GM Euan's Mummy's Mask (Inactive)

Game Master Euan

You know, I'm a big fan of Diablo 3. I might give Pillars a try :D Seems a little Indie

*snerk*

I feel your pain. Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire launches early May and I'm feeling the call to replay the first game (Pillars of Eternity) to refresh my memory on the world and such...

+1 to Pillars. Just finished it about 2 months ago.

Had a great time with it and I’m almost ready to play the next...just got sidetracked into Skyrim (replaying after about 4 years?), but have delightfully forgotten most of it.

+1 to Pillars. Just finished it about 2 months ago.

:D :D :D

Another reason I'm going to replay the first game is that my original save file from when I played it last year was lost and I'd rather carry over my own save to the second game than start fresh or have to manually select a bunch of end-state parameters for the first game. Probably do the same (mostly) PC again but maybe try some different companions this time around.

As far as Skyrim goes, I never did finish it...I should go back to it, at some point. Or start a new game and then I'll probably never be heard from again...

Skyrim seems like a big commitment. Tons if quests and there's no real endgame, right?

Carol here! Nidhi is Nidhi. I am myself.

Nidhi is pretty average in intelligence, but she's good at reading people. Coupled with her superstitious nature and one-track mind, she's relatively obsessed and dedicated to finding the source of Ben's strangeness.

Skyrim seems like a big commitment. Tons if quests and there's no real endgame, right?

Uh, yes. It's a commitment but one that I am enjoying a lot. Yes, there are tons of quests and I kind of like (non-library) quests. ;)

But it's a ton of fun, very flexible style too...there are 1000 different ways to do things. It's lovely and open.

Don't you find Skyrim a bit too old in terms of game mechanics guys? I've tried to replay it a few months ago, but I immediately found it almost unplayable. I had completed it when it came out, twice, and was one of my all time favorites, but I can't seem to be able to enjoy it anymore now.

^ I think it depends. As fun as Skyrim is, I've discovered that I personally don't do that great with open-world, sandbox games, whether they're video games or something like the Kingmaker AP. It's fun to be able to jack around and do whatever for awhile but I'm a lot more likely to end up getting bored with the game and putting it down when it's sandbox style. I need some kind of narrative and plot to follow, even a loose one, in order to stay really interested in a game.

This is one reason why I probably wouldn't try playing in a Kingmaker game again and why I tend to avoid homebrew games here on the forums as well; in my experience homebrews tend to be really sandboxy and that makes it hard to self-motivate sometimes. Not to mention homebrew games seem to fold with even more frequency than most types of PbP games.

^ I think it depends. As fun as Skyrim is, I've discovered that I personally don't do that great with open-world, sandbox games, whether they're video games or something like the Kingmaker AP. It's fun to be able to jack around and do whatever for awhile but I'm a lot more likely to end up getting bored with the game and putting it down when it's sandbox style. I need some kind of narrative and plot to follow, even a loose one, in order to stay really interested in a game.

You know, my players in real life think along your same lines. Paradoxical as it may seem, they do not enjoy being "too free", if I can put it that way. They feel like they need to follow a well shaped and visible plot in order to stay focused and involved into the game.

Yep, pretty much. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the GM being willing to be flexible and allowing some leeway for doing some side stuff but at the end of the day I just tend to focus better when I know there's a main plot to be followed. But that's just my own personal tastes; I know lots of people that are super creative and can go nuts in a sandbox environment and I'm glad that it works for them :)

I have another game tonight

Sorry about the slow posting this weekend; I've been experiencing some frustration with PbP in general over the past couple of days that's left me less enthused about writing posts.

That sucks, Flo. I prescribe a healthy dose of cat videos. Have you seen this channel? He does food experiments to see what his cat likes to eat the most The cat purrs while eating. Pretty cute. I like this purring video too.

Hah! That made me laugh out loud :)

And speaking of cat videos and such, I recommend the Kitten Academy channel. They keep a livestream going in the kitten room and do all sorts of videos and highlights about the kittens they foster! So cute :)

Hey guys, I'll try and keep an eye on the game as I can but I'll be working today so go ahead and bot Flo's stabilize rolls (though at this point I don't think she can stabilize on her own anyway) and/or other actions as needed.

Flo, do you have a Nashville/Southern accent? :D Just curious. I don't but I do say y'all, tennis shoes, and soda. I was rewatching Jim Gaffigan on Netflix.

Heh! I've been told that I have a pretty strong Southern accent, yes. It sort of depends on who I'm interacting with as to how properly and distinctly I pronounce my words. For example, working in healthcare in a relatively rural area I've noticed that some folks - especially elderly ones - who are very 'country' in their speech respond better to someone that speaks in a similar manner as they do. So when interacting with them I tend to do the same. I usually don't say y'all that much but I do catch myself doing stuff like saying 'Monday' as 'Mondee' or 'tomatoes' as 'ta-may-tas'. And I too say 'tennis shoes' instead of 'sneakers' and 'soda' instead of 'pop'.

But I never say stuff like taters or maters - I have my limits :P

(To this day it makes me giggle like a crazy person to hear Gollum from the LotR movies ask: 'What's taters?')

And I love biscuits and gravy for breakfast! I just try not to indulge too much because you know, bread makes you fat.

I would be incredibly curious to know how does my English accent sound to you XD I definitely do not have an Italian accent, but sometimes I think my pronunciation is a mix of Californian, English and Scottish accents all in one. Must be quite hilarious for native speakers XD

My reaction to Zilchus' face's description.

Me trying to understand said description.

~Sounds like someone dumped charisma~

Also @Ben - don't worry, Florence would genuinely want to offer to return Ben's old headband; the offer isn't me being metagamey.

Problem is that Ben is never going to accept in game XD

I've been at a work convention. I'll post later.

Zilchus, what gives you the inspiration to type up PbP guides? Do you enjoy the writing aspect or analyzing games?

Zilchus, what gives you the inspiration to type up PbP guides? Do you enjoy the writing aspect or analyzing games?

Wow. That's a heck of a question. I'll try to get an answer up tomorrow.

Laura Brehm has a new song out! Ahh! I love her! I'd like to think Nidhi sounds like Laura when she sings.

What kind of music do you all like? In all honestly, I can't even keep a beat with spoons (lol) but I like listening. Current favorite songs? BEN, I thought you were big into music from your Roll20 picture but you changed it. It looked like some guy shredding on the guitar. I'm surprised you haven't shared your musical interest/talents with us. I'm curious about the music and Hollywood influences on Europe. Like, were blink-182 and *NSYNC a thing? What about MTV before it was ruined by reality tv? Did you have anything like Daria? Remember, I live under a rock.

My music tastes are eclectic. I'm a big fan of 60s & 70s rock but I like a smattering of 80s stuff, a little 90s, and some metal. Older country is good, but I avoid most of the newer stuff like the plague. Not a big fan of rap or hiphop, though I admit to enjoying some Eminem songs as a guilty pleasure. I've never really dove into it myself but my husband enjoys trance and electronica and what I've heard sounds pretty good so I keep meaning to look into it more. Some of my favorite artists/groups are They Might Be Giants, Weird Al Yankovic and Lindsey Stirling.

Ahh, I was waaaay off Florence XD

I'm a big of Weird Al too :D I saw him live in Arizona.

Well, have you heard of the Aquabats? I used to listen to their song Fashion Zombies (probably because "zombies" was in the title) religiously in high school. I really like Super Rad and Cat with 2 heads too. What about Tenacious D? :)

Electronic music? So you like stuff like *this* ? That song in particular reminds me of traversing the desert.

Do you like a little saxophone with your electronic? I like the Lindsey Stirling video you linked. I think I remember you sharing some of her other videos before

So your husband likes trance? How did he get into the genre? It's a little fast for me (like club music?) My husband likes rock bands with a female lead singers. He likes this one song from Icon For Hire. And Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless and sometimes SEMBLANT... but I think I might like Mizuho Lin more than he does.

BEN, I thought you were big into music from your Roll20 picture but you changed it. It looked like some guy shredding on the guitar. I'm surprised you haven't shared your musical interest/talents with us. I'm curious about the music and Hollywood influences on Europe. Like, were blink-182 and *NSYNC a thing? What about MTV before it was ruined by reality tv? Did you have anything like Daria? Remember, I live under a rock.

They were definitely a thing, Nidhi, but on my part, only Blink 182 along with Green Day played a role in shaping my musical interests. We love american music, and actually one of my favorite kind of music, punk-rock was born in the United States and thrived there. That's part of why I know English a bit better than the average Italian guy, I suppose.

MTV was a huge channel through which those influences spreaded in Europe, and I used to watch it when I was an adolescent. Now I don't watch anymore though, and it has lost most of his popularity.

As for my being big in music, well, I guess it was an important part of my life. I say it *was* because I had to make a choice a few years ago, and I decided to invest my time and energies into study rather than music. I still love music, I love to play guitar and singing, and it still gives me pleasure, but I'm doing it just for fun now, with friends or when the opportunity arises. In my regular life, I am a scholar just like Ben. In times like these it might sound as a very odd choice to prefer philosophy over music, but that was where my heart took me.

As a listener, I still love punk-rock music, and rock music in general (both old and new), but I'm also keen on classical music and opera. I consider myself a listener with broad interests :)

Ahh... cool, cool. What are you going to do when you finish school again? If you told me, I forgot (sorry.) And, Opera?! What kind of opera do you like? Can you link me a sample?

So do you like musicals, Ben? Can I introduce you to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? :D Before Rachel Bloom was hired to star in the show, she did funny videos like "I Steal Pets" (click it. do it. it's a good use of 3 minutes. trust me.) and the "Historically Accurate Disney Princess Song"

Working tonight and so I'm off to bed for awhile; I'll catch up later if I can, otherwise feel free to bot me. I'm also working Saturday night so I may be slow to post tomorrow as well.

Zilchus, what gives you the inspiration to type up PbP guides? Do you enjoy the writing aspect or analyzing games?

The earliest guides (What to Expect? How to GM) were driven by my desire to be a better player. I still want to be better at this silly game and use the criteria to define 'good' that I lay out here.

To this day, I still believe that your build, how much damage you do, or what combo you can do means f%+&ing nothing in terms of how 'good' of a player you are. It matters for shit which is why I rarely opine about character builds.

I care much more about the interactive story experience, roleplaying, and fun than anything else. I wanted to become a better player and play with better players so I wrote those guides.

Later, for the PbP Guides, I felt that the PbP was eroding under the weight of bad players. 5 or 6 years ago, there was a plague of cancelled games and fleeing GMs. I wrote the PbP guides to address those problems and try to set some understanding for what traits might be beneficial to the community.

It was really bad back in the day. Games I was in were getting dropped right and left...and GMs would just disappear. It still happens, but I think less so than in the past. <citation needed>

I have in mind to do another PbP post, along the lines of what good/bad PbP players do, but haven't written it yet. I have notes.

Anyhoot, does that answer it? I want to learn more and be better and play with better players, pretty much.

And I would argue that both you Nidhi and Florence are good players and who have been guided by my Guides (in theory) and so have a direction and focus and understanding of what is expected that we didn't have back in the good ol' bad days.

* * *

Edit: Get Found! - That's a favorite post.

As for music, I'm a fan of many genre's and musicians. I was even a radio DJ for a few years in Illinois on a very small station with my own 2 1/2 hour weekly blues show on Thursday mornings.

Currently, I'm listening to Hazmat Modine in the car. When my wife and I went to Hawaii for our wedding anniversary, we stayed in the same hotel as Blues Traveller another band I like. For my radio show, I once did a phone interview with Frutland Jackson out of Chicago. And on my laptop, I'm listening to Leon Redbone to round out the weirdness.

I have a cold though, so I'm thinking of switching up to something more energetic to get me through the day. Maybe The Heavy or even Evanessence.

I love Green Day. I like jazz, punk, funk, reggae, a smattering of ska and rhythm and blues as well.

Pretty much the only thing I don't like (with rare exception) is country and pop music that is too poppy.

Ahh... cool, cool. What are you going to do when you finish school again? If you told me, I forgot (sorry.) And, Opera?! What kind of opera do you like? Can you link me a sample?

So do you like musicals, Ben? Can I introduce you to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? :D Before Rachel Bloom was hired to star in the show, she did funny videos like "I Steal Pets" (click it. do it. it's a good use of 3 minutes. trust me.) and the "Historically Accurate Disney Princess Song"

I'm working at university, actually. I am a researcher, and every now and then I teach to students. When I will complete my PhD I hope to come to the United States and find a job there, possibly as a teaching post-PhD.

As for musicals...I can't say I love them too much. Opera is quite different. You know, like Mozart? The Don Giovanni is a favorite (and it's in Italian).

I'm working at university, actually. I am a researcher, and every now and then I teach to students. When I will complete my PhD I hope to come to the United States and find a job there, possibly as a teaching post-PhD.

What is your field of study? I work near many postdocs at a National Lab/UCB (University of California, Berkeley) in the U.S..

Today was crazy with the family/holiday stuff. I'll post in a couple hours.

@Euan I had no idea you were such a big blues fan! Did you wear a fedora in the radio box? XD I've heard Blues Traveler and The Heavy on the radio. I totally see you in a different light now.

Opera is quite different. You know, like Mozart? The Don Giovanni is a favorite (and it's in Italian)

Is Giovanni a popular name? Whenever I hear Giovanni I think of Giovanni Bellini. I feel like there must be multiple famous Giovanni's. Is it a common last name like "Smith" here in the US?

No, I'm an uncultured swine! (Lol, just kidding) I have a friend who loves opera and musicals but they definitely aren't passions of mine... actually, a lot of my friends like musicals and have repeatedly "dragged" me to Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sweeney Todd, Wicked (Broadway), and Burlesque stuff. With Opera, I always feel nervous - I'm always worried "when are they going to take a breath?! Oh no, are they going to pass out?! How can they go so long without breathing?! Aren't they uncomfortable?!" I vaguely remember learning about Opera houses in Art History. Perhaps they're more popular it Italy because you're close to the Vatican? I also recall learning about Castrati singers so that may have shocked me out of the interest. (Although, that's not done anymore... right? RIGHT?! I think the last one died in 1910 or something? His last performance was for the Pope.) Anyway, I think musicals are more popular here in the United States. Like right now, I can think of at least 10 musicals and only one opera (Phantom of the Opera.) So is opera a common thing in Italy? Like, instead of the movie theater you and you friends go out to the opera house? I'm going to sound like a terrible(?) person, but Opera does seem to fit with the Hollywood "Italian stereotype" of using your hands when talking and projecting your voice. I think more Americans "mumble" when speaking compared to Italy. (I hope I'm not offending you. I'm just interested in Italian culture)

Prof. Benedictus Dickens wrote:

I'm working at university, actually. I am a researcher, and every now and then I teach to students. When I will complete my PhD I hope to come to the United States and find a job there, possibly as a teaching post-PhD.

What is your field of study? I work near many postdocs at a National Lab/UCB (University of California, Berkeley) in the U.S..

History of philosophy, with a specialization in medieval and early modern philosophy :)

Nidhi, I will answer you tomorrow, quite in a rush today! And don't worry, no offense! I am not the typical Italian anyway :)

No Nidhi, no Fedora during the show, though I have, from time to time, worn hats. :)

As for Benedictus' gift to Florence of a 4kgp headband, the easiest solution is to accept a gift from Florence - of a new headband or some other magic worth about the same. By refusing to accept your old headband back, you've painted yourself into a corner a little bit. :)

I suspect Florence doesn't have the cash just now, but to keep things in balance, I'll let her go into debt a bit with Abdur. You're about to find a small cache of loot (depending on where you go next) so the loan won't last long...

My current waking state can be best summed up as 'buhhhhhhh' so I'm going to get some sleep and catch up on Gameplay a bit later :)

*edit* And that'll work, GM. I'll post something to that effect after I've had some sleep!

Florence, I see on your character sheet you have just 600 and change in gold. The party just had a divvy of 2,700 prior to Stelle's arrival which you may have missed?

Well, have you heard of the Aquabats? I used to listen to their song Fashion Zombies (probably because "zombies" was in the title) religiously in high school. I really like Super Rad and Cat with 2 heads too. What about Tenacious D? :)

Re: Music.

I don't do too much music at home, but will check out your recommendations. Mostly my active music is random youtube videos. My current groks are:

This vocal explosion from Justice League.
This catchy as shit theme...with the heavy beat drop at :54 or so.
This fun song.
This haunting shit. Slow as f!~* and moves me.
And this, obv, is bomb.
And one more ear worm.

@Zilchus oh, yeah that fun song is amazing. I'm not crazy about the haunting one though. What makes you like the vocal explosion of the first one you linked? I'm a big fan of the heavy beat drop too. So, since you like those songs, have you considered this one? So, if you had to choose, do you like *this* one more or *this* one? You have quite a taste for music! I never expected such a broad spectrum! You clearly have a deep and extensive passion for music. Lol

_________

This was on my facebook feed. I laughed so hard. (Think Geek website)

Whoops. An attempt was made. Trying again...

Re: Music.

I don't do too much music at home, but will check out your recommendations. Mostly my active music is random youtube videos. My current groks are:

This vocal explosion from Justice League.
This catchy as s*%$ theme...with the heavy beat drop at :54 or so.
This fun song.
This haunting s$%&. Slow as f~!+ and moves me.
And this, obv, is bomb.
And one more ear worm.

And I think the linx are mostly updated.

Oooooh, my bad. I thought you were making a joke about not listening to much music. I was just rolling with it

Nah, why chalk up anything to intentional Zilchus humor when it can be ascribed to incompetence or drunkenness? ;)

My mistake.

@GM - Technically I didn't miss it but I opted to not add it to Flo's funds immediately since you said at the time that we technically didn't have access to it yet but would once we actually went back to Wati to sell everything. And then I halfway forgot so I appreciate the reminder!

Do you ever look back on your writing and think "wow, I wrote the pants off of that thing that happened" and then look at something you just wrote five minutes ago and think "wow, I need to go back and hack at that thing with an ice pick!" That's how I feel right now, but I think I'm too tired to edit.

Oh sure, I've had that happen before. Most of my posts that are longer than a few lines end up being edited a few times before I ever hit the 'submit' button but sometimes time is short, or you're tired, or you're just not in the right mental space to write for the character (or in general) but gosh, you know you need to post something so you do the best you can and try not to sweat it too much. If you play with the same people long enough and/or develop a reputation as a decent/good player to play with, people don't usually sweat it too much when you have an 'off' moment/day/few days/etc. with your writing :)