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This probly belongs on WoTC, but... in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, March 15 2007 08:41 Profile #29
Never mind the question of what those three extraplanar entities with incredibly disparate alignments were doing working together to begin with. Not that it would matter, what with Kitten wielding that +10 hackmaster, right?

IMAGE(http://www.otal.umd.edu/~vg/msf95/ms18/guild.jpg)
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Survey this way! in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, March 14 2007 04:30 Profile #19
This song will be playing when I meet the love of my life:
Take Me or Leave Me, from the musical Rent. Err...

Right now, I feel:
Not Ready to Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks.

What makes me happy is:
Green Eyes by Cold Play

My love of life was inspired by the song:
Love Song by 311

My message to the world has always been:
Yeah It's That Easy by G. Love and Special Sauce

Next time I'm in front of a crowd, I'll say:
Whatsername by Green Day

My friends see me as:
Trying Your Luck by The Strokes

When I'm drunk I say:
Blues Music by G. Love and Special Sauce

My alter-ego is:
Slow Like Honey by Fiona Apple

My deepest secret is:
Indian War Whoop by Gillian Welch. Now that just makes no sense at all!

My day will be like:
Dynamite! by The Roots

When I'm in the shower, I sing:
Three Little Birds by Bob Marley. You know, I don't think I've ever listened to that one on iTunes.

My favorite thing to do is:
Slump by Outkast

My parents are like the song:
Recognize by Better Than Ezra

My ultimate song for dancing is:
Boccherini: la Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30. Hmm. It is quite bouncy.

At my wedding they'll play:
La Valse des Monstres from the Amelie soundtrack

The story of my life is:
Badmouth by Fugazi

My innermost desire is:
Nice 'n' Easy by Frank Sinatra

To cheer myself up I sing:
Young by Nickel Creek

At my funeral they'll play:
The Climb by No Doubt

[ Wednesday, March 14, 2007 04:32: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
This probly belongs on WoTC, but... in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, March 14 2007 04:15 Profile #24
If "Kitten" took out those three creatures simultaneously single-handedly, then your DM isn't using them correctly.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
This probly belongs on WoTC, but... in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Tuesday, March 13 2007 10:04 Profile #20
I agree that the class seems a bit broken. A part of what balances wizards and sorcerors is that they have fairly limited access to the spells available; either through a limited repertoire (the sorceror), or through the limits of memorization (the wizard). Also, unlimited healing? That's just broken. Although it might be different in your campaign settings, usually careful husbanding of hitpoints over the course of an adventure plays a big role in strategic choices.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
On the Road to Weapons of Mass Destruction in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, March 7 2007 06:27 Profile #99
quote:
Originally written by Excalibur:

I am outgunned and unwilling to answer any questions that have been posed to me.
FYT
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
On the Road to Weapons of Mass Destruction in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Saturday, March 3 2007 20:16 Profile #67
ergh...

[ Saturday, March 03, 2007 20:17: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Zimbabwe. in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Saturday, March 3 2007 18:39 Profile #9
Zimbabwe is the classic case for no intervention: no oil, no islamicists, no worries! There isn't even one ethnic group hosing the other (all the white people have pretty much gotten out of town); it's just an old-fashioned failed state.

I'm willing to bet though that it will start to straighten itself out within the next five years. The first move, of course, will be exercising the entrenched government.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
On the Road to Weapons of Mass Destruction in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Friday, March 2 2007 05:01 Profile #46
"It was the best of times, it was the blorst of times?!"
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
On the Road to Weapons of Mass Destruction in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, March 1 2007 04:50 Profile #24
Hence, the mouth breathing.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
On the Road to Weapons of Mass Destruction in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, February 28 2007 17:51 Profile #17
quote:
Originally written by Excalibur:

9. Lots of other evidence against evolution, but I didn't bother to dig it up. Also, there is quite a bit of evidence supporting Christianity, the religion I grew up with and stick to.
"Evidence" supporting Christianity != evidence supporting creationism.

For that matter, what does "evidence supporting Christianity" even mean? Sure, there are a lot of churches around. I guess that's evidence that the religion exists. Ditto for historical documents. Big deal. All those are assertions made by men, perhaps inspired by a "divine" crack dream of sorts, but all they support are the existence of a religion focused on Jesus of Nazareth. Belief in Jesus and a rational recognition of evolutionary theory are not mutually exclusive, at least for non-mouth breathers.

[ Wednesday, February 28, 2007 17:54: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
The Ancient Greeks in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Tuesday, February 27 2007 11:33 Profile #102
quote:
Originally written by Student of Trinity:

I agree. But I keep worrying about the other parts of the time, in which some of the emotional ravers are actually right, against the best available rational observations.

It's easy to recognize an idiot, but how can you recognize when an idiot is right?
When has an idiot been correct where rational observations did not ultimately validate his assertion?

[ Tuesday, February 27, 2007 11:34: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Round Table on Morality, Theology, and Ethics in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 22 2007 17:26 Profile #53
quote:
Originally written by Arancaytar:

I'd say the concept of not harming (and supporting, where possible) fellow beings of our species can be established as an absolute - not an absolute everyone will follow, but at least one that is separate from all religions and states, and we can therefore all relate to as members of the same species.
An absolute what? Natural law? Even if you believe (there's that word again) that it can be arrived at rationally, it's still ultimately a fiction - an optimistic fiction, but a fiction nonetheless.

Fortunately, it seems to be a fiction that most of society has been willing to accept, and has been the basis for many modern constitutional forms of government.

Unfortunately, it doesn't always jive well with certain religious traditions which aren't content to live and let live.

EDIT: As for groupthink, I don't think that it is necessarily inherently evil, but in the same way that I don't think tobacco is inherently evil. I do think using either, however, is a bad idea. Groupthink frequently results in a lack of perspective, which all too often has lead to hubris, then ate, and then inevitable, soul-crushing nemesis. And no one likes that.

[ Thursday, February 22, 2007 17:31: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Round Table on Morality, Theology, and Ethics in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 22 2007 11:03 Profile #48
quote:
Originally written by Slartyphobia:

I would argue that religion can also provide a framework for dealing with the world (experiencing, interpreting, and reacting to it) which impacts how people make decisions on a number of levels.
I don't think that's necessarily incongruous with what I'm asserting. When a person assumes a framework, he is necessarily trusting that the decisions, the interpretations it makes ought to be obeyed, are worthy of trust. This is significant, because in so doing, the person is ceding some of his own liberty, his freedom to make choices for himself.

It's this framework - this ceding of total free choice in exchange for filters that interpret aspects of life for an individual - that are precisely the source of the subsequent acts of good or evil achieved on a scale that a group of otherwise rational individuals probably wouldn't achieve left to their own devices.

In this sense, the filter created by religion isn't necessarily distinct from other devices of groupthink, like nationalism or racism.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Round Table on Morality, Theology, and Ethics in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 22 2007 07:43 Profile #42
quote:
Originally written by When That Was:


The question for me is whether or not religions focus and enable war, hate, and ignorance more than they enable more positive results and more than the absence of religion does, and I don't know the answer.
I think it's more the case that religion amplifies both the negatives and the positives, because the blind belief it inspires serves to turn off the minds of its adherents. Members trust, so they don't stop to think about how what they're doing (good or bad) may not be in their best interest, or that of others.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Jeff linked to on Slashdot in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, February 21 2007 11:41 Profile #14
I think his observation warrants merit, but I also think it applies across the board for any activity carried out purely for entertainment purposes.

I have this discussion periodically with my wife, who doesn't understand why I enjoy gaming. She doesn't believe that playing games provides any meaningful experience to my life; nevermind the fact that she's all for reading almost any book, whether fiction or non-, and she regularly devours novels (granted, headier stuff than romance).

I think RPGs, specifically grinds, are just one means of achieving that entertainment end. Sure, it's time-consuming to get to particular points in the story, but you can be almost certain you'll get there. Contrast that with platform games back in the day that were just incredibly difficult and frustrating to get through - once your three lives were gone, they were gone, and no continue. Sure, there may be a faster pace in the story telling, more "realism" in first person shooters and the like, but they also require skill that some players may not possess. But this makes these games different, not necessarily better. Like choosing to read books or play games, choosing one type of game over another is just a matter of personal entertainment preference.

So Jeff is welcome if he wants to return to the frustration that is Ghosts & Goblins; that's just not for me. At the end of the day, however, we're all achieving the same thing: An amusing use of time that probably would have been better spent achieving real life goals. :D

(Also, I wouldn't be too certain about using "market research" as justification for writing off those game purchases, Jeff - the IRS isn't necessarily so lenient.)

[ Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:42: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
The Ancient Greeks in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Tuesday, February 20 2007 11:21 Profile #78
quote:
Originally written by Kelandon:

We also have to remember that "fittest" doesn't necessarily mean "best" and that evolution may produce things that are very good at surviving but not necessarily situations that are ideal for everyone involved. People who have followed SoT's reasoning in the past have forgotten this, with rather dire consequences.
For a wonderfully horrendous vision of this, I recommend Netflixing "Idiocracy." Definitely a disturbing vision of what "the fittest" within humanity really could be.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
What have you been reading lately? in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Sunday, February 18 2007 13:38 Profile #326
Started reading "Perdido Street Station" by China Mieville after hearing good things about it. Not sure what I think about "steampunk" as a genre...
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Chromite!! CHROMITE, baby!! in Richard White Games
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Saturday, February 17 2007 19:15 Profile #12
quote:
Originally written by Robinator is a Beefcake:


It would almost explain how Brittany Spears got where she is.
It's actually "Britney," which is even sadder. But does it even explain the shaved head now?

It's all a Kiwi thing. You are all just too Papaya.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Oldbiehood in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 15 2007 07:12 Profile #1
No TM?
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
The Ancient Greeks in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 15 2007 07:09 Profile #14
Please use the "edit" button as an alternative to double-posting. Thanks!

As for the whip, having someone goading the rowers on doesn't necessarily imply slavery. Bosuns in the British Royal Navy, for example, would frequently use the end of a rope to inspire crews to work faster and harder. (Of course, exactly how free the sailors really were is a matter for debate.) At any rate, Athens had what was widely regarded as the best navy for its day, and its navy was crewed by free men.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
The Ancient Greeks in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 15 2007 06:16 Profile #11
Actually, modern rowing is all about lower body strength - all shells used in competitive rowing these days have slide seats, so you can propel the boat with your quads as well as with your arms and backs, which really take a secondary role.

That said, technique matters an incredible amount. In modern rowing, a boat with ridiculously strong rowers could still be easily beaten by a boat of rowers 3/4 as strong that had good form.

I would say it's likely then that the folks they found to crew the "modern" trireme, though capable atheletes in their own right, were nevertheless not optimized for crewing it, and that could explain the discrepancy. It certainly is the case today that being accomplished in one sport doesn't necessarily translate to strong ability in another. I'm probably in the best aerobic shape of my life right now, having trained for and run a marathon in under four hours, but I guarantee that if I sat down on a rowing machine, I probably wouldn't come close to my best 2000m time from when I rowed in undergrad.

[ Thursday, February 15, 2007 06:20: Message edited by: Drew ]
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Weather in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Thursday, February 15 2007 06:07 Profile #16
Hoo hoo. It's icy as heck here in the Nation's Capital. Almost everything was closed yesterday except, of course, for G.W. University. Apparently the prez of the university was originally from Connecticut, so he'll basically never close the uni.

I was unable to get my car away from the curb this morning, and as a result had to walk a mile and a half to the dentist to get a filling. :( Now I'm at school waiting for my corporate tax class to start. La vie est belle!
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
deathcap mushrooms quest in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, February 14 2007 11:30 Profile #10
Ah - so that's why he was occasionally darting out of the house. Thanks! :)
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
deathcap mushrooms quest in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, February 14 2007 11:16 Profile #8
Do you have to side with the Shapers in order to find out about the mushrooms? I couldn't get dude to spill the beans when I was playing a hard-core rebel character...
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00
Valentines' Day Suprise in General
Drew
By Committee
Member # 4233
 written Wednesday, February 14 2007 08:31 Profile #17
Albeit a holiday that's limited in scope, at least compared to "Change Your Life" Day. Further, what if your day is already going splendidly?

As for the gal in the hospital, I say find a funny "get well" card, go visit, and be ready to run any errands or fulfill any requests she might have. Considerateness is probably one of the best gifts you can give a convalescent.
Posts: 2242 | Registered: Saturday, April 10 2004 07:00

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