OOC chat thread (Participants only pls)

[Shutter]

No, they never inflicted class loads like that on us when I went to school...we always had 50 minute classes, sometimes 90 minutes...9am-6pm....yikes.....Good luck.

Chalice: Conrats to you and your family on the addition of another little pooper.

Dave: Good lord man, how you juggle all this is beyond me...Fun day so far:)

Thanos: Many pages ago you mentioned what server you play CoH on, I always played on Guardian, but as of yesterday I've bailed in favor of World o' Warcraft....Kheldians just weren't new or fun enough to keep me around I'm affraid.

Everyone else.....<waves>

[Pygysys]

Each block of lessons/lectures/pracs what have you goes for 50 minutes, thereby leaving us with 10 minutes to get to the next class. Normally you'll have a chunk of lectures or a prac but somewhere in between you get a break though it's never the same time. This time around though, Fridays have no breaks. I guess they're factoring in the breaks that will occur during the 5 hour prac. Essentially we'll probably have 30 minutes here and 30 minutes there as we wait for samples to incubate or pcr's to run and the like...

Mondays and Thursdays are pretty bad too... 5 hour chunks without breaks and then a 3 hour and a 2 hour break respectively before a final lecture at 4pm.

I'm going to have to take 'I don't like Mondays' and rework it for myself.

[LynMars]

oh yeah, World of Warcraft...and OMG, the roomies found "Fragglerock" dvds...

[chalice]

I used to work with a guy nicknamed 'Fraggle'...


...also, is it just me, or does Drax seem to be a chick magnet...?

[Tamarind]

Verily, he will soon have his own fan-club :cool:

Also, the chick-magnet thing reminded me of an old comic strip...think you'll like ;)
http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=020412

[Shutter]

Happy Lucifer post Pygysys!

[chalice]

Go, girl!

[Pygysys]

Thanks Shutter! Of course I had to kiss it goodbye with this post, but that's okay.

It's kind of fitting my Lucifer post coincided with Fridays are Hell postings.

[chalice]

And Valentine's Day. I loathe Valentine's Day...just an excuse for expensive cards...and chocolates...and flowers...

[LynMars]

It's Valentine's Day? >.>

Heh. Anyway, Shutter, what WoW server do you play on, and what's your screen name, anyway?

[Shutter]

Haven't made it to the server stage of things yet....looking at several server options. I suspect that Shutter will be played on Shadowsong with you and your cohorts. My fiancee will be joining me, two of her cousins are playing on two other servers, and a guy who works in my lab plays on yet another server, so, we're not sure where our duo-inclined characters will end up. This is assuming I get the bloody game to load....stupid installation...grumble...grumble...

[LynMars]

Tried out the Fairyland open beta with a bunch of the GG crew. Cute as all heck; a leetle clunky and buggy, but that's what beta's are for, right? :)

[Thanos]

I play on Infinity, but I haven't been playing a lot lately. I have a fire/stone Tanker 17 Magma Kraken, a Fire/Ice Blaster 17 All Fired Up, and a Empathy/Pschy Defender 25 Ms Paragon. Those are my main characters. But I hit a brick wall at 25th level. It takes 2.5 times my previous total of XP to get to 26th...which is just gay....so I am not sure where to do.

Anyways.....

[Icebird]

I'm not sure exactly what Eric is asking about- going to Amber, yes he's been there recently, but not to tell anyone about the keep, or waiting around?

I've never much liked games like WoW, but that's just me. I prefer slower, thinking games, often turn based.

[LynMars]

I think they don't want you to talk about the waiting around afterwards; tell them about the Keep, of course, but keep on the downlow who were with and what you were doing afterwards, when you go back to Amber (or just meet anyone else from Amber, really).

[Wired*Nun]

He's not asking about anything, but rather, is letting Arrotel answer Asmundson's question, rather than trying to answer it for him...that's all.

[Shutter]

I've never much liked games like WoW, but that's just me. I prefer slower, thinking games, often turn based.

Oooh, polite putdown #4 Nicely done!

If I were looking for something to make me think video games wouldn't be my first stop.

[Icebird]

To quote Merlin, reflection clarifies. I missed the whole Asmundson steps through thing. I really shouldn't try and post early in the morning... I tend to miss things.

[chalice]

Meanwhile, is Gray having any luck with Roland's Trump?

[Shutter]

Uh-oh...think I missed something...how'd Gray find out Siodmak is dead?

[chalice]

Arrotelk said that Benedict had lobbed Siodmak's head at Larsus. So she certainly hopes he's dead ;)

[chalice]

No he didn't - I'm going mad. Off to edit - thanks, Shutter.

[Shutter]

:) Happy to help

[chalice]

The threads have picked up such a pace that I'm having a hard time keeping things straight - I think the small edit I just made restored order to Gray's small part of the multi-verse, though:)

[Shutter]

I find it really helpful when I get swamped and don't have time to read the other threads....When I see what I've done it sometimes highlights metagaming I would have been guilty of.

[Wired*Nun]

Hey, we can all go private...but that wouldn't be much fun for most of you...

[Shutter]

Agreed, much more fun to read what everyone is up to. As long as I post after I've had my coffee I'm usualy ok.....usualy.

[Icebird]

I try to post in my own thread before I read the other ones, just to make it easier on myself. I don't drink coffee, but I do know the feeling (as evidenced by my recent mistakes of the same nature).

[Wired*Nun]

I'm kind of low-energy this evening, so I'm going to take it off from Amber. See everyone tomorrow, probably.

[Tamarind]

It's good to recharge the batteries once in a while - see you tomorrow :)

[Wired*Nun]

I may be recharging for longer than you think, just to give everyone a heads-up. Some other things are going on right now which are making it difficult to put any energy into the game. I may be able to do a little or you may see me gone for a few days. I'll keep you posted in any case, I won't abandon you guys.

[Icebird]

It's good to have a change of pace in your life every now and then, so go ahead and do whatever you need/want to.

Yesterday was the worst day I've had in a very long while. I got two days supension for something I didn't even do, and they know (and have said) that I didn't do it!

[Wired*Nun]

Sometime I should print in full the sad story of Robert Boone, the student who disrupted a class and ran through the halls, and was seen and positively identified by three teachers at my son's school - despite not actually existing (my son Chad was misidentified as this phantom disruptor, then exonerated when a fourth teacher testified that he was in his class the whole time). Gives you a lot of faith in both the school and the criminal justice system, eh?

On a further note, along with (in conjuction with?) the aforesaid energy issues, they are sending me back to Germany to help teach a course next week, so I'm jamming on that right now. Whee! I may or may not get on next week.

And, one final thing. Someone pointed out that some folks seem to be more or less drifting along - if anyone feels I need to unstick them, or have frustrated their aims, or are confused about their character's role in things, or thinks they are being shortchanged, please let me know in GM comms, let me know what you want. The PCs may be (should be sometimes) frustrated but the players shouldn't.

[Tamarind]

Sorry for my absence over the last couple of days - connection issues :(

Seem to be sorted now though *looks around for some wood-like stuff to touch for luck...*

[Wired*Nun]

On briefly - can't stay on too long so as not to look non-industrious here at work.

[LynMars]

"...Lastly, I have lost something that I need to obtain again. It should not be a hard matter to rectify I just need to walk in shadow for a time to remind creation where it belongs."

...I have this sneaking suspicion Dave isn't going to make it quite that easy. http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/smilies/smiley%20-%20wink.gif

[Shutter]

I don't know...I'd say it should be just about that easy. I'm not a big rules lawyer at heart, but to a certain extent we did all make certain choices in character creation based on the rules. To have spent Xpoints on something with the understanding that you would not be able to lose it for long, and then to have to wade through hell to find it again...Well, that could be seen as poor form. Given what Benedict said to Kat about her men, I would guess that that's about where Dave stands as well. It's also very much canon to have it that way....ok...no more ramble...back to physics.

[LynMars]

Yes, but still, one should never just assume, I think. And there should be at least some fun in getting them back. But you are right, canon supports the simple and quick view. I don't think I ever made a PC lose something in my game unless it was permanent...then I usually did something nice back, though, like replaced it with something else spiffy, especially if all the RP involved was good and I'd really given them a rough time of things.

[Thanos]

I think getting out from underneath Fiona's thumb and then most likely the series of interviews that will happen following that (and the dreaded confrontation with Flora) which will be the hardest part. Hell, dealing with Flora should be rewarded with a spikard IMHO ;-)


EDIT
On second thought, seeing as Heldrik is not a sorcerer, perhaps a primal power of his own....no no...hell that would be way to much of a headache...scrathc that, with power comes responsibility and Heldrik hasn't been doing exactly well of late with the limited responsibility he has been taking on :-P. Just having nice rooms in Amber is good enough!

[Wired*Nun]

I did somewhere point out that if a person of Power acquired your item, they can hold on to it indefinitely, if they expend about the same amount of effort you expend to get it back...

[chalice]

Never seen that done before. Interesting. How does that work 'mechanics-wise'?

Say, I have paid 8pts for a personal item and I leave it in someone's house - if they have 8pts to spend, they can keep the item, making it part of their pesonal reality instead?

If so, and I have advancement points of my own, can I 'bid' or spend them to recover the item?

Have to say that while this is an interesting way of doing things, I feel it rather devalues the idea of personal items.

[TreyKincaide]

I had an idea how it could be resolved mechanics-wise without devaluing the points spent on personal items and staying true to spirit of the game (i.e. conflict = plot which is good.)

In contention over Shadows using Advanced Pattern, or Hellriding, or what have you it falls to Psyche to determine the victor as per Dave's House Rules. (Particularly, anything messing around with AP). When it comes to Real Item possession and theft I would suggest that it comes down to a contest of Pysche as the individual walks to regain his belonging(s) that are in the possession of other intiates of Power. The person that spent points on the Item gets a bonus to his Psyche equal to the cost of the item or some multiplier thereof unless the item is destroyed at which point they recieve those points back at GM discretion.

Don't know if that helps, but there's my two cents. Needed distraction from the daily grind of class. ;)

I'm sure whatever Dave decides will be fair.

[chalice]

Mm, I quite like that idea. I think I would give Advanced Powers an advantage over Basic ones in such a contest too - so someone with Advanced Pattern would have the edge over someone with Basic Pattern, or any kind of Logrus - an AP initiate can simply do things to and with Reality that non-/lesser initiates cannot.

[I did go look in the Rules/Guidelines section, but couldn't find the warning that items can be taken away like this - can someone point me at the right bit? Must be having one of those thick evenings.]

We had a nasty incident in The Last Enemy campaign where Bleys' estranged son threw his father's Patternblade into the Abyss after Bleys died - *BIG* Bang:eek:

[Tamarind]

I did somewhere point out that if a person of Power acquired your item, they can hold on to it indefinitely, if they expend about the same amount of effort you expend to get it back...

Interesting. This does seem to put a significant dampener on items, which are a fairly expensive investment of points in many cases - a pattern blade is quoted as circa 20pts in House Rules, which is more than the cost of say, Sorcery. To remove or suppress such a significant portion of a character's makeup is a serious blow - and one that I don't see a parallel for in other areas where points can be invested (eg stats or powers)...from a game balance perspective I think this is a point that is definitely worth keeping in mind :worry:

[Shutter]

Intriguing business. I guess I must not have read the rules closely enough, never noticed this. Makes sense, but makes me feel even worse about hijacking Heldrik's sword and then losing it. Eep.

[LynMars]

Rules also say--and it is mentioned in the book rules, by the way, that items can be taken or lost--that the GM can replace the lost item with something else of comparable value if the character never gets the items back (stolen, destroyed, transformed into a sentient being in it's own right, etc). Losing an item for a time, and eventually retrieving it, shouldn't be too big a deal, and can make for interesting RP. If the item is permanently removed, then it's usually replaced with another item, or Power, etc.

[chalice]

I suppose I always prefer 'Zelazny canon' to 'Amber DRPG rulebook canon' - and think of the ultimate 'regaining personal item' example as being Corwin reclaiming Grayswandir in Shadow. Hard to believe that Eric wouldn't have held onto that blade if he could have - but Corwin doesn't break a sweat getting it back. I'm a much bigger fan of the books than I am am of the DRPG:nod:

I also wonder if there shouldn't be some kind of proviso along the lines that the more points you spend on a personal item, the stronger its link to you (since it is a bigger 'part' of your personal reality).

I've seen a similar situation to Heldrik's handled in a way I rather liked during an Ambercon game - someone took a PC's 'paid for' sword. The PC walked for her item in Shadow, Corwin-fashion...and found it. The other guy found he was left with a Shadow of the actual item - its reality had moved to be with the owner. The Shadow left behind had physical reality, but not the special qualities of the item.

[Thanos]

My ST in South Dakota (yeah, went to college there) did something similar to what Chalice Describes, but the left over item was still a hefty powerful object as long as it stayed in the shadow it was in, it functioned like it would have. When it was taken out of that specific shadow it lost some of its power and kept loosing power the farther it was away until it was a normal object of exceptional crafting. Being that it was a spell storing/casting, mind blocking, 20pt ring that an elder gave to PC/NPC's to make them worth while to work with, having even the non-real one to defend ones own personal shadow would be very cool ;-)

[LynMars]

In canon, Merlin traded Frakir, a part of his "personal points" it could be argued, for a Spikard. Not exactly even, I think, but hey. Later stories, she still hasn't gotten back to Merle, either, though she tried to find ways to get to him.
I prefer the books versus the RPG too (as sometimes I look at something in there and wonder what they were smoking when they thought it up), but they're pretty much the rules we've got for now, with tweaks by the GM as he sees fit. Not easy taking an established fantasy story and turning it into a game 20-some odd years after the fact, I'd imagine. So a lot of times, the rules aren't going to seem to mesh too well. But RPG's have always pretty much been about taking what rules don't work for you and altering them to fit the story you want to tell.

It'll even out in the end, and I like to think Dave has an idea of a plan and knows what he's doing to get us there. ;)

[chalice]

It'll even out in the end, and I like to think Dave has an idea of a plan and knows what he's doing to get us there. ;)

Kiss-ass!;)

Seriously, I think we all think that. But you raised an interesting point, and we've been discussing it.

[LynMars]

who, me? Nevar!

Yeah, this is all my fault. :D Fun topic of debate though.

[Wired*Nun]

Interesting. This does seem to put a significant dampener on items, which are a fairly expensive investment of points in many cases - a pattern blade is quoted as circa 20pts in House Rules, which is more than the cost of say, Sorcery. To remove or suppress such a significant portion of a character's makeup is a serious blow - and one that I don't see a parallel for in other areas where points can be invested (eg stats or powers)...from a game balance perspective I think this is a point that is definitely worth keeping in mind :worry:

This is one reason I view things this way - I don't want characters "playing their items" instead of their characters.

I also have trouble with the concept that someone actively holding on to an item could not inhibit its recovery. Take an extreme example - Dworkin takes Heldrik's Patternblade and says, "I think I'll carry this for a while." For all sorts of obvious reasons not even having to do with GM desire, Heldrik won't be getting it back as long as Dworkin is paying attention.

Now, Dworkin's mind does a flip-flop and he wakes up one day having more or less forgotten about the blade, interested in other things. He goes off and leaves it in his room. Heldrik actively tries to get it back at some point where Dworkin isn't deliberately trying to hold on to it and he does so in short order.

So again, it''s not that different from any other resisted activity - I can kill Benedict with a sword if I actually caught him dead asleep and unaware - because he isn't resisting my attempt.

The upshot of all of this is that as long as Heldrik keeps trying, he will eventually get it back. This doesn't mean necessarily that simple exertion will do it, any more than any other resisted activity. If, as in the above example, Dworkin were to carry the thing around, he could hang on to it with some of his vast psyche, and still operate more or less normally, no matter how long and hard Heldrik tried. The trick on Heldrik's part in this case is going to be consistently and repeatedly trying to get it back, until he happens upon, or creates the opportunity for, a vulnerable moment.

Furthermore, something like Luke's crystal cave - which represents a big game expenditure of points considering it seemed to be impervious to about everything as well as the stone itself having useful properties - could block retrieval of an item, but would be reduced in its effectiveness for whatever purposes by that many points - essentially, that much drain on its efficacy - modified by GM views of things like advance powers, proximity, etc. So, if Luke's cave represents a 40 point investment, and Heldrik's sword represents 20, the Cave would have a 20 point advantage, and Heldrik would have to generate 20 points of Psyche advantage at that location to recover it.

I know there is lots of GM subjectivity here, but I do have a pretty good guesstimator inside me that (I think) fairly and objectively determines success. Taking this game as an example, I have only ever bent the rules in two distinct directions: 1) towards player survival or success, if I think the effort has been sufficient, or 2) when necessary for plotlines I absolutely feel I must forward -- and the former more often than the latter.

I also generally attribute a small measure of good stuff to those not currently in possession of their signature items, if it's any consolation.

I am also going to do some character advancement starting now through the end of current scenes. What this means is that those PCs currently in safe locations and more or less out of the current dangerous action (Heldrik, Kat, Raevyn, Rebis, and Arrotel) and for the other three, either when they are similarly in relative safety and calm, or in the case of Gray, when chalice tells me she wants to take that IC time-out (still not sure whether she is going to push to get involved at the Keep or not).

Therefore, please make me a new wish-list in your GM comms if this applies to you.

[Shutter]

I'm back from the weekend. Sorry that I didn't give any warning I'd be disappearing soon. This exam I'm preparing for has been chipping away steadily at my focus.

[Shutter]

Gadzooks that's a lot of us online right now.

Edit:I bet they don't say gadzooks in Australia or England do they?

2nd Edit:Ok, they don't really say it here either...

[Wired*Nun]

Only in comic books and Amber PBP games.

[chalice]

No. We say "Gosh!"

[Wired*Nun]

I'm burning out. Later, all, it's been fun.

[Pygysys]

I have heard Gadzooks used once and it took those in the near vicinity by surprise. It's a known word but not used.

[Icebird]

Oops, that was a typo about begging, it was supposed to be the beggining. It just doesn't fit with the rest of it... I'll edit it now and then reply.

[Wired*Nun]

I know it was a typo but it was too good to pass up...please just let it be a slip of his tongue, please please!

[chalice]

It was more fun when he was begging...

[Icebird]

Ok, I'll change it back. And, he'll make it fit too (in the next post)!

Muahahaha!

[Wired*Nun]

I've lost the Landon thread - the URL is http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4100&page=1&pp=25

but it won't show in the page. I'm trying to get it fixed, but until then, it's viewable but I can't post in it.

[Wired*Nun]

All fixed, something the admins did that cause an error. In any case, we're back on track. Roland's thread is in the private forum for now.

[Wired*Nun]

Oh ick. Lol.

[chalice]

Ooh, I see Benedict has his 'Last of the Mohicans' look on...

[Shutter]

Oh ick. Lol.

ok..I tried to figure it out but I have no idea what you're talking about? :)

[Wired*Nun]

That Harlequin Romance moment between Heldrik and Gray shaping up...

[chalice]

Think that might have been Gray's fault....:worry:

[chalice]

hey, I was right...but too slow!

Isn't the really 'ick' part that we might be broadcasting that moemnt over a four-way Landon-Eric-Gray-Heldrik link...?:tsk:

[Shutter]

Ok, that was my first guess...just wanted to make sure....the 200 year old guy lusting after the 17 year old.....gotta say, it kinda makes my skin crawl. But in a good-rp kind of way.

[LynMars]

I still think there's something weird about a relationship partially based on one person looking like the other's dead sig-o, but whatever works, I guess...;)

[chalice]

Not so weird in Amber maybe - since there are probably Shadows of all the PCs out there somewhere. Stands to reason that feelings might carry over if you ran into the original.

Doesn't make my skin crawl as much as either the Landon-Helena or Rebis-Salwey pre-programmed Shadow robot girl deals set up by Corwin...at least Gray and Heldrik have the prospect of a relationship between equals. Who can say the same of a relationship witha Shadow person?

[LynMars]

Not so weird in Amber maybe - since there are probably Shadows of all the PCs out there somewhere. Stands to reason that feelings might over if you ran into the original.

Doesn't make my skin crawl as much as either the Landon-Helena or Rebis-Salwey pre-programmed Shadow robot girl deals set up by Corwin...

There is that point, chalice; yay, pre-programming!

Maybe Helrick's wife was a Shadow of Grey...Still not exactly the same person, but it is a possibility I've thought of.

[chalice]

Dave, Thanos and I did agree long ago that Holly was most likely a Shadow - or at least a foreshadowing - of Gray. As long as it wasn't a foreshadowing set up by the Primal, Gray doesn't mind;)

[Wired*Nun]

Why did you say "Dave" - I knew that...In fact, it was more Heldrik's mooning that I was icking over, but her response was...perfect.

[chalice]

Oh no - punctuation hell.

I meant to say 'Dave Thanos and I' - IE the three of us - 'cos this is something I've discussed with you and Thanos - not "Dave". Absolutely no "Dave" intended:)

[Shutter]

I suspect she meant to have a comma or two in there...."Dave, Thanos, and I..."

Bah...simul-posting....

[chalice]

And anyway, technically, she's older than he is. 217 and a half! But only if you count time spent unconscious in a bizarre Jewel-matrix....

[Shutter]

And anyway, technically, she's older than he is. 217 and a half! But only if you count time spent unconscious in a bizarre Jewel-matrix....

According to my rulebook that doesn't count. :P

[chalice]

I still have this awful feeling she might have dreamed the Storybook Sequence into existence in those 200 years....

[Wired*Nun]

I still have this awful feeling she might have dreamed the Storybook Sequence into existence in those 200 years....

hehehehe...light bulb...hehehehe

[Wired*Nun]

Bedtime for bonzo, by the way. Nite soon, all.

[Tamarind]

G'night Dave :)

[LynMars]

lightbulbs and maniacal giggling...yup, I'm worried.

Night Dave!

[chalice]

Sweet dreams;)

[Shutter]

Night Boss.

[Tamarind]

Time for me to call it a night too - or in fact a morning as it just is here :)

[Wired*Nun]

Thanos - I don't think there is any need to repeat the descriptions in Chalice' thread, just go on with it yourself until you need some NPC interaction.

[LynMars]

I'm finding I can't help but giggle and roll my eyes a little at the young guard captain in Rebis and Kat's thread. Oooh boy...

[Wired*Nun]

Yes...punishment indeed...

[Wired*Nun]

Morning, everyone! Don't come over to visit today, everyone's sick. However, the Amberverse is open for business, as my homebody butt will more or less remain in this chair for a while.

[Pygysys]

Here's to a quick recovery for you and yours.

[Tamarind]

Indeed - best wishes for your recoveries from us too.

Kat - sorry for the delay in replying, been labouring under a 56k connection as we're visiting Chalice's folks. Got there in the end though :)

[Wired*Nun]

I have revised One Man, One Blade, if anyone is interested. Thanks to Amanda Heroman for a lot of good suggestions, and I hope it's a lot better now.

[Wired*Nun]

Have I missed anyone on advancement?

[LynMars]

I'll have to look at One Man, One Blade later. I like it the first time around, so the revisions should be interesting.

Um, I'm not seeing anything for Raevyn advancement-wise in my subforum, so unless I'm just blind....:paranoid:

[chalice]

Read the new One Man, One Blade, though must do so more slowly as well. I love the small addition of that small paragraph showing Benedict as big brother to Osric and Finndo, when it was 'just the three of them'. A small addition, but it gives quite another level of feeling to the whole tale - especially the end. It does that for me, anyhow.


Also, ther 'redhard cabal foreshadowing' at the end - very nice.

[Wired*Nun]

Thanks, I thought it needed a few more ties to all the other tales...

[Thanos]

Sorry for my lack of activity. I have a new job as of last week, praise God, and I had to move this weekend which has gotten me sick or close. I should have noted that here (if I did and forgot, sorry). I have to use my parents very slow dial up now or go over to my brothers place (but he isn't home a lot) to get online...at least I can be regular. However, the super abundance of posting that I may have been capable of in the past just can't happen now days. I will try to get on at least twice a day though, if at all possible.

[LynMars]

Hey, Dave, I just realized; when you shifted things over to the "Raevyn and Gerard" thread, one of the posts got missed. The last post in "Raevyn and Katarzyna" should be between posts 3 and 4 in my current thread....

[Wired*Nun]

Fixed, thanks.

[Wired*Nun]

Thanos, congrats on the new job et. al. Don't sweat the posting, the beauty of this medium is its flexibility.

[Wired*Nun]

I'm coming down with something - not sure whether I'm going to be able to post much in the next couple of days.

[chalice]

Hope you feel better soon!

[Thanos]

Yes Dave, regain your strength and get better. The job is pretty physically demanding, but I am slowely getting used to it.

[Tamarind]

Get well soon Dave

[Icebird]

Yes, best wishes from this side of the cosmos as well.

I'm going to be out of town again for a week, so I may not be on as much as usual (probably not a problem with the reduced pace we're on)

[Wired*Nun]

I moves some threads into private, just to improve the air of mystery for a while.

[TreyKincaide]

Spiff.

[chalice]

'Some' threads? Looks like the only one up for public consumption at the moment is Heldrik and Agraynel's. Or is something up with my machine? Or will this one too be going private when the boat gets to land?

[LynMars]

Well, with two players in the thread, going private would be kind of hard, I'd think. Unless Heldrik's going to shift over to a thread with Kat soon, or she's going to join you guys (she separated from Rebis now, may be going to do her thing finally). The rest of us are alone with NPC's.

Will help keep info we each know and what we don't separated better, I think; gets hard after a time to recall what you do and don't know IC with so much going on. Keep us wondering. Though I'm pretty sure Roland isn't a kitsune-shapeshifter-elf-mage now like Shutter keeps telling me when I try to wheedle a leettle info out of him...:roll:

[chalice]

Yeah, but characters have been 'alone with NPCs' before without needing privacy. I'm not complaining, just finding taking all but two players private a little overkill, perhaps.

I suppose it depends what gives one enjoyment - purely personal taste. A big part of my game enjoyment comes from reading other people's posts and adventures, not just from what I'm doing with my own character. So my personal preference is for less secrecy. In the same way, I don't much care for the 'private chat with the GM in the kitchen' or constant 'secret note passing' during face-to-face games - they are things I don't find improve the game experience for me.

Sometimes private threads really are needed though, and it's a shame that there's no way for a private thread to include more than one player - I guess that to be a feature of the board?

[LynMars]

I don't like the privacy things so much either, but that's more me being nosey. :) Amber, like Vampire, I see as a very social/political game, where secrets and info are the main currency and a good chunk of the setting. So secrecy in these games (though I'm not usually a big fan of intrigue, as I think I'm bad at it) doesn't bother me so much. Just means I have to find out the info somehow ICly.

And yeah, it's a function of the boards. Dave would have to have Admin change the settings a lot and they'd really Hate us then. And it'd kind of kill the point of having our character sheets and other really secret bits private too, I'd think.

I'm going to miss reading some of the other activities, too, but they'll likely be out to view eventually.

[chalice]

Amber, like Vampire, I see as a very social/political game, where secrets and info are the main currency and a good chunk of the setting.

[Just to be clear, here - I'm now discussing styles in general, not making any points about Sweet Voices as a game.]

Eric Wujick would certainly agree with that point - when he spoke at ACUK (back when the con was in its infancy) he asserted that an Amber player could - and should try to -'win' by hoarding info and grabbing as much GM attention as they could from their fellow players. I find both assertions pretty appalling. Since when were roleplaying games about 'winning'? I have seen Amber games run on that basis, but they have never lasted long, for the simple reason that too many people get bored in them.

Secrets are a big IC part of Amber - but so too is atmosphere. I find games where much, or most, of the play is hidden tend to lack a consistent atmosphere, since the GM is essentially being asked to run a whole bunch of individual games.

In our 'The Last Enemy' game, it's awfully rare now for anyone to hide what they are doing from other players, though they may IC be out of sight and keeping secrets. We just find it more entertaining that way (and we're all terrible show-offs, too!) Yes, you have to make the effort to keep clear what you do and don't know IC, but errors are rare, and almost always picked up at once (or pointed out in a friendly manner).

I'd even say that under certain rare circumstances it is OK to use knowledge your character doesn't have to inform your character's actions - those circumstances being, if it will improve someone else's game, for example, by providing their character with an opportunity to do something they want to do. Or if it will stop you spoling someone else's game. This has to be used very sparingly indeed, but I don't have any objection to it now and again.

That wasn't a very coherent explanation, so let me use an actual example from a game I played in several years ago. My character was taking part in a wager with Julian - essentially that he could not 'catch' her for a certain period of time if she had a head start of half an hour in Arden. This wasn't a life or death situation (and she never had a hope in hell of winning the bet;) ), but it was a nice dramatic bit, and her self-esteem was highly engaged. It was essentially just a bit of pure theatre for that character and an NPC.

Another player had his character make attempts to force a Trump call on her until she was first distracted and then exhausted, and could make no decent showing at all in her encounter with Julian. It truned into a non-event. When the GM called him for spoiling the scene, his defence was 'how was he to know what Morgan was doing? He was in a different Shadow, and he wanted to assess the timeflow by checking in with his sister in Amber'. We felt that it would have been 'better form' for him to use his player knowledge that Morgan was doing something important to her, and that distracting her would ruin it, and choose to Trump someone else. And these days, I'm afraid I would use my OOC knowledge of who was making the call to accept it and tell the other character to lay off rather than exhaust my character fighting it off. The deciding factor being - would using the knowledge hurt the game and its integrity and atmosphere?

Always a hard call to make.

[LynMars]

Hurrah, friendly debate http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/smilies/smiley%20-%20happy.gif

I'll agree that RP is never about winning, it's about telling a story cooperatively, that point any even half decent gamer should know and agree with. I can't stand players with a "me/us versus the GM and/or other players" mentality. I blame the potential uberness of the ADRPG rules and that kind of must-win mentality in Wujcik on his time working with Palladium. The IC feeling of winning, however, is very different from the OOC cooperative storytelling. I've been in games where both no secrets were kept OOC, and where every five minutes there were secret conferences. I've never found a problem with consistency so long as the GM kept it short so as not to be RPing for a half hour while the other players are bored. I guess we've had rather different gaming experiences in that regard. As a rule, I dislike intrigue and in-party fighting and such, and this is the only really social/political type game I enjoy. I feel it's very much part of the atmosphere to have secrets and info no one else does, to be revealed at the proper time later.

As for "metagaming for better story", I have trouble agreeing even on that point, to an extent; been LARP staff too long, maybe, and have learned to game the other way, where I try to not use any info I'm not absolutely positive I know ICly. Too many bad experiences there and on other internet RPs where people take too much advantage. I've rarely ever seen a "good" metagaming example. Setting scenes in IRC RP, however, is very different from your standard table or forum RP experience. It's more co-GMing in the rather freeform setting I play in.

I have to agree with the player in your example. The GM could have held the player off using time differential as an excuse if Morgan couldn't hold him back and the GM didn't want the scene "spoiled"--that's part of the GM's job to set such things up. And interruptions and poor timing happen in Real Life, so if it happens in RP, a reflection of real life, it happens and needs to be dealt with as an IC consequence.

Again, I think we've had very different gaming experiences and outlooks on this.

[Wired*Nun]

I don't think the entertainment issue really applies, because the threads will be moved back public eventually, and you get to read it all then. It's not my fault you gobble it up so fast, you need to ration your pleasure! LOL In any case, I sense chalice becoming uneasy all of a sudden - and frankly, I'm not sure that's such a bad thing...:evil:

[chalice]

In any case, I sense chalice becoming uneasy all of a sudden - and frankly, I'm not sure that's such a bad thing...:evil:

I wasn't feeling uneasy before you said that - but I sure as heck am now:paranoid:

[Wired*Nun]

I think we'll have to count Heldrik's call as being not accepted, because pygysis didn't get on in time, and Heldrik just put Kat's card away again...

[LynMars]

I'm wondering when Heldrik realized/was told that was a ghost of Eric and not really the real thing like he sorta assumed a few posts before, or did Thanos just zone on it since it's been a couple days OOC real time? Just a bit confused on that...

[chalice]

I think Heldrik assumed a patternghost from the fact that Gray said Dworkin had 'summoned, I suppose you would say, father'. Not too hard for an API to figure out perhaps, when combined with the fact he knows Eric is dead, and has read the Big Book of Amber? Or maybe (I have no idea if he did, but also no reason to assume he wouldn't have) he has used his Advanced Pattern skills via GM Comms?

While we are the only public thread, could all the rest of you guys please have the courtesy to refrain from commenting publicly in this way? I can't speak for Thanos, but I find it extremely off-putting.

[LynMars]

Just wasn't sure when it happened, was thinking I'd missed something somewhere.

You seem to be getting somewhat defensive about this. We'll all get to comment on each other, I'm sure, when the threads come out to public again; we've done it before, when the Landon/Rebis threads became public, for instance.

Trey and I tend to comment and feedback on each others, at least, especially when one or the other needs help formulating a good response to something. Our characters have interacted briefly once since the game started and have next to nothing to do with each other, even current goals-wise, so there isn't much cross-effect going on so far as that goes ICly.

[chalice]

I'm not being defensive, babe. In response to a post, I'm telling my fellow players that I find a particular thing off-putting and rather rude, and asking them not to do it.


We'll all get to comment on each other, I'm sure, when the threads come out to public again

Yes, we will. And all I have asked is that comment wait until then.

[Icebird]

Sorry I can't post today- the keyboard I'm on is to bad to type anything longer than this. I'll see if I can be back tomorrow or Weds.

[chalice]

Hi Ice! 'Bye Ice! (Bad luck with the keyboard - hope the situation improves:) )

[Pygysys]

I think we'll have to count Heldrik's call as being not accepted, because pygysis didn't get on in time, and Heldrik just put Kat's card away again...

It's Thanos' call. I sent him a PM last night my time asking him if he wants the call to go through or not. If he does, then he can always edit his post. So I'm waiting till then and giving him the chance to choose.

[Thanos]

I think Heldrik assumed a patternghost from the fact that Gray said Dworkin had 'summoned, I suppose you would say, father'.



Heldrik doesn't know specificly that its a Pattern Ghost. However, he does know that it is not Eric as Gray said it was summoned and Eric is dead according to everybody...there was even a body, unlike Brand...ahem ;-)

To be honost, I am not sure if Heldrik knows that Pattern Ghosts are possible except through the use of finding a shadow of somebody and infusing it with pattern energies to make it stronger etc...not necessarily a direct construct of the pattern. The fact that Eric knows the OG on a personal level is pretty impressive and could be some of his magic, seeing as the OG wasn't exactly around a lot even in Finndo's time and certainly not when the family got all together when Joss got shot.. (it was Joss right?)

This move and new job certainly have me a little fried, along with STing my own game. I am getting back on pace now that I have a place to live for the time being.

Kat will be getting a call here sooner than later, as soon as Heldrik and crew are not about to land. If we need to we can make a new thread where we have a fast conversation (that could take a few OOC days, but not ruin continuity while Heldrik/Gray/Eric/Asmundson continue on into the city.,..?

[Pygysys]

What ever is easiest. Kat's only heading off into Shadow so whatever happens it's no great imposition upon me or Kat. So whichever you prefer.

[Wired*Nun]

Fair warning - intermittent/reduced posting alert for an indeterminate period of time. Sorry, but stuff happens.:cry:

[Wired*Nun]

Keep the faith...

[Shutter]

Faith, check. Right here in my desk. Not going anywhere. Take whatever personal time you need Dave. I'd rather have a well run game than a hastily posted game, and rather have a delayed game than a cancelled game.

[LynMars]

Hear Hear.

And Hiyas Shutter. Haven't seen you around, here or GG.

[Shutter]

Hola (too many mental names attached to you). Yeah, I've been out of the loop lately. Real life has been kicking me in the head. I'm preparing a presentation that is fairly enormous and scary. We're getting married in a little over a month and planning that...Many things on my plate, play time seems to have taken a back seat for the time being.

[Tamarind]

Congratulations Shutter! Hope it all goes really well :)

[Thanos]

WOOOOO WOOOOOO

Another person I know that is getting married....dang it one of these days I will have to do that....but first I have to get somebody to say yes...again...

[Icebird]

Good job, Shutter. All this talk and occurrance of marrying...


Hehe...


I'm in the process of setting up a first date right now. But she did say yes! And by first, I mean first ever- not first with her in specific.

[Wired*Nun]

Wow, to everyone. Best wishes for upcoming nuptials, and first dates too! I'm not sure what is more scary...but remember, Ice, if she's for you, you can be yourself. If she's not, don't waste time trying to force things or be something you're not. Good luck!

[Thanos]

Good advice Dave.
At some point I might have to explain what 13 years on the dating scene has tought me, but then again its kinda specific to me...so it might not be worth while, I will have to consider.

[Wired*Nun]

So Thanos...how long before you get it right? LOL

Oooooh, that smarts! Badum bum... :fun:

[Thanos]

Well...seeing as I took the last 3.75 years off from the dating scene completely to get over my last big one and get my heart right with God and certain activities under control, I would say it shant be long. Perhaps, if I am 'charming' enough it will be a year before I am engaged if not married. All things being equal and some serious issue not come up on either persons side.

[LynMars]

Hope you're doing okay, Dave, and we can get the game moving again.

Especially as the Admins are getting out the bloody axes...:paranoid:

[Shutter]

Well, we're safe from their 3 month limit...But I do miss the game. Tragicaly this has actualy helped my productivity...Stupid work...

[Wired*Nun]

Same here...I have some massive stuff going on before I get to relax, except for the enforced easter break...I'll post some this weekend for sure.

[LynMars]

The Last Amberzine has gone to print! Congrats, Dave, on "To Live and Die in Avalon" making it in!LOL

Erick's post (http://www.guardiansorder.com/boards/showthread.php?t=3992) On the GoO forum.

[TreyKincaide]

*claps* Good job Dave! :)

[Wired*Nun]

*bows* thanks, all, for the inspiration.

[Pygysys]

Happy Easter to all, have a good holiday.

[Thanos]

Also wanted to wish everybody a Happy Easter.

[Wired*Nun]

To you too. Or happy Spring Break if you prefer, for those of you that this matters. Or happy same old day! Whatever!

[LynMars]

I haven't gotten candy yet... :cry:

Seriously, though, Happy Easter, folks! :smiling:

[Wired*Nun]

Hello to all, and sorry to all those who've waited so long for a post from me, especially Trey. However, there is some stuff in my life going on that is slowing me down. I'm hoping I can pick up the ball again, soon. Sorry again, and I hope we will be back on track in a week or three. I have made a few posts, but some of the harder ones I just can't get ahold of my muse for.

[TreyKincaide]

That's alright Dave. Take your time. I can wait. :)

[Shutter]

So, my fiancee and I are tying to make sure we stay in good shape for the wedding, this has been a bit tricky with getting sick and the gym closing down for spring break, but we're managing it. Then her parents stop by for dinner last night (it was her birthday) and deposit a small army of chocolate bunnies on our table. Just looking at it gives me a stomach ache....It's funny, you spend all of your youth begging for candy and chocoloate, and at about the same time that they start shoving it at you every chance they get, you realize it's really not good for you and you try to avoid the stuff. Heh.

In any case, happy easter to all who celebrate it, and happy sunday to everyone else:)

[Wired*Nun]

Yes, the chocolate curse...actually, real chocolate isn't all that bad. Highly-sugared milk-chocolate is much worse that normal (what people in the States tend to call "dark") chocolate. This is one of the few benefits of living in Belgium - great chocolate.

Hope that helps...:evil:

And sorry to hear about the illness, I can relate. We've had flu or something going around at least twice in our household - spring has been worse than fall in that regard.

[Shutter]

Oddly enough the 12 inch tall (roughly 30cm) chocolate bunny is not lovingly crafted from the finest chocolates. No, it seems to be some mixture of sugar, milk, wax, more sugar, some animal byproducts I assume, and perhaps a light dusting of real chocolate.

[LynMars]

...I still got no chocolate.

*Makes plans to go to Shutter's house and steal his*

[Shutter]

Nooo!

It may be crappy but it's Mine!

[Icebird]

Hehe... My family knows the good stuff, and we found a place that carries Belgium chocolate for about the same price as the sugary stuff... Yay!

You can come over here and steal some of mine. I've got enough to last for months. One of the perks of still living with your parents, you see.

[Wired*Nun]

Apoligies/explanations again, sorry to be posting to some threads regularly while leaving some of you hanging for such a long time. I'm moving forward with ones in which I find it is easy to project the story line - the others I am having some blockage on. It will come, that's the best I can say.

[Tamarind]

Just to let you know that Chalice and I are off to Egypt in a weeks time - we'll be there for a fortnight, so we won't be posting from the 10th to the 26th April.

[LynMars]

Lucky! Have fun there!

I tried to go on a trip to Egypt in high school, but my Dad wouldn't let me get the assistance from local groups (Lyons Club, American Legion, Keystone Club, etc) to pay for it; all I would have had to do was take pictures and bring back some stuff and put together a presentation about it; wouldn't even have to give it myself, let the teacher do it. But no; didn't want to "owe money"; couldn't get it through his head that those groups do things like that...but eh well.

I didn't even get to travel outside the US while I was in the Army...

Someday!

[Shutter]

While we're mentioning impending departures I'll remain slow to post until April 7th Thursday, when I take my General Exam (huge.scary.) Then I'll be free to post all the time up until about April 27th when we fly off to the Yucatan for our honeymoon....Probably won't be able to post around the 22nd either I guess....that's the wedding day....So, come May 5th I'll be back and greedily ready to post.

[Wired*Nun]

Yayy Egypt! Yayy, honeymoon! Shutter, does your fiancee game? Or did you already answer that question some time ago? Sorry if I missed it.

[Shutter]

Sort of a gamer, but not in the pen and paper sense. She plays video games, board games, card games and all that, we play World O Warcraft together. She's coming around on the whole forum roleplaying notion. Originaly found it troublesome (very reasonably worried that I was going to withdraw completely into fantasy land), but is now a big fan of the creative outlet it gives me...Now if I could just get grad school to leave me alone and let me play...

[Wired*Nun]

Back from Venice! Oh, I forgot to tell anyone we were going...oops...lol.

[Wired*Nun]

The day had been a hot one in the shadow that he had traveled to, but two suns often have that effect. Many thousands of merchants lined hundreds of levels of shop space in the multi-dimentional bazaar of Spoogida. Here every kind of currency was used in every concievable transaction or close to it.
A small side trip was all it took to find and harvest the precious Flower of Life. It was the rarest item in the galaxy where Spoogida resided, but abundant in a shadow with a planet called Optera. That is if you were in the good graces of the hive queen the Regis.
With the majority of the wealth he made for himself, with but a simple transaction with a desperate old man, Heldrik bought his own section of the planet and set up his own minor bureacracy to run investments without needing him almost at all. It would be a good place to come and get any kind of item he needed in quantity in the future, such as an armada of battleships or a million man army trained in low tech combat.
With the rest he invested in gold and had it minted as Eric had asked. All of this took little time once the right contracter was engaged with the right equipment that he just happened to have standing idle at the moment. A few horse loads of gold was delivered to the Castle Treasury late in the evening with few knowing the secret of how it got there.

OMGLMFAO...

You have me howling and choking here, and I'm at work...not the best place to be howling and choking. Classic Bad-Amber Pulp! Bravo!

Suffice to say that Heldrik doesn't want to say where he turned up the gold...lol...

[Icebird]

Bad Heldrik!
(slaps with dead salmon)
Arrotel just went and got some golden spoons when he needed money.
(slaps with salmon again)
No more made up shadows for you!

[Thanos]

/me takes a bow.

[TreyKincaide]

I'm assuming, Thanos, since you weren't clear that you were referring to emergency distess beacon ring given to Landon by Flora. Otherwise, I'll need a bit of clarification.

[Thanos]

That is exactly correct, good call.

[Pygysys]

Sorry for my absence over the last couple of days, been snowed under with uni and work. Two jobs, 5 subjects and 1 council position does not leave a lot of spare time. The remedy? Full-time university attendance is now part-time university attendance. I have a life again. Phew. Now if only my football team would remember to win games...

[Wired*Nun]

Haven't been on in a week, we are in the middle of annual exercises here at NATO HQ...plus I have a big budget-related task plus several other things, it never rains but it pours, feast or famine etc. Might be a couple weeks before things are back to normalish.

Damned RL...

[Shutter]

Well, I'm back at any rate. I finished my general exam(passed), got married(wee!), and am now back from the honeymoon....I'm way behind on just about everything under the sun. But that's fine, life is good.

newlyweds (http://staff.washington.edu/~conorb/weddination.jpg)

[LynMars]

Conga-rats Shutter! Some of our other gaming buddies say she's beautiful. Lucky guy. :)

[Pygysys]

*Hugs* Congratulations to you and your wife Shutter on your wedding, here's to a very happy life together. Also congratulations on passing your exam. Well done! :)

P.S. Very snappy looking duo in that wedding pic! ;)

[Thanos]

Lucky man! Lucky Man!

Or well skilled might be more like it since you did pass the exam and take all the time to get there.

Congratulations Shutter!

[Wired*Nun]

I still exist. I am buried under work. Expect resolution somewhere after 25 June at the latest, can't promise anything before then. If I get a breathing spell I will post some. Sorry.

[Shutter]

Just as long as you come back at some point, and take a stab at enjoying life in the meantime:)

Oh, and, thanks for the kind words folks:P

[LynMars]

*Dances at random*

Man; hope Dave gets back soon; I miss this game lots....

[Icebird]

Yeah, me too. I've been re-reading the series and have an itch to play... Still checking daily.

[Thanos]

I have been working on the Heldrik/Gray marriage as a cooperative effort with Chalice. Its shaping up pretty well, but I have left the final draft and when to post it up to her. Oh, btw, Heldrik does know that he is robbing the cradle as it were ;-) and is going to enjoy every minute of it!

[chalice]

I have posted it in 'Amber Fiction', under the rather unimaginative title of 'A Royal Wedding'.

Thank you so much, Thanos, for cooperating in a wonderful write-out for Gray; it's lovely to leave her on a joyous note.

And now - to those of you I don't run into in other games - it's goodbye from me.

[Wired*Nun]

I'm still here. My project which was finishing up last week has been pushed into next week because of General capriciousness (yes, capitalized for a reason...as in 2-star General) at least...I'm still looking atthat 25 June date for sure when things slow down to something like normal. Hang in there.

Dave

[Tamarind]

And it's goodbye from me too - thanks to all for some really fun roleplay, great characters all! Hope to run into you again in the future,

Tam :evolved:

[Icebird]

For the two of you leaving...

Glad to have met, nice knowing, farethee well.

[Thanos]

Sad to see you go for all of the right reasons and this wrong, very wrong reason. Now Heldrick has no chance of making primal chaos pocket nukes!

[Wired*Nun]

I'll also say so publicly, it's too bad things turned out this way, as both of them are great roleplayers.

Things are winding up and down - it's mostly a matter of mental energy than strictly time. For example, I have time today but I can't get my brain revved up to do RPing. My work, for the first time in a long time, is coming home with me, making it hard to sleep or concentrate. It's a stressful time and I need to focus on getting it done and getting past it. A bunch of things will happen by the ned of June - my boss will be leaving and another one will be here (a good thing I hope - it could be worse, but not likely), the majority of this resource-and-budget struggle I have been having will be behind me, our annual exercises will be done, the kids will be out of school, and some other annoying things will be off my plate. There really is light at the end of the tunnel, I hope it's not a train, and I really do want to get back to this game.

Anyone seen the Amberzine yet? I keep hearing it will be coming out soon...

[Wired*Nun]

Well, it's Sunday, and I found some muse to spin...let's hope it's the start of a trend.

[Icebird]

Yay, that was fun and long... Just a fairly random encounter, though it did push Arrotel in the right direction. Or at least the right direction from his point of view.

Good to hear from you, Dave.

[Wired*Nun]

Thanks. My big project has settled down to manageable levels, and as soon as the big final yearly exercise down in Germany is over near the end of June I'll have much more time and energy.

[Thanos]

Word of warning. I will be away, in Texas, with my girlfriend to meet the parents from the morning of the 24th to the evening of the 26th (after which will be sleep for a 4am wake up call). I will likely be able to post again on the 27th in the evening. I will remind everybody again later ;-)

[Wired*Nun]

meet the parents, yeyyy...gl...gb...4am?wtfo?

[Pygysys]

Hi all,

Currently away in Brisbane due to family matters. Back on Sunday my time, so that's Saturday night for the Northern Hemisphere. So if anyone needs me, I'll be back then.

Take care.

P.

[Thanos]

As previously announced (at least I think) I am going to be away for the 24th-27th able to post again on the evening of the 27th if I am able to concentrate enough.

[Wired*Nun]

Just back from Germany, I'm on leave for the next week. I'll be posting often starting tomorrow. I'm too tired tonite.

Dave

[TreyKincaide]

It's good to have you back chief! :)

[Thanos]

Woooooo Woooooo

[Wired*Nun]

Thanks! Hopefully it'll be back like old times for a while.

[Icebird]

Yay! I'm young, so I'm alowed to be nostalgic about a few months ago. The rest of you have no excuses! http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/smilies/smiley%20-%20silly.gif

I remember it like it was yesterday... Oh wait, it was yesterday. http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/smilies/smiley%20-%20ponder.gif

[Wired*Nun]

You know, Ice, if things were like when I was growing up (and if we anachronistically had an internet) you could fly over to visit us or something like that. I know, I did things like that at 16 and 17 - drove all over, visited people I'd just met at a convention or never met but had written to, etc. Never had anything wierd happen. In this day and age, well, you just can't do things like that. Even when you turn 18, it still pays to be careful with all the wierdos and serial killers around. Still, maybe we can all get together at an Ambercon or something when I get back to the States.

[Wired*Nun]

We will be in Switzerland for the next week. Sorry about not posting anything yet, I'll try to get to it tonight but it's been a busy week.

[Pygysys]

Tis all good Dave. We understand you have stuff going on. Have a good time in Switzerland!

[Wired*Nun]

I'm back. All I can say is...wow. That's, wow, this place is really beautiful and wow, this place is really expensive. At least, the restaurants were. Not sure why everything there was twice as much as even the (for US- peeps) normally expensive Euro prices. The price for the apartment wasn't bad at all ($400 US/week) and the groceries weren't bad, but eating out for 3 was between 40 (MacDonalds) and 80 (normal restaurant) dollars equivalent - 50-100 Swiss Francs. Yech.

Anyway, how's everyone been?

[TreyKincaide]

Not too bad aside from battling a nasty eye infection and still without full time employment. Glad you had a good time, although thanks for the warning. If I ever get the chance to go, I'll make sure to empty my savings first. ;)

[LynMars]

I swear I didn't give him that eye infection.

<.<

>.>

Yeah, anyway; got a job, starting on the 18th; three weeks of training lasting from 4pm to 1 am. Joy. Hopefully a friend of ours will be instructing the class.

[Thanos]

Ermmm....

Visited GF's parents and things went well with 'Dad'.
Been working my tail off from 55-61 hours a week in record breaking heat out here in Southern Nevada a.k.a. Vegas.
Started an Amber Throne War, which is going pretty well.
Still waiting for them to break ground on my new house.
Still waiting in great antisipation for the continuation of the Heldrik adventures in 'Becoming a Bond Slave To Ones Elders' ;-)


Congrats on the job Lyn!

[Pygysys]

Let's see, where to start? Worked days, worked nights, packed and moved after work and repeated ad nauseum. Still have one day's worth of moving left to go and then I can sleep for a week. Now I just have to return to study, deferred exams take place in a month.

[Wired*Nun]

Hmmm...I wonder if Blood Bonding works on Amberites somehow...as long as you can keep them from walking the Pattern...

[Wired*Nun]

Seems like we're waiting on Raevyn and Roland for now.

[LynMars]

heh. Sorry. Spent most of last night reading the new Harry Potter book....Went to bed at 7 am. Still need to finish but now Trey has the book...

Not to mention my posting has been rather uninspired lately. Maybe it's the long times between posts due to everyone's business; much easier to focus on the story and character reactions when we're posting more than once every two weeks, if that. Feeling a bit lost right now, though once get past this spot, I'll probably be good again.

I also think I saw that Trump call, but it slipped my mind after a few days, waiting for a GM call saying I got it...I had to go look at his thread again.

[Wired*Nun]

I got the HP book too, for the kids. Can't say I stayed into them after book 2.

And yes, I know it's been spotty. That's the strength and weakness of this PBP stuff. Hopefully we will be back on once a day or so now.

[LynMars]

Book 2 was okay, though not the best; they've gotten progressively better since then.

[Wired*Nun]

Is Ice gone somewhere? Poor Lyn is waiting for his reply...

[LynMars]

He may have gotten busy. I think some folks have gotten out of the habit of checking daily. And since things have been going so slowly, they don't always say when they'll be gone now. Maybe visiting his dad, or have schoolwork, with the way his particular schedule works.

[Icebird]

Yes, I was gone. I'm calling long distance to my dial-up account in Denver from my dad's house... A whole new meaning to "slow".

We went on a road trip to Arches National Monument. It was fun, but hot. I could tell you how hot, but the visitors center melted. Ever been on a 5-mile hike in 100+ degree weather? I can now say that I have. But I survived, and I'm back! I still check daily, except when I'm more than 20 miles from the nearest telephone line.

Oh, and my birthday was last week. 17 circuits about the star Sol completed.

Oh, I got the HP book for my birthday, but it's at home and I'm not, so I won't get to read it for another week...

[LynMars]

Happy Birthday!

I can commisserate on the several miles long treks through intense heat; Basic Training for me was in South Carolina in the Summer. Gotta stay hydrated on those; glad you're back in one piece :)

You'll enjoy the next HP book, I'm sure. We did.

[Thanos]

I work 10-12 hours mostly in the Las Vegas and Baker (Cal) heat...5 days a week...every week so far this summer. Its been insane the amount of water that I drink. Fortunately this time around I get enough salt intake to not need pills of it. Its 2-3 gallons of fluids (water, gatoraid) every day...its been getting expensive. Being in the back of my truck makes things even worse, its like an oven :-(

FLUID GOOD!

[Wired*Nun]

Water is expensive? Since when? Stay away from that Gatorade, it's a scam. However, if you must have it, get the powder, it's cheaper, and make your own. Thin it, throw some salt in it, it's even better.

Happy Birthday Ice. Sounds like you had a time.

Amberzine is out. Order them whilke you can from what's left of Phage. It's a monster. I am not completely happy with their printing of my story; while P.A. Sicart is a good and dedicated editor, the fact that he's not a native English speaker leads him to make language errors in funny spots, especially with nonstandard constructions, i.e., he "fixes" things that were not wrong. In any case, it's nice to be published again. Hopefully Amberzine will go on and I can get a few more stories in.

[LynMars]

Dunno if GoO will be doing anymore, but Erick Wujcik won't be involved, hence this being the "last" Amberzine. It'd be nice if they did, though with all the other stuff they're doing and still no word on what's going on with Amber RPG itself...I'm not holding my breath.

Congrats again, Dave. Been considering it, but money is an issue, as always. :(

[Shutter]

Sorry for the delayed reply Trey. I'm going to need to dig around in the archives a bit to confirm that Roland gave his copy of the gboa to Kat or, Raevyn. Currently I'm to sleepy/busy to do so.

[Wired*Nun]

Just got back from a couple days in Luxembourg city. A nice, unremarkable place - very pleasant, clean, a great place to live it seems but only an ok place to visit. Once will probably do it. Lots of expats, good cuisine, good prices, low taxes, shopping...anyway, enjoy the posts.

[Wired*Nun]

Sorry to have been out of the loop - I've been very busy lately, caught me by surprise. I'll try to get on tonight and catch up.

[Wired*Nun]

By the way, great job everyone lately, with all RP aspects. Especially good job to the guys who carried on valiantly without me.

[Shutter]

Welcome back:)

[Wired*Nun]

RL keeps intruding - last night was a nogo. I'll keep trying.

[Thanos]

We know you do Dave and we appriciate it!

[Wired*Nun]

I think I am going to have to face reality, folks. We, I guess I mean, since we're all this together. I've taken over a job recently (as my boss left and was not replaced) that has me working a lot more, and leaves me without much mental energy to put into the game.

The reality is, I think I will be able to average posting a couple times a week at best for the forseeable future.

If that's fine with you individually, we shall go on. If, however, anyone feels like that isn't enough to get their gaming fix, I'll just say, no one will blame you if you bow out. I'm not favoring this, merely saying that I'll find it understandable.

RL is a bitch sometimes ;)

[Pygysys]

Hey Dave,

If you're happy to keep posting when you're able to, I'm happy to keep playing. I've got enough games, university commitments and work to keep me occupied between posts as it is now, so continue to count me in.

[LynMars]

yeah, not a problem here. Enough other stuff going on to keep me other wise occupied. :) Whenever you can, boss.

[Icebird]

Same here. I've got other stuff to keep me occupied, and I'd hate to see such a great game go down the tubes. I'll keep playing, at whatever pace works for you.

[Shutter]

Some is better than none. At least in this case. I'm fine with reduced posting, sorry you're job is taking over though man. Can't be too much fun:(

[Thanos]

Heh, I have a feeling that most of us (those with school especially) will be having less time or already have less time right now. I know that I have only about half an hour on weekdays to dedicate to this game and the others I play on these boards. That being said I am comfortable with the activity level of late ;-)

Hopefully sooner or later Heldrik can get hooked up with one of the other PC's and they can interact...but that is a bit off I guess because I am interested and Heldrik is EXCEPTIONALLY interested in what Fi might have to say about the Pattern and the actual state of affairs in creation.

[Wired*Nun]

Well, good. I am sorry. It seems more about energy than time. The job has picked up pace, taking all my excess mental energy I used to have. Now, when I come home, I try to think of posting, and I just can't find the energy. I haven't had a slow weekend either. I think it's getting clear to my wife that we are on our last year in Europe and she is wanting to go to all the places she really wants to see before we leave, so we are taking weekend trips.

[LynMars]

If I'd have had the opportunity to go overseas during my short term in the Army, I'd have done the same; go ahead and get it in while you can! We're still here. :) A post or two every now and then is better than nothing (especially if it keeps the forum from being deleted entirely).

[Wired*Nun]

Sorry to be so long in getting back here. It's been nuts. The list of chaos is just too long to post here. My boss is a big problem, even he's gotten so POd that he decided to retire all of a sudden - in less than two months. There is some resource and budget work that keeps landing on my desk because no one wants to do it or understand it. Short story, they "reorganized" here two years ago and deleted a lot of staff posts - the exprtise vanished, I ended up picking some up, learned a lot, got to be the "expert" such as there is, and now it all seems to flow my way, such that it looks like now I am going to be fillin in for a general officer at certain NATO meetings...for you nonmilitary types, it's like a non-financial type midlevel professional (me) is having to act on financial matters in place of a company VP of a 100 million dollar company - because the company won't hire an expert. So, I'm floundering out of my depth, growing a lot, but every time I think of getting on here and posting I cringe. It's all I can do to watch an episode of B5 with Beth every night...and our church needed someone to do a marriage seminar, so...guess who is doing it? Sigh.

However, just the fact that I am posting this rant means things are easing up a bit. I can't promise anything but I feel like maybe I will post sometime this week, especially as my boss's care factor about any of this has just dropped to zero, which means he simply forwards everything to me - which is actually easier than trying to work with the guy, I can do it my way.

I hope life finds everyone well, especially for those going back into the school year (as our kids are - another stressor).

Also, though I'm pretty sure the answer is "no", just to check - none of you guys are in the omaha area? I'm taking a workweek trip back to Offutt in October...

Cheers,

Dave

[LynMars]

Sounds like it's been rough; hope it eases up soon, Dave :(

Trey's still looking for a "real job", though has two fairly decent prospects in that area. I'm back in school part-time, and working part-time as well. I think we're the "closest" to Omaha, being in Manhattan, Kansas.

Hope things get better, and take what time you need. I think most of us are still here, checking things out now and then.

[Icebird]

Yup, still here. Glad to hear that things are getting a bit easier for you.

I've decided to graduate a year early from high-school. I'm technically a junior, with the appropriate number of credits, but I'm tired of HS and am ready to move on. In addition to taking a full load in HS, I'm taking calc and philosophy at the college, writing a book (and writng a narative transcript about my learning, which is how you get credit at my school for things) and staying on the Ultimate Frisbee team. Whew. Even saying all that takes a while.

[Thanos]

ULTIMATE FRISBEE!

Well glad to see that everybody has a life out there ;-).

For me, I think work just got a little bit easier, as the exceptionally busy season is over.

Good luck, God Bless, and keep your chins up!

[Wired*Nun]

Sorry to leave you all in the lurch, guys. Shortly after the last post of mine above, I got sick. Really sick. Coming out both ends yucky influenza fever lying there in bed staring at the ceiling (or Daria CDs, when I could work up the energy) sick. So, that sucked.

I think I'm recovering. I also think that the break from work has helped me a lot.

OMG, is he actually going to post something?

Yess!!!!

Here I go.

[Wired*Nun]

In a minute or two...my son wants me to help him with something...

[Wired*Nun]

I've searched and searched, and can't find a place where I named the demon with Landon. I have a name in my head that I think it is, but I don't know whether I ever put it in a post...if anyone could come up with it, it would help. I've gone over the story since he showed up, and I can't find it. Thanks.

[LynMars]

Yay, Dave!

Hrm...I -think- I recall the demon being named, but not sure now. I'll have to dig for it later, maybe.

In the meantime, over on the newly-remade GoO forums, a convo about the Amberzine came up. Rel Fexive mentioned things he liked about it, including "a most intriguing Lintra story". Unless there's more than one, I'm guessing he meant Dave's. ;)

*ponders reply post for own thread in the meantime*

[Shutter]

Sorry to hear you got so sick, very glad to hear you're back:)

[Wired*Nun]

Why thanks for the kudos, second or thirdhand. I'll have to find those forums, since they seems to not exist last time I checked...

[LynMars]

Check Guardians of Order's new main website, they have a link up. One of the first things I and many others did was to set "ignore" on RPGPundit/Nisarg, as he's up to his standard of passive-aggressive trolling and starting flamewars. The forums only went live a couple weeks ago, if that. All the data from the old ones were lost, though; part of the reason it's taking so long to get GoO's website back up, apparently, is that all the backed up info from the old site DB was corrupted and lost, so they have to start over from scratch, pretty much. That, and they're kinda focusing on "A Game of Thrones", the collaboration with White Wolf Publishing.

And I was wondering about that post in the Visitor's thread. Makes a lot more sense now. I wouldn't say anyone "needs" an avatar, but if he wants one, I can prolly do somehting about it. ;)

[Wired*Nun]

Hey, Lyn, is Trey around?

[Wired*Nun]

Jedric and anyone else interested, I've dropped Rebis' old spell list into House Rules as an example of some spells. Note, he was an AL user...

[TreyKincaide]

Yeah Dave, I'm around. Been working full time. Two programmers left leaving me to maintain/rewrite their project. It's not physically tiring, but frustrating and mentally exhausting.

It's left me a little burnt. I was having a bit of difficulty figuring out how to respond to your last post. Actually, I've been having difficulty doing much except for mindless hot key button mashing in WoW.

Also, I'm pretty sure you never named the Demon. He introduced himself as a servant of Canthus. I've dug through every time I referred to him and haven't found anything thus I used 'he' and the demon throughout my posts. I assumed that it was intentional as names are very important things to demons. Canthus, from his description is too powerful to care, but a servitor might think twice before disclosing his name to a sorceror.

[Wired*Nun]

Man, I've been there...lately! I know how you feel. Don't fell pressured, hell, I didn't post for a month. I was just wondering.

Thanks for checking. I hate those types of inconsistencies, which especially happen in RPGs (vs. prose writing, which tends to be more consistent).

Hope things lighten up for you soon. Thanks for playing!

[Wired*Nun]

Down sick again, came on me suddenly around lunchtime...later