Shadowdragon's Den

Hiding in plain sight

2007-12-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

Here is one way to get out of doing house work. Just hide in plain sight.

IM IN UR MANGER KILLING UR SAVIOR

2007-12-20T15:31:00.001-05:00

Free Food for Animal Shelters

2007-11-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

Free Food for Animal Shelters

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple. Please tell your friends to tell their friends today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "feed an animal in need" for free. It's in a purple box in the middle of the page. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

www.theanimalrescuesite.com

I received this from somebody I trust that rarely forwards this type of email unless it is legitimate so please help out this organization.

Zombie Survival quiz

2007-11-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

74%

Free Online Dating from JustSayHi

Cool Nerd God!

2007-10-25T11:32:00.000-04:00

I'm really not sure how I scored so high on the Tech/Computer part. The following is a fun fact was given after I completed the test.

34.6% of all test takers would choose the Internet over sex, and
28.3% of married test takers prefer the Internet over sex.

WTF!!!!

Get a life!

Last Highlander

2007-10-17T23:23:00.001-04:00

Winner!

2007-10-17T23:20:00.000-04:00

We have a winner for this Quote of the week. Congratulations Nicole, glad that you, Carlton and Ainsley are all doing well. I will get the gift certificate to you next time I see you or email it if it doesn't appear that we will cross paths relatively soon.

Quote of the week!

2007-09-19T16:20:00.000-04:00

Here is one of my all time favorite quotes.

"When it's time shoot, shoot don't talk."

For full credit I want to who said it and where it's from.

Pirate Cat!

2007-09-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition

2007-09-12T10:16:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Week Answer

2007-09-08T15:01:00.000-04:00

With no one guessing the (or even attempting to) answer to this Quote and it has been over 2 months the quote is from Abraham Maslow.

By the hand of Doom!

2007-09-08T14:59:00.000-04:00

Your results:
You are Dr. Doom

Dr. Doom		60%
Apocalypse		53%
Mr. Freeze		52%
Lex Luthor		47%
Juggernaut		45%
Venom		43%
Dark Phoenix		39%
Magneto		39%
Poison Ivy		38%
Catwoman		37%
The Joker		34%
Mystique		33%
Kingpin		33%
Green Goblin		29%
Riddler		27%
Two-Face		25%

Blessed with smarts and power but burdened by vanity.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Monster Manual V released!

2007-07-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

The Monster Manual V just came out for all you GM's looking for creatures to confound your players.

Monster Manual V is the most recent volume in the best-selling Monster Manual line. This 224-page D&D supplement presents a fully illustrated horde of new monsters, as well as ready-to-play variations of previously existing monsters. In addition, this supplement features maps of monster lairs, sample encounters, and tactics sections to help Dungeon Masters run the more complex creatures. Additionally, many entries contain information about where monsters are likely to appear in the Forgotten Realms and Eberron campaign settings.

Please feel free to tell us your opinion of this book. If you want one I have several in stock.

Night Below has arrived

2007-07-12T22:45:00.000-04:00

The new miniature set from WotC came out over the weekend and it is very well done. Here are a few of my favorites.

This is from the Eberron campaign setting and my first thought was the Scorpion King from the Mummy Returns.

Nagas are great creatures that don't get the respect they deserve and this one is done very well.

This frost giant with an ice sword is BIG and well done.

I saved my favorite for last. It's a Shadowdragon and is made entirely of the smoked clear plastic, which IMHO is awesome.

Happy Birthday United States!

2007-07-04T14:39:00.001-04:00

Here are some pictures my wife got last night at a fireworks display in Beech Grove, Indiana. My 3 year old daughter thought the fireworks were the coolest thing ever. The bigger and louder the better.

I'm a Geek and proud of it!

2007-07-04T11:57:00.000-04:00

Here is a quiz that I saw on the blog of Oz, a gamer friend of mine.

83% GeekMingle²

Expedition to the Demonweb Pits

2007-07-01T23:08:00.000-04:00

This came out a couple of months ago and I've finally had a chance to look it over a bit. Here is the WotC blurb about it.

"Expedition to the Demonweb Pits is a D&D super-adventure for characters of levels 9–12. It is usable as a mini-campaign on its own, as a story arc in a Dungeon Master’s regular campaign, or as a series of small side adventures with a big payoff. The structure is very flexible and eminently customizable. The adventure uses a new combat encounter format designed to make the DM’s job easier and to speed up play.

Heroes who become entangled in the adventure’s plot soon find themselves squaring off against the agents of Lolth and Graz’zt across several planes, including the Abyss."

I'm sure most of you old time gamers (of which I'm certainly one) remember the series of 7 modules that started in G1 Against the Hill Giants and progressed all the way the to an encounter with the Lolth the Spider Queen. This isn't an updated version of that but is a MUCH better done mini campaign. It is a very nice hardback book that has a good plot and plenty of info on various demons as well as their respective goals.

My biggest problem with this is that it's designed for 9-12level characters. There is no way, IMHO, that characters of that level should survive as the description says "squaring off against the agents of Lolth and Graz’zt across several planes, including the Abyss". It certainly brings back memories of going through those modules many, many years ago. As always I welcome your comments, feedback or reviews on this book.

+3 Cheeseburger??? Why didn't I think of that!

2007-06-28T17:05:00.001-04:00

Here is another one that I really appreciated. Some of the comments are certainly left by gamers.

Uhm…I Distract The Orc

Evil Twin?!

2007-06-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

This is a very amusing site mostly about cats.

wonders if i has evil twin??

Quote of the week (day or month or whatever)

2007-06-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

Here is the quote:

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."

I find this especially true in martial arts.

My personality

2007-06-27T10:56:00.000-04:00

Here is my personality according to the Brutally Honest Personality Test.

Crackpot - INTJ
13% Extraversion, 73% Intuition, 73% Thinking, 66% Judging

"People hate you.

Paris Hilton hates Nicole Richie. Lex Luther hates Superman. Garfield hates Mondays. But none these even rates against the insurmountable hate, people have for you.

I mean, you're pretty damn clever and you know it. You love to flaunt your potential. Heard the word "arrogant" lately? How about "jerk?" Or perhaps they only say that behind your back.

That's right. I know I can say this cause you're not going to cry. You're not exactly the most emotional person. You'd rather spend time with your theoretical questions and abstract theories than with other people.

Ever been kissed? Ever even been on a date? Trust me, your inflated ego is a complete turnoff with the opposite sex and I am telling you, you're not that great with relationships as it is. You're never going to be a dude or chick magnet, purely because you're more concerned with yourself than others. Meh. They all hate you already anyway.

How about this- "stubborn?" Hrm? Heard that lately? All those facts which don't fit your theories must just be wrong, right? I mean, really, the vast amounts of time you spend with your head in the clouds...you're just plain strange."

I'm not really like that, well not much. OK, I'm like that sometimes but not ALL the time. Alright, alright so that is kind of close to my personality but DAMN IT if people would just listen to me and do what I tell them to... Sorry I got a little carried away.

Coffee addiction? Maybe a little

2007-06-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

I am 65% Addicted to Coffee

As much as I love her, it's all my wifes fault. I never drank coffee before we got together. I guess that is one more of many things I have to thank her for.

OOPS!

2007-06-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

Is it just me or does it seem like PCs get critical successes much more often then critical failures?

Imperial Post Office?

2007-06-26T11:05:00.000-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I look out the front window of my Beech Grove site to see several Stormtroopers in front of the U.S. Post Office branch across the street. They must've been looking for the R2-D2 mail boxes that have been around town lately. The USPS has a Star Wars stamp promotion and apparently got some Stormtroopers to help advertise it.

Attack cat

2007-05-28T17:47:00.000-04:00

Kitten claws are sharp. I believe he could kill a 1st level commoner and maybe even a 1st level wizard if he caught him by surprise.

Ziggurat Con

2007-05-27T23:05:00.000-04:00

Where is the World's First War Zone Game Convention? Ziggurat Con may well be it. It is being held June 9 from 1200 to 2100 hours at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase, is open to all allied military personnel and civilian contractors in Iraq.

"The Con's historical landmark "mascot" -- the Ziggurat that gives the Con its name -- can be found on the post, and hails from the ancient city of Ur. Nearby is the house where it is believed that Abraham (a large figure in the Bible, the Koran and the Torah) was born. Cool digs for a Con -- if not for the fact that there's a war going on. Amberson, however, emphasized the need for soldiers to relax and kick back with enjoyable activities from time to time."

The largest problem with running a Con in Iraq, of course, is that there are no local stores or game publishers, and few game books on the post. Even dice are in short supply, with many soldiers breaking the unwritten taboo held by many gamers and (gasp!) sharing dice. Thankfully, many game publishers have also lent their support, and have agreed to supply game products to help the Con along. aethereal FORGE, Sovereign Press, Final Redoubt Press, Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing and Steve Jackson Games are among those that have thrown in their support for the convention. But Amberson indicated that the soldiers could definitely use more.

I'm going to send some game supplies out to these guys early this week so if anybody has a donation to make let me know ASAP. Also tell your friends and make sure word gets out to anybody in the game community that might support this game con.

Star Wars RPG: Saga Edition

2007-05-09T23:09:00.000-04:00

The official release has been moved back to the 5th of June now. Here is the a pic and the official blurb about the book.

"Wizards of the Coast releases a new edition of the Star Wars Role-Playing Game that includes content from all six films while presenting a thorough revision of the rules, making the game easier to learn. The new 288-page Star Wars Role-Playing Game: Saga Edition (MSRP $39.95) core rulebook includes new character abilities and options, a streamlined skill system, a revised combat system, new feats and Force powers, a world gazetteer, plus statistics for key characters from all six Star Wars films and the Expanded Universe."

"In addition to being the first Star Wars RPG product to include Episode III content, this new version of the Star Wars RPG is much more "miniatures friendly" than previous editions and includes a battle map and guidelines for using Star Wars miniatures in game play. The new WotC Star Wars RPG: Saga Edition is based on the Star Wars Role-Playing Game Revised Core Rulebook that WotC published in 2002."

I think that by "miniatures friendly" they mean "you really need to buy our miniatures and increase our profits" but that is just me. By the way, I have plenty of these ordered and lots of miniatures from most of the Star Wars and D&D sets if you need to pick some up.

Paladins! Eeck!

2007-05-09T23:03:00.000-04:00

I think one of those was my high school geometry teacher.

Quote of the Week Answer

2007-05-02T22:08:00.000-04:00

Since there have been no guesses posted and This Quote of the Week was put up over 2 months ago, the answer is: Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee on page 20. Here are a few more of my favorites from the Tao of Jeet Kune Do:

"Truth has no path. Truth is living and, therefore, changing."

"Relationship is understanding. It is a process of self-revelation. Relationship is the mirror in which you discover yourself - to be is to be related."

"The art of Jeet Kune Do is simply to simplify."

So long Dragon, It's been a long strange trip!

2007-04-22T19:07:00.000-04:00

For those of you that haven't received the news yet Dragon magazine and Dungeon magazine will cease to be published later this year. Paizo made the official announcement Here . I have certainly had my differences with some of the stuff published in it and thought it could have been more generally useful frequently. The quality, as with anything that has been around longer than the majority of the people playing the game, was periodically changing as staff and company control changed. With that said, I must also say that most of the time I found some articles in just about every issue to be of interest if not useful. It is with a small tear in my eye and a great deal of fondness that I say to this old friend "Farewell Dragon, it's been nice having you around!"

Briefcases and Bureacrats

2007-04-20T19:39:00.000-04:00

I have days that I feel like this.

Spring!

2007-03-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

Spring has officially arrived. It was over 70 degrees yesterday so my 3 year old daughter and I played in the backyard for about 2 hours until it got dark and we got hungry. While I'm no big fan of DST, I am happy about the longer periods of daylight that come with Spring even if it means cutting grass. All Hail Lugh!

One of my fears

2007-03-21T17:02:00.000-04:00

I fear this may well be my daughter in the not to distant future. It came from Here.

Unhallowed has arrived!

2007-03-13T09:24:00.000-04:00

The newest set of miniatures from WotC came out over the weekend. Here are some of my favorites.

An undead beholder is a wonderful way to tell the party how you really feel about them.

Is it just me or does this look like something straight out of Call of Cthulhu?

Count Strahd, a classic from Ravenloft.

and where Strahd goes can Von Richten be far behind.

They have really improved the look of the colored plastics considerably.

This is just unusual enough to be very cool. If you want to see the entire gallery of miniatures just go Here. I have booster packs, cases and singles so let me know if there are any you want.

Quote of the week!

2007-02-25T18:27:00.000-05:00

Here is the quote:

"Understanding oneself happens through a process of relationships and not through isolation."

Good luck.

Stomach Flu!

2007-02-25T18:25:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, I didn't post a new Quote of the Week but when you have the stomach flu it's amazing the things that don't get done. I'll work on it.

Dungeonscape new release

2007-02-21T12:15:00.000-05:00

Dungeonscape was release last week and it looks to be more useful than Cityscape which came out a few months back. Here is the official blurb.

Welcome to the Dungeon!

Since the dawn of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game, the dungeon has remained a place of mystery, excitement, and danger. Purple worms burrow through the earth, eager for their next meal. Savage orcs lurk within the darkness, ready to surge forth and lay waste to civilized lands. Strange cults, mutated monsters, and forgotten gods hide within the choking darkness of the dungeon's halls. Nowhere else offers greater prospects for wealth, magic, and power. Yet the horrors that lurk beneath the world never give up their treasures without a fight....

This D&D supplement presents a refreshing new take on dungeon adventures. It shows Dungeon Masters how to inject excitement, innovation, and thrilling adventure into their dungeons. New rules for encounter traps allow DMs to build deadly snares to catch the unwary. For players, the factotum class is a cunning wanderer, a jack-of-all-trades who can cope with anything the dungeon throws at him. New equipment, feats, and prestige classes give adventurers the tools they need to survive the dark beneath the earth.

If you have this or have looked at it please tell us what your opinion of it. I have several in stock if anybody needs one.

Winner! (again)

2007-02-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

Winner of the gift certificate for Quote of the Week from the 31st of January goes to Oz! Congratulations. He knew the quote is from Deep Space Nine and the character is Garek the "tailor" to Doctor Bashir. I will email your gift certificate to you later this week. A new Quote of the Week will go up later today.

Lord of the Rings video

2007-02-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

I found this on Youtube and thought it was really well done. Make sure the volume is on when you watch this.

Gargantuan Blue Dragon

2007-01-31T11:06:00.000-05:00

The next in WotC line of Iconic Dragons came out a couple of weeks ago and here it is.

It retails for $40 but is very well done. I have a couple in stock if anybody would like to pick you up.

Quote of the week (day or month or whatever)

2007-01-31T11:01:00.000-05:00

Here is the quote.

"My dear doctor, I believe in coincidences, I just don't trust them."

For this I want not only the show but the character that made the statement. Good luck.

Complete Scoundrel

2007-01-19T23:35:00.000-05:00

The Complete Scoundrel is in and after a brief once over, IMHO, it is definitely worth getting. Here is the official description:

Fair Fights are for Suckers

In a world filled with monsters and villains, a little deception and boldness goes a long way. You know how to take advantage of every situation, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty. Take the gloves off? Ha! You never put them on. You infuriate your foes and amaze your allies with your ingenuity, resourcefulness, and style. For you, every new predicament is an opportunity in disguise, and with each sweet victory your notoriety grows. That is how legends are made.

I have several in stock and will probably have to order more. I think this is going to be a very popular book. I will give a more detailed review in the next few days.

Shirt sale!

2007-01-11T15:42:00.000-05:00

Spreadshirt is offering free shipping on all order of $15 or more until the end of the month. You can see what shirts I have available by going Here. If you have a design you want on a shirt and don't see it on my list let me and I can get it listed.

WOW

2007-01-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

Where was she before I started seeing my wife.

Kindergarten or Indotrinization

2007-01-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

OH MY GODS! What are they trying to do to these kids? The following is an except from This article.

"Nowhere are the demands greater than at Achievement First East New York Charter School in Brooklyn, which holds classes through this month. On a recent Friday morning, 20 kindergartners in uniforms of yellow shirts and blue jumpers or shorts, many yawning and rubbing their eyes, filed into the classroom of Keisha Rattray and Luis Gonzalez. Some sat in plastic chairs lined up before the teachers for phonics and grammar drills, while others sat at computer screens, listening through headphones to similar exercises.

The classroom has no blocks, dress-up corners or play kitchens. There is no time for show and tell, naps or recess. There is homework every night. For much of the day, the children are asked to sit quietly with their hands folded as their teachers drill them in phonics, punctuation and arithmetic."

I'm the father of a nearly 3 year old daughter and I can't imagine putting her in that kind of class room setting. I certainly want my daughter to be well educated but not by destroying all of her creativity. Please read the full article and let me know what you think of it.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T22:12:00.000-05:00

I hope everybody had a safe and enjoyable New Years eve.

Venerable Lord Shadowdragon the Reticent of Lower Hellswicke

2006-12-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Venerable Lord Shadowdragon the Reticent of Lower Hellswicke
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

What American city are you?

2006-12-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

This doesn't seem quite right to me but what do I know.

You Are Las Vegas

Wild and uninhibited, you enjoy all of life's vices.
You're a total hedonist, especially with sex, gambling, and drinking.
You shine brightly every night, but you do the ultimate walk of shame each morning.

Famous Las Vegas residents: Wayne Newton, Howard Hughes, Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy

What American City Are You?

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

2006-12-18T14:06:00.000-05:00

Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells came out last week. Here is the official blurb from WotC.

"Fell Legions and Insidious Plots
Through subtle plotting and brutal aggression, the forces of the Nine Hells seek to corrupt or dominate all who stand against them. These fiends, as ancient and terrible as any in the multiverse, forge armies out of the souls of the wicked and use them to enforce their iron rule. Can your adventurers stand against the might and tyranny of the Nine Hells?

This supplement for the D&D game presents the definitive treatise on devils and their malefic home. Along with information about the physiology, psychology, society, and schemes of the devils themselves, you’ll find feats, spells, items, and tactics commonly employed by these infernal creatures and those who oppose them. This book also provides detailed information on various devils, archdevils, and the layers of the Nine Hells."

I will be posting a review in the next week or two and as always welcome your reviews and comments. I have several if anybody is in need of a copy.

Winner!

2006-12-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

Winner of the first gift certificate for Quote of the Week goes to Oz! Congratulations. He knew the quote is from Sun Tzu's Art of War. I will email your gift certificate to you later this week. A new Quote of the Week will go up later this week as well.

Quote of the Week and Answer

2006-12-14T08:37:00.000-05:00

Since nobody has even made a guess I will let you know that the book this is from is "One fish, two fish, Red fish, Blue fish" which is not only a classic but one of my daughter's favorites. I have also decided to expand the the Quote of the Week to include movies, TV shows and just about anything else I can think of. OK, here is the newest QotW.

"One should appraise a war first of all in terms of five fundamental factors and make comparisons of various conditions of the antagonists sides in order to assess the outcome. The first of the fundamental factors is politics; the second is weather; the third is terrain; the fourth is the commander and the fifth is doctrine."

Good luck.

Cityscape review

2006-11-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

I had a chance to peruse Cityscape relatively well and here is my take on it.

The Good:
It has a pretty fair amount of information but doesn't go overboard with minuscule details. It has several city types (military, port, slaver, trading hub, etc.) detailed to the point that they can be incorporated into a campaign relatively easily but there is still plenty of room for customization. I like the description of the various city districts and a plot hook or two is listed in each. The section discussing guilds, houses and organizations is also well done. No new races where in this book.

The Bad:
It would be nice for newer players and game masters if this had a little more detail on how to actually build a city from the ground (or sewers) up. The worst thing about his book, IMHO, is that if you don't do a fair amount of city based adventuring or if you have a well established city you use, this book is about 50% to 75% useless to you.

Overall:
I like the balance between detail and being able to personalize the information about the cities described. If you like city adventuring this is probably worth while but if your group is more into wilderness/dungeon crawls you could probably passed it up.

Let us know what's your opinion of this book.

Quote of the Week promotion

2006-11-29T10:40:00.000-05:00

In an effort to bring in a little more traffic to my site and business to my store I am going to give a store gift certificate to the first person that posts the correct source of the quote. It will be a $3 gift certificate that you can use on anything you purchase from me. Good luck with quotes.

Quote of the week (day or month or whatever)

2006-11-23T02:16:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start putting quotes or short exchanges from books up periodically and let people guess where they come from. Mostly they will be from books I've just read or books that really left an impression. If nobody knows where it came from within a week or two I'll post the source. For today here it is,

"From there to here
and here to there,
funny things
are everywhere."

Good luck and Jeani you can't guess.

New WotC release Cityscape

2006-11-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

Cityscape came out last week. The official description reads

"As Deadly as Any Dungeon

There’s more to adventuring than crawling around in dungeons. The city holds many avenues of peril and intrigue. It teems with adventure and offers unsurpassed opportunities and challenges. Dark alleys, busy guildhalls, rowdy taverns, fetid sewers, and palatial manors hold secrets to be discovered and mysteries to be explored.

This supplement for the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game reveals the city in all its grandeur and grimness. It makes the “urban dungeon” feel alive with politics and power, especially through influential guilds. This tome also describes new feats, spells, urban terrain, hazards, and monsters guaranteed to make the party’s next visit to the city a vibrant and exhilarating event."

I haven't had a chance to read it very much yet but will in the near future. Please leave your thought and reviews of this books. I have several in stock so let me know if you want one.

A thoughtful and reasoned opinion (what a rarity!)

2006-11-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

I found a very thoughtful and reasoned post on the subject of religion Here.

Here is what she had to say

"I grew up in a relatively small town with a Catholic father and a born-again-Christian mother. My parents raised me Catholic because that was the deal they made when they got married. This is somewhat ironic, since my father never attended church regularly and still does not, while my mother attends church at least once, and often twice, a week. They sent me to a local Catholic church with a neighbor, and my father did make sure that I went through the First Holy Communion and Confirmation processes. My mother whispered things to me when my dad wasn't around about her beliefs and her church; I vividly remember her explaining to me sometime in the 70s how UPC codes were a sign from the book of Revelation that the end of the world was coming. (Please don't ask; it still freaks me out.)

As I got older, I thought a lot about these two Christian faiths to which I was exposed. Both made me uncomfortable for multiple reasons. I simply did not agree with many of these two churches' positions on social issues. I did not like the Catholic Church's insistence on form and rules over substance; the way that priests (at least the ones I encountered) treated their parishioners; I disapproved of the extravagance and showiness -- not to mention the purported infallibility -- of popery. I did not like the submissive nature of my mother's church, in which one had to give up one's life and apparently free will to a vague yet scary notion of an all-powerful god; the extent to which one had to perform mental gymnastics in order to live one's life according to What The Bible Said (which wasn't clear at all); and other things, too.

As a young adult, I had an epiphany (if you'll pardon the pun). First, I realized that I couldn't solve the problem of my dissatisfaction with these religions by playing pick and choose: e.g., I don't like the Catholic Church's attitude toward homosexuality, but I'll ignore that and go to church anyway. That felt dishonest to me, particularly since there wasn't much about either religion that I affirmatively liked.

I also realized that I did not have to choose one or the other of the faiths of my parents. I decided that what was important about religion, or spirituality, wasn't a pro forma adherence to what one's family did (in my case, that didn't even really solve the problem, since there were two not-always-consistent faiths) but rather a sincere belief in some religion or model of spirituality. Or none (although that's a belief in itself). I went through a phase of being nothing, and then when T. and I were engaged, we decided to check out some local churches, since we both wanted to get married in a church. (Yes, illogical, isn't it?) We found an Episcopalian church with a wonderful rector and extremely laissez-fair Episcopalianism seems to work for us. At least right now.

Lately, the issue of religion and politics has been all over the place. Every time an Islamist blows himself up (taking numerous others with him, natch) in the name of establishing an Islamist state. Every time a conservative politician talks about banning stem cell research. Each new incident of violence in Iraq where Sunni and Shi'ite are pitted against one another. Even on knitting blogs like Joe's, where I participated in an often-heated discussion about gay marriage bans.

The intersection of religion and politics raises unbelievably complex issues, and I've been able to come to only one firm conclusion: the only way to peace and prosperity -- in religion and politics -- is tolerance and acceptance of other's differences. That means that any religion that says "my way or the highway (to hell)" is a Bad Thing. I don't care what else a particular religion says or doesn't say; the very act of saying "my way is the only way" is, to me, the root of all evil. Islamists who would fly airplanes into buildings to kill strangers because those strangers believe something different. Fundamentalist Christians who would deny equal rights under the law to homosexuals because homosexuals believe that their sexuality is a given and not a chosen sin. Catholics who would ban stem cell research because it uses embryonic tissue and the Catholic Church says abortion is bad. And so on.

I believe that the founders of our government shared my queasiness at the establishment of any one religion by a political state. Most of them came from England, where the Anglican Church is intermeshed in government and which at the time was extremely intolerant of other religions. They purposely set up a government in which religious institutions played no role. The Constitution (in the form of the first amendment) prohibits the establishment of any one religion by our government. These principles are under attack by religious groups of all kinds. It doesn't matter whether they call themselves Christians, or Catholics, or Muslims, or Rastafarians, or The First Church Of The Immaculate Flip-flops -- the intolerance is the same. Certain groups (of course not ALL in all groups) want to enshrine their individual religious beliefs in our laws and thereby impose them on others.

This I do not understand. I believe in a country where anyone can worship anyone or anything they wish, or not, and that's their own personal business. Certain religious principles -- for example, human sacrifice -- cannot be allowed for obvious reasons, but otherwise, if you are worshipping your own god in your own way and not hurting anyone else, you should be given the freedom to do so. But getting that kind of respect for one's religion requires that you give it to others. And there's the rub. I have yet to hear a reasonable answer to the question "Why can't you simply live your own life according to your religion without attempting to legislate others into conforming to your beliefs?"

While I was mulling over this post, I ran across a news story describing how a manufacturer of religious toys tried to give a talking Jesus doll to the Toys for Tots program. Toys for Tots said no, thanks. The vice-president of Toys for Tots explained why: "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family." And in a perhaps-not-shocking display of intolerance, the toy manufacturer's response was that "anyone can benefit from hearing the words of the bible." (Even if it's not their holy book and they don't believe it's the word of God.)

Our society cannot survive "my way or the highway" religion. We can't tolerate it in free toys for kids who don't have any, and we can't tolerate it in our legislature. It will surely lead to hell on earth for us all.

Not to mention a really un-fun Christmas for a bunch of poor kids."

I can't stress enough how much I believe religion, anybodies religion, should be kept out of other peoples lives. Has anybody else noticed that when somebody wants to discuss religion it almost always means they want to tell you about theirs and NOT hear about yours. Some of the comments on her blog about this are also very well well done.

Bookish meme

2006-11-10T23:41:00.000-05:00

I saw this on my wife's blog and thought it sounded interesting. Here is what you do

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don’t dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.

"Thracia rarely visited Coruscant, dwelling instead on a variety of agricultural worlds as the whim took her. She traveled as the Force guided her, and she encountered an unusually great number of individuals strong in the Force. Most Jedi Masters who new Thracia suspected that she simply enjoyed getting out in the open, with the sun on her face and the simple people of the land as her companions. She was known, respected and well liked on several worlds in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim."

This is from the Powers of the Jedi sourcebook. (Insert shameless plug here)I have a few if anybody happens to need one.

Ewoks?!

2006-11-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

"there is is no I in team…but there is an ewok in teamwork"

Now I remember why I like to work alone.

New WotC product & review: Blood War miniatures

2006-11-04T12:42:00.000-05:00

These just hit the streets yesterday and for the most part I think they look pretty good. Here is a look at all of them but below are some of my favorites.

I don't care who you are, a Pit Fiend should make you think twice.

A Succubus, what isn't to like.

It looks like Phoenix to me but it's actually a Phoera from the monster manual III.

The Githyanki Dragon Knight is one that I especially like.

I have several cases in and please let me know what you think of this set.

Excellent joke

2006-11-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter
is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of t he elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."

Star Wars Miniatures released Bounty Hunters

2006-11-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

The Bounty Hunters were released at the end of September. There are some very cool minis in this set but at $22 a booster the price is starting to get out of hand. Here are some of the figs in the set:

New WotC product & review: Complete Mage

2006-10-27T14:35:00.000-04:00

Complete Mage came out earlier this month. The official description reads

"Every sentient creature is born with some potential to work magic. However, true mastery of arcane magic requires skill, practice, and power beyond the reach of common folk—specifically, the power to harness raw magic and shape it into a desired effect. You are among those gifted few who have learned to channel arcane magic, shaping it to serve your creative or destructive whims.

This D&D supplement is intended for players and Dungeon Masters. In addition to providing the definitive treatise on arcane magic, it expands the character options available to users of arcane magic, including bards, sorcerers, wizards, assassins, warlocks, and wu jen. Herein you’ll find never-before-seen prestige classes, spells and invocations, magic items, alchemical items, heritage feats, and reserve feats (a new type of feat that grants special abilities to those who remain charged with magical power). Alternative class features give other character classes—from the barbarian to the rogue—a little taste of what it’s like to be an arcanist without sacrificing their core identities."

I've read a fair bit of this book and IMHO it is a very solid product. If you're playing a mage or one of the main badguys is an arcane type it's certainly worth picking up. If you are playing in a low mage or more "vanilla" campaign there are better books to spend your money on. As always please leave comments or questions. Yes, I do have some in stock if anybody wants one.

New WotC product & review: Tome of Battle

2006-10-25T10:42:00.000-04:00

Here is the first of several products that came out during my house induced hiatus. The Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords was released in August and the official description reads "Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords introduces new rules for players who want interesting combat options for their characters. The nine martial disciplines presented within allow a character with the proper knowledge and focus to perform special combat maneuvers and nearly magical effects. Three new martial classes allow a character to develop his or her discipline even further. Also included are new feats and prestige classes that build on the disciplines, new magic items and spells, and new monsters and organizations."

I first spent about 5-10 minutes glancing thru this and thought "It's a cool idea but nothing to get overly excited about." Then I really read it and starting playing around with the rules and concepts. The more I get to know these rules, the more I lke them. It looks overly complex at first glance but like so much of the d20 system once you mess around with it for a bit they aren't bad at all. These have much of the feel of the old AD&D Oriental Adventures martial arts rules but much better balanced and usable. A campaign that has been going for the last 2+ years is ending in the next few weeks and we have started developing our next campaign. I'm working on a character based on one of the classes in this book, so as the campaign goes on I will report back on the playability of these rules. IMHO, this is the best book WotC has published since the Spell Compendium and in sme ways I like this better. As always please leave comments or questions. Yes, I do have some in stock if anybody wants one.

Return of this Shadowdragon

2006-10-24T12:04:00.000-04:00

I've been locked, tooth and claw, in battle with a truly insidious foe. (even more so than my dear Succubus) At long last I have achieved the upper hand in this situation. While it was never in doubt and I still have not completely vanquished the foe, it was and is a time consuming confrontation. I shall make a bit more time to wave, no not wave, perhaps flaunt, no, not flaunt, display, yes, I will DISPLAY my wares, insights (some say insane insights) and ramblings for any that care to peruse them.

OK, for those that don't know me, I moved a couple of months ago. We took the wall out between the kitchen and dining room as well as gutted the rest of the kitchen down to the studs. We installed all new cabinets, counter tops, sink and moved the steps going to the side door and basement. The bathroom was almost as intensively remodeled. I'm done with the major stuff. There is still plenty of finish work to do like baseboard moulding, touch up painting, etc. It is all functioning and looks pretty damn good, if I say so myself. Well, time to get back to work. I have a business to try to get back up and running as well as a house to finish. No rest for a weary Shadowdragon.

Illusion!

2006-07-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

If you take a look at the following picture , let me tell you ... it is not animated. Your eyes are making it move. To test this, stare at one spot for a couple seconds and everything will stop moving. Or look at the black center of each circle and it will stop moving. But move your eyes to the next black center and the previous will move after you take your eyes away from it.... Weird

From mouths of babes

2006-07-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

"My two Papaws no game, they don't have dice."

This quote refers to the fact that neither of her grandfathers are gamers. It came out the blue a few days ago while we were sitting at the table having something to eat.

For those of you that don't know me, I have a daughter that's 2 and a half. Her vocabulary and verbal skills are growing at an rate that leaves her mother and me at a loss sometimes (OK, often). She is doomed to a gamer I fear. Her mother used to game with us periodically but gave it up to work on her Doctorate. So our daughter has been around gaming since before she was born. We have a group that plays at my house most Saturday afternoons. Although I've known all of these guys since WELL before she was born she refers to them as "my guys" and told us several weeks ago that "all my guys like my daddy", which is good I suppose. She is around quite a bit when we play and has picked up on some of the key things needed to be a gamer. Hence the quote about dice.

What famous leader are you?

2006-07-21T22:37:00.000-04:00

My friend Oz posted a link to this quiz and I came out as Saddam Hussein.

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

3 things to think about

2006-07-16T20:22:00.000-04:00

My mother sent me this and I find it more accurate than is comfortable.

Three Things to think about:

1. COWS
2. THE CONSTITUTION
3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing
that our government can track a cow born in Canada
almost three years ago, right to the stall where she
sleeps in the state of Washington and they tracked her
calves to their stalls? But they are unable to locate
11 million illegal aliens wandering around our
country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for
Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written
by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over
200 years and we're not using it anymore.

TEN COMMANDMENTS

The real reason that we can't have the Ten
Commandments in a courthouse........You can't post
"Thou Shalt Not Steal," and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full
of lawyers, judges and politicians -- it creates a
hostile work environment.

New figures "Action Cats"

2006-07-11T11:54:00.000-04:00

Move over Thunder Cats the Action Cats have arrived. Go here to see a short movie about them. It is a homemade commerial that is quite amusing.

War of the Dragon Queen

2006-07-06T11:33:00.000-04:00

Here is a look at all of the miniatures from the War of the Dragon Queen set released today. I am very impressed with the look of most of these. I'm getting several cases in today so let me know in anybody wnat s boosters or singles.

GOAL!

2006-07-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

In honor of the World Cup I post this video. I found it quite amusing and very inventive.

Bluespawn Godslayer, a Spawn of Tiamat

2006-07-04T20:02:00.000-04:00

The Bluespawn Godslayer, a Spawn of Tiamat, is one of the monsters in the new Monster Manual IV and is also in the new miniature set War of the Dragon Queen. The Monster Manual IV is being released this week and I will have several of them for sale.

Champions of the Force released

2006-07-04T19:53:00.000-04:00

WotC released the next Star Wars miniature set, Champions of the Force, a few weeks ago. There are several articles from the WotC Star Wars site detailing characters both in terms of the miniature game and the RPG. Some of the characters in the miniature set that WotC discusses are Jacen & Jaina Solo, Bastila Shan, Darth Malak, Barriss Offee, and HK-47 & Clone Commander Gree. I have both booster packs and singles for sale.

Lightsaber duel Ryan vs Dorkman

2006-07-04T19:23:00.000-04:00

My friend Lord Oz posted this last week and I had to share. Here is a video of a Lightsaber duel that last about 5 minutes. It is very well done and I highly recommend dropping by and watching it.

New Miniature set War of the Dragon Queen

2006-07-04T14:41:00.000-04:00

The newest set of miniatures from WotC is called War of the Dragon Queen and is being released Thursday the 6th of July. It is a 60 mini set that will include several huge figures. Below are a few preview pics and there are more Here. I'm getting several cases in for immediate release on Thursday and more next week. I will have both boosters and singles for sale.

New D&D releases from WotC

2006-06-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

There are 2 new books hitting the streets tomorrow from WotC. I will have several copies of each tomorrow so let me know if you want one.

The first one is Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss which is described by WotC as "a comprehensive sourcebook covering the most dangerous (and popular) fiends in the Dungeons & Dragons cosmology: demons. It provides detailed information about the powers, tactics, and organization of the forces of the Abyss -- both those covered in the Monster Manual and entirely new foes. In addition, this book provides new rules, feats, tactics, spells, and equipment for characters who battle fiends. Extensive story and campaign elements add dimension to playing or fighting creatures of this type. Included is extensive information on the layers of the Abyss and the ruling demon lords, demonic possession, and how to use demons in a campaign."

The other is Mysteries of the Moonsea which has this blurb on Wotc's page "an in-depth look at one of the most important regions of the Forgotten Realms. The Moonsea region is full of wealth and peril. It is home to the nefarious Zhentil Keep, the merchant city of Melvaunt, and the mysterious Irongfang Keep. Mysteries of the Moonsea includes a history of the region, detailed information on the major towns and adventure locations, the important figures and groups that operate in and around the Moonsea, new spells and monsters specific to the area, and tips for Dungeon Masters on running a campaign set in the region."

Random Acts

2006-06-12T20:49:00.000-04:00

Here is what did the number on the window in the last post.

The guy that replaced the glass said in his 22 years of autoglass work he'd never seen anything like it. He also thought the brick must have been traveling 60-70 mph to do what it did to the window and dash.

As far as we know it was just a random act of destruction that the police said will almost certainly never be solved. Joy and wonder!

GODS!

2006-06-06T11:29:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of what happens when somebody throws a brick thru the rear window of my wife's car.

It went all the way up to the dash, hitting the control unit for the AC/Heater and completely destroyed it. This happened Saturday night and I found it Sunday morning when we were getting ready to go out. I would really like to get me hands on whoever did this and vent a little frustration on their hands or perhaps ankles maybe knees as well.

GODS!

New release and review of the Players Handbook II

2006-05-23T10:28:00.000-04:00

The Players Handbook II came out last week. The official description reads "The Player’s Handbook II builds upon existing materials in the Player’s Handbook. This is the first direct followup to the best-selling and most used D&D rulebook. It is specifically designed to expand the options available for players by both providing new material and increasing the uses for existing rules. Included are chapters on character race, background, classes, feats, spells, character creation, and character advancement. New rules include racial affiliations that make race matter as a character advances in level, new character classes and alternate class features for existing classes, new feats, tools for rapid character creation, and additional organization and teamwork benefits -- an option first introduced in Dungeon Master’s Guide II and Heroes of Battle."

I've read most of this book and generally like it. The cover art is a wonderful reminder of the old days to us old timers. Some of the options for alternate class features are very nice. They added some nice new spells and feats. They expand some concepts and ideas to help beginner/intermediate players get a feel for how to advance/build characters. Unfortunately, like many of their recent books, the price tag may not be right for the amount of useful material. Many groups or individuals will certainly find the Players Handbook II very worthwhile, so take a look at it and keep in mind I have it in stock if anybody wants one.

In loving memory

2006-05-15T14:38:00.000-04:00

Natasha Marie Young passed this morning. She was a bit over 16 years and had a full, happy life. She will be greatly missed and always remembered fondly.

The Wee Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor

2006-05-09T15:26:00.000-04:00

I heard this story about The Wee Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor, Mich. on NPR today. They were talking to a shop owner that had a parent coming in demanding that the shop owner tell their children that Fairies don't exist. The shop owner's replied "I can't do that". Good for them. Maybe I should get one for my business.

Hiatus over (for the moment anyway)

2006-05-09T13:55:00.000-04:00

I know I've been feckless again. What can I say, at least I'm honest about it. We had some real nice hail damage to our roof a few weeks back. Here are some of the larger hailstones that got put in the freezer.

We get a new roof on the house and the garage out of it with only a deductable to pay. More posts soon, I mean it this time.

Hit number 1000

2006-04-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

I had hit number 1000 on my blog over the weekend. OK, so that is really a rather small number but it's the little things that keep me going sometimes. Thanks for everybody's support over the last several months.

War Drums miniatures

2006-04-13T16:09:00.000-04:00

Here are a few of the miniatures available in the new War Drums set from WotC.
This is Warduke, a foe from several OLD D&D modules. I think the modules he is from are probably older then most the people playing today.
Mindflayer anyone?

Who ever thought of making a girallon (basicly a 4 armed dire gorilla) Fiendish is certainly a bit demented.

New WotC releases for Dungeons and Dragons

2006-04-11T22:56:00.000-04:00

WotC has released several new books for D&D in the last couple of weeks. The 2 from last month are Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow & Truename magic and Power of Faerun.

There are 3 releases hot off the presses for this month. The first is Complete Psionic. Next is Voyage of the Golden Dragon which is for the Eberron campaign setting. Lastly, they have another of their Fantastic Locations supplements, Fields of Ruin which is designed primarily for the D&D miniatures game but is also a stand alone RPG adventure. If you are interested in miniatures from the new War Drums set or any of the other sets, let me know as I have a large selection to pick from.

I also have all of the above mentioned books in stock if anybody is interested in them. I'm planning on posting reviews of most of the above in the next week or so.

Time Date stamp

2006-04-06T00:17:00.000-04:00

Last evening at 2 minutes and 3 seconds past 1AM the time date stamp would have read 01:02:03 04/05/06. But that is only if you live in the US, if you live in the reat of the world you have to wait until the 4th of May at just past 1AM to have the same view.

Fear of Girls

2006-04-04T14:48:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning out my bookmarks and found this video. I know it is posted on several other blogs that I frequent but I just had to post it for any that have not seen it yet. For those of us that were gamer geeks before it was "cool" this brings back some memories and a few nightmares. I remember the "aren't all people that play D&D satanists" talk with my mom when I was about 13. (Gods! That was over 20 years ago) I guess that dates me a bit. Guys like this are why some of the stereotypes about gamers are still out there. I certainly have met more than a few like this in my 25+ years of gaming.

Japanese Police vs. Darth Vader

2006-03-25T14:11:00.000-05:00

I found this video on the blog of a friend of mine, Lord Oz. He got it from some Euro friends that he plays Star Wars Galaxy with online. It's in Japanese so I have no idea what the punch line is but it is rather amusing to watch anyway.

Splash?!

2006-03-19T00:21:00.000-05:00

I heard a report on NPR that Senator Ted Kennedy was publishing a children's book. I'm not much of a fan of Senator Kennedy but I also don't care for most of his opponents so didn't really pay much attention until they descibed a little about the book titled My Senator and Me. It is written from the point of view of his dog, Splash. Yes that is the name of his Portuguese Water Dog. I was completely speechless for about 30 seconds and then I wasn't sure if I should laugh, cry or be outraged. In the end I decided to mostly be depressed by the utter lack of "Uncommon Sense" shown in the name of his pet.

Reality?!

2006-03-16T08:26:00.000-05:00

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick

Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

2006-03-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster can be bought Here, with proceeds going to buy a FSM missionary pirate ship, as stated in the petition I link to below.

I'm sure most you have seen this before but I was cleaning out my bookmarks and realized I hadn't ever posted it on my blog. So if you don't know about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster go Here to learn more and sign their petition for recognition as a non-profit religious group.

Star Wars miniatures Attack on Endor

2006-02-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

This is the latest release from WotC for the Star Wars CMG. It retails for $20 and includes:

1 AT-ST Scout Walker figure, newly posed and in scale with other Star Wars Miniatures collectable figures

3 Imperial figures: Scout Trooper, Stormtrooper, and Stormtrooper Officer

2 double-sided, fold-out battle maps depicting the Endor combat zone and others

Full-color game stat cards

Scenarios booklet

This miniature is very nice and I'm going to keep one for myself. I have quite a few in stock and some on Ebay if anybody is interested. I know it would probably sell better if it included a few Ewoks that had been trampled but I think Lucas put a stop to that idea.

Which Sci-Fi crew do you belong to?

2006-02-17T17:34:00.000-05:00

You scored as Serenity (Firefly). You like to live your own way and don't enjoy when anyone but a friend tries to tell you should do different. Now if only the Reavers would quit trying to skin you.

Deep Space Nine (Star Trek)

81%

Serenity (Firefly)

81%

Millennium Falcon (Star Wars)

81%

SG-1 (Stargate)

75%

Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica)

69%

Babylon 5 (Babylon 5)

69%

Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda)

69%

Bebop (Cowboy Bebop)

56%

Enterprise D (Star Trek)

56%

FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files)

56%

Moya (Farscape)

50%

Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix)

50%

Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com

Blind faith

2006-02-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

"A picture (or in this case a bumper sticker) is worth a thousand words". Sometimes it despairs me and sometimes I'm proud of the fact that I've voted in every Presidential election I was eligible for but never for the man that was confirmed to the office.

Corporation standing up for property rights!

2006-02-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

I heard about this earlier today and found it very heartening that a mega corp would stand for something other than profit. In a press release issued by the bank, BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Allison, said, "The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by the government solely for private use is extremely misguided, in fact it's just plain wrong. One of the most basic rights of every citizen is to keep what they own. As an institution dedicated to helping our clients achieve economic success and financial security, we won't help any entity or company that would undermine that mission and threaten the hard-earned American dream of property ownership." For the full article go here.

If more companies acted as socially responsible as they did, there would be a lot less need for government interference.

I give this company an "Uncommon Sense Rating" of 8.

Even Druids like Emerald What?

2006-02-05T22:44:00.000-05:00

The Emerald Nuts comercial during the Super Bowl was great. Go here and click on the "big game spot" if you haven't seen it yet.

Is that supposed to be Oz under the stairs?

Chewbacca's Blog

2006-02-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Chewbacca's Blog is located here. It's kind of weird but in a good way.

You want Ewoks?

2006-01-30T23:34:00.000-05:00

There seems to be some concern about the lack of Ewoks in the Star Wars Universe miniature set from my last post. Fear not, for they do exist in an older set. They appear in the Rebel Storm set #45.
And before anybody gets teary eyed over the seeming lack of gunguns there are a couple of them in the Clone Strike set. Unfortunately, Jar Jar A.K.A "He Who Should Not Be" isn't among them. Here they are:

Star Wars Universe Miniatures

2006-01-29T14:07:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would delve this deeply this quickly in the miniature business. I must say, IMHO, these things look great. The first miniatures they out out were for D&D and just didn't do much for me. The last few years the sets for both D&D and Star Wars have gotten better. Star Wars Universe is the latest set of miniatures put out by WotC for Star Wars. They are for the Star Wars CMG. Here are images of some of the miniatures.

You can look at the images for the entire set by going here. I have many of the miniatures either up for sale on Ebay or on my shelves if anybody is interested in them. Let me know what you think of them or the miniatures game they are for.

Player's Guide to Eberron Review

2006-01-23T10:27:00.000-05:00

This book was officailly released for sale last Tuesday. Here is the blurb from WotC.

"The Player's Guide to Eberron contains everything a player needs to know about the Eberron campaign setting. Presenting information in an innovative spread format, this comprehensive gazetteer covers key topics a character should know about, from Aerenal to Zilargo, house politics to the Last War, dragons to the Lords of Dust, without revealing information meant for Dungeon Masters only. New feats, prestige classes, magic items, and spells are included in the relevant entries."

The Good:
The Player's Guide to Eberron is well laid out and provides a fair amount of information in its "officially" 160 pages. The art is work is pretty good especially the scenes in the front of the book. The information on each region of Eberron is well thought out for usefulness and could be adapted to most fit in many campaign worlds.

The Bad:
The new feats, prestige clases, magic items and spells are only listed in the regional section in which they are "associated". They did put them in the index so you have a way of looking them up without needing to flip through the entire book. Lastly, so it's "officially" 160 pages but the 3 of the first 6 pages are full page artwork and the last 3 pages are nothing but WotC advertisements. The art is pretty cool but most of the description sections about each area aren't over 3-4 pages.

The Unsure:
Eberron campaigns will certainly get the most out of this book.

Overall, IMHO, this is a good product if you are in the Eberron world. If you are building your own world it might be worth a look to get some ideas for or just simply use parts of for your campaign. As always I welcome your comments on this book.