CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 21:10:05 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

If I make a 3D model of Darth Vader and print it on a 3D printer, would that violate intellectual property laws? What if I just created the model and distributed it, would either myself or the people who downloaded my model to print on their own be breaking the law?

#21stcenturyproblems

2013-05-23 15:20:40 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Taking the time to put in the hard work of polishing a piece of written material is agonizing, but ultimately satisfying.

2013-05-23 02:07:00 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

When are we going to get some kind of blood augmentation that makes human blood repellent to mosquitoes?

scratch scratch

seriously!

I'm trying to edit/rewrite an RPG tonight. I ain't got time to scratch.

2013-05-21 15:47:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Reginald Hunter gives probably one of the most profound answers to a question about censorship in this video. Particularly at about 7:23

Reginald D Hunter Interview Part 2

2013-05-21 01:37:55 (15 comments, 1 reshares, 59 +1s)

Just had to cuddle, rock, and calm down a screaming boy because he wanted to stay up and keep reading the 3e D&D Monster Manual for a few more minutes.

I feel ashamed and proud at the same time.

2013-05-20 03:06:21 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Hahaha! Just finished plugging the holes in the A&A document.

It only took a few days of limiting my engagement on G+. Wow.

Time to actually print it and do a final editing pass with the wife.

Feels good to see the finish line coming into view.

2013-05-18 14:30:33 (14 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

When they finally end Dr. Who, it is going to make the Firefly cancellation look like a non-event.

/blasphemy

2013-05-16 17:47:05 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Alright, I want to get back on track. I am going to be radically transparent about the state of reality so that I will have realistic goals. Talking it out helps..... a lot, actually.

The first project I am going to get out the door will be Ambitions & Avarice. A&A is a dungeon-crawling classic RPG design, with a focus on breaking out of the D&D legacy in many ways.

Here is the BETA version:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/105884/Ambition-%26-Avarice


So let's take a look at where that project stands right now.

----------------

Indesign File: 86 pages (full size, unlike the BETA)

Cover (1)

Credits & TOC (2)

Ch 1. Introduction (3-7)
Player Skill
Mechanics

Ch 2. Character Creation (8-30):
Checklist
Attributes
Race
Class
Possessions... more »

2013-05-16 14:34:53 (65 comments, 0 reshares, 51 +1s)

Today is my birthday. I don't like how the new G+ layout looks. And my good friend +Stuart Robertson declared that he is taking a break from G+ to think about the utility of the service. This leaves me in a very contemplative mood.

I have been remarkably unproductive in the past six months. Way out of line with my historical trend line. I have been so unproductive that I barely check or respond to my personal e-mails anymore. Unless it is from one of the guys that I actually game with, I kinda just slack off about it.

Now my first thought was to think that maybe I am depressed. But I'm really not. I have a very strong relationship with my family. I am doing a lot of things in my real life. I've been playing a lot of Mass Effect, getting a reasonable amount of sleep, and so on. Just not with respect to writing RPGs or playing RPGs via the internet.

So I think a... more »

2013-05-13 21:20:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

A small production colony on the mostly oceanic Talos has discovered that the continent on the planet is actually floating on top of a massive metallic super-structure. Scout submarines have discovered the continental shelf is false and dives around the edge have revealed entrance portals leading into this structure from below. 

The Industrial Robotics company is hiring individuals to explore this super-structure and report back. Limited rights to uncovered technology will be granted in proportion to the capabilities of exploration teams. Compensation will also be provided, subject to......

[ TRANSMISSION TERMINATED ]


Photographer:
http://hunterkiller.deviantart.com

2013-05-10 15:20:14 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Here is a possible alternative to the Normandy.

Artist:
http://ionfluxda.deviantart.com

2013-05-10 13:07:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Prothean spec ops?

Artist:
http://rhinoting.deviantart.com

2013-05-08 20:49:54 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

A haunting image sent back from the distant planet of Erubis in the Faerna system have triggered an outpouring of speculation that the planet may have once been a seat of civilization. 

Artist:
http://ehecod.deviantart.com

2013-05-03 18:42:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

A squad of combat mechs have become infected with a viral AI and turned on their creators at the Assault Robotics factory on Iserium. The factory has been destroyed. Surviving personnel and the inhabitants of nearby towns have been evacuated or have chosen to leave the planet on their own accord. Local authorities have placed the planet under quarantine until Citadel military units can be rotated in to clean up the damage and destroy the rogue mechs.

The quality assurance spokesperson for Assault Robotics released a notice today stating that this viral AI is contained on Iserium and that Assault Robotics mechs in the field are in no danger of contamination. We have been unable to independently verify this claim.

Artist:
http://djahal.deviantart.com/

2013-05-03 17:36:46 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Reports are coming in that the Temple of Ascetia on Thessia is mysteriously deserted. Asari security is turning away journalists investigating the disappearance of the temple staff.

Uleri Treva, head of Asari security forces on Thessia, has been quoted in the local media as saying...

We are investigating the situation at the Temple of Ascetia and we will keep the press informed of any developments. However, we are currently prohibiting any members of the press from entering the site for their own safety. We will bring you up to speed on the situation as it develops. Please move back...

Eyewitnesses report seeing three Krogan in black military combat suits enter the temple on the previous evening. Asari security has declined to comment on whether any Krogan have been found on site.

Artist:
http://ulricleprovost.deviantart.com

2013-05-03 14:48:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Travel Advisory:

You are leaving Citadel Space. The Traverse is not regularly patrolled. Pirates have been known to attack ships without warning, particularly during planetary deceleration. 

Do not allow the size of your ship to falsely bolster your confidence. The pirate Tai'Shun, an exile from the Migrant Fleet, has been engaging ships in this region using a modified Alliance cruiser. 

Exercise caution


Artist:
http://dissidentzombie.deviantart.com

2013-05-03 13:24:44 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

This individual is armed and highly dangerous. Wanted for repeated extra-judicial bounty captures and two instances of murder in cold blood. Only experienced crews should risk an encounter or pursuit. Exercise extreme caution!

Known only as "The Hunter"

Artist:
http://adambrenoch.deviantart.com

2013-05-02 17:31:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I'm not saying it's Protheans..... but..... it's Protheans.

Artist:
http://sanchiko.deviantart.com/

2013-05-02 15:11:39 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Here is a clip of some stuff I am working on for my game. You can see the way I am taking things from ME and turning them into more generic sandboxy stuff so that people can customize their own universes.

2013-05-01 20:27:10 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

A new alien species arrives with a small task force.

Artist:
http://zhangx.deviantart.com/

2013-05-01 18:05:07 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Protheans were here. I got a feeling......


Artist:
http://macrebisz.deviantart.com/#

2013-05-01 15:40:12 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Here is the full design of the character sheet for my game currently in development. I had previous posted page 1 to my personal feed, so some of you may recognize it. But I just finished page 2. Let me know what you think. Criticism welcome!

2013-04-29 16:56:45 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

One of my big criticisms of ME in general is that there is no time pressure. The entire plot is gatekeepered.

For example, I am doing my 2nd playthrough of ME2 right now. I have gone onto the powered-down Collector ship, EDI retrieved the knowledge of the Omega 4 relay using an IFF signal to manage safe passage, and the Illusive Man has told me about the derelict Reaper that might have the IFF code that I need.

side note: I love the idea of finding ancient things by backtracking the trajectory of an interstellar weapon, awesome writing right there

Now, until I choose to go to the Derelict Reaper, the entire meta-plot is stalled. I have spoken to all my crew about their loyalty missions and I am working my way through those right now and exploring a few of the systems that you can buy star charts for. There is absolutely no time pressure. Everything is on hold until I choose... more »

2013-04-25 20:51:54 (42 comments, 9 reshares, 38 +1s)

I created this for my good friend +Craig Brasco, because when he asked me why I thought Mass Effect was such a good setting for tabletop RPGs, I kinda struggled to put it all into words. He has not played the games, so I kept wanting to say certain things, but then realizing that it would require some other bit of info. It's hard to share a whole universe idea, you know?

So here is my answer: a slideshow. I am sharing it all with you, in case you find yourself in the same situation.

2013-04-15 21:32:54 (43 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Here is a glance at what I was alluding to earlier today with respect to completely rebuilding the Jedi / Mass Effect idea that I posted last week.

2013-04-09 20:32:54 (39 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

Here is a graphical representation of the system that I mentioned in the previous post. I don't have terms yet, but the first column would be similar to technique in Ars Magica and the 2nd column would be similar to forms. You combine the two into pairs.

At character creation, you would have a number of dice to distribute between the ten functions. Then when you invoke your power, you choose a difficulty number from a list of gradually stronger effects (similar to spell levels in Ars Magica), then roll dice to see if you can reach that difficulty.

Failure on the roll drains a fatigue reserve that can only be restored by rest.

Thoughts?

2013-04-09 14:04:43 (44 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

If you were designing a space station with the #1 objective being to repel boarding parties, what would you do?

Would it have to be a sphere, since otherwise they would just approach from the best angle? I'm thinking there would need to be a hollow space between the exterior hull and the interior structure that defenders would need to cross. And you would keep that space without life support so that incoming boarding parties would need environmental suits to stay alive.

Thoughts?

Artist:
http://tkingart.deviantart.com

2013-04-08 21:16:07 (18 comments, 4 reshares, 24 +1s)

Inspired by several reshares of Keith's post this morning.....

https://plus.google.com/u/0/112327884121702098831/posts/79vwHd6jGTZ

I pulled out an older map and added some features (rocky hills, most prominently). I think I could pack a lot of adventure in here.

2013-04-04 12:48:22 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

This is a very good map. Impressive.

Artist:
http://sapiento.deviantart.com

2013-04-02 18:25:42 (37 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

I don't see very many Central and South American influences in RPGs. Maybe that's just me, but I don't think so. I would like to see a more diverse face of Native Americans than just the Sioux and Iroquois archetypes.

Come to think of it, we have a lot of mound-building native archeology in the South. I live near the Etowah Indian Mounds, been there many times, very cool place. I would like to see more of that too.

Just a thought for an idle Tuesday

Artist:
http://jcbarquet.deviantart.com

2013-04-01 19:56:36 (47 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Why are capital ships so large in sci-fi?

I can understand why transport ships would be large. More space.

Why are capital ships so big though? They don't have battleship-like guns that need large ammunition storage. Their energy sources in almost every sci-fi universe are on a trend line towards smaller. I don't get the impression that these ships are committing half their mass to energy production and engines. Is every capital ship also a huge trooper carrier? Not to the degree that they appear to be in my mind.

Thoughts?

Artist:
http://bernardfokke.deviantart.com

2013-04-01 13:20:43 (41 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

What would be some cool titles to use for a system of nobility where power is divided like this:

- Ruler of many solar systems
- Ruler of a single solar system
- Ruler of a single planet
- Ruler of an administrative region on a planet surface (or a moon).
- Ruler of a tiny spark of territory (asteroid mining facility, space station, etc)

King/Duke/Count/Baron = lame

Give me something spicy and fresh.

2013-04-01 12:43:15 (70 comments, 4 reshares, 18 +1s)

Given what we know now (as opposed to what we knew in the 80s when people were writing sci-fi), is there any reason to actually put a pilot into a mech? Why wouldn't it be either AI-driven or remotely driven?

The only reason I can think of is that you might be worried your connection to the machine would fail (interference from terrain, active countermeasures by the enemy to disrupt communications, etc).

Thoughts?

Artist:
http://denmanrooke.deviantart.com/

2013-03-28 14:15:12 (34 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

So I finally bought Mass Effect 2 off the cheap rack and started playing it last night. I have to say that I am very impressed so far. 

My video gaming experience has dramatically improved by allowing other people to buy the games first and report back to me on whether or not they suck, then I pick it up for $20 on the bargain rack.

I am getting 100% wheat and no chaff. It's nice. I have more money. And stress free too.

2013-03-27 21:13:56 (24 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Map made for practice and to increase my familiarity with natural flow of rivers. Time period is intended to be early medieval, so if you see any cities that shouldn't really be marked at this point in time or you notice that a city which should be on there but isn't, let me know.

2013-03-27 17:43:59 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

I saw this today and it reminded me of the post I had a few days ago to brainstorm ideas for isolated locations in a sci-fi universe. Even if the entire planet/moon is undeveloped, just one vehicle like this would be a helluva adventuring location. So much potential.

Artist:
http://adamburn.deviantart.com/

2013-03-27 13:31:22 (14 comments, 11 reshares, 21 +1s)

This is an incredible mapping resource.

http://built4ever.deviantart.com/gallery/