User blogs
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Since I started Gamer+ I have been running the Oxwall social network software. Unfortunately the most recent version of Oxwall was written in 2016 which in internet years means it's an antique.
Not only that it's not working well and I barely got some of the pages working at all after the new sql server update.
So ...
I am going to archive the existing Gamer+ site. All posts, photos, etc. will be available to read but there will be no new members or new posts on the Oxwall vesrion of Gamer+.
I am going to install a new Gamer+ social network site using the federated software, friendica. If you are already on mastodon, peertube, funkwhale, or other federated services you will be able to follow and share with Gamer+ users.
And/or you can start an account at the new Gamer+ and continue posting to Gamer+ just ike you have in the past.
Change is hard but change is good. And this sounds right to me. I'm looking forward to it.
Our 200th Episode Celebration is live!
This episode Sean and I share a special piece of feedback, each share our top 25 games of all time, announce our biggest giveaway ever, spend some time with the chatroom, thank all of our Patreon patrons and more!
Inspired Unreality is held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Here's more info and a link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
At the last Inspired Unreality we had a nice AI Art show and tell. Alan posted these pictures he generated for his Chronicles Of Ember RPG.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/144
Here's a link to Alan's page.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
TabletopBellhop says, Check out The 199.5 Bonus Episode.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5060
Vivian and I had a big old time last weekend. We took a short trip to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, to visit Eclectic Geekery and play a set at Beatle's Park.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/EclecticGeekery
Here's a link to my Youtube video edited from my livestream.
https://youtu.be/73vDatM6DSs
Hairy Larry playing Chill Jazz Piano at Beatles Park.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/1011
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Our Latest Podcast Episode Is Live!
Check out "The 199.5 Bonus Episode" where we review Dulce from Stronghold Games, share where we have been, talk about Star Trek Games, the hate for Catan, family games over Zoom and more!
We also set the date for episode 200! Which we will record live on March 8th, which you aren't going to want to miss!
https://tabletopbellhop.com/podcast/ep199point5/
Inspired Unreality is held at 11:00 AM Central on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
You can't really follow the controversy without some skin in the game so I've been doing some AI Art generation while I continue to read about issues. I even discussed AI music composition at my last lesson and have more to cover next week.
About that controversy.
Generative AI is a legal minefield
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5046
U.S. Copyright Office Rules A.I. Art Can’t Be Copyrighted
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5029
Art-istic or Art-ificial?
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5028
And I've been generating elves.
Two Elves Walked Into A Magic Forest
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/142
Midjourney Dark Elves
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/141
Do you play Diablo? Check out Crucial Tips For A Diablo 2 Ladder Season Start from mmowts's blog.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/1001
Please forward this email to your AI friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/1007
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link, here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I wrote a book.
"Lost In The Woods", a readaloud fantasy book by Larry Heyl using AI artwork.
Soon to be a Zine and a Minizine.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5023
And, speaking of AI Artwork, ain't it interesting how intellectual property rights are being shunted aside by highly mobile fandoms.
Paizo’s Jim Butler discusses ORC, OGL 1.1, and more
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5024
This artist is dominating AI-generated art. And he’s not happy about it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5017
I will say this about AI Art. It certainly is addictive.
Please forward this email to your AI friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/1000
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. We want to know what interests you.
Caper finished the Harshnag song in our family game, so for an opening topic I will unveil that.
In two weeks the topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction. We've moved to the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month to give us more flexibility on our trips to Eclectic Geekery in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Beatles Park here I come. (As soon as it warms up.)
I invented the supernatural 20.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5004
Did you ever want a really remote monastery on one of your quests?
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/5002
I wrote "Mouse Plural", A Jupiter's Ghost Super Short.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/998
Jupiter's Ghost is a collaborative effort to create a Science Fiction setting that can be used by anyone.
https://intergalactic.computer/
The Jupiter's Ghost creations are licensed CC BY-SA.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Please forward this email to your geeky friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/999
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
If we have houses
Why not mouses
If we have mice
Why not hice
I have done extensive research using an ancient computer program called the Wayback Machine.
The truth is there is no such thing as mouse singular. There is never one mouse, they come in families.
If a group is a nest
What about the rest?
The rest are in another nest.
What we have on the ship is what used to be referred to as a house mouse. Ship mouse doesn't rhyme but it will have to do.
The problem I foresee is their breeding. Mice begin breeding when they are 30 days old. Then they have litters. And then back to breeding. In thirty days all the mice in the litter are breeding.
Computer scientists call this an exponential explosion. Look at the graph of an expoential explosion. It's frightening.
If mice go unchecked on the ship, exponentially exploding and eating and eating, we will soon leave post scarcity behind and we'll all be eating mice.
The Wayback Machine mentioned an ancient predator called cats that were used to keep the mice population under control.
I'm not sure what a cat is but apparently humans like cats more than mice. Cats also have litters of kittens so it's competing exponential explosions.
A clowder of cats
makes kindles of kittens
and they're so cute!
I saw pictures on the Wayback Machine and mice are really cute too.
For some reason there are thousands of pictures of cats for every picture of a mouse.
So maybe they won?
We better find out where we can get cats sometime in the next 30 days.
---
Licensed CC BY-SA
Jupiter's Ghost is free culture collaborative science fiction.
https://intergalactic.computer/
Inspired Unreality open game chat will be held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 11:00 AM to Noon, Central Time.
The Holidays may be over for you but we've got one more Holiday to go. We have a birthday party on January 14, so Inspired Unreality will resume starting on January 28.
If You Play You Win actual play will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 1:00 in the afternoon at Eclectic Geekery and on the internet. Some days we will be Cozy Adventuring In Tobbins Shire. Some days we'll have a one off with guest DMs. Some days I'll be livestreaming chill jazz piano in Beatles Park. On those days we will skip the actual play.
We hope to resume If You Play You Win in February depending on the weather and the Covid stats. If You Play You Win is also subject to Eclectic Geekery availability so, as always, we will send a Gamer+ News announcing our events.
In my other newsletter I discuss Bebop Beatniks new album, "Church".
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4998
I also talk about it some on my podcast, From The Archives Of Something Blue.
https://sbblues.com/2022/12/31/dj-hairy-larry-presents-bebop-beatniks-playing-gotta-lotta/
I got a nice Christmas present from my granddaughter, DM Lizard.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4997
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/SearchingForGyphons
Did you ever want to run an adventure in colorful mountains? Here's a photo gallery of free culture and creative commons photos taken right here on Earth.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/138
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/997
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Here's the link to free download and streaming at archive.org.
https://archive.org/details/bebop-beatniks-church
Or if your prefer Youtube Music.
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mf1d0SMAHV60JyGIA-a-i5L0GsFUWfM-Y
I talk about the new album and my song, "Gotta Lotta" on From The Archives Of Something Blue. Here's a link to the podcast on the Something Blue website.
https://sbblues.com/2022/12/31/dj-hairy-larry-presents-bebop-beatniks-playing-gotta-lotta/
Don't miss Something Blue this Saturday, January 7, to hear some more jazz released in 2022 by Joshua Redman, Mary Halvorson, and Wadada Leo Smith.
Something Blue is broadcast on KASU, 91.9 FM and streaming on the internet at kasu.org, every Saturday at 10:00 PM Central.
It got cold in November. And then it got cold again in December. As far as Vivian and I are concerned we've had enough of that for one winter.
We had a great Christmas with most of our family here on Christmas Eve and then a big family Christmas with all of our kids and grandkids on New Years Day.
It don't get no better than that.
Stay in touch. Let me know about your projects and your news.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
FollowMeAndDie posted a video and a blog.
"In my latest blog post I discuss the Saint Mark Turnip Festival invented by my players."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4962
"My Latest YouTube Video: Mastodon For New Users - Twitter Refugees is live on YouTube."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4961
I post my Mastodon link at the bottom of every Gamer+ news.
My daughter Megan has been giving me advice on new Fantasy and Science Fiction novels. She says, "Readers are the best people because they see the world through many sets of eyes. They know both that their experiences are not unique and that no one sees the world in quite the same way as them."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4965
And I posted the video of Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians live at Blues Fest, 2022.
https://youtu.be/YO-_K4y9WIY
Enjoy!
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/995
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die posted about his twitch stream called How To Mastodon For Twitter Users - Keep in Touch with fellow TTRPG folks with the possible demise of Twitter.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4945
You may have noted my Mastodon link in the signoff of these emails. I've been communicating in the fediverse for years. Mastodon is open source software run all over the world by businesses and hobbyists. I think it's about to achieve critical mass whether Twitter survives or not.
The fediverse is decentralized so you kind of have to shift gears in your head. Other apps besides Mastodon can communicate with Mastodon users, for example you can share your Peertube videos to Mastodon accounts and the replies somehow end up on your Peertube account.
Very interesting.
I posted 15 brilliant color fantasy illustrations from "The Russian Story Book" drawn by Frank C. Pape. Published in 1916 the illustrations are public domain.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/136
Here's a joke I posted in the Newsfeed.
---
A priest, a pastor and a rabbit entered a clinic to donate blood. The nurse asked the rabbit: “what’s your blood type?”
“I’m probably a type O”, said the rabbit.
---
I get plenty of those.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/994
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Our family is coming in so there will be no Inspired Unreality open game chat in the morning. We will be back in two weeks on November 19. And then December 3 should finish the year. So, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. Wait! Didn't we just have Halloween?
For more info about Inspired Unreality and Gamer+ go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We went to Eclectic Geekery last Sunday and I enjoyed playing in Lizard's 5e game. I've never been an Elven Bard before. I lean to halfling.
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
I posted two public domain photo albums of fantasy art.
Etteilla’s Livre de Thot Tarot (ca. 1789)
Selected cards from a full Tarot deck.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/134
The Children Of Odin
The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum illustrated by Willy Pogany 1920.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/135
I also have an interesting music project going, Creative Commons Jazz.
https://jazz.mixremix.cc/music.htm
Make a playlist for your next game. Enjoy!
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/993
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. We've been enjoying our explorations of Tobbins Shire and personally, I really dig Caper's sketchbook.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/133
Inspired Unreality is held on the first and third Saturdays each month except coming up in November and December we're on Holiday hours, first Saturday only.
For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Caper's sketchbook was actually drawn across 42 years by a female mycologist named M. F. Lewis. Now public domain.
Blues Fest was a blast with Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians opening the festival. We had more than a few of us who are Related To Geeks on stage and several guests as well.
https://relatedtogeeks.com/
I added an audio player to my Creative Commons Jazz library and it made all the difference. It's handy being able to enqueu and play entire albums.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4905
Please forward this email to interested parties and share this link!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/992
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
It's a big topic and one we love to talk about. If you're into novels, short stories, movies, television series, or games, if it's fantasy and science fiction it's on topic. Let us know what you think about the new stuff or the old stuff. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I write super shorts. The thing I like about super shorts is that you can finish a story in one sitting. Here's one of my favorites.
Hegel, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein
by Larry Heyl
It was my brother Jeff who was the doer. Always making things, working on this or that, good at math and physics in school.
I was the thinker. Always gazing off into the distance pondering the big questions. What is life? What is death? What is man? What is woman?
It’s that last one that really puzzled me. Jeff got married, started his own business, got rich. I got tongue tied around girls, took a philosophy degree, and had an income commensurate with my degree. I check the want ads daily. Never have I seen Philosopher Needed - Top Dollar.
So I never understood why the aliens abducted me. It was Jeff they wanted. They must have got their wires crossed.
Now I’m not gay but I didn’t mind the anal probe so much. Learning the alien language wasn’t too bad either. They put a silver disc on my forehead and I started talking to them. It was the interview that really got them.
They kept asking about stuff I didn’t know, technology, armaments, rocket ships, manufacturing. I wasn’t much help. But I gave them a good dose of Hegel, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein. I don’t think they were ready for that. They started babbling. They sent me up the ladder. I kept expounding and their confusion deepened. Evidently philosophy wasn’t their strong suit. Like I said they got the wrong guy.
They could only deal with me for so long. Before I knew it they had beamed me back home and departed Earth post haste. And that’s how I saved the world with philosophy.
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry190110-110731
Click the link to see the great public domain art I found to illustrate this story.
I had a composition recital last Monday. It was great to perform with Bebop Beatniks again. I livestreamed the show and made a movie.
https://youtu.be/1SbuCbEu1v8
We will be playing at Blues Fest at the Craighead Forest Bandshell on October 9. Here's the schedule.
2:00 PM Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians
3:00 PM Bebop Beatniks
4:00 PM In The Gray
5:00 PM Anna and the Tanks
Pics here too.
https://deltaboogie.com/bluesfest2022/
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. Or maybe they like jazz or science fiction.
Share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/991
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Jazz In The Forest
Craighead Forest Bandshell
Monday, September 26, at 6:00 PM
Free and open to the public
Repertoire
---
African Violet
The Blue Crane
Low Earth Orbit
Sail Boats
Malaysia
All songs by Larry Heyl
Personnel
---
Bebop Beatniks
Joseph Curtis - trumpet and flugelhorn
Jeremy Jackson - bass
Alex Washam - drums
Conley Hunt - auxiliary percussion
Larry Heyl aka Hairy Larry - piano and vocals
And here's the Blues Fest schedule for October 9.
Blues Fest 2022
Craighead Forest Bandshell
Jonesboro, Arkansas
October 9, 2022
2:00 PM
Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians
3:00 PM
Bebop Beatniks
4:00 PM
In The Gray
5:00 PM
Anna and the Tanks
Picnics permitted.
Free and open to the public.
Bring yard chairs and blankets for your comfort.
There are photos at this link.
https://deltaboogie.com/bluesfest2022/
So this is really big news for me. I'm as excited as a podcaster.
Please let me know what you've been doing. I love hearing from newsletter readers.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
When we started doing Inspired Unreality open game chat every week we were younger. And yet, somehow, even though we're retired, we now have more responsibilities. So we're going to have to scale back.
Instead of weekly we are moving to twice a month. On the first Saturday we will discuss fantasy and science fiction. On the third Saturday we will continue questing in Milyagon or Tobbins Shire.
So, tomorrow is the third Saturday and we will be questing. Please join us to play or just stop on by to say hi and chat for a few minutes. We're always glad to hear from you.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Eclectic Geekery has changed their hours. And, starting in November they will have Holiday hours and be open every day except Monday.
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
You may have noticed that they are opening on Saturdays at noon now instead of 10:00 AM. So, Inspired Unreality will no longer be hosted at Eclectic Geekery for our quests.
We will, however, do other projects with them in the future. What exactly that will be, we shall see. Our daughters run the store and I am committed to resuming our visits after the current surge dies down.
FollowMeAndDie posted about the Gateway To Adventure Trilogy For Old-School Essentials Kickstarter.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4888
And Blues Fest is back. On October 9 at the Craighead Forest Bandshell my friend Doug Butler is continuing the Blues Fest tradition. We don't have a full schedule yet but I will be playing chill jazz piano as well as with my family band, Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians. I will post the full schedule and more details in the next Gamer+ News.
Which will be in two weeks. Because Gamer+ News is going on a twice a month schedule too. We will continue to remind you of Inspired Unreality on the Friday before we gather together to chat and play. So, see you there. Saturday September 17, at 11:00 AM. This is your reminder.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/989
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
So. This week on Inspired Unreality our topic will be fantasy and science fiction kicked back one week. Please join us to discuss this niche that now dominates popular entertainment.
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
While browsing tumblr I found some more great fantasy artwork. Here's a link to a link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4885
Even though we missed last week we did discuss science fiction. My daughter read a column she had written about a generational shift away from personal contact where younger people prefer to order for themselves in an app rather than call in an order and talk to a person.
That reminded me of my super short.
AI Autocomplete
by Larry Heyl CC-BY
In the future everyone will have AI Autocomplete, first for writing, then for talking. The AI will be so good that it soon starts guessing right 100% of the time. People select the Just Say It For Me option since their AI Autocomplete always guesses right.
This is the future of humanity, packhorses for AI Autocompletes talking to each other.
Or is it already happening now?
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry180208-201254
Click the link for some great artwork that really fits the story well.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/988
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
It's still in the planning stages and we don't have a firm date or band list yet but Doug's band is going to play, I'll be opening, playing chill jazz piano, and, hopefully, a couple more acts will fill out an afternoon of music.
I am helping but this is Doug's project. I think it's great. I've been playing at the bandshell but I've missed Blues Fest. Vivian and I are just to old to put on that kind of show anymore but you know I will be helping out however I can.
More details to come in the next Delta Boogie Newsletter and on Delta Boogie.
https://deltaboogie.com
Even though I graduated last December with my second degree I'm back in school again taking composition lessons. I am rehearsing for a jazz recital where I will play five of my songs with Bebop Beatniks.
Here's a link to me livestreaming my recital repertoire.
https://youtu.be/kjVh_VR7vPo
I wrote two woodwind quintets last term and I am working on getting them read, rehearsed, and performed. Maybe by The Howling Winds, a student woodwind quintet with a bari sax instead of a bassoon. That will take a slight rewrite.
And the composition studio is writing for the trombone studio this term so I'm going to arrange "Bunnies" for a jazz band with a trombone front line.
All of this is really exciting to me.
Please let me know what you've been doing, musically or otherwise.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I finished "Gideon The Ninth" and while I'm waiting for "Harrow The Ninth" I'm reading "The House In The Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune. Megan recommended it and she also recommended a beautifully written book, "This Is How You Lose The Time War" by Amal El-Mohtar. She's reading it with the Eclectic Geekery fantasy/sf book club.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/EclecticGeekery
Join us tomorrow for more fantasy and science fiction.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Here Lies The Hatchet. Vivian said the words that inspired this meme. I found the public domain photo by Linnaea Mallette at publicdomainpictures.net. Megan created the engraved effect in GIMP. It was a family effort.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4875
It's a little early for Halloween but Megan disagreed. Please share.
Here's some great fantasy illustrations by Donn P. Crane published in "Journeys Through Bookland" in 1922. All illustrations are public domain.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/130
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/986
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unrealiy is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Go here for more info and a link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next Saturday the topic will be fantasy and science fiction.
We had family game last Saturday with DM Carl, Courtney, Emily, Connor, Hairy Larry, and Vivian. I was having too much fun gaming with my grandkids to follow Vivian's lead into a much more creative ending. She was Clair the Cleric and she was converting the Spider Monsters. But we killed them first.
Not really my style. I find dice marathon combat boring but like I said I was right in there with the rest of the fighters. I do have to say the spiders had kidnapped the farmers son. They weren't really good spiders. But I need to pay closer attention to Vivian's lead. She comes up with the best stuff.
I'm back in school with three projects under way.
I am rehearsing for a jazz recital with five of my original songs. Bebop Beatniks at the Craighead Forest Bandshell. We will be livestreaming the band rehearsals and the performance plus videos and an album. At least that's the plan.
I wrote two woodwind quintet pieces last term and the Astate woodwind quintet, the Howling Winds, is going to play them. They have a bari sax instead of a bassoon so that will take a few adjustments.
We are working with the trombone studio this term as part of our composition lessons. I'm going to do an arrangement of "Bunnies" for a jazz band with a trombone front line.
Exciting!
Talking to Megan she told me many indie authors are doing audiobooks of their own work and posting them on Youtube. So I thought I could do that with my stories. I could even take some printouts along when we're Guerilla Livestreaming Scenic Northeast Arkansas and Guerilla Livestream some audiobooks.
Fun!
What have you got in the oven? Inquiring minds want to know. My contact info is below or better yet post to Gamer+.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/984
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
So, Saturday morning in the best tradition of DMs everywhere, we're winging it. We may play. We may chat. We will be there. Come and join us if you can.
We are planning on resuming actual play at Eclectic Geekery and on the internet next month.
Sometimes you don't get to do things exactly the way you planned. But there is a silver lining. Our son, DM Carl, is coming to visit. We always have a good time visiting with his family and playing old school D&D. I even cleaned the back porch aka the family room aka the new twitch studio. So that will be great.
Later this weekend we'll have a big family gathering with DM Kier, DM Carl, and DM Hairy Larry all getting together with our families over at Gretchen's house. She's not a DM but both of her sons are. We've got a lot of DMs in our family.
I'd like to say that they're a chip off the old block except they were all DMing way before I took it up. I just love playing too much to want to be the DM. Actually it was creating the Milyagon locale and the Just Quest RPG system that led me to become a DM. And then that led me to Tobbins Shire and our current campaign.
Everyone's going to level up after solving the mystery of Mister Mistmeister. Not only did we save the shire from the mist we found a new home for the acorn people. I wrote this first Tobbins Shire quest up in a booklet including extremely cute acorn people artwork by Dubanci.
You can download the booklet pdf or view it flat at this link.
https://hairylarryland.com/milyagon/
On the music front, school starts next week and I am already rehearsing for a jazz recital. I wrote two woodwind quintet pieces last term and I hope to get them played too. Stay tuned for links to the recordings.
Here I am practicing my recital repertoire, five original jazz songs.
https://youtu.be/kjVh_VR7vPo
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/983
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Next week we'll be adventuring in Tobbins Shire again at Eclectic Geekery in Walnut Ridge. This is a hybrid game played around the table and on the internet. Turns out the technical side of this may be easier than I thought. We shall see.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more information and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week we discussed fantasy and science fiction, mostly fantasy. This week I've been reading Science Fiction, "The Calculating Stars" by Mary Robinette Kowal, winner of the Hugo and Nebula best novel awards in 2019. It's an alternate history based on space exploration and it is also an experiment in writing old school science fiction assuming that the novel is contemporaneous with the story. It's been very interesting and like all great science fiction it deals with a lot of difficult social questions concerning America then and now.
I continue working on "The Story Of Mister MistMeister And His Many Transformations" proofreading for typos and doing minor rewrites for clarity. Here's the link to the pdf files.
https://hairylarryland.com/milyagon/
I timed it last night and it takes a half hour to read aloud. Great story with a lot of humor and you can clearly see the game behind the adventure.
Saturday NEA Gamers Guild is holding a library game day in Jonesboro and Sarah and Kier will be helping with that while Megan holds down the fort at Eclectic Geekery. I am looking forward to visiting with family both this Saturday and next when we'll take the drive to Walnut Ridge for more visiting and Just Quest.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1176261366287803
https://www.minizines.cc/flat/?x=entry:entry200105-065552
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/982
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
And then they hit me with a free Brandon Sanderson Wayne and Wax novel, "The Alloy Of Law". And coming out in November, "The Lost Metal" will conclude the Wayne and Wax series.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4862
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I also want to mention that "The Sandman" by Neil Gaiman is on Netflix.
Vivian and I started our Tobbins Shire campaign in February and it was so much fun it turned into a monthly feature on Inspired Unreality. In May we moved our table to Eclectic Geekery while still maintaining our presence in the gamerplus chat rooms. And last month we finished our first story arc.
So I took all of the session summaries and background info and turned it into a 16 page booklet, "The Story Of Mister Mistmeister And His Many Transformations". It's a hoot!
Just today I added Acorn People illustrations by Dubanci. Here's his website.
https://dubanci.cz/
And here's a link to the pdf files for the booklet and, if you can't print duplex or want to read online, to an 8 1/2 x 11 version.
https://hairylarryland.com/milyagon/
Please share "The Story Of Mister Mistmeister And His Many Transformations" by forwarding this email to your gaming friends and sharing this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/981
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
My grandson, Conley, joined me at Craighead Forest Park on July 13, 2022, to Guerilla Livestream Craighead Forest Lake. We played behind the bandshell with the lake behind us. We didn't get any ducks or geese swimming behind us but you can here them on the recording.
https://youtu.be/y6U2L5qSn3o
Thanks to Robin and Jerry for coming out to enjoy the music.
Since then I played two solo shows.
Hairy Larry Guerilla Livestreaming The Big Pines July 18, 2022
https://youtu.be/oyp6QZ2HkGk
Hairy Larry Guerilla Livestreaming In The Sun July 26, 2022
https://youtu.be/hBPwcTXbuNc
Enjoy!
The Story Of Mister Mistmeister And His Many Transformations
Starting last February Ari and Caper have been adventuring in Tobbins Shire, west of Milyagon, through Wilken Woods, and across the river. We've been campaigning once or twice a month, sometimes with more PCs, and in July we finished a story arc.
I turned all of the session summaries into a booklet that can be downloaded here.
https://hairylarryland.com/milyagon/
My daughters, Sarah and Megan, have opened a books, games, and hobby store in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, and the last three sessions were played at their store.
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
So it's been a good month for us in spite of the heat wave. I hope you've been staying cool and staying busy. Please let me know about your projects, music, and art.
Thanks,
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more information and an invite link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week is the first Saturday in August so we'll be discussing Fantasy and Science Fiction.
For an opening topic this week I am turning to "The Wizard and the Djinn", a setup for a D&D one off that I wrote almost 2 years ago.
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry201125-112710
I don't really write modules. I do a setup, then goals, and I try to have assets ready, like pregens, NPCs, monster stats, maps, and pictures, to keep the gameflow smooth. I think it's more fun if the PCs determine the arc of the quest with their decisions in game.
So, we can chat about this awhile and then move right along to your favorite prepared or unprepared topic.
Here's a nice painting of Neil Gaiman and a link to his free short stories on the internet.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4856
And I found some acorn illustrations for "The Story of Mister MistMeister and his Many Transformations". I think I've got everything I need but we'll see when I do the layout. In addition to my blog post I'm going to do a PDF file that will print a pamphlet with all the text and illustrations.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/127
I love this stuff.
Please forward this email to your friends that love this stuff and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/979
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/968
I used this last week when the party had an impromptu picnic with two farmers working beside the road. Turns out, one of the farmers was an idiot.
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Go here for more information and an invite link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We also finished my first extended campaign, a low combat adventure in and around Tobbins Shire on the other side of Wilken Woods west of Milyagon. We started the campaign last February and enjoyed it so much we added it to our regular schedule on the third Saturday of the month. For the last three sessions we have been gaming around the table at Eclectic Geekery. Last week DM Carl joined us and we had a hybrid game, around the table and on the internet.
I took all the session summaries and turned them into "The Story of Mister MistMeister and his Many Transformations". Here's some spoiler free excerpts from last weeks game. (By spoiler free I mean I'm not giving away any of the jokes.)
...
On our way we saw two farmers taking a picnic break from their toil. Wyleth hailed them and asked if we could join them. They said, "Sure." and asked about the ale so Caper poured a round. Clairen was happy to have an impromptu picnic with new friends.
Snurgi was inspired to compose a poem on the spot.
We was walking along and found some farmers
We knews they was safe, they wore no armors
Our friend sat down plop, to eat a potluck
And we was confident, no one would harm her
One of the farmers was an idiot but they were both really nice and we enjoyed their company.
...
The Read Headed Rascal said, "Look." and he looked up the valley. When the party followed his gaze they saw a large circle colored green and yellow and some colors they didn't know. In the circle was the valley, fully populated by sentient oak trees. And when they looked under the trees their was a village of acorn people with houses, roads, and carts pulled by beetles. The sentient oaks did so well growing in the valley that the acorn people lived lives of their own before finding a final resting place where they could lay down and wait to be an oak tree.
And looking up to the top of the hill they saw four giant sentient oaks that must have grown from the acorn people they had carried across the river. They decided to name them the sentinel sentient oaks.
...
For the whole adventure go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/977
So, join us tomorrow for open game chat. In two weeks the topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction. And then on the third Saturday in August we'll be back in Tobbins Shire seeing where the dice lead us.
We've been having a heat wave in Arkansas and I know we aren't the only ones so Stay Cool!
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/978
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Mr. MistMeister
---
Ari and Caper run across Mr. MistMeister, a dangerous water elemental, on a hike outside of Caper's Shire.
Before he was Mr. MistMeister he was a water sprite. One day when he was flying a potion maker, greatly afraid, threw a potion of gaseous form on the sprite. The combination of magicks locked the elemental into it's gaseous form and Mr. MistMeister was born.
He used to enjoy coralling loads of fish into fishermen's nets so they became so heavily laden that they would break or even capsize the fishing boat. In his mist form he has been corraling people by showing them abandoned houses from the past and luring them into his misty form. He is not evil. He just does what he does because he doesn't know what else to do. He could be convinced to take up another avocation but he can only be destroyed with very high level magic that counters both the potion and fey magic at the same time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:August_Malmstr%C3%B6m_-_Dancing_Fairies_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Pictured is Dancing Fairies painted in 1866 by the Swedish painter August Malmström. Unlike the faires pictured Mr. MistMeister cannot return to the water but is locked above ground as a mist.
Background material above was written by Larry Heyl aka DM Hairy Larry
Cast Of Characters
---
Ari is a human healing sorceress who is bossy and good at reading people.
Caper Tobbins is a halfling bard who is likable.
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat who is protective and obnoxious.
Clairen is a friendly bouncy dwarf.
Edge Bravestone is a cautious, friendly fighter.
Wyleth is a soldier who was raised on a farm.
Snurgi Snurgison is a dwarf who is a fighter and a poet.
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
---
At Inspired Unreality Ari and Caper visit the Shire. So now we have a Milyagon Shire and we'll have to place it on the map. Probably through Wilken Woods and across the river.
We used Shire friendly dice tables found in the Hearth & Hillside Home.pdf, a name your own price download.
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
First we rolled up elevenses from the Sweet Treats table. Caper rolled Tart rhubarb pie with clotted cream and an extra flavour that everybody either loves or hates and Ari rolled Sticky honeycomb fresh from the tallest oak this side of Woolshod Hill which Caper had recently rescued from the bees.
As a good hobbit would, Caper suggested they follow up on elevenses with Breakfast for Dinner. Caper rolled Spicy sausages with flavours from the distant empire of Man and Ari folllowed up with a still-twitching boiled crab that always goes for the nose. So sausages and crabs it was after Caper detwitched the crab with a single blow.
Unable to eat any more Caper suggests a walk through the woods to enjoy the sun. Before they get out of town they meet weary halfling travellers trekking into town wearing the scandalous fashions of a distant March. In fact their garb is brightly colored and entirely inappropriate for the shire. They said some fairies had played a trick on them changing their sensible clothes for this rubbish.
Ari escorted them into a second hand clothes shop where, Mr. Muffen, the owner assured them all he could arrange an exchange for more suitable attire knowing that the brightly colored clothes would sell well when caravans of humans passed through town. No accounting for the tastes of humans. Brightly colored scarves just assure that you'll be seen in the woods.
After walking a short way out of town Ari and Caper met A well-groomed pony with courtly ribbons, plodding under the weight of a pompous Shirrif and his tall feathered hat.
The Shirrif was complaining about the fairies who he said, "Tied the ribbons to my pony and gave me this stupid hat. Caper said Mr. Muffen will trade that hat for a better one and he probably knows where you could trade the pony for a sturdier horse. They talked on for a while, as one does well met in the woods, and then Ari and Caper continued their hike while the Shirrif plodded on to town.
The Rescue
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
---
Last week the Shirrif was plodding on to town and Ari cast detect magic on him. All the ribbons on his pony as well as his hat and the feathers in his hat glowed with fey magic. Caper thought, "Interesting" and he also thought the Shirrif's stout little pony might make a good gift for the Jenkins kids.
Ari explains aura colors to Caper. Red means blood, white means blind or a child, no aura means the human doesn't care about colors. Ari said the Shirrif had no aura which didn't surpise her.
They continue along the trail and coming to the top of a ridge they see mist filling a field that opens up before them, evening light glinting off the dewy roof of a distant cottage. (from Scenery On Your Long Treks d12 table)
They walk through the field towards the cottage and Ari, feeling like something might be wrong here recommends caution. Tude's fur ruffles up on the back of his neck, a sure sign of danger.
Caper suggests they drink some farseeing tea so they can see through the windows from a safe distance. He quickly gathers twigs and builds a fire boiling water in the teapot from his hiking pack. Ari sprinkles in some of the tea and Caper tends the pot while Ari looks around, wondering.
Caper pours two small cups and Ari without thinking stirs her tea with the silver wand from the fairy, King Groad, that enhances teas and potions. After putting out his fire Caper is quickly running about exploring the house through the windows and open door from a distance of about 100 feet. He can tell the house is empty and in some disrepair.
Ari, however sees something completely different. Lost in the mist are human men, women, and children. Ari starts making notes in her notebook for future reference.
She glances up and notices Caper sneaking into the house with Tude following ready to protect him. In the cottage Caper finds a lavishly illuminated tome chronicling a time when the Commonwealth was a wild land of barrow-kings and bigfolk. (from the Heirlooms Of The Estate d10 table)
He can't wait to show Ari the book and rushes out to her. Ari glances at the book but she is more concerned right now with the lost souls in the mist. She describes them to Caper who can't see them.
Ari suggests that Caper finishes the tea and gives it a stir with her silver wand. Caper chugs tea straight out of the cold pot and now Caper sees the people too. Ari asks if Caper has brandy and Caper grins tapping his hiking pack.
Ari thinks the minimal amount will help Caper move the people out of the mist and away from here. Caper says he'll take the minimal amount which is usually one good chug followed by another. Ari says take half the minimal amount and then lead the women and children out because we don't want a lot of dead bodies which is where this could go.
So Caper takes a wee nip and then starts playing his flute and dancing with the children in the mist. When he leads them across the field they follow enchanted by his flute. The women follow the children and the men follow the women and soon Caper has them all heading across the field toward the path with Ari and Tude bringing up the rear.
There are seven kids, five women, and six men that follow them out of the mist. Some of the men are younger, without whiskers yet, but full grown.
Ari now sees from the trail another even bigger cottage across the road that is also unlived in.
The people still have no clue about where they are. Some of them gripe and complain about the people running a village. They all calm down and start to get along after fussing awhile. Caper says the fussing is a good sign that they have returned to normal. Big folk are always fussing.
Ari is determined to make sure that the people she's with go a different direction. She's afraid of danger to them. They could be hurt, killed, or locked up.
Caper wants to examine this bigger cottage on the other side of the path. He can't wait to see if there are more books for Ari stuck up on a shelf somewhere. He still feels the effects of the farseeing tea and he's checking out what he can see from here on the trail.
Fey Enigma
----
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
---
After the eighteen people who had been trapped in the mist recovered their senses Caper and Tude looted the big house across the road and (after rolling another one on the Heirlooms table) he found another book. This looked to be a book of Kings with pictures of Kings surrounded by text. It's very fancy. Caper grabs it and takes it back up the hill to Ari. Tude nuzzles Ari's hand.
Caper shows Ari the Book of Kings and Cyndre, the lady boss of the rescued humans, pops over to look. She says, "Oh, aye! I ken him. Old King Cartyr, he died last year."
Ari and Caper look at each other and Caper says, "King Cartyr is legendary. He died 400 years ago."
Cyndre looks up noticing details in Ari's clothing she hadn't see before. Finely woven cloth with rows of silver buttons. She also notices Caper's well made boots, made by the cobbler at Tobbins Shire. She bows to Ari and says, "Sorry, my lady, but I worked in King Cartyr's Castle and he died just last year.
400 years ago, Cyndre and her party left Tobbins Shire and when they crested a ridge they saw a beautiful field covered in mist with an abandoned farmhouse. When they went to see the farmhouse they walked through the mist and that's the last they remember until Ari, Caper, and Tude led them out of the mist and back up to the road.
Ari and Caper have a short confab and decide that there's nothing for it but to take these people back to the shire.
Caper shouts, "Time to eat", thinking they must be hungry if they haven't dined in 400 years and he takes off down the road back to Tobbins Shire singing a merry tune. With Ari's encouragement they follow and Ari and Tude bring up the rear being careful that no children stray from the path.
When they get to the shire Caper takes them all to the Inn where they have a hearty stew. The rescued people still don't believe 400 years passed but they can tell that things are much different then they were when they left Tobbins Shire, as it seems to them, just this morning.
Caper arranges for rooms and breakfast. The Inn only has five man size rooms so the two families take a room and the others bunk up 2 or 3 to a room.
Caper takes Ari aside and says, "It's not too late. Let's check Muffens Used Clothes and see if he bought that hat."
They enter the shop and Caper makes inquiries. "Yes, indeed,' says Muffens, "the Shirrif did come by and I bought his hat." Caper asks the price and pays 4 silver without bartering which kind of bothered Muffens. He's never know a Tobbins to pay asking price once in his life.
Caper also asks about the pony. "Ah yes," said Muffens, "I directed him to Old Took on the south road not a mile from the shire. He may have sold it there. I tell you he looked a sight on that poor little pony."
Caper, thinking of the Jakobs kids and those magic ribbons decided to check on the pony in the morning. Ari and Caper continued on to Caper's Hobbit Hole where they had a nice repast of crab, mutton, and vegetables and decided to end their adventure for the day.
Caper's Pony
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
---
At Inspired Unreality Ari and Caper once again adventured around Tobbins Shire. Ari enlisted the help of Dood a th Wood (pronounced Dude ah th Wude) to divine the spells on the hat and the feather. The feather is a large owl's feather, probably from Wilken Woods and it is enhanced with fey magic to be a magic augmenter. The hat makes the wearer lighter. The hat takes 25% off and with the feather 50%.
They went to see old Took where Caper bought the pony with the magic ribbons and also bought some light tack for the pony.
Then back to the Inn to see the people they rescued. They now realize they have been thrust 400 years into their future and are at a loss. Ari suggests they make furniture since antique furniture from their era is valued. Turns out a couple of the men are furniture makers and most of them have carpentry experience. They decide to go into business making genuine reproductions with the slogan, hands from the past.
The Ghost Of The Shire
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
Clairen is Liz's PC
---
Adventuring in Tobbins Shire at Eclectic Geekery
Our granddaughter Liz joined Vivian and myself at Eclectic Geekery to play Just Quest. She's playing a dwarf, Clairen, who is friendly and bouncy.
We woke up in Caper's hobbit hole and had a fine breakfast. Roughly-chopped turnips, baked crispy brown and served with a selection of chutneys. Also Beastie-shaped roast veggies that create visions of long-forgotten magic.
Then Caper served a sweet treat, A suspensefully swaying tower of sponge cake, liqueur, orange pieces and custard, topped with a layer of syllabub cream. (Now if I just knew what syllabub is)
Clairen wanted to head to town and make new friends so off we went. On the way we met Pogbert Piper blowing spectacular smoke rings in his garden. His smoke looked like soot from a roaring black hearth.
We all heard the ghost of the shire making smart ass comments about the game. (When we are playing in Tobbins Shire and a non player kibitzes they are providing the voice of the ghost of the shire.)
Not to be outdone Caper asked Pogbert for a pinch of bacca and he started blowing smokerings resembling long-gone monsters. He blew a huge ring which floated above their heads and then he blew a Gryphon that flew through the center of the ring.
Caper played a merry jig on his flute and every one was tapping their feet or hoeing in time to the music except Clairen who was bouncing up and down.
Then on to town and a visit to Mr. Muffen's second hand store. Clairen bought a yellow headband. Caper bought a black saddle for his pony. Ari looked at a brown saddle for her brown horse streaked with white but she wasn't convinced she needed it. Then back to the hobbit hole to try out the saddle. When they passed Pogbert Piper's garden he was nowhere in sight. Probably inside for elevenses, which made Caper start to think about what they would eat for elevenses when they got back home.
Acorn People
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
Clairen is Liz's PC
Edge Bravestone is Anthony's PC
---
Acorn People and Mister MistMeister
Adventuring in Tobbins Shire at Eclectic Geekery on June 18, 2022
On their way back from Mr Muffen's Second Hand Store Ari, Caper, and Clairen met Edge Bravestone, a cautious fighter. Caper said "Well met" and invited him to his hobbit hole for elevenses. They had a floral mix that, when steeped, thickens the air with love and tea infusing aromas from across the Four Marches.
Caper mentioned that he had heard of an interesting tree across the river in Wilken Woods and when everyone said they were up for a hike anyway off they went.
They took a short cut along the riverbank and soon were crossing the bridge and entering Wilken Woods, a magic forest. Ari and Caper had been to the tree before so Caper led the way, a little over a mile on the road and then a slight veer to the north following a barely used woods trail.
Soon they came to a large oak tree with some owls perched in the upper branches and acorns covering the ground. Caper gathered a bunch of acorns in a pile and stirred them with his finger and up popped an acorn man who said, "We are acorns from the sentient oak. When met with intelligent interest we wake up and talk. The sentient oak can talk too but time runs slow for him. We acorns can understand him but other living creatures cannot."
Caper continued talking to the acorn man and Ari, Clairen, and Edge gathered acorns together. Soon they were all talking to acorn men.
After talking about the tree, the owls, and everything (including fairies) Caper's acorn man stepped to the fore. He said, "We need your help. There is nothing we would like more than to lay on the ground and wait to be an oak tree. But acorns lying in the shadow of a sentient oak cannot grow. The owls sometimes help by carrying acorns or acorn men to other parts of Wilken Woods but they never cross the river. We would like to expand our horizons and answer our constant conundrum, which came first, the magic forest or the sentient oak trees?"
Caper said, "I know just the spot.", turning to Ari, "Remember the hill above the mist where we rescued those people from the past?"
Ari agreed that the hill would be more than suitable. Caper said, "We have some unfinished business there too and maybe we can make the misty valley safe with the help of Clairen, Edge, and our new friends, the acorn people.
So each of them carried an acorn man on their shoulder and trekked back to Tobbins Shire and then up the road leading to the misty valley.
When they got to the top of the hill they could see the mist in the valley below and the two ancient houses on either side of the road. The acorn men loved the spot and they jumped onto the ground and ran in different directions looking for a nice place to lie down and wait to be an oak tree.
Caper filled everyone in on the danger of the mist while he started boiling water for tea.
"Ari and I drank this tea before and then we braved the mist and pulled about 20 humans out and guided them to the top of the hill. They wandered into the mist 400 years ago and when we brought them out it was still the same day to them. It wasn't until the next morning that they began to believe they were 400 years in the future."
Everyone wanted to solve the mystery of the mist and dispell the danger.
Ari pulled out a bag of tea and four cups. Caper made the tea and poured it. Ari stirred each cup with the silver wand King Groad had given her in feyland. Caper added a drop of Brandy.
"So drink this down." said Caper, "It's not safe in the mist and we don't want to be waking up 400 years in the future, if we're lucky enough that someone comes to rescue us."
Ari said, "The tea protects against fey magic and when enhanced by the fey magic in the silver wand it is very powerful protection, indeed."
When the party entered the mist it was Edge Bravestone that started a conversation, calling out to the mist believing there was a persona involved.
The mist was soon showing multiple faces and waving hands. Although his conversation was disjoint and punctuated with oooos and ahhhs here's the essence of his story.
"I was a water elemental and one night I took to gaseous form to explore the dry land near the river. I got in a fight with a mage and his magic crossed my fey magic wrong and I got stuck in gaseous form. That's how I became Mister MistMeister."
"Time doesn't mean much to me so I don't know how long ago this happened. Later a party of humans wandered into the mist. They were lost and distressed. I liked them and I didn't want to hurt them so I froze time for them."
"Later on two of you came into the mist and took them off. I don't know why you weren't lost and distressed. I tried to freeze you in time anyway but it didn't work."
"And now here you are back again with two others. I like you and I'd like to keep you but my magic isn't working on you again."
Caper kept an eye on Mister MistMeister while Ari, Clairen, and Edge tried to come up with some ideas to fix things. Disperse the mist? Turn it back into water? What kind of spell could do something to a water elemental?
Ari said, "Ah, but you forget, I am Arimeth, and I am not new to this game." She picked up a D20 brandishing it in front of us and then she made it disappear. It reappeared on the floor and it was a 5.
Checking the Entirely True Tales From Beyond The High Hedge dice table we read.
The Dwarf-King’s royal artisan has a secret technique for brewing molten metal into heavenly spiced mead.
Clairen the friendly bouncy dwarf is still a dwarf and she could read between the lines. Maybe we need to get Mister MistMeister drunk. That seems to solve most problems for dwarves.
That got Caper's attention. He tipped his hat to one of Mister MistMeister's many faces and said, "I believe we're going to help you out in a bit."
Then he led the party out of the mist, to the top of the hill, past the resting acorns, and on towards Tobbins Shire to get a keg of ale.
Mister MistMeister Gets A New Name ... Twice
---
Ari is Vivian's PC
Tude is Ari's pet wildcat and also Vivian's PC
Caper is a Larry's DM PC
Clairen is Liz's PC
Wyleth is Conley's PC
Snurgi Snurgison is Carl's PC
---
Tobbins Shire July 16, 2022
Session summary (with some additions for narrative flow (or jokes))
The party went to town for a keg of ale to get Mister Mistermeister drunk. In town Edge Bravestone got called away and Wyleth, a soldier who was raised as a farmer and Snurgi Snurgison, a dwarf who is a fighter and a poet, joined us. We carried the ale in our pony cart back up the hill towards the valley.
On our way we saw two farmers taking a picnic break from their toil. Wyleth hailed them and asked if we could join them. They said, "Sure." and asked about the ale so Caper poured a round. Clairen was happy to have an impromptu picnic with new friends.
Snurgi was inspired to compose a poem on the spot.
We was walking along and found some farmers
We knews they was safe, they wore no armors
Our friend sat down plop, to eat a potluck
And we was confident, no one would harm her
One of the farmers was an idiot but they were both really nice and we enjoyed their company.
And then off we went to the top of the hill overlooking Mister MistMeister in the valley. Caper quickly brewed some tea that protects against fey magic and after Ari stirred it with her silver wand and Caper added a drop of brandy we all drank the tea.
Then we filled buckets of ale and tankards for ourselves. Mister MistMeister was quite curious about the buckets. Caper called out, "We brought you some ale." and everyone set the buckets down on the ground. Mister MistMeister liked it and he made a face for every bucket and then some smaller faces started trying to steal the ale from our tankards. Caper covered his with his hand but everyone else just chugged their ale down. Snurgi emptied his whole tankard in one quaff with most of it going down his throat but some spilling onto his beard. Mister MistMeister made a dozen little faces to drink the ale from his beard.
After drinking nearly a keg of ale Mister MistMeister was drunk. Pretty soon the mist started thinning revealing a yellow rivulet cascading down the valley towards the river. The party decided to follow him down to the river to see how he was doing.
When they got to the river his face popped up out of the river as yellow as can be. He said, "I used to be Mister MistMeister but now I'm Mr. PissMeister. Clairen suggested that he could try some cranberries. Nobody had any cranberries but Ari had some Panacea Berries which look like cranberries and have general healing properties. She tossed one to Mister PissMeister and he turned pink. Everyone thought it was an improvement. He certainly smelled better. Mister PissMeister said, "I used to be Mister PissMeister but now I'm The Red Headed Rascal." He did a series of swoops and dives all the time remaining careful not to take his gaseous form and become mist again.
He asked if he could do something to repay us. Caper said, "I know time is different for you and you don't think in days and years like we do but when those people wandered into the mist that was 400 years ago for us. Can you show us this valley 400 years in the future?"
The Red Headed Rascal said, "Easy as pi. In fact I can take you there if you want."
Caper demurred, "Oh please no, I just want to look, I'm happy enough in my own century."
The Read Headed Rascal said, "Look." and he looked up the valley. When the party followed his gaze they saw a large circle colored green and yellow and some colors they didn't know. In the circle was the valley, fully populated by sentient oak trees. And when they looked under the trees their was a village of acorn people with houses, roads, and carts pulled by beetles. The sentient oaks did so well growing in the valley that the acorn people lived lives of their own before finding a final resting place where they could lay down and wait to be an oak tree.
And looking up to the top of the hill they saw four giant sentient oaks that must have grown from the acorn people they had carried across the river. They decided to name them the sentinel sentient oaks.
After bidding fare thee well to the Red Headed Rascal the party climbed to the top of the hill and looked around. No more mist. And no more houses either. When Mister MistMeister returned to his liquid form he must have lost all connection to the time when he captured the humans in the mist.
On the way back to town they saw the same portly shirrif wearing a hat with a feather and riding another pony all bedecked in ribbons. Caper talked to him for a while but he told Caper he was the shirrif and he could ride a pony if he wanted and it wasn't any business of his. The shirrif said, "The last pony I had wouldn't carry me after I sold my hat to Muffen. I'm keeping this pony and the hat." After the shirrif passed Ari detected magic and sure enough the hat, the feather, and the ribbons glowed with fey magic. Caper shook his head and said, "Those fairies have been having fun with the shirrif again.
They made it back to town before dark and returned the empty keg to the tavern. They saw some of the people they rescued in the tavern and they decided to join them, have a drink, and fill them in on The Story of Mister MistMeister and his Many Transformations.
---
We played using the dice rolling tables in Hearth & Hillside Home, Being a book of pastoral pleasures for Halflings and Bigfolk alike.
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
During play at the last session dice were rolled against the Idioms For Idiots D20 table for all conversation from Farmer 1. He was the idiot.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/968
Thanks to DM Kier for the Mister PissMeister joke.
Thanks to Eclectic Geekery in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, for providing gaming space.
Ari and Caper have been campaigning together for over 30 years.
---
Illustrations
Gamer+ Photo Gallery
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/127
Capers Hobbit Hole
by jawajeziorski - Pixabay License
https://pixabay.com/zh/photos/the-land-of-the-hobbits-new-zealand-6314749/
Caper's Pony
from FREE*SVG
https://freesvg.org/cartoon-pony-color-drawing
Dancing Fairies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:August_Malmstr%C3%B6m_-_Dancing_Fairies_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Eclectic Geekery is my daughters book, hobby, and game store located in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Their relaxed atmosphere is perfect for sitting around a table and enjoying an RPG.
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. First Saturday - Fantasy and Science Fiction. Third Saturday - actual play. All other Saturdays - bring your own topic. For more info and an invite link click here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Tobbins Shire is part of the Milyagon locale created by Larry and Vivian. I will be the DM running Just Quest, my own rules light OSR RPG. If you can't make it to Eclectic Geekery join us online.
Last week Vivian and I discussed a variety of topics while I built the Idioms For Idiots D20 dice table. Whenever either of us said an idiom or reminded me of an idiom I would write it down in the text chat. When I finally stopped to count I had 19 of them so I added one more and Hooray!
Idioms For Idiots
A d20 dice table
1. I bit my tongue
2. a stitch in time saves nine
3. butter side up
4. stupid is as stupid does
5. a rose is a rose
6. I let him have it
7. has the cat got your tongue?
8. don't look a gift horse in the mouth
9. the squeaky wheel gets the grease
10. live and let live
11. if it ain't broke don't fix it
12. it's the singer not the song
13. young and in love
14. let it slide
15. an apple a day keeps the doctor away
16. if you don't play you can't win
17. the cow's in the corn
18. closing the barn door after the horse is out
19. you don't want to know how the sausage is made
20. winners never quit and quitters never win
The idea is when the party is collecting information at the local tavern or at the fair the DM designates one of the NPCs an idiot. He might look all wise and ancient but whenever a PC asks him a question he replies with one of the idioms on the dice table. The DM can scan the table to find an appropriate idiom or just do it the old fashioned way and roll a D20.
It could be a girl too. I'm for Equal Rights! Girls can be idiots too.
What I'm wondering is if the party will get value from these conversations in pursuing their quest. I mean, let's face it, we all know someone like this. Whatever comes up they've got some idiotic saying to add to the conversation.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/968
My grandson, Conley Hunt, is related to geeks and he joined me Wednesday morning Guerilla Livestreaming Craighead Forest Lake, part of my Hairy Larry Guerilla Livestreaming Scenic Northeast Arkansas project. I played piano and Conley played cajon. Some geese sang along. You can see the video here.
https://deltaboogie.net/
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/972
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
1. I bit my tongue
2. a stitch in time saves nine
3. butter side up
4. stupid is as stupid does
5. a rose is a rose
6. I let him have it
7. has the cat got your tongue?
8. don't look a gift horse in the mouth
9. the squeaky wheel gets the grease
10. live and let live
11. if it ain't broke don't fix it
12. it's the singer not the song
13. young and in love
14. let it slide
15. an apple a day keeps the doctor away
16. if you don't play you can't win
17. the cow's in the corn
18. closing the barn door after the horse is out
19. you don't want to know how the sausage is made
20. winners never quit and quitters never win
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more information and a link to Tenkar's Tavern go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week was the first Saturday in July so our topic was Fantasy and Science Fiction. We discussed how difficult it is to write children's fantasy and how difficult High Fantasy RPGs are. And Duca posted some good links about the High Fantasy game Eberron.
Inspired Unreality Summary
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4734
Order of the Emerald Claw
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4735
Eberron Timeline
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4736
The funny thing is that in "Malazan Book of the Fallen" the Empire's assassins are also called The Claw. Are there other Assassin's Guilds called The Claw?
Inquiring minds want to know.
On the 4th of July we had family game day at Eclectic Geekery. Here's the link to their new website.
https://eclecticgeekery.com/
Before that I Guerilla Livestreamed Beatles Park.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4737
Youtube link
https://youtu.be/q2n6n5y1y9M
They say that word of mouth advertising is the best. That's good because it's all we can afford. So ... please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/967
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Here's a teaser. I watched the first two episodes of the new "Wheel Of Time" series and I have some issues. Everything goes so fast. The visuals are great but the story is only a sketch. There are 14 books in the "Wheel Of Time" and they are all long and they all have substantial stories to tell across multiple points of view. I don't think the source material fits the tv series format.
You may disagree. That would be great. I have opinions and you have opinions too. We are both free to opinionate at Inspired Unreality.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more information and an invite link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Duca joined us last Saturday on Inspired Unreality. He's been playing a dragon in Eberron, a high fantasy RPG. We've been discussing "Malazan Book of the Fallen" by Steven Erikson a ten book high fantasy series and just how difficult it is to write high fantasy. I imagine that's true for RPGs too.
Duca also mentioned Keith Baker, a game designer and fantasy novel author who worked on Eberron. Here's a link to his blog.
https://keith-baker.com/
Have you done any high fantasy gaming? Turns out that discussing high fantasy games is on topic when we discuss Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Now, Vivian and I are readers. We talk about books. You may enjoy games, television, or movies. Let us know what you like and why you like it? What has your attention right now?
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/965
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Ureality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord. Here's a link to more info and an invite.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week on Inspired Unreality. Actual play at Eclectic Geekery.
Acorn People and Mister MistMeister from hairylarry's blog
On their way back from Mr Muffin's Second Hand Store Ari, Caper, and Clairen met Edge Bravestone, a cautious fighter. Caper said "Well met" and invited him to his hobbit hole for elevenses. They had a floral mix that, when steeped, thickens the air with love and tea infusing aromas from across the Four Marches.
Caper mentioned that he had heard of an interesting tree across the river in Wilken Woods and when everyone said they were up for a hike anyway off they went.
They took a short cut along the riverbank and soon were crossing the bridge and entering Wilken Woods, a magic forest. Ari and Caper had been to the tree before so Caper led the way, a little over a mile on the road and then a slight veer to the north following a barely used woods trail.
Soon they came to a large oak tree with some owls perched in the upper branches and acorns covering the ground. Caper gathered a bunch of acorns in a pile and stirred them with his finger and up popped an acorn man who said, "We are acorns from the sentient oak. When met with intelligent interest we wake up and talk. The sentient oak can talk too but time runs slow for him. We acorns can understand him but other living creatures cannot."
Caper continued talking to the acorn man and Ari, Clairen, and Edge gathered acorns together. Soon they were all talking to acorn men.
After talking about the tree, the owls, and everything (including fairies) Caper's acorn man stepped to the fore. He said, "We need your help. There is nothing we would like more than to lay on the ground and wait to be an oak tree. But acorns lying in the shadow of a sentient oak cannot grow. The owls sometimes help by carrying acorns or acorn men to other parts of Wilken Woods but they never cross the river. We would like to expand our horizons and answer our constant conundrum, which came first, the magic forest or the sentient oak trees?"
Caper said, "I know just the spot.", turning to Ari, "Remember the hill above the mist where we rescued those people from the past?"
Ari agreed that the hill would be more than suitable. Caper said, "We have some unfinished business there too and maybe we can make the misty valley safe with the help of Clairen, Edge, and our new friends, the acorn people.
So each of them carried an acorn man on their shoulder and trekked back to Tobbins Shire and then up the road leading to the misty valley.
When they got to the top of the hill they could see the mist in the valley below and the two ancient houses on either side of the road. The acorn men loved the spot and they jumped onto the ground and ran in different directions looking for a nice place to lie down and wait to be an oak tree.
Caper filled everyone in on the danger of the mist while he started boiling water for tea.
"Ari and I drank this tea before and then we braved the mist and pulled about 20 humans out and guided them to the top of the hill. They wandered into the mist 400 years ago and when we brought them out it was still the same day to them. It wasn't until the next morning that they began to believe they were 400 years in the future."
Everyone wanted to solve the mystery of the mist and dispell the danger.
Ari pulled out a bag of tea and four cups. Caper made the tea and poured it. Ari stirred each cup with the silver wand King Groad had given her in feyland.
"So drink this down." said Caper, "It's not safe in the mist and we don't want to be waking up 400 years in the future, if someone comes to rescue us."
Ari said, "The tea protects against fey magic and when enhanced by the fey magic in the silver wand it is very powerful protection, indeed."
When the party entered the mist it was Edge Bravestone that started a conversation, calling out to the mist believing there was a persona involved.
The mist was soon showing multiple faces and waving hands. Although his conversation was disjoint and punctuated with oooos and ahhhs here's the essence of his story.
"I was a water elemental and one night I took to gaseous form to explore the dry land near the river. I got in a fight with a mage and his magic crossed my fey magic wrong and I got stuck in gaseous form. That's how I became Mister MistMeister."
"Time doesn't mean much to me so I don't know how long ago this happened. Later a party of humans wandered into the mist. They were lost and distressed. I liked them and I didn't want to hurt them so I froze time for them."
"Later on two of you came into the mist and took them off. I don't know why you weren't lost and distressed. I tried to freeze you in time anyway but it didn't work."
"And now here you are back again with two others. I like you and I'd like to keep you but my magic isn't working on you again."
Caper kept an eye on Mister MistMeister while Ari, Clairen, and Edge tried to come up with some ideas to fix things. Disperse the mist? Turn it back into water? What kind of spell could do something to a water elemental?
Ari said, "Ah, but you forget, I am Arimeth, and I am not new to this game." She picked up a D20 brandishing it in front of us and then she made it disappear. It reappeared on the floor and it was a 5.
Checking the Entirely True Tales From Beyond The High Hedge dice table we read.
The Dwarf-King’s royal artisan has a secret technique for brewing molten metal into heavenly spiced mead.
Clairen the friendly bouncy dwarf is still a dwarf and she could read between the lines. Maybe we need to get Mister MistMeister drunk. That seems to solve most problems for dwarves.
That got Caper's attention. He tipped his hat to one of Mister MistMeister's many faces and said, "I believe we're going to help you out in a bit."
Then he led the party out of the mist, to the top of the hill, past the resting acorns, and on towards Tobbins Shire to get a keg of ale.
---
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/956
Dice tables from Hearth & Hillside Home
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
And I posted some photos of Wilken Woods. (Taken in our yard.)
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/40
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/957
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Adventuring in Tobbins Shire at Eclectic Geekery on June 18, 2022
On their way back from Mr Muffin's Second Hand Store Ari, Caper, and Clairen met Edge Bravestone, a cautious fighter. Caper said "Well met" and invited him to his hobbit hole for elevenses. They had a floral mix that, when steeped, thickens the air with love and tea infusing aromas from across the Four Marches.
Caper mentioned that he had heard of an interesting tree across the river in Wilken Woods and when everyone said they were up for a hike anyway off they went.
They took a short cut along the riverbank and soon were crossing the bridge and entering Wilken Woods, a magic forest. Ari and Caper had been to the tree before so Caper led the way, a little over a mile on the road and then a slight veer to the north following a barely used woods trail.
Soon they came to a large oak tree with some owls perched in the upper branches and acorns covering the ground. Caper gathered a bunch of acorns in a pile and stirred them with his finger and up popped an acorn man who said, "We are acorns from the sentient oak. When met with intelligent interest we wake up and talk. The sentient oak can talk too but time runs slow for him. We acorns can understand him but other living creatures cannot."
Caper continued talking to the acorn man and Ari, Clairen, and Edge gathered acorns together. Soon they were all talking to acorn men.
After talking about the tree, the owls, and everything (including fairies) Caper's acorn man stepped to the fore. He said, "We need your help. There is nothing we would like more than to lay on the ground and wait to be an oak tree. But acorns lying in the shadow of a sentient oak cannot grow. The owls sometimes help by carrying acorns or acorn men to other parts of Wilken Woods but they never cross the river. We would like to expand our horizons and answer our constant conundrum, which came first, the magic forest or the sentient oak trees?"
Caper said, "I know just the spot.", turning to Ari, "Remember the hill above the mist where we rescued those people from the past?"
Ari agreed that the hill would be more than suitable. Caper said, "We have some unfinished business there too and maybe we can make the misty valley safe with the help of Clairen, Edge, and our new friends, the acorn people.
So each of them carried an acorn man on their shoulder and trekked back to Tobbins Shire and then up the road leading to the misty valley.
When they got to the top of the hill they could see the mist in the valley below and the two ancient houses on either side of the road. The acorn men loved the spot and they jumped onto the ground and ran in different directions looking for a nice place to lie down and wait to be an oak tree.
Caper filled everyone in on the danger of the mist while he started boiling water for tea.
"Ari and I drank this tea before and then we braved the mist and pulled about 20 humans out and guided them to the top of the hill. They wandered into the mist 400 years ago and when we brought them out it was still the same day to them. It wasn't until the next morning that they began to believe they were 400 years in the future."
Everyone wanted to solve the mystery of the mist and dispell the danger.
Ari pulled out a bag of tea and four cups. Caper made the tea and poured it. Ari stirred each cup with the silver wand King Groad had given her in feyland.
"So drink this down." said Caper, "It's not safe in the mist and we don't want to be waking up 400 years in the future, if someone comes to rescue us."
Ari said, "The tea protects against fey magic and when enhanced by the fey magic in the silver wand it is very powerful protection, indeed."
When the party entered the mist it was Edge Bravestone that started a conversation, calling out to the mist believing there was a persona involved.
The mist was soon showing multiple faces and waving hands. Although his conversation was disjoint and punctuated with oooos and ahhhs here's the essence of his story.
"I was a water elemental and one night I took to gaseous form to explore the dry land near the river. I got in a fight with a mage and his magic crossed my fey magic wrong and I got stuck in gaseous form. That's how I became Mister MistMeister."
"Time doesn't mean much to me so I don't know how long ago this happened. Later a party of humans wandered into the mist. They were lost and distressed. I liked them and I didn't want to hurt them so I froze time for them."
"Later on two of you came into the mist and took them off. I don't know why you weren't lost and distressed. I tried to freeze you in time anyway but it didn't work."
"And now here you are back again with two others. I like you and I'd like to keep you but my magic isn't working on you again."
Caper kept an eye on Mister MistMeister while Ari, Clairen, and Edge tried to come up with some ideas to fix things. Disperse the mist? Turn it back into water? What kind of spell could do something to a water elemental?
Ari said, "Ah, but you forget, I am Arimeth, and I am not new to this game." She picked up a D20 brandishing it in front of us and then she made it disappear. It reappeared on the floor and it was a 5.
Checking the Entirely True Tales From Beyond The High Hedge dice table we read.
The Dwarf-King’s royal artisan has a secret technique for brewing molten metal into heavenly spiced mead.
Clairen the friendly bouncy dwarf is still a dwarf and she could read between the lines. Maybe we need to get Mister MistMeister drunk. That seems to solve most problems for dwarves.
That got Caper's attention. He tipped his hat to one of Mister MistMeister's many faces and said, "I believe we're going to help you out in a bit."
Then he led the party out of the mist, to the top of the hill, past the resting acorns, and on towards Tobbins Shire to get a keg of ale.
---
Dice tables from Hearth & Hillside Home
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
For more information about Inspired Unreality and for a link to Tenkars Tavern go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Tobbins Shire is the home of Caper Tobbins, Ari's sidekick. Caper, Arimeth, and Tude, Ari's wildcat have been adventuring together for over thirty years. If you include The Ghost of Tobbins Shire this will be a three generation RPG game at Eclectic Geekery alone. Come and join us and we'll see how this works.
Last month our granddaughter Liz joined Vivian and myself at Eclectic Geekery to play Just Quest. She's playing a dwarf, Clairen, who is friendly and bouncy.
Clairen wanted to head to town and make new friends so off we went. On the way we met Pogbert Piper blowing spectacular smoke rings in his garden. His smoke looked like soot from a roaring black hearth.
Caper played a merry jig on his flute and every one was tapping their feet or hoeing in time to the music except Clairen who was bouncing up and down.
Then on to town and a visit to Mr. Muffin's second hand store. Clairen bought a yellow headband. Caper bought a black saddle for his pony.
And that ain't all ...
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/929
Eclectic Geekery is a book and hobby store with a focus on sci-fi, fantasy and all things geeky. Here's a link to their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
And on the music side of my life Vivian and I were joined by Carl and his family for my Guerilla Livestream of the Black Oak, Arkansas, mural in Black Oak Arkansas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyCaMnt39As
And I have a new album out, Hairy Larry Livestreams, available for streaming everywere and soon to be available in CD form at Eclectic Geekery. Listen or download here.
https://archive.org/details/hairylarrylivestreams
Please share.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/950
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
This is not that game. Or, rather, it is that game. It is that game as it existed before Lou Zocchi published it under the Gamescience umbrella. Published under the subtitle "THE CAMPAIGN OF SUPERPOWERED CRIMEFIGHTERS IN THE YEAR 2044" in 1977, it's an odd duck of a game that's somewhere between a skirmish level wargame and a role-playing game.
It's from humble seeds like these that the hobby grew into what it is nowadays.
Origin Story
Donald Saxman played in a "medieval fantasy campaign" under Mike Ford, an apparently very creative gamer who would have assault guns as often as dragons in his fantasy games, not to mention "over two dozen alternate universes, each with its own natural laws and historical motif". One of those alternate worlds was a world populated by comic and pulp novel heroes. Rules for this latter one were a pastiche of rules adapted willy-nilly from other games since at the time there were no rules specifically for that genre. Saxman, inspired by Ford's campaign, embarked upon a course of making his own set of rules for the superhero genre.
The Book
Superhero:44 is a self-published 48-page booklet printed on plain white paper with a pale brown cover made of light, matte card stock. It is so much a DIY labour of love it hurts: the text is obviously typewritten and pasted into place for reproduction. The art—which is surprisingly good for the era and budget!—is all black-and-white line art which ranges from barely-better-than-doodling to quite impressive set pieces, with more toward the latter. (About one page in three has some kind of art on it.) One nice touch is that each artist is individually credited for each work on each page.
Reproduction of the text is imperfect (to put it politely) and can be a bit of a strain to decode. (The later, expanded, Gamescience publication of this game as Superhero:2044 is much easier to read despite being in smaller text.)
There is a one-page foreword, sixteen pages of background, eight pages of "player setup" rules (character generation and coverage of character planning), six pages of combat rules, eleven pages of "handicapping and patrol" rules (for which q.v.) and four pages of costs and salaries.
The Rules
Being, as it is, a game made by early gamers who still hadn't quite sussed that role-playing games and wargames are different breeds of games, this game has many of the flaws of early games (like the original Dungeons & Dragons, as a matter of fact). Concepts are introduced in an order that seems a little quirky to people who are used to modern game writing, and there is a focus on things which have been deprecated or fallen entirely by the wayside in modern games.
That being said, it also has quite a few innovations which people today might find surprising coming out in 1977. This is, after all, a year before which there were only three published RPGs: Dungeons & Dragons, Metamorphosis Alpha, and Empire of the Petal Throne. In this year Chivalry & Sorcery was first published, as was Traveller. This is when the first book for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons was published, as was the original "blue box" of Dungeons & Dragons. This game predates Runequest and Gamma World! (Which is to say that there is a reason why this game has some oddities when viewed by the modern reader.)
So lets dive in and look at both the innovations and oddities, shall we?
Background
While not really counting as an innovation at this point, it is still unusual that Superhero:44 has a (for the time) detailed setting. Before this only Metamorphosis Alpha had a (very sketchy) setting, and Empire of the Petal Throne had a(n extensive) setting. Many games published after this one, well into the 1980s, had no setting provided, or one that was so sketchy (like Metamorphosis Alpha's) that it made little difference.
The setting for Superhero:44 is Earth in the year (unsurprisingly) 2044 in the fictitious city of Inguria, "the city of the future". This setting is intentionally kept small as an introductory set from which borders a campaign can spring out into a broader world as desired. To cite the author's intent:
Superhero '44 can be played on many levels. The handicapping scenarios can be enjoyed as short games in themselves. With the use of weekly planning sheets and patrol result calculation Superhero ' 44 can be maintained as a campaign over a long period of time. It is also possible to use the combat system to play specially designed scenarios, commando raids, or situations actually taken from comics or novels. In the ultimate form it can be successfully combined with other similar games and inject novelty into other campaigns.
The island (Shanter Island) holding Inguria is located in the west Pacific in the area of Korea. It's "future" history includes an Indian-Australian war and a six-day war in 2006 that's strongly hinted at being nuclear in nature. In 2032 first contact with aliens from "Formalhaut" ...
You know what? This is too much information to pack into a review. Basically Inguria became the centre of "Formian" presence on Earth and also a hub of "uniques" and other crime-fighting (and criminal) types' activities. In a few short pages the background covers history, technology, psychology, economics, politics (both earthly and with the aliens), and geography. It's very densely packed with overview information: quite a shock for a game self-published in 1977!
Player Setup
Characters in Superhero:44 are defined by seven "prime requisites": Vigor, Stamina, Endurance, Mentality, Charisma, Ego, and Dexterity. As a capsual summary, Vigor measures health; Stamina measures ... a lot: "offensive and defensive hand-to-hand righting ability, as well as the ability to run fast, hold one's breath, etc."; Endurance measures resistance to injury from various sources; Mentality covers intelligence and education; Charisma covers looks and strength of personality; Ego is the mental version of Endurance; Dexterity covers speed, reaction time, balance, hand-eye coordination, etc.
Huh. No measurement for strength. What an odd oversight. It probably shows up in the powers or such, right? (Foreshadowing: nope.)
Further, characters are members of one of three groups: Uniques (think Superman or the X-men), Toolmasters (think Batman or Iron Man), and Ubermensch (think Tarzan or, if you squint right, maybe Captain America).
To make a character, first a background has to be written up (!), and a character type selected. Then the prime requisites are done up. By point assignment.
This is, to my knowledge, the very first published RPG with a purely point-assigned character generation system.
There are three steps in assigning points.
1. Each character gets 140 points to distribute over the 7 prime requisites. Each prime requisite must have at least 1 point after all the steps are gone through, but there is no upper limit.
2. Each character type gets modifications to prime requisites. Uniques get +20 Charisma, for example, while an Ubermensch gets +20 to Endurance, Vigor, Stamina, and Dexterity, but -20 to Mentality.
3. At the discretion of the referee, a single, very specific +50 bonus can be given in a limited area. For example a character may be given a +50 bonus to Vigor, but only vs. firearms.
And here, too, not only do we have the innovation of a point-assigned character generation. We have the vestigial beginnings of full-blown advantage and disadvantage systems:
Some powers do not adapt well to this system, and alternate ways of representing abilities are certainly allowed if they can be quantified in some manner and do not unbalance the game. Plus and minus additions on attacks may be given. Characters who accept weaknesses or disabilities (kryptonite, for instance) should be rewarded with extra power.
This is in 1977!
In case this onerous task of coming up with a background and 7 numbers is too much for the player to comprehend, the book helpfully provides three sample characters, one of each type.
Then it ... goes a little weird. It goes straight into the "weekly planning sheet". No introduction of the concept. There's no game system talk yet aside from some tables showing the effect of (some!) prime requisites at various levels. It just jumps from character generation (and prime requisite levels) into:
Each week each character must submit a planning sheet to the referee. This sheet should tell the status of a hero at the beginning of the week. The referee uses this information to calculate how many and what kind of crimes are encountered during the week. He determines the result of each encounter, totals the rewards and bonuses, and notes any lawsuits, injuries, or captures before returning the sheet to the player.
And in the introduction the writer posits this as the default play, recall. The planning sheet (which also doubles as a character sheet) is literally a schedule of when the character works, goes on patrol, changes in pecuniary circumstances, health issues, crime stats and ... well ... everything that in a more modern game would be played out live, not once a week by paperwork. Very odd.
Then, finally, it gets to what we would consider the main body of rules (and entire point of the game!) these days.
Combat
OK, I'm being a little bit sarcastic. Obviously the point of RPGs isn't just combat. It is telling, however, that in most RPGs the rules for combat are long and detailed and the rules for social interactions or other non-combat forms of conflict are sketchy (if present at all) and vague.
This game doesn't have that problem. It has no rules for anything that's not combat, really. Combat is detailed and everything else is basically non-existent except in passing, like a drive-by shooting of rules only using whiffle balls instead of bullets.
So let's deal with what's actually in the rules before we look at what's not there except in very brief passing.
Combat is divided into turns. Each turn has one round for each player or group. In each round, a player (or group) may move twice, attack twice, or move once, then attack once. (Never attack once, then move once.) Attacks are one of four kinds: direct physical attack, transformation (?), mental attack, or projectile attack. Mental and physical attacks are resolved using a universal combat matrix where a 3d6 roll must exceed or equal a target number, but transformation attacks are resolved using their own procedure on their own table.
The rules on initiative and ordering are confusing and contradictory. Each turn has a round for each player or group. Movement is simultaneous, but people with higher dexterity go first. And then the sudden introduction of "phases" in the middle of a sentence changes the nature of the system entirely. Damage is supposed to be applied at the end of all players' rounds, but the phases are such that someone is guaranteed at least one move before they're injured. Despite damage applying at the end of all rounds.
The rules are not clear and not well thought-out, I'm trying to say. (And I haven't even yet addressed the way powers are addressed or—foreshadowing!—aren't...)
Intermission: The full combat sequence is documented (for want of a better term) in a half page of badly-written and inconsistent rules plus a small handful of simple tables. The total rules for this section (including damage, healing, and movement) amount to six pages, equally lacking in rigour. This is very much a disease of old school rules, traditional dating back to the original 1974 Dungeons & Dragons rules. As with that venerable rules set, instead of offering the oft-derided "rules for everything" it offers "rules for almost nothing, but what it does supply rules for is inconsistent and baffling".
Physical damage is done to vigor, to endurance, or to both. Losing vigor represents actual injury while losing endurance represents pain and shock. Different classes of attacks have different mixes of vigor or endurance loss and offer different modifications to stamina for the attack chart. Projectile damage has the added minor complexity of dealing with locations hit.
Mental attacks don't do damage: they're instead illusions, mind control, etc. and once successful just continue being successful until circumstances change.
Transformation attacks are a catch-all category that includes actual transformation (like into stone, say), making lighter, heavier, or phased out or such. (There is no real guidance given as to what that entails.)
Movement is dirt simple: you have a number of "inches" you can move per phase. An inch is either 2 metres (10 second turns, the usual), or 500m (30 second turns, larger scale). Your movement comes from a combination of your stamina, your species (if applicable), and any tools you may use to perform movement.
Oversights
While we should cut the game some slack, seeing as it is the first game of its kind ever, it needs to be pointed out how little this game actually provides in its rules. I mentioned earlier that we saw vestigial advantages and disadvantages, but I glossed over just how vestigial, reserving this for when the rules got introduced.
There are no powers listed. At all. Any references to powers are mentioned only in passing. They're mentioned, for example, in the sample characters:
Apollyon is a master of disguise and of computers. (His 50-point bonuses are gained in these areas.) His favorite disguise is that of some master criminal he has recently thrown into the power screens. (This MO raises his To Locate handicap somewhat and helps to balance out his high Prevention score.)
West has developed a weapon that disrupts matter and can be set to stun or completely disintegrate . It almost al ways works, so he is sued only aoout once a week.
Charmer uses her fifty charisma points as a mental attack and can force humans (only) to follow her vocal commands. Obedience is always literal and immediate. She uses this power to get money to hire investigators.
They're mentioned in passing in some rules:
Certain special powers may alter the sequence of combat. For instance, Super-speed will allow multiple attacks in one round. Some projectile weapons are capable of more than one shot per round. Players with high dexterity may be able to attack in more than one manner in a single round. Some kinds of attack require more than one turn to take effect.
This is an attempt to change the defender into some different object through magic, supertechnology or some unique power. Transformation may be to stone, ice, an animal, or may mean "phasing out ." It also may include making heavier, lighter, etc.
There is nothing systematic in coverage of these. There's not even any words of guidance for how to assess impact and balance of these. It's almost all Referee fiat (which is another disease of the old school gaming world).
And I can't really cut the game slack for this since there have been better rules written before this set. Yes, RPGs as a concept were new. Game rules, however, are game rules. We've done better before this one by over a century.
Handicapping & Patrol
This forms the bulk of the actual rules of the game, and it is very telling what that signifies. The default mode of play is something more reminiscent of GDW's 1975 proto-RPG En Garde. In the handicapping and patrol system, the handicap is a score from "10 to 80" formed by adding together eight values ranked from 1 to 10. (I'm seeing math problems here...)
The scores are in prevent, locate, stop, capture, convict, leads, damage, injured/captured. Prevent is a measure of the character's patrols preventing crime from taking place at all, locate is a measure of finding crimes, capture is a measure of capturing criminals, damage is the tendency to cause collateral damage, etc.
These scores are used to design handicapping scenarios in which all eight areas are to be "tested".
Note, that this is the very first mention of handicapping scenarios and it offers no definition of what that is. It's an adventure. Probably. How do we know? There's an example of one and by inference...
"By inference" is a lousy way to deliver rules, in my opinion. This is, again, a disease of the old school game seen time and again in the era.
Handicapping scenarios, however, are only the lead-in to patrols, which is a paperwork-intensive system (the paperwork having already been introduced, recall) in which the handicapping scenario is used to set the flavour of overall patrolling based on the handicaps the scenario set to determine the outcome of the character's patrolling. The recommended rate is one weeks' worth of patrolling calculations per one week real play time. The outcomes of this system include monetary expenditures and income, injuries sustained, lawsuits, etc. In brief what would be the goal of actual RP in modern designs is relegated to a few dice rolls and calculations in the background, rather like En Garde's campaign system.
Unlike the slipshod, inconsistent, incomplete combat and "handicapping scenario" rules, however, I cut the patrol system some slack. This is an early RPG and was written at a time when RPGs were still largely considered a branch of miniatures wargaming. The systems provided are not to my taste (and likely not to the taste of many modern RPG players), but they are well-written, well-communicated, and do what they were intended to do.
Costs & Salaries
The rules close off with the traditional-for-the-times obsession with equipment lists and monetary costs. Some of this builds up on the patrol system (salary, litigation, etc.) and some of it is just said lists. It's a mercifully short section with simple, comprehensible rules.
Final Thoughts
And this brings us to the important part of the review: the one that answers the Three Questions:
1. What was the author trying to accomplish?
2. Did the author accomplish this?
3. Was it worth accomplishing?
The author was trying to write a set of rules for a specific style of half-skirmish level miniatures, half-old-timey RPG game that covered a genre that had not yet been covered. And in this, once you filter for the times (where the entire notion of an RPG hadn't yet solidified!), he was largely successful.
It was not an unmitigated success, however.
While many of the "flaws" of the game can be accounted for by virtue of time-and-place filters, the complete lack of any kind of sensible guidance for superpowers in a game of superheroes is largely inexcusable. I'm not looking for Champions-esque hyper-detailed book-keeping (oh GOD no!), but it would not be out of place, in a game about superheroes with superpowers, to have a few pages devoted to discussions about superpowers and how they might impact game play.
And then there's the bizarre omissions! They name-drop Superman ... but the rules don't have anything related to strength. Even back in 1977 the notion of "strength" wasn't an unusual one. The three prior-published games had the notion and the game published the same year (Chivalry & Sorcery) also did. How did the author overlook this?
And the fact that the rule are internally inconsistent or outright wrong (1×8=8, not 10!) in many places is also a pretty big red flag.
So was it worth the effort?
Superhero:44 has an important place in the history of RPGs, being first in an important genre, but its place is marred by the poor delivery of the rules and a design decision that put it out of the path of where the hobby eventually grew. In my opinion the first really usable superhero role-playing game was 1980s Supergame. (I'll bet you thought I was going to say Champions!)
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more information and a link, go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week we discussed Fantasy and Science Fiction. Viv and I started with author recomendations and then went on to discuss the problems with making Fantasy and Science Fiction blockbuster movies and TV series. And then I totally went off on my idea of how to produce a very low budget youtube D&D series. It was great.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4627
Next Saturday we'll be gaming at Eclectic Geekery playing a hybrid game around the table and on Discord. If you're up for a relaxing morning exploring Tobbins Shire with Ari and Caper plus Tude the wildcat and Clairen, the friendly bouncy Dwarf join us. It literally takes less than two minutes to roll up a new character in Just Quest and join the fun. We've decided that any kibitzing heard over the wall is The Ghost Of Tobbins Shire.
More here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4637
And if you're in the area here's a link to Eclectic Geekery.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
Vivian and I have started a new project, Guerilla Livestreaming Scenic Northeast Arkansas. Saturday afternoon we'll be streaming from Black Oak, Arkansas. If you're as old as me that name might ring a bell.
I'll be livestreaming from in front of the High On The Hog mural painted on brick. I've been a fan since their first album came out and I finally got to meet Jim Dandy at the KASU Arkansas Roots Festival. Now I get to play in Black Oak, Arkansas, in front of a mural memorializing the band.
Here's the website for our Guerilla Livestreaming Scenic Northeast Arkansas project. All of our new videos will be posted here.
https://deltaboogie.net/
Please forward this email to your gaming/livestreaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/944
Let me know what you've been doing, gaming or otherwise. Join us at Inspired Unreality, post on Gamer+, or contact me directly. We have so many creative people on Gamer+. I want to know what you're doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Now Viv and I are old, so we came to Fantasy and Science Fiction reading books and magazines. Some of the authors we read were Isaac Aasimov, Robert Heinlein, Fritz Lieber, Arthur C. Clark, Clifford Simak, and Andre Norton. If none of these names are familiar to you perhaps you need to spend some time with us.
There's a whole new world of the future out there in the past and there's not much new under the sun that wasn't predicted by some author 50 years ago.
I still read a lot of these golden age authors and none of them age as well as Jack Vance. In my opinion. Maybe you have an opinion too. Bring it with you to Inspired Unreality, open game chat, where, this week, all Fantasy and Science Fiction is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Sarah and Megan have got the ball rolling at Eclectic Geekery with multiple events every weekend. They say "Join us for Dungeons & Dragons Sundays at 1 p.m." Sounds like a plan to me.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4622
In two weeks we'll be adventuring in Tobbins Shire at Eclectic Geekery on Inspired Unreality. This will be a hybrid game with some players on Discord and some players sitting around a table. I'm always up for a challenge.
Everyone is welcome at Inspired Unreality. Come tomorrow, come to adventure in Tobbins Shire, come any Saturday at 11:00 AM Central. It's a blast.
And now, veering off topic, I've got a new project, Guerilla Livestreaming from scenic Northeast Arkansas. The idea is we take a short trip for a picnic and some chill jazz piano with plenty of nature in the background. Here's my Twitch link.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
And my Youtube link.
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarryland
Do me a favor and click on the Youtube link and subscribe. I have a goal of reaching 1000 subscribers this year and I need your help.
Please forward this email to your gaming and livestreaming friends. Share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/937
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@gmail.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week is the first Saturday in June so our topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Last week we were adventuring in Tobbins Shire around a table at Eclectic Geekery.
Our granddaughter Liz joined Vivian and myself to play Just Quest. She's playing a dwarf, Clairen, who is friendly and bouncy.
We woke up in Caper's hobbit hole and had a fine breakfast. Roughly-chopped turnips, baked crispy brown and served with a selection of chutneys. Also Beastie-shaped roast veggies that create visions of long-forgotten magic.
Then Caper served a sweet treat, A suspensefully swaying tower of sponge cake, liqueur, orange pieces and custard, topped with a layer of syllabub cream. (Now if I just knew what syllabub is)
Clairen wanted to head to town and make new friends so off we went. On the way we met Pogbert Piper blowing spectacular smoke rings in his garden. His smoke looked like soot from a roaring black hearth.
We all heard the ghost of the shire making smart ass comments about the game. (When we are playing in Tobbins Shire and a non player kibitzes they are providing the voice of the ghost of the shire.)
Not to be outdone Caper asked Pogbert for a pinch of bacca and he started blowing smokerings resembling long-gone monsters. He blew a huge ring which floated above their heads and then he blew a Gryphon that flew through the center of the ring.
Caper played a merry jig on his flute and every one was tapping their feet or hoeing in time to the music except Clairen who was bouncing up and down.
Then on to town and a visit to Mr. Muffin's second hand store. Clairen bought a yellow headband. Caper bought a black saddle for his pony. Ari looked at a brown saddle for her brown horse streaked with white but she wasn't convinced she needed it. Then back to the hobbit hole to try out the saddle. When they passed Pogbert Piper's garden he was nowhere in sight. Probably inside for elevenses, which made Caper start to think about what they would eat for elevenses when they got back home.
---
We played using the dice rolling tables in Hearth & Hillside Home, Being a book of pastoral pleasures for Halflings and Bigfolk alike.
I posted the Just Quest character sheets to Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4565
I met someone on Mastodon who works at Calisphere, a library resource. I searched around and found some public domain posters.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4567
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/930
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Our granddaughter Liz joined Vivian and myself at Eclectic Geekery to play Just Quest. She's playing a dwarf, Clairen, who is friendly and bouncy.
We woke up in Caper's hobbit hole and had a fine breakfast. Roughly-chopped turnips, baked crispy brown and served with a selection of chutneys. Also Beastie-shaped roast veggies that create visions of long-forgotten magic.
Then Caper served a sweet treat, A suspensefully swaying tower of sponge cake, liqueur, orange pieces and custard, topped with a layer of syllabub cream. (Now if I just knew what syllabub is)
Clairen wanted to head to town and make new friends so off we went. On the way we met Pogbert Piper blowing spectacular smoke rings in his garden. His smoke looked like soot from a roaring black hearth.
We all heard the ghost of the shire making smart ass comments about the game. (When we are playing in Tobbins Shire and a non player kibitzes they are providing the voice of the ghost of the shire.)
Not to be outdone Caper asked Pogbert for a pinch of bacca and he started blowing smokerings resembling long-gone monsters. He blew a huge ring which floated above their heads and then he blew a Gryphon that flew through the center of the ring.
Caper played a merry jig on his flute and every one was tapping their feet or hoeing in time to the music except Clairen who was bouncing up and down.
Then on to town and a visit to Mr. Muffin's second hand store. Clairen bought a yellow headband. Caper bought a black saddle for his pony. Ari looked at a brown saddle for her brown horse streaked with white but she wasn't convinced she needed it. Then back to the hobbit hole to try out the saddle. When they passed Pogbert Piper's garden he was nowhere in sight. Probably inside for elevenses, which made Caper start to think about what they would eat for elevenses when they got back home.
---
We played using the dice rolling tables in Hearth & Hilside Home, Being a book of pastoral pleasures for Halflings and Bigfolk alike.
Cast of characters:
Arimeth (Ari) - A human healing witch who has been working with the Milyagon witch brewing teas.
Tude - Ari's wildcat. A pet, not a familiar, Tude comes to Ari's waist and is a formidable defender. Tude only speaks cat but is very intelligent, possibly more intelligent than most humans.
Caper Tobbins - Ari's sidekick, a halfling bard and the DM PC.
Insert your character here. It literally takes 2 minutes to create a character in Just Quest. Honestly, the most time consuming part is making up the PC's name.
Get your character sheet here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/124
We are going to try a hybrid game, around the table and on the internet. If you can't make it to Eclectic Geekery join us on Inspired Unreality.
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. More info in the right sidebar here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Here's a link to the Just Quest rules minizine.
https://www.minizines.cc/flat/?x=entry:entry200105-065552
Here's a link to the Gamer+ Group, Tales Of Milyagon, including some session summaries from recent games.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/4
And one more Milyagon link, "Yon Rogar’s Hat" a short story I wrote about Wilken Woods, the magic forest that lies between Milyagon and Tobbins Shire.
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry190818-150004
Enjoy!
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/918
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
More info including a video and a poster here.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
There will be RPG games; D&D 5e, Chronicles of Ember, Dungeon Crawl Classics, and All Outta Bubblegum; and a Miniature Paint and Take. Special thanks to Alan Wortman, Kier Heyl, Will Hose, and Liz Brown for running events!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Inspired Unreality open game chat will continue as usual. This week is bring your own topic so if you can't make it to Eclectic Geekery on Saturday at least you can join us chatting about games online.
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. More info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week on Inspired Unreality we will have Actual Play live from Eclectic Geekery. I will be running my game, Just Quest, a rules light system with an OSR feel and we will be adventuring in Tobbins Shire. Everyone is welcome and if you can't sit around a table with us you can play online.
Thanks to ZDL for sending an error report. By the time I checked on it Gamer+ was running fine again. I am still committed to upgrading Gamer+ to better software and running it on my own server. That's just the kind of project I love and I'm looking forward to working on it this summer. The old Gamer+ will remain with all the content we love so much. It will become a static history of the first years on Gamer+ without accepting new posts or gamers.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/ZDL
On a personal note I am planning on recording with my band, Bebop Beatniks, Monday night. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/915
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 AM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last Saturday we chatted from the RPG room at Eclectic Geekery and we enjoyed that so much we decided to add it as a monthly event. We will be playing Just Quest in Tobbin's Shire, on the other side of Wilken Woods from Milyagon. I've been using the Hearth & Hillside Home dice tables for some low combat, explore the shire gaming and it's been great fun.
Free Hearth & Hillside Home dice table pdf
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
Tales Of Milyagon
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/4
Just Quest is a rules light OSR style game and Milyagon is our environs. We're going to try a hybrid game with some players sitting around the table and others on Discord. We'll see how that works. Sound exciting? Well that's in two weeks.
Sunday is Mother's day and the family is coming to visit. In case your forgot this is your reminder from Gamer+.
And next weekend is the Eclectic Geekery grand opening. Here's their facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
If you're in Northeast Arkansas be sure to go. And then come the following Saturday to to play Just Quest in Tobbins Shire.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. And share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/913
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is welcome. For more info and a link go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week will be the first Saturday in June so our topic will be fantasy and science fiction. Books, TV, Movies, Games, all on topic. It's a broad topic but we'll hone in on your interests. I've been reading "Malazan Book of the Fallen" by Steven Erikson. And it looks like I'll be reading it for quite a while.
https://steven-erikson.org/malazan-book-of-the-fallen/
Last week we answered the important question, Do Hobbits Drink Hot Chocolate?
After several discouraging searches concluding that Middle Earth has no chocolate I finally found the result I was looking for.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4548
I mean after all how could the hobbit mommys get all their little hobbits home for elevenses without serving a nice mug of chocolate?
In case you've been noticing twitter in the news lately that mastodon link below is a twitter alternative.
I hope you've enjoyed the Gamer+ News. Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/912
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. There's more info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week Alan and I perused a few of the spell books he generated with his bash script. I added three of them to Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4542
Follow Me And Die has a new blog post on Random Research in games.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4545
Here's a super short I wrote in 2018.
AI Autocomplete
by Larry Heyl CC-BY
In the future everyone will have AI Autocomplete, first for writing, then for talking. The AI will be so good that it soon starts guessing right 100% of the time. People select the Just Say It For Me option since their AI Autocomplete always guesses right.
This is the future of humanity, packhorses for AI Autocompletes talking to each other.
Or is it already happening now?
---
See the illustration here.
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry180208-201254
If you have any short fiction you would like to feature get in touch!
Weather permitting I will be livestreaming chill jazz piano from the Twitch Porch with Bebop Beatniks on Monday at 5:00 pm Central.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/911
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tankar's Tavern on Discord. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Everyone is welcome. All gaming is on topic. We look forward to chatting with you.
Last week Duca schooled me in the arts of EU4. He's into historical role playing too. A history buff playing down through the centuries.
Lately I've been posting some of my writing and session summaries so I thought I would feature another Gamer+ gamer today.
Call To March
Follow Me And Die
I had this idea for a short story. I started it about an hour before the Wednesday night game I play in. This is a first draft with minimal editing for the most grievous typos. I’m curious what you think of it.
The youth, slim of build and lean, not yet muscled from long marchings with pack and armor looked to the grizzled veteran. Young Jaran idolized the aged veteran, survivor of many battles, who bore a white scar over his sightless left eye.
Hurry lads, grab your packs and cinch them well before the call to march ends!
How far today, Goram? came the call in unison from the youthful members of the company.
Continue reading
https://followmeanddie.com/2022/04/13/call-to-march/
And here's the Follow Me And Die Gamer+ page.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/FollowMeAndDie
Please forward this email and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/909
We are looking forward to getting together with our family.
Happy Easter,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. This week it's actual play in and around Tobbins Shire, home of river halflings and even some humans!
As we do on the first Saturday of every month we discussed fantasy and science fiction last week. We are also good with bring your own topic. As long as its games.
If you are interested in hosting a game on Inspired Unreality let me know. I'd love to play in one of your games.
As Spring weather arrives we are at a wane in the ebb and tide of covid so we are looking forward to playing music in the park, playing games at Eclectic Geekery, and spending time with our family.
What are your plans? Let us know.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/907
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
I livestreamed the show using only battery power and my phone hotspot so this should work anywhere the phone has good signal. I made an audio and video playlist and I have been uploading the best songs to Youtube.
Audio playlist
https://archive.org/details/hl2022-03-27
Video Playlist
https://archive.org/details/hl2022-03-27.video
Sunbathing In "Low Earth Orbit"
https://youtu.be/mfRIxCOc3Xw
Twitch - please follow
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Youtube - please follow
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarry
Also, Saturday morning at 11:00 Central, we will be in the Inspired Unreality open game chat in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. This week our topic is Fantasy and Science Fiction. There's more info and a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Please forward this email to your music loving friends and share this link.
https://hairylarry.rocks/writes/permalink.php?fname=Delta_Boogie_Newsletter_-_April_2022_-_Chill_Jazz_Piano_at_Beatles_Park.txt
Thanks,
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held every Saturday in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's there's a link for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We had a couple of days downtime on our main page again. This time I was able to figure out the problem and repair it. Thanks to FollowMeAndDie for helping me solve this issue.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/FollowMeAndDie
Last weekend I visited Eclectic Geekery, Sarah's and Megan's bookstore, and I played chill jazz piano at Beatles Park.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Sarah
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Megantopia
I livestreamed over twitch using my phone hotspot. The entire rig, piano, pa, phone, and streaming equipment runs on batteries. So I can go anywhere where my phone gets good signal and livestream without an extension cord.
Way cool.
Gamer+ post with photo (Thanks Carl).
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4526
HairyLarryLand Twitch Stream (please follow)
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Sunbathing In "Low Earth Orbit" on Youtube (please follow)
https://youtu.be/mfRIxCOc3Xw
I don't want to forget about family game last Saturday. My son Carl was DM playing Castles and Crusades. Around the table was my grandson Conner playing a thief, my son Kier playing a fighter, I was a dwarven cleric, my Foster grandson, Simon, played a wizard, and my Foster grandnephew, Luke, played a wizard. Game highlights are at this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4524
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/905
Thanks,
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Last week at Inspired Unreality Ari and Caper once again adventured around Tobbins Shire. Ari enlisted the help of Dood a th Wood (pronounced Dude ah thah Wude) to divine the spells on the hat and the feather. The feather is a large owl's feather, probably from Wilkin Woods and it is enhanced with fey magic to be a magic augmenter. The hat makes the wearer lighter. The hat takes 25% off and with the feather 50%.
They went to see old Took where Caper bought the pony with ribbons and also bought some light tack for the pony.
Then back to the Inn to see the people they rescued. They now realize they have been thrust 400 years into their future and are at a loss. Ari suggests they make furniture since antique furniture from their era is valued.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4521
So Saturday, for us, it's family game and visiting my Foster family. Then Sunday, off to Walnut Ridge to see Sarah and Megan's new book store, Eclectic Geekery, and to play a couple of short sets at Beatles Park, right around the corner on Abbey Road. I say short because it's supposed to be chilly.
I am really looking forward to warmer spring weather so I can enjoy playing music outside with my friends.
Please let me know what you've been doing and what you have planned for this spring. Send me an email or message or post on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been there's a link for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Thanks to Ducatislo for joining Alan, Vivian, and myself last Saturday. Ducatislo is from Slovenia and he plays a low fantasy historical RPG using Low Fantasy Gaming Deluxe Edition as the core rules for his game. Really sounds interesting.
He shared this link to a Youtube review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhNcgrCPAJc
Low Fantasy Gaming Deluxe Edition is from Pickpocket Press and here's the DriveThruRPG link.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/265388/Low-Fantasy-Gaming-Deluxe-Edition
Next week we will not have Inspired Unreality because we have family coming in and Vivian and I are going to be busy visiting and possibly playing in a family game.
And on next Sunday we'll be going to Walnut Ridge to visit with our family, see the new Eclectic Geekery book store, and play chill jazz piano at Beatles Park.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore/
https://www.beatlesattheridge.com/attractions/beatles-park/
I'm really looking forward to that. Let me know what your plans are now that Sping has sprung and Omicron is waning. And join us Saturday morning for Inspired Unreality.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/903
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you need a link, go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
From last weeks Inspired Unreality discussion about Fantasy and Science Fiction.
It seems that horses are the most common animal in fantasy while science fiction authors prefer cats. And also, of course, there be dragons, not just in fantasy but in science fiction as well.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4495
Check out this fantastic Year Of The Tiger art by Kim Herbst.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4497
I filled in a few blanks on the now named Tobbins Shire.
In Tobbins Shire there are Tobbins and Mubbins and Muffens plus an occasional Baggins or Took. It is a trading Shire, on the river, with docks, warehouses, and stores. On one street there are big houses for biguns whose kids like swimming in the river off the docks. Some of the Tobbins, Mubbins, and Muffins join them but you won't catch a Baggins or a Took in the water.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4513
And Ari and Caper rescued the people only to find a big bad wrapped in a fey enigma.
Caper shows Ari the Book of Kings and Cyndre, the lady boss of the rescued humans, pops over to look. She says, "Oh, aye! I ken him. Old King Cartyr, he died last year."
Ari and Caper look at each other and Caper says, "King Cartyr is legendary. He died 400 years ago."
Cyndre looks up noticing details in Ari's clothing she hadn't see before. Finely woven cloth with rows of silver buttons. She also notices Caper's well fitted boots, made by the cobbler at Tobbins Shire. She bows to Ari and says, "Sorry, my lady, but I worked in King Cartyr's Castle and he died just last year.
400 years ago, Cyndre and her party left Tobbins Shire and when they crested a ridge they saw a beautiful field covered in mist with an abandoned farmhouse. When they went to see the farmhouse they walked through the mist and that's the last they remember until Ari, Caper, and Tude led them out of the mist and back up to the road.
Ari and Caper have a short confab and decide that there's nothing for it but to take these people back to the shire.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/900
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/901
Stay in touch and Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Caper shows Ari the Book of Kings and Cyndre, the lady boss of the rescued humans, pops over to look. She says, "Oh, aye! I ken him. Old King Cartyr, he died last year."
Ari and Caper look at each other and Caper says, "King Cartyr is legendary. He died 400 years ago."
Cyndri looks up noticing details in Ari's clothing she hadn't see before. Finely woven cloth with rows of silver buttons. She also notices Caper's well made boots, made by the cobbler at Tobbins Shire. She bows to Ari and says, "Sorry, my lady, but I worked in King Cartyr's Castle and he died just last year.
400 years ago, Cyndre and her party left Tobbins Shire and when they crested a ridge they saw a beautiful field covered in mist with an abandoned farmhouse. When they went to see the farmhouse they walked through the mist and that's the last they remember until Ari, Caper, and Tude led them out of the mist and back up to the road.
Ari and Caper have a short confab and decide that there's nothing for it but to take these people back to the shire.
Caper shouts, "Time to eat", thinking they must be hungry if they haven't dined in 400 years and he takes off down the road back to Tobbins Shire singing a merry tune. With Ari's encouragement they follow and Ari and Tude bring up the rear being careful that no children stray from the path.
When they get to the shire Caper takes them all to the Inn where they have a hearty stew. The rescued people still don't believe 400 years passed but they can tell that things are much different then they were when they left Tobbins Shire on what seems to them, just this morning.
Caper arranges for rooms and breakfast. The Inn only has five man size rooms so the two families take a room and the others bunk up 2 or 3 to a room.
Caper takes Ari aside and says, "It's not too late. Let's check Muffins Used Clothes and see if he bought that hat."
They enter the shop and Caper makes inquiries. "Yes, indeed,' says Muffins, "the Sherrif did come buy and I bought his hat." Caper asks the price and pays 4 silver without bartering which kind of bothered Muffins. He's never know a Tobbins to pay asking price once in his life.
Caper also asks about the pony. "Ah yes," said Muffins, "I directed him to Old Took on the south road not a mile from the shire. He may have sold it there. I tell you he looked a sight on that poor little pony."
Caper, thnking of the Jakobs kids and those magic ribbons decided to check on the pony in the morning. Ari and Caper continued on to Caper's Hobbit Hole where they had a nice repast of crab, mutton, and vegetables and decided to end their adventure for the day.
I just started Gardens of the Moon, the first of ten novels in Canadian author Steven Erikson's high fantasy series the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I'm barely into it but I can say wizardry abounds.
Also of interest is the "The Rings of Power", a new Middle Earth fantasy that everyone seems to have an opinion about. Do you? What's your opinion?
And I don't want to skip over "The Wheel Of Time". I've read the books but remain in the dark about the series.
So, plenty to talk about on our Fantasy and Science Fiction Inspired Unreality open game chat.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been there already we have a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
And now, looking forward to next week when we may be adventuring in Milyagon, here's some game prep.
Mr. MistMeister
Ari and Caper run across Mr. MistMeister, a dangerous water elemental, on a hike outside of Caper's Shire. Before he was Mr. MistMeister he was a water sprite. One day when he was flying a potion maker, greatly afraid, threw a potion of gaseous form on the sprite. The combination of magicks locked the elemental into it's gaseous form and Mr. MistMeister was born.
He used to enjoy coralling loads of fish into fishermen's nets so they became so heavily laden that they would break or even capsize the fishing boat. In his mist form he has been corraling people by showing them abandoned houses from the past and luring them into his misty form.
He is not evil. He just does what he does because he doesn't know what else to do. He could be convinced to take up another avocation but he can only be destroyed with very high level magic that counters both the potion and fey magic at the same time.
Pictured is Dancing Fairies painted in 1866 by the Swedish painter August Malmström. Unlike the faires pictured Mr. MistMeister cannot return to the water but is locked above ground as a mist.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/797/latest
We are always interested in hearing about your games. Send an email, join us on Inspired Unreality, or, best yet, post to Gamer+.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/895
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Please follow and chat to boost my stats.
If the weather holds I will also be on the twitch porch Thursday. I am exercising my rig trying to get everything ready to play at the Craighead Forest Bandshell in Jonesboro and Beatles Park in Walnut Ridge this Spring.
My twitch schedule is Tu-Th-Su at 2:00 PM Central. When the weather is bad I play inside from the HairyLarryLand Twitch Studio. When weather permits I'll be outside. When I play a gig on the weekend that will be instead of Sunday at 2:00, not in addition to Sunday at 2:00. I also do video and audio post production on my livestreams. Here's a couple of links where you can view or listen.
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarry
https://kgpl.org/
My daughters, Sarah and Megan, have opened a bookstore, Eclectic Geekery, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Those of you who remember Blues Fest will remember Megan, she was our photographer and she also sang with Hairy Larry and The Flying Hungarians. They are both active in the NEA Gamers Guild and NEA Game Fest. Besides books they will also sell games and geek miscellany. The shop looks great. Here's their facebook page where you can see some photos.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore
If you're in the area you will want to give them a visit. Right now it's weekend hours only. Keep up to date on their facebook page.
And if you're wondering when I'll be playing at the bandshell or Beatles Park you are on the right list. These gigs will be short notice because I have to schedule around the weather. I will send notifications to this email list so I have gone from a monthly to a monthly plus gig announcements.
Vivian and I also host Inspired Unreality, open game chat Saturday mornings at
11:00 Central. Here's a link with more info.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
So keep an eye open and stay tuned for more chill jazz piano news. Let me know what you've been doing whether it's music, games, or books. I'm eclectic too.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Saturday morning in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tankar's Tavern before there's a link for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
This week is bring your own topic. Next week is March 4, the first Saturday, and the topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction. Which segues right into.
Eclectic Geekery ready for business.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4473
Check out the photos on their Facebook. Really looks great.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4475
Another thing we do at Inspired Unreality is some non-combat game play in the area surrounding Milyagon.
They continue along the trail and coming to the top of a ridge they see mist filling a field that opens up before them, evening light glinting off the dewy roof of a distant cottage. (from Scenery On Your Long Treks d12 table)
They walk through the field towards the cottage and Ari, feeling like something might be wrong here recommends caution. Tude's fur ruffles up on the back of his neck, a sure sign of danger.
Caper suggests they drink some farseeing tea so they can see through the windows from a safe distance. He quickly gathers twigs and builds a fire boiling water in the teapot from his hiking pack. Ari sprinkles in some of the tea and Caper tends the pot while Ari looks around, wondering...
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/889
And, finally, here's a bit of eye candy by an artist I found on the Gamer+ Tumblr.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4476
That's right. Cat pics on Gamer+. Of course, it's a Cabbat.
And here's that tumblr link.
https://gamerplusdotorg.tumblr.com/
They say that word of mouth advertising is the best which is a good thing because that's all we can afford anyway. Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/890
Thanks,
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Ari explains aura colors to Caper. Red means blood, white means blind or a child, no aura means the human doesn't care about colors. Ari said the Shirrif had no aura which didn't surpise her.
They continue along the trail and coming to the top of a ridge they see mist filling a field that opens up before them, evening light glinting off the dewy roof of a distant cottage. (from Scenery On Your Long Treks d12 table)
They walk through the field towards the cottage and Ari, feeling like something might be wrong here recommends caution. Tude's fur ruffles up on the back of his neck, a sure sign of danger.
Caper suggests they drink some farseeing tea so they can see through the windows from a safe distance. He quickly gathers twigs and builds a fire boiling water in the teapot from his hiking pack. Ari sprinkles in some of the tea and Caper tends the pot while Ari looks around, wondering.
Caper pours two small cups and Ari without thinking stirs her tea with the silver wand from the fairy, King Groad, that enhances teas and potions. After putting out his fire Caper is quickly running about exploring the house through the windows and open door from a distance of about 100 feet. He can tell the house is empty and in some disrepair.
Ari, however sees something completely different. Lost in the mist are human men, women, and children. Ari starts making notes in her notebook for future reference.
She glances up and notices Caper sneaking into the house with Tude following ready to protect him. In the cottage Caper finds a lavishly illuminated tome chronicling a time when the Commonwealth was a wild land of barrow-kings and bigfolk. (from the Heirlooms Of The Estate d10 table)
He can't wait to show Ari the book and rushes out to her. Ari glances at the book but she is more concerned right now with the lost souls in the mist. She describes them to Caper who can't see them.
Ari suggests that Caper finishes the tea and gives it a stir with her silver wand. Caper chugs tea straight out of the cold pot and now Caper sees the people too. Ari asks if Caper has brandy and Caper grins tapping his hiking pack.
Ari thinks the minimal amount will help Caper move the people out of the mist and away from here. Caper says he'll take the minimal amount which is usually one good chug followed by another. Ari says take half the minimal amount and then lead the women and children out because we don't want a lot of dead bodies which is where this could go.
So Caper takes a wee nip and then starts playing his flute and dancing with the children in the mist. When he leads them across the field they follow enchanted by his flute. The women follow the children and the men follow the women and soon Caper has them all heading across the field toward the path with Ari and Tude bringing up the rear.
There are seven kids, five women, and six men that follow them out of the mist. Some of the men are younger, without whiskers yet, but full grown.
Ari now sees from the trail another even bigger cottage that is also unlived in.
The people still have no clue about where they are. Some of them gripe and complain about the people running a village. They all calm down and start to get along after fussing awhile. Caper says the fussing is a good sign that they have returned to normal. Big folk are always fussing.
Ari is determined to make sure that the people she's with go a different direction. She's afraid of danger to them. They could be hurt, killed, or locked up.
Caper wants to examine this bigger cottage that appeared on the other side of the path. He can't wait to see if there are more books for Ari stuck up on a shelf somewhere. He still feels the effects of the farseeing tea and he's checking out what he can see from here on the trail.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
This week is Bring Your Own Topic. All gaming is on topic. Have you had a few ideas rolling around in the back of your head? Feel free to join us and talk about them. Board games, card games, RPGs. They're all on topic.
And as for last week! Did you know Milyagon was near a Shire? If you can make it safely across Wilken Woods and cross the river there be Hobbits.
We used Shire friendly dice tables found in the Hearth & Hillside Home.pdf, a name your own price download.
https://weirdandblue.itch.io/hearth-and-hillside-home
First we rolled up elevenses from the Sweet Treats table. Caper rolled Tart rhubarb pie with clotted cream and an extra flavour that everybody either loves or hates and Ari rolled Sticky honeycomb fresh from the tallest oak this side of Woolshod Hill which Caper had recently rescued from the bees.
As a good hobbit would, Caper suggested they follow up on elevenses with Breakfast for Dinner. Caper rolled Spicy sausages with flavours from the distant empire of Man and Ari followed up with a still-twitching boiled crab that always goes for the nose. So sausages and crabs it was after Caper detwitched the crab with a single blow.
Unable to eat any more Caper suggests a walk through the woods to enjoy the sun. Before they get out of town they meet weary halfling travellers trekking into town wearing the scandalous fashions of a distant March. In fact their garb is brightly colored and entirely inappropriate for the shire. They said some fairies had played a trick on them changing their sensible clothes for this rubbish.
Ari escorted them into a second hand clothes shop where Mr. Muffin, the owner, assured them all he could arrange an exchange for more suitable attire knowing that the brightly colored clothes would sell well when caravans of men and women passed through town. No accounting for the tastes of men. Brightly colored scarves just assure that you'll be seen in the woods.
After walking a short way out of town Ari and Caper met a well-groomed pony with courtly ribbons, plodding under the weight of a pompous Shirrif and his tall feathered hat.
The Shirrif was complaining about the fairies who he said, "Tied the ribbons to my pony and gave me this stupid hat."
Caper said, "Mr. Muffin will trade that hat for a better one and he probably knows where you could trade the pony for a sturdier horse."
They talked on for a while, as one does well met in the woods, and then Ari and Caper continued their hike while the Shirrif plodded on to town. As he left, Ari cast detect magic and all the ribbons as well as the hat and the feathers glowed with fey magic.
Maybe we'll find out more on Inspired Unreality tomorrow. Or maybe you have something to talk about or a game you'd like to play. Or both? Could be.
Please forward this email to your game playing friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/887
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's we have a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week Alan joined us and we discussed how RPGs follow trends in fantasy and science fiction literature. It turns out that Alan, like Vivian and myself, is a big Roger Zelazny fan. And Zelazny has had his influence in the gaming world.
And it's not just about fantasy and science fiction books. Many gaming trends follow major media franchises. Join us Saturday morning to continue this discussion or, as always, bring your own topic.
Work continues on Eclectic Geekery, a book store and gaming place in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, where my daughters are bringing both SF and fantasy books and games to Northeast Arkansas. I put up a photo gallery and I have to say I love the ambience especially the exposed brick. Go here to see.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/117
I can't wait until I can see it in person. Here's their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/eclecticgeekerystore/
I am continuing in my project to livestream from anywhere whether busking or playing in a park. I got a nice little battery powered PA, the Samson Expedition Express+, so that along with my Roland GO:Piano and my Acer laptop provide the core functionality for livestreaming off the grid. I have played with this rig at the Craighead Forest Bandshell in Jonesboro and I look forward to streaming from Beatles Park, just around the corner from Eclectic Geekery, in Walnut Ridge. I'm bringing chill jazz piano to the great outdoors as soon as it warms up and the Omicron surge wanes.
Here's my Twitch link.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
And my Youtube page.
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarry
Please follow at both links and give my stats a bump.
Help me grow Gamer+. Forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/886
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unrealty is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's we have a link for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I just finished rereading the Lyonesse Trilogy, a fantasy classic by Jack Vance. This trilogy includes some of the best descriptions of fairies in feyland I've ever read and I've read so much fey literature that feyland is like a second home to me. Highly recommended. Please post your recommendations today and we'll discuss them on Inspired Unreality Saturday morning.
I have been winnowing our home library by donating books to Eclectic Geekery, a new books and games store soon to open in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. My daughters, Sarah and Megan, are following their dream and I am supporting them any way I can.
ZDL sends New Years greetings. It is, in fact, The Year of the Tiger. Babies born in The Year of the Tiger show strength, bravery, and courage, ready to play a warrior in the RPG of their choice.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/ZDL
While posting to the Gamer+ Tumbler I found this amazing animation of Beth Fuller creating "in the cracking dusk" a beautiful piece of fantasy artwork. I posted the link on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4460
It's a few minutes long and well worth the watch.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/885
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join us in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. You can find a link to Tenkar's here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next Saturday will be the first Saturday in February so our topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction. The opening topic next week will be Why do RPGs parallel fantasy and science fiction literature?
Eclectic Geekery
Books, Games and More!
My daughters are opening a book shop in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. You can expect regular updates.
Great poster art here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4453
Shop Eclectic Geekery. You'll be glad you did!
I was scrounging around in some of the back rooms at Delta Boogie and I found some wizard artwork Kier drew for me in 1996.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4452
Please welcome austin_grafx to Gamer+. He drew his own avatar.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/austin_grafx
Forward this email and share this link to Gamer+ News.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/884
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's there's a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week Viv and I were joined by Alan and Peaktime for our Inspired Unreality open game chat. We mostly talked about computer programming, discussing recent projects and looking at what programming languages are hot in game development.
Peaktime is working on a character generator for BX, Alan is compiling a list of 2nd Edition wizards spells, and I am working on the Plain Text Blog. I think we enjoy programming as much as we do gaming.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4437
I am glad to report that the Main page has stayed up all week. Sure is fun not having to worry about Gamer+ errors.
When we last left Ari and Caper in Milyagon they were talking to the Jakobs, a family of seven, Jake and Liz, and their five kids, baby Ameira, Will, Bill, Cassie, and Sandra. In keeping with my contention that every NPC deserves two sentences we did a little writing so I'll have something to work from the next time we play. Not only did we capture all seven family members we also described a lot of the interactions that make a family work.
Here's some of it.
Sandra seems restless, always shifting her feet about. In spite of Liz's careful plaitwork Sandra's braids remained unruly. She is constantly active, grooming the horses while talking and jesting.
Cassie was her sister's shadow but she couldn't be more different in her pretty blue dress and her braids falling over her shoulders. Her eyes dart about keeping up with everything that's happening.
Bill and Will were often mistaken for twins. Will was big for his age and almost Bill's size. They were both healthy, ruddy, and husky with a glint of wit in their eyes. Bill is headstrong and doesn't understand why he can't do everything his sisters do. Will is more likely to heed his parents strictures partly because he sees the trouble Bill gets himself into.
Ameira, the baby, is almost a year old. She is a beautiful baby with blue eyes and golden curls. She is not, however, an easy baby to care for, her troubled nights have kept both Liz and Jake awake in the campgrounds.
There's more but overall it's as compact as what you read here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/882
ZDL joined Discord! And when she updated her profile I noticed she is also on Mastodon. You may have noticed my Mastodon link in my signature at the end of Gamer+ News. Like Gamer+, Mastodon is an alternative social network. Highly recommended.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/ZDL
Please forward this email and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/883
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Jake and Liz named their first child Cassandra hoping to call her Cassie but everyone called her Sandra instead. So they named their second child Cassie.
Sandra seems restless, always shifting her feet about. In spite of Liz's careful plaitwork Sandra's braids remained unruly. She is constantly active, grooming the horses while talking and jesting.
Cassie was her sister's shadow but she couldn't be more different in her pretty blue dress and her braids falling over her shoulders. Her eyes dart about keeping up with everything that's happening.
Jake and Liz named their first boy William hoping to call him Will but everyone called him Bill instead. So they named their second boy Will.
Bill and Will were often mistaken for twins. Will was big for his age and almost Bill's size. They were both healthy, ruddy, and husky with a glint of wit in their eyes. Bill is headstrong and doesn't understand why he can't do everything his sisters do. Will is more likely to heed his parents strictures partly because he sees the trouble Bill gets himself into.
Ameira, the baby, is almost a year old. She is a beautiful baby with blue eyes and golden curls. She is not, however, an easy baby to care for, her troubled nights have kept both Liz and Jake awake in the campgrounds.
Jake tends horses and he hopes to start a breeding business with the herd of seven horses he has brought north to Milyagon. He wears a knit cap he can pull down over his ears and he meets everyone with a grin. He's lean but muscular enough that you can tell he work's hard caring for his horses.
Liz's countenance radiates a composure that is remarkable in light of the chaos that surrounds her. She controls her girls with a look or a hand sign that Ari quickly learns to copy. A wave, a nod, or a flip of the hair is all it takes to tell the girls what to do next.
So great? But also ???. I am still looking into migrating to Open Source Social Network which is being currently maintained, has a better mobile app, and offers paid support. When I get a test version up and running I will post a link here in the Gamer+ News for anyone interested in helping me test it.
I am glad that Gamer+ fixed itself because that takes the pressure off and I can take some time with the migration. My music composition lessons start next week so once again I will be a little bit too busy.
Saturday, January 15, at 11:00 AM Central, Inspired Unreality continues in it's new day and time. Some of the regulars are noticing the transition. Last week it was just Vivian and I so we continued in our Ari and Caper adventures in Milyagon. They have left the witch's cottage and are back in Milyagon where Ari and Caper are visiting with the family they met on the road. We named all the kids and Mom and Dad too so now it's my job to write a couple of sentences about each.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Saturday morning at 11:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tankar's there's a link here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Today is Vivian's birthday. I'm just adding this here to rub it in. Vivian has been role playing longer than I have in fact she was a DM before there was D&D. As Arimeth with her cat, Tude, she and Caper are building out the Milyagon locale. By cat we mean mountain lion. Tude comes up to Ari's waist which means shoulder high on Caper the halfling. It's kind of cool having a mountain lion nuzzling me in the face.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/sound
I love Gamer+ which has chat and messaging. I am also active on Discord at Tenkar's Tavern, Megantopia, Family Chat, and on my music server, hairylarryland. Here's a link to the HairyLarryLand Discord server.
https://discord.gg/MgnZC464YS
But if you want to get in touch with me email is the thing. I check my email several times a day and I check everything else several times a week and I don't always get every message then.
So, forward this email. Share this link. And send me an email.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is welcome to come chat about games.
Last week was Fantasy and Science Fiction and I did some short readings from the Lyonesse Trilogy by Jack Vance illustrating my idea that every NPC deserves at least two sentences. There is nothing like short descriptive text to help the DM portray the NPC in a believable manner. Jack Vance is a master.
Thanks to Ducalisto for joining us at Inspired Unreality open game chat. We discussed fantasy and scifi gaming systems.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4414
The main page at Gamer+ is down. I have been working on it trying to resolve the issue. I've also been adding occasional posts trying to scroll the issue off the screen. So far no luck. Somebody needs to roll luck for me.
All the other pages are working fine. You can still post and read other people's posts, comment, etc. It's just the Main page that's not working.
So as well as trying to fix Gamer+ I have also been looking into changing platforms for Gamer+. Oxwall is a good platform for computers but the mobile app is poor at best. In today's world most people prefer to use their phone so I would like to upgrade to a platform with good mobile support and good tech support too.
Any suggestions? I have been looking into the Open Source Social Network. I have also used Elgg but I don't know how good the mobile support is on Elgg. It will be work to change platforms so I want to do my research up front.
We got a domestic robot. I for one look forward to serving our robot overlords. But until then scrub that floor.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4416
Vivian and I played an Ari and Caper in a Milyagon game yesterday. The brownies made Ari a wreathed hat out of wildflowers that acts like a love charm. The Milyagon witch gave Ari a basket to keep it in so it's not "on" all the time.
Vivian also filled in a lot of back story about Ari and Tude and set us up for an encounter with a family she met on the road.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4420
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I wrote a new program called Plain Text Blog and it is what it says.
Install the program and put your text files into the text directory and it all becomes a blog with permalinks, rss feed, table of contents, and automatic link detection.
It's cool.
Here's Hairy Larry Writes using Plain Text Blog.
https://hairylarry.rocks/writes/
I rely on it.
Tomorrow, Inspired Unreality open game chat at 11:00 AM Central is in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. It's the first Saturday of the month so this week our topic will be Fantasy and Science Fiction.
If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern there's a link for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I am re-rereading The Lyoness Trilogy by Jack Vance and in this rereading I am getting a lot of tips for DMs as well as for writers. Join us to discuss your favorite Fantasy and Science Fiction books, games, movies, etc.
What I got for Christmas.
Carl gave a stack of magazines to each family. I also got two nice carnivorous plants from Kier. I'll post pics of those after I paint them.
I added a photo gallery with the magazine covers.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/115
In with the magazines were five copies of Swords & Wizardry Light, written by Tenkar, a Gamer+ gamer and proprietor of Tenkar's Tavern home of Inspired Unreality.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/tenkar
Bembo the Barbarian.
Questionable Content is a rom com webzine with robots. But for the last several days Jeph Jacques has been drawing Bembo The Barbarian and it's a hoot.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4403
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/875
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://mastodon.social/@hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I will be changing the time for Inspired Unreality to earlier in the day on Saturdays. Probably 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Please weigh in. January 1 is right around the corner. Here's a link to Gamer+ and my email is below.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I am also looking for DMs interested in hosting a one off with only me as the PC. This can be in any game system and doesn't have to be, but could be, at the time specified for Inspired Unreality. I would record these actual play sessions for the DM and possibly for a Gamer+ podcast. Since there's only one PC, character creation can be quick. If the game hosted has unusual rules or other quirks the DM can explain them as we go. I like to set goals so.
Goal 1 - have fun
Goal 2 - Gamer+ podcast
Goal 3 - Introductory material for the DM and the game
Let me know if you're interested. I have several DMs in mind. If this happens on Inspired Unreality it will be monthly at most. If you prefer another time I'll work with you.
I have been enjoying ZDL's series of posts based on Georges Polti's The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. This is the kind of thing that can really help DM's create dramatic tension. Here's a link to her latest.
Vengeance taken for kindred upon kindred.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/871
I graduated Saturday and those who are related to geeks gathered here for my graduation party, birthday parties, and chicken enchiladas. Continuing our traditional Christmas Festivities we had Cookie Day on Sunday, the day when DMs and players gather, not for role playing, but for cookie baking. I mean it ain't a good game without snacks, right?
Please forward this email to your friends. And share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/872
Thanks and Merry Christmas,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
In this situation we have two kinsmen: the "avenging kinsman" and the "guilty kinsman", we have the more abstract element of "remembrance of the victim" and, for the emotional impact to have punch, a "relative of both".
Strap down, this is going to be an emotional roller coaster!
VENGEANCE TAKEN FOR KINDRED UPON KINDRED
This situation has four necessary components. I'll address the need of some of them after the list. First and foremost there are the two obvious: Guilty Kinsman and Avenging Kinsman. Less obvious than these two, however, though equally necessary, is Remembrance of the Victim and the Relative of Both.
This situation is fraught with raw anger, mixed, likely, in equal parts with sorrow. Families traditionally have a tight code of conduct with trust being at the foundation of it all. Breaches of that trust lead to extremes of emotion: both anger at the betrayal and sorrow at the need for revenge.
There is a lot of dramatic potential here, but it only works if the relationship of the two Kinsmen to the Victim is remembered explicitly. It can't just be mentioned in passing. It must be wallowed in for a while to hammer home just how important the relationship was. Further, to amplify just how out of place this situation is, another family member related to both Kinsmen needs to be there to react and try to mitigate or mourn as appropriate.
It's a heady situation and it comes in a few flavours.
1. A parent's death avenged upon the other parent.
2. A child's death avenged upon the sibling.
3. A parent's death avenged upon a spouse.
4. A spouse's death avenged upon a parent.
Now personally I think all of them involving death is a bit much. There are other situations that could invoke this kind of wrath. But let's bear with it for now. There are thirty-two more situations to go through after all and maybe what I'm looking for here is available in other situations!
In role-playing, this situation would be difficult to integrate. Not impossible, but difficult. The hardest part would be getting players invested enough in their families to actually have that aforementioned betrayal and sorrow to rise up. If you can pull it off it will likely form sessions that become the "stories of lore" in gaming groups talked about years later in hushed tones.
There's another option, however. It would be easier to integrate one or more PCs into the role of Relative of Both and still make the RP meaningful and connected. Alternatively the PCs could be people outside of the family, but associated in some way with one or more of Victim, Other Kin, or the two Kinsmen. These outsider views may not quite give the visceral grip that being one of the main elements would have, but they will, if played out with gusto, still form good, satisfying RP.
I think we'll actually roll up a few characters to see how it works. If you are interested in Elthos or just exploring new RPG systems in general I'm sure you will enjoy Inspired Unreality tonight.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 10:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more information and an invitation to Tenkar's go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL has started a series of posts she is calling "The Thirty-Six" reflecting on Georges Polti's "The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations". She has links to the original version and the modernized take.
Dramatic Situations get right to the heart of what I love about role playing so I'm looking forward to these posts and to getting acquainted with Polti's work.
Thanks ZDL. I'm as excited as a podcaster.
One of Thirty-Six from ZDL's blog
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/863
Two of Thirty-Six from ZDL's blog
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/866
Three of Thirty-Six from ZDL's blog
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/867
Follow Me And Die posted a blog about Grave Growth. If you're like me and you don't know what grave growth is he explains in his first sentence. "The flowers and other flora that grow on graves is called Grave Growth." He then goes on to explain how to use grave growth in a game.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4371
Modern day grave growth includes glass jars holding plastic flowers.
Pete Seeger also covered grave growth in his song "Where Have All The Flowers Gone".
And since I've cleverly segued into music I have a personal announcement to make. I will be taking my second degree, a Bachelors in Music Composition this Saturday. Since I'm retired I don't expect this to change my career. Especially since my retirement hobby is writing and playing music. But, I did the work and now I'm getting the degree and I'm trying not to break my arm patting myself on the back.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. And share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/868
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
VENGEANCE OF A CRIME
In this situation there are only two necessary components: an Avenger out to wreak revenge, and a Criminal upon whom vengeance shall be delivered. This situation can almost be viewed as the reverse of DELIVERANCE or SUPPLICATION, in that the Avenger could be the Persecutor or Threatener while the Criminal could be viewed as the Suppliant or the Unfortunate. The difference lies mostly in sympathies: in DELIVERANCE/SUPPLICATION the victim is sympathetic to the onlooker while in this one the victim is viewed negatively. (Of course playing with viewpoints could have this be a parallel dramatic situation and the resolution could have the story start with VENGEANCE OF A CRIME only to have it, via a mid-plot reveal, turn into DELIVERANCE, say.)
There are three primary forms of this dramatic situation.
1. Vengeance for direct injury upon persons valued by the Avenger: kin and friends, for example. The nature of the crime can one of violence (death or injury), one of honour (which would include seduction in most cultures) or other such personal injury.
2. Vengeance for more abstract injuries like crimes of property, deception, false accusation or other forms of calumny, or even vengeance for having been robbed of an opportunity for vengeance. (The opening sentences of "The Cask of Amontillado" would be an example of this type: "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I swore revenge.")
3. This one is an odd one out: professional pursuit of criminals. Think cops and detectives here. While it seems a little oddly out of place in this heading compared to the others, the same dramatic tensions exist.
Vengeance is a dramatic potboiler in RPGs! In the first two types, it's going to practically spring up by itself in a normal campaign as the femme fatale steals the vital gem, as the orc tribe that massacres villagers the players had grown fond of finds it bit off more than it could chew plus a thousand more things.
That being said, however, that third odd duck out has serious potential for driving campaigns. Picture the PCs as an investigatory team sent out by the powers that be, or self-motivated (for mercenary reasons, or others) to hunt down criminals. An old west campaign, for example, (even if it's the weird west or such) could have the PCs be lawmen or bounty hunters quite easily, and such professions would exist almost anywhere.
Similarly, even in places like Ancient China or medieval Europe you often found magistrates who had personal investigation and enforcement arms (even if the methods were ... unscientific) who would solve crimes. Moving this into an RP scenario would not be difficult.
So never underestimate the power of vengeance and crime to drive RP in games!
Continuing in the series I'm calling The Thirty-Six, based on Georges Polti's The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations (original version and a modernized take), today's situation is "deliverance" in which an "unfortunate" is rescued from a "threatener" by a "rescuer".
DELIVERANCE
In contrast to SUPPLICATION, in which the victim of a threat seeks to find succour from someone in power, in deliverance the Unfortunate, while under threat by a Threatener is helped by a Rescuer without beseeching such. The victim in this case is more passive, and the motivation of the Rescuer is motivated by something extrinsic to both of them, requiring no pleading to take action.
There are two main forms of this situation:
1. Rescue of the condemned.
2. Rescue of someone in dire straits by someone who is indebted or otherwise related to the victim.
What makes this situation ripe for RP purposes is the mystery of why the Rescuer is taking action on behalf of the Unfortunate. Why is the outlaw gang rescuing the hanged man by shooting out the hanging rope (as is a common trope in western movies)? (Maybe the outlaw is on a personal quest of vengeance against corrupt and vicious authority.) What has prompted a group to return a deposed queen to her rightful throne? (Perhaps it is the children of the queen who seek to restore her.)
And of course the PCs may have their own reasons for becoming Rescuers: anticipation of reward, say, or repayment for past good deeds received, or payment forward for the good deeds of others.
It's a bit trickier to have the PCs as the Unfortunate, however. Played with a light hand, especially if backed by prior RP (like, say, they gave hospitality to a wounded knight and nursed him to health), it can be a powerful moment, but played clumsily, without a good reason established in advance to call back to, it can come across as stripping players of their agency in regard to the threat. (A lot of the hatred of the dread GMPC stems from GMPCs being transparently used by the GM to show how awesome that character is by doing what the players can't. Continually.)
Of course, taking a turn for the darker, the PCs can be the Threatener, hunting down someone (justly or not) only to have a third party intercede and interfere. Will the interference be successful? Will they justify the threat they present and make the Rescuer back off or even switch sides? It could go any way with a good bite of tasty RP!
I recently thought again about Georges Polti's The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. Having found both the original version and a modernized take online, it's led me to a new set of blog posts I'm going to call The Thirty-Six.
So what is a "dramatic situation"? Often badly translated as "plot", strictly speaking a dramatic situation is what drives a plot. The plot is the resolution of one or more dramatic situations.
A dramatic situation is what motivates characters to do things, the things they do furthering a narrative that leads to a conflict which leads to a resolution of some form. Knowledge and application of these dramatic situations (and more: despite its claim to the contrary, Polti's book is not comprehensive—but it still has many more dramatic situations than all of the output of Hollywood put together makes use of!) can help liven up a story, give it verisimilitude, and make it compelling. And even in a gaming context where no single person has the power to force things down specific tracks, using these dramatic situations and the choices they present characters can be strong motivators in a role-playing game.
Today's dramatic situation is "supplication" in which a "supplicant" is persecuted in some way by a "persecutor" and begs for help from a "power".
SUPPLICATION
This situation needs three elements: a Persecutor, a Suppliant, and a Power. An additional element may be present in some situations: an Intercessor. Supplication comes in three main forms:
1. A direct appeal for assistance against active persecutors. For example a piously religious man may appeal to the ducal court because his religiously required activity is being banned by his local lord. Or people fleeing bandits who destroyed their village may appeal to their local lord for succour and vengeance. The key to this form is that the Suppliant is under some form of threat (physical, spiritual, social, etc.) from a person or group that seeks to harm or hinder them in some way.
2. A direct appeal for assistance against more abstract/environmental persecution. People shipwrecked appealing to a local tavern owner for room and board on a stormy night. The seeking of pardon for a crime committed and already prosecuted with punishment in effect. Even something as simple as begging for the right to die in a society that prohibits assisted suicides. In this variant the Persecutor is not necessarily a person. It is more circumstantial.
3. An indirect appeal like those above, but via an Intercessor. For example the religiously required activity being banned has drawn the attention of the spiritual leader of said religion who intercedes on the Suppliant's behalf, asking the duchess to overrule her vassal. Or in the case of the pardon, a prison reform group pointing to the Suppliant's dramatic change in jail which suggests that further punishment is meaningless and, perhaps, even counterproductive.
The role of PCs in this dramatic situation could be any of the principles: Power, Suppliant, Persecutor, or Intercessor. Or they could work as agents each thereof. For example in the case of the pardon, again, they could act as investigatory agents of the Power to establish if the Suppliant truly deserves a pardon or not. Or they could act as enforcers for the state arguing on behalf of keeping the prisoner imprisoned or banished or whatnot.
Tonight at Inspired Unreality we will discuss fantasy and science fiction. Our opening topic will be Jack Vance, his writing and his contribution to D&D. I've got a refresher post here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4369
The fantasy of Jack Vance.
Vance won the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1984.
The Dying Earth features one of the greatest fantasy antiheroes of all time, Cugel the Clever. The Dying Earth setting also hosts other stories full of other antiheroes.
The Lyonesse Trilogy, Suldrun's Garden, The Green Pearl, and Madouc. Madouc won the World Fantasy Award in 1990 and contains the most delightful fey adventure ever written.
There's more. Follow the link.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die! posted "When Wizards Die" to his blog. As always his thoughts on the matter are wide ranging and comprehensive. It's a recommended read and it reminded me of Jack Vance which led to the post above and the topic tonight.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4367
So after I read that I noticed a link to Medieval Demographics Made Easy and I clicked over to that.
The booklet is fantastic not only as a guide to medieval demographics but also as an example of how to put together a fantasy supplement that is useful and entertaining.
Thanks to S. John Ross and Follow Me And Die.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4368
Next week, on Inspired Unreality, VB Wyrde will be hosting a one off set in his fantasy world, Elthos. I am looking forward to that. See you then and also tonight! for fantasy and science fiction, with the opening topic, Jack Vance.
They say that word of mouth advertising is the best which is great because it's all we can afford. Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/860
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and an invite go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week is the first Monday in December so our topic will be fantasy and science fiction. With all the new releases on video and in the theaters we should have plenty to talk about. Of course, we could also talk about books.
And then, on December 13, VB Wyrde is going to DM a one off in Elthos. The only thing better than talking about RPGs is playing RPGs so we are bringing actual play back to Inspired Unreality. I am also entertaining the idea of guest hosts so if you would like to lead a discussion about your favorite topic let me know and we will schedule you in.
Important Saturdays in December.
Dec 18 - Hairy Larry graduates, again, this time with a Bachelors of Music in Composition.
Dec 25 - Christmas
Jan 1 - New Years Day (ok, not technically in December)
The important thing to note is that this leaves all our Mondays clear for Inspired Unreality. Open game chat will continue on Monday nights through December with no holiday hiatus necessary.
And now about Thanksgiving.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4341
As noted our family games this Thanksgiving were Doodle Dice and Qwirkle. What games did you play? The comments remain open.
And then immediately following Thanksgiving.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4354
Same players, different game. On Friday it was Theatre of the mind at our house and on Saturday, with miniatures, visiting our Foster kids.
As above the comments remain open for any role playing you experienced over Thanksgiving.
And at the top of the Gamer+ Gamers feed we find Radio Grognard By Glen Hallstrom discussing Be Yourself (or Not).
https://anchor.fm/radio-grognard/episodes/Be-Yourself-or-Not-e1avakj
It's a short listen and well worth it. He discusses distinguishing NPCs. Not all gruff dwarves are the same. Maybe they're worried about their family at home or maybe they've been held prisoner.
This is similar to a couple of things we've been discussing on Inspired Unreality. "Every NPC deserves a Couple of Sentences" and "Are all Taverns the Same?". As a way to distinguish a tavern in a players memory try for some actual color in the barkeep and the barmaid. If your barkeep and barmaid are exactly the same as they were in the last tavern you visited then maybe all your taverns are the same.
In our Friday night family game we visited a tavern and the barkeep was a lady and she was also the mayor of the town and she sent us on a quest. We remember her.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/857
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info and an invite link click here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week DM Sarah ran a DCC one off with a party of 3. It was great fun and we did get the magic sword from the hermit's tower. Thanks to Peaktime for joining us.
December 6 we'll discuss Fantasy and Science Fiction. On December 13 we have another one off scheduled hosted by VB Wyrde creator of Elthos.
Tonight and next week will be open game chat. Our favorite.
Tabletop Games for Thanksgiving Gatherings.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4341
Please post your game suggestions for Thanksgiving in the comments.
I have an announcement to make. <trumpets> On December 18 I will be graduating ... again. I took my Computer Science degree 35 years ago. I was a math and music double major. Now I am taking my Bachelors of Music in Composition. <trumpets> Yayyy!
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. And share this link to Gamer+ News on gamerplus.org.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/849
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
GM Sarah is running a DCC one off. It will be fun. I've played in her games before. She is a convention GM for DCC hosting games at major gatherings.
Sarah is also one of the volunteers leading the NEA Gamers Guild and their convention, NEA Game Fest. They had a successful convention in Jonesboro, Arkansas, just last month.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. You can find more information and an invitation to Tankar's Tavern here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
The game tonight starts at 9:00 but we will be there early for character generation and other pregame prep.
Next month, on December 13, we'll have actual play again with vbwyrde hosting.
So we have a schedule.
First Monday of the month we discuss fantasy and science fiction. Third Monday of the month we have a guest or a game. All other Mondays are for open game chat, bring your own topic, all gaming is on topic.
So, now, to go off topic for a minute, Vivian and I went out to the Craighead Forest Bandshell yesterday for live music. I played chill jazz piano for a small and rotating audience. Eleiser joing me on trumpet for the second set.
A good time was had by all. We saw some old friends for the first time in two years. And we stayed warm with coats and throws. It was 60 degrees so great temperature for playing music but a little chilly in the audience when the wind blew.
This is a safe way for Vivian and I to return to our old habit of gigging out regularly. We might get warm Sundays this winter (after all it is Arkansas) but unless there is yet another surge we really look forward to Spring.
I tried to livestream with a hot spot but that didn't work so I just settled for recording and I don't think that worked either. But the plan is to livestream and record from the bandshell just like I do from the twitch studio and the twitch porch.
If you're on twitch follow me here.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
I also added our RSS feed to the right column on the Main Page at Gamer+. Here's that link again.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
If you have a gaming blog, vlog, podcast, or channel with an RSS feed let me know and I'll add you to our feed.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/846
Thanks,
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord. You can find more info and an invitation here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week on Monday November 15, GM Sarah will host a DCC one off. The game will start at 9:00 but we'll be their a half hour early doing game prep. We'll be done by 10:30 or 11:00. GM Sarah is a DCC convention gamemaster and she is one of the hosts at NEA Game Fest. They had a successful convention just last month.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Sarah
So, actual play on Inspired Unreality next week. This is sure to be a blast.
D20 table for chat topics about RPGs
soon to be a D100
1. What is railroading and why is it bad?
2. Sandboxes
3. What makes OSR better? What makes OSR worse?
4. Free Kriegspiel
5. Hex crawls
6. Megadungeons
7. Random Encounters
8. Combat free roll playing
9. Systems of handing out XP to players
10. Group XP vs Individual XP
11. How online play has changed RPGs
12. Fudging rolls?
13. The Quantum Ogre
14. Premade maps vs maps drawn at the table
15. Is there really only one tavern? How to make your tavern memorable.
16. Don't generic barkeeps or waitresses deserve at least a sentence.
17. NPCs are color and more
18. Writing your own game
19. How good is DriveThruRPG anyway
20. Do I want to have a Kick Starter?
This is usable but we have not begun to scratch the infinite universe of possible RPG chat topics. Join us tonight to add your favorite chat topics to an expanded D100 table.
Please welcome "GameCows - The #1 site for board game enthusiasts" to Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/GameCows
I write about a cool concept. An illusionist who fights wearing an illusion and when killed it's really only the illusion that is broken. The PCs see a corpse that bears the actual appearance of the illusionist and mistakenly think they're dead. But, lo and behold, the next time their attack rolls around they are up and fighting again, although probably with fewer hitpoints and less dangerous attacks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4320
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. And share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/843
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Here's my website where I publish my super shorts.
https://sffshortstories.com/
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkars Tavern here's info and an invite.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Robert S. Conley writes
"It occurred to me recently that the original release of Dungeons and Dragons is best viewed as a supplement. Not to the Chainmail Miniature wargame but to the unwritten rules, systems, and methods the miniature wargaming community of the early 70s were using."
Quoted from his blog post, "The original release of Dungeons and Dragons was a supplement."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4312
This is an interesting post with a few interesting comments as well.
Yesterday Megan did a 12 hour twitch stream for Halloween. If you've got a spare 12 hours you can view it here.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
I featured myself on my From The Archives Of Something Blue podcast which will be aired on KASU Wednesday and Saturday. But you don't have to wait. You can listen now at the Something Blue website.
http://sbblues.com/2021/10/31/from-the-archives-of-something-blue-october-31-2021/
The featured song is a modal blues I wrote called "Blue Goose". The archives go back in time 40 years or more but they start yesterday. I recorded "Blue Goose" on my twitch stream last week. And the spoken content is an overview of the whole project. It's almost nine minutes long and worth the listen.
Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/841
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Last week we worked on a table for chat topics about RPGs. Don't have a topic. Roll one up.
D20 table for chat topics about RPGs
soon to be a D100
What is railroading and why is it bad?
Sandboxes
What makes OSR better? What makes OSR worse?
Free Kriegspiel
Hex crawls
Megadungeons
Random Encounters
Combat free roll playing
Systems of handing out XP to players
Group XP vs Individual XP
How online play has changed RPGs
Fudging rolls?
The Quantum Ogre
Ok, that's just 13 so far and they could use some refinement. But we're still brainstorming. Come brainstorm with us. Or bring your own topic. Or suggest favorite RPG chat topics for our dice rolling table.
It will be fun.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. More info and an invite here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
All our best to Alan and his family who have been having health issues. I chatted with him yesterday and he is planning on joining us tonight.
Are you on twitch? Follow these channels. If you have a twitch channel let me know and I will add you to the list of Gamer+ gamers on twitch.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/searchingforgryphons
On Halloween Megan is doing a 12 hour stream on her twitch channel. No spoilers but she has been working on some visual effects and I am sure she will play many spooky games.
Join her stream and follow her channel. Congratulate her for reaching affiliate status.
Please forward this email and share this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/838
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
On October 15, Charlie Clay posted "Lots of fun playing TANK ACE tonight at NEA Game Fest. Battle kicks off again tomorrow at 10 a.m."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/neagamersguild/posts/6309500619121429/
I added his pictures to a photo album.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/109
---
About The NEA Gamers Guild
The Northeast Arkansas Gamers Guild is a group dedicated to the promotion of RPGs, board games, miniature games and all games played on the tabletop!
Our goal is to provide places to play and schedule events throughout each month as well as to provide a place for other gamers, organizations and businesses to advertise their gaming events.
NEA Gamers Guild Website
http://www.neagamersguild.org/
NEA Gamers Guild Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/neagamersguild/
---
- https://www.neagamefest.com/about-us/
Vivian and I put on Blue Fest for 25 years. All of our kids helped with that. It's great seeing my kids continue in our festival promoting way. It's always all about the people.
And tonight! Inspired Unreality open game chat.
Last week I enjoyed chatting games with Alan, Peaktime, and sound. It was a wide ranging discussion that started with the role of the DM. My opinion. The DM shouldn't drive the narrative but he should be alert for narrative hooks in the play and stand ready to enhance the story.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4293
Join us tonight. Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tankar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is welcome. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Are you interested in running a one off for us? Let me know.
My mommy said it's good to share. Please forward this email to your gaming friends and share this link to Gamer+ News to help spread the word.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/837
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Last week Alan, Vivian, and myself discussed Fantasy and Science Fiction and, amazingly enough, we stayed pretty much on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is invited.
Next weekend is NEA Game Fest.
https://www.neagamefest.com/
"NEA Game Fest is a charity omni con in Jonesboro, AR, with all proceeds benefiting The Children's Shelter of Walnut Ridge. We have events, prizes, and giveaways for board games, card games, miniatures, RPGs, and more!"
"Attendees (3+) must wear mask. In addition, attendees (16+) must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination"
Stay safe.
You have until Thursday to get your badge online. I believe their are savings involved with the pre purchase.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/nea-game-fest-2021/badgetypes
Badges will also be available at the door.
They have six pages of events.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/nea-game-fest-2021/schedule#?query=
Play and Win. Tournaments!
I can't go because we're locked down until the delta variant wanes. So I bought a T Shirt. You can also just donate if you want to help and can't attend.
There's an NEA Game Fest Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/neagamefest
And an NEA Gamers Guild Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/855721771166035
There are many Gamer+ Gamers who are involved in NEA Game Fest. Three cheers for all the volunteers who work to make this happen.
Please share by forwarding this email or sharing this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/836
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I read a lot and I also enjoy some fantasy and science fiction movies and tv shows. I have played in a couple of SF RPGs but, of course, fantasy RPGs are my main thing. There's also a lot of Fantasy and SF in other media, games, graphic novels, blogs, vlogs, etc.
Here's the place where I plug Megan's and Kim's Buffy podcast, Flunking The Written.
https://www.flunkingthewritten.com/
Yes this is a broad topic. Everyone is welcome. Bring your own topic. All Fantasy and SF is on topic.
For example, FKR - Free Kriegsspiel Revolution, would definitely be on topic. Here's a Follow Me And Die post about FKR, a rules light OSR RPG.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4278
Like I said, I read a lot. Here's my current and some recents I can recommend. With links! Woohoo!
I am currently reading The Inheritance Trilogy. I'm on book 3. This is an earlier fantasy story by N. K. Jemisin who won three Hugos in three consecutive years each for a book in the Broken Earth Trilogy. I read that too. I like the Inheritance Trilogy better without thinking it's actually better. Just more to my taste.
She posted The Inheritance Trilogy Non-Wiki which includes her notes made while writing the books. She has licensed these notes CC BY-SA-NC so yes, you can repost these notes or work from them under some restrictions. More at this link.
https://nkjemisin.com/the-inheritance-trilogy-non-wiki/
I love Russian Folklore so "Deathless" by Catherynne M. Valente was just like it was written for me. I mean, Baba Yaga is in it and everything.
"Deathless is an alternate history novel ... combining the Russian fairy tale The Death of Koschei the Deathless with the events and aftermath of the Russian Revolution."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deathless_(novel)
Nancy Springer writes YA Fantasy but in her Enola Holmes mysteries she writes an alternative history of a fictional world. Enola Holmes is Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, somehow never mentioned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Each book is a novella, a quick read, and absolutely delightful.
https://murder-mayhem.com/enola-holmes-books-nancy-springer
"For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite."
Yes, I do love reading YA Fantasy. And I do recommend "Fablehaven".
https://susandennard.com/2011/09/18/fablehaven-a-book-recommendation/
I just finished "The Chosen and the Beautiful" by Nghi Vo, a retelling of "The Great Gatsby" in a world with magic, demons, demoniac, and paper coming to life. This is an exquisite work. One of the best crafted novels I have ever read (and I read a lot). It's also very entertaining.
Megan said she knows she loves a book when she wants to reread it as soon as she finishes it. As soon as I finished this book I wanted to reread "The Great Gatsby" and then reread "The Chosen and the Beautiful".
https://booksbonesbuffy.com/2021/06/10/the-chosen-and-the-beautiful-by-nghi-vo-review/
So in case you didn't catch onto the circle I'll explain it. I plugged Megan's Buffy podcast at the top. At the bottom I refer to Megan again and then provide a link to Books, Bones, and Buffy. Pretty clever, huh?
Join us tonight to discuss these stories or others.
Inspired Unreality, open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Please forward this email to your Fantasy and SF loving friends. Also post this link to your website, blog, or preferred social media.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/831
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4270
If you want to learn more about what he does and what he's done here's a link to his Gamer+ page.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/robertsconley
Tonight on Inspired Unreality we'll host open game chat. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is welcome. If you've never been we have info and an invite here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
At the same link you can see the new Gamer+ search feature. It's Enhanced by Google and it works pretty good.
Gamer+ Gamers from the NEA Gamers Guild are hard at work preparing for the NEA Game Fest on October 15-17, 2021.
https://www.neagamefest.com/
And I've added another chapter to my book, "Setting Up A Twitch Studio, Using Tech Creatively", Livestreaming Buskers Off The Grid. This one's way out there. In the future. Eventually.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/829
Please forward this email to your gaming friends. And here's a link to this newsletter online that you can share on social networks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/830
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
And that's where I'm at with livesteaming buskers off the grid. I've done a couple of failed experiments with my phone but I don't have good reception on the twitch porch so that probably doesn't mean much. I'm a lot further along with the busking equipment than I am with the livestream stuff.
There are many battery powered amps available. I chose the JBL Eon One Pro for about $500. I am very happy with the sound and the battery life. It also has Bluetooth which I use for playing my iReal Pro backing tracks from my tablet. I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab A and it has good battery life.
I have a Roland Go Piano that runs off batteries and it has nice keyboard action and good piano sound. But since I've been livestreaming I notice the difference between it and my Roland FP-4. Both in playability and in sound. I could use the midi out on the Go Piano and play from a midi library on the laptop. This might not take up too much cpu.
I would rather busk with a good hammer action keyboard. There are some good keyboards that use batteries. Just not the ones I'm looking at. So I'm looking into a couple of Deep Cycle 12V batteries and an inverter. This rig would also run my pellet stove in the winter if we lose power so I am justifying the expense that way. Otherwise this probably wouldn't be an affordable solution for me. There are smaller batteries that might run just a piano and one battery and an inverter would be a little over $100.
There are also consumer battery charger/jump starters with 110 outlets. Again the multifunctionality may justify the expense.
I bought an Acer Aspire E5-576 laptop that has enough cpu and ram to livestream video. I have used it for livestreaming 720p from the twitch porch. This laptop has an exceptionally long battery life, 9 hours or more of regular computing. Unfortunately livestreaming is not regular computing and the fully charged batteries only last a little under 2 hours. Which is actually pretty good for livestreaming buskers. An inverter might extend that life to do a three hour show with breaks but I would have to see how much battery it would take to power the piano for three hours. It could be that two hour shows are more realistic.
They are certainly more realistic for my endurance. I do a two hour stream from the HairyLarryLand Twitch Studio every Sunday and I don't really want it to be any longer.
I also have a USB foot switch that I cover in the DIY chapter so I can even have two webcams and switch between them when I'm busking.
So if I happen to find a busking spot with good wifi I'm home free.
And if not? My phone has a hotspot that will hook to my computer with a USB cable. It's a 4G phone so if I had good reception it might work. More modern phones would probably work better. There are many livestreamers that stream direct from their iPhones.
There are also dedicated hotspot devices with monthly fees for bandwidth. It's kind of hard to justify this expense based on a busking income but that actually depends on what you are doing and what kind of budget you have. You may also have other uses for a high end hotspot. If you're travelling while busking and stopping where you wish a hot spot like this might be just the ticket.
And then there's always plan B. If you don't have wifi and you don't have good reception for your hotspot you can turn on record and post the video later.
Right now I have three dreams for the future of my livestream. We've streamed from the twitch porch a couple of times and I feel like that's all set up and ready to go. You can read about that in another chapter. I am looking forward to more livestreams with Bebop Beatniks from the twitch porch.
My current dream is finding soloists to collaborate with me and turn my jazz trio livestreams into a quartet. Whether they do that on their livestream or in their video or audio studios it's all good with me. My songs are licensed Creative Commons Attribution so there are no copyright issues stopping anyone from collaborating with me.
Livestreaming buskers off the grid is my future dream. So this chapter is out there. In the future. Eventually. Maybe I'll be able to do this and maybe not.
"A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s heaven for?"
- Robert Browning
September 20, 2021 at 9:00 PM Central
Special Guest - Robert S. Conley, Creator of Blackmarsh and The Majestic Fantasy RPG
Our topic will be the difference between writing classic D&D vs. 5e?
How to write for both?
How to convert from OSR to 5e?
I know that sounds like three topics but they are very closely intertwined.
Robert S. Conley links.
Blackmarsh
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89944/Blackmarsh
The Majestic Fantasy RPG
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/337515/The-Majestic-Fantasy-RPG-Basic-Rules
Bat in the Attic
https://batintheattic.blogspot.com/
Robert S. Conley on Gamer+
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/robertsconley
This will be really interesting. Everyone is welcome.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord every Monday night at 9:00 Central. More info and an invite here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week on Inspired Unreality.
We had a good open game chat at Inspired Unreality. Alan and SearchingForGryphons joined Vivian and myself and we ended up talking about music and Science Fiction.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4260
We didn't write any new verses for "Wee Will" but SearchingForGryphons contributed this limerick.
There once was a young boy Wee Will
Who found a bag of gold on a hill
He went back to the hold
And he spent all the gold
Until all that he had equalled nil
Draklorx uploaded 9 new photos to the NEA Game Fest Terrain album.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/Draklorx/106
NEA Game Fest is next month.
https://www.neagamefest.com/
My kids are hard at work. Preparations are being made. Show your appreciation, ask questions, make comments.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Sarah
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Draklorx
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Megantopia
The festival is for charity so even if you can't attend you can buy a shirt or make a donation.
Are you planning to attend any live events this fall? Are you planning on doing any virtual gaming? Contact info below or share on Gamer+.
Speaking of sharing. Please share this email and this link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/827
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Wee Will was born
with nary a coin
and his parents had naught neither
His Ma said
Will is gonna be rich
but no one would believe her.
But then one day
Around mid may
Will tripped and skint his knee.
And what did he see
buried under the tree?
'twas the shiny glint of gold.
(everybody sing along)
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold,
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold.
He's rich beyond his wildest dreams. But of course it doesn't last.
Tonight on Inspired Unreality Vivian and I will be writing more verses to "Wee Will". Join us to write verses or just to chat about whatever you want, as long as it's gaming. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord every Monday night at 9:00 Central. More info and an invite here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week.
Inspired Unreality
September 20, 2021 at 9:00 PM Central
Special Guest - Robert S. Conley, Creator of Blackmarsh and The Majestic Fantasy RPG
Our topic will be the difference between writing classic D&D vs. 5e?
How to write for both?
How to convert from OSR to 5e?
I know that sounds like three topics but they are very closely intertwined.
Robert S. Conley links.
Blackmarsh
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89944/Blackmarsh
The Majestic Fantasy RPG
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/337515/The-Majestic-Fantasy-RPG-Basic-Rules
Bat in the Attic
https://batintheattic.blogspot.com/
Robert S. Conley on Gamer+
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/robertsconley
Looking forward to this.
I have written another chapter for my book, "Setting Up A Twitch Studio, Using Tech Creatively". It's called "Get Back On That Treadmill" and it may be the last chapter. The last chapter in the book, not the last chapter to be written.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/822
Last night we watched "Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons" on Amazon Prime. They definitely got into the idea of creative flow, a key concept in my book.
I also want to mention that Will Hose, long time family friend and gamerplus gamer, Spark, is moving back to Jonesboro. It will be great to have him close at hand again. Will has been a regular guest at our events and our podcasts. I hope to get him to run a game on Inspired Unreality later this year.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Spark
Spread the word. Forward this email to your gamer friends. Share the link on your favorite websites. Especially if they're your own.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/824
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Things go wrong. Life happens. Stuff breaks. It's inevitable.
My router went out. And before it went out it went intermittent. So I missed a stream.
I checked everything out. I reset the router. I was at the piano. And before I even started to play the internet went out. I knew it just wasn't going to happen.
Fortunately I called my ISP and he helped me detect the problem and I had another router in place for my next stream. But it can be worse.
Way worse. Sometimes stuff comes up and you miss a week or more.
My advice. As soon as you can, get back on that treadmill. Yeah it was kind of nice not having to do all that production work and promotion. It's always nice to have a little extra time in your day.
Still periods of creative flow don't happen all the time. They are to be treasured. Get back on the treadmill and make it happen. Again. Churn it out.
This is a different issue than making a decision to take your efforts elsewhere. To write a game instead of playing some games. To write a book instead of writing more music. These decisions are for you to make. It's your life to live.
But don't let temporary technical problems or real life issues interrupt your flow. Get back on the treadmill.
There are some related issues. Sometimes you have downtime that doesn't affect the stream but hinders some other aspect of your work flow.
After my ISP and I determined that my router was bad I went and pulled another router off the back wall of my house where it sprays wifi out to the icosahedron. I replaced my router with this router (thanks Megan) and we had internet back. Except for one thing.
For my network setup I use the DD-WRT firmware because it supports virtual LANs. I have one LAN on 192.168.1.1 and another LAN on 192.168.2.1. The first is for our daily internet use, wired and wifi computers and other devices that need to connect to the internet. The second is for my web servers, the ones that host hairylarryland.com and hairylarry.rocks. There's a firewall. It's a security thing.
Unfortunately the router I pulled of the back wall doesn't support DD-WRT. So I ordered another, even more up to date router, that does support DD-WRT. Which means a weeks downtime on my servers.
So I can't post to hairylarryland.com and even worse my peertube instance runs on hairylarry.rocks. So it's part of my workflow to post to these sites and I can't so I have to devise workarounds to post my videos and promote them on time. I can still upload to the Live Music Archive and Youtube. I can still promote the Youtube videos but I can't promote the playlists which live on peertube.
And then when I get my new router in, burn DD-WRT to the firmware, and configure it I will have to play catch up.
Sometimes playing catch up will hit you in the back of the head. I played my Sunday stream just before everything went haywire. I missed my Tuesday stream. Then after I patched things together I played my Thursday stream and I logged my songs.
When I went to edit the videos I checked my Sunday stream for the notes.txt file and guess what? I never made these 10 videos. I logged them. Things went haywire. And I got off my procedure.
So instead of having 5 videos to edit I had 15. That's when you really have to buckle down. It's possible to catch up. I did it. It really helped that I was familiar with my work flow. I have to admit I spent less time on some of the videos than I would have if I wasn't playing catch up.
So here's your executive summary.
Technical problems or life issues. Get back on the treadmill.
Missed part of the workflow for a short period. Catch up.
The most important thing, however, is right now going forward. The essence of maintaining your creative flow is to absorb yourself in your project and to just do it. The most important stuff is the stuff you are working on right now.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been there's more info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
In two weeks on September 20 we will be chatting with Robert S. Conley. The topic will be differences between writing for classic D&D vs 5e. Please join us then to chat with Robert S. Conley. And tonight Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Gamer+ now has a tumblr.
https://gamerplusdotorg.tumblr.com/
Robert S. Conley wrote about Chainmail Reprints and the Harn Kingdom Hardbacks on his Bat In The Attic blog.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4233
I found this.
"Flash Lingo: A Thieves Cant Dictionary" is the most comprehensive Thieves Cant glossary ever assembled. With over 2,200 entries, this volume has been compiled from historical resources and edited to specifically support fantasy role-playing games. More importantly, it is designed to bring the lexicon of Thieves Cant to life in your campaign world, as an aid for both players and DMs alike. It’s also just a damn enjoyable read!
Free download at DriveThruRPG.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4234
So, how's gaming in your neck of the woods? It's been going great here.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We had a good chat last week night at Inspired Unreality with both Alan and Datum joining Vivian and myself. As happens with those two we drifted off of games and into philosophy.
Next week Inspired Unreality will be about Science Fiction and Fantasy. We do this on the first Monday of the month. That's right, it's almost September already.
And tonight we're winging it. Vivian and I have a fallback plan where we work on our Milyagon locale. Or you may want to chat about something else. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
NEA Game Fest is in October and my kids are hard at work making preparations.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4230
Vivian and I had a little conversation about confidence that's almost a ditty.
All you need is confidence in what you already have and the ability to find what you need.
I have confidence that we can navigate this dungeon and find the treasure.
I have confidence that you can. It's me I'm not sure about.
I have confidence that I can. You have to find your own confidence.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4188
And I posted a chapter about checklists for my book in progress, "Setting Up A Twitch Studio, Using Tech Creatively".
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/817
Let us know what games you've been playing, what songs you've been singing, what stories you've been writing. Post to Gamer+, a social network for creative gamers. Or contact Hairy Larry below. See you tonight on Inspired Unreality.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
No Friendica listing today. One of my webservers is down. Sad face emoticon.
A procedure document outlines in detail how to accomplish a task. In my career in office automation I wrote a lot of procedure documents. When you're at a workplace with turnover procedure documents provide continuity when personnel changes. They can be used to train new employees and then the new employees can refer to the procedure document until they learn how to do the task.
In your own technical creative projects you probably don't really need procedure documents. They are a lot of work to make, very detailed, and you are probably not going to be training new employees because you probably don't have employees.
A checklist is a different beast. Each item on a checklist reminds you of the next thing to do so you don't skip steps. You just start at the top and continue down the list until you're done.
On my checklist, some of the items, like uploading the videos to the Live Music Archive, take a long time. So after that checklist item I place an = (equal sign) to signify a multitasking opportunity.
I look down the list for an = in the left column and I can continue there, doing other items on the list until the upload is complete. After the upload is done I can finish the skipped part of the list. The part that needed the upload to be completed to continue.
If there's just an = without an = in the left column below, that means there is a multitacking opportunity here to do something entirely different like cook or take a nap. When I upload to Youtube it takes awhile but I can't really start the promotion without having the Youtube video ready. So, take a break, read some news on the internet, or whatever.
You can (and should) devise your own notation for your checklist. Your project and promotion will have different steps and needs. Different opportunities for multitasking. Figure out what works for you.
Checklists with actual check boxes are commonly used in manual procedures but you don't need check boxes on your checklist. I mean I know the task I just finished so I just do the next item on the list.
Production checklists soon become memorized, perhaps because when you skip a step it usually results in extra work. Promotion checklists, however, are really helpful, because most web promotion is a series of independent tasks and it's really easy to forget one and miss out on that promotion.
Your tasks will be different and your promotion will be different so your checklists will be different. Checklists are a useful tool in many endeavors but especially useful for tech creators.
Here's a sample checklist that I use after I produce the video excerpts from my twitch stream (the top item on the list). The first half is uploading and adding details to the upload sites. The second half is promotion of the uploaded content.
- edit and render videos in Openshot
- rename videos with an NN_ prefix in chronological order
- capture a screen shot
- scale the screen shot
- create list.txt listing the numbered songs
- copy and edit notes.txt changing the date and updating the list
- convert mp4 files to mp3s in VLC
- normalize the mp3s in mp3DirectCut
- rename mp3 files
- upload audio item to the Live Music Archive
- upload video item to the Live Music Archive =
- update metadata in audio item
- bookmark audio item
- add audio item to kgpl
- add audio item to mixremix radio in /radio/TWStream
=
- create playlist on peertube
- make public and assign to twitch.tv/hairylarryland
- copy playlist link
- refresh 2x
- use song.txt to create description
- change playlist link in song.txt
- change date in song.txt
- upload mp4 files to peertube, in order
- search and replace song title in song.txt
- fill out screen
- wait for publish button =
- copy the share link
- edit description adding share link
- save to playlist
- after all the files are uploaded check the playlist
- upload to Youtube
- use song text for description =
- promote youtube and peertube playlist
- allow several hours between promotions
- always use the peertube text for description
- share youtube on facebook and twitter from youtube share panel
- share youtube on friendica
- share to hairylarryland tumblr
- reblog that post everywhere
- share on reddit freeculture and creativecommons
- share on hairylarryland Discord
- share to MixRemix and Hairy Larry Rocks
- post to write.as - youtube link and text from peertube
- Add youtube to Hairy Larry Rocks Links
- Add playlist to Hairy Larry Rocks Links
Or, whatever you want to talk about. All gaming is on topic. Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Never been? We've got an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
So, let me give Alan a plug. He's got a game called The Chronicles of Ember. Here's his link. Reach out to him and he will be glad to let you know all about it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
My granddaughter Liz wants me to remind you that she's awesome. She also joins us sometimes on Inspired Unreality.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/SearchingForGyphons
I've been working on promoting my twitch stream so here goes. If you're on twitch please Follow.
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
If you want to give my chill jazz piano a listen I have a page of playlists here.
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/video-channels/twitch/video-playlists
And I set up a blog inviting collaboration with songs and scripts that I think will help guest musicians. I have my videos available for download without recompression so twitch streamers can use them as backing tracks while they solo over them.
https://minizines.cc/collaborate/
I am thinking of moving this over to collaborate.hairylarryland.com if I can figure that out.
All of my songs are licensed Creative Commons Attribution so you can use them on your podcast, vlog, game, or movie.
Are you on twitch? Let me know. I love hearing from you.
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Wee Will
Wee Will was born
with nary a coin
and his parents had naught neither
His Ma said
Will is gonna be rich
but no one would believe her.
But then one day
Around mid may
Will tripped and skint his knee.
And what did he see
buried under the tree?
'twas the shiny glint of gold.
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold,
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold.
Wee Will brought the coin
to his Ma at home
and they were rich as kings
with stars in his eyes
he looked to the skies
and dreamt of his favorite things.
His ma went to town
and the wheel goes round
she paid her bill and then she
loaded up on groceries
like she had no worries
and was left with just a penny.
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold,
Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold.
Of course we need more tales of Wee Will getting alternately rich and poor.
So drop by tonight
And help us write
The song of reckless spending.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Since we started on Caper we'll end on Caper.
In our 5e family game on Friday Caper the Giant Killer slew another Giant Beast or I should say Caper set the trap and the party beat the daylights out of him and his troll minion. It only cost Caper 5 gold to get a plaque hung in the inn with the giant's sword saying This Giant was killed by Caper the Giant Killer and Company. Caper is a halfling Bard and in the music business it's all hype.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4213
And that's the Gamer+ News of Caper, my favorite D&D character who I have played longer than the age of some of my grandkids playing in the game.
Let me know about your favorite D&D character.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
First on the agenda tonight will be working on Caper's song of reckless spending, a favorite of proprietors in gambling houses everywhere Caper goes. So far I've got something about the wheel goes round but we're going to hammer it out tonight and I need your help.
Last week Alan joined us and we talked a bit about SF and Fantasy books and a bit about writing, discussing our current projects. Alan is working on his Ember module called "Mine". I have run it once at ARRPGCon and once online and it was fun both times.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
He will tell you about The Chronicles of Ember here.
https://chroniclesofember.com/2018/04/10/welcome-to-ember/
I am reading Rebecca Roanhorse. Her novel, "Black Sun", is a Hugo finalist this year and deserves to win. (Although I haven't read any of the other finalists yet. They probably all deserve to win.) She also writes YA Fantasy stories based on Navajo mythology. More here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4199
And I posted another chapter for my book, "Setting Up A Twitch Studio - Using Tech Creatively" called Backup Overview and Strategy. Yeah, I know. Boring. But essential!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/806
Come to Inspired Unreality tonight to help Caper finish his song of reckless spending. One more page in Caper's Songbook, soon to be a minizine resource for bard's everywhere.
Spread the word.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
If I lose my data on my hard drive, whether the entire folder or just a screenshot, I can go to the backup and recover this file. That is the whole purpose of backups.
System backups allow you to restore your entire working environment, the OS, the drivers, the software installs, the data, etc. I don't do system backups. If I have a catastrophic failure I do a new install and then restore my data from backup.
Some businesses cannot live with the cash flow loss due to excessive downtime. They will have system backups and redundant sustems ready to be swapped in if necessary. Their hard drives will be mirrored and every time they write a bit it will be written to two drives. They will have daily, hourly, or real time offsite backups just in case the catastrophic data loss take the form of a tsunami or a tornado.
Needless to say this kind of full system backup is difficult to install and requires constant monitoring and maintenance. It is not really realistic for an artist's, writer's or gamer's creative project. So I am not going into system backups any further. There are software and hardware turnkey systems that perform both system backups and file backups. If this is what you need and you can afford it then this is what you should do.
Just like web promotion can take the other 100% of your time, backups can take the other 100% of your time. So try to be realistic.
File backups breakdown further into two different categories, active data sets and static data sets.
The data set described above is a static data set. The files are created in the course of a day or two and then it is unlikely they will ever be changed again.
My webdev folder and my Documents folder are active data sets. Each day, week, or other random interval I write to them. I change existing files and I create new files. It's a constant churn, hence active.
Backing up static data sets to optical discs like CDs, DVDs, or Blu-Ray works great. You work on a project. You finish the project. You write it to an optical disc. And you're good. I do this with my Something Blue radio production. When I'm done with each show I have three audio discs and a data disc. The data disc is my static backup.
I also have a backup server that is great for static data sets and not so good for active data sets. I use rsync, a command line file transfer program. I run it once a day on every home directory. If a file is new it gets copied to the backup server. If a file is changed it gets copied to the backup server. As long as this is working correctly I never lose a data file.
Which is great! But not so good for active data sets. Because if I have to recover an active data set and I go to this backup server I get all my files back. But I also get all my deleted files back. This is a feature, not a bug. This type of backup does not delete files so if I accidentally delete a file and I don't notice it right away I can still recover it from my backup server.
But it is also not so great. Because if I want to restore an active data set I want to restore all the files and none of the deleted files so I have the exact same data set that I lost.
The other thing not so great about my rsync data server is if I make a bad edit to a file and I don't notice it until tomorrow I then have two copies of the file with the bad edit and no copies the way the file was before I messed it up.
The solution to this problem is called versioning. A backup system that keeps older versions of the file as well as the current version. Computer geeks have been working this problem for a while and they are able to keep many versions of a file without using excessive disk space by keeping only the changed parts in what are called diff files. Computer programmers rely on versioning because computer programs are easy to break and sometimes a programmer needs to find the code that was in the program three versions back.
The most popular versioning program for computer programs is called git and was written by Linus Torvalds, the original author and maintainer of the Linux kernel. git can be used for other projects that require versioning as well.
I am installing a software called Restic on another backup server. This server will have mirrored drives in what is called RAID 1 so every bit will be written to two drives. Restic will handle both the exact mirroring of active data sets and the versioning. Perfect for active data sets.
Which is another thing about backups. As your projects change your backup needs change. So besides monitoring your backups to make sure they are working good and that you have plenty of disk space sometimes you have to reevaluate your backup needs and change or add to what you are already doing.
A moving target. Complicated. And tricky.
So, first line of defense. Include backups in your workflow.
After I perform a twitch stream there are two copies of the stream. One on the twitch website and one on the hard drive of the computer in my twitch studio. The first thing I do is create the folder for video post production on my primary work computer and then I copy the video file from my computer in my twitch studio onto my primary work computer. This is where I am going to do my video post production, where I have Openshot, VLC, GIMP, and other tools installed. So no matter how bad a mistake I make while extracting my videos from this file I do not mess up the original video file. I am working with a backup copy. As part of my workflow I make a backup copy. It's the first thing I do. And I never forget to do it or find out to late that my automated backup system jammed and didn't back it up.
If you only have one system, install another hard drive for your post production work so that you will have two copies of your original file on two different hard drives. So, your backup is integrated into your workflow and that drives equipment purchase. See how quickly we get back to the fun stuff.
Up above I talked about my optical backups for my Something Blue shows and I mentioned three audio CDs. My show is an hour long and the station needs it delivered in two parts so they can include a station break at the half hour. So I write Part 1 to a CD and I write Part 2 to another CD. I used to carry these CDs to the station but now I use Exact Audio Copy to turn each CD into a single mp3 file and I deliver these files to the station on the internet.
Then I create a CD with the whole show. I rip it with Exact Audio Copy to a single mp3 file that I upload to MixCloud. MixCloud has widgets so I can then embed the show on the Something Blue website, sbblues.com, or include it anywhere that I can post embeds. I also use this copy for syndication.
So these three CDs are audio backups of my finished product and they are made as part of the workflow. I also make three 29 second spots for KASU to air and to help promote the show on the internet. And I make my From The Archives Of Something Blue podcast that airs on Arkansas Roots on Wednesdays and Saturdays and that I also post to my funkwhale, my hairylarry.rocks blog, and to the Something Blue website.
There are, again, additional assets, a picture to promote the show and a picture to promote the podcast as well as the text files with all my spoken parts.
So after I'm done with all that and the show is done and uploaded and the podcast and promo spots are uploaded I make an optical backup of the folder to a CD or DVD. From this backup I could recreate the show or even change it if necessary, even if I lost the hard drive with the shows data.
And that brings me to synchronization, the third strategy. I have three systems with all the programs installed necessary to produce Something Blue. My main workstation, my office workstation, and our photo server. Network shares are great but they are not as quick and easy as working from the local hard drive so I use a program called SyncThing that works on Linux and Windows to synchronize my somethingblue folders on all three systems. So every time I make a change to a file or add a file it is automatically updated on three different systems. This is easy to set up and check, works in the background, and adds to my convenience as well as providing backup copies of my changes.
If I accidentally delete a file, synchronization will delete the file in all synchronized folders, so like all the other backup strategies discussed there are advantages and disadvantages. I think synchronization is best used along with some other file backup strategy. Since I installed SyncThing they have added versioning so If it works for you this should solve the problem of accidental deletions.
And the final strategy is cloud backup. There are companies, like Carbonite, that handle your backups for you over the internet. This is a one stop solution that handles file backups with versioning. There is a per computer monthly fee on their personal accounts that is not high for what they provide but if you are in a multi computer shop, like mine, these fees may add up. They also rely on your bandwidth instead of local hardware. So if you've got plenty of bandwidth, like most twitch streamers, and you have only one or two computers I recommend that you try them out. My brother works from a single laptop and uses Carbonite for his only backup strategy and he has recovered lost or damaged files with it. He also likes the fact that when he upgrades his computer all he has to do is install Carbonite and then let his computer churn away for a day or two while carbonite restores all of his work files in the correct folders and it's just like he's sitting down at his old computer, except faster.
So we have covered four strategies, system backup, file backup, synchronization, and cloud backup. The first three take work to setup and maintain. If cloud backup works for you it is the simplest solution. So if you do your production work on a single computer and you have good bandwidth start there.
If the cloud doesn't work for you start with optical backups of your production folders as part of your workflow. If you have an older computer it will work fine as a backup server using rsync or a file transer program with a GUI to backup your home folders daily. You will probably need to buy a hard drive. I buy 4TB HGST drives on ebay for about $65. It doesn't really matter if your backup drives are fast as long as they are reliable. So spend an extra few dollars for new drives even though I have had good luck with used HGST drives too.
And make sure that you don't have to spend too much time on your backups or they won't get done. Integrate manual backups to optical discs into your workflow and automate everything else.
After all, we're not here to make backups. We're here to create! Just don't forget that when it comes to computers failure is not if but when and make sure your backup strategies will allow you to recover your precious work.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more info go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week Ari and Caper worked on Caper's Song Book. And we started on a list of songs for the book. Then we wrote this.
Song of perception
tin tin aree tin tin aroo
look about look about could be you
jump about jump about one and two
tin tin aree tin tin aroo
To be sung by the whole party twice through to increases alertness and perception.
Here's a link to my post about Caper's Song Book.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/798
Carl Heyl linked to the Conan Artbook Kickstarter from the Troll Lords!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4186
I added a chapter to my book in progress, Setting Up A Twitch Studio - Using Tech Creatively. The new chapter is about Web Promotion.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/801
What have you been reading? Join us tonight on Inspired Unreality and let us know. What have you been writing? Post a link. Do you use tech creatively? Comment on my post.
Please share this newsletter with your gaming friends.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
But I can't do that! I have a performance schedule and I have a production schedule and they take time.
What works for me is flowing out of performance into production and then into promotion as an integrated workflow. My performance takes production realities into account. The production work keeps the promotion in mind. And the promotion is designed to be easy to do. Because, believe me, you can spend endless hours typing descriptions into text boxes and it will keep you up all night if you let it.
So, health first.
And to explain further, when I wrote "My performance takes production realities into account." I meant, I really don't want to start the song with poorly played music so if I muffed it the first time around maybe I ought to play it again. And I mean that I work to keep my intros and outtros clean and editable so they don't give me a problem when I'm trimming that clip.
And for you it means something different, depending on your project. But whatever your project there will always be preparation, performance, and production cycles and thinking of prep and performance in terms of production helps you streamline your production workflow.
And tailoring your production to your promotion will also make your posting easier and better. Write your text so that it can be pasted into the description field of any social network and make sense. It should include all the links to your homepages where you initially upload and where information about you and your projects can be found. It should include license info so everyone knows when it's ok to share and what is not ok.
Video is great because it comes with it's own still, the paused video, but not all projects are video and not all websites handle video well so it's a good idea to prepare screen captures or other still photos as assets to help you with your promotion. I do one screen capture for each performance date and then I scale that same image down to web friendly sizes, in the hundreds of pixels high and wide instead of in the thousands.
I think of my servers as the trunk of the tree and posts to Youtube and other social networks as leaves that reveal a little bit about the tree and provide links to the trunk where everything is happening.
So the trunk of my tree is on two different servers, one of them sitting here to my right, as I type, running Yunohost web server software and peertube video sharing software. The other is the Live Music Archive at archive.org, the Internet Library. So two servers, one directly under my control and the other a library web service dedicated to preserving live music performances. That works for me.
The trunk of your tree may be anchor.fm and Youtube. It doesn't have to be your own server. It could be a free blog at wordpress.com and an account at Etsy. It depends on you and your project and your desires and requirements.
When the work is finished and ready to distribute post it to your trunk or your servers first. This should be part of your production workflow making the content available while you prepare your promotional text and other assets that go with each production.
So I post to the Live Music Archive first, audio and then video. By the time the video is uploaded, which can take a long time, the audio item is ready for some metadata tweaks so the mp3 versions of the songs carry the correct info right in the file.
Then I upload to peertube. My goal here is a playlist so part of my production workflow includes numbering the sets in order. I upload to peertube in performance order and create the playlist at the same time so it will also be in performance order. I add the link to the playlist into the text description. I also add the link to this peertube video to the text because this is the same text I will use everywhere and I want it to link back to me. That is to peertube.hairylarry.rocks.
Uploading to peertube goes really fast because I'm uploading to my own server right in my house. So the bits really fly across the LAN going possibly as far as my ISP and back but no farther.
I also have a nextcloud file backup and sharing service installed on my other server at the hairylarryland.com domain. I upload all of my assets, audio, video, screenshots, and text to a dated folder there. But it's not really part of the trunk because I don't build my promotion from there. It's more like a backup server than a promotional website.
Backing up all my files to the nextcloud server is also part of my production and promotion workflow. If you do your backups as a separate job sometimes they won't get done. Integrate your backups into your workflow where they are another important part of the whole process. Don't think of them as a separate chore.
I use a star system. 1 star means good enough for video production. 3 stars marks a song for extra promotion. So, if I have a three star song in the performance I upload it to Youtube. Otherwise I usually upload the first song in the playlist.
And when I get to the description field I copy and paste the text I already have on peertube. This includes a link to the playlist and to the video on my peertube. It also includes a link to the nextcloud files so potential collaborators can download best quality video files without having to deal with the Youtube or peertube processing.
You see, I haven't done any web collaboration with other musicians playing over my piano trio tracks yet but it is already built into the production workflow and the promotion because it's something I would like to do in the future.
And then I post the Youtube page everywhere because everyone is familiar with Youtube and all the websites work with Youtube videos.
Facebook sucks. I don't use it. You really shouldn't use it. That's a rant for another article. There are a large number of your fans that only use facebook and they never go anywhere else. There are a large number of your fans, like me, who never use facebook because facebook sucks.
So I post to facebook. From an earlier era I have a Hairy Larry facebook and I have a Delta Boogie facebook. When I'm done posting to Youtube they have a nice share screen which allows me to share my videos on facebook without actually going on facebook. So I post to Hairy Larry and then I post to a friends timeline to get Delta Boogie and I try to get out of there without any of the facebook stuff rubbing off on me.
I also use the Youtube share screen to post to the @hairylarryland twitter.
I also have a Friendica instance that puts me in the Mastodon Fediverse and I post the Youtube there because I have trouble embedding the peertube on Friendica. This shouldn't be the way it is because both peertube and Friendica reside in the same share space and can actually share messages with each other. So, when doing your promotion let pragmatism rule and do what works so you can get it done because you can also spend all night dealing with the intricacies of peer to peer social networks. Which you should do, if that's your thing. But I'm warning you, it's hard. Like Calculus. You have to learn how to think in a different way.
You also want to hope that you get all this done before your next scheduled performance. Because after you go through another production cycle and you have new work to promote you should spend your time promoting that.
A bard's songbook is like a magician's spell book in that it contains words of power, songs for wind, songs for rain, songs to make the fire burn hotter and warm the room, songs of companionship to warm the heart.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/797
Ari and Caper worked on Caper's Song Book last night on Inspired Unreality.
First we worked on a list of songs.
Song to make people dance
Song to make people alert
Song to make people like me AKA the opening numbers
Song of reflection
Song of hope
We renamed Song to make people alert to
Song of perception
tin tin aree tin tin aroo
look about look about could be you
jump about jump about one and two
tin tin aree tin tin aroo
and we wrote the lyric.
To be sung by the whole party twice through to increases alertness and perception.
The bard leads the song. The party sings it twice around. Just that helps. Some DMs may give pluses or advantage on perception and other pertinent rolls.
We had a great time and I look forward to filling in more blank pages in Caper's Song Book in the future.
Next week, Monday, August 2, is the first Monday of the month and we will be discussing Fantasy and Science Fiction literature.
I'm reading "The Broken Sword" by Poul Anderson. As they set sail to the frozen north he writes this.
"Let us away," said Mananaan. He and Skafloc stepped into the boat from the small dock and raised the glowing sail. The man took the steering oar while the godling struck a chord on his harp and sang:
Wind I call you, old, unresting,
from the deeps of sea and sky.
Blow me outward on my questing,
answer me with eager cry.
From the hills of home behind you,
out through shifting leagues of sea,
blow wind blow! My song shall bind you.
South wind, sea wind, come to me.
Come to set my vessel free.
At his music, a strong breeze sprang up and the boat surged forth into waves of cold and green that threw salt spray onto their lips.
- Poul Anderson, from "The Broken Sword"
I'm working on a song book for Caper. A song for wind, a song for rain, a song of warmth, a song of companionship, a song to give you courage.
If you have suggestions for Caper's book please leave them in the comments. Or if you have favorite bardsongs from fantasy literature or gaming point the way.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/796
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Monday week will be August 2, the first Monday in August so we will be talking about fantasy and science fiction stories. If you enjoy great fantasy literature like "The Broken Sword" please join us. And join us tonight to help Caper fill his song book.
I was talking to Carl about the witch's chicken scratch that we are inventing to fill Ari's teas and potions book that Tude found and he come up with the perfect name. Wikkenscratch. As in, "He held the book sideways and upside down but it didn't help. Scratching his head he complained, 'I can't read this wikkenscratch'."
And Megan helped me come up with a subtitle for my new book. "Setting Up A Twitch Studio - Using Tech Creatively". The subtitle hints that the book is actually more than a twitch how to. In fact, the book will apply to almost any creative endeavor where technology is part of the picture.
Robert S. Conley posted a blog, "The one I write about the popularity of RPGs and the explosive growth of digital sales. Using numbers from DriveThruRPG."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4176
So do you have a new blog post, vlog, or podcast about gaming? Let me know.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I'm reading "The Broken Sword" by Poul Anderson. As they set sail to the frozen north he writes this.
"Let us away," said Mananaan. He and Skafloc stepped into the boat from the small dock and raised the glowing sail. The man took the steering oar while the godling struck a chord on his harp and sang:
Wind I call you, old, unresting,
from the deeps of sea and sky.
Blow me outward on my questing,
answer me with eager cry.
From the hills of home behind you,
out through shifting leagues of sea,
blow wind blow! My song shall bind you.
South wind, sea wind, come to me.
Come to set my vessel free.
At his music, a strong breeze sprang up and the boat surged forth into waves of cold and green that threw salt spray onto their lips.
- Poul Anderson, from "The Broken Sword"
I'm working on a song book for Caper. A song for wind, a song for rain, a song of warmth, a song of companionship, a song to give you courage.
If you have suggestions for Caper's book please leave them in the comments. Or if you have favorite bardsongs from fantasy literature or gaming point the way.
As another famous bard sang in another era,
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind.
The answer is blowing in the wind.
- B.Z.
Ari, Caper, and the Milyagon witch have been decyphring teas and potions from a book written in Witch's Chicken Scratch. They have been gathering their knowledge into an herbal listing medicinal herbs and teas found around Milyagon including magical plants found in Wilken Woods, a magic forest with fey inhabitants. Here's a start.
mint - refeshing tea good for stomach discomfort
rose hips - also good in tea with charismatic properties
rose buds - used in love potions
lavender - used in teas and creams, helps with sleep, skin, and pain
chax - used in teas and potions, good for muscle aches and relaxing
yaloleaf - used in teas and potions, good for congestion and head colds
yellow flax - used for pain, swelling, and as an appetite suppressant
red vermilion - a poison used in red paint for artists
sweet lemon - used in teas for flavor and stomach distress
panacea - a red berry growing on cliff walls, good for healing and nausea
nightmare - a dangerous herb that can cause hallucinations in battle
sleep seed - in a tea acts like a sleep spell
babble plant - in a tincture with alcohol makes you talkative
scratch grass - grows in great fields and causes itching, untreated it can cause damage
mushrooms harvested in the moonlight under the ancestor tree, used in a cream for the ogres bunions
lard - base for burn medicine
honey drop sap from the honey drop tree, The honey drop tree is called that because it exudes a golden sap, it is a good base for skin medicines
scarlet pimpernel - field of brilliant red flowers with an odor that makes you want to turn and run, boil in water and strain keeping the water to thicken and sweeten teas and potions, used for pain relief and nausea
opium flowers - powerful pain relief, addictive
willow bark - used like aspirin for pain relief
cloves - used in teas an potions for nausea, colds, and pain
mead, wine, whiskey have their traditional medical uses
To be continued with Caper's help
mushrooms
smoking herbs
That is the herbal so far. Although some of the Milyagon herbs have real life equivalents most are just made out of whole cloth and the Milyagon Herbal should never be used for actual ailments.
Continuing with this project I plan on adding more recipes to Ari's book written in Witch's Chicken Scratch.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been already here's an invite.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I'm not sure but I think Ari and the Milyagon witch may have some help from the brownies fixing up their teas and potions. I've been working on my Witch's Chicken Scratch and there could be some decoding at hand.
I enjoyed Follow Me And Die's blog post about "Just in time for tomorrow's 12th anniversary of my blog, I wrote an article about Garage Con." This is a great idea and an interesting read.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4170
Adjacent posts from Hairy Larry about a busy day.
No game tonight so I'm going to have to work on something. First backup/media/intraweb server. Second Setting Up A Twitch Studio series about technical creative endeavors.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4168
I also have a DIY project to write up and videoize. How to build a usb foot switch to change scenes in Streamlabs OBS or other programs that use programmable hotkeys.
Plus now reading Poul Anderson's "The Broken Sword", his first fantasy novel.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4169
What are you reading? What's your favorite DIY? And as far as potions and teas?
Stay in touch.
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
What will we be discussing tonight? Nobody knows. Because, like Megan, we do what we want. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
I posted, "We had a good chat last night about Science Fiction and Fantasy literature starting with a discussion about Science Fiction as a late nineteenth and twentieth century phenomenon where Fantasy literature encompasses all of literature going back to the earliest written words. Now they are often indistinguishable. Then we discussed the dystopian trend in Science Fiction. The Golden Age (thirties and forties) saw mostly optimistic science fiction stories but in the second half of the twentieth century starting with the New Wave through today there has been a darker trend with many dystopian and post apocalyptic stories. Then closing the chat we each discussed our first experiences in Science Fiction."
What are your first experiences with Fantasy and Science Fiction? Join the discussion here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4153
ZDL shared a post about how we can let the kids improve our urban landscape.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4157
If you have ideas for our Fantasy and Science Fiction discussion post them here in the Related To Geeks Book Club group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Please post your links, game ideas, art, etc. to Gamer+. We want to know what you're doing. (Ok, that's not creepy at all.)
Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
We've already got some discussion going in my announcement thread.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4145
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/782
I added another post to my Setting Up A Twitch Studio series. Documentation. I try to teach by example. So, if you like to read documentation.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/785
This series of articles has turned out to be broader in focus than I thought they would be and the ideas discussed pertain to any technical creative endeavor. I need to take a big top down view and decide where I'm going with this.
And here are our twitch streams.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Send me your links or post them to Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Like workflow documentation isn't sexy. But also like workflow documentation is very important in any technical creative endeavor. Instead of waxing on about the joy of documentation I will include my Post Production and Upload document. Then at the end of the post I will address a few issues that the document raises.
HairyLarryLand Twitch Videos
Post Production And Upload Document
---
Log the show noting the songs in order.
Include song title, start time, end time, and other notes.
Star songs for video production. Three stars for extra promotion.
The show is logged from the twitch website so I am also doing quality control on the stream.
Produce videos of the starred songs in Openshot.
The assets are Title, Credits, and one or two clips.
Load a previously edited video as a starting point.
Save all the videos and the hard drive source recording in a dated folder, YYYY-MM-DD.
Videos are saved as song_name-YYYY-MM-DD.
After rendering each video I do a full viewing for pre upload quality control. I have found problems but even when there are no real problems I benefit educationally by another close viewing of my best performances.
Rename the videos adding NN_ as a prefix numbering the videos in playlist order. The playlist of all the videos produced for a certain date is a document of my performance on the twitch stream.
Take a screen shot from the first video and save it in the same folder as the videos. This is for promotion on the Live Music Archive and anywhere a photo is needed.
Use VLC to create mp3 audio files of each video.
This is done as a batch using Open Multiple Files and Convert.
Rename the mp3 files artist-album_title-NN_song_title where the album title is the date performed.
I do this using Thunar bulk rename which makes it easy.
Normalize the mp3 files with MP3DirectCut.
Make the song list in list.txt.
I do this by executing ls 0*.mp4 > list.txt in a bash shell and then editing the file with two search and replaces and manual editing when needed.
Make the notes.txt file for the Live Music Archive upload.
Copy the last show's notes.txt to the current folder and edit it changing the date and the playlist.
I now have all the assets ready for my file uploads.
Upload the mp3 files, notes.txt and the screenshot to the Live Music Archive.
The item ID is hlYYYY-MM-DD because this is recommended. Then the link will be like archive.org/details/hl2012-06-29.
Add the songs to my KGPL on demand internet radio station, HairyLarryLand Livestreams, at kgpl.org. I use a program I wrote to make it easy to add an entire concert. I also wrote KGPL and KGPL is GPL.
Upload the mp4 files and notes.txt to another item on the live music archive.
I use hlYYYY-MM-DD.video for my video link.
The mp3 files upload fast. The mp4 videos take longer.
At peertube.hairylarry.rocks create a playlist for the performance.
The playlist is called twitch.tv/hairylarryland June 27, 2021 with the date corrected.
Upload the videos to peertube one at a time.
I use a song.txt template for the song information so I only have to correct the date and then search and replace on the song title for each song.
I always add tags to peertube and the Live Music Archive. jazz, blues, piano, hairylarryland, twitch, livestream, etc.
After the video is uploaded add the link to the description and add the song to the playlist.
After all the songs are uploaded check the playlist
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/
Create a folder on the HairyLarryLand Nextcloud for the performance date.
Add the mp3 files and mp4 files to Nextcloud for download by collaborators and others. Also upload notes.txt and the screenshot. I can share these files by sending a link and I also include the link in the peertube descriptions. Create a markdown text file for each mp4 file and copy and paste the peertube description to that file.
https://hairylarryland.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/Z9RFW4QS6XGa3qo
All of this seems like a lot but it actually goes pretty fast and much of the time consuming part is unattended. Start the upload. After it's done do the next thing. I manage to keep up and I do three livestreams a week for 4-5 hours of video content total. I have streamlined this workflow to make this possible.
Promote the songs on Youtube, the fediverse, other social networks, websites, and blogs using the song links, playlist links, and download links.
Additional notes, issues not part of but raised by the procedure above.
---
Licensing - I license my songs Creative Commons Attribution which means anyone can use my songs in their projects as long as they include me in the credits. That's just me. It's what I do. Make stuff and give it away. When you make your decision about licensing I suggest you read through the information provided at the Creative Commons website. All Rights Reserved may not be the best choice for you.
Live Music Archive - I perform livestream concerts so the Live Music Archive works for me. If you are doing game streams, actual play, vlogs, cooking, or DIY archive.org also has a Community Video area which would probably be better for you. The Internet Archive is a library. Their service is free. They have embed code so you can share easily. They encourage sharing items on their site on other websites. All around double plus good.
https://archive.org/details/etree
https://archive.org/details/opensource_movies
Servers - Ok, I'm a computer geek. I did games and music before computers but computers were my career and they remain my hobby. I realize not everyone runs their own internet servers. So I recommend using archive.org as your primary server and then using Youtube and Tumblr or other web platforms for your daily updates and your pretty face. I also recommend the fediverse, programs like Mastodon, Friendica, Funkwhale, and Peertube. With these programs you can set up your own server but you don't have to. There are many fediverse instances with an existing lean to your area of interest that would be glad to have you participate.
If you want to run your own server I use two. The first is based on the famous LAMP stack, linux, apache, mysql, php. The second runs Yunohost.
Google lamp stack.
Best of luck in all your creatives endeavors.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been there's an invite here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL posted Deep Dive: OSR Critique about her actual experience in the OSR world when it was just called D&D.
"To establish my credentials, I have been playing RPGs of all kinds since 1977. My first exposure to the genre was the 1977 "Blue Book" edition and I have backfilled experience with the original books, not to mention gone forward into both branches of D&D (Advanced and what would later become the Cyclopedia). I played through the explosion of creativity in the '80s, witnessed the rise of story games (playing many of them, though not the White Wolf line of Storyteller games—I hated those), and continued through to the present day where I play intensely story-oriented games (FATE, Spark, Mythic, etc.) as well as some OSR or OSR-alike games (most notably Mazes & Minotaurs). I am emphatically not a young-un telling grandpa what's what. I'm one of the grandparents saying what actually was."
And she has some opinions. As always, a good read. In case you also have opinions there's a comment section.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/782
RickStump joined the Related to Geeks Book club group. Megan and I did the podcast for a year and then went on to bigger and better things. (Hello Flunking The Written and twitch) I still read every day and would love to have a monthly book discussion. So, starting next week and continuing the first Monday of every month the opening topic at Inspired Unreality will be science fiction and fantasy literature with frequent forays into SF&F movies and games.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
https://anchor.fm/flunking-the-written
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
I posted a new photo gallery, The Masks Of The Zuni. If you are needing images of a witch doctor, shaman, or other all around weirdo these are public domain. There's even a bizarro Hairy Larry.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/104
See you tonight on Inspired Unreality open game chat. Next week, books. Post some pics. Join in on the OSR discussion. At Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Our little hobby is filled with intriguing oddities. One of the most persistent such oddities is our weird tendency to take what is already a fringe subculture and cut it up into further warring fringes.
In the '70s (and even a bit into the '80s) the hobby was divided into the camp of wargamers (themselves divided into board and miniatures camps, not to mention by era) and role-players. This is where I entered the picture, and I came to it from a direction radically different than most RPGers of the time: I came at it from my high school drama flake crowd, not from the wargaming crowd. I especially saw a lot of the disdain hurled at the role-playing fantasists crowd because I not only played them, I exclusively played them and really didn't like wargames.
As the great creative explosion of the '80s began, more and more weird divisions happened, usually in feuding camps based on genre (since most RPGs of the time still lived firmly in their wargaming roots). This was also the era where "realism" vs. "playability" became an argument (despite no RPG ever written being even remotely realistic, and most were only barely playable: this is a hobby that demanded a degree of dedication to enter and be a part of!).
The '90s started to usher in the era of the "story-based" game (although the earliest of these were barely distinguishable in terms of rules focus from Dungeons & Dragons). This is where the largest divide of role-playing games started and what is likely the largest single cultural shift of the hobby began, as typified by the (pretentiously idiotic) phrase "role-playing vs. roll-playing".
The earlier divides were arguments over taste. Something in the loudest of the "story game" crowd stepped over a line from discussions of taste into very literal notions of "wrong fun". In many ways it was the stalwart wargamer crowd's disdain of the role-playing crowd all over again, only it was the newcomers who held the most disdain. The peak of this was likely the essays of people like John Wick or, worse, Ron Edwards who would start bizarrely hinting at (and sometimes openly stating) some kind of moral failing of those who preferred original-style dungeon bashes. It reached the point that to this day I can't stomach the notion of actually buying a product published by some major names in gaming. (And, naturally, because we can't have nice things, a lot of OSR advocates are just as disdainful of people who play differently as are people like the two I named above. I'll just drop James Raggi's name here for that.)
And it was in the midst of this acrimony that sometime in the early '00s the OSR sprung up. (OSR is an initialization I've seen expanded as Old School Revival, Recreation, Renaissance, and other such R words to the point I'm not sure which one is actually canonically correct, so I will just be using OSR.) The OSR is a movement to return back to basics. Back to E. Gary Gygax's original D&D. To return to a time of simplicity. It's a movement born of people wearing pink-tinted contact lenses because—hoo boy!—this is not a good description of the rules of the time!
There is a reason why the original edition of D&D was not the dominant one over the decades and that reason is not just, as has been claimed, a money-grab by TSR and others.
To establish my credentials, I have been playing RPGs of all kinds since 1977. My first exposure to the genre was the 1977 "Blue Book" edition and I have backfilled experience with the original books, not to mention gone forward into both branches of D&D (Advanced and what would later become the Cyclopedia). I played through the explosion of creativity in the '80s, witnessed the rise of story games (playing many of them, though not the White Wolf line of Storyteller games—I hated those), and continued through to the present day where I play intensely story-oriented games (FATE, Spark, Mythic, etc.) as well as some OSR or OSR-alike games (most notably Mazes & Minotaurs). I am emphatically not a young-un telling grandpa what's what. I'm one of the grandparents saying what actually was.
And what actually was was a mess. Don't get me wrong. I don't judge the OSR and, indeed, I like its ideals: simplicity chief among them. I think modern games have gotten ridiculously and pointlessly complicated and as someone who works in marketing, I can even smell the marketing decisions that led to that. I would love to have a game in the old style to play (and indeed do in the form of M&M).
I just don't want to play the original D&D.
So let's talk about why.
I have open on my screen the so-called "White Box" set of rules. The three-volume set of Dungeons & Dragons published by Tactical Studies Rules in 1974 before they even had the TSR logo. (Their logo looked like a bizarre stylized 'K' embedded in a similarly stylized 'G'.) And already we're off to a rocky start. On page 5 of the first book (Men & Magic) we have the recommended equipment which includes ... Chainmail miniature rules, latest edition. Which, note, at the time of publication, wasn't even a TSR product.
Time to open another document. (Picture me rolling my eyes here.)
The current edition of Chainmail at the time would have been 2nd. The third was 1975, a year after D&D was published, while 2nd was 1972. So this is the version we'll go with.
Back to D&D. And here we get to the next problem with this edition of D&D (which I will refer to as OD&D from now on): the writing. It's atrocious. The information design is execrable. Gary Gygax had a large vocabulary, but he had no clue how to use it to deliver information. His writing style lies somewhere between the ponderousness of an academic frightened of clear communication because it would reveal how trivial the ideas under discussion actually are and a middle school essay writer earning his D+ marks throughout the term. On page 6, for example, under the heading of "Characters", he introduces the 3 main classes of characters: Fighting-Men, Magic-Users, and Clerics. Then, buried in the description of what these classes even are, he throws in the fact that fighting men can "include" elves, dwarves, and even halflings while magic-users can only be men and elves with clerics limited to men only.
(From the way it is worded it is easy to mistakenly think that men can only be magic-users and clerics, incidentally.)
In the section on Fighting-Men (referred to multiple times as "fighters" in the text because consistency in game terminology is for cowards?) there's a bizarre section irrelevant to the topic at hand consisting of base income for fighters of high enough a level. In the section outlining Magic-Users there's a sudden table of income costs for making magic items. In the section on Clerics there's more talk of income from high-level clerics and holdings. NONE OF THIS IS RELEVANT. The game is discussing stuff that comes at "end-game" (so to speak) for characters before they've even actually finished off what a character is and how to make one! It's very clearly written stream-of-consciousness and it's a chore to decode. THIS is why the Basic line was started and expanded into the Cyclopedia. Gary Gygax's writing style is just not suited to actually explaining things!
And it continues on and on in this vein: opening up with the classes, introducing the classes, and mentioning races only in passing, suddenly, on the very next page, right after talking about Clerics, races are introduced at the same heading level in a jarring transition. Each is defined solely by what it can and cannot do. There's no explanation of what a "dwarf" or "elf" or "halfling" really is. Maybe that's what you need Chainmail for? Yep. That's where the races are described. (Though there's no "halflings". Only hobbits.) Further the races' advantages and abilities are explicitly specified in Chainmail. You really do need Chainmail to play OD&D!
Alignment is handled in the same kind of slap-dash way: character types are defined by alignment, but alignment itself is not described (not even in Chainmail!).
This mess goes on and on. There's rules for changing character classes that reference prime requisites, but prime requisites for classes haven't yet been defined! (They do have the decency to forward-reference this, but this is utter crap information design. We've known how to write better than this for centuries before D&D was written!)
Once you do decode this, the rules for making characters are, indeed, very simple. It's just that the writing is so phenomenally bad that D&D rapidly became known as a game that you couldn't just buy and learn. You had to have it taught to you.
And one of the purported advantages of the aulde skool rears its ugly head here: it is explicitly intended (according to the introduction) to be merely guidelines. So what you were taught wouldn't transfer well to other groups…
Of course when you played, again you needed Chainmail according to the rules thus far. We're on page 18 of the rules and half the rules mentioned explicitly call out to Chainmail for resolution. Page 19 introduces the "alternative" combat system that replaces Chainmail's in which we see the beginning of the THAC0 system that was so beloved in later years. And again it's incoherent dross. The hit table only applies to fighters. Magic-Users and Clerics use different progressions mentioned in an asterisked footnote. This is also where the infamously bizarre categories of saving throws make their first appearance. To this day I don't understand these categories, why they were made, what they were intended to represent. I only know that it was really weird seeing rules in later editions say "save vs. paralyzation" for things that had nothing to do with paralyzation, just because those were the numbers the designer of the monster or trap or whatever liked best.
And of course the saving throw matrix manages to be incoherent there as well, interlacing levels and classes in bizarre ways making it awfully hard to figure out which is which when using it.
Anyway, I think I've made my point here. The rules were awful. They were incoherently written. They relied on an outside book (then published by another publisher!) to actually use. And on top of everything else, they covered so very little that, quite ironically, to use them meant the referee (DM being a later term!) had to make things up on the fly all the time. Just like the "GM fiat" games that many OSR advocates deride now.
They're god-awful rules!
And note, I'm not saying here that the rules should cover every possible contingency. In that direction lies madness (also known as Chivalry & Sorcery)! But what the rules should provide (and emphatically don't!) is a coherent framework for adjudication.
Now D&D has an excuse. It was the first game of a kind nobody had ever seen before. Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax deserve the accolades they get for having made it and popularized it. I will never cast shade on the giants who made the very hobby I love so well! But I absolutely will cast shade on the people who think that OD&D was the best of all possible times to the point of wanting to return to it.
Not casting shade in the "wrongfun" sense either, but rather in the "are you really sure?" sense. Because yes, there is a lot of the OSR vibe I love. I just don't like the game at the core of it and I think an attempt to return to that in specific, even if rewritten to be more coherent, is doomed to failure. I think there is room for the OSR concept: simple, fun-focused, hack-and-slash or exploration-oriented, pick-up-and-play games that also have room for depth and soul but that don't have a need for the millions of pages of rules for every contingency. For the concepts behind D&D, but concepts executed with now nearly 40 years of design experience to get it right.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
There is an ongoing discussion thread on this topic at Gamer+. This will be the starting point for Inspired Unreality tonight.
Draklorx wrote "I think this is a cool aspect of old school games that isn't common anymore. I love the grittiness of it, and the mixed levels never bothered me when I played. ... That said, for a dungeon master it's much easier to do milestone leveling and have all the players be the same level."
ZDL wrote, "There are several aspects of old school games I like, most notably the increased diversity that randomness tended to cause.
The wildly divergent capabilities of characters, however, was not one of them. In the presence of most GMs, having the weakest character meant a) dying, or b) not having anything to do. Neither of these is really conducive to enjoyment."
hairylarry wrote "And then there's the whole non combat side. The role playing, puzzle solving, exploration part where characters of all levels are more equal and the results depend more on the player than on PC stats."
hairylarry wrote "There is a built in premise in OSR games. PCs need XP to level up. You get XP by killing monsters. So, let's go kill some monsters. At a lot of tables that is the game. To me, it's a side show and as I get older I run more games that are all exploration and role play without any combat at all."
CarlHeyl wrote, "I'd like to add that in the oldest of old school most of your XP came from earning treasure not killing monsters. Which means two things 1. You don't have to fight that big bad monster if there was a way around it to get the treasure behind it. and 2. Your lower level character would level very rapidly because of the amount of gold the higher level party was able to procure."
If this interests you there's more here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4131
Worldbuilding Magazine is proud to present our June 2021 issue: Cosmology. We’ve taken a step back from our usual in-depth look at the details of worldbuilding and this time we’re talking about the cosmos.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4133
I hope to see you tonight on Inspired Unreality to hear you opinions about mixed parties. Or you can log on to Gamer+ and share your thoughts.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
My stream schedule has been changed. Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 PM Central. Sunday at 5:00 PM Central. Some Sundays my band, Bebop Beatniks, will be streaming from the porch.
If you are producing videos from your twitch streams like I talked about in the last article most streamers post to Youtube. I have an active Youtube channel and I do post there but it's actually the 4th place I post and Youtube won't see every video.
It's important to have a posting strategy and a procedure that makes posting easy. I use a notes.txt file in a dated folder for the stream performed on that date. This notes.txt file is very much the same for every show. The playlist is changed. The date is changed, and occasionally comments are added. So I work from a template modifying it as necessary for each stream.
I also have a template for posting songs. Again I only change the date, the song title, and add an occasional comment.
So, for me, playlists are important. I deal in sets of short videos that are related, in my case all performed on the same day. So if you're going to produce highlights videos from your game stream you may want to put them in a playlist so viewers can go through all of them easily.
And here's where it gets kind of geeky. The first place I post my videos is to my own servers.
Most people don't run web servers at home so this probably won't apply to you but it is an option every production studio should consider because uploads to in house servers don't take nearly as long as uploads to The Live Music Archive or Youtube.
On my right I have the Hairy Larry Rocks server hosting my peertube.
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks
On my left I have my MixRemix server that also hosts HairyLarryLand.
Let's say I played a stream and then I produced 4 song videos from the stream.
I number the songs based on their order in the set as logged in my logbook.
I create a playlist for the stream.
I upload each video to my peertube using the songs.txt template so I don't have to do a lot of typing. After it's posted I add the link to the video into the text and I add the video to the playlist.
This goes really fast because these large mp4 files never leave the house. Nevertheless, as soon as I am done the songs are available on the internet and I can click a share button to link or embed the videos.
On my HairyLarryLand server I have a file sharing program called NextCloud. After I have finished uploading to peertube I create a folder for the stream and upload all the video files to NextCloud. Then I create a text file for each song and copy the exact same text I used for the songs on peertube. When that is done all of my highest quality video files are available for download here.
https://hairylarryland.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/Z9RFW4QS6XGa3qo
Why both?
The peertube interface is user friendly making it easy for viewers to find and share videos. It is even possible for other peertube instances to include my songs for people to enjoy from there.
The NextCloud interface is a file manager where you can download the best quality videos as rendered by OpenShot. So if someone wants to collaborate with me or just wants to download best quality that's the place to go.
The song.txt template cross links both of these sites so it is easy to switch between interfaces from a Youtube like federated social network to an all business file manager for downloading what you want.
In the next article I will discuss uploading videos to the Live Music Archive and Youtube. I am also uploading mp3 files of the audio to the Live Music Archive and I plan on making them available on my on demand KGPL internet radio station.
\os Hx/s
\os \u/s
^x^+
Tonight! On Inspired Unreality Ari and the Milyagon witch continue researching the potion book that Ari's cat Tude found near the witch's garden. So far they have tested a brew that enables far sighted telescopic vision. When stirred with the silver wand King Groads sent to the witch they also enabled microscopic vision. A kind of a scrying tea with a twist. They have decrypted another recipe that may be a love potion.
Join us on Inspired Unreality tonight to test a love potion or just to chat about gaming. Everyone is welcome. All gaming is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms every Monday night at 9:00 at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Every gamer knows about thieve's cant, words and symbols only thieves know. Inspired by Ari's book discovered on Inspired Unreality I am working on Witch's Chicken Scratch, a kind of shorthand that witch's in the past used to record the exact ingredients in their teas and potions. Since they knew their ingredients and how they blended them together all they needed was a short list to remind them exactly what they used.
Silent letters ignored, past witch's scrawled geometric figures in neat rows as a way of remembering their recipes while at the same time concealing them from prying eyes. Witches do love their secrets.
Ari and the Milyagon witch have deciphered two recipes so far. One is at the top of the page. Here are the witch's notes that she made while reseaching the book.
m = ^
n = ^
v = v
t = +
l = |
r = \
d = /
o = o
u = u
w = w
other vowels = x
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4126
See if you can decipher the recipe at the top of this newsletter.
Maybe it's a mood elevator.
Or maybe it's a love potion.
Join us tonight and maybe we'll find out.
After drinking this Tea of Prescience I can see another Milyagon minizine in the future, "Tea Recipes In Witch's Chicken Scratch".
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
m = ^
n = ^
v = v
t = +
l = |
r = \
d = /
o = o
u = u
w = w
So
mint = ^x^+
lemon = |x^o^
lavender = |xvx^/x\
So it's just a substitution code but all the marks are very easy to write and, coincidentally, easy to type.
Inspired Unreality is held at 9:00 PM Central every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I posted another article about Setting Up A Twitch Studio where I discuss workflow. In any job workflow is important. In video production a streamlined workflow is essential. I know workflow sounds boring and wonky but it's not. This may be the most important article in the series.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/775
Gamer+ Gamers Do Stuff
Peter_R posted Troika Cards! Woo Hoo! to his Solo Roleplaying & Game Mastery blog.
https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/2021/02/09/troika-cards-woo-hoo
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Peter_R
TheEvilDM posted another episode to his actual play podcast, The World of Arkonis Episode 51 – Evil Lair 3, is this the one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZrFFLGH4M
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/TheEvilDM
If you're doing stuff let me know. I want to add your stuff to Gamer+ News.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Everyone wants to buy equipment but nobody wants to think about workflow. Yet, without a well defined idea about anticipated workflow it's difficult to even know what equipment to buy.
One of the advantages of livestreaming is simplified workflow. For instance.
Prepare for the stream.
Do the stream performance.
Check your stats.
Twitch keeps your streams online and it's possible to download them if there's one you want to save. I press the record button in Streamlabs OBS and record everything. So I need big hard drives, video eats disk space. This is how workflow drives equipment purchases.
My workflow is more complicated because my livestream is also a video production environment. I am livestreaming my shows. But I am also producing song videos of me playing my original songs. This is where workflow is most important.
Because there's this thing about video production. It's time consuming. So if you're going to do a lot of video production it's important to simplify your workflow or you end up bogged down in post production. This leads to the dreaded post production backlog where you are unable to keep up and end up with unwatched video footage that you worked to make but will never see the light of day.
The only way I know of to avoid post production backlog is to finish with post before you produce more video. When your performance is on a schedule, like mine, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3:00 PM Central, you have to be able to zoom through post production and uploading your videos. There is only two or three days until the next performance.
So here's my workflow.
Pre Production
Write songs.
Create backing tracks.
Learn the songs well enough to practice them.
Production
Perform the stream which is livestreamed over twitch, recorded on twitch, and recorded on my hard drive.
Post Production
Log the show.
Create the song videos.
Upload the videos to my peertube instance for easy viewing and to my NextCloud file sharing site for best quality downloads.
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/video-channels/twitch/videos
https://hairylarryland.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/Z9RFW4QS6XGa3qo
Promotion
Share links to the songs on my blogs, websites, and social media.
Upload song videos to Youtube or other websites.
I will do an article on promotion later.
Now I want to discuss Post Production and just how I manage to produce a handful of song videos every two days.
I watch the whole show on twitch logging the songs start and end times and marking the songs that should be excerpted for song videos. I add other comments while logging. Most commonly I note where the song video should begin because I don't always hit the groove right from the top.
This takes a little bit longer than it took to play the stream. Producing the log is only part of the purpose here. I am also monitoring my stream quality as viewed on twitch and I am learning from my performance.
For editing my videos I use OpenShot because of ease of use.
I load the stream recorded to the hard drive into OpenShot and I do a rough cut of the songs beginning and end.
I zoom in and fix the cuts to exactly where i want them. I leave the spoken intros and outtros where possible.
I use templates for my title and credits screens changing only the song title. I add them to the video and I place the fades to go from title to video and from video to credits.
This goes really fast. While I still have the song loaded in the editor I do a quality control viewing. Sometimes I decide the song isn't really good enough to post. Sometimes I choose different edit points. Most of the time I am happy with the song and deem it ready to upload. So besides checking the song I am also doing another learning pass listening again to my best performances. So I play the song, log the song and select it for post production, and then I listen again for quality control. This repeated listening may be the most valuable part of my piano practice.
Sometimes I want to include the spoken intro and then start the song later in the performance. This takes only one extra cut. To avoid a jump cut I zoom in on the spoken part so it's just a video of me talking. Then when I start playing I'm back to full screen making a very natural transition. Here's an example.
Bunnies
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/videos/watch/955242be-6dd2-45f9-b2cb-a09a49b15a1a
Here's a video from the same show without the zoomed in intro.
Eventually
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/videos/watch/ebdd8dcb-cfde-413d-b7ec-fbbad81d6e9a
Today's Monday. My last stream was two hours on Saturday. I logged the stream Saturday night. Sunday I produced Something Blue and uploaded it to KASU. So today I get to produce eight song videos. I know I will be able to finish this today, no problem, because of my streamlined workflow.
Because tomorrow I'll be playing another show.
Tonight on Inspired Unreality join Ari and Caper in their quest for mushrooms and tea. At least that's what we did last week when Ari's cat, Tude, found a book, Ari and the witch deciphered a tea blend from one of the pages in the book, Caper went to the woods to hunt for mushrooms, the witch brewed the tea, and when Ari and the witch drank the tea they became far sighted and could see Caper leaving the woods several miles away as if they were looking through a powerful telescope. What will happen next? Nobody knows. Because we're winging it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4113
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Those who are Related To Geeks finally reconvened in person after over a year of getting together in Zoom and on Gather. At our Saturday family game we fought the giant ants that invaded Fair Day. On Sunday we restored a wizard who had been turned to stone. We also ate a lot and talked a lot and I played piano. Great weekend, especially that last part.
Follow Me And Die posted a new podcast, Episode 197 - Down the Rabbit Hole of UAPs/UFOs. "With the recent buzz over the release of some videos of various sensor data of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, the new term for UFO, I decided to explore "What if...." and apply it to the realm of RPGs." He also posted a companion blog post.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4114
Saturday afternoon I had my family participate on my twitch stream. I set up on the front porch using all battery operated equipment, piano, PA, tablet, laptop, and a hotspot on my phone. There were some problems. The battery died on the laptop and I had to plug it in. Webcams are not good in daylight. I am working on these issues and will discuss them in a blog post, Setting Up A Twitch Studio - Going Portable after I figure them out.
You are invited to join Ari and Caper tonight on Inspired Unreality. Please update us on your games and projects. My contact info is below or better yet post to Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join Ari and Caper and Tude (Ari's cat) as their adventures unfold. What will happen next? Nobody knows. Cause we're winging it.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkars Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Here's a shout out to Follow Me And Die for 44 years of D&D. I've been playing for 30 years. How long have you been adventuring? Add your story to the comments here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4109
I added another post to my series, Setting Up A Twitch Studio. This week it's all about free software for streaming.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/768
After I finish these blogs Megan and I will have to get back together to compare notes on where twitch has taken us. What is your experience with twitch? We'll both be glad to compare notes with you too.
Here's our links.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Here's the good news for a change. The software needed to set up a twitch stream is free.
I am using Streamlabs OBS as my streaming platform. Before that I used OBS. These are both free software. I used OBS recording audio only podcasts but for my twitch stream I wanted to view the live chat as part of the stream, and not just see the chat on the twitch interface. Streamlabs OBS supports that so that's how I get my live chat on the left side of the stream.
https://streamlabs.com/
To display my tablet playing iReal Pro on the right side of my stream I use scrcpy, also free software.
https://github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy
I had to download and install a windows driver for my Zoom H6. No charge for the driver and the install was painless. I use the Zoom as an interface between my PA and my computer.
I am planning on implementing the ability to record multitrack to make it easier to collaborate with other musicians. Pro Tools First is a free download and Pro Tools is the industry standard for sharing audio files.
https://www.avid.com/pro-tools
I use Openshot for video post production. I like it. I even use their titling templates. It makes life easy.
https://www.openshot.org/
I am using VLC to monitor my videos. Under tools I can view the codec information to make sure I'm recording everything right. VLC will also compress your video files in case they end up too large.
https://www.videolan.org/
GIMP is my photo editor. Video producers need photo editors the same as anyone else.
https://www.gimp.org/
Some of this software is open source. Some is not. But it is all free to download and install. Which is good news because twitch can be an expensive hobby.
Next week I'll discuss workflow and backups. Can't wait.
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern, a notorious drinking hole for OSR discussion, we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Ari, Caper, and Tude survived Feyland after an exchange of gifts with King Groads. They are on Wilkin Way heading back toward Milyagon after their three fey friends helped them return. Tintee danced up a fairy circle that opened up into the rapids. Quin went through first and got all wet so when he came back Tintee danced up another fairy circle and this one went to the owl's eyrie just north of Wilkin Way. After feasting on the mushrooms Caper found (his gift was he would be lucky finding mushrooms in the woods) they said goodbye to Tintee, Quin, and Pantoo.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4099
I have added another post to my twitch series, Setting Up A Twitch Studio - Equipment. Here's the link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/764
Have you played Keep On The Borderlands? Of course you have. At the Save Or Die podcast they discuss B2 or not B2?
"The Keep on the Borderlands! The name alone evokes images of battling monsters in caverns and wilderness in the earlier days of Dungeons & Dragons. But is the module really all it’s cracked up to be! The Sodcast discusses the good, bad, and chaotic of the most famous basic module."
http://saveordie.info/?p=1990
Post you adventures on Gamer+. Everything takes equipment whether it's webcams or miniatures. Let us know about your recent equipment aquisitions.
And have you done any role playing on twitch? Just how does that work? I am very interested in this and would like to cover it on Inspired Unreality and in my twitch series.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
It's important to know the big idea for a twitch stream before talking about equipment. Different streams have different equipment needs from top to bottom.
A very common idea is the streamer playing games while they talk to their audience in a small window. This only needs one camera but it needs a really good computer or game console.
Another popular twitch topic is DIY that streams only live video. So the computer needs are less but this type of stream might benefit from multiple webcams providing multiple scenes. A scene is a single shot or several shots combined on a screen. DIY crafts streams often benefit from a top down view so that would be a scene but another scene showing the streamer talking to the audience might also be desirable.
So this is why it's important to work towards an idea when gathering equipment for your twitch stream.
Since I play piano on my stream I opted for a single scene made up of four elements, a shot of me playing, a top down shot of the piano keyboard, a window showing my tablet running iReal Pro for the chord change and backing track, and a window for the chat box.
I have a nice T420 laptop with an i7, 16 gig of ram, and an Nvidia card. I used it to test some of my ideas and it did fine streaming from the built in webcam but when I set up multiple windows with Streamlabs OBS the whole thing bogged so bad that it was unusable. I hope to use this laptop for field streaming but that is a work in progress that I will write about later exploring the idea of running a stream wherever you want using all battery operated equipment.
So, I needed a more powerful computer. I needed two webcams. My old tablet wouldn't work with scrcpy so I needed a newer tablet. And, as always with video production I needed lights. Fortunately I already have audio recording equipment. I am using my Zoom H6 for an audio interface and an Audio Technica AT4055 for my microphone. I also have tripods and mic stands but I do some carpentry DIY for stands as well.
Here's what I got.
On ebay I bought an HP Z640 Workstation, Xeon E5-2620 2.40GHz, 32GB, 1TB, NVIDIA Quadro K2200 Video, Windows 10. This cost around $325 with shipping and taxes. Since 1 TB is not enough disk storage for an extended video project I added 2 HGST 4 TB drives in a RAID 1 configuration using Win 10 Storage Spaces. These ran about $105.
To update my tablet I bought a 10.5 inch Samsung Galaxy Tab A SM-T597 32GB, Wi-Fi for about $100 used in excellent condition.
I bought two Audkey webcams for about $30 each.
And for lights I got two 8.5 inch clamp on utility lamps and daylight bulbs for about $20.
Really, that's it.
Computer --- $325
Hard Drives - $105
Tablet ------- $100
Webcams --- $60
Lights ------- $20
-------
Total -------- $610
So my whole setup to implement my big idea costs less than a high end graphics card required for twitch game streams. At megantopia my daughter spent more than twice this amount for her gaming computer.
I'll continue this series next week. Future topics will include bandwidth, DIY, field streaming, post production, and more. Please ask any questions in the comments.
Also, please contact me if you use twitch to play RPGs. I am very interested in this.
Here's our links.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Ari and Caper were joined by Droggin the dwarf and Quinthalas the elf on their quest into feyland. The Milyagon witch has a message for King Groads, who is only a king on his own property. We meet our friends the fairies from our previous quest to Wilkin Woods and they don't have much use for the pretend king. But we still get along with them fine and they do show us the way. We are standing outside his gate hoping to complete our quest and hurry back home. Feyland is nice ... but dangerous.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4093
Join us every Monday night at 9:00 Central for Inspired Unreality open game chat held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL has big news. "The greatest epic fantasy movie put to video has finally been released!" Baelin (Rowan Bettjeman), a simple background NPC in the video game, Skycraft, has been walking the same route for as long as he can remember.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4094
I wrote a blog post about Setting Up A Twitch Studio - The Big Idea. "It's all Megan's fault. When she set up https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia Vivian and I started watching. Before that I knew it was a popular site for live gaming but twitch flew under my radar. Once I saw what Megan was doing and I started to understand how twitch worked, and how it can be used for videos that are not about gaming, I became interested."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/761
Are you on twitch? Have you watched a good video or read a book? Have you ever been to Feyland? Let us know on Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
It's all Megan's fault. When she set up https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia Vivian and I started watching. Before that I knew it was a popular site for live gaming but twitch flew under my radar. Once I saw what Megan was doing and I started to understand how twitch worked, and how it can be used for videos that are not about gaming, I became interested.
The problem with video production is post production. Post production is a lot of work. It takes a long time. There's always a few more tweaks that can make it a little bit better. It can wear you out.
Live streaming takes post production out of the equation. Like the evening news it happens in real time, it's as good as it is, and it's done when it's done. There's no post production and even when videos are excerpted from the stream post production is minimal.
The tradeoff for no post production is the setup. Sure, you can stream with just a laptop, phone, tablet, or game machine. But since it goes out live with no post that can be dull. The goal is a live show that's entertaining. It can be high energy or chill but it can't be boring. So you have to put a lot of thought into the desired look of your stream and then figure out the hardware and software to achieve that look.
The key element is OBS, Open Broadcaster Software.
I have used OBS for recording podcasts on Discord but I didn't realize it's real power until I started using it for twitch videos. OBS is free and open source. The good thing about that is that it's legal for others to build on it. For my stream I chose Streamlabs OBS because of the ease of setup and features like the onscreen chatbox and the ability to include running programs in the stream. You can do these things with OBS too and there are other options to explore but my most direct route was Streamlabs OBS.
I watched several videos on Youtube about setting up streaming for DIY streams and other streams that use live video instead of gaming screens as their primary focus. This opened my eyes to what is possible and led me to dream about what I actually wanted to do and how I wanted to setup my screen to be helpful and interesting.
So here's my big idea.
The name of my stream is Hairy Larry Practicing Piano. A big part of why I wanted to do the stream is to add discipline to my piano practice. I practice every day and sometimes for several hours a day. But what I was missing in my practice was scheduled rehearsal of a specific repertoire. My twitch stream provides that.
And choosing my repertoire I decided to practice all songs that I wrote. This avoids copyright issues and it allows me to tailor the repertoire to the stream. Practicing improvisation is easiest with short changes that have one or two interest points. Baby steps.
And so once I decided what I wanted to do on my stream I began to visualize the screen. I wanted the central focus to be me, practicing. I wanted to be able to pull a microphone over to talk to the audience and sing but I also wanted to be able to push it off shot for instrumental numbers. I wanted an angle shot that would show my hands on the keys. And I wanted it to feel like a live jazz show.
There are many musicians teaching jazz piano on the internet and they almost always have a top down view of the piano keyboard across the bottom of the screen. I like that, it's helpful and visually appealing. So I decided to include that in my screen layout.
I am using iReal Pro for my backing tracks providing bass and drums. The iReal Pro screen shows the chord symbols and highlights the chord being played. I wanted to include that screen as part of my display.
Twitch uses text chat for the audience and voice chat for the performer as it's standard chat format. The performer can also type but it's easier just to talk and shout outs from the performer to viewers in the chat box are the way it's done. So I wanted to include the text chat on the screen to provide context for my shout outs and other responses to the ongoing text chat.
And I wanted to be chill. Many people use twitch as background noise while they go about their business. I wanted it to be easy for people to just let my stream play in the background, enjoying the music, without having to be fully engaged. Kind of like Bob Ross or Mr. Rogers but practicing piano instead of painting or telling stories.
So that's my big idea. In future posts I will discuss equipment, both purchased and DIY, software setup, extracting videos from the stream, bandwidth issues, and even home renovation.
In the meantime you can enjoy my stream here.
This actual play adventure is open for everyone. We will be playing in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. The game starts at 9:00 Central. Everyone is welcome.
If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I'm reading the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull and so far I'm impressed. My thoughts are here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4088
Sound muses on the end of the school year and what it means to grandparents.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4089
Besides my weekly Gamer+ News I also do a monthly Delta Boogie newsletter that's more music and less games but still usually some of both. This month it's about Megan and I on twitch.
Megan and I are both on twitch.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Megan plays indie games and I practice piano. I've been excerpting the best bits from my practice sessions and turning them into videos.
Here they are up on Hairy Larry Rocks Peertube.
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/video-channels/twitch/videos
I also have them up on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/hairylarry/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0
Enjoy!
Are you on twitch? Send me your link.
I am planning on adding a twitch section to the Gamer+ RSS feeds found in the footer of every page on Gamer+. If you do streaming let me know so I can add you too. Have you had any experience playing D&D on twitch? If so we would like to discuss it sometime on Inspired Unreality.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
As always Inspired Unreality is in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die started a post about Solo RPGs and the discussion continues. I've never played solo but I listened to his podcast and I can see how it can help get the creative juices flowing. ZDL recommended the Mythic rules for solo play.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4081
Also we have a group for Solo Tabletop Games.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/7
Megan and I discussed our twitch streams last week on Inspired Unreality and let me tell you, it doesn't get more unreal than twitch. I continued to improve my HairyLarryLand twitch studio and I commented on it here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4080
If you like to spend hundreds on the hope of making tens twitch is for you. Good thing I'm retired. Actually my twitch stream serves two purposes. Structured practice and video production. I now have two videos posted that are excerpted from my stream.
https://peertube.hairylarry.rocks/video-channels/twitch/videos
So do you have a twitch stream? One of the things Megan and I discussed was RPGs on twitch. How does that work? Do you have a regular or occasional family game? My contact info is below. Better yet post your thoughts on Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Speaking of twitch I added an edit of my twitch stream where I'm playing "Low Earth Orbit" to Youtube.
https://youtu.be/mAc9AE--CU8
I told you I would keep you informed about my book, "Beginning Algorithmic Composition". Well, I sent the proof copy to the printer and I have the pdf of both the book and the cover available for download on my definitely preliminary website.
This is the artwork Kier, aka Draklor, drew for Beginning Algorithmic Composition. Spoiler, it's robots!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/101
Please let me know what you've been doing. Join us tonight for Inspired Unreality. My contact info is below. Or, best of all, post about your projects on Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc at my Friendica
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL got a new game from Thinklab Games. It's a 16 circle peg and tower game. She posted a picture here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/4011
We're on twitch! Well at least Megan and I are on twitch. Megan plays games with family and friends on megantopia. I practice piano on hairylarryland. Please check us out.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
https://www.twitch.tv/hairylarryland
Do you stream on twitch? Or somewhere else? Do you host a regular chat? Or semi-regular? Let us know. My contact info is below or, better yet, post on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
They say that word of mouth advertising is the best and that's good because it's all we can afford. Please tell a friend about Gamer+ or forward this email to your gaming friends.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc - on the fediverse
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
As always bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. If you have never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL and I have been writing about webcomics and we both found some interesting new (to us) work to read. Are you into webcomics?
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3905
TabletopBellhop posted a New Podcast - Sean's Birthday AMA. Topics include: Our favourite roll & writes, birthday gaming memories, games that make new music, post-pandemic gaming, the best pizza in the world, Kickstarters we can't wait to deliver and more!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3929
New in my non-gaming world I am almost done with my book, "Beginning Algorithmic Composition", and I started work on a website to host it.
Also I am gathering together all my stuff setting up a studio for a twitch stream. Twitch is all about gaming but I'm doing something different. A twitch stream where I practice piano. I am viewing it as a live stream and a video production environment. We shall see!?! Eventually.
Be sure to update me with what's new in your life. Contact info is below or even better, post your latest interests on Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@gmail.com
As always Inspired Unreality open game chat is held Monday nights at 9:00 in the gameplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Are you into webcomics? I wrote a blog post about four of my current reads hoping to find more in the comments.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/718
The Save Or Die Podcast has been on an interview streak lately with recent guests, Darrold Wagner, Jennifer L. Holm, and Jason Charles Miller. Hosted by Gamer+ gamers, DM Chrispy, DM Carl, and DM Courtney it is the OSR podcast you don't want to miss. Disclaimer: Carl is my son and one of the founders of Gamer+. Courtney is my daughter in law.
http://saveordie.info/
And while I'm promoting my family I want to invite you to Megan's Twitch stream where she plays games with friends and family. And sometimes she just talks, mostly about streaming.
https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia
What are your current gaming projects? Let me know and I will be happy to post a link in the Gamer+ News.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Here's four webcomics that I like and some of them even have something to do with gaming.
I don't like rom com movies much. In fact I don't like movies much. I prefer my TV in small doses. But I do read a lot of coming of age fantasy and science fiction which is kind of close to rom coms. Especially "The Wheel Of Time" which I am definitely planning on rereading, all 14 volumes.
But it turns out that I like rom com webcomics. I guess the dosage is about right.
"Questionable Content" is alternative history science fiction. It's present day but in the recent past Hannelore's dad discovered true AI and built it into robots. So it's a rom com with robots. (Shades of Isaac Asimov) It's actually my current fav and it turns out I must have started it in the middle because when I went to episode 1 to link here I hadn't read it. But there is an AI robot right at the start. Plus rom com. It is a lot different than the more recent episodes but I'm restarting at the top and you can too.
https://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1
Oh yeah, it's drawn by J. Jacques. And it's 5 days a week.
Dumbing Of Age is a College Webcomic by David M. Willis. This is my latest fav and it's actual contemporary fiction rom com. It has more about cartoons than about games although D&D does get an occasional mention. Big on superheroes too with an actual superhero character who is actually just a shy girl with tendencies towards violence.
7 days a week. Yaaaaaay!
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2010/comic/book-1/01-move-in-day/home/
The absolute best webcomic ever is all about D&D with in jokes right from the first episode. The Order Of The Stick is about an adventuring party drawn as stick figures. If you haven't already read this it's a treat. The only bad thing about it is that it's a weekly so I save it for my weekend reading. It's by Rich Burlew.
https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0001.html
And my new find is Gunnerkrigg Court. It's also in a school setting but so far not a rom com. Definitely fantasy and I'm not far enough into it to tell you much more. Except that I like it so far. Not sure of the publishing schedule but the art is great and it's drawn by Tom Siddell.
https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1
Please add your favorite webcomics in the comments. Especially if they are about gaming.
Thanks
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Tabletop Bellhop discusses "The New Hotness, The Best Games of GenCon Spring Showcase. Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast Episode 124."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3790
Follow Me And die says "I made a YouTube video to go along with yesterday's blog post about Emulating Battle in Roll20."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3816
ZDL posted a picture of some really heavy dice.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3791
And I posted a couple of pics too.
Dabaw The Wizard casts spells with his eyes in the D&D room at gather.town during the Family Game Weekend.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3814
Here's my icosahedron. It's part of my recording studio, acoustic room, vocal booth, out of control room. I'm going to make a sign that says Roll To Hit. A double double-entendre.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3780
I'm still recuperating from our Family Game Weekend. But I'll be fine for Inspired Unreality. Come and chat. Post some pics. Share your creative endeavors.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Better than that we have Inspired Unreality open game chat tonight at 9:00 Central. After a month of podcasts and actual play we might just chat tonight. Opening topic will be random encounters. Are they useful? Do you use them in your games? Can the characters even tell the difference between a random encounter and monsters that are scripted into the module?
Inspired Unreality happens every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern, on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We had a good game last week with Ryan joining Viv and me and Alan presiding. Inspired Unreality open game chat continues with chat, games, and podcasts. It's what we do. I hope you can make it tonight so we can have a random encounter.
ZDL showed some dice that are actually gems.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3779
I loved the 20 sider with hieroglyphs instead of numbers so I had to post my own Icosahedron. I know you've seen some large 20 siders. But probably not as large as this one.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3780
Yes it was hard to build. But it's even harder to roll.
Anyway, while we're all getting icosahedral, show us your favorite 20 sider. We'll be happy to roll with it.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Ryan at Aqualith Media has posted a blog about his new website and his desire to collaborate with game creators.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/678
Follow Me And Die has posted about his adventures in computer building. He is hoping that upgrading his system will help with editing his Youtube videos.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3709
Into dice? Into dichroic prisms? ZDL says " These are dice cut from dichroic prisms." And she posted a picture of some very pretty dice.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3702
Have you been noticing my fediverse address below? Have you heard of Mastodon, Friendica, or Pleroma? How about Funkwhale or Peertube? The fediverse is a decentralized social network made up of many people running many programs on their computers all cooperating so you can send and receive posts cross platform. Like email. Except social.
Visit my Friendica, social networking on the fediverse.
https://curators.mixremix.cc
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I know I've been a bit absent from Gamer+, but hoping to change that in the near future starting... now!
I am currently open to new clients. I've been a graphic/digital designer for my entire career and wanted to put my feelers out there and utilize my existing network to make my services available to you. Especially those of you who do self-publishing for tabletop RPG's, I'd be available for assist with layout. Companies I've helped with this in the past include Legendary Games and FASA Games.
Currently I'm building out my new portfolio coinciding with the launch of my site at aqualith.media. In the meantime, check out my Behance to see my previous work.
Interested in working or collaborating? Feel free to find time on my calendar for a free initial consultation.
Steady tides be with you!
Ryan
The opening topic will be The Importance Of NPCs. Got an opinion? Come vent. Bring your own topic. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Two weeks ago we recorded the Related To Geeks Podcast with guests Levi Combs and Will Hose. "What players love. What players hate. What DMs love. What DMs hate." It was a hoot. And it's up on Anchor.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3675
Follow Me And Die has a new video up, Roll20 For The Absolute Beginner No. 23 - The End Is Near For Legacy Dynamic Lighting.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3674
Sound and Larry both like Carl's picture from his B/X game at FLGS. Check out this miniature photography of an actual table in play.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2093
If you have some photos of your miniatures we'd love to see them.
We always start the Related to Geeks Podcast with our geek agendas. My geek agenda is I'm writing a book, Beginning Algorithmic Composition, for my composition lesson this term. I'll post a link when it's published.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week we recorded the Related To Geeks Podcast. It was a lot of fun when those who are Related to Geeks were joined by Levi Combs and Will Hose to discuss "What players love. What players hate. What DMs love. What DMs hate". Mostly we leaned toward the love. Stay tuned in and I will let you know when the podcast is posted. Lots of great tips for players and DMs.
I hope you've been enjoying the winter weather as much as we have here in Arkansas. Compared to Texas we didn't really have it too bad. All prayers for those still suffering from the extreme cold and ice.
Follow Me And Die posts about "My thoughts on Getting Started with Science Fiction RPGs."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3568
For a discussion about card games go here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3531
ZDL posted a new Fringe Review: Bloodshadows: Fantasy-Noir Roleplaying. If you haven't already read it it's up to her highly detailed standard.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/560
Don't forget to join us tonight on Inspired Unreality.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Monday night at 9:00 Central.
Related To Geeks Podcast
With guests Levi Combs and Will Hose
What DMs love. What DMs hate. What players love. What players hate.
In the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Everyone is welcome. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die has been waiting on this moment and we've been chronicling it's immanence. "Hurray! Not sure what time this happened, but thank you to all you re-tweeted and especially to all who subbed. I took the day off work, so I'll put out a video later today." Congrats on 1K Youtube subscribers.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3498
ZDL says, "新年快乐！ (Happy New Year!)"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3476
I posted 4 photos and a link to the Petar Meseldzija gallery. These are not public domain but they are fantastic.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/99
So have a gander. Check some links. Make a post or a comment. And come join our podcast tonight.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord at 9:00 Central every Monday night. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Next week on Inspired Unreality we will be hosting the Related To Geeks Podcast with special guests Levi Combs and Will Hose. Our topic will be:
What players love. What players hate. What DMs love. What DMs hate.
Now theres a topic where everyone has an opinion.
ZDL posted another Fringe Review: Bloodshadows: Fantasy-Noir Roleplaying and it is up to her usual detailed standard.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/560
Follow Me And Die is interested in feedback. He says, "I'm working on a master spreadsheet of gear & supplies price list for D&D and other fantasy RPGs." He's got all kinds of details and he wants you to help fill in the blanks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3417
There were a lot of great pictures posted on Gamer+ last week. MyrddinWyllt posted some gems to his gallery, Pulp Artwork And Inspiration.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/MyrddinWyllt/97
And I took some of my best miniature photos to date. I printed it. I painted it. And I took the pictures. It's Ratzerker!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/98
If you've got some favorite fantasy artwork or pics of your miniatures we'd love to see them. Just go to Photos and post your gallery.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/viewlist/latest
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (my handle on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Full disclosure: I was given this game for free by its publisher. This was not done for purposes of review (more out of pity!), but it would not be honest to fail to mention this potential bias.
I have a somewhat complicated relationship with Bloodshadows. I originally encountered it when it was a West End Games setting for their Masterbook game (itself part of the '90s trend of turning every house game system—in this case the game system behind Torg and Shatterzone—into a generic game). The thing is that while I admired several features of Masterbook, at it core I found it a pretty fundamentally flawed game that I didn't want to play very much. Which was a pity because the Bloodshadows setting I adored straight out of the box.
So here we are, over two decades later, and I find myself with a Bloodshadows game in my hand from the home where all the great, undervalued games go for continued unlife: Precis Intermedia (rapidly becoming my favourite currently-active publisher of RPGs).
... more
Well, we almost died once. DM Alan certainly does keep the players on their toes.
We did not finish the oneoff in one session so there will be more Chronicles Of Ember next Monday.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3348
And now it's Monday and time for Inspired Unreality. Actual Play tonight with DM Alan running his own game, "The Chronicles Of Ember". If you want to jump in and you need a character sheet he has a program for that.
We will be playing in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here. We start at 9:00 Central.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We continue our conversation about "Some musings on solving challenges with less combat."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3349
I set up a background for miniature photography using a mushroom fantasy village plaque that Megan woodburned for me and a bunch of tiny houses made of straw and twigs that Vivian gave me. Then I took a few pictures of The Blue Mage, a beastman, and a beholder.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/96
I'm reminding you once again about Megan TV at https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia - Like indie games? So does Megan.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3342
And we're closing with some thoughts on winter. "Winter is upon us and it's a good thing to have distractions like Gamer+ to help us keep busy and active. Hope all of you are staying warm and content. ... Sound."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3347
Which reminds me, Ember is a cold cold world. And dangerous. Believe me, in our first encounter two of us almost died. Join us tonight for Inspired Unreality.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (my friendica on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Alan wrote the game "The Chronicles Of Ember". He will be the DM for a oneoff tonight.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
So, if you want to give a new game a try, join us. If I were to describe "The Chronicles Of Ember" in one word it would be dangerous. (And fun.)
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
This picture keeps getting comments. ZDL says "There is rather a lot going on in this picture... ". This is true.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/699/latest
The Captive Robin
Click on over and add your comment. There's enough here for a whole campaign.
Follow Me And Die posted to his blog about "Magical Protections". He says "Spells and abilities that negate or remove magical effects are a bit confusing in AD&D and the DM would be well served to figure things out before they come up during play."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3343
relatedtogeeks posted about Megan TV at https://www.twitch.tv/megantopia - Like indie games? So does Megan.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3342
I posted about my lesson this term. "For my composition lesson this Spring I am writing a book, "Beginning Algorithmic Compostition". What does this have to do with gaming?"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3322
Join us tonight in Ember. Let us know what games you've been playing. Or writing. Or drawing. Post on Gamer+ or send me an email.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
I have posted a new gallery of public domain fantasy art called, John Anster Fitzgerald takes us to Feyland. Fitzgerald was a Victorian illustrator who specialized in fairies and other fey creatures.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/94
After looking at these pictures sound and I started discussing fairytales. Fairytales predate history and yet are still being written in the 21st century, often melded with other types of literature. Click the link to join the discussion.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3306
Please welcome our newest gamer, TabletopBellhop, creator of blogs, vlogs, and podcasts about tabletop gaming.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/TabletopBellhop
I hope to chat with you tonight about fantasy literature and gaming. As always, bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
TabletopBellhop posted their podcast, The best board games for fans of historical miniature wargaming, plus great non-miniature wargames.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3256
Follow Me And Die also posted a podcast. Episode #194 - What's Going On? "I answer the question of what is going on? What is going on with me and with my AD&D campaign on Roll20?"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3247
Not gaming related but still somehow pertinent ZDL posted a music video from 自得琴社 Zi De Guqin Studio. She says, "This group does recreations of ancient works, new works done in ancient styles, modern-style orchestration with ancient instruments, and off-the-wall stuff like one of their orchestral pieces where a didgeridoo is a prominent instrument." Click on over for an interesting listen.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3251
Finally, I posted the XKCD webcomic, Egg Strategies, in which the true nature of alignment is revealed.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3257
Do you have any friends? Do they like gaming? Do me a favor and forward this message to them.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc on Friendica
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die posted his year in review blog post. He starts with the stats and the business but then segues into a moving and personal piece of writing. This is your recommended read for the day.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3206
Relatedtogeeks posted a link to the new Save Or Die podcast, Start! Thief!, wherein their guest, Darrold Wagner, discusses the origins of the thief class.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3207
I wrote up the latest session notes for our Archive Of The White Master campaign. We are putting the Archive in our past (kind of like 2020) and pressing on with the issue of animals being trapped in the forest. Led by Leaf the elf we discover the problem is more than hungry goblins and we rescue Boffin the halfling.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/494
Head on over to Gamer+ for more and to update us on your latest adventures.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on my Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
After we finished at the Archive Of The White Mage the blacksmith and his sons take the road back to town, their cart heavy laden with the metal they had salvaged from the animated statue of Moloch. We take off through the forest worried about goblins trapping animals. We were all well horsed and the raccoon and bear dog ran alongside.
Although we see no new tracks we do find the old tracks fairly well preserved and endeavor to follow them. We see a large pit some ways ahead and the tracks seem to lead right to it. We approach cautiously and smell a terrible scent.
We see some unhealthy trees around the pit in fact the whole area looks nothing like the vibrant forest we just left. One of the trees, about 20 feet from the pit, looks like it has a door in it. Caper says, "Let's check out that tree with a door." Leaf and Caper approach the tree.
The tree has a lot of knotholes and what appears to be an inset door, fit tight with no handle. Caper tries opening the door by twisting and pushing on the knots. No luck. The door remains stuck fast. Leaf reaches up and tries the knots above the door. Still no luck.
Caper looks at the ground and sees several roots. Pulling on the third root opens the door which slides sideways into the tree. We see steep steps going down towards the pit.
Leaf decides to check things out before we head down the stairs. He silently crosses the 20 feet to the edge of the pit and peeks over the edge. The pit is about 90 feet deep. 30 feet down Leaf can see a bridge made of wood and ropes that goes from our side of the pit all the way across to the other side. At the bottom of the pit is a blue shining portal constantly moving and shining as if lit from behind.
Caper calls the rest of the party over and we proceed down the stairs. About 20 feet down we see a large empty chamber. Listening carefully Ari and Leaf can hear music from below. In the corner of the room is a hole going down. Caper listens and looks down at the hole.
Caper recognizes the song called "The Redcaps Caper". Redcaps are evil faeries, not as powerful as some faeries. Their caps are dyed red with human blood and if a Redcap's cap dries out he dies.
We descend the second set of stairs following the music.
At the bottom of the stairs we see a big room with a row of pillars. At the end of the pillars is an open mouth in a monstrous face. The music is coming out through the mouth.
Ari looks through the mouth into the next chamber. Two goblinoid creatures are dancing and tormenting a halfling who is playing the music on his flute.
Nobody can stand for this so we attack the goblins with arrows and thrown daggers. Both arrows hit and one dagger hits. One of the goblins drops. Soon the other joins him, both dead.
We rescue Boffin the halfling who insists we leave immediately. Prudence dictates and we agree to accompany Boffin back to town. On the way back Boffin tells us that the goblinoids had been dropping dead animals into the portal at the bottom of the pit. He has no idea why and he was afraid they were going to drop him off the bridge too so he kept playing his flute while they danced. Fortunately we came along to rescue him before he was too tired to play.
If you have never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die says, "I made a Worldbuilding cheatsheet on Cheatography. I didn't realize that a draft was visible until I started getting emails that it was seen 50, 100, and now 200 times." ZDL and hairylarry have responded with comments about world building RPGs. Have you played any world building RPGs or been involved in world building for gaming or fiction? Follow the link to join the discussion.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3148
Follow Me And Die also says, "I have a third PDF that is now a Silver Best Seller on DriveThruRPG! Random Dungeon, City, & Travel Generation"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3149
Tenkar posts about Knock! a new OSR Zine on Kickstarter. At 212 pages with great artwork and a bold layout this looks interesting.
https://www.tenkarstavern.com/2020/12/kickstarter-knock-osr-zine.html
I added another artist to our collection of public domain fantasy artwork featuring the work of W. Robinson. This fantastic line art could be used in a game, a quest book, or a coloring book.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/91
Like the rest of you I am celebrating the demise of 2020. And What Was Old Shall Now Be New. There will be a post pandemic world.
Vivian and I are planning on celebrating the new year in our traditional style. We're staying home and going to bed early.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc on the fediverse
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join us every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern there is an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
At our last Related To Geeks Podcast we were all present. Megan, Carl, Kier, Sarah, Vivian, and Larry discussing DIY Gaming.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2-Episode-13---DIY-Gaming-ens695
The music for the podcast is from the song "Treehouse" recorded by NJHB and can be heard on Hairy Larry Rocks Funkwhale.
https://funkwhale.hairylarry.rocks/library/albums/35/
Enjoy! And Merry Christmas, peace on earth, goodwill to all.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
After having a weekend of family gaming online we are going to discuss playing online as a way of staying in touch with your family. Kind of on the Family Game theme we were going to discuss last week but instead we discussed other stuff.
And that's fine. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We played Virtual Dirty Santa! Here's a post with all of our virtual gifts.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/440
Related To Geeks - Season 2 Episode 12 - D&D as portrayed in other media
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3081https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3060
Sound and I have been going on a bit about Birkenstock. Must be somewhere near Milyagon because we get all the same Player Characters showing up both places.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3060
I like this Hiroshi Yoshida artwork. All Public Domain. Not specifically fantasy but they could be used in oriental fantasy settings.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/90
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3085
Spread the word. Share with your friends.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
We played Virtual Dirty Santa on Discord yesterday. We all passed the wrapped gifts around on a gameboard and then we opened them in order.
Here are the gifts given by those who are Related To Geeks (my family).
Half Halfling
by Larry Heyl CC-BY
My Mother, the midget
Fell for a halfling bard
Who sang her sweet love songs
beneath the pine trees in his yard.
They married in April
Which makes me a Winter's child
Quite mild for a human
As halfling, quite wild.
So yes I'm half halfling
From bald head to hairy toes
I hunt through the forest
Where wild mushrooms grow.
Will I seek adventure
Or farm in the shire?
Sing for my lady love
While I pluck the lyre.
Megan Heyl produced by Megan Heyl
Carl Heyl drawn by Kier Heyl
Gretchen posts Megan dancing behind Megan
We will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die posted a link to Project Northmoor. They want to save Tolkien's home and make it a literary center. I certainly wish them all success. I'm in the middle of my first middle earth reread right now so I've got Tolkien on my mind.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3045
Follow Me And Die also posted about "Simple rules for spell research in AD&D."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3053
I can't stand the denouement but there are I's to be crossed and T's to be dotted in our tale of the Archive Of The White Mage. Here's a link to the session summary where we go back to the Archive with help from some blacksmiths to do some major deconstruction.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/428
I made one little joke and then ... ZDL and I discuss "Rule 1 - don't whistle on Discord."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3014
Join us tonight at 9:00 for Inspired Unreality. Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (follow me on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
We go back to town to see Burt the blacksmith. He's a big strong man with a large moustache and a bald head.
Leaf talks to Burt about his armor. He says he will reinforce his armor and design a leaf on it for 20 GP.
I talk to Burt about dismantling the statues. He and his sons, Bart and Barry, are willing to help. They ain't got no truck with evil. We will leave in the morning.
We go to see Longo Shotins the halfling fletcher and bowyer. Leaf purchases a bow and arrows for 45 GP.
The next morning we set off for The Archive taking the long road around the forest. The blacksmiths are in a horse drawn cart with their tools.
When we get there we enter through the front door and check things out. Nothing has changed. Marusan has not returned. The skeletons have not reformed. The glass golem skylight is still in place.
Burt tries to break the stone statues with his big hammer. This doesn't mark them. Leaf detects magic and both stone statues, the large metal statue, and the skylight are all infused with magic. Since Burt can't break the stone statues he takes his sons to dismantle the metal statue.
Leaf uses the Rod Of Pan-Severi on the stone statues. A whirlwind springs from the rod but it doesn't hurt the statues.
Leaf tries the rod again. This time the rod makes Leaf smaller. He is only 2 feet tall, shorter than Caper.
Leaf tries the rod again and nothing happens. The rod is smaller too since Leaf was holding it. Wondering if he wore it out he tries again and 17 gems fly out of the end of the rod and bounce off the statue not hurting it in any way. Since the rest of the party has left the room, wary of the rod, Leaf pockets the 17 gems.
Leaf tries again. Now he's about 2 inches tall. A tiny little Leaf.
Caper comes to check on Leaf and finds him 2 inches tall. Leaf tries the rod again and a poison green gas fills the room. Caper saves with a nat 20.
Caper picks up tiny Leaf to see if he can crawl in the statue's earhole. Nope, the statue is all solid rock.
Tiny Leaf tries the rod again. No luck. Nothing happens.
Ari pours holy water on the neck of the statue and then Burt takes a mighty swing with his big hammer and busts his head off.
Caper thinks there might be a trap door or something hidden by the statues. He ties his rope around the head of the other statue and the blacksmiths pull it over revealing only floor.
Ari pours holy water on the neck of the prone statue and Burt busts it's head off.
The party goes up on the roof and the blacksmiths bust out the skylight with their hammers. A chromatic being forms in the air in front of us. Then the color slowly bleeds out of him into the sky and he disappears.
Ari detects magic and there is no magic left in the archive. The blacksmiths can now bust up the stone statues and we carry the gravel to the creek. The blacksmiths load the metal into the cart to take to Father Abraham to see if this metal is now safe to use.
It's late in the day so we make camp. We eat and sleep setting watches. Nothing happens in the night. In the morning Leaf is back to his normal size. Checking the Archive the skylight is not back and there is still no sign of Marusan.
We take stones from the creek and stuff them in the hole in the wall leading to the jail cell. We break camp and get ready to go back to Birkenstock.
If you have never been to Tenkars Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
And don't forget. Rule 1 - don't whistle on Discord
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3014
Those who are Related To Geeks discuss audio and video production for podcasts and vlogs.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/3012
Follow Me And Die has some thoughts about the illustrations of Dave Trampier.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2998
Also... (See Inspired Reality above.) I posted a blog about Writing Quests. I compare writing quests to writing stories and I lay out my plan for quickly putting a quest idea on paper, ready to play. Or for the best quest ideas ready to add assets and make it publishable.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/401
They say the best advertising is word of mouth which is a good thing because we can't afford any other kind. At the bottom of your profile page there is a section that says "Link to your Profile Page - Copy, Paste, Add username". Follow the instructions to link to your Gamer+ profile from your website or blog.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry (my Gamer+ profile)
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com (email)
by Larry Heyl
A story is said to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. This is a simple and reliable guide for writers. Somewhere along the way, in the creative process, a light is switched on and the writer sees where the story is going. Once the end is discovered the middle falls into place. That is, the middle part is shaped by the end part providing the necessary bits that allow the story to end convincingly.
Sometimes a quest is well run and well played and produces a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. But more often not. In fact producing such a story is not the purpose of the game. It is a possible side product but not the goal. I think the players immersion into the fantasy setting and their identification with their characters are far more important to enjoying the game than any derived story everyone becomes aware of after the fact.
I am not saying the story is unimportant. Without the story there is no fantasy world to become immersed in and no characters to identify with. It's just that the story is not like a written story with a beginning, middle, and end. Nor is it like a story written by an author.
That's why I avoid writing a story when writing a quest.
Instead I write the setup, seeds, and goals.
The setup defines the quest and lays out the goals for the party. It should be short. It should place the party geographically and introduce important NPCs. It can be read aloud at the beginning of the quest and can also be printed for the players to refer to. It is the beginning of the quest and is similar to the beginning of a story. Except shorter.
Within the setup I include seeds. These seeds indicate what might possibly or could probably happen. The literary parallel is foreshadowing. With foreshadowing the author indicates what might happen and then writes what does happen or perhaps inserts the foreshadowing knowing what will happen. The seeds are hidden in the setup to suggest to the characters what they might be able to do. Whether they follow up on the seeds or not is up to the players. If the players do follow up it's good to give the DM some options to choose from, possible seed resolutions. And it's good to have multiple options because nobody knows how the players will appproach the situation hinted at by the seeds.
The goals are what the quest is about: find the treasure, rescue the princess, kill the monsters. When the players are satisfied they have met the goals that signals the end of the quest. The goals can be mentioned explicitly in the setup or they also may be hidden in the narrative like a goal seed.
The setup, the goals, and the seeds are all text. The other part of writing the quest is preparing the assets. The assets are the pictures, the maps, the character sheets, the description of the treasure, the stat blocks for NPCs and monsters, etc. It is possible to run a quest without any assets but assets make the quest easier to run for the DM and assets make things flow smoothly for the players.
Once the quest writer has an idea writing the setup is quick and easy. You can then look for the seeds you have planted in the setup and write a few sentences about each one. The primary goals should be included in the setup. List them and then see if there are any hidden goals within the text the players might follow up on. Add them to the Goals section. Then list the assets, maps, pictures, stat blocks, and short descriptions.
This can all go quite quickly. The bulk of the work is in the assets, not in the writing. This does, however, give you a framework for a playable quest. Adding the assets will make the quest easier to run and more fun to play.
Not every quest idea is great. Some ideas, however, work better than you thought they would. Also when reading through old quest ideas sometimes something clicks and you can greatly improve the quest with a minor tweak.
Don't feel like you have to put every quest idea into a publishable format. Take the time to add assets to your best quests. They deserve the work. You still have all the other quest ideas which you might improve on later or add into a campaign as a side quest.
If you have never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
wilsonelisa430 posted a blog about How to Solve the Sunstones Puzzle in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/383
Follow Me And Die is on a quest. The goal of the quest is 1000 Youtube subscribers. He says, "I now have 951 subscribers on YouTube! 42 Days to reach my goal of 1,000 subscribers by year end...." If you are not already a subscriber link over and click the Subscribe button. He posts interesting videos including the Roll20 For Absolute Beginners series.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQzQrkQxGOjrRWOe0RGFPgw
Ivan Bilibin illustrated Russian Folk Tales in the early 20th century. Most of his drawings are now public domain. I posted some of my favorites in the Public Domain Fantasy Art gallery.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/666/latest
And in the Archive Of The White Mage we killed Marusan again. And then we killed him again. This time for good. (We think.) Here's the session summary.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/386
Let me know about what's going on with you life in gaming. Message me on Gamer+, reach me on the fediverse, or send an email.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
When we enter the temple Marusan is gone, The skylight has been replaced. Everything looks like it did the first time we saw it.
Leaf shoots the skylight with the rod of Pann-Severi. It emits a bright white light and everyone is blinded.
After a while we recover our sight. Leaf wants to try again. The rest of us leave the room. This time the rod shoots a fireball and explodes the skylight.
We check the statue of Moloch. The rope is gone. Marusan is not in it. The tubes are still cut.
The tombs in the side rooms are open and empty. No undead or weapons lie within.
We check Marusan's study. EVerything is like it was when we left it. The chests are open and empty.
We check the supply room. It's been cleared out. No supplies left in it.
In the secret room behind the temple Caper looks for a trap door and finds a loose flagstone. We lift the stone and find a tunnel with steep stairs leading down.
Leaf pokes his head through the hole in the floor and looks around with his dark vision. He sees a hall with a door at the end and light shining under it from the next room.
We go down into the hall and I check the door. We look under it and check through the keyhole. We see skeleton bones.
Caper checks for traps on the door but he can't tell if it's trapped. He tries to open the door wide. But it's locked. He tries the keys from the jailor and one of them opens the door. He opens the door wide. There are 5 skeletons and Marusan at his desk. He looks bad.
Leaf shoots a fireball into the room with the rod. Caper slams the door shut to protect the party.
When we open the door they are all dead in the room. Caper pours some of the jailor's potion on Marusan.
We smash the skeleton bones into small pieces and throw them into a nearby creek. We burn Marusan in a huge fire outside.
Leaf hits the metal statue with a beam from the rod. It gets 50% bigger and now it barely fits in the temple.
We go outside and look through the papers and books in our packs for information about the rod. Back inside we go through Marusan's library. We find nothing about the rod but we do discover that the potion was supposed to be drunk by Marusan before he died. So all we know is that the rod is chaotic and that Marusan is probably coming back.
We decide to camp instead of going back to town.
At midnight we hear scraping from inside the temple. We light torches and go in. The scraping is the skylight glass golem reassembling.
We hear noises from the tomb rooms. The bones are reforming and dropping out of the air onto the floor.
We throw the bones into the tombs putting the heads together, arms together, etc. so there is no complete skeleton in any tomb. We cover the tombs with the lids. Finch the raccoon hears something in Marusan's study. Leaf talks to Finch. The sound is snoring.
Opening the door we see Marusan sleeping on the bed.
Caper sneaks into the room and pours the potion into Marusan's mouth just as he wakes. He chokes on the potion. Leaf chops his head off. Marusan glows green and dissipates into the air. We're pretty sure that this time he is dead.
I mean really dead. (Not mostly dead.)
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Now posted on Anchor, the Related To Geeks Podcast about Virtual Gaming.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2945
MyrddinWyllt says, "I've been running a game of Lords of Olympus for the last 5 months. If anyone here likes Greek Mythology and enjoys the idea of playing Gods and Demigods in an infinite Multiverse I would highly recommend it."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2954
He also posted some nice maps of Middle Earth.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/MyrddinWyllt/89
Meanwhile at The Archive Of The White Master we've all got horses except Caper the halfling who has a pony. We cracked the safe. And Marusan is back!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/375
Do you write Modules or other D&D assets? Join the discussion at Writing Modules and Module Assets.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/5
Or join us tonight at Inspired Unreality. Open game chat. All gaming is on topic.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Caper buys Ari a horse and a pony for himself for 115 G. Jennifer buys her own horse for 75G. Caper buys tack, a saddlebag and oats and rations for 50G for all horses except Leaf the elf who doesn't need tack. (because elves ride bareback)
We ride north through the woods with the Finch, the raccoon, and Rowan, the dogbear. Leaf carries Finch on his shoulder and Rowan runs beside the horses.
We get back to the Archive quickly and nothing seems changed. Caper checks for traps on the front door but he can't tell anything. Fighter the Cleric opens the door and we move into a round room with doors leading left and right. Leaf looks to the right and sees an large metal box. Caper recognizes it as a safe. He checks for traps but can't tell if the safe is trapped or not.
The safe has buttons numbered 0 - 9 in two rows.
Caper tries 1 2 3 4 5. Doesn't work. You can only depress 4 numbers. Jennifer tries more combinations but doesn't guess right.
Caper looks into the next room. It looks like an office for a guard or a jailor. He reads through some notes and finds some keys.
Caleb - Snuck in the building after dark
Robert - Stole coins from donation
Ezon - Holds all my secrets
Roger - Assaulted scribe
They check the cell. In the office there's a locker with clothes, a backpack, and a sword.
The party discusses the notes as a clues and finally deduces the combination, 8019.
Inside the safe there is a green potion with a note that says the potion is to stop Marusan's life spell. There is also 500 G, 100 each.
The door to the left is locked. Caper couldn't pick it.
Leaf hits the lock with a burst of energy and the door just fades away and disappears.
The circular room to the left has benches around the outside like a waiting room.
In the next room there are two more statues of Moloch made of stone, one to the left and one to the right.
Leaf shoots them with the rod. He sees a real bright light and can't see anything. No one else sees anything. Only Leaf.
After a few minutes Leaf recovers his vision. We continue north into the temple. Marusan is gone! The glass skylight is back! The secret room is empty! In the side rooms the coffins are closed!
eos
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. 9:00 PM Central every Monday night. If you are new to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Earlier this year on Inspired Unreality the Related To Geeks Book Club discussed "Armada" by Ernest Cline. Our podcast is now up on anchor. If you are a big fan you will want to leave a comment because neither Megan or I were impressed. Here's the link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2943
I've been posting session summaries from our Archive Of The White Mage quest so I thought I would post a session from someone else's game. From Northport here's "OSE play session with the gang 10/17".
https://gwythaintny.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/ose-play-session-with-the-gang-10-17/
Northport is written by Gamer+ gamer Gwythaint.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Gwythaint
I found this session log on the Gamer+ "View Last 60 Items Here" link.
https://gamerfeed.gamerplus.org/public.php?op=rss&id=-4&key=2c0wl25d431f049948f
If you have a blog, podcast, vlog, or just about anything with an RSS feed let me know and I will see that your posts are listed as well. Here's one more link to "Gamer's Homepages". Great gamer content from the footer of Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/homepages
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (Follow me on the Fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join us for Inspired Unreality open game chat, tonight at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern. Our opening topic will be on game prep. Not enough, too much, or just right? Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic.
If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern there's an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
New podcast up at Anchor. The Related To Geeks Book Club discusses Neuromancer by William Gibson.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2935
For those of you keeping up with "The Archive of the White Master" I posted Session 4. Executive summary: Marusan is dead. (for now) We got another pet. (Rowan the bear-dog) We're back at town with pockets full of platinum and magic weapons.
Read all about it here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/368
And speaking about podcasts and archives I have a new weekly podcast, From The Archives Of Something Blue. Marty at KASU suggested that we start this back up and I'm doing it all at home and sending it in. It is located at Hairy Larry Rocks Funkwhale. Nice and short with talking about a song, the song, and a promo for Something Blue. This weeks episode features blues harmonica great, Bob Corritore playing with my band, Delta Legends, at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas.
https://funkwhale.hairylarry.rocks/channels/fromthearchiveofsomethingblue/
I hope to see you tonight on Inspired Unreality or stop by Gamer+ anytime and let us know what you've been doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on my Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Session notes for October 28, 2020
We loot Marusan and find a pouch.
Fighter the Cleric goes through Marusan's room and finds two magic scrolls.
Jennifer pitches rocks at the two chests to check for traps.
Leaf opens a chest from the back. Magic energy seeks Leaf and he's laying on the ground again.
Fighter the Cleric looks in the chest. There is a short sword and a pile of coins. Fighter heals Leaf.
There is one chest remaining. Everyone except Jennifer leaves the room. When she opens the chest the magic missle hits her. We have no more healing but she takes the damage and remains standing.
In the chest she finds a ring, some coins, and a potion. Fighter the Cleric thinks it's a healing potion.
Total coins from the pouch and both chests.
200 copper
200 silver
200 platinum (5gp each)
We cogitate on how to deal with these weapons and Marusan's corpse.
We slice the tubes in the statue and put Marusan's corpse in it tying it shut just in case he comes back to life while we're in town.
Leaf takes the rod, Pann Severi, a 16 inch magic sceptre.
I wrap the swords and the mace in my blanket and tie the bundle up. Jennifer carries the bundle on her back and we head back to town. Leaf calls his raccoon and leads the way.
Finch
We hear another animal in the woods and find another trap. Leaf frees a trapped canine, a dog-bear. We lower him down and he likes us fine. Now we have two wild pets, the raccoon and the dog-bear.
Rowan
I see clawed goblin tracks like before. We decide to go back to Birkenstock and deal with the goblins later.
We split the coins 5 ways. Each of us gets over 200 gold.
Leaf and Ari study the spell book copying the spells to their books. They are Detect Magic, Light, and Ventriloquism. The supplies for doing this cost them their 200 gold each.
The spells on the scrolls are 2nd level Web and 3rd level Fireball.
Caper talks to father Abraham to get more healing balm. He donates a platinum piece. Father Abraham gives him 4 doses of the balm.
Caper goes to the fletcher's and gets 20 fine arrows for another platinum.
Concerned about the cursed weapons Fighter the Cleric and I talk to Father Abraham at the church. He can remove the curses. First he removes the curse from Fighter the Cleric so she no longer desires the cursed mace. While he does this Caper goes for Jennifer and they bring the bundle of weapons. Father Abraham removes the curse on the mace and the long sword. Caper donates 3 platinum and Fighter the Cleric donates 2 platinum.
Fighter the Cleric buys two fine horses for Leaf and herself.
chockoLAT
Salted Caramel
The next day Leaf detects magic auras on the short sword, the long sword, the mace, the ring, and the potion.
We each gain 2000 XP. Caper and Jennifer level up to 2nd level.
Tonight on Inspired Unreality Vivian and I will be discussing Halloween and gaming. Dressing up as your favorite PC. Playing a spooky game. How does Halloween affect your gaming plans for the weekend? Open game chat. All gaming is on topic.
We will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenksar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern it's all about D&D with a heavy dash of OSR. We have an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Follow Me And Die writes, "I've just updated my Silver Seller PDF, Locks, Vaults, and Hiding Places with a second edition that is revised and expanded." It's full of "information and random tables to help Game Masters create more unique locks and other means of securing."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2917
Related To Geeks Book Club - "Circe" by Madeline Miller - On Anchor
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2927
I have now posted three session summaries of our family game, "The Archive Of The White Master". We're such geeks that when we play D&D we go to a library. Executive Summary - We just killed the evil wizard, Marusan, and recovered the magic rod Pann-Severi. Read the session summaries for all the details. Carl is hosting this OSR game in Basic D&D.
The Archive Of The White Master - basic D&D - Session 1
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/359
The Archive Of The White Master - basic D&D - Session 2
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/364
The Archive Of The White Master - basic D&D - Session 3
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/365
They say word of mouth advertising is the best which is good because it's all we can afford anyway. Tell your friends. Forward this email. Share a link.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on my Friendica)hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Session notes for October 21, 2020
After setting the evil statue on fire we climb back down off the roof and discuss our plans. Everything is up in the air because of seeing that guy in white who might be Marusan.
Caper has an idea on how to relieve Fighter the cleric of her cursed mace.
Leaf casts a sleep spell on her. Caper hooks the mace onto the end of his bow and Ari drips holy water on Fighter's hand. Caper gives a jerk and the mace comes out of her hand. Caper drags it over to the edge of the woods and then they wake Fighter up. She still wants the mace but she can't see it so she puts it out of her mind.
We read in the journal. Marusan was on a quest for eternal life. He made a deal with Moloch. We also find a map of the building folded in half in the book like a bookmark.
Caper looks through the book of magic items trying to find out about the Rod Pann-Severi but he doesn't find anything about it. (yet) We don't have much time because we want to get after that dude in white.
We climb back up on the roof and back down the rope into the temple. The statue is not burned. There is water on it and a path of drips lead to the NW door.
Leaf gathers 12 needles from the room to the south with the needles.
Fighter the cleric goes into the back of the statue. It's real plush. She can see out of the statues eyes. She sees all kinds of levers and tubes with red fluid in them. She pulls on a lever and the statues arm lifts just a bit.
Fighter the cleric entertains the idea of sacrificing a lamb to Moloch so she may still be posessed. She has a plan the involves decapitation. Lots of decapitation.
We enter the room to the West. There are three open coffins. A skeleton stands in each. One of them has a sword.
Jennifer kills the statue with the sword with a single mighty blow of her sword. The skeleton falls apart into a pile of bones and the sword falls onto the floor. It looks real shiny and attractive. Everyone yells "Don't touch it."
Fighter the cleric kills one of the other skeletons with her mace. Ari throws a dagger and misses. Caper misses with his short sword.
The skeleton claws at Jennifer but does no damage. Then the skeleton claws at Fighter the cleric and hurts her badly.
Leaf throws needles and misses. Fighter the cleric hits the skeleton hard killing it with her dagger.
Caper rubs healing salve on Fighter the cleric. Then she casts cure wounds on herself. Back to full health. Yaaaay.
We go north through the door. It's a supply room with fresh supplies. Water and food. There is water on the floor and wet footprints. Looks like just the one dude.
Caper checks for a hidden door to the east. There is no door but it does seem hollow behind the wall.
We explore the other north room. There's a bed, a dresser, and a desk. There are loose pages on the desk written by Marusan. Caper steals the pages.
Jennifer checks under the bed. Nothing there.
Caper checks for a secret door to the east. No door but he's convinced there is a room there. He checks for a secret door behind the statue in the temple.
Caper finds the door. Leaf, Jennifer, and Fighter open the door.
We see a man in a white robe holding a rod. He launches a bolt of magic at Leaf and hurts him. Fighter hits Marusan with a nat 20. Ari hits him with a dagger. Caper applies the rest of the balm to Leaf. Jennifer hits Marusan and kills him.
EOS
New Character - Jennifer, a fighter - Liz
We lower the rope down into the temple and climb down. In the temple there are pews or benches, an evil looking statue, and 5 doors. Two to the north on either side of the statue, one each east, west, and south. They are all wood with push down latches. The one to the south is a light brown color. The others are a reddish wood.
The statue has a face like a monkey. On it's chest is a picture of a tree with an eye in the middle of the foliage. The cleric recognizes the statue as Moloch.
We are definitely creeped out so we close the door to the south and listen at the west door. We hear scratching.
Leaf and Caper listen at the east door and hear nothing so we check the east door first.
Jennifer opens the door. We see three stone coffins, a door north, and shelves of books.
We check the books which are mostly about magic and history. We find.
Leaf the elf - a spellbook
Fighter the cleric - a book about Moloch
Caper the halfling- a book about magic items
Jennifer hears scratching from the coffins. The middle coffin is marked in gold and white with the symbols of Marusan, the evil wizard.
Jennifer slides back the lid of the left coffin and Leaf reaches in with his sword and kills the skeleton scratching in there. There is a shiny silver and black mace in the coffin with the skeletons broken bones.
Fighter the cleric grabs the mace and tries to fight the skeleton in the right coffin but for some reason she can't hit it. A voice in her head says the skeleton is her friend. It is a cursed mace.
She can't drop the mace. Leaf cannot get the mace from her. Ari sprinkles holy water on the mace but that doesn't help either.
We kill the skeleton in the right coffin and find a book. It is the journal of Marusan's scribe. It mentions the mace and also has a page about Marusan's wife, a sorceress who he loved so much that he gave her the magic rod, Pann-Severi.
The middle coffin is empty. No Marusan entombed.
We hear a dripping noise. It's coming from the south. When we open the door we see that a needle has been used and it is dripping fresh blood. Super Creepy.
Leaf really hates the Moloch statue so we devise a plan to burn it. We pour oil all over it. We climb the rope to the roof and throw it back over the side so we can climb back down on the outside of the building. Caper lights a torch and gets ready to throw it on the statue. Everyone sees a door open on the back of the statue and a dude dressed in white runs out and escapes through one of the north doors. Caper throws the torch in and burns the statue.
The party climbs off the roof to reconnoiter, read the books, and decide what to do next.
The NEA Game Fest wrapped up yesterday with two interesting events. Sarah, Kier, and Megan gave their personal top 10 board game list discussing each in some detail. Then Kier hosted an online game of Um Actually, a trivia game about all things geek.
So our opening topic for Inspired Unreality tonight will be Online Gaming and Online Conventions. As always we will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord at 9:00 PM Central. Open game chat, everyone is welcome, all gaming is on topic. If you're new to Tenkar's Tavern Gamer+ has an invitation for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Another great event at the NEA Game Fest was "Make your own adventures!" hosted by Carl Heyl and featuring panelists, Mike Stewart, Casey Christofferson, and Levi Combs. They discussed the creation of exciting adventures to wow your players and bedazzle your dungeons as well as playtesting, publishing, and marketing.
This panel and the top ten board games discussion were recorded on Zoom and we'll post the links on Gamer+ when we get them.
I posted a blog called "What I Did AT NEA Game Fest", about my personal experience.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/361
Follow Me And Die says "I've just updated my Silver Seller PDF, Locks, Vaults, and Hiding Places with a second edition that is revised and expanded." Highly recommended. It's a DM guide chock full of tables you can use at your table and it's only 2 bucks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2917
If you are looking for background music for your table or music to use in your podcast, vlog, or other project check out this morning's Free Culture Mix. Songs from my "Bop Soup" album are included as well as six other albums. The music licensed CC-BY are free to use with attribution. Just mention who did the song or include it in your credits scroll.
https://archive.org/details/FCMix2020-10-19
So have you been doing any gaming online? Join us tonight on Inspired Unreality and we'll talk about it.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on my Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Well, today is the last day so it's not too late to check it out.
It's a benefit for the Paragould Children's Shelter. Today you can buy a badge for $5 or contribute directly here.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/nea-game-fest-2020-for-the-children039s-shelter
I played "Goat Crash!" hosted by Will Hose and "Lizard Wizard" hosted by my granddaughter, LizardQueen aka Elizabeth Brown.
And I also attended "Make your own adventures!" hosted by Carl Heyl and featuring panelists, Mike Stewart, Casey Christofferson, and Levi Combs. They discussed the creation of exciting adventures to wow your players and bedazzle your dungeons as well as playtesting, publishing, and marketing.
I also did a bit of hanging out in Discord chatting with other gamers, always the most important part of any gaming convention.
So I am sending out a big thanks to the NEA Gamers Guild for putting on such a fun event in trying times. It got me through another week anyway.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/neagamersguild/
It's still going on. I am now attending "Sarah, Kier and Megan are about to count down our top ten board games for anyone who wants to witness the madness!!!".
They are closing out the Game Fest with "Um Actually".
New Campaign - Basic D&D
DM Carl
Ari - human wizard
Caper - halfling
Fighter - human cleric
Leaf - elf
Ari and Caper enter Birkenstock looking for information about the Archive Of The White Master. They have heard of this library, home of an undead man eating Eagle and Pann-Severi, a magic rod. The Archive Of The White Master was the home of Marusan The White an evil wizard now deceased.
They approach the Birkenstock church and see Fighter the cleric. They also see Leaf the Elf snoring on a bench outside of the church. They talk to Fighter and when Leaf awakes he joins the conversation. Fighter says, "The Archive Of The White Master is north of here, past the woods.". Since Leaf is a woods elf he is aware of the woods to the north of Birkenstock and he thinks he can find the archive even though he has never been there. Caper and Ari buy a vial of healing balm from the cleric and then the party heads north.
After walking a few hours they hear a sound like an animal in distress. They rescue a raccoon hanging in a net trap high in a tree. Leaf climbs the tree and cuts the net free. Caper looks at the ground and finds large goblinoid tracks. They don't follow the tracks but continue north on their quest. The raccoon follows.
After a while they exit the forest onto a large plain. The see a giant eagle soaring above. Close inspection shows that the eagle is decaying and they decide this must be the undead man eater they heard about.
Caper shoots the eagle with an arrow and hits him between the wing and the body. The eagle attacks and Ari dips her dagger in holy water and throws it at the eagle killing it.
We continue north to the library. It's large made of white stone with a big front door. We decide to reconnoiter, circling west first then around the north end. No windows. On the west side we see a broken place where there is a hole in the wall about three feet high. Examining the hole it looks like someone tunneled out a long time ago. Peering in with Ari's lantern it looks like a prison cell. Caper walks in and looks around. The party follows. It's a locked cell, 15' x 10' with bars and a door with a large padlock. We can't pick the lock and we can't bend the bars so we go back outside.
Caper climbs a rope to the roof. It's flat and sturdy with a stained glass skylight. Caper ties the rope off and the rest of the party climbs up. Looking through the stained glass we see a temple with an evil statue and a wooden bench.
The image on the glass is a demon. Leaf wants to break it so Caper gives Leaf his shield. Leaf smashes the skylight with the shield breaking it into thousands of pieces which scatter into the temple below. We see something flitter into the sky and vanish. The skylight was a stained glass golem guarding the temple.
Inspired Unreality open game chat tonight at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic. Vivian and I have been meandering on about pre D&D roll playing so if you have any knowledge there fill us in. Or any topic is good. As long as it's gaming.
NEA Game Fest starts today! This year's event will be held online and has been expanded to run from Oct. 12 to Oct. 18.
http://www.neagamefest.com/
So I just went and bought my badge and signed up for Game Master Round Table Discussion tonight at 8:00. So I may be doing a little bit of double Discord by 9:00.
Yes. It's another Fringe Review: The Terran Trade Authority Roleplaying Game from ZDL's blog. As usual she goes into detail with insightful commentary.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/350
Follow Me And Die says, "I just published my latest video in my Roll20 series. Roll20 For The Absolute Beginner No. 20 - Quick Macro Tips."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2913
And here's a Writer So Good He's a Master: The Return of John M. Ford. He's been out of print but Tor is republishing his award winning fantasy. Ellid writes this review/overview.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2730
Stay in touch. I hope to see you online at the NEA Game Fest.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on my Friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Today's game is The Terran Trade Authority Roleplaying Game (henceforth TTARPG – and yes there's a reason why I'm using such a clunky initialization) released by Canada's Morrigan Press in 2006. It's a science fiction RPG that …
Let's roll back the history a bit, because this is really unusual.
History
In 1978, Hamlyn Publishing released a book called Spacecraft 2000-2100 AD by Stewart Cowley. It was a large, hardback art book filled to the brim with science fiction artwork of spaceships, planetscapes, and future cities/bases that were rendered by some of the greatest SF artists of the time: Angus McKie, Gerard Thomas, Chris Foss, Peter Elson, and others represented by J.S. Artists.
More than an art book, however, it was also a detailed future history with little vignettes of space battles, a future history, etc. all paired with pictures showing the subject. It was a brilliant concept that was well executed, leading to more books in the series authored by Cowley—Great Space Battles (1979, with Charles Herridge), SpaceWreck: Ghostships and Derelicts of Space (1979), Starliners: Commercial Travel in 2200 AD (1980).
All of these books were tied together in a future history involving the name of the Terran Trade Authority (TTA) hence the name of the RPG.
... more
Join us tonight on Inspired Unreality open game chat at 9:00 PM Central. We will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern there's an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
We have moved If You Play You Win to 1:00 PM Wednesdays, Central Time. Actual play. I'm not sure what the game will be but I'm pretty sure it will be OSR.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
Follow Me And Die posted Episode 192 - Death of an Anti-Paladin. I guess they're getting revenge for the near TPK.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2714
And he has a new video out too. Roll20 For The Absolute Beginner No. 19 - GM View A Map As A Player Without Other Players Seeing It
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2716
I took a picture of some mushrooms in my back yard.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2692
And also of three miniatures I printed and painted.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2694
Stay in touch!
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight on Inspired Unreality the Gamer+ Book Club discusses "The Epic Of Gilgamesh". This will be our last book club meeting this year, we are taking off for the holidays. There is a link to a free download of Gilgamesh here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Last week we finished the "Milyagon Treasure Hunt". I've been blogging our gaming sessions. Now I've combined them together in one story and posted it on SFF Short Stories.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2571
Follow Me And Die reported a near TPK. The players all said, Man, he means it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2548
And now all of this stuff but mostly music is going on over at my new website, Hairy Larry Rocks.
https://hairylarry.rocks
Please let me know what you've been doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (follow me on mastodon, friendica, etc.)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Caper and Bones found a bench under an oak tree and sat down to rest while Ari and the witch made the squamish salve.
They ground the squamish mushrooms into a paste with wild cherries and sage to make the salve which is good for treating carbuncles and other skin ailments and can also cure light wounds. About 2/3 of the salve filled a jar the witch had set aside so she went and got a smaller jar which she filled and gave to Ari.
With that task done Ari and the witch walked over to Caper and Bones and the witch said, “The items are for the Ogre up in the foothills Northwest of Milyagon. He has been under pressure from orcs and hobgoblins moving in. The branch makes a magic quarterstaff to fend them off and the mushrooms are the important ingredient in a salve for his carbunkles. And the feather? That's for his hat. The Ogre has a magic hat and the owl's feather, willingly given, is a component of the spell. He is smart for an ogre because of the hat so it is very important that the feather in his cap does not become bedraggled.”
Enlightened but still very tired the party made their way back to the inn where they ate a hearty supper and turned in early for the night glad to be sleeping on beds under a roof instead of on the ground under the stars.
In which we recover all the loot, branches from the ancestor tree, squamish mushrooms, and a tailfeather from an owl, and complete our quest.
Last week we left off talking to the fairies near the fairy circle. Cautious not to ask a favor and indebt ourselves to them we finally found out that the fairies remembered when the woodcutter came through here and found the ancestor tree. When the fairies pointed out the trail that the woodcutter took, Caper couldn't see it but Ari and Bones could and Caper soon discovered that it was a game trail and he could also help follow it with his tracking skills.
After hiking for about 4 hours we found ourselves at the foot of a large hill. The trail seemed to continue up the hill but it was not distinct. We decided to climb to the top before dark even though we were already tired.
It was dusk when we got to the top so we waited for dark to see if the big tree at the top of this hill was the ancestor tree. Ari detected magic on the tree and it was magical. She detected magic on branches on the ground and they were not. So this might not be the ancestor tree but at least we were in the right vicinity.
The moon was already up in the sky when the sun set. Soon it was dark and the moon lit the treetops but we didn't see a fey glow. Bones helped Caper up to the first branch and Caper carefully climbed to the top where he could look out over the moonlit forest. After Caper got back to the ground he said, "I think we've come too far. The moonlit glow is brightest to the northwest and I think the ancestor tree is back a ways in the direction we came."
In the morning Bones suggested that Caper climb the tree again for a daytime view but it was slick with dew and Caper couldn't do it. (I rolled a 4) So we headed back down the hill the way we came and at the bottom with the sun peeking up over the eastern horizon we searched for a path up a hill to the northwest. Soon we were climbing the next hill and were at the top well before noon.
Of course there was a big tree at the top of this hill too. Bones boosted Caper up and he was easily able to scramble up to the top. When Caper climbed back down he said, "The next hill to the northwest is even taller than this one. I'm not sure the ancestor tree is there but I'm pretty sure this isn't the ancestor tree." So after we ate we continued on to the northwest again. Ascending the next hill we found a huge tree. It was time for supper. After we ate we thought we would look around for squamish mushrooms just in case this was the ancestor tree. Bones found a patch of them due west and then Ari found a big patch north of them.
After the sun set the big tree glowed brighter than the moon. We went to the big patch of mushrooms and followed the moonbeams penetrating the forest canopy and shining on the ground. With half the night gone Bones finally saw the moonbeams light some mushrooms and he was able to pick five of them which barely covered the bottom of the witch's bag.
In the morning we ate and although we were tired we decided to search for a branch from the ancestor tree before we slept. We searched here and we searched there and then Ari found a big branch just north of the tree. She detected magic on the branch and sure enough it was a branch from the ancestor tree. Caper searched again to the northeast and Bones searched around close to the tree. Bones found one but Ari couldn't tell if it was magic or not. Caper suggested that Ari carry her branch and that Bones should carry his back to the witch to find out if it is magic.
After their naps Ari searched for medicinal plants and Caper searched for mushrooms. Ari found a fever plant and harvested leaves. Caper found two large mushrooms he knew to be edible but when Ari detected magic on them she discovered that they were magical and Caper decided not to eat the magic mushrooms until he had talked to the witch about them.
It took two more nights to find enough mushrooms. The third night we spread out a little with Bones looking at the patch to the west while Ari and Caper looked at the big patch. We had good luck toward morning. With the moon near full it didn't set until almost sunrise. We ended up with 30 mushrooms. 20 filled the witch's bag half full and Ari put the other ten in another bag stowing them carefully in her pack.
Although we were tired we decided to hike on back to Milyagon. We found a game trail heading east and we left the Wilken Woods in the farmlands to the west of Milyagon. Soon we were across the bridge and at the Inn having a hot dinner, something Caper really missed while they were camping.
After we ate it was a short walk to the witch's cottage to the northeast of town and she was vary glad to see us. She kept the branch Ari was carrying saying it would do fine. She looked at the branch Bones found and said it was also from the ancestor tree and was in fact a magic quarterstaff. She told Bones to keep it and thanked him for his help. When Ari showed her the two bags of mushrooms she was delighted and said that she would teach Ari how to make the squamish salve and she could keep the extra for her medicine kit. She grinned wide when she saw the tailfeather, stuck it in her bonnet where it looked right at home, rolled her eyes three times, touched her nose, and said, "Yes, this will do nicely. My thanks to all of you." Then Caper showed the witch his magic mushrooms found beneath the ancestor tree and the witch said, "Now these are nice. These mushrooms are not dangerous but they should be consumed in moderation. One half of one of these large mushrooms will affect three people as if they had two large tankards of ale. And, of course, the mushrooms are much easier to carry then a keg of ale. Unlike ale the mushrooms don't slow you down in fact they do the opposite and make you slightly more dextrous for about four hours."
XP
Group XP
For finding the ancestor tree and completing the quest - 400
Ari
For finding mushroom patch - 20
For finding mushrooms - 40
For finding a branch - 100
For finding the fever plant - 20
Following fairy trail - 40
Detecting magic - 40
Total for session - 660
Bones
For finding mushroom patch - 20
For finding mushrooms - 80
For finding a branch - 100
Following fairy trail - 40
Total for session - 640
Caper
For finding mushrooms - 60
For finding edible magic mushrooms - 40
Tracking - 20
Climbing trees - 40
Total for session - 560
Happy Autumn. Fall is here. Summer is over. Winter is coming.
Tonight on Inspired Unreality we continue our quest in Wilken Woods. If You Play You Win in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Starting at 9:00 PM Central. Jump in jump out. Everyone is welcome.
Here are the session summaries from our game so far.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/259
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/258
Next Monday the Related To Geeks Book Club is discussing "The Epic Of Gilgamesh".
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
ZDL has posted two more Reviews From The Fringe, "Starships & Spacemen" and "Story Engine". These reviews are top notch placing the games in history as well as discussing game mechanics and playabiility.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/261
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/263
Follow Me And Die passes 100,000 views on YouTube and he is moving up close to his 1000th subscriber.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2475
Yourbuddy75 posted a link to his Searching For Destiny stream where they are continuing their endeavors in the Forest of Hope.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2474
And I mean what I say there in the comments. Always let me know about any projects you are working on and we will promote them at Gamer+. We have so many creative people on Gamer+ that I know I'm not keeping up with them.
Welcome our new gamer, MyrddinWyllt. He's into a lot of horror gaming and literature and he has an interesting blog.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/MyrddinWyllt
Keep in touch,
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix..cc (on my friendica)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Today's review is going to come from the weird side of game publishing. The game is Story Engine and it has a fairly convoluted history that led to its demise and current fate.
History
Our story begins in 1996 with a small indie press outfit called Hubris Games. Hubris published a little game called Maelstrom Storytelling, that had some decent indie success spawning four follow-in products in the process. They also published a free game called Story Bones with the essence of the ideas behind Maelstrom's game system but the setting excised. Then in 1999 they published this game, Story Engine (sub-titled "Universal Rules") and followed that up with a revised edition in 2001.
... more
We're reaching deep into the wayback machine for this review. Today's fringe gem is another game from the (in)famous game publisher Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU). As I said in an earlier review of Psi World, FGU was a game company willing to champion and publish any game concept imaginable (with predictable mixed results in quality and sanity). One of the games I mentioned in my capsule history of them is a very rare beast called Starships & Spacemen (S&S).
... more
Tonight is the Related To Geeks Podcast at 9:00 Central. Our topic this month is DIY Gaming. Please join us in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invite for you at Gamer+.
http://archive.gamerplus.org
In two weeks the Related To Geeks Book club will finish out the year discussing The Epic Of Gilgamesh. It's a free download and it's a pretty short read so this could be an easy one for anyone to join us. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Follow Me And Die has been improving his studio. He says, "I use it to record YouTube videos, and also for livestreams." I've been trying to catch up on his project because I have been preparing the Icosahedron for a similar setup.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2444
So DM Hairy Larry has been running a quest on our available Mondays. I wrote "Milyagon Treasure Hunt" and we're playing in Just Quest, a rules light OSR system. We've got an owl's tailfeather and we're talking to the fairies at the fairy circle. Can we find the ancestor tree? We'll be playing next Monday at 9:00 again, in between our podcasts.
If You Play You Win. Here are our session summaries for the first two weeks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/259
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/258
On the music side of my life I have been working on a new website called Hairy Larry Rocks. Hairy Larry Rocks is one ring to rule them all. A Hairy Larry portal at the center that connects all my music, writing, videos, publishing, ... I could go on. But I won’t.
I am sure I will add more in the near future. Enjoy the music.
https://wordpress.hairylarry.rocks
Be sure you let me know what you've been doing. I'm on the internet.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Ari, Caper, and Tude (Ari's wildcat) got a message from Kendrick to go see the witch at Milyagon. The witch gave them their quest, to bring back an owl's tail feather, some squamish mushrooms, and a branch from the ancestor tree in the Wilkin Woods. She also mentioned that no one knew more about Wilken Woods than the woodcutter.
The party went and talked to the woodcutter who drew them a map and gave them sage advice about the fairies.
They entered Wilkin Woods and traveled nearly all the way across it on Woods Way. About halfway across they ventured south and found the first marked owl's eyrie. Returning to Woods Way by traveling due north they found a landmark, a tree with a burl on it that looked a little bit like a face with knotholes for eyes.
Continuing along Woods Way they realize they must have passed the second marked eyrie. Caper leads the party back, leaving the road to the west of the eyrie which they also find. It is now evening so they eat supper and prepare to camp hoping for more luck with these owls in the night.
XP
---
group XP for surviving a day in Wilken Woods - 200
for getting the quest from the witch - 50
for getting the map and advice from the woodcutter - 50
Ari - finding the first eyrie - 50
Caper - finding the second eyrie - 50
- climbed two trees successfully - 20 + 20
Our story so far:
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/259
Ari, Tude, and Caper were joined by Bones under the owl eyrie. The party erected a large tarp using rope and Bones' tent hoping to catch a naturally falling owl's feather. Caper climbed a tree trying to make friends with an owl but when it started to get dark he had to come down. They attracted two owls by putting out some meat in a cook pot on a tripod.
Then Ari threw Tude's ball under some bushes. Tude ran over and flushed a bunch of rodents and bunnies. For a few minutes there was a flurry of owls feeding. The next time Tude ran under a bush Caper shot a little bunny rabbit. Holding the dead bunny Caper called to the owls with a series of hoots. An owl landed on Capers outstretched arm and started feeding. With his other arm he slowly petted the owl. And then he had a hold on the tail feather that had been bothering this owl. Bones said we should scare the owl. Tude tried to scare it and Caper added in some cat noises and the owl flew off leaving one tail feather behind. Caper handed the feather to Ari for safekeeping.
We went south looking for the fairy circle trying to get some help from the fairies finding the ancestor tree. Ari and Caper kept true south while Bones scouted east and west. Bones was about a quarter mile to the west when he found the fairy circle. He jumped right in it and started dancing but fortunately he made his saving throw and didn't fall into Feyland.
Bones stayed near the fairy circle and after a while Ari and Caper noticed he was late. Ari asked Caper if he had anything with Bones scent on it so Tude could track Bones by scent. Caper held his rope out for Tude to smell and then they followed Tude west to Bones.
Caper found some rocks for chairs and sat down about 20 ft. from the fairy circle and played his flute. Sure enough some pretty fairies came to listen to the music and the party started up a conversation with them.
XP
---
group XP for surviving a half day in Wilken Woods - 100
group XP for getting an owl's tail feather - 200
group XP for talking to fairies - 50
Bones - idea about tarp - 20
Boosted Caper into tree - 20
Finding the fairy circle - 40
Ari - working with Tude at Owl's Eyrie - 30
working with Tude finding Bones - 30
Caper - Climbed a tree - 20
Held owl on arm - 30
played flute for the fairies - 20
Some D&D players meet a stranger on the road and start into talking and just blurt it all out. I mean, "He seems nice enough." is not a good excuse for giving him too much information. Obviously your antagonist, The Boss Of The Big Bad, is going to pick someone with high charisma to weasel your party's secrets out of your big mouth.
Too Open!
But then there are other players who just never get to the point. They're trying to start a conversation, or talk about the weather, or listen at the next table over when a simple question would likely get the information they need and not really have a dangerous downside even if they are asking the enemies spies. (Except they might lie to you.)
Overly cautious!
But ... asking a question is in fact giving information and it is possible to give something away or be killed just by asking the wrong question in the wrong company.
Now here's where we get all meta and start looking at the same thing from two different points of view.
As a player you want to be careful what you say around strangers. Loose Lips sink ships. But you also shouldn't be afraid to ask anyone a question, ever. I mean that's why DMs have NPCs so they can get on with the exposition.
So this is a strategic decision about game play. Finishing the quest and staying alive.
And when you can't make up your mind? Is this real dangerous or is this maybe just a little dangerous?
Look to your player character. Ask yourself what your character would do. Is he timid or is he brave? Is he drunk or is he sober? Is he smart or is he an idiot?
Let your player character be your guide. Play your role and act it out and the hell with the rest of the party for griping about how you are always getting them into fights.
Prerelease text from the If You Play You Win game now on Inspired Unreality Monday nights. When this is published I will add the link here.
---
Ari is a human wizard trained in healing and defense. Ari has a pet wildcat named Tude, she has raised from a kit. The cat is not a familiar but there is a very close bond and the cat is always alert for danger. Caper is a halfling bard with a storied past. Although designed for two player characters this quest could be played by any low level party.
Kendrick uses a telecommunication spell to send Ari a message. (calls her on her cell phone) He says "Big things are astir so small things must be put in place. Contact the witch at Milyagon. She has a task that needs done."Ari and Caper travel to Milyagon and talk to the witch. She needs three things from Wilken Woods but she cannot go herself because her daily rounds helping the elderly keep her busy. She's been putting this off but evidently Kendrick thinks it's important enough to send help.
The witch says:
"You have to go to Wilkin Woods to get a feather from an owls tail, some squamish mushrooms, and a branch from the ancestor tree.
"The feather cannot be stolen but must be given freely. If the owls
suspect foul play they will attack as fowls do. Do not let the feather touch the ground. If you find a feather on the ground it will not work.
"The squamish mushrooms grow in leaf molds under large oak trees. Their magic concentrates under the moonlight and they are best picked with the moon shining directly on them. Here is a small bag. It needs to be more than half full but not all the way full or the mushrooms will bruise.
"The ancestor tree grows large in the heart of Wilken Woods. It's a giant oak. The legend is the ancestor tree was the first tree in Wilken Woods and the forest started from this one tree. The ancestor tree is big magic, the other oak trees less so. The magic dilutes with extended lineage those grown from ancestor tree acorns have half the magic of the ancestor tree. Those grown from their acorns, half again. You will know the ancestor tree because it shimmers with a fey glow in the moonlight.
"Do not to cut, break, or chop any tree in Wilken Woods. The oak trees will defend the forest. It is safe to pick dead branches from the ground for firewood but fires should not be started under a tree. Never burn a branch from the ancestor tree.
"Branches on the ground have no magic except for the branches fallen from the ancestor tree. So you can detect magic on branches around the ancestor tree to make sure that a branch fell from the ancestor tree. A branch doesn't fall far from the tree so first find the ancestor tree and then find a branch. Get a big one.
"The squamish mushrooms close to the ancestor tree have the most magic. So after you get the branch search the area for the best mushrooms.
"Wilken Way deliberately avoids the most magical areas of Wilken Woods. The ancestor tree is to the south of Wilken Way. Nobody knows Wilken Woods like the woodcutter. He lives at the north edge of the woods in the least magical area. Still, all of the woods are magical and you should be on your guard at all times."
The witch points to the sky and says, "See the half moon up in the blue sky. You have come at a good time. The moon is full in a week and you will have strong moonlight over the next two weeks.
Last week on Inspired Unreality Vivian and I went to Milyagon. We are doing a task for the witch, getting some supplies from Wilken Woods, a magic forest.
Tonight we're going back. And you can come too. If You Play You Win, actual play DnD, in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. 9:00 PM Central.
Follow Me And Die says "Today on the blog, I write about Session Summaries."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2415
Made sense to me so I wrote up our session summary.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2416
Follow Me And Die also introduces us to Devin Rue. He says "Deven Rue is an awesome cartographer, who also makes various other things for table props."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2428
See you in Milyagon,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight, actual play on Inspired Unreality. I will be running my quest, "Milyagon Treasure Hunt", in Just Quest, a super light rule system that I wrote based on Carl's "Wizards and Heroes" RPG. Yes, If You Play You Win is back. If you want to play you are welcome. It takes less than 5 minutes to roll up a character. Inspired Unreality starts at 9:00 PM Central every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Inspired Unreality - https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
If You Play You Win - https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
In September the Related To Geeks Podcast will be on Sept. 14 and the Related To Geeks Book Club will be on Sept. 28 so we may play again next Monday. If you have an idea about something you would like to do contact me.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/relatedtogeeks
FollowMeAndDie posted "Episode 185 - My Campaign - Did They finally Reach The Sand Vikings?" on Anchor.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2410
Most of you know I'm into music. I am also a Free Culture/Creative Commons advocate promoting Mix Culture where you reuse other people's art to make your own. Put them both together and you get MixRemix Radio. Give it a listen, play it for background at your table, or find some music to use in your vlog, podcast, or other project.
https://mixremix.cc/mixremix-radio
Stay in touch. Let me know about your projects. Post them on Gamer+ and I will include you in this newsletter.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight at Inspired Unreality open game chat our opening topic will be RPGs as collaborative story telling. Feel free to bring your own topic. All gaming is on topic and everyone is welcome.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you have never been to Tenkar's Tavern we have an invitation for you on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week the Related To Geeks Book Club discussed "Armada" by Ernest Cline. Next month we'll take on The Epic Of Gilgamesh, the story that started fantasy literature thousands of years ago. Needless to say Gilgamesh is public domain. There is a download link to the translation we're reading here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
I like to write fantasy as well as read it. My specialty is super shorts, one page short stories. Here's a link to one I wrote called "Elphonium".
https://sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry170714-062937
Lately I've been following #microfiction, #10wordstories, and #sixwordstories. So here's my six word story.
And then the sun went nova.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/248
Send me your short fiction.
Role playing games are collaborative story telling. Join us tonight on Inspired Unreality to talk about it.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
#SixWordStories is a thing.
Xan is an expert.
Here’s my first shot at #SixWordStories.
And then the sun went nova.
- by Larry Heyl CC-BY
There’s a website.
And a Flickr group.
https://www.flickr.com/groups/sixwordstory/
Prefaced by “Just as a reminder here is the story that started it all. For sale: baby shoes, never worn. “.
Cross posted from SFF Short Stories.
Tonight at 9:00 PM Central the Related To Geeks Book Club will be discussing "Armada" by Ernest Cline. Find us in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Ernest Cline also wrote "Ready Player One" and like with that book "Armada" has a strong gamer component. Some of the characters even have a regular D&D campaign.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Last week Alan joined us on Inspired Unreality open game chat and we discussed the recasting of Monsters as regular people in D&D 5e among other things. That was fun. I might decide I want to play and Orc or an Ogre but I'm not sure how much I want to be a civilized Orc or Ogre.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
FollowMeAndDie posted "Episode 184 - My Campaign - Continued Desert Travels by Follow Me, And Die! A podcast on Anchor."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2389
Megan posted Episode 3 of Indie Five. She says, "I talk briefly about five indie games I've played recently." Check it out.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/video/view/62
worldofwarcraftlee discusses a hidden insect in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I think the insect is actually a bug. Read it for yourself.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/243
After years of one offs and intermittent schedules I find myself in two weekly campaigns. Family game is 5e and the other game is "Chronicles Of Ember" which is Furry and Dangerous. What games are you playing? Are you lucky enough to be playing or running a regular campaign? Sounds like a good topic for Inspired Unreality. Message me.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (on the fediverse)
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Open Game Chat on Inspired Unreality tonight. Bring your own topic. Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord at 9:00 PM Central.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
Last week on the Related To Geeks Podcast we discussed D&D as portrayed in media. Executive summary. Best portrayal of a D&D game - Freaks and Geeks last episode. Best D&D media overall - Tripod Vs. The Dragon. Don't believe me? Just ask Carl.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/CarlHeyl
Next week we will be discussing "Armada" by Earnest Cline at the Related To Geeks Book Club.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
FollowMeAndDie is about to hit some major Youtube landmarks. He says, "Wow! 95,000 total views of all my YouTube videos! coming up on 900 subscribers! Mostly due to my series Roll20 For the Absolute Beginner."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2384
ZDL posts pics of some interesting dice. She says it's, "A d18 design based on dice used over 2000 years ago. First glimpse."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/644/albumPhotos?albumId=71
If you have a gaming blog, vlog, podcast, or website we want to feature you. So here's all my contact info. Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc (follow me on the fediverse)
hairylarry@gmail.com
Tonight on the Related To Geeks Podcast we will talk about Dungeons &
Dragons as represented in other media like movies, television, books,
and music. This is an open game chat and everyone is welcome. The
Related To Geeks Podcast will be held at 9:00 PM Central in the
gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
The Related To Geeks Book Club podcast about Brandon Sanderson's
"Warbreaker" has been posted.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks-Book-Club--- Season-1--Episode-7---Warbreaker-ehi53j
Alan made a couple of announcements about his Chronicles Of Ember
Starter Set that should be available now. This looks like a good way to
get into this cold, dangerous, fuzzy RPG. If you like games where you
actually get scared The Chronicles Of Ember is for you.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2377
And added to Links:
https://archive.gamerplus.org/links
Here's an interesting Youtube channel called Tabletop Bellhop, your
cardboard concierge. Interesting videos about all kinds of tabletop
gaming.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCez3_cu7peTRAcb1ZJF4j5A
If you haven't read Order Of The Stick you've got hours of fun in front
of you.
https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots.html
Let me know what's new in your world of gaming. Message, email, or,
best of all, post about what you've been doing at Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@gmail.com
Tonight on Inspired Unreaity we will be discussing strategy and tactics.
Does your party set things up in advance of a conflict? Do you plan
escape routes? Have a plan B?
Inspired Unreality is open game chat held every Monday night at 9:00
Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Last Monday Megan, Vivian, and Larry enjoyed discussing "Warbreaker"
at the Related To Geeks Book Club. Although we all had
different problems with the book our shared opinion is "not Brandon
Sanderson's best." I'm already reading our book for next month,
"Armada" by Ernest Cline.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Please welcome Alan, the creator of The Chronicles Of Ember, a unique
role playing experience.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Alan
FollowMeAndDie reports "My YouTube channel passed 850 subscribers
today!"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2363
Lately I've been enjoying #SixWordStories. Here's my six word SF story.
And then the sun went nova.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight at 9:00 PM Central the Related To Geeks Book Club will discuss
"Warbreaker" by Brandon Sanderson. The book is licensed Creative Commons
and can be legally downloaded here.
https://unglue.it/work/7775/
The Related To Geeks Book Club is part of our Inspired Unreality open
game chat held every Monday night in the gamerplus chatrooms at
Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern
there's an invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Megan, Vivian, and I were joined by Alan of Chronicles Of Ember fame
last night at Inspired Unreality. We discussed the post apocalyptic
genre, literature and movies. We also spent a little time on podcast and
vlog production. Plus, of course, dad jokes and other miscellany.
I talk about my recent Point Crawl-Like Session Planning. This is my
blog's eleventh anniversary post!"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2346
I've been doing some coding on one of my not game projects, MixRemix
Radio. If you want to listen:
https://mixremix.cc
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@curators.mixremix.cc
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
On Inspired Unreality tonight Vivian and I will be discussing the DnD
we know and love best, OSR before it was OSR. Sometimes before it was
even DnD. What can I say. We're old.
And next week, July 20, the Related To Geeks Book Club will discuss
"Warbreaker" by Brandon Sanderson. Follow the link to the Gamer+ Group
for the Related To Geeks Book Club where you can download this Creative
Commons licensed novel.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Inspired Unreality open game chat is held every Monday night at 9:00
Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Everyone is welcome. If you haven't been to Tenkar's Tavern there's an
invite for you here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
ZDL posted The best good luck charm EVAR!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2316
Here's the Related To Geeks Podcast we did Monday night featuring Megan,
Vivian, and Larry discussing Murder Hobos and pre DnD roll playing in
Beebe, Arkansas.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2319
FollowMeAndDie posted his new podcast, Episode 183 - My Campaign: The
Broken Lands.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2328
And a big shout out to our new gamer, chuckdee, who posted our link on
Mastodon. If you use social media, have a blog or a website, please add
our link. (https://archive.gamerplus.org) Or even better post a link to your
profile. Like this.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/chuckdee
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
We will be hosting the Related To Geeks Podcast tonight at 9:00
Central on the Inspired Unreality open game chat held in the gamerplus
chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. The topic for tonight is
"Murder Hobos Are Boring - how to avoid see something, kill something,
...". Everyone is welcome to participate.
If you've never been to Tenkar's Tavern there's an invite for you on
Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Just scroll down until you see the Tenkar's Tavern graphic and the Join
Server link in the left hand column.
FollowMeAndDie posted an interesting blog about "My thoughts on RPGs,
Alignment, and Race."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2312
ZDL posted some interesting trinkets in her Fun Toys photo album. I
like the Misadventure Awaits badge showing a 1 on a 20 sider.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/ZDL/71
I just posted the Related To Geeks Book Club on Anchor. We discussed
"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2308
I hope to see you tonight on the Related To Geeks Podcast.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality beginning topic
hairylarry
There are three levels where magic can be created
The writer of the game or of a module or setting for a game can create magic
This includes all the spells in the players handbook to a specific item created for a quest or module
DMs can create magic tailored to their table and their game
So instead of looking in a book for a magic item the DM can instead imagine a new magic item out of whole cloth
And, for me the most interesting is a player character creating magic during game play
So a dwarf can go to a forge and create a magic weapon that is needed to complete a quest
Or a wizard can occupy himself entirely with spell creation
The creation of magic by player characters is a little dance between the PC and the DM
The DM calling for dice rolls during the creation of the magic
And then, of course, the dice rolls to test the magic during play
Untested spells would have a lower reliability level so are more difficult to successfully deploy than tried and true spells
And the first time a wizard tries a new spell he better not roll a 1
Or he opens himself up to the DMs imagination as to what could possibly go wrong
vivian
Unfortunately it is not a guarantee that a die will comply with a
command not to land on a 1. Crossing fingers probably won't work
either.
hairylarry
I think rolling 1s is more fun than rolling 20s
vivian
I'll try to remember that. Maybe I can wish into exsistence many 1s for
you to enjoy.
hairylarry
Is a wish a type of spell?
vivian
As a matter of fact. The problem is it's not reliable.
hairylarry
Meaning maybe it doesn't work at all. Or maybe it works but you don't
really get what you're wishing for
Or worst of all you do get what you wished for but it wasn't really what
you wanted (be careful what you wish for)
vivian
Prezactly!
hairylarry
or perzackly - where's the spell check for imaginary words
vivian
LOL in your noggin.
hairylarry
for that we need a spelling spell
vivian
Hmmmm where's Webster at when you need him?
hairylarry
Djini's are magic creatures that grant wishes
vivian
OH? how many of your wishes have they granted?
hairylarry
If you tell your djinn that you wish you could spell better
you will find yourself spelling better correctly and mispelling every
other word
Better iz teh enema off gudnough
vivian
Go figure!
hairylarry
you get the idea
vivian
Yup!
hairylarry
If wishes were horses beggars would ride
vivian
Only if they can saddle it, well maybe if they ride bareback and don't
fall off.
hairylarry
or is the wish for a horse and the tack
vivian
You mean presaddled and ready to go?
hairylarry
Wish is the mightiest spell a mortal creature can cast. By simply
speaking aloud, you can alter the very foundations of reality in accord
with your desires.
https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Wish#content
Tonight on Inspired Unreality open game chat we will be discussing
making your own magic items, spells, and worlds. Join us in the
gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord. In the open game
chat anyone can change topics and all gaming is on topic.
ZDL posted another great fringe review on Mythic, a game system
designed for winging it. This game can be played with a DM or without.
Solo or group. It has an interesting and simple mechanic. Read about it
here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/218
FollowMeAndDie reports on his Roll 20 game. He says, "In today's session
of my AD&D game, the party managed to get through a week of game time.
This included introducing two new players & characters into the party,
surviving an ambush, & finally getting to the sand ships to sail across
the desert to face the Son of The Necromancer." Read more here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2296
The Related To Geeks Book Club is reading "Warbreaker" by Brandon
Sanderson this July. Here's a link where you can download "Warbreaker"
as an epub, a mobi, or a pdf.
https://unglue.it/work/7775/
Please welcome our new gamers, mmdozer and worldofwarcraftlee.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/mmdozer
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/worldofwarcraftlee
Spread the word. Invite your friends.
Thanks
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
... more
Tonight, at 9:00 PM Central, on Inspired Unreality we will be talking to Vivian Heyl about family games, how to play DnD with kids, expecially your kids. Please join us in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Inspired Unreality is an open game chat. Everyone is welcome.
Last week at the Related To Geeks Book Club Megan and I talked about "Circe" by Madeline Miller. We both liked "Circe" and we're going to read Miller's earlier book "Song Of Achilles", another fantasy novel based on Greek mythology.
Then we decided on the books for the next three months.
July 20 - Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson
August 17 - Armada - Ernest Cline
September 21 - Gilgamesh
The Brandon Sanderson book is licensed Creative Commons. Sanderson discusses what this means here.
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/warbreaker-rights-explanation/
"Warbreaker" is available for free download on unglue.it. Mobi, epub, and pdf formats are available.
https://unglue.it/work/7775/
I've done a lot of work on the Related To Geeks website, integrating it into Gamer+ and reposting photos and links to Gamer+.
Here's the photos.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/userphotos/relatedtogeeks
Here's the links.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/links
And here's the website.
https://relatedtogeeks.com/
I also posted a Related To Geeks Podcast about House Rules.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2282
Join us tonight on Inspired Unreality. It's going to be a good discussion.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Megan, Larry, and Carl are joined by Alan Wortman, creator of "The Chronicles Of Ember", discussing House Rules in board games and role playing games.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2-Episode-7---House-Rules-efo4qa
Monopoly Board photo by Horst Frank, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3627036
Here's the script for the outtro.
You have been listening to the Related To Geeks Podcast, recorded March 2, 2020 on the Monday night Inspired Unreality open game chat held at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. For more about our geeky family visit relatedtogeeks.com. For more information about Inspired Unreality join Gamer+, a social network for gamers, at gamerplus.org.
The music for this show is "Spam" by Hairy Larry from the "Collaborators" CD.
Megan and Larry will be hosting the Related To Geeks Book Club tonight on Inspired Unreality open game chat. The book for tonight is "Circe" by Madeline Miller. We will be in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Besides our book discussion we will be proposing books to read next quarter. I have a Brandon Sanderson novel to suggest. What do you want to read? Make suggestions tonight at Tenkar's or here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
I posted our discussion of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow on Anchor. I have also uploaded most of Season 1 of the Related To Geeks Podcast. Season 1 was recorded in 2015 and 2016. Yeah, I know. Better times. The podcasts posted include Playing Microscope, Gateway Games, Geek Literature, and Role Playing Tips And Tricks. Here's the link to the Related To Geeks Anchor page.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks
Put those on your phone and listen.
Now here's the most important link in this newsletter.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/
Share, join, participate. Let us know what game stuff you've been up to.
Thanks and stay in touch,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
The Inspired Unreality open game chat is tonight at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Our opening topic will be character classes in fantasy gaming. Are you an elf, a dwarf, a ranger, a paladin? What characters do you like to play and why do you like to play them? Tell us some stories about your role playing history. Everyone is invited. All gaming is on topic.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/9
I just finished Circe by Madeline Miller. It's delightful. We will be discussing "Circe" next Monday, June 15 at the Related To Geeks Book Club. Still plenty of time to read it and join us.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Have you ever played The Battle For Wesnoth? Here's some Wesnoth artwork in the Tabletop Inspiration group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/35
I just posted a Related To Geeks Podcast called Board Game Resurgence. It's a blast.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2234
Read Appendix N at the Internet Archive. No, not the list. The books.
"This list of fantasy books was drawn up by the late E. Gary Gygax toward the end of the 1970s. While formalizing the advanced rule set for Dungeons & Dragons, a game he created with Dave Arneson, Gygax added an appendix to his Dungeon Master's Guide listing the books that inspired him to create his fantasy role-playing game."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2235
That's it for now. Stay in touch and keep on gaming.
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight on Inspired Unreality it's the Related To Geeks Podcast. We will be discussing "Podcasts and Vlogs - producing audio and video for the internet", in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on discord. Inspired Unreality is open game chat. Everyone is invited to participate.
In two weeks we will host the Related To Geeks Book Club. Our book for June is "Circe" by Madeline Miller. Because it takes most of us more than a day to read a novel I try to make announcements in advance. For more about the Related To Geeks Book Club and to make suggestions for our upcoming reads here's the link to the group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
I enjoyed the Circle Of Worldbuilders Masterclass. I didn't have time to
tune in on Sunday but they will be posting the whole class and the notes for people to view/read on their own time.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2221
More pictures in Tabletop Inspiration. Have you ever played The Battle For Wesnoth fantasy adventure video game? Well not only is it a great game but there's a lot of fantasy art made available under Creative Commons or GPL licenses. Enjoy!
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/35
Please forward this newletter to your game playing friends. Stay in touch and stay creative.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Memorial Day. Tonight on Inspired Unreality open game chat we will be remembering the dead. Player characters you have played that have died.
Join us in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Next week will be June so we will be having the Related To Geeks Podcast.
Speaking of podcasts Carl turned me on to the latest Save Or Die episode, The Myth Of Old School Exceptionalism.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2214
FollowMeAndDie says "10 episodes of my podcast have passed 100 plays each. I have more than that that are close to 100 plays." and he invites you to listen. You could be the one hundredth listener.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2207
And the first episode of the Related To Geeks Book Club is up on Anchor. Megan, Larry, and Datum discuss "The Tower Of The Elephant" by Robert E. Howard.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2192
In case you're not getting the big picture here, ZDL started the Tabletop Inspiration group "for sharing pictures that can inspire ideas for places and characters in tabletop role-playing games. Come share your most inspiring images, with or without commentary as you see fit!"
I added some public domain artwork from The Violet Fairy Book. Please share images that have inspired you in your role playing.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/35
What gaming have you been doing lately? Let us know. Send me links or post on Gamer+ and I will include you in this newsletter.
And come tonight to Inspired Unreality to remember player characters passed.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
I finished "Neuromancer" by William Gibson this morning just in time for the Related To Geeks Book Club tonight. We will be meeting in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern at 9:00 PM Central. This is an open chat, if you like Gibson or cyberpunk as a genre you are welcome to join us.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
I posted our first episode about "The Tower Of The Elephant" by Robert E. Howard on Anchor.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2192
ZDL started a group called Tabletop Inspiration. She says "This is a group for sharing pictures that can inspire ideas for places and characters in tabletop role-playing games."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/35
Megan started a new Youtube series called Indie Five where she does quick reviews of indie video games.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2191
As always let me know what you've been doing. Stay in touch and stay well.
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight at 9:00 PM Central is open game chat on Inspired Unreality. Everyone is welcome to participate. All gaming is on topic. Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Our initial topic for tonight is Wizards Creating Spells, how does a DM deal with a creative wizard?
Next Monday the Related To Geeks Book Club will discuss "Neuromancer" by William Gibson. This cyberpunk classic is available on the internet library at archive.org. There's still time to read it before the book club discussion.
https://archive.org/details/NeuromancerWilliamGibson/page/n11/mode/2up
Also available on the Internet Archive is the rules for the game "Neuromancer".
https://archive.org/details/manual_Neuromancer/page/n15/mode/2up
Fun!
Yesterday was Mothers Day and my granddaughter's birthday so the Related To Geeks crew spent the day in virtual visits and sharing special videos while we all stayed home. It was great. Not as good as it should have been but still, great.
Our favorite blogger and podcaster, FollowMeAndDie, has been doing everything he can to stay healthy during the pandemic only to discover that he has cancer. He discussed revising his plans on his podcast and blog. Please check in with him. All prayers that he will be fine. Best to you, brother.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2187
If you are reading this in your email the newsletter is also posted in a Gamer+ blog post. Please share this link to pass it on.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/192
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
May the 4th be with you tonight on the Related To Geeks Podcast. We will be discussing the large span of Star Wars past, present, and future as well as this one day, May the 4th during the pandemic. The Related To Geeks Podcast is held tonight in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord and it starts at 9:00 PM Central.
Then at the end of May there is another interesting online event, Masterclass for Game Masters. "This Masterclass is an intensive course for both seasoned and new Game Masters who want to hone their worldbuilding skills and create a better experience for their players."
I added this to the Links on Gamer+ and I will add it here too in case you're interested.
http://www.circleofworldbuilders.com/
FollowMeAndDie posted to his podcast, Episode 180 - The Rest of The Ettins, He says, "In my Sunday AD&D game, the party takes on the rest of the ettins they found in episode 178."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2183
Stay in touch and stay well.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight at 9:00 PM Central! Open Game Chat on Inspired Unreality. Held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Tonight's opening topic is Dungeons vs. Wilderness. Do quests need both?
Everyone is welcome at Inspired Unreality. All gaming is on topic.
Are you into 3D printing? Show off your miniatures, props, scenery, and terrain. Share tips and links to diy info and downloadable STL files. Join our 3D Printing group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/33
FollowMeAndDie posted Episode 179 - Space Battle In Stars Without Number.
He says "In last night's session of the Stars Without Number campaign, A Plague of Angels, we had more of the combat that started the session before. I got to roll for shots by allied & friendly NPC ships VS. enemy ships and I rolled a ridiculous amount of 18, 19, & 20, plus decent damage."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2180
I'm going to leave you with one more link. This is the Gamer+ RSS feed featuring some of the creative work posted by Gamer+ gamers.
https://gamerfeed.gamerplus.org/public.php?op=rss&id=-4&key=2c0wl25d431f049948f
Take care and stay well,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
The Related To Geeks Book Club meets tonight on Inspired Unreality. We will be talking about "The Darklord of Derkholm" by Diana Wynne Jones. Inspired Unreality is held every Monday at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Interested? Drop by. Also, join the Group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
JesseQ is organizing "The Bespin Diamond Heist". In this game you are rescuing Hans Solo from Jabba The Hut.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2169
FollowMeAndDie has a podcast and a blog post about his Return To Gaming on Roll20.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2172
On Easter Sunday the Related To Geeks family had a game day on Megan's Discord, Megantopia. We did some crafts and played drawing games and word games on Jackbox. This was my first experience playing on Jackbox and Discord. As soon as I realized the game played on both screens at the same time everything was copacetic. I mean, I still lost every game but I wasn't completely confused while losing every game.
Have you been picking up your online game play during the lockdown? What are your favorite online gaming platforms? Post your game plans on Gamer+ and I will include them in this newsletter.
Thanks and stay in touch,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join us at the Inspired Unreality Open Game Chat tonight at 9:00 PM Central. The topic for tonight is Cool Monsters. Let's face it. Some bad guys are just cool. What are some of your favorite monsters from your gaming? Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord.
I have to admit this topic was inspired by FollowMeAndDie who posted The Ray Harryhausen Creature List, a video montage of Harryhausen monsters from the movies.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/video/view/57
Next week for Inspired Unreality we will host the Related To Geeks Book Club. We will be discussing "The Darklord of Derkholm" by Diana Wynne Jones. I've started it. It's one of those children's books that's for adults too. Very entertaining.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
ZDL has been preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse by stockpiling spirits to fight those Zombie Apocalypse Blues.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2165
JesseQ joined the group, If You Play You Win, reminding me that we should host some online games during the lockout. If you are interested in running a game, playing, or both here's the link to the group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
When Carl started posting pics of the new miniatures he's been printing it inspired me to build a new table for my 3D Printer and get back to slicing and dicing. Also I started a group for 3D Printing where we will discuss all aspects of creating your own miniatures for your table. We'd love to see your photos, recommendations, tips, paint jobs, etc. Join the group and post your favorite miniatures.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/33
Celebrating Easter we had a family game day, Quaranteaster, yesterday on Discord. So from all of us, who are Related To Geeks, to all of you, "Happy Easter."
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality hosts the Related To Geeks Podcast tonight at 9:00 PM Central. We will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you have never been on Tenkar's Tavern I have an invite for you on the Gamer+ website.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/
Check out Carl's Adventures in 3D Printing. He's scaling his miniatures and painting them. Lookin' Good.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/CarlHeyl/83
I moved my 3D printer into my office and I've printed a few new miniatures too. It only took a moderate amount of carpentry work to fix the table for the printer.
FollowMeAndDie has started a Twitch stream for his Roll20 For The Absolute Beginner videos.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2151
Join the conversation at Gamer+. Make a comment or start your own topic. Let us know what you've been doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight! Open Game Chat on Inspired Unreality held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Opening topic for tonight is time as an element of gameplay. How do you use time to make your campaigns more interesting and exciting.
FollowMeAndDie has brought this important announcement to our attention.
"Table Top Events the online convention scheduler for a lot of conventions is in danger of folding. They are running an online con to raise money to try and stay afloat. Variable cost to badges. Even if you don't run or play a game, you could help."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2139
I uploaded a dozen public domain images of fantastic fantasy creatures drawn by Michel Lienerd in the 1800s.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/82
Gamer+ is now running on a new server. We had a few hours downtime but everything came back up fine and we seem to be good. Let me know if you notice anything askew.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
(This post previously published on Publish0x on 17 March 2020)
Last week, I snagged my first physical Pathfinder order from Paizo.com in years: the Silver Crusade faction pin, to be used in some upcoming Pathfinder Society 1st edition games at local game stores.
I received the pin late last week and all seemed well, until the stores started closing their game rooms, canceling the events. No real surprise, but I had the extra time outside of work available to me so it was a good opportunity to scratch the itch Con of the North left me.
The good news is that the MNPOP community is already mustering on a new Discord server, prepping for Virtual Tabletop (VTT) games in the wake of quarantines. I'll see if I can at least get in on one of them. The pin will just have to wait for it's physical, in-person debut another time.
Speaking of the pin, in terms of quality Campaign Coins really knocked it out of the pool with this one. I've had it sitting on my desk here and occasionally fiddle with it if I'm on a call, and its quite sturdy metal. The one odd part aspect of it was the choice paining the inner portion black. The Silver Crusade emblem that's used in Pathfinder has always been shown silver with blue accents. Perhaps in test runs it didn't pop enough for them. In any case, I'd happily pick up future faction pins if made available. For instance if I took up Starfinder Society, the Dataphiles faction interests me the most. I am more than likely going to play Pathfinder Society 2nd Edition however. Unfortunately like other 1st edition factions, the Silver Crusade did not carry over to 2nd. Lore wise I have found nothing to suggest they folded, which is at least good to hear. With it's absense, I will be aligning my characters to another faction, Vigilant Seal.
In Aqualith business news, I made a slightly new preview image for use when my Ko-Fi link is shared. The message regarding a waterskin never really jived with the hand displaying hydrokinesis. I think the new messaging is a little more straight-forward, but still willing to see improvement.
With the aforementioned weekend events now canceled, I've got a little more time now to devote to product development. Been looking forward to it. All for now!
Steady tides be with you!
Ryan | Aqualith Media
(Previously posted on Publish0X and BGG on 19 Feb 2020)
I need to confess something. It's likely an unpopular opinion, but this is the internet so I get to have and share it. Sorry. Here we go: I hate the term 'zine'.
Don't get me wrong. I love the concept and the form factor. I prefer the size, it's portability, and affordability. It feels great in your hand and you can take it anywhere or leave them lying around on a coffee table. Spill some coffee on it? No big deal. The one aspect I cannot stand is the name.
I just can't stand the sound of the term, whether or not you pronounce it zeen or rhymes-with-pine. I get that it's been used for decades and spans beyond just tabletop gaming roots. It's got underground history in dozens of entertainment niches I am probably quite unaware of. But the term itself just makes me grit my teeth too much to say it, much less write it. If in conversation, I won't be legalistic or project my prejudice against it's use, but in case you never see or hear me utter it; now you know why!
"But Ryan, it's a great shorthand. It helps me not have to explain what it's about," you might suggest. My counter argument for that is: you're going to explain what it's all about anyway, right? Just call it a magazine.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I tried to keep it digest-able because I know you've got a lot to do today. Let me know how wrong I am in the comments.
Steady tides be with you,Ryan | Aqualith Media
Photo credit goes to Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
Tonight on Inspired Unreality, open game chat, our starting topic will be playing online. Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on discord. It starts at 9:00 PM Central time. Anyone can suggest a new topic anytime and all gaming is on topic.
Our favorite game reviewer, ZDL, has posted Fringe Review: High Adventure Role Playing (HARP). She says, "HARP is, in its entirety, a 192-page softcover book. It has a very attractive (though also very late-90s, early-00s) piece of full colour cover art. The book itself is purely black & white on plain, matte paper stock."
Here's the link to her review.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/179
She just added another one on Corps so I'm looking forward to reading it even as I send out the link.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/180
FollowMeAndDie posted a great spell.
"Magic item:
Flagon Of Inebriation
This is a cursed item. It renders any liquid the cursed being drinks as intoxicants. Anyone else has clear fresh water. All disease, etc. is removed.
For those who love drink, the curse gives them only water, & everyone else the finest ales.
The being subject to the curse can only drink from the flagon. They always can find it, even if other hide it from them.
They lose one point of constitution for every day they can't drink from the flagon."
Here's the link so you can bookmark it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2112
I can see where a Flagon Of Inebriation could be great fun around the table.
So are you, like me, having trouble adjusting to the new reality? Or like so many are you taking advantage of too much me time to express yourself in creative ways. Let me know what you've been doing, we can discuss it tonight on Inspired Unreality or post it in next week's Gamer+ News.
Stay Well,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Today's review is gong to be from the person I consider the James Brown of game design. Which is to say the hardest-working man in game design. His name is Greg Porter and he is the owner (and sole member) of the game producer BTRC (Blacksburg Tactical Research Center). Neither he, nor his company, are likely names you know … but you should. In his own, quiet way, Greg Porter has created some of the most interesting, most innovative, and most playable RPGs out there.
(Of course he's also created some of the most unplayable games as well…)
... more
No history of RPGs would ever be complete without discussion of Iron Crown Enterprises' Rolemaster line of game products. Despite its many epithets (most notably Chartmaster)—whether justly or unjustly applied (and I feel largely unjustly!)—it is hard to deny the influence this game had on role-playing games in general and D&D in specific. First published in 1980 with the first component, Arms Law (a naming convention that set the table for all of the line), it began its existence as a replacement weapon/melee combat system for AD&D. (They couldn't state it that flatly, of course, for reasons of copyright, so it was "for RPGs".) It was rapidly followed with Claw Law (later packaged together) which added creature and unarmed combat to the mix. This was followed by Spell Law for magic and finally, in 1982, Character Law, turning Rolemaster from a set of supplements into its own independent role-playing game. 1984's Campaign Law was the final component (and one of the earliest guidebooks for world-building for GMs).
... more
Tonight the Related To Geeks Book Club will be discussing "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman. Starting at 9:00 PM Central we will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Join the group here and help us pick our next three books.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Last Monday on Inspired Unreality Vivian spoke (through a microphone) and we discussed memories of Kendrick.
And there has been a lot of game development going on at Gamer+.
FollowMeAndDie says "My series Roll20 For The Absolute Beginner is linked on the getting started page for Virtual Gary Con!"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2108
DragonMac says "I'm proud to announce that my rpg game system Adventure Maximum is now on sale at DriveThruRPG."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2107
Here's a discussion about DIY card decks.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2104
Stay in touch,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Open Game Chat, tonight on Inspired Unreality at 9:00 PM Central. The opening topic for tonight will be Cool Magic Items. As always anyone can introduce a new topic and all gaming is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held every Monday night at 9:00 PM Central Time in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord. If you are not a member of Tenkars Tavern there is an invite for you on the Gamer+ website.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week on the Related To Geeks Podcast we discussed Favorite House Rules. It seems that D&D is a game that cannot be played without house rules.
Carl posted some pictures from his B/X game.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/556/latest
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/554/latestI like the bunny looking thing in the second photo.
FollowMeAndDie continues helping gamers everywhere with his video about Roll20 and his podcast about building a Card Deck.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2105?ft=site
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2104?ft=siteWith the Corona Virus spreading around the world I have this gamers health tip. Practice safe roleplaying. Don't share dice. Besides, I heard that letting someone else roll your dice sucks all the luck out of them. And don't shake hands. Just come and sit at the table and roll your own dice. Then you should be ok. (Please take this advice with a grain of salt. I Am Not A Doctor!)
Stay in touch. Message me on Gamer+ or send me an email. Post your links on Gamer+ and I will include them in this email.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
The Related To Geeks Podcast is tonight at 9:00 PM Central. We will be discussing Favorite House Rules, house rules we use for board games and RPG's that we feel make them better. Go faster, run smoother, add interest, more fun!
The podcast will be held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. This is an open game chat. Everyone is welcome to participate.
FollowMeAndDie just released his latest PDF on DriveThruRPG, Roads & Road Encounters. He says "Roads & Road Encounters is an overview of information about the road, what is near, and fellow travelers. This can be used on the fly at the table or as part of adventure preparation."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2079
FollowMeAndDie also posted information about a card game he is working on.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/FollowMeAndDie
Carl Heyl posts "I'm going to start an old school B/X game at the FLGS this Saturday."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2082
That's in Central Arkansas for those interested.
In two weeks on March 16 The Related To Geeks Book Club will be discussing Neil Gaiman's classic story, "The Ocean at the End of the Lane". This is not available for free download but it is available on Overdrive and at libraries and booksellers everywhere.
Megan and I have discussed possible books for our next three titles. You can make your suggestions here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Post your media/projects/interests at Gamer+ and I will include your stuff in Gamer+ News.
Or just message me in Gamer+ or by email and let me know what you've been doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality Open Game Chat starts tonight at 9:00 PM Central. Our initial topic is Pets and Familiars. Anyone can start a new discussion. All gaming is on topic.
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you've never joined Tenkar's Tavern I have an invitation for you on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/index
Last week Megan and I discussed "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow at the Related To Geeks Book Club. We are picking our reads for the next quarter now. Your suggestions are welcome. Here's the Gamer+ group where we discuss what we are going to read.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
FollowMeAndDie posted several links. I'm going with his YouTube announcement. "I just passed 45,000 total views on YouTube and one video is over 20,000 views!"
https://youtu.be/Jbayc1GToow
And here's his page so you can catch up on his blog posts and podcasts too.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/FollowMeAndDie
I found The complete pets D&D thread by Dungeon Master Ewington.
DM ‘You open the chest and find treasure inside.’
Cat: ‘I empty the chest of everything.’
DM: ‘You take out all the treasure.’
Cat: ‘I get in.’
DM: ‘What?’
Cat: ‘I get in the chest and close the lid.’
DM:. ‘Okaaay’.
Cat: ‘-and wait for a sneak attack.’
DM: (sighs)...
More here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2073
Enjoy!
Open Game Chat Tonight on Inspired Unreality. You're the guest and the host. Everyone is welcome.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
"Little Brother" was written by Cory Doctorow. We're just going to talk about it. At the Related To Geeks Book Club, Monday, February 17, at 9:00 PM Central. You are welcome to join us in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
I use OBS, Open Broadcast Studio, to record podcasts. FollowMeAndDie is using OBS to stream RPGs. He's got a video and a blog about this linked here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2064
Glen Hallstrom posted "Bad Session Takeaway" on anchor. He talks about new GMs, bad game sessions and how they can learn from them.
https://anchor.fm/radio-grognard/episodes/Bad-Session-Takeaway-easn7e
Thought Eater posted Sunday Zine Club #4 with guest, James Maliszewski.
https://frothsofdnd.blogspot.com/2020/02/sunday-zine-club-4-guest-james.html
Much more on Gamer+ especially in the View Last 60 Items Here feature in the footer.
https://gamerfeed.gamerplus.org/public.php?op=rss&id=-4&key=2c0wl25d431f049948f
What have you been doing? Let me know and I'll add it to Gamer+ News. Post on Gamer+, message me, or send me an email.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight! On Inspired Unreality we have two guests, vbwyrde and Pexx. Pexx has info about the Swords & Wizardry Kickstarter. vbwyrde has bee working on his Sci-Fi Campaign, "The Way Of All Flesh". As always this is open game chat, voice and text, Ask Pexx or vbwyrd anything you want (about gaming).
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. We start at 9:00 PM Central every Monday night.
Next week on Inspired Unreality the Related To Geeks Book Club will discuss "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow. More info here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
This is a good book. I am looking forward to re-reading it for the book club.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Gamer+ News February 3, 2020
The Related To Geeks Podcast is Monday night at 9:00 Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. This week the subject will be Board Game Resurgence. Have you noticed how popular board games are? And they're different. Also expensive. Have an opinion? Maybe a favorite? Join us on the Related To Geeks Podcast, Monday at 9:00 Central. Open game chat.
Next week on Inspired Unreality we will have guests, Pexx and vbwyrde. Then the following weekend the Related To Geeks Book Club will discuss Corey Doctorow's novel, "Little Brother".
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
I'll keep reminding you so you have time to read it. I enjoyed it but I'm doing a re-read for the Book Club.
ZDL has posted some gallows humor about the Wuhan Corona virus. She is on the ground, in China, so ...
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2045
RobboG posted "New from Surreal Estate Games: Universe Unleashed!"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2043
Join us on Inspired Unreality if you can. It's always Open Game Chat.
Feb 3 - Related To Geeks Podcast
Feb 10 - Pexx and vbwyrde
Feb 17 - Related to Geeks Book Club
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality tonight! Open game chat in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Inspired Unreality starts at 9:00 PM Central every Monday night. Tonight the opening topic is initiative. How do you like to run initiative? How do you like to play initiative? Anyone can change the topic. All gaming is on topic.
Last Monday was the first Related To Geeks Book Club on Inspired Unreality. We discussed "The Tower Of The Elephant", Conan, Barbarians in general, and Dungeons and Dragons. Next month on Monday, February 17 we will discuss "Little Brother" by Corey Doctorow. Click over for the full schedule and download links.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
FollowMeAndDie points out that "D&D was published towards the end of January, 1975 making this the 45th anniversary of D&D."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2035
RobboG released new artwork for his "Universe Unleashed" SF Game.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2033
FollowMeAndDie just released, Old West Campaign Setting Design Book.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2036
Feel free to forward Gamer+ News to a friend.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight! On Inspired Unreality! It's the Related To Geeks Book Club.
We are reading "The Tower Of The Elephant" by Robert E. Howard. One of the first Conan stories.
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600831h.html
There's still time to read it. It's a short story.
Coming up in February and March we will read.
February 17 - Little Brother by Corey Doctorow
https://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/
March 16 - The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Available on Overdrive and at libraries and booksellers everywhere.
If you have ideas about what you want to read after that we have a group for that.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
You are invited to join and participate.
Imspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. It's a book club and a podcast so we will be recording.
We posted two podcasts last week recorded on Inspired Unreality.
Related To Geeks - 2019 Geek Agenda
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2-Episode-5---2019-Geek-Agenda-ea77l4
Ask The Glen anything (about cyberpunk)
https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/ea9k16
Back at work organizing If You Play You Win actual play podcasts. Spark wants to run a game. Anyone else?
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
I now have three Mini Zines up at DriveThruRPG/Fiction. "Just Quest" is a very minimal OSR rule set. "Chaos In The Eye Of God" and "Yon Rogar’s Hat" are super shorts. They're free on DriveThru and on my Mini Zines website.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/15994/MiniZines
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse.php?author=Larry%20Heyl
http://minizines.cc
What have you been doing? Let me know. Let us all know. Post your links to Gamer+ and I'll include your project in Gamer+ News.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight on Inspired Unreality TheGlen will talk about his new video channel. He says, "Well I just started a video channel regarding the game cyberpunk 2020 2 weeks ago and we've got cyberpunk 2077 coming out in April. This is the year of Mike Pondsmith."
Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord every Monday at 9:00 PM Central Time. Open Game Chat, all gaming is on topic.
Peter_R has a new game out, "The Things That Grown Ups Cannot See". This game is designed for children. The player characters are children that can see into the fey world as well as having other special abilities. Check it out, it's Pay What You Want on DriveThruRPG.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2007
Carl Heyl is releasing his Stay At Home DM podcasts on the Related To Geeks Anchor channel. He says, "A project from almost 2 years ago is finally released to the public. I think I can promise it will be in the top 5% of cutest actual play podcasts you have heard." Very entertaining.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1995
And I have two new minizines up at DriveThru. "Just Quest" is a fantasy roleplaying system in one minizine. "Chaos In The Eye Of God" is a super short science fiction story.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1991
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/2008
All of my minizines are free on DriveThru and on my own site, http://minizines.cc.
Please post your projects on Gamer+ so I can include them in Gamer+ News. Your hype is our content. And spread the word. Let your friends know the joy of joining Gamer+ and getting the weekly news.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight! On Inspired Unreality we will host the Related To Geeks Podcast discussing just what it was that we did in 2019. Looking back, not forward, we attended conventions, hosted conventions, produced podcasts, wrote minizines, shot vlogs, started Gamer+, yes, 2019 has been a big year for Related To Geeks.
Inspired Unreality is an open game chat held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkars Tavern on Discord. As always, you are invited to participate. You can let us know what geeky stuff you did in 2019.
Our last podcast, Role Playing Memories, is here.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2-Episode-4---Role-Playing-Memories-e9v3ao
FollowMeAndDie went copper with his "Random Dungeon, City, & Travel Generation" pdf on DriveThruRPG.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/293659/Random-Dungeon-City--Travel-Generation?affiliate_id=203222
He also released "Arctic & Glacial Terrain & Encounters". I read it and liked it and I wrote a short review about why I like it.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1971?ft=site
JesseQ and ZDL had a New Year's Eve dice rolling.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1975?ft=site
All I can say is "ZDL, what are those dice anyway?"
I started a Just Quest Group all about my Just Quest role playing system and our Milyagon adventures. I posted "Yon Rogar's Hat" to DriveThruRPG/Fiction and I'll soon have a link for "Just Quest" too.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/30
Please stop by and join. It's kind of lonely in here now.
As I put our Milyagon Quests up on DriveThru I am taking the opportunity to rework the stats so they fit right with Just Quest. They started as generic OSR but I pulled from several different systems and the results are somewhat confused.
I know that roll low is a thing but I don't like that thing. Gamers want to roll high. A nat 20 or a 6 on a D6 should always be good. Never bad. So I got to fix that.
Got news? Let me know. I cover a lot of my projects here because I know about them. If I knew about your projects I would be glad to write about them. So let me know.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Please join us tonight in the Inspired Unreality open game chat. Our initial topic tonight will be "Out with the Old and In with the New" but, as always, all gaming is on topic. Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord and starts at 9:00 PM Central Time.
We had a good chat last week. We didn't record a podcast but I did post some links.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/149
Thanks to VB-Wyrde (of Elthos), Datum, Vivian, Megantopia, and Masked and Danger for their input.
FollowMeAndDie released a PDF on Arctic & Glacial Terrain & Encounters and he posted "2019 in Review and 2020 and Beyond" to his Anchor podcast.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/298999/Arctic--Glacial-Terrain--Encounters?affiliate_id=203222
https://anchor.fm/follow-me-and-die/episodes/Episode-170---2019-in-Review-and-2020-and-Beyond-e9sieh
The Related To Geeks Podcast will be back on Inspired Unreality next week and in three weeks we are starting the Related To Geeks Book Club with a Robert E. Howard Conan story, "The Tower Of The Elephant".
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Same as it ever was, invite your friends and let me know what you are doing in gaming so we can promote your stuff on Gamer+.
Stay in touch,
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@gmail.com
The initial topic was games as gifts inspired by a gift we got, a game called Space Team. We drifted into other gaming topics quickly. I'll share a few links.
https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/
https://www.deviantart.com/aaahartvisen/art/Leaves-821839577
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/245017/Mothership-Players-Survival-Guide
http://www.onesevendesign.com/ladyblackbird/
The rest of these videos have something to do with racing games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkgRtV8roBQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atuFSv2bLa8
http://thepoxbox.blogspot.com/2013/09/from-digital-to-dice-neon-burn-playtest.html?m=0
Thanks to VB-Wyrde (of Elthos), Datum, Vivian, Megantopia, and Masked and Danger, for their input.
It's not Christmas Eve but it's close. So for our Inspired Unreality open game chat tonight the initial topic will be games as gifts. Inspired Unreality is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar 's Tavern on Discord.
In a very special review ZDL covers 1PG/Hero Force and then she discusses RobboG's supplement, "Hero Force Giant Size Super Special" including Victory City. So we have a Gamer+ gamer reviewing a supplement written by a Gamer+ gamer.
Here's the review.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/144
And here's a link to GSSS at Drive Thru RPG.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/50380/Hero-Force-Giant-Size-Super-Special
Starting January 20 we will be hosting the Related To Geeks Book Club. Our first book will be "The Tower Of The Elephant" by Robert E. Howard, one of the first Conan adventures.
Here's a link to our schedule for January, February, March, 2020.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/145
So ... Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
January 20 - The Tower Of The Elephant by Robert E. Howard
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600831h.html
February 17 - Little Brother by Corey Doctorow
https://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/
March 16 - The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Available on Overdrive and at libraries and booksellers everywhere.
To make suggestions for April, May, and June join the Related To Geeks Bookclub group.
But this one is different.
... more
From Inspired Unreality December 16, 2019
Starting topic - Party Games
At the NEA Gamers Guild Christmas Party they played Dirty Santa using a d6 system.
Pass left, pass right, take a gift, exchange with someone, choose two people holding gifts and they exchange, open your gift
If you can't do what you rolled you can choose something else that you can do.
The game ends when the last gift is taken.
Those rules are fine if there aren't too many playing.
But at the Christmas Party I think there were about 20 people exchanging gifts.
Since the game was taking too long they encouraged people to take from the center which worked without changing the rules.
But then they had to relax the rule about not being able to make others open a gift to if you rolled a six and you didn't have a gift to open you could make someone else open their gift.
So here are my proposed rule changes for a large party.
When you roll take a gift you have to take from the center until everyone is holding a gift (none left in the center).
There's still plenty of time for gift stealing before all gifts are opened. And the game isn't much fun if you're just sitting there without a gift.
I would also make it a rule that if you roll a 6 and you can't open a gift you can pick someone with a gift and then they open their gift.
We will have a dirty santa game with 17 or 18 players this Christmas. I am going to propose that we use this d6 system with the rule changes and see how it works.
---Since the last half of the game is played with over half the presents opened (by definition) there are some strategies for getting the present you want. Players should try to get the present they want. That is called winning.
So if you roll make two people exchange gifts you can pick someone next to you and someone with the gift you like and make them exchange, hoping for a pass left or pass right.
Since pass left or pass right happens a lot (one third of the time) you generally want to surround yourself with gifts you like.
The cloud of gifts near you pass in and out of your hands.
Exchanging gifts for gifts you like is an obvious strategy which does the exact same thing, seeds the cloud of gifts around you with gifts you like.
If you get take a gift and you are already holding a gift then you can exchange gifts for one you like or if you are already holding a gift you like you can make one of your neighbors exchange gifts with someone holding a gift you like.
In this game the gifts move around a lot. Pass left, pass right, exchange, make others exchange, that's two thirds of the time gifts are moving.
So the winning strategy is to use your choices to surround yourself with gifts you would love to have at the same time sending away gifts you don't really want.
---
With the new rules you can approximate the game length.
Say there are 18 players.
Since the chances are 1 in 6 that a gift will be opened 3 will be opened per round (on average)
Since there are 18 gifts it will be approximately 6 rounds until the last gift is opened.
So, not too long but long enough. I actually like this better than some open ended Dirty Santa rules that run until the players get tired and decide to choose the last gift.
---Any more comments about the d6 Dirty Santa?
Inspired Unreality tonight at 9:00 PM Central Time! Inspired Unreality is an open game chat held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Voice and text chat. The starting topic for tonight will be party games.
The NEA Gamers Guild had their last Library Game Day yesterday followed by a Christmas party where they ... played games. Including a dirty santa gift exchange where you rolled a D6 and read your action from a table. Needless to say various strategies were employed.
We have big plans for the New Year including the Related To Geeks Book Club where we will read Fantasy and Science Fiction novels and novelettes and discuss them in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on the third Monday of each month (except we will take November and December off). If you want to read ahead for January our first selection is The Tower Of The Elephant by Robert E. Howard. Here's a link to the text.
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600831h.html
It is also available as an audio book on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNYnZgBg4IA
Our book for February will be "Little Brother" by Corey Doctorow and then in March we will read "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman.
If you are interested in the Related To Geeks Book Club we have a group for that.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
RobboG is also setting up a regular actual play group on Thursday nights that will be recorded as an If You Play You Win podcast. So if you miss the good old days when your party adventured in a weekly campaign let me know. We have three people now. We need four or five in our core group, and then, of course, we will welcome anyone who can only jump in for a night at a time.
Please welcome ZDL into her role as moderator on Gamer+. She volunteered to help me squash the bots and she has also been one of our most consistent posters covering everything from Chinese card games to her book in progress, Reviews From The Fringe. She is friendly and helpful and perfect for the job.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/ZDL
Looking for that perfect yet inexpensive gift for that special gamer you know? Give them a membership to Gamer+. It's free and it lasts all year.
Are you a creator? Don't forget about the Gamer+ gift to you. Free advertising. Interested? Contact me for details.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
After we recorded the Related To Geeks Podcast last Monday Vivian (sound on Gamer+) fell in the house and broke her knee. So we both got to spend the week at the hospital in Memphis. And the Related To Geeks podcast is still in the can. It's a good one. It just hasn't been posted yet.
I used my phone in the hospital to visit Gamer+ and there are some serious shortcomings to the mobile app. Especially in Blogs and Groups. Fortunately we use open source software so it is possible to address these shortcomings.
Meanwhile ...
ZDL continues to write her Fringe Reviews book.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/107
FollowMeAndDie is back from UCon.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1800
I bet you didn't know you are eligible for free advertising on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/106
And we will have Inspired Unreality open game chat tonight at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Spread the word. Invite your friends, and stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Unfortunately the '80s had its darker side as well. A lot of very stupid things were done in that era and it would be remiss of me not to document some of them. Further, to show I'm capable of more than twee paeans to my favourite games, I thought it time to show, too, what a negative review would look like.
And make no mistake, this review will be unrelentingly negative!
Avalon Hill
The Avalon Hill Game Company (AH) was a powerhouse in board gaming, especially wargaming, with a history stretching back to the early 1950s. If you play board wargames in particular, even those not made by AH, you owe a debt to this one-time juggernaut. Many of the standard things that identify wargames--hex grids, stochastic combat results, etc.--were a result of their innovation over the years and it is rare that a wargame can be found which doesn't trace its ancestry to something invented at AH.
In the 1970s, role-playing games started to get introduced and in the late 1970s they took off in ways that surprised hardcore wargamers. In the 1980s, when it became clear that RPGs were not going to be going away, wargames publishers started looking around for games to publish in this new genre with varying degrees of success. Simulations Publications, Inc (SPI) published, for example, Dragonquest and Universe, fantasy and science fiction games respectively to mixed success. (I personally liked both games, but Universe in particular was rather gratuitously complicated in ways that weren't needed. I could never have run either, but as a player I enjoyed both.)
AH was no exception to this. They wanted to publish RPGs and in the end they wound up publishing three. They published the third edition of Runequest (and I am one of, perhaps, five people in the entire world who liked their version of Runequest better than the previous two editions by far) to mixed reviews. They published an intriguing-in-principle but deeply-flawed-in-execution game called Lords of Creation, and they published today's little gem: Powers & Perils. (Technically the James Bond 007 RPG was also an AH property, but it was published by a wholly-owned subsidiary and I don't consider it part of AH canon proper.)
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Gamer+ offers free advertising with every account. That's right, if you or your company have a Gamer+ profile you are eligible for free advertising. The ads include a text link at the top of our pages and a banner ad in our footers. The free ads will link to your Gamer+ profile.
The advantage of having the ad link to your profile is that you can post your new product or your upcoming event right at the top of your profile. You control the content on your portal on Gamer+ that links to your game stuff.
Now for the small print. The free ads must relate to gaming. We are a social network for gamers and our first priority is that all of our content, ads included, is on topic.
We also sell ads for $5.00 per month or $50 per year. These ads can link directly to your website, podcast, or convention schedule. These ads also have to be about gaming.
Ok, what do we need to run your ad? We need a banner not larger than 960x160 pixels. We would prefer using your account name in your text link so that Gamer+ gamers recognise you. Other text is ok, though, so if you would prefer custom text we will need that. If you already have a Gamer+ account but you would prefer to link your ads to a company account it's fine to set up an account for your company. Let us know you want to link to your company profile.
You can contact me at my Gamer+ profile or by email.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Tonight is the Related To Geeks Podcast on Inspired Unreality. Starts at 9:00 pm Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Last month we discussed Fantasy and SF Reads and we ran late and still had trouble quitting. And next month we are starting our first spinoff, The Related To Geeks Book Club. And, yes, we are going to be reading Fantasy and SF. Here's the group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
And there's a game Thursday, December 5, on If You Play You Win. RobboG will be running the game on his own system, Universe Unleashed. I played in the last one and it was great. The game will start at 7:00 pm Eastern. Let us know if you want to play or just come if you can and jump in. We have pregens.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
ZDL has another Fringe Review. This time it's Psi World. She says, "The absolute monarchs of the '80s vibe were Fantasy Games Unlimited. There was not a crazy concept they weren't willing to champion and publish. ... And in the middle of all this is the subject of today's Fringe Review: Psi World." Read it all.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/104
FollowMeAndDie has published a new supplement, "Caves, Caverns & Underground Encounters", on DriveThruRPG. I read it and since it's Pay What You Want you can too.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1751?ft=site
Please share these links with your friends on your blog, website, or social network account. There's something of interest for any gamer at Gamer+.
And we really are a social network with everyone wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. So since it's already December I'll just say I hope you had as good a Thanksgiving as I did.
Stay in touch,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
FGU
The absolute monarchs of the '80s vibe were Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) There was not a crazy concept they weren't willing to champion and publish. The first "realistic" medieval game (Chivalry & Sorcery) was theirs. The first game to feature non-humanoids as the central characters (Bunnies & Burrows) was theirs. The first popular superhero RPG (Villains & Vigilantes) was theirs. The first medieval Japanese RPG (Land of the Rising Sun) was theirs as was the most popular one (Bushido) for ages. And while not the first SF games ever, two of the earliest SF games (Starships & Spacemen, Space Opera) were theirs too, the latter of which still causes warm fuzzy feelings when I think back to its convoluted insanity but immense fun.
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Today's game is nothing of the sort. It is three perfectly ordinary things:
1. It is a free game and almost militantly so.
2. It is a joke game, or, at least, it started that way.
3. It is a so-called "Old School Rennaisance" game (and arguably the first actual such!).
So why am I reviewing a game so ordinary? Because, naturally, it is in no way ordinary!
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If You Play You Win Monday night!
Swords and Wizardry - Lost Lands
DM SD Houston
Monday, 2019-11-25 6:30 pm
The game is held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord and is preempting Inspired Unreality this week.
If You Play You Win last Friday night!
We played The Chronicles Of Ember, Mine. We explored. We discovered. We nearly got killed. Some of us did get killed. Fortunately we had a wand of ressurection.
ZDL wrote Fringe Review: Spark, on her blog. She says "This is like RPG meets collaborative fiction with a dash of improv..." I hope she does more Fringe Reviews. Give it a read.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/74
On Inspired Unreality, November 18, 2019, Masked and Danger, Vivian, and I discussed Keeping It Real. This may be fantasy roleplaying but the DM and the players can't let it go too far over the edge without ruining the willing suspension of disbelief. A lightly redacted transcript can be found here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/post/97
Come and play. Come and chat. Write some stuff. Keep us up to date on your games. Promote your products. Spread the word. Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
(Yes, I include myself among the obsessives.)
The first game I'd like to review is a came by a small-press Canadian publisher called Spark
Spark is a decidedly non-traditional role-playing game. Because of this I cannot work from assumptions that most would share. Instead I will be using a form of critique I first saw in Goethe's writings when critiquing theatre. In brief, I will be answering three questions:
1. What was Jason Pitre, the author of Spark, trying to accomplish?
2. How well does he accomplish this?
3. Was this a goal worth accomplishing?
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Keeping it real. There is a point in fantasy fiction or gaming where even the willing suspension of disbelief fails.
I think when world building the reason the magic system is so important is because magic must be constrained and to a certain degree predictable.
If anyone can just wave a wand and do anything without consequences there isn't much room left for a story.
Masked and Danger at 9:20 PM
Same with sci-fi settings technology too
Consistency is the most difficult part
hairylarry at 9:20 PM
yes the system has to be established before the world makes sense
vivian at 9:21 PM
I've played in games where I just shook my head and said whatever. I like some sense of plausibility for sure.
Masked and Danger at 9:21 PM
At the same time, magic is the one area where internal setting consistency can be thrown out
Sure, doors don't open due to magic words on a certain night in Hobbiton, but out there? Beyond the hills?
hairylarry at 9:22 PM
I think it's more interesting if the system of magic in use is well understood
Magic can open doors or bar doors. And an axe can open doors and a door spike can bar doors. But magic can't just do anything. In huge quantities. All the time.
Or wizards always win. And we can't have that.
Masked and Danger at 9:26 PM
At the other end of that, you have RPGs like Dungeon Crawl Classics, which features random magic effects and mutation
hairylarry at 9:26 PM
In DnD combat is often less plausible than magic.
Masked and Danger at 9:26 PM
True
hairylarry at 9:27 PM
I don't really get random magic but I get wild magic. Wild magic is powerful and unpredicatable so it's shortcoming is built in.
Masked and Danger at 9:28 PM
I suppose that's the difference between a novel or film and an RPG
A game is built on systems
systems that must be consistent
hairylarry at 9:29 PM
I read an sf short story where cause and effect was suspended on Earth for a period of time. Made for an uncomfortable interim for the reader.
It's hard to follow a narrative where there is no cause and effect.
Even rules light games have rules.
When the DM throws out the rules entirely then it's just make believe and consistency is lost.
Sarah runs DCC. I'll ask her about random magic.
Masked and Danger at 9:33 PM
What it mostly comes down to is that each individual spell has many ways it can backfire horribly
I suppose that in itself is it's own system of magic
hairylarry at 9:34 PM
Oh yeah. I think I know about that. I heard Sarah talking about it. There's a lot of death in the funnel.
Masked and Danger at 9:35 PM
DCC was designed to replicate the feeling of B/X play before retroclones got super popular. The funnel was a logical progression from old school games where level 1 characters would die quickly and be replaced in dungeon with living hirelings
hairylarry at 9:35 PM
Spells go awry in DnD too. Scrolls aren't always what you think they are.
Masked and Danger at 9:36 PM
True. DCC uses spellburn as a limiting tool since it removed vancian casting
Sure you CAN keep casting, but you're more likely to mutate or blow up
hairylarry at 9:37 PM
I think the DM should be careful with low level characters but still, bad rolls are bad rolls and when you don't have hit points to spare you can die on a couple of 1d4 damage rolls.
Masked and Danger at 9:38 PM
I once read an analysis of 5e that said that the Bugbear in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure might as well be a dragon for how much damage it does
hairylarry at 9:38 PM
To me old school magic systems are all about vancian magic.
Masked and Danger at 9:39 PM
Level 1 characters vs a 2d8+2 melee weapon attack
hairylarry at 9:39 PM
Yeah, that's tough even at 5e level hit points
Masked and Danger at 9:40 PM
A martial character with a poor con score can die from that even if it's not a crit
hairylarry at 9:41 PM
And in old school you'd be rolling a new character. In 5e you're making death saves.
Masked and Danger at 9:41 PM
Right
hairylarry at 9:42 PM
But I think it's good to roll new characters at low levels when you're still at the approximate level of the party.
If the party has all leveled up to 4th or 5th level and you have to come back in at 1st level that can be tough.
Masked and Danger at 9:43 PM
Experience differences are the worst. Gold for XP systems can mitigate that if the rest of the party is willing to chip in
5e's milestones are also good, although it does get a little noticeable when a convenient back up shows up
hairylarry at 9:44 PM
Again I think the DM can help the new character level up by rewarding for role playing.
It won't make the rest of the party mad when the new guy can be more helpful.
Masked and Danger at 9:45 PM
WFRP 4e has a rule, available to humans only, where if a character dies under very specific circumstance, their next character starts with half the XP of their previous character
hairylarry at 9:45 PM
I think that's better than rolling up a first level character and yet you still get punished for getting yourself killed.
Masked and Danger at 9:46 PM
Humans begin with the "Doomed" trait, where a cleric used the Emperor's Tarot to predict how they would die. Players are told to say what that was
hairylarry at 9:46 PM
I will curse you with knowledge of the day of your death
Masked and Danger at 9:46 PM
For example, my graverobber's Doom was decided to be "Buried Alive"
Her player came up with that
And I approved it
hairylarry at 9:47 PM
Oh hell. What a thing to look forward to.
In Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series the protagonist knew where he was going to die. Of course he entirley misinterpreted it.
vivian at 9:48 PM
Boy I'm glad I DMed back in the old days.
hairylarry at 9:48 PM
I'm glad I DMed back in the old days when we got to kill people (I mean characters)
I've been talking to Vivian about my new game, Just Quest, and I've been really strong on character death.
Todd brought up the idea of slow poison at the RPG Breakfast Club.
My idea was if you didn't get an antidote or healing by your next round you're dead.
Masked and Danger at 9:51 PM
I've considered adapting the Death's Door mechanic from the video game Darkest Dungeon
vivian at 9:51 PM
Remind me not to play in one of your quests.
hairylarry at 9:51 PM
The problem with slow poison or resurrection is that it puts the player out of the game.
If the character dies the player can roll a new character and be brought right back into the game.
Masked and Danger at 9:53 PM
Basically, characters in Darkest Dungeon when dropped to 0 HP don't immediately die. They instead make a roll every time they take damage of any type, and either live or die. I'm considering hacking it into 5e to compliment Death Saves
hairylarry at 9:53 PM
So you drop to zero and then every time you're hit it's 50 50?
Masked and Danger at 9:54 PM
You can choose to drop and it acts like normal, but you can also choose to keep fighting in which case it's every time an enemy attacks you, with instant death as a cost
hairylarry at 9:55 PM
Oh, I'd keep fighting. I have a healthy fear of death but not in role playing games.
Masked and Danger at 9:55 PM
Do you risk keep fighting despite being at 0, and being killed without the buffer
hairylarry at 9:55 PM
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Yes, I was on the head of the Kraken sticking my rapier in his eye at one hit point.
Every third or 4th round he'd reach up with a tentacle and nick me for a couple of points of damage.
So I'd be at 0 until someone threw some healing on me
Then I'd be at 1 hit point so I'd go back to stabbing the Kraken
Masked and Danger at 9:58 PM
Sounds like a recipe for getting grabbed and ate
hairylarry at 9:58 PM
If he had put me in his maw I would have cut his tongue off
The soft place at the top of the mouth is an easy way to hit the brain.
Masked and Danger at 9:59 PM
True
hairylarry at 9:59 PM
I played a adventure struck halfling who wasn't even a warrior, just an idiot.
I had a ring of invulnerability.
When we came up against the giant I ran up with my hatchet and hacked on his ankle
He never even tried to hit me because I was hardly a nuisance
But when the other players wrapped him up in rope and knocked him over he fell on me and I died.
That wasn't 5e either. BX. I was dead.
Masked and Danger at 10:02 PM
I don't think I've ever lost a character I was invested in... but then again I also DM more then I play
hairylarry at 10:03 PM
Some guy said my halfling was a hero. No. Just an idiot.
Masked and Danger at 10:03 PM
An absolute maroon
hairylarry at 10:03 PM
Oh I wasn't invested. He was an NPC and Carl invited me in to play him.
Masked and Danger at 10:04 PM
Gotcha
hairylarry at 10:04 PM
So I went whole hog.
It was a convention one off.
Masked and Danger at 10:04 PM
My last player death was in a con game of Delta Green
My character was crucified
hairylarry at 10:05 PM
Ring Of Invulnerability. And a scissors and a kitchen knife.
Oh damn. If I got to choose my doom it wouldn't be crucifixion.
Masked and Danger at 10:05 PM
Probably not
hairylarry at 10:06 PM
I understand that if my character dies I can no longer bring him back in that campaign. But I can still play the character later in another game.
Masked and Danger at 10:06 PM
As a player, I'm generally playing support or ranged characters, never the first target of a DM
hairylarry at 10:07 PM
Yeah I never played fighters for years.
Still not my favorite but at ARPGCON I played two barbarians.
Masked and Danger at 10:08 PM
Barbos can be fun
hairylarry at 10:08 PM
Yeah. Strong and not necessarily stupid. But down to earth.
These archetypes are what keeps it real.
Players have an idea of what barbarians are like.
So when they go berserk it's like, Ok, I get it.
Masked and Danger at 10:10 PM
I've heard certain folk complain that Barbarian should be a fighter archetype, but I'm not so sure.
hairylarry at 10:11 PM
Well, they are fighters but with a difference.
In Just Quest if someone wants to play a barbarian they choose fighter and then put barbarian down as a trait.
Same for palladin or ranger or knight of the realm
Masked and Danger at 10:13 PM
Five Torches Deep makes Fighter, Barbarian, and Ranger a Warrior archetype
hairylarry at 10:13 PM
or warrior
Masked and Danger at 10:13 PM
Barbs get access to 19-20 crits with melee, Rangers with ranged, and Fighters get social bonuses
hairylarry at 10:14 PM
So even though the rules only support 7 character types the other archetypes come alive through the traits
Masked and Danger at 10:14 PM
Trait based systems are very good for that kind of thing
hairylarry at 10:14 PM
And the DM can say, Oh, I see you're a barbarian so you get plus 2 when fight more than 2 adversaries at once.
Masked and Danger at 10:15 PM
Not needing a whole skill list that your idea for a character needs to break up in order to fit the archetype is nice
"Oh, my cavalier needs Wis for those Animal Handling checks, shoot"
hairylarry at 10:15 PM
There's no dragonborn or tiefling but if someone really wants to they can put it down as a trait.
They won't be a 5e dragonborn but they can pretend
All that crap is DM adjudicated so anything goes but it doesn't always get you what you think it will.
Yeah and my mods bottom out at -1 so even if you lack in an ability it doesn't mean you just can't do something.
Masked and Danger at 10:19 PM
Makes sense
hairylarry at 10:20 PM
Yeah, it's very Just in the sense that the stats don't limit you too much.
Masked and Danger at 10:20 PM
It's one of those pushes and pulls of RPGs
hairylarry at 10:20 PM
I like low stats. It gives me something to work around.
Masked and Danger at 10:21 PM
The bigger the difference between ceiling and floor of stats, the more specialization is possible BUT also the more chance you can end up as garbage
hairylarry at 10:21 PM
in 5e you spend forever building a real powerful character because you really want to be a superhero
Masked and Danger at 10:21 PM
Smaller variation might not feed "monkey brain like big numbers", but does give a more even competency curve
hairylarry at 10:21 PM
In OSR, roll the stats and play the game. So what. You're all mortal.
Masked and Danger at 10:22 PM
Powered by the Apocalypse goes -2 to +3 on stats
hairylarry at 10:22 PM
Yes, a more even competency curve.
In Just Quest I go from -1 to +2.
I mean +3 if your stat is 18. If your stat is 18 do you really need +3?
Masked and Danger at 10:24 PM
Prolly not
hairylarry at 10:25 PM
It's based on Carl's Wizards and Heroes game mechanics. D6 and D20.
Masked and Danger at 10:25 PM
You've talked about that before
hairylarry at 10:25 PM
Again a more even competency curve.
Masked and Danger at 10:26 PM
Yes
hairylarry at 10:27 PM
So I'm more about rewarding role playing than in building super heavy duty fighters or wizards.
And I hate a bunch of rules because I can't keep up with them
At the same time I enjoy playing 5e
But I'd have to study for a year to be a DM.
Masked and Danger at 10:27 PM
One of the reasons why Gygax switched from 3d6 to d20 as standard rolling is because the d20 had an exactly 5% chance of landing on any given result rather then weighting heavily toward 9-12
hairylarry at 10:28 PM
right, linear instead of the bell curve
So stats are 3d6 and are weighted toward the average.
Hit rolls and checks are D20
Against AC or against 20 minus the ability or an arbitraty difficulty level.
damage is a D6
fighters get advantage and wizards get disadvantage
Masked and Danger at 10:30 PM
Nice and simple
hairylarry at 10:30 PM
Yeah, that's what I like about it. And if you have 3d6 and 1d20 that's all you need.
Masked and Danger at 10:31 PM
The weirder dice required to an rpg, the harder it is to get people invested
hairylarry at 10:32 PM
I don't think anyone will ever play Just Quest rules except me. But since we've been writing quests I want to run them so I had to dumb down the rules to where an unruly DM could keep up.
Masked and Danger at 10:32 PM
Makes perfect sense. Playing RPGs is hacking together your own rules, sooner or later
Whether that's adjusting monster stats in 5e or putting together your own retroclone
hairylarry at 10:33 PM
My grandson Conley will read a rule book and then cite that stuff back at me. I can't remember rules for anything.
House rules or your own system.
Masked and Danger at 10:33 PM
Both. Either
My variation on B/X rules steals Shadow of the Demon Lord's initiative and traits, and WP&WS's Flesh and Grit
hairylarry at 10:35 PM
I made a character sheet this morning and I have the minizine done. I just want to let it settle in my brain so I can think of everything I left out that I really need. I might get to play it over break.
Masked and Danger at 10:36 PM
I'll keep an eye open
hairylarry at 10:37 PM
Yeah, Carl plays what he calls BX Redbook. And he plays Wizards and Heroes with kids.
I like the Wizards and Heroes rules but I want to do traditional fantasy roleplaying so Just Quest is my variant.
Masked and Danger at 10:38 PM
Fantasy roleplay is a pretty easy sell to anyone
Trying to get people to move out of that is harder
I've been on a cyberpunk kick recently, and was looking at various RPGs that try to gamify that
hairylarry at 10:38 PM
I've done two SF games now and I liked them. I played a computer hacker both times.
Masked and Danger at 10:39 PM
It's been a city of nightmares
hairylarry at 10:39 PM
On gamerplus they've been discussing cyberfeypunk
cyberpunk with elves
Masked and Danger at 10:39 PM
I'm guessing this is different then Spreadsheetrun
I mean Shadowrun
hairylarry at 10:40 PM
I've never played Shadowrun.
Masked and Danger at 10:40 PM
I played it... once
It's a labyrinthine tome
hairylarry at 10:41 PM
Yeah, I see these huge rulebooks and I wonder, who has the time?
Masked and Danger at 10:41 PM
My measure is always the character sheet
hairylarry at 10:42 PM
We're playing Universe Unleashed Thursday and Chronicles Of Ember Friday.
Universe Unleashed is rules light and Chronicles Of Ember is a whole world.
Well, Shadowrun's not 5e but it looks pretty extensive.
Masked and Danger at 10:44 PM
Very. Cyberpunk 2020 is slightly better, but is a little outdated
I mean, it's idea of the far future is a month away at this point
hairylarry at 10:44 PM
(displays Just Quest character sheet.)
As you can see, 5 minutes or less.
Masked and Danger at 10:45 PM
Very nice
hairylarry at 10:45 PM
Yeah, I love reading science fiction set in the 1980s.
I have a black and white version too for a laser printer.
Looks less 5e
Masked and Danger at 10:47 PM
I always get frustrated when no printer friendly character sheets are provided
hairylarry at 10:47 PM
Homebrewery - low ink option
Masked and Danger at 10:47 PM
Yeah
hairylarry at 10:51 PM
Well, thanks for chatting tonight. I think I'll read Andre Norton until I fall asleep.
Masked and Danger at 10:51 PM
Night Larry
See you next week
hairylarry at 10:52 PM
see you later
Masked and Danger at 10:52 PM
:thumbsup:
subaltari at 12:11 AM
To be fair, you can make a charsheet much smaller than that.
---
Thanks to Masked and Danger for joining Vivian and me. And thanks to subaltari too. A little late but still welcome.
Two games this week on If You Play You Win.
Thursday, November 21, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Central
Universe Unleashed
DM - RobboG
Friday, November 22, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Central
The Chronicals Of Ember
DM - Larian
If you are interested in playing get in touch with the DM or me. Or you can just show up at Tenkar's Tavern on the night of the game and jump in.
I had a blast at ARPGCON last weekend playing Wizards and Heroes, Chronicles Of Ember, and some OSR games run by Carl Heyl and DM Crafty. Pictures have been posted on Gamer+ and in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/76
A new Related To Geeks Podcast has been posted at anchor.fm.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2-Episode-3---Fantasy-and-Science-Fiction-Reads-e8r6gk
Rather extensive show notes with about 100 books listed are here.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/82
And Megan has suggested a new project, the Related To Geeks Book Club where we get together once a month and discuss a book we've all recently read or reread. If this interests you join the group.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/28
Check out Mark's new game, Gangbusters B/X.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1634?ft=site
And RobboG's Tumbleweed Tales Volume 3 - Welcome to the Four Color Western. Inspired by the garishly colored and fast paced comic books of the 40s.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1625?ft=site
So that's what we do on Gamer+. Write games. Play games. At conventions. On the internet. And read books too. So if you know someone who likes this kind of stuff turn them on to Gamer+. We want to meet them.
I added content by HexedPressman and DualClassic to our RSS feed found in the footer on every page. If you have something for us to include let me know.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
We discussed:
Universe Unleashed by RobboG
Star Wars: Edge Of The Empire
Dread
ARPGCON
https://tabletop.events/conventions/arkansas-rpg-con
Home School Game Club at Game Goblin
Dragon Truck
Isaac Asimov
Mary Shelley - Frankenstein
Greek Tragedies
Shakespeare
Edward Dunsaney
Gilgamesh
Beowulf
Honor Harrington
Martha Wells - Murderbot Diaries
Isaac Asimov - The Robots Of Dawn
J. Jacques - Questionable Content
https://questionablecontent.net
Chrome
Sylvain Neuvel - Sleeping Giants
Nicky Drayden - The Prey of Gods
China Mieville
Neal Stephenson - Seveneves
Jim C. Hines - Janitors Of The Post-Apocalypse
Ann Leckie - Imperial Radch
Clarks Law - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Poul Anderson - The Chapter Ends
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41064
Neal Schusterman - Arc Of The Scythe
Yu Godai - Avatar Tuner - Digital Devil Saga
C.S. Lewis - The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe
Pratchett, Gaiman - Good Omens
Chuck Palahniuk - The Fight Club
Tamora Pierce - Tortal
James S.A. Corey - The Expanse series
Nicholas Eames - Kings Of The Wyld
J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit, The Trilogy
David Eddington
Terry Brooks
Jack Vance - The Green Pearl, The Dying Earth
Anthea Sharp - Feyland
Fritz Lieber - Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser
Poul Anderson - The Broken Sword
Fred Saberhagen
Dungeons and Dragons
Edgar Rice Burroughs
L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt
Robert E. Howard - The Tower Of The Elephant
Jon Peterson - Playing at the World
George MacDonald - The Princess and the Goblin
Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels
T.H. White - The Once And Future King
E.A. Wyke-Smith - The Marvellous Land Of Snergs
Capetta, McCarthy - Once and Future
Brandon Sanderson - The Emperor's Soul, Mistborn, Wheel Of Time, The Edgedancer, Steelheart, Skyward
Robert Jordan - Wheel Of Time series
Rick Riordan
Cressida Cowell - How To Train Your Dragon
Hairy Larry's Super Shorts
William King - Trollslayer, Skavenslayer - Gotrek and Felix
David Gemmell - Legend - Drust
Terry Pratchett - Good Omens, The Last Hero, Guards Guards, Tiffany Aching, The Wee Free Men, The Witches, Wintersmith, Equal Rites, Soul Music, The Monsters Regiment, Small Gods, The Luggage, Rincewind, The Hogfather, Mort, Going Postal (books and characters discussed)
Earthbound
Undertale
Neil Gaiman - The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, A Study In Emerald, American Gods
Gene Wolfe
The Wheel Of Time Companion
Max Gladstone - Three Parts Dead
Samuel R. Delaney - Nova
Hillary Bell - A Matter Of Profit
William Morris - The Well At The World's End
Andrzej Sapkowski - The Witcher Series
Douglas Adams
George R.R. Martin - Game Of Thrones
Related To Geeks podcast tonight on Inspired Unreality at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Everyone is welcome. 9:00 PM Central Time. The topic will be Fantasy and SF reads.
Thanks to ZDL I learned how to link to a Newsfeed story.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/77
RobboG, ZDL, and I have been discussing a new fantasy/sf game concept called cyberfae or feypunk or even a better name that includes both. Like cyberfaepunk.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1558?ft=site
ARPG-CON is this weekend! November 9 and 10.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/arkansas-rpg-con
We played Star Wars on If You Play You Win last Friday and we escaped Mos Shuuta. After we stole the rocket ship from the Lizard guy who traded in wookie pelts we got the control center to unclamp the ship by sitting his corpse in the pilot's chair and cutting a hole in the back of his head so I could reach through and work his mouth to say, "Oh, the wookies, the wookies, I have to get off this planet, unclamp my ship."
We want to promote your gaming blog, vlog, channel, podcast, products, etc. Please send me your links.
And tell your friends about Gamer+. We actually have a lot of stuff going on. Everyone is welcome. All gaming is on topic.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
When you get notified about a Newsfeed story there is a link to that story in the email. It looks like this.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/newsfeed/1548
But where can you find that link. ZDL pointed out that the timestamp is the permalink.
It might say 3 minutes ago or it might say Yesterday and a time or Nov 1.
Click on that link and it will go to that Newsfeed story on it's own page. Copy the address bar to get your link.
Or right click on the link and Copy Link Location from the context menu.
Thanks to ZDL for helping me figure this out. I never realized that the timestamp was the link.
Thanks
all gaming is on topic
When the yeep yeeped the other alien to death we could accept that because it's an alien.
So comparing the yeep to a known animal made it real but we knew it was alien so we could accept strange behaviour/powers.
One of it powers was extreme charisma - everyone loved the yeeps except Dolf.
He was the level headed one. Who invites an unknown alien into their spacesuit? (We all did except Dolf)
In literature there is a thing called willing suspension of disbelief.
That's definitely a thing in gaming that the DM can use.
In literature and gaming it is possible to go to far.
In The Chronicles Of Amber (not to be confused with The Chronicles Of Ember) Roger Zelazney has his characters walk in shadow which can be thought of as walking through the interstices between realities in the multiverse.
There is one point where the protagonist walks so far into shadow that there is really no connection to reality anymore. That was a hard chapter to read and probably equally hard to write.
Still, I was glad when he got back to more familiar territory.
The characters are familiar with fantasy tropes so as long as the DM bases his story around standard tropes or archetypes the players can follow where he's going with it.
Keeping the fantasy real, so to speak.
So when the DM or the PCs break the tropes it can lead to surprise and excitement.
Philip K. Dick was expert at leaving reality behind.
You would think you know where his story is going and then you realize that the surface reality you were projecting onto the story isn't really in the story at all.Maybe it's just the protagonist's schizoid delusion.
This works in literature but not so much in gaming.
For one thing the shared reality around the gaming table involves multiple PCs being played by multiple players.
It is highly unlikely that their schizoid delusions will match.
In fact it is a challenge for the DM to be descriptive enough to keep the PCs in the same reality.
It would be a real hat trick to cater to multiple paranoid delusions around the gaming table.
And then try to do that without an accepted underlying reality.
Philip K. Dick as a DM.
Not recommended.
Life is too short to live it without a few delusions.
Open Game chat tonight. Inspired Unreality is every Monday night at 9:00 PM Central Time. Join us in the gamerplus chatrooms in Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. The initial topic for tonight is Keeping It Real, can fantasy role playing be too fantastic?
RobboG hosted our first If You Play You Win online RPG last Friday. We had a great time fighting aliens on an asteroid. And we ended up being teleported into another solar system. Always good to end on a cliffhanger. RobboG wants to turn this into a campaign. If you want to try his gaming system, Universe Unleashed, message him on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/RobboG
The question for the day is who drew the Yeep?
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/494/latest
The Yeep is one of the alien species we encountered in Universe Unleashed.
And we have another If You Play You Win RPG online this Friday starting at 6:00 PM Central Time. Draklorx will be running Star Wars: Edge of the Empire - Escape From Mos Shuuta. Everyone is invited.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/groups/26
CarlHeyl posted a picture of my granddaughter, Emily. Carl says, "My 9 year old daughter running Swords & Wizardry Light."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/496/latest
DualClassic says, "One last day of prepping before the first session of my Delving Deeper game on Monday. Ideas have been pouring out like water down a mountain. Haven't been this inspired in writing up an adventure in quite some time. It's gonna be an interesting first session for sure!"
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/DualClassic
So, come and chat, come and play, run a game if you want to. Bring a friend. Stay in touch.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
file area
http://guitarshowdown.com/hll/public/ea2f45
whiteboard
https://www.webwhiteboard.com/board/8vztc54q
Here's an invite link to Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
https://discordapp.com/invite/Dqz3VmT
Discord runs on everything, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, and IOS. Install Discord and then take the invite link. When you are in Tenkar's Tavern leave a message in the Common Room. You should be validated in about 10 minutes. You cannot leave a message in the gamerplus rooms until you are validated.
Questions or problems? Message me on Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
You can join us anytime to play or listen. The game starts at 7:00 Eastern/6:00 Central.
Thanks
http://guitarshowdown.com/hll/public/e015bf
Players will find everything they need to know on pages 3-6 of the Universe Unleashed pdf.
If you pick and name your character post a reply here or message hairylarry or RobboG so we will know what's happening.
It's also fine to jump in tomorrow if you can. That's why we're using pregens.
I will be playing Constant Comment, in the support division, and I'm a hacker.
I'm looking forward to a new experience tomorrow night.
Thanks
We started early and I got the ball rolling talking about Carl's game, Wizards and Heroes, which I had just run at NEA Game Fest. And we also discussed:
PbtA - Powered by the apocalypse
Gumshoe
Dread
Five Torches Deep
Shadow of the Demon Lord
Beyond The Wall
Maze Rats
Godbound
Numenara
Not all rules lite. Some had parts that were rules lite or were compared to rules lite.
We also discussed 5e as opposed to rules lite games. What's good and not so good about 5e. Of course many people love 5e but no game is perfect and we were born to complain about stuff.
Later on we got into castle building. Here's some links to blogs that were posted.
A Little Bit More About Strongholds
https://dungeonspossums.blogspot.com/2019/01/a-little-bit-more-about-strongholds_5.html
OSR: Building Castles
https://coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2017/09/osr-building-castles.html
After I feel asleep they got into Blackmarsh.
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/89944/Blackmarsh
It was a great chat. Thanks to Masked and Danger, Jake the Human, Mage, and others for carrying the ball while I tried to keep up.
NEA Game Fest 2019 raised $5,418.72! Thanks to all who came out and supported The Children's Shelter!
https://www.facebook.com/neagamefest/
Egyptian miniatures made of wood 3,500 years ago. I think they are brewing beer.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/493/latest
CarlHeyl comments, "My old school minis don't feel so old school now."
FollowMeAndDie posts "A good overview for what is the OSR. Presented in a way that should appeal to new RPGers and those who only know 5e. He limits Old School to D&D and omits all the other games from back in the day that had a similar quick style of play. Or games that started back then that may not be simple rules. AKA Nostalgia."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRVJNkOObIU
ZDL posts Chinese playing cards. "This is my second, believe it or not, 100% hand-made deck of playing cards."
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/491/latest`
Please welcome DualClassic to Gamer+. Invite your friends. Help us grow.
Thanks,
hairylarry
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/hairylarry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
hairylarry at 8:57 PM
Inspired Unreality in the gamerplus chatrooms in 5 minutes. Initial topic: Staying In Character.
sjard at 8:58 PM
i'm one of those who look at roleplaying as being completely unconnected with playacting/thespianism.
hairylarry at 8:59 PM
I see it as very connected to playwriting and playacting.
sjard at 9:00 PM
fair enough. fortunately there's enough room in the hobby for both of us.
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:02 PM
Roleplaying == making game choices as a character.
Roleplaying != acting
Staying in cahracter == acting
Opiyel at 9:03 PM
wouldn't making game choices as a character be staying in character though?
sjard at 9:03 PM
yes
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:03 PM
different thing
but related
sjard at 9:03 PM
playacting is the fastest way to stop being in character in my experience.
usually because the accent (usually entirely inappropriate to the setting/campaign) takes over and the character goes out the window
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:04 PM
One can roleplay while dungeon crawling. Acting is mostly the domain of dialouge and NPC interactions
Opiyel at 9:05 PM
BUt wouldn't making those choices while dungeon crawling be a form of method acting?
Ivicus at 9:05 PM
everytime the Dm describes something awful and someone at the table goes "Nope." is roleplaying a character haha
sjard at 9:06 PM
but, i have a feeling this is one of those things much like background music.
sjard at 9:06 PM
case by case, and group by group
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:06 PM
If I wanted to sound like an Shakespearean Englishman I'd just make my regular speaking voice, but earthier. English RP came much later than the period fantasy emulates
hairylarry at 9:07 PM
I like background music that fits the theme too. or sound effects like thunder or wind
Ivicus at 9:07 PM
I need background ambience because I have tinnitus and having something just a simple as like a cave dripping helps with my sanity lol
Or bare minimum a box fan
I think it was Mat Covelle or however you spell it that had
roleplaying (lower-case) = playing a Character in a game but it's essentially an in-game you
Roleplaying (upper-case) = playing a Character in a game and make decisions based on what the Character would do, not you as the Player
voices etc. are just extra
hairylarry at 9:07 PM
I don't think you have to do voices to be in character.
Masked and Danger at 9:08 PM
On the other hand, putting an English accent (or a fake scottish in my case, my current character is from Moonshae) SOUNDS better then just talking in my neutral american english
hairylarry at 9:08 PM
Or even act. I think you should be in character in your roleplaying. In what you do.
Corra at 9:08 PM
I'm the same @hairylarry, that's why I like the definition I mentioned above
sjard at 9:08 PM
and for almost every group i've ever been in, background music/sound effects have been so distracting that they effectively end the game session until removed.
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:08 PM
The vocies are fun, but yeah it's all russian pirate by the end of the night. And that's before people started bringing hooch
sjard at 9:09 PM
scottish russian pirate if they're a dwarf
hairylarry at 9:09 PM
I agree Corra. Missed that while we were getting set up.
sjard at 9:09 PM
which isn't exactly appropriate for playing in warring states period china
Masked and Danger at 9:09 PM
I try to mix it up character to character
hairylarry at 9:09 PM
I like to play a character that has my interests so I don't have to pretend I don't know something.
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:10 PM
I don't think I'm allowed to do warring states voices anymore :stuck_out_tongue:
hairylarry at 9:10 PM
maybe torpedo noises
Masked and Danger at 9:10 PM
Like obviously, characters should be a reflection of the player. That goes back to the beginning of the hobby, where the characters literally were the players isekei'd into Castle Blackmoor
But I am a multitude
hairylarry at 9:11 PM
Megan likes to play something completely different
I'm kind of always me but a variation.
Masked and Danger at 9:12 PM
I can play a refined privateer, a poor hedge knight, a fashion disaster wizard
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:12 PM
Most of my characters are a small piece of Jake, expanded into the simulacrum of a person
vivian at 9:12 PM
I usually just wing it. Never know what I'm going to do.
Opiyel at 9:12 PM
I generally try and challenge myself by playing personality types outside of my comfort zone
Masked and Danger at 9:12 PM
Granted, there is a circumstantial element to it
hairylarry at 9:12 PM
I need to do more of that.
For a long time I was always a bard because that's so me.
Now I'm playing other stuff. I even broke down and played a fighter.
Masked and Danger at 9:13 PM
In my current group, when I'm playing I'm the idea man and often the voice of reason
hairylarry at 9:13 PM
You know I'm a lover, not a fighter (blues lyric)
sjard at 9:14 PM
i think every character will likely be at least 50% the person playing it. can't help it, but when i play a new character, it takes a while to really fill up the other 50%.
Opiyel at 9:14 PM
I also ask "What would make my character act different from their personality?" rather that "What would my character do?"
hairylarry at 9:14 PM
Motivation. Just like method acting.
sjard at 9:14 PM
there are quite a few game of 20 question type things out there for various rpgs that can help with some of the alternate viewpoints.
Opiyel at 9:15 PM
Yeah there are good resources out there
THere was a book Tenkar had recommended that I got.
Corra at 9:15 PM
I usually give my Characters some bullet points that shape their ideal and stuff, that usually helps me play the Character I'd say. Granted, I'm usually doing it from the DM side of the screen
Opiyel at 9:15 PM
It has a lot of improv prompts that help you really get into the mind of your character
Yeah
hairylarry at 9:15 PM
Kier uses the word concept. What's your character's concept?
Opiyel at 9:16 PM
I generally bullet point things like traits, quirks, flaws, and ideals
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:16 PM
That sort of brings up my pet peeve of people trying to roleplay someone either incompetent or has no place being in combat
sjard at 9:16 PM
d6 star wars had a section on the character sheet for a character quote. sometimes that's all you need.
Masked and Danger at 9:16 PM
Your character should be filled with the experiences you have as a player
With your other characters
Characters unfold like reverse origami
hairylarry at 9:17 PM
So this character's development hinges on past character's development?
Masked and Danger at 9:17 PM
No
Like
For example
In my warhammer game last week, I found out my players would take a bribe to murder someone if they were told they were evil cultists
They killed them before checking
They were correct they were cultists, but if they hadn't?
Opiyel at 9:18 PM
So playing a coward is definitely something that everyone needs to be on board with. In literature and other mediums, cowards generally grow by learning to stand up for themselves and their friends. So the player of the coward as well as the other players and GM have to be down with that. The coward has to ask themselves "What would make my character stand up and fight?" and teh players have to ask themselves "Why would we adventure with a coward?" Sadly, cowardly characters tend to be undercooked and played mostly by instigator types.
hairylarry at 9:18 PM
Yeah, I get that
I think killing humans is something to be avoided.
sjard at 9:19 PM
somewhat makes me think of the character Matthew Quigley
somewhat
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:19 PM
@Opiyel yeah, but is the coward actually useful.
hairylarry at 9:20 PM
At least you know the undead guy is a monster.
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:20 PM
It's a game not a novel
Masked and Danger at 9:20 PM
Exactly
sjard at 9:20 PM
though that's more a variant of pacifism than cowardice
hairylarry at 9:20 PM
yes, a coward can be useful
Opiyel at 9:20 PM
To a degree you are right. Hence why I said the players in total would have to be down with it.
Opiyel at 9:20 PM
So the coward has to have other skills outside of fighting.
Masked and Danger at 9:20 PM
The main problem with a cowardly character is that you have to give them an extra kick to get them into action
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:20 PM
There are a decent number of archetypes that are innappropriate for PCs whaic are of literary value
sjard at 9:21 PM
depends on the game being played
they may be quite appropriate for low/no combat games.
Opiyel at 9:21 PM
I don't think there are inappropriate characters, just character types that require more work to fit in, both from the player, the other players, and the GM.
Jake The Human (Tavern Regular) at 9:21 PM
Useful i'd define as "helps us achieve our goals", for which combat is usually a suboptimal solution anyway
hairylarry at 9:21 PM
I think a coward can be useful in a combat game
Opiyel at 9:22 PM
And there are different types of cowards
hairylarry at 9:22 PM
It's difficult to play a coward because I always want to be in the thick of it.
Opiyel at 9:22 PM
You could have one that freezes up against larger creatures.
Or a younger, inexperienced fighter that isn't used to battle (yet...)
sjard at 9:23 PM
i guess it depends on how you define cowardice
some may not technically be cowardice.
hairylarry at 9:23 PM
I try to avoid fighting when I can - not the same as cowardice
Masked and Danger at 9:23 PM
My current character has claustrophobia, which comes up surprisingly often. Not precisely cowardice, but does lead to good roleplaying whenever the GM asks me to role a wis save to keep moving
Opiyel at 9:24 PM
I like that a lot
I think the important thing though is for the cowardly character to grow their character
hairylarry at 9:24 PM
claustrophobia is a good idea
...
hairylarry at 9:27 PM
What does my character want. And what is he willing to do to get what he wants.
hairylarry at 9:28 PM
Motivation helps a lot with NPCs - keeping them real.
Opiyel at 9:28 PM
Also, what would it take to go against their wants. @hairylarry
hairylarry at 9:28 PM
as opposed to just a device to mave the game along
Opiyel at 9:28 PM
I think that's a good question to ask about one's character. What would make them act against their own wants or ideals.
...
Corra at 9:33 PM
I usually write a few sentences on how my monsters will act in combat, I find that helps at the table a bunch
hairylarry at 9:35 PM
Corra, that writing stuff down really helps organize things
Inspired Unreality is tonight at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. The initial topic for tonight is Staying In Character. As always anyone can present a topic and all gaming is on topic.
The new Related To Geeks Podcast, Conventions, is up on Anchor. We discuss gaming conventions from the standpoint of the presenter. If you are interested in what goes into putting on a convention you will enjoy this podcast.
https://anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks/episodes/Related-To-Geeks---Season-2--Episode-2---Conventions-e7mffa
This weekend is the NEA Game Fest in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
https://tabletop.events/conventions/nea-game-fest-2019
ZDL has a series of posts with pictures on her profile about variations on Chinese Chess. Be sure to scroll down to find the Chinese Chess info. She has a ton of interesting stuff.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/ZDL
CarlHeyl has uploaded two photos of him running some games for kids.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/CarlHeyl
Also check out RobboG's post about female character objectification. It gets deep quick what with elves and dwarves and all.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/RobboG
What else can I say? Post links. Tell your friends. Go to a convention. Play some games! Help us grow.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Inspired Unreality is once again hosting the Related To Geeks Podcast tonight at 9:00 PM in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. We will be discussing putting on local conventions. Inspired Unreality is an open game chat, everyone is welcome to the discussion. After we finish recording the Related To Geeks Podcast we will continue with our usual open game chat where anyone can suggest a topic and all gaming is on topic.
There has been discussion about Buddhist UFO seekers and wizard's pointy hats so weird is the new normal at Gamer+. Or maybe it's the old normal?
CarlHeyl has been posting photos of his vintage miniatures, all painted up pretty.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/CarlHeyl/68
I posted some of Mike's Free Maps with a link to more.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/useralbum/hairylarry/70
Hat tip to Froth and his Thought Eater blog where I found Mike's Maps.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/user/Froth
I also posted a help blog called "Profiles, the Wall, Newsfeed, Dashboard, and Main". I'm the webmaster and I still don't understand everything but I tried to lay out some basics for beginners at Gamer+.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/blogs/61
And ZDL posted a picture of her super cool bamboo dice tower.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/photo/view/456/latest
Now that's cool.
I ended my blog post above with a paragraph about linking to your profile. Whether it's a link on your blog or a social network or just telling your friends about us we appreciate your help growing Gamer+
We are here to promote your game content. Please send me your links or add them by clicking Links on Gamer+.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Your profile is your most important page. This is where you let other gamers know what you're interested in. You can get to your profile or other gamers profiles by clicking on the username or the avatar. On a person's profile page you can message them, send a Friend request, or follow them.
Your profile can optionally have The Wall. On a wall there are no replies or likes. The discussion on the wall just continues from what was entered on the wall before. A linear thread so to speak.
Newsfeed posts have the header NEWSFEED above them. Newsfeed posts can be made from a profile, the dashboard, or main. Newsfeed posts have likes and comments. So they are a little bit more like Facebook than The Wall. On the Newsfeed text entry boxes there is a triangle made from several lines in the bottom right corner. You can use this to resize the text box so you can see more of your entry. When you click in a Newsfeed text box a camera icon and a Send button appears. Since you hit Send to make your post you can hit enter in a Newsfeed text box and post several paragraphs. The Newsfeed posts also have a smart link feature. Post a link on it's own line and Gamer+ will follow that link and try to provide information about it below the post.
Both The Wall and Newsfeed posts show you the camera Icon. Click on this to add a picture to your post.
The Dashboard has fewer posts than Main. I think it's mostly your friends or people you follow. Main shows a lot more posts and it also has a left column where it shows recent activity in other areas of Gamer+ like Photos, Videos, Groups, Events, and Links. Some of these areas in the left column allow you to sort the items differently to change what you see. The default is always Latest or most recently posted. Most of the areas in the left column also have action buttons at the bottom of the area allowing your to View All, Add New or Go to.
Although this seems like a lot to digest and takes a while to figure out I do want to reassure you that on Gamer+ no one is tracking you and trying to figure out what you ought to read or trying to increase your engagement. There are no algorithms at work behind the scenes and unless you choose differently you will see everything with the most recent activity at the top. Newest first.
One more thing about your profile. If you want to invite someone to view Gamer+ or post a Gamer+ link to your blog or website there is no better spot to send them than your profile. At the bottom of your profile page there are instructions on how to create a link. If you post links to your profile on social media or other websites you will be helping Gamer+ grow.
Thanks
The RSS Feeds in the footers are blogs, vlogs, or podcasts by gamers on
Gamer+. If you click on Podcasts you get a feed of only Podcasts. At the
bottom of the Blogs page is a feed of only blogs.
The real gem in this lot is the link to View last 60 items here in the footer on ever page. This is a great way to find a bunch of recently posted gaming info.
If you have a blog, vlog, podcast, or anything else with an RSS feed let me know and I will add it.
Message me on my profile - hairylarry
Thanks
Inspired Unreality open game chat is tonight, Monday, September 30, at 9:00 pm Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. I have a gig from 6:00 to ???, Bebop Beatniks is playing at The Crossing in Paragould, Arkansas, for A Taste Of The Ridge sponsored by the Downtown Paragould Association. So ... I will be in chat and probably at 9:00 but I may be late. Feel free to start without me. Post a topic or just chat.
Next week is the Related To Geeks Podcast on Inspired Unreality and I don't have a gig. So Yayyy!
The scheduled If You Play You Win actual play podcast, Escape from Mos Shuuta, has been rescheduled to November 1, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. You don't have to preregister to play but you can if you want. The character sheets are available at
http://guitarshowdown.com/hll/public/3d25dc
If you find a character you want to play let me know so I can move the character sheet to the Already Taken folder.
I created an If You Play You Win pdf using The Homebrewery website. You can see it or print it at the link above.
DragonMac will be showing Adventure Maximum at the Name Your Game Expo in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 5 and 6.
https://archive.gamerplus.org/event/11
I've been enjoying this post, Free and Pay-What-You-Want 5e DMs Guild Highlights: Week Ending 9.28.19, by Froth that I found in our RSS feed at the bottom of the Blogs page.
https://frothsofdnd.blogspot.com/2019/09/free-and-pay-what-you-want-5e-dms-guild_28.html
I downloaded the Magical Junk Drawer. I'm sure if I were a wizard I would have a drawer full of stuff like that. Froth says, "Fun and creative collection of very minor magic items, such as the Exfoliator, which magically removes callouses, and Elminster's Earrings, which give an appearance of tiny dancing lights around the head of the wearer. Magical bric-a-brac."
Your mama always said that it's good to share so be sure to share Gamer+ with your friends.
http://archive.gamerplus.org
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
If You Play You Win rescheduled to Friday, November 1.
If You Play You Win - Gamer+ Actual Play Podcast
Friday, November 1, 6:00 - 9:00 pm Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern.
DM Draklorx(Kier) - gamerplus.org/user/Draklorx
We'll be playing: Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
The module is the beginner game adventure called: Escape From Mos Shuuta
You are a group of outer rim fringers made up of bounty hunters,
smugglers, explorers, and expatriates who have all run afoul of the
crime lord, TEEMO THE HUTT! Trapped in the space port Mos Shuuta on the
desert world of Tatooine you are running out of time and options, and
need to get off of this planet fast! As luck would have it, a Trandoshan
slaver by the name of Trex has recently docked his ship the Krayt Fang,
and you wouldn't feel too bad about relieving the slaver of his ship.
During a chase through the streets with Teemo's henchmen you duck into a
Cantina and have only a few moments before they come in after you with
their blasters ready.
You do not have to preregister to play. Anyone can jump in anytime. But
if you want to preregister you can. Then you can choose your character
from pregens. decide on your name, and be ready to go, blasters blazing.
You can peruse the pregens here. If you want to pick a character to play let me know. Message hairylarry at Gamer+ or email hairylarry@deltaboogie.com.
http://guitarshowdown.com/hll/public/3d25dc
Inspired Unreality open game chat is tonight in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on discord. Our starting topic will be d6 systems and Open D6. If you play d6 please join us. We need some expertise. We start at 9:00 pm Central.
We recorded Inspired Unreality last week and made a podcast called "Ask Mr. Welch aka TheGlen Anything (about gaming)". This is our first Gamer+ podcast and you can listen here.
anchor.fm/gamerplus
Some of the chat was about the art for the Mystara Players Handbook and Glen displayed the art on Discord while he discussed it. Of course, you can't see the art in the podcast so I am going to make a video slide show of that part of the episode so you can watch and listen at the same time just like we did.
You can download the Mystara Players Handbook here.
glen.stelio.net/
We are also planning an actual play podcast called "If You Play You Win". Our first session will be on Friday, October 4 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm Central. Draklorx will be running Escape From Mos Shuuta in Star Wars: Edge of the Empire. More info here.
gamerplus.org/blogs/54
And here's a link to the character sheets and a map.
guitarshowdown.com/hll/public/3d25dc
Speaking of d6 games here's a link to FollowMeAndDie's blog post called "A New Found Appreciation For The 2d6 Table".
followmeanddie.com/2019/09/21/newfound-appreciation-of-the-2d6-table/
He also discusses this on his podcast.
anchor.fm/follow-me-and-die/episodes/Episode-159---Saturday-Scrawl---Newfound-Appreciation-Of-The-2d6-Table-e5fsun
And of course there's more great stuff like this at Gamer+.
To browse or join go to gamerplus.org
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Friday October 4, 6:00 - 9:00 pm Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern.
DM Draklorx(Kier) - gamerplus.org/user/Draklorx
We'll be playing: Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
The module is the beginner game adventure called: Escape From Mos Shuuta
You are a group of outer rim fringers made up of bounty hunters, smugglers, explorers, and expatriates who have all run afoul of the crime lord, TEEMO THE HUTT! Trapped in the space port Mos Shuuta on the desert world of Tatooine you are running out of time and options, and need to get off of this planet fast! As luck would have it, a Trandoshan slaver by the name of Trex has recently docked his ship the Krayt Fang, and you wouldn't feel too bad about relieving the slaver of his ship. During a chase through the streets with Teemo's henchmen you duck into a Cantina and have only a few moments before they come in after you with their blasters ready.
You do not have to preregister to play. Anyone can jump in anytime. But if you want to preregister you can. Then you can choose your character from pregens. decide on your name, and be ready to go, blasters blazing.
We have a guest on Inspired Unreality tonight. Drop in at 9:00 pm Central for Ask Mr. Welch/TheGlen Anything (about gaming).
Inspired Unreality is an open game chat held in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord every Monday at 9:00 pm Central. For more information about Inspired Unreality or to join Gamer+ go to:
gamerplus.org
Sometimes it's late at night and the house is quiet. You don't really want to play a video or listen to a podcast and wake everyone up. You just want to read some gaming blogs.
So I added a new feature, an RSS feed of just blogs written by Gamer+ gamers.
And you can find it near the bottom of the Blogs page.
gamerplus.org/blogs
Aqualith unveiled their new logo.
gamerplus.org/photo/view/421/latest
DragonMac has been posting about Adventure Maximum
gamerplus.org/photo/view/407/latest
We have been discussing gaming online in several threads and on the Inspired Unreality open game chat. We are working on an actual play podcast called "If You Play You Win". One offs, pregens, anyone can jump in, rotating DMs, the DM chooses the system and the time and date. These games will be in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern and we will promote them on Gamer+ and at Tenkar's.
Interested in playing? Running a game? Let me know. I started a list.
Here's the story of my life (right now). I had a gig last night. I played in the Ken Carroll Quintet and NJHB at New Jazz In Jonesboro at the public library. I have a student small group rehearsal tonight. A Praise Band rehearsal tomorrow night. (also Inspired Unreality with Mr. Welch) Another student small group rehearsal on Tuesday. The Praise Band plays Wednesday night. Thursday I'm off. (naptime) Friday 10:00 and 11:00 oclock small groups at ASU and a game in the evening (Yay). Saturday morning at 9:00 am Bebop Beatniks is playing at the ASU Farmers Market. It gets this way for me every fall. I can't control it. Actually I like it. But I do have to budget my energy.
Are you tired and overburdened? Post about it on Gamer+.
gamerplus.org
Thanks
hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
How can people not believe in magic when they sleep and dream every night?
I have added a new question to your profile page, My blogs, vlogs, podcasts, websites.
So click on you avatar or username and add your stuff. These links do not have to be game related. Of course, if you have a gaming blog, vlog, or podcast we all want the link.
You can also post the link to your company if you are a publisher, artist, cartographer, writer or other creative.
Also if you post these links in Links on the top menu they will appear on the Main page until they scroll off. And they will appear in the sidebar on your profile page. These are good. But there's nothing quite as good as having your links front and center. Click on your name. See your links.
Starting a new project? Putting it on the web? Running a Kickstarter? Add the links.
Here's the link to my profile where you can see how this looks.
Thanks
I posted Gamer+ on Reddit.
reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/d4j661/gamer/
Please link over and give us a boost. Share the link. Share Gamer+.
Thanks
Sometimes it's late at night and the house is quiet. You don't really want to play a video or listen to a podcast and wake everyone up. You just want to read some gaming blogs.
So I added a new feature, an RSS feed of just blogs written by Gamer+ gamers.
And you can find it near the bottom of the Blogs page. Click Blogs on the menu. Scroll down to the top of the footer. There it is.
If you write a blog, or post your art on a blog, or have a blog for your gaming company let me know. I will add you to this feed.
Email hairylarry@deltaboogie.com or message me on Gamer+.
If you click Blog in the menu and add a new blog with your module text and a request for comments that will appear in the Newsfeed and gamers will be able to comment. Then I would also go into the Writing Modules and Module Assets Group and post a link to the blog again asking for feedback. That would probably have a longer life in the view of those interested in writing modules. You can also message gamers you know who DM or work on modules and ask them if they would take a look and give you some feedback.
I think this can be generalized to many situations besides writing modules, basically anytime you are posting about a project hoping to get feedback.
Another advantage to posting as a Blog is that you can add tags which gives another search path to discovery for those interested.
I started writing this post on the Newsfeed but when I realized that it needed the tags, meta and help, I copied it and posted it as a blog.
Blogs also have the advantage of that Edit button making it the preferred way to post anything longer than two paragraphs.
Inspired Unreality happens tonight at 9:00 pm Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Tonight is open game chat. There has been a lot of discussion about online RPGs on Gamer+ so our initial topic will be "Running an online game". If you haven't noticed I always pick something I want to learn about for the initial topic.
As always you can suggest your own topic or just talk about whatever you want to. All tabletop gaming is on topic, board games and card games as well as RPGs.
Next week we will have a guest, Mr. Welch aka TheGlen will join us to discuss Mystara, Mr. Welch's list, and gaming in general. Yep, it's Ask TheGlen Anything (about gaming), September 16 on Inspired Unreality.
Last week we recorded the Related To Geeks Podcast where Megan, Carl, and I discussed the topic of "Winging It". Sarah and Vivian joined in when they could in text chat. Here's the link.
anchor.fm/relatedtogeeks
You can now add RSS feeds to your profile and to your Groups. Using RSS feeds you can automatically get your latest posts, podcasts, or videos to display on your profile page. If you don't know what this means message me on Gamer+ and I'll try to help you out with it.
Thanks to Tenkar for this Tenkar's Tavern blog post about Gamer+.
tenkarstavern.com/2019/09/a-look-at-gamers-rpgs-tabletop-network.html
He has some good ideas on how to improve the site and he also sent a lot of new gamers our way with our total membership now nearing 120.
Which leads me right into my weekly rant.
This week I'm asking for your help to grow Gamer+. If you have a blog add us to your blogroll. If you're a podcaster or video producer give us a mention and add a link to your show notes.
The best way to link to us is to link to your profile. Gamers who follow you want to go to your profile, not to the front page of some website they don't know anything about. At the bottom of your profile is a text box explaining how to do this. There are also detailed instructions here.
gamerplus.org/blogs/25
We also have some banners on our Gamer+ Links page.
gamerplus.org/banners
And if you have a blog, podcast, or video channel we are not already promoting in our footer send me a message or just post your link. We want to add your gaming content to our RSS feed.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
email - hairylarry@deltaboogie.com
Join Gamer+ at gamerplus.org
If the page for your Group could benefit with up to date content delivered by RSS you can now add an RSS feed to your group. This might be especially good on Groups centered around a specific game where the game creators have a what's new blog for their game.
If you want to see how this works I added an Oxwall Support Blog to the Development and Testing Group. Click over to see how it works.
If you can think of an RSS feed pertinent to your group go ahead and add it. Let me know if you have any problems.
Thanks
JesseQ made a post about how he would use multiple free online tools for online gaming. I have been wanting to set up an Actual Play podcast as a Gamer+ event and JesseQ's post got me thinking. Here's his out of the box suggestions.
Discord for chat (text, video, voice)
Miro for shared whiteboard/tabletop
Watch2Gether for atmosphere/music
I have come up with another platform set.
Discord - Tenkar's Tavern in particular for the chatroom/game table
Web Whiteboard - A whiteboard app on the web the DM could use for drawing maps or diagrams for online games. You can also post text and pictures. Players can also post, make map annotations during play, upload something they saw, etc.
File Downloads - My Pydio instance does this great. There are many other free web alternatives.
So the only barrier to participation is getting into Tenkars Tavern on Discord. Discord has become a new standard for voice chat and their apps are easy to install and work on every platform.
Once you are in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern the DM can post a link to the whiteboard set up for this game. The players click on this link and they are there on the whiteboard. No passwords or accounts required.
The DM can also post a link to a folder on Pydio. The players can follow this link, browse pregens, and download or print the character sheet they choose to play. The DM has a different link that allows uploading and file deletion. Again no install, passwords, or accounts required.
And this is the key. Follow the link and you're in.
You enter the chatroom. The DM posts a link and you go pick a character. When the DM starts to draw something he posts a link. You follow the link and view what he's drawing. It would even be possible to lay out battle maps and move player tokens on the map.
So these two apps, the whiteboard and the file manager, are both included in Miro as per JesseQ's suggestion. There is an advantage to having these both in one app. But Miro is more complicated to use and the DM would have to send player invites which means collecting emails. In some situations this would not be cumbersome but for Gamer+, If You Play You Win, actual play podcasts I wanted it to be as easy as possible to jump into the game.
As JesseQ suggests, Gamer+ has set up a Watch2Gether channel that the DM could use for Monster noises and appropriate background music. It is also available for listening on the public web just by linking in with no password or account necessary.
So this is just another possible way to set up for online gaming. I chose these apps because of their open availability to anyone without having to install apps or create accounts. There might be better choices for your games or campaigns. Please leave your ideas in the comments.
Thanks
Ok, on Inspired Unreality tonight we will be recording the Related To Geeks podcast, a podcast about a geeky family. So most of you know Carl and Hairy Larry. There's more of us. Lot's more. And we're all gamers. Vivian and I raised our kids right.
After The Geek Agenda we will discuss The Geek Topic which is "Winging It" tonight. Everyone is welcome to join the chat during The Geek Topic. Then we will stop recording and have our regular open game chat where everyone can talk about whatever they want to.
Inspired Unreality is Monday, September 2, at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. If you are not a member you can go to gamerplus.org for a link.
JesseQ posted some info about Watch2Gether in a post he wrote about online role playing. So I checked it out and set up a Gamer+ Watch2Gether channel where you can go with other gamers and watch the same video at the same time even if you're not in the same country.
https://w2g.tv/oadhkc0jylfmsj2z8o
FollowMeAndDie posted a link to all four games from the Extra Life fundraiser at the Gygax house.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT7cQu33X53NqQsIVFyi-VJ5qSZzTRgHZ
I also added these videos to the queue at the Gamer+ Watch2Gether. Maybe we can set up a viewing session where we can watch a game and chat about it.
Frylock finished his 3 part series on fantasy games, copyrights, and the OGL. This is a substantial piece of work and has spurred much discussion. You can read it on his blog, Frylock's Gaming & Geekery.
https://gsllc.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/part3ogl/
In case you haven't figured it out yet, gamers on Gamer+ do stuff. So if you're doing stuff post it on Gamer+. Because we want to know what you're doing.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
Gamer+ will be hosting the Related To Geeks Podcast on the Inspired Unreality game chat at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord, Monday, September 2, at 9:00 PM Central.
Check out Main or Dashboard for Join links. (and instructions)
We will start with The Geek Agenda where those of us who are Related To Geeks take a minute to reveal our plans for world domination, that is, what we've been doing and what's coming up next.
Then we will smoothly segue into The Geek Topic which will be "Winging It" for September. Discussing The Geek Topic will be open to everyone so come with your stories about how your party went left instead of right and suddenly you were winging it.
After The Geek Topic we will quit recording and go to our usual open game chat where anyone can suggest a topic and all gaming is on topic.
I can't even express how much I am looking forward to this. See you there.
by Larry Heyl aka Hairy Larry
Here's a concept for an AI gamer space or animation engine for use in any creative project.
A scenery is created for example a meadow with some trees and shrubs. The scenery is created using graphic assets and can be placed by a person or by the AI engine. A camera is set to view the scenery and display it on the computer screen. The camera would have an xyz location and a direction vector. All of this is well established gaming and animation software technology.
Characters are created. An artist would draw the concept for the character. Several faces would be drawn showing different expressions. An animator would draw several sequences, running, walking, jumping, swimming, fencing. This concept art would be fed into a heuristic AI software that would be taught how to animate that character. Additional characters would be drawn and the software would be taught how to animate them.
Monsters and animals would also be created.
---
I am now going to discuss this technology from a gamers perspective. I think it's potential use in other animation projects will be obvious.
Let's say there are two adventurers warming themselves by a fire while they discuss their plans for storming the castle. Each player's computer screen is generated by a camera that gives their character's view of the scenery, trees, bushes, campfire burning right in front of them.
The DM tells the software that from behind a tree an Orc jumps into view on the other side of the fire. The software animates the Orc surprising the adventurers. They each say "I jump back drawing my sword/axe/etc. The software uses voice recognition software to determine the players intent and generates the animation sequence showing the action. The players screens reflect their change in perspective and the actions of the other characters and the Orc.
The DM says, "Roll for initiative."
---
This project is certainly beyond my abilities but I don't actually think it's beyond current technology. The most difficult part might be the parsing of the players language. This could be made easier by having the characters type in their actions but that may not be necessary. I think either way, speaking or typing, the players will have to adapt their language to an English like coded instruction. "I back up 3 steps and draw my sword." could be easily parsed. Players will quickly learn which instructions work and which don't.
The project also requires many skill sets. Artists and animators, graphics, database, and AI coders working together. I think this could be best accomplished as an Open Source project where people with these skill sets could volunteer to contribute knowing that their work would remain free as in libre.
So I am licensing this article CC BY, Creative Commons Attribution. Distribute it freely, enhance it if you wish, but keep my name attached. If anyone ever does start a project like this I would definitely like to know about it.
Gamer+ Inspired Unreality is tonight, Monday August 26, at 9:00 pm Central. Inspired Unreality is an open game chat at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. The first topic for tonight will be Systems and Modules. Discuss gaming systems you wrote or that you like to play and your favorite modules for these systems. Also how to write OSR generic modules and what does it take to play an OSR module in 5e?
Or bring your own topic. Open game chat. Board games, card games, and role playing games.
CarlHeyl posted "I help with a local homeschool game group and lately we've been playing Dungeons & Dragons. I feel like there are enough players and interest to start a campaign. The one I have in mind is one where there are five evil chromatic dragons (one of each color) that rule tyrannically over the land. They expect offerings from the humans in exchange for not obliterating them. Out of fear of the dragons wrath it is illegal to oppose the dragons plans. PC's would all be a part of an organization that secretly is working against the dragons. I need a good name for that organization that would appeal to kids. Thoughts?"
DragonMac posted the cover for his new role playing system, Adventure Maximum.
Adventure Maximum
Follow Me and Die was a DM in a live streamed charity event held in Gary Gygax's old house. Other DMs at the event were Chris Lindsay, Stefan Pokorny, and Luke Gygax.
Luke's twitter post
A few gamers reported Gamer+ notifications going to their spam folders or being marked with a warning. I changed the mail delivery system to SMTP and I changed the admin email address to webmaster@gamerplus.org. This seems to have resolved the problem. Please let me know if you still have any problems with email notifications or if you have any other problems. Email webmaster@gamerplus.org or hairylarry@gmail.com.
Thanks
Vivian and I made these up in Inspired Unreality Gamers Chat last Monday.
Please add more in the comments. I'm trying to build a D20 table of quest lighteners so you can randomly throw some humor into your quest.
Some of these are good and some are just jokes. Not that there's anything wrong with jokes. If you've got any good quest jokes put them in the comments too.
The table below was created in CherryTree and copied and pasted into this blog post. The lines aren't visible so I created some white space between entries.
1 Creeping through a dungeon, castle, etc the party sees a horrifying shadow on the wall opposite a turn to the right. When they finally build up the courage to peek around the corner or jump in with swords drawn they see a little kitty playing with a candle.
2 Stealth mode on the party is sneaking through the woods, swamp, or grasslands when they come to a river with a baby floating face down. Throwing caution to the wind they dive in to rescue the baby only to find out it's a doll. After they struggle back to the river bank a little girl walks up and says, "Thank you for rescuing my baby doll." Then she takes the doll and walks off never to be seen again.3
The bald cleric, Rogain, is extremely devout and has deep faith in his God. However whenever he meets a priest or pilgrim from another religion he converts immediately and follows his new God with equal fervor. For some reason, whenever he is near a tavern, he becomes a devout follower of Dionysius.
4 A bizarro world vampire is un-undead and he's scared of the dark.
5 A party of three dwarves wading through a creek sees an extremely large alligator moving toward them. One of the dwarves pulls out his sling shot and loads it with a cup of mud which he shoots into the alligator's eye. Moral of the story?
6 When the carnival came to town last year the little baby dragons were all the rage. When the city folk learned how much baby dragons ate they pitched them in the sewer. Now this year you are creeping through the sewer trying to storm the castle. You make a left turn and what do you see/smell? A rather odiferous dragon. And it's not a baby anymore.
7 Three skeletons walked into a bar and ordered three pints. The bartender served the skeletons and then turned to the barmaid and said, "Better go get a mop."
8 A thief was bent on pilfering a castle. He checked around the back and spied a window partly open. Carefully and quietly he slid the window up and crawled through. As soon as his second leg hit the floor the window slammed shut behind him. The thief froze thinking "Damn, that was loud." Barely breathing he counted 60 seconds but nobody came. It was as dark as a dungeon but the thief still had that wand he stole from the blind wizard. When he brought it out it glowed softly. The thief looked around. He had successfully snuck into a jail cell.
9 The chest just yelled treasure. Look at that big lock. Look at that iron hasp. Look at those reinforced corners. The thief was sure it must be trapped. He checked the hinges. He poked here and there with his dagger. He carefully lifted the lock ever so slightly and checked behind it. Nothing so far. He got out his lock picks but before he started on the lock he wiggled them into the hasp. He tapped gently on the sides and the top. He carefully grabbed one handle and lifted one side of the chest a tiny bit. Sticky his dagger under the corner he peered under it. Nothing. So he went to work on the lock. Before he tried to unlock it he felt here and there for traps. Needles that flew out. A sudden pinch on his finger. Nothing. He finally started working on the lock itself. It opened pretty easily. He carefully set it aside and used his dagger to lift the hasp up. He stuck his dagger through the slot in the hasp and inched the lid open. Nothing happened. "I can't believe that this chest isn't trapped." thought the thief. He took his dagger and opened the lid all the way. The chest was empty.
10 The adventurers were led to believe that the cleric wasn't all the way there. Two screws short of a hinge, if you know what I mean. Nonetheless when the cleric sent for them they went to see what was up. Gold from the collection plate was still gold even if it came from a crazy man. When they got there the cleric said, "I heard you did a good job getting rid of those rats down at the dock. I have a similar problem. You see, I've got bats in my belfry."
11 The jester wore an invisible hat and his shoes were made from the wings of a bat. Nothing was too lowly to be reused and he never hesitated to be amused. As he traveled from here to there he often stopped to pick up trash for he knew that one man's trash was another man's cash.
12 The Order Of White Ninjas were lawful good, like paladins. They considered themselves far superior to the regular ninjas all dressed up in black, the white ninjas only wore white, there was no darkness in them. The only problem was the only place they could sneak around was in hospitals.
Tonight on the Gamer+ Inspired Unreality the suggested topic will be, "A funny thing happened storming the castle, quest moments, stories, and jokes." Inspired Unreality starts at 9:00 PM Central in the gamerplus chatrooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Voice and text chat. Log on to both.
Feel free to suggest alternate topics. All gaming is on topic.
Please welcome NEA Gamers Guild to Gamer+. They have a convention coming up in Jonesboro, Arkansas, mid October. If you are in a gaming club or involved with a convention please create an account for your group and I will add you to the Play Games column in the footer.
Frylock posted this link to his blog post, Part 1: Copyrightability of #RPG Stat Blocks #DnD #copyright #iplaw.
gsllc.wordpress.com/2019/08/12/part1statblocks/
He really nails the detail on this subject and this is just Part 1.
Gwythaint posted some of his amazing line art here
gamerplus.org/photo/view/333/albumPhotos?albumId=50
and here
gamerplus.org/photo/view/334/albumPhotos?albumId=51
And here's my closing thought.
We are right now in the Golden Age of Gamer+. Although our numbers are small (about 75) I think nearly every gamer on Gamer+ does some kind of creative work. We have writers, artists, podcasters, bloggers, vloggers, DMs and players. Many of us are involved in publishing games, modules, stock art, maps, etc. Gamer+ is here to help you promote your work. Never hesitate to post about new releases whether it's a book or a zine, a blog, a video, or a podcast. All gaming is on topic.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry
We have a guest tonight on Inspired Unreality, Caeora is a fantasy artist and mapmaker who has been working on Dungeonfog's Project Deios. We are going to have Ask Me Anything (about gaming) followed by our usual open game chat. Inspired Unreality starts at 9:00 PM, Central Time at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
Our ranks continue to grow. We now have over 70 gamers on Gamer+. And I've got to tell you, we are mostly creators including writers, artists, vloggers, and podcasters.
We have added gamer RSS feeds and homepage links for their blogs, podcasts, video channels, chat, actual play... You will see this in the footer on every page. The real gem is the "View last 60 items here" link. This updates more quickly than the FeedGrabbr scroll and it has the actual posts with pics and videos included.
And at the bottom of your profile page there is a tool to help you link to your profile page on Gamer+. Your audience wants to read your profile and they may stick around and join.
The final piece of news this week is that starting Monday, August 2, Inspired Unreality will host the Related To Geeks podcast, the podcast of a geeky family. We will discuss The Geek Topic and then go into open game chat. Everyone is welcome to participate. We are planning on making this a monthly event.
Please comment below.
Thanks
The "Guidebook to the Duchy of Valnwall Special Edition", published by Small Niche Games is available on Drive Thru RPG here.
Guidebook to the Duchy of Valnwall
It is licensed OGL and is built on top of Wizards Of The Coast and Labyrinth Lord as well as other properties listed in the OGL Copyright License at the end of the book.
Peter C. Spahn (pspahn) writes "Small Niche Games would like to encourage professional and amateur publishers to use the Guidebook as a shared regional setting and set their commercial adventures within the Duchy of Valnwall. Labyrinth Lords (and publishers) should feel free to change, add, or remove any of the information in this book to better suit his or her own game."
Their are several great maps in this book including this one.
Just a little bit right of center is a small rectangle that makes a perfect map for our Milyagon Quest, "The Witch's Panacea". Fortunately the map is huge with many pixels so I was able to throw it into GIMP, do a crop and make a few small edits and I came up with this.
Nice map, huh? Much better than I would have drawn myself. So I guess now I know where Milyagon is. It's in the Duchy of Valnwall.
Thanks to Peter Spahn and Small Niche Games.
Serpents Fall
caeora.com/product-page/serpents-fall
"Here is the finished Serpents Fall map! The colossal remains of a dead sea serpent, twisted around a few dark rocks and shallows just off shore. When I was making this I imagined that the serpent has been killed by something even bigger in the ocean like a Kraken! And the creepy statue in the top right was brought to the rocks by a kraken worshipping cult, using the blood and organs of the sea serpent for dark rituals."
Caeora will be our guest on the Gamer+ Inspired Unreality open game chat at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord next Monday, August 12, at 9:00 PM Central.
It's been a great week @Gamer+ with many new gamers joining us. We now have over 60 gamers and like I was hoping I have been getting good suggestions on how to improve the site.
I just added a Link To Your Profile feature at the bottom of every profile page. Go to your profile and scroll down to see it. There are detailed instructions here.
We have also added gamer RSS feeds and homepage links for their blogs, podcasts, video channels, chat, actual play... You will see this in the footer on every page. The real gem is the View last 60 items here link. This updates more quickly than the FeedGrabbr scroll and it has the actual posts with pics and videos included. Try it now.
Thanks to TheEVilDM for helping with this project. Do you want to include your link? Contact hairylarry or TheEvilDM on Gamer+.
TheEvilDM also pointed out that he wasn't getting email notifications. I was able to fix that and I wrote a post about it here.
This post also explains how to unsubscribe from Gamer+ News if you would rather just get this online.
Check out the Groups. We've got several budding communities started. If there's no group for your interest start one. Somebody has to do it.
Also we now have gamerplus voice and text chat rooms at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord. Come tonight for Inspired Unreality open game chat scheduled for Monday's at 9:00 PM Central. We will be adding occasional guests and I have a few other ideas too.
If you have ideas for Gamer+ please post them in the comments below. If you're reading this in your email or at Tenkar's Tavern log on to Gamer+ and click Blogs to find this post. Then add your suggestions in the Comments below.
Thanks
TheEvilDM pointed out that email notifications weren't working so I googled around and found out about a cron job that takes care of that and other stuff.
I checked the cron jobs for Gamer+ and sure enough, there it was, trying to run a program on yourdomain.com. So I changed that to gamerplus.org and sure enough, email notifications started working.
So, you might be getting some email notifications. And you might not want to get email notifications.
In the upper right corner there is a dropdown menu with your username on it. Pick My Preferences. Then pick Mail Notifications. You can fine tune which notifications you want to get. This will control the notifications that you get in your Notifications menu, right next to your username in the upper right.
I left these all on because that little Notifications menu helps me keep up with my discussions on Gamer+.
Scroll down to the bottom of that page and you will find a section called, Also send by email.
So you can set it to Immediately if you want to receive an email as soon as someone responds to your post.
You can set it to Never it you would rather not receive notification emails at all.
And in the middle is the wonderful "Automatically (if you don't show up on the site for 2 days)". In other words, don't send me emails if I'm on Gamer+ checking them myself. But if I get busy for a few days I appreciate the reminders.
Additionally on the My Preferences screen there is a General tab where you can set your timezone and subscribe/unsubscribe from the Gamer+ newsletter. We haven't sent one of these yet but we probably will sometime. In fact a weekly email isn't a bad idea. Think I'll start that today.
So you can turn that off too if you want to.
Thanks
If you have a blog, podcast, video channel, or other website and you want to send your readers to your profile page on Gamer+ you can copy the link code at the bottom of your profile page just above the footer.
Drag your mouse over the code or triple click to turn it blue. Hit Ctrl-C to copy it to the clipboard. Go to your website code and wherever you want the link hit Ctrl-V to paste the code in. Then change your_username to your username on Gamer+. Be sure to get it exactly right. It is case sensitive so it has to be capitalized just like it is on Gamer+. Test the link.
This is a great way to support Gamer+. Your readers will enjoy reading your profile and they may decide to sign up for a Gamer+ account.
Thanks
Artwork by Arthur Rackham - public domain
Sweet Mary
by Larry Heyl
Sweet Mary was born in the spring. Her parents were well off and unconventional. Which in itself was strange because Mary was quite conventional. She occupied herself with being a very normal baby until Christmas. Even though she was only nine months old when Kris Kringle came she got a big sparkle in her eye and you could see joy radiate from her and light the room. She was brighter than the tree.
As she grew she remained very conventional. She would read, draw, and walk in the forest. And when Christmas came each year Kris Kringle brought her books, paper, charcoal, crayons, and walking boots. It wasn’t the presents that made her glow. She just loved Christmas in an extraordinary way. It is normal for children to love Christmas but for Sweet Mary her joy of Christmas was unconventionally exuberant.
And so Mary would walk in the woods, reading and drawing, and the years drifted by. Until one fall, at the top of the hill, she found a fairy circle of big beautiful mushrooms and unknowingly she walked through it. She made friends in Feyland, Puck, Took, and Willow. For fairies they were still young and the four of them would romp through the woods playing fairy games almost as if Sweet Mary belonged there. But she loved her parents very much and after a few hours she would always go home. She was still conventional enough not to eat between meals so she could always find the fairy circle and the path back to her house. When she greeted her parents she had that sparkle in her eye they had only seen at Christmas and they very much approved. They quickly grew used to her radiating joy after returning from her walks in the woods.
Then one year she grew up, as girls do, and in the fall when she found the fairy circle she was a maid, even though she didn’t really know what that meant yet. Puck, Took, and Willow knew what it meant and since they were in Feyland it wasn’t long before they were enjoying themselves as fairies do for fairies have no thought for the future and no concerns about morality, they live and love in the present moment only concerned about their own pleasure and enjoyment.
And Mary in Feyland was the same. Conventional no more she also lived for pleasure in the present and greatly enjoyed Puck, Took, and Willow.
When she came home for supper her glow would light the room. Her parents could see she had changed but they were unconventional and left Mary to her pursuits. Mary said nothing of her time in Feyland to her parents. It was her secret.
But when winter came and the fairy circle was gone and her belly began to swell it could be a secret no more. Her mother loved her very much and took her into her confidence explaining the ways of the world to Sweet Mary. But she did not ask after the father because she feared if they found the father he would soon become a husband and take Sweet Mary away. And Mary did not talk about the father either, whether Puck or Took she did not know, and she certainly did not know how do explain her time in Feyland.
In early summer the babe was born and it was a good thing Mary’s parents were unconventional because little Pookie was clearly fey. Her parents were well aware of the dangers of raising a fey child and so they set up all night, every night, taking watches, so the fairies could not steal the babe away. And Sweet Mary, with a babe at her breast forego her trips through the fairy circle, perhaps Puck, Took, and Willow missed her, perhaps not.
In fact, her parents were well pleased with their grandchild. They were unconventional and aware of the fey blood in their own ancestry, weak as it was. They married each other to preserve their heritage and were glad for the fresh infusion of fey blood into their family line. And they were overjoyed when they set up the tree and the babe just smiled and giggled, loving the Christmas spectacle.
So when little Pookie was three and safe from abduction they encouraged Mary to go back to the woods where she once again walked through the fairy circle. Puck, Took, and Willow were most pleased to see her and Sweet Mary once more enjoyed afternoons full of pleasure and companionship. But she said nothing of little Pookie. She had learned, in her life, to keep secrets.
There's always room for improvement, especially on any web project, but I have all 4 legs reaching the ground so I'll take a minute to explain our new aggregated RSS feed featuring always new content created by Gamer+ gamers.
Most blogs, podcasts, and video channels have RSS feeds. (or atom feeds, same thing but different) When people follow a podcast so they don't miss any episodes they often use the RSS feed so their podcast is updated in their feedreader or even auto downloaded to their device.
Many of the gamers on Gamer+ are content creators. I am, Carl is, The EvilDM is, and lots more. As you will see. So my idea was to find a way to promote their work right here on this site to make it easy for gamers to find the podcasts, blogs, videos, etc. that other gamers on Gamer+ are creating.
So I installed Tiny Tiny RSS and TheEvilDM and I have been busy subscribing to all the feeds we can find that other gamers on this site have available.
If we missed you let us know in the comments. If you start a new web project let us know. Even if it doesn't have an RSS feed let us know. We want to feature your stuff.
So the four legs of the stool are:
1. A scrolling auto updating display of all the new posts on all the feeds we have subscribed to on Tiny Tiny RSS. This is on the left above the banner in the footer.
2. A link list to the homepages of 12 of these creators that changes each time you load a page. This is on the right above the banner in the footer.
3. An auto updating link list to 60 recent posts from the Gamer+ creators. You can access this link at the bottom left of item 2 above, the bottom left of the right block just above the footer. There, is that confusing enough? I think I'll just post the link here.
4. A manually updated categorized link list of all the homepages of every feed we have added to Tiny Tiny RSS. This is on the bottom right just above the banner and also on the far right in the footer next to Mobile version. And here's the link for that.
Did you notice I said manually updated? No, I don't type this stuff in. I run a program I wrote on the exported opml file from Tiny Tiny RSS and the program types it all in. Still it's a thing that has to happen so it won't always happen just as soon as the RSS feeds are updated. And it might happen before the RSS feeds are updated because there is often a delay of about an hour before new posts are displayed.
I am not done working on this but I am happy with it. It's really good. It's all there. It could be better. What else is new?
Like I said, if you're on Gamer+ we want to add your stuff. And if you're not on Gamer+, join, so we can add your stuff. There's a lot of content on Gamer+ already and more all the time. But the amount of content in these feeds that you can easily access right from the footer on every page is more than you will ever have time to consume.
So, Enjoy! And add a comment below.
AEIOU posts in the_dungeon_show at Tenkar's Tavern
@Bruce_Lombardo The Dungeon Show has ended its famous run and is already dearly missed. @Carl Heyl (Wild Games Prod) has a new project (or a few new ones?) that he's working on. This space has been subleased for a weekly Monday chat regarding G+ (Gamer+) with @hairylarry . It's a nascent social media hub that holds considerable promise for the gaming community.
Carl Heyl adds
Gamerplus is something dad and I thought up on the way home from North Texas RPG Con. I hope it works well for people
It's at gamerplus.org
Bruce Lombardo says
I like Gamerplus.
LaramieWall chimes in
Sub-Pexx Laramie will be transitioning this space from Dungeon Show to Harry Larry's new plans .
AEIOU jokes (I think)
Hairy Larry's Nefarious Plan for World Domination would be a good working title for the channel
hairylarry replies
If I had the ring I could rule the world Bwa ha ha ha ha.
I would like both the voice and text chats to be renamed Gamer+
Looks like you can use minus signs (-) so plus signs (+) will probably be ok.
Right now our only event is the Monday night Inspired Unreality Open Game Chat. We plan on having occasional guests and I have an under my hat idea for a monthly podcast as part of this event.
I also have plans for an Actual Play event called If You Play You Win. This would be one offs, jump in and jump out, with rotating DMs. The DM for the session will pick the game system. It would be really cool to have DMs playing their own modules or even their own rule systems.
At Gamer+ we have international gamers and also some early risers and off to work folks so we might experiment with the time slots to include them. Not for Inspired Unreality but definitely for new events.
How's that for riveting dialogue?
There are so many creative people here doing so many things I wanted to feature their work. By reading, listening, and viewing what they do you will get to know them better than you can just browsing Gamer+.
I have ideas to make this better. I'd like to put up a page that's a categorized link list with all the links in one place instead of just 12 at a time. So if you're looking for something to read you can check the Blogs category, if you want to listen while you're cleaning your office (lol) you can check the podcast category.
If you have ideas to improve this project or others please post them below in the comments.
It's really a big world out there and nobody has time to check out all the creative work that even some of us do. I can't even keep up with what my kids do! So after you listen to a podcast or watch a video give it a mention here on Gamer+. That will give others an incentive to make that connection.
And if you have a creative gaming endeavor, even if it doesn't have a feed, please post in the comments. I am going to devise a way to include links to projects that aren't feed friendly like fiction, art galleries, or other major projects.
If you have read my previous blog on solo play, or you are a solo player, then you should have an idea of how solo role play works.
There are lots of purely generic "Solo Engines"* out there. Mythic is the big one but UNE and CRGE are popular as well. The advantage of a generic solo engine is that once you know how it works you can take to any game. The disadvantage of the a generic solo engine is that it can break the suspension of disbelief and pull you out of the game. If you are using d6 dice pools for all your skill rolls and combat and then suddenly it is all d100 and full page tables. The jolt is even bigger with rules light narrative/story teller games and detail/crunch solo engines like Mythic.
What I like to do is take the flavour of the game I want to play and the dice mechanics and create a customised set of solo tools for each game I play. If you have a table of probabilities for any particular event to happen or not it is not difficult to change it up or down from d100 to d20 to 2d6. Sometimes you lose options and sometimes you gain.
As a solo player I get to play every game on my shelves as I don't have to convince my group to give them a go. I also get to see innovations that make you think that these should be in every game, things so simple that you cannot believe you didn't think of them yourself.
With each new iteration of my solo rules they become slightly more sophisticated. Sophistication does not need to mean complicated. What they always do is stay 'in character' with the game they are designed to match up with. Once I am in the game I don't want to break out of it.
In SWN most challenges at the table are resolved with 2d6. 2d6 is also all you are going to need for the solo rules as well. SWN is perfect for sandbox play an and my solo engine is designed to collect together and build plots and missions that are progressing at their own rate regardless of whether you want to be a part of them or not. The rules do not railroad you and it is not uncommon for there to be more plots the central character is not involved in that the ones they are!
So as a teaser here is one of the spreads from the first draft of the SWN Solo rules. The protagonist is Jesse but don't worry, things turned out well. That day.
*A solo engine is the sum of the game mechanics that emulate the GM in a rolo playing game.
If you have a gaming company, big or small, money making or aspirational, Gamer+ is offering Free ads. Ads will continue to be free until we have a lot more members.
To place your ad I need a 200x1200 banner, the name of your company, and the link you want your ads to link to.
My email is hairylarry@gmail.com
Thanks
Vince did a great job describing our old school social network. This post is a meta or help post describing what is actually different about Gamer+ compared to most other social networks that shall remain unnamed.
There are no algorithms deciding what you get to see. All the feeds are reverse chronological order with the most recent posts at the top. This gives Gamer+ a transparent and unconfusing interface.
There are no trackers or third party ads running javascript. Text ads at the top. Banner ads at the bottom. They are static ads that link where they say they're going and that's all they do. Support GAmer+ and our sponsors with your clicks. Nobody here is spying on you.
We encourage game clubs and companies to create their own profiles and promote their events and products. Please promote your podcast and your blog or youtube channel. All tabletop gaming is on topic.
We are trying to find the sweet spot where there are enough features but not so many features that the screens become busy and distracting. If you have problems, comments, or suggestions we have a group for that.
Thanks for enjoying Gamer+. Run by gamers for gamers.
I'll try a few posts, and I'll see what happens. Some will be reposts from the current NUELOW Games blog, some will be new. Some may even be reposts from my long-time favorite blog, Shades of Gray.
Meanwhile... if anyone sees this, please let me know. Is it worth it for me to post here?
This is from Gamer+ Inspired Unreality, July 29, 2019. My suggested topic was Fantasy Fiction but we spent more time on the soon to be released World Anvil for Lost Worlds. Actually kind of closely related.
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First suggested topic - fantasy fiction. All gaming is on topic. Anyone can suggest a topic.
I'm reading Stephen Brust, the Vlad Taltos series. I'm on Jhereg, the first book. Currently 15 books in the series, 19 planned.
Stephen Brust - he's a musician.
In the Brust there are two kinds of magic, witchcraft and sorcery. Witchcraft is spells. Sorcery is reaching for power and projecting your will.
There is also teleportation, psionics, telepathic communication, familiars, all in their own coherent systems.
I think it would be a great foundation for a gaming world.
There's a fandom wiki - https://dragaera.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page
They say "Dragaera is a fictional world, the setting of a number of books by Steven Karl Zoltán Brust. It is inhabited by two major intelligent species, generally known as Dragaerans and Easterners, as well as several other races such as the Serioli, cat-centaurs, and the gods."
So you can see; races, classes, two types of magic, two styles of combat, rapiers and swords, perfect for a gaming world.
And I'm only on book 1.
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My friend, the librarian, recommended this series and I'm enjoying it. He also plays jazz bass and I enjoy that too.
It’s a game you play with friends in a social setting. …It’s an exploration of intriguing or fanciful scenarios. …It’s a chance to be someone you’re not. …It’s a celebration of sticky situations. …It’s collaborative daydreaming. …It’s exercise for your personal sense of drama. …It’s a way to trick ourselves into creating interesting things. …It’s something you’ve been doing all along.I am pretty sure that there are a lot of regular role players that would accept that definition at first glance and then stop, think and then disagree.
Not everyone has a regular group that they can get a game with. A lot of people are time starved or work unsocial hours which makes a regular game hard.
So if you cannot get a regular, around the dining table, game what are your options?
Discord
Many discord servers offer voice chat + dice roller bot online games. The plus is that you can pick a server for just about any game system in existence and you will get a game. The problem of being out of timezone or just time poor isn't solved but it is easier, a night shift working in the US could join an EU game. You get the social element to some extent. You can join in the banter and you get to role play but ultimately you are sat at home on your own most likely. It is a brave person who voice chats in character in Starbucks.
Forums
There are many forums that allow play by post. I like PBP games. The style I use is that every player gets two forum threads of their own that are invisible to all other players. The first is for out of character questions and comments. The second is purely in character. When two characters converse, I as GM will copy'n'paste from one to the other and then paraphrase the post to the other characters point of view. Imagine if you are trying to persuade someone and you have failed the relevant social skill test. The words remain yours but I get to describe you delivering that dialogue. I encourage people to add in mannerisms, facial expressions, gestures and if you are going to pace back and forth before the fireplace before unmasking the murderer then describe it.
What all this builds up is a really rich picture of how your character thinks and behaves. PBP games are perfect for political and intrigue games as characters have perfect recall, being able to scroll up to check facts and statements.
I set the game up so no player knows who is a PC and who is an NPC. I also do not insist that partys form or hold together. If you character's chip on her shoulder drives away people that get to know her then you may well end up as a loner.
PBP games give a wonderfully rich experience but at the cost of one or two posts a day being considered 'fast' and sometimes two posts a week is more normal.
Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops exist to provide as rich an experience as possible and as such they are much the same as a Discord game but with graphics. They do turn role playing into a pay to play experience as at least the GM needs to pay for membership. There are some free options but only because they are new and want to steal away users from the other more established platforms. You are looking at the same issues of time zones and having to commit to regular time slots.
Solo Play
For some reason solo play is often looked down upon. It can be ridiculed as talking to yourself, day dreaming or just creative writing. It is mostly ridiculed by people who don't know what they are talking about, but that is true of most things.
Solo play has existed since the first Dungeon Master's Guide. Solo wargaming has always been an accepted part of war gaming and Chainmail and later D&D grew out of a wargaming background.
A regular game has a basic loop of the GM describes the scene, the players describe their actions, the GM resolves the actions and then loop back to describing the new scene. Solo play has two loops. think of them as a left and a right loop. You imagine a scene. If you would normally ask the GM a question to clarify your understanding then you use the solo rules to answer that question. Now you loop back you have your answers and you can imagine the scene. You imagine your characters actions, the conversations, NPCs and challenges. When you character acts you use the regular game rules to resolve the actions. You then loop back and imagine the new scene. So the left loop uses the solo rules and answers questions you would ask the GM. The right loop resolves in game challenges and uses the traditional game mechanics. So left loop would deal with "Are there any guards?", "Is there anywhere I can hide?" or "Trying the car door, is it unlocked?". Right look deals with picking locks, combat and spell casting etc.
Emulating a GM is not that difficult. It is often described as a RPG version of a magic 8-ball. You need to use your improv skills because of course any rules in a book cannot see your character or the scene or the goblins.
At the core of every set of solo rule are three mechanics. The first is for yes/no type questions. you pitch your question as a closed yes/no question, use a modifier for how likely you think the answer is going to be a yes or a no and then roll the dice. You then have to use your improv skills to work that answer into your scene.
The second tool is for open ended questions like "What are they talking about?" and "What is this book about?" Often you roll the dice and get a two word answer and you have to think given the adventure so far and the current scene what does that two word combo mean to me? The answers are often kind of obvious like "Betraying + Leader" or "Plotting + Loved one" and that sort of thing. They are designed to fit in with adventures so you not going to get "Cut price + banana".
The final tool is the plot twist mechanic. If your adventure just plodded along with yes and no answers and the odd bit of description then things would get stale rather quickly. Plot twists are designed to throw up the unexpected. There are three common plot twist ideas. The first is 'complication'. These happen when you are asking a yes/no style question and it idea is that something happens that makes that particular yes/no questions irrelevant. For example you ask if there is a horse you can steal and roll a complication. Using your improv skills you decide that there is a fantastic black stallion but at that second someone throws a saddle on to it and you recognise them as your arch nemesis. That would of course completely change the whole set of priorities that had you wanting to steal a horse.
The next version is the interrupted scene. Solo play often works in scenes and a scene ends whenever you handwave a block of time (generally). If you had just discovered an important and incriminating piece of evidence against a mobster and you are racing to town hall and the mayors office. Normally you would probably not role play the journey to the town hall, you would just arrive. Not with an interrupted scene. You have to think of a reason why you don't get there. Does a car ram you off the street? Does a corrupt police officer flag you down? I had this situation in a modern genre game and at that moment terrorists had placed a bomb in the atrium of city hall and as I raced up the steps the entire glass fronted building exploded. That cancelled my meeting with the mayor!
The final plot twist you are likely to see are stage directions. They may say something like Introduce an NPC, or Your quest becomes harder. It is down to you to work out how to fit that into your game. If you five levels down in a megadungeon a new NPC is unlikely to be a merchant selling healing potions but it could easily be a chained up captive with half a dozen drow guards. If it told you your quest gets harder then maybe the route ahead has collapsed and you cannot get through the way you had planned? If you have your GM's hat on I am sure you can come up with some pretty miserable things to do to your character.
That is a pretty intense whirlwind tour of just the basics of solo play. I keep a rather terse bullet point list of key events and questions so I can recap and pick up where I was but you can record your adventures however you like, or not at all.
I talked about some of the advantages and disadvantages of the other forms of role playing. In solo play there is no loss of fidelity between what the GM imagines and what you see. You are both so your understanding is perfect. The same goes for NPCs and descriptions of magic and monsters. There are no time constraints or commitments to always be available at a particular time.
You can solo play to test a new game, or one of the three hundred games on your shelves that you bought but never got to play. You don't have to prep for solo play. You need to think of solo play as an infinite sandbox. I had an adventure once because my character had little or no starting money left. I asked if the tavern keeper was in a good mood and the solo rules said No. I asked why? and it said something like "Grieving + Crime". I decided someone had been murdered and my first reaction was that it was his wife and for some reason I tagged on that his daughter had been kidnapped. Well, there was something that I could do something about. I role played the scene as the taverner refused to let me into the tavern as he shut it up and barred the door. He had is club from under the bar and he was out for blood. I calmed him down enough to get some of the story out of him and I pointed out that while he was an excellent barkeep, I was the one with the spear and armour. I improvised a story about his debt to a street gang and how he fell behind the payments. He was supposed to take a beating as a warning but his wife walked in and tried to grab a sword off one of the thugs and in the ensuing struggle she was killed and his daugher was grabbed and taken away. There was my adventure and I had also learned a lot of flavour of the kind of town I was in.
Even with that tiny snapshot of my meeting with a taverner I hope you can see a bit of how solo play works.
I will blog more on solo play later as I think this has given anyone new to solo play plenty to take in for a first introduction.
It wasn't unusual for me to let the characters write parts of the quest as they were confronted with a new problem. For most encounters the die roll decided their fate. As we were mostly playing as a family group (and friends) their was always considerable amounts of discussion about the choices made.
As a teaching apparatus role playing was extremely beneficial. We often brought historic events, places and characters into the game. It also worked well for squeezing in math, science and art.
Me:
I will be on chat again tonight. What I would like to do is open a Gamer+ chatroom to be used anytime. The Monday night open game chat will be the first event. I hope there will be others in the future. Sometimes with guests. I will still post into the Dungeon Show channel to let people know where we are.
I tried reaching you on Facebook but I'm still not confirmed. Thanks.
Pexx:
Would you like to rename the Dungeon Show to something else? And what start time would you like?
Do you need help getting guests?
Me:
No, I would like to leave the Dungeon Show up for a few weeks so I can post info in there Monday nights. After that I have nothing to say about it. It's Carl's show and it ended so that decision will be up to you. I just want it up for a few weeks to help with the transition.
I would like to start the Monday Night Open Game Chat at 9:00 and end it when it peters out. I will be there posting for at least an hour, sometimes longer and I will try to continue chatting as long as it's happening.
I would like the Gamer+ room to be available anytime so I can promote it as available on gamerplus.org. I would like to add other events as Gamer+ gears up. One time and weekly. Maybe even some actual game play events.
I would definitely like to have help getting guests. We won't be recording a podcast so it will just be Q&A with the guest as well as open game chat.
My idea for tonight and other nights without guests is to post text on topics I've been thinking about, like the OGL last week. Just to try to get a discussion started. Also make it clear that it's open game chat. All tabletop games are on topic. And also encourage others to text chat about things they would like to discuss.
If we could work around to having guest about half the time that would be fine. Thanks for your help with this.
9:00 CST - same as the dungeon show - that's the schedule I'm used to and it's been working for me so why change it?
Vivian and I are trying to come up with a title for the Monday night event. We would like to emphasize creativity, game design, mechanics, writing, art, cartography, etc. We don't want the title to be RPG centric although I expect most chats will be.
Creative Conquests, If You Play You Win, Inspired Unreality, Inspired Ingenuity
Something better than Open Game Chat.
"For a while there the universe was clockwork. All cause and effect. Every action had an equal and opposite reaction."
Dr. Shengwei was lecturing his class. Physics 101. He hadn't started in on the math yet.
"But the more we tried to describe the more complicated the descriptions became. The systems outpaced our equations. We could no longer make valid predictions. Since we saw chaos we described it as chaos. Chaos Theory became the new thing. But it was more of an excuse for why our predictions were failing than a way to make predictions."
"Is the universe clockwork and completely predictable? Or is it a chaotic mess with no prediction possible? Or is it both? 'It can't be both!' you say. But we are looking through the eyes of man. Maybe the human mind is the limitation here. Maybe in the eye of God chaos is simple."
He could tell he was starting to lose them. He could see the big question forming behind their eyes. What does God have to do with physics? They were expecting math but they were getting theology. Einstein said, "God does not play dice with the universe". The students were getting anxious. Uncomfortable. He would have to start on the math soon. Then they would wish he was still talking about God.
"Godel proved that in any formal system complex enough to describe itself, even systems as simple as axiomatic algebra, There would be statements that can't be proven or disproven and statements that hadn't yet been proven or disproven. Godel also showed that there was no way to distinguish between the two. Only God would know whether a statement that hadn't been proven could be proved or not. At least until a man or woman could prove or disprove it."
Dr Shengwei turned to the board and started in on the math. When he looked out at the class the uncertaintly and anxiety was gone. This was what they had been expecting. Now the uncertainty and anxiety was replaced with confusion.
Behind every pair of eyes there was a chaotic system known as a human brain. Was the human brain essentially chaotic or was it only chaotic as perceived by the human brain? In the eye of God even the human brain is simple.
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Originally published at SFF Short Stories
sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry190109-101203
I just turned this into a Mini Zine.
Some stuff I wrote about Milyagon during the Gamer+ Voice and Text Chat at Tenkar's Tavern on Discord.
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Vivian and I are writing modules and we are using OGL monster stats, etc. We put them in a separate zine
So now we're writing a little background story to get our next module started.
It's about the Milyagon witch.
So the background story sets up the problem and then when the player characters get involved it becomes a sandbox.
We've been cowriting on Gamer+ and on another social network I wrote called Collab. It's a ground up design specifically for a cowriting game.
I think the background story will help with player motivation.
We didn't really have that with Caves Of Doom. The characters come to town and hear about the Caves Of Doom which coincidentally happens to be the modules title so they know that's where they need to go.
So our modules are one offs. It could be you could run several consecutively to make a campaign. If we write more than two (which I plan on doing).
There's a woodcutter story where the town's woodcutter also sculpts figures that come alive at night.
And there's telescope hill with a tower and a telescope run by a pensioner called the keeper.
The blacksmith, Yon Rogar, is also turning into an interesting character. He also makes weapons and trades in them.
Last week I did the Delta Jazz Workshop. I'm still recuperating but you can tell I'm itching to work on these modules.
There's a bunch of Rogars. One at the docks. One at the stables. Big family of non farmers.
I have a tendency to play characters who look before they leap, don't crawl out on the limb or take a drink out of the glass before knowing whats's in it. Whenever I think about changing any of that I am less than convinced I could pull it off. Still it might be a lark to try playing someone who is quick to jump into the fray. A character who is self-confident, impulsive and just a little over the top.
I don't know that I'll make a character adjustment anytime soon. That being said nothing ventured......
So you saved your blog in progress as a draft and now you want to finish it. How do you find your draft?
Go to your Dashboard by clicking DASHBOARD on the main menu.
Under Quick Links select My Blog.
Then click on MY DRAFTS.
Easy if you know how but it took us a little searching to find the exact right path through the nested menus.
Unlike other social network programs which shall remain unnamed Gamer+ actually makes sense. First off it's most recent on top with no algorithm deciding what you need to see and no ad targeting. The first three items on the top menu are Dashboard, Main, and Members. Here's what you will find there.
Dashboard displays your posts and your friends and follows posts. If it is only displaying your posts you should friend and follow some fellow gamers.
Main shows all posts, most recent at the top. Viewing main is like turning on the faucet. Every post by every member.
Members show a list of members. Clicking on a member's avatar or username takes you to their profile. Their info that they post for you to see and all of their posts, comments, etc. most recent at the top.
Like I said, it makes sense.
Therein lies the crux of the matter.
May the Schwartz be with you.
Elphonium by INDRIKoff from Deviantart
used with permission
This painting was the inspiration for this story. I saw it on Tumblr and followed the link path to Deviantart. Thanks to INDRIKoff for painting this remarkable image.
Elphonium
by Larry Heyl
The King was bored. The King was restless. Peaceful times were great for his Kingdom. His subjects were happy and hearty. Trade flourished. But the King … was bored.
He thought of calling his musicians with their lyres and flutes but lately all their tunes sounded the same. Even his fool’s raunchy jokes failed to amuse. He would rather saddle his horse and ride.
That’s it. He would ride. A real ride. Just the King, his fool, and his groom. Not a ride to somewhere. Just a ride. He had purpose. A purposeless ride.
The King moved. “Come Fool.”, he bawled, “We ride.”
Somehow the groom already knew. Gossip in the castle travels faster than thought. When the King and his fool arrived at the stables the groom was ready. Three good horses saddled and prancing. They were a sight for sore eyes. The King, his fool, and his groom mounted and rode.
They stepped lightly across the drawbridge and quickly broke into a canter, the King in the lead. He hadn’t gone a quarter mile before he veered off onto a lightly used path into the woods. They slowed and the King let his horse pick the trail. Sometimes the path disappeared but his horse had a sense of direction beyond human abilities. When the trail forked his horse knew which way to go. The fool and the groom followed behind without effort. Their horses followed the King’s horse. The King gave his horse his head.
The forest changed. It was now more open. Lighter. Brighter. The leaves on the trees shimmered. The grass waved in the breeze as if begging to be trod on. The horses slowed to a walk, a slow walk, somehow barely moving. And then they heard the music.
It was like nothing they had ever heard before. A sweet plaintive sound, sometimes like an oboe and sometimes like a flute but always changing. Music without thought, apparently without direction. But somehow it always seemed to get there. The phrases morphing into each other, one after the other, drawing them in.
They came to a clearing and under a pear tree standing alone they saw an elfin princess blowing a horn beyond description. Not a horn with one bell. Not a horn with one sound. Many bells. Each with it’s own sound. And the horn was not separate from the elfin princess. Somehow it grew right out of her. And the music flowed right out of her too. Tumbling through their minds like a river tumbles through the valley.
They dismounted and the groom tended the horses. He didn’t have to tie them. They weren’t going anywhere.
The groom brought a sack of wine from his saddlebags and they all three drank and listened to the music. But they didn’t get drunk. They drank so slowly, sip by sip, the wine enhancing their senses, carrying them deeper and deeper into the music.
Other elves appeared, charming fellows but none as beautiful as the elphin princess. The King noticed other mouthpieces on the horn. Soon the other elves were playing too, each on their own mouthpiece. Each creating countermelodies out of one of the bells.
The music became denser with bass patterns underlying harmonies underlying the ever changing melodies played by the elphin princess. The King, his fool, and his groom stood their entranced. Slowly sipping wine. Captured by the music.
And then the faeries came. A dozen, then a hundred, dancing out of the woods. Soon the King, his fool, and his groom were surrounded by hundreds of faeries dancing naked in the meadow. The fool wanted to make a raunchy joke but his mouth wouldn’t make the sounds. His lips wouldn’t speak.
The sun set. The moon rose. The King joined the dance. The moon, high in the sky, looked down on the three of them dancing with the faeries, thoroughly ensorceled.
And what a night it was dancing naked in the clearing with the faeries. It was better than the hunt. Better than battle. Better than life itself. Just the music, the dancing, the faeries, the elves, the elphin princess, and the horn.
As the moon set the faeries danced off. The wine was finally gone. The music wound down. Softer, slower. And they slept.
They awoke after dawn, under the pear tree, still naked, not another soul in sight. Their horses nickered standing at the edge of the clearing. They dressed. They mounted. They rode.
It seemed like only minutes and they were back at the castle. The King’s subjects shouted “Hurrah! the King is back! Hurrah!”
They were lucky.
Only a year had passed.
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The story “Elphonium” by Larry Heyl is CC-BY.
There it was, spread out in front of me. The dragon’s horde. So beautiful, all the gold and jewels. It would be perfect if it wasn’t for the giant red sprawled across the treasure snoring.
Focus, I told myself. Where’s the cup? The dwarves were paying me for one thing and one thing only, Gimcrack’s Cup, their holy chalice, and of course it was made of gold so of course the dragon stole it.
I knew from experience that I could spend through any treasure I could steal and I made my share of enemies learning this. The dwarves were offering an annuity and safe harbor. I had to get that cup.
I crept slowly, keeping in the shadows around the edge of the cave. How can I see one cup piled amongst all that gold? Sharp eyes, I thought. Stay focused. Move slowly.
When I got to the far side of the cave I was looking right up the sleeping dragons nostrils. One puff and I’d be toast. But there it was. About half way up the mound. Shining with its own light and cracked right down one side. If you poured ale into Gimcrack’s Cup it should leak right out but instead it stayed everful as long as you were drinking from it. No wonder the dwarves worshipped it.
But how do I get it from the dragon? I’ll draw my magic sword and cut his head off. But I’m no warrior and I have no magic sword. I’ll cast an illusion and distract him. But I’m no illusionist and I know no spells. I know! I’m a thief. I’ll creep up there and steal it from under his nose. But that might lead to a fiery death. I stood paralyzed looking right at the dragon, scared shitless.
He opened one eye. “Human, how good to see you. Just in time for breakfast. Not much of a bite but so tasty, roasted”.
“Wait!” I cried. “Don’t kill me. The dwarves sent me.”
“Dwarves” shouted the dragon. “Even less of a morsel and kind of tough. I’d rather eat you.”
Impending death and the thought of dwarves gave me an inspiration. “I tell you what. Before breakfast how about a little drinking competition? Since dwarves sent me we’ll have a quaffing contest. We can each quaff a cup of ale and then another. I’m sure I can outdrink you.”
“Ho, ho, ho.” laughed the dragon. “Puny human you will never outdrink a giant red. All that alcohol will only tenderize you. So I say yes! A quaffing contest.”
I reached down at me feet and grabbed a bejeweled chalice. “I’ll drink from this.” Walking boldly through the treasure toward the dragon I scooped up Gimcrack’s Cup. “And you’ll drink from this.” I handed him the cup.
“Ho ho ho.” laughed the dragon. “You’re going to get me drunk with a cracked cup?” He dragged up a barrel of lager and topped of my chalice the ale running down the sides and soaking my sleeve. “You first human.”
I looked him in the eye and said, “This is how you quaff. Turn it up and don’t turn it down until it’s empty.” I turned up the chalice and went glug, glug, glug swallowing most of it but letting some run down my beard for good form.
The dragon was ready. He topped off Gimcrack’s Cup not even noticing that the ale didn’t even leak. He turned it up and started pouring it down his throat. It kept pouring and pouring the fine strong ale. Some of it started running down his muzzle but he wouldn’t give up. He drank and he drank until he fell over sideways. When he stopped drinking Gimcrack’s Cup emptied onto his face.
The giant red was so out of it that he wasn’t even snoring. I carefully pried the cup from his talons. I threw it and the chalice into my pack. On the way out I added a few choice items.
Even with an annuity I’m going to need a little bit of spending money.
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Feel free to use this in your quests.
"Gimcrack's Cup" was originally published at SFF Short Stories.
sffshortstories.com/?x=entry:entry160826-165426
It is also available as a Mini Zine here.
Milyagon is a small village upriver from the southern seaport Canyanban. It used to be a military fortress and it still maintains substantial wooden walls with a large gate and several smaller entrances. Outside the gate on what used to be the parade grounds is a trading fair where area farmers and craftsmen peddle their wares.
Guard towers set at each corner of the fortress. There is also a lookout tower on the High Bluffs and an even larger tower on Telescope Hill, remnants of military history.
On fair day people come from miles around. Trade is brisk and business is good. Gold greases the wheels and the wheels keep turning.
Citizens:
- Mayor Bannych is former military and a good man in a pinch.
- Sherrif Slykver is slick in fact and not too crooked.
- Tyad Miggles the innkeep is amiable and well off.
- Yon Rogar the smith is big and he looks dumb, but he's not.
- Thom Kellych the shopkeeper is wiry with a sharp eye for profit.
- Marantha is the apothecarist. She has a strong nose and a nimble mind.
- Jon Rogar runs the docks. He's as big as his brother, Yon.
- The priest, Durward, leans toward greed and gluttony.
- The witch lives north of town. Many say her potions work fine.
- The keeper lives on a pension below the tower on Telescope Hill.
Legends:
The woodcutter in Wilken Woods cuts statues and totems as well as firewood. His statues are very lifelike especially in the moonlight. Sometimes a young whippersnapper will tell tale about how one of them came to life at full moon and he killed it. The older folks pay no heed because the legend is no one has ever bested one of the woodcutters animated statues.
No one doubts the witches potions. Her herb garden is small but immaculate and she knows exactly what poisons she's growing as well as what tea eases cramps or kills pain. She has been known to help girls after a rape and the legend is that after she took care of the girl she would take care of the rapist too.
This quest by Larry and Vivian Heyl is licensed Creative Commons Attribution. Images public domain.
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