Actaeon

I'm sure Eph had very good reasons for inventing AIMhack instead of using an existing tabletop RPG system. However, I'm gonna go out on a limb and offer a campaign using D&D 3.5 that will act as a prequel to "Inn Between the Worlds" and hopefully help clarify what the heck is going on in that fairly disjointed setting. June 9, 323 BC Alexander the Great lies deathly ill in Babylon. An old man arrives at the palace of Nebuchednezzar II demanding to see the King. Against all expectations, the audience is granted. The stricken emperor greets the man like an old friend and, after several minutes of hushed conversation, accepts and drinks a small vial of water. The next day, he is on his feet. The next week, he's back to commanding armies. This is not the first time this world has been touched by magic. It is not the world you and I learned about in history books, but up until this moment, you may not have known it. A few villagers lost to a stray werewolf, a couple of shamans skilled at herbal medicine- these may have long term consequences but none so clear cut as Alexander the Great's six decade reign. For nearly half a century, Alexander seems not to age. Gray creeps in at his temples, worry lines form around his eyes, but at ninety he is almost as spry as the day that his old tutor, Aristotle, visited him upon his death bed. But just as it seems he will live forever, he is again afflicted with the illness that nearly finished him before. He is unable to shake the disease, and after two weeks of slow decline, he calls his most trusted guards to them, and gives them a mission. The Fountain of Youth is real, and they must find it. Alexander has been searching for it since he took his first draught of its water without success, but in his need he is willing to gamble on a theory put forth by a young mathematician. Ley lines of unseen power can be felt flowing through the great temples and monuments of the world. Some, foolhardy, have harnessed them. Others, more foolish still, have followed them. None have managed to trace them far. However, if you were able to travel to several of these points, take a bearing, and triangulate, you might stand a chance of finding their source. And it is at that nexus that the Fountain- and maybe other wonders, are rumored to reside. I'm looking for a few Spiderwebbers either familiar with D&D or willing to learn. I have a few other friends that may join, also, so I think there's a fair chance of getting a decent sized group together. This will likely be a mostly martial campaign, although even a light magic world, the personal protectors of the such a major figure are likely to be taught a few supernatural abilities. I might allow a level or two of spellcaster if someone can justify it. Also, it bears saying in this group, I'll probably be taking liberties with history. If that sounds like something that interests you, message me for house rules on character creation and info on the custom prestige class for Alexander's guards. You'll start out at level seven, so there's a lot of room for customization even though the setting cuts out certain aspects of the system.

I considered suggesting "Mr. Peanut", but decided "Fluffy" was both a solid nod to Spidweb tradition and a bit of a joke that a non-Spiderwebber would appreciate. (Since I assume the turtle in question is not, in fact, fluffy. If it appears fluffy, please adjust your implants.)

Fluffy?

That's one thing "All is Lost" does. In addition to the near complete lack of dialogue, it opens at sea and closes at sea (leaving a fair amount of ambiguity as to whether the unnamed main character dies or is rescued). It looks like the theatre in town is gonna offer a couple of matinees of Gravity next weekend, so I may go ahead and watch it for comparison. I have nothing to lose but a couple hours of my time. I've been thinking of catching some of the Academy screenings this week or next. Has anyone seen / can recommend "Blue is the Warmest Color", "Prisoners", "The Past", or "The Grandmaster"?

I probably missed a few, and some of these may have come out in late '12, but here's what I remember seeing in 2013: Enough Said (6/10): Typical but well-acted romance. All is Lost (9/10): Spectacular performance by Redford. Visually stunning. 12 Years a Slave (6/10): So hard hitting you wonder if you're responding to the movie or the plot. Django Unchained (8/10): Tarantino continues to coast on shock value, but does so with style. It would have been a good antidote to 12YaS, but instead, the next film I watched was... Captain Phillips (6/10): I like an occasional break from the suspense. This didn't deliver on that score. 20 Feet from Stardom (7/10): Told an unseen side of the story, kept your foot tapping. Blue Jasmine (7/10): Blanchett's performance is inspired, but the film seems a little flat for Woody Allen. Frances Ha (8/10): Captures early adulthood in both a broad and specific tale. The Company You Keep (5/10): Cool concept, but wholly predictable. Silver Linings Playbook (6/10): Solid, but... maybe I'm just not that into romance flicks. Trance (4/10): One of those thrillers that insults your intelligence by thinking it's mind bending. On the Road (7/10): A lot of people weren't too happy with this adaptation, but I enjoyed it. Life of Pi (7/10): Visually stunning, faithful adaptation to a decent novel. The Butler (4/10): Gimmicky in casting and too willing to take creative license with history. The Hobbit 2 (2/10): An extended, over the top, CG fight scene. Would have walked out if it wasn't Tolkien. Promised Land (5/10): Decent film that's a little to flippant with an issue that I take fairly seriously. Searching for Sugar Man (8/10): Very cool documentary about a man who wasn't as obscure as he thought. Lincoln (7/10): Solid acting, but a bit overhyped. I liked "The Conspirator" better. Iron Man 3 (7/10): About as much as you can ask for from a superhero movie. Has some depth between action sequences. Despicable Me 2 (6/10): Not as good as the original, but the minions are cute whether yellow or purple. Star Trek: Into Darkness (6/10): Dunno if it would help or hurt if I was a Trekkie. As is, it just seems mediocre. Pacific Rim (5/10): I expected this to be terrible. It was actually marginally enjoyable. Rush (7/10): I've never been into Formula 1, but this kept me interested. It was a little weird to have Thor in it. There seemed to be a coming of age theme this year, so these four kinda get judged against each other- The Spectacular Now (6/10): A little implausible emotionally, but the right amount of heartwarming. The Way Way Back (5/10): Couldn't make myself like the main character. The Kings of Summer (6/10): Formulaic but well executed Mud (7/10): Cool setting, solid acting, and more character development than you usually get in one of these. I never made it to "Gravity", but it sounds somewhat similar to "All is Lost" except for the setting. Didn't really regret skipping most of the other blockbusters (Man of Steel, Fast and the Furious, Hunger Games, etc)

Happy Birthday, Sy!

I'm going to keep going further back and hope people stay interested: On Christmas 1642, Hannah Ayscoguh mourns the premature stillbirth of her son, who she planned to name after his late father, Isaac Newton. Near the end of the century, Gottfried Leibniz submits his theory of calculus with no controversy or competition.

Oh, Harry Turtledove. Did he cover how the changes might play out over the next century? Surely it would have ramifications for the world wars, the development of Latin America (without so much interference by the CIA), and the rise (and fall?) of communism. Nighwatcher, I'm counting your contribution as self contained since I'm not sure where to go with it, but I appreciate the participation.

Alright, since no one else seems to be asking, here's another: The United States chooses to accept the succession of the Confederacy rather than face a costly war. Do the two nations manage to coexist? How does the international community react? Does the north manage to maintain its claim on most US territories, or does the south manage to pick up a few? What are the implications in the long run (war, economics, science, art, literature...)

Well, that was enlightening. I guess I'll use that as a starting point but and move backward. New scenario: The Allies win World War II, but without the atom bomb. Germany surrenders under more or less identical circumstances, but victory in Japan is the product of a long and bloody land war in which they refuse to capitulate until they're almost totally occupied.

Most of my writing lately has been in the form of newspaper articles. I suspect that most of y'all would find the small-town subjects in question boring, but if I end up covering something with a broader appeal, I'll consider posting it. After I let the Calref folks appraise it.

Or DID I? In text, it's hard to differentiate between a string of sarcasm and a bunch of Amelia Bedelias. I guess or ⸮ helps with that.

Let's play a game. Propose a change to the course history, big or small, and we'll try to figure out how it would have altered the course of things. For what I assume are obvious reasons, I'm starting with the assassination of John F Kennedy. You can either assume no attempt on his life or a botched job. Does he win in '64? Does RFK or LBJ campaign in '68? Is the former still targeted for assassination? What does it mean for the Democratic Party? The Vietnam War? Civil Rights? America as a whole? The world?

Let this be a lesson to all: post-count really is the most important statistic. All hail Alorael! At least until Lillith's coup! And then Randomizer's!

Whoa, whoa. It's A:CS's turn.

I gave this a shot in Steam without success. I didn't use it in Avadon 1, though so perhaps there's a critical step I'm missing?

Tyran has all the coolest toys. And gives great gifts. Anyway, I'm also in the please-wait-until December 1st crowd. I get why stores do it- Thanksigiving is food related and doesn't really provide fodder for a seasonal aisle. They do the same thing with every holiday. This Christmas thing, though, is an across the board, general populous phenomenon. It dominates a good tenth of the year, and there's just not enough variety in the music or the decor or the message to justify that. It was never my favorite holiday, but its tendency to overtake half the winter is liable to turn me into a proper scrooge.

Suddenly I get the joke. I thought it was an uncharacteristic out-of-the-blue kinda topic for Triumph...

Out of the night that covers we Black as the pit from pole to pole, We thank whatever gods may be For his unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance He has not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance His head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find him unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, He is the master of our fate: He is the captain of our souls.

My understanding was that the main goal is to keep him from reaching the top title. Of course, I was also under the impression that he was supposed to be deprived of a custom title, too, so what do I know?

Time for a totally different map: http://vdiplomacy.net/board.php?gameID=16549 Password is "peanut".

I think it's intended to be Black Forest Cake, which would make them cherries.

Happy birthday, Nikki! Cake for you:

All of our overlords have been pretty much the same since Imban fell in a bloody coup by Imban.

I neglected to take off any of my armor- despite being the one that suggested the group shot- but I'm far right.