Rochndil

11:04 am: Rolemaster Express
Good morning!

I know I don't post nearly as often as I should, but usually there's not much going on in my life that's interesting enough to write about. Slogging through one week after another working and paying bills just isn't that interesting.

BUT, I did get to do something a bit different this week. While serving my civic duty as a juror (I never got picked), I had a LOT of time to kill, and no PC access (which always provides a way to waste an infinite amount of time). So, I got some reading done, and in addition to hacking through some of my magazine backlog, I also read the base Rolemaster Express (RME) book.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the company and system, Rolemaster is the SUPERB RPG produced by Iron Crown Enterprises. The system has gone through many changes since its inception, and RME is the latest. This ruleset is a simplification and condensation of the base Rolemaster Classic (RMC) rules (which hail back to RM2), and its creation has a dual purpose. First, it offers an excellent introduction to the game system, especially since it's packaged into a single slim (and very inexpensive!) book, complete with a starter adventure. Second, it serves to demonstrate that the system does NOT have to be mind-bogglingly complex, despite its reputation (but I *LIKE* mind-bogglingly complex!).

The great thing is that, while this ruleset is very condensed and simplified, it IS still Rolemaster, and transitioning from the RME rules to RMC or Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying (RMFRP) is quite simple.

I personally prefer the most complex ruleset, RMFRP, but I've played the older and slightly simpler RM2 for many years. I have very fond memories of those many late-night sessions, and hope to become an active gamer again one of these days.

My helm is off to Iron Crown, and all their astoundingly dedicated staff and contributors for a job well done. Even from a technical standpoint (and you know I can't ever take off my glasses-of-proofreading-true), the book is very good. I saw one small technical error and a couple of proofreading mistakes, but considering the scale of the job, and the generally poor quality of publications in these days of on-demand printing, I still have to give it top marks for content AND presentation.

Great job folks! Now I just need to get somewhere to collar a couple of young and impressionable gamers, and show them what a REAL RPG is like.

Rochndil, long-time Rolemaster and Iron Crown fan...

Tags: gaming, rolemaster

09:45 am: Geek list - stolen from Axiomaxiom
If it's bold, it applies to me:

THINK YOU'RE A GEEK? Can you/have you:

1. Properly secure a wireless router. - But why bother? Wires are better!
2. Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
3. Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
4. Screw with Wifi leeches.
5. Setup and use a VPN.
6. Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
7. Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
8. Turn a web camera into security camera.
9. Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
10. Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1” means.
11. Identify key-loggers.
12. Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
13. Program a universal remote.
14. Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
15. Benchmark Your Computer
16. Identify all computer components on sight.
17. Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
18. Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
19. Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
20. How to irrecoverably protect data.
21. Recover data from a dead hard drive.
22. Share a printer between a Mac and a PC on a network.
23. Install a Linux distribution.
24. Remove a virus from a computer.
25. Dual (or more) boot a computer.
26. Boot a computer off a thumb drive.
27. Boot a computer off a network drive.
28. Replace or repair a laptop keyboard.
29. Run more than two monitors on a single computer.
30. Successfully disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
31. Know at least 10 software easter eggs off the top of your head.
32. Bypass a computer password on all major operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux
33. Carrying a computer cleaning arsenal on your USB drive.
34. Bypass content filters on public computers.
35. Protect your privacy when using a public computer.
36. Surf the web anonymously from home.
37. Buy a domain, configure bind, apache, MySQL, php, and Wordpress without Googling a how-to.
38. Basic *nix command shell knowledge with the ability to edit and save a file with vi.
39. Create a web site using vi.
40. Transcode a DVD to play on a portable device.
41. Hide a file in an image using steganography.
42. Knowing the answer to life, the universe and everything. For another 11 months or so, I *AM* the answer!
43. Share a single keyboard and mouse between multiple computers without a KVM switch.
44. Google obscure facts in under 3 searches. Bonus point if you can use I Feel Lucky.
45. Build amazing structures with LEGO and invent a compelling back story for the creation.
46. Understand that it is LEGO, not Lego, Legos, or Lego’s.
47. Build a two story house out of LEGO, in monochrome, with a balcony.
48. Construct a costume for you or your kid out of scraps, duct tape, paper mâché, and imagination.
49. Be able to pick a lock.
50. Determine the combination of a Master combination padlock in under 10 minutes.
51. Assemble IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions. Bonus point if you don’t have to backtrack.
52. Use a digital SLR in full manual mode.
53. Do cool things to Altoids tins.
54. Be able to construct paper craft versions of space ships.
55. Origami! Bonus point for duct tape origami. (Ductigami)
56. Fix anything with duct tape, chewing gum and wire.
57. Knowing how to avoid being eaten by a grue.
58. Know what a grue is.
59. Understand where XYZZY came from, and have used it.
60. Play any SNES game on your computer through an emulator.
61. Burn the rope.
62. Know the Konami code, and where to use it.
63. Whistle, hum, or play on an iPhone, the Cantina song.
64. Learning to play the theme songs to the kids favorite TV shows.
65. Solve a Rubik’s Cube. - it helps if you cheat!
66. Calculate THAC0.
67. Know the difference between skills and traits.
68. Explain special relativity in terms an eight-year-old can grasp.
69. Recite pi to 10 places or more.
70. Be able to calculate tip and split the check, all in your head.
71. Explain that the colours in a rainbow are roygbiv.
72. Understand the electromagnetic spectrum - xray, uv, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
73. Know the difference between radiation and radioactive contamination.
74. Understand basic electronics components like resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors.
75. Solder a circuit while bottle feeding an infant. (lead free solder please.)
76. The meaning of technical acronyms.
77. The coffee dash, blindfolded (or blurry eyed). Coffee [cream] [sugar]. In under a minute.
78. Build a fighting robot.
79. Program a fighting robot.
80. Build a failsafe into a fighting robot so it doesn’t kill you.
81. Be able to trace the Fellowship’s journey on a map of Middle Earth.
82. Know all the names of the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
83. Understand the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel.
84. Know where your towel is and why it is important.
85. Re-enact the parrot sketch.
86. Know the words to The Lumberjack Song.
87. Reciting key scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
88. Be able to recite at least one Geek Movie word for word.
89. Know what the 8th Chevron does on a Stargate and how much power is required to get a lock.
90. Be able to explain why it’s important that Han shot first.
91. Know why it is just wrong for Luke and Leia to kiss.
92. Stop talking Star Wars long enough to get laid.
93. The ability to name actors, characters and plotlines from the majority of sci-fi movies produced since 1968.
94. Cite Mythbusters when debunking a myth or urban legend.
95. Sleep with a Cricket bat next to your bed.
96. Have a documented plan on what to do during a zombie or robot uprising.
97. Identify evil alternate universe versions of friends, family, co-workers or self.
98. Be able to convince TSA that the electronic parts you are carrying are really not a threat to passengers.
99. Talk about things that aren’t tech related.
100. Get something on the front page of Digg.

I just have to add this, which I find to be a rather more important list:

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-Robert A. Heinlein

I'd say I'm about 19-for-21, though some of it remains theoretical. -:)

Rochndil, who ain't much for babies...

Tags: meme

11:20 am: Email address change
Greetings, to both of my watchers! -:)

I'm changing my Email address (must be part of that 42 thing) from @comcast.net to @att.net. FYI, Comcast's customer service SUCKS, and their technical service ain't much better. We've had three months of hell with signal problems that they either can't, or WON'T, fix. So, bye-bye cable guys!

DSL is already installed, tested, and running. It ain't perfect either, but the frequency and severity of errors is much lower, as is the price.

SO, for anyone that actually has my Email in their addy book, make sure to update it from @comcast.net to @att.net - I've also set up an @gmail.com address, but I don't really use it much.

Thanks for reading my blather!

Rochndil, with about 726 updates to go...

Tags: email

09:44 am: Yes, I do surveys!


The results are quite interesting, and do generally follow the trends I expected.

Rochndil, one among many...

Tags: survey

08:35 am: While I don't play the system...
This wasn't a bad assessment. Though, generally, I play straight fighters.

Yah, it's D&D, but what can you do? I doubt there's a Rolemaster version.

Rochndil, who could be a ranger...

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Ranger (6th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-15

Dexterity-15

Constitution-16

Intelligence-15

Wisdom-14

Charisma-13


Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)




Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (24)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXX (6)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXX (6)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXX (5)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaos --- XXXXX (5)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Evil ---- X (1)

Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Elf ------ XXXXXXXX (8)
Gnome ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXX (8)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Half-Orc - XXXX (4)

Class:
Barbarian - (-2)
Bard ------ (-2)
Cleric ---- (-4)
Druid ----- XXXXXX (6)
Fighter --- (0)
Monk ------ (-21)
Paladin --- (-21)
Ranger ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Rogue ----- (-4)
Sorcerer -- (-4)
Wizard ---- XX (2)

Tags: dnd

01:15 pm: It's back!
After a long silence, MSGOTU (Mark Stretch's Gallery Of The Unusual) is finally back on the 'net!

Now we can all once again enjoy the amazing works of Mark Stretch and Stellos, free from the tyranny of...not being online?

Thanks again to Mark for all his hard work!

Rochndil, browsing some of his favorites again...

09:19 am: Webcomics index - pretty cool!

I was just made aware of this nifty site by Tugrik today, and I must say I'm quite impressed.

Here's some linkage:

I just set up my account there, and they already had listed ALL BUT ONE of my odd little collection of webcomics...and I submitted a link to the missing one.

Give it a look, you'll probably save yourself a lot of time.

Rochndil, who enjoys saving time...

10:44 am: The end of an era...
Well, it's been a lot of years (since 9/10/96!), but I'm finally going to pull the plug on my old dial-up internet account. The service quality has just gotten too crappy, and the level of spam is unbearable.

So, in just a few minutes, the wheels will begin slowly turning to render rochndil@concentric.net back into the dust from whence it came.

That means that any traffic to my old homepage needs to now be redirected to http://home.comcast.net/~rochndil, and any Email to rochndil (at) comcast (dot) net - crawler obscured, of course.

I can't say I'll miss the low speed and struggle to get a decent connection, but I definitely WILL miss the address, since I've had it for more than a decade. Oh well, life goes on, and so must we all.

Make sure to update your bookmarks and addy books. The webpage will be completely re-worked soon, so keep an eye on this space for an announcement.

Rochndil, no longer a concentric customer...

Tags: email, web

03:31 pm: Table-top RPGs
Good afternoon!

It's been a while, but RL continues to keep me busy.

There was a post recently to a local furry community from a user who isn't quite sure what the fuss is all about with RPGs. Instead of just responding to his comment locally, I thought it was worth putting my thoughts up here (in my infinite modesty).

RPGs have a long history, and much of my personal RPG history is recalled in an earlier post (October of 2006) here. I won't spend a lot of time rehashing the history of RPGs, you can Wiki that easily enough. What I would like to talk about for a bit is WHY.

I'll paraphrase the poster's words. He's wondering why he should take the time to get involved with an old-fashioned RPG, when he's quickly tired of the "flash-and-trash" so often encountered in current MMORPGs. If traditional RPGs were as feeble, in gameplay, as MMORPGs are, I could certainly agree with his concern.

Fortunately, real RPGs have about as much similarity to MMORPGs as Chess does to the classic card game, "52-pick-up." Now, I won't dance around the bush. I am NOT a fan of MMORPGs, for several reasons.

Relevant to this discussion, though are a few key points. MMORPGs, in general, are fairly intense graphically, but rather "light" in the actual game mechanics. Most inter-character activity is limited to typed "pop-up" messages or a list of pre-set actions. The primary in-game activity is to raise your character's level by slaughtering as many creatures as possible, often including other player's characters (and stealing their stuff). Along the way, friendships and alliances may form, but they also can blow away in the wind, as characters and players come and go from the world. Ultimately, much character "growth" simply becomes a game of numbers. The one with the highest numbers wins. How very...uninteresting.

In a traditional RPG (of whichever system), things are quite different. First off, the world, in general, is a much smaller, more intimate place. Unless the GM (Game Master) is actually running a number of different groups in the same game world, the players, and their party, are the STARS. They're making HISTORY, no matter what level they may be, or how shiny their armor is. Everything they do MATTERS. When they fail, it's a tragedy. When they succeed, it's a victory! They're building history, both for their characters, and the world they live in.

Interacting with other players LIVE in REAL-TIME, is an experience that simply cannot be simulated online (yet). You can't make faces at each other, throw pretzels at the speaker-of-bad-puns, or get the person sitting next to you a caffeine-refresher. When you roleplay with your group, you get to see their expressions, hear the tone in their voices. Properly done, they project a little of their soul into their characters, and you just can't do that through a computer screen.

And pretty pictures? How's your imagination? Just like a great work of fiction, an immersive RPG experience will fire up your imagination to render the scene in colors more vivid and REAL than you'll ever see on a RGB display. Not only will you vicariously LIVE these adventures, you'll do so with friends, who will be able to play "remember when" with you down the road.

So there are a LOT of advantages to a REAL RPG. But, no system is perfect, and there are some limitations too. Probably the biggest is logistics. You just can't jump into a session any time. People have lives to take care of, and getting everyone together can be a challenge. Game systems, generally, cost money to purchase, and take time to learn. Time spent learning a system, while often enjoyable, is time NOT spent playing a game. And, like with any group of people, there are always folks who want to be...difficult. Mr. "Oh, no, I saw your INVISIBLE spirit coming, and used this counterspell..." will be encountered, as well as Ms. "but...it says right here, on page 43352 of rulebook XXI that I CAN do that, see?" Rules Lawyer and Mr. Incredible are two of the troublesome gamer types; there are others. Properly handled (by the GM), they can be rendered little more than a nuisance though, and sometimes their strengths can actually be put to good use. Managing a game groups is a superb exercise in team-building.

What can be even more fun, though, is when the characters don't QUITE get along. Carefully handled, these rivalries can lead to the best roleplay, as long as the players keep their heads. And if not, get the pretzels ready! After all, it's only a game folks, you're all there to have FUN.

I've personally invested thousands of hours learning, playing, and preparing RPG games over the last quarter-century or so. I hope anyone that hasn't yet, will give it a try. The real thing is always better than the virtual wannabe.

Rochndil, who has played D&D, AD&D, GURPS, Champions, and finally Rolemaster since the late 70s somewhere...

Tags: rpg

10:35 am: There is hope!
It's a real pleasure to find something NEW, GOOD, and ORIGINAL these days on the music scene. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who's noticed that most bands these days are cheap rip-offs of each other, with few, if any, having any semblance of originality (or talent).

I'd been hearing "Welcome to the Black Parade" from My Chemical Romance on the radio for a while, and liked it enough to pick up the CD. Color me impressed! While that track is definitely among the best, I can't say that it's my favorite, as there are several other strong contenders. They have a kick-ass sound, skill and complexity in their performance, and some excellent writing for both melody and lyrics. If I had to put them into a genre box, perhaps metal with soul? Like any true talent, they defy easy categorization.

Being jaded and tired of the retread-world makes it hard to enjoy much. Thanks for rattling the bars of my cage, MCR. It isn't often that I'm pleasantly surprised, even inspired. Music is a light in the darkness.

Rochndil, who finds hope in the strangest places...

"I am not afraid to keep on living...nothing you can say can stop me going home." - MCR.

Tags: music

10:43 am: Nothing really NEW, but there are some interesting bits

Myspace Chinese Astrology

Not sure I agree with some of the characteristics. Me, fashionable? Surely you jest!

Rochndil, who picks clothes by what's on top of the pile...

09:49 am: The Everything test!
Interesting test, some unusual results.

07:40 am: Which Hero?
Not sure if I entirely agree with this, but:

Which Heroes Hero are You? Your Result: Peter Petrelli   You're a dreamer who has lived in the shadow of your family and wants desperately to be your own person. Like Hiro, you feel the need to do something extraordinary with your life. You have dreamy eyes and great hair.
Nikki Sanders
Sylar
Nathan Petrelli
Hiro Nakamura
Isaac Mendez
Claire Bennett
Matt Parkman
Which Heroes Hero are You? Create a Quiz

Given a better set of questions, I strongly suspect I could have ended up as Sylar. But I won't complain about being a "good guy."

Rochndil, who would do some rather extreme things for the right reasons...

11:23 am: I took the test here: http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14457200288064322170 - and this is the (unsurprising) result I got:

English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 80% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

I could go and look for what I missed, but it's too much like work.

Rochndil, who has to know his language, after all...

06:51 pm: UnBirthing...where did it start?
Someone asked me a bit back exactly where I got interested in UnBirthing (UB). I guess to a certain degree it was something I was ALWAYS interested in, but in a vague and uncertain way. Back when I was building lasers, I read an erotic horror anthology that contained a story called "Psychopomp" that was, as far as I can remember, my very first exposure to overt UB. It was hyooman stuff, though, so while powerful, it still didn't quite crystalize in my addled brain.

Some years later, after I had discovered the internet and all its wonders, and also found the furry fandom, I again stumbled across a specifically UB story, but this time it was definitely furry. The tale was "Pony's Revenge," by Dream Weevil, and I was definitely in love. Without any doubt in my mind, that was the story that set me on this course, and I've no doubt it had a similar influence on other writers. Anima, do you concur?

Not long after that, I found Omega's long-running and superior Furry UB group, back when it was whatever it used to be called (OneList?) before Yahell ate it. Sadly, they later on deleted the group without warning (as they seem to so enjoy doing). Nothing has really replaced it, but I keep in touch with Omega, and hope he'll eventually resurrect it.

Amazingly enough, Cerine actually FOUND Dream Weevil somewhere on the internet, and convinced him (or her?) to contribute to the UB group (contributions which I have saved, of course!). I was priveleged to write a parallel story to one of his(?) works, which caued me a great deal of satisfaction, since it's not often you get to write BACK to an author who so strongly influenced your development.

Sadly, I've never heard again from Dream Weevil since the group was destroyed, but I hope he's doing well, wherever life has taken him. Every once in a while I go back to "Pony's Revenge," and it's still quite a tale.

You can find it here, if you'd like to read for yourself:

www.furry.de/tsa/myth/ponysrevenge.html

Rochndil, who missed getting something done in 2006, but 2007 is a new year...

07:26 pm: 12 days meme
So, it's a LITTLE bizarre, but amusing. Enjoy!



Rochndil, who never knew they could do that...

08:14 pm: Stocking meme!
( my xmas stocking )

02:52 pm: Seduction Style Meme
I'm not sure if this "quiz" is totally full of shit or not. I can't say I agree with the results much. Anyways, here it is:











Rochndil, who isn't impressed...

03:23 pm: This one was HARD...
...or I wouldn't bother posting it, since the result was completely predictable.

You Are Incredibly Logical

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic You think rationally, clearly, and quickly. A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!

Nobody who knows me should be surprised...

08:44 pm: Something profound, not just another meme.
On the way back from VA I listened to Jackson Browne's excellent CD, "Late for the Sky." This is, IMHO, one of his finest works, and also one of the greatest albums ever penned. I was especially struck by the profound and prophetic nature of "Late for the Sky," lyrics reproduced below. Thanks, Jackson, sometimes I need a kick in the arse to remember what it's all for.


Lyrics by Jackson Browne, who is definitely a poet:

Some of them were dreamers
And some of them were fools
Who were making plans and thinking of the future
With the energy of the innocent
They were gathering the tools
They would need to make their journey back to nature
While the sand slipped through the opening
And their hands reached for the golden ring
With their hearts they turned to each other's heart for refuge
In the troubled years that came before the deluge

Some of them knew pleasure
And some of them knew pain
And for some of them it was only the moment that mattered
And on the brave and crazy wings of youth
They went flying around in the rain
And their feathers, once so fine, grew torn and tattered
And in the end they traded their tired wings
For the resignation that living brings
And exchanged love's bright and fragile glow
For the glitter and the rouge
And in a moment they were swept before the deluge

Now let the music keep our spirits high
And let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by
By and by--
When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky

Some of them were angry
At the way the earth was abused
By the men who learned how to forge her beauty into power
And they struggled to protect her from them
Only to be confused
By the magnitude of the fury in the final hour
And when the sand was gone and the time arrived
In the naked dawn only a few survived
And in attempts to understand a thing so simple and so huge
Believed that they were meant to live after the deluge

Now let the music keep our spirits high
And let the buildings keep our children dry
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by
By and by--
When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky

Rochndil, who has little more to say...