Battles with Integrity

I realize that it's late notice, and I've not had any takers yet, but I'm still looking for three/four people to play a Mouse Guard one-shot tomorrow. I'd like to run this adventure through its paces once before I have to run it at the Endgame Minicon. Experience not necessary, only interest. If you're not available/interested, do you know anyone you might send my way?

Ok. Off to grab nibbles. I love nibbles!

...Mouse Guard is a stripped down version if Burning Wheel, and, I'm told a good introduction to many concepts therein. ...if that helps.

I've seen and heard of many friends and acquaintances who have been directly hurt by the current mini-Depression, and everyone, it seems is affected in some way. I am curious to understand how much this will affect people when it comes to spending money on luxuries.

Each year, I have the opportunity to catch up with friends at the local gaming conventions. There are three I try to attend each year, on each of the three big 3-day weekends. DunDraCon on President's Day weekend (also it's often on or near Valentine's Day), KublaCon on Memorial Day weekend (which generally conflicts with university graduation and/or miriammiriam's birthday), and Whatever They're Calling It Now on Labor Day weekend. I look forward to each of these (some more, some less, but all are on my calendar one way or another).

Now the economy is tanking. Banks are unwilling to loan money. Employers who wanted those loans are unable to buy/hire/expand/build. Consumers (you and me) have to tighten our belts, which consequently kills sales for stores which cut costs (aka workers) who stop spending... you see where that goes. Heck, you know where that goes. We can see it all around. What I'd like to know, in an admittedly unscientific fashion, is what is the concrete effect this has on people around me.

To that end, here is a poll. I've opened the poll to everyone, and the numbers will be freely available, but only I will see individual answers. I may anonymously re-post responses to the last question.

Please tell me, what are you doing this weekend, and how has the economy affected your plans?

[Poll #1346997]

In general comments, if you care to share outside of the private poll, how is the economy affecting you and yours?

Your game once revolutionized the way we play. We salute you.

With thanks to darkcryst for the news.

I'm really pleased to have the opportunity to associate with these guys. I'm even luckier that I get to hang out with them on nearly a weekly basis.

I just submitted a proposal for the following game to Endgame for their Minicon this coming Saturday.

Game System: Paranoia^XP
Scenario Name: Diplomatic Impugnities
GM: Brian Williams
Variations: What is your Security Clearance Citizen?
Power Level: See Above.
Number of Players: 6
Characters provided? Yes

Description: The Ambassador is here! Congratulations Troubleshooters! You have been offered the privilege of safeguarding the Ambassador of, um, Alpha Complex to, um, Alpha Complex! Protect him from Communists, Mutants, Traitors, Secret Society Members, and evil agents from other cit... from far of Sectors of Alpha Complex. Pay no attention to the strange and possibly treasonous practices of the Ambassador and his staff as they visit Alpha Complex from far Alpha Complex. Friend Computer expects that every clone will do his duty!

An original Adventure from Brick Snowflake Productions.

This will be a draft playtest adventure. If it goes well enough, I'll propose it for DunDraCon, sharpen it up, perhaps playtest it again during the winter break, and run it at DDC08. You guys should take a couple hours out of your Saturday and come on down to Endgame. It will be an unforgettable experience.

P.S. I need a Paranoia icon. The Computer is Your Friend

One of my new schoolmates is vision-impaired. I intend to invite him over sometime soon for dinner and after-dinner entertainment. I'd love to introduce him to the wonders of gaming, but what games are best enjoyed without needing sight as an essential component to play. Almost all of my card-based games are out, as is most of the Days of Wonder catalog, alas. What do you recommend?

ca_snowflake recommended that some icehouse games might work well, when playing games that don't involve the colors of the pieces.

Maybe I should skip board games altogether and go straight to RPGs? Anyone know where I might get some Braille dice, perhaps?

Edited to add: I found an interesting article on the subject.

If you've ever played in a mystery, horror, or Call of Cthulhu-style horror-mystery game, you may have encountered out-of-game frustration when something as simple as a single failed die roll has left you without a vital clue needed to keep the story rolling. Either players are forced to fumble around in the dark for ages, or the GM has to risk the perception of railroading by making certain the players get the clue (and get back on track, never mind the railroad metaphor) so as to bring the game to the next scene, or the terrifying conclusion, or whatever is next.

robin_d_laws posted a useful example of play for his GUMSHOE system, describing how the system works to prevent annoying dead-end delays in investigative mystery games.

Pretty useful, if you've been curious about GUMSHOE, but haven't had a chance to see how it actually works.

Game System: The Essoterrorists (GUMSHOE System)
Scenario Name: OPERATION SLAUGHTERHOUSE
GM: caramida
Variations: None
Power Level: N/A
Number of Players: (up to) 3 Seats Available (hint, hint) ;)
Characters provided? Yes
Date/Time: 13JAN/1000PST

Description: The Essoterrorists are a world-wide conspiracy of cultists dedicated to undermining objective reality. By weakening the barriers of rational thought, making the world seem more senseless and insane, the Essoterrorists work to rend the fabric of shared consensus in order to let the monsters in. Their ultimate ends are shrouded in mystery, but there exists a counter-conspiracy dedicated to preventing the from turning daily life into an unremitting horror nightmare. You are members of this counter-conspiracy, elite, highly-trained investigators standing firm, protecting the rest of the world from terror and insanity. You are the thin line, and only you can find and stop the Essoterrorists.

So, I walked into my FLGS (Engdame, btw) with tasty birthday gift cards buring a hole in my pocket (thank you to jenderqueer and LA&B!), looking to see what I might find.

( I'm a geek. )

There is a MMORPG that doesn't require a scorching graphics card, doesn't ask for a monthly subscription, and doesn't take more than five minutes of your day. It's called Nation States, is based on a novel called Jennifer Government, and allows players to mold small countries into their own political utopiae simply by deciding what laws should be passed in their countries, determining the country's stance on various issues. There's also a virtual United Nations, and plenty of opportunity to learn what might be the consequences of various political decisions in your very own national sandbox.

Anyway, this is all to announce the foundation of the Dominion of Caramida. I'll be taking nominations for our National Anthem, if you like. The first issue was whether voting should be compulsory, with a couple of valid arguments on all sides. I decided to legalize compulsory voting in the Dominion, and I look forward to seeing what comes of it. In Caramida, we don't care what you vote for, only that you vote for something.

I imagine there ought to be a BuggerOff party, for those who refuse to vote for anyone else. They oughtn't have a platform other than "Keep Your Stinking Paws Off". If the voters were to elect them into the Government though, we'd definitely have to let the BuggerOffs repeal the compulsory voting thing, if they wanted to.