Redwolf's Journal (continued)

Teehee: http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=201 I just spent far more money than I might have thought ordering a suit. Aren't formal weddings grand? Renting a tuxedo probably would have been cheaper. But then, it's not all about money. A wise man once told me a man should have a suit, even if only rarely used for such events. Thus I consider this something of a belated investment. We'll see how much wear I get out of it while it fits, though. ;)

I MUCK for recreation and fun. Yet there are times when it's just stressful and annoying, not fun at all. Those days make me think I need a new hobby. 'tis a shame I don't see much appeal in options that come to mind... In theory, I MUCK because: - I enjoy roleplaying. - I can RP at almost any given time online. - There are a variety of people and viewpoints to interact with. In practice, there are a handful of people who - whether through direct requests or more subtle interactions - take all of my available attention, so the variety isn't a factor. The lack thereof grates on me sometimes. I've always put effort into Furryfaire, though not as much or as overtly as some. A while back, I even volunteered my way into a wizard position. Usually, that's not so bad. About once a week, though, I end up frustrated with people who are either unprepared or unable to grasp a concept. It's not always there fault, but I really do expect better of "repeat...

FFVII: Advent Children: Pretty CGI and a lot of over-the-top fight scenes. That's... about it, really. Oh, there's some plot, which is passable for what it is. If you're a fan of FFVII and your favorite character was someone other than Cloud or Tifa, you'll probably be disappointed as the others get little screen time and fewer lines. It was worth a watch to me and it's fair inspiration for Exalted games. X3: Okay movie, but really trying to tackle too much at once. Reasonable entertainment, just don't expect anything too deep. I keep thinking of arcs from the comics that could be so much better, but the movie writers keep wanting to go their way. If you watch it, for heaven's sake, stay after the credits.

TES4: Oblivion - Not perfection, but still an awesome game. So... very... pretty. It seems strange to me, but the main quest is the most dull and repetitive while most of the guild/side quests are above average or outright amazing. Banewreaker - A disappointment after Kushiel's Dart and its sequels. The setting feels simplistic and while I like the 'bad guys' who aren't necessarily evil, the story follows too many groups for me to care about half of them. Battle for Wesnoth - A free and spiffy little tactical game that's still turn-based. I have a particular affection for those, even though "real-time" is so much more popular these days. Coca-Cola Blak - Ugh. Someone gave out samples around the office. It was too cola for the coffee drinkers and too coffee for the cola drinkers. Not a drink for me.

I have often wondered this. I stay away from most major online RPGs simply because I refuse to pay a monthly fee for one of those games, but that doesn't stop me from wondering. Though it's nowhere in the name of the genre (roleplaying games), an accepted part of most RPGs is character building/improvement. Your character overcomes tries and is rewarded by becoming increasingly adept in some fashion. So what happens when you've reached level 20 (or 60, 99, whatever)? Do you still play like you did before? Do you play differently? Or do you just start a new character and keep the old one as some sort of trophy? To a few of my friends, I pose a similar question: "Your character can now destabilize reality, generate more funds than nations, annihilate armies, and/or mold the minds of the average person like putty. Congratulations. Spiffy. Is it enjoyable?" Because to me, it really isn't. Whether I'm doing it, or just dealing with other people who are...

There are other game endings on this site, but this one brings back the most memories for me. Star Control 2 - great game in its day. http://www.gamerevolution.com/goodie/endings/the_ur_quan_masters_ending

Certain things have been bugging me of late on the primary MUCK where I play. My instinct is to not go into detail, but I've been told I should vent, so maybe I'll try that here. Obviously, if you don't care about MUCKing, the below isn't worth the bother. And if you MUCK with me, you probably shouldn't read the below while in a poor mood, 'cause such rants always seem to make those worse... Argh! Now, I always have a baseline level of annoyance. I figure it can't be helped. That has to do with the finite amount of concentration and time I have to put into characters and how it doesn't add up to the amount of attention and time others want from me. I cannot keep up with everyone, especially when half the people I know seem to prefer exclusive time with my characters. Heaven forbid I roleplay in a group. I've lost count of how many times I've heard 'Oh, I don't want to interrupt, I'll just go away' with all the mopey connot...