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Barwickian

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Posts posted by Barwickian

  2. Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

     

    I am starting to think that as the PA guys (AKA Gabe and Tycho) mature' date=' have wives and children. That perhaps they are really giving some of their attitudes a very hard look. They seem to have been moving toward seeing how some of their attitudes might be bad when seen from the viewpoints of Wives and daughters.[/quote']

     

    Any specific examples, or is that a general feeling? I haven't read PA since the dickwolves.

  6. Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

     

    It's 100 years since HG Wells' Little Wars was published, bringing wargaming into the parlour. Wargaming, of course, spawned roleplaying.

     

    Little Wars isn't its full title.

     

    Little Wars is a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers' date=' written by H. G. Wells in 1913. Its full title is Little Wars: a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books.[/quote']

     

    Well, at least the forward-thinking Wells accepted girls into the hobby he created. So long as they were "the more intelligent sort" who liked "boys' games and books".

     

    What does it say of our hobby that the discriminatory attitudes of a century ago still seem so prevalent?

  9. Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

     

    Noah Hughes seems like a reasonable and generally cool person. That interview has me wanting to play the game. (Im a lapsed fan too)

     

    Yeah, he struck me that way too. Very intelligent and thoughtful as well.

     

    And as to the game, here's the closing paragraph I'm submitting for the print version (which will be uploaded in a couple of days; I'll provide a link when it is):

     

    "From my perspective, having played the limited demo at Games12 and an extended demo last week, I am looking forward to it with great excitement. Great games go beyond gameplay and story; they have a certain magic about them, a spark of genius. Everything I have seen so far indicates Creative Dynamics have caught that spark and bound it into this game. Lara Croft is back."

  10. Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

     

    People may recall there was some controversy over the content of the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot.

     

    I interviewed Noah Hughes, the creative director of Crystal Dynamics, a couple of days ago, and asked him about the scene (among many other things about the reboot and Tomb Raider in general).

     

    http://gulfnews.com/opinions/bloggers/pwned-1.1007687/an-interview-with-noah-hughes-on-tomb-raider-1.1137871

     

    The discussion of the controversial scene is about 3/4 of the way down - but the earlier parts will set the stage.

  14. The "Nice Happy" Thread

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: The "Nice Happy" Thread

     

    Two reasons to be cheerful:

     

    1) I start a new Hero game later today. Turakian Age. 7-8 players only one of whom has played Hero before. We did chargen last week. Everyone's excited. We've got Emiratis, Palestinians, a Brit, an Albanian and I think even a Syrian. Yalla! Roll the dice, yani.

     

    2) It rained today, for the first time in two years.

     

    It's hard to explain how much we love the rain. Here's my buddy Cameo Mo (Leomachus Paladin) revelling in it. "We're going camping tomorrow!" he shouted. The wadis will have water in them again at last. The desert will start to bloom. This is a start of a magical time.

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45249[/ATTACH]

  15. A Thread for Random Videos

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: A Thread for Random Videos

     

    Ultimate Combat Systems: The Deadly Satwa Gs.

     

    This one is rife with in-jokes, so I'm not sure how well it will translate. I think it's hilarious.

     

    Very brief starter explanations.

     

    Satwa - old Emirati area of Dubai. Jumeirah - another old Emirati of Dubai; also popular among expats. There is a big rivalry among young Emirati men from Satwa and Jumeirah.

     

    Beach Centre - small mall between Satwa and Jumeirah. Notorious fight spot.

     

    The aghal - part of the traditional Arab headgear, originally a camel hobble kept on the head (where else would you keep it?). Also used by Emirati men for beating their sons in lieu of a belt. And actually used in fights.

     

  17. The "Nice Happy" Thread

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: The "Nice Happy" Thread

     

    And I just got back from this:

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45217[/ATTACH]

     

    That's Rory McIlroy (centre right, maroon shirt) and Marc Warren (left, striped shirt) walking up to take their third shots on the 620-yard par-5 18th at the Earth Course, Dubai.

     

    Would you believe I live in a desert? Squint and you'll see some of it behind the trees in the distance.

     

    I saw so many of my current golfing heros: McIlroy, Luke Donald, Louis Oosthuizen (sporting a fine pornstar moustache for Movember), Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel.

     

    The DP World Tour Championship has been billed as a showdown between McIlroy and Donald - and they've been neck-and-neck all day, both finishing with birdies on the 18th to lie at 17 under.

     

    Really good to see Jeev Milka Singh taking time out from his post-round driving practice to pose for some pictures with his fans. He finished the day on 6 under; I got to the course too late to see him play, as he had an early start.

     

    I wish I could go again tomorrow, but work calls. I may be able to squeeze in some of the morning's play, since I work late...

  21. Wish List: Other Licensed Content

    in HERO System Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Wish List: Other Licensed Content

     

    Game worlds:

     

    Traveller/Third Imperium (for 6th edition; yes, I have the Comstar 5th edition)

     

    2300AD

     

    Glorantha

     

    Spacemaster (great setting, awful rules - I like Rolemaster, but those rules do not work for SF)

     

    Harn (and yes, I'm probably one of the people most equipped to do this)

     

    Fictional worlds:

     

    Katherine Kerr's Deverry series

     

    David Gemmell's Drenai (heroic fantasy) and/or Jerusalem Man (post-apocalyptic) stories

     

    Poul Anderson's Polysotechnic League

     

    Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat

  22. Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

    in Non-Gaming Discussion

    Posted

    Re: Interesting article about Sexism in Geek Communities

     

    I don't watch Jersey Shore.

     

    Someone mentioned Jersey Shore to me the other day. My first thought was Springsteen, not Snooki. I am extremely happy about that, and refused their offer of a crash course in modern living.

     

    Everything dies baby, that's a fact

    But maybe everything that dies someday comes back

    Put on your makeup, fix your hair up pretty

    And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.

  25. Real Locations that should be fantasy

    in Fantasy Hero

    Posted

    Re: Real Locations that should be fantasy

     

    How about Barwick-in-Elmet, the village where I grew up?

     

    Where do I start?

     

    Elmet was one of the last Celtic kingdoms in England, finally falling to the invading Saxons in 616AD. It was part of Hen Ogledd (The Old North), whose most notable king was Hen Ceol, of nursery rhyme fame (Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he).

     

    The earliest visible remains in the village are a series of 1st-century earthworks though to have been built to fight (unsuccessfuly) against Agricola's march north with his legions. Wendell Hill is a 15-acre single-vallum hillfort in the heart of the village, probably of similar date. During the Anarchy (AD1136-1154), a motte-and-bailey castle was built inside it. The motte still exists (we call it Hall Tower Hill).

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45202[/ATTACH]

     

    Our village church dates back to Norman times, though carved Viking-era stones were used as part of the foundations. They're now kept in the nave of the church.

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45203[/ATTACH]

     

    The tower of the church was built in two phases, of different stone, in the 14th century. In front of the church is our maypole - the tallest in England, at just over 90 feet

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45204[/ATTACH]

     

    Every three years we take down the maypole by the old method (with ropes, ladders and an awful lot of people) and repaint it. It's re-erected at Whitsun, with much ceremony. After it's re-erected, a villager has to shin up it and spin the weathercock (a fox) at the top to bring luck to the village. The next time will be in 2014.

     

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]45205[/ATTACH]

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