Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here

12:14PM - Ambercon Here I Come, soonish

Ambercon Game selection achievement unlocked.

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2:44AM - Global Frequency Ambercon Write-Up

Here is my write-up for the Ambercon Game I am running. Any suggestions?


Global Frequency - You are on the Global Frequency

Tymen VanDyk

Are you on the Global Frequency?

What is the Global Frequency? Some call it an Urban Myth, some say it’s a Faerie Tale and some call it a world conspiracy. What it is, is a world-wide independent intelligence organization, a rapid emergency response team and a private defense force all rolled into one. They deal with the threats that the world’s governments don’t want you to know about and can't handle themselves. They know troubles coming before anyone else does.

There are 1001 operatives on the Global Frequency, Intelligence Operatives, former Special Ops soldiers, ex-Cops, Scientists, Athletes. If you are an expert in your field, whatever it may be, you could be called on by the Global Frequency.

Wait, hear that. That special ring-tone, you’d better answer it, their calling you.

You are on the Global Frequency.

4:46PM - The Game's the Thing

So, after having read the Smallville RPG and found it a game I really want to play, Not for it's Smallvilleness, but because the drive and relationship centered mechanics interest me.

So, I have a question for all of you, my friends, out in internet land.
What game are you desperately wanting to play? Why?
What has got your creative juices flowing?

Share with me.

4:52AM - Misspent Youth

I want to play Misspent Youth with a Western bent using the back drop of the Lincoln County War; Billy the Kid and his buddies against the Authority.

4:18AM - More Games I want to play

I've thought of more games that I want to play.

Ribbon Drive - Joe McDaldno's cool rpg of Road Trips and mixed tapes. Which relies on Mixed CDs to drive the play.

Burning Wheel - Luke Crane's piece de resistance. With Instincts and Beliefs that drive your character forward, it makes me want to play.

Mouse Guard - Luke Crane's game based upon David Peter's comics. Sounds cool and I want to try it.

Fiasco - Jason Morningstar's fantastic game of Coen Brother's story role-playing. I totally want to play this.

These all look fun and I want to play.

5:49PM - Games I want to play

Last Sunday (October 9th), I played in a Shadowworld game via conference call, run by Edwin and with eight of my Ambercon friends. It was an extremely good time. And it got me to thinking about gaming and games I would like to play.

So, here are a selection of the games I want to play in no particular order.

1. The Dresden Files RPG - Evil Hats awesome game. Firstly because the Dresden Files rocks. Also because I love the way the mechanics emulate the source material and pay respect to the source material.
(I am playing in a Fate based hack of Scion pbem right now, run by princejvstin, so this itch is close to being scratched. I am enjoying that immensely.)

2. Apocalypse World - Vincent D. Baker's awesome game. Because Post-Apocalyptic role-playing scratches a certain itch and I want to wallow in it for a while.

3. Smallville RPG - Margaret Weis Productions most excellent game. Because the group character creation, the use of values and relationships, and the emphasis on drama and conflict make me want to try it.

4. Leverage RPG - Another Margaret Weis Productions awesome game. Another one that emulates the source material extremely well and makes me want to play in that sandbox.

5. Spirit of the Century - Evil Hats other awesome Fate game. Pulp role-playing sounds like it would be fun and I want to try it.

6. Dogs in the Vineyard - Vincent Baker's awesome game. Because who doesn't want to play Mormon Paladins in a mythical version of the Old West.

There are more, but I can't think of any right now.

So, tell me, what do you want to play?

3:37PM - 5ive Questions

From corwin77 

Check it:
Rules
1. Leave a comment saying you want to be interviewed.
2. I'll reply and give you five questions to answer.
3. You'll update your LJ with the five questions answered.
4. You'll include this explanation.
5. You ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed. And it just keeps going, and going, and going.

1.) Favourite RPG (if it's Amber then fave non-Amber RPG)?

My Favourite RPG (that is not Amber), that's a tough question, so I'll answer it in three parts.
The RPG I'm currently really interested in is the Smallville RPG because I'm really grooving on the drive and relationship based mechanics.
I really want to play or run this game.

The RPG I'm enjoying playing the most at this point is actually nuadha_prime 's The Dreaming Cities game using his The Key 2.0 system. A simple diceless system which use playing cards and moves quickly around the group. It works great for convention games.

My favourite system to run is Dust Devils because I love the collaborative play that comes out of it, plus Western.

2.) Can you make a cake?

Yes, and when I was younger I even made a cake from scratch. "It's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake."

3.) Last music you bought?

8in8 (Amanda Palmer)  - Nighty Night

4.) What would be your theme song?

Meat Loaf - Rock´N´Roll Dreams Come Through

There’s always something magic
There’s always something new
And when you really, really need it the most
That’s when rock and roll dreams come through
The beat is yours forever
The beat is always true
And when you really, really need it the most
That’s when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...

5.) Did you ever shoot a man in Reno just to watch him die?

No, but bumped into somebody accidentally on the streets of Ottawa once. Does that count?

11:26PM - Modern Day Faerie Tale

Just saw Hanna at the movies.

I thought it was great, love the Faerie tale quality of the film.
Saoirse Ronan was incredible as the girl who begins her journey into world.
Eric Bana as the ex-CIA father was excellent and Cate Blanchett played the wicked CIA agent
with menace and subtlety. All in all an excellent movie that thrilled and moved me.

Best line from the movie.

Rachel: What did your mother die of Hanna?
Hanna: Three bullets.

1:19PM - Cherish all good mothers

For they brought us into the world and raised us with loving care.

I miss my mom everyday, but I know she is looking down upon me from the heavens.
I am still trying to make you proud, mom.
I love you.

6:54AM - You are on the Global Frequency

A serial game I'm thinking of running at Ambercon.

Global Frequency was a 12 issue comic maxi-series created by Warren Ellis.

Want to know more check it out on Wikipedia. Global Frequency

What makes this perfect for running as a serial game at a con is that cast of characters in the comic always change.
Only Miranda Zero and Aleph are constants. So, they make the vehicle for the GM to introduce the scenario to the players.
The other aspect I like is that the group is selected based on the requirements of the mission at hand.
So, what I'll be doing for the game is getting the characters and then creating the scenario around them and not the other way around.
This allows me to run according to what my players want to see in the game, based upon the characters they send me. It also allows for a wide variety of character types who will all have value in the game.

I'm most likely going to run using the Key 2.0 system as created bynuadha_prime . Because it's fast and loose enough to work with.
I might tweak a few things, but it suits my purpose.

All ideas are welcome, any input and aid is gladly accepted.

5:54AM - War never changes...

... or how we got kicked out of Vault 114 and learned to love the Ottawa Nuclear wasteland.

My friiend Mark is running a Fallout: Ottawa game using the Silhouette rules. It's very cool, so far.
He went all out with props, giving us Quest Cards and creating a salvage deck to draw from. He has
large map of the Ottawa-Hull region that we mark pen to show where we've been or what we've seen in the distance,
but haven't gotten to yet. It's very cool so far, he's doing an excellent job of bringing the spirit of the Fallout experience
to a role-playing game without it being identical.

I look forward to playing more.

6:43AM - Dream a Little Dream of Me

Saw Inception on Monday night. Great movie, loved it. The ending was perfect, the acting was brilliant, and I would see this again in the theater. I will buy this movie when it comes out on DVD.

One of my favourite movies of this year, possibly even on my favourite movies of all times list, top 10.

See it.

3:46AM - The once and true wizard named Harry...

and I'm not talking about Potter. (Although I did enjoy the Harry Potter books and own them all. ) No, I'm talking about the only Wizard advertised in the Chicago phonebook, Harry Dresden and how (im)patiently I am waiting for my copies of the Dresden Files rpg books, I pre-ordered in late April. Can't wait to get my hands on them. I've looked at the PDFs, but it's not the same as holding a book in your hands. I want to read and play this game. Urban Fantasy as it's finest.

3:10AM - What makes the grass grow...

Blood, Blood, Blood.

These two action movies look great, I really want to see them when they come out.

Red





The Expendables



These movies look awesome.

2:49AM - Health is the most important thing in Life

Hey,

Just an update for everyone as to the state of my health and weight loss. Since December 31st, the day of my surgery I have lost over 120 pounds. After dealing with minor stomach issues over the first couple of months, namely getting used to the ammount of food intake and so forth. My health has been great. I feel good, I'm walking better and generally I'm in better shape than I have been in forever. I've actually been to the pool in my building a couple of times in the past few months. I'm still losing and am expected to lose over the next year and a half to two years. Just wanted to let everyone know what was going on with me.

Ps. If you want a chance to see the new me (even less than now, by then) sign up for Ambercon North  and you'll get your chance.
You'll get to see me, but also curgoth , corwin77 , a2macgeek and other great and amazing people. So, come one and come all and have a great time.

4:30AM - Son of Don't Forget the Lyrics - The Shiny and New Edition

In the immortal words of Antonio Banderas - Let's Play.
The way this works is, I set my grotesquely diverse music library to shuffle, and I grab the first lines of the first twenty songs. Your job is to guess WTF they are, listing song title and artist (if it's a cover, I'll be liberal). (If the song title is in first line I'll replace it with blah blah blah.)

1. Well I'm an eight ball shooting double fisted drinking son of a gun
2. You can be my slave and I'll be a stranger
3. The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long  
- Fight the Good Fight by Triumph as guessed by corwin77 
4. Hey it's me what a big surprise calling you up from a restaurant around the bend
5. Look under his floorboards, Mama, I don't trust his silly grin
6. Know it sounds funny but I just can't stand the pain
7. You've done for me everything I have ever dreamed
8. I'm a gambler and I'm a runner
9. Anyone who's ever had a heart wouldn't turn around and break it
- Sweet Jane by Cowboy Junkies (written by Lou Reed) as guessed by corwin77 
10. I've had a lot of big dreams, I've made a lot of bad moves
11. Blame it all on my roots I showed up in boots 
- Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places as guessed by zdashamber 
12. Got no time for the corner boys, down in the street makin' all that noise
13. On the first day of May I took to the road
14. He looked down into her brown eyes and said say a prayer for me
15. Always so keen, in a big black fleur de lys
16. If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me
- Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd as guessed by corwin77 
17. Heaven bend to take my hand and lead me through the fire
18. There goes my old girlfriend, there's another diamond ring
19. When I was a boy on my daddys knee thats when he said these words to me
20. I know just how to whisper, and I know just how to cry

9:55AM - It's the Bride of Meme Musical Madness

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.

corwin77 gave me Arrrrrh (That's pirate for R, for those who are landlubbers and need the translation).

We've got a theme today, me hearties.

1. Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution by AC/DC
Rock 'n Roll lives on forever in our hearts, no one can take the spirit of Rock from you. No one embodies that better than AC/DC.

"Rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution
Rock 'n' roll ain't gonna die
Rock 'n' roll ain't no pollution
Rock 'n' roll is just rock 'n' roll" 

2. Rock 'n Roll is a Vicious Game by April Wine
Rock 'n Roll can on those who create it, the public that loves you one minute will spit you out the next. Rock is a fickle mistress.
None explain that better than April Wine.

"Now isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
No one ever warned the boy
Rock n' roll is a vicious game, oh oh, oh
Oh yeah, oh, oh oh oh, oh, yeah, yeah yeah yeah
My my my, rock 'n roll is a vicious game, yeah
Rock 'n' roll, rock 'n' roll, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh "

3. Rock 'n Roll Pollution Steroids by The Danny Mainstreet Band (Couldn't find this song anywhere online, send me a message if you want to hear it.
Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll can sometimes be a recipe for True Love. According to these guys anyways.

"Some malt liquor'll make this go quicker.
It gets a whole lot better when we get wetter.
This Rock 'n Roll Pollution Steroids..."

4. Rock On by David Essex
Rock 'n Roll is a culture all it's own, wrapped up in itself and worshipping the idols of the past. One hit wonder, David Essex hits on this.

"Still looking for that blue jean, baby queen
Prettiest girl I ever seen
See her shake on the movie screen, Jimmy Dean
(James Dean)"

5. Rockstar by Nickelback
Rock 'n Roll must on occassion mock itself. This song exposes the cliches of the Rockstar lifestyle. (Look for the uncensored video, it's fun.)

"'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair\

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial, well

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar"

4:36AM - It's Music Meme Madness

via curgoth 

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.


curgoth  gave me "C".


1. Crayola Doesn't Make a Colour for Your Eyes by Kristen Andreassen 
Songs about love should be one of two things; sad and bittersweet or happy and sweet, but never sachrine. Listen and you tell me which one this is.

"Crayola doesn't make a color for your eyes
There is no way that I could possibly describe you
Crayola doesn't make a color to draw my love."


2. Chip Away the Stone by Aerosmith
This is the other, other kind of Love song, the types that AC/DC and Aerosmith are known for.

"You keep a wall all around you
I'll get through some day
I want your love babe
If a push don't shove
Gonna chip that stone away."


3. Cry Me a River by Aerosmith
An old standard as done by Aerosmith, then there are the songs about love gone bad, sad and bittersweet, Steve Tyler brings it.

"Now you say you're lonely
You cry the whole night through
Well you can Cry Me A River, Cry Me A River
I cried a river over you."

4. Crazy Little Child by Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper goes Dixieland and nails it. Whenever Alice veered in interesting musical directions, it was always to excellent effect.

"Questions there were few
In fact there were none
When those Sheriff's bullets start to fly
Lay dying on the floor
With a smokin' forty four
He said, "I must admit the winos were right"."


5. Coma by Guns N' Roses -  Guns 'N Roses rewrites Dylan Thomas.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

"Sometimes we get so tired of waiting
For a way to spend our time
An "It's so easy" to be social
"It's so easy" to be cool
Yeah it's easy to be hungry
When you ain't got shit to lose
And I wish that I could help you
With what you hope to find
But I'm still out here waiting
Watching reruns of my life
When you reach the point of breaking
Know it's gonna take some time
To heal the broken memories
That another man would need
Just to survive."

2:49AM - Don't Forget the Lyrics: the Home Game - Answers

Here are the Answers to the home game. I may do another one.

( Read more... )

8:46AM - Don't Forget the Lyrics: the Home Game - Secret Hints version

4.  Well I'm runnin throught he world with a gun in my back.
The original Shock Rocker.

5.  You may not believe it, but I don't believe in miracles anymore.
Piano is this singers instrument of choice.

8.  Well, I ain't never been Barbie doll type
She's part of the Memphis Mafia.

9.   A long time ago before the ice and the snow, there were giants that walked this land
The second wave of the Outlaws of country, he's a founding member.

11. Talkin' to myself again, wondering if this travelin' is good
Live and on the Plantation, he's no petty man.

12. Gather round right now and hear me whisper
Still more early shock rock from the original shock rocker.

15. All my life I've been telling myself I don't need no no nobody else
Memphis Mafia strikes again, but not in Elvis' time.

18. Oh, If I had my way I would never go back
Canadian county, but don't let it rain.