I was into the idea of an e-reader as well, but I've cooled to it lately. I've played with a Nook at the stores and it was alright, but I'd probably go for a Kindle just because it seems like they'd have the biggest selection. Haven't seen the others. If I was rich I'd get a Ipad or something and then the kindle and nook apps. I use the kindle app for my laptop and it works well. I just download the free books though.
I had just finished reading 'Under the Dome' by Stephen King. I like his writing, I really do, but once again the ending of this mammoth book was just awful. The journey was fun - it felt like The Stand-Lite - but the last 3rd was difficult to get through.
I chose Rama for my next book because it's under 300 pages and I haven't read something that short in years. I also have a book called "The Passage" by Justin Cronin that got really good reviews. I think it's a sort of post-apoc/vampire story, but more "The Road" than "Twilight". Supposedly depressing as hell, so looking forward to it in a sick way.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
"For that fine young thing, Shirley Temple."
I liked Rendezvous with Rama a lot, but that was probably like 20 years ago (yiiikes!). I'm reading a lot myself these days, too:
- Just read Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. Really good if you feel like a suspense/thriller kind of book (or are just a fan of books turned into movies by Leonardo diCaprio). Going in I thought maybe the trailer had given away too much of the plot, but it didn't after all, so yay!
- Now reading The Blade Itself, a fantasy book Enron lent me. It's a pretty good read so far (halfway into it) with some memorable characters and the guy has a sharp writing style. I believe I will read the whole series, unless it falls apart at the end, like so many Death Angels led by Sgt. Aeryk.
- Next up I've had this fantasy book called Name of the Wind sitting in my queue for quite a while. A relative gave it to me and I have seen it highly recommended on numerous fronts (the Penny Arcade guy loved it too) but the name is so bad I've had trouble committing.
Any of you guys have any Kindle/Nook/etc experience? I'm thinking it might be cool to have a nice, light device loaded with books to bring to Australia later this year. And Kindles aren't TOO bad these days, $140 for the basic model.
I liked Rendezvous with Rama a lot, but that was probably like 20 years ago (yiiikes!). I'm reading a lot myself these days, too:
- Just read Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. Really good if you feel like a suspense/thriller kind of book (or are just a fan of books turned into movies by Leonardo diCaprio). Going in I thought maybe the trailer had given away too much of the plot, but it didn't after all, so yay!
- Now reading The Blade Itself, a fantasy book Enron lent me. It's a pretty good read so far (halfway into it) with some memorable characters and the guy has a sharp writing style. I believe I will read the whole series, unless it falls apart at the end, like so many Death Angels led by Sgt. Aeryk.
- Next up I've had this fantasy book called Name of the Wind sitting in my queue for quite a while. A relative gave it to me and I have seen it highly recommended on numerous fronts (the Penny Arcade guy loved it too) but the name is so bad I've had trouble committing.
Any of you guys have any Kindle/Nook/etc experience? I'm thinking it might be cool to have a nice, light device loaded with books to bring to Australia later this year. And Kindles aren't TOO bad these days, $140 for the basic model.
Friday, September 24, 2010
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docking big ships in tiny ports
Did you sneak that Space Hulk review in!? I missed it last time I posted. See man, I think our podcast would be sweet with stuff like Space Hulk reviews. :) Glad you like it. It's all sold out to high hell right now, so no rush to get it, but it still looks kind of abstract and strange, so I'm less excited than I thought I'd be. I really loved the visual component to OG Space Hulk.
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I started reading Arthur C Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" because I've always wanted to and I picked up a used copy. The book is dedicated to Sri Lanka and right away that pinged my brain with a thought, "wait, didn't I hear he was a pedo?" After some research, I found that there was an article that came out before he was to be knighted that claimed he talked openly about it, but he denied ever saying that. He claimed it was aimed at embarrassing Price Charles and that he was in no way one. THAT'S GOOD! What an ugly rumor and it was just sitting there hidden in my mind, probably like a lot of people! Bummer. But now I can keep reading, not feeling so dirty.
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I started reading Arthur C Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama" because I've always wanted to and I picked up a used copy. The book is dedicated to Sri Lanka and right away that pinged my brain with a thought, "wait, didn't I hear he was a pedo?" After some research, I found that there was an article that came out before he was to be knighted that claimed he talked openly about it, but he denied ever saying that. He claimed it was aimed at embarrassing Price Charles and that he was in no way one. THAT'S GOOD! What an ugly rumor and it was just sitting there hidden in my mind, probably like a lot of people! Bummer. But now I can keep reading, not feeling so dirty.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Happy Life Day Dennish, RyRy, ME AND JON, and whoever else.
I played a few more DungeonQuests over the last couple of days - I was sick and it's actually compact/sturdy enough to be played right in bed! Someone on BGG created a nice Solo Adventure Log for DQ that's been fun to fill out. So far my shortest game was 8 turns but that game could have been even shorter with a bottomless pit being the first friggen tile. The game is really fun.
I played a few more DungeonQuests over the last couple of days - I was sick and it's actually compact/sturdy enough to be played right in bed! Someone on BGG created a nice Solo Adventure Log for DQ that's been fun to fill out. So far my shortest game was 8 turns but that game could have been even shorter with a bottomless pit being the first friggen tile. The game is really fun.
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Space Hulk: The Failing
Ha! Fooled you!
The game succeeds, I fail at playing it!
Its a weird game that plays great solo and the games play out very much like Space Hulk Proper games do 85% of the time: The Marines start strong, they have enough firepower and people to position themselves at the right places most of the time. They move through the hulk smoothly, and then something happens to slow things down. Maybe there are 5 corridors that need covering but only three marines to do so, or maybe one marine has found himself trailing behind, whatever the cause the end result is the same - DISASTER.
One marine croaks, then the rest are vulnerable. Then another, and by that time the house of cards that is the mission is about ready to fall the eff down.
So far my first two missions have ended in marine slaughter - my most recent mission in the first room I needed to clear (of 4).
All in all, I really like it, just when you think you have a handle on things it all falls apart. Good stuff.
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Botz Partz
They say it's your birthday... It's my birthday too! Well maybe not. But Harpy Bday jarks. With regards to Pump, I think Elves count years the same as us vulgar Humans, its just that he can count a hell of a lot higher. He's probably already 230 years old now. How do you think he was able to collect such a massive array of unpainted miniatures?
In other news, this is pretty much how I feel about Juicy Fruit and Utilikilts.
Rude: Nice write up for DungeonQuest and Castle Mikenloft. Mikenloft looks pretty sweet and well, you can never do wrong by throwing down a little DungeonQuest. I will admit, the combat system is a little obtuse at first, especially when drunk, but it does work fairly well once the system sinks in. Besides, would it be a proper GW throwback game if it didn't have a few lovely rules quirks?
The question of the day, as quoted from the soon to be owner's representative of my building, "Does the management office really need four employees on staff to run it?" Yikes! Can't wait to interview for my job again. This has become all too common these days.
D>M>
In other news, this is pretty much how I feel about Juicy Fruit and Utilikilts.
Rude: Nice write up for DungeonQuest and Castle Mikenloft. Mikenloft looks pretty sweet and well, you can never do wrong by throwing down a little DungeonQuest. I will admit, the combat system is a little obtuse at first, especially when drunk, but it does work fairly well once the system sinks in. Besides, would it be a proper GW throwback game if it didn't have a few lovely rules quirks?
The question of the day, as quoted from the soon to be owner's representative of my building, "Does the management office really need four employees on staff to run it?" Yikes! Can't wait to interview for my job again. This has become all too common these days.
D>M>
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
When I was at Mattel we spent a lot of time coming up with depressing corporate mottos, and one my friend Steve came up with was, "If today's your birthday: happy birthday."
I can totally see you plastering that on the walls at some business you run, Aeryk. Thanks a lot.
Oh happy birthday Denis. How old are you in Elven years?
I can totally see you plastering that on the walls at some business you run, Aeryk. Thanks a lot.
Oh happy birthday Denis. How old are you in Elven years?
Monday, September 20, 2010
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Hey Jerks
Been busy.
- Happy Birthday to all the jerks who have had one!
- Nice writups of your sessions Rudy! Loved the pictures!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
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Nice write ups!
I love that kind of thing!
DungeonQuests combat system isn't really too bad, but it is a lot more complicated than anything else in the game. You shouldve seen me trying to explain it while everyone was hammered!
I think for new players I'd just use the solo rules. Way simpler to explain and good enough for the kind of game it is.
Castle Mikenloft looks pretty boss!
DungeonQuests combat system isn't really too bad, but it is a lot more complicated than anything else in the game. You shouldve seen me trying to explain it while everyone was hammered!
I think for new players I'd just use the solo rules. Way simpler to explain and good enough for the kind of game it is.
Castle Mikenloft looks pretty boss!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
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DorfQuest
Played my first solo DungeonQuest tonight. I'm leaving to Portland in the morning, so only had time for the one quick game. I think I'm going to enjoy it, but I don't really understand the combat yet.
My dwarf got 4 spaces into the dungeon before encountering a bottomless pit. He made his luck check and then the next tile was bridge where he fell in the catacombs. Dorf was in the catacombs for a long ass time and got down to 1 hitpoint thanks to combat with a golem and troll. Finally got out of the catacombs with 3 or 4 turns till the dungeon closed and escaped with 1400 gold he got from 2 treasure chests discovered in the catacombs.
I don't really get combat. Playing solo it made a little more sense, but with other players it sounds more complicated and strategic, MAYBE. Fucking confusing.
It's a good game overall and I'll need to play a bunch more to figure it out.
My dwarf got 4 spaces into the dungeon before encountering a bottomless pit. He made his luck check and then the next tile was bridge where he fell in the catacombs. Dorf was in the catacombs for a long ass time and got down to 1 hitpoint thanks to combat with a golem and troll. Finally got out of the catacombs with 3 or 4 turns till the dungeon closed and escaped with 1400 gold he got from 2 treasure chests discovered in the catacombs.
I don't really get combat. Playing solo it made a little more sense, but with other players it sounds more complicated and strategic, MAYBE. Fucking confusing.
It's a good game overall and I'll need to play a bunch more to figure it out.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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Escape the Tomb
You wake up alone in the depths of Castle Ravenloft. The last thing you remember was when the man with the piercing eyes and long cape approached you on the dark street outside the inn. It had to be Count Strahd, the vampire! Outside the castle, you know that the sun is high in the sky. Now you have to find your way out of here before the sun sets and Strahd returns to finish whatever foul plot he began last night.
I played the introductory solo-adventure in the Ravenloft board game this afternoon and it was a lot of fun. The first game is 10 random tiles and an 11th "secret stairway" tile which you need to reach to beat the game. Certain tiles trigger a setting-sun counter which when it reaches sunset, Strahd awakes. Every tile you expose, you draw a monster card. There's also a chance you'll have to draw an encounter card which is more monster, traps, etc.
Fighting my way to the exit I defeated the following foes:
3 Wolves
2 Rat Swarms
1 Wraith
1 Zombie
2 Kobold Skirmishers
1 Ghoul
1 Blazing Skeleton
1 Spider
I also encountered a few traps along the way. I was about 9 tiles in when Strahd awoke but I also hit a dead end, so had to backtrack to an explorable area. Strahd moves fast as hell (2 tiles a turn) so he caught up to me on the last tile.
To win you have to start your turn on that tile, and unfortunately I triggered an encounter: An arcane symbol flashes at your feat(sic) and you disappear from sight. - Teleport Glyph! This sent me back to the start of the dungeon. So in the most Scooby-Doo fashion, I had to run back through the dungeon passing Strahd at the mid point. I escaped with 2hp remaining.
I played the introductory solo-adventure in the Ravenloft board game this afternoon and it was a lot of fun. The first game is 10 random tiles and an 11th "secret stairway" tile which you need to reach to beat the game. Certain tiles trigger a setting-sun counter which when it reaches sunset, Strahd awakes. Every tile you expose, you draw a monster card. There's also a chance you'll have to draw an encounter card which is more monster, traps, etc.
Fighting my way to the exit I defeated the following foes:
3 Wolves
2 Rat Swarms
1 Wraith
1 Zombie
2 Kobold Skirmishers
1 Ghoul
1 Blazing Skeleton
1 Spider
I also encountered a few traps along the way. I was about 9 tiles in when Strahd awoke but I also hit a dead end, so had to backtrack to an explorable area. Strahd moves fast as hell (2 tiles a turn) so he caught up to me on the last tile.
To win you have to start your turn on that tile, and unfortunately I triggered an encounter: An arcane symbol flashes at your feat(sic) and you disappear from sight. - Teleport Glyph! This sent me back to the start of the dungeon. So in the most Scooby-Doo fashion, I had to run back through the dungeon passing Strahd at the mid point. I escaped with 2hp remaining.
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