State of the Union

Hi

for what will be 4 weeks next Tuesday I will have been off work ill

Cellulitus in my left leg (opposite to the last time so at least matching scars) had to rest leg and take antibiotics for 4 weeks which have messed me up somewhat

I have however had plenty of time to think

(I know I've started threads like this before and I will understand if people tune out)

My life is going nowhere, I am not a stupid man but I am sometimes weak and that has hurt me in the past and its past time I changed that

(this next bit was gong to be a rambling history of my issues with family and one member in particular but I am really bored with that trainwreck these days so moving on)

So issues

I have 3 RPGs a week - this may be too many there are other games and activities I want to have a go at that only having 4 non RPG days a week gets in the way of so I have to address that at some point

I am going to be running a massive Pathfinder dungeon at some point and after that it's going to have to be DND ( but I can get plenty of ideas and material from Pathfinder adventures and stuff)

I want to run a massive Call of Cthulhu Campaign

Bought DND Attack wing (which amazingly uses the same system as X Wing and Star Trek Attack Wing uses) loads of Dragons and the like so bulking out figure collection

also bought new Army Painter set so I can start on the mountain of figures that need painting

have an idea about how to reformat the flat so It's less ... what it is right now

my health needs attention

I need some 'expansion' in my life

I've been single for 23 years because I ignored Rob's advice about someone I shouldn't have got involved with - she messed me up and damaged my trust in people which I have let hold me back

I want to travel

I want to do so many things  that I don't and I have never been entirely sure why

so new plan is to run at everything and try not to over think things

to quote Stephen King (who pinched it from Reinhold Niebuh)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The strength to change the things I can

And the good luck not to fuck up to offten

J

new Monday tomorrow

new start of the week and a new plan
new attempt on diet/excercise
starting to get reorganised and write a campaign I can be proud of

got the setting (with a little alteration or two), got the system (same) got the time

And here we go

Almost sold my Laptop at the weekend as I'd not used it for what I wanted to
would have got £50 less than I paid for it which aint bad

then I changed my mind 

problem Ive got is that now I'm bouncing between Pathfinder games and a WOD game as a player I get inspired to write for one of those systems so keep changing 3 times a week

but now I hear/feel The Orient Express calling, I have Cubicle 7's London box set on it's way

The Laptop is going to be a centre for all I use for the reffing - music, images video and rules

Starting with Call of Cthulhu

Tomorrow I buy a new wireless printer and set it up - and I can start work

Also plan on writing some fiction as well of a Cthulhu type nature

J

Could I?

A while ago a good friend of mine who I'd been talking to about me writing something other than RPG's (she is a published writer which makes 2 I know) and that evening she challenged me to write something there and then (through facebook)

I sat and thought and wrote a short (very) story about a detective (UK) who stumbled into a conspiracy involving faustian deals, police corruption, murder and evil

I could have continued with it but realised that I need to commit to that kind of thing and with all the other stuff I felt I had going on in my life (not important stuff just stuff that took up time) so I couldn't continue and do it justice

now I have different priorities - the RPGing isn't as important as it was a few years ago and I've been branching out into games that don't require as much effort really

Card Games, board games etc

besides I have often thought about writing stuff in Star Trek or Doctor Who

I really enjoy reading Star Trek Novels (Guilty secret I read William Shatners the Return all the way through in one go years ago and that book holds the distinction of being the only book I have ever read twice back to back)

the consistent advice I have seen online and in some books on the subject is if you want to write then you must read vast amounts - which is nice

so hitting the Star Trek Novels re reading Destiny and going on from  there and scribbling any ideas I have down


lets see how this goes

J

Okay this is the plan

I now have a long term plan (for reffing and perhaps a life plan)

game plan

Rappan Athuk (Pathfinder) starts in the next 2 sessions at my place
Will be reading up on 5th edition and working on a Forgotten Realms campaign for that
The One Ring (RPG for Middle Earth) turns up soon and will be picking at that slowly creating campaign

now Rappan as myself and Rob are taking turns over time reffing may take the rest of my natural to run but the other games I have knocking about in my head will get down on paper

(theres always the cthulhu and wod stuff as well but I'm giving up on trying to corral these things)
Steve went through this years ago when I shared a flat with him and Debs - there were pads everywhere with notes for tons of games on them (now I understand why)

so tons of reading and loads of work (looking forward to this)

Life thing

If I get into Tolkien to the extent planned then I'm going to re examine the creative writing OU course (with a history element)

Theres an online course with an outfit called Mythgard where you an study for a degree in 'Tolkien' (some other fantasy based stuff as well)

Nice

update

yesterdays post deleted cause it serves no purpose

I know what I'm doing next

just gonna do it and see what happens

J

well

started the Nasal irrigation on Monday
worked like a charm
I'm still vulnerable to stuff that triggers allergies sudden drop in temperature today

but generally much much better
I'm thinking more clearly my sense of smell is coming back (and taste)
concentration is better

so how much better I get will have to wait and see

but it brings me to a point

my home is a tip
my health is crap
money's okay

work is ...... not something I'm allowed to discuss on social media ... which tells you something about work

anyway I want to spend some serious time exploiting the fact I feel better and fix things so tonight is effectively my last night of pure freedom - because tomorrow I start to Fix things

I may need help with this but since I don't know whats going to happen I can't say for sure

this weekend cleaning the flat (ongoing)
next weekend me Rob, Mark and Langley playing Magic then beer

it's a start

J

new idea (notice I did not say plan)

I like Horror

(also Sci Fi and fantasy but these days mostly horror)

now, for well decades Fantasy has been the staple for RPG's I've reffed/played which is fine

but I'd like to have a more 'horrory' gaming life

so

I'm od'ing on Horror (ish) stuff (restarted Supernatural and catching the strain and penny dreadful)

and my game writing will I think reflect this - after all from a normal persons view the monsters taken for granted in fantasy RPG's would be bloody scary (If I hadn't killed around  50,000 Orcs over the years i'd be frightend but now it's blegh) so trying a different approach

:)

The Future

this is going to be keeping me busy

Magic the Gathering soon (as soon as I shake the rest of this Virus)
(next expansion already paid for 11 days till it ships)

Turning it up on Comics collectiing

and the Big one - I am running Rappan Athuk in my part of the Tuesday game it could take a year or so to get through with the format for the group we're using

and then (depending on if the 5e ruleset works (still haven't played it yet))

no more reffing Pathfinder for me

I will be switching officially to 5e after Rappan

I've said it before - but PF in my opinion is massively unbalanced if not strictly control and quite frankly thats not my idea of fun so not doing it any more

*end of line*

J

To thine own self be true

been off sick this week (most of it)
Hayfever turned Sinitus get this every year

been watching tons of TV and some small tidying (difficulty breathing and the heat which makes it difficult to breathe makes lots of doings well erm difficult)

also some thinking

I collect stuff
RPG's (went into boardgames a little but getting over that now), Who stuff, some novels by particular authors (Tolkien, King and a few others)

but space being what it is having to get more electronic books these days

and thats the thing I am a collector thats who I have to be true to

but some practical factors are rearing ugly heads

so from here on out I am being true to myself (with some restrictions)

I am collecting Who stuff (don't even go there its written  in stone)
I am collecting DC comics with primary focus on Justice League, Green Lantern, Teen Titans and the Justice Society (if they ever bring it back) - these include the 'Families' attached (Green Lantern Corps, Justice League (europe or whatever) and so on

RPG's are taking a back burner (I would like to acquire Call of Cthulhu and World of Darkness stuff but theres no rush)

Marvel comics is going to be awkward - Rob a while ago suggested I just collect the ones I'm interested (sounds like a blindingly obvious thing to say but it's not) Comics are interconnected you have storylines crossing over into different titles and then you finish up with odd comics in titles you don't normally collect and to someone like me thats like a red rag to a bull

So I think I am going to go electronic with Marvel Comixology and Marvels own digital service look good

so new external drive for comics

but if I walk into a charity shop and see a butt load of good condition marvel (or Batman/Superman comics I will leap upon them and feed)

but for the most part restricted (I love trawling Ebay for deals)

I have 3 days before I am going back to work and I want to get the closet done over those 3 days

I need to get some more comic boxes in and to retrieve the boxes of comics stored at Marks for the last few years (If they have survived)

and lots of listing

big project - love it

ONWARD!!!!!

OI !

I know you're there

deactivating your Facebook account seems wierd as it's apparently your only form of contact with people
but if thats what you want hey what can I do about that?

did you write the letters I told you to write to get past your data protection problems between your doctor and gedling homes .... I'm guessing not

was puzzled  a while ago when we 'chatted' on here when you were being 'anonymous' but hey whatever floats your boat

talked to mum a while ago about you signing her and dad in as people that can conduct your affairs for you but if she talked to you about it I bet you haven't done anything about that either

you said a while ago on FB that 'people' were unable or unwilling to help you but from what I can see you are the one that isn't doing what you need to do to get out of this situation you have put yourself in

are you doing that .. not from what I can see

it begins with you

if you do it fantastic

if you don't even try then you never wanted it in the first place

that simple

J

Time for Change

Been talking about it for months
time for change
the order has been made and I'm about to step out of my comfort zone

jinkies

Here's a thought

for reasons that are perfectly understandable Rob has had to step down as Tuesday Ref for a couple of months or so

so after some thought I volunteered to ref Pathfinder again

I feel quite cheered by this

past experiences aside I think I am much happier reffing than not

of course some players will die if they cross me

What?

oh sorry apparently the voice in my head said that should have read some characters will die

but the voice isn't always right..... BWAH HA HA HA

anyhoo

only using Core Rules, Advanced Players, Advanced Races and Ultimate Magic for generation (at this time)

looking forward to this

J

I can't live this way anymore
I refuse to live this way anymore
It's way past time I changed things

right then

even my blind optimism can't ignore the fact that my previous attempts to improve the aspects of my lfe that I need to (weight health etc) have failed

but not being one to give up

here I go again

diet and walking to work to start with then as weight come off walking more and then at some point of my choosing Gym

but thats not all

first weekend in June (Rob and family off in Burton on Trent end of May) games room gets decorated

end of June Hall and bedroom

end of July Bathroom and Kitchen

End of August Living Room (The Big Job)

then either last quarter this year or first quarter next year carpet tiles throughout

I'm hoping to get stuff done earlier so this is a max deadline kinda thing

as for gaming

big Cthulhu project as well as DND 5e (we still haven't played it yet) under construction

following on with more writing but the stories will be in the campaigns I'm working on so I don't 'drift off' on a tangent

and I've just ordered a Laptop so I can store 'games stuff' PDf's characters and campign work as well as board games stuff

also apparently the thing can run WOW on medium so backup computer in case the desktop goes west

it's not massively powerful or expensive and will do the job

it's a plan and I really am goping to try and stick to it

ONWARD!!!!

"This far no further........"

2 months ago i made a decision to not go ahead with Magic the Gathering because I felt it was too expensive and because of that I couldn't afford to do some other things that I want to do

recently that has changed - recent refinancing and some positive wage based stuff means that I am more comfortable than I was and in august I will be better still

So I think I can do want I want to

New Magic set (new start) in June - they are reformatting the game and starting with a more story based format

while that is going on I wil actually be redecorating the flat

starting the end of May (some stuff I want to do during May)

Games Room (May)
Little Bedroom/Hall (June)
Kitchen/Bathroom (July)
Living Room (August)

Decorating through first
then curtains and any new furniture
then flooring

target for completion - by Christmas

going to be busy :)

Right then

Spent 2 days thinking about this

had no inclination to write/ref for months now
recently any small inclination that was regrowing was stamped out

but WOTC are releasing what amounts to the 5e edition of The Temple of Elemental Evil (along with the MMO expansions for Neverwinter and DDO and a bordgame)

so that got me back to classic DND modules/adventures and the fact that I happen to think they were inspired and in an age where RPG materials are basically churned out at riduculous rates I think I can use some of that material and perhaps rekindle my interest

So I have the AD+D, 3rd ed and going to get the 5e edition version as soon as possible

Thats where it starts - there are a lot of other early material that I think would be fun - so it's going to get done over the rest of my break .... after I dig the modules out of the closet

I want to run more Cthulhu as well

anything else will go on a back burner for now


In other news I hope to get an Xbox1 or a PS4 before the end of the year

having some definative goals makes me happier

and now for dinner :)

oh well.......

Yesterday was my Brothers birthday

I wished him Happy Birthday on Facebook

this morning I found that he'd made a comment but then deleted the post on Facebook so I have no idea what he said

however I'm not surprised and don't feel anything anymore

actually more sad about that than about his behaviour

onward :(

Crossroads

okay so at some point the group is going to play DND 5e (with me as ref probably)

we did the same thing with 4th and as a group agreed to walk away from it because (to put it politely) it wasn't our cup of tea

I think 5e will be different because WOTC did a public design/playtest thing (which is what I think made Pathfinder so good - the players and the designers designed the game) which brings up the real possiblity that we will be playing 5e rather than Pathfinder in the future

I think this will be because now Pathfinder is a bloated whale of options and rising power levels which is exactly what 3.5 turned into and got us to switch to Pathfinder

5e doesn't get a fraction of the releases that PF or 3.5 got which is I think a genius move and will leave DND on top

but I have a metric crapload of Pathfinder material that isn't just mechanics but story as well which I don't want to sell off so what to do

the most likely thing that is going to happen is that I am going to read the material and use plot and chracters in a traditional DND game - mathematical conversions are possible but seems like a lot of work that these days I do not have the enthusiasm for

so whats going to happen is I am going to perhaps pinch adventure (path?) ideas and just repopulate with DND critters and loot etc and see how we get on

second thing is that although I really want to get into Magic tournaments and stuff the sheer expense makes my head spin I could if I really wanted to budget an amount every month for boosters I could but to what end - it doesn't ever end

with the new release format I'd be looking at a 'fat pack' and x times boosters (averaging anywhere between £2.50 and £3.50 per booster) and the fat pack costs £25 - £30 (9 boosters, semi random cards, guide and boxes)

It is so much more expensive than I thought and even I won't go there

So we come to Living Card games - sorta like CCGs but not really random - core set and monthly releases of set cards (about 20 or so) you build decks and add the expansion cards in but it doesnt cost anyway near as much

plus the sets I have are Call of Cthulhu, Lord of the Rings, and newly bought Netrunner I also have Warhammer INvasion but I think thats going on Ebay at some point) - they also have Star Wars and a 40k one that I am probably going to get

and they have organised play

Subject matter for the LCG's is so much closer to my core interests than MTG anyway

so looks like an Ebay clear out coming up

on 01/04/15 I start a 2 week break from work thank god and during that fortnight I will be hitting the 5e books

Providing I can get the World of Darkness thing out of my head - Dels game is great it's pre Batman (and super villains) Gotham it's understated in the sense that we are playing Detectives stumbling across organised Crime (and wierdness) and it's all escalating at a nice pace

Downside is becauseof Dereks genius I keep wanting to dive into the EOD instead of the 5e stuff I'm supposed to be writing

so on the run up to the break I am going to indulge my 'sweet toot' for WOD and get some proper work done later

Also got some LCG's to read - and a boardgame or 2

loads of stuff 

A Sad Day

Sir Terry Pratchett dies age 66

I was never that much of a fan, but then I was reading loads of material for games and stopped reading for fun at some point 

Nearly all of my friends I think liked his work a lot so feel sorry for their loss as well as the literary world losing a great

Now these days I'm reading for fun again I'm going to give Sir Terry another go