Life Doesn't Need to Get Much Better Than This

[jaymark108]

I don't mean for this to become a weekly journal, but my time on the internet is limited at work and that only leaves so much time for computers and networks at home (after all, there's only so much time one can stand to be on a computer) and 99% of the time I'd rather spend my waking moments with Stephie than updating, anyway. Lots of stuff

Comments

[oddharmonic]

Your positive review of Superbad only makes me look forward to getting it from Netflix more.

I rarely go to the theater because I'm annoyed by people who talk during movies -- not the occasional whisper to one's neighbor, but talking over the movie or shrieking in the ears of surrounding people. A friend that dragged me to LOTR:TTT underestimated how packed the podunk theater would be for an afternoon matinee. We wound up seated in front of a couple of noisy teenage girls that started shrieking during the scene where Aragorn gets dragged over the cliff, so I turned around and said "Shut UP, he doesn't die! Didn't you read the book?". And they didn't bother me for the rest of the movie.

[jaymark108]

Harry Potter 5 had some annoying kids in our row, but in general we don't have problems when we go to movies. But then, I'm pretty good at tuning people out. (In fact, I have a harder time tuning people in)

[oddharmonic]

I think I might see movies at the wrong time in their theater run to have an easy time tuning people out, too. We saw Madagascar a few weeks after it came out and the theater was noisier than a petting zoo! We were the only people who laughed at the Carl Sagan and National Geographic jokes, but I wrote that off as being the token geeks in the theater that night.

My ex had a terrible time tuning people in. I think his was a mix of habit and significant midrange hearing loss after he chose to not use sufficient ear protection while working on the flightline. It's been interesting adjusting in my current relationship because I could talk to myself until I was blue in the face and Himself wouldn't notice. Now I talk to myself or the cats or whatever and Vogon yells from the other room, "What? Are you talking to me?".

[logopolys]

I'm not a D&D player (and haven't been since 2.0), but a lot of my friends, including my new roommate, are big-up into it. Everything that they keep talking about concerning 4.0 generally ends up them complaining about the announced changes, specifically modifying the system into a classless system (which I, as a White Wolf and 7th Sea player, am completely used to).

[jaymark108]

There are still classes, just no Prestige (uber-specialized, unlockable powerhouse) classes. See Ian below.

[logopolys]

That's good. If they go classless, I'll be hearing about it for the next year and a half, until I move out.

[eeanm]

From what I've heard the rule changes look good. I do remember being confused by grappling, and they've addressed this apparently. :) Of course people on the Youtube video were complaining about the changes. People don't like changes.

[jaymark108]

People indeed do not like changes.

[godemperorleto]

Are the changes actually worthwhile? Or is it going to be a complete rebuild of the system that will be largely incompatible with the old build?

Considering what I've seen put out by WotC since The Player's Handbook was first released, I honestly do not have any faith in them. Especially after I read all of the problems such powerhouses of roleplaying intelligencia as Monte Cook had with the company during the course of the 3.0 design (which is, subsequently, why he left and created Malhavoc Press, which has produced material far superior in setting design and of roleplaying substance than anything WotC has churned out thus far).

WotC fell into the same trap Siembieda and Palladium fell into with RIFTS--each book had bigger and badder toys (weapons, spells, classes, items, etc.) and less and less substance (characters, setting development, locations, factions, descriptive text, and other broad overall GMing material). Then again, what should I expect from the company that created Magic: the Gathering?

[gyufygy]

Damnit all to hell, WotC punched out 3e as soon as they got their hands on the license, then the spat out 3.5e because 3e had some really annoying problems with it. Now they're cranking out 4e already? What the hell? This will be the third (for the amount of books out, 3.5e counts as a separate version) edition in less than a decade! And for all of the 70s, 80s, and most of the 90s, we had, what, two editions? Freaking money whores.

[jaymark108]

Well, Wizards doesn't want to go the way of TSR. They have to make money somehow, and a new edition is the best way to get new blood.

And since they release the core rules online for free, you don't actually need to buy the books.

[godemperorleto]

Josh, they rendered everything that I had for AD&D absolutely worthless once 2nd edition came out. That and, yes they have to make money, but the problm with the gaming market is that they are selling the gaming materials for $30-$50 a book. In addition, like Palladium, all of their materials are superfluous and full of toys, and no actual setting material or worthwhile roleplaying (as opposed to rollplaying) substance whatsoever.

[jaymark108]

If you were cheesed that TSR came out with 2nd edition, I can see why you don't like WotC coming out with 4th.

I must say, I wouldn't mind playing 1st edition AD&D again. My Dad has all the core books still. What can I say? We're packrats. :D