Redwolf's Journal (continued)

Mostly just getting some stuff out of my head... Theory: "There is no perfect system, only a perfect combination of players, characters, setting, house rules, etc." I was fairly enamored with the d20 system when it came to be. The core simplicity appeals to me still, but it's become so mired in optional rules that it's impossible to see anymore. Now I almost wish I was still using THAC0 - which at least encouraged math skills instead of good-luck-finding-all-your-modifiers skills. Lately, I've come to appreciate Unisystem (save for a few major holes). Even there, though, I've seen a disparity between characters that's hard to deal with. And thus, I have come to believe that the system matters infinitely less than how (and by whom) it's used. I have had great games in different systems, and crappy games in the same ones. It's more important to have people who are all interested in the game and not too contrasting in styles. I have seen the diff...

Enthusiasm (or a lack thereof) is contagious. Sometimes this sucks.

For those who read this, I have a question. It's simple in spirit, but does come with a catch that makes things more complicated. And to keep things from getting too wild, let's leave it to only one answer. The question: What do you want for Christmas? The catch: It cannot be anything someone would be able to give you - whether because it's so expensive no one could ever afford it, because it's something immaterial, or any other reason.

Not much involvement on my part this time around - which is okay, 'cause I was tired last night. After a couple days spent at the estate waiting for an invitation to see our mysterious playwright, Rufina ends up following her "evil" cousin through a secret passage into the wine cellar. There she overhears a conversation between Verona and an as-yet unidentified bad guy who seems to be manipulating events to our heroes' disadvantage. Ironic, perhaps, because they are looking for "the Manipulator" - whoever that is. He confessed to turning Sebastian's brother on him and spoke of potentially using something at home to get Sylvia out of the way, if needed. In getting away, however, Rufina attracted attention (proving once again the lesson learned from GURPS sessions: "It's all fun and games until someone fails a stealth roll"). Verona went after her. The mysterious baddy got away. Unable to get Rufina to meet her eyes for a Vodacce curse, ...

So we ease into December with a cold front, but little snow. I had lunch with my parents for my dad's birthday. Now I need to be more seriously thinking about Christmas. Ugh. Actually, I have perhaps half the gifts I need to get. I'm not sure I'm going to be gifting to my offline roleplaying group this year, though. It may still be doable, but I can't I can't say for sure yet. Finances are lower than I'd like. Seems they always are around December. I managed to finish a little bit of writing I started back in March. Heh. It emphasizes why I don't participate and National Novel Writing Month, though: I wrote more like five thousand words (plus the two thousand or so already there) instead of the fifty thousand mark in NaNoWriMo. Still, I feel more accomplished for it. Social play this week. Sylvia and Adam took to sparring (which is, for those two, a social activity). Rufina became a little more acquainted with her family. And Sebastian got close wit...

Heh. I have You Know My Name in my head - the song from Casino Royale . How is it that some people rub others the wrong way ALL the time? For me, these people generally come across as abrasive, inconsiderate, and obscenely self-centered no matter what they're saying. They demand attention, and I can't fathom why they get it because I just feel a nearly-overwhelming urge to tune them out completely. They show up and expect people to be interested in whatever they have to say - even if they're interrupting something else. Why does anyone feel that entitlement? I just don't get it, and it pisses me off when I see it. Thankfully, I don't have to deal with people like this often.

Just got back. Good movie. Pretty much everything I'd read about it was true - it's a darker, more serious Bond film. There's very, very little "gadget" use (though cell phones are big). Bond is less charming, but possessed of a more devious cunning. It feels a little long, but it works out okay. And the foot chase in the beginning - pretty incredible, impressive even considering how many takes they must have had to do. It was odd to not have female silhouettes in the opening credits, though. >.> Begin Tangent In discussion on the way back, it was pointed out that James Bond is something of an archtype these days: the eternal secret agent to be plugged into any era. Direct continuity need not apply. This spawns an amusing theory: James Bond is a Time Lord. Yes, Jame Bond of Gallifrey travels the timeline doing his secret agent business. With his trusty Aston Martin TARDIS (frequently repaired/replaced by Q), he still need to reincarnate in different b...