05.26.09
Dice Mechanic for Dokkodo
Perhaps find a way to use Cho-Han as a dice mechanic for Dokkodo. From what Wikipedia says, it’s a very simple even/odds game. I wonder how a game of 50/50 odds became so popular.
System Notes on Dokkodo
The Dokkodo contains 21 precepts.
Each precept is rated according to how well you have mastered it. Sensei 2, Student 1, Aware 0, unpracticed -1, fool -2.
If you act against a precept you must subtract a point from it. If it is already at -2, subtract from another, related precept.
Perhaps Precepts should be divided into categories:
Self/Others/Worlds
Self/World
Interior/Exterior
Perhaps based on the eight-fold path?
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
05.12.09
Asymmetrical RPG parties
A little Background:
A friend Jason and I were discussing asymmetrical parties in RPGs, movies, and literature. By asymmetrical I mean that the individual party members are not ‘balanced’ in the traditional RPG definition. Many movies and books that would serve as inspirational sources for RPGs feature this lack of party balance. I think party balance is overrated and would enjoy playing a game where the little guy has as much story power (as opposed to actual combat effectiveness) as the big guy.
A classic example is The Fellowship of the Ring. If played as a traditional RPG with rules that force “balanced” characters you either end up with Gandalf the Mighty 1st level push-over or Super Sam, Titan of Shire.
The basic idea:
Jason had the idea of Story Points. The number of story points available to a character is inversely proportional to how powerful they are. Story Points (SPs) can be used to automatically succeed a task, do max damage, or change the scene in a significant way (did I hear Eagles).
For example:
Gandalf is a badass demi-god magician and has 0 Story Points.
Aragorn is a superhuman fighter-soon to be ruler of everyone has 1 SPs.
Frodo has the ring but he’s still a hobbit so he gets 3 SPs.
Sam, Merry, and Pippen don’t have shit mechanically, but they have 5 SPs.
So a Merry can scamper around Pelennor Fields, avoiding orcs and such, then (spend an SP) deal a deadly blow to the Lord of the Nazgul.
I really liked the idea and decided to see how I could implement it in Savage Worlds (as yet untested).
Here goes:
- Begin with 5 Story Points
- Each story point may be exchanged for an advance (i.e. 5 Experience Points). Once spent for XP, they are gone forever.
- After Chargen, SPs may be exchanged for 5 xp anytime there is “training time” in the game. Once spent for XP, they are gone forever.
- Any story points not converted to XP may be used during play in the following ways
- To roll the maximum face for your roll. You may then continue rolling to see if they explode again. If trying to hit a parry of 10. You roll d8 & d6. Spend an SP to start at 8 and 6 then roll again to add. If you rolled a 7 and 5, your final total would be 15, hit with a raise!
- Narrate some significant change. This only only effect gear and the environment, not an enemies abilities or weaknesses.
- Regain all spent bennies.
- Out for the count. Reduce all damage from a Incapacitating blow, but still incapacitated.
- Story Points regenerate at the beginning of an Adventure/Chapter.
I haven’t really checked to see how well these jive with canon uses for Bennies, but I’d like to give it a try.
05.09.09
Dynamite on a Laser Beam
That’s the rockingest, hard rock, title for a rock song in the history of rock.
My son, age 6, was playing around with his cousin and he said they had made a video for his new rock song, actually rock opera according to the boy. We watched the video, made with a webcam, and it was mostly him singing lines from Bohemian Rhapsody. A few minutes later he brought me a pencil and paper and dictacted the following:
Bohemian Rhapsody 2
“Dynamite on a Laser Beam”
Any way the wind blows,
Doesn’t really matter to me.
If I could see youwhen I was walking by
Dynamite on a Laser Beam
My time has come
Body’s achin’ all the time
Momma, just kicked killd* a man off the dock
Momma mia, Momma mia let me go-o-o-o-o-o-o
We smell a No!** We will not let you go!
Let me go.
No!
Me oh me.
I’ve got to get right out of here.
Any way the wind blows
Doesn’t really matter to me.
* I convinced him to change it to “Kicked” to be slightly more age appropriate. When I got the paper to type this post he had changed it to “Killd”
**His mishearing of “Bismillah”
Regardless of the derivative lyrics the title is really the best thing I’ve ever heard.
05.07.09
Music For My Friends, Happy Songs edition
Jenny suggested I do an edition of MFMF of “Music that makes us happy.” I like the sound of that. Spring time is always a time when my mind turns to upbeat happy songs. I look forward to crusing home with the windows down, the sun warming my arm and the wind in my…scalp.
I am going to try to avoid repeating songs or albums, but you’ll find at leat two previosuly mentioned artists listed here again. Take that as a double recommendation.
So, At her request, and in dedication to her continued healing, I present a collection of
Happy Songs
Rusted Root
When I Woke (1994) Sometime in 1994 I walked into Cat’s Music in Oak Ridge and heard this tribal, dancable music played with infectious enthusiasm. Every track I heard made me want to dance. In awe I asked what it was. It was one of the few times hearing the music played in a music store demended I buy it. And buy it I did. Listen to Rusted Root and try not to dance, or at least smile and bob your head.
Check out "Send me on my way" should be familiar for appearing in several movies. If it doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, you should call your doctor and schedule a cynicectomy. Also “Laugh as the Sun” (I claim no responsibility for the goofy pic.
Matisyahu
Youth (2006)Matisyahu is a hasidic jew who sings hip-hop influenced reggae. And has a Facebook page. His jewishness, the beard, black clothes and hat, is not a gag. It is real. I really like his upbeat lyrics and rapid-fire rapping.
Check out “Time of Your Song” and “King Without A Crown”
The Beatles
White Album (1968) Is any intro I could write neccesary? I thought not. This list wouldn’t be complete without a little Beatles.
The Happiest Beatles Song on the White Album is surely “Ob-La-Di” and from Sgt Pepper’s, how about “A Little help From My Friends” (let’s hear it for Ringo!).
Erin McKeown
Sing You Sinners (2007) I’ve mentioned her album Grand in my very first installment. I just love her voice. This album is a kind of homage to the American Songook. Some classics and some original.
Check out "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" (let’s hear it for the Tents!)and "If You A Viper" and “Melody”. I do love her voice.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Long Walk To Freedom (2006)Made famous by their participation on Paul Simon’s Graceland, Ladysmith Black Mambazo really shines more without Simon. Beautiful harmonies, melodic chants, and a vibrabt sound that can’t be repressed.
Check out "Hello My Baby" and "Amazing Grace/Nearer My God to thee" “Amazing Grace” is somewhat predictable, but Nearer My God” (at 1:20) is genius. Also check out “King of Kings”.
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Facing Future (1993) Beloved Hawaiian musician, known to his fans as Brudda Iz, has the voice of an angel. You’ll likely recognize one of these songs from TV commercials, shows, etc. To quote the Amazon review, “To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo’ole’s body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor.”
Check out “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” (Sorry Judy Garland and Louis Armstrong, Brudda Iz owns these songs now.) Also “‘Ama’ama”.
05.01.09
A little Inspiration
I ran across these videos and prompty downloaded the mp3s. The videos are little silly, but the audio is incredible.
The mp3s can be had here:
http://thegregorybrothers.com/
Here’s a link to MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speach.
I didn’t know much about Dr. King until I took a class at Berea about the Beatitudes and their interpretation through history. I came to discover that he was not a one-topic activist. He believed in the sanctity of human life and he applied this to poverty, nuclear proliferation, war, and yes, civil rights.
