By Duncan on 28 February 2008 15:19

My gaming group has got a lot better at table football in the last 2 months, not least due to regular practice. A lot of this regular practice comes at the start and end of our gaming sessions, and any time there is a break. Last night we even played a game or Runebound in sync with the table football, with four of us on the football while the other completed their turn before the replacing a player at the table.

We still score the odd home goal or two, and some of the taller members of our group suffer from prolonged periods of play, complaining of back pains. Sadly I don't have that problem :)

Soon the table moves out into the shack on the end of my house which is occasionally called a "conservatory". It's a little colder out there, so we shall see if people are as keen to take a turn at the football in its new location.

By Duncan on 27 February 2008 15:28

So Flybe decided to move the day of my flight to Aberdeen, originally planned to be the day before my birthday. I cancelled my trip altogether and looked around for an alternative, only to find that the trip I originally wanted to do (Dublin) was possible once more.

Flybe have strange scheduling practices.

So now I'm all booked to go to the capital of Ireland and stay in a luxury (or possibly just cheap) hotel and expose myself to the sights and sounds around. I plan on wandering randomly, doing some shopping, finding some salsa and reading a book.

And most importantly, stay away from Devon for a couple of days!

By Duncan on 27 February 2008 15:19

Fantasy Flight Games has come to the rescue of Dark Heresy and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. The press release can be found at www.fantasyflightgames.com. No comments have been made by FFG about their plans for these lines, but at least we now know they have a good home.

FFG already produce my favourite boardgames (Warrior Knights, A Game of Thrones), so I have confidence that my favourite RPGs have also found a place to grow.

Interestingly, the deal with Games Workshop also indicates the rights for (non-miniatures based) board games based on GW properties from the last 25 years. Which could turn out to be the source of some more quality games :)

By Duncan on 26 February 2008 21:17

For my book club this month, we each had to bring along a book from childhood which stood out for us in some way. It was a fascinating meeting at which I learned a lot about my fellow readers. Two had brought along books by Enid Blyton, another Black Beauty and a third some comics.

I took along a Fighting Fantasy adventure game book, Caverns of the Snow Witch by Steve Jackson.

Most of them didn't know what it was and had never heard of an adventure game book. I read it when I was 11 before going to secondary school, picking it up where my older sister had left it. But it was probably the most influential book I have read, as it opened up the genre of fantasy to me, and lead me on to read more fighting fantasy books, which lead to heroquest, warhammer and gaming in general.

And for those who have read it, my first character died to a mammoth before I got anywhere near the Snow Witch.

By Duncan on 07 February 2008 16:02

Don't know why it's taken me so long to write about this.

My dance weekend in Southport (hosted by jive addiction) was amazing, with by best-ever dances and great music. The atmosphere was buzzing in the latin quarter, the blues room and the main dance hall, with a good range of dancers and dances in each.

The music in the blues room had definite influence from the west coast swing going on, but I loved dancing to pretty much all of it. Our chalet was great once again, and there were many familiar faces from Exeter and elsewhere in the southwest. Somewhere I have photos of Party Nick's 20th celebration at our chalet.

The only disappointing part of the weekend was two of the lessons. The tango (taught by the replacements for Vincent and Flavia) was too crowded and the dips and drops was too late on a sunday afternoon.

Already booked for June and planning on September as well!

By Duncan on 29 January 2008 12:17

Just read some news which is gutting to me. Black Industries (http://www.blackindustries.com/) have posted an announcement that they are to stop producing new material beyond September. Black Industries produce what is currently my favourite RPG, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and also our newest on in the form of Dark Heresy, set in the universe of Warhammer 40K.

What makes this stranger is that Dark Heresy was only released last Friday!

Now admittedly I do have enough WFRP material to run for several years, but it is still a shock for a growing company like BI to just stop, especially when it has produced consistently high quality and useful products.

More frustrating is that Dark Heresy was supposed to be the first part of three sections expanding the universe of 40K. Maybe someone else will take over the production of the RPGs.

I'll have to wait and see .

...

Read More »

By Duncan on 28 January 2008 17:12

This year for my birthday I had planned on getting away from it all for a couple of nights in Dublin, as there are fairly cheap flights from Exeter.

Sadly, when I went to check the availability, I found that I couldn't get the times I wanted .

So instead I'm going to the sunny city of Aberdeen, in the tropical climes of Scotland. By complete coincidence there are a couple of dance nights I might attend there, and I will probably scout out the shops and local historical sights. I may even do some reading.

I'm hoping for a peaceful and relaxing birthday in an almost foreign country.

By Duncan on 18 January 2008 20:30

Last night there was no jive in Exeter, due to the floor being redone in the Corn Exchange. So instead met in the Hog's Head for some drinks, after some hasty organisation on my part via Facebook.

I saw a few faces I hadn't seen for a while and got to know some people who'd I'd only danced with in the past.  Chatting while dancing isn't normally the best way to meet people. We talked of dance weekenders and work, of other dancers and more, while even a couple of non-dancers joined us.

The hardcore of us moved on to Rococos as the others drifted off (or had to be up early the next morning). Cheesy pop and dance was on the bill at the club, as well as some entertainment provided by an inexpert but enthusiastic pole dancer. Half a dozen of us stayed for a couple more hours of chat, drinking and dancing, to end a good night for jivers not jiving.

Back to normal next Thursday .

By Duncan on 15 January 2008 18:58

Saturday night we went for a chinese and then a drink afterwards in our local. Except that the local was packed full of a noisy crowd and noisier band, so we opted for the Bowling Green instead.

And the quiz machine was generous in there, so much so that I managed to buy (most of) a round for us punters from my quid. Spot the Difference, some frog game, bullseye and others were all paying up. This was followed by three losing pool games in a row (I blame my team-mates entirely).

Might have to start visiting more often to the Bowling Green.

By Duncan on 11 January 2008 17:45

My latest venture on Facebook is the rearing and development of my virtual friend - Gavin the Frog. He is a pet from the fluff pets application, who appears in his own little box on my facebook page.

He can be fed, petted, given little companions, apparel and backgrounds. He has his own little profile and can be raced against other people's virtual pets. After a poor start, Gavin has got off his fat arse and started winning races. Pets can also speak a message, which can change on their mood.

Its fairly pointless overall, but then that describes a lot of facebook. Pointless but quite fun in a strange way.

Now if they could find a way for pets to fight each other, with scars and bruises, then this application might just get a little more interesting.

And yes, this was named after one of my gaming group. I have no idea why, but it just felt right .