Incoherent Mumblings of....

18 years of D&D

Earl — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:46:16 +0000

It seems a bit unreal to think that I have been playing paper and pencil roleplaying games for about 18 years now. I think a big part of my long term passion for Dungeons and Dragons stems from my vivid imagination. Most people that know me have a good understanding of the fact that my mind never stops. Just last night I laid awake in bed for nearly 2 hours wanting to fall asleep, but unable to do to the flood of thoughts. Which to no big surprised revolved around gaming. Like thoughts pouring in about the game that I have set aside to allow another friend to run his first game. I was also pondering over my character in this new campaign. I do not always hate these times of inspiration, as i have come to call them, but some nights I wish I was able to just sleep. I need to go back to keeping a notebook close by to put the thoughts to paper.

OK time to get back on track with what I was talking about. I have progressed through almost every incarnation of D&D from the basic paperback books, on to second edition, then a regression back to first edition, back to second edition and finally into 3.5. Over the last several months the gaming world is a buzz with the talk of 4th edition. I have been following this closely and I have established some thoughts on it. NO! I am not progressing to this new “streamline” edition. It seems the reasons for wanting to make this new edition is that some people feel the game play should be faster. I say nonsense, your not playing a board game here people, this is about spending a few hours a week with friends. Though it use to be a lot more hours back when we were in school and didn’t have jobs and the real world pressing down on us. I could care less if some little whiny kids hate that you may have to read and actually interact more with your friends, hate to disappoint but this game doesn’t come with a 30 page instruction book and a game controller. I think they are trying to suck more and more of the social interaction aspect from the game, hell they are even designing a computer based game board.

Some people may say but hey Earl didn’t you say that you would never play 3rd edition, but now you do. Yes I did say that but you know what thats do to my own stubberness over minor little tweaks in the system that hit me on a personal level. This prospective new 4th edition is a true abomination and I will have no part of it. I have had a few friends that don’t live in the area any more tell me it would be a good way to be able to play with old friends. I say if this is the objective they wished to achieve then the online content of the game should be free. By them charging a monthly fee they are further pushing this into them wanting to line there fat cat pockets and continue to block social interaction.

I shall continue to purchase all the 3.5 edition books I can even to the point of hunting down the now out of print stuff. For I shall remain loyal to true paper and pencil gaming, and fully enjoy the fun that comes from playing face to face with your good friends.

Success…..? or Whatever

Earl — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:06:54 +0000

Success is something that we all strive for in life. In some way or another be it emotionally, socially, financially, physically or whatever. What determines if you have been successful, some sort of recognition from others or just that inside feeling of “Yes, I did it.” I am a real fan of the latter. Personally in life if I feel content with what I have done and I don’t have a lot of material goods that show off my achievements. Life goals I have set forth and conquered, which spawn new ones, most have left me feeling satisfied. As with most people in life I think there are things that I have done that I could have done better. Or could I? I do have my dream job and a growing new business, but I often wonder what if I would have followed my other dream of being an archaeologist. Would I be as happy, where on this crazy planet would I be right now, would I have the close friends that I have now. See its thoughts like this that I contemplate on a regular basis. I still have the desire to explore lost ruins and dig up forgotten lore of eras that most only read about. I think if the offer presented itself, like to just set off on some expedition would I do it. I think that if I was secure in knowing that finacial obligations could be maintained then I would definetly give it a shot, at least to just see if that really was my true calling.

Something Possibly Epic

Earl — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:48:49 +0000

Well I’m starting this personal blog in hopes of getting the random thoughts generated in my skull into an organized format. That I and others can view and deliberate over as we see fit. I hope to discern things that may not be so easy to see until they are put down in a hard format. I may even just drop randomness that I find to be interesting. So to all out there in the fantastic interweb of friends and strangers, lets be indulged.