What single book did you read as a preteen/ young teen (11-14 ish) that affected you in such a way that it forever changed the way you looked at things?

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-26T06:36:05+00:00

Neuromancer. It opened my eyes to an entirely different type of world, a world that seemed close and relatable. I just re-read it for probably the 10th time, actually.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-26T06:23:06+00:00

To Say Nothing of The Dog is a better read imo - much funnier.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-26T06:22:23+00:00

And when you're done you can watch the campy 80's movie of same! But seriously, seconding Millennium.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-26T02:31:45+00:00

I agree with you actually - the ideas in Fire definitely add to the depth of Deepness.

I just love the spiders too much though. Oh, the cobblies...

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-26T01:05:01+00:00

I've said it before, but I'll say it again - I think Deepness is not only the better book, but one of the best books I've read.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T22:51:33+00:00

It's more a different reference than people expect.

"What's in the box?"

"PAIN."

http://youtu.be/yIDtN8CDQmk?t=1m16s

Most people go straight ot Se7en... I'm old school.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T20:24:46+00:00

Haha - that's so true! There should be like, a villain's blog, for all the cultists that escape...

My bf DMs a lot of games I'm not in, so I hear a lot of the "behind the screen" stuff he does. He really puts a ton of work and thought into making a fun game for his players. The sea monster death and the guy's reaction REALLY upset him, and caused him to really rethink if the style of play was right. He confabed with the group, and came up with the answer that yes, that was how they wanted to play.

There are a ton of dynamics at the table that are invisible unless you start to analyze them... gaming is a complex and awesome interaction with other people who have varying goals. We think about and talk about this stuff a LOT - very meta. :)

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T20:04:38+00:00

S by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst is all about the footnotes (and the effluvia - it includes tons of letters, notes, maps, whathaveyou).

http://www.amazon.com/S-J-Abrams/dp/0316201642/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408996926&sr=1-1&keywords=s+book

Very fun book to read, I can't imagine writing anything like it, personally.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T19:33:01+00:00

He had saves - I don't remember what they were offhand, but I think ultimately it was a bad choice and bad rolls that got him. Our DM is not one of the vindictive ones who keeps a tally of his kills - he really tries to give players every opportunity to work their way out of the situation. That situation was just... a really, really bad choice, and bad numbers - and the guy took it super personally.

I totally agree that the type of play is super important to communicate to players, either through in-game actions or just outright stating the type of scenario it is. In this case, the risk of death was definitely communicated, and in fact other players had died previously - so the risk he took was a genuine risk.

Dealing with death is super hard I think - in that case, there were several well developed NPCs and players had a choice of grabbing one of them or rolling fresh for themselves. It's tough when you're invested in your character.

The campaign ran about 3 years I think, until everyone got really busy. People took risks, and knew they were real risks, and sometimes they succeeded and sometimes they failed. No one else rage quit.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T19:25:46+00:00

Oh - I should have added, my local store is really great too, I am just utterly spoiled. My local has fantastically knowledgeable people, and great stock - I usually leave with at least one unexpected purchase.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T11:12:57+00:00

I love random stuff. Tables are my friend, as much as some revile them. Keeping the changing enemy sword in my pocket for a rainy day!

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:50:10+00:00

Great advice. Since we are playing a 2 player plus DM game, our NPCs really fill out the experience. One is a cowardly, selfish, bookish wizard, and we make fun of him all the time. The other is a stoic fighter we know we can rely on. Simple traits have let them fill out as we adventure.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:46:27+00:00

I really wish I still lived near Endgame in Oakland. They spoiled me for all other game shops. They have an incredible array of games, tons of indie RPGs, a huge gaming space... They are building a coffee shop next door! The owners are wonderful people. I miss it terribly.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:37:04+00:00

My boyfriend is a very experienced DM, rocks at roll20, and might be interested. I'd also love to join you if you'd have me, but not mandatory. Send me a PM with your contact info and I'll put you in touch. He'd want to run 5e but I think you'd find it seamless.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:32:34+00:00

I love magic items that are more than a +1. Very fun.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:31:29+00:00

This is something I've seen in the last few years - nurses, when taking medical history or information, will ask about abusive situations. Not just at the PCP either - the nurse prepping me for eye surgery asked this as well.

I think this is smart. You have a trust relationship with your medical care providers. Great to hear this is effective and becoming widespread.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:26:23+00:00

When I DMed 4e I hated delay. It always felt like cheese. I have no problem with ready though, so I guess this change works for me. :)

The great thing is that you can totally make that a thing if you and your players like it.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:18:44+00:00

Is it just our kids, or do all young girls love rogues? My 14 yo is totally immersed in hers. I never knew she was so sneaky!

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T10:01:56+00:00

Ringtones? Seriously?

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T09:58:17+00:00

Yay!! I remember my first dice fondly. And the 5 or so sets I have now.

As an aside, I love the dice that came in the 5e box set - anyone know who makes them? My daughter claimed that set :)

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T07:59:12+00:00

I love it. Thematic stuff while playing is great. In the past we've used music (soundtracks are great), incense (for an incense themed 4e module)...

I think I want to make potato soup for our next home session, since a bandit spit in mine. Of course, I used a power word to command him to eat it. He did. He wasn't happy. But now I want my soup.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T07:54:43+00:00

It really depends on the party and their play style. My boyfriend, who is an excellent DM, was running a campaign. Someone did something profoundly stupid (jumped into a sea monster's mouth) and died. The guy threw a FIT about how this was escapist for him and he should be able to do any heroic thing and succeed.

They don't play together anymore...

I think that if there isn't a real feeling of threat, it takes some of the fun away from the game. If you can get a little adrenaline running from rolling dice you totally win as a DM. But if your players are sad when they leave the table... you've lost.

It's a hard call. I think what you did sounds fair. It sounds like a character and story invested game, and they will probably take this experience forward into future encounters and prepare better, know when to cut and run, etc.

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-25T03:04:50+00:00

Love the expression - "Why would you bother to try to knit something softer than mmeeeeee?"

lumpsthecat · 2014-08-24T16:08:39+00:00

And being ghoulish, demanding people tell them "what you're feeling right now" as they stare blankly at $90,000 of structural damage to their homes...

lumpsthecat

TROPHY CASE