tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17630858316419220592024-03-18T20:40:33.426-07:00lugnutismSomething of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-26817263474137076442020-05-18T12:09:00.001-07:002020-05-18T12:09:38.627-07:00back in the saddle againWow. Haven't done anything from here in a while. Not that I had a good reason. I spent the tail end of 2018 and all of 2019 in a tailspin from an increasingly-cramped living situation and a deepening illness. I quit school, I quit looking for work, I quit pretty much everything except sleeping.<br />
<br />
It's taken me months to get out of that hole and a whole lot of work and talking to people. I've got a team of people I'm accountable to for my health and am pursuing both short-term and long-term solutions to my personal and professional problems.<br />
<br />
1st among these solutions is another career change. Museums and cultural sites have a future up in the air - it is not known how many smaller institutions have folded from lost revenue due to the current pandemic. Therefore, I am in the process of switching careers to Project Management. Perhaps it'll get me work in cultural, nonprofit, or public service organizations, perhaps not. Project Management isn't as romantic as working as an archaeologist or a home restorer. But it is needed across the economy and demands traits that I possess, so here we go.<br />
<br />
Of course, Project Management requires certification, and certification comes after education. So I'm watching lectures on <a href="http://www.lynda.com/">Lynda</a> and will be taking classes at a community college. Hopefully, I'll get my certification in a year or so.<br />
<br />
To be ready for school again, I must be disciplined and productive, things I forgot during my illness. <i>For several days, I worked an hour more than the day before until I was working for more than eight hours/day. </i>Of course, my partner works more as a grad student, but I'm currently the cook and cleaner for our household, so that's additional time that doesn't count as part of the eight hours.<br />
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This approach of gradually upping my workload seems to have paid off, as I'm generally approaching the tasks I've given myself with dedication, if not always enthusiasm. We'll see what happens once the coursework becomes official and must be graded.Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-82738791626924176832018-10-26T12:45:00.001-07:002018-10-26T12:45:36.712-07:00Eclipse PhaseWhile I haven't been playing games lately (other than a round of <a href="https://www.gamelyngames.com/tiny-epic/tiny-epic-galaxies-beyond-the-black">Tiny Epic Galaxies</a>), I've been trying to normalize my sleep cycles by reading. In particular, I've been trying to read through the <a href="http://www.eclipsephase.com/game">Eclipse Phase RPG</a> corebook. Overall, the game has a lot of interesting ideas, and makes a darker counterpart to <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/transhumanspace/">GURPS Transhuman Space</a>'s realism. However, there are some flaws in the setting as written:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>It doesn't deal with the implications of the transfer of human minds as data. Just like with transporters in Star Trek, whether the original mind is Cut-and-Pasted or Copied-and-Pasted is never dealt with in the setting book. <a href="https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Eclipse_Phase#The_Catch">This is a more detailed discussion of the problem. </a></li>
<li>The setting seems a little too much of a kitchen sink. The addition of psionic abilities and extra-solar planetary exploration (or "<a href="http://eclipsephase.com/releases/gatecrashing">Gatecrashing</a>") sort of seem tacked on to me. Come to think of it, EP is maybe another case study of SciFi writers' compulsion to have FTL or "Stargate" technology in their setting. </li>
</ol>
The above is not to say I dislike the game. However, were I to run a game of it (unlikely in the foreseeable future), I'd probably make a few changes:<br />
<ol>
<li>No Gatecrashing - unless it's a campaign focused on extrasolar colonization. The solar system, even without Earth as a population center, (Did I mention <i>Eclipse Phase</i> is post-apocalyptic horror?) has more than enough interesting stuff for player characters to explore. Some truly alien environments can be found on Europa, Titan, or in areas contaminated by the apocalypse/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity">singularity</a></li>
<li>No psionics, or possibly lessened psionics. I need to think about this one. It is possible that psionics was added to the game by developers in order to make biological bodies a more interesting option than they otherwise would have been. Unsurprisingly, robot bodies have quite a bit more utility in combat and space exploration than fleshy bodies; adding psionics (<i>Eclipse Phase</i> calls them "sleights") gives biological characters more options. However, this line of reasoning is suspect because sleights cannot be used against digital entities, despite the fact that the nano-virus origin of Psi can also affect them. </li>
<li>Less casual resleeving (transferring consciousness into a new body). This is probably the biggest change to the setting, as a lot of it is predicated on a fairly loose relationship between mind and body that is incomprehensible to modern humans without severe dysphoria. Resleeving can be replaced, at least in part, with brain-in-a-tank deliveries. I've read some of the game fiction, and resleeving is pretty casual in them. It's honestly a little bit of a turn-off, as discussed above. </li>
</ol>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-76707784616251583742018-04-18T12:21:00.000-07:002018-04-18T12:21:24.651-07:00LEGOs for tabletop gamesWhy should I buy minis when I can use LEGO or similar toys? Much more customization options and you can actually <i>behead</i> a minifig with a vorpal sword.<br />
<br />
I used to have a lot of LEGO pieces lying around, and still have some collecting dust at my parents' house. At some point, I will be using them for my hobby gaming again.<br />
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<a href="http://www.brickquest.com/brickquest/">BrickQuest</a> is a particularly clever way of doing so, as even the adventurer's <a href="http://www.brickquest.com/brickquest/images/charsheet.gif">character sheet</a> is elegantly communicated in the form of ABS plastic.<br />
<br />
LEGO bricks also hold together a lot better that a lot of miniatures, as a the studs will simply click together. Objects on inclines will be a lot less...inclined to fall over, which is a perennial problem with miniatures at more than a slight angle.<br />
<br />
From free brik-focused games like BrickQuest or <a href="http://www.brikwars.com/">BrikWars </a>to fan-made accessories like <a href="http://www.brickarms.com/index.php">BrickArms </a>(also made of ABS plastic), there are plenty of options for converting a game into equivalent pieces.<br />
<br />
Another brik-based game of note is Mechaton, which although not longer available, developed into <a href="http://mobileframezero.com/mfz/">Mobile Frame Zero</a>, which, like BrickQuest, actually makes use of the studly nature of the playing pieces with little-bitty custom-built doom robots. Sadly, I haven't had the opportunity to play it yet. Maybe when I can actually move with my LEGO collection?<br />
<br />
Admittedly, the actual LEGO company isn't selling a huge number of sets that are particularly relevant to my past gaming interests right now. If I were in a <i>Star Wars </i>game, that would naturally be a different story. I suppose it's just as well that I'm too absorbed in homework to worry about LEGO right now, anyway.Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-74070655463556720922017-12-05T17:49:00.000-08:002017-12-05T17:49:20.869-08:00A new(ish) way of considering Historic PreservationI still have a blog, really!<br />
<br />
Part of the reason I haven't been writing more is that I've become <i>really really</i> busy again. I've gone back to graduate school, this time for Historic Preservation. My girlfriend is trying grad school out for the first time; she's doing Architecture and working 16hr days, 7days/week. I don't know how she's doing it, but she is. Luckily, our programs are in the same building so we can eat lunch together.<br />
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Engaging with the philosophical and ethical aspects of Historic Preservation is somewhat new to me. My previous experiences have been practical/material, or legal/policy-related. However, a lot of the philosophical/ethical issues have been addressed in past classes I took on anthropology and museum studies, so this stuff is fairly comfortable, just not exciting.<br />
<br />
Something that came up in a random research dive is the <a href="https://www.utne.com/mind-and-body/ship-of-theseus-identity-ze0z1311zjhar">Ship of Theseus Paradox, or more simply the Theseus Paradox</a>. In it's shortest form, the philosophical paradox reads:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"If an object composed of multiple parts gradually has its parts replaced over time, at what point does it cease to be the original object, and becomes a new object?"</blockquote>
I was absolutely gobsmacked that I had never encountered this concept in its named, simply-stated form, as I had been unwittingly been addressing this paradox since my first year of college! The first class I took as an undergraduate was called "Primitive Skills in the Modern World," where we demonstrated and discussed traditional skills like pottery, woodcarving, and hair-braiding to each other. My undergraduate adviser is a renowned expert in the making and throwing of stone-tipped spears, and he guided my senior research in non-synthetic, traditional adhesive recipes.<br />
<br />
More after the jump...<br />
<a name='more'></a>My favorite paper from my first run at graduate school was a discussion of what I termed "ethnographically-accurate replicas," museum display objects made in the same manner as the original. In that paper, I argued that the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379556/">return of museum objects to descendants of their original owners, followed by the creation of replicas made in the same manner</a>, would be an ideal way for museums to proceed in the future. From my subsequent experiences working on and in historic buildings, my belief in the superiority of this approach is strengthened.<br />
<br />
A building is not a static object. It is a collection of multiple dynamic systems responding to our use and the surrounding environment. Components expand, contract, and move with heat, cold, and moisture, and thus parts need replacement. A more dramatic example of this cycle of loss and renewal is the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-japanese-shrine-has-been-torn-down-and-rebuilt-every-20-years-for-the-past-millennium-575558/">Ise Grand Shrine in Japan</a>, which is ritually destroyed and rebuilt every twenty years. Is it the same building? From the Japanese perspective, the answer is essentially "<b>Yes."</b> However, this perspective was not widely acknowledged internationally until 1994, when the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/archive/nara94.htm"><i>Nara Document on Authenticity</i> </a>was drafted. The key passage for this blog entry is from Article 11:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"..the respect due to all cultures requires that heritage properties must considered and judged within the cultural contexts to which they belong.."</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Theseus' Paradox is now dependent on whether the culture recognizes it as a paradox, or simply the nature of existence. After all, the cells of our body replace themselves completely after about seven years. Either we humans are all ships of Theseus, or we are not.<br />
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Perhaps it is best to say that neither our physical substance, nor the physical substance of so much of our heritage, is what matters. What matters about <i>us</i> are the mental characteristics that make us unique, and what matters about historic buildings is the perpetuation of the crafts, techniques, etc that are needed to create and maintain that building. Of course, many of our historic buildings are made up of nonrenewable, or effectively nonrenewable, components. These old-growth timbers and blocks of stone from exhausted quarries should be protected using all reasonable means, but everything else can, and eventually must, be repaired or created anew by someone. And wouldn't it be most educational if repairs and replacements were fabricated in the original manner?<br />
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I think that's where my life is going.Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-21251987653328835122017-07-27T13:30:00.000-07:002017-07-27T13:31:53.227-07:00Fiona the hippo<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The Cincinnati Zoo's social media strategy over the past year has been fascinating. Last year, the loss of their gorilla Harambe became so deeply viral that the Zoo was effectively unable to do anything online without being spammed or hacked. <br /><br />Luckily, they've had some replacement news, now that "Team Harambe" has accomplished its goals of making people miserable before getting distracted. <br /><br />Fiona, a Nile Hippopotamus, was born several weeks premature, but besides her medical care, her social media presence has been brilliantly managed by the zoo, with various multimedia being posted on a consistent basis on multiple websites, including her own <a href="http://cincinnatizoo.org/blog/2017/01/25/premature-hippo-baby-updates/">http://cincinnatizoo.org/blog/2017/01/25/premature-hippo-baby-updates/</a><br /><br />While being naturally photogenic (she loves to photobomb her mother), I think that her web presence has been brilliantly-managed. <br /><br />Since hippos vulnerable to habitat loss/fragmentation as well as poaching, she and her parents are excellent spokeshippos for conservation in Africa as well!<br /><br />While I wish I could've gotten a picture of myself with Fiona (probably the most famous Cincinnati resident right now), the line to see her up close was quite long, and she was hiding behind her mother. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e8e3e40608390b3313de883ec30be7bdbae2999c/r=522/http/bcdownload.gannett.edgesuite.net/cinci/35546123001/201703/323/35546123001_5380594604001_5380594216001-vs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="521" height="179" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e8e3e40608390b3313de883ec30be7bdbae2999c/r=522/http/bcdownload.gannett.edgesuite.net/cinci/35546123001/201703/323/35546123001_5380594604001_5380594216001-vs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But that's okay. As long as she's happy, and we all learn what matters most in life from her - enjoy your time with those you love, and to protect nature. Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-58965242225647512672017-06-27T12:04:00.000-07:002017-06-27T12:04:10.254-07:00Anti-Utopianism (is this even the right term?)In my <a href="http://lugnutism.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-newer-world-disorder.html">last entry</a>, I briefly mentioned my drifting away from Utopian idealism as I became an adult. Right now, I'm working to formulate a theory of anti-Utopian government. In my last blog entry, I said:<br />
<ul>
<li>"As a youth, I was definitely a starry-eyed Utopian liberal, but have since seen the error of those ways. A perfect society cannot be created out of inherently-imperfect individuals. Instead, politics is an eternal contest between forces that adapt to each other, and everyone aligns themselves with those forces based on incomplete or false information."</li>
</ul>
I'm going to try and elaborate on that a bit more here.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Basically, every time someone thinks they have the way to create a perfect society, or return to an idealized previous social state, bad things happen. Much of the mass death of the past 100 years are due to Utopians of various stripes - Fascists, Communists, Nationalists, religious Fundamentalists, etc, etc.<br />
<br />
Therefore, the best society is one that acknowledges the impossibility of perfection. Striving for an ideal state/State is worse than pointless, it's dangerous! Better would be something that is adaptable to changing circumstances, because nothing forms in a vacuum. Historically, governments are among the most static human institutions, as they are either based upon the decree of a ruler or a code of written laws. However, corporations, religious groups, and militias are increasingly running circles around government, siphoning resources away from the latter. What can be done?<br />
<br />
I've read some pieces that seem to be stepping in the direction I'm looking for, but so far haven't found anyone that's out-and-out blasted Utopian thinking overall. <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/">Chuck Marohn </a>and <a href="http://freakonomics.com/podcast/most-famous-political-operative-america/">Steve Hilton</a> seem to be going in the right direction, in that both advocate a nimble, responsive, bottom-up approach to governance, especially at the municipal level. However, I'm not sure if either of them are still caught up in the Utopian paradigm of free-market capitalism, i.e. that "the free market will solve problems," or that "government should be more like a private business." Remember Americans: market capitalism is <i>not</i> the natural state humans! It's an <i>invention</i>, just like weekends and banking!<br />
<br />
Many historical dystopias arise out of an effort to create utopia. American society today could be argued to be a dystopia, a product of trying to create a capitalist utopia - see Kansas and other states going down the path of privatization, government shrinkage at all costs, etc. <br />
<br />
What really got me into thinking about Anti-Utopianism was reading about the origins of Salafist Islam in Vali Nasr's <i>The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future.</i><br />
<div>
Salafi Islam is supposedly based around emulation of the "devout ancestors" (Salafim). How it was originally formulated as an Islamic response to modernity in the 19th century. The idea was to integrate a few of the "best" elements of "Western Civilization" with Islam's "original/purest" values<br />
It was ultimately co-opted by Wahhabi Islam (the often-violent sect that the Saudis export everywhere), as returning to the "pure original" values came to mean Quranic literalism, wiping out folk beliefs, killing people who disagree with you, etc. If these things sound familiar, it's because it's another Utopian ideal, just like Communism, Fascism, and manifest destiny capitalism!<br />
<br />
*Of course, I don't want to be caught stealing from the collective unconscious. So I'm doing research in my recently-copious spare time to see if these ideas really are that original, or whether I'm blinded by the myopia of specialization in only one cluster of intellectual disciplines, rather than being a Renaissance man. Of course, being a Renaissance Man is basically impossible these days, but whatever.<br />
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If anyone knows about anyone discussing such an impulse against Utopian idealism please let me know!</div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-59961532151192766082017-06-21T10:33:00.001-07:002017-06-21T10:33:10.384-07:00A new(er) world disorderI've been sitting on this essay for a couple months. However, recent events provoked me into correcting it and posting it.<br />
It's political, so avoid reading it if you don't care for that sort of thing. If you disagree with my opinions, that's fine too. Just don't embarrass yourself over it.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One of my great personal flaws is my obsession with politics. I'm an unabashed partisan Democrat that loves to take my own party to task, but rarely does much politically besides read, opine and vote (even though that puts me ahead of most people). In 2012, I volunteered heavily for an effort to defeat a "one-man-one-woman" constitutional amendment in Minnesota, and we were awarded with a tidy victory, but I have since moved far too often to get involved more than cursorily in causes that I care about.<br />
<br />
As a youth, I was definitely a starry-eyed Utopian liberal, but have since seen the error of those ways. A perfect society cannot be created out of inherently-imperfect individuals. Instead, politics is an eternal contest between forces that adapt to each other, and everyone aligns themselves with those forces based on incomplete or false information. Generally speaking, we have to assume that people think they're doing what they think is right at the time, not what they think is rationally-derived through application of logical principles.<br />
<br />
As a liberal, I've come to see history as an unceasing struggle between those that would expand individual freedom with those who seek to limit it. Those limiting forces can be governmental, religious, corporate, social, or internal. These forces can change, merge, separate, and adapt to respond to socioeconomic or technological change.<br />
<br />
In the post-Cold War world, the authoritarian forces are more diverse.<br />
<ul>
<li>Nationalism/Xenophobia is on the rise again, or perhaps it never left. Certainly, electoral government is the exception to history, and electoral government with a broad franchise is even rarer. One in which the franchise isn't curtailed through chicanery, intimidation, manipulation, or corruption is a <i>unicorn.</i></li>
<li>Hyper-Capitalism - quarterly profits at the expense of national sovereignty, a clean environment, etc. Freer markets do not lead to freer people, as massive countries like China prove every day. </li>
<li>Religious fanaticism - particularly obvious on the world stage with ISIL/Daesh and Al Qaeda (both Sunni Muslim), but many other authoritarian entities use religion as an excuse for their behavior (think about the Russian vlogger convicted for "inciting religious hatred" and "disrespecting the religious" for playing <i>Pokemon </i>in church). </li>
</ul>
These forces overlap, intertwine, and even fight against each other, but the overall effect is a diminution of liberties for the many, to the benefit of the few.<br />
<br />
For instance, the USA has supported many authoritarian regimes over the years, while being reliant on other regimes for oil. This reliance on foreign oil was part of a deliberate decision to not pursue renewable energy sources in the 1980's. Nationalism and Xenophobia has lately been cultivated as a response to Globalism, which itself has been largely hijacked by the free-trade-at-all-costs crowd. Finally, the narrative of the USA as "God's country" is an accepted part of our history for many, going back to religious justifications of genocide and slavery in the 19th century.<br />
<br />
These forces form the ideological centerpieces of America's current government, or at least provide cover for the naked conflicts of interest by the current President, his family, and his confederates (word choice deliberate).<br />
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I would prefer to be wrong about all the above, but it would take a lot of brilliant argumentation to convince me as such. I'm not sure about the solution, only that:<br />
<ul>
<li>Money should no longer equal speech.</li>
<li>A decoupling of religious and secular leadership across the board. </li>
<li>An de-emphasis of on "us-vs-them" outlook on the international stage.</li>
</ul>
These changes need to happen at all levels, worldwide, before the eternal threat of authoritarianism can be pushed back, at least for a little while.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.warisboring.com/donald-trump-is-building-an-alliance-of-oil-states">This article sums my thoughts up much better. </a>Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-56788072945019088182017-06-12T10:44:00.002-07:002017-06-12T10:44:40.820-07:00Mushroom gravy (vegetarian)Honestly, I'm putting this up here so that I remember to use it again!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>2 tablespoons unsalted butter</li>
<li>1-lb. container of mushrooms, hacked to pieces</li>
<li>1 normal onion, hacked to pieces</li>
<li>Several minced cloves of garlic, to taste.</li>
<li>2 cups of water or vegetable stock (or reserved soaking water from dried mushrooms)</li>
<li>Liquid addition(s): can be Soy Sauce, Tamari, Worcestershire Sauce, or a similar source of concentrated savory flavor. This supplements the natural flavors of the mushroom.</li>
<li>Thickener: a tablespoon corn meal/starch, potato starch, or flour.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ol>
<li>Cook butter over medium-low heat until melted and the color starts to change.</li>
<li>Toss in garlic, cooking until golden in color. </li>
<li>Toss in onion, spreading around the pan into a thin layer. Stir every minute or so until onion changes in color, or keep going for awhile until it caramelizes. If you want caramelization, it's over a quarter-hour of consistent stirring. </li>
<li>Toss in mushrooms once onion is a satisfactory color for you. Increase heat to medium-high, stir a tablespoon of Soy /Worcestershire/whatever sauce. Keep stirring until all liquid present evaporates, mushrooms dry out and change color. </li>
<li>Add the thickener plus enough water/stock to make a roux or slurry, then cook on medium until the thickener changes color. </li>
<li>Pour in the rest of the water/stock. Bring to boil, then simmer until liquid is reduced and feels thickened. Serve hot. </li>
</ol>
This is really good with anything involving potatoes or other tubers. <ol>
</ol>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-91869441098171729322017-06-05T12:56:00.002-07:002017-06-05T12:56:52.555-07:00More on colleges and superhumansA follow-up to my earlier entry on the <a href="http://lugnutism.blogspot.com/2016/09/massachusetts-intercollegiate-mecha.html">Massachusetts Intercollegiate Mecha League</a>.<br />
<br />
At least since Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created the X-Men, a secluded private school for young superbeings has been a staple of the Superhero genre. The X-Men are located in Westchester County, New York, an affluent area north of NYC.<br />
<br />
As a college student in rural Iowa, I considered that the many small liberal arts colleges that dot the Midwest would make excellent fictional settings for superhero stories. The Midwest has many virtues for such stories - a combination of centrality, proximity to major cities like Chicago and Minneapolis. Fairly flat terrain allows for a proving ground of various genre elements like super-speed, exotic vehicles, and human flight. After all, Superman is originally from rural Kansas.<br />
<br />
Writing about a college with either an overt or <a href="http://ps238.nodwick.com/">covert </a>school-within-a-school for supers would be pretty fun, especially if it combines with the typical hi-jinx associated with <i>normal</i> teenagers and disaffected twenty-somethings. Perhaps <i><a href="https://greenroninstore.com/collections/mutants-masterminds/products/hero-high-revised-edition">Hero High </a></i>fits the bill? Or maybe the sillier <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/IOU/"><i>GURPS I.O.U?</i></a><br />
<br />
Underground training facilities and research labs lurking beneath the prairie soil is a must! Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-87125349073548009392017-05-24T12:59:00.001-07:002017-05-24T12:59:17.262-07:00Part 2, I guess??<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
In the 1950's, we reached the point where a single individual could induce global catastrophe through atomic weapons. We have been living under that Sword of Damocles for over half a century. However, we are now reaching the point where a private individual <i>without </i>state backing could achieve nearly the same effect, whether through pathogens or computer malware. A fairly small cabal of determined individuals could also achieve the same ends through acquisition of existing nuclear weapon stocks in Pakistan, North Korea, or Russia. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Regardless of the how or why, we're approaching a point where genocide can be accessible to the common man. And what is our response to this inevitability? Openly, we ignore it, just like we've ignored the atomic weaponry scattered around the world for 60+ years. Privately, I suspect that the curtailment of civil liberties and increase in surveillance states this century is in part a response to those existential threats. The fact that private information is also a <i>medium of exchange</i> among the new, data-driven elite is just a market incentive to accelerate the ascension of the digital police state. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Does the line from Ben Franklin <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/03/02/390245038/ben-franklins-famous-liberty-safety-quote-lost-its-context-in-21st-century">"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"</a> still apply in an era where existential threats can only become more numerous and deadly? Should every human have the freedom to potentially kill millions, if not billions?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't think I'm going to like the answer, regardless of whether the question <i>can</i> be answered.<br />
<br />
However, that doesn't prevent others from formulating an answer.<br />
Authoritarianism, thought to be on the wane at the end of the last century, is definitely back in vogue. Countries like China have long proven that economic freedom and individual freedom are separable, and the authoritarian-populist-nationalist wave sweeping the globe shows that such ideas have appeal for the under-employed masses, with the traditional excuse of "If you're not doing anything wrong, you don't have anything to be afraid of" sufficing for many.<br />
<br />
The genius of data-gathering smartphone apps lies in the fact that, not only have we consented to being watched, but that we <i>seek it out and will pay for the privilege of privacy violation</i>. Who knows? You might go viral and make millions! Who cares about privacy? It's insidiously brilliant.<br />
<br />
Of course, I too use a smartphone and have a car with a GPS tracker in it - most cars newer than a certain vintage do. I don't see myself as a hypocrite for pointing all these things out - merely that one should be aware of the underlying reasons why, for instance, social media websites are free (Answer: they sell user data). </div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-60780422344062328422017-05-24T12:29:00.002-07:002017-05-24T12:29:54.267-07:00Freedom is life! Freedom is death! Inspired by, among other things, <a href="http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/04/the-techno-libertarians-praying-for-dystopia.html">this article</a>:<br />
<br />
As a child of the liberal-humanist Enlightenment, I did not realize how peculiar a thing personal liberty is until well into adulthood.<br />
<br />
Our hunter-gatherer forebears were free to do as they chose, although their choices were severely proscribed by the necessities of survival, and probably by deference to their elders.<br />
<br />
Then as now, the personal liberty of children is necessarily curtailed by their parents and elders, for children (especially the very young) do not understand consequences, and infants are too undeveloped to even have agency. The lone infant is free to die from hunger or exposure if not taken into someone's arms. The toddler is free to crawl into an oven, if not for an observant caregiver.<br />
<br />
The development of villages and (soon after) agriculture caused humans to cluster together in groups larger than the family units exhibited by hunter-gatherers. For around ten millennia, the march of time has placed many of us into larger and larger groups, until today the majority of humans live in cities, many of them holding over a million. With ever-larger populations, we are exposed to ever-more strangers; those who aren't kin. A farming village; a cluster of a few clans (see image below) is a good way to organize a small community based on Dunbar's Number, better known as the <a href="http://www.mattbrezina.com/blog/2010/02/social-networks-the-monkey-sphere-and-moores-law-of-human-relationships/">Monkeysphere</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqO3JHbFbWSjbwZ9dQpj24f1AHRw6TsZsgcHXU_nGK_9vUL10xQeRMrUeBWXirPAIRd3U4PEcxonSEVnl8FtvC4MkDMswkewGgVMnRuhOx-5pqTnTHVkelHS5JEHC4QAM7qz-IDEeac_l/s1600/4-family+settlement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqO3JHbFbWSjbwZ9dQpj24f1AHRw6TsZsgcHXU_nGK_9vUL10xQeRMrUeBWXirPAIRd3U4PEcxonSEVnl8FtvC4MkDMswkewGgVMnRuhOx-5pqTnTHVkelHS5JEHC4QAM7qz-IDEeac_l/s320/4-family+settlement.png" width="319" /></a></div>
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Everybody knows everybody in such a village, and everybody has their place. You know what people don't have much of in these settings? Personal freedom. Much waking time is dedicated to agricultural labor, although agricultural success is still often dependent on vagaries of weather. Thus, these societies tend toward religiosity and conservatism, as any disruption of the social order becomes apparent quickly, either socially or supernaturally (which can be considered the same thing). </div>
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The monkeysphere isn't the perfect theory to explain human behavior by any means, but the monkeysphere theory's estimated optimum size for human groups (150) is a reasonable size for a lot of horticultural/agricultural societies. Anyone outside the "monkeysphere"/social network isn't really considered a "real" person. An effectively-universal human trait is Xenophobia, fear of "that which isn't us." An unknown quantity is a potential threat, and can be treated as such. How much of folklore and mythology concerned with fear of the stranger? Enough that the parable of The Good Samaritan, or the reminder "For you were strangers in the land of Egypt" stand out as truly extraordinary, and often forgotten in practice. </div>
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"Western Civilization" is largely beyond that organizational level, as can be potentially connected to anyone, anywhere (intentionally or otherwise). However, we are forced to interact with strangers constantly - driving on the road with them, using products made by them, learning of distant events through them, reading blogs by them, etc. The fundamental terror of Civilization is that one (or more) of those strangers is a threat, and we won't know it until it's too late. You could call it the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/">"They Live!" </a> phenomenon. It's probably one of the reasons why city dwellers have higher rates of mental illness - we're constantly alone, lost in a crowd. </div>
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On the other hand, we are pretty damn free to do as we please: </div>
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<ul>
<li>Fail to obtain the necessities of life? The social safety net intervenes. </li>
<li>Run in front of a car for fun? You're taken to a hospital and treated. </li>
<li>Say something horrible about the authorities? No legal consequences. </li>
</ul>
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Of course, all these situations have caveats, but there are exceptions to every rule. By a number of standards, we are historically fortunate. However, I'm not sure how long it will last. </div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-13706357970820807652017-05-17T13:15:00.002-07:002017-05-17T13:15:20.448-07:00Curating a collection of softwareA substantial part of my professional background lies in collections management - mostly archival or museum.<br />
I showed an early aptitude for this when I began cataloging my Mother's collection of comic books from her adolescence, circa late 1960's-early 1970's. Gingerly manipulating back issues of <i>Action Comics</i> into Mylar baggies was great preparation for my future work-life.<br />
<br />In graduate school, I learned that the most important skill of a curator is learning when to refuse a new item, or when to downsize a collection.<br />
The lines between curator, collector, and hoarder are precious thin, and your institution's budget should be respected by not acquiring items that do not contribute to your organization's mission.<br />
<ul>
<li>A curator should accumulate and maintain a collection to the highest standards available to their skills, workplace, and profession. </li>
<li>A collector accumulates based on theme and desire. </li>
<li>A hoarder...just accumulates things. </li>
</ul>
Don't be a collector or hoarder. That lies on the path to neglecting what matters most - the collection.<br />
<br />
This outlook is so all-consuming for me that I do this in my spare time for friends. One friend is accumulating a research collection of games (digital and analog) for a major university, so I'm doing my best advising him how to go about things. Of course, he's worked in major museums internationally, so who am I to talk about this stuff?<br />
<br />
<u><b>When putting together a collection of games, software, or other material that is wholly or partially digital:</b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Having a collecting strategy is important, especially since you're
dealing with a variety of item types, from software, to boxes filled
with tiny things, to books. </li>
<li>Usage of online software archives is a good
thing for software, especially if you can get permission from the webmasters of said
archives to download their stuff onto your server. That negates many of
the issues of preserving data on obsolete formats like Floppy disks, as
much of the work has already been done for you. </li>
<li>You'll want a
mission statement for collections, as nobody stays at an institution
forever - have everything in writing; leave nothing in your head. </li>
<li>Any collection of digital content needs a mix of stuff that's not for sale
anymore, doesn't work on current machines, etc. This is known as AbandonWare or Orphaned Works. </li>
<li>It's super-fortunate
that this problem is being (partially) solved with the rash of
Remastered Editions, Humble Bundles, Gog.com, Archive.org efforts, etc. However,
availability is of course a fickle thing, as shown by <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/05/psa-buy-alan-wake-cheap-before-its-removed-from-steam/&source=gmail&ust=1495136268071000&usg=AFQjCNFT8gSCopOK5MiFNK71jDBkA4XQKg" href="https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/05/psa-buy-alan-wake-cheap-before-its-removed-from-steam/" target="_blank">Alan Wake</a></i>,
which now unavailable on all online sales due to its
soundtrack-licensing deals expiring, and the publisher being unable to
renew them as of yet. </li>
<li><div>
The other challenge for a collecting strategy (as you've likely
noticed by now) is whether to collect the well-known, the exemplars of
the genre, the innovative, the obscure, or some combination of the
above. Connoisseurs of pretty much anything will inevitably encounter <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://flashofsteel.com/index.php/2010/08/19/three-moves-ahead-episode-78-forgettable-games-memorabl-id/&source=gmail&ust=1495136268071000&usg=AFQjCNGMqaGKqILsd_SXNXVFVe4MAqivBg" href="http://flashofsteel.com/index.php/2010/08/19/three-moves-ahead-episode-78-forgettable-games-memorabl-id/" target="_blank">noble junk</a> (good
ideas poorly executed). As a repository for research purposes, you can
choose to include content that is an evolutionary "dead end," critical
success/commercial failure, etc.</div>
</li>
<li>Don't automatically-reject commercial successes out of hand,
merely that such content must have some other feature that merits their
inclusion within the collection. </li>
<li>Another question of collection strategy is selecting what to collect from a franchise. The first or most recent entry in a franchise may not be the one most meritorious of inclusion. Choose the entry that exemplifies the entire franchise, or the entry that is most innovative. </li>
<li><div>
So which of these do you acquire for the collection? That <b>must</b> be answered and articulated by you. </div>
</li>
</ul>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-47420029006181075192017-05-15T11:45:00.002-07:002017-06-09T11:11:05.561-07:00ChiliAs a Texan by upbringing, I am contractually obligated to make chili now and then. It was the first thing I learned to cook, and one of a small list of things that I make from memory.<br />
Of course, being chili, I don't <i>really</i> make it from memory - I make it up as I go along, with whatever is taking up space in the fridge/pantry/freezer.<br />
<br />
Most of the chili I've made is vegetarian, because I prefer supporting industrialized slaughterhouses as little as possible, and I don't like paying a premium for "happy cows." More recently, I've even developed a vegetarian chili that has no beans, just to see how far I could push the envelope of avoiding common food sensitivities. I love beans, so this recipe I use now is more a supplement to a normal chili, rather than a stand-alone.<br />
<br />
Eggplant, mushrooms, and cauliflower (especially the latter) seem to be very <i>in</i> right now. I'd say that part of their popularity is because of their use as providing healthy substitutes to meat, while not trying to <i>be</i> meat. Particularly when roasted, these three foods develop a wonderful texture, caramelization, and savory-sweet flavor.<br />
<br />
What does this have to do with chili? Well, those who are willing to wait all day for chili (and you should, because good chili is worth cooking all day), use these three things to improve your veggie stews. Oil up a big roasting pan - slice eggplant into 1-inch rounds - roughly chop mushrooms and cauliflower - line the bottom of the pan with eggplant, then layer on the other stuff.<br />
<br />
Heavily season with chili powder, black pepper, and cumin before baking at 450 degrees F for...a while. This usually takes upwards of 45 minutes. If you're feeling extra-lazy in food prep, throw in some chopped onions and tomatoes to simmer in their juices and flavor everything in there. Garlic cloves and sweet bell peppers can go in at the half-way point of the roasting, which is also when everything needs to be stirred. Keep roasting this mess until everything is browned and about to blacken. You now have something akin to a <i>sofrito, mirepoix, or włoszczyzna </i>(never, ever ask me how to pronounce the latter) without all the work of sauteing and sweating over the stove-top.<br />
<br />
I did this a couple times as an experiment to produce bean-less vegetarian chili and was pleasantly surprised. I still prefer it mixed with beans, however, as it provides a nice, meaty texture and absorbs seasonings better than tofu would.<br />
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I also made vegetarian shepherd's pie for the 14th of March (or "Pi-day"). The Greek letter on top of the pie is made from homemade mushroom gravy, which takes a infuriating amount of simmering to make, but is well worthwhile as a topping for potatoes or biscuits.<br />
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I really need to make this again...</div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-22086207942620884822017-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:002017-05-08T11:57:11.485-07:00A society of letters/Respublica LiterariaSometimes it's nearly impossible to find people to play games with in-person. My father, an avid board-gamer in his younger days, would play Chess and <i>Diplomacy</i> by postcard. I'm sure people in earlier days did similar things through the post or telegram. <div>
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<div>
But what if there were games that were <i>meant </i>to be played long-distance? That eliminates social contract issues that can arise in not doing things face-to-face. I'll admit that I've played essentially-zero long-distance games, message board or otherwise. I dislike long-distance games even more than long-distance relationships. But perhaps with a rules-set built for distance play would be better?</div>
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For thousands of years, long-distance communication was done through a mix of couriers and written texts. Both were a strategic asset - interference with mail remains a serious crime today, and impeding the business of an imperial courier could be a capital crime. Typically, international correspondence would be between rulers or their emissaries. Classical civilization made scholarly correspondence international, and Christianity and Islam further increased correspondence to clergy, who were often also scholars as well. </div>
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<div>
Starting with the Rennaissance, letter-writing became a major pursuit of the educated elite, who would often be literature in a common language (e.g. Latin, Greek, or French) and created a multi-century network of correspondence that came to be known as <a href="http://republicofletters.stanford.edu/publications/index.html"><i>Respublica Literaria (</i>Republic of Letters</a>). This informal, international fellowship was primarily male, bourgeoisie, or nobility, and remotely collaborated on various projects. The link goes to a site with visualizations of this network. While this "Republic" was concentrated in Europe, human nodes of the network, like Benjamin Franklin and Athanasius Kircher, maintained intercontinental connections. </div>
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<div>
Letter-writing is becoming a lost art. Many arts are always endangered, but that is a blog topic for another day. I learned to write a decent letter to my grandparents, particularly my grandfather, who has earned the right to avoid what technology he can get away with. Hand-written thank-you notes are also a valuable tool in the arsenal of the grateful, or those who wish to appear grateful. Perhaps an RPG/storytelling exercise based around letters would allow the preservation of such things? After all, the most popular role-playing games take place in a pseudo-medieval world, where literacy is precious and communication can be slow without certain magic. </div>
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Alternatively, <b>letter-writing in the classroom</b> can potentially be a powerful exercise. Students can practice their skill at description, persuasion, formatting, etc. Or make them role-play out writing a letter, either as a character in literature, or someone living through a historical event. Yes, much of it will be cringe-worthy, but it might reach a pupil that otherwise won't be by conventional writing exercises, and they'll learn how to write a letter to boot. </div>
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I'll put down more about letter-writing in RPG settings in another blog entry. </div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-1552744005130716482017-05-05T11:21:00.001-07:002018-04-15T16:12:27.787-07:00HumanzeesI've referenced the podcast <a href="http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/">Ken & Robin Talk About Stuff </a> before on this blog. They're a pair of writers that frequently collaborate on RPG-related projects, and have overlapping interests in fiction and non-fiction (though Ken is more of a historian, while Robin is more of a narrative critic). Since their podcast has literally hundreds of episodes and I spend a lot of time in my car or doing data entry, I have copious opportunity to listen to their back-catalog.<br />
<br />
Most recently, I listened with much pleasure to <a href="http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/index.php/episode-163-building-things-out-of-zebras/">Episode 163</a>, in which they discuss the history and stories surrounding attempts to create Humanzees - Human/Chimpanzee hybrids. These attempts were <i>actually</i> made, by Americans, the Soviets, and Imperial Germany, at minimum. They were also multi-decade efforts, running from the late 19th century to the height of the Cold War. Unsurprisingly, there was a military interest in creating super-strong but not-so-smart soldiers, particularly on the part of Josef Stalin, who sponsored research in his native Georgia (Sakartvelo) by Ilya Ivanovitch Ivanov.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>American Humanzee research was conducted in Cuba, as Americans loved to use Cuba as a place to do questionable things before the Castro revolution.<br />
<br />
Imperial German research was conducted in the Canary Islands - which is interesting, because the Kaiserreich had no control of the Canaries the way the USA did of Cuba, or the Soviets of Georgia. One commenter on the episode link mentioned mummies, Atlantis, and ur-races, all of which are great hooks for gaming or a certain sort of fiction.<br />
<br />
From here on, I'm going on a deep dive into inventing and confabulation of <b>fictional</b> things. <b>Fictional, as in not real. </b>Potential employers, take note!<br />
<br />
Brainstorming about broader, less geographically-specific issues regarding Humanzees...Since I was an Anthropology major in college and have colleagues that are primatologists, paleo-primatologists, or archaeologists of the Paleolithic, I know a little bit about Hominini. These include both our presumed direct-line ancestors, our closest living relatives (Chimpanzees/Bonobos) and an array of extinct species (including Neanderthals and Australopithecines). So I have a bit of knowledge to play around with, especially if one imagines some of these extinct species to be analogous to some fantasy archetypes (<i>Homo Floresiensis </i>as "Hobbits," or the mighty <i>Paranthropus</i> genus as vegetarian orcs).<br />
<br />
Before the brainstorming gets too far, I should probably also unpack some of the race issues that immediately rise up here. When Humanzee research began, many people considered humanity to be made up of "races" that were of various degrees of closeness to animals, or distant from God, with African peoples typically placed at the bottom. Another reason why American research into Humanzees was located in Cuba was probably the greater ease of acquiring research subjects. And a lot of those subjects were probably Black, due to their then-perceived "closeness" to the Chimpanzee subjects. This of course was eventually proven to be both hogwash and absolutely horrible, but it's a disturbing part of our scientific history, just like the Nazi experiments during the Holocaust, or the Tuskegee smallpox experiments.<br />
<br />
...Speaking of Nazis...Contrary to popular culture, the Nazis were utterly against the creation of Human-Ape hybrids. As they believed that "races" and "breeds" of plants and animals had "over-souls," the 3rd Reich was disturbed even by cross-breeding dogs, much less people. <br />
<br />
Disclaimer complete, let's move on.<br />
<br />
What is the visceral appeal of Humanzees/Apemen/Man-apes/etc? Same as the one for Zombies/Vampires/Androids/etc: the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4i8pot9gs">Uncanny Valley </a>effect. It's like us, but <i>not</i> like us. It's a parody of the human form, or a human form that has been approximated <i>wrongly</i>. It's a monstrous archetype: a thing that looks like us but <i>preys</i> on us. Because Chimpanzees will eat meat, they will eat monkeys, and they will sometimes eat <i>each other</i>. And a Humanzee? They'll eat <i>anything they can kill.</i><br />
<br />
I'd also like to briefly note the <i>Koolakamba</i> cryptid, supposedly a cross of a Chimpanzee with a Gorilla. It has similar appeal as a Humanzee, but more resembling the Yeti/Sasquatch archetype (also a lovely idea mine).<br />
<br />
Another rich vein is the works of <a href="https://www.kookscience.com/arch/Zermatic.html">Stanislav Szukalski, originator of Zermatism and associated art</a>, which posits a cabal of sinister Yeti, or Neanderthal/Human hybrids conspiring behind the scenes of history. <i>Behold, the Protong!!!</i> is the work that lays out much of these ideas, and all this hot mess of crazy I came across (again!) from Ken & Robin, <a href="http://www.kenandrobintalkaboutstuff.com/index.php/episode-179/">Episode 179</a>.<br />
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Now, to the point I've been lurching toward - use of the Humanzees as the foundation stone of fictive work, whether individually-written, or collaborative (RPG, LARP, etc). I'm comfortable with either, but have been published in neither, beyond a couple credits for proofreading. </div>
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Since the monstrous archetype of "looks like us but isn't us" is so broad, there's a lot of angles one could make to attack Humanzees. One way could be with <a href="http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/nights-black-agents/">Night's Black Agents</a> (I probably have a bit of hero-worship for Ken and Robin now) - the Humanzees are hidden in plain sight/the dark of night, <a href="http://www.chimpsanctuarynw.org/blog/2013/07/chimpanzee-teeth/">they have fangs</a>, and perhaps their hybrid physiology or lab-grown origins demands...unique nutrition. Perhaps they become more bestial without regular feeding on blood (or brains - brains are good too) before exploding into incredible violence...</div>
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<div>
Since much of the known Humanzee research was conducted before Watson and Crick's discovery of DNA in the 1950's, the actual method in the Humanzee labs was based on artificial insemination, well before our modern era of CRISPR and DIY gene-splicing. The early 20th century is also the time when the Human Immunodeficiency Virus passed from Chimpanzee (or Mangabey) to Humans. Could this be connected in our fictions to Humanzee research? Why not?</div>
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Perhaps the appearance of Humanzees in the modern world (of our fiction) is due to someone replacing artificial insemination as a production method with gene-splicing, retroviruses, etc. Perhaps <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_chimpanzee">Troglodytism</a>, like vampirism, is a blood-borne condition. Now the population of Humanzees can grow without laboratories, instead needing only fangs or needles. </div>
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Alternatively, maybe Humanzees exist in the open as laborers, astronauts, or the like. Their great strength and grasping feet give them an edge in skyscraper construction and micro-gravity. This would obviously make more sense in a more futuristic setting, analogous to <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/transhumanspace/">Transhuman Space</a>, <a href="http://www.eclipsephase.com/">Eclipse Phase</a>, or <a href="http://www.davidbrin.com/books.html">David Brin's Uplift</a> series. Or maybe they're more covert, existing for a specific secret purpose (like their original intended actual purpose - that of soldiers). Humanzee squads would be awfully handy in vertical spaces like Favelas, elevator shafts, or for helicopter insertion. </div>
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Maybe I just need to re-watch the <i>Planet of the Apes</i> movies? </div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-53736535531191221382017-04-17T07:52:00.001-07:002017-04-17T07:52:37.345-07:00Darkest DungeonI really have no idea why I put off buying <i>Darkest Dungeon</i>, nor why I've put off updating this blog. The answer for both is probably the same - I was busy with class, replaying <i>Medieval II: Total War</i>, and trying out <i>Endless Legend</i>. All are very fun games, and at least two of these are objectively "well-designed" games. M2TW is fun, but there's a fundamental contradiction in the game, in which you want to manipulate the strategic layer to avoid having to fight the tactical battles. This is accomplished by only attacking with overwhelming force, and only going into tactical battles when the odds are a coin-toss or a superior foe has forced your hand.<br />
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Back to the original topic. In an <a href="http://lugnutism.blogspot.com/2016/09/advance-bulwark-charge-disperse.html">earlier</a> blog entry, I mused about a compromise system for tactical battles that abstracts the "grid" that is common to many tactical games, whether based on squares, hexes, or pixels. Instead, the focus is on ranks or ranges.<br />
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<i>Darkest Dungeon</i>'s system is firmly rooted in the "ranks" idea, as heroes and foes' abilities can often only be activated in certain ranks (out of four) and often only target those in certain ranks (again, out of four). Some characters are only effective in certain ranks (such as the Leper or Arbalest). Other heroes change role, depending on where they're placed in marching order (the Man-at-Arms can be kitted out for a frontline tank role or rearguard leader role, buffing and de-buffing). Still others move in rank during fights, shifting position with their various skills used (Bard, Highwayman, Grave-Robber).<br />
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Monsters will do this too, so it behooves the wise player to push melee enemies back and pull archers or spellcasters forward to limit their attacks. Suffice to say, I'm completely enthused with this game!<br />
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One way in which a system like this could go farther would be in breaking ranks. Much like football or similar games, decisive moments occur in which a line is broken. In combat terms, this would historically be a line of shields, pole-arms, and field fortifications like stakes, pits, or the ever-reliable stakes-in-pit-filled-with-poo.<br />
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My fantasy idea of <i>Darkest Dungeon II</i> could incorporate these elements, with a fifth (or fourth) party position reserved for a flanker/skirmisher/berserker operating out of formation, either protecting the party's flanks, harassing, or breaking through the enemy's front lines, wildly attacking those behind. These ideas may form up again at some point in my brain after I finish my final exam next week for my Remote Sensing class.Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-38498873247730894782017-02-14T13:12:00.001-08:002017-02-14T13:12:55.869-08:00Valentine's day post - a superior salad dressingIf you're lazy sometimes - and who isn't? - you sometimes need quick recipes to appear classier than you actually are. Here's something you can put on your salads that tastes really good, is good for you, and exploits what would otherwise be a minor annoyance in trying to live cheaply.<br />
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You need<br />
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<ul>
<li>A nearly empty jar/bottle of mustard (preferably a good mustard)</li>
<li>Tablespoon of olive oil (extra-virgin, duh!)</li>
<li>Tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (buy the real thing from Modena)</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>Take the top off your mustard bottle or jar</li>
<li>Add the oil and vinegar</li>
<li>Put the top back on, closing it tightly</li>
<li><b>Shake the daylights out of the bottle</b></li>
<li>Squirt delicious vinaigrette onto the salad in front of you and your sweetie. </li>
</ol>
Making food for a date is a nice, cheap alternative to taking someone out, especially if you make something light like salad and soup for dinner. Heavy food like steak or pasta can impede the romantic possibilities, and leaves less room for chocolate (aka the real reason for Valentine's day)Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-66590445510916366492017-01-18T12:39:00.004-08:002017-01-18T12:39:49.870-08:00Nyambe<a href="http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although d20 isn't as popular as it used to be, there is still plenty of room for RPGs that take influences from beyond Germanic mythology, Star **** media, or Martial-Arts films.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nyambe is based on (Sub-Saharan) African myth and history, with a little bit of the Middle East and Indian Ocean cultures worked in, as the North and East of Africa were heavily-influenced by interactions with Arabia, India, etc. Traditional F20* races and classes are adjusted accordingly, particularly for the lack of heavy armor in hotter climates.</span><br />
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*<a href="http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/see-p-xx-the-f20-era/">http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/see-p-xx-the-f20-era/</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Belief in "short people living underground" and "forest-spirit-people" are also known from Africa, as are various mythic beasts that resemble Dragons and more disturbing things. Seriously; there are some creepy monsters in African folklore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">In Nyambe, oral histories go back to the doorstep of creation, but knowledge of the ancient ruins doesn't make them any less deadly. </span><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">Unlike some settings, humans are divided into several ethnic groups, some with kingdoms, others without. Demihumans resemble beings from African myth, and wild/dire animals can be as dangerous as any monster. Adventurers will look and act differently, due to environmental and cultural factors.</span><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Human Ethnicities</b></span></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Azzazza = Punt/Nubia</li>
<li>Hutali = Buganda?</li>
<li>Marak'ka = ?</li>
<li>Mbanta = Dogon</li>
<li>NaBula = Songhai</li>
<li>Shombe = Masai</li>
<li>Tisambe = Dahomey</li>
<li>Tembu = Shona</li>
<li>Tuslan = KhoiSan</li>
<li>Xon'mo = Yoruba?</li>
<li>Zamara = Azande</li>
<li>Nghoi = Mbuti</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Demihumans</b></span></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Agogwe = Halflings adapted for burrowing with large badger claws. They take their names from dangerous beasts or monsters with supernatural abilities. </li>
<li>Kitunusi = Gnomes comfortable with darkness & bureaucracy. Live in partially-submerged cities. Like other gnomes, they're gifted at magic. </li>
<li>Ngoloko = Half-Orcs constantly tempted by dark magic. Hairier than normal Orc-kin. </li>
<li>Unthlatu = Lizardfolk with Dragon blood. Aquatic abilities, but weak culture due to lack of parental involvement; children are ready to hunt and swim once hatched. </li>
<li>Utucheckulu = Dwarves adapted for volcanic, hilly terrain. Ritualistic heart-eating and similarly-disturbing practices.</li>
<li>Wakyambi = Arboreal Elves with tails; fond of benign meddling and gift-giving. </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>New Classes: </b></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Gamba = Fighter, with less armor, more dodging and grit.</li>
<li>Mchawi = Dark wizards, can't be good, a penchant for necromancy and other suspect magic.</li>
<li>N'anga = Cleric that talks to spirits: natural, ancestral, celestial, fiendish, geographic, etc.</li>
<li>Nanala = Rogue, with less gimmickry, more dirty fighting.</li>
<li>Ngoma = Bard with Divine magic. Drummer & dancer. See Unearthed Arcana. </li>
<li>Sei = Sorceror, with more overt Draconic power (bonus spells and breath weapons).</li>
<li>Other classes are less well known, such as the Engolo wrestlers (Monks). </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">Foreign adventurers are also present, referenced as being "Near Easterners," "Far Easterners," and "Northerners." However, they usually need local assistance in dealing with the tropical climate and different customs. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">As a partial setting, Nyambe could easily be fit into another setting. I've really wanted to insert it into Eberron, given the latter's relatively small world size and room for another continent. Obviously, there are questions that must be answered (by the GM to themselves) before such a thing would be done. </span></span>Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-76740802278705132472016-11-15T15:52:00.000-08:002017-01-18T12:24:37.808-08:00Menae in Full: ship's Officers<b>Captain</b>: Victricia Talorian (female Turian)<br />
<b>Executive Officer</b>: Jorn Dath'hak (male Batarian)<br />
<b>Yeoman</b>: Zhara T'Deryn (Asari)<br />
<b>Quartermaster</b>: Adnan Harismani (male Human)<br />
<b>Chief Medical Officer</b>: Valia Elendris (Asari)<br />
<b>Navigator/Gunner*</b>: Marice Kevari (female Drell) <br />
<b>Shuttle Pilot: </b>Charles Redwolf (male human)<br />
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*Positions merged due to smaller ship's complement and non-military function.<br />
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<u>Talorian, Victricia (female Turian) - Captain </u><br />
Colonial background led to a long career of distinguished service. Short, solid, no-nonsense but with a deeply-hidden maternal side (too driven to settle down). Looking for some excitement before retirement. Shows most loyalty to her long-term crew - these will mostly be Turians, although the GM should decide who said crew are (and will almost certainly include Turian, Volus, or Asari PCs). <br />
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She will certainly go to bat for the PCs once they have proven themselves to not require babysitting from orbit. On the other hand, not following proper first-contact procedures or consistently violating regulations will see a lot of gear requests get denied.<br />
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<u>Dath'hak, Jorn (male Batarian) - Executive Officer</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Older man, career military.</li>
<li>Boastful of his past exploits.</li>
<li>Doesn't interact much with other Batarians aboard.</li>
</ul>
Male Batarian, older. Secret ties to anti-Hegemony dissident groups operating outside Batarian space. Background in space-station insertions to take out pirates. Plays at being a model Batarian officer - tough, harsh, berating.<br />
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If the PCs are an Away Team, Dath'hak will be like an R. Lee Ermey character. Any Batarian PCs will be heavily scrutinized for government ties, as Jorn is on this expedition to let any heat of suspicion from Hegemony authorities wash off him. If the Batarians leave the Citadel during the campaign (likely) this will pose some interesting legal questions that the crew will have to resolve on their own, given the <i>long</i> communication lag-time. This could break the crew into camps based around whether Batarian crew members should retain their commissions or be confined to a low-security deck. PCs might have to protect individual(s) they profoundly dislike based on principle or Captain's orders.<br />
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<u>T'Daryn, Zhara (Asari) - Yeoman</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Devoted to Captain Talorian (business relationship)</li>
<li>Proudly half-Turian</li>
<li>Efficient and enthusiastic</li>
</ul>
Zhara's father was a turian, and when he died Zhara was the right age to go out and explore the galaxy. She decided to visit her father's family on Palaven. After a period of mourning, Zhara's cousins helped her find a job as a receptionist at a military base. After spending several years dealing with Turian soldiers, she decided to join the military herself and aim for a posting on a Turian ship. Her attempts to serve on a Turian ship were fruitful, and after a few years she knew the Turian fleet better than most Turians. Captain Talorian noticed her skills and enthusiasm and had Zhara promoted to be her yeoman. When the Menae in Full was retrofitted for a multi-year mission, Captain Talorian accepted the offer to remain as captain. Zhara's devotion to her captain prompted her to stay on as well. <br />
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<u>Harismani, Adnan (male human) - Quartermaster</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Spindly, pale</li>
<li>From Luna</li>
<li>Precise, possibly OCD</li>
</ul>
Skinny, pale, precise. Worried about getting the job due to family connections. Afraid of Jorn - suspicious of the Batarians. Will try to oppose them passively. Human or Salarian PCs in particular might be recruited for this. </div>
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Being quartermaster in the <i>Mass Effect</i> universe entails responsibility for operation of fabrication, hydroponics, and similar equipment. Getting on his good side could lead to free OmniTool upgrades, or extra rations of fresh food!<br />
Born a big fish in a small pond - a Lunar settlement originally established by a joint Indian-South African corporation. His family is one of the founding clans of this venture. Being the eldest child of a prominent family but middling drive, he found himself somewhat in over his head at being appointed the highest-ranking human on the first Citadel Council expedition with human crew. </div>
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<u>Elendris, Valia (Asari) - Chief Medical Officer</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Approaching matron stage</li>
<li>Dislikes formality</li>
<li>Takes notes after some conversations</li>
<li>(Easy-going, kindly, might try to look for a mate during near the end of the voyage. Is evaluating patients for "suitability.") This won't be of significance unless tensions late in the voyage get really bad - in such a case, Dr. Elendris will begin emotionally "investing" in her pick, showing signs of separation anxiety. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<u>Kevari, Marice (female Drell) - Gunner/Navigator</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Headstrong</li>
<li>Fiercely loyal</li>
<li>Unsubtle</li>
<li>Combative</li>
</ul>
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Marice grew up on Kahje with her parents and her older brother, Roen. Roen was two years older than his sister, and he usually acquiesced to her demands to be included in whatever he was doing. Marice never let anyone tell her that she was too young to join in. At first, Roen's friends teased him for always letting his kid sister tag along, but Marice quickly learned to keep up with the older children. She always ran fists-first to defend her classmates from bullies. When ten-year-old Roen began combat training to serve as a police officer for the hanar, Marice demanded to be taken along. The hanar admired her determination, and they allowed her to train with her brother. Five years later, they joined the police force. Marice's straight-forward determination made her a perfect beat cop. Roen was more subtle, so he spent a lot of time in detective units. His investigations frequently took him outside the dome, and when he was 32, he was diagnosed with Kepral's syndrome. Roen was willing to stay and serve until he grew too ill to do so, but Marice convinced him to go with her to Nos Astra. She would find a job, and they might be able to get Roen into a drug test. Marice got a bounty hunter's license, and did some consultant work for Serrice Technology. Although she made enough to get Roen excellent medical care, there were no cutting-edge breakthroughs or experimental therapies that might save his life. When Roen died three years later, Marice jumped at the first opportunity to get as far away from her life as possible. She applied to join the crew of the Menae in Full and convinced her best friend, Chatterbox, to join her.<br />
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<u>Charles Redwolf (Male Human) - Shuttle Pilot</u><br />
<ul>
<li>Canadian Ojibwe, former RCMP</li>
<li>Spent some time as security at Prothean research site on Mars. Basic familiarity with the data-systems there. </li>
<li>Enjoys telling stories from his law-enforcement career </li>
</ul>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-16443693626305791992016-10-11T10:28:00.000-07:002016-10-11T10:28:30.102-07:00Common house rules/common decency for game nightI know that there are many emotionally-powerful, educational, even cathartic role-playing games out there, but that scene is not for me. Daily life is often too stressful, too draining, too <i>mundane</i> for me to play or run anything but crazy adventures or bizarre investigations. Therefore, most of the house rules I like to play with are of a decidedly relaxed bent.<br />
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Steal, borrow, modify, or comment below:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>How to get things from me when I am the GM. "Things" might include XP, equipment, plot hooks for your character, or whatever else I feel like:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bring snacks or refreshment. Bonus if they're healthy or homemade. </li>
<li>Write a nice backstory for your character that is a paragraph in length. Bonus if that backstory ties into other PCs, in-game NPCs, or the game setting. Additional bonus for longer backstory, up to a couple pages. If it's longer than three pages or so, try to publish that short story instead; I have a life. However, I do like plot hooks!</li>
<ul>
<li>Of course, for games where backstory doesn't matter, disregard the above bullet point. </li>
</ul>
<li>Office supplies and gaming accessories for the table. Initiative trackers, dry-erase markers, visual aides, fresh character sheets, etc. Generosity is more than its own reward. </li>
<li>In games that have supplemental splatbooks, the GM always needs more books than the players. The GM needs to look at the splatbook to see how horribly broken the content is. If you loan a book to the GM before you use it, or let the GM mine it for plot, good for you!</li>
</ul>
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Things that I will try my hardest not to do:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Play favorites with players. </li>
<li>Conversely, dogpile on a player. </li>
<li>Come to game unprepared without at least some adventure content.</li>
</ul>
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Things that you should try not to do:<br />
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</ol>
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<ul>
<li>Be a jerk to the other players. </li>
<li>Suggest a major change in where the PCs are going or what they're doing in the beginning or middle of a session. </li>
<li>Challenge the GM's ruling during a session. </li>
</ul>
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Maybe some D&D-specific stuff later. </div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-64617674737970143512016-10-04T07:11:00.001-07:002016-10-04T07:11:45.429-07:00Menae in Full: Away team 2As mentioned in <a href="https://lugnutism.blogspot.com/2016/09/menae-in-full-crew-part-1-away-team-1.html">an earlier entry</a>, Away Team 2 acts as a followup for the 1st Away Tea, handling cargo (un)loading and on-site scientific survey.<br />
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Credit for writing the NPC backstories goes to a former co-GM and conspirator in writing who wishes to remain anonymous.<br />
<a name='more'></a><u><b>Away Team 2</b></u>Kerra Liron(female turian) - lead cargo manager, Team Leader<br />
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Dara T'Sejen (asari)- lab assistant, Team Lieutenant</div>
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Bakim Zalek (female batarian) - technician, Xenopsychologist<br />
Fedal Albring (female drell) - science officer, Ecologist<br />
Laspa Daube (asari) - lab assistant, Chemist<br />
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<u>Zalek, Bakim (female Batarian)-counselor, shift 2</u><br />
Bakim made friends easily, but she particularly enjoyed chatting with her family's slaves. Their stories were just more interesting than the petty complaints and victories of her classmates. The slaves grew to enjoy talking to her, because despite her lack of life experience, she always seemed to understand them and to give good advice. It was easy for her to make the transition into professional counseling. She was excited about the Menae in Full mission because it gave her the opportunity to work with a variety of people in a variety of situations.<br />
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<u>Liron, Kerra (female Turian)- lead cargo manager, shift 2</u><br />
Kerra was a smart kid, but her parents pushed her into athletic competition. They were both decorated soldiers, and they wanted their daughter to grow up tough. She was a mediocre athlete, but she wanted to please her parents so she kept trying. Her military service was unremarkable save for her eagerness to please. She threw herself into whatever task she was assigned. Kerra didn't particularly enjoy running the cargo bay on the Menae in Full, but her parents had taught her that the way to succeed was to excel at whatever task she was given. When the Menae in full was selected to find a new relay, she saw the opportunity to excel and make her parents proud.<br />
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<u>Albring, Fedal (female Drell)- science officer, shift 2</u><br />
As a child, Fedal was fascinated with history. She particularly loved hearing about how drell lived on Rakhana. The domed city felt like a cage to her, and she liked to sneak outside even though the air was heavy and hard to breathe. Her friends and family assumed that she would leave Kahje as soon as she was old enough, but she decided to stay. Fedal studied environmental science, determined to lead a terraforming team to Rakhana. Unfortunately, her fondness for the outdoors caught up with her and she was diagnosed with Kepral's syndrome at age 26. She was in good shape at the time of her diagnosis, so with proper medical care, a drier climate, and a lot of luck, she could live well into her thirties. Realizing that she couldn't possibly live to recolonize Rakhana, she decided to spend the rest of her time travelling. Her father, Jabez, was head of a group of doctors studying Kepral's syndrome. He decided to leave his position and travel with her to ensure that she got proper care wherever she went. The Menae in Full was a perfect opportunity for Fedal to spend her last years travelling farther than she had ever imagined.<br />
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<u>T'Sejen, Dara (Asari) - lab assistant, shift 2</u><br />
Dara always longed for adventure, but she was never really qualified. She was smart and good with her hands, but she couldn't wrap her mind around computer innards or weapons. She spent her maiden years wandering the galaxy, looking for adventures that didn't require combat or computer skills. Finally, she signed on to a science ship as a lab assistant. There wasn't much opportunity for adventure, but at least she got to travel. When she heard about a mission into unknown space, she knew she had to apply. <br />
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<u>Daube, Laspa (Asari) - lab assistant 2, shift 2</u><br />
Laspa remembers loving her father, but the details are gone. Laspa's mother left her father, a turian woman, when Laspa was only 23. Although her mother never said as much, Laspa grew to realize that she had left because the turian was growing old and losing her beauty. Laspa's mother had many lovers and several bondmates, always leaving as their beauty faded. Swearing that this would never happen to her, she studied biochemistry, and after college she got a job with a cosmetics company. She excelled at lab work, and after a few years, she was assigned to lead a team in developing a DIY tattoo removal kit. The project went smoothly. During the final tests, the marketing department decided that the odor of one of the creams was unpleasant and told the lab to add a scent. Laspa was concerned that the perfume they wanted to use would react unpredictably with some of the chemicals in the cream. Her superiors thanked her for bringing the issue to their attention, but stated that Laspa's skills would be wasted on redoing the tests. They would have someone else do it. She started a new project, and didn't think about the tattoo remover until she saw the recall notice saying that the cream could react with certain tattoo pigments to cause severe burns. When she looked over the product tests to see if there had been any sign of this possibility, she was shocked to discover that there had been no further tests after adding the perfume. Before she could bring the lack of testing to the authorities, she realized that there was no record of her communication about the potential risks. Her superiors had set her up to take the fall, and there was nothing she could do about it except copy as much data as possible before being escorted out. With this black mark on her record, the lab assistant position on the Menae in Full was the best job she could get. The mission would also put her out of reach of her former bosses while she did her best to comb through the data she had stolen with the limited hacking skills she had picked up from her more computer-savvy colleagues. <br />
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Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-9865573998462449202016-10-03T11:43:00.003-07:002016-10-03T11:43:54.362-07:00Mass Effect: 2166 political summary by species<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">Humans: Recently granted an embassy at the Citadel at the objection of the Batarian Hegemony, among other governments. The Earth Systems Alliance has heavily invested in the survey mission as a sign of their desire to participate in the Citadel government, alongside curiosity about the wider galaxy.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Batarians: Deep-seated, often-violent opposition to recent Human expansion into the Attican Traverse has led to intermittent conflict featuring slaver raids, terrorist attacks, etc. against some human colonies. The Batarian Hegemony denies support of these attacks but is suspected to be bankrolling at least some of them. Illegal squatter colonies have been determined to exist on the fringes of this sector, in defiance of Council decisions to hold off granting colonization permits pending resolution of intersperses disputes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Council Species (Asari, Salarians, Turians): Having established large, stable governments for centuries, these species seek to know more about less-known star clusters for long-term planning of mining or colonization efforts. Records of ship disappearances in this part of space exist in the histories of all three council species - particularly for the Asari, whose home star-cluster is relatively close by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Krogan: Demilitarized after a war 1500 years ago, the Krogan were infected with the Genophage, a Salarian-designed, Turian-deployed virus that causes 99.9% of all births to be stillborn. In the intervening time, Krogan society has effectively broken down. Young males do their best to get off-world and find work as mercenaries. Krogan encountered this far out of Citadel space have likely regressed to barbarism due to centuries of isolation, although there might be populations not infected with the Genophage. If such populations exist, they could be a major threat to galactic stability. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hanar: Client relationship with Drell firmly established for decades. Drell are called up to serve the Hanar Illuminate under "the Compact," as recompense for their rescue from ecological catastrophe on the Drell homeworld of Rakhana. Hanar and Drell alike have a small stake in the survey mission to find more ocean and desert worlds for colonization, respectively. In particular the Drell are interested in "elbow room" to re-grow their population, as it currently measures less than 200,000. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quarians: An entirely space-faring species. Efforts are split between spacebourne survival, finding new planets to colonize, or organizing to take back their homeworld of Rannoch. Exploratory elements of their Migrant Fleet might be encountered during the mission. They should be treated with courtesy, as they might have valuable information to share. Elements of the Quarian Migrant Fleet have also been rumored to perform unorthodox, if not illegal, research in deep space. </span></div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-78498189469082718562016-09-28T15:02:00.000-07:002016-09-29T12:21:53.513-07:00Naganubhratra (Space Marine Chapter)I'm not super-duper into 40k. I've played some of the PC games and own a few of the <i>Fantasy Flight Games</i> RPGs (haven't tried them yet though). But the universe is an interesting exercise in over-the-top dystopian ridiculousness. So sometimes I get a cute idea for it.<br /><br />Please, do not be offended by any of the following butchery of Sanskrit or the totally awesome history and culture of the Indian subcontinent.<br />
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<b>Naganubhratra</b> = "The younger brothers of Nagas" (Sanskrit) </div>
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<li>Salamander successor chapter = Deep blue skin color, indigo to midnight blue. Intermediate shade between Vulkan and popular depictions of Krishna. </li>
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<li>If this rubs your canon the wrong way, make them an Ultramarine sucessor chapter, like most everyone else canonically. </li>
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<li>3rd eye symbol on helmet with attached Auspex. <ul>
<li>IR sensor for most battle-brothers.</li>
<li>Miniaturized psychic hood for the Chief Librarian/
Rajayogi.</li>
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</li>
<li>Untouchables on homeworld are used as spare parts supplies for servitors and similar cybernetic constructs. GRIMDARK! </li>
<li>Becoming a Space Marine, having psychic powers manifest, or being interred in a Dreadnought counts as a "reincarnation" on the Dharmic wheel, with subsequent birth/childhood-related ceremonies, including renaming. The previous name is kept as what we would call a middle name, sort of like being named for a deceased grandparent. </li>
<li>See Emperor as somewhere in between Vishnu and Shiva. Local permutation of the Imperial Cult tolerated but monitored by Ecclesiarchy for signs of polytheism or pantheism. </li>
<li>Battle-brothers are considered to be "Kshatriyas" except for Chaplains/Psykers, who are "Brahmin."</li>
<li>Doctrine = Guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, exotic weapon mastery, tropical environments. <ul>
<li>Orbital insertion through Drop Pods (if carrying logistical supplies to pro-Imperium resistance groups) or heavy-duty Grav Chutes.</li>
<li>Armor on Assault Marines and Veteran squads has retractable blades for close combat. Katars! Katars on the Knees! Katars on the elbows! Katars on the feet! HOOYAH! </li>
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<li>Wargear: Swords, Round Shields, Maces, Daggers</li>
<li>Devastator squads are for those who are concerned about their purity, and thus disdain shorter-ranged Melta Weapons. </li>
<li>Similarly, Terminators eschew close combat, due to their enlightened state achieved after centuries of conflict, training, and meditation. The exception would be those armed with Polearms, typically Power Spears, which allow some distance from the touch of the impure. </li>
<li>In contrast, Scout training features a greater emphasis on close combat - both stealth kills and a wild, leaping style of dueling with peculiar weapons. (Urumi swords are the most insane real weapon ever. Seriously. Watch an Urumi demonstration on YouTube.)</li>
<li>Archery training is frequent for Naganubhratra, and members of this chapter can kill mighty beasts with just a bow and arrow (albeit using bows large enough for a Space Marine). </li>
<li>Parade armor is half deep saffron, half green, split diagonally from left pauldron to right hip (like a sash), leaving the helmet saffron and legs green. </li>
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<li>Battle-brothers deemed more pure (particularly devastators and terminators) are allowed to add increasing amounts of white trim to their wargear.</li>
<li>Scouts and Assault Marines usually incorporate various shades of their official colors into camouflage patterns, particularly stripes. (Because Tigers, that's why!)</li>
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Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-63637076330811363382016-09-28T14:30:00.001-07:002016-09-28T14:30:09.291-07:00Menae in Full crew, part 1: Away Team 1These characters were actually the PCs in the game I briefly ran in this setting, with some notes/changes to protect the innocent.<br />
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Gender, species, and class are in parentheses. Job before slash is role aboard ship. Job after slash is role in the field.<br />
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Abubakr Basso (Male Human Soldier) - Technician/Security Detail<br />
West African son of a firearms manufacturer. Disillusioned by father running guns to both sides in gang warfare in Lagos Megapolis; joined African Union forces<br />
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Vasiri T'Nalae (Asari Pure Biotic) - Psychologist/1st Contact Specialist.<br />
Xenopsychologist working for Asari protocol/PR firm. Signed on for expedition for the chance of being the first Asari in decades to meet a new intelligent species. A little clumsy; not the best in a firefight.<br />
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Gatatog Nox (Male Krogan Battlemaster) - Cargo manager/Close-combat specialist.<br />
The only Krogan on the crew (which is how he likes it), Nox is something of a braggart or storyteller. Enjoys trying (or failing) to convince younger, more naive crew members of his warrior exploits. Close with Joram Actus, one of the chefs (who also has signs of a rough past).<br />
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Tasia Saressian (Female Turian Sentinel) - Field engineer/Security Technician.<br />
Boxing enthusiast. Sparring with Nox is the highlight of her week. A fairly uncomplicated woman.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">Erinle Bardati Thyrecko Hermon Likoat Yethrin*</span> "Mouth" (Male Salarian Scientist) - Computer programmer/Medic<br />
Sarcastically nicknamed "Mouth" for his taciturn nature. Programmer specializing in self-coding systems and genetic databases. Definitely hiding something from everyone aboard except Marice Kevari, the Gunnery Chief. Spends most of his time programming or drinking.<br />
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*Salarians have multi-part names indicating their (homeworld, nation, city, district, clan name, and given name). Due to their social-photographic memories, multi-part names (and hundreds of relatives) are no problem for them to recall.<br />
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<u>Away Team 1</u>'s job is to perform in-person survey of planetary, asteroid, or comet surfaces and interiors once preliminary checks have been performed by probes. This is especially important in the case of life signs, artificial structures, etc. They enter by atmospheric shuttle, wearing appropriate suits or gear. Both weapons and basic survey instruments are carried. If Away Team 1 gives the "All Clear," Away Team 2 (next blog entry) will drop in 2nd shuttle with the heavier shuttle carrying more advanced scientific equipment. Team 1 then provides site security and scientific/technical assistance to Team 2 until surface work is completed or the former is no longer needed.<br />
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In case of shipboard emergencies or combat, Away Team 1 acts under the direct authority of the Captain or the Executive Officer to act as a boarding, anti-boarding, or search-and-rescue squad.*<br />
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*As a side note, a bit of a hole in the <i>Mass Effect</i> universe regards what sorts of weapons are used aboard spacecraft and space stations? Typical firearms in <i>M.E.</i> games are basically railguns and would punch gobs of holes in things that need to be sealed against vacuum? Anti-boarding weapons would need to be able to stop someone in an armored spacesuit without blowing a hole in the hull. Perhaps something like a giant taser that shorts out a suit's electronics?<br />
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<u>In another game</u><br />
Since these characters were originally PCs, they should not steal the show from your PCs. Given the diversity in species and backgrounds of Away Team 1, it is <i>highly </i>unlikely that they are part of a regular military unit. Options:<br />
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<li>Secondary away team that cleans up and holds ground after your players. </li>
<li>The other Fire Team in your ship's Drop Squad. </li>
<li>A mercenary or pirate group</li>
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Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763085831641922059.post-9377242001504251122016-09-27T10:24:00.001-07:002016-09-27T10:24:23.042-07:00Onion HeadlinesSince college, I have applied for <i>hundreds </i>job postings. Being of a liberal arts bent, I've been rejected for the vast majority of those. Sometimes, the applications are surprisingly fun, like when I had written auditions for <i>The Onion</i>:<br />
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These were meant to be headlines for the screen crawl at the <i>Onion News Network</i>'s screen.<br />
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Roomba sues for restraining order against dachshund.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Infant crushes bottle against head, frat boys call it “awesome”.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Psychic bully invents telekinetic wedgie.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Alabama pastor modifies station wagon to run on faith; three miles per prayer.</div>
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Due to AIDS contamination risk, Red Cross no longer accepting blood from Black people.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Evangelical campaign strategist: “sweet Jesus, we're totally boned”.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> White House official's new tell-all book: Bush actually “not that bad”.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Google takes over country, replaces all laws with “don't be evil”.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Civil War reenactors loot, pillage after being compared to Dungeons and Dragons players.<br clear="none" /><br clear="none" /> Israel, Palestinians settle disputes using rock, paper, scissors.</div>
Something of a lugnut. http://www.blogger.com/profile/06569059522006643177noreply@blogger.com0