Troll Lord Games

Not that I didn't have any fun or that Phil Kilgore (owner of Tabletop Game & Hobby) was less then a grandmaster of DMing, but, I am PO'd at D&D-Day now. Freakin' ABC News does a couple minutes on local game stores here during D&D-Day. But for Free RPG Day not one word. Or even Free Comicbook Day. The store I went to for Free RPG Day had a game group for Xcrawl right out there in the sales lobby so people could see what was going on. It wasn't anything less then D&D-Day. And it had more FREE stuff, I mean c'mon. Nope. No coverage for free stuff and people playing games. Let the name D&D get out there and we will think about it.

I feel like Marvin the Martian when Bugs stole his Immodium P-38 Space Modulator. Ooo I am so angry.
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The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

Two words: corporate marketing.

The same crap happens with those stupid Scion "invite parties."

Anyone who thinks the media fairly represents any kind of news is an idiot. They don't even tell a "fair" story on car accidents. Just the "major" factor, maybe, how many cars are involved, and how many dead and injured.

In other words, they gloss over every story and never give any real depth.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

The bright side is that ABC News was covering SOMETHING about RPGs, be it D&D Day or something else, any publicity for our niche hobby is a good thing.
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Thomas A. Tullis

Fat Dragon Games
www.fatdragongames.com

Castles & Crusades...more D&D than D&D.

Not to divert too far from your topic, but has anyone heard about the plans to change G.I. Joe from a "Real American Hero" to "GI Joe now stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity"? I accidentally watched the Glenn Beck show on CNN yesterday and this did pique my interest. I find it hard to believe that a product of national pride (for children) can be changed so much. What other country on the planet has changed their cultural icon (for children) into a multi-cultural, non-nation specific entity? I shudder to think of what they would do to Judge Dredd.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

pactmaster wrote:
Not to divert too far from your topic, but has anyone heard about the plans to change G.I. Joe from a "Real American Hero" to "GI Joe now stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity"? I accidentally watched the Glenn Beck show on CNN yesterday and this did pique my interest. I find it hard to believe that a product of national pride (for children) can be changed so much. What other country on the planet has changed their cultural icon (for children) into a multi-cultural, non-nation specific entity? I shudder to think of what they would do to Judge Dredd.

Judge Dredd was f-ed up... Remember? But the thing is Dredd is American in the comics as opposed to being a Brit-Cit Judge.

Good news is that I know that the next Dredd movie -should- be more on par with 2000AD. Don't ask me how I know, I just do.
Oh, and as a huge GI Joe fan, I would like Joe to be closer to the source material, sure. However, the fact that it would go multi-national / international / Madonna doesn't bother me... I just wish it were closer to the source material.
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

Thats only because your "politically incorrect" to have pride in yourself or your cultural identity, unless its related to the southern hemisphere. Then pride is allowed, even encouraged.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Treebore wrote:
Thats only because your "politically incorrect" to have pride in yourself or your cultural identity, unless its related to the southern hemisphere. Then pride is allowed, even encouraged.

Our cultural identity was created by an American toy company, complete with silly code names and Village People like "uniforms"? Tomax and Xamot: Proud to be American?

*ducks*

(oh, and yes I am aware GI JOE existed before Hasbro came along... I'm just kidding around)
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

Oh, I agree about who created it, but I was raised on GI Joe in the early 70's, so my "concept" is it being based on the heroes and warriors of our real wars.

Until the bionic GI Joe came out.

I have also noticed the new GI Joe in Toys R Us has been based on that same old concept for over 5 years now.

Then there are the cartoon/Comic book GI Joe toys.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

I caught the tail end of that era you speak of... I was quite young... 3-4. Like the time right before the "new version" took over. To be honest, I thought the old GI Joe dolls were too much like Barbie and I was elated when the next version came out. Then again I was very young and I thought dolls were dumb (I actually dig the doll Joes much more now).

Anyhow, yeah, it still bugs me more that the Joe movie won't be remotely close to any of the source material (my vote would be for the Devil's Due comics line... great stuff, good combo of both past eras etc). Honestly, I don't care if it's an "international team", as long as they get the rest of the stuff right. But they won't. Pretty much par for the course. Here is my surprised face. Like it?
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

synabetic wrote:
I caught the tail end of that era you speak of... I was quite young... 3-4. Like the time right before the "new version" took over. To be honest, I thought the old GI Joe dolls were too much like Barbie and I was elated when the next version came out. Then again I was very young and I thought dolls were dumb (I actually dig the doll Joes much more now).

Anyhow, yeah, it still bugs me more that the Joe movie won't be remotely close to any of the source material (my vote would be for the Devil's Due comics line... great stuff, good combo of both past eras etc). Honestly, I don't care if it's an "international team", as long as they get the rest of the stuff right. But they won't. Pretty much par for the course. Here is my surprised face. Like it?

Yeah! Its great!
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Hehe... Thanks, I worked on it in the mirror for days!
Oh, and just so I have a comment regarding what Mr. OP, Charlierock, said... yeah, I wish free comic day / rpg day got some hype, but D&D has that Hasbro marketing machine. Media folks get paid to pimp; sad but true.

On the bright side, at least D&D is getting pimped. Better than nothing, I suppose.

Right?
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

Treebore wrote:
Thats only because your "politically incorrect" to have pride in yourself or your cultural identity, unless its related to the southern hemisphere. Then pride is allowed, even encouraged.

Man, I couldn't agree more, except that there are people here that are encouraged to be proud of themselves and their culture and everyone in the mainstream seems to think that they are all sacred people and/or shamans, not wanderers who crossed a landbridge and encountered people here before even them. In certain areas near where I live, racism is encouraged by them and is legal. In some places, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and not one of them, you die or are left wishing you were dead.

I tend to take each person as an individual, but sometimes, when some aspects of society are flaunted in front of you and stuck in your face it becomes a bit annoying to say the least.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

pactmaster wrote:
Man, I couldn't agree more, except that there are people here that are encouraged to be proud of themselves and their culture and everyone in the mainstream seems to think that they are all sacred people and/or shamans, not wanderers who crossed a landbridge and encountered people here before even them. In certain areas near where I live, racism is encouraged by them and is legal. In some places, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time and not one of them, you die or are left wishing you were dead.

I tend to take each person as an individual, but sometimes, when some aspects of society are flaunted in front of you and stuck in your face it becomes a bit annoying to say the least.

Sadly, it's like that -everywhere- in the world. It was pointed out to me on a regular basis that I was inferior when I was growing up in Germany, then I came back to the States after a decade and was told I was inferior because I had an accent. But hey, at least I learned 1) that there are all sorts of ways one can be called a homosexual in a negative tone and 2) talking about "the blacks" in a positive light was bad, bad, bad. Oh, and I should be proud to be white. Good times. Love NE WA.

Love it! /sarcasm

(at least I learned how to take beatings and fight decently... huzzah!)

Anyhow, I'm of the opinion that people should be proud for whatever reasons they wish, but they shouldn't let it drive their life and beliefs, no matter their background. It doesn't matter if you think Gaelic is awesome and have a knot tattoo on your arm or that your ancestors were brought over the Atlantic centuries ago to work as slaves. It has little to do with who you actually are... just where you are from. Genetically. I always find it lame when people (of any creed) use the excuse "Oh, well this is how my family has always done it". Yeah? Some of my ancestors robbed and killed people on the Oregon Trail... and I could REALLY use an HDTV... so...

Cultural identity is great, but not when it steps on others. What I tend to see is the following cycle of silliness: Those people sure get to flaunt their cultural pride! But we can't because we are *insert new repressed people/class/etc here*; And later it's reversed, or someone else, or whatever. Makes no sense. People rock.

Uh, what was I saying? I guess that I'm just tired of all sorts of people doing the same circular whining, eg: "Why can't we have marches too? Why can't we be just as proud? It ain't fair I tells ya!"

I agree that it isn't fair, but condemning others because of their pride in order to insert their own is just as silly. Comparative pride just strikes me as... useless. You know?

Maybe one day we can discover space aliens we can say we're better than as a whole people. Unity through persecution, it's the Human Dream.
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

synabetic wrote:
Cultural identity is great, but not when it steps on others. What I tend to see is the following cycle of silliness: Those people sure get to flaunt their cultural pride! But we can't because we are *insert new repressed people/class/etc here*...

Kill 'em all, take their stuff.

Prince of Happiness wrote:
Kill 'em all, take their stuff.

In a nutshell, that's what I'm saying. It's the only way, really.

You know me too well, man!
Also: Great Abnett's Sack! This thread is all over the place... ha!
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

synabetic wrote:
In a nutshell, that's what I'm saying. It's the only way, really.

You know me too well, man!
Also: Great Abnett's Sack! This thread is all over the place... ha!

I'm collecting XP, that's all.
No joke this thread's jumping around. I blame you.

Quote:
Comparative pride just strikes me as... useless. You know?

Pride, in general, is useless. Arrogance is where its at.

Prince of Happiness wrote:
I'm collecting XP, that's all.
No joke this thread's jumping around. I blame you.

Me? It's lies, I tell you. All lies. Stop lying, PoH. Your lies are making children cry. Right now. Can't you hear them?

Hmmm... maybe I could use YOU for XP?

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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

serleran wrote:
Pride, in general, is useless. Arrogance is where its at.

I hear arrogance can net some cool loot and XP.
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

Most of the blame for the current outlooks and attitudes belongs to the political correctness movement and the frustration that it has caused. I was raised to given everyone a chance and I belong to a group that works with the local "Y" and the police to protect people from discrimination and being treated unfairly. The pigeonholing and labeling of political correctness often separates people far more than it unites and causes tensions and frustrations that somehow we lived without before.

One case in particular that we reviewed was of a black man stabbed by a white man over a traffic incident. On the surface, especially with the threats and words used this looks like a hate crime, but upon further review it was revealed to basically be two idiots clashing, baiting each other to violence for nothing. More recently a young black guy that I know was jumped and beaten at a convenience store while the guys beating him were using racial slurs, and he looked me in the eye and told me "it just happens" the next day. Well, it doesn't just happen and everything was caught on tape and the three guys are being prosecuted for a hate crime.

The difference lies in the fact that with political correctness both situations are hate crimes no questions asked. Looking deeper and considering human factors, getting beyond the skin pigment we can see that sometimes people are just going to clash regardless of what is on the outside and sometimes people can't see passed it.

My beef is against x-Americans. When you consider that America doesn't hand out many dual citizenships anymore there really aren't any X-Americans, either you an American or you aren't, there is no need to pigeonhole our citizens for no reason. I have encountered worse racism when I was in SE Asia than I have seen in my area, but people get pretty weird here too.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

pactmaster wrote:
Most of the blame for the current outlooks and attitudes belongs to the political correctness movement and the frustration that it has caused. I was raised to given everyone a chance and I belong to a group that works with the local "Y" and the police to protect people from discrimination and being treated unfairly. The pigeonholing and labeling of political correctness often separates people far more than it unites and causes tensions and frustrations that somehow we lived without before.

One case in particular that we reviewed was of a black man stabbed by a white man over a traffic incident. On the surface, especially with the threats and words used this looks like a hate crime, but upon further review it was revealed to basically be two idiots clashing, baiting each other to violence for nothing. More recently a young black guy that I know was jumped and beaten at a convenience store while the guys beating him were using racial slurs, and he looked me in the eye and told me "it just happens" the next day. Well, it doesn't just happen and everything was caught on tape and the three guys are being prosecuted for a hate crime.

The difference lies in the fact that with political correctness both situations are hate crimes no questions asked. Looking deeper and considering human factors, getting beyond the skin pigment we can see that sometimes people are just going to clash regardless of what is on the outside and sometimes people can't see passed it.

My beef is against x-Americans. When you consider that America doesn't hand out many dual citizenships anymore there really aren't any X-Americans, either you an American or you aren't, there is no need to pigeonhole our citizens for no reason. I have encountered worse racism when I was in SE Asia than I have seen in my area, but people get pretty weird here too.

Oh, yeah, I'll totally agree with where you are coming from there in regards to the PC movement. I just like to point out the people need to be careful of that slippery slope. Always.

What do you mean by "x-Americans" exactly? You mean ex-pats?

Dual citizenships are given out to people that are citizens of other countries, but not to natural born Americans... at least that's what I was told (ie my wife, being Canadian can get US citizenship and keep her Canadian one, thus becoming dual; whereas I, being American, have to choose one or the other as far as the US is concerned... Canada, on the other hand, told me they don't care)... Anyhow, pigeonholing citizens of any country, especially large ones, for any reason is silly. I do tend to be wary of people by area, though. Not everyone from White Center in Seattle is a criminal, but I didn't make a habit of being in that area after dark... or ever, really. I mean, there is a point where idealism and reality collide and reality wins out.

Still, Americans will get pigeonholed no matter what. It happens, and it blows. But that's people for you. In fact, I was p-holed (that sounds naughty) very recently. Not everyone in Canada is super-nice...lol.
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

By X-Americans I mean African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans. If you were born here or took the test you are one of us, no need for a descriptor, we are all in this together. The founder of the anti-discrimination group is black and he agrees with me heartily on this, I quote, "I am black, so what? You can call me a black man and not offend me. Why would it? Why should it?" The X-American thing causes more frustrations when you consider all the foreign students who are just Africans or Asians or from anyplace on the planet.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

pactmaster wrote:
By X-Americans I mean African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Asian-Americans. If you were born here or took the test you are one of us, no need for a descriptor, we are all in this together. The founder of the anti-discrimination group is black and he agrees with me heartily on this, I quote, "I am black, so what? You can call me a black man and not offend me. Why would it? Why should it?" The X-American thing causes more frustrations when you consider all the foreign students who are just Africans or Asians or from anyplace on the planet.

Ah, I see.

I'd offer a more detailed response, but we would just discover me repeating exactly what you just said. hehe

I thought you meant ex-Americans.

Of course, people always want to be more. Have something that makes them different and special. Thus the wedge is placed...
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

synabetic wrote:
I thought you meant ex-Americans.

I hate to admit it, but sometimes I consider making myself an ex-American. This isn't the same place I grew up in.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

pactmaster wrote:
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I consider making myself an ex-American. This isn't the same place I grew up in.

I hear (er, read) you there...
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"Um... just how -does- one wield a vorpal gnome, man?"

Ugh...
-O
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

Omote wrote:
Ugh...
-O

Care to elaborate? That is a very non-specific rolleyes.
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Deserve has nothing to do with it, if you think you're entitled. You're not.

--Stephen Chenault

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Knowing Omote its probably because the thread isn't on topic.

As for the other issues, my beliefs tell me we are all brothers and sisters, and I treat people like that when allowed. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to for way too many reasons.
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

I cannot comment fully upon this forum.

Thanks Treebore.

-O
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society