Askville

Somehow I've ended up on Askville, over at Amazon. It's kind of fun - people ask questions, and you can answer them. The answers are rated (you can choose to post an answer in a discussion area instead, in which case it can't be rated), and you gain virtual gold coins and experience points for good answers. If you gain enough experience points you go up in level and gain new powers. Yup, they're using D&D-style mechanisms, although only in a general way.

You can also send or receive compliments. It's definitely an interesting place; a little bit like Advicenators, perhaps, except that it's run by Amazon instead of a lunatic. Plus in general the questions are far less juvenile. They cover a much wider variety of topics, too.

And of course the web design is far superior.

Here's my Askville profile. You can list all sorts of stuff in it; you can even add new categories (I added "Favorite Roleplaying Games").

Askville

Somehow I've ended up on Askville, over at Amazon. It's kind of fun - people ask questions, and you can answer them. The answers are rated (you can choose to post an answer in a discussion area instead, in which case it can't be rated), and you gain virtual gold coins and experience points for good answers. If you gain enough experience points you go up in level and gain new powers. Yup, they're using D&D-style mechanisms, although only in a general way.

You can also send or receive compliments. It's definitely an interesting place; a little bit like Advicenators, perhaps, except that it's run by Amazon instead of a lunatic. Plus in general the questions are far less juvenile. They cover a much wider variety of topics, too.

And of course the web design is far superior.

Here's my Askville profile. You can list all sorts of stuff in it; you can even add new categories (I added "Favorite Roleplaying Games").

Hackmaster: Other Uses of the Flavor Cantrip

1. Cast it on a friend who has fallen in battle with animals or monsters that attack by biting. Give your ally the most bitter, awful taste imaginable. With any luck the creatures will leave him/her alone after one taste.

2. Try casting a nasty flavor on yourself or allies before fighting such creatures (warning: the DM may rule that you yourself will also suffer the effects of the flavor in your own mouth. See if you can develop a tolerance for one particular bad taste. Also, if the bad flavor affects you, it should also affect your enemies if you cast it on them. Think of the possibilities!).

3. Give your whole body a pleasant flavor before that big date!

4. Make alcohol taste like water (this is particularly effective combined with a reversed Neutralize Alcohol spell). Instant magical Mickey Finn!

5. Make your boots taste like leaves, grass, stone, or water. That should make it very hard to track you by smell.

6. Make your rations taste bitter or poisonous, to keep pests and wild animals from eating them when you're not watching (keep another Flavor in reserve to give them a good flavor when you're ready to eat them, of course).

7. Flavor non-magical weapons to make them seem magical (assuming that the DM doesn't rule that there's no magical aura associated with the changed taste).

Anyone have any other ideas? There are clearly lots of possibilities.

Hackmaster: Other Uses of the Flavor Cantrip

1. Cast it on a friend who has fallen in battle with animals or monsters that attack by biting. Give your ally the most bitter, awful taste imaginable. With any luck the creatures will leave him/her alone after one taste.

2. Try casting a nasty flavor on yourself or allies before fighting such creatures (warning: the DM may rule that you yourself will also suffer the effects of the flavor in your own mouth. See if you can develop a tolerance for one particular bad taste. Also, if the bad flavor affects you, it should also affect your enemies if you cast it on them. Think of the possibilities!).

3. Give your whole body a pleasant flavor before that big date!

4. Make alcohol taste like water (this is particularly effective combined with a reversed Neutralize Alcohol spell). Instant magical Mickey Finn!

5. Make your boots taste like leaves, grass, stone, or water. That should make it very hard to track you by smell.

6. Make your rations taste bitter or poisonous, to keep pests and wild animals from eating them when you're not watching (keep another Flavor in reserve to give them a good flavor when you're ready to eat them, of course).

7. Flavor non-magical weapons to make them seem magical (assuming that the DM doesn't rule that there's no magical aura associated with the changed taste).

Anyone have any other ideas? There are clearly lots of possibilities.

No Place for No Place For Hate

Belmont and Newton (both in Massachusetts) have just withdrawn from the ADL's "No Place For Hate" campaign, because of the ADL's continuing stance on the Armenian Genocide. The ADL was finally forced to recognize the Genocide and re-hire their regional director, but they still oppose the bills in Congress which would recognize the Genocide.

Belmont and Newton Also Withdraw From the ADL's No Place for Hate

Sigh. I'd love to discuss this over in the Armenian community, but I'm still not a member - despite three attempts to join and attempts to directly contact both of the moderators.

I wonder what the hell is going on with that community?

No Place for No Place For Hate

Belmont and Newton (both in Massachusetts) have just withdrawn from the ADL's "No Place For Hate" campaign, because of the ADL's continuing stance on the Armenian Genocide. The ADL was finally forced to recognize the Genocide and re-hire their regional director, but they still oppose the bills in Congress which would recognize the Genocide.

Belmont and Newton Also Withdraw From the ADL's No Place for Hate

Sigh. I'd love to discuss this over in the Armenian community, but I'm still not a member - despite three attempts to join and attempts to directly contact both of the moderators.

I wonder what the hell is going on with that community?