The Tao of Zen Nihilism
The new Rush album is due May Day.
Here’s the tracklist:
Also, here’s a 45 second preview of the first single, Far Cry. Full single released “Mid March.”
Right now, United States Senators–and the White House–are trying to make an argument against Habeas Corpus.
You did not read that incorrectly.
Key elements of our government do not believe:
Senators and our White House are arguing that if you are an “enemy combatant” (and that definition is incredibly vague; essentially, if the government says you are, you are) that you do not have these rights.
I just got back from the midnight showing. Imax screen.
I could invoke the kind of hyperbole Mr. Miller invoked when he wrote the piece, the brilliant and hypnotizing colors Ms. Varley gave to Miller’s inks, or even the realization of the director, utilizing a visual medium to inspire another.
I could also send this movie to every director currently making a “comic book movie.” Here, I would say. Open up the fucking book and use what’s there. I could do that.
Instead, what I will do is say just this. Just this.
After seeing 300, I don’t need sex for a year.
Godfuckingdamn.
MAJOR MAJOR Marvel Comics Spoiler Ahead.
Don’t click the link unless you want to know.
And damn… that’s exactly what I would have done.
(See Play Dirty, Episode Zero.)
Spend hours and hours and hours editing your document, send it to the printer, and what comes out isn’t what you put in.
Printer demons, printer gnomes, printer devils… loads of legends about the little buggers that sneak into your printer and force it to make mistakes. Cats know this. They aren’t demons or gnomes or devils. They’re boggins.
And here’s the proof.
More evidence that you don’t protect your kitty. Your kitty protects you.
(linkthank to Zug)
I got the offer from Perot Systems. I start work on the 19th.
I’ll be moving in to a house. My own room, my own bathroom, a huge kitchen, a backyard, a garage (hopefully to put my muffled drum kit), and a Mac-friendly network. Regular games on Wednesday and Friday nights. Probably more.
Possible Neat-O news on Wilderness of Mirrors forthcoming.
Working on the Seasons chapter of HotB. It’s very huge. Multiple LJ entries. By the end of the week, I promise.
And I might open a game store. After I pay down my debt and pay back all the folks to whom I owe cash.
There are things I’ve done I can’t erase
I want to look in the mirror, see another face
I said never would I do it again
I want to walk away, start over again.
I left my bible by the side of the road
Carve my initials in an old dead tree
I’m going away but I’m going to be back when
It’s time to walk away and start over again.No more rain
No more roses
On my way, shake my thirst in a cool, cool pond.— Tom Waits, Walk Away
Out of the shower, my head full of thoughts. Have to write them down now.
___
When we were designing 7th Sea, one of the most frequent requests among the design team was “We should include this mechanic. It’s real crunchy.”
My typical response was “Crunchy is not a virtue.” Of course, this response did not win any hearts.
It was only years later that I realized what was happening. Vague terms like “crunchy” only made what was bad communication even worse.
When I read reviews and they use words like “crunchy” or “clunky” or even “elegant,” they aren’t communicating anything. The author has an idea what these words mean, but in the minds of the readers, they mean something completely different.
I ran a playtest of Houses of the Blooded last month at OrcCon and last Friday night here in Phoenix. I learned a lot from both playtests. But one thing I did not learn–a lesson I learned long ago that only became more clear–is that gamers mean very different things when they say “crunchy,” “clunky,” “smooth,” “elegant” and all those other vague adjectives.
For example. Ask 10 gamers to rate 10 games in terms of “crunchiness.” From 1 to 10. 1 being least crunchy and 10 being most crunchy.
Go ahead. Rank them. See if we get any kind of concensus. We won’t, because gamers all have different ideas about these vague terms. Is Shadowrun more or less crunchy than 7th Sea? How about Hero and GURPS? Can you justify your claim?
Probably not. Asking someone how many angels can dance on the end of a pin is very different than asking them to prove their conclusions.
“Crunchy” cannot be measured, valued, weighed or even estimated. Neither can “clunky,” “smooth” or even “funky.” None of these terms have any inherent meaning. They’re just vague adjectives; shortcuts for a writer who doesn’t want to take the time to explain himself.
Let me say that again for those who are skimming: “Crunchy” is a verbal shortcut for a lazy writer who doesn’t want to take the time to explain himself.
The entire point of a review is for the author to illustrate to the reader the virtues and weaknesses of a game. To give the reader an idea of whether or not the game will appeal to him. A review is not a soapbox for you to espouse your theories of wrongbadfun.
A lot of people criticize Ron Edwards for trying to come up with clear and concise language for people who want to evaluate the technology of roleplaying games. I do not criticize Ron for this. I just don’t agree with his conclusions. But Ron is looking for a way for us to communicate in a positive, constructive way. Again, you may disagree with his conclusions, but you cannot criticize the intent.
___
Quick thoughts. Now, I’m off to talk about my new living space.
Jared has taught me teh hat of the Red Mans.
(Zombies… ZOMBIES… ZOMBIIIIIIEEESSSS!!!)
Log in and play. Hail Eris!
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