Bad Attitudes

Begin Rant #3 of 2012...

I've met a lot of people who like role-playing games.  I've played in games with quite a few of them.  Some of them had good attitudes, and of course some of them had bad attitudes.  I see the same thing with bloggers of the role-playing game genre.  What do I mean by bad attitude?  It's their general outlook on just about everything in the hobby.  Sometimes I wonder why they are even participating in the hobby with all the negativity they have?

Sometimes it's about the edition wars, sometimes it's about WotC/Hasbro haters, sometimes it's just about nitpicking about the little things *cough* ascending/descending armor class *cough*, minis or no minis... I could go on for a while...  The thing is, it's all getting a little old.  You're free to write what you want, and I'm free to ignore it.

I've had a bad attitude about certain things in the hobby, but guess what?  I matured as a person, and realized there's enough room in the hobby for everyone.  You don't like WotC/Hasbro?  There are people that do, and guess what?  Chances are you aren't going to change their mind.  EVER.

Okay, sometimes I understand their bad attitudes, they enjoy the hobby, and don't like the way they think it's going.  That's fine.  Many bloggers, and I know a couple or three that have mentioned this, want to make their living in the "hobby".  Here's what I have to say about that... GO FOR IT!  You only live once, ( I guess ), and why not shoot for the moon?  I don't know the history of the Pathfinder, but they started small, and grew from there.  It can be done.

If you don't think you can make a living in the business of writing and designing games, then just enjoy it as a hobby.  If you can make a little extra money publishing what you can, then be happy!  It's easier than ever to be a small publisher.  Don't blame someone else for all your woes.

Also, I've read blogs, ( not that many mind you ), that the blogger's of the opinion that their way is the best way, and all gamers should emulate them.  HAH.  Their arrogance feeds their negativity, and because not every single gamer is jumping on their bad wagon, and buying their "stuff', they just get more negative.

The thing that bothers me the most is that, some of the negative, arrogant bloggers occasionally write some good stuff.  However, I don't want to read it, or participate in any discussion that may occur.  Why?  Lets say there's an ice cream store and they sell the best fracking ice cream in the world.  However, to get to the store you have to walk across a field chocked full of broken glass and sharp metal, and the footings uneven.  And it's the only way for you to get there.  ( Hey it's an analogy okay? )  Even wearing shoes, would you want to cross the field?  I don't.  You would think bloggers would want readers?  I don't know, I guess some people like the negativity, the bad attitude.  I don't.

So to review: bad attitudes/negativity/arrogance = BAD.  Good attitudes/being positive = GOOD.

Do what makes you happy, but don't assume what makes you happy makes anyone else happy.  Some people only play D&D, and in it's latest iteration.  Some people like to play a multitude of games, and enjoy them all.  Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but don't be upset when not everyone agrees with you. It's going to happen.  I, in fact enjoy reading different opinions, but sometimes not in the way they're presented.  Negativity and arrogance are deal breakers for me.  I move on quickly.  I've got better things to do.

Of course all of this is my opinion, but I think it's a good one.  Live and let live.  You like the OSR and the DIY aspect, then concentrate on that.  You like D&D in any iteration?  That's great!  Play on!  You blog about any of this?  Wonderful!  However, maybe we should all try to be a bit more positive in our endeavors?  I know I can work on this as well.  Support all aspects of the hobby, however we can.  Sink or swim, it's all we have.

Number Crunching & Philosophic Meanderings

32 days into 2012, and this is the 205th post for Have Dice, Will Travel.  HDWT has 68 followers, although at least one of those is a duplicate of another, and there are some fictional followers as well.  When I finally discovered the fictional followers I had a good chuckle.

So far this year I've written one minor rant, and one major rant, and hopefully they will be the last ones this year.  I really don't like ranting.  I'm a mellow, laid back kind of guy.  However, if something ticks me off, if I see something I consider to be an injustice, if I see someone attacked or bullied...  Well, I do what I can to make things right, or at least give moral support.

All the discussion and outrage and well everything about 5E has amused me.  I'm also a little intrigued about what may result?  Of course we have a long wait...  Wake me when it's out.  Of course TEOTWAWKI might hit before then...  Hhhmmm... if the Wizards of the Coast screw it up, then it might be TEOWOTC!  Hahahaha... I crack me up sometimes.

Actually, I'm becoming slightly interested in Pathfinder.  Now if I can just sell a kidney, then I can afford the books!  Haha.. I'll be here all week folks.  I actually haven't made a single "gaming" purchase yet this year, but I'm sure that will change.

Last night I downloaded AutoREALM.  A free mapping program, that I had forgetten I had downloaded once before.  I'm not sure I like it.  Maybe I need to find a tutorial, and learn how to use it better.  Anyone have any experience with it?  Is there some kind of advantage to using it instead of a regular graphics program like GIMP or Paint.Net?  I find it kind of clunky.

Well, I think I'll close for now.  I keep losing my connection, and it really wrecks havoc with my train of thought.  And we all know a train of thought wreck isn't a good thing.

I Can't Stand Arrogance

ar·ro·gance noun \ˈer-ə-gən(t)s, ˈa-rə-\

Definition of ARROGANCE: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogance

Arrogance is a bad thing okay? Arrogant people are annoying, especially those that don't think they are being arrogant. At it's worst it gets people killed. I once had a discussion with a commercial pilot about the "God Complex" which is the ultimate, extreme form of arrogance. Many doctors and commercial pilots have the God Complex. He told me doctors who are also licensed private pilots are more likely to crash, and kill themselves and their families. Why? Because of the God Complex, because of their arrogance.  They think they can do no wrong.

Arrogant people are difficult to deal with. They always think they are right, and when they are proven wrong, they have plenty of excuses. It's always someone else's fault.

When my sister was in the hospital, I had to deal with more than one arrogant doctor. The only reason I didn't give them a verbal reaming or worse is because I wanted to be there for my sister. If I had acted on my feelings I would have been kicked out of the hospital, or even arrested. I needed to be there for her.

Arrogance is a bad thing. It's a character flaw. A HUGE character flaw. Arrogance is not confidence. Here's a nice essay, confidence vs arrogance . If you describe yourself as arrogant, perhaps you need to work on that?  They say repition is the mother of learning so... Arrogance is a bad thing. It's a character flaw. A HUGE character flaw. Arrogance is not confidence.  Confidence is a good thing, arrogance is a bad thing.

Luckily, most of the people who blog about gaming aren't arrogant. There are a few that are, and I avoid them the best I can.  I won't name them, nor link to them, but most of you know who they are anyway.  Why am I writing this?  It's simply an explanation.  If you see a comment by me, out there in the blogosphere that seems out of character, this should explain my point of view.  I abhor arrogance.  I know that I'm probably not going change anyone, but I won't stay silent anymore.

Ideas? Suggestions? Requests? Insults?

I've been giving a lot of thought to running an online game.  I used to use a Yahoo group to run a free-form rpg, but that was years ago, and fizzled out.  I really would like to do something on Google+, however my Internet connection/bandwidth is not good at all.  In fact it's horrible.  So instead of throwing my hands up, giving up, and going "MEH!", I will live by one of my motto's.  Do what you can, with what you have, until you get something better.  ( The second part of the motto is: Work on getting something better. )

So I want to run a game, or more precisely a RPG.  I'm just not sure the best way to go about it?  A blog with play-by-posts?  Another Yahoo group?  A forum?  Play-by-email? A combination of these options?  The second decision would have to be genre, and then rule-set.  The genre would of course influence what rule-set I would use.  I wouldn't use AD&D to run a superhero campaign, or would I?  Heh... nooooooo.  I know I don't want to go the free-form route again.  There need to be rules.

So that's what I'm asking my esteemed readership.  What would you want to play and in what format?  Here are some of the things I was thinking about...

• AD&D 1E
• Mutant Future
• Labyrinth Lord/OSRIC/ or???
• GURPS 3E ( Probably not... I've only got the main rulebook right now. )
• Traveller

I was also seriously considering a game set in the town of Kinship and environs.  I just haven't decided what rule-set to use.

All that being considered, this wouldn't be one of those things were you HAVE TO POST every hour/day/week or whatever.  I want this to be a flexible game.  However, if you end up being absent quite a bit, don't be upset when you miss out on things.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions.  A fantasy sandbox, or Mutant Future would be fun, but now that I think about it, a weird western would be fun as well.  So speak up, and let me know.  If you reply I want to know the following:

• If you're interested in playing in an online campaign.
• The format you would be most interested in playing in, i.e. play-by-post, etc.
• The genre and rule-set you are most interested in.
• What you want out of the game!  Combat, role-playing, exploration, everything?

Okay, I'm all ears!

[ Kinship ] Vanilla Pudding to Go

Entering Jelly's Cafe, Five saw Tom Solven sitting at the counter eating vanilla pudding.  Jelly's had the best vanilla pudding, except for the time it came to life, and grew to gigantic proportions, and then went on a rampage.  Well, it was still good, but no one can eat that much vanilla pudding, not even Matt.  The town stunk of vanilla pudding for weeks.  The Sheriff requested that Cook not use that recipe again.  Not that it mattered much, people were put off pudding for a long time after that incident.

Sitting next to the diminutive man, he opened his notebook, and smiled as he saw Tom look over at him.

"Exactly why do you do this Five?  Asking everyone who will answer you so many questions?  You fancy yourself the town historian?"  Tom popped his neck, and squinted at his pudding.  "I still don't trust this stuff..."

Five gently probed Tom's mind, but meet with resistance.  A deep growl came from Tom.

"That makes my brain itch.  Stop.  I'll answer your questions."  He pushed the bowl of pudding away.  "I swear this stuff still grows.  I never seem to empty a bowl.  No wonder it's all you can eat."

Looking over his list of questions, a feeling of unease crept into Five's very being.  Shuddering he put down his pen.  Something was wrong.

"So Five you going to the movies tonight?  I hear it's supposed to be a new movie...  Wait what's wrong?"

Five noticed that Tom was sniffing the air, moving his head side to side.

"Zombies... lot's and lot's zombies..."  Jumping off the stool, Tom's transformation was incredibly fast.  One second he was a normal looking midget, the next he was midget werewolf.

Standing up, Five looked through the large front windows of Jelly's Cafe.  Main Street was filled with zombies, more than he had ever seen before.  This was bad.

"Five, I'll go out first, you follow me.  We need to make it to the Sheriff's office.  Something's wrong.  This many zombies shouldn't have made it into town without the alarm going off."  Turning to the rest of the cafe's customers, he noticed most weren't a part of the defense force.  "Everyone else should stay here, unless you're a member of the defense force, and armed.  You will be safe in here."

Tom turned back to Five.  "Try to stay near, I'll clear a path.  Let's go!"

Pulling out his Bowie knife, Five took a deep breathe, and a chill ran down his spine.  He never liked combat, but when he had to fight, he could fight.  Zombies were the worst.  He couldn't read them at all.  Their minds were blank.

With a howl and a leap, Tom, or Snarl, as many of the people called him, was out the door, and in seconds had already beheaded four zombies with a mere slash of his long claws.

Pausing before exiting the cafe, Five sent a mental message to his Clan.  The town was going to need help.  Then he was out the door, slashing out with the knife as the first zombie lurched towards him.  Somewhere down Main Street there was an explosion.  Everything seemed to rumble.  Then he was on the ground, momentarily stunned.  Shaking his head, his ears ringing, he saw the zombie looming over him, a black ooze dripping from a half rotted nostril, and staining what was once a very nice Superman t-shirt.  Five was wishing he had ordered some of the pudding when he had the chance.

Suddenly the zombie was headless, as Snarl came to his rescue.  "COME ON!"  Getting to his feet, Five saw something large and black swooping out of the darkening sky, and straight towards Snarl...

GURPS ROCKS!

Well, I hadn't planned on posting today, but I just read a diatribe against GURPS on a blog.  Instead of commenting there I decided to just stop following it, and respond here.  I probably wouldn't have stopped following the blog, ( I won't name it, nor link to it ), but it seems every second or third sentence had some version of the f-bomb was used.  I guess the blogger was trying to be creative.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, they're entitled to speak, write, or whatever, about their opinion, but the same goes for me.  The title basically is telling people to stop talking about GURPS, and of course that it sucks.  Well guess what?  That's not going to happen.  I like the system.  I'm sorry if the poor blogger can't handle the math, but sheeesh, such hate is unwarranted.

As a GM, I've ran more GURPS games than any other system.  I like it.  My friends liked it.  We had fun.  Tons and tons of FUN.  I will write about GURPS, I will talk about it, I will promote it, I will run it at conventions,  I will eventually run another campaign, heck I may start a blog that talks about NOTHING BUT GURPS.  So Mr. Hate-filled Blogger, stick that in your pipe, and shove it up... oh wait, my apologies.  I'll be nice.  Thanks for giving me a post topic.  I'm not a big fan of rule-system/edition hate/haters.

The blogger in question likes Paranoia.  I don't like it, but I'm not going to tell people to stop talking about it, or playing it.  If you enjoy it, then have fun.  Just don't slam one of the games I enjoy.  It's a fairly simple concept.

GURPS ROCKS!!!

On another note, this year I plan on changing the blogo ( blog logo ) every month.  I really didn't like the one for January, and the style was getting old so I changed it early.  It blends a little of the old, with some new stuff.  Oh and one more time....

GURPS ROCKS!!!

Zombies Don't Make Good Pets...

It's also a pain when they make it into your safe-house.  Poor Private Gronch, one of my three characters in Urban Dead is now a zombie.  I think I'm going to have him wander around, and hopefully find one of those Necro-Tech dudes to revive him.  As a zombie he can't use his stuff, but I think it's hilarious that he's got a flak jacket on.  That was a lucky find.

I created the graphic above after playing around with CorkboardMe.  Yes, I did a screen capture for the graphics, and did the rest with Paint.Net.  It's hard to make realistic looking blood splatters!  I thought I had a splatter plug-in, but I couldn't find it.

I hope to have some fiction posted sometime tomorrow, or maybe some sandbox ideas...