Ian Absentia

I was skeptical of a television adaptation at first, but was very pleasantly surprised. There are some pretty amazing guest appearances (and non-appearances) by the end of Season 1. !i!

I think we're now discussing a Prince Valiant campaign. Which is cool, but... !i!

#BeNice Bill. !i!

I heard a brief report yesterday on how our mail-in ballots are tabulated in my state of Washington. In simple terms, apparently the ballots are received by mail or collected from drop boxes, opened and verified by unique digital code and signature against the registered voter rolls, then placed in mechanical hoppers ready for election night. At 8:00 PM, the polls close and they "flip the switch" to begin automated tabulation. The important thing is that, regardless of preparation of ballots prior to the close of polls, it doesn't begin in any form any sooner. !i!

On an only-somewhat-related note, I have a foggy memory of talk of a scenario for player-character Ladies where they control NPC knights like they were Pokémon. I approve wholeheartedly, at least as much as the Fighting Women option, but did anything ever come of that? !i!

Some of the things to some of the people. Clearly, part of the challenge will be in embracing existing fans while attracting new ones. Marketing trends are not kind to aging demographics. Really, though, I feel you. !i! [P.S. Regarding Star Trek, Kurtzman has made it explicit that he actually hates TOS/TNG-era Trek. Let's count our lucky stars that the current team of KAP loves the thing.]

That is a topic for another day. The ineptness of the post-Roddenberry/Berman Star Trek franchise baffles me in particular, but I remind myself that "coincidence should not imply causation" when it comes to the collision of progressive themes and bad production. Also, bear in mind that the legend of Arthur has a long and storied record of anachronism as a means of telling the stories of the day. KAP need be no different. Historical purists and fans of Arthur seldom walk hand-in-hand. !i!

Honestly, I reckon that has more to do with those franchises' writers' and executives' ability (or inability) to incorporate progressive themes in the entertainment they develop and produce, and less to with the themes themselves being inherently repellent. From personal experience, I can tell you that it's been scatter-shot writing by executive committee that have turned me away, and not the bogey-man of "wokeness". Let's extend our trust and goodwill to @sirlarkins that something on this scale will manage the changing social terrain more deftly. And when we buy the new edition, let's do what we always do -- play it exactly the way we want to play it. I mean, we are playing these games, right? And not just critiquing them from the bookshelf? !i!

That's absurd. You'd never be able to balance that many cows on their noses. And cows don't have hands. With foundational math like that it's no wonder Ireland is considered a tax haven by artists and tech companies. !i!

Understood. How about "Without hesitation, within the fairly allotted period"? It's wordier, but go-man-go! It may actually be worth noting that I'm firmly against early tabulation of voting results, as releasing preliminary data tends to skew later participation, either individually or by organised effort. In my state, votes can not begin tabulation until after 8:00 PM when the ballots officially close. Even unofficial exit polling tends to skew results (though they're dynamite for ratings). !i!

Arguably, this is sorta-kinda what Rune spells are, the gods' way of saying, "Share in what it's like to be me." Gifts and geasa, as seen with Humakt and Yelmalio, are the gods' way of saying, "I'm acting through you." I like them being a more extreme form of magic that slots adventurers into a more powerful, but restricted path by way of personal sacrifice. On the other hand, I wouldn't mind seeing temporary gifts and geasa be part of heroquests when an adventurer begins to surrender free will and don the aspect of a god. !i!

In the words of my favorite anti-democratic media icon, Ivan Drago: "I must break you." !i!

Vote early. Vote once. But vote like your next vote depends on it. !i!

Ugh, rounded edges. Lou Zocchi would not approve. !i!

More stern emojis! 🤨🙎🏼‍♀️👺🐺🐭😒 !i!

I'm hesitant to join you in making light of it in the current social climate. So instead, I'm responding with a string of stern emojis. 🤨🙎🙎🏾🙎🏻‍♀️🙎🏼‍♂️🙎‍♂️🙎‍♀️🙎🏼🙎🏿‍♀️🙎🏿‍♂️😾 !i!

Just to be clear, that's one valid ballot per registered voter. Two out of three in our household already submitted in a convenient and secured county drop-box in a state where 100% mail-in/drop-box voting has been working without controversy for well over a decade. https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/timeline/time5.htm !I!

Hi R_ose. In all seriousness, can you let us know who your group represents, for whom is the project being conducted, and what the end use of the project is? Are you interested in Lovecrafitan fandom in general, or Lovecraft through roleplaying games in particular? Also, let us know how any respondents are likely to be represented in other media. I think you're actually likely to receive an enthusiastic response, but reasonable disclosure will help oil the gears. !i!

Mea culpa. I meant to refer to the Kickstarter campaign, not the overall projects. !i!

I am my own biggest fan. The Oroboros, if you will. !i!

Not included with game book: ...but they're pretty amazing. !i!

Actually, it's been shelved since March 2020... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redthreadoffate/red-thread-of-fate/posts/2785552 ...things being what they are worldwide. So, Credo? I keep hoping my old wine-stained copy will turn up in the meantime. !i!

Would you go so far as to say, "Groovy"? Now, back to making sure the carpet matches the drapes! !i!

In the words of the Very Great Orange Leader, "Many people are asking..." Concept art only -- image by Robert McGinnis, used without permission. !i!

Behold, the Powerulf. !i!