Ravings of a Textual Deviant

Game WISH #44 asks

How do you choose games to join or to run? What factors influence you: timing, people, system, genre, etc.? Do you weigh different factors for different kinds of games, e.g., online vs. tabletop vs. LARP? Is it a group decision or a decision you make on your own?

The short answer is that people and time available are the most important factors in the decision, with system coming in far behind at third. Genre isn’t a big deal to me, although the style of the game is. I’ve had hack ‘n’ slash out of my system for some time now.

I’ve been playing tabletop with the same people (mostly), in various combinations, since college, so choosing those games to join comes down to a question of time. I’ll play anything Doug or Rob cares to run, with the exception of Rolemaster. (Had a bad experience with that system.)

I don’t LARP anymore because a) I don’t have the time and b) I don’t know the people. That’s not to say I wouldn’t do it again, if either circumstance changes.

As for running games, that’s often been by request. My friend Anne specifically requested “something silly,” which became the current Teenagers from Outer Space game. The Grand Ellipse was just one of those random ideas that seemed good at the time. The Lunar Ellipse is a spinoff of the Grand Ellipse; same idea, different plot and characters. I wouldn’t have gone on to a sequel game if there hadn’t been such a positive reaction to the Grand Ellipse. Currently, I have several Ellipse games in mind, so that will probably keep me busy on the GM side of things for some time. (For those of you who can’t get enough Ellipses, the next game will be (probably) The Magnificent Seven, which will be a race to climb the tallest mountain on each continent. In 1905. Without oxygen. In ascending height order.)

Green things are sprouting, and for once, not in my refrigerator.

I have a healthy crop of baby chives, and some sage sprouts beginning to peek out of the potting soil. I even have a tiny green shoot in one of the yogurt containers marked “rosemary,” although whether it is indeed rosemary remains to be seen. I’m told it’s hard to grow from seeds, and can take up to a month to sprout.

Just when I thought it was safe to put away the Nyquil, I’ve come down with another head cold. Yesterday was bad–managed to do half a day’s worth of work before utterly collapsing. The worst part was that although I spent most of the day lying down with my eyes closed, I’m not sure I actually managed to get any sleep. It’s all rather vague, really.

Better today, although definitely not well. Still no appetite, which is a mark-your-calendars event.

Once a year, the Stutz Building in downtown Indianapolis holds an open house in which artists can show off what they do the rest of the year. This kicks off the summer art season in Indy, which includes the Talbott Street Art Fair, and the Broad Ripple Art Fair.

Taking advantage of a free ticket (thanks, Heather!) I hit the Stutz building at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon. There were plenty of people, but not so many that you couldn?t move around. More than one artist told me that Friday night had been a complete zoo?wall to wall people wandering about more or less at random.

There?s a fabulous variety or artists working in the building?everything from photography and oil painting to customer furniture and jewelry. Riccardo Cosciasecca?s floral photography blew me away, and normally I don?t go in for still life photos. However, these looked like photo versions of Georgia O?Keefe paintings. The vibrant colors practically leapt out of the ultra-sharp photos. I could have happily walked out with one of everything. Ardis Harsche showed some impressive ?reproduction? cave paintings done in mixed media. She had recreated the texture of a cave wall?these pieces had serious depth?and used the shadows from the texture to make her paintings appear to move. If I didn?t know better, I?d say the work came right off the walls at Lascaux. Laura Lafarge?s modern, not-quite Picasso, cartoon-bright portraits were at the other end of the timeline. Susan Mauck and her daughter Nikko Minichiello share a studio; Mauck showed a variety of subjects, while Minichiello?s work was more abstract. My favorite painting of Mauck?s was an unintentional homage to Monet?s waterlillies; the painting was actually done from a photograph taken in Michigan. She also had some underwater scenes with bright orange koi contrasting the blues and greens. Blaque Jack Studio had some portraits that didn?t do much for me, but the geometric designs, and the ?cutout? pictures more than made up for it. Heidelberg Bayquen does a little bit of everything?jewelry, stained glass, oil painting, and therapeutic massage?and it?s all good. (The art anyway; no time for a massage, unfortunately!) Glass and metal artists Marti and Tina Icenogle?s Magickal Dragon Designs was packed. They work in metal wire and semiprecious stones, and if I hadn?t just been to Francie Broadie?s studio, I?d have been tempted beyond my poor ability to resist. The Icenogles? work is more classical, while Francie?s glass and polymer clay is definitely contemporary. Francie?s work is right out of a coloring book?bright colors and well-defined shapes. She also does some painting in acrylics, and her distinctive style shows loud and clear across media. Francie shares space with her mom, Vickie Broadie, who paints in oils. Finally, Ironweed Productions had the most contemporary of contemporary furniture. If I were decorating a house by I. M. Pei, that?s where I?d start.

You can?t go wrong at the Stutz Artists? Studio Tour. You may not like everything you see, but there?s so much variety that you?ll surely find something you love. I?m already looking forward to next year. My only caveat is that it?s imperative to wear comfortable shoes?there?s a lot of walking around, and place is a labyrinth.

Best laid plans, and all that…

Almost immediately after I finished that ill-fated entry, I got word that Doug’s game was cancelled. No problem. Off to the print show–90% of it was over my head, but it was interesting, the library, and the grocery store. Did dishes. Finished portfolio review, although it still needs to be typed up and sent.

Saturday ended up involving too much running around to get everything done, but I got to the Artists’ Studio Tour, the ballet, the cell phone store, and the lab, not necessarily in that order. Also made a batch of saffron scones, the recipe to which I’ll post later.

So. Sunday rolls around, and I still have to do laundry and write a couple of protocols, reviews for Saturday’s events, and make another trip to the store for all the stuff I forgot about. Not bad, except that early that afternoon, Ed asks me if I can have 36 pages of handwritten notes typed up by Thursday morning. Well, the only time I had available before Wednesday night was Sunday, so there went my afternoon and evening.

Six or so hours later, I was done. Ed had gone out to Trader Joe’s and gotten me not one, but two boxes of peanut butter cups–which I maintain are the very best peanut butter cups on the entire planet. Sheer extravagence, I tell you! He also mentioned, in an off-handed way, that he’d left a candy bar in my car for me. When I went out to look (after putting away the laundry), I found a ten-pound Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bar in the passenger seat of my car. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have no idea what to do with ten pounds of chocolate. Right now, it’s in the deep freeze in my garage…calling my name.

As far as I’m concerned, the coolest thing about my mom teaching for Ballet Internationale is the season tickets.

Peter Pan was the final show of Ballet Internationale?s 29th season, and it certainly left me looking forward to the 30th. This particular show was the result of a trade with the Atlanta Ballet, in return for 1001 Nights. The first thing that I noticed was that the visual style of the show was quite different; B. I. generally patronizes a fabulous workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia, with a very distinctive look.

The performance I saw featured Principal Dancers Ogulcan Borova and Irina Komarenko as Peter Pan and Wendy, respectively, with Karen Scalzatti-Kennedy as Princess Tiger Lily and Selahattin Erkan as the best dancing crocodile you could ever want to see. Chieko Oiwa made a brief appearance as Tinkerbell (who is portrayed by a lighting effect for most of the show.) Ivan Kozlov was at his piratical, parodical best as Captain Hook. It was easy to see that everyone?even the corps de ballet?was having a great time. The choreography gives the entire cast the ability to show off their acting talent as well as dancing, and I must say that everyone was up to the challenge. Phillip Velinov went above and beyond with his performance as Nana, the dog. I?m told he?s got quite the mischievous streak, which made him perfect for the role.

The most challenging part of the whole show, technically, was the portions in which Peter and Wendy are dancing in midair. Borova and Komarenko made it look easy, although I?m sure that it?s awkward at best. At one point, there are four people on wires during a scene change; there are also a few points where the wires had to go on and off very quickly. All of it was accomplished smoothly, so hats off to both performers and crew. There?s plenty of entertainment value as well; the crocodile?s first act solo is not to be missed. For me, those few minutes would have made the entire show worthwhile, no matter what else happened. The scene in which the pirates kidnap the Lost Boys is also well done.

I know that not everyone is interested ballet, but Peter Pan is a great show for kids and adults alike. If it comes back to Indianapolis, or your local ballet company makes a trade with Atlanta, go see it.

12 reasons why George Bush Should Be President of Iraq

1. Lots of Guns, Lots.
2. Plenty of oil in need of drilling by someone who knows the oil business.
3. Climate similar to Texas.
4. Many Iraqi people also speak English with an accent.
5. Changed its name from Mesopotamia to the easier-to-pronounce Iraq.
6. Unmarried daughters have to live at home and stay out of trouble.
7. No problem defying international treaties.
8. No alcohol, no temptation to fall off the wagon.
9. No term limits.
10. No annoying campaign finance rules.
11. People will love faith-based initiatives.
12. It’s got capital punishment and then some.

–From NPR

Plans for Today:

After work, go to print and graphics trade show conveniently located near office. Then, drive to south side of town for hours of gaming with friends. Acquire dinner somewhere in between.

Plans for Tomorrow:

Finish reviewing portfolio for new graduate. Laundry. Write protocols for document control at lab. Scan images for day job. Return non-functioning new cell phone for one that works. Dishes. Go to artist’s studio tour downtown. Pick up books on hold at library. Go to ballet with Mom.

Plans for Sunday:

None. And it’s staying that way. No, really. Stop laughing.

This week’s Game WISH is about in character rewards. To wit,

What was the best in-character reward one of your characters ever got? Why was it so good?

Any time my character gets good plot, that’s a reward. In fact, I can’t even remember any items that any of my characters have gotten that come close to the thrill of a good storyline. That’s not to say that none of my characters had any good toys–Bronwyn has a cloak of Arachnidia that’s been exceptionally useful on multiple occasions. My philosophy is that the GM giveth and the GM taketh away, so you’re better off not becoming too dependent on things.

Of course, I’ve said more than once that I’m all about plot and character development, so that shouldn’t be a surprise.

I finally got my car back this morning, after taking it in on Monday night. All I needed was an oil change and a windshield replacement. But, because Murphy’s law is self-enforcing, what should have taken two hours took over two days.

The oil change, at least, was no problem. The car was left at the mechanic’s for the windshield replacement company. Unfortunately, half of Tuesday was wasted trying to reach me at a phone number that’s over three years old, and no longer valid…despite the fact that I’d left my current daytime number when I dropped off the car. So, I had to wait until Wednesday afternoon for the car to be done.

The car was indeed done on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to the mechanic’s in time to pick it up because what should have been a twenty or twenty-five minute drive took over an hour and a quarter because of massively fouled up traffic–where there weren’t major construction projects, there were major accidents. Actually, there were probably major accidents at the site of major construciton projects as well. End result–I didn’t get to the shop until after it had been closed for half an hour. This screwed up my evening AND Alisa’s evening, as she had been kind enough to drive me around for the past two days.

(If I may digress for a moment, DO NOT come to Indianapolis this summer. The entire freaking city is already under construction, and this summer’s major project has barely begun. For three months, you will not be able to get from any side of town to any other side of town quickly or easily…if at all. And did I mention that our public transportation isn’t worth mentioning?)

So, not having had my car–or use of any other car–for three weekday evenings in a row, I have a ton of errands piled up for tonight. And you know what? I’m so happy to have my car back that I’m not even going to complain about it.