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Da faqk is Weasly and why should I care?
Posted 12 years agoI'm seeing a bunch of artists I watch signing up for this Weasly thing, but what is it? It looks like another furry art site, but why do we need that? FA is buggy as fuck, but everyone is on it already. Well, except for the cub people, but they're on inkbunny. And then there's... that other place that used to be Yiffstar. So what's different about Weasly that makes making a new account worth my time?
Dark Time
Posted 13 years agoTo whomever it may concern: I'm moving tomorrow and my new apartment isn't wired yet. I'll be on campus, so I'll be able to connect, but I likely won't be on at night to chat. So just as a heads up, might be dark for a week or two.
The new Pokemons harblebarblegarble
Posted 13 years agoSo they announced the new Pokemon game today. I was totally ready to write off this series and move onto someone else.
But
...
God damn it Nintendo. They made the new fire started a fox. A fennic fox. An adorable fox.
God damn it Nintendo, just... just take my money.
[Edit:] Here's what the fox looks like, for the record
http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wi.....e:Fennekin.png
But
...
God damn it Nintendo. They made the new fire started a fox. A fennic fox. An adorable fox.
God damn it Nintendo, just... just take my money.
[Edit:] Here's what the fox looks like, for the record
http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wi.....e:Fennekin.png
Choice in Games: Musing on Spec Ops: The Line
Posted 13 years agoWarning: This journal contains massive spoilers for Spec Ops: The Line. If you have any intention of trying this game out I'd recommend doing so before reading this journal.
I just finished playing Spec Ops: The Line. I'd heard a lot of good things about it by people I respect, so I decided to give it a look. Being dirt cheap thanks to Steam's winter sale didn't hurt things either. The game's single player campaign is short but focused, delivering a powerful narrative but middle of the road game play. It's run of the mill cover based combat. Take the psionic bits out of Mass Effect and you've got a pretty similar system. Still, it gets the job done.
What really struck me were the choices in the game, particularly in hindsight after reading some negative reviews. To refresh everyone, there are a number of choices scattered throughout the game; save civilians or a mission critical CIA agent, shoot a dying man in the head or leave him to burn alive, use white phosphorus to clear out a large number of soldiers or not, and the final choice which I won't spoil. Now if the reviewers are to be believed only the final choice has any real impact on the story. No matter what you do the civilians die, shooting the trapped man or not doesn't change anything, and its impossible to get past the troops without using the phosphorus. No matter what these things happen, and the phosphorus incident is integral to the entire third act. Nothing you do can prevent it.
But that's not true. There is a way to stop those things from happening. The throws it in your face in the end. During the final confrontation with the Colonel he practically spells it out. "You could have stopped. You could of gone home." He wasn't talking to the character, he was talking to you, the player. The ultimate choice of Spec Ops: The Line, and of any game really, is the choice to play. You chose to keep going, you chose to kill US soldiers, you choose to deprive Dubai of its remaining water supply, you chose to lead your men to their deaths, it's always your choice. There's always a choice, stopping is always an option.
This is the first time I've ever seen a game take this meta route, where the moral high road is to not play. I've never seen a game that actively guilts its players for doing what it was created for. Spec Ops: The Line is the opposite of a Skinner Box, repeatedly punishing the player to see how much abuse they take before leaving. And before you say I'm reading too much into this, think back to the start of the mission. Walker's mission was to investigate Konrad's signal and then fall back. A simple recon mission. But the very first thing the team finds in Dubai is the source of the transmission. Walker and his Delta Operators complete their assigned mission within the first ten minutes of game play. The fact that the game continues and they push on is your choice. You keep playing. At any point you could turn the game off. Mission complete. Walker goes home, someone else comes in to clean things up with a bigger force. But no, you keep pushing on, and everyone dies. You want to play the hero, but in the end you are the villain.
Has anyone else played Spec Ops: The Line? What are your thoughts? Am I as nuts as Walker or am I making sense?
I just finished playing Spec Ops: The Line. I'd heard a lot of good things about it by people I respect, so I decided to give it a look. Being dirt cheap thanks to Steam's winter sale didn't hurt things either. The game's single player campaign is short but focused, delivering a powerful narrative but middle of the road game play. It's run of the mill cover based combat. Take the psionic bits out of Mass Effect and you've got a pretty similar system. Still, it gets the job done.
What really struck me were the choices in the game, particularly in hindsight after reading some negative reviews. To refresh everyone, there are a number of choices scattered throughout the game; save civilians or a mission critical CIA agent, shoot a dying man in the head or leave him to burn alive, use white phosphorus to clear out a large number of soldiers or not, and the final choice which I won't spoil. Now if the reviewers are to be believed only the final choice has any real impact on the story. No matter what you do the civilians die, shooting the trapped man or not doesn't change anything, and its impossible to get past the troops without using the phosphorus. No matter what these things happen, and the phosphorus incident is integral to the entire third act. Nothing you do can prevent it.
But that's not true. There is a way to stop those things from happening. The throws it in your face in the end. During the final confrontation with the Colonel he practically spells it out. "You could have stopped. You could of gone home." He wasn't talking to the character, he was talking to you, the player. The ultimate choice of Spec Ops: The Line, and of any game really, is the choice to play. You chose to keep going, you chose to kill US soldiers, you choose to deprive Dubai of its remaining water supply, you chose to lead your men to their deaths, it's always your choice. There's always a choice, stopping is always an option.
This is the first time I've ever seen a game take this meta route, where the moral high road is to not play. I've never seen a game that actively guilts its players for doing what it was created for. Spec Ops: The Line is the opposite of a Skinner Box, repeatedly punishing the player to see how much abuse they take before leaving. And before you say I'm reading too much into this, think back to the start of the mission. Walker's mission was to investigate Konrad's signal and then fall back. A simple recon mission. But the very first thing the team finds in Dubai is the source of the transmission. Walker and his Delta Operators complete their assigned mission within the first ten minutes of game play. The fact that the game continues and they push on is your choice. You keep playing. At any point you could turn the game off. Mission complete. Walker goes home, someone else comes in to clean things up with a bigger force. But no, you keep pushing on, and everyone dies. You want to play the hero, but in the end you are the villain.
Has anyone else played Spec Ops: The Line? What are your thoughts? Am I as nuts as Walker or am I making sense?
Fursuit Philharmonic Orchestra
Posted 13 years agoOh yeah, I'd almost forgotten about this.
http://www.superkids.co.jp/zpo/e/member.html
Yes this is a real orchestra, yes they preform in their suits, and no this isn't a one-time thing. The Zooasian Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra tied to the Zooasia zoo in Yokohama, Japan. They're a spin-off of the Zooasian Brass and String band and do regular performances while in suit. They even have several albums out which are sold in the Zooasian gift store. It's all for the zoo and the costumes are all references to different animals in the zoo.
So yeah, an orchestra that performs while in fursuit, that's a thing.
http://www.superkids.co.jp/zpo/e/member.html
Yes this is a real orchestra, yes they preform in their suits, and no this isn't a one-time thing. The Zooasian Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra tied to the Zooasia zoo in Yokohama, Japan. They're a spin-off of the Zooasian Brass and String band and do regular performances while in suit. They even have several albums out which are sold in the Zooasian gift store. It's all for the zoo and the costumes are all references to different animals in the zoo.
So yeah, an orchestra that performs while in fursuit, that's a thing.
Back and Birthday
Posted 13 years agoRight, so I'm finally back from Japan and starting to get over jetlag. If anyone wants to chat with me I'm now available at my regular hours. I'm also looking into some new writing projects now that I have some free time on my hands. I'm sorry to say but I'm canceling all my stories on back log. Shouldn't be much of a surprise at this point, but I'm making it official. Everyone I've promised a story to will get preferential treatment on upcoming projects, but that's about it. Oh, any of the VOCT3 winners who still want a story note me and we'll work something out.
In other news my birthday passed recently. I now know how Nick Carraway could forget about his birthday in The Great Gastby. With all this running around about Japan I'd forgotten about my own birthday until it was right on top of me. Shows how priorities change doesn't?
In other news my birthday passed recently. I now know how Nick Carraway could forget about his birthday in The Great Gastby. With all this running around about Japan I'd forgotten about my own birthday until it was right on top of me. Shows how priorities change doesn't?
Kemocon and the Final Week
Posted 13 years agoOkay so I just got back from Kemocon, which was is a Japanese fur con in Tokyo. It was a lot different from what I was expecting lemmy tell you. First off it was held on the top floor of a department store and before you ask no, no one showed up in suit, they all changed at the con. Second it only lasted one day and only from 10 Am- 6 PM. If you're wondering how the dealer's den and artist alley could set up in such a short time, that's kinda my next item, there wasn't a dealer's room or artist alley. The con had all of five rooms, two of which were changing rooms and one was registration. So really they had an art show and everything else. Oh, and the art show consisted of two suits, about four paintings, six photographs, and a tutorial video on how to make fur suit eyes. So basically everything you would expect from an American fur con, IE taking over a hotel for about a week, staying up at all hours, sitting around drawing, playing games, and spending embarrassing amounts of money on plush toys and art, weren't there.
With that said I had a blast. I don't think I've ever filled up my camera's memory card so fast before. Turns out if you cram a room full of socially awkward Japanese people, give them the anonymity of masked costumes, and tell them 'this space is for going nuts,' they lose their freaking minds. Okay, so they weren't any more crazy than American furs (save for one dude not in suit who would make Jon-Wu dives while taking pictures) but their fursuits were amazing. Degigrade legs were the norm, with almost every full suit sporting them. They've also picked up an amazing trick for the eyes, one I'm surprised the American's haven't adopted yet. You all know the 'follow me eyes,' right? The kind that are sunk into the fursuit head to give the illusion of eyes that follow the viewer? Well the Japanese have those, but they put a layer of semi-reflective plastic over them, where the eye naturally would be, to offset the sunken effect. They look amazing.
But the show stoppers were the Japanese quad suits. Instead of extending the forearms to make the limbs even they shorted the back legs. Now I don't speak enough Japanese to ask how they did this, but from what best I can figure the back legs are like mini stilts with the wearer resting his/her knees on them and sticking their feet into the tail. This gives the suit adorably short legs and a moveable tail. I have pictures but they don't do the suits justice, especially this one thing that looked kinda like a blue Eevee. Thing was so cute I think it gave me diabetes. Wearer even managed to incorporate his fan into this act, making it look like the suit was playing with/ gnawing on the portable fan when really he was cooling his face. Downside is these things aren't built for mobility and probably wouldn't work in the American cons that eat up entire hotels for space.
Oh and one of the fursuit builders there I'm told works as a special effects person for Japanese movies. Her suits are good enough to back that up. Seriously, they looked like something out of a Jim Henson movie.
So I've got about a week left in Japan before I'm flying back. I had a ton of fun here but I'm looking forward to being in the States again. Big thing is timezones. Being on the other side of the planet makes it a pain to stay in touch with friends even in this age of digital wonders. I'm looking forward to being back on the same (or similar enough) clocks as the rest of you freaks, though I'm not particularly looking forward to the swarm of IMs asking me how Japan was (don't let that stop you though, just give me a week or so to get over jet lag and back onto my nocturnal schedule). I can already tell I'm going to miss some things (the food, having to walk everywhere and take the stairs, readily available and affordable Gundam models, the many interesting temples) but at the same time there are things I'm going to be glad to be rid of (election wagons, right wing wagons, not understanding what the wagons are shout about at 8 AM, walking everywhere, having to constantly calculate exchange rates).
With that said I had a blast. I don't think I've ever filled up my camera's memory card so fast before. Turns out if you cram a room full of socially awkward Japanese people, give them the anonymity of masked costumes, and tell them 'this space is for going nuts,' they lose their freaking minds. Okay, so they weren't any more crazy than American furs (save for one dude not in suit who would make Jon-Wu dives while taking pictures) but their fursuits were amazing. Degigrade legs were the norm, with almost every full suit sporting them. They've also picked up an amazing trick for the eyes, one I'm surprised the American's haven't adopted yet. You all know the 'follow me eyes,' right? The kind that are sunk into the fursuit head to give the illusion of eyes that follow the viewer? Well the Japanese have those, but they put a layer of semi-reflective plastic over them, where the eye naturally would be, to offset the sunken effect. They look amazing.
But the show stoppers were the Japanese quad suits. Instead of extending the forearms to make the limbs even they shorted the back legs. Now I don't speak enough Japanese to ask how they did this, but from what best I can figure the back legs are like mini stilts with the wearer resting his/her knees on them and sticking their feet into the tail. This gives the suit adorably short legs and a moveable tail. I have pictures but they don't do the suits justice, especially this one thing that looked kinda like a blue Eevee. Thing was so cute I think it gave me diabetes. Wearer even managed to incorporate his fan into this act, making it look like the suit was playing with/ gnawing on the portable fan when really he was cooling his face. Downside is these things aren't built for mobility and probably wouldn't work in the American cons that eat up entire hotels for space.
Oh and one of the fursuit builders there I'm told works as a special effects person for Japanese movies. Her suits are good enough to back that up. Seriously, they looked like something out of a Jim Henson movie.
So I've got about a week left in Japan before I'm flying back. I had a ton of fun here but I'm looking forward to being in the States again. Big thing is timezones. Being on the other side of the planet makes it a pain to stay in touch with friends even in this age of digital wonders. I'm looking forward to being back on the same (or similar enough) clocks as the rest of you freaks, though I'm not particularly looking forward to the swarm of IMs asking me how Japan was (don't let that stop you though, just give me a week or so to get over jet lag and back onto my nocturnal schedule). I can already tell I'm going to miss some things (the food, having to walk everywhere and take the stairs, readily available and affordable Gundam models, the many interesting temples) but at the same time there are things I'm going to be glad to be rid of (election wagons, right wing wagons, not understanding what the wagons are shout about at 8 AM, walking everywhere, having to constantly calculate exchange rates).
Pony Game?
Posted 13 years agoHey Brony friends or people who know Bronies, can someone please tell me what's this pony game I keep seeing people referencing or talking about. It looks like an AP game but I can't find any further info about it. I think it might not be available in my region and their site won't let me look at the US version. Can someone tell me what it's all about.
Also just a few weeks left in Japan. Come December I'll be back in the States and back on US time and US networks.
Also just a few weeks left in Japan. Come December I'll be back in the States and back on US time and US networks.
Quick Polling question (Please answer, only takes a second)
Posted 13 years agoHow many of you care about my non-smutty stories?
Putting the actual question right at the top so those of your with no attention spans or prone to snap decisions can answer and more on. For those who want elaboration let me explain:
I've found myself with a lot of downtime here in Japan, time which I've mostly filled with reading. But I'm quickly running out of books, and pretty soon I'll have to either go out and buy more (not an easy take in this country, finding English books I want to read) or fill the time with something else. Now I've started to work on a novel, getting basic ideas together, building an outline, the preliminary stuff really. Thing is I want to be a writer, a serious one, actually publishing stuff and all that, so the book in it's entirety might not get posted, but I do want to post the first few chapters to test the waters and drum up interest. But the thing of it is there won't be any sex in it, probably no vore either (and if there is it'll be the kind used for dramatic effect not the fetishized version most of you know and love).
So my question is how many of you care about Mage and the Bottom Feeders and how many just want more smut? I'm thinking about making a new account to separate the clean stories from the filthy smut I've already written, so I want to see who'd be interested in all of that and who just wants fapping fuel. Also kinda interested in knowing who'd be helping bouncing ideas off of. I can already guess where a couple of you stand on this, but it's always nice to know for sure.
Putting the actual question right at the top so those of your with no attention spans or prone to snap decisions can answer and more on. For those who want elaboration let me explain:
I've found myself with a lot of downtime here in Japan, time which I've mostly filled with reading. But I'm quickly running out of books, and pretty soon I'll have to either go out and buy more (not an easy take in this country, finding English books I want to read) or fill the time with something else. Now I've started to work on a novel, getting basic ideas together, building an outline, the preliminary stuff really. Thing is I want to be a writer, a serious one, actually publishing stuff and all that, so the book in it's entirety might not get posted, but I do want to post the first few chapters to test the waters and drum up interest. But the thing of it is there won't be any sex in it, probably no vore either (and if there is it'll be the kind used for dramatic effect not the fetishized version most of you know and love).
So my question is how many of you care about Mage and the Bottom Feeders and how many just want more smut? I'm thinking about making a new account to separate the clean stories from the filthy smut I've already written, so I want to see who'd be interested in all of that and who just wants fapping fuel. Also kinda interested in knowing who'd be helping bouncing ideas off of. I can already guess where a couple of you stand on this, but it's always nice to know for sure.
Gaming In Japan
Posted 13 years agoHey all. So I've got a strange issue here in Japan: Steam prices. Turns out they charge the Oceanic prices for games here, so a lot of stuff is hella expensive (big name titles are $70-80 USD as opposed to the usual $50-60). So I've been looking into getting cheaper PS3 and DS titles, since they're region free. Trouble is I'm having trouble finding stuff I A) Want and B)Don't need to understand. So all RPGs are right out, since those are all about story. Anyone got any good suggestions on what to keep an eye out for when it comes to Japan exclusive stuff? Calling all gamers, help me out here.
[Edit] Okay, probably wasn't all that clear, what with all the Steam recommendations being thrown my way. I'm good for Steam games. I've got at least twenty of the damn things I haven't even touched yet. Not to mention just about everything Steam related is marked up here. I'm looking for recommendations for PS3, PSP, and DS Japanese-exclusive titles. Crap like those massive series cross-overs that never see a stateside release due to trademark issues.
Also to the Civ players, is Gods and Kings worth it? It's $40 here. Is it worth the price or should I wait until I get back stateside to get it.
Also also; Hearthfire isn't available in my region for some bullshit reason. What the crap are they doing that? I can understand why the PS3 isn't getting it, due to hardware issues, but there's nothing wrong with the PC version. Hell North America has it already. So why is there a release lag on online DLC? That doesn't make any freaking sense to me.
[Edit] Okay, probably wasn't all that clear, what with all the Steam recommendations being thrown my way. I'm good for Steam games. I've got at least twenty of the damn things I haven't even touched yet. Not to mention just about everything Steam related is marked up here. I'm looking for recommendations for PS3, PSP, and DS Japanese-exclusive titles. Crap like those massive series cross-overs that never see a stateside release due to trademark issues.
Also to the Civ players, is Gods and Kings worth it? It's $40 here. Is it worth the price or should I wait until I get back stateside to get it.
Also also; Hearthfire isn't available in my region for some bullshit reason. What the crap are they doing that? I can understand why the PS3 isn't getting it, due to hardware issues, but there's nothing wrong with the PC version. Hell North America has it already. So why is there a release lag on online DLC? That doesn't make any freaking sense to me.
Still In Japan
Posted 13 years agoOh holy crap you guys has it been a while since I've talked with any of you. Seriously, we need to figure out timing to get in touch, 'cause I'm missing good conversation. Japan is great and all, but without a good handle on the language I'm stuck with whoever is around on campus, and since most of the are either art or business majors I've got slim pickings for conversation. (Seriously, I got lectured on global politics by a sculpting major. It was as if Rush Limbaugh's concept of a liberal had somehow personified itself in Japan). Not to dump on art majors specifically, I know a number of my friends here got or are going for graphic design degrees, but seriously the ones on this campus are some of the most pretentious jagoffs I've ever met.
Minor bitching aside I'm having a lot of fun over here. There's always something to do, things to see, and interesting food to eat. I'm kinda missing shitty Mexican food, which isn't a thing over here, but there's plenty of real Asian food to make up for it (very little of that food court/take out crap we have back home). The breads, the sushi, the dumplings, these weird cheese dishes I can't quite identify. So much good stuff to put in my mouth. I love it.
There's so much going on I really have no idea where to start. If anyone has any questions I'll be happy to answer them.
Minor bitching aside I'm having a lot of fun over here. There's always something to do, things to see, and interesting food to eat. I'm kinda missing shitty Mexican food, which isn't a thing over here, but there's plenty of real Asian food to make up for it (very little of that food court/take out crap we have back home). The breads, the sushi, the dumplings, these weird cheese dishes I can't quite identify. So much good stuff to put in my mouth. I love it.
There's so much going on I really have no idea where to start. If anyone has any questions I'll be happy to answer them.
Adventure!
Posted 13 years agoSo yeah, I've been kinda MIA pretty much... well... the entire summer. But I'm back and looking to catch up with the people I've kinda drifted away from... is what I would be saying, if I wasn't about to leave again. Not for very long though. Tomorrow I'm leaving on a jet plane to go to Japan, where I'll be staying for the next 3 months. I'm doing a semester over there, which should be fun on a bun. I'll be back online sometime Wednesday, I think. Not entirely sure how time-zones and a 13 hour flight are going to work together. Anyway I'm back, sort of.
And to those people I owe stories to, I have not forgotten you. Just haven't been writing. Turns out if you give me all the time in the world I do nothing with it. Won't get anything done without deadlines. Once I get settled in Tokyo I'll sort out a game plan for those shorties I owe people, and the stuff for the VOCT peeps if they're still wanting it.
And to those people I owe stories to, I have not forgotten you. Just haven't been writing. Turns out if you give me all the time in the world I do nothing with it. Won't get anything done without deadlines. Once I get settled in Tokyo I'll sort out a game plan for those shorties I owe people, and the stuff for the VOCT peeps if they're still wanting it.
Oh Yeah, AC
Posted 13 years agoSo I'm back from AC. Been back technically, though these days my grasp on time is tenuous at best. So I had a great time, though way, way more driving than I'm used to. Due to strange circumstances my roommates for the con (
Szeyano and 
Kureno) were flying in to an airport two hours away from my home, which in turn was 5-6 hours from the con. So yay, a fuckton of driving right off the bat. Which was fine, good company and a long history of driving made the trips go by fast.
So we left early, hitting the Pitt area around Tuesday, which we spent our time doing fuckall. Yay for laziness. Actually I take that back, Kureno and Szeyano spent most of their time playing their 3DS or LoL on a free motel connection (which sounded hilarious by the way. On the verge of total rage).
Thursday we moved into the main hotel early and spent the rest of the time in the zoo. Kureno found people to sketch with, Szeyano did... fucked if I know, and I wandered around playing card games with whoever I could find. Also ran into
Strega and 
SeverusCoil's group and hung with them for a while. Also ran into one of the VOCT champions 
toriceidolon and had a ton of fun chatting with him... and... I want to say 
gelus was there too, though it could of been 
kaelis, since I remember running into him as well. Sorry man, I'm shit with names.
The rest of the weekend was mostly running around playing card games and lugging around a bag so full of 'em my arm is still kinda sore. Still, I had a lot of fun, even if I can't entirely remember who I hung out with and exactly what I did. I remember bumping into a ton of people I know (for better or worse) though most of my time was spent with entirely new people... who's names I've completely forgotten. If you hung out with me at AC and would like to chat sometime, please leave a comment on this webzone, preferably one explaining who you were.
Oh yeah, ran into
roco who gave me a cool button, 
SapphireAMoerlevad and gave him a DVD, and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. Everyone kept telling me 
artie was there, but I never saw him... or have spoken to him... ever. I'm starting to think he might just be an elaborate hoax dreamed up to fuck with people. Oh, and 
shadowravenx, bumped into her. She got super lucky with the random pony figures I was throwing at people.
Also I was in
seppel's Furoticon tournaments, and won each one I was in. Truly I am the king of games. At least the ones of a pornographic nature. A dubious title. A big shout-out to the other playtesters, if was fun seeing a lot of you again and meeting others in person for the first time. I would give shouts to FA pages but... I don't know most of them and I'm way too lazy to look them up.
Speaking of games I picked up the Norguard game. Pretty fun. Not often you see a co-op card game. This brings my collection of games up to 9 LCGs. By the way, I want to thank Eidolon for introducing me to another LCG for me to get addicted to. I can't wait to get my hands on my own decks of that so I can play it with my local friends.
The big disappointment for me was seeing a bunch of people running around with Cardgames Against Humanity and yet none of the deals were selling it. Bit of a bummer there, but no matter, I will eventually get a copy of that for my own collection. Eventually.
So overall a fun con. Uneventful, but fun... Well, maybe not entirely uneventful. I did get to see a trany and a fat chick almost come to blows. That was a pretty interesting random event.
Szeyano and 
Kureno) were flying in to an airport two hours away from my home, which in turn was 5-6 hours from the con. So yay, a fuckton of driving right off the bat. Which was fine, good company and a long history of driving made the trips go by fast.So we left early, hitting the Pitt area around Tuesday, which we spent our time doing fuckall. Yay for laziness. Actually I take that back, Kureno and Szeyano spent most of their time playing their 3DS or LoL on a free motel connection (which sounded hilarious by the way. On the verge of total rage).
Thursday we moved into the main hotel early and spent the rest of the time in the zoo. Kureno found people to sketch with, Szeyano did... fucked if I know, and I wandered around playing card games with whoever I could find. Also ran into
Strega and 
SeverusCoil's group and hung with them for a while. Also ran into one of the VOCT champions 
toriceidolon and had a ton of fun chatting with him... and... I want to say 
gelus was there too, though it could of been 
kaelis, since I remember running into him as well. Sorry man, I'm shit with names. The rest of the weekend was mostly running around playing card games and lugging around a bag so full of 'em my arm is still kinda sore. Still, I had a lot of fun, even if I can't entirely remember who I hung out with and exactly what I did. I remember bumping into a ton of people I know (for better or worse) though most of my time was spent with entirely new people... who's names I've completely forgotten. If you hung out with me at AC and would like to chat sometime, please leave a comment on this webzone, preferably one explaining who you were.
Oh yeah, ran into
roco who gave me a cool button, 
SapphireAMoerlevad and gave him a DVD, and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. Everyone kept telling me 
artie was there, but I never saw him... or have spoken to him... ever. I'm starting to think he might just be an elaborate hoax dreamed up to fuck with people. Oh, and 
shadowravenx, bumped into her. She got super lucky with the random pony figures I was throwing at people.Also I was in
seppel's Furoticon tournaments, and won each one I was in. Truly I am the king of games. At least the ones of a pornographic nature. A dubious title. A big shout-out to the other playtesters, if was fun seeing a lot of you again and meeting others in person for the first time. I would give shouts to FA pages but... I don't know most of them and I'm way too lazy to look them up.Speaking of games I picked up the Norguard game. Pretty fun. Not often you see a co-op card game. This brings my collection of games up to 9 LCGs. By the way, I want to thank Eidolon for introducing me to another LCG for me to get addicted to. I can't wait to get my hands on my own decks of that so I can play it with my local friends.
The big disappointment for me was seeing a bunch of people running around with Cardgames Against Humanity and yet none of the deals were selling it. Bit of a bummer there, but no matter, I will eventually get a copy of that for my own collection. Eventually.
So overall a fun con. Uneventful, but fun... Well, maybe not entirely uneventful. I did get to see a trany and a fat chick almost come to blows. That was a pretty interesting random event.
AC Part 2
Posted 13 years agoSo I'm running around at AC now. If you're looking for me I'll either be at the zoo, the table top game room, or at one of the Furoticon events. Look for the man in the badge-covered hat.
AC Part 1
Posted 13 years agoOkay, so I'm in a small town just outside Pittsburgh, and will be until Thur. I've got Rain and Marl with me. So anyone outside Pittsburgh who wants to hang tomorrow we'll be around. Otherwise we'll see everyone Thur.
AC Meme
Posted 13 years agoOh, hey, look at that, I'm not dead yet. Hey peoples, I'm still around, sorry if I've been all invisibibibile, my sleep schedule has be thrown way out of whack by a last minute paper... jegus... three weeks ago and has yet to recover. I haven't forgotten any of you, just, you know, excuses.
Anyway I'll be at AC this year, again. If I owe you something feel free to hunt me down, and, you know, badger me about it. I swear I'm the laziest shit these days when it comes to writing.
Anyway, meme thingy.
ABOUT ME:
What is your gender? Male, technically. No I'm not trans or anything, I just don't put a lot of stock into gender norms.
What do you look like? Hello, my name is Mage, and I wear a silly hat. Seriously, just look for the silliest hat there, it'll probably be me.
How old are you? 23
How tall are you? About 5'9", 5'10", somewhere in that range.
How would you describe yourself? Frenetic at best. I wander around from game-room to zoo to dealer's den to where ever. I love games, so that'd probably be the best way to interact with me. Or talking, get me started and I can't stop.
Are you taken? I have no idea. Fuck me if I know what my relationship status is with people. But probably not taken, technically, I think.
Are you nice? My niceness is directly proportional to how interesting and/or useful I find you. In either case expect a lot of ribbing and/or teasing. It's how I show my love... or my hate. Depends on how caustic it is.
Are you cliquey? Fuck no... well, maybe... kinda. I don't mean to be. Broadening my horizons is a good thing, though I can't be bothered to go exploring half the time, if you catch my drift.
You like shinies? I demand sacrifices of shinies.
INTERACTION:
Can I talk about/do drugs in front of you? Not really a fan of the illegal stuff, and I'm allergic to tobacco so smokers stay away. Booze and stuff you were prescribed go right ahead, though not at the same time, that'd be dumb.
Can I invite you out for food/fun/etc? If you're paying, then fuck to the yeah. If not... depends, I'm a cheap bastard, so if you're going someplace pricey I might not want to go.
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc? Depends. If I haven't been swearing at you and/or insulting you throughout the conversation then I probably think you're cool. Know what, rule of thumb, if I want someone along I'll invite them. Inviting yourself along is just in bad form.
Can I talk to you? This is the first trial; approaching and talking to me. It is the first sign that you are someone I want to talk to. The second trial is managing to say something that doesn't make you sound like a moron. Good luck.
Can I give you stuff? I'll take anything you're giving... except herpies. You can keep that.
Can I hug you? If you have to ask then the answer is no.
Can I hug your friends? Ask them. Unless their name is Stank. Then hug him, hug him constantly. Stank disregard that last bit.
Can I cuddle with you? Ask first. Be prepared for sarcasm and insults if you failed the second trail.
Can I flirt with you? Fuck yeah. Note: Failed attempts will be met with sarcasm and ridicule, joking attempts will be met with counter comedy. But please, don't let that discourage you.
Can I stalk you? Only if you're good at it. Bonus points if someone is stalking you while you stalk me.
Are there any words I shouldn't use around you? Use whatever fucking words you want man. It's a free country. Just, you know, try not to be a moron, or at least an unamusing one.
Can I buy you drinks? The only time I drink is on someone else's tab.
Can I ask you to dance? If you call a fat man flailing around like an ass 'dancing,' then yes.
Attending parties? Probably not. I'm awkward as all fuck in those situations.
Can I buy you food sometime? Bringing me sacrifices of edible items or culinary examples is a great way to get my attention. I will put up with a remarkable amount of bullshit for crab.
Can I make plans with you? If I know you from somewhere. Strangers making plans with me leads to paranoia. Unless it's gaming, then fuck yeah you can make plans.
Can I visit you in your room? No.
Can I take a picture of you? Ask first, don't be a douche.
If I see you, how should I get your attention? There's this amazing new thing that's all the rage right now. See, people are expelling air from their lungs and then, using their throats and mouths, form the escaping air into sounds which they use for communication. It's called talking. That usually works. Though, you know, if I'm in the middle of a story don't interrupt me. Great way to make a bad first impression.
How can I find you? I'll probably be in the game room or the zoo most of the time. Check the Furoticon events, I'll probably show up to at least one of them. Aside from that I generally wander. Again, look for the silly hat.
ART:
Do you do free art/free anything? I am shit at art. Best I can do is doodle ponies, and I'm not hot at that either. Still, no freebies.
Will you have art in the Art Show? Fuck no.
Will you be in the Alley? Why am I even answering these?
Can I look through your art? You can, but you won't like it.
Do you have originals for sale? Nope
Can I draw in your sketchbook? Eeyup
Are there limits to what you will draw?Fuck, I already answered this.
CON-RELATED/MISC:
Where are you staying? Main hotel biziznitches.
Who will you be rooming with? My buds Marl and Rain.
Who will you be hanging out with? Marl, Rain, Stank, anyone else from the vore circles I like, the Furoticon people, anyone I meet who doesn't piss me off, gamers.
Major plans at the con: In war, plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
Fursuit(s): My old three-taild fox died in a fire, and I've been too busy/lazy to actually work on Torment. So none this year.
The do's and don'ts!
Do come say hello! I love meeting new people.
Do bring me treats! Presents increase the odds of me putting up with you. Also gift giving traditions, yadda yadda.
Do respect my personal space! I'm cool most of the time, but I've got bipolar (mild case) and crowding me in is a trigger.
Do understand that I have a TERRIBLE memory! Seriously, it's quite shit. If I wasn't paired up against you in the first two VOCTs, talk to you on a regular basis, or have you in my book of grudges, there's a good chance I won't recognize you. Seriously, last year I met a guy who apparently though I'd sworn a blood-oath vendetta against him or something, couldn't remember him for the life of me.
Do speak up! Mumbling is for sissies, and I only like sissies if they're wearing panties! (Protip, if you're my weight or higher, don't tell me you're wearing panties. I don't want to know).
Please don't yell. Did I mention loud noises are another trigger?
Please don't touch me without asking. And only group if you're willing to follow through.
Overall: Feel free to approach me, but don't feel too bad if I shoo you off.
Anyway I'll be at AC this year, again. If I owe you something feel free to hunt me down, and, you know, badger me about it. I swear I'm the laziest shit these days when it comes to writing.
Anyway, meme thingy.
ABOUT ME:
What is your gender? Male, technically. No I'm not trans or anything, I just don't put a lot of stock into gender norms.
What do you look like? Hello, my name is Mage, and I wear a silly hat. Seriously, just look for the silliest hat there, it'll probably be me.
How old are you? 23
How tall are you? About 5'9", 5'10", somewhere in that range.
How would you describe yourself? Frenetic at best. I wander around from game-room to zoo to dealer's den to where ever. I love games, so that'd probably be the best way to interact with me. Or talking, get me started and I can't stop.
Are you taken? I have no idea. Fuck me if I know what my relationship status is with people. But probably not taken, technically, I think.
Are you nice? My niceness is directly proportional to how interesting and/or useful I find you. In either case expect a lot of ribbing and/or teasing. It's how I show my love... or my hate. Depends on how caustic it is.
Are you cliquey? Fuck no... well, maybe... kinda. I don't mean to be. Broadening my horizons is a good thing, though I can't be bothered to go exploring half the time, if you catch my drift.
You like shinies? I demand sacrifices of shinies.
INTERACTION:
Can I talk about/do drugs in front of you? Not really a fan of the illegal stuff, and I'm allergic to tobacco so smokers stay away. Booze and stuff you were prescribed go right ahead, though not at the same time, that'd be dumb.
Can I invite you out for food/fun/etc? If you're paying, then fuck to the yeah. If not... depends, I'm a cheap bastard, so if you're going someplace pricey I might not want to go.
Can I come with you for food/fun/etc? Depends. If I haven't been swearing at you and/or insulting you throughout the conversation then I probably think you're cool. Know what, rule of thumb, if I want someone along I'll invite them. Inviting yourself along is just in bad form.
Can I talk to you? This is the first trial; approaching and talking to me. It is the first sign that you are someone I want to talk to. The second trial is managing to say something that doesn't make you sound like a moron. Good luck.
Can I give you stuff? I'll take anything you're giving... except herpies. You can keep that.
Can I hug you? If you have to ask then the answer is no.
Can I hug your friends? Ask them. Unless their name is Stank. Then hug him, hug him constantly. Stank disregard that last bit.
Can I cuddle with you? Ask first. Be prepared for sarcasm and insults if you failed the second trail.
Can I flirt with you? Fuck yeah. Note: Failed attempts will be met with sarcasm and ridicule, joking attempts will be met with counter comedy. But please, don't let that discourage you.
Can I stalk you? Only if you're good at it. Bonus points if someone is stalking you while you stalk me.
Are there any words I shouldn't use around you? Use whatever fucking words you want man. It's a free country. Just, you know, try not to be a moron, or at least an unamusing one.
Can I buy you drinks? The only time I drink is on someone else's tab.
Can I ask you to dance? If you call a fat man flailing around like an ass 'dancing,' then yes.
Attending parties? Probably not. I'm awkward as all fuck in those situations.
Can I buy you food sometime? Bringing me sacrifices of edible items or culinary examples is a great way to get my attention. I will put up with a remarkable amount of bullshit for crab.
Can I make plans with you? If I know you from somewhere. Strangers making plans with me leads to paranoia. Unless it's gaming, then fuck yeah you can make plans.
Can I visit you in your room? No.
Can I take a picture of you? Ask first, don't be a douche.
If I see you, how should I get your attention? There's this amazing new thing that's all the rage right now. See, people are expelling air from their lungs and then, using their throats and mouths, form the escaping air into sounds which they use for communication. It's called talking. That usually works. Though, you know, if I'm in the middle of a story don't interrupt me. Great way to make a bad first impression.
How can I find you? I'll probably be in the game room or the zoo most of the time. Check the Furoticon events, I'll probably show up to at least one of them. Aside from that I generally wander. Again, look for the silly hat.
ART:
Do you do free art/free anything? I am shit at art. Best I can do is doodle ponies, and I'm not hot at that either. Still, no freebies.
Will you have art in the Art Show? Fuck no.
Will you be in the Alley? Why am I even answering these?
Can I look through your art? You can, but you won't like it.
Do you have originals for sale? Nope
Can I draw in your sketchbook? Eeyup
Are there limits to what you will draw?Fuck, I already answered this.
CON-RELATED/MISC:
Where are you staying? Main hotel biziznitches.
Who will you be rooming with? My buds Marl and Rain.
Who will you be hanging out with? Marl, Rain, Stank, anyone else from the vore circles I like, the Furoticon people, anyone I meet who doesn't piss me off, gamers.
Major plans at the con: In war, plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.
Fursuit(s): My old three-taild fox died in a fire, and I've been too busy/lazy to actually work on Torment. So none this year.
The do's and don'ts!
Do come say hello! I love meeting new people.
Do bring me treats! Presents increase the odds of me putting up with you. Also gift giving traditions, yadda yadda.
Do respect my personal space! I'm cool most of the time, but I've got bipolar (mild case) and crowding me in is a trigger.
Do understand that I have a TERRIBLE memory! Seriously, it's quite shit. If I wasn't paired up against you in the first two VOCTs, talk to you on a regular basis, or have you in my book of grudges, there's a good chance I won't recognize you. Seriously, last year I met a guy who apparently though I'd sworn a blood-oath vendetta against him or something, couldn't remember him for the life of me.
Do speak up! Mumbling is for sissies, and I only like sissies if they're wearing panties! (Protip, if you're my weight or higher, don't tell me you're wearing panties. I don't want to know).
Please don't yell. Did I mention loud noises are another trigger?
Please don't touch me without asking. And only group if you're willing to follow through.
Overall: Feel free to approach me, but don't feel too bad if I shoo you off.
Have you ever...
Posted 13 years agoRead a journal so terrible that you unfollowed the writer? Like, you just read it and you feel like reading anything else by the person will hurt your ideas? As in physically damage your ability to think?
Alternatively have you ever unfollowed someone because they posted something that made you question why you followed them in the first place? Not because it's bad, just what they draw now doesn't interest you at all?
Also am I the only one bugged by journals that are smaller than the header and footer of the journal?
Alternatively have you ever unfollowed someone because they posted something that made you question why you followed them in the first place? Not because it's bad, just what they draw now doesn't interest you at all?
Also am I the only one bugged by journals that are smaller than the header and footer of the journal?
Japan here I come!
Posted 13 years agoHells to the yeah I got accepted into my university's study abroad program! Meaning from late August to mid December I'm going to be in the land of the rising sun. 4 months in Tokyo, going to be so sweet.
Now, does anyone know someone living in Tokyo who can show me the local furry scene? Assuming there is a furry scene.
Now, does anyone know someone living in Tokyo who can show me the local furry scene? Assuming there is a furry scene.
Commander Tournament: Pick a date
Posted 13 years agoOkay, so I'm thinking about getting this commander game off the ground, but first we need to pick a date. What's everyone's schedules look like so we can figure this thing out.
Help me translate
Posted 13 years agoCalling all nerds, calling all nerds, I need your help. I've recently written a glossary or terms on my blog, and I'm pretty sure I've missed some stuff. So, could any nerds with free time (which, let's face it, is most of you) could you pop over to http://nerdsnfurs.wordpress.com/lexicon/ and check out what I wrote. Did I get anything wrong, did I miss something, know something that I don't? Tell me. Post a comment in my webzone if you know something I don't.
My Blog and Journey
Posted 13 years agoTwo topics for the price of one. Economics! Actually I've got two things I want to talk about, and don't want to clutter up my journals or your inbox with three separate journals.
Journey:
So I got Journey, the newest game from Thatgamecompany (makes of Flow and Flower). It's good. Really good. I'd say more, but I already wrote about it on my blog, which I'll link to in a second. I'll say this here though, if you like a game about exploring I'd definitely recommend this. It's a gorgeous game with stunning landscapes and a simple objective.
My Blog:
So I have a blog now. It's http://nerdsnfurs.wordpress.com. Go check it out. It's about nerdy and furry stuff. Half of it will be devoted to helping normal people interact with and understand the nerdier subcultures the internet has spawned, like furries, otaku, and trolls. Now, I've had some furries tell me "Now that seems pointless. Interacting with a furry is easy. Step 1. Treat them like a normal human being. Step 2. Repeat step one." Well theoretical smartass strawman, it's never that simple. There are misconceptions that need clearing up. I've had classmates who thought "cosplaying" was when grown men dressed up like women, and others who thought all furries were plushies. See, there are misconceptions that need clearing up. Also, let's face it, not every furries, on a whole, aren't exactly the most mature group of people, so normal people might need some prepping, for the worst.
Journey:
So I got Journey, the newest game from Thatgamecompany (makes of Flow and Flower). It's good. Really good. I'd say more, but I already wrote about it on my blog, which I'll link to in a second. I'll say this here though, if you like a game about exploring I'd definitely recommend this. It's a gorgeous game with stunning landscapes and a simple objective.
My Blog:
So I have a blog now. It's http://nerdsnfurs.wordpress.com. Go check it out. It's about nerdy and furry stuff. Half of it will be devoted to helping normal people interact with and understand the nerdier subcultures the internet has spawned, like furries, otaku, and trolls. Now, I've had some furries tell me "Now that seems pointless. Interacting with a furry is easy. Step 1. Treat them like a normal human being. Step 2. Repeat step one." Well theoretical smartass strawman, it's never that simple. There are misconceptions that need clearing up. I've had classmates who thought "cosplaying" was when grown men dressed up like women, and others who thought all furries were plushies. See, there are misconceptions that need clearing up. Also, let's face it, not every furries, on a whole, aren't exactly the most mature group of people, so normal people might need some prepping, for the worst.
I need a voice
Posted 13 years agoOkay as you all probably don't know, I have a blog, and it's about nerds and furries. I'm not going to link to it now, 'cause there ain't shit there, but that's where you guys come in. I need someone with a voice to read some lines for my blog. I'm making a dictionary of nerdy and furry terms, and I'd like for someone to read them to serve as a pronunciation guide. Is anyone around, with a good, clear, voice, available to read 50+ words and record them before next Friday?
Update on the Commander Idea: No Cards Required
Posted 13 years agoAlright, so you guys have brought up a lot of good points about this EDH tournament, and I hear you. So, here are some updated changes to the idea. First, players won't need their own decks. If this tournament goes down it'll use the Online Play Table program, and not webcams, because webcams are awkward and you can't really see what you're doing. Since everyone will have every card in Magic at their fingertips players will have to submit decklists before the game to make sure they're not full of infinite or instant win combos. This is for fun, no need to get all hyper-competitive or dickish.
Next, instead of a tournament it'd be a big free for all. In this format whenever someone is taken out they'd be obligated to write/draw the person who took them out eating them.
Now, with those guidelines down, who'd be interested in this?
Next, instead of a tournament it'd be a big free for all. In this format whenever someone is taken out they'd be obligated to write/draw the person who took them out eating them.
Now, with those guidelines down, who'd be interested in this?
Explanation of Last Journal: MTG Commander Vore Tournament
Posted 13 years agoOkay, so here's what I was thinking with the last journal. I got it in my head to host an EDH tournament amongst friends, particularly those of the vorish persuasion.
For those out of the MTG loop EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander)/Commander format is a casual form of Magic. It is play with 100 card decks, instead of the usual 60 cards, and players are only allowed to use 1 copy of any given card aside from basic lands. Additionally players must choose a legendary creature to serve as their Commander. Commanders start the game outside of the deck in what is called the "Command Zone," and during the game Commanders may be cast as though they were in their owner's hand. Any time a Commander would be sent to the Graveyard or removed from the game, they may be sent to the Command Zone instead. Commanders may be recast from the Command Zone for 2 extra mana for each time they are sent to the Command Zone. Finally, decks may only include cards of the Commander's color(s), and may not include cards that have mana symbols that don't match the Commander's Colors. Oh, and starting life is 40, instead of 20... Oh, and if a single general deals more than 21 points of damage to a player over the course of a game, that player loses regardless of life total. Also, while not in the official rules I play under the house rules that it takes 15 poison to kill and EDH player, not the usual 10.
For more information please visit the official EDH website: http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php
As for my idea for a tournament; each player plays using their real deck, either via webcam or one of the many free MTG online programs (not MTGOnline, which is the official online program, and thus expensive to use). Beyond that I'm not sure of the specifics, I'm thinking single elimination, but a Swiss style would be okay if all players agreed to it.
And now the twist that explains the vorish element. Not going to lie, this was inspired by Sefra's vorish Civ V project. But since I can't do a single player EDH thing, decided to make this a tournament. How I've got it in my head is whenever a player is taken out of the tournament they have to draw/write their character being eaten by the victor. Not sure if it should be the two commanders, or the player's characters comically dressed up as their commander.
For those interested, but don't have an EDH deck or enough cards to build one, Wizards of the Coast (the company that makes MTG) sell pre-built Commander decks, which can be found at any card shop worth it's salt for about $30. They're not great, but they're pretty good, easily customizable, and come with a lot of great cards.
So, now that all the details are out, who's interested?
For those out of the MTG loop EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander)/Commander format is a casual form of Magic. It is play with 100 card decks, instead of the usual 60 cards, and players are only allowed to use 1 copy of any given card aside from basic lands. Additionally players must choose a legendary creature to serve as their Commander. Commanders start the game outside of the deck in what is called the "Command Zone," and during the game Commanders may be cast as though they were in their owner's hand. Any time a Commander would be sent to the Graveyard or removed from the game, they may be sent to the Command Zone instead. Commanders may be recast from the Command Zone for 2 extra mana for each time they are sent to the Command Zone. Finally, decks may only include cards of the Commander's color(s), and may not include cards that have mana symbols that don't match the Commander's Colors. Oh, and starting life is 40, instead of 20... Oh, and if a single general deals more than 21 points of damage to a player over the course of a game, that player loses regardless of life total. Also, while not in the official rules I play under the house rules that it takes 15 poison to kill and EDH player, not the usual 10.
For more information please visit the official EDH website: http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php
As for my idea for a tournament; each player plays using their real deck, either via webcam or one of the many free MTG online programs (not MTGOnline, which is the official online program, and thus expensive to use). Beyond that I'm not sure of the specifics, I'm thinking single elimination, but a Swiss style would be okay if all players agreed to it.
And now the twist that explains the vorish element. Not going to lie, this was inspired by Sefra's vorish Civ V project. But since I can't do a single player EDH thing, decided to make this a tournament. How I've got it in my head is whenever a player is taken out of the tournament they have to draw/write their character being eaten by the victor. Not sure if it should be the two commanders, or the player's characters comically dressed up as their commander.
For those interested, but don't have an EDH deck or enough cards to build one, Wizards of the Coast (the company that makes MTG) sell pre-built Commander decks, which can be found at any card shop worth it's salt for about $30. They're not great, but they're pretty good, easily customizable, and come with a lot of great cards.
So, now that all the details are out, who's interested?
Radom Thought: Magic The Gathering
Posted 13 years agoSo, random thought here, who plays Magic the Gathering, specifically Commander/EDH format. I got an idea, but it needs people, to work.
