Author: cheerfulchaotic

Well, my core rule books for D&D 4th Ed arrived today. They represent a very different, ah, design philosophy than past D&D works. A design philosophy that owes much to World of Warcraft. From the replacement of the sorcerer with the warlock (who can collect soul shards sparks from defeated enemies, which can be used to do various things) to the unique power list for each class. It still retains some unique D&Disms, but this is a far more radical change than AD&D 2nd Ed to D&D 3rd Ed.

I do miss the druid. I’m sure I can pay more for that later. =) That strategy definitely hasn’t changed.

At first glance, I like it better. It makes each class more interesting. To use the old parlance, casters are more balanced, and non-casters are more customized. The level 1 wizard isn’t a cripple, and the level 20 wizard is less able to annihilate one army / per day (naps required). The level 6 fighter has comparable options to the level 6 cleric in terms of abilities, they aren’t just a collection of weapons and armor. Character class is a tree. Pick the root at level one, and select a branch at level 10. Choose your flavor of super-awesomeness at level 20.

I wonder if they’ll take psionics back to something like what it was in 2nd ed, and skip the constitution powered telekinesis and the pet rock. One can only hope.

I flew out to cali for and lesley’s wedding. It was a heartwarming experience. Any two people who would simultaneously, without giving a hint to one another beforehand, construct half-pony, half-monkey monsters and give them to each other for christmas based on a song called “skull crusher mountain” has really found something special.

The setting was beautiful. Malibu nature preserve. It was wonderful seeing , , ben, simon, lili as well as the more geographically proximate Nathaniel and Krista, and of course, Cort and Lesley. Also very nice to meet Catherine.

This renews my desire to move back to cali. I also reaffirmed my desire to find someone to share my life, my community, and my friends with. I mean I sorta already have that with my friends but mixing that with a regular sleeping companion would be awesome. =)

Now I just have to find the lucky gent and then not screw it up. (Translation, don’t hold your breath 😉

I’ve thought a great deal about marriage. I’ve deconstructed it 6 ways from sunday. But the final moment that drove home the meaning of it all to me came at the end of the reception. Cort and Lesley dancing together while their friends joined hands and danced in a circle around them. All while their song was playing. (Skull crusher mountain, of course)

So the internet game “posornot” seems not so likely to catch on. It seems like a massive effort poorly applied. But maybe I’m just being debby downer.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52210

Okay, my promotion application is submitted. I will not develop a bleeding ulcer. That is my new mantra. If I don’t make it, they give me feedback on what they want from me. If I do make it, _that’s_ when I develop the bleeding ulcer. Timing is everything.

This weekend I had been planning on going to the green festival, but I ended up not. what I ended up doing instead isn’t my main point, but if you really want to know…

I think I need to do something to address encroaching feelings of purposelessness in life. Maybe take those spanish courses I’ve been talking about since forever, or find a noble cause to volunteer for. I could start trying to develop a an eco-coop so that when I have enough money in a couple years I can buy into something I’d actually want to buy into. But the union is enough cat herding for now.

For memorial day weekend, I have a distinct lack of plans. Parents were talking about a picnic type thing in Ohio. I’m betting the extended family has something going on in Southern Illinois. There’s always IML (heh).

Oh, I can apply for a senior analyst position this week. I don’t think my writing skills are up to it, but I should probably do it anyway, to raise the promotion panel’s awareness of my existence. Yay?