[Salinger]

Hey Rho, jeeeeez what a week

 

im proud of you for coming here to update , proud of you for getting through it and hoping your weekend will Be calmer for you 🧡

[MaeradCase]

20 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

21 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

The D&D community in an uproar about the OGL. I admit, I understand this little, not being a creator. But I understand enough to know that the corp that 'own' the IP are out for a money grab and the general mood is one of sadness and anger and that has been a background thing occupying space in my head in a negative way. My DM has a bunch of videos on YT, loves tinkering and homebrewing and now is talking about us potentially using a new RPG system. 

Expand  

I'll add conversation on this topic if you want. I've had a couple different sources on what to make of it. I'm not a creator, just a player, but Hasbro is spiraling badly

https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl

 

Looks like they've made an official statement rather than put into effect the OGL changes we'd heard about. Good to know they're reconsidering how to handle the changes they want to make so that the community knows its protests were heard.

[Sovalis]

1 hour ago, MaeradCase said:

https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl

 

Looks like they've made an official statement rather than put into effect the OGL changes we'd heard about. Good to know they're reconsidering how to handle the changes they want to make so that the community knows its protests were heard.

They're walking this back carefully, that's for sure. It's a shame it took such mass ill will from the community to make it happen though. The OGL has been around for what, almost 10 years? That's enough time for people to get used to a thing and feel comfortable it's not going anywhere. I'm a pretty huge D&D nerd and I struggle to learn new systems, but I'll be checking out Project Black Flag from Kobold Press and the new ORC liscence being spearheaded by Paizo when more becomes available about them. I'm not impressed with Hasbro, at all. It's been consuming a fair amount of my bandwidth this week too. *sigh* 

 

Hope you're doing okay, Rho! Thinking of you! 

[MaeradCase]

38 minutes ago, Sovalis said:

but I'll be checking out Project Black Flag from Kobold Press and the new ORC license being spearheaded by Paizo when more becomes available about them

I subscribed to Kobold Press and  signed up to be a play tester for Raise the Black Flag when they have that phase ready. XD Cid already has purchased a lot of their products, and Colville taught me most of my DMing knowledge. I am grateful to them for standing up against Hasbro's rash cash grab.

[Rhovaniel]

22 hours ago, Elastigirl said:

Love this! Hopefully tomorrow the universe will be kinder. 

It... continues to test. But it was marginally kinder. I think. At least, I no longer worry I have an injury to my knee. It feels much better. 

 

22 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

I'll add conversation on this topic if you want. I've had a couple different sources on what to make of it. I'm not a creator, just a player, but Hasbro is spiraling badly.

 

😱 Oh my gosh. Creator brain cannot compute this travesty. Sorry you faced that awful moment. Would love to see what it was supposed to be, if you want to share a screenshot of the advertised product, and share the sorrow of sullied hopes.

I do welcome input, thanks! I did also spend some time delving through some sources. I am appalled. 

 

Sadly, I boxed it right up and sent it back. But this is what I want to make:

 

 

The delivery sticker entirely covered all four images and a huge strip of amazon tape covered the back flap of the envelope. There was zero chance of me being able to save it, and I'd have likely damaged the tissue paper pattern inside. 

 

 

22 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

I'm frustrated with how quickly new versions keep coming out for D&D. 2nd edition was out for 23 years (if you consider AD&D the second edition) before they released 3rd edition (when, in my opinion, they peaked). They must have liked selling all the new books to people that already had them cause they only waited 8 years for 4th edition, then six years for 5th. I'm not surprised HASBRO has done yet another moneygrab.

Honestly, I get that. I love 5e, but it is the only system I have played. My DM is already calling his changes and such 6e. I am loathe to admit how much I hate it. 

 

 

17 hours ago, Salinger said:

Hey Rho, jeeeeez what a week

 

im proud of you for coming here to update , proud of you for getting through it and hoping your weekend will Be calmer for you 🧡

Thanks Sal. Me too!

 

 

2 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl

 

Looks like they've made an official statement rather than put into effect the OGL changes we'd heard about. Good to know they're reconsidering how to handle the changes they want to make so that the community knows its protests were heard.

Yeah, I saw. Backpedalling with equal amounts of proud BS. They're rewording because of mass un-subscriptions of DnDBeyond (of which mine was one). But I do not trust them. 

 

59 minutes ago, Sovalis said:

They're walking this back carefully, that's for sure. It's a shame it took such mass ill will from the community to make it happen though. The OGL has been around for what, almost 10 years? That's enough time for people to get used to a thing and feel comfortable it's not going anywhere. I'm a pretty huge D&D nerd and I struggle to learn new systems, but I'll be checking out Project Black Flag from Kobold Press and the new ORC liscence being spearheaded by Paizo when more becomes available about them. I'm not impressed with Hasbro, at all. It's been consuming a fair amount of my bandwidth this week too. *sigh* 

 

Hope you're doing okay, Rho! Thinking of you! 

Thanks Sovalis. I struggled with 5e at first (as @Jarric will attest to! I had a little paper chart for which dice was which even. But I learned and grew to love. I can learn a new system. I can.... I just don't really want to have to. 

 

18 minutes ago, MaeradCase said:

I subscribed to Kobold Press and  signed up to be a play tester for Raise the Black Flag when they have that phase ready. XD Cid already has purchased a lot of their products, and Colville taught me most of my DMing knowledge. I am grateful to them for standing up against Hasbro's rash cash grab.

OOh that's a thing? Will have to take a look. Colville is excellent. My first one-shot (that, as all one-shots do, became a two-shot) was his run your first game on YT tutorial. Modified with my own storyline and changed a few monsters, but he gave me that confidence to start. 

 

 

 

So, today has been so-so. My left calf has been so tight it literally seized up on me when I stood up once, so that was - not great. I am terrified that I won't be able to run the way I want to run at StrongViking. It's not just for me. I want to do Willes proud. It is for him, the thing he wanted to do with us when he was here, and that is the thing pushing me on. I want to give it my all, I am scared that this stupid lingering issue will either prevent that or lead to injuries I can't bounce back from. On the plus side, one of the doctors I work with has told me he'll write me a referral to a physio should I need it. 

 

D&D... OH man. My DM has gone full 'making my own system', and he wants us to trial new rules next session, mostly on combat. Essentially giving us only one action a round and one bonus the next. No actions twice in a row. No casting levelled spells twice in a row (as in, 1 spell one round, 1 spell the next). I am - okay, my first thoughts are 'oh great, now even the game I love is going away and I'll lose a special part of my week. D&D has sustained me through the worst times. Even when I was suicidal, I managed to find solace in playing. I don't know what is going to happen now. It scares me. But maybe there'll be other groups out there if it goes the way I fear. Also, I recognise that fearful me is not going to be the same as rational me and I will endeavour to give it a fair trial. 

 

Given the above two things, emotionally I am a little worn down. 

[MaeradCase]

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

I do welcome input, thanks! I did also spend some time delving through some sources. I am appalled. 

I think the source that meant the most to me was one where a couple guys had a lawyer look over the OGL and what they had available of the leaked new one. Basically the impression I got from the discussion was that D&D players are only held to the new OGL if they choose to be, because the one they're trying to replace is not worded in such a way that it can be revoked, because its whole point was to let people be creative and have fun with content that interested them, even if it was third party. My takeaway: as long as I don't sign an agreement that says I will recognize the new one as the one I operate under, I can ignore all new content and continue enjoying all pre-existing 5e content.

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Sadly, I boxed it right up and sent it back. But this is what I want to make:

/cdn-cgi/mirage/dc3e4b2824672aab4ea7a7676ab602051b68e77e304e001fb5471f737a019c43/1280/cdn-cgi/mirage/dc3e4b2824672aab4ea7a7676ab602051b68e77e304e001fb5471f737a019c43/1280/https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/4711e82800248420583ec5d40b30e11f/b/4/b4669_front_1.jpg 

 

The delivery sticker entirely covered all four images and a huge strip of amazon tape covered the back flap of the envelope. There was zero chance of me being able to save it, and I'd have likely damaged the tissue paper pattern inside. 

Ooh, I do like Butterick designs. I had one for a Victorian dress saved in my phone forever because I wanted to make it, but being a hand-sewer the concept was a tad too daunting, and I never ended up trying it. Sorry they ruined yours with stickers. Did you tell them they f*cked it up so that they can apologize?

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Honestly, I get that. I love 5e, but it is the only system I have played. My DM is already calling his changes and such 6e. I am loathe to admit how much I hate it. 

😥

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

I had a little paper chart for which dice was which even.

I made one of those for myself, and I make it for my friends when I teach them to play. Totally valid way to quickly identify something unfamiliar. 😉

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Colville is excellent. My first one-shot (that, as all one-shots do, became a two-shot) was his run your first game on YT tutorial. Modified with my own storyline and changed a few monsters, but he gave me that confidence to start. 

😍

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

D&D... OH man. My DM has gone full 'making my own system', and he wants us to trial new rules next session, mostly on combat. Essentially giving us only one action a round and one bonus the next. No actions twice in a row. No casting levelled spells twice in a row (as in, 1 spell one round, 1 spell the next). I am - okay, my first thoughts are 'oh great, now even the game I love is going away and I'll lose a special part of my week.

😱 What?! Why?!

 

(My brain is on Buzz right now, and sounds like your DM is on Woody)

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

D&D has sustained me through the worst times. Even when I was suicidal, I managed to find solace in playing. I don't know what is going to happen now. It scares me. But maybe there'll be other groups out there if it goes the way I fear. Also, I recognise that fearful me is not going to be the same as rational me and I will endeavour to give it a fair trial. 

I support rational brain, assuring that there are going to still be many groups.

[Rurik Harrgath]

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

But this is what I want to make:

 

 

The delivery sticker entirely covered all four images and a huge strip of amazon tape covered the back flap of the envelope. There was zero chance of me being able to save it, and I'd have likely damaged the tissue paper pattern inside. 

 

That's just pathetic on their part.

 

Interesting aside though, I think I've convinced myself to pick up a sewing machine again and give some seamstering a go.  The light bulb moment has been wanting a gambeson-style hoodie that's half-Witcher and half-Carhartt.

 

I haven't found anything even remotely close on the market, but this'll likely be a One-For-Me prototype kind of situation haha

 

1 hour ago, Rhovaniel said:

Yeah, I saw. Backpedalling with equal amounts of proud BS. They're rewording because of mass un-subscriptions of DnDBeyond (of which mine was one). But I do not trust them. 

 

I don't even play, just a fan of fantasy and character systems in general, and even I've been salty over corporate greed and hostility toward the player base.  Serves them right!  Hmph.

[Jarric]

Just catching up, and my phone has put these quotes out of order, so have some disordered thoughts!

 

On 1/12/2023 at 8:56 PM, Rhovaniel said:

And they keep badgering me about the document. It's been two follow ups and I got the paperwork yesterday

 

Personally I'd sack them off. Using a solicitor is probably not a bad idea; running through the claim yourself might take a lot of energy so it might be worth you outsourcing that work. But if you shop around a bit you might get someone who will accept a lower percentage, and even if you don't you want to work with someone who gives you some respect rather than just chasing you for their cash.

 

11 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

I am terrified that I won't be able to run the way I want to run at StrongViking. It's not just for me. I want to do Willes proud. It is for him, the thing he wanted to do with us when he was here, and that is the thing pushing me on.

 

You've got plenty of time to rehab this injury properly, don't worry. Anyway, Willy would be proud of you for showing up and doing the thing, even if you can't run it all.

 

11 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

My DM has gone full 'making my own system', and he wants us to trial new rules next session, mostly on combat. Essentially giving us only one action a round and one bonus the next. No actions twice in a row. No casting levelled spells twice in a row (as in, 1 spell one round, 1 spell the next).

 

Well that seems like a huge overreaction. Do you get the sense he wanted to make these changes anyway, and if using the OGL stuff as an excuse to do so?

 

11 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

I struggled with 5e at first (as @Jarric will attest to! I had a little paper chart for which dice was which even. But I learned and grew to love. I can learn a new system. I can.... I just don't really want to have to. 

 

I don't remember you struggling more than anyone else - learning a new system takes time. On the other hand, if you have the time and energy to invest, learning new stuff is fun.

[Rhovaniel]

14 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

I think the source that meant the most to me was one where a couple guys had a lawyer look over the OGL and what they had available of the leaked new one. Basically the impression I got from the discussion was that D&D players are only held to the new OGL if they choose to be, because the one they're trying to replace is not worded in such a way that it can be revoked, because its whole point was to let people be creative and have fun with content that interested them, even if it was third party. My takeaway: as long as I don't sign an agreement that says I will recognize the new one as the one I operate under, I can ignore all new content and continue enjoying all pre-existing 5e content.

 

That is encouraging lawyer-y news, thanks for that.

14 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

Ooh, I do like Butterick designs. I had one for a Victorian dress saved in my phone forever because I wanted to make it, but being a hand-sewer the concept was a tad too daunting, and I never ended up trying it. Sorry they ruined yours with stickers. Did you tell them they f*cked it up so that they can apologize?

I made no bones about it in the 'reason for return', that's for sure. And, that's a shame, I love historical inspired dress. This one will be my first clothes project. Step 1 to building my Ideal Ranger-y, Fantasy wardrobe. Because why the f*ck not?  

 

14 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

I made one of those for myself, and I make it for my friends when I teach them to play. Totally valid way to quickly identify something unfamiliar. 😉

Glad I'm not the only one. I also FREQUENTLY forgot which modifier to add, plus the proficiency bonus... makes me very sad that dndbeyond is tainted with their madness because heck did those character sheets look pretty and make my life easier!

 

14 hours ago, MaeradCase said:

What?! Why?!

 

(My brain is on Buzz right now, and sounds like your DM is on Woody)

My DM is just riled up at it all. Not without justification of course, and I *am* open to other TTRPG systems... In fact, I am very tempted to attempt to run a Lord of the Rings one that I almost got to play. The link is to a review, but one that explains the basics. I don't know anyone who would play it with me, or anyone who already plays it (the revised edition was on kickstarter 2021 I believe), but the time I almost got to play, the guy who was going to run it sent me the pdf of the rules and such and it looks like its BEAUTIFUL. Once my madness of thesis and college and full time work and running a 5e campaign settles into something a little more manageable, I would look at DMing this. Loremaster'ing this. Then maybe one day I could play. 

 

I am slightly tempted to send that meme to my group, but I wouldn't want it to be taken the wrong way. Makes me smile, though! Tbf, Peter has been homebrewing and coming up with stuff for the game for ages, his YT was mostly on how to build and optimise certain character classes (until this shitstorm hit) so I don't think it's entirely a knee-jerk response. I'm a little annoyed he doesn't want to wait until after we finish this current campaign though. We are literally on the last arc, the finale is planned for early Feb. 

 

13 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

That's just pathetic on their part.

Agreed. I literally saw it when I got home, and went 'you have GOT to be kidding me!'

 

13 hours ago, Rurik Harrgath said:

 

Interesting aside though, I think I've convinced myself to pick up a sewing machine again and give some seamstering a go.  The light bulb moment has been wanting a gambeson-style hoodie that's half-Witcher and half-Carhartt.

 

I haven't found anything even remotely close on the market, but this'll likely be a One-For-Me prototype kind of situation haha

That would be so awesome!! DO share any concepts you come up with, please. I'm also figuring out exactly what I want to make, and I'm fairly sure much of it's not going to come in packet patterns. I gotta learn how to draft. And also sew. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rhovaniel]

3 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Just catching up, and my phone has put these quotes out of order, so have some disordered thoughts!

 

Hey, disordered thoughts is kinda my thing!

 

4 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Personally I'd sack them off. Using a solicitor is probably not a bad idea; running through the claim yourself might take a lot of energy so it might be worth you outsourcing that work. But if you shop around a bit you might get someone who will accept a lower percentage, and even if you don't you want to work with someone who gives you some respect rather than just chasing you for their cash.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards it 'fuck it, I'll do it myself', mainly because they have been pushy as heck. But also I'm a little annoyed that the detective in charge of the case is the one who sent me their website link, not the government one. I did not, at first, clock that they WERE solicitors. 

 

6 minutes ago, Jarric said:

You've got plenty of time to rehab this injury properly, don't worry. Anyway, Willy would be proud of you for showing up and doing the thing, even if you can't run it all.

That... that is actually very comforting, thanks Jarric. Let's see what the physio says. I also bought a matching set of torture implements (Shakti mat and pillow), in the off chance that it helps. 

 

11 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Well that seems like a huge overreaction. Do you get the sense he wanted to make these changes anyway, and if using the OGL stuff as an excuse to do so?

I get the sense he was probably going to try making changes and veering towards his own system anyway, sadly. 

 

12 minutes ago, Jarric said:

I don't remember you struggling more than anyone else - learning a new system takes time. On the other hand, if you have the time and energy to invest, learning new stuff is fun.

It IS fun to learn. I remember my ranger and wolf companion very fondly!

 

 

 

 

Today, a mini update because I am trying to shake off the lingering 'blurgh'. D&D stuff has been taking up too much space negatively in my head, I couldn't sleep last night and then I had all these awful dreams about being really mad and angry whilst playing and all these changes that I hated and ended up leaving the game. It was almost certainly my brain trying to work out all the stress about it, but it was unpleasant nonetheless. This morning, I have had to chase up a physio referral I am supposed to have from BUPA, the pattern continues to cause issue as it is now almost two days overdue 'next day delivery', which makes me sad and mad because I wanted to focus on it as a stress reliever, watched an episode of critical role (campaign 2) whilst I knitted for about an hour. 

 

And. 

 

 

I think I had a breakthrough. I have main points for my chapter. I have arguments, and I THINK I KNOW WHICH SOURCES TO QUOTE. Ahem. I am getting ahead of myself. But also, it feels like a freaking huge weight just slid off my shoulders. I think I know what I'm doing with this chapter. 

 

I'm gonna go plan it some more before the universe tries to pummel me again. 

[Jarric]

That's great news about your chapter! Well done on persevering until you were able to find the angle - writing your way through to find it is really frustrating.

[MaeradCase]

7 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

That is encouraging lawyer-y news, thanks for that.

https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2023/01/13/ogle#

 

Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade and Acquisitions Incorporated wrote this article (I found it shared by Wil Wheaton on fb) that gives the perspective of a creator with complicated ties to the company who can speak out about how most of what we're getting from the discussion is not answers, but chaos. *chews lip* It's not pretty, but I'm still holding out hope that Hasbro does back off from their ill intended money grab and back off from the control grab and find a way to make things right by admitting they were wrong and making amends. Maybe that's too optimistic. *sigh* Anyway, they can't stop me from playing and ignoring their Calvinball rules.

[Sovalis]

So this is just one legal opinion, but I've found him pretty solid in the past and have been following him for a while now: 

 

He's saying something that I haven't heard anywhere else yet, and if I understand him correctly, that is that Wizards can't enforce copyright over processes (ie rules) only over expressions (ie the literal representation/wordsmithing of the rules, etc) and that therefore people using the rules to make third party content weren't getting much protection out of the OGL anyway, because they were using stuff that couldn't be copyrighted in the first place. I'm trying to track down other sources on this because it seems mind blowing. There's an interesting conversation about copywriting and trademarking in the video that really added to my understanding of this whole mess, hence the share. 

 

I'm so happy you have a way forward with your chapter, Rho! That's stellar!! 🥳🎉

[Rhovaniel]

On 1/14/2023 at 1:36 PM, Jarric said:

That's great news about your chapter! Well done on persevering until you were able to find the angle - writing your way through to find it is really frustrating.

Thanks. Very much not complete still, but I know where I am going with it at last, and that is a blessed relief. I cannot tell you how many times I've wondered why I thought I could do this. And why, of all things, I chose to investigate the history of a concept. I could have picked anything. Something with teeth, something tangible, like researching bombing raids in WW2 was. But no. I had to go with a concept that few people explicitly talked about. :eyeroll: 

 

On 1/14/2023 at 7:26 PM, MaeradCase said:

https://www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2023/01/13/ogle#

 

Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade and Acquisitions Incorporated wrote this article (I found it shared by Wil Wheaton on fb) that gives the perspective of a creator with complicated ties to the company who can speak out about how most of what we're getting from the discussion is not answers, but chaos. *chews lip* It's not pretty, but I'm still holding out hope that Hasbro does back off from their ill intended money grab and back off from the control grab and find a way to make things right by admitting they were wrong and making amends. Maybe that's too optimistic. *sigh* Anyway, they can't stop me from playing and ignoring their Calvinball rules.

Chaos is exactly what we are getting. I hate it, and I know at least one player in our group who like me, has really needed a mental break from it all. 

 

22 hours ago, Sovalis said:

So this is just one legal opinion, but I've found him pretty solid in the past and have been following him for a while now: 

 

He's saying something that I haven't heard anywhere else yet, and if I understand him correctly, that is that Wizards can't enforce copyright over processes (ie rules) only over expressions (ie the literal representation/wordsmithing of the rules, etc) and that therefore people using the rules to make third party content weren't getting much protection out of the OGL anyway, because they were using stuff that couldn't be copyrighted in the first place. I'm trying to track down other sources on this because it seems mind blowing. There's an interesting conversation about copywriting and trademarking in the video that really added to my understanding of this whole mess, hence the share. 

 

I'm so happy you have a way forward with your chapter, Rho! That's stellar!! 🥳🎉

This is really cool. I did watch this video of a creator that expressed really good points and sadly told me something I did not know - people are lashing out at WotC employees with abuse and threats, when they oppose the changes as much as we do. And even some having a go at people who are still putting out 5e content or playing dnd even as 'supporting WOTC'. No, we're fucking not. We're playing the game we know and love and no big ass corporation has anything to do with that. That toxic way of thinking will destroy the game more than anything this awful move on the part of WotC can do. Sorry, that part got me really mad. And sad. 

 

At least I don't have to worry about my DM creating 6e now. He's decided it's better to call it 7e. 

 

   

 

 

 

Anyway, after the topsy-turvy week, I wanted to end on a bit more of a positive note. 

 

1) It's the small things, but I actually cleared my pile of clean laundry today. The last weeks and this weeks (It's bad, I have 1 pair of work suitable trousers that fit and like 4 shirts. 5 jumpers. A limited wardrobe for work that I refuse to expand until I am once more able to buy clothes for a body size I am looking to maintain and not size down. But it felt good to clear the basket and stop feeling overwhelmed and guilty looking at it everyday. Plus I watched half a Critical Role episode whilst I folded. Also, fresh sheets on the bed!

2) Easily the best part of the day, Rufus came to me for attention and was purring super loud when I did. Frodo is my baby, raised from kittenhood and the one who usually wants my attention. Rufus was my OH's cat before we moved in together and, until the last couple of years, never really been affectionate or wanted to be near me. Last few years he's had odd bouts of 'I'll sit in this room you're in but DON'T TOUCH ME HUMAN'. I got to where I could kiss the top of his head once and he'd be okay, or a very very brief ear scritch. This was the first time he actually came up to me and even headbutted me when I stopped petting him. I feel so blessed!! 

3) My thesis chapter plan is allllmost ready to send to my supervisors before I start the writing. They usually suggest changes and such, so I don't want to go too deep into the rabbit hole until they confirm I'm on the right track. Gotta neaten some sentences, add in a few bits about what sources I'm using is all. 

4) I finally have my pattern and it's intact! Well, not for long because I need to cut out the pieces, but I have the pattern, I have some cheap material and a friend's scrap fabric to make a mock-up with and I am very excited to start!

 

5) A few months back, a friend asked me if I wanted to have a guest appearance in his game and I've been putting it off because my schedule was a disaster. But given the likely changes to the only game I currently play in (I have zero plans to change anything in the game I am DM for), it feels like a good outlet. So that will happen soon, and I am excited. I'm creating a halfling oathbreaker paladin whose desperately searching for redemption. Mainly because that's a character idea that has been living in my brain for ages and I want to play-test them. Maybe flesh them out enough that when I get back to tinkering with fiction writing, I can write their story. 

[Jarric]

On 1/14/2023 at 10:49 PM, Sovalis said:

He's saying something that I haven't heard anywhere else yet, and if I understand him correctly, that is that Wizards can't enforce copyright over processes (ie rules) only over expressions (ie the literal representation/wordsmithing of the rules, etc) and that therefore people using the rules to make third party content weren't getting much protection out of the OGL anyway, because they were using stuff that couldn't be copyrighted in the first place. I'm trying to track down other sources on this because it seems mind blowing. There's an interesting conversation about copywriting and trademarking in the video that really added to my understanding of this whole mess, hence the share. 

 

Yeah, what the leaked OGL would have really affected according to this opinion is things like VTT. Roll20 reproduces the entire SRD verbatim, so they would be really stuffed without the OGL or a separate commercial arrangement with WotC.

 

23 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

Thanks. Very much not complete still, but I know where I am going with it at last, and that is a blessed relief. I cannot tell you how many times I've wondered why I thought I could do this. And why, of all things, I chose to investigate the history of a concept. I could have picked anything. Something with teeth, something tangible, like researching bombing raids in WW2 was. But no. I had to go with a concept that few people explicitly talked about. :eyeroll: 

 

Because you're a ranger, and you take the path less travelled.

 

23 hours ago, Rhovaniel said:

At least I don't have to worry about my DM creating 6e now. He's decided it's better to call it 7e. 

 

🤦‍♂️

 

On 1/15/2023 at 9:42 PM, Rhovaniel said:

5) A few months back, a friend asked me if I wanted to have a guest appearance in his game and I've been putting it off because my schedule was a disaster. But given the likely changes to the only game I currently play in (I have zero plans to change anything in the game I am DM for), it feels like a good outlet. So that will happen soon, and I am excited. I'm creating a halfling oathbreaker paladin whose desperately searching for redemption. Mainly because that's a character idea that has been living in my brain for ages and I want to play-test them. Maybe flesh them out enough that when I get back to tinkering with fiction writing, I can write their story. 

 

Oo, this is very exciting.

[Rhovaniel]

On 1/16/2023 at 9:44 PM, Jarric said:

Because you're a ranger, and you take the path less travelled.

This is true.  

 

 

So, I am bad at updates lately! This week has been a little bit intense, but somehow better than previous weeks have been. I'll try to recap most of it.

 

Monday: Feeling very uncharacteristically meh about D&D. One player couldn't make it, another has recently dropped out so we just had a combat scenario to test out some new rules our DM wanted to playtest. Including the combat bonus action/action thing. It wasn't great, we ended up skipping most of those turns. BUT the positive was that Peter could see that too, and scrapped it. As he put it, back to the drawing board. The fact that he is willing to listen to input and adjust his ideas is actually way more of a relief than I was expecting. I think I feared he'd be pushing these changes on us regardless because it's his current big project. Managed to get to the gym. 

 

Tuesday: Genuinely can't remember what happened that day, just that I woke up late and got a few things wrong and I let it get to me. Oh, I did finally get my chapter plan to my supervisors

 

Wednesday: College day. Long journey, terrible traffic. Huge self-loathing and recrimination wave. Mostly weight related. I stepped on the scale and it did not move and then on my daily walk I went into macdonalds and ate chips because I wanted comfort and weirdly let myself do so with junk, even though it just fuelled the self hate. Didn't help that I was having larger than normal waves of anxiety about DMing and the session itself got off to a slow start. THen my internet played up. My players are awesome and made me feel better. I just wish I was a better DM for them. 

 

Thursday: All day training at work. Was strangely informative and engaging. Tis a rare thing, such training. 

 

Friday: Clawing it back, slowly.  Got in to see a face to face physio finally. Thankfully, whilst it was painful whilst the physio did her thing, it is FIXABLE. I got a treatment plan  and some exercises to do but there is hope. I just need a few weeks or so of getting the muscles to release (this sadly, involves soft tissue release, which is a phrase she uses to mean 'manual torture'. But there is hope I should be able to run in time for StrongViking. Took the morning off, so headed to costa, it was packed but I got a table with my back to a wall (ptsd hangover), a free coffee to use this week because of a promo they are running, and got some Planning done. Simple things, like working out what I ACTUALLY value, compared to what I think I ought to value, as well as how to navigate losing weight in a healthy way whilst starting with baggage from the Depression Times. I.e, not exactly in the routine of cooking, having little knowledge of cooking and also needing to undo a lot of behaviour patterns that boil down to: Hungry - No prepped food - snack on anything ready made. Error: no ready made - go get takeout. I've been getting somewhat around this with a meal prep service but a) its too pricey for long term use and b) last few weeks have had 1 or 2 iffy meals. c) they weren't filling enough so I snacked and that came with a big side helping of guilt. Got into work, was pretty chill. Got feedback from plan back that I will action this weekend. 

 

And that is about it. I am also going to work on a sort of narrative/quest thingy for getting my fitness and diet back in place. Might not be a challenge thing, because I am notoriously bad at updating. But just doing it will help keep me on track, I think. I REALLY need to update my Epic Quest too. I still walk, I just didn't have that 'this is motivating' thing. I reached Wearthertop on a daily walk round my neighbourhood. I might have to revise the rules I abide by on it to make it more fun. 

[Salinger]

Sending love Rho ❤️

You are doing well, I struggle with the self hate too. Its tough, but just want to remind you how wonderful you are xx

[Sovalis]

Sounds like a big week. I hope you find the systems you need to feel comfortable and make confident progress. 

[Rhovaniel]

On 1/21/2023 at 11:21 AM, Salinger said:

Sending love Rho ❤️

You are doing well, I struggle with the self hate too. Its tough, but just want to remind you how wonderful you are xx

 

23 hours ago, Sovalis said:

Sounds like a big week. I hope you find the systems you need to feel comfortable and make confident progress. 

Thanks guys. I'll get there. 

 

 

This weekend has been better, despite getting bad news late on Friday, followed by me needing to enforce Boundaries with my sister. Who I love dearly, but has a lot of Drama Queen energy and I just... we deal with things very differently. My Nan (Dad's mother) just got a diagnosis of breast cancer. I don't know how bad it is yet, only that she's having an operation in the next few weeks. My sister deals with things by being central to it all. She - let's just say she likes to be involved. So, she's wanted to call me and get into long phone calls about it and discuss how she knew Nan was feeling off and how she'll drive up there this weekend and etc etc etc. She set up a group chat for family for 'updates' and I swear, I don't even know who most of them are. I took her first call, let the second one ring out. I know, it sounds cold. The thing is, I'm not close to my Nan. I see her maybe once or twice a year at most, at family events. I never have been close to her, unlike my other set of Grandparents. So, whilst the news is sad, and I sincerely hope treatment works for her, I am not torn up or anything. It makes me sound callous, maybe I am, but there isn't that emotional connection. My sister, on the other hand, would call a Council of war if she could. 

 

The good part of the weekend was that I went fabric shopping with a friend for my waistcoat and whilst I didn't find the material I want for the outer part, I did find a gorgeous gold/cream coloured cotton with subtle patterning that will make an excellent lining. I have enough to make the whole thing out of it, but I'm holding out hope I'll find the fabric that makes me go - THAT ONE. I'm after full on ranger vibes here. Moss or forest green, maybe a brown if the pattern fits with the vibe. I also got an old bedsheet in a charity shop for £2.50 that, whilst rather dated and ugly, will make excellent mock-up material. I also got to hang out on a call with @MaeradCase , which was awesome. We chatted novel stuff and D&D until it got to about 9pm UK time and I had to get myself to bed. 

 

Today, got up early (ish), did some adulting in the morning, then got to my eye appointment. Purposely went an hour earlier than I needed to so I could sit with a coffee in a nearby cafe. One of the good things about covid is the optometrist doesn't get as close to my face as they used to, but still not entirely a comfortable experience, so I figured some calm time beforehand would help. It did, I got a little more of my vision planning done, I got to my appointment early, endured the usual testing and thankfully my eyesight hasn't really changed much, just a tiny little bit worse in one eye. I've been holding off buying new glasses until this exam, so that's exciting. Well, sort of. I gravitate towards the same kind of frames all the time anyway. Got my mock up pattern pieces all cut out, finished the largest section of my cardigan took a walk. Turned into 4 miles because I was thinking and wandering and my brain wasn't ready to quit yet. I love when that happens. Just got some last little things to take care of, then I get to take my candles and my book up to bed. 

 

 

 

 

[MaeradCase]

Sounds like a wonderful weekend despite the bad news. I'm glad for the call we had. It was a lot of fun discussing D&D and getting a new perspective of my novel. Also a distracted walk sounds really nice right now. ❤

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Good job setting boundaries with your sister. The only good thing about group chats is they can be muted.

[Jarric]

On 1/20/2023 at 9:02 PM, Rhovaniel said:

My players are awesome and made me feel better. I just wish I was a better DM for them. 

 

I'm prepared to better that you're already a better DM than you think you are

 

Good news about the physio, I'm really glad it's fixable! Just be patient and trust the process (or you can use my strategy from last year, and keep pushing to hard and re-injuring it every couple of months).

 

Sorry to hear about your nan. I don't think it makes you sound callous though; reality is that you're always likely to feel more worried about people you have a close emotional connection to that about other people. And a close emotional connection is not defined by how close someone sits in your family tree.

[Salinger]

Proud of you Rho x

[Sovalis]

Sounds like you and I have similar family dynamics. So much empathy and solidarity. Great progress on all of your things. I am also hoping you find the fabric that inspires giddy joy. Crossing my fingers for it!

[Rurik Harrgath]

On 1/22/2023 at 3:54 PM, Rhovaniel said:

Purposely went an hour earlier than I needed to so I could sit with a coffee in a nearby cafe.

 

I'm going to start doing this before all of my appointments.