#ramblings — Public Fediverse posts

So on the recent XLBS the question was

What Is A Narrative Wargame?

and the discussion always seems to revolve around tournament players vs campaign players and I feel there is more to this. I’ll try to do a list.

• tournament players – always ears on the ground, chasing the meta and the latest way to cheese the game in order to win.
• campaign/narrative players – setting up a scenario or campaign with (relative) strict rules and setup in order to enjoy a long play
• historical players – recreate a battle from history with all limitations, events etc in order to re-enact the battle/war and maybe even change the course of history
• casual players – just some gamers who like the setting, the models, the fluff and like to battle it out. No big digging in old tomes and chasing meta and any advantage they can get but more „rule of cool“ and a nice day with friends at the table

I think those are the main groups of people gaming companies try to address. Historical players are, well, the easiest. History is written only the rule system matters. And as long as everything stays within what history has said all is fine and good.

Campaign/narrative players, as long as the rules are mostly balanced and every faction has their ups and downs all is good and gaming is easy.

For tournament players rules should be (IMHO) play-tested to hell and back again. Every Army should have the same chances to win so that really only the brain behind creating the army list and implementing the tactics is the deciding factor on who wins. Like in racing games when everybody uses the same car and engine and only the driver makes a difference.

Now casual players. Rules shouldn’t be to much out of balance but a great backstory, fluff and flair makes all the difference. Fun first, rules second but everybody should be on the same side on how to resolve the outcome on the table.

Where do I see myself? Personally I think I’m mostly a casual player. Winning is nice but having fun is much more important. If a game (like Frostgrave) has an RPG element I also like campaigns but that is the exception to the rule. Tournaments tend to be too much stress and history… well, that just doesn’t tickle my fancy.

What about you?

So on the recent XLBS the question was

What Is A Narrative Wargame?

and the discussion always seems to revolve around tournament players vs campaign players and I feel there is more to this. I’ll try to do a list.

• tournament players – always ears on the ground, chasing the meta and the latest way to cheese the game in order to win.
• campaign/narrative players – setting up a scenario or campaign with (relative) strict rules and setup in order to enjoy a long play
• historical players – recreate a battle from history with all limitations, events etc in order to re-enact the battle/war and maybe even change the course of history
• casual players – just some gamers who like the setting, the models, the fluff and like to battle it out. No big digging in old tomes and chasing meta and any advantage they can get but more „rule of cool“ and a nice day with friends at the table

I think those are the main groups of people gaming companies try to address. Historical players are, well, the easiest. History is written only the rule system matters. And as long as everything stays within what history has said all is fine and good.

Campaign/narrative players, as long as the rules are mostly balanced and every faction has their ups and downs all is good and gaming is easy.

For tournament players rules should be (IMHO) play-tested to hell and back again. Every Army should have the same chances to win so that really only the brain behind creating the army list and implementing the tactics is the deciding factor on who wins. Like in racing games when everybody uses the same car and engine and only the driver makes a difference.

Now casual players. Rules shouldn’t be to much out of balance but a great backstory, fluff and flair makes all the difference. Fun first, rules second but everybody should be on the same side on how to resolve the outcome on the table.

Where do I see myself? Personally I think I’m mostly a casual player. Winning is nice but having fun is much more important. If a game (like Frostgrave) has an RPG element I also like campaigns but that is the exception to the rule. Tournaments tend to be too much stress and history… well, that just doesn’t tickle my fancy.

What about you?

I was talking to a friend last week about a personal/work project I had about 10 years ago where every month or so, I had to change my mind (properly!) about something I believed in – Which in this case, meant I had to go and seek things out because it’s really hard to do every month unless it’s active.

It’s half of the reason I spent so long embedded in Flat-Earth and Scientology; the other half was that I was researching pathways to radicalisation and trying to trace a lot of them to the source and exit.

I was listening to a Sherlock Holmes podcast yesterday and realised that being able to change your mind completely about something is a core investigative skill (and this is how I increased my B2B sales… No! No… Away with you LinkedIn!).

Good investigative technique means having a theory of the case from the start, but then, importantly, it means deliberately challenging it and then changing it, when new evidence emerges. It can be a lot of paperwork and mental gymnastics. Sticking to the original theory of a case and looking for evidence to support it is what created the Birmingham Six and the Central Park Five. Completely irresponsible and incompetent police work and static minds are a liability to any good casework (see also: Donald Trump who is still trying to execute the CP5).

This isn’t really going anywhere except to note that although Sherlock was excellent at changing case-theories (and does so a lot in the books), his creator, Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, of Cottingley Fairies and Harry Houdini feud fame, was so bad at it that he’d certainly have had a leadership role waiting in the West Midlands Police any time.

Ironically, the person in his most famous stories that he can be most said to resemble, is Lestrade of the Yard.

#Books #SherlockHomes #Detective #Investigation #TrustAndSafety #Fairies #Police #Crime #Houdini #Ramblings #ASIS #FlatEarth #Scientology #Radicalization #LinkedIn #B2B

I was talking to a friend last week about a personal/work project I had about 10 years ago where every month or so, I had to change my mind (properly!) about something I believed in – Which in this case, meant I had to go and seek things out because it’s really hard to do every month unless it’s active.

It’s half of the reason I spent so long embedded in Flat-Earth and Scientology; the other half was that I was researching pathways to radicalisation and trying to trace a lot of them to the source and exit.

I was listening to a Sherlock Holmes podcast yesterday and realised that being able to change your mind completely about something is a core investigative skill (and this is how I increased my B2B sales… No! No… Away with you LinkedIn!).

Good investigative technique means having a theory of the case from the start, but then, importantly, it means deliberately challenging it and then changing it, when new evidence emerges. It can be a lot of paperwork and mental gymnastics. Sticking to the original theory of a case and looking for evidence to support it is what created the Birmingham Six and the Central Park Five. Completely irresponsible and incompetent police work and static minds are a liability to any good casework (see also: Donald Trump who is still trying to execute the CP5).

This isn’t really going anywhere except to note that although Sherlock was excellent at changing case-theories (and does so a lot in the books), his creator, Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, of Cottingley Fairies and Harry Houdini feud fame, was so bad at it that he’d certainly have had a leadership role waiting in the West Midlands Police any time.

Ironically, the person in his most famous stories that he can be most said to resemble, is Lestrade of the Yard.

#Books #SherlockHomes #Detective #Investigation #TrustAndSafety #Fairies #Police #Crime #Houdini #Ramblings #ASIS #FlatEarth #Scientology #Radicalization #LinkedIn #B2B

I’m always learning about special days way too late. Like today was Autistic Pride Day. :drgn_flag_autism::BhjFlag_Autism::neorat_autism:

I find it funny how there are 2D artists who try to make their 2D art look 3D and how there are 3D artists who try to make their 3D art look 2D.

#2DArtist #3DArtist #2DArt #3DArt #Ramblings

Mini data centers outside your home. Yeah… no thanks! https://youtu.be/ZoYeJwN7Rkw?si=xlBMS054F-uIQxHl

Mini data centers outside your home. Yeah… no thanks! https://youtu.be/ZoYeJwN7Rkw?si=xlBMS054F-uIQxHl

:wlfHide:
Well I’m not cured but I am feeling a lot better than I was earlier this week for sure. I’m on antibiotics now. I really wanted to attend the fossil festival. Now I gotta wait until next year. 🫩

:BlobCat_Masked::BlobCat_Googly_Sad: Tired of being sick already

Well. A stranger on the internet calling my situation with my dad “white people problems” brought on a new type of pain for me. Do I have to say ABUSE for you to understand? Or is it only abuse if he hits me or worse? Are you one of those who make fun of emotional abuse normally? I checked his profile, man’s in his 40’s bullying someone 12 years younger than him while also posting hypocritical things. Wow. I really hate us humans sometimes.

So I’ve got this interesting situation with my tv. I don’t live in an apartment complex. My neighbors’ houses are the typical distance from my own in the cul-de-sac. Still, I think that one of my closet neighbors must be accessing my tv. Three times now audio has played from it while the tv is off. It sounds like a kid’s show usually. When we turn the tv on it immediately goes away and we get full access as usual. My parents are going to casually ask our neighbors if they have Roku ones too.

So I’ve got this interesting situation with my tv. I don’t live in an apartment complex. My neighbors’ houses are the typical distance from my own in the cul-de-sac. Still, I think that one of my closet neighbors must be accessing my tv. Three times now audio has played from it while the tv is off. It sounds like a kid’s show usually. When we turn the tv on it immediately goes away and we get full access as usual. My parents are going to casually ask our neighbors if they have Roku ones too.

So I’ve got this interesting situation with my tv. I don’t live in an apartment complex. My neighbors’ houses are the typical distance from my own in the cul-de-sac. Still, I think that one of my closet neighbors must be accessing my tv. Three times now audio has played from it while the tv is off. It sounds like a kid’s show usually. When we turn the tv on it immediately goes away and we get full access as usual. My parents are going to casually ask our neighbors if they have Roku ones too.

So I’ve got this interesting situation with my tv. I don’t live in an apartment complex. My neighbors’ houses are the typical distance from my own in the cul-de-sac. Still, I think that one of my closet neighbors must be accessing my tv. Three times now audio has played from it while the tv is off. It sounds like a kid’s show usually. When we turn the tv on it immediately goes away and we get full access as usual. My parents are going to casually ask our neighbors if they have Roku ones too.

So I’ve got this interesting situation with my tv. I don’t live in an apartment complex. My neighbors’ houses are the typical distance from my own in the cul-de-sac. Still, I think that one of my closet neighbors must be accessing my tv. Three times now audio has played from it while the tv is off. It sounds like a kid’s show usually. When we turn the tv on it immediately goes away and we get full access as usual. My parents are going to casually ask our neighbors if they have Roku ones too.

@[email protected]

I might start getting these soon. 😅🥲

@[email protected]

I might start getting these soon. 😅🥲

@[email protected]

I might start getting these soon. 😅🥲

:blobfoxcomfysleepy: eepy… :A_BlobCat_Coffee:

:blobfoxcomfysleepy: eepy… :A_BlobCat_Coffee:

:blobfoxcomfysleepy: eepy… :A_BlobCat_Coffee:

A Canadian should marry me so I can get tf out to here when I have the means. Just kidding! Mostly…

Draw-over of a Ms. Marvel panel for practice purposes.

Draw-over of a Ms. Marvel panel for practice purposes.

Trying different styles 💬
2025

Trying different styles 💬
2025

Trying different styles 💬
2025

Trying different styles 💬
2025

It’s so cold here that the sticky double sided stuff holding my blinds gave up on one side. Gotta fix that. It’s already getting too bright for adequate sleep conditions. 😣

It’s so cold here that the sticky double sided stuff holding my blinds gave up on one side. Gotta fix that. It’s already getting too bright for adequate sleep conditions. 😣

My year. Lots of scary and sad things. At least I made more art.

🖥️ Wow, what a #groundbreaking idea: feeding 24 years of #digital #ramblings to a #Markov model! 🤖 Just what we needed—a bot that regurgitates decades of 💤profound💤 musings. Can't wait for the next installment: "I trained a #neural #network on my #grocery #receipts." 🛒
https://susam.net/fed-24-years-of-posts-to-markov-model.html #idea #model #HackerNews #ngated

🖥️ Wow, what a #groundbreaking idea: feeding 24 years of #digital #ramblings to a #Markov model! 🤖 Just what we needed—a bot that regurgitates decades of 💤profound💤 musings. Can't wait for the next installment: "I trained a #neural #network on my #grocery #receipts." 🛒
https://susam.net/fed-24-years-of-posts-to-markov-model.html #idea #model #HackerNews #ngated

🖥️ Wow, what a #groundbreaking idea: feeding 24 years of #digital #ramblings to a #Markov model! 🤖 Just what we needed—a bot that regurgitates decades of 💤profound💤 musings. Can't wait for the next installment: "I trained a #neural #network on my #grocery #receipts." 🛒
https://susam.net/fed-24-years-of-posts-to-markov-model.html #idea #model #HackerNews #ngated

🖥️ Wow, what a #groundbreaking idea: feeding 24 years of #digital #ramblings to a #Markov model! 🤖 Just what we needed—a bot that regurgitates decades of 💤profound💤 musings. Can't wait for the next installment: "I trained a #neural #network on my #grocery #receipts." 🛒
https://susam.net/fed-24-years-of-posts-to-markov-model.html #idea #model #HackerNews #ngated

My mom wanted us to get groceries earlier today for her. I was already worried about it because I wasn’t very awake yet. I began getting more and more anxious while driving because I obviously didn’t want to get into an accident. When we actually got to the store I stayed in the car and tried to not have a panic attack. By the time Wren got back out with the food I was somewhat more awake so driving home was a little easier. My stepdad pulled me aside later and was asking if I’m okay & how I should let them help me. He was saying that the attacks are going to get worse as I get older if I don’t get help for them. I really do want therapy again but I’ve been putting it off for various reasons. I miss my therapist that I had for several years. I hope that she’s doing okay. I was supposed to get an autism assessment done where she works but by the time I was called about an appointment I had just moved to a new state. Part of me doesn’t want the assessment now because people will always treat someone who’s diagnosed with autism poorly. Not to mention that Trump is not helping with the ableism with the dumb things he’s said lately about being on the spectrum.

The review of an #esoteric tome on #continuations blunders on like an over-caffeinated grad student's fever dream 💤💻. The author can't decide if it's groundbreaking or a $100 paperweight 📚❓. Spoiler: it has no exercises - because who needs practice when you've got #theoretical #ramblings, right? 🤷‍♂️
https://swatson555.github.io/posts/2025-09-16-compiling-with-continuations.html #literature #HackerNews #gradstudent #HackerNews #ngated

The review of an #esoteric tome on #continuations blunders on like an over-caffeinated grad student's fever dream 💤💻. The author can't decide if it's groundbreaking or a $100 paperweight 📚❓. Spoiler: it has no exercises - because who needs practice when you've got #theoretical #ramblings, right? 🤷‍♂️
https://swatson555.github.io/posts/2025-09-16-compiling-with-continuations.html #literature #HackerNews #gradstudent #HackerNews #ngated

I’m watching Repo the Genetic Opera for the first time. 🫀🧠🫁🩸