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October 4th, 2009
05:19 pm - Reading about writing
I checked out a few books from the library on writing and the writing biz. The one I like the most so far is The Portable Writers' Conference: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Published. It was published in 1997, so I'm sure some of the advice is out of date, but there are a few real gems here, some great motivation, and a solid idea of the processes of such things as finding an agent, writing queries, what an agent does, what a publisher does once the papers are signed (the process of getting a book from manuscript to bookstores) etc. Also some solid writing advice about characterization, dialogue, plotting, conflict, etc. It may not be the latest and greatest in the field, but I'm glad I found it at the library.
Now to find something a bit more recent in the same vein.
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September 26th, 2009
11:49 pm
Let's begin at the beginning. It's time to go to bed, and yet I find I have little desire to do so. Am I tired? Yes. But I'm also perplexed as to why I'm still up.
( Game night falls flat and publishing musings... )
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August 26th, 2009
07:55 am - On Writing and Trepidation
I think I'm pretty anxious about school starting again. New students, new challenges, and I find I've got a sizable amount of trepidation about how this year is going to turn out. I have to keep telling myself that it will be easier than last year, especially because I have no additional study time on the side that I have to do in addition to the regular job. Yet student placement is luck of the draw, and often the difference between a problem class and a good class is one or two students with an attitude.
I want to write. I've wanted to write a novel for a very long time now, perhaps several novels. I'm always jotting ideas down, and I think my prose is engaging. My plotting needs some work. I've entered contests, but not written enough where I felt comfortable submitting to an agent. It would really help to have a finished manuscript of some kind. I've read many books on writing, own several on various topics in that vein. I've felt for a long time that it's something I could really accomplish. Only a few obstacles right now, and I think I know the answers to them, but I guess I need to write them out so I can tackle them. #1 Lack of time. This problem is never going to go away, especially for a guy with 4 kids, a life, and a day job. The answer is to do some writing every day (evening) - to carve out at least an hour or so every day where I have "writing time" without distractions, and more hours on days off if I'm really going to commit to this. #2 Lack of Access to a writing tool (computer). Rather than relying on the family computer (which my wife or kids often use or need to use) I need to get one of my own. I'm not going to write in longhand - I've tried and it takes too long to get my ideas / dialogue / etc. written out. So I need a working laptop or netbook or something that is designated as my writing tool that I have complete and unfettered access to. The wife seems behind this idea, as long as it's for my writing which could lead to additional income (however far down the road that may be). So I need to get something and resolve this asap. #3 My penchant for beginning something and not finishing it - i.e. the abortive writing attempts. There are many reasons for these, but what is the solution? I need to push on through and write a full manuscript, not 30+ pages and then give up. Part of this is plotting and writing for the whole story. Part of this is pure gumption. If I want to get somewhere, I need to just do it. Not quite sure about the complete answer to this one. I guess that's it. Bryan Smart the writer - I'm confident that I can get there. Now I need to do it.
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August 21st, 2009
09:23 am - All good things must come to an end?
Summer is almost over, and I go back to teaching very soon. *sigh*
I guess I should feel lucky to have months off and still be paid, even though teachers are paid far less then employees with comparable degrees. Still, vacation is awesome, and I'm sad to see it go. And I have a job that I enjoy.
In other news -
D&D is going strong. The Friday night group is great, the game is fun, I'm still enjoying DMing and storytelling (though I want more story - which I'm working on). We just hit paragon tier via my quick-through-heroic-tier-because-we've-done-that scheme. The adventures of the group are up to date in our marvelous Obsidian Portal Wiki (yea! they won an Ennie!). Ours is up to date, and gaming is tonight.
The wiki is Agents of the Prime.
Also started a smaller second RPG group during the week. We began with the first in the Scales of War Adventure Path, Rescue at Rivenroar. I'm not sure if this group will be sustainable once school starts, but we'll see.
I received my my copy of Mutants and Masterminds 2nd and a GM Screen I wasn't expecting (Thanks Chris!) and I really like it. So much so, that I find my ideas are turning away from the D&D we're running to M&M. I really want a shot at running a campaign. Not sure when or if that will happen though, as we've committed to the current D&D campaign through 30th level (though at 2-3 sessions a level). For now M&M is on the top of my list of games I'd like to try GMing. I recently finished reading a wildcards novel, so the superhero story creativity is flowing. Maybe it can happen with the smaller game group after/if we finish Rescue at Rivenroar.
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August 10th, 2009
07:52 am - Winning the internet, Green Ronin, and Palladium
Yes - once in a while you win something, and I guess I love to brag a bit. This summer has been a good one for winning.
Earlier this summer Newegg.com drew my name in a giveaway, and I became the proud owner of an 8gb memory stick.
Then I wrote a minotaur barbarian with +5 executioner's axe and sent it to Chris Pramas, President of Green Ronin Publishing, in the hopes of winning his Make My Character contest, wherein he would play the character at an epic D&D game at GenCon. And whaddya know, I won! Now to decide what I want - the prize being $35 of free GR swag. Tough decision.
I broke out a box of old RPGs the other day. I was looking for something to do with my two older kids, aged 6 and 8. I remembered really enjoying Palladium Games when I was younger, and found my TMNT, Heroes Unlimited, and a few other Palladium products. So we decided to try TMNT. The character creation took 2 hours or so, I would guess, over two days. Part of the reason for the length of time is that we had no character sheets (no copier access at home) - but it was only after we were mostly done that I thought I probably should have looked online to find sheets. Anyway, we did it the old fashioned way - pencil on notebook paper. It was a good exercise in writing for the kids, and I was patient as they wrote the sheets out, then we put the characters together.
One of the most fun things about these RPGs is the random character creation. In TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Other Strangeness, you're creating mutant animals who will be comic book-esque heroes. So I let the kids roll for what animal they were to be once, and if they wanted, a second time, but they had to choose one of those animals. So we ended up with:
My daughter as Deadly Chicken, the self-taught knife fighter and wilderness survivalist extraordinaire, with wing gliding and ultraviolet vision ability, and
my son as Strong Elk, the ninja swordsman elk with amazing super strength and sense of smell that speaks almost unintelligibly (at least to everyone he meets except Deadly Chicken).
They rescued a school from a group of mutant farm animal terrorists, though things got dicey against Ferd, the mutant bull and his deadly axe. Good times. Looking forward to a few more adventures before making new characters, perhaps comic characters out of heroes unlimited.
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July 28th, 2009
11:39 am - Jury Duty and I Voted for the Ennies!
Jury duty today. Lots of fun. 2 hours of waiting, and then apparently the defendant took a plea deal, so they let my group go. Now for a well-deserved two year break.
Now I'm home, so I voted for the Ennies. It's just nice to be involved, even if Gencon is a dream vacation for me, rather than a yearly reality.
No game night last week, so hopefully this Friday I'll double the great D&D session gaming goodness. Check out Agents of the Prime on Obsidian Portal to see the up to date campaign entries. In other news, I've been playing Flying Frog Games' Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game with the kids (age 6 and 8) and it's been fun. Heroes 3, Zombies 1. I think the basic scenario/game is slanted toward the heroes winning, but the one advanced scenario we played (Defend the Manor House) the zombies won.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/smile.gif) happy
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June 27th, 2009
06:36 am - New Campaign Kick-Off - read your DMG!
Last night was actually the second session of my new D&D 4e campaign, Agents of the Prime, though it felt like we're still kicking it off as it was the first combat the group had been in. And what a combat it was! Perhaps the most important thing I did all week was re-read the 4e Dungeon Master's Guide for ideas relating to encounters. I decided to try some things to ramp up the combat from the ordinary for my 7 player group. Bullywugs from MM2 were the opponents.( More thoughts on a fun game night after the cut... )
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May 30th, 2009
08:48 am - Avengers and Crunch Time
D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium
This came from an ad banner on Monstropedia, a cool website I just found via Gnome Stew , and then from Monstropedia to this site. I like it. I think the avenger fits me pretty well - a dose of coolness, a dose of religion, and a sometimes single-minded determination to achieve a goal.
It is crunch time. On Monday all my master's work is due. This weekend will be spent on the computer completing it, then after a little over two years, after Monday I will return to the land of the living. My sojourn in the shadow-world of higher education will be done, at least for a little while. And I think it was my avengeriness that got me through. That and a wonderful wife and family. Almost done. Take a deep breath - time to dive back in...
Current Location: At the computer for the weekend
Current Mood: determined
Current Music: Coming soon... Ode to Joy
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March 24th, 2009
01:19 pm - Spring Break Tasks...
Well, I'm enjoying Spring Break. I really needed it.
I really haven't gotten done anything I wanted to until today. I committed to my wife that I would do a few things. One of the major two was to move the wood pile that was left beside the driveway for a few months to the backyard. It took me a few hours this afternoon, but I finished before lunch at 1pm. Woo! The kids helped a bit, too. That was good because I firmly believe that children learn a work ethic through working with their parents when they are young. I'm beginning to feel the soreness from the exertion already. Man am I out of shape.
There were all kinds of interesting things under the wood pile to look at - slugs, millipedes with bunches of clear eggs, termites, pillbugs.... like a mini-dungeon delve or something. The kids were interested, anyway.
Hopefully I'll get to do some other things this week that I want to - Warhammer modeling, priming, painting. More D&D campaign stuff. Finish a cool book I'm reading (Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher) and tomorrow or Thursday my new PC components should arrive from Newegg, so I'll be building my new machine, and finally be able to play games again, I hope. I'm also thinking about buying FFG's Talisman Revised 4th edition. It looks like a great game to play with the kids. Date night tonight with just me and the missus - the babysitter confirmed, so we are good to go. Yay!
Current Mood: excited
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March 14th, 2009
09:36 pm - Checking in
Just wanted to say I'm doing fine. This is a working weekend - Monday is the end of the term, then I'll be two-thirds of the way done with my masters. Yea!
Teaching is teaching. Keeping super busy as only a father of four with limited time at home can. The baby is giving us some sleeping trouble - mostly the wife, as she will get up with her because I go into work early the next day. Wish I had more time at home with the wife and kids, but that will come when night classes and such are over, and I'll be glad I sacrificed the time I did for the career advancement.
The Justicars campaign is still going strong, though we've fallen far behind on updates on Obsidian Portal, though they're coming eventually, just at a much slower pace than the actual gameplay. I'm still working toward having a viable Warhammer Fantasy Dark Elves Army - just acquired a cauldron (buffing station). I'm thinking of modding the hag to a battle standard bearer. I'd like to have all of my pieces together, if not totally painted, by the summer. Well... back to work I guess... *sigh*
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December 22nd, 2008
08:36 pm - Winter Battle
We currently have about eight inches of snow outside, but this morning we had around six. And of course before the last two inches fell I went out to clear the walk - which was 30 minutes of torture. I've never seen this much snow in Oregon, and I've never cleared a walk before. I remember hearing how hard it was, and my wife had a snow shovel that was her mother's - so we decided I should probably do it today, for the mailman if no one else.
So the kids played in the yard, and I cleared the walk, breaking through the middle ice layer with the edge of the shovel and then throwing each shovelful into the yard. I felt like I had run a mile or so after I finished. And now, if I squint just right, I can see the dip in the snow that is the result of my hard work.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/tired.gif) tired
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December 15th, 2008
08:40 pm - ...and again
Today's snow day was a good day. We got out in the yard fairly early, fearing that it might begin to melt before too long. Got some great photos with the kids playing. Then the rest of the day was at home, and very enjoyable, excepting the recurrence of my old stomach complaint. Thank heavens for pharmaceuticals. Finished watching Star Wars IV A New Hope with the kids (their first viewing) with the kids this evening, and then we had a few home-made cookies after. Russian Tea Cakes, or Mexican Wedding Cakes, as they're colloquially called, if you're wondering.
I've been working on assembling my Dark Elf Hydra lately, and got a nice chunk done on it as well - pinned some heads together. Now all I have left is the attachment of neck/head assemblies to the body, and from there basing the piece, and the model assembly will be done. Then it will be time to prime and paint, assuming the weather warms up.. which isn't really a good assumption at this point. I understand for multiple reasons that spray priming in a garage that is under 30F could be bad. Of course, if I don't find an alternative, I may not be able to prime until February. I hope that's not the case.
And I just found out that tomorrow is another school closure day - so my three day weekend just turned into a four day. Woo! Bring on the plastic Cold One Knights.
Current Mood: surprised
Current Music: Star Wars Theme
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December 14th, 2008
08:31 pm - Snow
Woo! Snow in Oregon, in the valley no less. Very rare. Several inches within two hours, even rarer.
I'm crossing my fingers for a snow day at home with my kids tomorrow. There are some perks to being a teacher.
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December 9th, 2008
07:40 pm
Just a week and a half before winter break. Woo hoo!
I've been spending my time lately putting together the Warhammer Dark Elf Spearhead I bought several months ago, but I haven't gotten very far. I've concentrated the last few times I've gotten out the stuff (I don't have a dedicated assembly space, and usually assemble at the table or on a dinner tray in front of the TV after the kids go to bed) on assembling the metal hyrdra, and it's a beast in more ways than one. I'm very meticulous about cleaning, and then about pinning, and then.. you get the idea. It'll take a while.
Summer is when I'll finally have time to get together with friends and play, anyway. Weekly we have the D&D game, and I'd much rather devote my time to that - but when more free time is available, I'm looking forward to rampaging across the table with my Druchii horde - if I ever get it finished. I need harpies, but the current scultps are off-putting, to say the least. So I'm pondering ideas for customizing some other pieces to replace them with.
The D&D is good. We're still updating our Justicars campaign wiki regularly, particularly the adventure log. Everyone seems really involved, and it looks like we're finally getting around to more storyline, diplomacy, and plotting. So far it has been a "chase the bad guy with the artifact and take care of problems they've created along the way" story, so I'm looking forward to a change of pace.
In other news, my kids seem to have finally overcome the flu, but my stress-induced stomach issues came back today. I don't do pain and sickness very well, but I'm grateful to my good wife for taking care of me. I did make it through my teaching day before I came home, and I'm debating whether I call in sick tomorrow. Drugs and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (urg!) and plenty of water seem to be doing the trick.
Current Music: Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut
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November 22nd, 2008
08:49 am - Martial Power, your players, and you
Our weekly game session occurred last night. Just prior to the game, my 7 players leveled their characters from 3rd to 4th level. One of the players had just gotten Martial Power, and it was no surprise to me that 3 out of the 4 martial characters chose new feats from the new book. I looked at them briefly and was fine with the increased advantages of the new stuff, but I hate to think that additional 4e books will often make the core book feats and even some powers suboptimal choices. I guess what I'm saying is:
Let the power creep begin!
Current Mood: Sarcastic
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September 6th, 2008
02:04 pm - Loot, how we split it, and other gaming issues...
Before our first D&D 4th edition campaign began, a few members of the group got together and had a brainstorming session. We did a few unique things when discussing what our first 4th edition campaign would look like:
( Interest piqued? Read more by clicking here... )
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August 31st, 2008
05:46 pm - So ends an epic...
My group's Ptolus campaign finished last Thursday evening. What I had thought would take us one session ended up taking the last two weeks. It was an exciting finish, but perhaps less impact then I anticipated, and with some of my players left scratching their heads as to what it all exactly meant. So this entry is a recap and explanation for the players. If you don't want Ptolus spoilers or the topic doesn't really interest you, there's really no need to read any further. Next week we'll continue with our new Justicars campaign.
( Click here to read after the cut... )
Current Mood: accomplished
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August 21st, 2008
07:50 pm - A smorgasbord of gaming...
Some new gaming purchases today - my first in a while. The new DM's screen. I think the art is great, though I would have liked the creatures to be in different positions, as what will be the center of the screen on the table, and therefore what my players constantly look at, is Galeb Duhr (bipedal rock creatures, I think that's what they're called) and the iconic D&D creatures - beholder, mindflayer, roper, etc. aren't as central to the design. Just a little nitpick. The other thing I haven't checked yet, which is the tables, or should I say the possibility of errata making some of the tables out of date. I'll have to look into it. But the important things seem to be there, at least for me: conditions, cover and concealment, player actions (though not always spelling out what the attributes and target DCs are) and the like. All in all, not everything I would like to have, but I'm pleased never the less.
I also bought pot of black wash from the new line of citadel washes. I was tempted by the FRCS, if nothing else but to stripmine it for ideas, monsters, and the like (I do have one FR fan in my game, so a future FR-based game isn't out of the realm of possibility), but the siren song of future Warhammer Fantasy purchases was too great. I need to save my pennies. Adventurer's Vault is on my must-buy list, however. I'll probably pick up FRCS eventually.
Speaking of WHFB, I played my third game ever yesterday, the second game with all the rules intact, and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately my dwarfs got beat down with a big ol' night gobbo stick once again. My friend and I each purchased the Battle for Skull Pass beginner set, and he's bought a few new pieces to build up his greenskins. I plan on going with the dark elves eventually. Until then, it's dwarfs and goblins. You know a game's got you hooked when you enjoy it despite being on the losing side.
We've played two weeks of our new 4th edition campaign. We started it despite not being done with our Ptolus game, due to players' schedules conflicting, and no one wanting to miss out on the concluding session of Ptolus. So we've had a different roster each of the last two weeks. But the summer's ending, and so are the vacations. The stars have aligned, and tomorrow night everyone will be attending, so Ptolus it is... should be a fun one. Our first two weeks of The Justicars campaign is outlined on our wiki, if anyone else is interested. I'll let you know how the final Ptolus session goes.
Monday night I DM down at the FLGS for all comers - doing Keep on the Shadowfell demo by request of the management. Should be fun.
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August 5th, 2008
08:12 pm - Baby - and the gaming continues...
Yes, it's been almost two weeks since she was born, but my daughter Zoe, she of the raven-haired beauty, was born on July 24. We're finally settling down to a regular routine. I'm glad as a teacher to be off during the summer so I could spend more time with the family. It's been great. New school year is on the horizon. *sigh*
Our gaming hiatus is almost over. Gaming this Friday or Saturday with the group, probably Friday. We have 1-2 sessions left of the Ptolus campaign we've been playing for.. I think almost two years now.
Our new 4e campaign, The Justicars, is really shaping up on the wiki over at Obsidian Portal, and everyone's excited about the new system and the new stories that will come from it. I'm excited to be up to my neck in homebrew potential. Now to come up with some great plothooks and the like.
Current Mood: happy
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July 21st, 2008
09:07 am - When it rains... or is it the circle of life???
What a day yesterday. My wife's blood pressure sent us to the hospital, and now she's on "moderate bedrest" until the birth of #4. At least she didn't have to stay overnight. The downside is that I get to take over most of the household chores, which I really don't mind. In reality, the worst of it is that my wife won't be able to be out and about with me or with the kids. We were hoping to see Indiana Jones before it left theaters, but it doesn't look like it will happen now. And that's only one of several movies in the theater this summer that I've wanted to see but probably won't. Ah, well, no biggie I guess - we'll just catch it on DVD. I'm really glad I get the summer off as a teacher - can't imagine having to ask for emergency leave or whatever with a full-time job for over two weeks (that's when the baby is due and this ordeal will be over).
The same day, in a totally different wing of the same hospital we visited, my maternal grandfather passed away. He'd been on hospice and declining for a while, and so it's not totally a surprise. A WWII vet, my grandfather was really pretty cool as I was growing up. I remember him fighting off the neighbor's pit bull with a 2x4 when it got off leash and came after my brother and I in the backyard one day. He was always very fit, intelligent, and he had a lot of faith. He was a sergeant in the army, and belonged to a "marine tractor battalion" that fought in the pacific. I've got old propoganda of the battalion, like army posters featuring their amphibious tank-like vehicles. Pretty cool stuff. So there will be a funeral coming up sometime soon. I think this may be the first death in the family that my children have really had experience with, as far as having known the person. We have pretty strong religious beliefs, and my daughter has already said she knows that papa went to heaven. And you know what? I do too.
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