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Topic: yet another movie thread...
Subject: Transformers...
I have been to see every one of the big "blockbuster" movies so far this summer. Pirates 3. Spidey 3. Shrek 3. Personally, I was pleased, to varying degreees, with all three of them. Very acceptable summer fare.
And so, the time for Transformers has come. I will admit to you that my expectations were extremely high for this movie - this was my favorite animated series (as well as my favorite type of toys) as a kid... so take my words with agrain of salt. I took the kids to see it yesterday (July 4th).
I was not pleased with Transformers.
Instead, I was overjoyed! They did not ruin the series, as I had feared. They stuck very true to the source material (as true as one could possibly expect for a live action flick, at any rate) and simply made a great film out of it. Two hours and twenty five minutes of movie flew by - there were no draggy moments at all.
Yes, you had a line or two of comic book-ish dialogue (i.e. cheesy), but that is to be expected. After all, this IS a movie about giant transforming sentient robots from outer space.  Yes, there was a scene that took a slightly heavy-handed approach to our protagonist and his love interest. Still, in my opinion, these were the only things that could be remotely called blemishes in an otherwise superbly executed film.
There is some swearing in the movie; you might want to take that into consideration if you are sensitive about such things with your kids. However, they do keep it very lmited; I'd imagine that if such events took place in real life, there would be considerably more of it.
Edit: I forgot, there's also some sexual innuendo, and an extremely funny "awkward parent/teenager" moment with a strong sexual overtone. Be advised.
The action is nonstop, the effects are incredible. The gigantic robots look like they really are there; kudos to the FX team!
Naturally, they left a very plausible opening for a possible (definite) sequel. While I doubt a sequel can live up to this one (shiny newness of a big screen franchise), I'll happily pony up to see it/them if they do decide to go that route. Heck, for the first time in a long time, I'm seriously considering to pay to see a movie again in the theatre... and that's with the knowledge that Harry Potter is about to come out!
Go see this movie NOW.
Posted on 2007-07-05 at 14:01:26.
Edited on 2007-07-09 at 19:20:37 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Guiding Light Q&A
Subject: character posting?
I don't usually do that, but I can make an exception if need be. I'd really rather you guys just describe your characters inside of the game context.
Speaking of which, some posting would be nice...
Posted on 2007-06-26 at 14:21:32.
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Topic: Ghosts of Aetalanta IV.R.?
Subject: expenses and more...
My own pricing model is much less expensive than that one... of course, seeing as how I may never finish the Audalis game, it may not matter. 
A little tidbit for those who are interested: a nice diplomacy matrix to show the dispositions of the various factions towards one another.
The way displomacy will work in our game will be that any side will be free to ally with any other side. However, some factions will have better chances to ally with one another than will others.
For example, the crunaik and the khordaldrum are bitter enemies. Even were their leaqders able to set aside their differences, centuries of warfare would be very difficult to set aside. In game terms, these sides have a very low base chance of allying.
Ertain and Coria, on the other hand, are kindred nations, and only a bumbling idiot - or a bloodthirsty warmonger on one of the thrones - should prevent them from allying.
Some nations - Bayris is a great example - may not be as strong militarily, but through diplomacy, can be quite formidible.
Note that, logically, diplomat characters with higher ability scores will have much better chances of forging alliances than will diplmats with poor ratings.
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 20:06:14.
Edited on 2007-06-15 at 20:07:55 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Guiding Light Q&A
Subject: The Guiding Light Q&A
This is the Q&A thread for my D&D game, "The Guiding Light". Please post all OOC questions and observations here.
Note that I have only given the briefest of descriptions of your characters - this is because most of YOU have only given me the briefest of physical descriptions.
If you would, make sure to work a verbal picture of your character into your first post, please.
The group has traveled together for a good six weeks or so, at the minimum. You have endured a battle or two, so the very basics of "can I trust this guy?" should be out of the way. That doesn't mean you all have to love one another; in a party with two noble-born syls PLUS two half breeds, I wouldn't be surprised at all if there were some race/class issues at play.
En'Aranthea has a mission, which is why you are in this godsforsaken place. She is to meet with an operative of the sylvari crown. The idea is that this individual is posing as a reasonably well to do Bayrisian merchant. He is to have arrived via ship a week or so ago, presumably on "business" with this smaller trading port. No more details have been revealed to the bladesinger. She may or may not have revealed her mission to the rest of you - this is her choice.
Feel free to post!
Current character roster
En'Aranthea Cormlond - female sylvari bladesinger (Vanadia)
Tal'Anor Meridyann - male sylvari paladin of Oriana (Tann'Talas)
Varuna Casan - male half-sylvari cleric of Lysora (YeOlde)
Valendara Isilifeline - female sylvari mage (Brianna)
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 16:41:07.
Edited on 2007-10-30 at 17:06:20 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Guiding Light Recruitment Thread (formerly known as A New D&D game - players needed)
Subject: game on!
I have started the game thread for this adventure - see "The Guiding Light" in the D&D section. I will now also open the Q&A thread for the game.
You call me a cad? Excuse me?
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 16:34:32.
Edited on 2007-06-15 at 16:43:26 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Guiding Light
Subject: The Guiding Light
11th Pfier (Thirkday), 452 E.R.
Town of Crall's Shoal, western Antaron
The summer sun was well on its way to the end of its daily journey by the time the first wooden buildings came into view. Four companions rode closely together on the hard-packed dirt trail that served as a road through the marshy countryside. The smell of seaspray helped to somewhat alleviate the less pleasant scents associated with the various pools of standing water that could regularly be found alongside the glorified "road".
Two sylvari rode at the front of the group. The first was a male, tall and powerfully built for his people, dressed in shining armor and wearing a scarlet cape across his shoulders. To his right sat a female syl, this one dressed in fine, intricately tooled leathers, along with a cloak of the finest spidersilk. At first glance, she was quite young, to say nothing of exceptionally beautiful, but something in her bearing caused even the most unobservant to realize that the sword at her side was not for show.
Following the two warriors was another who obviously bore sylvari blood, but careful observation revealed a heavier bone structure - the blood of humans also flowed through his veins. This one's clothing was far different - instead of finery, his garb was sturdy and functional leather armor, covered with a white robe trimmeed in blue. The thornless rose embroidered upon his chest marked him clearly as a servant of Lysora.
Last in line rode a diminutive sylvari woman in soft colors - mostly grey and muted purples. Her clothing was clearly fine, and the only obvious weapon she carried was the hilt of a dagger at her hip.
The journey had not been an easy one. The overland journey from Ertain was never an easy trip, but here at the southern end of the Taskarren Coast, the going had become particularly perilous. Twice the party had been froced to fight off attacks from bands of slaa'kar warriors; a rather unusual occurance, since the group had studiously avoided the Swamps of Kedesh themselves, where the most fierce tribes were known to live.
Still, they could not be swayed; En'Aranthea, a bladesinger of the sylvari court, had been tasked to meet an operative of her government in the otherwise unremarkable settlement of Crall's Shoal. Now that the wooden walls of the settlement had come into view, the companions looked forward to a night or two of much-deserved rest.
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 16:33:17.
Edited on 2007-08-09 at 14:31:38 by t_catt11
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Topic: (least) Favorite Character Death
Subject: well...
Actually, it had nothing to do with repentance, the player never really agreed with me that his character should have fallen. It had more to do with a romantic interest the cleric had with the character that got pulled under the water.
I hated it, too... the player was irritating me to no end, but I think that a "path to repentance" scenario would have made for GREAT gaming.
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 15:46:13.
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Topic: bragging on my child...
Subject: enthusiasm...
I did push too much back when my daughter played softball, and she no longer plays. However, she is very active in dance, which I support, but do not push (learned my lesson).
Caleb stated for extra practice last night again. We had already practuced for two hours and fifteen minutes, and the team was let go. One of the other coaches was going to stay and hit extra grounders to his son (the kid had bobbled way more than usual in practice), and my son wanted to stay, so we did.
Two weeks until tournament time!
Posted on 2007-06-15 at 13:56:31.
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Topic: (least) Favorite Character Death
Subject: character deaths...
I have something of a reputation as an evil DM, due to the deaths of some of the PCs in our groups. I personally hold that usually, characters only die due to really bad decision making, though there are cases when the dice are simply stacked against them. I do try to avoid "bang, you're dead" type moments like Admiral's poison cloak, though I have used items like that when truly necessary (I remember one annoying rogue that kept stealing things for no reason other than to steal, causing no end of grief for the other players. So he found an enchanted necklace. Without waiting to see what the enchantment did, he put it on, and it strangled him. Aaaah, how satisfying! But I digress...).
One in particular comes to mind right now. I had a very sucessful game here on the Inn - this game had run for a couple of years in the forums. This is how the group's party leader - a cleric of Solanis (god of light and life) met his end.
You see, the group was undertaking a bold mission to rescue one of their compatriots who had been captured. During said rescue, they picked up a blind oracle who held the keys to the next major leg of thier quest.
This cleric (Germon was his name), fell out of favor with his god during the rescue attempt due to major violations of his religion - he murdered several prison guards, guards who has already been subdued. He could have tied them up, locked them in cells, gagged them, etc. Instead, he chose to execute them. The player was unhappy with me, but I ruled that, since he WAS a priest of the god of light and life, his deity was greatly displeased, and pulled Germon's ability to cast spells.
The party had to fight their way out, and their opponents included a priestess of the goddess of pain and torture. They prevailed, but Germon was hit with an especially nasty curse that sapped his strength for a long period of time.
The escape route took the group deep beneath the castle, through a cistern that connected to an underground river. One of the party members was pulled beneath the water by a type of large water serpent. Healthier members of the party entered the water in a rescue attempt (that eventually suceeded), but Germon - barely able to walk due to the effects of the curse he was suffering - foolishly dove in, as well.
I warned him that he was barely able to swim at all, much less manage to pull someone out of the water, even if he could find them. I gave him oppotunities to retreat. He did not.
He was attacked and ripped to shreds by four juvenile water serpents. A few pieces of his robes made it to the surface, nothing else.
Posted on 2007-06-14 at 14:52:22.
Edited on 2007-12-03 at 21:24:14 by t_catt11
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: whoa...
Ho boy... ninety percent of the crew to the brig, including the captain? I don't know about this, mister Gavison...
Posted on 2007-06-14 at 14:15:33.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: heh
You say that like we didn't already know that you do, indeed, rock...
Posted on 2007-06-14 at 13:54:19.
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Topic: The Guiding Light Recruitment Thread (formerly known as A New D&D game - players needed)
Subject: no doubt
I like paladins of non-stereotypical deities (i.e., not just generic goodness, or justice, etc). In my games, the paladin must follow his ethos to the letter - that aspect of paladinhood is unchanged - but that ethos may not necessarily be lawful good.
Indeed, Oriana - Audalis' goddess of love, beauty, and passion - is chaotic good, bordering on chaotic neutral. Which means a holy warrior (paladin) of her following could be a hopeless romantic... or an absolute playa-playa, and still be living the right life, so to speak.
I always turn to one of my favorite examples: a paladin of Shinara (Audalis' goddess of luck). Talk about fun. Chaotic neutral, spur of the moment, "wherever the wind may blow me" attitude paladins!
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 20:59:49.
Edited on 2007-06-13 at 21:04:19 by t_catt11
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Topic: bragging on my child...
Subject: practice?
With a team, the other players field balls you have hit.
With one on one batting practice, like the extra practice my son and I did last night, you bring an entire bucket of baseballs, pitch them all, then pick them up once you are done. Otherwise, you spend hours chasing the ball.
**smites Alacrity** You say everything would be better on ice!
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 19:14:55.
Edited on 2007-06-13 at 19:15:44 by t_catt11
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Topic: The Chakran Portal - Q/A
Subject: heh
I will admit that I HATE font color changes in my threads - I ask players to use italics, bold, etc, but PLEASE don't change font colors.
But this is not my thread. 
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 19:03:57.
Edited on 2007-06-13 at 19:04:16 by t_catt11
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Topic: bragging on my child...
Subject: prodigy
Talent is defintiely part of it - he has that, there's no doubt. However, he's not at all a big kid (one of the smallest on his regular team, much less the all star team), and was the youngest player on his regular team.
The secret has been good old fashioned hard work. Last night, for instance, we practiced two hours with the team. Everyone else went home, but as we packed our gear, Caleb asked me if we could stay and hit some more. He had made good contact during batting practice, but had not hit for much power.
So we worked on it for another half hour until he was consistently ripping balls into the outfield again.
I'm hoping that this sort of thing will prove to be a valuable life lesson for him - when you consistently work hard and apply yourself, good things happen.
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 19:02:54.
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Topic: The Chakran Portal - Q/A
Subject: tutorial
There is one printed in common room section of the general forum.
To change font colors, use the correct html tag. <font color="green">Green text here</font> is an example.
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 18:57:16.
Edited on 2007-06-13 at 18:57:47 by t_catt11
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Topic: bragging on my child...
Subject: bragging on my child...
What they hey. I'm gonna play proud papa here.
My son has played dixie youth baseball since he was four years old. He's always been a good player, but has never quite managed to put together a season that lived up to his potential. He has always tended to kill the ball when hitting in practice, but then get nervious in games, and not perform anywhere near of what he is capable.
This year (he is nine), that all changed. He hit consistently, and hit for real power. He was one of the elite hitters not only on his team, but one of the best in his league - especially nice considering he moved up to a new age group this year, and was the youngest player on his team. Add to that that he has been an effective pitcher, but better, an excellent (no daddy bias here) catcher, and it was a great year.
He was a unianimous selection to the league's all star team - something he has hoped for, but never accomplished in the past (made alternate once, but never made the team before). It appears that he will be the team's starting catcher... he is excited.
He has another year in this league; if he continues to work hard (which he has - we have put in MANY extra hours of practice, many times at his urging, not mine), he has a chance to be a dominant player next year. It is good to see that work pay off, and I am proud of him.
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 18:10:17.
Edited on 2007-06-13 at 18:11:29 by t_catt11
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: awesome
I didn't think you could go full time, but it;s good to know that Bob - one of the all time most beloved characters around - will not go away.
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 18:02:35.
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Topic: Star Trek: Discovery - Q&A
Subject: hrm
I have missed this game terribly much... is there any point to attempt to revive it?
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 17:47:00.
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Topic: yet another movie thread...
Subject: whaaa?
You actually paid to see Bug after I warned you?
And I thought that *I* was a glutton for punishment...
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 17:35:31.
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Topic: Continuing Where We Last Left Off Q&A
Subject: chiming in...
Yeah, I'll try to get a post up...
HAH! For once, I have already posted! Boo-yah!
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 17:28:03.
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Topic: The Guiding Light Recruitment Thread (formerly known as A New D&D game - players needed)
Subject: no more submissions...
Rystefn, Vesper, others - thank you for your submissions, but you were too late. We have a full party. If I have a drop, you'll be the first I contact to fill the empty shoes.
As for those of you on the list - make sure you get me the rest of your info. Several of you are missing details of some sort. If you are unsure, please PM me.
I will shortly start a Q&A thread for our out of game conversations, as well as an actual game thread in the D&d section.
Glad to have you, victi...er...players!
Posted on 2007-06-13 at 17:23:40.
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Topic: Ghosts of Aetalanta IV.R.?
Subject: heh...
Those who are interested will discover that their old accounts still exist.
Posted on 2007-06-12 at 19:51:25.
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Topic: Ghosts of Aetalanta IV.R.?
Subject: what happened?
To the Audalis wargame? We sufferred the site crash, and that got the wargame, too. Funny you should ask, however... I recently got a full restore up. However, I have had no time to spend on development, and there are a few things I'd like to do before I ask for testers to return.
But it is not dead.
Posted on 2007-06-12 at 19:37:56.
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Topic: Chat?
Subject: grrr
No canna do right now with this job in cubicle land. Too bad, too... I see that big Al is actually on the site!
Posted on 2007-06-12 at 19:13:10.
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