Important RPG Quotation!

"Although the rules have been thoroughly play-tested over a period of many months, it is likely that you will eventually find some part that seems ambiguous, unanswered, or unsatisfactory. When such situation arises settle it among yourselves, record the decision in the rules book, and abide by it from then on. These rules may be treated as guide lines around which you form a game that suits you. It is always a good idea to amend the rules to allow for historical precedence or common sense -- follow the spirit of the rules rather than the letter."

-Chainmail, 3rd edition, page 8, by Gary Gygax & Jeff Perren

Game Master means just that. Game. Master. It does not mean merely mastering the rules, nor does it mean slavish devotion to the rules at the expense of sacrificing their spirit. It means that the game is yours and your group's, to do with as you will.

If a GM notices that the rules are actively interfering with the fun, either fix them--Hell, we did it all the damn time with house rules, in the days before the Internet made official errata easy to find and access--or get a new system.

At the same time, GMs cannot blame the rules for interfering with their games. It's the GM's responsibility to see the problem, listen to the players, and have the courage to fix the problem.

(Original quotation taken from Jeff Rients' blog.)

Comic Book Heaven

In a time when most comics suck the chrome off a trailer hitch like a whore custom-built by Hoover, I delight to see the shiny bits of my youth being collected in lovely GN format.



I am overwhelmed with giddy joy at the following comics that have been reprinted.

Behold the trifecta perfecta:

Nexus



Grimjack



Badger



And for something published recently that doesn't suck:

Immortal Iron Fist




My inner child is kicking your inner child's ass.

Off a cliff.

And laughing.

Musing Buddhism

I am by no means as well read re: Buddhism as I am in other religions and philosophies.

That said, is Buddhism (one of the few? the only?) philosophies / religions that doesn't prescribe violence as a solution to a problem?

(The New Testament may have qualified, if not for that whole Revelation.)

Freely admitting my lack of knowledge, here.

Doctor Who Addendum

And is it just me, or did Russell T. Davies, the writer of "The Last Time Lord" (Doctor Who season 3, episode 13) see Flash Gordon one too many times?

A cute little homage, with a woman's well-manicured hand reaching for Ming's the Master's ring, with a slight chuckle sounding out.

Of course it's the Master's companion who reached for that ring. Or at least her body.

Of course her shooting the Master was part of some escape plan of the Master. (Mind switch at the last moment?)

Of course we're seeing the Master again.

Random Musings - Pride

While we might take joy in and celebrate a number of things, can there be any true, solid, humble, and foundationally positive pride in anything that we did not have a conscious choice in, that we did not achieve? Not necessarily without the help of others, mind you. In fact, perhaps achievement in tandem is more powerful - achievement through community. Hm.

Feeling philosophical of late.