The August Personage of Elminster Chat: $2000 Of Charity Donations + Really Bad Posts

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > The August Personage of Elminster Chat: $2000 Of Charity Donations + Really Bad Posts

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What is the best version of El? This poll is closed.
Elminster	20	6.45%
Elmara	20	6.45%
Entwine	13	4.19%
GURPS	99	31.94%
El Kabong	153	49.35%
Elves	5	1.61%
Total:	310 votes

[Edit Poll (moderators only)]

Kwyndig: Sep 23, 2006; Heeeeeey

Hey Chuubo's is finally officially out!

# ? Aug 20, 2014 13:31

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# ? Jun 6, 2024 17:42

Mr. Maltose: Feb 16, 2011; The Guffless Girlverine

Arivia posted:

Try to think of Dark Sun without The Gunslinger as inspiration.

Okay. Done.

To be fair, Dark Sun always struck me as less Gunslinger and more Princess of Mars. The world is a harsh place, but it's a place you can carve your own niche into instead of passing through like a vengeful ghost. It's not a world that has moved on, to borrow the parlance of the series.

Also no Doctor Doom Werewolf Robots, but really that's a mark against Dark Sun.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 13:47

Hwurmp: May 20, 2005

potatocubed posted:

I choose psychic dragon-kings and an opera-singing lunatic in LED-studded armour.

Dare you quest for the secret to ending Emperor Ronald's defiling magic...in DJ Dynamo's tightie whities?????

# ? Aug 20, 2014 14:08

PeterWeller: Apr 21, 2003; I told you that story so I could tell you this one.

Mr. Maltose posted:

Okay. Done.

To be fair, Dark Sun always struck me as less Gunslinger and more Princess of Mars. The world is a harsh place, but it's a place you can carve your own niche into instead of passing through like a vengeful ghost. It's not a world that has moved on, to borrow the parlance of the series.

Also no Doctor Doom Werewolf Robots, but really that's a mark against Dark Sun.

Yeah, Dark Sun is ERB's space fantasies set on Herbert's Arrakis. There's nothing Stephen King about it aside from the unsatisfying endings to the novels.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 17:43

Alien Rope Burn: Dec 5, 2004; _{I wanna be a saikyo HERO!}

As with last year, I compiled some random observations on Gen Con 2014:

If the size of the exhibit hall is any indication, games are doing very, very well. Of course, with things like nerdy clothiers taking up a lot of space, that could be deceptive. Still. Games aren't gonna die anytime soon, that's for sure.
Meeting goons on Wednesday was fantastic. Also glad I did it because my time to meet goons afterwards rapidly vanishes as I get sucked from tournament to tournament (wherein I largely suck). Staying with a goon was rad, too.
Making people wait in line outside a giant castle to even get a glance at Dungeons & Dragons 5e being played is a metaphor for... something, I'm sure.
BTW, PAX East: see the army of food trucks outside the convention center? This is how you feed gamers.
Why is Blind Ferret Entertainment still here? Don't tell me they make money here! I don't want to hear it.
Last year there was one 13th Age book. Now there are six 13th Age books. Does that mean next year there will be thirty-six 13th Age books? How well do they breed?
Cthulhu Wars feels like something I'd come up with to make fun of Lovecraft fandom, only it's real and serious. It looks nice, but...
Only Palladium would be trying to sell signed printers' copies of their books. I mean, seriously? Is there some market for these sort of forced collectibles? And no, they didn't have Robotech minis for sale. But they did have a long-awaited Rifts book, so there's that.
Note to meme-themed t-shirt sellers: please stop overexplaining your "jokes". For example, let's take this one. Are you terrified people won't get your aging references? People will get it or they don't.
For that matter, why was the person settling 3-star uniform (a la Kill la Kill) t-shirts selling them as white stars on black, instead of black stars on white? I don't get it.
I tried out insoles for the first time, I think it may have helped a bit with all the walking.
I have no idea who suggested using baby powder, but gently caress yes, baby powder is now an essential requirement I have for these long cons.
Is Bushi Road just the new Ani-Mayhem? I guess looking it up that it comes from Japan, so I guess that makes it different.
If people could stop being shocked by the fact that there's a My Little Pony CCG, that would be great. It was bound to happen. It's okay if people play it. Get up in arms about the Least I Could Do card game or Barbarossa if you want something unequivocally lovely to rail against, please. There was some terrible-looking fursex game I've mostly blanked out of my memory. What I'm saying is that it's not that bad. I think. I haven't played it. But it can't be that bad, can it?
Doomtown Reloaded had the swankiest special edition. Was there a swankier release? There may have been better but probably not as swanky.
I was told Chimera Games doesn't haggle at all. That probably explains all the Quintessential guides sitting on their shelves...
Holding the Guide to Glorantha signed by all the writers is about as close as literally holding on to gaming history as I think I'm going to get.
Why are there only two Car Wars events with Steve Jackson building up towards a rerelease or kickstarter? And those were only by fans... did Ogre even have any presence? I didn't think to check.
The exclusive releases and with things getting bigger, I have to wonder if the crowds will get too big even for Indy.
d20 books still sell, even in our bold new era of 5th edition. I auctioned off my collection of over a hundred books and somehow got people to buy books like Dragonstar or The Avatar's Handbook. You... just have to do the proper research on what sort of prices you're going to get. I sold well over 90% of the books I lugged in, and paid for the whole trip. Amazing.

I'm sure I have others, but that's enough, I think.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:09

Galaga Galaxian: Apr 23, 2009; What a childish tactic!
Don't you think you should put more thought into your battleplan?!

Alien Rope Burn posted:

[*]I have no idea who suggested using baby powder, but gently caress yes, baby powder is now an essential requirement I have for these long cons.

Using babypowder? For what? :stare:

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:19

Covok: May 27, 2013; Yet where is that woman now? Tell me, in what heave does she reside? None of them. Because no God bothered to listen or care. If that is what you think it means to be a God, then you and all your teachings are welcome to do as that poor women did. And vanish from these realms forever.

Galaga Galaxian posted:

Using babypowder? For what?

Not to put words in Alien Rope Burn's mouth, but I'd imagine he was referring to chafing caused by walking around all day in room heated by the sweaty bodies of a 1000s of nerds.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:21

Night10194: Feb 13, 2012; We'll start,
like many good things,
with a bear.

DigitalRaven posted:

Since the other thread mysteriously vanished (gee, thanks dad) I'll ask here:

Anyone want to playtest a game about saving lives and rescuing people from disasters?

How many disasters? Does every conceivable disaster occur within 24 hours?

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:34

Mormon Star Wars: Aug 13, 2005; It's a minotaur race...

Dragonstar is the best thing to come out of 3rd edition D&D, though.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:35

Dr. Doji Suave: Dec 31, 2004

Alien Rope Burn posted:

Awesome list

I was confused when I seen Palladium was lacking Robotech to sell. I remember playing it last year as well, and when this year I went over there to give it another whirl and was told 'no sales' I was crushed. I enjoyed it and was looking forward to finally getting my hands on it. I think I heard rumor they had a shipping fiasco and that stopped sales?

The Fursex booth probably coined the best thing out of someone I was walking with when I pointed it out: 'If only you weeaboos had one neck...'. That side of the hall actually felt like the seedy underbelly with the dim lighting. Unfortunate because one of my favorite booths, Inkwell Ideas, was crammed back there

Guide to Glorantha is amazing and I wanted to nab a copy this year but the price was just too much for me. I did grab a copy of Runequest 6 though, so they still managed to capture a portion of my wallet.

I really hope Gencon stays here mainly because it is a 20 minute drive for me and the wife, but this year really showed that they will need to think about how to accommodate more people. This year the hall's aisles for example felt super cramped, I dunno if this was a change in layout or if more people were doing exhibit hall stuff this year.

Also on top of baby powder bring wet wipes, they will save you on numerous occasions.

EDIT: Also I seen a huge number of service animals this year compared to any other year.

Dr. Doji Suave fucked around with this message at 22:48 on Aug 20, 2014

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:36

Alien Rope Burn: Dec 5, 2004; _{I wanna be a saikyo HERO!}

Covok posted:

Not to put words in Alien Rope Burn's mouth, but I'd imagine he was referring to chafing caused by walking around all day in room heated by the sweaty bodies of a 1000s of nerds.

Yes. Leg chafing is well-known to hikers and some athletes, but an agonizing surprise to interior-bound nerds. There are more dedicated products for preventing it, but baby powder did the trick for me for the most part.

Dr. Doji Suave posted:

I was confused when I seen Palladium was lacking Robotech to sell. I remember playing it last year as well, and when this year I went over there to give it another whirl and was told 'no sales' I was crushed. I enjoyed it and was looking forward to finally getting my hands on it. I think I heard rumor they had a shipping fiasco and that stopped sales?

They got a random customs check that they didn't plan for for some reason. They were taking pre-orders (ha ha) for Wave 1 minis, but nothing more. (Yes, there's a whole other wave of minis that Robotech backers have to wait for even after this comes out.)

# ? Aug 20, 2014 22:55

That Old Tree: Jun 24, 2012; nah

A LICD card game? Fugh.

Anyway I hear the MLP game is really well designed, and gently caress anyone who seriously cares what kind of magical bullshit thing you're pretending to be when slinging cards. I'm sure Aragorn ripoff #3477093 is an objectively richer gaming experience than Pastel Toy Horse.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:08

Sionak: Dec 20, 2005; Mind flay the gap.

Alien Rope Burn posted:

As with last year, I compiled some random observations on Gen Con 2014:
[*]d20 books still sell, even in our bold new era of 5th edition. I auctioned off my collection of over a hundred books and somehow got people to buy books like Dragonstar or The Avatar's Handbook. You... just have to do the proper research on what sort of prices you're going to get. I sold well over 90% of the books I lugged in, and paid for the whole trip. Amazing.

I'm sure I have others, but that's enough, I think.

I only even knew about the auction because of our own Quarex, but I had the same shocking revelation with White Wolf books last year. Like, mostly old World of Darkness stuff. I paid for both my badge and my wife's by selling off a box of books, and somebody apparently got that copy of Encyclopedia Vampirica, Book of Nod, or Geist they'd been holding out for.

If you're thinking of selling game books anyways and do spend a couple hours checking prices beforehand, GenCon is an amazing chance to do it.

Dr. Doji Suave posted:

The Fursex booth probably coined the best thing out of someone I was walking with when I pointed it out: 'If only you weeaboos had one neck...'. That side of the hall actually felt like the seedy underbelly with the dim lighting. Unfortunate because one of my favorite booths, Inkwell Ideas, was crammed back there

It definitely felt a little seedier, yeah. "You wanna sell some Magic cards? You want some anime figures? We can hook you up."

Sionak fucked around with this message at 23:29 on Aug 20, 2014

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:26

Covok: May 27, 2013; Yet where is that woman now? Tell me, in what heave does she reside? None of them. Because no God bothered to listen or care. If that is what you think it means to be a God, then you and all your teachings are welcome to do as that poor women did. And vanish from these realms forever.

Alien Rope Burn posted:

Yes. Leg chafing is well-known to hikers and some athletes, but an agonizing surprise to interior-bound nerds. There are more dedicated products for preventing it, but baby powder did the trick for me for the most part.

Thought so. Take it from a guy who used to work in a lumberyard, babypowder is your friend.

Edit:

Kwyndig posted:

Hey Chuubo's is finally officially out!

Yeah, just bought my copy of the game. Looks like they halved the page count from the ol' playtest. Can't wait to give it a read.

Covok fucked around with this message at 23:42 on Aug 20, 2014

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:40

Fuego Fish: Dec 5, 2004; By tooth and claw!

Plague of Hats posted:

A LICD card game? Fugh.

If I remember correctly, the rules got posted in one of the webcomic mock threads, and it turns out it's not only boring and sexist, but basically unplayable and unfun.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:54

Hwurmp: May 20, 2005

It's nice how they stayed faithful to the source material.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:57

RocknRollaAyatollah: Nov 26, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Sionak posted:

It definitely felt a little seedier, yeah. "You wanna sell some Magic cards? You want some anime figures? We can hook you up."

All it needs is payday loans.

# ? Aug 20, 2014 23:58

OtspIII: Sep 22, 2002

Covok posted:

Thought so. Take it from a guy who used to work in a lumberyard, babypowder is your friend.

I had not thought about this. I had just accepted chafed thighs as the price of tight pants, a phone, and a long walk to the subway to school each day.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:03

Alien Rope Burn: Dec 5, 2004; _{I wanna be a saikyo HERO!}

Fuego Fish posted:

If I remember correctly, the rules got posted in one of the webcomic mock threads, and it turns out it's not only boring and sexist, but basically unplayable and unfun.

I don't know about unplayable, but there's nothing to it. Did you get a luckier draw than somebody else? Great, you win! :v:

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:04

Reene: Aug 26, 2005

OtspIII posted:

I had not thought about this. I had just accepted chafed thighs as the price of tight pants, a phone, and a long walk to the subway to school each day.

It's worse if you're walking around in a skirt or something on a really hot day and don't have the ~fabled thigh gap~ or whatever. At least with pants you have some fabric between you and sweaty skin rubbing together and it'll wick away the moisture. But yeah any time you're doing a lot of walking it's going to be an issue, regardless of what shape you're in, and this is doubly true in crowded, hot spaces. Often long before actual fatigue or anything else becomes an issue.

The only thing that bothers me about baby powder is the smell because it smells like, well, baby powder. There are other products that are the exact same thing that smell differently but cost a lot more so I just deal with it and assume not much of anyone is going to be close enough to my thighs to smell it anyway.

...this has been the weirdest digression to participate in.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:16

Kwyndig: Sep 23, 2006; Heeeeeey

Reene posted:

It's worse if you're walking around in a skirt or something on a really hot day and don't have the ~fabled thigh gap~ or whatever. At least with pants you have some fabric between you and sweaty skin rubbing together and it'll wick away the moisture. But yeah any time you're doing a lot of walking it's going to be an issue, regardless of what shape you're in, and this is doubly true in crowded, hot spaces. Often long before actual fatigue or anything else becomes an issue.

The only thing that bothers me about baby powder is the smell because it smells like, well, baby powder. There are other products that are the exact same thing that smell differently but cost a lot more so I just deal with it and assume not much of anyone is going to be close enough to my thighs to smell it anyway.

...this has been the weirdest digression to participate in.

Let's be honest, the kind you run into at GenCon that would be that close would probably assume that your thighs are supposed to smell that way, or possibly that this is the fabled 'soap' that they've heard so much about.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:46

Reene: Aug 26, 2005

Let's be extra honest, there's almost no one I'd meet at GenCon that I'd want that close to my thighs in any circumstance.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:48

inklesspen: Oct 17, 2007; Here I am coming, with the good news of me, and you hate it. You can think only of the bell and how much I have it, and you are never the goose. I will run around with my bell as much as I want and you will make despair.; Buglord

Reene posted:

It's worse if you're walking around in a skirt or something on a really hot day and don't have the ~fabled thigh gap~ or whatever.

According to my tumblr dash, the thing to do in this situation is wear some kind of garter-style fabric strip around each leg to prevent chafing.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:50

Tulul: Oct 23, 2013; THAT SOUND WILL FOLLOW ME TO HELL.

Carry an emergency stick of butter to spread all over your thighs.

So I've never been anywhere near Gencon, is it big enough that you need to do the hotel reservation dance a year in advance? Or is it small enough that you can more or less just show up?

# ? Aug 21, 2014 00:56

Kwyndig: Sep 23, 2006; Heeeeeey

Tulul posted:

Carry an emergency stick of butter to spread all over your thighs.

So I've never been anywhere near Gencon, is it big enough that you need to do the hotel reservation dance a year in advance? Or is it small enough that you can more or less just show up?

The former, but honestly that's usual for any event in Indianapolis.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 01:02

RocknRollaAyatollah: Nov 26, 2008; Lipstick Apathy

Tulul posted:

Carry an emergency stick of butter to spread all over your thighs.

So I've never been anywhere near Gencon, is it big enough that you need to do the hotel reservation dance a year in advance? Or is it small enough that you can more or less just show up?

You should also try to have a friend who has a VIG or VIG companion badge in order to not deal with the bullshit lottery.

EDIT: Also, don't be attached to any events. They will probably sell out before you even get a chance to reserve them so be prepared to have backup plans. If you plan on running things, about 3 games with 6 people will get you a free badge. You get this rebate after the fact and need at least 70 hours of tickets. If someone doesn't show, use your own generics to pick up the slack. Don't play in or run more than 4 RPG sessions because you will not have time or energy for anything else.

RocknRollaAyatollah fucked around with this message at 01:17 on Aug 21, 2014

# ? Aug 21, 2014 01:05

Reene: Aug 26, 2005

inklesspen posted:

According to my tumblr dash, the thing to do in this situation is wear some kind of garter-style fabric strip around each leg to prevent chafing.

Shorts or Spanx is usually the way to go if you can.

In related news a friend just sprang PAX passes on me so I'll be doing that I guess! Is anyone else here going?

# ? Aug 21, 2014 01:10

Ewen Cluney: May 8, 2012; Ask me about
Japanese elfgames!

Tulul posted:

So I've never been anywhere near Gencon, is it big enough that you need to do the hotel reservation dance a year in advance? Or is it small enough that you can more or less just show up?

Gen Con isn't as bad as Comic-Con or anything, but you definitely want to book stuff early, both for hotels and any scheduled games you might want to get into.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 01:12

jadarx: May 25, 2012

Tulul posted:

So I've never been anywhere near Gencon, is it big enough that you need to do the hotel reservation dance a year in advance? Or is it small enough that you can more or less just show up?

I've booked late (mid-July this year), but you're getting a hotel on the edge of Indy. The drive isn't too bad (20 min this year), but you really have to plan out your schedule since you can't just crash at your hotel mid-day.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:18

Captain Foo: May 11, 2004; we vibin'
we slidin'
we breathin'
we dyin'

Y'all need Under Armour

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:23

Error 404: Jul 17, 2009; MAGE CURES PLOT

Captain Foo posted:

Y'all need to lift.

FTFY

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:35

grassy gnoll: Aug 27, 2006; The pawsting business is tough work.

Captain Foo posted:

Y'all need Arm & Hammer

Speaking of stinking masses of nerds, who's going to Dragoncon?

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:45

DalaranJ: Apr 15, 2008; Yosuke will now die for you.

Kwyndig posted:

Hey Chuubo's is finally officially out!

Dear Ettin,

Chuubo thread for Sept. game of the month tia

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:54

Dr. Doji Suave: Dec 31, 2004

Alien Rope Burn posted:

They got a random customs check that they didn't plan for for some reason. They were taking pre-orders (ha ha) for Wave 1 minis, but nothing more. (Yes, there's a whole other wave of minis that Robotech backers have to wait for even after this comes out.)

Don't remind me about waiting... I will never get my Hackmaster GMG.

I tried to get a charge back on it last year but I had waited too long. I figure at this rate sometime in 2020 I will get it.

Has the backers gotten the original game yet at all for Robotech?

# ? Aug 21, 2014 02:55

Kwyndig: Sep 23, 2006; Heeeeeey

Dr. Doji Suave posted:

Don't remind me about waiting... I will never get my Hackmaster GMG. I tried to get a charge back on it last year but I had waited too long. I figure at this rate sometime in 2020 I will get it.

Has the backers gotten the original game yet at all for Robotech?

Hahaha...

No.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:05

TheSoundNinja: May 18, 2012

Bushiroad actually isn't a TCG, it's a Japanese company that makes and sells TCGs.

Their two current games are Cardfight!! Vanguard and Future Card Buddyfight. They sound dumb (at least I thought Buddyfight did at first), but both have some pretty neat mechanics.

My preference is for Vanguard. It's like a cross between UFS and Battle Spirits (the last TCG I was really in love with). I could talk about the rules, if there isn't a thread.

Unlike Bandai/Namco America (the company that released Battle Spirits), Bushiroad isn't "Bushiroad America". The Japanese company has been translating and releasing their games all around the world, and put the Anime series for both Buddyfight and Vanguard on Youtube and Crunchyroll, and the player base has been slowly growing.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:15

jadarx: May 25, 2012

TheSoundNinja posted:

Unlike Bandai/Namco America (the company that released Battle Spirits), Bushiroad isn't "Bushiroad America". The Japanese company has been translating and releasing their games all around the world, and put the Anime series for both Buddyfight and Vanguard on Youtube and Crunchyroll, and the player base has been slowly growing.

They also own New Japan Pro Wrestling, which gave us this amazing crossover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TJeX4EVd9Q

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:19

Kwyndig: Sep 23, 2006; Heeeeeey

Unrelated to trad games and more of a general life thing, but having basically no teeth sucks. It's been a week since I had the extractions (full upper and partial lower jaw) and my gums have yet to completely seal back up again so life is pain.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:26

Covok: May 27, 2013; Yet where is that woman now? Tell me, in what heave does she reside? None of them. Because no God bothered to listen or care. If that is what you think it means to be a God, then you and all your teachings are welcome to do as that poor women did. And vanish from these realms forever.

TheSoundNinja posted:

Bushiroad actually isn't a TCG, it's a Japanese company that makes and sells TCGs.

Their two current games are Cardfight!! Vanguard and Future Card Buddyfight. They sound dumb (at least I thought Buddyfight did at first), but both have some pretty neat mechanics.

My preference is for Vanguard. It's like a cross between UFS and Battle Spirits (the last TCG I was really in love with). I could talk about the rules, if there isn't a thread.

Unlike Bandai/Namco America (the company that released Battle Spirits), Bushiroad isn't "Bushiroad America". The Japanese company has been translating and releasing their games all around the world, and put the Anime series for both Buddyfight and Vanguard on Youtube and Crunchyroll, and the player base has been slowly growing.

I played Buddy Fight recently. I personally didn't enjoy it, but, to be fair, the set available was a mirror fight for some reason.

I also heard Buddy Fight is supposed to be a simplified version of Vanguard. Don't know if it's true.

I will admit the idea of a card game that's all about buffing your leader monster is at least an interesting one.

Edit:

Kwyndig posted:

Unrelated to trad games and more of a general life thing, but having basically no teeth sucks. It's been a week since I had the extractions (full upper and partial lower jaw) and my gums have yet to completely seal back up again so life is pain.

Man, that sounds rough.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:27

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# ? Jun 6, 2024 17:42

inklesspen: Oct 17, 2007; Here I am coming, with the good news of me, and you hate it. You can think only of the bell and how much I have it, and you are never the goose. I will run around with my bell as much as I want and you will make despair.; Buglord

Reene posted:

In related news a friend just sprang PAX passes on me so I'll be doing that I guess! Is anyone else here going?

I'm going mainly because a lot of my internet friends go and it's one time a year when we can hang out. I got a Sunday pass to check out vendors and stuff, though, and try to play some RPGs. A few PAXes ago I got to play Burning Wheel for the first (and only) time and that was nice.

There's a lot of things to like about PAX. There's also a lot of things wrong with it. There's a lot of people who don't feel safe going to PAX and I can't blame them. I have to keep that in mind when I decide what parts of PAX to participate in, and try my best to make things better.

# ? Aug 21, 2014 03:29

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > The August Personage of Elminster Chat: $2000 Of Charity Donations + Really Bad Posts

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