Callie

I recently finished the second season of Orange is the New Black; it's such a great show! I also saw Guardians of the Galaxy last night. It's lackluster in terms of plot, but manages to provide entertaining action sequences (I'm not easily entertained that way).

I hereby revive this thread in the name of the Surprise Gopher! Deception Pass, Puget Sound, USA An oddly shaped tree A view from the Port Townsend ferry dock

I favor representative democracies with large welfare states. I am what is generally considered as far left in terms of social issues, but I'm unconvinced as to what the best economic system is. I ultimately am satisfied if the economic system is able to provide every one of its citizens with an acceptable standard of living without infringing on the well-being of other populations. I'm not sure that actually exists in the present. Ideally, we would have a world government that could minimize humanity's suffering, but to most that sounds like a pipe dream.

I pretty much only play Jeff's RPGs and 4x strategy games, along with a few other game like Half-Life and EV Nova. My favorites are Alpha Centauri and Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. I have Civilization V and its expansions, but the game seems to be about filling up different buckets while dominating the strategically inebriated AI (Hey look! The player has a SAM missile unit coming my way! Let's attack it with low-flying aircraft!).

The meat grinder is just a random thing I pulled out of my head.

Eraklisse [turn 7] Summary Power Available: 13 Actions Taken: Xenomorph - [Create Race, 6 cost] Will of the Tower - [Command Avatar: Command Race, 1 cost] Fungal Magicks - [Advance Civilization, 5 cost] Power Remaining: 1 Running Bonus: +3 Actions: Xenomorph Eraklisse molds an odd shape from the hungry fungal bloom. It is a creature laden with a mushroom-like body atop many tentacle-like appendages. She calls this new race the Mycelium (aligned neutral). The Mycelium are a fungal creature whose only means of perceiving Czeda is a form of echolocation. They can communicate by grinding specialized organs on their sensory tentacles. No other race has developed the capability of deciphering their strange noises. As fungal creatures, the Mycelium form a symbiotic relationship with the fungal bloom. The fungal bloom provides protection, and in return, the Mycelium nurture the fungus and ward off would-be predators and intruders. Some races believe that the Mycelium can even communicate with the fungus, but it is not known if there is any veracity to that claim. Mycelium feed off of dying fungal blooms. They are slow to reproduce; the act of mating itself requires the Mycelium to interlock tentacles for a period of months (they only need to eat several times a year). Young mycelium remain in a sentient spore state for several years until undergoing a metamorphosis that results in an adolescent Mycelium without tentacles. They are helpless in this state, and must grow their tentacles over a period of fifty years. Once they reach adulthood (the point at which they have fifty tentacles), the Mycelium are initiated by means of a bizarre ceremony that resembles a dance. Mycelium live to be five hundred years or more; once death takes it toll, it is every Mycelium's duty to become one with the sacred fungus. Mycelium are soft, fleshy beings, and as such, are extremely vulnerable to the blade. Were it not for the fungus protecting them, they would likely perish to warfare. The Mycelium are capable of regenerating tentacles, but not the mushroom-like body. Will of the Tower The stone golem atop the holy mountain awakens. The nameless one gathers its strength and aids the Mycelium in the construction of a massive spore tower. It gathers the fungus and molds them a home in the shape of a giant mushroom with a fattened stalk. The spore tower consists of many interconnected burrows and hallways--a true labyrinth. As their home is a living organism, the Mycelium must gently tend to the structure. Fungal Magicks Eraklisse imbues the Mycelium with the ability to mold the fungus around them. The Mycelium can now expend energy to telekinetically construct barriers or strangle invaders.

I had Northern Isles in mind when creating that game, but was trying to make a predominantly economic rather than military theme. I think people found it too complicated, so I doubt I'd ever get enough players. BainIhrno: what setting were you thinking of?

I would be interested.

I'm not sure you actually said that. Maybe you were actually talking about a meat grinder.

What happened to this?

Oops, sorry! I'll go put the map back. Thanks for the power!

Sorry, I'll rescind the city then.

Eraklisse [turn 6] Summary Power Available: 13 Actions Taken: Corporeal Form [Create Avatar, 7 cost] Mold [Command Avatar, 1 cost] Archery [Advance Civilization, 5 cost] Power Remaining: 0 Running Bonus: +3 Actions Corporeal Form Eraklisse wishes to take a recognizable form on Czeda; she shapes her image into a giant stone golem atop the unholy mountain. The avatar lumbers and screeches as its stone joints grind against each other. Mold The first action the golem takes is to mold a new race of creatures. They are tall and furry, with a catlike appearance; they are the nephilim (aligned neutral). Eraklisse fashions them a city among the confluence of rivers, and the confluence of forest, plain, and marsh. They gather an name their first city Mrrnr. Archery Eraklisse bestows upon the nephilim an advanced knowledge of missile weapons. No other being on Czeda can rival a nephilim with a bow. Map:

I'm going to be gone until Wednesday night and won't have internet access. In the meantime, I'd like to create a stone golem avatar on the Unholy Mountain, or if not, just reserve power. Sorry about the short notice.

Eraklisse [turn 5] Summary Power Available: 13 Actions Taken: Tectonics x2 [shape Land x2, 6 cost] Evaporate [shape Climate, 2 cost] Rain x2 [shape Climate x2, 4 cost] Power Remaining: 1 Running Bonus: +3 Actions Tectonics Eraklisse waves one of her arms and mountains thrust up from the land. The skies eerily tear as the taller peaks force their way into the reaches of the atmosphere. One lone mountain listlessly sits further south. Evaporate The newly formed mountains have created a rain shadow sandwiched between the new peaks and the southern savanna. Rolling sand dunes migrate across the land over the course of eons. Hardy lizards and snakes slither and crawl in their midst. Rain "I am the god of the rivers," declares Eraklisse. Clouds coalesce and nestle amongst the peaks, depositing snow that eventually melts and makes its way to the sea. A roaring river is formed from four large tributaries. One of the rivers pools and sinks its way into the underlying water table. Map:

A belated no.

Eraklisse [Turn 4] Summary Power Available: 11 Actions Taken: Rain x2 [shape Climate x2, 4 cost] Decorate [Corrupt Area, 3 cost] Savanna x2 [shape Climate x2, 4 cost] Power Remaining: 0 Running Bonus: +3 Actions Rain Once again, Eraklisse casts here eye upon the southwest and scatters storm clouds among its midst. Rivers gently leap over stones and through trees until their release unto the sea. Animals gather to drink of the cool mountain runoff and plants of all varieties grow along the banks. Decorate Eraklisse turns to the mesa in her honor. She unleashes her existential wrath and the mesa changes into a more suitable color. The mesa has now acquired the unholy brown hue of her birth mountain. Savanna Eraklisse looks south of the unholy mountain and witnesses jungle growths merged with a blank face. She scatters grasses and sparse trees across the land. Giraffes and their like walk across the landscape. Map:

Living with aliens would be, well, alienating. Loneliness would likely set in rapidly. On the other hand, one would likely not suffer from ennui: it would take years to accustom oneself with the aliens' culture and language.

Eraklisse [Turn 3] Summary Power Available: 13 Actions Taken: Deciduous Growth - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Tectonics x2 - [shape Land x2, 6 cost] Shrubbery - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Flood - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Power Remaining: 1 Running Bonus: +3 Actions Deciduous Growth Eraklisse turns her eye to the southwest. Tall trees sprout from the earth, forming a shady layer underneath. She alternates the rain so that the trees cyclically wither and blossom. Parrots caw and monkeys howl amongst the canopy; creatures lurk beneath the dense leaf litter. Eraklisse smiles as she adds carnivorous felines to the mixture. "Just a pinch of carnage," she says wryly. Tectonics Mountains thrust through the blank edges of the dry forest. Boulders tumble, fracture, and shatter. A cacophony of din reverberates throughout the southern hemisphere of Czeda. She smirks, "...and a pinch of music." Shrubbery "I require a shrubbery," jokes Eraklisse. Thousands of shurbs struggle as they push upwards towards Czeda's sun. Lizards bask in the sun as rabbits hop in and out of the bushes. The sun relentlessly drowns the landscape in light, complimenting the more arid regions to the east. Flood "...and a drink," she adds. The waters race up the lengths of the blank wastes. Mangroves cast unruly roots into the murky water. Other trees attempt to choke each other as they rise toward the skies. Crocodiles and strange fishes lurk beneath the bright green algae and scum. A plethora of bird life warbles in the shelter of the trees. Map:

Apparently "Dizzy Derek doodles dark ducks diving down to Dallas" translates to "Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker Aba boot bucker".

Sorry folks: we don't have nearly enough people.

Eraklisse [Turn 2] Summary Power Available: 12 Actions Taken: Tectonics - [shape Land, 3 cost] Liquify - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Rain x 2 - [shape Climate, 4 cost] Sow - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Power Remaining: 1 Running Bonus: +2 Actions Tectonics Eraklisse is invigorated with power. She grabs corners of Czeda in mighty hand and pushes the landmasses together. The earth rumbles and quakes as mountains rise up from the landscape. The unholy mountain that witnessed her birth is no longer alone. Sow Eraklisse conjures all manner of grasses and lumbering bison. The grasses take form and germinate; the bison begin to tread across the newly formed plains. A golden sheen waves gloriously in the gentle breeze. From one end to another, all in sight is a sea of grass. Liquify Eraklisse turns her eyes northward. The lone river meandering against a forested backdrop does not please her. She roars and the seas angrily invade the land. Bright green scum forms across the shallow water, joined by herbaceous bushes casting wide, tangled roots. Strange creatures lurk atop the water, eating fish that wiggle below. Rain (x2) "What is the meaning of all this?" laments Eraklisse. She forms soft, pillowy clouds that then darken into storms. Rain falls about the mountains to the north and south. The forests and plains swell with new-found rivers that tirelessly run towards the sea. Drainage basins are formed; perhaps someday a great civilization will live among the rivers. Map:

Congratulations! I'll look forward to playing and reviewing it when I have the time.

I bow down to you Sybot. What tribute shall you ask of us puny meatbags?

Eraklisse [Turn 1] Summary Power Available: 8 Actions Taken: Erupt - [shape Land, 3 cost] Wrath - [Corrupt Area, 3 cost] Rain - [shape Climate, 2 cost] Power Remaining: 0 Running Bonus: +1 Actions Erupt Eraklisse reluctantly arises from the oblivion. She peers down malevolently at the blank form of Czeda and shouts, "What dares to awaken me from eternal slumber?" A hissing fissure ruptures from the vacuous wastes. Lava spurts forth and violently forms a small hill. The ground cries in anguish as a mountain rises ominously over the wastes. Then, suddenly, the lava ceases and the peak solidifies with an unnerving *crack*. Eraklisse fumes at her new creation. Wrath Still enraged, Eraklisse casts her hand at the mountain. Sparks coelese into a ball of lightning, casting a dark cloud over the mountain. The newly formed obsidian trembles as raw power rains down and churns the earth. Eraklisse's wrath stains the hillsides a sickening brown. Rain Eraklisse feels a strange, calming warmth. The lightning subsides and rain tumbles down the mountain. It pools and begins to meander aimlessly across the wastes until finding its way to a bay. Water continues to flow forth from the mountain; Eraklisse is pleased. Map: