Rastl’s Neighborhood

Fourth Edition D&D poses a challenge to me.  By "challenge" I mean, "will I bother buying this game?"  I've read dozens of reviews of the game: good, bad, and indifferent.  The general consensus is that the game is simpler than 3.5, quite a bit removed from the initial D&D universe, and similar to MMORPG's.  Some of the complaints mention the lack of social-based skills and ability, but I am of the opinion that I'd rather see player's roleplay things like bluffing and interrogations, rather than just rolling a die.
In addition, Paizo has created Pathfinder, so of a "3.8" edition of D&D.  Basically they cleaned up some of the minor problems, eliminated some unused skills, and tried to make some of the under-powered classes more attractive.  They also borrowed a couple of notions from fourth edition, including allowing spellcasters (cleric and wizard) to cast 0-level spells at-will.
Pathfinder has some attraction for me because it would allow me to continue to use the many 3.5 books I already own rather than buy a whole new Monster Manual, etc.  It doesn't hurt that they are giving away the .pdf of the rules.  What's Paizo's angle?  They are still producing a huge line of OGL material, including a series of adventures under the Pathfinder aegis.  They're also figuring that there are going to be a lot of people like me who'll be interested in hanging on to and using all that stuff they've bought over the decade since third edition came out.
Of course, I'm still playing Castles & Crusades, ironically a blend of the previous two editions.  But while I like C&C for its advantages, I'm still struggling under its shortcomings, and continuing to look for that game to switch to.

In honor of Canada Day, show us your favorite Canadian.

This one's from my husband's reliquery.. cir. 1972.  To quote the Hanson brothers, "..old-time hockey!"

Last Christmas, my son received, in addition to his DS Lite, both Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl.  My son started on Diamond Christmas day, and continues to play that game.  It is also where I started what my son dismissively refers to as my "All Girl Team" that I've mentioned here in the past (side note: several members of my "All Girl Team" were used by him to defeat the Elite Four, the climax of the game).   These days he is mostly running around collecting the 300+ pokemon that were unlocked when you defeat the elite four.

Pearl, however, has been virtually ignored.  My son started it (choosing Turtwig as his starter) but soon realized that the game was identical to Diamond except for a few pokemon that could can only get on Pearl (just as Diamond has ones you can only get there).  But because one of those Pearl-only pokemon is the legendary Palkia, I've been asked to play his Pearl game.

I don't mind.  Pokemon is mindless fun and good to do when I need to wind down.  So right now I've got the following team:
Torterra (lvl 51)
Toxicruel (level 42)
Staraptor (level 40)
Rapidash (level 41)
Meditite (level 36)
Bibarel (level 20)

As you can see, I've managed to keep them all pretty much at the same level, except the Bibarel, which is just there to learn Hidden Moves.  I've already defeated seven out of eight gym leaders, but now have to get the group geared up to capture Palkia.  Once I've done that I may wait a bit before going after the Elite Four and catch some of the wild pokemon I've been ignoring.

Share a song you listened to in 6th grade.

The YouTube link  >>  Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus

I think my spouse is scared.. but this song STILL makes me want to get my boogie on!

What's making you smile today?

I just spent $200 on getting the sliding glass door to my back porch repaired. Ever since I moved in, the window has looked as if somebody had spilled milk down it, but the white gunk was in the middle of the double-pane plexiglass and there wasn't much I could do about it but explain to everybody who saw it. "Yes, I DO know there's such thing as window cleaner".

So I've been sitting here looking out my beautiful crystal-clear windows and admiring my backyard.

Man..my hedges need a trim. 

I am not generally the sort of person who goes shopping. That is not to say I am a person who does not like to buy things, nor am I a tightwad, but over the years I have gotten so used to saving up for rainy days and emergencies that I tend to hold money forever and only buy non-necessity things when I have plenty saved up already.

BUT, my photo story (posted about a week ago) won first prize at the Photo Quest group, and that meant not only the happiness of having won, but also a gift certificate for $25 at Amazon.com....and then just yesterday my mother-in-law sent me a birthday card with a $25 check in.

So..you know what?  I went shopping!

And now I have GOODIES on the way!  YAY! 

I've ordered a set of filters for my camera. For years I've been wanting a UV filter and a polarizer, but could not afford them from the Olympus site.

I love Amazon.

Just a week or so ago I received a "deluxe set" for my camera from Amazon which consisted of two lithium batteries, a AC/DC charger with auto cigarette-lighter adaptor, and a cleaning kit for the camera. I is ready to go.

Did I mention I LOVE Amazon?

My next Amazon wish-list quest is a digital photo frame. I'm starting a penny-jar and doing my homework so I can get the right one when I get enough money saved. I've got my eye on a 10" Kodak Easy Share at the moment, but as always am open to recommendations from friends and others who know more about such things.

 

What are five things that make you unique?
Submitted by RA<3TA.

 1ne - I am a gamer-girl..and not the sort who dresses up like an elf and hangs around the comic shops either..I mean I'm the ONLY girl in the room of five dozen guys playing historical miniature games. What can I say, I love tanks, artillery, and siege engines...and no, I'd probably not look good in an elf costume anyway. 

2wo - I can write backwards if I use my left hand. That is to say I can write cursive or print block that can only be read properly by reflecting it in a mirror.

3hree - I am a fourth degree of Joe Stalin, and a second degree of Ronald Reagan

4our - I think orcs are cute..and no, I do not show up at the comic shop in an orc costume either, though in my own not-so-humble opinion I would make a very fetching orc-ette.

5ive - I believe that Mega Super Tuesday is overrated...and Quasimodo Sunday is vastly underrated.

Well, I got the tank and have finially finished the stand for it. I have to say, I'm really surprised at how good looking the stand, came out seeing as I built it.

 

 

This is the start for the stand. Lovely framing ain't it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All skinned with cheap plywood and wood puttied to hell and back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After first coat of stain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After second coat and trim added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night after filling. It's very cloudy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning 6 hours after last picture, it's alot clearer but still needs some work. I need to get more gravel and more plants and then let it cycle for a month and then I can add fish. :) I'm going to try my black thumb at live plants in this tank, we see how well that works. I'm also hoping that the driftwood I picked up does take forever to get waterlogged. I might resort to siliconing in down to so heavy rocks.

What's your favorite type of donut?
Submitted by tomatshonino.

I'm assuming this is a rhetorical question, because as far as I know there is only one kind of doughnut*, and that is the raised glazed ring. Any other is just a doughnut plus add-ons and accessories. I prefer not to profane such simplicity and perfection.  When a doughnut is augmented with filling, a different glaze or distinct shape, it should be given a new name; examples being the cruller or the buttercreme bismarck.

 

* - The 'ugh' is silent, though most Americans have dropped it from the word altogether so that those three letters may be spoken aloud when eating one of those horrible Bluebird donuts that taste of sawdust.

Show us the very last picture you took. No cheating!

This is one of a set of three prints made for Taco Bell. This one reminds me a lot of the sorts of things one might see if one were to 'hpyethetically' ingest perception altering substances... so I have been told.

I also suspect there is a deeper esoteric meaning in that little "m" down in the right-hand corner just below the dancing blue figure wearing the little red crown.