Aerynne Linnaea |
We can inquire about getting it re-fitted for you two when we get back to Oleg's. We might have to send it off to Restov with a merchant caravan or some such--it which case it might be easier to just buy Wallop and you Small-sized armor... We'll see.
BTW, grats on your exams! :D
Morgrym Hammergun |
I echo Aerynne on that one. I know exams can be stressful and I can only imagine the added stress caused by the standards they've given you. Well done.
Scraps |
Thanks. 8)
My school doesn't let people repeat classes any longer. If you fail a course you are dismissed. This might not be a problem if I were more science-smart. I'm trying to make up for natural talent with extra work. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work here where everyone has to study 24/7.
Scraps |
Yes and no. I know that the next three are much harder and their mean scores a letter grade and a half lower. I made Bs on these exams, so hopefully I will come out where I need to.
Medical school is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's harder than when I randomly picked up and moved to China when I was 22. Harder than switching careers mid-stream with no training back when I was 25.
It's hard because about a quarter of the students are in constant fear - and this is the same around the world. I have a video where the Prime Minister of Switzerland speaks on how we need to change the system.
We desperately need doctors. We need them to see more patients and honestly, the more there are, the less their services cost, while the opposite is also true.
We have to take very tough courses to get a shot at the entrance exams and then must study months for them. Once in medical school, we study 16-18 hours a day, without sleep, doing everything we can to advance. It gets worse every year in school, until you get to residency where they have to sleep in the hospital and rarely go home at all.
In the middle of that however, we borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars with no collateral other than our names. Unlike normal loans, student loans must be paid back, regardless of bankruptcy or any other circumstance.
25% of those of us who started have since been dismissed. It is the same in every school in every country. And once you are dismissed, there is no way to pay off those multi-hundred thousand dollar loans.
I wish I were smart instead of creative. I wish I were good at memorizing things rather than writing stories. I'm sure half the students here have no worries in life and are studying hard but confident in their future. Me, I sit right outside that 25%. I don't like this seat, but at least I have a chance to pursue my dream. I really feel bad for people with dreams they can't pursue at all.
Pardon me for the sharing overload. I'm tired and in front of a computer. I'm afraid my mind runs on and my typing just trails along behind it.
Thanks so much for the caring and good wishes!
Morgrym Hammergun |
I know how you feel. I haven't been to medically school, but I went to the United States Naval Academy, and graduating from their was probably the most difficult challenge of my life to date. There were countless times that I wished I was in some way different, in some way better so that this struggle would have been less challenging. I constantly envied the people who seemed to have it all figured out, who were succeeding while taking on even more challenges while I was barely staying afloat with what was on my plate.
I'll say two things. The first is that not everyone has it as good as you think. There definitely are people who found the Naval Academy easy and I'm sure there are people who find Med School easy. But many of us go to great lengths to hide our flaws from others and to put out the impression that we are doing just fine when we really aren't. Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone and that many people struggle just as much as you do.
The second thing is that you should be glad that it's hard. It's only by seeking out challenges that we improve; that we learn what we are capable of. If everything in our lives was easy, we would never be forced to learn or to grow as individuals. Pursuing a goal that challenges you is both rewarding and fulfilling. Chances are, you will come out of this program with not only a better education but a better understanding of yourself and what you're capable of. You'll also have accomplished something you can be proud of. Not many people have made it as far as you have already. At this moment you are already a member of a very elite and exclusive group that you belong to solely based on your own effort and your own merit. That's nothing to shake a stick at.
However, I will once again throw in my plug that I'm glad your training is rigorous because it gives me the confidence that if, one day, my life were in your hands I could rest easy knowing you were qualified and that I was in good stead. I do agree, though, that the financial situation in which students find themselves today is inexcusable and that in a day when even successful individuals find themselves paying of their debt well into their fifties the system is broken.
Scraps |
The US Naval Academy is one heck of an awesome school and one of the hardest to get into. My brother had a Senator willing to sponsor him to the Air Force Academy and passed on it. I think this might be one of his biggest regrets in life.
Everything worth having in life comes with a cost. The more worthwhile something is, the higher the cost.
I am so lucky in so many respects. I have an extremely supportive wife who helps with taking notes, correlating information and dealing with the locals. I have good friends and a supportive family.
I will admit that my life is a bit of a roller coaster. Yesterday I was down, this afternoon I was teeth-grindingly frustrated and tonight I am at peace with my fate. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. 8)
Wallop Fey |
Stress induced emotional turbulence! I've been a teacher for over 14 years now (and a coach for more than 20) and I've seen tons of this. Go give your wife and the rest of your support network a huge hug because they deserve as much of your gratitude as you can muster at the moment.
I've seen WAY too many kids come through my doorway who do not have that kind of support. Indeed, their 'support network' was the cause of much of this turbulence in the first place; kids with enormous unrealized potential.
At any rate, just try to keep your head above water. Someday you will look back on these tougher times and laugh at them.
Cheers!
Tassadan |
Hey all! I've been going into tech week for another show and will only be able to post sparingly for a bit. I LOVE your discussions and will do my best to respond to them in the campaign tonight. That being said, I'm also going to a concert later tonight and might not be able to squeeze a post in. You're all wonderful and the moral quandaries that we're coming up with are fantastic. Morally bankrupt Kingmakers happen all too often, so your work here has been really impressive.
Scraps |
I mentioned that my other character speaks only in rhyme and so I thought I'd post an example since I'm kind of proud of it. We probably argue as much in that party as this one as the party consist of:
1) a faerie paladin princess (me)
2) a future Red Cap gnome
3) a "not quite but almost evil" bleachling gnome
4) an Ulfen Skald who's career has mostly been fighting hags and fey
5) a retired dwarf soldier
6) a hermit wizard who's wife was killed by fey
Not us of course, different fey. Still, it's usually three on three so you can imagine what happens.
Yeah, it's the Reign of Winter AP. We are all required to play vikings or something from their culture and this is what we came up with. My character history is all written in the Norse style and took something like eight hours. 8(
Anyway, this is an argument my character Hilde got into with the Skald.
"The words of Wynter,
with forked tongue speak.
for normal lies they cannot tell,
but only those with magic's reek.
In this wood, men fear to go
lest faeries trick their souls,
are thou certain these men died
free of mind, for their own goals?
My soul weeps tears of sadness,
my mind cries out in silent pain,
that Ulfen blood should ever sell,
kin and honor for their own gain."
The bleachling speaks in rhyme as well, but only when addressing me. I think he writes better than I do. And then the hermit really only yells. - Well, the two of them mutter a lot too, as well as the dwarf. It's been a fairly involved AP and the DM expects rather a lot of us. 8)
Hilde Alfborne |
This is the link to the other PBP if you ever get bored. It's kind of a fun read and we don't go out of character much. The DM was really demanding on who he would take into the group and I was lucky enough to make it in.
http://paizo.com/campaigns/LayOfTheSluaghSDheAReignOfWinterPbP/gameplay& ;page=last
Aerynne Linnaea |
We don't know where the mites are yet. We need to explore some hexes and try to find them first. After that- yes, certainly, recon. But exploration first.
Aerynne Linnaea |
Waiting to see the results of my Perception of the bridge (if it's broken, has angry trolls underneath, etc.)
Aerynne Linnaea |
Going to be busy this week with midterms. I may or may not get a chance to post. Go ahead and move for me if necessary.
Morgrym Hammergun |
Oh, Aerynne's post reminds me. I will be busy with my ship this week and may also have decreased posting ability.
Scraps |
It seems like just yesterday that I was letting everyone know I had tests coming up. Well, it's that time again.
Pathology Test 2 - 5/13
Microbiology Final - 5/17
I need at least a 60 on the Micro final which should be doable.
I'd like to get at least a 70 on the Path test. Class average is usually right around there and I am usually 3-4 points below that. I'll be okay as long as I make a 63.
I study every day, but I'm going to be studying even more until these tests, and especially starting the 11th. I will still post once a day, but they won't be long philosophical debates in goblin. 8)
Scraps |
It's been a week with no post from the DM. I'd really like to keep this game too. Anything can happen for a week - may other DM hasn't gotten anything in during the last week either. Maybe there's still hope. 8)
Morgrym Hammergun |
I know I haven't been very active, but I am still here and check in when I can. It's just hard to post frequently when there's not much going on and Morgrym isn't really one for idle chatter
Scraps |
I am sorry that I've been gone for a few days. I've had a bit of a stress breakdown from school and am just starting to get my legs underneath me. I did not do well on my Pathology midterm. While the class average is usually a 70, and I was hoping for a 60 or so, I don't think I made it. I will find out tomorrow or Monday how bad the damage is. As I believe I've said, every one of these tests are make or break and so you can imagine how hard I've been hit. 125 people were dismissed last year because of this class and I'm struggling not to be one of them.
Please bot Scraps for another couple of days while I get my bearings back. I'll make it through this, it's just going to take a few days.
Aerynne Linnaea |
@Tassadan - I think it's fair to assume those two move across the river like the rest of us, one by one. Can we move on from here?
@Scraps - good luck! I hope it all works out for you. :(
Gerran Ashkenazi |
Well, I'm done with everything else, so I'll just roll and you can veto.
HP (Con, FCB): 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 1 = 11
+1 BAB
+1 Fort/Reflex
Combat Style Feat: Rapid Shot
+1 Heal
+1 Knowledge (Nature)
+1 Perception
+4 Ride (incl. Class Skill bonus)
+1 Stealth
+1 Survival
Aerynne Linnaea |
HP: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Total HP: 17
Spells Known: (0) mage hand; (1st) mage armor
Spells Per Day: (1st) 3/day
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Handle Animal
+1 Knowledge (Geography)
+1 Knowledge (Nature)
+1 Ride
Ability: Bond senses
==========
Cadeyrn HP: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Total HP: 18
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Perception
+1 Stealth
+1 Survival
+1 evolution points (total: 4)
+1 Str/Dex bonus
+2 Natural armor
Ability: Evasion
Evolutions:
[1] Improved Natural Armor
[1] Scent
[1] Skilled (Perception)
>>[1] Reach (Bite)
Hilde Alfborne |
I had wanted to take Scraps to rogue as early as possible, but gunslinger penalizes my load times pretty heavily if I switch before 4th level so I'm sticking with gunslinger for now. I prefer half +1 so took 6+2 HPs (my favored class is still rogue).
2 Gunslinger
20 HPs
AC 18 (went up 1)
+1 BAB (+8 w/rifle now)
Survival - 6
Stealth - 12
Everything else remained the same. Melee types are so easy. 8)
I am posting the new character sheet online and will update here as soon as I can.
Wallop Fey |
I've added 1 level of fighter for Wallop and will continue to alternate between fighter and barbarian for a while.
BAB, Fort, CMB have all gone up a tad.
Added dodge as bonus feat.
Added to my acrobatics and stealth skills
HP: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Scraps |
One bullet dodged. I took my Medical Micro final today and did quite well I think. I was supposed to take it last week but they had the poor grace to schedule the test right in the middle of my nervous breakdown over Pathology and had to call in sick.
Morgrym Hammergun |
Wow. I missed a lot. I want to apologize for my absence. My thin excuse is that I just shifted departments at work and have been acclimating to an entirely new chain of bosses as well as learning an entirely new division.
That said, I haven't read the gameplay thread yet but it looks like leveling up occurred. I have been considering making multi-classing to cleric to make some progress in the healing department.
Aerynne Linnaea |
Don't feel obliged to become the "healbot" so to speak. It's not ideal, but we can make do with natural healing, the Heal skill, and potions, I think. There doesn't seem to be a time limit on most things we do, so spending a week resting at Oleg's probably isn't going to be a big issue.