floor room that we use for storage. Which means old copies of our books. Christmas ornaments. A LOT of comic books. and boxes upon boxes of games.
I'm a packrat and an accumulator, and in the course of 25+ years in the industry, I've glommed onto a lot of stuff. Old autographed gaming modules, small press games that saw small distribution, classics and a lot of general STUFF that I was sure, at one time, I would need.
Now? I'm not so sure, so I'm clearing out the Archive. I am admittedly slow on the technological update and unwilling to deal with the responsibility of sending product out to people, so I've made a deal with my friendly local comic shop, SPY Comics and Cards. THEY are doing the selling, and are a lot more responsible than I am.
Here is the link for the gaming section of their Ebay store. Scan through it to see if you need anything to fill out your collection, or that game you've always been meaning to check out. If this works out, I'll pack up ANOTHER six boxes of old games and we'll do another pass. And since I'm digging down through the files, the games are just going to get older and rarer as I go along.
More later,
Update: And if you have more of a comics interest, or have been reading comics and stopped, or its been a while since you've visited your local comic shop, tomorrow, 3 May, is the day to pay your local shop a visit. It is Free Comic Book Day, so its a chance to see what publishers are doing. Wherever you are, check it out.
We have a small, narrow, one-car garage that we use primarily for power tools. In addition, we have "The Archive Room" on the first floor. Described in the original brief as a "Mother-In-Law" apartment, it is just a first floor room that we use for storage. Which means old copies of our books. Christmas ornaments. A LOT of comic books. and boxes upon boxes of games.
I'm a packrat and an accumulator, and in the course of 25+ years in the industry, I've glommed onto a lot of stuff. Old autographed gaming modules, small press games that saw small distribution, classics and a lot of general STUFF that I was sure, at one time, I would need.
Now? I'm not so sure, so I'm clearing out the Archive. I am admittedly slow on the technological update and unwilling to deal with the responsibility of sending product out to people, so I've made a deal with my friendly local comic shop, SPY Comics and Cards. THEY are doing the selling, and are a lot more responsible than I am.
Here is the link for the gaming section of their Ebay store. Scan through it to see if you need anything to fill out your collection, or that game you've always been meaning to check out. If this works out, I'll pack up ANOTHER six boxes of old games and we'll do another pass. And since I'm digging down through the files, the games are just going to get older and rarer as I go along.
More later,
Update: And if you have more of a comics interest, or have been reading comics and stopped, or its been a while since you've visited your local comic shop, tomorrow, 3 May, is the day to pay your local shop a visit. It is Free Comic Book Day, so its a chance to see what publishers are doing. Wherever you are, check it out.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
DOW Breaks 13000!
Well, SOMEBODY is doing OK in the today's economy, at least.
Actually, the current numbers have reflected a slow but steady build over the past few weeks as it has become clear that you can screw up beyond all human recognition and STILL get the government to cover your backside. If you're a large investment firm, of course.
The rest of you, you're on your own.
Actually, the R-Word is coming up more and more in the media - Recession. Often it is in the form of a question (Are we sliding into a Recession?) or as an assurance (We are as a Nation facing a Recession, but locally we are still strong) or as an accusation (those people over there? THEY'RE in a recession. Have been for years, but we've just been to polite mention it before).
A present general definition is two quarters of negative growth. When I was in High School back in the Nixon years, I thought it was three quarters, but maybe they lost a quarter in a cost-cutting measure.
Recessions are usually defined after the fact, so that if you're asking "Are we in a recession?", the answer is probably - yes, we are. Also, those pants DO make you look fat.
In the meantime, the low-level bribe (sorry, stimulus checks) have gone out, just to show we're even-handed in the favoritism. Sort of like suddenly getting a ocean-view suite on the luxury liner, which suddenly has become available due to the previous occupants taking to the lifeboats. Never mind the ever-increasing slope of the decks, and just enjoy the remainder of the voyage.
Oh, and if you need ice, we have a lot of it up on the deck!
More later,
Actually, the current numbers have reflected a slow but steady build over the past few weeks as it has become clear that you can screw up beyond all human recognition and STILL get the government to cover your backside. If you're a large investment firm, of course.
The rest of you, you're on your own.
Actually, the R-Word is coming up more and more in the media - Recession. Often it is in the form of a question (Are we sliding into a Recession?) or as an assurance (We are as a Nation facing a Recession, but locally we are still strong) or as an accusation (those people over there? THEY'RE in a recession. Have been for years, but we've just been to polite mention it before).
A present general definition is two quarters of negative growth. When I was in High School back in the Nixon years, I thought it was three quarters, but maybe they lost a quarter in a cost-cutting measure.
Recessions are usually defined after the fact, so that if you're asking "Are we in a recession?", the answer is probably - yes, we are. Also, those pants DO make you look fat.
In the meantime, the low-level bribe (sorry, stimulus checks) have gone out, just to show we're even-handed in the favoritism. Sort of like suddenly getting a ocean-view suite on the luxury liner, which suddenly has become available due to the previous occupants taking to the lifeboats. Never mind the ever-increasing slope of the decks, and just enjoy the remainder of the voyage.
Oh, and if you need ice, we have a lot of it up on the deck!
More later,
Labels: Economy
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Origins Nominations
Ah, the Origins Nominations are making their way through the Internet this morning. I'm very pleased to that a) it is a strong year for design and writing, b) I have a lot of friends up for awards, and c) I've actually got something that I wrote in the list (well, 1% of something - Hobby Games: The 100 Best).
Miniature Or Miniatures Line
Skarrd Raze #2 by Dark Age Games
George R.R. Martin Masterworks - Premium Miniature Line by Dark Sword Miniatures, Inc.
Titanius Fury by Dragonfire Laser Crafts Inc.
Bronzeback Titan, HORDES: Evolution Miniatures Line by Privateer Press
Dark Heaven Legends Fantasy Miniatures by Reaper Miniatures
Miniatures Rules
Classic Battletech Published by Catalyst GameLabs, Created by Jordan Weisman, Edited by Michelle Lyons, Diane Piron-Gelman
Saganami Island Tactical Simulator, Second Edition Published by Ad Astra Games, Created by Ken Burnside and Thomas Pope
Forces of WARMACHINE: Pirates of the Broken Coast, Published by Privateer Press, Created by Brian Snoddy and Matt Wilson
AT-43, Published by Rackham, Created by Arnaud Cuidet, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, Nicolas Raoult, and Jerome Rigal
Song of Blades and Heroes, Published by Andrea Sfiligoi, Created by Andrea Sfiligoi
Publication, Fiction
Astounding Hero Tales, Published by Hero Games, Edited by James Lowder
Dragons of the Highlord Skies, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Frontier Cthulhu, Published by Chaosium, Edited by William Jones
The Orc King, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by R.A. Salvatore
The Time Curse, Published by Margaret Weis Productions, Written by James M. Ward
Publication, Non-fiction
40 Years of Gen Con, Published by Atlas Games, Written by Robin D. Laws
Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress: A Girl’s Guide to the Dungeons & Dragons Game, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Shelly Mazzanoble
Grand History of the Realms, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood
Hobby Games: The 100 Best, Published by Green Ronin, Edited by James Lowder
No Quarter Magazine Published by Privateer Press, Nathan Letsinger, editor-in-chief; Eric Cagle, editor; Josh Manderville, art
director
Roleplaying Game
Grimm, Published by Fantasy Flight Games, Written by Robert Vaughn and Christian T. Petersen
The Savage World of Solomon Kane, Published by Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Written by Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Williams (with Shane Lacy Hensley)
CthulhuTech, Published by Mongoose Publishing, Written by Matthew Grau and Fraser McKay
Battlestar Galactica, Published by Margaret Weis Productions, Written by Jamie Chambers
Faery’s Tale Deluxe, Published by Firefly Games, Written by Patrick Sweeney, Sandy Antunes, Christina Stiles, and Robin D. Laws
Aces & Eights, Published by Kenzer & Co., Written by Jolly R. Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, Dave Kenzer,
Jennifer Kenzer and Mark Plemmons
Roleplaying Game Supplement
Legend of the Five Rings: Emerald Empire
Published by Alderac Entertainment Group, Written by Shawn Carman, Richard Farrese, Douglas Sun and Brian Yoon
Pirate’s Guide to Freeport, Published by Green Ronin, Written by Chris Pramas, Robert J. Schwalb, and Patrick O’Duffy
Delta Green: Eyes Only, Published by Pagan Publishing, Written by Dennis Detwiller, Adam Scott Glancy and Shane Ivey
Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords, Published by Paizo Publishing, Edited by James Jacobs, Art by Wayne Reynolds
Ruins of the Wild: Dungeon Tiles 4, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Bruce R. Cordell
Codex Arcanis, Published by Paradigm Concepts, Written by Team Paradigm
Game Support
Dungeon Life: Bendy Walls Published by by Z-Man Publishing
Gamemastery Flip Mat: Tavern, Published by Paizo Publishing
Crystalline Counters, Published by Three Sages Games
Hollow Earth Expedition GM Screen, Published by Exile Game Studio
Dr. Wizard’s Patented Elevation Indicator, Published by Stratus Artworks
Call Of Cthulhu Dice Set Published by Q-Workshop
Collectible Card Game
Bleach Published by Score Entertainment&nb sp;Aik Tongtharadol (lead designer), William Harper (rules editor)
Legend of the Five RingsPublished by Alderac Entertainment Group, Mark Wootton (lead designer), Charles Urbach (cover artist)
The Spoils, by Tenacious Games, Inc., Josh Lytle (lead designer), Patrick Meehan (lead artist)
Board Game Or Expansion
Pillars of the Earth, Published by Mayfair Games, Created by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler
Kingsburg, Published by Elfin Werks, Created by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco
StarCraft: The Board Game, Published by Fantasy Flight Games, Created by Corey Konieczka and Christian Petersen
Last Night on Earth, The Zombie Game Published by Flying Frog Productions, Created by Jason Hill
Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords Published by Red Juggernaut Created by Jim Long
Traditional Card Game
Lifeboat Published by Gorilla Games, Created by Jeff Siadek
Cutthroat Caverns Published by Smirk and Dagger Games, Created by Curt Covert and Justin Brunetto
Bankruptcy Published by Tangent Games, Created by Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee
Zombie Fluxx, Published by Looney Labs, Created by Andrew Looney
Infernal Contraption Published by Privateer Press, Created by Matt Wilson, Jason Soles, Kevin Clark, Erik Breidenstein
Race for the Galaxy Published by Rio Grande Games, Created by Thomas Lehmann
Hmmm, is it possible to split a trophy 100 ways?
More later,
Miniature Or Miniatures Line
Skarrd Raze #2 by Dark Age Games
George R.R. Martin Masterworks - Premium Miniature Line by Dark Sword Miniatures, Inc.
Titanius Fury by Dragonfire Laser Crafts Inc.
Bronzeback Titan, HORDES: Evolution Miniatures Line by Privateer Press
Dark Heaven Legends Fantasy Miniatures by Reaper Miniatures
Miniatures Rules
Classic Battletech Published by Catalyst GameLabs, Created by Jordan Weisman, Edited by Michelle Lyons, Diane Piron-Gelman
Saganami Island Tactical Simulator, Second Edition Published by Ad Astra Games, Created by Ken Burnside and Thomas Pope
Forces of WARMACHINE: Pirates of the Broken Coast, Published by Privateer Press, Created by Brian Snoddy and Matt Wilson
AT-43, Published by Rackham, Created by Arnaud Cuidet, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, Nicolas Raoult, and Jerome Rigal
Song of Blades and Heroes, Published by Andrea Sfiligoi, Created by Andrea Sfiligoi
Publication, Fiction
Astounding Hero Tales, Published by Hero Games, Edited by James Lowder
Dragons of the Highlord Skies, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Frontier Cthulhu, Published by Chaosium, Edited by William Jones
The Orc King, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by R.A. Salvatore
The Time Curse, Published by Margaret Weis Productions, Written by James M. Ward
Publication, Non-fiction
40 Years of Gen Con, Published by Atlas Games, Written by Robin D. Laws
Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress: A Girl’s Guide to the Dungeons & Dragons Game, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Shelly Mazzanoble
Grand History of the Realms, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Brian R. James and Ed Greenwood
Hobby Games: The 100 Best, Published by Green Ronin, Edited by James Lowder
No Quarter Magazine Published by Privateer Press, Nathan Letsinger, editor-in-chief; Eric Cagle, editor; Josh Manderville, art
director
Roleplaying Game
Grimm, Published by Fantasy Flight Games, Written by Robert Vaughn and Christian T. Petersen
The Savage World of Solomon Kane, Published by Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Written by Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Williams (with Shane Lacy Hensley)
CthulhuTech, Published by Mongoose Publishing, Written by Matthew Grau and Fraser McKay
Battlestar Galactica, Published by Margaret Weis Productions, Written by Jamie Chambers
Faery’s Tale Deluxe, Published by Firefly Games, Written by Patrick Sweeney, Sandy Antunes, Christina Stiles, and Robin D. Laws
Aces & Eights, Published by Kenzer & Co., Written by Jolly R. Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, Dave Kenzer,
Jennifer Kenzer and Mark Plemmons
Roleplaying Game Supplement
Legend of the Five Rings: Emerald Empire
Published by Alderac Entertainment Group, Written by Shawn Carman, Richard Farrese, Douglas Sun and Brian Yoon
Pirate’s Guide to Freeport, Published by Green Ronin, Written by Chris Pramas, Robert J. Schwalb, and Patrick O’Duffy
Delta Green: Eyes Only, Published by Pagan Publishing, Written by Dennis Detwiller, Adam Scott Glancy and Shane Ivey
Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords, Published by Paizo Publishing, Edited by James Jacobs, Art by Wayne Reynolds
Ruins of the Wild: Dungeon Tiles 4, Published by Wizards of the Coast, Written by Bruce R. Cordell
Codex Arcanis, Published by Paradigm Concepts, Written by Team Paradigm
Game Support
Dungeon Life: Bendy Walls Published by by Z-Man Publishing
Gamemastery Flip Mat: Tavern, Published by Paizo Publishing
Crystalline Counters, Published by Three Sages Games
Hollow Earth Expedition GM Screen, Published by Exile Game Studio
Dr. Wizard’s Patented Elevation Indicator, Published by Stratus Artworks
Call Of Cthulhu Dice Set Published by Q-Workshop
Collectible Card Game
Bleach Published by Score Entertainment&nb sp;Aik Tongtharadol (lead designer), William Harper (rules editor)
Legend of the Five RingsPublished by Alderac Entertainment Group, Mark Wootton (lead designer), Charles Urbach (cover artist)
The Spoils, by Tenacious Games, Inc., Josh Lytle (lead designer), Patrick Meehan (lead artist)
Board Game Or Expansion
Pillars of the Earth, Published by Mayfair Games, Created by Michael Rieneck and Stefan Stadler
Kingsburg, Published by Elfin Werks, Created by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco
StarCraft: The Board Game, Published by Fantasy Flight Games, Created by Corey Konieczka and Christian Petersen
Last Night on Earth, The Zombie Game Published by Flying Frog Productions, Created by Jason Hill
Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords Published by Red Juggernaut Created by Jim Long
Traditional Card Game
Lifeboat Published by Gorilla Games, Created by Jeff Siadek
Cutthroat Caverns Published by Smirk and Dagger Games, Created by Curt Covert and Justin Brunetto
Bankruptcy Published by Tangent Games, Created by Geoff Habiger and Coy Kissee
Zombie Fluxx, Published by Looney Labs, Created by Andrew Looney
Infernal Contraption Published by Privateer Press, Created by Matt Wilson, Jason Soles, Kevin Clark, Erik Breidenstein
Race for the Galaxy Published by Rio Grande Games, Created by Thomas Lehmann
Hmmm, is it possible to split a trophy 100 ways?
More later,
Monday, April 28, 2008
Benched
And then I pitched backwards, head over heels, and landed in the wet grass. I took it as a sign.
OK, let me back up. At the office, our personal phones are our desk phones. So we have a lot more mobility, and when we get a personal call, most of us walk out of the design room. And since it was a nice day, when I got this particular personal call, I walked out into the business park itself.
I've mentioned this place before. We're just south of Bellevue, in the lowlands between the town and Mercer Slough. We have a lot of wildlife, and the waterways were particularly high today as a result of some heavy rains that swept through in the morning. So I walked and talked and eventually came to the bench behind one of the buildings.
It's an old bench, the elements have stripped the wood to its bare varnish and the cast iron supports held together by black paint and memory. Still, its in a nice area, and I sat down. And as I talked, I leaned back. Did I mention that we had heavy rains that morning?
Near as I can figure, the ground was soft beneath the bench, so when I leaned back, I just kept on going, sprawling backwards and in the process sheering off one of the cast-iron legs (It was orange with rust all the way through - I think that's bad). I apparently made an interesting noise as I tumbled over, according to the person I was speaking with.
So the question is - why is the phrase "Head over Heels", anyway? You head is always over your heels. In this case, it was Heels over Head.
Anyway, the ground was soft, and there was little damage done except for personal embarrassment and wet elbows and knees as I pulled myself up. And I went back to my office and had them informed that a) the bench was broken, and b) I had done the breaking. So nothing more on that front.
And now, late in the evening, I've got a bit of a twinge, probably from the tumble. But a hot tub should be able to fix that. Oddly, this was the highpoint of the day.
More later.
UPDATE So STAN! provided me with a link in which a breathy, busty, Russian supermodel explains english words and phrases. Safe for Work, but then, I work at a place where they've been playing GTA IV on the big flatscreen all day (and speaking professionally, I am SO jealous of their opening credits).
OK, let me back up. At the office, our personal phones are our desk phones. So we have a lot more mobility, and when we get a personal call, most of us walk out of the design room. And since it was a nice day, when I got this particular personal call, I walked out into the business park itself.
I've mentioned this place before. We're just south of Bellevue, in the lowlands between the town and Mercer Slough. We have a lot of wildlife, and the waterways were particularly high today as a result of some heavy rains that swept through in the morning. So I walked and talked and eventually came to the bench behind one of the buildings.
It's an old bench, the elements have stripped the wood to its bare varnish and the cast iron supports held together by black paint and memory. Still, its in a nice area, and I sat down. And as I talked, I leaned back. Did I mention that we had heavy rains that morning?
Near as I can figure, the ground was soft beneath the bench, so when I leaned back, I just kept on going, sprawling backwards and in the process sheering off one of the cast-iron legs (It was orange with rust all the way through - I think that's bad). I apparently made an interesting noise as I tumbled over, according to the person I was speaking with.
So the question is - why is the phrase "Head over Heels", anyway? You head is always over your heels. In this case, it was Heels over Head.
Anyway, the ground was soft, and there was little damage done except for personal embarrassment and wet elbows and knees as I pulled myself up. And I went back to my office and had them informed that a) the bench was broken, and b) I had done the breaking. So nothing more on that front.
And now, late in the evening, I've got a bit of a twinge, probably from the tumble. But a hot tub should be able to fix that. Oddly, this was the highpoint of the day.
More later.
UPDATE So STAN! provided me with a link in which a breathy, busty, Russian supermodel explains english words and phrases. Safe for Work, but then, I work at a place where they've been playing GTA IV on the big flatscreen all day (and speaking professionally, I am SO jealous of their opening credits).
Obligatory Dandelion Post
So this weekend was clear and warm, a rarity in spring in the Pacific Northwest. So I spent it writing and playing games (Civ and Legos Star Wars), but mostly I spent it in the backyard, in hand-to-hand battle with dandelions.
Whenever anyone or anything really bothers me, to the point that I would say "I hate that!" I ask myself if I hate that person or thing as much as I hate dandelions. And the answer is usually no. I think I have a mania about them, a red-hot hate that burns deep within me. So I am out in the back yard, puncturing the mossy soil with my yard weasel (a cane-like device with a gripping ring of nails at the base), uprooting the evil plants and cackling, literally cackling, as I ripped them from the soil.
And I can't explain the hate. It's not the color, since in three weeks buttercups of the exact shade will come up and the lawn will look nice. And its not the invasive plant thing, since there are worse offenders in the lawn (but then, they're green). And its not just being a dandelion, since there is usually a later crop in high summer, when the grass stops growing, which are taller and have woodier stems. Them, I do not hate. But these dandelions? With their hollow, milky stems and bright yellow heads? Them, I hate.
And I have paid for that hatred, in the form of a small blister on my thumb from uprooting the plants all day. But still, its a good pain, to be cherished and nourished as a reminder of the hate - which will last until the next sunny day, where I will be confronted with another crop of them.
More later,
UPDATE: Apparently, my plight has moved Colin to thoughts of vivid political imagery and revenge.
Whenever anyone or anything really bothers me, to the point that I would say "I hate that!" I ask myself if I hate that person or thing as much as I hate dandelions. And the answer is usually no. I think I have a mania about them, a red-hot hate that burns deep within me. So I am out in the back yard, puncturing the mossy soil with my yard weasel (a cane-like device with a gripping ring of nails at the base), uprooting the evil plants and cackling, literally cackling, as I ripped them from the soil.
And I can't explain the hate. It's not the color, since in three weeks buttercups of the exact shade will come up and the lawn will look nice. And its not the invasive plant thing, since there are worse offenders in the lawn (but then, they're green). And its not just being a dandelion, since there is usually a later crop in high summer, when the grass stops growing, which are taller and have woodier stems. Them, I do not hate. But these dandelions? With their hollow, milky stems and bright yellow heads? Them, I hate.
And I have paid for that hatred, in the form of a small blister on my thumb from uprooting the plants all day. But still, its a good pain, to be cherished and nourished as a reminder of the hate - which will last until the next sunny day, where I will be confronted with another crop of them.
More later,
UPDATE: Apparently, my plight has moved Colin to thoughts of vivid political imagery and revenge.
Labels: Lawn
