("Loon" meaning not a crazy person, but the beloved water bird)
Thoughts on various things from my perspective as a Latter-Day Saint, an idealist, and a generally curious person
That's the thing I object to about modern video gaming. When I was young, we'd go to the arcade and play all the old-timey favorites, but each game took only a few minutes, and you didn't need to know anything about the game going in, really.
Today's games require huge amounts of time to figure out and to play. They're so complicated that you have to invest an enormous amount of time and energy and attention in them; time and energy that is better spent, perhaps, among real people, doing something worthwhile.
I suppose we're a gaming household, we have the Playstation and it's used in measured doses by my son, and in less-measured doses by his dad (I loves me the pinball.) But, we're also a heavy-duty board- and card-game family. I grew up playing Carom against my sister, and now relish the chance to thrash my kids at the same. All of my offspring have learned to count with classics like Hi Ho Cherry-o and dominoes, and I think my middle child believes this genre to be called "bored" games, because that's what we always say when she complains of boredom...
"Go pick out a game from the shelf and we'll play it."
As a result, our kids have a broad vocabulary of games, my son just now old enough to handle the intricacies of a marathon Risk session, and my middle showing a dangerous tendency to win "by accident" at Mancala and Uno.
When the winter rains start up and we're jammed inside on a weekend, chances are we're sitting around debating the innocence or guilt of Colonel Mustard.
Another fellow, role-player, eh? Oh, I remember the old red D&D basic set and blue D&D expert set, the first generation AD&D, first gen Traveller, first gen GURPS, etc (yes, I was a geek). I really loved those games. But I, like you, don't think I'd get into today's MMORP or other digital variations. What they have in visual pizazz they lack in socialization and atmosphere (role-playing should be done in a dark basement, not in front of a monitor!). We also enjoyed many quasi-war games as well (Titan, Magic Realm, and Cosmic Encounters back then, Puerto-Rico and Settlers of Catan now).
My wife and I have enjoyed a few computer games, those puzzle-interaction games like Myst. But for the most part, I'd prefer to see and interact with people while I'm playing.
Alignment: Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.
Race: Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.
Class: Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.
3 comments:
That's the thing I object to about modern video gaming. When I was young, we'd go to the arcade and play all the old-timey favorites, but each game took only a few minutes, and you didn't need to know anything about the game going in, really.
Today's games require huge amounts of time to figure out and to play. They're so complicated that you have to invest an enormous amount of time and energy and attention in them; time and energy that is better spent, perhaps, among real people, doing something worthwhile.
(Get off my lawn.)
I suppose we're a gaming household, we have the Playstation and it's used in measured doses by my son, and in less-measured doses by his dad (I loves me the pinball.) But, we're also a heavy-duty board- and card-game family. I grew up playing Carom against my sister, and now relish the chance to thrash my kids at the same. All of my offspring have learned to count with classics like Hi Ho Cherry-o and dominoes, and I think my middle child believes this genre to be called "bored" games, because that's what we always say when she complains of boredom...
"Go pick out a game from the shelf and we'll play it."
As a result, our kids have a broad vocabulary of games, my son just now old enough to handle the intricacies of a marathon Risk session, and my middle showing a dangerous tendency to win "by accident" at Mancala and Uno.
When the winter rains start up and we're jammed inside on a weekend, chances are we're sitting around debating the innocence or guilt of Colonel Mustard.
Another fellow, role-player, eh? Oh, I remember the old red D&D basic set and blue D&D expert set, the first generation AD&D, first gen Traveller, first gen GURPS, etc (yes, I was a geek). I really loved those games. But I, like you, don't think I'd get into today's MMORP or other digital variations. What they have in visual pizazz they lack in socialization and atmosphere (role-playing should be done in a dark basement, not in front of a monitor!). We also enjoyed many quasi-war games as well (Titan, Magic Realm, and Cosmic Encounters back then, Puerto-Rico and Settlers of Catan now).
My wife and I have enjoyed a few computer games, those puzzle-interaction games like Myst. But for the most part, I'd prefer to see and interact with people while I'm playing.
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