tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133904602024-03-12T22:41:01.840-07:00A Maggids Musingsthoughts and humor from a life avoiding <i>chametz</i> davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.comBlogger1905125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-88773018144882702662022-08-16T09:31:00.003-07:002022-08-16T09:31:39.731-07:00<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz_weFB0HcRafObVtYjimNNl3xwqOfR3mZIdv3Z6aFPpUR18zWMKYY2Qpzhcz1Ob36eTz2N2mfxYxnHhxcKHXeOTe1h3GfHqdg6qPRFbu6RaIjF2oHdxM-g5ZgLXQ9l0yOhl0OKTAZw96xekWn6JlA-Fajyth320WEqfACuldKk5qM_rp2sQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="300" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz_weFB0HcRafObVtYjimNNl3xwqOfR3mZIdv3Z6aFPpUR18zWMKYY2Qpzhcz1Ob36eTz2N2mfxYxnHhxcKHXeOTe1h3GfHqdg6qPRFbu6RaIjF2oHdxM-g5ZgLXQ9l0yOhl0OKTAZw96xekWn6JlA-Fajyth320WEqfACuldKk5qM_rp2sQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>My kids and I have started enjoying BTD6 together.</p><p>I am experimenting with the upgrade <a href="https://bloons.fandom.com/wiki/Come_On_Everybody!" target="_blank">Come On Everybody!</a> so here are my notes about Primary towers.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdq5cl/btd6_comprehensive_guide_dart_monkey_28x/" target="_blank">Dart Monkey</a><br />0-2-5 costs 31K good for straightaways (target last) and ceramics</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdq72w/btd6_comprehensive_guide_boomerang_monkey_28x/" target="_blank">Boomerang Monkey</a><br />2-5-0 costs 45K good for midgame [cannot hit camo or lead]<br />one 2-0-4 set to strong for MOAB Press (from Boomerang 0-0-4)</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdqa7z/btd6_comprehensive_guide_bomb_shooter_28x/">Bomb Shooter</a><br />1-3-0 costs 3K good for blimps [need L4 for black, cannot hit camo]</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdr6yj/btd6_comprehensive_guide_tack_shooter_28x/" target="_blank">Tack Shooter</a><br />?-4-0 costs 4K good for midgame [cannot hit camo or lead]<br />?-5-0 costs 20K good for late game especially with Pat Fusty [cannot hit camo]</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdr8od/btd6_comprehensive_guide_ice_monkey_28x/" target="_blank">Ice Monkey</a><br />one 4-1-0 costs 5K removes camo and regrow<br />0-1-? costs 3K, 5K, or 37K, get icicles by round 63 [cannot hit camo or lead]</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/btd6Guide/comments/qdra29/btd6_comprehensive_guide_glue_gunner_28x/" target="_blank">Glue Gunner</a><br />0-?-3 costs 4K+ and made affordable by top path Village, combo with MOAB Press (from Boomerang 0-0-4) or with Bloon Sabotage (from Ninja 0-2-0)</p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-10459748409062624532022-06-21T11:46:00.004-07:002022-06-21T11:57:01.094-07:00Mix Tape<p>My generation made <b>mix tapes</b> for friends. It is something my kids won't do.</p><p>How should you arrange 60 or 90 minutes of your favorite music? What shared memories did you and the friend have with the songs, or with their topics? What story would the songs tell?</p><p>I made my best mix tape during my college years. The titles of the songs told a story. Perhaps I was proposing to a girl I loved. I also made a copy for myself, of course.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDTVvDtARxJB9NTdyYl-whPjK5OjGz1JILgoplVAbBIX6IKn17tNljdECIhkn8QCJFw4kAhZLtNm9tVuFl-LCNW8iybPOQbOSmoBCuglNvjMhUpYxP5qSOyrmgIU5STrnW0ELgZ6xMcK8T8c_j-dRE0kzx5y0JYE4NVya124R4_D2LhyZXA/s4032/20220621_114229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDTVvDtARxJB9NTdyYl-whPjK5OjGz1JILgoplVAbBIX6IKn17tNljdECIhkn8QCJFw4kAhZLtNm9tVuFl-LCNW8iybPOQbOSmoBCuglNvjMhUpYxP5qSOyrmgIU5STrnW0ELgZ6xMcK8T8c_j-dRE0kzx5y0JYE4NVya124R4_D2LhyZXA/s320/20220621_114229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rng43hdEw&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=2" target="_blank">Born at the right time</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJOtaWyEzaI&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=3" target="_blank">summertime</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQI5IfCaoG8&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=4" target="_blank">it's not easy being green</a>: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgWVa_dxalM&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=5" target="_blank">land of confusion</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsaE24oSSDU&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=6" target="_blank">time, and tide</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxtYzo0OLXs&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=7" target="_blank">Mad about you</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXW6YpMw84&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=8" target="_blank">gypsy</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_6ejm0AX0&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=9" target="_blank">Right by your side</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwqnphzvXs&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=10" target="_blank">life is a carnival</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=11" target="_blank">closer to fine</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkJlmYwMgRM&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=12" target="_blank">Silent night</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0voEf2JcNKE&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=13" target="_blank">we close our eyes</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxcI4iaWHGk&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=14" target="_blank">When you awake</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQIhiQAnHtA&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=15" target="_blank">we'll be together</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=16" target="_blank">Stand by me</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4PISDj27iQ&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=17" target="_blank">time after time</a>; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9Xs42n4kg&list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hBWSpiHkpGC0SNxy2Y9hum&index=18" target="_blank">then you can tell me goodbye</a>.</span></i></p></blockquote><hr /><p>I thought about that mix tape yesterday because my younger son wants to play his favorite song repeatedly as background music while he plays <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myzRvTQed0g" target="_blank">Deeprock Galactic</a></i> with his brother. He even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXP3lN0vvzw" target="_blank">found</a> it on a one-hour loop, to maximize his happiness (and his brother's frustration).</p><p>So I made my kids a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO47RvmQ2g4hT2ncFTbRrKtCQg5g2OmWm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Dad's Playlist</b></span></a> today. I left out quite a few sentimentally significant songs in an effort to limit the playlist to one song by each artist. I put my son's song first, so he would not have to wait for it, even though it is new to me. Hopefully having a wider variety of fun and catchy songs will bring them peace.</p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-12605578059084914382022-01-30T16:57:00.002-08:002022-01-30T16:57:12.617-08:00Why I Love the Dishonored Games<p>My current favorite computer games are <i>Dishonored</i> and <i>Dishonored 2</i>.</p><p>This is not surprising. I loved the Eidos <i>Thief</i> games. These two games are their successors, with some of the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/8qmjqg/behind-the-scenes-of-idishonoredi-an-interview-with-the-creators-of-the-epic-dystopian-game" target="_blank">same</a> design team.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6wTrDdDgkuK9GSPOir7-AeO5M3gqfLVcXz3RpkZIKyfULdtsFZkkHS4wUrm4Elc4ppErZTXjwdH0RfEMxvE7_pAKhEcx9RLH-8fymJBvB3rlWqhgH9V63yOKgyIMOA_BOlnmhmxJsR3fJ5SGg_Pg6IDVelRxAOXmGRzJFIjmpAZJ_CoSFWg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1913" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6wTrDdDgkuK9GSPOir7-AeO5M3gqfLVcXz3RpkZIKyfULdtsFZkkHS4wUrm4Elc4ppErZTXjwdH0RfEMxvE7_pAKhEcx9RLH-8fymJBvB3rlWqhgH9V63yOKgyIMOA_BOlnmhmxJsR3fJ5SGg_Pg6IDVelRxAOXmGRzJFIjmpAZJ_CoSFWg=w400-h205" width="400" /></a></div><hr /><p>The dramatic theme of the series is once again <b>what makes people turn into monsters</b>, <b>what type of monsters people turn into</b>, and how the main character is already on that path and can embrace it or change to find redemption.</p><p>The game has very few actual monsters. Having just a few (weepers, nest keepers, a few specific characters) works right. It keeps the existence of monsters present in our minds without changing the focus from people <i>becoming</i> monsters into the very different dramatic theme of physical reality being invaded by monsters.</p><p>Remember that historically, the classic monsters were all designed to explore the issue of people becoming monsters.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Werewolves</b> are people that loose control of themselves and become violent, usually at night (drunkenly abusive fathers and husbands).</li><li><b>Vampires</b> are wealthy nobles who sustain themselves by draining their peasants.</li><li><b>Ghosts</b> are people who are dead but still cripple our options (when a depressed person hears in their head "You'll never be any good at..." whose voice is it? usually a parent if it ends "...anything", although often a teacher if it ends "...math" or "...school").</li><li>The <b>Frankenstein monster</b> explores the danger of when technology becomes unnatural.</li></ul><p></p><p>We have all heard so many stories with the dramatic theme of people becoming monsters. It now takes a light touch, and a story without too many monsters, to continue that literary legacy. Arkane manages to make <i>Dishonored 1</i> do it very well.</p><hr /><p>The "nature versus technology" theme was stronger in <i>Thief 1</i> and <i>Thief 2</i> but is present in this series too. It gets more significant as the story advances with the existence of Tall Boys as "mechanized troops" in <i>Dishonored 1</i>, and the clockwork robot-like soldiers in <i>Dishonored 2</i>. How should society balance nature and technology? Both can get too extreme. How should we responsibly get energy and metals? Etc.</p><p>The Tall Boys are people who take drugs and use tech to make them merciless killers, even when killers of innocents. The robots have programming instead of morals. Both are discussed in notes and conversations. The initial ability to provide better security at a small number of key locations seemed vital at that time to stabilize society. But what should society do once these killers become commonplace enough to guard a noble's party or police the streets? How should a hero act around them compared to normal guards?</p><p>Electricity also allows more game mechanics. We can bypass obstacles by unplugging whale oil tanks, using rewire tools, turning off windmills, etc. In <i>Dishonored 2</i> there are even "electrical boxes" the size of large crates as part of the scenery that will knock out opponents pushed into them. We can also use electrical obstacles to our advantage, such as by tossing certain objects into a Wall of Light to make it flash and kill a guard who it normally does not harm.</p><hr /><p>Of course, nature magic is held opposite to technology.</p><p>We eventually see three kinds of magic in the <i>Dishonored</i> games.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Outsider's mark grants very controllable powers to a very small number of people.</li><li>The Outsider's runes cause stranger, uncontrollable thoughts and actions among many people (especially those who build a shrine in their home).</li><li>Witchcraft involves using plants, pigments, and bone or blood to "siphon" void energy into specific purposes against the Outsider's will.</li></ul><p></p><p>So just like technology, there are people who use it well to make a living, people who get lost unproductively in <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/Dishonored" target="_blank">TV Tropes</a>, and people who use it for nefarious purposes its inventors did not intend.</p><p>Just like in the <i>Thief</i> games, having inventors be major characters in the game makes that comparison more obvious. Unlike the <i>Thief</i> games, in <i>Dishonored 2</i> some inventors and nature-witches become allies.</p><p>I did like how witch magic was <i>almost</i> done in this game as a two step process.</p><p>First you make an oil painting: you literally paint the world as you want to will it to become. However, your painting must show a tree. With witchcraft you speedily grow a matching tree in the real world to "pencil in" a connection between your painting's alternate reality to the real world.</p><p>Then you create runes made of the painting's pigments, its matching tree, and death (human bones) as magical capacitors to "shock" into existence an active magical connection.</p><p>That's not quite what witchcraft is in these games. But it is close, and easy to understand without playing the games. It shows the unique slant on witchcraft in a fantasy setting that still draws from traditional witchy tropes of art, nature, bones, etc.</p><hr /><p>I adore how the first game is a great example of a tragic story that is <b>not</b> about your character.</p><p><i>Dishonored 1</i> is not Corvo's story. I'll explain.</p><p>Considering literary analysis (not time in the spotlight) the Lord of the Rings trilogy is Gollum's story. Not only are the crucial plot details about his choices, from the beginning to the end, but he <b>continues</b> making choices and developing as a character more dramatically than any other character.</p><p>Similarly, the first six Star Wars films are Anakin's story.</p><p><i>Dishonored 1</i> is Admiral Havelock's story. Yes, he wants Emily on the throne, but he is always clearly desiring to mold and guide her--to be the real power behind the throne. The contrasting rules of Jessamine and Hiram are baselines by which Havelock (and the player) considers what a good ruler is like, how a ruler should treat Emily and Corvo, how much a ruler can save or damn Dunwall, etc.</p><p>Havelock is like Gollum. <b>His</b> choices, from the beginning to the end, are the foundation of the story. His continued choices, and his character development and self-doubt, drive the story forward.</p><p>The game works with missions instead of an open world because Havelock is the character with the most character development, not Corvo.</p><p>In other words, our character is dishonored because he has fallen from being a lord and is now <a href="https://www.escapistmagazine.com/corvo-is-not-an-honorable-man/" target="_blank">merely a tool</a> used by those who retain social honor.</p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-small;"><i>(Click that link. It's a fascinating read!)</i></span></p><p><span>In contrast, in <i>Dishonored 2</i> the main villain is Delilah, who neither continues to make choices nor demonstrates character development. The sequel thus feels much more like <b>our</b> story.</span></p><hr /><p>Another way the <i>Dishonored</i> games are successors to the Eidos <i>Thief</i> games is the theme of fascism.</p><p>Something I read the other day:</p><p></p><blockquote><span style="color: #45818e;">An individual life consists of mistakes, according to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and so does history. The strong, he says, know how to lead and also how to obey, whereas the weak "require the illusion of independence." Order, no matter how complex the social organism, rests upon some kind of chain of command or multiple chains of command. Order is more important than freedom, since without order there can be no freedom for anybody.</span></blockquote><p></p><p>Solzhenitsyn is not talking about free will, so do not read that into his use of the word freedom. He is claiming that if we want the grocery stores to have full shelves, and the lights to come on when we turn on the light switch, we need structures that include leaders and followers, we need people who organize and people who get things done. The freedom he cares about is being able to buy what you want, and have light when you want, and enjoy all the other benefits of a functional society. To be "strong" in this model is to be willing to lead or follow as needed. To be "weak" is to deny your place in the structures and believe you are supporting society when you are really only parasitically enjoying the fruits of its success.</p><p>It's as good a summary as I have found for how the games' Abbey of the Everyman wants society to function.</p><p>It sounds a lot like fascism, which isn't surprising because Solzhenitsyn was an admirer of fascism. So is the Abbey and its Overseers.</p><hr /><p>One last dynamic.</p><p>It is fascinating how Dunwall and Karnaca, despite being big cities, are carefully designed to most resemble a frontier setting by sharing many genre elements with locations set in the American West, Edo-period Japan, and other frontier tropes where a lone protagonist can make a difference.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbmVwkkYqEcufmmhGjkVvF-hO88KGMiLLrCdiKQpq2J3NuE-kyoAESBqERaQ2Iy--D28p8ZOxNtGVVnvEM9BzlednK0uPFu6QtFBOZjNP6dnq4ipCUE8Z3RYb-V7_8zJ_eOhQO5GsVzwWEa69_u6a-5V9Dft1Arq5JG9757t8g5TsqQ7sFRg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbmVwkkYqEcufmmhGjkVvF-hO88KGMiLLrCdiKQpq2J3NuE-kyoAESBqERaQ2Iy--D28p8ZOxNtGVVnvEM9BzlednK0uPFu6QtFBOZjNP6dnq4ipCUE8Z3RYb-V7_8zJ_eOhQO5GsVzwWEa69_u6a-5V9Dft1Arq5JG9757t8g5TsqQ7sFRg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Here is something I wrote for my own notes when designing a paper-and-pencil RPG setting years ago that I just realized applies to Dunwall and Karnaca.</p><p>On the frontier <b>life is dangerous</b>. Villages and towns are threatened by monsters and bandits. Nevertheless, most settled locations have a few loners living on the outskirts due to temperament, profession, or outcast social status. These loners are often in need of help from a single individual, or able to assist a single individual in efforts to clean up trouble in the nearby settled location.</p><p>Because of these dangers, <b>most adults carry weapons</b>. (Or perhaps only adults of one gender or social class.) Also, most people cannot afford the price or encumbrance of significant armor, and medical healing is expensive or rare. Thus a lone protagonist can often win a fight by being skilled enough to avoid being hit while injuring enough attackers to cause the remaining opponents to flee. A frontier hero often has special options for effective healing: rare medicines, foreign herbal remedies, or esoteric meditative practices.</p><p>Because so many adults are armed, society <b>focuses on honor more than law</b>. Mistakes are kept secret, and significant characters are haunted by one or more great mistakes from their pasts. Because is difficult to govern an honor-focused, armed society at the geographical outskirts, <b>government does little</b>. Big government is distant or nonexistent. Local government is often corrupt and has insufficient money to do more than law enforcement and perhaps oversight of road building and utilities. When leaders do govern justly they are too busy dealing with intrigue to effectively promote social welfare. Most adults pay little in taxation and receive little in services. When big government does appear it interrupts normal life to handle a crisis, chase a criminal, install a trade route, or claim a natural resource.</p><p>Because government does little, <b>other groups provide support in crisis situations</b>. Clans, guilds, gangs, or religious congregations pool resources as insurance against medical problems, natural disasters, and urban crime and fires.</p><p>Finally, because government is small and people are reliant upon social groups <b>corruption can control a settled location</b>. A social group that grows into a dominating organization can reign unchallenged until a wandering hero or heroine arrives.</p><p>Together, this means <b>problems are obvious and local</b>. A monster threatens a farming village, instead of an army of monsters threatening a kingdom. A tyrannical gang overtly runs the town, instead of a evil brotherhood secretly infiltrating every guild in the capital city.</p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-76331138807813035702022-01-30T16:09:00.002-08:002022-01-30T16:09:34.264-08:00Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle<p><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1b;">After solving the <a href="https://dishonored.fandom.com/wiki/The_Jindosh_Riddle" target="_blank">Jindosh riddle</a>, I confirmed there were already online guides. But I did not see any that provided the logical steps, so here those are. If it helps, read this as a</span><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1b;"> </span><a class="_3t5uN8xUmg0TOwRCOGQEcU" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1S5hK9mV5mAAieC2o77g0ZhmrKfyph5jE8zmJp8fqPFM/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">spreadsheet</a><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1b;">.</span></p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr c1cmiB1jfdq4sxidlPDAx" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/66xrsavznoy71.png?width=584&format=png&auto=webp&s=afa45013a0663079868dadc60cd50bd58bacc8c6" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/66xrsavznoy71.png?width=584&format=png&auto=webp&s=afa45013a0663079868dadc60cd50bd58bacc8c6" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="FJNSiirwoPtG58aeGw2Jx" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">The riddle's first paragraph</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">We start by making an empty chart.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/x3fu54jvroy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=b069baf6d2c727c650c8e03251e9ab3e3043cdde" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/x3fu54jvroy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=b069baf6d2c727c650c8e03251e9ab3e3043cdde" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">We are most clearly told the name of the woman seated on the left, the color next to her, and (from the second paragraph) the drink in the center.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/7nuz3bfgooy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=b347e8a3be104dda99d5b8dce3b71b5d5cb14f45" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/7nuz3bfgooy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=b347e8a3be104dda99d5b8dce3b71b5d5cb14f45" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">We next can see which two colors must be in the two right-most columns. This also specifies a drink.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/bkfe2stjooy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=583c04924add62e2cec28e007576fce2b1a144df" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/bkfe2stjooy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=583c04924add62e2cec28e007576fce2b1a144df" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">The left-most woman has a different name from the name of the first woman mentioned. So the left-most woman must have the color whose city is known and be sitting next to a certain heirloom.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">This puts the first woman mentioned in the center. We have now finished with the first paragraph.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/wuqgowlmooy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=626e2e8259fdaa10651687c08b4b1dd9a4be090d" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/wuqgowlmooy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=626e2e8259fdaa10651687c08b4b1dd9a4be090d" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr c1cmiB1jfdq4sxidlPDAx" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/d8q9bm9rooy71.png?width=565&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe63032029ec7bc65151e8501a4239c732e0094c" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/d8q9bm9rooy71.png?width=565&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe63032029ec7bc65151e8501a4239c732e0094c" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="FJNSiirwoPtG58aeGw2Jx" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8em; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">The riddle's second paragraph</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">We have two options for the woman making a toast. If she is in the rightmost seat, this leads to a contradiction with the drinker known not to be in the center.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/4anzol6yooy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=1eeb3e62f3fa6f9069bd5217b5b821a99df6c3da" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/4anzol6yooy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=1eeb3e62f3fa6f9069bd5217b5b821a99df6c3da" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Therefore the woman making a toast must have the only heirloom known so far.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/i8nzg0h8soy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=e112d5e94e65d0b81c9036bc584c6615d6883a08" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/i8nzg0h8soy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=e112d5e94e65d0b81c9036bc584c6615d6883a08" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Next we have two options for the woman we know is sitting next to a certain drink and heirloom. The option right of center leads to a contradiction with the woman known to not be in the center</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/whda5xz7poy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=2d79ba46bb7d0b135ac448150a622fd6dd1bd32c" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/whda5xz7poy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=2d79ba46bb7d0b135ac448150a622fd6dd1bd32c" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">So we use the other option.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/pvhy1psapoy71.png?width=705&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c1bf815616ca75a0e9e4cd7f2aaa860a0813b24" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/pvhy1psapoy71.png?width=705&format=png&auto=webp&s=0c1bf815616ca75a0e9e4cd7f2aaa860a0813b24" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">There is now only one option for the woman who had a wild youth.</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/w4xk7zftqoy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=00b3bdcd1fead664095ecc64194d23ee755685df" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/w4xk7zftqoy71.png?width=706&format=png&auto=webp&s=00b3bdcd1fead664095ecc64194d23ee755685df" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Process of elimination adds the final city and name, and thus all the information but the never-mentioned heirloom (which is also now known by process of elimination).</p><div class="_2-UiOdhyj4wHBv7Rc2FeDr" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 24px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="_3Oa0THmZ3f5iZXAQ0hBJ0k _2LjgQiHLCZ9LDbCQx5KaOi" style="border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; justify-content: center; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="_3m20hIKOhTTeMgPnfMbVNN" href="https://preview.redd.it/ij5ez7dgpoy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=8e150f10ccaec363a6e825a02b25953a057136ab" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="r/dishonored - Steps for Solving the Jindosh Riddle" class="_2_tDEnGMLxpM6uOa2kaDB3 ImageBox-image media-element _1XWObl-3b9tPy64oaG6fax" src="https://preview.redd.it/ij5ez7dgpoy71.png?width=707&format=png&auto=webp&s=8e150f10ccaec363a6e825a02b25953a057136ab" style="background-color: var(--newCommunityTheme-post); border: 0px; display: block; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 700px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div></div>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-20921316778807515162022-01-30T16:00:00.003-08:002022-01-30T16:00:29.203-08:00Six Kinds of Dice Modifiers<p><span class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My role-playing game <i><a href="https://davidvs.net/ninepowers/" target="_blank">Nine Powers</a></i> is doing great.</span></p><p><span class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1GAttJdXKtoGGgoJq9B9WIrz0JCS-HNcOZtCnPwSNmxJxz-4NyzRKiuYdJXIjCabLtFqD_yPKgsyjCCwcD4LsnEjO7fzmkk8QgSPz5hQQY6A9zu7sOXF4UPmYUUBnmq3Vx1Kt82WSIJXKQ9i0BuMtnMasR3D9AVlwf3zcVdBy9k8L3zUn3A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1GAttJdXKtoGGgoJq9B9WIrz0JCS-HNcOZtCnPwSNmxJxz-4NyzRKiuYdJXIjCabLtFqD_yPKgsyjCCwcD4LsnEjO7fzmkk8QgSPz5hQQY6A9zu7sOXF4UPmYUUBnmq3Vx1Kt82WSIJXKQ9i0BuMtnMasR3D9AVlwf3zcVdBy9k8L3zUn3A" width="320" /></a></div><br />I have transitioned it from a diceless game (best for when my kids were very young, for my wife and I to play while on a walk with a stroller) to a game that used dice very carefully to help the storytelling.<p></p><p><span class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is a repost from something I <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/RPGdesign/comments/sb2ip1/six_different_modifiers_for_dice/" target="_blank">wrote</a> in Reddit about the many different ways RPG game mechanics can modify a die roll.</span></p><hr /><p><em class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Does thinking about the six very different</em><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 14px;"> </span><em class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">kinds</span></em><span face=""Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1b; font-size: 14px;"> </span><em class="_7s4syPYtk5hfUIjySXcRE" style="border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of modifiers help your game design?</em></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Change the number of dice rolled</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">This can allow a character to do something previously impossible, and is thus appropriate for magical or high-tech items. Perhaps using the Wilderness skill to follow a monster's trail required successes on 4 dice. A character that normally rolled 3 dice could not normally succeed, but with an enchanted magnifying glass that grants extra dice the task becomes possible.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Change the threshold for success</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Tasks still need the same number of successes, but more or less dice will count as successful. This makes tasks easier or harder, and is thus appropriate for high-quality equipment and circumstantial bonuses. A historian will (on average) find out better information with access to the royal library than in a small village.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Also perhaps appropriate for defensive actions do in combat making it harder for your opponent to hit you.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Leveraging successes</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">If the die roll is successful, then additional successes are added (a fixed amount from a bonus, or each successful die counts as two, etc.) Now the effect of success is much more dramatic, which can appropriate for giant foes, poisoned blades, etc.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Also perhaps appropriate for armor, if armor reduces the number of successes that "count" as successful (plate armor mitigates slicing damage), or when armor does nothing to normal successes but negates leveraged successes (maybe brigandine does not mitigate much blunt damage normally, but does prevent blunt damage for getting bonus successes).</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Rerolling dice</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">For most dice mechanics, a second chance is less impactful than the above three types of modifiers. Appropriate having both hands free when grappling in combat, blocking with a shield instead of a weapon, and some benefits from a character's background (before adventuring I was a locksmith, but learned nothing special about dungeon traps).</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Setting some dice to their minimum or maximum value</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;">Rare but sometimes appropriate. Perhaps a character who is already the town hero now gets 1 die set to its maximum value when haggling for prices.</p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0.25em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="_12FoOEddL7j_RgMQN0SNeU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Using other size dice</span></p><p class="_1qeIAgB0cPwnLhDF9XSiJM" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1b; font-family: "Noto Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0.8em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For example, instead of six-sided die, this roll uses four-sided or eight-sided. Perhaps appropriate to differentiate swords from daggers, the benefit of a two-handed grip, etc.</p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-15960078003165933662022-01-30T15:56:00.002-08:002022-01-30T15:56:29.221-08:00Two Songs About Dying<p>Another post about music on YouTube after an evening of distraction.</p><p>I was introduced to Elizabeth Zharoff's series <i>The Charismatic Voice</i> where she teaches clueless people like me why certain singers sound so talented.</p><p>The most touching was her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B2zFAHS628" target="_blank">reaction</a> to Johnny Cash <a href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/johnny-cash-hurt/" target="_blank">singing</a> "Hurt".</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtg_VDkkA-KHu-pEQ2uUmTfeHsUT7-Kn6MWuiaeDxNldYkKKNPZY7K68dqwb0SnwxOhIAAglqlPC4BqJVvN_WBC-8SVYvHU7tmcPa1O3bNmpDWJwGc6I9csvSdNCz_kfDRqAHpJ39PmPWJW02R8OtCYvdHrZppTpzf6NX3VY69kMKQOI66jg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1894" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtg_VDkkA-KHu-pEQ2uUmTfeHsUT7-Kn6MWuiaeDxNldYkKKNPZY7K68dqwb0SnwxOhIAAglqlPC4BqJVvN_WBC-8SVYvHU7tmcPa1O3bNmpDWJwGc6I9csvSdNCz_kfDRqAHpJ39PmPWJW02R8OtCYvdHrZppTpzf6NX3VY69kMKQOI66jg" width="320" /></a></div><p>My favorite song about coming to terms with dying is still <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGX7RxsTNmo" target="_blank">The Great Gig in the Sky</a>, and I was pleased to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJzatfNQf4g" target="_blank">find</a> a video about Clare Torry's improvisation and recognition.</p><p></p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-90646068568163967652022-01-29T15:30:00.004-08:002022-01-29T18:14:58.527-08:00I Discovered Song Mashups<p>I am late to the party.</p><p>From 2015, "Staying Alive" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVCtJvLZvis" target="_blank">mixed</a> with "Back in Black".</p><p>Also from 2015, "Sweet Home Alabama" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVCtJvLZvis" target="_blank">mixed</a> with "Fat Bottomed Girls".</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Of course, the best versions of "Sweet Home Alabama" involve either <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EcFEMC_UCI" target="_blank">Rodney Mullen</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbnFxbaiHF0">Leningrad Cowboys with the Red Army Choir</a>.)</span></p><p>From 2019, "Sweet Dreams" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmLBSCiEoas" target="_blank">mixed</a> with "White Stripes"</p><p>What other mixes are out there that I would enjoy?</p><p><br /></p><p>These are almost as fun as kids <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx5ONcVtnCw" target="_blank">reacting</a> to Queen's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WrSu5x2L_U" target="_blank">music</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXjrXst2mXE0zsrdA7LyaZ9fsEsCDbVJfwrwGpRsr9VTCxzyvG7PGYSCj_gIUhlboPw-XMCbvahDzk3SfQ7h4-IPhzh1baJzLKDM8WcHwO52yT4sHihmu6vOP55MQ9Nze-3AtksjUzt9Md_fKmg8DAmYrUN9RHsLVmB6IbRsScllb0LnC3Og" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1009" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXjrXst2mXE0zsrdA7LyaZ9fsEsCDbVJfwrwGpRsr9VTCxzyvG7PGYSCj_gIUhlboPw-XMCbvahDzk3SfQ7h4-IPhzh1baJzLKDM8WcHwO52yT4sHihmu6vOP55MQ9Nze-3AtksjUzt9Md_fKmg8DAmYrUN9RHsLVmB6IbRsScllb0LnC3Og" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-66846834364980220072021-12-27T13:57:00.010-08:002021-12-27T14:08:28.885-08:00Things Near Carlsbad<p>We are visiting Carlsbad, CA again to be near family.</p><p>Years ago the decision about what to do here was quite obvious: LegoLand!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPjPxFLW9BJ6ejdDama8sM3sl7IBZHxWdpgoxBMRN8SXV6ws5ijA7I-CXyPIG22kSo3RugmrEgrKY6pscRIPrzDTvEZnn6-3SdJcS8qOWaDDsYQ580YGr6zbYMfYMc5HVpK9C/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="348" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPjPxFLW9BJ6ejdDama8sM3sl7IBZHxWdpgoxBMRN8SXV6ws5ijA7I-CXyPIG22kSo3RugmrEgrKY6pscRIPrzDTvEZnn6-3SdJcS8qOWaDDsYQ580YGr6zbYMfYMc5HVpK9C/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>But now the boys are too old for that place.</p><p>They are not too old for local playgrounds. <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/poinsettia-community-park-carlsbad" target="_blank">Poinsettia Community Park</a> has a very large parking lot and lots of room to run around, play soccer or frisbee, etc. The playground is delightful but designed for 5-12 year old kids, so the boys got tired of it after about twenty minutes. <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/olympus-park-encinitas" target="_blank">Olympus Park</a> is smaller and has a tiny parking lot that makes it only appropriate for an early morning visit. It does have a unique play structure.</p><p>There are some really short hikes near the hotel. <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/hosp-grove-park-carlsbad" target="_blank">Hosp Grove Park</a> is a little park with trails up the hill behind it, supposedly to nice views of the adjacent lagoon. But its tiny parking lot means this is either another early morning outing or we have to park at the nearby shopping center (which <i>does</i> dangerously have a Sees Candy.) There are three other tiny <a href="https://visitcarlsbad.com/outdoors/" target="_blank">hiking trails</a> near LegoLand.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs4FZfBFnpfdqqb9ad3jlxCzf4Sa2EP9GKmC8wUr8Eqm_5lMj1nXCzBBgk5nuF0x7vrYjLzojWqHpIiR-mDxnDTzn3eA7A1YG03Vk2WanL7iIWVZBFM9u7yScSwjiv3Hic-Jy/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="584" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs4FZfBFnpfdqqb9ad3jlxCzf4Sa2EP9GKmC8wUr8Eqm_5lMj1nXCzBBgk5nuF0x7vrYjLzojWqHpIiR-mDxnDTzn3eA7A1YG03Vk2WanL7iIWVZBFM9u7yScSwjiv3Hic-Jy/" width="320" /></a></div></div><p>Of course, the local beaches are great. South Carlsbad State Beach is easy to get to and usually easy parking, but mostly rocks so okay for kids playing and digging in the sandy spots but not ideal for long walks at sunset.</p><p>Gluten-free restaurants include <a href="https://rim-talay.com/" target="_blank">Rim Talay</a> Thai food and <a href="https://nectarinegrove.com/leucadia-menu/" target="_blank">Nectarine Grove</a> smoothie shop. But mostly we prepare food at the hotel suite, which is easy since we are across the street from Costco and within 15 minutes of three different Trader Joes!</p><p>For rainy days there is also <a href="https://www.skyzone.com/carlsbad/prices-and-promos" target="_blank">Sky Zone</a> trampoline park for two hours of bouncing and a respectable price, or <a href="https://www.k1speed.com/carlsbad-location.html" target="_blank">K1 Go Carting</a> for indoor racing that is a bit expensive for an extended family outing.</p>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-73835018444127085562021-11-27T19:55:00.008-08:002021-11-27T19:59:20.520-08:00When I Learned the Mad Scientist Laugh and Gesture are InstinctualIt is November, so time to share this story.<div><br /></div><div>Gallant was only three, and owned only a few dollars in his "treasure box" (a plastic tool box).</div><div><br /></div><div>We were at Costco. I knew he loved hot cocoa. It was November and the boxes of powdered hot cocoa mix were once again on sale.</div><div><br /></div><div>I asked him if he wanted to spend $4 on hot cocoa. He thought for a long time. That was almost all his money! But he did love hot cocoa.</div><div><br /></div><div>He said yes, so I lifted a box onto his lap.
Only then did he realize this was not a single serving, but fifty cups of hot cocoa!</div><div><br /></div><div>He tilted his head back and instinctively cackled loudly like a mad scientist "Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" and even did the gesture of lifting his hands claw-like to the heavens.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.giphy.com/media/l0EwZ6XsAiBxxEu2s/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611d63287035c7b57ecb93399ef672a262cd3f5770e&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="112" src="https://media1.giphy.com/media/l0EwZ6XsAiBxxEu2s/giphy.gif?cid=790b7611d63287035c7b57ecb93399ef672a262cd3f5770e&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-42676900455424168952019-06-04T20:48:00.000-07:002019-06-24T20:41:36.368-07:00Hearthstone Paladin Overview (Rise of Shadows Expansion)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The <b>Paladin</b> is one of the nine hero choices for the Hearthstone card game. A player who picks this hero can use the <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Paladin">Paladin cards</a> as well as <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Neutral">neutral minions</a>.<br />
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The internet provides many examples of Paladin decks. But it can be difficult to find a broad overview of how the class works. This essay aims to fill that role.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>Section One: Behaviors</b></span><br />
<br />
The Paladin cards include several that <b>interact with your draw pile</b> (Blessing of Wisdom, Crystology, Call to Adventure, Prismatic Lens, Duel, and Bellringer Sentry) to make your deck predictable and efficient.<br />
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Only two Paladin cards <b>interact with your discard pile</b> (Immortal Prelate and Kangor's Endless Army). These each define their own deck archetype as described below.</div>
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<div>
The Paladin cards include only three that <b>interact with your hand</b> (Glowstone Technician, Bronze Herald, and Dragon Speaker). These currently are fun but not a key feature of any meta deck.</div>
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<div>
No Paladin cards <b>interact with battlecries</b>. This is an intentional weakness for the hero.<br />
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<div>
<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/5/5c/Redemption(657).png/200px-Redemption(657).png?version=551115c5b283647bdff935611b408a92" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/5/5c/Redemption(657).png/200px-Redemption(657).png?version=551115c5b283647bdff935611b408a92" width="147" /></a></div>
<div>
The only Paladin card that interacts with deathrattle is the secret Redemption, which allows a minion's deathrattle to occur an extra time. Small but significant!</div>
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Currently Paladin cards have a <b>creature type synergy</b> with mechs and dragons. In the past <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Murloc_Paladin">murlocs</a> and <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Silver_Hand_Paladin">recruits</a> were too, but no longer.<br />
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Filling your side of the battlefield with small minions is called a "wide board". Some other heroes have cards (Soul of the Forest, Soul of the Murloc) that make a wide board "sticky", meaning an effect that destroys all your minions will not actually leave your side of the battlefield empty because replacement minions stick around. Paladin cards have no way to make <b>wide board sticky</b>. This is an intentional weakness for the hero.<br />
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The Paladin cards include four to <b>clear an opponent's wide board</b> (Equality, Shrink Ray, Consecration, and Avenging Wrath). Some decks combine these with the neutral minion Wild Pyromancer to increase their potency.<br />
<br />
Some other heroes have minions (Timber Wolf, Tundra Rhino) or spells (Savage Roar, Bloodlust) that beneficially affect all the minions on your side of the battlefield. Paladin cards have no way to <b>empower all your minions</b>. However, this has been a feature of Paladin cards in the past and might return in a future expansion.<br />
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The only way Hearthstone cards allow you to <b>act on your opponents turn</b> is with secrets. The Paladin cards include some <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Secret#Paladin">really great secrets</a>.<br />
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Three Paladin cards provide a <b>surprise burst</b> on your turn without needing a card combination (Blessing of Might, Blessing of Kings, Truesilver Sword). Most decks include one of these to allow the player to punish the opponent for acting too greedy.<br />
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<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/0/06/Never_Surrender!(90590).png/200px-Never_Surrender!(90590).png?version=cb42713b87031299c35c0d43168f254f" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/0/06/Never_Surrender!(90590).png/200px-Never_Surrender!(90590).png?version=cb42713b87031299c35c0d43168f254f" width="147" /></a><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>Section Two: Tempo from Secrets</b></span><br />
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Most Paladin decks include secrets. These serve two purposes.<br />
<br />
First, they ensure that player survives the early game. This is especially true if combined with Commander Rhyssa.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/386/582/636899113481712857.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/386/582/636899113481712857.png" width="145" /></a>Second, the secrets provide the type of <a href="https://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Tempo">efficiency</a> called "tempo". Mysterious Blade and the neutral minion Sunreaver Spy both provide a lot of value for only two mana. Early in the game, while many secrets are still in the deck, Prismatic Lens will often makes a big minion very cheap to play. Later in the game Bellringer Sentry helps bring remaining secrets out of the deck so important minions are drawn sooner.<br />
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A common selection of secrets that promotes early game survivability and middle game tempo is: Autodefense Matrix, Hidden Wisdom, two copies of Never Surrender, Noble Sacrifice, and two copies of Redemption.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>Section Three: Deck Archetypes</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Secret Paladin</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/4/4b/Commander_Rhyssa(90606).png/200px-Commander_Rhyssa(90606).png?version=205f98dbf3b593db60032df0be76761a" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/4/4b/Commander_Rhyssa(90606).png/200px-Commander_Rhyssa(90606).png?version=205f98dbf3b593db60032df0be76761a" width="140" /></a>This deck archetype includes more secrets, Secretkeeper, Masked Contender, and Leeroy Jenkins. If you own Subject 9 that card adds extra oomph. The goal is to use the tempo created by secrets to wear down the opponent, and then use Leeroy Jenkins to finish the game.<br />
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The <b>Magic Carpet variant</b> includes the neutral minion Magic Carpet along with the 1-cost minions Argent Squire, Crystallizer, Mecharoo, and Glow-Tron. It tends to be weaker than the meta version of Secret Paladin, but more fun to play.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mech Paladin</span></b><br />
<div>
<a href="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/376/701/636688332170422582.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="286" height="200" src="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/376/701/636688332170422582.png" width="144" /></a><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
This deck archetype builds up three big mechs, and then brings them back with <br />
Kangor's Endless Army. That goal is simple enough to be achievable, and powerful enough to win the game.<br />
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The <b>Small Mech variant</b> focuses on small, magnetic minions like Glow-Tron, Skaterbot, and Bronze Gatekeeper, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN5oxO6TBlI">enhanced</a> by Call to Adventure and Glowstone Technician. This variant is one of the few Paladin deck archetypes that include few or no secrets, instead relying on its small minions to survive the early game.<br />
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<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/c/c0/Jepetto_Joybuzz(90595).png/200px-Jepetto_Joybuzz(90595).png?version=6ced96b3343a3c8ae0c32311c08d7510" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/c/c0/Jepetto_Joybuzz(90595).png/200px-Jepetto_Joybuzz(90595).png?version=6ced96b3343a3c8ae0c32311c08d7510" style="cursor: move;" width="140" /></a><br />
The <b>Jepetto variant</b> focuses on three minions whose effectiveness does not depend on their attack or health values: Mechanical Whelp, Mechano-Egg, and Faceless Manipulator. The neutral minion Jepetto Joybuzz is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfTQiWo6tnw">used</a> to draw these early.<br />
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The <b>Fast Budget variant</b> does not use Kangor's Endless Army. Instead it works like a less effective Bomb Hunter, with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O3u9xbCJhs">focus</a> on quick damage by including Explodinator and Replicating Menace and attaching magnetic mechs to a wider board. It is the weakest mech variant, but fun for players who do not own Kangor's Endless Army.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Big Spell Paladin</span></b><br />
<div>
<a href="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/381/650/636791252595804600.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="286" height="200" src="https://media-hearth.cursecdn.com/avatars/381/650/636791252595804600.png" width="144" /></a><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
This deck archetype <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfuxXaQOqhs">uses</a> five big spells (two copies of Avenging Wrath, two copies of A New Challenger, and one copy of Lay on Hands) in combination with Spirit of the Tiger to rule the late game. The spells are so strong that the bonus creation of big minions will surely overwhelm the opponent.<br />
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Things get even better when Archmage Vargoth replicates those spells and bonus minions!<br />
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The neutral minion Sunreaver Warmage is included for mid-game tempo.<br />
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<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/8/82/Duel!(90612).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/8/82/Duel!(90612).png" width="146" /></a><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Big Minion Paladin</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
This deck archetype <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W43tPzkfYpI">uses</a> Prismatic Lens and Duel to play huge minions like Amani War Bear, Batterhead, Tirion Fordring, and Ysera much earlier than otherwise.<br />
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Include whichever huge minions you own and enjoy.<br />
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To some extent Big Minion Paladin can be blended with other Paladin deck archetypes. Have fun experimenting!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">One Turn Kill Paladin</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/e/eb/Shirvallah%2C_the_Tiger(90145).png/200px-Shirvallah%2C_the_Tiger(90145).png?version=3476648df71befafa7019942fde45f18" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/e/eb/Shirvallah%2C_the_Tiger(90145).png/200px-Shirvallah%2C_the_Tiger(90145).png?version=3476648df71befafa7019942fde45f18" width="144" /></a></div>
The goal of this deck archetype is to draw the entire deck (typically using the well-established combination of Wild Pyromancer and Acolyte of Pain), play Shirvallah, play Baleful Banker to put a copy of Shirvallah as your deck, and then play Holy Wrath to deal 25 damage.<br />
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The deck's second copies of Baleful Banker and Holy Wrath can repeat the combination for an additional 25 damage against opponents with a lot of armor.<br />
<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/2/2a/Chef_Nomi(90545).png/200px-Chef_Nomi(90545).png?version=c04b1a9dac25e653cbd18393465aa3d5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/2/2a/Chef_Nomi(90545).png/200px-Chef_Nomi(90545).png?version=c04b1a9dac25e653cbd18393465aa3d5" width="144" /></a><br />
The <b>Nomi variant</b> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CompetitiveHS/comments/bewyog/shirvallahnomi_otk_paladin/">includes</a> Chef Nomi as an alternate win condition. This allows Shirvallah to be used in the middle of the game if needed, which can really help when the opponent has a very aggressive deck.<br />
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Either version may include the spells Time Out and/or Rebuke to help survive until victory happens.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Immortal Paladin</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/a/aa/Immortal_Prelate(90152).png/200px-Immortal_Prelate(90152).png?version=1ea3ce3b54ecc3fd8b489ca25e7260fd" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://gamepedia.cursecdn.com/hearthstone_gamepedia/thumb/a/aa/Immortal_Prelate(90152).png/200px-Immortal_Prelate(90152).png?version=1ea3ce3b54ecc3fd8b489ca25e7260fd" width="144" /></a><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
This deck archetype uses Crystology, Call to Adventure, and Witchwood Piper to draw the card Immortal Prelate. That minion is buffed, used until it dies, and then returns with its buffs. It grows throughout the game until the opponent is worn down. If you own Da Undatakah that card adds extra oomph.<br />
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The <b>Recurring Villain variant</b> adds Recurring Villain as a second returning minion to buff.<br />
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Both versions can use either secrets or small mechs to survive the early game.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Dragon Paladin</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></b></div>
This deck archetype uses dragons and Paladin cards that work with dragons. Because most dragons have useful battlecries, the neutral minion Barista Lynchen is often included.<br />
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<b>UPDATE:</b> June 2019 had game development news about the <a href="https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/hearthstone/23014810/developer-insights-class-identity-hall-of-fame-and-new-cards">intended flavor</a> of all nine hero classes. It says:
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">Paladins are great champions who support their minions with buffs, healing, and divine shields; however, they are not afraid to get their hands dirty when the time comes. They are methodical, controlling the battlefield through debuffs and focused attacks instead of destructive spells. Strength and persistence are the keys to a Paladin’s victory.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Focuses on and excels at:</b> minion swarms, minion buffs and debuffs, healing, divine shield, secrets</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Limitated functionality with:</b> cost reduction</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Struggles to do:</b> direct damage spells, destroying big minions</span></blockquote>
davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-12208905790399359122019-04-18T09:52:00.004-07:002019-04-22T14:38:37.859-07:00What I Got from a Hearthstone Pre-Purchase<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I tried but failed to love Hearthstone years ago, when the game had too many problems.<br />
<br />
I recently tried again. I am really enjoying the game. Most of the early problems are fixed.<br />
<ul>
<li>Daily quests do not all require winning games</li>
<li>The deck-builder automatically completes decks intelligently</li>
<li>Monthly ladder resets do not clump experts and newbies together</li>
<li>A "budget" meta deck without a specific legendary card is not crippled</li>
</ul>
<br />
For the first time, before last week's <i>Rise of Shadows</i> expansion I spent $80 on the big 80 pack pre-release bundle. I am glad I did.<br />
<br />
I expected two benefits.<br />
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First, when gaining new <i>Rise of Shadows</i> packs I would more quickly get dust from daily quests to craft cards I wanted. This would be pleasant compared to the past expansion. During the past three months I had just started getting noticeable dust income by the time a newer expansion appeared.<br />
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Second, I previously had one meta deck type named Odd Hunter that I could use in ranked play to see how much ladder progress my skill allowed. I wanted a new meta deck to play on the ladder.<br />
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I did not realize how much more I would get.<br />
<br />
Before I can explain further, I should describe what a "meta deck type" is for readers who do not play the game. Here is a list of the <a href="https://hsreplay.net/meta/?hl=en">currently best</a> ones, two weeks into <i>Rise of Shadows</i>.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttMqIGrteyQ/XLuaWZZSe4I/AAAAAAAAdbE/h7ZdjhzgUGgMxvs1Fi7lks5Q3M2ISD5vQCLcBGAs/s1600/balance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1005" height="279" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttMqIGrteyQ/XLuaWZZSe4I/AAAAAAAAdbE/h7ZdjhzgUGgMxvs1Fi7lks5Q3M2ISD5vQCLcBGAs/s320/balance.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Right now the game is enjoying amazing balance. Great job, designers! Nine meta deck types have a win rate between 51.98% and 53.66%. This is a very close spread: no one deck type is too dominant. Moreover, eight of the nine heroes are represented.<br />
<br />
Each of these deck types focuses on 10 to 15 cards. A player who owns those can create a version of that deck type.<br />
<br />
The improved game design means that missing a legendary card does not cripple its deck type. The "budget" version of that <a href="https://hsreplay.net/meta/#tab=archetypes">any meta deck type</a> might have one less trick up its sleeve, but still behaves similarly and can be nearly as successful on the ladder.<br />
<br />
At the start of <i>Rise of Shadows</i> I was awarded a bunch of dust for owning certain now-obsolete cards, and for opening my pre-purchase packs. An unexpected benefit was how I could create a bunch of key epic cards that my collection lacked, such as <i>Sea Giant</i>, <i>Crystallizer</i>, <i>Masked Contender</i>, <i>Magic Carpet</i>, <i>Master's Call</i>, and <i>Preparation</i>. Those opened up a whole lot of new options.<br />
<br />
I expected to be able to build a new meta deck. Now I can build five! I can use the deck types named Midrange Hunter, Zoo Warlock, Imp Warlock, Secret Paladin, and Silence Priest.<br />
<br />
For seven more deck types I can have fun with "budget" versions on the ladder: Token Druid, Recurring Villain Paladin, Tempo Rogue, Lackey Rogue, Resurrect Priest, Tempo Mage, and Spell Hunter. For each of these I am missing only one legendary card (or a few epic cards of lesser total dust cost). It is nice to have a shopping list of which cards I should craft next.<br />
<br />
So I did get the jump-start I expected about getting more dust from daily quests to craft the cards I wanted.<br />
<br />
And I did get not only one meta deck type to play, but five complete ones and seven more "budget" ones.<br />
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I also got a new way to relax. Being able to use so many deck types means I now <i>understand</i> how those deck types work, and watching Hearthstone players on Twitch, YouTube, and in tournaments has become much more fun.<br />
<br />
I also gained playing with my most fun cards. I always found fiddling with decks to be time-consuming and not fun. So when I owned cards that were fun but not powerful I seldom bothered to make decks to use them. The improved deck-builder now lets me select a few cards and then will automatically finish the deck with the optimal other cards in my collection. So I spent some of my dust on silly cards like <i>Academic Espionage</i> that will not help in ladder play but are providing a lot of fun in non-ranked games.<br />
<br />
Finally, the improved deck-builder makes owning non-meta rare and epic cards more fun. For example, the pre-purchase packs happened to give me <i>Jumbo Imp</i>. That card is not currently part of any top-performing deck. But it has potential. I can auto-complete a deck seeded with just that card to see the most successful deck other players have designed for it so far. And if other players ever do design a meta deck type that uses it, my deck-builder will use it appropriately.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-6182235377435112162019-03-23T10:38:00.002-07:002019-03-23T10:46:16.809-07:00Feral Druid MacrosOne of my World of Warcraft guild-mates had not heard of macro conditionals. So I share my current macros for my Feral Druid, <a href="https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/character/us/lightbringer/Ewyn">Ewyn</a>, who sometimes uses the Guardian Druid specialization in dungeons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBvlYzFS5YU/XJZv9m35V2I/AAAAAAAAdRU/FIiGC8K-VbQtiJrEF4JtPmMRyE3rRF1_wCLcBGAs/s1600/druid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="571" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBvlYzFS5YU/XJZv9m35V2I/AAAAAAAAdRU/FIiGC8K-VbQtiJrEF4JtPmMRyE3rRF1_wCLcBGAs/s320/druid.png" width="294" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 1 - Bleeds</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/castsequence [mod:shift][form:1] Thrash; [spec:3] Bear Form; [noform:2] Cat Form; reset=target Rake, Primal Wrath</span><br />
<br />
The button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use. It selects a new foe if needed. When in Guardian specialization it uses Thrash if in bear form, or switches to bear form if not. When in Feral specialization it switches to cat form if needed, then alternates between the two damage-over-time abilities Rake (makes a combo point) and Primal Wrath (spends combo points).<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 2 - Build</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/castsequence [mod:shift] Swipe; [form:1] reset=target Moonfire, Mangle, Swipe, Swipe, Mangle; [noform:2][nocombat] Prowl; Shred</span><br />
<br />
The button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use.
It selects a new foe if needed. When in Guardian specialization it uses
various attacks. When in Feral
specialization it switches to stealthy prowl mode if needed, or in combat uses Shred to build combo points.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 3 - Damage</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/cast [mod:shift,spec:2] Primal Wrath; [nocombat,outdoors] Travel Form; [form:1] Maul; [noform:2] Cat Form; [combat] Ferocious Bite; Stampeding Roar<br />/cast [combat,form:2] Tiger's Fury</span><br />
<br />
The button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use.
It selects a new foe if needed. It switches to travel form when appropriate. When in bear form it uses Maul. Otherwise it switches to cat form if needed, and then uses Ferocious Bite. Outside of combat and indoors it uses Stampeding Roar. Because the cat form ability Tiger's Fury is not on the global cooldown, a second "cast" can also use that ability whenever it is available.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using Buttons 1, 2, and 3 without the shift key - Single Target Damage</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;">When Ewyn is in cat form, her attacks on a single target are pretty simple.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">She starts with button 1 to do the Rake damage-over-time. Then a few presses of button 2 uses Shred to build more combo points. Then returning to button 1 applies the Primal Wrath damage-over time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Now that those two long-term effects are in place, she uses button 2 to build more combo points with Shred, and then button 3 to spend them <span style="font-size: small;">with Ferocious Bite.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;">So fighting one foe is usually a sequence like: 1, 2, 2, 1; 2, 2, 2, 3; 2, 2, 2, 3; then start over because the damage-over-times have worn off. (The exact number of 2's varies depending upon how fast the combo points fill up.)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using Buttons 1, 2, and 3 with the shift key - Area-of-Effect Damage</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">When Ewyn is in cat form, her area-of-effect attacks are very simple.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">When I hold down the shift key, and am in cat form, the above three buttons use Thrash, Swipe, and Primal Wrath.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Pressing shift and button 1 once uses Thrash, which is a similar damage-over-time to Rake but only causes one-quarter the damage.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Pressing shift and button2 uses Swipe, which is similar to Shred but only causes one-half the damage. Repeat this until combo points are full.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Pressing shift and button3 uses Primal Wrath, which is the best way to spend those combo points for area-of-effect damage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So fighting a group of four or more foes is a sequence of: 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, repeat. (The exact number of 2's varies depending upon how fast the combo points fill up. Sometimes they fill up so quickly the next 1 can be skipped.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">This is simpler than before because there is no area-of-effect equivalent to Ferocious Bite.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 4 - Interrupt One</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/castsequence [nocombat,mod:shift] Flight Master's Whistle; [spec:2] Skull Bash; reset=6 Skull Bash, Incapacitating Roar</span><br />
<br />
The button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use.
It selects a new foe if needed. When out of combat, the shift key has it use Flight Master's Whistle. When in Feral
specialization it uses the main interrupt called Skull Bash. When in Guardian specialization it uses
both Skull Bash and another interrupt named Incapacitating Roar.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 5 - Interrupt Two</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/cast [nocombat,mod:shift] Grand Expedition Yak; Mighty Bash</span><br />
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The button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use.
It selects a new foe if needed. When out of combat, the shift key has it use the Grand Expedition Yak. Otherwise it uses an interrupt called Mighty Bash.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Button 6 - Interrupt Three</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">#showtooltip<br />/cleartarget [dead]<br />/targetenemy [noharm]<br />/cast [mod:shift,nocombat,group] Obsidian Nightwing; [mod:shift,nocombat] Anglers Fishing Raft; [spec:3] Ironfur; [spec:2,combat] Maim; Fishing</span><br />
<br />
The
button shows the proper picture and tool-tip for its current use.
It selects a new foe if needed. When out of combat, the shift key has
it use either the Obsidian Nightwing if in a group, or the Anglers Fishing Raft if adventuring alone. When in Guardian specialization it uses
Ironfur for defense. When in Feral
specialization and in combat it uses a third interrupt named Maim. Otherwise it goes fishing.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-33773351008079315022018-11-24T10:27:00.003-08:002019-06-23T23:27:42.592-07:00Island MapI made a map for a new <a href="http://davidvs.net/ninepowers/index.shtml"><i>Nine Powers</i></a> campaign with my family.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sODG1YIUDRQ/W_mXOw1qMUI/AAAAAAAAbnw/18IhVCWtPBcjwzqZQe_2XLbmclYAyJwhgCLcBGAs/s1600/moonlit-map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="760" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sODG1YIUDRQ/W_mXOw1qMUI/AAAAAAAAbnw/18IhVCWtPBcjwzqZQe_2XLbmclYAyJwhgCLcBGAs/s320/moonlit-map.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Creating the image involved only a few steps.<br />
<br />
Red Blob Games has an <a href="https://www.redblobgames.com/maps/mapgen2/embed.html">island maker</a>. My settings were <a href="https://www.redblobgames.com/maps/mapgen2/embed.html#seed=191&variant=7&size=huge&noisy-fills=true&noisy-edges=true&lighting=true&north-temperature=1.5&south-temperature=-0.1&persistence=0.25">these</a>. (Uncheck the box for "icons".)<br />
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<a href="https://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a> is the free version of PhotoShop. I made three adjustments.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">1. Filters -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur -> Radius 2<br />2. Filters -> Artistic -> Clothify -> Blur 9, Azimuth 100, Elevation 45<br />3. Colors -> Levels -> Upper Input Level from 1 to 1.6</span><br />
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<a href="https://inkscape.org/">Inkscape</a> is the free version of Illustrator. I used it to add the rectangles and text.<br />
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UPDATE: The settings for my Arlinac Island map are <a href="https://www.redblobgames.com/maps/mapgen2/embed.html#seed=461&variant=5&size=huge&noisy-fills=true&noisy-edges=true&lighting=true&north-temperature=0.85&south-temperature=-0.3&rainfall=0.2&persistence=0.35">these</a>.<br />
<br />davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-89199860159339341832018-11-05T08:20:00.001-08:002018-11-05T09:18:49.787-08:00Elementary School Spooky PostersWant to decorate your elementary school for a haunted house fundraiser, or Halloween?<br />
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Here is a simple creative writing activity.<br />
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Make one list with all the types of places in your school. For example, there is the main office, principal's office, gym, cafeteria, a hallway, etc.<br />
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Make a second list with all the kinds of traditional spooky monsters. For example, a zombie, mummy, werewolf, ghost, etc.<br />
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Then match up items from the two lists to make silly and spooky posters. Ideally the sentences you make are very short (to fit on the poster) and not too gory (to not scare the kindergartners).<br />
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Here are my examples, which should not be provided to a classroom of kids actually doing the activity.<br />
<hr />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>Zombified? See school nurse for a cure.<br /><br />
Please report haunted toilets to the school secretary.<br /><br />
Please do not dig up skeletons in the playground.<br /><br />
Ghosts also must keep right in breezeways.<br /><br />
This quad is peanut and garlic free.<br /><br />
Be safe. Be kind. Be responsible. Be plump and juicy.<br /><br />
Is it the real Principal Moore?<br /><br />
Do not take candy from the witch.<br /><br />
The teachers lounge fridge needs a new jar of eyeballs.<br /><br />
Today at 3pm is werewolf howling choir practice.<br /><br />
Tired? Energize with new Van der Graaf gym routine.<br /><br />
Fifth grade embalming class postponed to Monday.<br /><br />
Can't find your phylactery? Check the new Lost and Found.<br /><br />
Respect our rodents! Only bullies command rat hordes.</i></span>davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-39872363983547787432018-10-08T09:53:00.002-07:002018-10-08T13:29:34.896-07:00Abathur for Heroes of the Storm QM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.blizzardwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/heroes-abathur-pajamathur-abathur-skin-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://cdn.blizzardwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/heroes-abathur-pajamathur-abathur-skin-header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a summary of my longer <a href="https://us.battle.net/forums/en/heroes/topic/20759477050">Abathur Guide</a> appropriate for players using Quick Match to get used to the hero.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;">Macro Goals</span></span><br />
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Playing Abathur in Quick Match is a great way to improve your macro skills. Everyone knows you are mostly enjoying the pajamas and little toy trains, but you can also learn macro.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DMT8g1yivH0/W7uq26YDqJI/AAAAAAAAbL0/pZpKnyVU8fotWCY1XImzFYLQ7fVgB9hawCLcBGAs/s1600/trains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="1304" height="120" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DMT8g1yivH0/W7uq26YDqJI/AAAAAAAAbL0/pZpKnyVU8fotWCY1XImzFYLQ7fVgB9hawCLcBGAs/s320/trains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Use the mini-map to monitor hero positions, lane pressure, and minion soaking. Learn to intuit where the opposing team is likely to be.<br />
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Learn the maps, especially which bushes/smoke players use to hide.<br />
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Use the top panel to monitor ally health bars.<br />
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If you play Abathur well, opponents will be slowed, while your allies get shielding, experience, and healing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Talents</span></span><br />
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Here is a set of generally useful <a href="https://www.icy-veins.com/heroes/abathur-talents">talents</a> appropriate for the chaos of Quick Match.<br />
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Start with <b>Regenerative Microbes</b> for healing. The spike burst talent would helps a dive team more, but at the start of a Quick Match game you cannot know if your team dives well. The locust talent would help more if the enemies lack waveclear, but in Quick Match players may not rotate lanes normally anyway.<br />
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At level 4 get <b>Sustained Carapace</b>. In Quick Match your team always needs more healing. <br />
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At level 7 get <b>Vile Nests</b> for slowing the opposing heroes. Your team can benefit from slowed opponents without careful teamwork.<br />
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At level 10 get <b>Ultimate Evolution</b> and have fun with it. <br />
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None of the level 13 or 20 talents are especially appropriate for Quick Match. Pick appropriately for structure damage, sniping, or healing.<br />
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At level 16 the normal choice is <b>Envenomed Spikes</b>, again because your team can benefit from slowed opponents without careful teamwork. However, if no ally is taking mercenary camps getting <b>Locust Brood</b> will allow you to claim camps by yourself. See my <a href="https://us.battle.net/forums/en/heroes/topic/20759477050">longer guide</a> for details.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Abathur's Positioning</span></span><br />
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The locusts you emit only pressure lanes without opposing heroes. Use Deep Tunnel accordingly. Ask allies to destroy walls since this lowers opponents' vision of locusts.<br />
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In early game only body soak when opponents clump for objectives, by positioning yourself safely in farthest lane. In late game both teams clump for team fighting, so you can body soak more safely.<br />
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Also use Deep Tunnel to travel to unguarded objectives, including Pirate Coin Camps and dropped Spider Queen gems.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Symbiote</span></span><br />
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Minions should never die to your towers unsoaked: use Symbiote on those towers. Similarly, use Symbiote to soak minions fighting in the middle of a lane without heroes.<br />
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Make cooldowns efficient by using Symbiote+<b>E</b>+<b>W</b>+<b>Q</b> then leave Symbiote.<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Toxic Nests</span></span><br />
<br />
Place toxic nests to provide vision in bushes near the next team fight (objectives, boss, etc). Also place toxic nests on opponents' side of map in vertical paths along their rotation routes.<br />
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If you hover the mouse cursor over the toxic nest button, its range is faintly visible on the mini-map. <br />
<br />
You can also place toxic nests in center of clumped enemy minions in lanes without heroes. (If the toxic nest deals the final damage to an enemy minion, your team soaks the experience. Try placing two, one at a time.)<br />
<br />
If you have time, you can use place toxic nests to distract fort/keep shots away from allies. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Ultimate Evolution</span></span><br />
<br />
Use Ultimate Evolution as team fights start, or the fight will end before Symbiote becomes available. Pick the ally for Ultimate Evolution based on position and mobility (often a global hero ally is best).<br />
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You can also use Ultimate Evolution to zone opponents away from objective without a full team fight.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-65750863956747922802018-06-21T11:31:00.001-07:002022-07-07T10:12:58.086-07:00Wrinkles, Pins, and Locations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGsGayoTaMU/WyvwWzpA30I/AAAAAAAAafA/rq_RKGeUle0ha3peJfoQJDoIoHxdn2iRgCLcBGAs/s1600/wallpaper-steampunk8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="554" height="177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YGsGayoTaMU/WyvwWzpA30I/AAAAAAAAafA/rq_RKGeUle0ha3peJfoQJDoIoHxdn2iRgCLcBGAs/s320/wallpaper-steampunk8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have always wanted to run urban adventures, but always had trouble doing so until I recently developed a system for organizing my preparatory work.<br />
<br />
The first step was to brainstorm <b>factions</b>. I <a href="http://story-games.com/forums/discussion/11646/political-intrigue-done-easy/p1">knew</a> that each faction needed both public and secret goals, and that the goals of different factions should sometimes cause strife and other times encourage alliances. Because of the <a href="http://davidvs.net/ninepowers/index.shtml"><i>Nine Powers</i></a> setting I made sure the factions represented a variety of races and Powers.<br />
<br />
After much experimentation I realized each faction only needed four descriptors: key person, summary overview, typical encounter, and connections.<br />
<i><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As an example, within Industry District the Builders Guild is led by a Dweorg names Lachary the Solid. The guild espouses that Frosty Kostkey has indeed mended his ways and promotes selling utilitarian machinery to improve the district's reputation. Typical encounters could be testing or protecting new machinery for the city, or dealing with an over-zealous machinist who is creating dangerous machinery. The guild opposes people who harm the district's reputation by remaining loyal to Frosty Kostkey's historic plans of conquest and Winter bleakness.</span></span></i><br />
<br />
The second step was to brainstorm a half-dozen <b>wrinkles</b>. This is my terminology for a new issue affecting Arlinac Town. The issue provokes responses by most factions. These responses need the same four descriptors.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">As an example, poor people have been disappearing from the slums. A kobalt named Railey the Sweet wants to help, and bring public gratitude to the Builders Guild and the Industry District. She is a local expert at constructing sentry cameras, and has teamed up with a Bergtroll named Viczoria who crafts magical lenses to construct several cameras that will make time-stamps when they see Ogres or Undead. Railey needs clueless adventurers to discreetly hide a camera on a rooftop, stay somewhat nearby for several hours to guard it, and then bring it back to her so she can analyze the time-stamps it produced. But what else might the magical lenses be able to see or record? Unrelated to the missing poor people, the cameras might notice that a vampire pirate has started shipping ghouls into town. Also, Viczoria is a prominent member of a troublesome faction based in the Illuminated District that believes beautifully made things only count as "artistic" if they are magical and popular: her politics might cause trouble for adventurers working with her. </span></i></span><br />
<br />
A wrinkle could be a policy change, holiday, notable visitor, or crisis that affects the city broadly. Because not all wrinkles are tied to a specific location in the city, the useful physical "map" if the city is the vague layout of wrinkles. But a worthy wrinkle does (eventually, if not initially) involve something tangible: a person, item, or location that is causing all the fuss. So I visually imagine this tangible layer as pins on a wall map. Each <b>pin</b> denotes the person, item, or location creating a center of gravity that pulls factions to action. Yet pins might need to be relocated on the wall map as events unfold.<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the above example, the PCs eventually discover a secret sect of Ogre Toxophilites has been having new recruits hunting poor people as part of their initiation tests. The wrinkle's "pin" is an Ogre named Phloe who is the current recruiter for that sect. The GM has no need to determine her initial location in Arlinac Town. Let the PCs can investigate however they want. Various wrinkles will all be unfolding simultaneously. When the PCs make appropriate decisions, the GM can improvise clues about Ogres and Phloe. The eventual encounter with the Ogre Toxophilites will be most meaningful if it develops organically. </span></span></i><br />
<br />
The "true map" of the city is abstract and three-dimensional. Each faction has its own layer: a network of <b>nodes</b> floating above the more tangible pins. In the above examples I described the wrinkle "poor people have been disappearing" with the pin "Phloe the recruiter for the Ogre Toxophilites" and one of many nodes above it in the Builders Guild layer.<br />
<br />
Not every faction will have a node above every layer. That is okay. The followers of Frosty Kostkey who still want to conquer in his name might not care about missing poor people or a small group of murderous Ogres. Plenty of connections are made as the different wrinkles interact, and the factions clash in the ways they are interested in the wrinkles.<br />
<br />
I now have a general structure for urban adventures.<br />
<br />
I owe a debt to Justin Alexander's writing about <a href="http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/15126/roleplaying-games/game-structures">structural issues</a> in fantasy role-playing games. He wrote about how a <a href="http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/15140/roleplaying-games/game-structures-part-3-dungeoncrawl">dungeon crawl</a> has a standard location for player choices (a room) and default player choices (explore the room, move to the next room). Most fantasy role-playing games thus have game mechanics specifically designed to deal with these. There are rules the GM uses to randomly put enemies or puzzles in a room to make an encounter. There are rules the PCs use about combat and skills to fight the enemies or solve the puzzles. And there are rules about locked doors, secret doors, portcullises, and other complications to add variety about moving to the next room.<br />
<br />
These structures and game mechanics do not apply in an urban adventure. Justin Alexander proposed <a href="http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/36473/roleplaying-games/thinking-about-urbancrawls">his alternative</a>, from which I took the insight of a three-dimensional network of faction nodes above a more tangible layer. But his structure remained location-based without my distinction between wrinkles, pins, and locations.<br />
<br />
My urban adventure structure has standard issues for player choices (the wrinkles) and default player choices (investigate a wrinkle, move to the next wrinkle). Stories now have a natural flow towards depth of problem-solving. Investigation and exploration lead from wrinkles to pins and nodes. More investigation leads from pins and nodes to locations. Entering these locations leads to encounters.<br />
<br />
Unlike the classic dungeon crawl, there are no game mechanics to push the story along. There are no random tables for creating wrinkles or pins. There are no rules for moving to investigate the next wrinkle. There are no rules dictating when to finally encounter the wrinkle's tangible pin. It is even true that because players use creative methods of investigation it will be player choice more than game mechanics that determines the most obvious or appropriate skill used when investigating or exploring.<br />
<br />
Now I have words for why I always wanted to run urban adventures. I <i>like</i> when the story itself, rather than game mechanics, pushes the story along. It feels right when the story itself takes over and handles its own flow.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-71161368848290909092015-04-23T06:54:00.001-07:002015-04-23T06:54:25.300-07:00Farewell, Ur-Quan, For NowBack in November I <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-ur-quan-are-back.html">introduced</a> Smiley to Star Control II.<br />
<br />
He liked it. Even though Gallant was younger, he also enjoyed watching space ships to space things.<br />
<br />
But the game was always something they watched me do. After I bought myself a tablet in January, they switched to playing games themselves on the tablet. (Battleheart Legacy, Dungelot, and <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-merchant-app-game.html">Merchant</a>.)<br />
<br />
So no more Ur-Quan for now. I am sure they will return eventually.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AoxYp5QPA9ZdvM8956cCNtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="250" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DRhKUb8r84w/VKoxVJoJySI/AAAAAAAALR0/_eCIHrV5MNg/s400/urquan.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And, yes, the game is also <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.googlecode.uqm.hd">available</a> for Android devices.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-35984021302189092802015-04-22T11:23:00.001-07:002015-04-23T06:45:35.858-07:00The Merchant App GameSmiley has a new favorite game on my tablet.<br />
<br />
I was looking for the old Apple game <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kartooz.android.taipan">Taipan</a> for its basic, age-appropriate economic lessons, and found a slightly more complex game named <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bearface.games.merchant&hl=en">Merchant</a>. (More information is available <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/merchantrpg">here</a>.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cNDqiyuEA9BrzznXOJOkW9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a-QVhzOPHs4/VTfl8N810VI/AAAAAAAANwo/Aed7bvbBbJw/s400/merchant-app.png" width="225" /></a>
</div>
<br />
Taipan focused on "buy low, sell high". Merchant does not teach that particular lesson, but does a great job with other lessons about buying, selling, and value-added costs. <br />
<br />
It is much too repetitive for an adult to enjoy. But it is perfect for a seven-year-old.<br />
<br />
He was initially turned off because you send heroes on quests but do not get to actively direct them or see them fight. But he soon because caught up in the item crafting and selling.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-25334380126320958222015-04-21T14:49:00.002-07:002015-04-21T14:49:52.978-07:00Something There is That Loves a WallWe recently had a wall built along the uphill side of our driveway, and along the front of our front yard.<br />
<br />
Before there was only slope and rocks. The contractors who built the house apparently made piles, not an actual wall. The rocks were collapsing. We were losing driveway space and it looked terrible.<br />
<br />
Ross Maier (phone 503-440-4722) comes from a family of stone masons. He had previously worked for one of the large construction firms in Eugene. Towards the end of 2014 he got licensed and bonded, and started his own company.<br />
<br />
He does great work. (I also have photos of his later projects, including slate steps and a front-yard fountain. But I am not sure if I can share those.)<br />
<br />
Here is the entire wall:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cq7dzs7E938-DtVlvMWGDNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9-KVm-e91eo/VQjoX81gMRI/AAAAAAAALvI/reexD4tP_wg/s400/DSC06242.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
A close-up of the steps at the top. You can also somewhat see the stepping stones he added to our front yard. No more muddy footprints in the entryway! (And the boys love how the front yard is not a giant hopscotch-like game.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/La2QkhNtgHdlWSK9VthbtdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hNeDKW6WsdE/VQjodpOn_BI/AAAAAAAALwI/5Vb4qMJPEb4/s400/DSC06239.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
More of a close-up of the driveway half.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QeUeSuVFK7PC2WsxnOBKhdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bsGaRhKedFk/VQjobGCYbjI/AAAAAAAALvw/GMhjTpm32yU/s400/DSC06241.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
And a zoomed in close-up of the corner.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UJidJWWmu80ADNTeC9orONMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TmmoIi3Rfvo/VQjoZG1QWAI/AAAAAAAALvY/65bE-f-J2pU/s400/DSC06243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally, sign.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rsMIx56OZxdDE3EkJudET9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EGhvxv3ItUs/VQjooI8pPFI/AAAAAAAALyA/6oudE4PArHY/s400/DSC06246.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
We can certainly recommend Ross. He does great work, is easy to work with, and has reasonable prices with generous warranties.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-57957960855916161172015-04-20T13:21:00.002-07:002015-04-20T13:21:39.720-07:00What Might a Non-Synagogue Jewish Center Do?What might a non-synagogue Jewish center do? Especially for families?<br />
<br />
I was asked to do some brainstorming. I came up with five big themes, and details for each.<br />
<br />
What other ideas do you have? <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FeVWzb_tyb7hPlgIi0oX7NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IhMjSyQwtuA/VTVZigwtHXI/AAAAAAAANvw/Xt5Z-2aTDs8/s400/kid-seder-plate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Care of Mathoms</span><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mathom">mathom</a> is something not used but too sentimental to discard. We Jews have many cultural mathoms. Sometimes we enjoy taking them off the shelf, dusting them off, and using them once (or once again).<br />
<br />
A non-synagogue Jewish center could help families care for their mathoms using social networking, a website of articles written by community members, and lending library.<br />
<br />
It could help a family celebrate a family Passover <i>seder</i> for the first time by offering advice, recipes, and the loan of <i>haggadot</i>. It could support a discussion about how to make Chanukah something the kids really value as more than getting presents or being "not Christmas". It could advise people on how to make a first visit to Israel more meaningful than what a tour package offers. Etc.<br />
<br />
Besides the center's own lending library of books and DVDs, it could cooperate with the Eugene and Springfield city libraries. This could include a list (on the center's website) of the Jewish materials available at those libraries, as well as financial contributions to make sure the e-books associated with those libraries include plenty of Jewish e-books.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Educational Classes</span><br />
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A non-synagogue Jewish center could offer classes about Jewish culture, Hebrew, approaching Torah, Jewish ethics, Israel, etc. Similarly, it could offer book and film discussion series.<br />
<br />
Yet the center actually only needs to support education with (a) money and (b) publicity.<br />
<br />
Someone else could approach the center and say, "I would like to offer a five-week film series on such-and-such."<br />
<br />
The center could then reply, "That does fit our goals and vision. Here is some funding. We'll use our social networking to publicize your project."<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Community Events</span><br />
<br />
A non-synagogue Jewish center could offer both social-themed and holiday-themed events (gatherings at parks, a community Chanukah party, etc.)<br />
<br />
As before, the center actually only need supply some money and publicity. The person organizing an event need not be staff employed by the center.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Charitable Donations</span><br />
<br />
A non-synagogue Jewish center could help families connect with Jewish charities.<br />
<br />
The center could also do its own charitable work.<br />
<br />
(I happen to know that Oregon prisons need more Jewish books and DVDs. It would be wonderful if Lane County had a "free burial society" such as <a href="https://www.hebrewfreeburial.org/">this one</a> in New York. Also, many Asian-American communities pool money to send kids to graduate school: "Not all our kids have what it takes to be doctors or lawyers, but those that do will not have to abandon their dream because of lack of money.")<br />
<br />
<hr />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">5. A Space for <i>Halachah</i> Development</span><br />
<br />
Every Jewish generation continues discussing and developing <i>halachah</i>. Atheistic Jews can do this to actively help our culture evolve and mature. Theistic Jews can also see this work as an ongoing dialogue between God and the Jewish people.<br />
<br />
Traditionally, this happens primarily by discussing the weekly Torah <i>parashot</i> in search of insightful applications. What does this passage mean <b>for us today</b>? What does it teach about how to relate to people and to God?<br />
<br />
A non-synagogue Jewish center could host weekly <i>parashot</i> discussions, and archive the community's insights on its website. Over the years this would create a fascinating account of how the community grappled with its identity, ethics, and values.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-31973249840764621412015-04-20T12:46:00.001-07:002015-07-14T07:24:36.426-07:00Conceptual Steps for Addition and Subtraction / More Fun than Flash CardsSmiley's first grade math curriculum uses the concept of "fact families".<br />
<br />
For example, 3, 4, and 7 are a "fact family" because they can create the four addition/subtraction equations of<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 + 4 = 7</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 + 3 = 7</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7 − 4 = 3</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7 − 3 = 4</div>
<br />
A new bit of jargon to me. But it appears to help Smiley.<br />
<br />
Anyway, addition has several conceptual steps. Let's focus on 3 + 4 = 7 for now.<br />
<br />
First, a kid learns that addition means <b>counting both piles of objects</b>. We start with a pile of three and a pile of four. If we count all the objects we get to seven. (Perhaps we merge the piles, perhaps we do not.)<br />
<br />
Second, a kid learns that <b>it is faster to count onward from the bigger pile</b>. We do not need to start counting at one. We can start at four (the size of the larger pile) and then keep going for the object in the smaller pile ("five, six, seven!").<br />
<br />
Third, a kid learns basic number-line sense. Adults do not solve 14 + 2 = 16 with mental counting. We simply know that two more than 4 is 6, and similarly two more than 14 is 16. We more or less <b>picture the number-line</b> and just know how nearby numbers relate.<br />
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Fourth, a kid <b>memorizes fact families</b>. A first-grade favorite is 7 + 4 = 11 because seven and eleven rhyme. Ideally many addition problems involving small numbers are memorized so they no longer need to be solved by counting.<br />
<br />
Then the four previous developmental steps are applied to subtraction. Consider 7 − 4 = 3.<br />
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Fifth, we could remove four objects from a pile of seven objects, and count <b>how many remain</b>. (The subtraction equivalent of counting both piles of objects.)<br />
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Sixth, we could <b>count down</b> from seven four times.<br />
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Seventh, we could <b>count upward</b> from four to seven. (Seeing whether counting down or up is quicker is the subtraction equivalent of counting from the <i>bigger</i> pile.)<br />
<br />
Finally, we can use number-line sense or fact family memorization get the answer without counting.<br />
<br />
So...<br />
<br />
Smiley needs to memorize some fact families. Flash cards are boring and not fun.<br />
<br />
I designed <a href="http://davidvs.net/hobbies/arithmetic-worksheet1.shtml">something better</a>. Reloading that page generates a new worksheet of sixteen problems.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/A0CaGKxAH-ScqTgdtGl6WNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eX99eKgu7ms/VTVQj4QJcDI/AAAAAAAANvY/Jh7fyG4oHGs/s400/arithmetic-worksheet.png" width="347" /></a>
</div>
<br />
Because of how the fact families are carefully "hidden" on the page,
solving these problems is fun for him because Smiley feels like he is
"cheating" by finding the patterns.<br />
<br />
Actually, he is learning the valuable skill of not solving math problems in order, but looking for how to do the fast/related problems together.<br />
<br />
I brought some samples to all the Edgewood first grade classrooms last week. The kids worked in pairs. The worksheets were a big success.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-32037695332742271462015-04-20T11:35:00.003-07:002015-04-20T11:35:45.922-07:00An Illustration of Arlinac TownI just <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2015/04/mancala-style-abacus.html">wrote</a> about commissioning some mancala-style abacuses. That helped lots of people, but was not a project for me. A second commission at the end of 2014 was.<br />
<br />
My role-playing game, <a href="http://davidvs.net/ninepowers">Nine Powers</a>, is getting ready for some more purposeful sharing. It now has a Google+ <a href="https://plus.google.com/108734054151737930623/about">page</a>, which made me realize it needs at least one nice image.<br />
<br />
So I commissioned <a href="http://jjpeabody.deviantart.com/">Jereme Peabody</a> to create an image of the setting's main location, Arlinac Town. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XObO771w4BYaZejSJe1mXdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="267" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--y5SHKcBHxI/VJzmmfB_H8I/AAAAAAAALVk/BGFDO5Xd2Yw/s400/big.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
This was a surprisingly big project. We exchanged dozens of constructive e-mails discussing ideas and critiquing drafts. Jereme was wonderful to work with, and we're both quite happy with the result.<br />
<br />
Perhaps once Summer begins I will have the time to start publicizing <i>Nine Powers</i> properly. Currently my life has too many other chores and errands.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-54457278185722398962015-04-20T11:27:00.001-07:002015-04-20T11:27:41.039-07:00Fidelity Charitable in 2014My <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2015/04/mancala-style-abacus.html">previous</a> post mentioned Fidelity Charitable.<br />
<br />
In 2014, that non-profit funneled donations more than 620,000 times, totaling nearly $2.6 billion. You can read more <a href="http://www.fidelitycharitable.org/about-us/news/01-26-2015.shtml">here</a>.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0Tab3xgAYql1uNvy_FByU9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="34" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FJQiagk5VS4/VTVE4n38_lI/AAAAAAAANvA/bsrnNu_Ciio/s800/Fidelity-Charitable-logo.gif" width="205" /></a></div>
davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-5990132209342067722015-04-20T11:24:00.000-07:002015-04-20T11:24:15.861-07:00Mancala-Style AbacusI have blogged <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2014/02/local-banjo-part-2-sort-of-kickstarter.html">before</a> about my friend Jeffrey Weitzel and his local banjo making business.<br />
<br />
His work had a slow point last Winter, and my family's <a href="http://davidvs.blogspot.com/2013/02/liquidity.html">account</a> with Fidelity Charitable had grown with the stock market in 2014. So I commissioned him to make a special set of abacuses for Edgewood Elementary School. I sent money from Fidelity Charitable to the school to cover the cost.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hX6apaDDTpXjyT_eEGp0FNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SifqfZpS17U/VJ2rzL9mylI/AAAAAAAALLo/DR81Pe9t7Q0/s400/DSC05675.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
A normal abacus is dreadful in a room full of first graders. When jostled its beads move into the wrong places. Flipped over it drives like a car.<br />
<br />
But these mancala-style abacuses work great. For several months my weekly volunteer time focused on teaching all three first-grade classrooms how to use them. The kids learned about place value and adding numbers bigger than twenty.<br />
<br />
Smiley has owned an abacus for about two years. I had bought the fun <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Brain-Toy-Co-ABA-CONUNDRUMS/dp/B00392JTHG">Aba-Conundrums</a> book for him. That book also provided more fun things to do in the classrooms.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13390460.post-54160762098802980012015-04-20T11:14:00.001-07:002015-04-20T11:14:21.476-07:00Dip PenSmiley has a weekly homework assignment that always includes a page of two of handwriting practice.<br />
<br />
He does not resist it much. But handwriting practice is not <i>fun</i>.<br />
<br />
Until...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_Cl-9nren-keWyHgV_L0tNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z7cIB5SA7Yg/VQjox6PaHbI/AAAAAAAALz0/zxWXaQmvtfU/s400/DSC06270.JPG" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />
Years ago I bought myself an inexpensive glass dip pen as a souvenir from visiting the <a href="http://www.cmog.org/">Corning Museum of Glass</a>.<br />
<br />
Smiley is finally old enough to use it carefully. It is a special treat, something he only gets to use when doing his handwriting practice.davidvshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041923215861465835noreply@blogger.com0