Also, it's RPG Superstar season, which tends to slow down PbPs. But that'll probably just get worse after the first of the year when voting starts.
I'll be here throughout the season. I'm supporting operations on a drilling rig, so I'll be on continuous call... though at the moment looks like I'll get christmas off (fingers crossed).
I'm looking slightly forward to seeing the 2nd Hobbit... though I'm telling myself I'm going to see a 'fantasy' film, rather than the Hobbit writ large. It's a story that's near and dear to me - as my Dad used to tell it to me as a bedtime story (complete with suitable embellishments).
The sound of a few of the changes made make me a bit frowny faced as to whether I'll like it or not...
I'll touch base with N'bellocq again soonish to see how he's going.
It's a decent movie; I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from seeing it. Just go get a snack or something when the barrel scene starts. Trust me, you'll have time.
I'm hoping to see it soon. For the elf-related scenes if nothing else. I still remember the old cartoon movie of The Hobbit...and crying when Thorin died. I guess that'll be the next movie though.
Well I am off to see it tonight... So will let you know what I think :)
TL:DR version - I hated it.
As a popcorn fantasy flick - it's pretty cool... but as someone who actually liked the books? - it destroyed alot of what I thought made the book cool.
I'll spare you the bile - but Ansha, definitely go see it. Peter Jackson has a serious man-crush on Legolas and elves that shines through in every single scene.
I learned my lesson about hoping for a movie to play out like the book with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I hated that they replaced Glorfindel with Arwen, even though there were parts I liked that they added too (like Haldir and the elven contingent that showed up at Helm's Deep).
YMMV - I thought Haldir and the elves presence at Helm's Deep completely emasculated the Rohirrim. Turned it more from a 'crowning moment of man overcoming adversity' to 'everyone would have died if not for those fabulous elves'.
Forgot to mention that my enjoyment was also significantly soured by the fact that for some reason all of the English subtitles for elvish / black speech / dwarvish were removed from the Malaysian version. And since I speak neither Mandarin nor Bahasa... it was slightly difficult to follow some parts of the plot.
Oh, I really can't just disagree. I just didn't mind. ;P
Also: Merry Christmas, everyone!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy New Year! :-)
A returning of yuletide cheer and such.
The problem with holiday family gatherings is that I start to wilt a few hours in. The curse of the introvert...
Also, bump.
Finally saw Desolation of Smaug. LOVED the elves, though I could have done without Tauriel- loved Legolas' scenes. Thought the scenes with Smaug would've been better if they were closer to the book. The scenes at Erebor did remind me of the old 2e AD&D campaign module Dragon Mountain, though. That great wyrm red was HUGE.
Overall, I liked it. Even with the changes from the book.
At the end of the fight with Bolg in Laketown, when he realizes he has blood trickling from his nose and looks terribly affronted, I expected him to quote Nelson Muntz: "You made me bleed my own blood!"
They were probably going for more of a Superman II vibe, though.
I loved the look on his face!
Happy New Year all - have PM'd you something re: Meowzebub AK.
Happy New Year to you all too!
56 more minutes until the New Year here. :)
Don't know how hurt Jakob is, AK, but he's carrying the clw wand if he needs it.
Happy Merry Year of Newness! Though I've got to pace myself, as here in Malaysia we'll get another two or three 'new years' over the next couple of months :)
Oh... and thanks for reminding me about the CLW wand Joana... I'm assuming Jakob is concerned enough to give Qhude a poke or two with it.
Jakob's sheet has it marked at 48 charges. Not sure I believe we've only used two charges off it in all this time, but I really don't want to go back and count, either. :P
We'd better use it up before our downtime then. ;)
I know we used a charge or two when the Freeman Brotherhood attacked us; I honestly don't remember if Jakob used it since then. Tebati was holding it for one encounter (going after Bethany maybe?), but we ended up not needing it.
EDIT: Looks like 48 may have been accurate. Searching Jakob's posts for "wand" only reveals the two charges used after the Freeman Brotherhood attack.
As far as we know, we haven't passed anything by in this level, right? We had the stairs down to the frog and the rooms on either side, and the only doors we're aware of that haven't opened are the set with the glowing gems?
I suppose we could just have Qhude bash the doors in with his scepter if we're going to be straightforward about it.
EDIT:
Its quite possible your over-thinking this though :).
"Speak friend and enter?" How much time did the Fellowship waste outside that door? ;)
And yet this time, it was the wizard who went straight for "Just push it open," rather than try every more complex avenue first. ;P
Please feel free to plan your level up and post proposed changes. Any retcons or changes you desire can also be ran by me; the earlier this is done (level-wise) the happier i'll be.
You've got the XP to level and you'll have the downtime shortly.
No retcon required for me - and my Level 4 is pretty breezy.
Superstition rage power and skill points in Perception, Survival, Intimidate, Knowledge (Nature) and Craft (Leatherworking)
Only retcon I have in mind is to change the base point-buy array used at Ansha's character creation from the 16/16/15/10/10/8 array to the 16/16/14/10/10/10 array. (Base stats end up being, post-racial modifiers, S 10 D 12 C 12 I 18 W 10 Ch 16.)
Other than that, my proposed changes at level 4 are:
Lvl 4 wizard – enchanter/manipulator
+1 BAB, +1 Will, +5hp, +1 CMB, +1 CMD
1 additional 2nd level spell per day, 1 additional 1st level spell per day
+1 stat to CHA
2 additional spells known:
Knock, Acid Arrow
+7 skill points (includes favored class bonus):
+1 Bluff
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge (Arcana)
+1 Knowledge (geography)
+1 Knowledge (engineering)
+1 Spellcraft
+1 Sense Motive
Only retcon I have in mind is to change the base point-buy array used at Ansha's character creation from the 16/16/15/10/10/8 array to the 16/16/14/10/10/10 array. (Base stats end up being, post-racial modifiers, S 10 D 12 C 12 I 18 W 10 Ch 16.)
No issue with that.
Okay, went ahead and updated that part now in the character profile. I'll update the rest when we actually level.
Apologies for the delay in updates. No doubt I sound like a broken record by now but I still have guests. Since I got up 10 hours ago this is the first time i've got to a PC and i'm about to head out again. Updates tomorrow if not later tonight, promise.
Pff, people with social lives. Meanwhile, I have literally been snowed in for a week. I'm just glad I have heat and Internet.
Having a great new year, eh, Ansha? ;)
My own 2014 has been pretty lackluster, thus far, with lots of small to medium-sized annoyances, including frozen pipes, losing one of my nicest earrings that was part of a matched set with one of my nicest necklaces, one of our favorite restaurants closing two days after we were last there and no one said a word, and a necessary household repair turning out to be startlingly more expensive than we were expecting. All in all, I'd like 2013 back.
Mundane crossbow bolts? No wonder the Order fell. Did it never occur to them that their enemies might have DR or access to protection from arrows?
Hello friends. I hope all are well and have had a good holiday season.
I wish to apologize for my absence and the obvious hole it left in this game. I suffered a major shock in my life around Thanksgiving that has affected my network of family and friends, my emotional health, my career, and long term financial wellbeing.
My job increased in duties to overcome a vital loss in our small ranks just to make it to the new year. While we struggled to meet that milestone, my job may yet still evaporate in the coming months if the board moves to dissolve. Exhaustion and depression had settled over me, to a sense that I knew something was wrong but was unable to stop it.
I have been around long enough on these boards to see people up and disappear, and I always wondered what happened. Well, I am here to report that sometimes life can kick you in the teeth, and take something from you. I loved visiting these boards and not just for the online PbP. Several times a day. Usually first thing in the morning after checking email and last thing at night, looking for that last possible update. Well, a switch had been thrown in me. Something I loved just fell away.
Over Christmas, I did some travel to spend time in desolate places to clear my head. I love the desert and its effect on me. Seeing life growing, however limited, in the harshest of environments is a good inspiration for one looking to renew one's life or get over life's hurdles.
My job still may evaporate and I don't look forward to finding a similar job in this economy, BUT I have turned a corner and have begun to look at this proactively as something to prepare for instead of dread. Maybe even doing some fiction writing, something I always wanted, but a full-time career held me back...we will see.
Through this, my local friends and family have been supportive. In that vein I seek to get back with my wider net of friends I have made over the internet. Chatting with people all over the world in different locales and different (or the same) places in their life has always been an education and comfort. So while not completely over my depression (I have been battling depression to a smaller degree for a number of years now) I am in a better place, so I return to my old haunts. I want to thank those that reached out and others that expressed concern.
This is my first visit to the boards in quite some time, and I image there is a lot that has happened in my absence to go back and read. I suspect I have been dropped or replaced in some cases, and I totally understand and respect that. And again I apologize for the disruption I brought to this game. If the group does still have a place for me, I can begin to resume my postings here as I try to get back up to speed.
In either case I have enjoyed my time here and will read future developments as it has been a fine game.
We're glad to hear that things are turning around a little, Meowzebub. Don't worry, we've been saving your spot!
A spot for you, as well as a piece of chocolate cake for N'bellocq. :-P
Meowzebub - as expressed over the electronic mail sending device and what will be a plethora of other threads on here by the time I am done... condolences for the shock over the holidays and if I saw you in person I would offer platonic man-hugs of a comforting nature.
For mine you're always welcome in any of the many many games that we share on here. N'bellocq may not have been the most vocal member of the group, but he offers a most interesting informed naivete and besides - with him us Mwangi outnumber the colonial types!
Cliff notes version is we've plumbed through the ziggurat and found a cave-in that stopped us getting any further. So we're off up top so Qhude can show off his scepter and we can all level up :)
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Meow, welcome back. All is forgiven just try and write a brief message next time. Mark was kind enough to keep me apprised but thinking people are ust dropping out without saying anything gets me down and kills my motivation.
My guests (and gf) leave on the 15th. Will be much better at updating then, promise :).
Glad to see you back, Meowzebub, and I'm sorry to hear about what you've been going through. Tebati will be pleased not to have her cousin depart. Hey, and N'bellocq killed a demon with a crit!
Probably better I wasn't rolling that. I expect to post here tonight, as I will have a quiet night to catch up on reading the latest exploits.
Mark rolled for you ... which isn't as good as AK rolling for you but far better than me rolling for you. :)
Yay!