Some Good News

I thought my computer's power pack had bit the dust yesterday.  The truth is, it needed to cool down for a while.  Also, I had a major life change last tuesday which allows me to throw myself into adapting Edgar Rice Burroughs' At the Earth's Core into a feature film screenplay.  Although being out of school is tough, I need a vacation to complete this screenplay and to have it marketed and made into a good film of old fashioned adventure.  So it's a blessing in disguise.

You really can't go wrong with Edgar Rice Burroughs for Adventure fiction.  A lot of his books have been adapted to feature films, and in some cases, readapted.  Tarzan of the Apes has been adapted over a bizillion times.  Tarzan is probably the 4th most filmed character, after Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, and the Frankenstein Monster.

It's an exciting time to write! :)

The Twelve Kingdoms

Twelve Kingdoms, thirteen tribes of Yisrael.

The setting of the Twelve Kingdoms of Man, is ahistorical, pseudo-medieval.  In other words, it has more to do with Gor and Conan, than it does with King Arthur or even Middle Earth.  But really, I'm not looking for an English Fuedal System.  There's other systems -- the Athenian Greeks had a tyrant, for instance (essentially a dictatorship) that was benevolent during the Age of the City State.  This man became tyrant of Athens by using a young girl and declaring himself chosen by Athena to lead the City State into a new age of prosperity.

The Tyrants were eventually put down and a Democracy set up (rabble rule).  In ancient Israel, my ancestors were ruled by David the King.  It was to be a monarchy that was set up by Yahweh, the El of Israel.  Yahweh would choose the king -- first Saul (who was of the tribe of Benjamin) and second David (who was of the tribe of Judah).  As was promised to Judah, his seed will carry the septre to the end of the World.

Setting up the twelve kingdoms in my new Pathfinder world to be like the twelve tribes of Israel, but giving each of them a different culture is the goal.  One would be based on Persia.  Another, based on Cimmeria, another full of amazons, two with fighting men, and so on (it's ahistorical, pseudo medieval, remember?  I'm just making the 13 tribes obivious!).

Secondly, I thought I'd use churches instead of Gods.  It's different, it's hip, its new.

The campaign setting might begin like this:

In the beginning of our story, the twelve kingdoms were once thirteen tribes who had four hundred years of prosperity.  First as individual tribes, then a small kingdom, then a huge empire, then the empire divided into twelve kingdoms.  This prosperity was not to last, as the kingdoms fell into decline an invasion from another world discombulated the peace and balance in the world.

Something to work on, I admit.  The invasion, of course, are orcs; which threaten humanity.  At least, humanity in the Twelve Kingdoms.  There are others, to be sure.  The orcs were released when a portal transported a raging Orc Horde into the world.  They then spread out, attacking many kingdoms as they sought a place for their own clans and tribes to settle.  The action of the Campaign Setting takes place in the Twelve Kingdoms and the rampaging orc horde with elves and dwarves in there somewhere.

However, the orcs have feeling, they have purpose, they have culture.  I talked a lot about orcs on this blog in my world.  Now it is time to dwell on human culture.

Setting Design: starting from the ground up.

So, where does someone begin when they make a setting for Pathfinder or for D&D (4e or any other edition)?  Everything every where begins as a idea.  Usually out of the Zeitgeist (there's that word again).  So you start with an idea.  Where do people get their ideas from?

Well, you can thank God that we don't live in a vacuum of human expression.  The Corporate World, however, demonize God because we don't live in a vacuum of human expression.  Nina Paley wrote on her essay "The Cult of Originality" this:

How peculiar, then, that Michelangelo's  works showed up in Europe in the 16th Century, rather than ancient Egypt or Sumeria or Persia, or in the Lascaux Caves?  How “original” was Michaelangelo? He used the language and techniques of his time. He carried ideas passed to him by his neighbors. He didn’t create in a vacuum. [1]


Neither does the Dungeon Master.  To say a setting like Glorion, or Eberron, is original is to be conceited.  Eberron has strong Steampunk roots.  Something you get from Gibson's writing about how Babbage's calculator machine had become common place, or Sony's Steam Boy. Glorion draws heavily on several tropes in the Genre.  Especially some Tolkien, making it an unremarkable setting for some (especially me).  I want to do something REMARKABLE, different, and . . . as I said in my previous Essay . . . obvious.

I've written on numerous occasions about orcs on this blog, and while they are all cool, I didn't pay enough attention to humans.  How can you get orcs and humans to interact and make humans interesting to play at the same time? (I'm currently playing a Worgen mage on World of Warcraft, and I've become sick of how clichéd the humans are).  I want something not a cliche for my humans.  With several tribes of orcs, all different, they don't need a culturally homogeneous human race to fight against.  Not every human nation needs to be a knock off of High Middle Ages England with American Accents.  In a sense, Tolkien has dominated American fantasy . . . with a few off shoots like Mar Barker or John Norman, for a very long time.  It's like we are in a dark age of American fantasy and dreams -- Tolkien, who is acclaimed as a genius, has been copied.  Copied! so many times that many of the things you see in a present day American Fantasy novel is full of clichés.  What happened to Edgar Rice Burroughs or Robert E. Howard?

 

Where does one turn to get ideas to set up a remarkable campaign setting?

to create interesting nations for the orcs to fight and contend with, I go by a few simple rules:

* Don't look at Tolkien.  Tolkien, while original in his day in creating a Myth for his time, has been copied so much that many of his work has become clichés in D&D settings the world over.  Tolkien can be admired for a source of inspiration, but not to take whole Cloth.  Like Disney did when they crossed out the Roman Portico for Atlantis, I have to cross out Tolkien.

* Look at Frank Frazetta's paintings.  While the OSR movement flocks around Frank Frazetta, not a lot of what he painted are clichés in the standard D&D campaign setting stuff.  And most of what he paints is American Fantasy.

* Look to the Sinbad movies.  Sinbad and the 1001 Arabian Nights in which the tales of Scheherazade is the inspiration of these movies.  Sinbad's voyages as told by Scheherazade are the inspiration for many movies set in Persia, Arabia, and Baghdad.  Some interesting links:
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas




(Anything with Sinbad is good, even the T.V. series).

* Ray Harryhausen is the seminal inspiration for a generation of filmmakers.  He revolutionized the special effects industry until computer graphics dominated the scene.

Finally . . .

Ancient History and the Bible.

All of these used to contain clichés, but now not a lot of people know about them or read about them.  They are often locked up in stupid Copyrights that are jealously guarded by people who have either lost their talent, or they sit on their Grandfather's legacy and rip the rewards.  ( Copyright is a bad thing).

And the bible?  Hardly anyone makes movies from it anymore.  Despite historical accuracy; although Samson would be great to make a movie about (everyone loves an Anti-hero).

Ahem . . . 12 hooks, from different sources other than Tolkien.  NICE! :)

So, to create something remarkable you need to get off the beaten path.  Tolkien has been, to put it nicely, copied to death.  There's loads of literature to draw your ideas from -- the above is just the tip of the iceberg. To create your setting, you need a hook or an idea.  Stay away from what everyone else is doing and look at everything else no one else is looking at.  Even if it's a series about Gor (John Norman), Conan the Barbarian (John Howard), or Sinbad (1001 Arabian Nights).

Thirteen Tribes, Thirteen Nations

When thinking of a new setting, I am conflicted between how my cousin doesn't like any historical fantasy, and how I draw on real history when I create a setting.  An example is the ideas I've been getting lately.  With this conflict in mind, how do I draw on real history for ideas and still create a believable fantasy that my cousin will play in?

The idea of the Twelve Nations really came from Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas but you can guess that it actually comes from the Bible.  The funny thing is that most everything is not truly original.  There is a bit of a calque in most anything in which something is transmitted through our language.  Nina Paley talks about this on her blog post "The Cult of Originality."  Thirteen human nations, thirteen American colonies, thirteen tribes of Israel.

The trick to solving this problem is simple:
You don't be original, you're more successful when you are being obvious.  When you state an obvious idea (my campaign setting has thirteen human nations!) you seem like you're original ("That's a great idea!").   What a contradiction, right?  The contradiction is coming from a Copyright standpoint.  The point is nothing is original, says the English Professors, as they have a theory that there is only 4 stories that are being retold over and over again in many variations.  A student stated the obvious once to show how ludicrous the theory is to promulgate across the universe.  So this is how you solve a problem when you have players who simply hate history but you love it and you like to mine history for ideas to RP about.

That, and I think art executives are an excentric lot.  In the days before the Internet, they were the artists' sole audience.  Now, with the internet, an artist can directly touch base with their audience.  Often in ways most people can't even begin to guess.

The only problem is how to be obvious without stepping on people's toes so that they don't think you're competing with their monopoly.

Pathfinder Conversions: The Mage of World of Warcraft

Welcome to Pathfinder Conversions!

One of my players for 4.0 stated that he wanted Wizards to pick up the WoW RPG license from Blizzard.  A great idea, but I stated that the two games (WoW and 4.0) are too similar enough in concept that you couldn't be able to tell you were adventuring in WoW or Forgotten Realms.  You've got your healer, tank, DPS, and Blaster; and you enter into a dungeon and have fun.

However, the whole purpose for the WoW RPG is so you can do stories outside of the MMORPG.  Like infiltrating the burning blade or actually participate in a Battle for Gilneas in other ways.  While it can be done with 4.0, most people at the Convention Table will just run a WoW standard game using 4.0, not deviating from the MMO.

Okay, rant over.  So, lets take a look at the Arcanist class and see what we can do with it.

In Pathfinder, the Wizard class is subdivided into nine different specializations.

Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation, and Universalist.  In World of Warcraft, the Arcanist is split into different schools as well -- Inscriber, Magician, Necromancer, and Warlock.  Each school, or path, is subdivided.  The inscriber deals with runes, glyphs, and sigils and are split between Arcane and Dark.  The Mage is split between Arcane, Fire, and Ice; while the Warlock is split between Affliction, Demonology, and Destruction.  As for the Necromancer --> there's only one specialization.

Lets start with the Mage.  The Arcanist gets all the rules that the Wizard has in terms of character creation.  But the Mage has only three specializations: Arcane, Fire, and Ice.

Arcane Mages are like your standard Evoker.  They revel in the power of raw magic and can use it to create and destroy with ease.  The signature damage spell is Arcane Barrage (A high level Arcane Missile spell).  So in Pathfinder, an Arcane Mage receives:

Intense Spells (Su): Whenever you cast a mage spell that deals hit point damage, add 1/2 your wizard level to the damage (minimum +1). This bonus damage is not increased by Empower Spell or similar effects. This bonus only applies once to a spell, not once per missile or ray, and cannot be split between multiple missiles or rays. This damage is of the same type as the spell. At 20th level, whenever you cast an evocation spell you can roll twice to penetrate a creature’s spell resistance and take the better result.

Metamagic Mastery (Su): At 8th level, you can apply any one metamagic feat that you know to a spell you are about to cast. This does not alter the level of the spell or the casting time. You can use this ability once per day at 8th level and one additional time per day for every two wizard levels you possess beyond 8th. Any time you use this ability to apply a metamagic feat that increases the spell level by more than 1, you must use an additional daily usage for each level above 1 that the feat adds to the spell. Even though this ability does not modify the spell’s actual level, you cannot use this ability to cast a spell whose modified spell level would be above the level of the highest-level spell that you are capable of casting.

Fire Mages specialize in the element of fire.  While the spell frostfire contains elements of ice, their most powerful spell is Pyroblast (found in More Magic and Mayhem) and Molten Armor (also found in More Magic and Mayhem).

I'll edit this after I get back.  If and when. :)

The Socialist Song

I present the Socialist Song, sung to the music of the Lumberjack Song.

Barber: I'm a Socialist and I'm okay.  I sleep all night and I work all day.

American Founding Fathers: He's a Socalist and he's okay, he sleeps all night and he works all day.

Barber: I make my money, I author my books,
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.

American Founding Fathers: He makes his money, he authors his books,
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shopping
And have buttered scones for tea.

Barber: I make money, I skip and jump
I like to press wild flowers.
I burn the flag of the United States,
and hang around in bars.

American American Founding Fathers: He makes his money, he skips and jumps
He likes to press wild flowers.
He burns the flag of the United States,
and hang around in bars?
He's a Socialist and he's okay,
He sleeps all night and he works all day.


Barber: I make my money, I destroy the dollar,
the mark, and the lira,
I'd wish I'd been a Communist
Just like my dear Papa!

American Founding Fathers: He makes his money.  He destroys the dollar,
The mark, and the lira?
[All American Girl talking]
What's this? Wants to be a Communist?  Oh, my!
I thought you were so individualistic! Commie!!
[American Founding Fathers singing]
He's a Socialist and he's not okay
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
He spends the day restricting people's freedoms
In order to make us look bad.

World of Warcraft Adventures Wiki gone live!

I started a new Wiki for the World of Warcraft RPG.  Called Adventures in World of Warcraft I originally thought of doing it up for Quel'thalas campaigns.  However, since the World of Warcraft is ever reaching and encompasses quite a large area, I opening up the Wiki for every World of Warcraft fan to record their adventures for everyone to use.  The spirit of the site is sharing.  Sharing your adventures set in World of Warcraft to everyone.

We will accept adventures written for the RPG, or written for 4th Edition, or for Pathfinder, or for most any system you please.  As long as you mark what system the adventure is for.  Players and fans may write adventures for any era to share with other fans of the pencil-and-paper side of the franchise.

Thanks for reading! :D

Elton.

Why Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Dark Forces are fantastic constructs

Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Dark Forces.  All designed to prop up a theory in which Gravity is the driving force in our Universe.  There is a major problem with Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and Dark Forces.  The simple reason is the existence of Vacuum Energy or Zero Point Energy.

For any theory of the universe to be correct, it has to agree with what Yahweh has said about the universe.  Yahweh (pronounced or sung "eeeeeaaaaooooaaaaeeee"), who is a God of Truth, cannot not possibly lie about the Universe[1].  While Yahweh has transmitted allegories in the past to teach us about ourselves, sometimes he has revealed some precious truths that helps us understand the Universe.

One of these precious truths is the fact that Yahweh says that there is no savior beside him.  Secondly, he declared that we worship a "what" instead of a "who." The what we worship is called the Father as a proper name, it is also called the Spirit or the Spirit of Truth[2].

The Spirit of Truth exists in our Universe as pure Energy.  This energy exists at the Zero Point on the Kelvin temperature scale and is often called Zero Point Energy or Vacuum Energy[3].   The Spirit of Truth was discovered as Energy by Doctor Wilhelm Reich.  He called it the Orgone Energy[4], an energy that can be seen and photographed.  This energy is found everywhere: surrounding galaxies, the Earth, and several lifeforms such as man.  Since this energy fills all possible space, represents all truth and knowledge, is the source of intelligence, and is the Father of all things both good and evil; then it stands that it is the source of all Life, Force, and Matter in the Universe.

So, what is the problem with "Dark" Energy, Matter, and Forces?  Simple.  In order to exist, there hast to be a second intelligence in the Universe.  A second Orgone Energy, a second Energy that exists at the zero point.  However, Yahweh has never talked about a second intelligence in the universe.  He never even mentioned a second Intelligence.  Yahweh only said that beside him there is no savior.  This means that the Father is the Source of both, and all, Good and Evil in the Universe[5].

Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and Dark Forces are really fantastic constructions to hold up a theory that is proving to be more and more incorrect all the time.  The Big Bang Theory is the dream of many, and since it is proven incorrect by observation and experiments in the laboratory; then it cannot possibly agree with the Scriptures.  Ironically, however, the Big Bang has the most to offer to Creationists; but many are dumping the theory[6].

The truth is, making up Dark versions of these elements goes against basic physics.  First of all, Dark Force simply goes against Newton's description of all a Force acts.  Force itself is neutral.  It's an application of power to an object in order to make it move.  Force can be used by good and evil, it's the same and applies to movement according to Newton.  Experiments in the Laboratory and application in the real world has shown that force works for all things: Man, Plant, Animal, and Mineral.  And it is the intent behind the force that makes it work for Good or Evil.  Sir Issac Newton only described motion and put forth his laws of Motion, which work for all things.  The existence of a Dark Force cancels out Newton's Laws of Motion since it implies an exotic way of working motion.

This means that the Atheists are in error and are supporting a theory that is proven to be erroneous in all things.  The astrologers (astronomers who support the Big Bang) are holding fast to a theory that doesn't match up to revealed Truths.  Although one can argue that Genesis represents the Big Bang, the problem with the account in Genesis is that it was witnessed by Human beings[7].  And during the time from 4,000 B.C. to about 2,000 B.C. our ancestors saw in the sky an alien constellation of planets[8],[9].  And then the fall happened, and what resulted is a story that is told around the world[10],[11].

The Electric Universe, or Plasma Universe, is a much simpler explanation of the Universe[12].  The corner stone of the theory isn't Gravity.  It's electromagnetism.  The plasma universe theory is a much simpler theory that attempts to explain the Universe in the Now instead of what it was and what it will be.  It does not claim a beginning to the universe, since it relies on observation and laboratory experiments in order to work.  Since the beginning of the Universe is nigh impossible to observe using our present technology, and it is hard to replicate in the laboratory, the Electric Universe cannot make a claim on how the universe began.

It has been used to explain comets[13], most Martian anomalies [14,15,16], and even miracles performed by Elijah and Moses.  The Electric Universe offers a simple explanation of the Universe for everyone -- Believer and Atheist alike.  It does not resort to exotic matter, but it does explain gravity in terms of being an electromagnetic effect.  Quite simply, the Big Bang is an Error because it can't be replicated in the laboratory, while the Plasma Universe theory is held up by laboratory experiments.  The astrologers are in error about the universe, and the real Astronomers are those who are observing the Universe, performing laboratory experiments, and coming to different conclusions.

References:

1. The Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon, Chapter 3.
2. Doctrine and Covenants 93:26.
3. Calphysics Institute: Introduction to Zero Point Energy
4. Wilhelm Reich and the Orgone Energy (video)
5. Parowan Prophet: the Cause of World War Three.
6. Dealing with Pseudoskepticism in Astronomy, Thunderbolts Blog post
7. The Saturn Epic: In the Beginning (Blog Post, October 20, 2008)
8. LDS, dawn in 2,500 B.C. (video)
9. Symbols of an Alien Sky, The Thunderbolts Project (video, non-LDS)
10. Remembering the End of the World, the Thunderbolts Project (Video, DVD)
11. The Saturn Epic: Mythmaking (blog post, October 22, 2008)
12. The Cosmic Thunderbolt, the Thunderbolts Project (video)
13. Thornhill, Wallace. "The Deep Impact of Comet Theory." The Electric Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. . 
14. Talbott, David. "YouTube - Planet of a Thousand Mysteries ." YouTube. The Thunderbolts Project, 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. . 
15. Talbott, David. "YouTube - When Meteorites Fell From Mars ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . The Thunderbolts Project, 18 Oct. 2010. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. . 
16. Talbott, David. "YouTube - The Thunderbolt that Raised Olympus Mons ." YouTube. The Thunderbolts Project, 11 Nov. 2010. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. . 

Monopolies on Culture suck

So, they suck.  After all, if we steal their master copies, they don't have it anymore.  We would be subject to the "thou shalt not steal" law.  However, if we copied their master copy, we both have a copy.  Too bad they want to punch us in the face and put us in jail.

"IF YOU COMPETE WITH MY MONOPOLY I DON'T HAVE IT ANY MORE!" -- WHAM!!

DRM-tards are probably either clueless, stupid, or dumb.  They are supporting a business model that is obsolete in the face of the internet.  Copyright is one law that is made obsolete by the Internet.  Its time more people understand this.

Dark Forces

I put up Nina Paley's "Drinking Problem" with Meme and Eustace for a simple reason.  You, mainstream astronomers, have a drinking problem.  You won't simply take no for an answer from Nature and now think up crazy ideas that you push to us, the general public.

You simply have the brass to dictate to Nature how she ought to act and be:



Really, nature doesn't look the way you want Nature to look.  In all simplicity, It looks at your wonderfully constructed equations and simply doesn't follow them.  Nature doesn't manifest Dark Energy, Dark Matter, or Dark Forces. 

Dark Matter.

Well, you had something there with Dark Matter until you say it isn't made up of atoms.  So, you're looking for neutrinos, which are made up of Dark Matter but doesn't have mass.  Okay . . .

Dark Energy.

Energy is neither dark nor light, it simply is energy.  Some of it is invisible, some of it is very visible.  But it's the same, Energy.  Matter is spent Energy, but it can be converted back into unspent Energy.  Energy, whether it is intelligent or not, is simply energy.  You can lull your sheep into believing in Dark Energy, but the next thing really shows you are off your rocker.

Dark Forces.

You are not only thumbing Nature's nose, but your taking Sir Issac Newton's work on Physics and flushing it down the toilet with dark forces.  To create your perfect universe, you have divided everything up into a dichotomy.   Matter vs. Dark Matter, Energy vs. Dark Energy, Force vs. Dark Force.  This is so medievalistic it reminds me of Saint Cyril when he vivisected Hypatia on a Christian altar.  Our Universe still works in some absolutes --> 1+1 will always be 2.  An object at rest will stay at rest until a force acts upon it.

You are creating an ideology and calling it science.   You are drunk with theories and mathematics you don't realize that you are creating a religion.  You have your creation myths, your saints, your god, and your theology.  You have perverted science; and are slowly transforming it from the quest for truth about the world around us into a pseudo-science.  The young must be indoctrinated into your ideology and you use Mathematics to cow everyone else into believing you.

You deserve the label "astrologer" and all the respect due to the term.  You, who won't take no for an answer to your big bang.  You, who have prevented real scientists from getting telescope time, or preventing their work to the public.  You are drunk with fame and T.V. time.  You are so drunk with your own knowledge and supposed wisdom that you have become blind.

Your big bang theory is built like a house of cards.  You treat us like sheep and have deluded us into believing you.  You prevented Halton Arp from publishing his materials, and you prevent other scientists from being seen and heard.  Well, you astrologers, your theory's time is limited.  You astrologers who will not take "no" for an answer to the Big Bang Theory and make up all of these fantastic constructs are drunk with yourselves.  You're like Meme in this strip:






Really, guys, get a clue.  You are so in love with your fantasy that you will not allow reality to have its say.

Except on the Internet.
 

The Caves of Chaos

My, my.

Finally we get the PCs up and going for the Caves of Chaos!!  It's finally happening, the PCs (well, 2 of them) are finally ready to go into the Caves of Chaos.  The problem seems to be that Rolemaster PCs at first level are woefully underpowered against their D&D counterparts.  For instance, at 2nd level, an RM magician gets a plasma bolt -- SHOCK BOLT -- it's called (in D&D 4e, it's an at will power called magic missile that clueless idiots get to cast at the Darkness every time they feel like it while their fellow player wants to do some chicks at the local tavern.  Stupid thing should be a DAILY power).  Ahem.

This is Rolemaster, not the cartoonish thingy of 4th Edition.  People get hurt.  People get maimed.  People bleed.  People get their limbs hacked off.  People get hit by Interplanetary bolts of lightning and light up like Christmas Trees.  That sort of thing.  So what is terrible about a D&D dungeon crawl when you rolemasterize it?  They, the players, are facing greater odds.  There aren't five gnolls that fall down every time you zap them, there are five gnolls that can really kill your character -- with experience comparable to level 1 D&D characters.  But there is a reason why the PCs are going into the Caverns of Chaos.

The Drow of the Underdark is infiltrating the government of Evereska.  They killed the Queen and they dumped her body in the Caverns of Chaos.  The elvish government need proof before they can act against the Drow in Evereska.  That proof, the body of the dead queen of Evereska, is in the Caverns of Chaos.  A place most sane people would stay away from.

Even if your players play fourth edition and have gnolls for breakfast. 

If 4e was released with a Creative Commons License

Interesting question.

One thing for sure, if it was released with a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike license, I'd be tearing into it and throwing out all the stupid miniature rules (DELETE, DELETE, DELETE!)  I'd create some modules around the Yaun-ti, since they are the most interesting monsters in D&D that WotC claims that it has copyright over (the second being Mind Flayers, which are based on HP Lovecraft's Call of Cthulhu mythos).  I'd also be addressing a few rules that I've seen of late.

Take Sampson of the Bible.  Sampson was a judge of Israel who also happened to be Dan's local hero.  He was strong enough to kill a lion, to carry away city gates, and to cause the Temple of Dagon to fall and destroy the entire Philistine Aristocracy.  I'd say he had a STR of 30 (of course he sinned and had his hair cut off, so he lost his strength "it went back down to a measly 9.")  For some dumb reason, the ability scores are linked to one's level.

Actually, one of my 4e players made an issue of it when I didn't think there was one.  He thought I was insane.  Actually I was so incredibly tired I didn't want to discuss the issue.  I wanted to show he had super strength (in RM, Sampson would have a bonus to his strength not a modification to his strength score.  The "supernatural" bonus would be about +10 or +15 for RMFRP).

Secondly, I'd do something about the pidgeon-holing.  I just don't know where to begin.  I'd probably throw out the extended roles and try something different (I'm beginning to think that the pidgeon-holing is a core aspect of the system, but if we just got rid of that).

So, what would you do if WotC released 4e with a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license?

Where are the White Holes?

I've been so focused on trying to prove that Black Holes doesn't exist, that I forgot to approach it from this angle.  Where are the white holes in our universe?  If something with infinite mass and density with zero volume exists in the universe, then it's opposite must also exist -- a White Hole.


This Masters of the Universe Episode explains what a White Hole is.





IF our Universe has black holes, then it has white holes.  I'd like to challenge the astronomers to find a White Hole.  A White Hole would be direct evidence that a Black Hole would exist. 

A Man and his Dragon

Hardly for the season.  It is the season to celebrate the Saturnalia, actually.  Looking forward to the second coming of the Son of Man is what we all should do.  But I rendered this up to try out a new pose set.

This is from the Michael, Master of Dragons pose set.  I used the Default MilDragon2 skin for this one, so it could be a Copper Dragon for all I know. :)

Black Holes don't exist!

"And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:"
-- Micah 5:12

"Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
-- Isaiah 47:13



Black Holes don't exist for the simple reason that they haven't been directly observed.  According to theory, a black hole is three or more solar masses squeezed into a single point.  The main problem with Black Holes is that you are taking a lot of mass and squeezing it down into non-existent volume.  Since you figure mass by dividing an object's density by it's volume, and a non-existent volume equals zero, you are essentially dividing by zero.

Ask any school boy if you can divide by zero.  In grade school, you get zero, in Algebra and higher maths, you get an imaginary number.  You cannot divide by zero and get a real number, it's just not done.  However, relativists -- or as Stephen J. Crothers calls them -- Astrologers -- gets away with dividing by zero all the time to create black holes.  However, Nature doesn't deal in imaginary numbers.  Nature -- and the Force behind it -- only works with Real Numbers.  Imaginary numbers actually only exist in the imagination, and since black holes depend on imaginary numbers to exist, they must be imaginary also.

Another problem with the Black Hole is nuclear chemistry.  Nobody seems to realize but Black Holes are co-dependent on Neutron Stars in order to exist.  A neutron star results from a supernova when gravity compresses a star's core so much that all the matter condenses into neutrons.  People don't seem to realize that in Nuclear Chemistry, neutrons can't be densely packed together so closely.  They'd just repel each other instantly to seek balance.  While a black hole does the same thing, essentially -- it packs all matter into a single point.

A point is an abstraction, since in mathematics, there are an infinite amount of points on a line.  Although it is true in Sacred Geometry, one uses a point to draw a circle (and then create a mini-universe), it is not true that Nature creates and uses points.  Points are used by Man and by Exalted Man to create geometric constructs and models of the Universe (i.e. points of reference).  So, a black hole is an imaginary construct, a theoretical exercise in infinite gravity that will never be observed in nature.  Believing in Black Holes is an error, since the belief has not been substantiated by direct observation.  The Astrologers aren't true scientists, don't believe them.  The true scientists are out there, observing the Universe and giving simpler explanations.