Quantity Multipliers for Shadows

"She is Star...Empress of the Twenty Universes."

--GLORY ROAD, by Robert Heinlein

There is an ecological niche between the single world or shadow, and the Infinity of shadows that Amber allows for. The Glory Road Universe of Heinlein has at least 20 known ones with more implied in Number of the Beast. (which is in itself contains an Infinity of worlds). In Anne Bishop's Darkness novels, there are three worlds. Even Middle Earth is not a single world, since it is mentioned in The Silmarillion that Valinor, the Uttermost West, no longer exists on Middle Earth per se.

My characters, even outside of Amber, have had dealings with multiple worlds. Just as alternate histories and universes in Science Fiction gets my blood pumping, so do a plethora of worlds in a fantasy novel or fiction. I love the Kelestia Harn setting, with its constellation of worlds around the central one of Harn. In fact some of the ideas contained therein originally come from that setting.

Anyway, if a player wanted to buy the entire Harn group, or even something larger, like Arref Mak's Empire of the Gleaming Banner, buying shadows one by one would be cost-prohibitive. So if items can have multipliers, why can't shadows?

Quantity Multiplier	Cost Name	Number of Shadows	Examples
*1	Single	One	Personal Shadow
*2	Named and Numbered	~2-8	Cadmus' Local Group, Harn's Kelestia; Anne Bishop's Darkness Worlds
*3	Horde	~20-50	The Twenty Universes; Empire of the Gleaming Banner; 3rd Edition D&D Multiverse
*4	Region of Shadow	~200-500
*5	Province of Shadow	~1000 to 3000
*6	Swath of Shadow	Tens of Thousands or More	The Million Sphere, the Worlds of Eon

Of course, like items, the shadows inherit the points that you spend before the multiplication. So, if you had a Horde of Primal shadows, it would cost you 12 points Too cheap? Perhaps, but a good GM remembers that all of those Shadows means an influence on the story. And can you imagine the "maintenance" the character that even thinks about having a region, province or swath of shadow? To say nothing of the potential of mischief from other players, enemies, and the like.

In practice, it is unlikely a character is going to have more than a Horde of shadows and if you wanted to limit shadow purchases to that level, it certainly would be a defensible position.

Once a character has bought a set of shadows, however, there are two more steps in the tradition of Kelestia. The first is that they can customize individual shadows, paying extra points on a single member at a time. Second, they should establish the links between shadows beforehand. It is implied that the shadows are in the same area of shadow, and thus there is an opportunity for the player to provide means to travel between the worlds they have created.

Depending on the setting, the milieu of the worlds, this can range from magical gates to inter-dimensional wormholes, to even something like having a foggy barrier that, if walked into, leads you to the adjoining world. In some cases, for example, Kelestia, there is a definable map of which worlds can be reached from which worlds. In that setting, Harn, as the center of the wheel can reach any of the worlds, but there is no direct link between Yashain and Terra. The availability of these links can also vary, two worlds can have a "weak link", with few methods, or stronger links between other members of the family.

An example of putting this all together is a setting I am creating for Cadmus, for Deb Allen's Rites of Passage. When I created the character, I established with Deb that Cadmus came from a small group of inter-connected worlds. Although we really haven't explored the setting much as yet, I have had a vision in my mind of how this would all work. I've called the family of worlds "The Local Group"

Cadmus' Local Group of Shadows (6 points)

Personal Shadow (1)

Restricted Access (2)

Named and Numbered (x2)

Cadmus' Local Group consists of four worlds arranged in a triangle with the fourth
point, Terra, in the center. This central world is the main entry and exit point from the group.

Terra

This is much like Earth as we know it, with a history diverging in the 11th century A.D. As a result, the Byzantine Empire survived and lived on to influence much of history, and the colonization of the Americas. Cadmus, for example, lived in New Thessalonica, and speaks Greek as well as English

Orbis Astralis

A space-faring universe, this world is much like an amalgam of space empires, republics and other political associations. It is mainly humans, although there are aliens, the Q'rin, which seem much like the Eldar from the Warhammer Universe and might have links to the Fae of the other worlds

Orbis Arcanus

The reverse of the space-faring universe, this world is a fairly typical fantasy based world. Still in development as Deb has "definite ideas" on its nature

Orbis Faerie

This world is the origin and domain of the Fae, and may prove to be the secret to the Faerie found in the other three worlds. Still in development as Deb has "definite ideas" on its nature

Usenet Archive now available on google.

Now this is interesting. The old archives of Usenet are back up to browse on Google. I found some really old posts from when my email was pjweimer@nyc.pipeline.com as well as the variations on jvstin that I've used on various locations. It was strange to do searches and find and read posts of mine from 6 or 7 years ago on NYC politics, computer games, and other stuff.

Testing out some layout changes...

I saw LOTR TTT again, on Christmas Eve, this time at the Irvine Spectrum.

The interesting thing about it this time? Well, I managed even to make the Tolkien expert Scott Olson jealous because, you, see, the Irvine Spectrum contains an IMAX screen--and they show "regular" movies upon it. On Christmas Eve, it was Treasure Planet (earlier in the day but I didn't see that). The "late" show, which I did catch, was The Two Towers.

It looked great! It didn't cover the entire screen, of course, the aspect ratio of an IMAX screen is not the same as a regular movie screen. there weren't any black bars, but it reminded me a bit of watching a widescreen movie on a television in that regard.

Added a link to my Glacier Page, "Glaciers, Rivers of Ice". I've gotten more than a couple of emails from students and educators appreciating the work I've done. I've had it up for a few years now, it began as a project for a class and has taken on a life of its own.

Christmas Wishes

To Mom, Dad, my family and friends and readers, I want to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas. I'd want to spend it physically with some of you, all of you, any of you, but you are in my heart and mind on this, Christmas Eve as I write it.

I am feeling somewhat better, physically, I think all of you know I have been battling a nasty cold the last few days. It's still attacking me, but I am slowly winning the fight.

I also wanted to share with all of you something that just happened, a few minutes ago as I wrote this. I don't do it to brag, or to toot my own horn, but merely to affirm to myself and the rest of you that, even alone, the spirit of the holiday is here, within me.

I was in the grocery store, on the checkout line, buying a few things. Ahead of me was a nice little old lady, the real grandmother type. She was buying some candy, some chunk canned chicken, and some cat food. The checkout lady asked her if she was alone and she said no. There was a pregnant pause and then she indicated me, standing on the line behind her, barely paying attention to the conversation. I could sense it though...she was alone on this christmas eve. I felt a twinge of sadness.

When it came time for her to pay for her groceries, about $13, I watched as she pulled out a few singles and some coins. It became apparent to me, and to the checkout girl that she didn't have enough...she only had $7 or so. The checkout girl then asked her a question that I, back when I worked in a grocery store, saw every day. She asked her what items she wanted to remove from her order.

Something possessed me and I still can't quantify it. I pay by debit card at the store, and so it was a fait accompli. I swiped my card, and paid for the bill and only then, once it was a done deal, told the cashier and the lady that I would pay for the groceries. I refused even the $7 that the lady had, something inside me told me to pay for the bill in full and so I did.

The lady thanked me, the checkout girl looked at me quizzically, and the people behind me just seemed relieved that the delay was over. But I felt like I did the right thing, and after I bought my own groceries, and walked out of the store with a spring in my step.

It wasn't much...it was less than $13, but I think I brought a ray of happiness to that lady, on Christmas Eve. And that is my story.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Paul

Anti-Fantasy Nonsense redux

Game Wish 26

Ginger's Wish this week:

What three fantasy books/series would you recommend to other gamers? Why? What particularly makes them suitable for gamers to read? Would they be particularly good for novices or better for experienced gamers?

Lots and lots of possibilities and choices. I will exclude the obvious ones, Ginger already noted them anyway (although, Ginger, I don't think The Black Company is obvious, I only came across them a couple of years ago myself, but then the balance of my fictional reading skews more toward SF than Fantasy than many of our coterie (that in itself could be a blog entry for me to talk about)). I will also restrict myself to ones in print, stuff that you, the readers can pick up in a store today, or grab on amazon right now.

1.
The Dying Earth, by Jack Vance

Before the Lord of the Rings, nearly before The Hobbit, certainly before fantasy was cool, there was Jack Vance. One of the first F/SF books to be published in hardcover, it has become a seminal work of the genre, and only in the last couple of years been in print again, so newer readers disinclined to the library might not have read it and might not have a copy.

Get it as soon as you can. If not for The Dying Earth, there might not be fantasy gaming, or at least not as we know it, Gary Gygax took much from Vance in his creation of D&D. The magic system, especially, but colorful characters, quests, adventures, Vance was as much an influence on Dungeons and Dragons as Tolkien was. Gamers will find ideas for spells, personalities for characters, and the belief that their creations can reach for lofty goals. The characters in the Dying Earth range in power levels, something reflected in the new Dying Earth RPG, and thus it shows that characters need not be static, and can grow and evolve in ability. For GMs, the Dying Earth is a baroque, ornate universe that they can mine for ideas for their own.

2.The Vlad Taltos Novels by Steven Brust

If a nonsensical and impossible statement as "The Heir to Zelazny" can be made, Steven Brust might be that Heir (although Steve better look at his rear view mirror, Gaiman's been doing great work in Zelazny's vein too lately). Draegera started its life as a role playing universe, so with that in mind, gamers especially fall in love with Brust's universe and characters. Mobsters! Poisonous Jhereg! Sorcerers and Swashbucklers! Between the 17 Great Houses, the Easterners and others, Brust shows how a myriad templates of characters can get along and exist together, and work together, and scheme against each other. Gms can mine ideas for byzantine plots and twists and turns, too. There isn't an official RPG per se, but there are Mushes and PBEMS based on this work, and rightly so. And the writing is just damn entertaining.

3.Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin

Sorry Jordan fans, but the best Epic fantasy series being done today, in my opinion, is George R.R. Martin's series, now up to its third volume with the fourth due in April.
Loosely based on a world reminiscent of the Wars of the Roses, the series revolves around that chestnut of many Amber games, a Throne War. Several scheming families and individuals try and take advantage of the power vacumn, with pyrotechnic results. There are even villains that, if you don't actually like, you can sort of root for, their motivations and internal thoughts give them sympathy and character. (Tyrion Lannister, to name just one). And that is perhaps the greatest strength, and what gamers should look for--characters to care about. The idea that a "villain is a hero in his own mind" comes true here, everyone has shades of grey, and the villains themselves do things with the best of (their) intentions. There is not much magic about, by the standards of the genre anyway, and I even with disgust read a review which scolded Martin for using a fantasy universe rather than the "real thing". Ignore that, and enjoy some of the best writing in the genre today. (The third book in the series was nominated for a Hugo, considering how rarely fantasy novels are nominated for the award, that is high praise indeed from the fans).

Movie Review

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett

Directed by: Peter Jackson

"Gandalf didn't mean for us to go this way."

"Gandalf didn't mean for a lot of things to happen, Sam"

--Frodo and Sam, lost on their journey toward Mordor

Middle books in trilogies (real trilogies, not the Interminable Fantasy Sequence) are hard to pull off. The author has to set up the seeds of the last book, continue the threads of the first, and still complete a story within the volume. Tolkien experts will point out that the three volume division of the LOTR is abitrary, I have seen versions where it is split into smaller volumes. And the "chapters" in Tolkien's work are not called that, they are called books. So, Tolkien's Two Towers is not strictly a middle book in a trilogy.

However, the movies are a different story. This is the second movie of three, and thus must follow those rules I outlined above. After the enormous box office and critical success of the Fellowship of the Ring, the anticipation for the second movie has been uniformly high. The thing to remember is that all three movies are already in the can, so to speak, the director has done most of the work already, his vision was already in place.

And thus on a Saturday where I was feeling unwell, I sat down in a theater to another three hour epic. The movie starts off with a controversial choice, there is absolutely no setup or prologue or "what has gone on before". The information isn't even really enfolded. The movie expects that you have just finished watching the first with picking up of the second. The hypothetical person coming in cold to this movie will wonder just how Merry and Pippin were captured by Orcs, for example. Later, with brief scenes involving Elrond and Galadriel, the names of the characters are not even mentioned.

Anyway, the movie is another long epic installment, with this movie both much more martial and more focused on Aragorn. The hobbits, whom many will argue are the real center of Tolkien's universe, the viewpoint by which we see his world, frankly get less screen time than Aragorn's story arc. But what a story arc! We see Aragorn do much in this movie, tracking the Orcs who are carrying off Pippin and Merry, doing a "CSI investigation" of a battle scene to determine that, yes, Merry and Pippin survived the massacre of those very same Orcs despite initial appearances to the contrary. Gimli and Legolas, however, stand in the shadow of Aragorn, and seem relegated to bit players with just a quirk or two to distinguish them.

And the battle scenes. In the book, the defense of Helm's Deep is not really a big deal, Tolkien does not linger on it at all, describing the death of the orc horde in almost spartan terms. In the movie, it becomes the centerpiece and the main thrust of most of the movie--the evacuation of Theoden's people to the redoubt, and the defense of that redoubt against a truly massive horde of Uruk-hai. I've never, ever seen a medieval battle executed and filmed better than this one. I was going in to the movie afraid it was just going to be a senseless, monochromatic slaughter without any real angst, or terror, or polish.

I was dead wrong. We see the orcs use siege weapons (including a secret weapon I will not reveal here) and attack the fortress intelligently. Likewise, the defenders do not merely stand and die, they scheme, plan and try to foil the plans of a force which outnumbers theirs by a factor of 10. I warn you now, if you don't like watching this sort of thing, you will be disappointed in LOTR II, it dominates the movie.

It's not the only thing in the movie, of course. There is Smeagol-Gollum, the best CGI character yet created (better than Nobby, far better than Jar-Jar). The scenes where he shows schizophrenic indecision over what to do with the hobbitses are some sorely needed comic relief. Frodo and Sam's journey deviates from the book, however, purists will howl when they wind up making a detour into Gondor with Faramir. The meeting with the Ents by Merry and Pippin is very good, John Rhys-Davies gets some compensation for Gimli getting short shrift by doing the voice of Treebeard. The Ents' march on Isengard is well imagined if again not quite according to the book.

The cinematography is excellent, the CGI is top notch. In many scenes, most of what we are seeing is computer-generated, but its believeable. I finally can, for example, envision Worg riders in a way I couldn't quite before, seeing this movie. Middle Earth, as seen in New Zealand, once again looks like a real place you can visit, the landscape shots will once again blow you away.

The movie doesn't quite merit 5 popcorn kernels, because I think a couple of the contextual changes to the books are somewhat dubious in nature, and the lessened characterization of every character but Aragorn and Gandalf also hurts the movie a bit. But see it? Go, go, go. See it again? Yes.

Rating: Four and a half popcorn kernels out of five

Feeling lousy

I've been feeling really rotten the last couple of days. I went to work sick on Friday, and Friday night into Saturday I spent a sleepless night in bed for 12 hours trying to get to sleep. That I didn't have something like Nyquil or Tylenol PM on hand should come as no surprise to many of you, my dislike of using medicine or drugs except in extremis is pretty well known. I paid the price for it. I knew somehow that I wasn't going to sleep, and tossed and turned from 8 PM to 8 AM.

Feverish dreams and weird quasi dreams even for me were just icing on the cake. I had some weird dreams last night, too, even if I felt a little better...I felt up to actually going to a movie yesterday, since I really wanted to see LOTR II. Review will be published shortly.