D&D Next

Well, I just spent the last two weeks moving into a new apartment. I still have to run around places and update my new address (hooray for cell phones meaning I don't have to change my number!), and the place will be quite a mess until things are unpacked and organised.

Oh, and we're going to get two adorable savannah kittens that are only 4 months old next week. Savannah cats have a high propensity to be non-allergenic (by using slightly different proteins) and to like water. One of the kittens already loves to hop in the shower, and we'll make sure the other one also likes water, so we can regularly bath them to further cut down on allergens left everywhere. As people might wonder, I am allergic to cats (luckily not severely, but still), as is one of my mates, so that is part of what directed us to look for this breed in particular.

What does all of the above have to do with D&D Next? Absolutely nothing! But I figured I'd throw in a status update anyways.

I just recently (like two days ago) signed up for the Dungeons & Dragons Next playtest. I found I wanted to know more about the next edition, and my poking around the intarwebs led me to conclude that the best way to find out was to join the open playtesting for it.

Now, I can't reveal any mechanics or whatnot because of the non-disclosure agreement I accepted in order to get a hold of the stuff, but I can still put forth my opinion on what I think of it in general terms. So far I have been liking what I see, to the point that I want to run some adventures in it to get a good feel of the mechanics in action. I never got that with 4th edition, as it read almost like a tabletop rip-off of World of Warcraft. 

I also find that the blending of all previous editions they're doing is actually working out really well, which is of great relief as I was pretty sure it would be a total flop and be overly bulky and easily exploitable. Oh how glad I am to be proven wrong on that. I've noticed elements that bring me back to when I started with AD&D 2nd edition, familiarity and customisability from 3.0/3.5, and even some elements from 4th that, while I feel like it throws in more power-gaming, actually seems to work fine worked into the flavour and style of previous editions.

From what I have seen there also seems to be a better balance in some of the abilities in contrast to level, which makes it a more comprehensible world for me. There's also more balance between the classes at similar levels, so gone are the days when physical fighters rule at low levels while casters become demigods later on.

There's also a more open ended feel to it, and encouragement to let the story take precedence over the rules scattered throughout. I love this as it helps to discourage rules lawyering, and makes it so that you don't have to listen to the dice gods when they are in opposition of what makes sense.

The only criticism I currently have about it is this: I want more! I want more options, more material, more stuff to work from to build my own fleshed out adventures and campaigns with the rules. I suppose I'll just have to settle with what is available right now, and ensure that I give feedback to help the process along (even if only a really, teeny tiny bit).

Old Weldster

Well, even more stuff has happened, as it's always wont to do. For starters I'm now 30. While I know that in the grand scheme of things it's still young, it certainly doesn't feel like it when you hit it. Something about the arbitrary way we count our age that puts 30 into firm adulthood, having to be someone who's always responsible, and is either is or is finishing being established and settled.

Yeah fucking right.

I can't say my level of responsibility has changed since I joined the Air Force and got married at 19 (technically joining the USAF was a week before that age, but whatever). I've never been sure on exactly what makes one "established" or not, as it's not like each person is their own business, but I'm really only now expanding my circles of friends and gaining tenuous connections with professionals. As for being settled, well, I start moving into a new apartment in just over a fortnight.

By now, though, you're probably wondering what all of that has to do with the title. Well, it did cover the "old", but not the latter half. That's being a pun on "old spinster" and the new skill I've been learning from a friend: welding. Of course, "old spinster" really doesn't apply to me since I'm married, have a boyfriend, and get to do things like hugging and kissing my spouse's girlfriend, but my mind came up with the pun and I decided to use it. (It certainly beats having some form of "Yet Another Update", which I've done to death, rebirth, death, resurrection, death, undeath, and back again.)

According to the friend who's teaching me, and who doesn't give out compliments unless she feels they're earned, I've been picking it up pretty quickly and well. She's later gonna show me some other types of welding and such, and I'm really looking forward to that. I'm in turn showing her Linux, which she's liking.

What else... Oh yeah! I've been working on a custom RPG and it's actually at the beta stage now. Currently I just need to throw in some force skills so I can run a Star Wars campaign for testing it. I've watched episodes 1-6, the Holiday Special (ye gads...), and plan on watching Battle for Endor (but don't have any plans on watching Caravan of Courage) to wrap it up, so that I can base the force skills off of what's seen in official live action movies (I'm ignoring the Clone Wars series for this).

For playtesting I'll again be using the wonderful program MapTool, which is a virtual tabletop program that supports macros (automated dice rolls and other functions) and allows everyone to connect over the internet. If you're interested in the game mechanics or how the campaign progresses you can check it out over on HouseruleGaming.

I'm so terrible at updating

Well, a lot has happened over the year and a quarter since I last posted to my blog.

I've been officially diagnosed with non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. Taking a small dose of melatonin while keeping up on sleep hygiene (which I had already been doing) and ensuring I wake up at the same time has allowed me to have a regulated, 24 hour schedule. It's still pretty shaky at times, but I have predictability in my schedule now which is awesome to have.

On December 19th I started taking estradiol, prescribed by my doctor. I've noticed definite changes beyond with spironolactone itself has done, including being much more in tune with my emotions, more redistribution of body fat to my face and hips, and some additional breast growth (I'm now a full B-cup).

My spouse's girlfriend has moved in with us, making it a 4 person household. It's wonderful having her here. She's also artsy/crafty herself and has helped get me back into sewing and drawing more.

My boyfriend went back to college and has now graduated with honours with a BA in biology. He was even able to get a job lined up before graduation as a food quality auditor.

I have also created a web-forum: houserulegaming.net. It was created as a place for people to talk about game rule interpretations, house rules, and home-brewed systems. After a big brouhaha drama-splosion at the forum I had been a moderator of, the admin, several members, and myself left it and I've expanded my forum to have a more complete community area aside from the game area.

I've also been going to a veteran's transgender support group, which has been awesome. In some ways I'm not necessarily getting much out of it, as I've lived as my target gender for years and have done a bit as far as transition goes, but I have gotten useful information, learnt additional viewpoints, and been able to help other people in figuring themselves out.

I've also been able to get more control over my anxiety and depression. I'm now on sertraline and frequently saw a therapist who was able to greatly help me overcome a lot. I no longer need someone I know with me when I go to appointments, and can even use public transportation without problem (and for free, as I found out that service connected disabled veterans are able to do). With as many strides as I have made I know I'm still a long way from being fully functional (if I can ever get to such a point). I ended up having a bad panic attack due to the large crowd at my boyfriend's graduation commencement ceremony (so sadly missed it), and so need to make another appointment with my therapist as several days later I've still not really recovered from it.

I think I will leave this much as the update, and try to post more frequently.