tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3562412260249297902024-03-13T07:18:23.650-05:00World of WonderUnicorns, RPGS, 40K and moreLoquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-52616746104519854192015-06-27T10:47:00.000-05:002015-06-27T10:47:04.484-05:00Paper Experiments I tried playing with a limited color palatte and a reduced number of images today. Everything else was open to whatever I wanted to do; I just couldn't use anything other than the 5 colors and 3 or 4 stamp sets.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_kaNOsYySc/VY7CN9f28kI/AAAAAAAALRA/92wpk5WAkDo/s1600/celebrating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_kaNOsYySc/VY7CN9f28kI/AAAAAAAALRA/92wpk5WAkDo/s320/celebrating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I tried out some new coloring techniques here- I used Prismacolor markers given to me by an exceedingly generous artist friend. I really like them, but I need to learn how to test and use them before I go too far into them on a regular basis. I threw away several images because the markers were too dark or bright =(</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wzsms2Tk6A/VY7Ciq6xDSI/AAAAAAAALRQ/-boPgy8_I-c/s1600/grateful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6wzsms2Tk6A/VY7Ciq6xDSI/AAAAAAAALRQ/-boPgy8_I-c/s320/grateful.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry it is a little blurry. Hope the colors and design come through. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZqiVobJkaM/VY7CiMvvz0I/AAAAAAAALRM/sURjFbktV4o/s1600/hereforyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZqiVobJkaM/VY7CiMvvz0I/AAAAAAAALRM/sURjFbktV4o/s320/hereforyou.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I plan to color this in with markers before I am finished. </td></tr>
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It's really hard to see in this picture, but there are DOTS embossed onto the minty green paper behind the flower. </div>
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I am really liking this set of colors. There is a taupe that I wasn't crazy about in the package, but once I used it, I changed my tune. It's neutral but has enough depth to it to be used in many different ways. I have also become a HUGE fan of the slate color instead of black as a neutral. It has a softer, more personal look that I adore. </div>
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I also found a card online that I am using as a reference/inspiration piece for something else. I bought a stamp set that is extremely similar to the images shown here, and so I wanted some ideas on how to use it. </div>
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My guess is that the "you" is a die cut, because the main orange appears to be dimensional. In my experience, stamping across a flat paper and onto a dimensional image leaves you with a break in the image, so a die cut or sticker makes more sense to me here.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-47924419780608377912015-04-28T07:24:00.000-05:002015-04-28T07:24:17.345-05:00This is Friendship, Part 2 A while ago, my dad announced to both of my kids that he would take them on AN ADVENTURE. The adventure could be to nearly any place of their choosing, and would last roughly a weekend. Assuming their choice of destination and adventure was attainable, he would take them and they would have a blast.<br />
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He put some minor limits on the adventure criteria. It had to be in the continental US and needed to happen when the weather was warmer. He made a couple of suggestions, but ultimately, the choice was made by my kids.<br />
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My daughter decided to visit New York, New York.<br />
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I hit up my alien friend almost immediately and let him know my family would be traveling to his city. He asked me when, and assured me that he would be nothing less than a gracious host. He worried endlessly about the weather (spring in New York is fickle), and fussed about the subway. He made many faces at the idea that some scrub might bother my kid or my dad, and promised to keep them safe.<br />
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That loveable alien switched his on-call weekends around so he could be available to my family the weekend they were there. Despite it all, he got hit with a service call the day he was supposed to meet them, and cussed his bosses pretty fierce that he was all mussed for their meeting.<br />
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They went to lunch at a kebob place in Astor Park, and then shopping. There were some special places my kiddo wanted to go, and my buddy showed em around every damn part of the Island on FOOT, according to them. They had a hard time keeping up with my friend, who didn't realize he was killing my dad until he saw some wheezing. According to both my dad and my daughter, they got turned around or lost at least once, but still found some nice places to visit.<br />
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One of those places was a purse store. The purse that was purchased was for me. I sure as hell didn't ASK for it. I was sort of badgered into accepting that a purse was GOING TO HAPPEN and I should shush and accept it.<br />
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The purse was picked by one party and paid for by another (who wouldn't let anyone pay for cabs, or subways, or nuthin) and sent home for me to enjoy. </div>
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I told SinSynn this when they arrived- there's not many people I trust with my kid, or my dad. He's one of them. He was the perfect soul of a gentleman the whole time, and chatted up my dad and made a very positive impression. My daughter also thought he was da awesome, and compared him to a walking, talking Bugs Bunny. </div>
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That made me laff pretty hard, actually. It's true and so fitting. </div>
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This is way beyond friendship, actually. This man is my family. My kid and my dad went to a strange place and he put 'em up just like they were his own blood and took care of 'em. </div>
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There aren't enough words to state how grateful I am to him. I'll probably spend the rest of my life trying, though. </div>
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Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-37669766454283547802015-04-16T17:48:00.000-05:002015-04-16T17:48:00.642-05:00This is Friendship, Part 1 I have been super lucky to make friends with some amazing people over the internet. Some of them have crossed over from "imaginary people" to real, honest and genuine friends that I count on for just about everything.<br />
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One of those people is Lauby, the former El Jefe of the House of Paincakes. When he and Dethtron started the joint up, I wrote to them and asked them to let me join their blog roll. I wasn't sure they would say yes, to be honest.<br />
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I am primarily into RPGs and not miniatures, and I have a really strange POV about gaming being a lady. Sometimes that reality doesn't mesh with what blog netwerk people have in mind for their membership and I have been told to beat feet at least once.<br />
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But they said yes, and then I became a writer for them. Then we got to emailing and chatting and discussing reality and we became friends. The fact that I am from the same town where the two of them met and went to college (Uni) together helped seal the deal in terms of bonding and friendship.<br />
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Lauby and I especially hit it off and became pretty good friends. While he was miserable, underemployed and trying to stay sane out on the East Coast, I was floating him regular silly encouragements and general "stay happy" vibes. Many a dick joke has passed between us, as we are both apparently 12.<br />
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When I was in a long string of terrible job-itis, Lauby propped me up with continued proclamations of my awesomeness and proudly acted as a reference for me as I applied for a new job for almost a year straight. (From one bad job right into another until I found my current place, which is ridiculously wonderful.)<br />
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He himself has had a bad time lately, so rather than let him mope about it, I threatened to come out to see him. He apparently was afraid I would bring my son again because he declined and came over to my house, hung out with me and my dog, and then we went out to eat/drink/be social.<br />
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This is proof that Lauby exists and isn't some ridiculous figment of my imagination.<br />
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We went to a pub that I really like, but TheDude doesn't care for- so I was thrilled to have a willing <strike>victi</strike> friend to go with. We had great food and a few drinks. Lauby got hit on by a very aggressive and very confused lady, and we had way too much fun laughing about it on the way home.<br />
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This is what friends do- they take care of each other when shit is bad and help each other through that crap. Then they celebrate the good stuff and tell dick jokes.<br />
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<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-82954415624824695522015-02-04T19:48:00.000-06:002015-02-04T19:48:05.348-06:00Birthday Planning I have a birthday coming up.<br />
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I would ideally like to get friends together and have an evening of dinner and drinks.<br />
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The "problem" come in that my birthday always gets overshadowed by our local game convention and Valentine's Day. In addition, my daughter will be having surgery the weekend after my birthday, so finding a weekend to do the aforementioned activity has been a challenge in the making.<br />
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I am also faced with the issue that TheDude doesn't like the place I would pick to go drinking. So picking another place to booze away the hours will make the event (should it happen) much more memorable (or not, haha).<br />
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So I am plotting my own birthday party... =PLoquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-74697046243712039542015-01-19T14:15:00.001-06:002015-01-19T14:15:34.491-06:00My obsession continues I have a problem- I'm more than a little obsessed with Prince.<br />
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The man is gorgeous, sexy, talented and blows my mind every time I listen to him. I have an incredibly large amount of his music and I am endlessly inspired by his stuff.<br />
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I also sort of have a problem with angels, and happen to have an extremely extensive collection of angel related things.<br />
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Can you see where this is going?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85okC6MFY3I/VL1dpDiuX2I/AAAAAAAAKX0/597kK44Qio8/s1600/malach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85okC6MFY3I/VL1dpDiuX2I/AAAAAAAAKX0/597kK44Qio8/s1600/malach.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>In case it's not obvious, this is a Magic:the Gathering card that's been altered. It started as an angel, and I had it painted to be Prince.<br />
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Magic offers beautiful art on a small, affordable scale. I love that about it- you don't have to pay a ton of money to have something lovely.<br />
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Altering cards is a genuine 'scene' - it exists outside of actually playing the game, and there are a LOT of artists making really good money doing it. Altering takes the small scale and transforms it into anything you can imagine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my all time favorite piece, seen here: </span></td></tr>
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http://www.sandreline.com/alterations/textless/baneslayer-angel</div>
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Her work is stunning and I want to move to France just so I can have her alter all my cards. This Baneslayer is actually a single part of a two piece set :<br />
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Other works can be silly:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All by Klug, considered one of the best in the business<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Most alters take an idea either from the card content or theme and twist it up. The superhero ones seen above are good examples, at least in premise of this concept. The most obvious one is the Gideon- he's a "good guy" that uses white (often seen as Justice and Law). <div>
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Other alters are less obvious: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8_nnzmC5Io/VL1lZtiXTwI/AAAAAAAAKY8/haESDKfodFc/s1600/Garruk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8_nnzmC5Io/VL1lZtiXTwI/AAAAAAAAKY8/haESDKfodFc/s1600/Garruk.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Ranger is a Beast<br /></td></tr>
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<br />My idea was to take the only male angel in the entirety of the MtG art world and turn him into my favorite musician. I want to create a 9 card set that uses angels or angel related cards and turns them into the Revolution. It'll be fun!<br /><div>
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Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-68394779152610167312015-01-13T12:00:00.000-06:002015-01-13T12:00:04.057-06:00Happiness in Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the knitting continues at a satisfying pace -<br />
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not too slow (as to make me infuriated) and not too fast (as to cause mistakes or ruin the fun of creating stuff)<br />
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I can really SEE an scarf developing out of this yarn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqYcX6790gQ/VLSYnIXmWuI/AAAAAAAAKTs/C41MWVfaTyM/s1600/scarf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqYcX6790gQ/VLSYnIXmWuI/AAAAAAAAKTs/C41MWVfaTyM/s1600/scarf2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's stretchy! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3SXH96aaVo/VLSYb0iZTmI/AAAAAAAAKTk/z3GnlYkF0Co/s1600/scarf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3SXH96aaVo/VLSYb0iZTmI/AAAAAAAAKTk/z3GnlYkF0Co/s1600/scarf1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I never in a million years thought ruffles would make me happy.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Other stuff I am doing...I am a member of an organization that is running a board game design competition. I've been checking out and playing home designed games for a couple months now. <div>
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<br /> <br />There's lots more, but this is what's been keeping me busy!<br /><br /><br /></div>
Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-33244450995694705472015-01-12T12:00:00.000-06:002015-01-12T12:00:00.479-06:00More Creations Inbound! <div>
I've been working on a whole bunch of different things. Lately, my creative urges have been all over the place and I want to try ALL THE THINGS before my interest wanes. </div>
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So as a weird cross between a joke and a challenge, I decided to learn to knit. Despite all the teasing about being a little old lady, I really wanted to get the art of yarn in hand so I could say that I can do SOME kind of fabric work. </div>
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My initial attempts were pretty horrible, and I got very frustrated. There was even some crying- and I don't cry over much. I decided to try one last time, but I bought larger needles and bigger yarn. It WORKED! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry5hm8yd8is/VLMw048HU9I/AAAAAAAAKRw/HTUENZBt0mE/s1600/yarn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry5hm8yd8is/VLMw048HU9I/AAAAAAAAKRw/HTUENZBt0mE/s1600/yarn1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the beginning of success. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrkTnhhG-xY/VLMw6q1Y_1I/AAAAAAAAKR4/okdexQ9Y5m8/s1600/yarn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrkTnhhG-xY/VLMw6q1Y_1I/AAAAAAAAKR4/okdexQ9Y5m8/s1600/yarn2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this color and the pattern that is developing. </td></tr>
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I'm thrilled with the results! I feel like I've finally "gotten it" and am moving on to pearling, which is SUPER easy to me. </div>
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I've struggled with fabric my whole life, so I was really happy to learn something that involves cloth and makes me feel great. Someday. this will be a scarf. </div>
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Back on the papercrafting front, I got a tool and a toy today that just make me smile. I promise I'll start USING these things, too. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8t5WH-mxGqw/VLMzQeobkzI/AAAAAAAAKSE/zke08KpEigw/s1600/glue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8t5WH-mxGqw/VLMzQeobkzI/AAAAAAAAKSE/zke08KpEigw/s1600/glue.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is stampable glue. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFddg_-_TiI/VLMzaihnwnI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/gMMtIWaFY0s/s1600/purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFddg_-_TiI/VLMzaihnwnI/AAAAAAAAKSQ/gMMtIWaFY0s/s1600/purple.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's why I need it! </td></tr>
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Yes, I love glitter. And purple. </div>
Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-32229121505554525132015-01-11T09:46:00.003-06:002015-01-11T09:46:42.935-06:00Wonder Continues So it's been a long time, but things on my creative front have changed. I've got some new stuff I am working on, and my direction has shifted entirely.<br />
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This is one of the things I got for Christmas, and I am having a ton of fun learning how to use it.<br />
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It's a Silhouette Portrait electronic cutting machine. It's a super fun tool that allows me to use "cut files" or fonts, or shapes, or pictures on my computer, and then cut them out.<br />
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These are some samples of the kind of thing I can cut out with this machine. It has settings and adapters that will let me cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, acetate, cloth, foil, and even a setting to create etched glass patterns.<br />
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My creative corner just underwent a huge remodel, as I got some new storage options and I rethought how I wanted to be able to access my stuff.<br />
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I have stencils and masks hanging from thumbtacks on my canvas idea board.<br />
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I got this one as a Christmas gift- I've been drooling over it for MONTHS now. I can't wait to paint, stick, glue and glitter away.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuA6vd0FLgc/VLKZ3LVNacI/AAAAAAAAKPg/VWuJ1rLRVLc/s1600/sm_confettidot_base.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuA6vd0FLgc/VLKZ3LVNacI/AAAAAAAAKPg/VWuJ1rLRVLc/s1600/sm_confettidot_base.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.hazelandruby.com/" target="_blank">Hazel & Ruby</a> </td></tr>
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I also got about five different stripes and chevron patterns. I have a verifiable problem with circles and stripes. (don't judge!)<br />
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Oh yeah. I also got paint and glitter. This can't possibly be anything but messy and fun!<br />
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<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-36242409879138273472013-12-17T21:19:00.002-06:002013-12-17T21:19:26.675-06:00If They Put It In The Book, It's Gotta Work, Right? Right?<br />
Hey, folks. SinSynn here.<br />
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So despite the fact that I'm working every day 'cept Christmas this month, and I'm eight different kindsa beat up, I felt possessed to write something. Dunno why. I'm prolly gonna miss some sleep cuz of this, but whatevs. The Hamster is spinning.<br />
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So I thought I'd talk about a gaming conundrum I'm currently experiencing with Infinity, but I've gone through similar experiences with other games.<br />
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Anywho, what I'm <i>trying</i> to do is run a Shasvastii Sectorial List, and include a Sheskiin Link Team...using Gwailos.<br />
It's, uh, not gone well so far.<br />
I haven't quite thrown up my hands yet, but there have been moments of frustration. Not quite rage-inducing frustration, but we're getting there...<br />
I'm one of those knuckleheads that'll see something in a game, and I'll be like 'ermahgerd, that's so cool. I gotta try it.'<br />
I will completely disregard any amount of evidence presented to me demonstrating that this thing I've seen is a not-so-good idea. I will run out and buy whatever it is that I need to do this thing, and set about trying to take over the known universe with it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7SLXqp7ats/UrD6Y8fXVYI/AAAAAAAAFL4/w5fs2sBAegE/s1600/Invader-Zim-Episode-45--The-Frycook-What-Came-from-All-That-Space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7SLXqp7ats/UrD6Y8fXVYI/AAAAAAAAFL4/w5fs2sBAegE/s320/Invader-Zim-Episode-45--The-Frycook-What-Came-from-All-That-Space.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Hey, a Xenos hasta have a hobby, amirite? I'll get this done before Pinky and the Brain do...I hope*</td></tr>
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So, naturally, Sheskiin and the Gwailos have a real 'cool factor' in my tiny mind, and not just cuz I can say 'Sheskiin and the Gwailos' the way you'd say 'Josie and the Pussycats.' Y'know- like it's a band name or sumpthin.'<br />
Cuz yes- I get a lil' amused by stupidity like that.<br />
DON'T YOU JUDGE ME!<br />
Life is short, YOLO an' alla dat.<br />
Nyah.<br />
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So not only does Sheskiin and the Gwailos sound cool<i> (uh-oh...I sense a change to 'Sheskiin and <b>da</b> Gwailos' coming on...), </i>but because this Infinity the models are amazing and alla dat good stuffs too.<br />
Oh, and Sheskiin is amazing, model-wise, stats-wise...and her and the Gwailos are one of the few real options for running a Shasvastii Link Team at all.<br />
I mean, sure...there are some other options, like the Caliban and Seed Soldier, but although Seed Soldiers have access to some excellent weaponry, they simply have too many checks in the 'cons' column for me as a unit.<br />
And Caliban have only a single model so far, and not a lotta options regardless.<br />
Overall, Gwailos win out for flexibility, with seven, count 'em-<i> seven</i> different configs to choose from when purchasing, from a bare-bones Boarding Shotgun Only, to an X-Visor/Heavy Rocket Launcher model, and a bunch of in-between options.<br />
That's what's up...although I'm<b> still </b>waiting on the Heavy Rocket Launcher version, Corvus Belli.<br />
Can we get that, please? The Shas are really lacking in 'beefy' models. Gwailos are Medium Infantry (we have no Heavies. None. Nada. Zero. Zippo. Zilch), and you can bet I'd put that Heavy Rocket Launcher to friggin' use, big-time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kvvfs8PUbis/UrD_a1frxgI/AAAAAAAAFMI/wcPopi6b2l8/s1600/280647-0345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kvvfs8PUbis/UrD_a1frxgI/AAAAAAAAFMI/wcPopi6b2l8/s320/280647-0345.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*One of these guys, with a big-ass Heavy Rocket Launcher. Yes- do want*</td></tr>
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So, yeah- I could potentially run 4 Gwailos with a variety of loadouts, and Sheskiin, in a Link.<br />
Links provide specific bonuses for the troops involved, starting with a Link of 3, who benefit from an extra die when shooting <i>(+1 to Burst).</i><br />
The bonuses stack when you add troopies to the Link. 4 troopies gets the +1 to Burst, plus 6th Sense Level 2, plus a +3 modifier to Discovery Rolls. 5 Troopies lets you elect a Team Leader, and they'll get +3 to Burst when shooting, plus the entire team gets it during their Reaction Orders <i>(naturally you'll swap the +1 for the +3, however).</i><br />
Oh, and you can elect a new Team Leader with every Order.<br />I want those bonuses, and I want 'em on (A) someone with an awesome statline <i>(Sheskiin),</i> and (B) someone with a friggin' Heavy Rocket Launcher on their friggin' shoulder.<br />
And so, the 'Sheskiin and da Gwailos' <i>(yeah, I saw dat comin') </i>concept was hatched.<br />
Unfortunately, what should be a big ol' pile of pure awesome-y goodness...<i>isn't,</i> so much. In my mind, I was thinking <b>TOTAL XENOS DEATH MACHINE.</b> A wild, angry lil' group of aliens, rampaging about the battlefield, murkin' poor, pitiful humans left and right <i>(stupid humans- you die now).</i> Rockets spitting out of a whirlwind of pure, unadulterated Xenos spite.<br />
Oh, man...I can feel it. The hate from across the tabletop. It's glorious.<br />
Now if only I could make the friggin' thing work.<br />
-_-<br />
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In all honesty, so far all my Sheskiin and da Gwailos Link Team has been successful in doing is dying a lot and having an amusing-sounding name.<br />
Double -_-<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV-6hX97_Q0/UrEFsp4Lj5I/AAAAAAAAFMY/yylkZiI19wQ/s1600/280649-0360-azul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hV-6hX97_Q0/UrEFsp4Lj5I/AAAAAAAAFMY/yylkZiI19wQ/s400/280649-0360-azul.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Y U No kill everything dat moves?*</td></tr>
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There's all kindsa lil' difficulties in running a link. Since they all hafta be with in Command Radius of one another, maneuvering the 5 man link is a PITA. So I chopped it down to 3. This also saves points, making the Link a bit easier to slip into a list- at 5 men, a Link becomes the primary money-maker on your team. I wasn't particularly comfortable with that- y'know, all yer eggs in one basket kinda thing...but greed, man. Greed is a powerful motivator when you're building an army list.<br />
The bennies...I want da bennies.<br />
I want that +3 to Burst in Reaction, and I want someone to dare to show their face where my Gwailo with Heavy Rocket Launcher <i>(official model coming soon from Corvus Belli)</i> can see them...so I can kill dem.<br />
Okay, so...clearly I'm not gonna get that from a 3 man Link, so I bumped it back up to 5 again, sucked up the cost with a <i>'this is gonna so totally be worth it' </i>mentality, and tried it again...several dozen times.<br />
Shush, youse- it's not me being stubborn...it's like, determination. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.<br />
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I've since had a bunch of those moments when yer wondering WHY they made an option available to yer army when FER THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY this friggin' thing doesn't werk.<br />
Blah.<br />
I stopped short of banging my skull against the game table repeatedly, shouting 'WHY?' with every concussion-inducing thump, but the urge is there. Infinity is an excellently balanced, well-designed game. The best I've yet encountered by a wide margin, in fact. Not fer nuthin,' but it took me a while to figure out how to run Charontid, my favorite Combined Army Heavy troop, without him getting railed in the face by turn number two, so while I'm a bit frustrated at the moment, I know once whatever-it-is-this-time clicks in my head, I'll be a very happy camper indeed.<br />
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In every game of worthwhile depth, there are mechanics that separate the Elite from the Casual. This is one of them. My first mistake was trying to run the Link like a Death Star in 40k.<br />
Har-har, SinSynn, good luck with that one. There are no Death Stars in Infinity, and anyone you expose to multiple angles of fire is going to receive multiple bullets in the face. Bet on it.<br />
Then I tried to get all incognito with it, but what good is a Link Team when they're hiding?<br />
No, the answer is...well, it's out there somewhere, and I just gotta work on it. Games of worthwhile depth reward perseverance and stick-to-it-eveness, so I have faith that it'll happen. I just gotta get those practice games in. Work on my tactics. How do I wanna deploy the team? What's my opening gambit? What are the optimal configs for each member of the team?<br />
The only way to find these things out is to experiment, and to not give up, so...<br />
Sigh.<br />
Back to the drawing board...<br />
<br />
My latest head-scratcher is this: Since I'm running the 5 man Link, I've got no choice but to build the rest of the army around Sheskiin and da Gwailos. What units will offer the support I need to get my Link Team through the game, alive and in one piece, after inflicting maximum carnage upon the enemy?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d4X9x15OtM/UrENRLaZVdI/AAAAAAAAFMo/HEo2p-hEPno/s1600/Spider-Man_Maximum_Carnage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d4X9x15OtM/UrENRLaZVdI/AAAAAAAAFMo/HEo2p-hEPno/s320/Spider-Man_Maximum_Carnage.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Like this, but with moar red*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sadly, there are no easy answers when it comes to tactics. There's always a thousand approaches to any scenario, a thousand solutions to every tactical equation, and there's not one particular answer to any of them. My particular problem is that I'm annoyed by enemy troops that aren't dead, dead, dead, so I've gotta come up with creative ways of killing them<i> (I'm fond of the moar painful methods myself).</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
My pops would prolly be quite amused by my aggravation. He was a thoughtful, patient man, and if he saw me banging my head against a game table, he would likely give me a look, and lift an eyebrow and spout some thoughtful, patient kinda cliche.<br />
I suppose it's true that nothing worth anything ever comes easy and all that jazz, and I also suppose that it's pretty darn funny that I would expend so much time and effort attempting to make something work, but, gosh darnit, I will<i> not </i>be able to sleep at night if my buddy Nascar turns out to be right about this whole thing.<br />
-_-<br />
We <i>can't </i>have that, no sir.<br />
<br />
Pffft!<br />
Like I'd take advise from a friggin' Haqqislam player anyhow. Their solution to issues in-game is to throw a ridiculous amount of dudes at it, like Ariadna. We're talking about cats that get confused when you tell 'em a unit costs more than 20 points.<br />
Nah. I'll work it out. That's what The Hamster That Lives In My Head is for, after all.<br />
:)<br />
<br />
Gotta hit the hay. Day number...whatever, tomorrow.<br />
Hope everyone is well- I'll see you all back at The HoP soon I hope!<br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time, folks- Exit with catchphrase!<br />
<br />
- SinSynn<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-10449658434361055002013-10-21T11:00:00.000-05:002013-10-21T11:00:08.115-05:00[RPG] I Can't Believe I am Doing This- Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Ed There are times in my life when I think the universe decides to teach me a lesson, and likes laughing at me while doing so.<br />
<br />
I am pretty well known for not enjoying D&D in any way, shape or form. Between the "medieval fantasy as trope", the limiting characters, classes and alignments, the very ridiculous to me armor/to hit rules, and the general... BLAH nature of the genre and game, I have always found it as interesting as milquetoast. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7C-gp6zOJU/UmRmyOkOc9I/AAAAAAAAHS4/_hgASK5ItLE/s1600/Crows-Toes-Milquetoast-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7C-gp6zOJU/UmRmyOkOc9I/AAAAAAAAHS4/_hgASK5ItLE/s320/Crows-Toes-Milquetoast-7.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is far prettier than what I think of D&D </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
But recently, this funny thing happened. I made a new friend, and the new friend is a HUGE AD&D nut. He has a group that he plays with regularly and it is massively fun for him. He's genuinely passionate about playing and can't wait to get new people involved in games and gaming. (It's really fun to have a friend that is just invigorated about getting people into gaming as I am- I was sort of burning out for a while. Having him as a friend is feeding my fire, and that allows me to feed his right back. I love the synergy of positive relationships and how they help the people in them grow.)<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ukTFKDeOBE/UmRp63kA3RI/AAAAAAAAHTM/Q0K2H1bWDJ0/s1600/39.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ukTFKDeOBE/UmRp63kA3RI/AAAAAAAAHTM/Q0K2H1bWDJ0/s320/39.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So very recently, one of the GMs that plays at my shop was announcing that he had openings in his AD&D 2nd Ed Game, and my new friend was very interested in the game. I know this GM well, and he is a really stand up guy. He's very friendly, easy to talk to, and the group he has at the moment seems to be one of the nicest around. I very generously vouched for the fellow in question and while doing so, realized I pretty much talked myself into a corner and that I needed to play in the game or look like an idiot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i2aOVtAdf4/UmRneVMAHeI/AAAAAAAAHTA/cUJ1akEsB2w/s1600/idiot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i2aOVtAdf4/UmRneVMAHeI/AAAAAAAAHTA/cUJ1akEsB2w/s320/idiot.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So I joined my 2nd ever D&D game.<br />
<br />
For me, the best part has been the people I am playing with. I won't lie- it is very hard for me to play with people I don't know, and I HAVE to like them. But I really didn't know the guys at all, nor did I have any idea whether we would get along well. I sat down for my first session, worried about whether I would fit in, or if they would like me, and a million other things.<br />
<br />
I should never have worried. Playing with these guys was like finding my way home again. It's super comfortable, fun and wonderful to be back at a table again.<br />
<br />
It is super weird to be ENJOYING a game I generally don't like- but it's an important lesson for me, that I can do things and have fun again.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-81909126892852475752013-08-01T11:00:00.000-05:002013-08-01T11:00:04.498-05:00Books, authors and more I talked about my current writing malaise in my last post. I got some really wonderful commentary and feedback, which I truly appreciated. It had been something like 7 months since I had last posted, and to know people remembered me and cared enough to comment really made my situation seem a little more bearable.<br />
<br />
I've fully admitted to being a book worm, a lover of words and a general nerd about reading. For a long time, I read anything I could get my hands on, and generally enjoyed it. As I got older, my taste slowly refined, and I finally figured out that I adore detective stories.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiFyJObY6Hw/Ufch3ENQ03I/AAAAAAAAGSs/_vS913JDbIc/s1600/detective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XiFyJObY6Hw/Ufch3ENQ03I/AAAAAAAAGSs/_vS913JDbIc/s1600/detective.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Detective stories, folks- NOT murder mysteries. I can't stand mysteries. I absolutely hate them with a burning, scathing, unbridled and relentless fury. Mysteries drive me crazy. Many of them are formulaic, and a lot of the time they try the Sherlock Holmes/Agatha Christie minute, obscure and irrelevant detail bit as a key to discovering whodunnit. I can't stand that crap.<br />
<br />
I prefer detective stories, especially serials. Following a gumshoe along on their adventures both good and bad is like visiting an old friend and seeing what they have been up to since the last visit.<br />
<br />
Here's a list of some of may favorite authors, with a list of their books I enjoy, and some commentary about why I like them. I'd love to hear about your favorite friends- I need SOMETHING to do.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>James Lee Burke</b>- Specifically, the Dave Robicheaux novels. "Streak" is a messed up dude, with a good heart. Burke's lyric and lush writing is evocative, expressive and compelling. Every time I read another Robicheaux story, I want a Dr. Pepper with cherries and an orange slice; a drink Dave often downs in place of the liquor he craves to quench his inner demons.<br />
<br />
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Neon Rain</i> (1987)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Heaven's Prisoners</i> (1988)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Black Cherry Blues</i> (1989)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>A Morning for Flamingos</i> (1990)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>A Stained White Radiance</i> (1992)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead</i> (1993)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Dixie City Jam</i> (1994)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Burning Angel</i> (1995)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Cadillac Jukebox</i> (1996)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Sunset Limited</i> (1998)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Purple Cane Road</i> (2000)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Jolie Blon's Bounce</i> (2002)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Last Car to Elysian Fields</i> (2003)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Crusader's Cross</i> (2005)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Pegasus Descending</i> (2006)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tin_Roof_Blowdown" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Tin Roof Blowdown">The Tin Roof Blowdown</a></i> (2007)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Swan Peak</i> (2008)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Glass Rainbow</i> (2010)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Creole Belle</i> (2012)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Light of the World</i> (2013)</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>Patricia Cornwell </b>The Kay Scarpetta novels started out as a rude awakening to the male oriented forensics field. The first books were so gritty, so detailed and so thrilling I couldn't put them down. I enjoyed Kay, despite her being terribly flawed and incapable of having healthy interpersonal relationships. I did get to a point where I found the books less than original, with several recycled plots and overused story crutches bringing down what could be the best crime writing around.<br />
<br />
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmortem_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Postmortem (novel)">Postmortem</a></i> (1990)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_of_Evidence_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Body of Evidence (novel)">Body of Evidence</a></i> (1991)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_That_Remains_(novel)" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080;" title="All That Remains (novel)">All That Remains</a></i> (1992)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_Unusual_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cruel and Unusual (novel)">Cruel and Unusual</a></i> (1993)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_Farm_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Body Farm (novel)">The Body Farm</a></i> (1994)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Potter%27s_Field_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="From Potter's Field (novel)">From Potter's Field</a></i> (1995)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_of_Death_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cause of Death (novel)">Cause of Death</a></i> (1996)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unnatural_Exposure_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Unnatural Exposure (novel)">Unnatural Exposure</a></i> (1997)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_Origin_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Point of Origin (novel)">Point of Origin</a></i> (1998)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Notice_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Black Notice (novel)">Black Notice</a></i> (1999)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Precinct_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Last Precinct (novel)">The Last Precinct</a></i> (2000)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow_Fly_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Blow Fly (novel)">Blow Fly</a></i> (2003)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trace_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Trace (novel)">Trace</a></i> (2004)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Predator (novel)">Predator</a></i> (2005)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Dead_(Cornwell_novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Book of the Dead (Cornwell novel)">Book of the Dead</a></i> (2007)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarpetta_(novel)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Scarpetta (novel)">Scarpetta</a></i> (2008)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Scarpetta_Factor&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="The Scarpetta Factor (page does not exist)">The Scarpetta Factor</a></i> (2009)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Port_Mortuary_(novel)&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Port Mortuary (novel) (page does not exist)">Port Mortuary</a></i> (2010)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Mist_(novel)&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Red Mist (novel) (page does not exist)">Red Mist</a></i> (2011)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bone_Bed" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Bone Bed">The Bone Bed</a></i> (2012)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Dust</i> (2013)</li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>Sue Grafton </b> What is there to say about Kinsey? She's awesome. She's real. She has fears, dreams, and an unparalleled work ethic. Her note card system for keeping track of information is pretty brilliant. I stole it and use it all the time. Grafton has kept Kinsey in a capsule of time that's believable and not too historic; and has taught me that private eyes do a lot more than take pictures.<br />
<br />
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22A%22_Is_for_Alibi" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""A" Is for Alibi">"A" Is for Alibi</a></i> (1982)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22B%22_Is_for_Burglar" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""B" Is for Burglar">"B" Is for Burglar</a></i> (1985)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22C%22_Is_for_Corpse" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""C" Is for Corpse">"C" Is for Corpse</a></i> (1986)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22D%22_Is_for_Deadbeat" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""D" Is for Deadbeat">"D" Is for Deadbeat</a></i> (1987)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22E%22_Is_for_Evidence" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""E" Is for Evidence">"E" Is for Evidence</a></i> (1988)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22F%22_Is_for_Fugitive" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""F" Is for Fugitive">"F" Is for Fugitive</a></i> (1989)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22G%22_Is_for_Gumshoe" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""G" Is for Gumshoe">"G" Is for Gumshoe</a></i> (1990)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22H%22_Is_for_Homicide" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""H" Is for Homicide">"H" Is for Homicide</a></i> (1991)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22I%22_Is_for_Innocent" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""I" Is for Innocent">"I" Is for Innocent</a></i> (1992)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22J%22_Is_for_Judgment" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""J" Is for Judgment">"J" Is for Judgment</a></i> (1993)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22K%22_Is_for_Killer" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""K" Is for Killer">"K" Is for Killer</a></i> (1994)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22L%22_Is_for_Lawless" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""L" Is for Lawless">"L" Is for Lawless</a></i> (1995)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22M%22_Is_for_Malice" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""M" Is for Malice">"M" Is for Malice</a></i> (1996)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22N%22_Is_for_Noose" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""N" Is for Noose">"N" Is for Noose</a></i> (1998)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22O%22_Is_for_Outlaw" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""O" Is for Outlaw">"O" Is for Outlaw</a></i> (1999)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22P%22_Is_for_Peril" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""P" Is for Peril">"P" Is for Peril</a></i> (2001)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Q%22_Is_for_Quarry" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""Q" Is for Quarry">"Q" Is for Quarry</a></i> (2002)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22R%22_Is_for_Ricochet" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""R" Is for Ricochet">"R" Is for Ricochet</a></i> (2004)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22S%22_Is_for_Silence" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""S" Is for Silence">"S" Is for Silence</a></i> (2005)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22T%22_Is_for_Trespass" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""T" Is for Trespass">"T" Is for Trespass</a></i> (2007)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22U%22_Is_for_Undertow" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""U" Is for Undertow">"U" Is for Undertow</a></i> (2009)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22V%22_Is_for_Vengeance" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""V" Is for Vengeance">"V" Is for Vengeance</a></i> (2011)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22W%22_Is_for_Wasted" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title=""W" Is for Wasted">"W" Is for Wasted</a></i> (Coming Sep. 2013)</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<b>Nevada Barr </b>The Anna Pigeon series is as much a tribute to the awesome and breathtaking natural beauty in the US as it is about Anna and her trials from grief stricken widow to her marriage to Paul. I'm captivated by the knowledge of the parks and their vistas as well as laws and regulations the rangers enforce. That murder happens everywhere around Anna is just window dressing to an in depth visitation of the human condition.<br />
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1993 <i>Track of the Cat</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0380721643" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0380721643</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe_Mountains_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Guadalupe Mountains National Park">Guadalupe Mountains National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1994 <i>Superior Death</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0816174466" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0816174466</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_Royale_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Isle Royale National Park">Isle Royale National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1995 <i>Ill Wind</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0380723638" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080;">ISBN 0380723638</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_Verde_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Mesa Verde National Park">Mesa Verde National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1996 <i>Firestorm</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0380725827" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0380725827</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassen_Volcanic_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Lassen Volcanic National Park">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1997 <i>Endangered Species</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399142460" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399142460</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Island_National_Seashore" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Cumberland Island National Seashore">Cumberland Island National Seashore</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1998 <i>Blind Descent</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399143718" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399143718</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_Caverns_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Carlsbad Caverns National Park">Carlsbad Caverns National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">1999 <i>Liberty Falling</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399144595" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399144595</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Statue of Liberty">Statue of Liberty National Monument</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2000 <i>Deep South</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399145869" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399145869</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace_Parkway" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Natchez Trace Parkway">Natchez Trace Parkway</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2001 <i>Blood Lure</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399147020" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399147020</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_National_Park_(U.S.)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Glacier National Park (U.S.)">Glacier National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2002 <i>Hunting Season</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399148469" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399148469</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace_Parkway" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Natchez Trace Parkway">Natchez Trace Parkway</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2003 <i>Flashback</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0425194493" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0425194493</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Dry Tortugas National Park">Dry Tortugas National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2004 <i>High Country</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399151443" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399151443</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Yosemite National Park">Yosemite National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2005 <i>Hard Truth</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399152415" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399152415</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Rocky Mountain National Park">Rocky Mountain National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2008 <i>Winter Study</i>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_Royale_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Isle Royale National Park">Isle Royale National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2009 <i>Borderline</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0399155694" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0399155694</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Big Bend National Park">Big Bend National Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2010 <i>Burn</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1441816011" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 1441816011</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Jazz_National_Historical_Park" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park">New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">2012 <i>The Rope</i> (<a class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0312614578" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">ISBN 0312614578</a>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Canyon_National_Recreation_Area" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Glen Canyon National Recreation Area">Glen Canyon National Recreation Area</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Tom Clancy</b>- These aren't really detective stories, and they're pretty far out from what I normally enjoy. The highly detailed and technical nature of these books would normally be a huge turn off for me- pages of descriptions of technology and military procedure make me want to weep in almost any other situation than a Clancy novel. <br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Without Remorse</i> is one of the best examples of what happens to a decent and moral man when the things he holds dear are destroyed. It's visceral and raw, honest and unblinking. It's the best look at why men can become killers I have ever read.<br />
<br />
I also love<i> Hunt for Red October</i>, <i>Cardinal of the Kremlin</i> and <i>Clear and Present Danger. </i>Clancy captures the brotherhood of men and the allure of secrets in a deep and compelling way. Later books in the Ryan/Kelly series become pretty mawkish and predictable; but these are pretty damn awesome.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hunt for Red October (1984)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Red Storm Rising (1986)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Patriot Games (1987)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Cardinal of the Kremlin (1988)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clear and Present Danger (1989)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Sum of All Fears (1991)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without Remorse (1993)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Debt of Honor (1994)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Executive Orders (1996)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rainbow Six (1998)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bear and the Dragon (2000)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Red Rabbit (2002)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Teeth of the Tiger (2003)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dead or Alive (2010, with Grant Blackwood)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Against All Enemies (2011, with Peter Telep)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Locked On (Dec 2011, with Mark Greaney)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Search and Destroy (July 2012, with Peter Telep)
(Cancelled)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Threat Vector (Dec 2012, with Mark Greaney)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<b>Charlene Harris:</b> Cotton candy with a twist of lemonade. Super light and fluffy with just a kick of tartness thrown in for good measure. The Sookie series is only sort of a detective series, but I'm not sure I care. I like Sookie, and I like the writing. I love the goofy side universe with all of those weres and vamps, and don't mind admitting it. There is a lack of consistency that have many concerned, but it's fiction, people.<br />
<br />
Sookie Stackhouse:<br />
<br />
Dead Until Dark<br />
Living Dead In Dallas<br />
Club Dead<br />
Dead to the World<br />
Dead as a Doornail<br />
Definitely Dead<br />
All Together Dead<br />
From Dead To Worse<br />
Dead and Gone<br />
Dead in the Family<br />
Dead Reckoning<br />
Sookie Stackhouse Companion<br />
Deadlocked<br />
Dead Ever After<br />
<br />
Charlaine has also written a series of books that involve Harper Connelly: Harper is just such a different take from Sookie, someone new and refreshing. I really admire her and the way she deals with her life. I'm sad her story is already over.<br />
<ol style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 3.2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Sight" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Grave Sight">Grave Sight</a></i> (2005)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlaine_Harris#cite_note-47" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[47]</a></sup></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grave_Surprise&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; color: #a55858;" title="Grave Surprise (page does not exist)">Grave Surprise</a></i> (2006)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlaine_Harris#cite_note-48" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[48]</a></sup></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Ice_Cold_Grave" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="An Ice Cold Grave">An Ice Cold Grave</a></i> (2007)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlaine_Harris#cite_note-49" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[49]</a></sup></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grave_Secret&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #a55858; text-decoration: none;" title="Grave Secret (page does not exist)">Grave Secret</a></i> (2009)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlaine_Harris#cite_note-50" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[50]</a></sup></li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>Kathy Reichs: </b>Crime, forensics, a tough and compelling lead character- and a whole lot of French thrown in for good measure. Yeah, I'm hooked. Temperance Brennan is a one of my favorites; a character so well done I feel like I could be her friend in real life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Deja Dead - </li>
<li>Death du Jour </li>
<li>Deadly Decisions </li>
<li>Fatal Voyage </li>
<li>Grave Secrets </li>
<li>Bare Bones </li>
<li>Monday Mourning </li>
<li>Cross Bones </li>
<li>Break No Bones </li>
<li>Bones to Ashes </li>
<li>Devil Bones </li>
<li>206 Bones </li>
<li>Spider Bones </li>
<li>Flash and Bones </li>
<li>Bones Are Forever </li>
</ol>
<br />
<b>Linda Fairstein</b> - the Alex Cooper books are vivid and a real testament to the detectives and prosecutors in NYC, as well as the city they work. I love the awesome friendship between Coop, Mercer and Mike. It's very honest and intense, with depth drawn from people that have worked together for a long time.<br />
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Final Jeopardy</i> (1996)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Likely To Die</i> (1997)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Cold Hit</i> (1999)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Deadhouse</i> (2001) (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero_Award" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Nero Award">Nero Award</a> winner)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Bone Vault</i> (2003)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>The Kills</i> (2004)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Entombed</i> (2005)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Death Dance</i> (2006)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Bad Blood</i> (2007)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Killer Heat</i> (2008)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Lethal Legacy</i> (2009)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Hell Gate</i> (2010)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Silent Mercy</i> (March 2011)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i>Night Watch</i> (July 2012)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Janet Evonovich</b> If Charlaine Harris is cotton candy, Janet is the whole sweet shop. Stephanie Plum's adventures are nothing short of syrupy sweet ridiculous fun, and I don't care. I love these super light books, with tons of action, hyperbole and laughter.<br />
<br />
<br />
One for the Money<br />
Two for the Dough<br />
Three to Get Deadly<br />
Four to Score<br />
High Five<br />
Hot Six<br />
Seven Up<br />
Hard Eight<br />
Visions of Sugar Plums (between-the-numbers holiday novella)<br />
To the Nines<br />
Ten Big Ones<br />
Eleven on Top<br />
Twelve Sharp<br />
Plum Lovin’ (between-the-numbers holiday novella)<br />
Lean Mean Thirteen<br />
Plum Lucky (between-the-numbers holiday novella)<br />
Fearless Fourteen<br />
Plum Spooky (between-the-numbers novel)<br />
Finger Lickin’ Fifteen<br />
Sizzling Sixteen<br />
Smokin’ Seventeen<br />
Explosive Eighteen<br />
Notorious Nineteen<br />
<br />
<b>Jim Butcher </b>The Dresden Files are a lot more serious, but still have a wicked sense of humor. Harry is resourceful, witty, ridiculously noble and powerful as hell. His growth from nickel rubbing hack to the guy that brought down the world is pretty spectacular. Plus, I like the coat.<br />
<br />
Storm Front<br />
Fool Moon<br />
Grave Peril<br />
Summer Knight<br />
Death Masks<br />
Blood Rites<br />
Dead Beat<br />
Proven Guilty<br />
White Night<br />
Small Favor<br />
Backup (Thomas-centric novella)<br />
Turn Coat<br />
Changes<br />
<br />
Folks I don't like: JD Robb and Sarah Paretsky. I tried them both and was less than thrilled. JD Robb (Or better known as Nora Roberts) has an extreme fascination with formula that makes me bonkers. For Paretsky, I could not find any possible way to enjoy V.I. as a character; she just wasn't sympathetic to me at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
As I said earlier, I'd love to hear about your favorites. Authors or series, characters or places; I'm not picky. I love at least checking out new books and the worlds inside them. I'll try anything once, more than that if it's fun.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-44788430907082394632013-07-28T10:00:00.000-05:002013-07-28T10:00:04.138-05:00A Voice from the Grave<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shhMno2f3iw/UfSE0WfXw0I/AAAAAAAAGRk/53PGQNOAB74/s1600/voice-from-grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shhMno2f3iw/UfSE0WfXw0I/AAAAAAAAGRk/53PGQNOAB74/s320/voice-from-grave.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim McDougal may not be stopped, but I sure am. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I recently gt invited to (and joined) a group aimed at getting aspiring writers into writing. The group posts work on a shared drive, and then folks make comments on each other's work.<br />
<br />
I put up an older piece, just to get a sense of what the group thought of my skill and ability level. So far, I've found that the criticism of my work is fair, but there's a lot of it.<br />
<br />
I'm ok with that for the most part. I don't have too much of an ego; and getting better at writing is something I am interested in doing- whether now or over time. But that's my problem. I can't get better because I can't seem to write.<br />
<br />
I have been blocked or stalled for ideas for months. I simply have no idea what to write about. I'm not currently gaming and haven't been for over a year. I'm only casually "arting". However, that process is slow moving and the most baby stepped place I have been in for a long time and I don't think it's of interest to gaming people. (I might be wrong- it does happen.)<br />
<br />
I asked a friend to challenge me to write a story hook, and he gave me a lyric to use as inspiration. So far, I haven't had a lot of luck coming up with anything more than a hair of an idea for "putting out fires with gasoline". I'm still sketching out the thought I do have because I think it could be cool. Putting words to paper /typing on the computer has been a lot harder than I ever imagined it might be several years ago when I started this blog, and I haven't been able to figure out what I want to do; or even if I want to do anything at all with it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_4kp76Cv-s/UfSGyGOkCHI/AAAAAAAAGR0/b87R3hpcDpo/s1600/yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x_4kp76Cv-s/UfSGyGOkCHI/AAAAAAAAGR0/b87R3hpcDpo/s320/yarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't use yarn because I can't knit. Is this blog my mental yarn?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I reviewed some of my archives and I remember loving writing and having a lot to say. I have stuff in drafts from months (almost a year) ago, but none of it inspires me or causes me to want to write. Very little is motivating to me at this point, which is causing me a lot of concern.<br />
<br />
Even the alliterations I know and love are beyond me at this point. It seems I'm spinning my wheels and I have nothing to get me out of the mud.<br />
<br />
But a dear friend sent me a nice email, and asked me what was going on here. It was kind of nice to know someone out there liked what I was doing when I was writing. I don't know that I have any real answers for my pal, but I'm writing something; anything- just to be writing again.<br />
<br />
<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-39437409185940242502013-02-28T21:59:00.000-06:002013-02-28T21:59:08.996-06:00Infinity does Xenos right! Meet some friends o' mine.<br />
Hey, folks. SinSynn here.<br />
<br />
Anybody that reads my stuffs over at the <a href="http://www.houseofpaincakes.com/" target="_blank">House of Paincakes</a> knows that I've totally fallen head over heels for <a href="http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/en/" target="_blank">Infinity</a>. I've tried my hand at a buncha different games now, and invested a few dollars <i>(maybe thousands, actually...don't you judge me)</i> on several of them, but I've never been quite as obsessed with any of them the way I am with Infinity right now.<br />
I'm literally ashamed <i>(ok, not really...I'm just being dramatic. I have no shame)</i> of the money I've spent on 40k. Ditto that for Flames of War <i>(I've got two untouched starter sets, even, along with several boxes of tanks, troopies and halftracks)</i>. I even somehow managed to acquire a small Cryx army for Warmachine and played a few games back in the day, but my regular opponent suffered 'spousal hobby interference'<i> (that's<b> totally</b> a thing)</i> and Warmachine fell to the wayside.<br />
<br />
Ah, but Infinity...I gotta tell ya, folks...Infinity is already like, <i>my</i> game. It's the one I've been looking for, the one I've been waiting on and the one I was hoping to find, all wrapped up in a sexy, anime-styled, bullet-filled pinata.<br />
<br />
Every Saturday for the past month I've played until the Crazy Lady I Live With puts a stop to it, usually between midnight and 2am. And yes, I get punished with extra doggie walks and garbage duty...never mind the seemingly inevitable hangovers.<br />
-_-<br />
<br />
You know what?<br />
<i>Totally worth it.</i><br />
<br />
I mean, look at this- this is a soon to be released figure for my Army of choice, the Combined. How could I resist something like this?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaXixc8I2iY/US6ypzlEBkI/AAAAAAAAEDg/9feVVhGFciY/s1600/280654-0403-azul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XaXixc8I2iY/US6ypzlEBkI/AAAAAAAAEDg/9feVVhGFciY/s400/280654-0403-azul.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Kerrigan from Starcraft tribute, fer sure. But oh so awesome*</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
It seems that, way in the future, mankind has spread to the stars, and has begun to be successful in doing so. Under the watchful eye of a hyper-advanced Artificial Intelligence known as ALEPH, and governed by the O-12 <i>(which is sorta like a futuristic United Nations)</i>, trade and travel is facilitated by mass-conveyance ships known as Circulars, gigantic spacecraft that navigate the wormholes between star systems.<br />
Conventional warfare is a thing of the past- the logistics of moving massive armies across the enormous gulf of space between civilized planets being somewhat inconvenient. Never the less, the super-powers of the future, as well as the also-rans, battle it out on the fringes of colonized space, as well as engage in covert spec-ops against one another.<br />
They fight for the same things humans have always fought for- resources, territory, and power, <i>and it's all business as usual until the Xenos show up.</i><br />
:)<br />
<br />
My Infinity army of choice are the Combined, an amalgam of several alien races bought together by an ancient race known as the Ur Rationalists. The Ur seek to transcend to a higher plane of existence <i>(possibly one where all the females resemble Megan Fox...at least that's the way I see it)</i>, and to that end they created the Evolved Intelligence, a program designed to compile <i>all</i> the data, <i>ever</i>, and piece together the secrets of Transcendence.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZd1cOYOpvg/UTABIFFvynI/AAAAAAAAED8/U31Fe3hhRRU/s1600/megan-fox-photos-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZd1cOYOpvg/UTABIFFvynI/AAAAAAAAED8/U31Fe3hhRRU/s320/megan-fox-photos-22.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*I'd like to transcend her plane, if you know what I'm sayin.' And I think you do*</td></tr>
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Along the way, the Ur and their EI have conquered, subsumed and come to accordance with many other alien races. These races supply the foot soldiers needed to continue the quest to reach the Megan Fox plane. More than that, every once in a while the EI itself likes to make a personal appearance, and breaks a lil' bit of its existential self off to inhabit heavily armed robotic constructs...so it can stomp some worthless humans up close and personal-like.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kq4p9urFlWY/UTACWMf4AaI/AAAAAAAAEEE/HZN6B4txrHk/s1600/avatar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kq4p9urFlWY/UTACWMf4AaI/AAAAAAAAEEE/HZN6B4txrHk/s400/avatar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*The boss shows up to crack the whip every now and then*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, yeah.<i> Totally </i>obsessed with Infinity of late.<br />
I thought I'd write up this little post to introduce you to a couple of my new friends...<br />
<br />
<i>First up,<b> Malignos.</b></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVLl1e27IUc/UTADCt2DozI/AAAAAAAAEEM/yTg8DWeT5bk/s1600/malignos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVLl1e27IUc/UTADCt2DozI/AAAAAAAAEEM/yTg8DWeT5bk/s400/malignos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Yeah, that's right- Sniper Rifle and a big ol' knife...in case the Sniper Rifle misses, I guess*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>This guy right here?</i> He's my dogz, fer realz tho.<br />
<br />
He comes standard with Thermo-Optic Camoflage, which when combined with the regular advantage that simply placing him in cover can provide, adds up to a massive negative modifier getting applied to anyone attempting to shoot at him <i>(minus 9 altogether, actually)</i>.<br />
That's<b> if </b>they're successful in discovering him first, of course. Until he's discovered, he's just a unidentified marker on the table. My opponent doesn't know if he's an anti-personnel mine, some sorta weird alien Seed-Soldier <i>(yeah, we got those too)</i>, or one of the many other TO Camo guys or girls I can field...<br />
If an undiscovered camo model shoots, the target gets no Automatic Reaction Order <i>(ARO) </i>unless he/she survives. Camo models reveal themselves when they shoot, of course, but a dead troopie can't see anyway.<br />
:)<br />
<br />
Add those extremely annoying attributes to the fact that Malignos can be equipped with a MULTI Sniper Rifle, capable of shooting Armor Piercing or Dual Action ammo <i>(which forces the victim to make two armor saves for each wound inflicted)</i>, and you've got a model that opponents will just <i>absolutely hate.</i><br />
<br />
And even if someone does manage to shoot him in whatever passes for a spleen in his alien body, he also has what's known as an AutoMedkit, so you'd better shoot him twice, cuz during my turn he might very well get right back up, if I can pass a Physical<i> (PH)</i> roll of 12 or less.<br />
<br />
<i>But wait- it gets worse:</i> he also Infiltrates, meaning he can show up virtually anywhere- even in the enemy deployment zone if I feel like taking a chance and passing a die roll. TO Camo also grants me<i> Hidden Deployment</i>, where your opponent turns around, and you take a picture of the spot you want to deploy him with your cell phone, and he remains completely invisible until you feel it's time for him to strike.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>*overly toothy evil Xenos grin*</b></span><br />
The downside to Hidden Deployment is that while he's hidden, Malignos won't be contributing an Order to my Order pool, and I'm gonna need Orders in the early game to run around murkin' fools with the big guy...<br />
<br />
<i>Meet da <b>Sphinx!</b></i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vq444jVTom8/UTAJdM0lTYI/AAAAAAAAEEc/DYPgf6kXRtY/s1600/sphinx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vq444jVTom8/UTAJdM0lTYI/AAAAAAAAEEc/DYPgf6kXRtY/s400/sphinx.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Show me a fool, an' I'll murk 'im*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Sphinx is a TAG, which is kinda like the Infinity equivalent of a tank...just with legs, instead of tracks, treads or wheels. TAGS are heavily armed and armored, and needless to say can be quite a handful to deal with when they show up on the battlefield.<br />
My buddy Sphinx here, much like Malignos, is part of the Combined faction known as the Shasvastii. Or as I call them, <i>the Sneaky Sneakies.</i><br />
He comes with TO Camo too.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>*extra-wide, overly toothy Xenos Cheshire-Cat-style grin*</b></span><br />
So go ahead and succeed with that 'Discover' roll, buddy, cuz guess who's coming to dinner?<br />
<i>Oh, and by the way- you're <b>totally</b> dinner.</i><br />
:)<br />
<br />
Dual Heavy Flamethrowers ensure that enemies get served up extra crispy, and he's got a Spitfire for medium to occasionally long ranged shooting. The Spitfire is a decent weapon, but it's no Heavy Machine Gun.<br />
Sphinx wants to get into flaming range <i>(a standard-sized teardrop shape template)</i>. In the event that anyone is dumb enough to get within swatting range, Sphinx has an <i>Explosive</i> CC weapon.<br />
No, fer real- it <b>explodes</b> when he smacks you with it.<i> Please pass three Armor Saves if you wish to continue living.</i> In the event that you actually manage to do that, I'll be sure to swat you again, so it's prolly in yer best interest to just...<i>not get up</i>. Heh.<br />
<br />
These are just two of the many models I've played around with since beginning Infinity. Malignos is already a fixture in virtually every list I write. He's a skirmisher, and although that's a specialized class in Infinity, he's not too expensive, points-wise- he clocks in at 47 points with the MULTI Sniper Rifle. TO Camo means I can keep him mobile and stalking prey, since he doesn't rely exclusively on cover provided by terrain.<br />
Malignos has racked up an impressive kill tally for me- it's a rare game he doesn't kill <i>at least</i> two enemy troopies.<br />
<i>He's an absolute menace, and I luvs him.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elKOVJHcnr0/UTASi25gvfI/AAAAAAAAEEs/-0VVo2gSEZM/s1600/malignos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elKOVJHcnr0/UTASi25gvfI/AAAAAAAAEEs/-0VVo2gSEZM/s320/malignos2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Yes, he has bad posture and a worse attitude. He also drools and lisps. But damn, he's so sexy*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sphinx is a little harder to work into a proper list, since he's somewhat costly, points-wise. Unit costs in Infinity are extremely well-balanced, and you get what you pay for...you just need to make use of what you've purchased. Even the most powerful model can be gunned down if you leave him flopping around in the breeze, unsupported.<br />
<i>Trust me, I learned that the hard way.</i><br />
I'm still working out the best way to get my <i>sneaky sneaky</i> TAG across the table and into <i>(and preferably behind) </i>the enemy lines, so he can uncloak and proceed to melt chumps like fleshy marshmallows.<br />
He's still cool as hell, though, so he's gonna see a lotta use in the future. Now that I've advanced to regularly playing 300 point games <i>(which is the standard. I've graduated past the 150 to 200 point training-wheels games now)</i>, I think I'll find room for him and his 110 point price tag.<br />
<br />
Heh...<i>price TAG</i>...you see wat I did there?<br />
:P<br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time, folks- Exit with catchphrase!<br />
<br />
- SinSynn<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-12731587601638434312012-12-15T10:00:00.000-06:002012-12-15T10:00:04.863-06:00[RPG][WOD] Blood on Fire- Trav Trav Parker is the last member of Blood on Fire to change. He's fresh and raw, still learning about The People and his place in the world. Luna demands an incredible sacrifice from him, and Trav is learning how to accept it. He's the member of the pack I wrote first, and his change is what forged this pack- literally with blood and fire.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6JEHakLmRg/UMSj61Khv6I/AAAAAAAAFyE/LqZ7cHBnPdA/s1600/veins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N6JEHakLmRg/UMSj61Khv6I/AAAAAAAAFyE/LqZ7cHBnPdA/s320/veins.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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While he's Trey's younger brother, it's Hilary that he looks up to now that he has his legs under him. She tirelessly answers every question, while holding the pack to unyielding standards. Trav's respect for her command and dedication is unparalleled, and Trav would do anything Hilary asked of him to prove his loyalty.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of terminology in this one, but I hope you understand him even through the jargon.<br />
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It all started with the motherf&*$ing ’ sky. It’s just so
pretty, see? And who doesn’t want to touch it, or explore it, or just know MORE
about it? I know that for as long as I can remember, it’s all I cared about. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-caTzWRu5u3E/UMsu_MjdbJI/AAAAAAAAF3E/NJwBrX7UXCE/s1600/spacially-luminous81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-caTzWRu5u3E/UMsu_MjdbJI/AAAAAAAAF3E/NJwBrX7UXCE/s320/spacially-luminous81.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I mean, I got Trey and Mama, of course. And sure, they’re
important. But I don’t live and breathe for ‘em like I do the sky. Everything I
ever did was to get to the sky. Early morning runs, workouts till I puked, endless
math drills, joining ROTC – all of it was for that dream that was on my tongue,
in my ears and in my heart every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I did ROTC in college and then IFS and became an SNA. They sent me to API in
Pensacola. I did all right there, and then they sent me to Primary Flight
Training at NAS in Corpus Christi. From there, I went to Tailhook at NAS
Kingsville, TX. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m a good southern boy, and all these stations being near
Georgia made it easy for my family to come to see me. Somehow, being away so
much brought me and my brother closer. We really grew to like each other, and
we’d talk for hours about what life would be like when I got out. We had plans, y’know. Trey’s a typical older brother, and wanted the
very best for me – he was always pushing me hard to kill it so I could make
something of myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We decided to go in on a little prop plane, and I was
teaching Trey to fly. He was pretty good, but he had to work at it. I was
patient, and kept teaching. It gave us something to share, y’know, and that was
pretty important. We kept it back home, so I wouldn’t be tempted to do some
dumb sh&t – cause as much as I planned every little detail of how to get to
be a pilot, I love the sky. I just can’t resist flying. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpVfCDFRtg/UMswLmvOyjI/AAAAAAAAF3M/zklaiTE-6lI/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpVfCDFRtg/UMswLmvOyjI/AAAAAAAAF3M/zklaiTE-6lI/s320/bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The training and practice flights were everything I thought
they’d be- hard, grueling, challenging; and exciting. I was a natural behind
the stick, and I could taste my life right in my mouth every time I flipped on
the jets of my bird- things were good. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And then. Something was twisting; turning- changing. I
couldn’t put my finger on it, but I was ansty all the time. I just couldn’t
stand anything; everything was crowding me. I kept having the strangest bouts
of nausea- I could literally taste my girl’s fuel and the horrible chemicals in
it. Everything around me made me mad; and I just wanted to get away. I felt a terrible homesickness I’d never felt
before, and I knew that I had to be back near my family- or something terrible
was going to happen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I decided to go home, to the quiet of Georgia. I got a
weekend pass, and grabbed my little prop and flew to a buddy’s farm. I put her
in the barn for a while, and decided to take a walk, a nap- anything to settle
my mind. I was just overwhelmed from all the stress of flight school- I’d be
all right once I got my head on right. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I fell into a terrifying and fitful sleep. I dreamt of voices
speaking a language that called to me, but I didn’t understand. I felt things
like teeth tearing at my skin; but it wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real- it was
a dream, right? I was running, and hiding. I was invisible, unseen by anyone
around me. But I could smell them and taste their terror. I knew their
weaknesses and breathed on their cold, fear soaked bodies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I woke as the night was crowning, the sky empty and bleak. I
had a sticky wet spot on my thigh, the pants ripped, but nothing but scratches
on my leg. I must have torn at myself in my sleep- it’s the only explanation, I
think. I saw the stars as I’d never seen them before, and I felt an incredible
sense of longing, and for just the quickest of moments, I felt a connection to
Trey - stronger than anything I’d ever felt before. Hilary, Trey’s “one that
got away”, lingered in my head , touching and melding with my very core for a
searing second. It was gone in a flash, and then that empty face above was
looking down at me again. The sky was lonely; missing something that belonged.
An unstoppable urge rushed over me and I was in my plane before I knew it,
flipping switches and running down the dirt road, waiting to soar. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An unfiled flight plan is bad enough, but one in the dark,
in the country, with no one around- it’s suicide. I started to feel the terror
of my choice, just as I was in the wind, like the hair of an unseen woman above
me. I felt a desperate need to get back, to flee, to hide. That’s when the
hallucinations started- those voices calling to me, in that garbled language. I
heard the air moving around me and my plane, loud and uncaring; I felt the
vibrations of the plane like thunder about to rip my bones from the inside out.
The lights on the dash seared into my eyes, like lasers seeking a target. And
the fuel- that disgusting, sickening taste was back in my mouth. It was all
flooding me at once, in waves and waves of restless and unending sensations-
and the sky was lonely. I could feel my one true love calling me, and all I
wanted to do was run away and hide. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I grabbed the controls, and my touch was violent and
spasming. I couldn’t hold onto the grip, or I forced it too hard, or both; I
don’t know. I was suddenly spinning out of control. I could see every twist,
every turn, every rotation. I could feel every thrust, my body rocking and wild
in the seat. I tried to grab control, to reach out and get my plane back in the
sky- but I could see the ground coming too fast and too hard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I smashed into the top of a forest, the treetops twisting
the plane, flipping it like a child’s toy. I bounced and jerked and thrashed,
something wrong with every muscle in my body- I was breaking from the inside
out, and I hadn’t even crashed yet. My plane got hung up in a huge tree, as old
as the forest itself, and I hung nose down. Every system was broken and
blaring, and I could hear trickling, and smell something awful. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It only took a moment. A flash – a spark- something caught
the fuel, and the loose electronics which were smoldering and whisping lit up.
The fire raged, and so did I. As the fire consumed the plane, whatever was
ripping me up from the very depths of my bones exploded, and I felt torn and
stretched, but I was locked into my seat by the straps. Twisting and turning in
my seat, I saw myself become something inhuman- something deeper and more in
tune with the world around me. I watched myself burn alive. I smelled my own
body, which was covered in some kind of protective fur, be fried and scorched
beyond recognition; my senses screaming from the agony of every moment-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I woke, strapped to a bed, with Trey pinning me by
straddling on my chest. Somehow his face
conveyed everything without saying a word. I felt something brushing my
thoughts, and I was connected to him again- but this was like a live wire
shocking through me. His emotions and fears were just as loud as the sensations
he experienced; he saw it. He saw it all. Hilary brought him to where I’d be-
she KNEW it was coming but had to let it happen. He found me, upside down in my
plane; melted to my seat as the fire raged out of control. He saw me screaming,
awake but witless, and braved the flames to and cut me down. </div>
Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-67133502991600834312012-12-14T07:48:00.000-06:002012-12-14T07:48:11.706-06:00[RPG]{WOD] Trey's Stats There's some experience spent here, but not nearly as much as Hilary got.<br />
<br />
Trey is an Iron Masters Rahu.<br />
<br />
<br />
Int 3<br />
Wits 2<br />
Resolve 2<br />
<br />
Str 3<br />
Dex 2<br />
Stam 3<br />
<br />
Pre 3<br />
Man 2<br />
Comp 1<br />
<br />
Mental skills<br />
Academics 1<br />
Computer 3 (specialty in build/repair)<br />
Crafts 1 (specialty in computer)<br />
Crafts 2 (woodworking)<br />
Investigation 1<br />
Medicine 1<br />
Occult<br />
Politics<br />
Science 1<br />
<br />
Physical Skills<br />
Athletics 2<br />
Brawl 2<br />
Drive 1<br />
Firearms 2<br />
Larceny 1<br />
Stealth 2<br />
Survival 1 (Specialty in urban settings)<br />
Weaponry 1<br />
<br />
Social skills<br />
Animal Ken<br />
Empathy<br />
Expression 1<br />
Intimidation 3<br />
Persuasion<br />
Socialize<br />
Streetwise 2<br />
Subterfuge<br />
<br />
Merits<br />
Primal Urge 2<br />
Resources 2<br />
Ambidextrous<br />
<br />
Renown<br />
Purity 2<br />
Cunning 2<br />
Glory 1<br />
<br />
Gifts<br />
Clarity<br />
Attunement<br />
<br />
Partial Change<br />
Mighty Blow<br />
<br />
Left Handed Spanner<br />
Nightfall<br />
<br />
Health 8 Willpower 3 Size 5 Defense 2 Initiative Mod 3 Speed 10 Harmony 7<br />
Primal Urge 2<br />
<br />
Vice: Pride Virtue: Fortitude<br />
<br />
<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-54420074047018204032012-12-11T10:00:00.000-06:002012-12-11T10:00:01.052-06:00[RPG][WOD] Blood on Fire- Trey Next up for this pack is Trey Jenkins. He has a successful computer repair/build operation, and lives in a self built cabin on the edge of the Blood on Fire territory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vB9uM0-dh7c/UMa6vlCsqHI/AAAAAAAAFzA/LwAq2BMGiAs/s1600/Cabin-in-the-Woods-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vB9uM0-dh7c/UMa6vlCsqHI/AAAAAAAAFzA/LwAq2BMGiAs/s320/Cabin-in-the-Woods-1024x576.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
His pride is his greatest falling, but he's slowly learning there's honor in accepting one's place in the pack and among the People.<br />
<br />
He doesn't do anything easy, and writing him was no exception. He was an absolute pain in the ass to get written, but I'm very happy with the end result.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I wake, and...why am I bare-assed and tied to a tree? And who the hell
uses motherfucking jumper cables to tie someone up? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Holy ballsweat I must have gotten drunk last night-cause I
don’t remember a thing. I look around, hoping for some hints to how I might
have gotten here. I see my Jeep sitting in the middle of the field, with Hilary
lounging on the hood, her smile somehow looking deadly serious in my direction.
I open my mouth to speak, and she raises her hand to stop me. For some unknown
reason, I comply. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Look, Trey. It’s like this. If you want to live, you will
do everything I tell you without argument. Don’t think I won’t kick your black
ass nine ways from Sunday if you even so much as THINK about trying something.
Got it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a lot of things, but smart isn’t on the list. Obedient
isn’t either. I tell her that, and my
terms aren’t real nice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like I said, I’m not known for my smarts, and I mouth off a
lot. Hilary never backs down and seemingly never tires. I spend the next
several days getting repeatedly beaten beyond recognition by my former
girlfriend. My 108 pound, blonde, white, hot as blazes former girlfriend. I
keep wondering why we broke up. I make a couple comments suggesting we hook up
again, because it was smokin’, and it was fun. I’m not all that smart, but I’m
sure as hell not stupid. I figure out
real fast from the way she laid into me that we are over and that if I want to
keep breathing I need to drop any thoughts like that out of my head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, just as suddenly as she started, she bites me. She
motherfucking bites me. Then she cleans me up, gives me some food and water,
and chains me to the tree. No matter how much I cuss, she ignores me and goes
about her business with a purpose. She checks my arms and legs to make sure I’m
tightly strapped to the massive oak and winds thick towing chains around both
my body and the trunk of the tree. She lies in the grass and soaks up some rays
until the sun starts to go down. As the evening starts to break over the
clearing, she hops into the Jeep and backs up. I can just barely make out the
shape of my truck as night starts to fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did she lace my food with Angel Dust? What the hell is
happening? I’m seeing and hearing all kinds of things. Things that just don’t
make sense. There’s a hauntingly
beautiful face in the full moon, hanging over me like a judge, waiting to see
if I’m worthy. I keep hearing this
garbled language- and I’m on the edge of understanding, and then nothing. In a
blender of memories, I flash back to a night about seven, maybe eight months
ago. I hear the phone call play back, Hilary’s voice flat and empty; but
totally honest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Whatever you hear
that I did tonight, it was probably worse. Don’t look for me. I’ll be back when
I’m ready. Maybe.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently she’s ready today, ‘cause she’s back. I remember
the flash of anger I felt that night I’d heard what she’d done, and a wave of
heat rips through me. My body is on
fire, every muscle stretching against itself. The next hour is what I imagine hell to be;
turning inside out; and raging against everything under the sun. My blood is on
fire, and then I finally turn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No horror movie can come close to showing how terrifying
that beast is. I know what it is now; but then; I was freaking out, inside of
that thing. It’s fueled by fear and rage, and I was giving it a good meal. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thrash and writhe against the beast, against the chains
and against the agony of how good the change feels. The rage and anguish propel
me into something close to insanity, and my new body pulls against the
restraints like they were string. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The chains started to creak, the tree started groaning and
faster than I could breathe, a wave of slashing fury pounces on me. The bundle
of bristled fur on my chest stares at me down a snout of pure gold, a deep and
rumbling growl shaking me to my core. It’s some kind of command, and it matches
the guttural voices repeating something over and over in my head, a refrain
that calls past my conscious self and reaches into the deepest primal part of
my soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t quite make out the actual words, but I sure as hell
understand the message. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You will obey.”
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The not smart part of my brain argues, refusing to accept
this directive. The voices don’t stop. They’re relentless. The voices, the
growling savage animal on my chest, the heat, and the night- they eventually
wear me down. It’s hours later when I finally submit. I’m covered by something heavy, something alive, something primal – at
the barest edge of my consciousness I
understand it’s Hilary-when I finally accept.
A honey colored paw swipes at my
head and I am put out like a light. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wake… and Why am I bare-assed and tied to a tree? And who
the hell uses motherfucking jumper cables to tie someone up? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hilary sighs, shakes her head and begins the process of
teaching me to be one of The People. <o:p></o:p></div>
Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-43992343533069665552012-12-09T11:00:00.000-06:002012-12-12T07:30:41.814-06:00[RPG] [WOD] Hilary's Stats Here is the sheet as I see her now. I gave her a lot of experience- she carved the territory Blood on Fire controls herself, spent almost a year alone waiting for her packmates to change, and built a business so she wouldn't get fired.<br />
<br />
She is a Storm Lord Cahalith.<br />
<br />
<br />
INT- 2<br />
WIS - 2<br />
RES- 3<br />
<br />
STR- 4<br />
DEX- 3<br />
STAM - 2<br />
<br />
PRE- 2<br />
MAN- 3<br />
COMP-2<br />
<br />
Mental skills:<br />
Academics -1<br />
Computer<br />
Crafts<br />
Investigation -1<br />
Medicine- 1<br />
Occult-1<br />
Politics<br />
Science<br />
<br />
Physical Skills:<br />
Athletics -2<br />
Brawl -3 (specialty in Dirty infighting)<br />
Drive<br />
Firearms<br />
Larceny -2<br />
Stealth -2<br />
Survival-2<br />
Weaponry -1 (Specialty in Improvised Weapon)<br />
<br />
<br />
Social Skills:<br />
Animal Ken<br />
Empathy<br />
Expression -3 (Specialty in Dance)<br />
Intimidation- 3<br />
Persuasion - 2<br />
Socialize- 2<br />
Streetwise -1<br />
Subterfuge- 1<br />
<br />
Merits:<br />
Fleet of Foot -2<br />
Resources- 2<br />
Primal Urge- 2<br />
Striking Looks -2<br />
<br />
Renown:<br />
Glory:3<br />
Honor: 2<br />
<br />
Gifts:<br />
Warning Growl<br />
Luna's Dictum<br />
Voice of Command<br />
<br />
Pack Awareness<br />
Resist Pain<br />
<br />
Right Words<br />
<br />
Health: 7 Willpower: 5 Primal Urge :2 Harmony: 7 Defense: 2 Initiative Mod: 5<br />
Speed: 15<br />
<br />
Vice: Lust Virtue: Faith<br />
<br />
<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-26245136505179787402012-12-07T11:00:00.000-06:002012-12-08T16:55:58.713-06:00[RPG] [WOD] Blood on Fire- Hilary First up for the WOD show and tell is Hilary Carson.<br />
<br />
Tiny, blonde and fierce; Hilary is the Alpha and was the first among Blood on Fire to change. Her body and personality seem much more suited to a life as a Rahu, but Hilary has adapted as Luna's choice dictated. Her skill as a Cahalith is beyond effective, based on her understanding of the ways to motivate and inspire her packmates. Her talent for fighting is often underestimated, based on her looks.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Inspired by the group making characters, I wrote up Hilary's first change. The tale of any first change is burdened by that which lies underneath. Deepest fears, greatest longings and righteous fury are unleashed in the bath of Luna's gaze.<br />
<br />
Here it is. It's just a touch "adult"- and yes, there are a lot of "H"s in this one.<br />
<br />
I'll put her sheet up separately.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Is this all just a memory? It feels so real. It seems like it’s still happening… that’s the worst about being the keeper of memories; they’re alive inside me and they’re so vivid. They’re like movies that keep playing in my head and I can’t make them stop.<br />
<br />
It’s Friday. It’s late. I’m alone.<br />
<br />
I’ve been having a hell of a week- maybe I’m PMSing something fierce, or the lack of sleep is getting to me, but I have been in more fights this week than I got into all last year- and I got kicked out of school for fighting, so that’s a lot. I managed to get fired from ANOTHER job, which sucks. I think my only saving grace is my looks, and right now I look like shit. Like I said, I haven’t slept in a week, and any sleep I do get is full of nightmares. They’re even worse than usual; and everything is pissing me off.<br />
<br />
Maybe getting out of the house will help; it seems better than staying home and kicking the cat (who suddenly hates me).<br />
<br />
I get to The Holler and hit the bar. I order some drinks from Hal, the usual bartender. We have an agreement- he doesn’t card me, and I don’t tell his wife about all the blow jobs he gets from Cora, the waitress. Hal asks me about my boy of the moment, Trey, and I give him a non-committal answer. The last thing I want right now is to hang out with that controlling asshole. I like his body, and he’s amazing in bed; but I can’t stand him as a person right now. I can’t really stand anyone today.<br />
<br />
The music is already playing, and I have a few shots. The late summer heat is starting to get to me, and I head outside to try to catch a breeze.<br />
<br />
The evening air is dark, with an almost full moon hanging so close I can almost taste it. Suddenly, I feel like I’m being watched, and every inch of my body twitches and creeps uncontrollably. I have a desperate need to be around people, to talk, and to laugh. I can’t understand it, because I really don’t like people. Somehow I know being surrounded with company will help me, so I head inside and start buying drinks.<br />
<br />
I’m in the middle of buying a round when a group of enlisteds from the base hit the bar, and I include drinks for them too. One of them turns on the jukebox, and before long we are all singing and drinking together. Several of the guys return the favor and buy me drinks, and we continue making Hal money for quite a while.<br />
<br />
A terrible heat rushes over my skin, and I hear voices in the music, singing a song that’s familiar and haunting. I think I hear my name outside, somewhere in the night wind. I shake my head, and lean into the crowd. The heat I felt a moment ago is rising, and I’m flushed like a hand of poker. A fast song comes on, and I jump up to dance, the only outlet for all the stress and emotion inside of me. I’m overwhelmed by it, and instead of hitting the floor alone, I draw a soldier with me.<br />
<br />
His buddies shout catcalls and joke about his luck, and I invite them all on the dance floor. I take turns dancing with each and every one of them, the music’s beat driving my pulse faster. As I move on the dance floor, my need to let everything out elevates with every breath. My body heat just keeps rising, and in the swell of dance floor, the heat off the soldiers’ bodies is sweltering. I strip off my shirt, and the hoots and cheers from the men is like a primal roar that calls to a deeper part of my soul.<br />
<br />
The music continues, all of us dancing, singing and grinding along. Beers and shots continue to pour, and the heat rolls off my body in waves. I strip even further, and the dancing gets more intense. My skin practically burns as I’m pulled into the sway of the music, the various gunners stroking and touching me along with the rhythm. Someone has propped the door open, and the night air rushes over my skin, and my senses explode.<br />
<br />
The sweat of their bodies, the pounding music, the beer, the shots, the outside air all smother me, pushing me under a chorus of voices from far away. I hear them calling, shoving terrifying sights and ungodly knowledge down my gullet as I gasp for air. I have to call back to them, I have to tell them I hear them- there’s so much I want to express and give back.<br />
<br />
I can’t control myself anymore, and I just want to feel. I can’t make sense of anything. I’m utterly overwhelmed, a deep and primal urge screaming through me, piercing my every nerve. I’m beyond reasoning, beyond sense, and beyond shame. I grab one of the soldiers and shove him into a chair, straddling his lap in just my panties. It doesn’t take him long to figure out what I want, and soon he’s inside me. I grab another by the waist and start ripping off his belt, trying to go down on him as I ride his buddy. The feeling and tension in the air around me changes, and I’m aware of the primal arousal in the room. I keep pumping the guy on the chair, trying desperately to come- I just want to cry out, to scream, to release – I’m so close, but the dick in my mouth shoots off and distracts me. I’m pushed to the floor, and the group takes turns, and each time I get close to release, another of them comes; pushing my shattered ability to concentrate off and I start again with each man inside my body.<br />
<br />
Any shame or modesty I ever had is gone, and I’m naked in a group of men, trying to ride the last of them to climax. I’m getting closer, and everything around me seems louder, hotter, closer, more alive. I smell everything these men have touched. I can sense their lust and their desperation. At least one fears he came too fast, but all of them want a piece of me. As I rock my pelvis against the last guy, I feel a cloud or fog invade my head. I’m in a haze, a thickness on my tongue and a cold chill rippling on my body as I get closer. My body is alive with nerves, every touch and breath almost too much to bear, but my mind is taken miles away as a scene like a movie unfolds in my head.<br />
<br />
<i>Two liquid lines, one black and one white- are in a vast darkness. The lines light on fire, searing into each other, melding and forming a single united pool. The pool fades into vapors- and the vapors stink of jet fuel. I see a plane, turned upside down. It’s on fire- I can smell that acrid fuel. There’s someone strapped into the cockpit, and I get a clearer view. It’s a man, burned beyond recognition; but he’s still alive. He’s screaming- and something is wrong- DIFFERENT with him. I can just barely make it out; there’s something …</i><br />
<br />
Oh, God, I’m almost there. I don’t understand, I don’t understand, I don’t understand. I just need to release ....I can feel it, it's huge, immense---<br />
<br />
<i>The fog in my head clears, and I see the face of the man in the plane. It’s Trav, and then I see Trey.My face flashes in my vision for the briefest of moments. I see the firey pools of liquid again. They burn together, and the liquid shines with the reflection of a bright moon and a lupine face wavering in and out of the flames. I finally understand part of it, the part that matters.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This sliver; this glimpse- it’s just a hint of things to come. Heartache, glory, blood and fury lie ahead for me, and this understanding is the thing I never knew I needed, but is welcome and utterly completes me.</i><br />
<br />
I break the wave of the orgasm I’ve been riding since the fog began, and let out what can only be called a howl as I come. It’s a violent, explosive rupture, and my body has squeezed the soldier underneath me damn near in half. His back and hips are shattered, and I keenly smell the stench of death on him.<br />
<br />
He’s not the only casualty- several others are knocked into comas or worse. I smell myself on every man in the Holler, and see deep, ragged scratches, some bites and one has a broken leg. Hal has his trusty bat, and he’s got my clothes in a little pile on the bar. He nods his head towards my things and the door, and says very quietly- “Call Trey. I’ve got this.”<br />
<br />
I call Trey, but I don’t know what I said. I hung up, and then I heard it.<br />
<br />
A deep, ghostly chorus, singing in harsh voices. Guttural and hollow; almost barking- the chorus pulls me into the night. I can’t physically resist- the pull is stronger than a magnet to iron.<br />
<br />
The night wind is cool and clear, and as I run the brushes, the dirt roads, and the swamp, I find myself loping on all fours like some animal. Running towards the chorus is the most natural thing I know, and the distance seems to shorten and bunch together like blinks of an eye.<br />
<br />
I find myself in Atlanta, wandering the streets aimlessly. I have a burning need, but I don’t know what for. Just as I think I’ve found whatever it is I’m looking for, I feel a violent electric shock, stopping me in place. I’m physically frozen, so I sit on a park bench and try to figure out what to do.<br />
<br />
A guy smaller than my 12 year old brother steps out of the shadows, emanating that violet energy in waves right in my direction. Tiny as he was, he had a power about him that shook me to my core.<br />
<br />
He spoke, and I listened. He didn’t say much, just enough to keep me safe. He sent me back on my way home, telling me I had to find my own land, my own territory, and find or build a pack to protect it.<br />
<br />
That vision rings in my head, and the work to be done in preparation for the rest of my pack gives my life direction and purpose as I head back home.<br />
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Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-65000134675011233902012-12-04T10:00:00.000-06:002012-12-04T10:00:01.500-06:00[RPG][WOD] Introducing Blood On Fire The old WOD game ended and a new one has begun. It's set in Savannah, GA, and it's limited to Mages and Werewolves. As the Werewolves were sitting around and creating characters, I had an idea for a character that I really liked. <br />
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The idea was fleeting and fickle. It flirted with me, coy and complicated for quite a while. It finally decided to behave, and I started working on it in earnest. While I was giddily writing this lovely little nugget down, the smoke of a more complete concept unraveled fully in my head. It wasn't just ONE character, but three.<br />
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As the idea exploded into lots more than what I imagined, it became obvious I had a pack of Werewolves in mind. Whether these Uratha are NPCs in the Savannah game, NPCs in a game I run, or just ideas I never use, they are interesting enough that I thought I'd share.<br />
<br />
Blood On Fire is a pack of 3 Uratha in the Georgia area. Their original location was set outside of Fort Stewart, in a yet unnamed semi-rural town. I'm still undecided as to whether I'll keep them there or move them closer to Atlanta.<br />
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The pack is comprised of 2 brothers, Trey and Trav; along with Trey's former girlfriend Hilary. They are bound by more than blood; their pack becomes forged by sacrifice and fire.<br />
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I will be putting up the write ups for each one fairly soon, I hope. Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-66149637211939296042012-11-18T11:32:00.000-06:002012-11-18T11:32:09.419-06:00Wonderland Session 8 After an extremely long break between sessions due to illness, schedule issues and other shenanigans, my little troupe met again.<br />
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We have M- Sir Epperson the Third; Captain and Noble<br />
B- Squeakers the Clown<br />
Z- The Policeman<br />
L- Sorceress<br />
K-Tennessee Jones, Explorer<br />
C- Alistair, "Batman"<br />
K-Lem, Ghost<br />
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Lem and Alistair were not able to make the session, but we went ahead with the adventures.<br />
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The group landed on the shores of Meridia safely and made their way towards the main settlement after parking the boat, to which Squeakers has developed a method of communication. The settlement is built into a large grotto which is dotted with random rocks across the landscape. The rocks are tall and similar-ish to those found at Stonehenge, but in various colors. The buildings of the settlement are tucked into the grotto, along side the rocks in a fairly random fashion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zGIC24UCwU/UKVpNXeK7BI/AAAAAAAAFpE/FE5bOH5ktkU/s1600/byblos-13(the-obelisk-temple).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zGIC24UCwU/UKVpNXeK7BI/AAAAAAAAFpE/FE5bOH5ktkU/s320/byblos-13(the-obelisk-temple).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No palm trees, though.<br />
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The group makes its way to the center of "town". While in the center of town, the group notices that there are plenty of women out and about, but no men or children appear visible. Tennessee advises them to let her do the talking, as there are "special circumstances" around. She is then greeted by a former acquaintance. The acquaintance makes several comments which alert the group to the fact that men are treated far differently on Meridia than Miracle City, and most of the males start to worry just a little. Sir Epperson is not phased, and is loud and obnoxious, which gets Tennessee some funny looks. As Tennessee is conversing with the resident, Squeakers feels the presence of two children, whom he impresses with a few tricks.<br />
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The group is then greeted by Axaris, the mayor. Axaris is accompanied by a large contingent of assistants and so on, and following up the rear is her male companion. He is extremely good looking and appears to be a trophy of some sort. She talks with Tennessee for a bit and then escorts the group to a large hall for dinner, rest and so forth.<br />
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Among the smattering of NPCs accompanying the PCs is the monk, who has become his "regular" age, and is exceptionally good looking. Living quarters are directly in proportion to the status of the person staying there, and Tennessee has earned a great deal of status through her "possession" of a large male entourage with such a handsome man included. The quarters are very plush, and fine food, warm baths, clean clothes and fresh beds are abound for the group.<br />
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The group does some minor exploring in the quarters, finding a small trove of books native to Meridia. There is a decided lack of religious writing of any kind, which causes a bit of consternation among the majority of the party. They do discover books on many other topics, and Tennessee remembers seeing some books on geography and so forth at an outland camp, which the group plans to visit the next day. They then retire for the night.<br />
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Squeakers discovers that he feels run down, and needs recharging. He decides to investigate the town while the remainder of the group is sleeping to find sources of energy. He is discovered out exploring, and despite his charming ways, is sent back to bed.<br />
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The next morning, the group prepares for their adventures. Squeakers prevails upon Tennessee to find the school, and the group heads in that direction. Squeakers is pushing a makeshift cart of what appears to be garbage, and unloads it in front of the school while Tennessee goes inside to talk with the teacher. The school comes out for an assembly, and discovers that Squeakers has assembled a makeshift Punch and Judy show out of random household knickknacks.<br />
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He proceeds to put on a puppet play about the group's adventures thus far, including many of their stops and trials along the way. He makes special mention of the squid baby and the storybook island, while invoking the other members of the party to say special lines. His prompts include "do YOU know where the Gods are?", which he uses to great effect and gets the children chanting along with him. He concludes with a great flourish, and the young people laugh, clap and cheer. The remainder of the group is similarly impressed. Squeakers then passes Tennessee a note with a list of items he's swiped to make the show, along with a bill, which elicits a grimaced chuckle. <br />
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Tennessee knows that the Gods aren't a big thing on Meridia, so she hustles the group off before they get into any real trouble. The group makes their way out of the grotto and towards a copse of boulders. They enter the gathering of rocks, which are much closer together than the grotto they just left, and immediately feel "weird".<br />
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The rocks are somewhat magnetic, and the group tries to use this to their advantage. However, something about the rocks defies their attempts to magnetize items and use the polarized fields to find their way out of the stand. The disoriented group spends some more time trying to get out of the rock formation with no avail. Squeakers gets a message from the boat that "she" is worried about the group, and that she doesn't like the rocks.<br />
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While they are bungling around, Alistair (substituted by me) remembers he can be a bat. He flies above the rocks and looks around. He finds the way out, but as soon as he lands and becomes a person again, he forgets. The group then makes him into a "bat kite". They tie a string to his leg and let him fly them out of the grouping.<br />
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Once the group finds their way out of the rocks, they proceed towards a hunting village set up on the outlands. Tennessee used to frequent the area, learning to tame animals and evade traps, so she is familiar with most of the inhabitants (who are all male). She notices a distinct differences in how they treat her, and asks one of the hunters what has happened since she left. She's told that things have become worse, and the inequities have become more entrenched.<br />
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The village is different from other areas of Meridia, in that things are gathered into twos. With the exception of the tannery, every building or enclosure is one of a pair. They look around the village and find a small collection of books, one of which is generally about geography. As the group is looking through the book collection, they find small snippets of information that they find helpful. The key piece is almost literally a two sentence bit about how Meridia used to be a larger "pangea" but is now split, and that a bridge would join it together with it's other part.<br />
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Spurred on by this information, Tennessee asks if there are any people who might remember the Gods or the older history of Meridia. While Tennessee is talking, Squeakers quietly places a holy book on the bookshelf, and Sir Epperson carves a symbol of the Gods onto a nearby tree. Tennessee is directed to the fishing village, as there's an older man who might hold some information.<br />
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They make their way to the fishing village, which is comprised entirely of men. The men are on a huge lake, and they seem to be having the time of their lives fishing, swimming, and generally enjoying the world around them. The group is invited to come fishing or generally relax. Both the sorceress and the policeman decide to partake in skinny dipping in the swimming area, while most of the rest of the group heads out to the center of the lake to visit with some of the fishermen.<br />
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<br />
There's a moment when one of the group wonders aloud if the Gods or Elith (squid baby) might be under water, and Sir Epperson sticks his head underwater and shouts "helloooooooooooo", but nothing happens.<br />
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Squeakers sees what he thinks are the tubes from the underwater island, and makes his way around the lake to that area while the remainder of the group does their thing. Once Squeakers determines that the tubes seem to have a function, he gets Sir Epperson's attention, and the two attempt to use the tubes to talk to whomever might be underwater, if there is anyone.<br />
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The two encounter success and the underwater "village" , which is surrounded by a force bubble of some sort, begins to surface.<br />
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This acts something like a dam opening, and all the water in the lake is pushed back to the other side.<br />
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The group all find their way to the activity, and are faced with a giant "mouth", with a road inside it. Inside, they see one of Jershaw and Elith's relatives, holding out the telepathic trident for the group to use to communicate.<br />
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The group asks a lot of questions, and finds out that this underwater group is similar to but separate from the other island they previously visited. The inhabitants know of and can talk to each other, but can't get back.<br />
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As the group is talking, various members parse together bits and pieces of various conversations and details from their adventures, and wonder if the island could be "steered" much like the boat. They then realize the only way to do so would be to have every person concentrating on the same thing at the same time, and it would be very difficult.<br />
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We left off about here. I think I got it all, but it was a long session with a lot accomplished so I might have missed things.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-43459126491954530212012-11-12T09:00:00.000-06:002012-11-12T09:00:07.969-06:00The State of Darkness I got an email recently that lamented the lack of posts regarding World of Darkness recently, specifically mentioning wanting to know what ol' Vinnie was doing.<br />
<br />
Well, in a word: nothing.<br />
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The Austin game wrapped up a little while ago, after the ST decided it had gone pretty much as far as it could. He gave us a couple of weeks' warning so we could work on/out anything we felt needed some kind of resolution, and then we ended the game on a nice, calm note.<br />
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Austin is dark, now.<br />
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A few weeks ago, a new game emerged in Austin's place. It is run by the same ST (and has an additional ST to boot), and is set in Savannah, GA. The game is far more limited in scope, in that there are currently only Werewolves and Mages allowed at this time.<br />
<br />
I decided not to join at the time, but after a few sessions, I felt the urge to write creeping on me. I started working on some characters on my own time, and talked about these ideas possibly becoming NPCs in the future of the game. The ST seemed to like the idea and asked me to send along the finished products.<br />
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I'm not finished.<br />
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My problem has been the same as with my blog--- I have a very specific idea I want to get across, and my words are totally failing in that endeavor. On my blog posts, I have been working on a specific idea for a month or more, and I still can't get it across the way I want. With the NPCs, I have a group of three, and the third one has me stuck on a specific sentence, and I can't get past it.<br />
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I'm usually able to move around an obstacle, but these writing/blogging related issues are dragging me down like so much undertow.<br />
<br />
At the same time as the logjam in the word department, I am suddenly thinking in visual terms, deciphering colors and shapes into ideas for cards, altered art projects and other crafty type stuff.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLlOQa3HpwA/UKBkrFHdmZI/AAAAAAAAFnE/bq38wDt4Gus/s1600/glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLlOQa3HpwA/UKBkrFHdmZI/AAAAAAAAFnE/bq38wDt4Gus/s1600/glass.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inked glass is one of my favorite project types </td></tr>
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<br />
I've been playing around with the things that are inspiring me right now, hoping that they will carry over into the words that just aren't coming at the moment.<br />
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It hasn't happened yet, but I keep hoping. I keep looking for ways to bring words to life.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-54833079828173994492012-11-11T16:15:00.003-06:002012-11-11T16:15:47.103-06:00Paper Castles I found this online. Thought it was neat.<br />
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I do not have that kind of talent yet, but it's something to try to learn and develop.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-15262700052861147962012-10-18T15:28:00.000-05:002012-10-18T15:28:55.345-05:00State of Affairs I am currently not playing in any games. My favorite cohort to cause trouble with and discuss ideas with is now working 12+ hours a day. I am bogged down by a lack of any real social life and not as much fun as I want.<br />
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I am, in effect, uninspired.<br />
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<br />
Writing this blog us directly related to my gaming life and what's got me excited and interested today/this week/this month.<br />
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At the moment, I'm casually working on a pack of Werewolves for a World of Darkness setting, but I'm not anywhere near done and I find myself stalling a lot.<br />
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I also recently rediscovered my affection and adoration for paper crafting and altered art; which might correspond to the lack of gaming ideas and might just be happenstance.<br />
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Many of the ideas I had in draft are boring to me now, and I wonder if I need another trip to the strip club to get my mind fired up again.....Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-72899483811886296282012-10-03T10:00:00.000-05:002012-10-03T10:00:10.090-05:00Wonderland Session 6 & 7 We finally had our entire group together as we began this session.<br />
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When we left our intrepid "heroes", the group had heard voices crying for help through the Void, and had gone to their rescue despite the Captain's protests. Once on the island, they had encountered a group of people huddled together on the beach, and one of the people had turned towards the Captain with a wild look of hunger, and we had faded to black.<br />
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<br />
When we picked back up, I fully intended for there to be a conflict during the session. All of the players had commented at one point or another that they wanted a fight, and I had planned the adventure with that in mind.<br />
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But my players had other plans.<br />
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I originally planned for the island to be the domain of a very powerful being that granted "wishes", but with tiny twists. I asked people what they were thinking of and hoping for when they encountered this group of people, and began play.<br />
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I gave each of them a description of what they saw, tailored to their stated desires. The Captain asked for a proper adventure, so I put him into a combat. "Batman" wanted his past, so I had him encounter a "lost love" that my NPC/villian created. (Special guest star playing the "bad guy" was my daughter. She created the lost love and the story to go with her. It was pretty well done.) Tennessee Jones wanted to help get rid of whatever was hurting these people, so I had her encounter a mountain lion which was scaring the group of people (at least in her head). It went like that, with pretty much everyone encountering something different.<br />
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The IDEA behind this was that at some point they would figure out that they were being had, and go looking for the source of the illusions. I had an actual "bad guy" all slated up for them to face. But again, the PCs went another route.<br />
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The Captain elected to try to leave, the Clown thought he was rescuing a baby, "Batman" was reunited with his former flame, the Ghost was trying to get the policeman sobered up but was foiled by the presence of plentiful booze and women. The sorceress also wanted to leave and Tennessee was trying to tame the lion.<br />
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There was much discussion on what to do, and no one really agreed. The conversation got heated more than once, and many members of the group were more frustrated with each other than their situation. At one point, the sorceress cast a "push" spell on the policeman, which caused him to take aim at her with his gun.<br />
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The clown was enraged and bullrushed the policeman, knocking him over and causing an out of game time out while we discussed a few points of etiquette.<br />
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After the massive departure from the adventure and game, we got mostly back on track. The PCs were mildly squabbling when a new person entered their field of view. This new person caused more disagreement and suspicion, and the party finally agreed to leave for better ports.<br />
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At this point, the party got back on their boat. As they did so, they realized that the illusions were falling apart. Just as all of this was coming to light, the new person decided that they wanted to go along, and hopped on the boat. After a little discussion, the group grudgingly took her with them, mostly for lack of something better to do.<br />
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This ended session 6. Session 7 had all of the group except the Ghost back on the boat, headed for a new place to land. The come across a very large "speed bump" and land the boat. They look ahead and up, and all they see for a very long way in any direction are tiny steps, stacked on top of each other. The world is washed out in sepia tones, everything looking very much the same from one edge of their vision to the next.<br />
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As they climb the steps, they notice that there is some "give", and that the steps slide under their feet and then slide back as they step off of them. The continue their exploration and climbing, when the Captain makes an unusual discovery. One of the steps has a mark or inscription of some sort, but it is covered by the next step. The Captain tries to push the next step, since they are somewhat flexible, but instead makes something of a hole. He and "Batman" (Alistair) hide the hole and move on. The Captain is really a curious guy, and keeps looking at the steps and keeps seeing engravings and so on.<br />
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He puts his head to the step and hears a voice! The voice says: "Silly frog." The Captain wonders aloud- "what frog" and the group decides to investigate with him. They all take turns listening to the step- and with some pushing and pulling, they reveal more of the inscription and the voice says: "Silly frog. Go outside and play!"<br />
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They are completely confused by this and look around for a frog. As they continue up the steps, they come upon a wide expanse of blue that stretches as far as they can see.<br />
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They hear a muffled, somewhat rhythmic sound as they look around. They have pulled the boat up the many steps, and they put the boat onto the blue vision. As they do, they find themselves on a big lake, in the boat. Above them, distorted because of their point of view, is a large, angular shape. They also see a very large grey mass off to the right and above them some distance away.<br />
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They are super curious about both the large shape and the grey thing, and Alistair shows his true colors as Batman and becomes a bat. He flies up to the grey mass, and discovers it is somewhat 2 dimensional in that it's flat from behind and he can't really see anything of what it might be.<br />
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As he is flying around, he and the group hear an excited, happy exclamation- but again, the voice is muffled and far away. They can't quite make out what the voice is saying, and they can't see the source of the sound, either.<br />
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As they continue investigating and floating on the lake, they hear the far away voice making a noise that sort of sounds familiar. They can't exactly place it, but they know it's something they have heard before. The Clown hits on a moment of inspiration and realizes it's a lullaby. Through miming and encouragement, he gets the entire group to hum along. Everyone is humming.<br />
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It takes a moment for the group to catch on that the Clown is waving, and they all join in. The sound has changed from a lullaby to a voice that they can almost understand. Then they hear: "Look! They're waving. Do you see them waving? Say hi! They're waving at us! They're very nice. Let's go see them!" The landscape shifts downward in a strange, lurching fashion, and a very large shape comes into their field of vision.<br />
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It takes a moment, but the large (REALLY LARGE- as big as a house) form steps onto their same area, and they see the following, holding what appears to be a baby (and the baby is pretty normal size- maybe toddler shaped at the largest).<br />
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Most of the group recognize the larger being as similar to the one they met in the underwater adventure, where the Clown befriended a baby. His friend, the baby, is the same baby the larger entity is holding.<br />
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Through discussion with the adult, they discover she is the baby's mother. The baby has grown some since the group last saw her, but her mother indicates she'll grow even further before the group will meet her again. The baby is an integral part of the story of the Gods, and so are the PCs. The PCs discover that they are in a giant story book, and that the baby was hearing a story when they arrived on the scene.<br />
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They ask many questions and discover that the story they are in has a happy ending. They know they meet the gods and the baby meets the group and the PCs as well. They find out that they have to make at least another stop before they can meet the gods, and that even though the mother knows the end of the story, she can't cheat and tell them what to do- because the story changes as things happen.<br />
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The baby decides to play with the Clown for a little while, and her mother continues answering questions for the group. They find out that knowing where they want to go while they are in the Void is a critical step to not getting lost. Those that have tried without direction get lost, and separated from the gods, which is generally a bad thing. They also find out that the story book can show them other places and they can pick a place they want to go, and Mom will put them there. It's a one time "skip ahead to where you want to go" deal, so they look at several pages within the book. The group decides on Meridia, which is where Tennessee is from; and also where the Priests were originally from.<br />
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Goodbyes are said, with the baby not wanting to leave the Clown (they really are good friends), and good wishes given. Mom puts the group on the proper page, and this is where we closed for the evening.<br />
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<br />Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356241226024929790.post-89150515263019749782012-09-12T10:00:00.000-05:002012-09-12T10:00:04.346-05:00[Weekly Words on Women] The WifeI've alluded to this one for a long time but it's finally here-<br />
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The talk on wives and what they do to their spouses.<br />
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I'm always frustrated by the assumption that a dude getting married automatically means that he is whipped (that their wives control their access to sex and freedom).<br />
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But I've seen it. I've seen that exact thing happen.<br />
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I just don't understand it when a guy talks about how his wife won't "let him" (or her) go out once a week for games, or 'doesn't approve', 'doesn't understand', etc.<br />
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I know I am 'not your ordinary girl'<br />
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but the idea that men need permission to partake in their hobbies, enjoy their passions and have time to decompress is astounding to me. The concept that men get involved in relationships where they are not partners and do not have respect and fairness given to them- it bothers me.<br />
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Marriage has never meant that I have the automatic right and authority to veto, control or otherwise interfere in what TheDude does. The idea is out there that marriage means exactly that- that I have a right to control him and his actions as an extension of being his wife.<br />
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There's an expectation that wives have the right to become the number one priority in their husband's lives; and that they should always be the top and most pressing thing on their husband's minds. Wives, merely by having said "I do", apparently inherit something deeper than a stake in their spouse's hobbies and free time (so says "popular wisdom"). Yes, we deserve time and attention from our spouses- but not at the expense of our husbands' sanity and well being.<br />
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As much as I want not to be last, I am not in favor of the automatic entitlement to being the ultimate priority in TheDude's life. It's just wrong to me to expect it.<br />
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It also seems obvious to me that if we as women want to be treated more like people and less like shrews, we need to ACT like it when we become wives. For the stereotype to diminish at all, wives have to behave in ways that challenge those perceptions.<br />
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This is one area where what we do and how we do it can and does actually impact the sexist stereotypes that exist about women; and we are just not stepping up to the challenge. In most cases, we are making things worse, and it's making those of us that are sane and loving look bad. Girls, get a motherfuckin' grip already! Here's some tips from an old pro:<br />
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A firm acknowledgement that our partners are adults; fully capable and willing to be responsible and caring to families and duties is paramount. The number of wives that have called me personally or called the store "because it's late" is disgusting and erodes any sense of primacy that their spouses my hold.<br />
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Part of treating your spouse like an adult is deciding before he goes to the game store what your budgets can handle and what your priorities are. (HINT: they should include hobbies for BOTH of you once you have some disposable income.)<br />
It's pretty disheartening to see a guy all jazzed up about a purchase, excited for the fun times of playing the game ahead, and then watching him damn near shuffle to the register, complaining that his wife will "kill him" for making said purchase.<br />
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Ladies, if you married a geek; get used to it. He's going to buy geeky things. Either you like this about him or you don't, but trying to change him is NOT going to work. It's one thing if you don't have the funds (and I know a few guys that are still pretty broke); but an entirely different one when you complain about his $70 game and you have a NEW Coach bag (and not one from the outlet store, either). Making your spouse feel guilty for staying at home (or the game store), hanging out with friends, laughing and having a good time instead of going out drinking, carousing or otherwise being irresponsible is not going to win you any "brownie points" or gain you any favor in his or other people's views.<br />
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How you treat your spouse in public, and how he talks about you is another essential aspect to being more than "the wife"; and being the woman your husband's friends respect and admire. Freely and willingly understanding that your partner has interests, passions and friendships outside of your relationship is going to go a long way with him and those around him. We all notice when he rolls his eyes when you call or come in "to check in". If he's happy to see you, he talks about you respectfully and you treat him the same way; we notice too.<br />
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It's the women that don't act this way, and the men that let their wives get away with it, that harm the reputations and opinions of wives among the gaming kind. It's the compromises of time, attention and hearts that make marriages work' and women- you have to do YOUR part too- or you ruin your man.<br />
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It's the men that are married to women who exert control (voluntary or just implied) over every little thing in their spouse's life that make this reputation so strong, and it's hard to deny when we see some of our friends turn into someone else due to a woman's influence. Our fun-loving and silly friend becomes a grouch and a miser, and it sucks all around.<br />
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Giving consideration goes both ways, and I hate to see a guy giving up so much that he essentially disappears. It isn't right or fair, and it hurts women when it happens. It turns us into villains and makes us something to fear; which propagates sexism and chauvinism. I wish more ladies saw this for what it is, and worked to dispel the suspicion around us- but I can only do so much.Loquacioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667591498679385934noreply@blogger.com11