Darth Shrike

Thesis

2007-08-30T13:10:06Z

The bloody thing is away, in the safe hands of the paperman. It was a bit of a close call, but I made. Thanks to my beloved.

And the one thing that really bugs me: I have this idea/feeling/vague memory that I didn't was Mister Last Minute. But somehow with a lot of things this year, I always did it at the last possible moment.

Which makes me wonder, is the idea/feeling/vague memory correct? Or is it a fabrication of my mind to assure me: once it was different and with little work you can go back. But I never do.

Ah well. Onwards towards the next phase: finishing the damn practical work and get some sort of a presentation ready by next week.

I'll get you Thesis, I'll get you good!

Thesis - Job

2007-08-11T21:27:06Z

HULK SMASH AND BASH

Well it would be nice for a change. Anyway thesis isn't going as planned, slowed down even because of Wireless that doesn't want to work. Hopefully we will make some more progress this week, I want this to be over. Perhaps we can wrap things up even, but then mountains will have to be moved.

Other then that: I have a job, but I can't decide which company it'll be with. Same "job"/pay/distance to work/holiday/... There's a slight difference in culture but not enough to make/break either. It'll all depend on a single anwser, which I will get on monday. Can of can't I get a student job at company A. If yes then they have a big chance, if not company B it'll be.

Ah, monday will be a big day.

Update

2007-07-18T19:34:48Z

First update in almost two months.

What has happened:
* The Desktop is no longer in the fritz, and is at home. Currently he isn't really used. The Linux thing is still an option, but it'll have to wait.
* Exams: went well but failed for thesis. So finishing that up currently.
* Looking for an appartment: found one, now we are finishing the damn paperwork. If only the owners would respond.
* Looking for a job: nothing found yet, but several interesting leads.
* Drivers License: I thought certain courses were bad, this is even more retarded. I wonder who wrote the rules for it, definetly not an engineer.
* Everything else that happened but can't think of now: perhaps I'll think of it later.

This is the end of this update broadcast.

Desktop Blues

2007-05-22T14:03:19Z

The Desktop is in the fritz. Tried several things, searched several fora, but to no avail.

He boots, goes to desktop screen and freezes. At that time multiple instances of svchost are running. Killing two of them finishes the booting (icons and taskbar appear). But after a minute the thing reboots due to RPC problems.

It could be a blaster thing, but no processes were found and an emergency virus check didn't find anything. And I found several other solutions, but mine is already SP2 and the solution are for SP1. Only option seems to be format and complete rebuild. Although Linux is looking very tempting.

Flaptop Posting

2007-05-20T15:06:44Z

Posting from laptop, since the computer decided to lay over and start rolling. Only because you try to install new drivers for the video card. Ah well, got it running on the laptop, it's fun entertainment.

And it is Warsow. 80 MB and you have a very fun game. No installation just, download and unzip. But be sure that your PC knows where his opengl.dll file is. Stupid video driver.

Feel free to try it out and if you have tips on how to get a pc out of it's restart loop behaviour he has now, I'd like to hear them.

Explanations

2007-05-17T20:39:35Z

ne"Comment and I will give you 3 interests on your list, and 3 icons, for you to explain. Then you post the answers in your own journal, and allow others to comment..."

nick_101 is the reason. He picked the following:

manga: It's just a fancy word for comic, but I have read many good things that are classified as manga. Also the comics (known in Belgium as strips) are a different format then manga and lack maturity. It's more stereotyping then something else.

miniature wargaming: I'm a man and thus a child at heart. Have done the most with lego figures and for the moment money is the limiting factor.

rpg: Started by computer games actually. Tried to find a group for a long time, tried my hand it with some friends. I'd like to expand it, but well lack of possible subjects and time is stopping me.

This avatar is from VGCats. I liked the general mayhem that it depicts, I use it when talking about wargaming.

A picture taken by WL, with some added light. Default picture.

Crappy MSpaint thing, for when I have "deep" thoughts. So far, not used. I hope to change that, someday.

Freedom!

2007-05-16T19:59:39Z

I'm released from the Limbo of graduation projects, a dark place with little comic relieve. Unlike hammerspace. Anyway the thing is over, or at least almost over. I still have to give it +1 mastercraft bonus, but that's already scheduled.

The freedom, it's intoxicating. Time to wander the internets.

Warhammer 40K - On Money

2007-04-11T18:22:26Z

Since I don't have a more fitting icon, this will have to do. So I sat down and looked at some numbers: what do I need to play WH40K "officially"?

Item	Price
Rulebook	40$
Codex Necrons	20$
HQ: Necron Lord	15$
Troops: 2 x Necron Warrior Squad	70$

Total: 145$

Which brings us too: 108,14 €. And that's just a basic army and no paint equipement. All in all quite the sum for a "game". I'll talk more about the Necron thing later.

Warhammer 40K

2007-04-04T22:24:13Z

Sunday (01/04) I played some introduction missions to Warhammer 40K with a friend. I have been a long time fluff fan of WH40K, something it shares with other systems. Mostly due to rather thin financial pockets.

Anyway the introduction stuff was: The Battle for Macragge. It's for the fourth edition rules and several codexes are being "updated". Which means: pay or you can't play.

In three hours time we went the first three missions [being 1, 1.1 and 2]. And before you ask, no neither of us had the box. We used Lego and played on a kitchen table with rocks standing in for wreckage. And just for that I think I will remember those first attempts for a long time.

Now we missed a movement rule in mission 1.1, well miss it wasn't there. And much searching later [after finishing the game and going our separate ways] gave an anwser. It also told me that you need a rulebook and a codex. Anyway the consequence was that my Termagaunts moved very slowly. I doubt I will ever forget: standard infantry movement 6 inch.

But still the thing was fun to play, slowly the "difficulty" was adjusted upwards. Starting with standard movement, choice between one or two shots, armour and cover saves and assault. Each game meant an extra rule or two. It's a slow slide into the rules. I want to play the other missions!

For now I think I will let this sink a bit. In due time who knows, an army to call my own next to the other projects [the RPG, writing, school and graduation].

So much to do, so little time.

RPG - vs Monsters Character

2007-03-11T21:21:06Z

Character based on vs Monsters

Character Name: Samuel Griffel

Blah: History [I'll do it later, perhaps with a tune up by then]

Health: 10 [10 base +2 from Though]

Stuff: Simmilar to edges and drawbacks, for every good one you have to take a bad one as well. They are all geared toward monster fightinh in a "gothic" americain setting of teh 19th century. This needs to be modernised, d20 Modern will do nicely.
Good: Courageous, Though
Bad: Inexperienced, Old

Attributes: Place the values 6,4,3,3 in an attribute
Fighting: 5 [6 -1 from Old]
Defending: 3 [4 -1 from Old]
Thinking: 6 [3 +3 from Old]
Running: 2 [3 -1 from Old]

Other stuff:
Equipement? Weight carry capability? Wealth?

It's clear that some tweaking will be needed. The card mechanic is good, but it's used for action resolvement and damage (which could be too much). So we could use dice to the damage part, but that could end up being confusing. Playing it will verify that.

Also we need some extra rules to cover a bit more ground. Although I'm more looking at them like guidelines.

Futher nitpicks:
Better Initiative rules (left from the GM starts and then go clockwise, followed by mosnters and NPC's; some randomness sounds good).
Enverinoment rules: Some general guidelines about difficulties (weather/...).
Experience: Gain and use? This game feels like a slow game, so the pace of advancement should be likewise.

But it's pretty solid, a bit modernisation here and there, some extra tables with interesting stuff and this thing is set.

RPG - vs Monsters

2007-03-08T23:48:21Z

Well I dug in my computer for stored and forgotten things. Turned up: vs Monsters orginal (24h roleplaying game). A very simple system with four attributes and a card test to resolve the actions. Other then that it's a very bare system. Borrowing some stuff from other systems (and here d20 Modern fits nicely) for extra system possibilities.
A list of items (general items, vehicles, weapons, ...), perhaps a skill extension (altough that doesn't really fit the system) and more guidelines for environment mayhem.

After some searching I found the RPG Archive and a BIG list of adventures, varying from hooks to campaigns, from fantasy to science fiction. And behold: horror.

I found several interesting first time adventures, for the Call of the Cthulhu system. Now, the Mythos isn't really what I was looking for, but that speck of unease is. So: tone down the supernatural, add parts of other things, mix and enjoy (hopefully).

Found:
Castaway Island: Not really sure how to use, if I use it at all. The Island part, as some others are not really of use.
Homecoming: This could be interesting, some extra NPC's to support the player. A solid start.
Lord Karma has gone insane: dreamland adventure, idea is great the actually workings less so.
The Book of Uncle Silas: Books, murder and family. Combined with homecoming, could give a great twist.
The Five Dreams of Joe Smith: Not what I thought first, but useable.
The Once and Future King: Arthurian based adventure, but has a massive background and detailed workings.

At the moment I'm thinking of using Homecoming and Uncle Silas as the base of the story. Combined with King to give the necessary background. Where Lord Karma and Dreams give the twist. Or something like that.

I also payed a visit to the Original Adventures of DnD and D20 Modern. Pity that the last ones aren't organised by level. But found nothing in the lower levels (first and second) of interest.

RPG - Research

2007-03-06T23:30:29Z

So, did a bit of research.

- DnD/d20 Modern: Great system, but a load of rules. Forgetting one is easy. With experience, this could be a good, if not the best system.
- GURPS: I skimmed this, was denser but the point buy is confusing at first.

Now, every system has it's confusing parts, I know. And generating the character has the most rules of all. But for a first time entry, I prefer a system with a set of very straightforward rules.

In that way, I liked the point buy idea. And that made me stumble on Fuzion and it's light cousin, Instafuzion. Anybody experience with the system?

And, more or less related: know any good introduction/start adventures? Or just good adventures, that could be toned down easily if they present too much difficulty?

RPG - Start?

2007-03-06T16:37:01Z

A small, or perhaps big , question too all the roleplayers out there.

There are tons of systems out there, but I'm looking for a simple and clear system. Adventure wise, there's a hang towards conspiracy.

So, how do you start?

Notice

2007-02-05T06:49:52Z

In case anyone reads this, I'll be gone for a week. But seeing my previous disappearances I doubt there be a reasen to fret about it. Anyway, take care!

Cure for cancer, but nobody cares.

2007-02-01T15:45:40Z

A new beginning, again. So without much drama; and now for something completly different.

Did you know that there is a good news from the medical world? Like cure for cancer. But do the media pick it up?

No, because it has no patent so you can't get rich from it.