Rochndil's scriptorium

Good evening!

While I've no intention of abandoning any of my existing internet haunts, I wanted to put in a small plug for my new spot. Writing.com is really pretty cool, I've been enjoying the place and the community quite a bit. My portfolio is located here: Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

If you should consider signing up (which isn't necessary to read stuff), please use this link, so I can get credit for it: http://www.Writing.Com?rfrid=rochndil

Rochndil, who still writes stuff offline and then copy-posts it...

Good morning!

First off, some good news. It looks like the repair to the (almost brand new) refrigerator is a success, at least so far. I'll have to watch the freezer compartment for icing going forward.

As many of you probably know, the LOTRO (Lord Of The Rings Online) game has gone FTP (Free To Play) just a week or so ago. I've been playing it off and on, and while I'm not all that far (19 levels into a 65-level game), I'm generally impressed. The interface is decent, the server(s) run smoothly, and now that the hubub over the FTP release is over, web access is much improved. There is a great deal of "free" content available before you start to run into "pay-only" material, although there are occasional nudges to purchase one thing or another. If you're a Tolkien fan or just looking for a decent free MMORPG experience, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

This reminded me Iron Crown, creators of my beloved Rolemaster, also produced (for many years) the MERP (Middle Earth Role-Playing) game, at least until licensing issues with the Tolkien Family Foundation interrupted. I've never before given much though to collecting these materials, because of their often outrageous prices, but I may do so as time and budget allows.

I finally finished reading through my copy of Rolemaster Companion VI (one I had missed before), and the VERY last major section was about CEATS (Combat Environment Activity Tracking System). I'd seen information about this system on the ICE website, since one of my goals is to re-create and improve on the time-tracking system we used in my old group. Now having read through the original CEATS rules, I think I can definitely use that as a starting point to customize my own system.

Just last night, after walking the dogs, I had to grab a new book for bedside reading (since I just finished Companion VI last night). Since I'd never read it, I grabbed Martial Arts Companion (which I got for a STEAL on Ebay). There were rule systems in that volume that I'd heard about a good deal, but never read, so I thought I'd take the plunge. I've barely passed the intro so far, but already it's provided me something REALLY useful. There's a whole section in there about historic/real-world martial arts traditions, and I was needing some background on that for one of the next parts of Marian's Road - where, amazingly enough, she learns martial arts!

That's really a remarkable coincidence, since ANOTHER part of that story requires me making a whole town. Now, from a narrative standpoint, I could just wing it, but it occurred to me that if I was going to the trouble to make up all these characters and this complex setting, it would take only SLIGHTLY more effort to actually make it an RPG setting. This would have real benefits in the narrative in the areas of believability and internal consistency. Not to mention that it will allow me to mix together two of my divergent lines of interest. Sometime soon I need to start drawing maps of Shaunavon. I think I've still got some hex paper around somewhere.

So, it's a really funny mix of coincidence and convergence this last little while. It just goes to show, though, that you never can tell how things might hook up, or how useful RPGs can be!

Rochndil, doing the work thing...

Good morning!

I know I don't post nearly as often as I should, but usually there's not much going on in my life that's interesting enough to write about. Slogging through one week after another working and paying bills just isn't that interesting.

BUT, I did get to do something a bit different this week. While serving my civic duty as a juror (I never got picked), I had a LOT of time to kill, and no PC access (which always provides a way to waste an infinite amount of time). So, I got some reading done, and in addition to hacking through some of my magazine backlog, I also read the base Rolemaster Express (RME) book.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the company and system, Rolemaster is the SUPERB RPG produced by Iron Crown Enterprises. The system has gone through many changes since its inception, and RME is the latest. This ruleset is a simplification and condensation of the base Rolemaster Classic (RMC) rules (which hail back to RM2), and its creation has a dual purpose. First, it offers an excellent introduction to the game system, especially since it's packaged into a single slim (and very inexpensive!) book, complete with a starter adventure. Second, it serves to demonstrate that the system does NOT have to be mind-bogglingly complex, despite its reputation (but I *LIKE* mind-bogglingly complex!).

The great thing is that, while this ruleset is very condensed and simplified, it IS still Rolemaster, and transitioning from the RME rules to RMC or Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying (RMFRP) is quite simple.

I personally prefer the most complex ruleset, RMFRP, but I've played the older and slightly simpler RM2 for many years. I have very fond memories of those many late-night sessions, and hope to become an active gamer again one of these days.

My helm is off to Iron Crown, and all their astoundingly dedicated staff and contributors for a job well done. Even from a technical standpoint (and you know I can't ever take off my glasses-of-proofreading-true), the book is very good. I saw one small technical error and a couple of proofreading mistakes, but considering the scale of the job, and the generally poor quality of publications in these days of on-demand printing, I still have to give it top marks for content AND presentation.

Great job folks! Now I just need to get somewhere to collar a couple of young and impressionable gamers, and show them what a REAL RPG is like.

Rochndil, long-time Rolemaster and Iron Crown fan...

Greetings, to both of my watchers! -:)

I'm changing my Email address (must be part of that 42 thing) from @comcast.net to @att.net. FYI, Comcast's customer service SUCKS, and their technical service ain't much better. We've had three months of hell with signal problems that they either can't, or WON'T, fix. So, bye-bye cable guys!

DSL is already installed, tested, and running. It ain't perfect either, but the frequency and severity of errors is much lower, as is the price.

SO, for anyone that actually has my Email in their addy book, make sure to update it from @comcast.net to @att.net - I've also set up an @gmail.com address, but I don't really use it much.

Thanks for reading my blather!

Rochndil, with about 726 updates to go...

This wasn't a bad assessment. Though, generally, I play straight fighters.

Yah, it's D&D, but what can you do? I doubt there's a Rolemaster version.

Rochndil, who could be a ranger...

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Ranger (6th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-15

Dexterity-15

Constitution-16

Intelligence-15

Wisdom-14

Charisma-13


Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)




Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (24)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Lawful Neutral -- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
True Neutral ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (21)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (15)
Lawful Evil ----- XXXXXX (6)
Neutral Evil ---- XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Chaotic Evil ---- XXXXXX (6)

Law & Chaos:
Law ----- XXXXX (5)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaos --- XXXXX (5)

Good & Evil:
Good ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXX (13)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Evil ---- X (1)

Race:
Human ---- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Elf ------ XXXXXXXX (8)
Gnome ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXX (8)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Half-Orc - XXXX (4)

Class:
Barbarian - (-2)
Bard ------ (-2)
Cleric ---- (-4)
Druid ----- XXXXXX (6)
Fighter --- (0)
Monk ------ (-21)
Paladin --- (-21)
Ranger ---- XXXXXXXX (8)
Rogue ----- (-4)
Sorcerer -- (-4)
Wizard ---- XX (2)

I was just made aware of this nifty site by Tugrik today, and I must say I'm quite impressed.

Here's some linkage:

I just set up my account there, and they already had listed ALL BUT ONE of my odd little collection of webcomics...and I submitted a link to the missing one.

Give it a look, you'll probably save yourself a lot of time.

Rochndil, who enjoys saving time...

Good afternoon!

It's been a while, but RL continues to keep me busy.

There was a post recently to a local furry community from a user who isn't quite sure what the fuss is all about with RPGs. Instead of just responding to his comment locally, I thought it was worth putting my thoughts up here (in my infinite modesty).

RPGs have a long history, and much of my personal RPG history is recalled in an earlier post (October of 2006) here. I won't spend a lot of time rehashing the history of RPGs, you can Wiki that easily enough. What I would like to talk about for a bit is WHY.

I'll paraphrase the poster's words. He's wondering why he should take the time to get involved with an old-fashioned RPG, when he's quickly tired of the "flash-and-trash" so often encountered in current MMORPGs. If traditional RPGs were as feeble, in gameplay, as MMORPGs are, I could certainly agree with his concern.

Fortunately, real RPGs have about as much similarity to MMORPGs as Chess does to the classic card game, "52-pick-up." Now, I won't dance around the bush. I am NOT a fan of MMORPGs, for several reasons.

Relevant to this discussion, though are a few key points. MMORPGs, in general, are fairly intense graphically, but rather "light" in the actual game mechanics. Most inter-character activity is limited to typed "pop-up" messages or a list of pre-set actions. The primary in-game activity is to raise your character's level by slaughtering as many creatures as possible, often including other player's characters (and stealing their stuff). Along the way, friendships and alliances may form, but they also can blow away in the wind, as characters and players come and go from the world. Ultimately, much character "growth" simply becomes a game of numbers. The one with the highest numbers wins. How very...uninteresting.

In a traditional RPG (of whichever system), things are quite different. First off, the world, in general, is a much smaller, more intimate place. Unless the GM (Game Master) is actually running a number of different groups in the same game world, the players, and their party, are the STARS. They're making HISTORY, no matter what level they may be, or how shiny their armor is. Everything they do MATTERS. When they fail, it's a tragedy. When they succeed, it's a victory! They're building history, both for their characters, and the world they live in.

Interacting with other players LIVE in REAL-TIME, is an experience that simply cannot be simulated online (yet). You can't make faces at each other, throw pretzels at the speaker-of-bad-puns, or get the person sitting next to you a caffeine-refresher. When you roleplay with your group, you get to see their expressions, hear the tone in their voices. Properly done, they project a little of their soul into their characters, and you just can't do that through a computer screen.

And pretty pictures? How's your imagination? Just like a great work of fiction, an immersive RPG experience will fire up your imagination to render the scene in colors more vivid and REAL than you'll ever see on a RGB display. Not only will you vicariously LIVE these adventures, you'll do so with friends, who will be able to play "remember when" with you down the road.

So there are a LOT of advantages to a REAL RPG. But, no system is perfect, and there are some limitations too. Probably the biggest is logistics. You just can't jump into a session any time. People have lives to take care of, and getting everyone together can be a challenge. Game systems, generally, cost money to purchase, and take time to learn. Time spent learning a system, while often enjoyable, is time NOT spent playing a game. And, like with any group of people, there are always folks who want to be...difficult. Mr. "Oh, no, I saw your INVISIBLE spirit coming, and used this counterspell..." will be encountered, as well as Ms. "but...it says right here, on page 43352 of rulebook XXI that I CAN do that, see?" Rules Lawyer and Mr. Incredible are two of the troublesome gamer types; there are others. Properly handled (by the GM), they can be rendered little more than a nuisance though, and sometimes their strengths can actually be put to good use. Managing a game groups is a superb exercise in team-building.

What can be even more fun, though, is when the characters don't QUITE get along. Carefully handled, these rivalries can lead to the best roleplay, as long as the players keep their heads. And if not, get the pretzels ready! After all, it's only a game folks, you're all there to have FUN.

I've personally invested thousands of hours learning, playing, and preparing RPG games over the last quarter-century or so. I hope anyone that hasn't yet, will give it a try. The real thing is always better than the virtual wannabe.

Rochndil, who has played D&D, AD&D, GURPS, Champions, and finally Rolemaster since the late 70s somewhere...

Myspace Chinese Astrology

Not sure I agree with some of the characteristics. Me, fashionable? Surely you jest!

Rochndil, who picks clothes by what's on top of the pile...

Not sure if I entirely agree with this, but:

Which Heroes Hero are You? Your Result: Peter Petrelli   You're a dreamer who has lived in the shadow of your family and wants desperately to be your own person. Like Hiro, you feel the need to do something extraordinary with your life. You have dreamy eyes and great hair.
Nikki Sanders
Sylar
Nathan Petrelli
Hiro Nakamura
Isaac Mendez
Claire Bennett
Matt Parkman
Which Heroes Hero are You? Create a Quiz

Given a better set of questions, I strongly suspect I could have ended up as Sylar. But I won't complain about being a "good guy."

Rochndil, who would do some rather extreme things for the right reasons...