I'm Alive & Three Things

Hello all,

I am alive. Reduce salt, avoid those kidney stones gentlemen. Mine was an 11mm banger, needed explosives to clear my pipes.

In intense pain but still voted

Anyhow...

1) Review of the Skraeling Tree

I had this written up ages ago but may have deleted it during my deliriums.

TLDR review:

The Good - More Elric! He doesn't do much, but good to hear his insights on dream couches and other lives lived on them. Reminds me of how the throw away reference to the Clone Wars ballooned into its own saga.

The Bad - Not bad per se but a big swing by MM that doesn't always pay off. First, there is the tripartite structure, starting with Oona as protagonist, then switching to Elric, then to von Bek. There is no sense of urgency or danger in any of it, and of course Elric outshines the other voices. Also, the revelation that Melniboneans are related to real dragons is a bit ho hum Mary Sue, although I can see it as a counterpoint to their devolution to Oleb in the books. Richard Miller has hinted at incorporating this into the new Stormbringer game, so we will see what he makes of it.

The Ugly - As an Indigenous artist in residence, the depictions of indigenous people kept hammering me as all flat or just wrong. I understand that Moorcock was pulling an Alain Moore and using literary indigenous figures, such as Longfellow's Hiawatha, and not depicting 'real' indigenous peoples. But making young Elric into White Crow as an equal to Hiawatha, having the baddies insect-related indigenous who kidnap Von Bek, and the mystical mumbo jumbo talk just seems to be playing with tropes best left alone.

2) NUNA Developments

NUNA final rules are coming along. Characters are MUCH more robust than vanilla BRP characters, probably closer to Cthulhu Pulp which I have glanced at. For example, Hit Points are CON + SIZ, and all characters have Cultural Abilities that don't require rolls to work. This fits the post apocalyptic Arctic survival vibe so next round of playtests should be fun.

3) Don't Tell Your Dreams

Lots of pipedreams in the works - a better job to support the work, some travel. As soon as it becomes reality I will let you know.

NUNA Spring Vacay Update

Hello friends!

It has been a minute since I posted. I was trapped under the day job and killing off the few final academic writing obligations.

(My book chapter on AI and social discourse is HERE and article on Japan's MeToo movement coming any day)

On top of that had a nasty cold and so have taken some time for myself.

Now, I feel revitalized by the pause and am slowly ramping back up to work on a few things.

1. NUNA is at the playtesters and I am giving them the time they need. Participating in the Swords of the Serpentine playtest years back taught me you need to give it time and have people give good feedback on the game warts and all.

2. Japan Studies Book proposal. Probably the last academic thing I'll do unless a uni hires me, but some heavy hitters in the field are cheering me on and the idea is solid. Also, a rare paid academic work so going to give it a shot.

3. Giri-Ninjo, my rules light Japanese RPG. Yes there will be swordfights and seductions, but the game is based around the internal conflicts of characters' humanity and duties. Hope to get a MVP done and start playtesting with some former students from a Japanese uni where I taught Media Studies who also live here in Raincouver.

4. In talks to run some games at Rain City again, the list includes Coyote & Crow, Coyboy Bebop, and Stormbringer. If you are in Vancouver and want to play with me, this is your chance.

But now it is time to clean my space then take sonny out for a walk on this lovely day.