1/2 way into Westworld s3e1 it has gone cyberpunk. Not cp2020 but cp2050 if it was written in 2019.
Now my wondering is what the Westworld/Delos parks would have been like if Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was the inspiration instead of Red Dead Redemption? GTA in the old west vs. Miyazaki’s Princess Monokee by Nintendo.
Watching Aliens Extended Edition while some of the deleted scenes are interesting, fill in gaps of the story, ultimately the theatrical cut is paced better.
Rewatching Dirty Dozen movie, the first one. Forgot that back 1967 it was a big budget serious movie.
An observation about still going to work that my wife picked up on. I’m exhausted every evening. Like fall asleep in a couple of minutes from the lights going out exhausted. Thing is there are very few people in the building. Everything I have to do are things I’ve done hundreds of times. But having to stay 6′ away from everyone, washing hands before and after I visit an office or lab, caring around a container of disinfected wipes to hit every surface when I arrive and leave is exhausting.
Don’t know how people treating actual patients deal with it.
To me this was the stand out bit:
You could use a similar analogy for computer games and roleplaying games, and say that a computer is to a roleplaying game what a movie is to play. As computers became masters of heavy math then roleplaying games could see their limits and focus on other areas like the social aspect or the physical play area.
Everything you think about Game Mastering is probably wrong: Part I – The whole concept
Saw this idea in some review of ODD. Part of why character death in ODD and many OSR games isn’t as big of a deal character creation takes minutes instead of an hour or more. Building a character is usually less than the length of the combat encounter that killed your previous character. In 5E and many contemporary games making a satisfying experienced character takes an evening session or more.
It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the School of Abjuration, a wizard subclass from the Player’s Handbook that creates arcane wards to protect rather than to destroy. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Archfey, a warlock patron from the Player’s Handbook that grants their followers powers of glamour and subterfuge. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Wild Magic sorcerer, a magic-user from the Player’s Handbook that wields unpredictable arcana. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Assassin, a rogue subclass from the Player’s Handbook that has mastered the art of silent death. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Beast Master ranger, the most controversial (and misunderstood) subclass in the Player’s Handbook. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Oath of the Ancients, a sacred oath from the Player’s Handbook that wields sylvan power. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Way of the Four Elements, a mystical and magical monastic tradition from the Player’s Handbook. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Battle Master, a cunning and tactical fighter archetype from the Player’s Handbook. Last week, we looked at the druidic Circle of the Moon, but there wasn’t time to look at your Wild Shape options. Now, learn about the best creatures to transform into for combat, utility, and sheer fun! It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Circle of the Moon, a wild shaping druid subclass from the Player’s Handbook. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the Knowledge Domain, an enlightened cleric subclass from the Player’s Handbook. It’s time to go beyond the Basic Rules. In this week’s Class 101, we examine the College of Valor, a bard subclass from the Player’s Handbook. In this week’s class 101, we examine the iconic Thief archetype, and use it to build a talented and acrobatic rogue!
As a long time Dungeons & Dragons / Table Top RPG player and game master The Witcher feels like a BECMI Dungeon Master’s really well developed home brew world. Very high praise. Like in BECMI the Elves, Dwarves and Gnomes feel like classes and occur spairingly. Like in BECMI religion is a thing but not much a part of the story. The brilliant bit is the whole Witcher orders creation and openly and actively hiring monster hunters.
I also like what seems to be elves are not these Tolkien beautiful angelic beings. Most of the elves running around in human society are beautiful but not most elves hiding in the hinterlands or “squirrels” raiding human society.
Somewhere I’ve read that 0-5 level characters are still in the normal human ability so in The Witcher there are “mutated” characters with level 5+ abilities.
Magically speaking maybe not so much BECMI but ODD with a very forgiving GM with on the fly spell creation. Signs work as traditional DnD spells and cantrips.
Using portals and the world spheres colliding to bring what are often time nonsensical and contradictory fantastic creatures into one world was a great idea not used as much since the 80’s.
I do have one complaint both time and distance feel much like a good DnD campaign, it only matters when it matters but in fiction I find myself lacking a good understanding of place. And place or Kingdoms and cities do seem to matter. Lots of good world building is being lost on my inability to link it all yet.
Disclaimer: Currently I’ve read Saga 1, 1/3 Saga 2, Last Wish and a couple chapters in Swords if Destiny. Watched the first season of the Netflix Series and caught a few YouTube videos on the books and games.
Did the phone new phone yesterday, iPhone 7 to iPhone 11. Backup/Restore didn’t work so it is fresh setup. Feel like I’m re-establishing my butt grove into the couch.
Seen several mentions of Lone Wolf and Cub if you like The Mandalorian. On the library’s wait list for the Criterian Collection version.
