Chili

As 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.
Of course, being chili, I don't really make it from memory - I make it up as I go along, with whatever is taking up space in the fridge/pantry/freezer.

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.

Eggplant, mushrooms, and cauliflower (especially the latter) seem to be very in 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 be meat. Particularly when roasted, these three foods develop a wonderful texture, caramelization, and savory-sweet flavor.

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.

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 sofrito, mirepoix, or włoszczyzna (never, ever ask me how to pronounce the latter) without all the work of sauteing and sweating over the stove-top.

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.

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.

I really need to make this again...

A society of letters/Respublica Literaria

Sometimes 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 Diplomacy by postcard. I'm sure people in earlier days did similar things through the post or telegram. 

But what if there were games that were meant 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?

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. 

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 Respublica Literaria (Republic of Letters). 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. 

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. 

Alternatively, letter-writing in the classroom 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. 

I'll put down more about letter-writing in RPG settings in another blog entry. 

Humanzees

I've referenced the podcast Ken & Robin Talk About Stuff  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.

Most recently, I listened with much pleasure to Episode 163, in which they discuss the history and stories surrounding attempts to create Humanzees - Human/Chimpanzee hybrids. These attempts were actually 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.

Darkest Dungeon

I really have no idea why I put off buying Darkest Dungeon, nor why I've put off updating this blog. The answer for both is probably the same - I was busy with class, replaying Medieval II: Total War, and trying out Endless Legend. 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.

Back to the original topic. In an earlier 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.

Darkest Dungeon'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).

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!

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.

My fantasy idea of Darkest Dungeon II 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.

Valentine's day post - a superior salad dressing

If 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.

You need

• A nearly empty jar/bottle of mustard (preferably a good mustard)
• Tablespoon of olive oil (extra-virgin, duh!)
• Tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (buy the real thing from Modena)

1. Take the top off your mustard bottle or jar
2. Add the oil and vinegar
3. Put the top back on, closing it tightly
4. Shake the daylights out of the bottle
5. Squirt delicious vinaigrette onto the salad in front of you and your sweetie. 

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)

Nyambe

http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/

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.

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.


*http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/see-p-xx-the-f20-era/

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. 

In Nyambe, oral histories go back to the doorstep of creation, but knowledge of the ancient ruins doesn't make them any less deadly. 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.


Human Ethnicities

• Azzazza = Punt/Nubia
• Hutali = Buganda?
• Marak'ka = ?
• Mbanta = Dogon
• NaBula = Songhai
• Shombe = Masai
• Tisambe = Dahomey
• Tembu = Shona
• Tuslan = KhoiSan
• Xon'mo = Yoruba?
• Zamara = Azande
• Nghoi = Mbuti

Demihumans

• Agogwe = Halflings adapted for burrowing with large badger claws. They take their names from dangerous beasts or monsters with supernatural abilities. 
• Kitunusi = Gnomes comfortable with darkness & bureaucracy. Live in partially-submerged cities. Like other gnomes, they're gifted at magic. 
• Ngoloko = Half-Orcs constantly tempted by dark magic. Hairier than normal Orc-kin. 
• 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.  
• Utucheckulu = Dwarves adapted for volcanic, hilly terrain. Ritualistic heart-eating and similarly-disturbing practices.
• Wakyambi = Arboreal Elves with tails; fond of benign meddling and gift-giving.  

New Classes: 

• Gamba = Fighter, with less armor, more dodging and grit.
• Mchawi = Dark wizards, can't be good, a penchant for necromancy and other suspect magic.
• N'anga = Cleric that talks to spirits: natural, ancestral, celestial, fiendish, geographic, etc.
• Nanala = Rogue, with less gimmickry, more dirty fighting.
• Ngoma = Bard with Divine magic. Drummer & dancer. See Unearthed Arcana. 
• Sei = Sorceror, with more overt Draconic power (bonus spells and breath weapons).
• Other classes are less well known, such as the Engolo wrestlers (Monks). 

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. 

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. 

Menae in Full: ship's Officers

Captain: Victricia Talorian (female Turian)
Executive Officer: Jorn Dath'hak (male Batarian)
Yeoman: Zhara T'Deryn (Asari)
Quartermaster: Adnan Harismani (male Human)
Chief Medical Officer: Valia Elendris (Asari)
Navigator/Gunner*: Marice Kevari (female Drell)
Shuttle Pilot: Charles Redwolf (male human)

*Positions merged due to smaller ship's complement and non-military function.

Talorian, Victricia (female Turian) - Captain 
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).

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.

Dath'hak, Jorn (male Batarian) - Executive Officer

• Older man, career military.
• Boastful of his past exploits.
• Doesn't interact much with other Batarians aboard.

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.

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 long 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.

T'Daryn, Zhara (Asari) - Yeoman

• Devoted to Captain Talorian (business relationship)
• Proudly half-Turian
• Efficient and enthusiastic

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.

Harismani, Adnan (male human) - Quartermaster

• Spindly, pale
• From Luna
• Precise, possibly OCD

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. 

Being quartermaster in the Mass Effect 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!
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. 

Elendris, Valia (Asari) - Chief Medical Officer

• Approaching matron stage
• Dislikes formality
• Takes notes after some conversations
• (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. 

Kevari, Marice (female Drell) - Gunner/Navigator

• Headstrong
• Fiercely loyal
• Unsubtle
• Combative

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.

Charles Redwolf (Male Human) - Shuttle Pilot

• Canadian Ojibwe, former RCMP
• Spent some time as security at Prothean research site on Mars. Basic familiarity with the data-systems there. 
• Enjoys telling stories from his law-enforcement career