tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40231274473028036392024-03-05T15:09:12.897-05:00The Princess and The WarlockOne couple, two perspective, tons of geekery. From Lolita Fashion to LARPs, we cover it all. We've got everything for our fellow gamer and geek lifestylist brethren.The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-81476459321851649022012-10-22T10:23:00.000-04:002012-10-22T10:23:14.691-04:00Halloween Reviews: Nightmare, Paranormal Activity, Sinister and Boo at the Zoo<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Princess and the Warlock pretty much celebrate
Halloween all October. As we like to say in our household, October is our favorite
holiday. We try to pack our weekends full of fun events such as haunted houses,
scary movies and Halloween parties as much as we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past weekend we visited local haunted house “Nightmare”,
saw two horror movies (Paranormal Activity 4 and Sinister) and went to the
Bronx Zoo to check out their Boo in the Zoo event. So rather than do a separate
post to review each and every event, we’ve decided to just review it all in one
big post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu3_8yvH5gORfoM64ze8zQEQTBuYXNtvxVwrQcHKtPLyCDaNDumTY1-ev9u-0UHUULhCcQZElnsdd07yV9EyBAT1DvLFnzse0XziCU1eUM109gvu78O4XvNTQN_wCXfBVKLxD0knc9Q0/s1600/Nightmare-Killers-Haunted-House-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu3_8yvH5gORfoM64ze8zQEQTBuYXNtvxVwrQcHKtPLyCDaNDumTY1-ev9u-0UHUULhCcQZElnsdd07yV9EyBAT1DvLFnzse0XziCU1eUM109gvu78O4XvNTQN_wCXfBVKLxD0knc9Q0/s320/Nightmare-Killers-Haunted-House-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightmare Haunted House 2012</td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Nightmare<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve been attending Manhattan-based “Nightmare” haunted
house for the past six years. Over this time, we’ve seen the productions vary
from the outstanding to the underwhelming, though mostly the house is a crowd
pleaser with only two years of the six being in the “underwhelming” category.
This year? It gets the stamp of approval from us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every year Nightmare tackles a new theme. This year’s serial
killers theme was its most controversial so far, but director Tim Haskell is
not one to shy away from his artistic vision, nor does he sacrifice integrity
either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without giving away any spoilers, let us begin by saying
that this year’s house starts out very different than its previous iterations
which set the foundation by making the small group of guests feel incredibly venerable.
This vulnerability certainly carries over to the next room which is quite
unexpected and delivers home the message that the artistic directors are
mindful of the content they have created. It was this second room which had us
and our friends talking at great length around a diner afterwards. The dialogue
and theme presented in this particular room were a tad jarring but ultimately
we felt it was probably a very important message to send the audience to ground
them before diving ahead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From then on, we traveled through a number of rooms
featuring various serial killers, from the past and in more modern times. The
acting and set designs were well done and certainly raised the bar from the
past three years. The scares were a wonderful mix of your typical haunted house
jump-out-of-the-dark-and-into-your-face scares to the more twisted and
disturbing psychological mind screws, such as the Jeffrey Dahmer trial room
which was the room both the Princess and the Warlock found the most unsettling.
In addition to this, other highlights included the fact that the Princess
bravely jumped down John Wayne Gacy’s crawlspace alone and was later “killed”
by Jack the Ripper (she had one heck of a night!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only detractions to the house were three main issues
we had. The first was lack of sound proofing. In several rooms we could hear
the group in front of us shouting and screaming which muffled actor’s
performance and made it hard for us to hear what was being said. The second issue
was that, before you enter the house you are asked if you wish to be touched by
performers or not. If you opt for the more immersive experience (like the
Princess and the Warlock did), then you are marked with a bloody “X” on the
forehead to alert actors. However, there were a number of our group (about 6)
who all decided against it. The problem was that despite this option, those in
our group who were unmarked were still touched which made our friends feel
rather uncomfortable and annoyed. The biggest offender of this was the actor
portraying Anne of Bathory. The third issue was an isolated incident, but needs
to be noted all the same; in the Jack the Ripper room, when we entered the
majority of the group pressed to a wall and when a door in the wall slams open
unexpectedly, two of our friends were hit with the door because there was no
warning not to be near it. This resulted in a bruised arm and elbow of said
friends. (On the good hand, the actor playing Jack the Ripper was very conscientious
about actively checking the group for marked targets). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, Nightmare is an intense journey into dark,
psychological terrain. It was a disturbing, albeit, entertaining journey that
got our hearts pumping and our minds spinning, but it is certainly not for
everyone and if you have any issues related to claustrophobia or feel
uncomfortable with people getting in close proximity to you, it’s best to sit
this one out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Princess’s rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Warlock’s rating: 3 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><strong>Paranormal Activity 4</strong></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day after our visit to the haunted house, the
Princess and the Warlock spent the majority of their Saturday having a movie
marathon at the local cinema. First up – Paranormal Activity 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve watched all the previous movies in the series and
as much as the “found footage” craze is growing a bit tired, we couldn’t help
ourselves from checking out the next chapter to the story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the film certainly has its moments of scares,
overall it was lackluster compared to the first two movies, though the Warlock
found it better than the third and the Princess found it comparable to the
third. And that third chapter is the one that we feel set the series on a
downward slope. Without spoiling too much, the third movie sets up certain
elements in the series’ internal mythology that pulls the action away from
being a universal experience and makes it much more insular to the specific
characters and lessens the scare factor by explaining the unexplainable,
leading up to a disappointing climax. Unfortunately, the forth movie follows
this mythology and whereas the previous movies had a delightfully slow build-
up of tension which left you on the edge of your seat with anxiety, this one
failed to pull off that same rise that made the first two movies a sensation.
And when the main scares do show up at the end, they are meager as they are
delivered not by a more tangible force rather than the unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This being said, the use of the laptop cameras and Kinect
were innovative and provided some rather creepy moments. Overall, it was okay but
nothing special. If you are a fan of the series it’s worth checking out,
otherwise hold off for a Netflix view on the comfort of your own couch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Princess’s rating: 3 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Warlock’s rating: 3 stars</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Sinister<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The premise of Sinister is that a down-on-his-luck true
crime novelist played by Ethan Hawke moves his family into the home of a family
that was recently murdered. A crime which he is investigating for his latest
book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After discovering a box full of troubling super 8 film,
Hawke’s Ellison Oswalt finds himself deeper into the mystery than he expected
and at the center of it, a supernatural entity known as Bughuul who lives in
the images of himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The idea certainly isn’t original (see “The Ring”), but
it provides memorable enough scares to make it unique and stand on its own. We
don’t want to spoil too much, so we’ll just say this – Yes, it is scary. In fact,
both the Princess and the Warlock were freaked out enough by this one that they
needed to go see a third movie (Argo, we both give it 4 stars – but not theme
relevant so we’re not reviewing it) just to get their mind off of the idea of
Bughuul following us home. The great part about this film is that while it
takes so many overused and seemingly unoriginal concepts (ie. creepy ghost
children, the boogey monster) and reinvents the elements to transform it into a
classic. It is hands down the best horror movie of 2012 to date and probably
the best one we’ve seen since the Grudge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Princess’s rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Warlock’s rating: 4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Boo at the Zoo<o:p></o:p></strong></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Princess hasn’t been to the Bronx Zoo since she was a
wee lass, so the Warlock had been promising her to take her for a while.
Luckily, the Princess’s friend Dalin of <a href="http://magicalamode.blogspot.com/">Magic ala Mode</a> decided to invite us to check out their
Boo in the Zoo Halloween event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Together with another friend, <a href="http://mintandapple.tumblr.com/">Nina</a>, the four of us had a
blast on the fine crisp, autumn day. The event is perfect for families looking
for a fun day to spend with kids. Costumes are encourages for both children and
adults alike. With Hayrides, free candy stations, a parade, face painting and
of course lots of animals, it makes an ideal trip for locals looking for
something a little less scary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-38184613307096651962012-10-16T20:57:00.001-04:002012-10-16T20:57:21.668-04:00The Princess's Garden:My Little Pony Project 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzXYzqydNDzYruOqi57p8KELBakbUFy_UNafbCV7fz7sDymM-Eaqa7lOuoUmiL8CyrmDa7nJOfrNq_Z2CRgMNFcHNo4HR444lSHmvaBpSmhLQGmVR9pPRLuXh8SuD2KQAc_SVIEhJx1s/s1600/FriendshipMagic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzXYzqydNDzYruOqi57p8KELBakbUFy_UNafbCV7fz7sDymM-Eaqa7lOuoUmiL8CyrmDa7nJOfrNq_Z2CRgMNFcHNo4HR444lSHmvaBpSmhLQGmVR9pPRLuXh8SuD2KQAc_SVIEhJx1s/s320/FriendshipMagic4.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A collage of just a few of the featured ponies on display in the gallery</td></tr>
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Having grown up in the 80's, My Little Pony was an obsession for me. I remember clipping my Pony Points from the cardboard toy cartons to scrounge and save up for the exclusive Ember. Every year for Christmas, my Wish List was filled with different ponies and their homes. You couldn't get across my room with getting a unicorn or pegasi underfoot. Though to be honest, not much has changed (you can ask the warlock) and while I am still a fan of the original series I grew up with, I am also a big fan of the new series as well.<br />
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So as you can imagine, when my dear friends <a href="http://www.parfaitdoll.com/">Victoria</a> and <a href="http://magicalamode.blogspot.com/">Dalin</a> told me about the the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/423581091038402/">My Little Pony Project</a>, I jumped at the chance to join them. <br />
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The project is an art gallery featuring large pony sculptures which have been decorated by various artists. In addition to the gallery, there was an adorable salon where you could get your hair braided and decorated with sparkly clips and colorful extensions, as well as a pop-up shop where you could buy merchandise such as trading cards, posters and t-shirts. I ended up walking away with a Fluttershy hoodie since she's my favorite pony.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyLPd6UAKl_MKkpg5wQwSlybFRugqWsbokVertbjX9CqBM99SXVFGVfA9CRqwVRem9XuYNsgZly7ixvgk0UQ1vZJNKc7bxI-0elBlWdK_4sYOMZRjLjgQCjEg0yigxQCd_idIcvbv9pw/s1600/PonyProject3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyLPd6UAKl_MKkpg5wQwSlybFRugqWsbokVertbjX9CqBM99SXVFGVfA9CRqwVRem9XuYNsgZly7ixvgk0UQ1vZJNKc7bxI-0elBlWdK_4sYOMZRjLjgQCjEg0yigxQCd_idIcvbv9pw/s320/PonyProject3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my personal favorite, the <a href="http://himeyou.com/">Hime+You </a>Pony</td></tr>
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For the big day, my friends and I decided to go all out in fabulous fairy kei-lolita style. We went over the top with glitter, ribbons and frills. I even got to don my new unicorn horn which I recently purchased at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.It was a fun ride on the subway and I ended up with a fan section of a bunch of fellow Capricorns who I took pictures with. Hey, it's not every day a pink-haired unicorn girl rides the train with you, right? It was one of those memorable New York City moments, for sure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFDfaLLKQ6tBi5g71_J09sYQt6BAolJBh3I7wdKDmjxKXEGhSco9oReXBjaGpRlyoXGW_QMqmojdJMbO6l-pnVGQv73YkAulpkWEcevq2UFZ6PtbT2z1yMN6zq9xPz4dFeyO9Tvac0vU/s1600/PonyProject4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFDfaLLKQ6tBi5g71_J09sYQt6BAolJBh3I7wdKDmjxKXEGhSco9oReXBjaGpRlyoXGW_QMqmojdJMbO6l-pnVGQv73YkAulpkWEcevq2UFZ6PtbT2z1yMN6zq9xPz4dFeyO9Tvac0vU/s320/PonyProject4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria, Dalin and I with the <a href="http://www.dokidoki6.com/">6%DokiDoki </a>Pony</td></tr>
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When we finally arrived, I was blown away by how unique each artist had made their pony. There was so much color and imagination in each and every one. We were welcomed with open arms by the staff who all enjoyed our equally vibrant attire.A bunch of the kids and staff came over and got pictures with us and we even got to talk to a representative from Hasbro named Elizabeth who we chatted with about our love for the series and our desire to have it released on DVD (please, please, please!). <br />
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But the best part of the day for me was just being able to hang out with my friends and indulge in a sparkly day full of pure joy. Because after all, friendship <i>is</i> magic.The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-54861932447102840092012-10-16T10:22:00.001-04:002012-10-16T10:29:07.098-04:00Down the Rabbit Hole: A Review of "Then She Fell"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIr4cSGBSEb3CQYaBMXk6qi5xjuW5Fy3maVnjRF19ENHjMr5ihzOvS-Y_qbXIfA1Xx9xJx2rGqzvYjhWnGOCXJnQLLmgnm-wm795iYTGq_diV1oL44bwVFf6rNf6zf_9W6tXJ_uYJ5v4/s1600/Then+She+Fell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIr4cSGBSEb3CQYaBMXk6qi5xjuW5Fy3maVnjRF19ENHjMr5ihzOvS-Y_qbXIfA1Xx9xJx2rGqzvYjhWnGOCXJnQLLmgnm-wm795iYTGq_diV1oL44bwVFf6rNf6zf_9W6tXJ_uYJ5v4/s320/Then+She+Fell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a gamer, theater nerd and writer, it’s safe to say that I
have a healthy imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply
never outgrew playing pretend. So you can imagine how thrilled I am that a new
wave of immersive experiences is taking the theater world by storm lately. My
favorite among them? Third Rail Project’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then
She Fell</i>, an immersive theatrical dance performance which thrusts its
audience head first down the rabbit hole straight into Wonderland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been following the company’s Steampunk Haunted House
productions for the past three years, which was my first experience into this
type of theater. They had me hooked from the start. Now, with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then She Fell</i>, they’ve pushed the
envelope. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you first arrive, you are given a ring of keys and
encouraged to explore by opening the various locked boxes and chests you will
find in rooms throughout the performance. However, you may not open any closed
doors nor may you speak unless spoken to. The reason? It is a guided experience
which has been carefully choreographed to provide a seamless, personalized
journey for each of the audience members. The no talking rule is a staple of
immersive theater and is in place for a good reason; eliminating your ability
to speak allows you to observe more acutely rather than forcing yourself to
make nervous chatter with other participants which can distract you from the heart
of the experience. To really get the most out of this event, you must surrender
to it. Do not resist, just embrace it. Give up control and just let it sweep
you up in the story. Of you are able to do this, you will not be disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With only 15 audience members per each 2-hour performance, the
show is designed to give participants a level of intimacy that many other, more
popular immersive shows, lack. This means that audience members will frequently
have one-on-one time alone with a number of Lewis Carroll characters such as the
White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Alice, or even Lewis Carroll himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout the show, you are guided through a series of vignettes
where you watch the narrative unfold in a disjointed, dreamlike fashion. The
order in which things occur and the things you witness changes from person to
person as each participant has a different experience, making it fun to catch
up with friends afterwards to discuss over coffee and compare journeys. For
myself, I got to be a guest at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, I scribed for Lewis
Carroll while he dictated a letter to Alice, I was tucked into bed by the White
Queen and told a bedtime story, I got trapped behind a looking glass,
imprisoned in a room full of roses by the Red Queen, had a conversation with
Alice about love while I brushed her hair, followed the White Rabbit from room
to room and ate and drank various elixirs and treats as they were given to me.
As a Kickstarter backer for the production, I also had a personalized medical
record hidden somewhere on the set which I managed to find. My diagnosis?
Catalepsy resulting from delusions and an overactive imagination. It seems they
know me well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The show itself takes place at the formerly abandoned
Greenpoint Hospital in Brooklyn which has been transformed into a performance
art center. It is a site that was made for this show and adds another layer of
depth into the narrative of the story, by adding a cast of nurses and a doctor
shuffling throughout the environment occasionally coming to escort you onwards
or force characters to take their meds, which leaves you to question if this is
all just a shared hallucination of mentally ill patients after all. The story
itself is a beautiful merge of the speculative relationship between historical,
real-life figures of Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) and Alice Liddell and
Carroll’s beloved writings which have become a classic icon of literature for
adults and children alike. But make no mistake, with its heavily sexual themes and
connotations explored, this is performance is adults only and you must have a
valid ID with you when you show up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to the relationship aspect of the story, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The She Fell</i> also delves into themes
revolving around duality which can be found both subtly and overtly through the
show. And as mentioned earlier, the presence of hospital staff and interior
environment also adds a layer of subtext and thematics related to the idea of
imagination vs reality and the thin line between. It may seem like a number of
intense topics to present into one production, but Third Rail Projects’ cast
and crew pull it off with an unparalleled level of brilliance and masterful
integrity to their vision. The performers themselves wear the characters like a
second skin and convey a heartbreakingly beautiful depth of emotions in their
every movement and every glance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With all their shows currently sold out, a lot of people are
unfortunately going to miss out on this gem, but they occasionally have last
minute cancellations and there is talk that the show might have an extended run
in the future, but whether or not the production will stay housed at its
current location or reinvent itself in a new location remains to be seen. If
this sounds like something you want to experience, I highly recommend subscribing
to the company’s mailing list and following them on Facebook. All in all, I
cannot praise this transcendent piece of theater enough. If you get the chance,
see it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://thenshefell.com/">Then She Fell<o:p></o:p></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><a href="http://thirdrailprojects.com/">Third Rail Projects</a></o:p></span></div>
The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-10229331907040118262011-12-22T16:42:00.000-05:002011-12-22T16:42:44.702-05:00Gaming by Gaslight: Misogyny in Geek Culture<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I realize that this blog has been dead for quite some time, and both the Warlock and I apologize for that. With our hectic schedules, our posts are few and far between. I was not planning on writing an article any time soon, to be honest. However, after a recent discussion on a fan site got my hackles up, I have been inspired to write this article.</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It started with a simple wish I verbalized. On a favorite fan site of mine, a video game preview was posted. It was a game I was looking forward. One which was based on one of my fandoms. After seeing that neither of the two PCs were female, I made a comment lamenting about this and how the video game industry often glazes over the female population of gamers. In the source material from which the video game is drawn from, there are an abundance of interesting, multi-faceted female leads that play huge roles in the story. As such I was surprised and saddened that they game designers choose to have their two male PCs both be male. What came next was an even greater shock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">comment was responded to by another poster saying I was “very unreasonable” for having that reaction. That I “<span style="color: black;">can’t demand that all games with more than [one] protagonist has an equal amount of male and female characters” and that surely I “must see how unreasonable this is”. This was perhaps one of the biggest and most overt sexist comments I have ever been targeted by in my geek community. I was caught completely off-guard by it. Here I am, a geek trying to reach out and bond with my fellow fans (in a community that surely has similarly felt bullied and ostracized from the rest of the population) only to be told that my opinion was irrelevant, invalid and “unreasonable”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about a slap in the face! I half expected to be told to go back to the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At first, I felt stupid. I began to question myself - Was my opinion really that unreasonable? Then I paused and sat back, looking over my request in context to the game and the source material. No. I wasn’t being unreasonable. The fandom has a large portion of female fans and the canon has a large portion of lead female characters. My request was not without reason. It was rational and valid. And here someone was in my own community trying to make me invalidate my own opinion. My own perception. My own reality. I had just been gaslighted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The term gaslighting was coined from the play Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton in which the husband of the main character starts to subtly alter his wife’s environment in order to make her go crazy. Included in these tactics, he dims the gas lights in their home and when she mentions it, denies her perception to make her question herself and her reality. The term is now used as a psychological abuse tactic that the aggressor uses against another to make them question themselves. It makes the victim question themselves and their beliefs. To quote an article found <a href="http://thecurrentconscience.com/blog/2011/09/12/a-message-to-women-from-a-man-you-are-not-“crazy”/">here</a>, “</span>Those who engage in gaslighting create a reaction—whether it’s anger, frustration, sadness—in the person they are dealing with. Then, when that person reacts, the gaslighter makes them feel uncomfortable and insecure by behaving as if their feelings aren’t rational or normal.” This tactic, while it can be found in any relationship, is frequently used by misogynists against women. It is something I never expected to encounter in my own community; a community that I had once thought to be liberal, forward thinking and embracing of people with all backgrounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This, of course, spurred an intense discussion among the online community and my friends about sexism in geek culture, specifically related to the video game and comic book industries. Something which was pointed out by a few people, was that females are much more willing to play male characters without complaint while it is not true of the flip side. As such, the industry choses to cater to male audience over female audiences and develops and markets games accordingly. The same can be found in literature. In a writer conference I attended, it was discussed that children’s writers tended to choose male protagonists because females are more willing to read stories with both male and female leads while males tend to read more stories with male protagonists. As a result, we frequently find fewer female characters represented.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the video game and comic book industry, when we do see female characters we often see them portrayed as objectified and hyper-sexualized as love interests or trophies. Is it any wonder that a number of women don’t want to join in? Can you see how uncomfortable that makes ladies out there? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Granted we are seeing more and more examples of stronger and more developed female characters in the market. And that’s great, but I see potential for more. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend of mine countered me by asking if I felt that these industries are the cause of sexism in the population, and if so, isn’t that essentially the same as saying that violent video games cause violent behavior? No, it is not the industry’s responsibility. The industry is one that caters to fantasy, sure. However, I think we as individuals should strive to each act in a socially responsible manner. That starts with how we treat one another and continues with what we choose to support. For example, I do not buy video games which portray women in such ways. I vote with my wallet. I do not believe in censorship, but I will not support misogyny.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so my fellow fanboys and fangirls, geeks and gamers, all I ask is to please be mindful. Please be aware of your behavior. Of what you say and do to others. Of what you are supporting. This goes both ways – males and females alike. Let’s not isolate one another by attempting to invalidate each other’s opinions and perceptions in such abusive an abusive manner. Many of us are considered outcasts and deviants enough already. Do we really need further segregation? Is sexism something we, as a community, want to continue to support? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I urge each of you out there to be aware and behave in a socially conscious manner. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As one poster followed up, <a href="http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp">the ESA reports</a> that 42% of the gamer population is made up of females. While the majority of gamers are still male, 42% is a rather large chunk. We are almost half of the population! Shouldn’t we deserve equal representation? I think so and I fail to see how asking for it is unreasonable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-86126421158834025552011-06-01T09:52:00.000-04:002011-06-01T09:52:31.708-04:00The Princess's Garden: Cosplay vs. Lolita<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFHjVPyDcDlBxSYgvyBz5z5cw6WAV-XTaONBt09EJQoCSnhyz0607LGk_vlki2VxuU1Z0gk95KyaXFWxcqEiCPWkfFSsIzrOHE5D1h-wTAuu6Hz65HDYTdFBeetK82ouQC7IaFLr4wLc/s1600/costumefashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFHjVPyDcDlBxSYgvyBz5z5cw6WAV-XTaONBt09EJQoCSnhyz0607LGk_vlki2VxuU1Z0gk95KyaXFWxcqEiCPWkfFSsIzrOHE5D1h-wTAuu6Hz65HDYTdFBeetK82ouQC7IaFLr4wLc/s320/costumefashion.jpg" t8="true" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume or Fashion - Some can't tell the difference</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend recently sent me a flyer for a cosplay event featuring a lolita theme, because she knows of my interest in lolita fashion and also my previous history of cosplay. A month ago, another friend pointed out a group of maid cosplayers dancing on stage at a local event saying, “Oh hey look at the lolitas”. I’ve heard other stories about lolitas at events in which cosplayers swarmed them and tried to start discussing anime with them. It struck me how people outside of these two subcultures often lump these subcultures together. What’s more amazing to me is how people within these communities sometimes try to group them together when they are two totally different geekdoms. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For reference, cosplay stands for “costume play”. It is a subculture revolving around making and wearing costume replicas of various fandoms, popularly associated with anime and manga. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lolita on the other hand is, to quote LolitaFashion.org, <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“<span style="color: black;">a Japanese street fashion inspired primarily by the clothing and general aesthetics of the Rococo and Victorian periods”.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The key words here are “costume” and “fashion”. While both subcultures revolve around clothing and originated in Japan, cosplay deals with costumes and lolita fashion about actual day-to-day wearable clothing. For cosplayers, </span>the interest is focused on the fandom they are portraying<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> and for lolitas, the interest is in a specific style of fashion. </span>The dynamic divide which exists between these two groups has generated two emerging stereotypes – the annoying cosplayer and the bitchy lolita.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the cosplayers side, they look to the lolitas and see girls (and boys, mind you) dressed in Japanese street fashion. They can relate to them – they both have a love of something originating from the same place and they aren’t afraid to go out in public dressed differently. And hey, even some of their favorite anime characters dress like that too! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy for the cosplayer to assume that they must share similar interests, hobbies, and fandoms (usually anime). However, sometimes the response is a rude rejection – a few terse words and a verbal slap to the face for daring to group the two together.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other side, here the lolita is dressing up day to day in her fashion of choice. Lolita fashion is her wardrobe. She endures society’s constant critical eye watching her with people taking her fashion as a joke. Society tries to tell her that what she is wearing is a costume and not a true fashion, a misconnection she continuously tries to clear up. And then she has to watch as all the hard work she’s done to get her fashion taken seriously be thrown out the window by a costume based subculture trying to bring them under the same banner.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the cosplayer, she has only extended an olive branch of friendship as a way of banning together as fellow geeks and doesn’t understand the rejection. For the lolita, she is upset that assumptions are being made about her based solely on her clothes. And like the cosplayers who may make the assumptions that lolitas must like anime too, there are lolitas who make the assumption that cosplayers don’t understand the distinct differences between their two subcultures. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously not all cosplayers and lolitas are the same. In fact, there are plenty who engage in both subcultures. But as a person who dresses in lolita fashion and who has once been involved in the cosplay community, I personally wish people would distinguish between the two subcultures. However, I think this can be done without getting flustered and rude about making the distinction. I think this needs to be something both subcultures work on – the cosplayers shouldn’t leap to assumptions that all lolitas share the same interests as them and the lolitas need not react in such a negative way if and when those assumptions are made. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking from a lolitas point of view, I think it’s in the best interest of my fellow rufflebutts to keep calm and be polite when they are faced with this sort of assumption whether it’s from a cosplayer or someone outside of both subcultures. Yes, we do want our street style to be recognized as a legitimate fashion and not a costume. But snapping at others and making rude comments doesn’t help us look any better. We do not need our reputation to be one of elitism or rudeness. The best way to handle this situation is to calmly explain the differences between the two groups, educating them without chastising them for not being able to tell the difference. Because you know what? For many people not familiar with these groups, they look the same – they see a bunch of girls dressed in colorful and unusual clothing that looks reminiscent of something they might see in a cartoon. A girl dressed as Sakura Kinomoto might look the same as a girl wearing an Angelic Pretty dress. Don’t beret them for it. Simply educate them as politely as possible. And if a hyperactive cosplayer comes over and wants to discuss anime with you and anime isn’t your thing, again – be polite. It’s not hard just to smile and explain that you aren’t familiar with their interests. Either they will go away or you will find a common ground and maybe make a new friend. There’s no need to be condescending. We’re all geeks. We’re all different. No one hobby or interest is better than another. And at the end of the day, we all deserve to be accepted, by our fellow geeks more than anyone else.</span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-78804405208973548432011-05-25T10:13:00.000-04:002011-05-25T10:13:28.553-04:00Guest Post on Stuffer ShackThe Princess had the great honor of guest writing an article for <a href="http://stuffershack.com/">Stuffer Shack</a>.<br />
If you don't already subscribe to Stuffer Shack - you should! It's a wonderful blog full of a variety of articles covering many subjects in gaming. It's a great resource and a fun read.<br />
Pop on over and check out The Princess's article "<a href="http://stuffershack.com/how-to-handle-touchy-subjects-in-your-game/">How to Handle Touchy Subject in Your Game</a>".The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-42654711033026252242011-05-25T10:04:00.000-04:002011-05-25T10:04:12.598-04:00New PollFor our previous poll "What generalized class type do you prefer?", 52% of you sneaky folks went with rogues. Guess we need to watch our pockets around you guys, hm?<br />
<br />
A new poll is now up. With all the comic book movies just around the corner, we want to know which one you are the most excited about seeing. Let us know!The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-80749524606076709902011-05-17T08:39:00.000-04:002011-05-17T08:39:15.625-04:00The Warlock's Tower: Betraying the Party<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ho18L8k7JdhRH_9z_n1JMwaWP0-z1yzOgbrVek8OueI1KCTTUyIZYF8L-iCzEbDTiRdsJZgP4sFBSeO3cYFCmHeGcEP_vM1ek06a94Ljb-GBixdjoXPVWY6CKmgl-q_bigdiecO-arw/s1600/inevitable-betrayal-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ho18L8k7JdhRH_9z_n1JMwaWP0-z1yzOgbrVek8OueI1KCTTUyIZYF8L-iCzEbDTiRdsJZgP4sFBSeO3cYFCmHeGcEP_vM1ek06a94Ljb-GBixdjoXPVWY6CKmgl-q_bigdiecO-arw/s320/inevitable-betrayal-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The poor stegosaurus learns the hard way - Guess he didn't watch The Land Before Time like we did</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly my reputation is such that I can no longer afford to use this tactic….but no matter - I have other ways of getting what I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that doesn’t mean it still can’t be of use to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I recommend it as a great way of cutting your teeth on the road to becoming a master warlock!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe it was your character concept, maybe the GM asked you to do it, maybe you were just following my footsteps….but however it happened you’re playing a traitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this type of gaming can be a lot of fun, you also need to walk the fine line of not ruining the game for everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always double check with the Game Master before making up a traitor character, and try to get a feel of what type of game you are playing, to make sure that a traitor is appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once that is set, here are some quick and easy rules to get you to the top of your game, and help you get away with that perfect crime.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>Rule 1:</u></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t tell anybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may seem obvious, but it’s the main way things like this slip out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I say don’t tell anyone that means in game or out of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember loose lips sink ships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t brag about it to your friend, don’t tell that guy that isn’t even in the plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are in the game, or have a chance to be in the game or talk to other people in the game, don’t tell them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All it takes is an innocent slip of the tongue and your secret is out, and you get jumped and that’s probably it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to get excited and want to brag about how good you are doing, but even I once told a group of people at a dinner I was a secretly a Black Spiral Dancer, cause we were telling war stories, and were all clearly out of character and next game….Bam, I get jumped by a Werewolf pack….who all heard “In character” from the people I was talking to that I was a BSD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly I was more than a little prepared, and the werewolves simply hastened the fall of their caern, BUT I was kicking myself the whole time and felt like such an idiot for making such an amateur mistake, and if the players had been thinking instead of just using brute force my plans could have easily all been ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>Rule 2:</u></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play your character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is make sure you are playing all your quirks, and you know have your motivations down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so important for the traitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we have talked before about being consistency as the key to being a great Villain (If you don’t remember see the previous Warlock Tower <a href="http://princessandwarlock.blogspot.com/search/label/warlock">article</a>) It’s just as true if not more so for the traitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, it’s fair to the other players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always nice when they can pick up on something and feel good about themselves for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to the Black Spiral Dancer example his first two infiltration attempts didn’t go so well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one…well that wasn’t my fault… but the second one a player picked up on a phrase I had been using from the last disguise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great scene, and even though it blew my cover it was a lot of fun to see other people figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next reason it’s important is because it can be scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a player hears their friend singing the song the murderer always sings, or when they see that tattoo on you that the rest of the cultists have, it makes for a great and stunning reveal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the last reason is the Kaiser Soze reveal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do manage to pull off everything and get away with it, and bring down the party/game/whatever, then you want the players so busy thinking back and being like “Oh Yeah….but wait….OHHH….what about when…it all makes sense now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is it the crowning achievement for most master minds, but if done right the other players won’t be too mad t you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>Rule 3:</u></strong> Leave yourself an out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both in and out of character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and the Game Master changes his mind, sometimes things start to go south, and it’s apparent the other players would not like the plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sometimes they figure things out way too fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For in character reasons to go back to the light side think of some things that would make sense and either allow you to keep playing the character or allow you not to betray them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could be planning on betraying them but then fell in love with one of the other PCs, you could be moved by their kindness during the adventures, or my personal favorite you could be a deep cover triple agent, and then tell the players some needed facts about the enemy to get into their good graces again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just make sure you have something plausible in case you or the Game Master changes their mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also always have an escape plan in character because you never know what will tip another player off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smoke bombs/invisibility/teleport/the car keys/ a hostage anything you can use to make a good get away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t have one (or the players can negate what you do have) it’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just bluff that you have one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should know at least a little about the other characters by now so pretend you have a hostage, or that the folder you threw into the fire has all the answers, then use the distraction to get away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just have a good story already thought up if you think plan A won’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-85581955627297800472011-05-09T15:02:00.000-04:002011-05-09T15:02:12.813-04:00Princess's Garden: Etsy for the Gamer GirlOne of my favorite places to shop is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>.<br />
It is my guilty pleasure for indulging in homemade, crafty goodness.<br />
I can easily spend hours scouring through all the different shops.<br />
I've had alot of luck at finding some very wonderful artisans who create fine products at very reasonable prices, especially for gamer type products. So I thought I would make a fun little treasury with a "gamer princess" theme, for all my fellow princesses out there. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64MdFbOf44Ug0n5514Kv8KmKOaR8-jx-KTdsB1ACTWHqiTsg3yIYxph6WWolko_kIlJtStSO9Rc2IUC101jacXJqby4ROGwuy73ZEq-ZHwznmoTWpSFwGu7cGsz2uAGUAKE5zNGuOzug/s1600/Etsy+Treasury-Gamer+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64MdFbOf44Ug0n5514Kv8KmKOaR8-jx-KTdsB1ACTWHqiTsg3yIYxph6WWolko_kIlJtStSO9Rc2IUC101jacXJqby4ROGwuy73ZEq-ZHwznmoTWpSFwGu7cGsz2uAGUAKE5zNGuOzug/s320/Etsy+Treasury-Gamer+Girl.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know about you, but I have my eyes on those hair sticks!<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
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You can also view the full treasury listing <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d87be460f5c8eef08a46afe/gamer-girl">here</a>.<br />
Of course, Etsy is not just for the ladies. There are plenty of awesome stuff for guys too.<br />
It's definately worth checking out for unique gifts.<br />
<br />
Etsy works through PayPal and they have great customer service. <br />
If you plan on shopping though, make sure to look over the sellers feedback.<br />
While the majority of the artisans are great and easy to work with, sometimes things happen and you want to make sure you are purchasing from a reputable seller, so always check before committing to buy.The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-52626812345488354752011-05-06T11:32:00.001-04:002011-05-06T11:43:05.915-04:00Jones Soda Spellcasting Soda<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAKugApxeZ_rAnMocnjzX3FjpG1SoUE34YULxOqNwCE0zTKiwbaBRoicp5RpsVGGIi2jW3UB0JyKxtPoGN7izJXXPcrvj4OB0Wo866lrZpBV1gijr9149iDOMvMWw6G0oo7lufcec1sE/s1600/Jones+Soda+6-pack.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAKugApxeZ_rAnMocnjzX3FjpG1SoUE34YULxOqNwCE0zTKiwbaBRoicp5RpsVGGIi2jW3UB0JyKxtPoGN7izJXXPcrvj4OB0Wo866lrZpBV1gijr9149iDOMvMWw6G0oo7lufcec1sE/s1600/Jones+Soda+6-pack.bmp" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm, tasty, tasty material components</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If you don't already know about Jones Soda's line of <a href="http://www.myjones.com/code/limited.php?campaign=wizards">D&D of sodapop</a>, then you should definately check it out! <br />
<br />
They come in a 6-pack variety pack for $10.99 and a 12-pack variety pack for $18.99.<br />
<br />
The Warlock got the 6-pack for his birthday last year. The are pretty much standard sodas with fancy themed labels. They make for good gifts (bribes >.>) for GMs or for breaking out during special climactic games (what better way to celebrate the death of that dracolich than with an ice cold Dwarven Draught in your hand?).<br />
<br />
And for you crafty gamers out there, you can always use the empty bottles to decorate... Perhaps as a vase to hold flowers for that special someone who puts up with you talking about all those epic adventures of your 14th level ranger... just sayin'.The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-3189827170720035362011-05-02T08:34:00.000-04:002011-05-02T08:34:32.344-04:00Censorship in Gaming: Where do you draw the line?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEn2bUNxhESaNLsDv2uyh47EZroIegeunFbeyZK6cQeSDhoATqGmBjKbhuCyLa9U1r4Erj2ZKoZZarin_1YoWwfsz67Ozy3UJWMyayFIR6FSmaypLV6aiIMWdIFn96RUv27jygW0Npj0/s1600/censored-495x431.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEn2bUNxhESaNLsDv2uyh47EZroIegeunFbeyZK6cQeSDhoATqGmBjKbhuCyLa9U1r4Erj2ZKoZZarin_1YoWwfsz67Ozy3UJWMyayFIR6FSmaypLV6aiIMWdIFn96RUv27jygW0Npj0/s320/censored-495x431.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where do you draw the line?</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With video games being such a prominent form of entertainment these days, games are delving into numerous genres and themes. Some of these more tame than others. Certainly, we are all aware of the multitude of outrage over games like Grand Theft Auto and Rule of Rose. Are there any merits to these complaints and where exactly do we draw the line in fantasy? The Princess and the Warlock discuss… </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Princess</u></strong>:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I completely understand where the concern comes from. Humanity is affected by their environment and vice versa. As a society, we are always changing and what was considered acceptable/unacceptable behavior likewise has changed throughout history. Over three hundred years ago, women had minimal rights. This was a societal norm. Now, women hold the same rights as men. Ideas and attitude changed over time. With exposure to ideas, opinions can change over time. It is therefore understandable that some people may be concerned about exposure to violent and graphic video games helping to contribute to a global desensitization to these destructive aspects. However, I think the important thing that these groups forget is that we have audience ratings for a reason. And these rating systems, I highly support. They provide buyers with instant information about the games content. We can get an idea of how mature and graphic the game will be based on these ratings. The problem is not with the media itself, but with buyers not paying attention to these ratings. In particular, parents. The majority of public outcries come from angry parents, but these parents fail to realize that it is not the media’s job to raise their children. That responsibility lies solely with the parents. Parents need to pay attention to what they are purchasing for their children. They need to be active in their children’s lives and be aware of what type of media their children are absorbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it comes to exposure to extreme violence in fantasy settings such as video games, I disagree with restricting content via censorship. Game makers should have the freedom to tell whatever story they want to tell, just as authors should be allowed to write whatever they desire (though I am starting to think that children’s fiction is in need of a ratings system these days). It is fantasy. It is make believe. If you are upset by the content, then do not buy the game. Granted, many games are in bad taste when it comes to these themes and I may not play them, but I do not feel that they truly do any harm. Violence and violation conducted in a video game does not hurt real people. It only affects a fake, pixelated image. The bottom line is that we, as individuals, chose how we ultimately behave in real life. It is our job to distinguish between fantasy and reality. If we are unable to do so, then there are deeper issues going on that are not the direct result of a video game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Warlock</u></strong>:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think people need to get over it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Video games are not just for children anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may have been for children when they came out, but they have grown up along with all the kids who played them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Although there were adult Atari games back then too). At this point video games have longer scripts and scenes than many movies and people are always looking for the next game or type of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was inevitable that “more mature” games would come along, and honestly if they are being played by an adult it’s no different than watching an R rated movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are going to scrutinize sex and violence in society that is one thing, but focusing on video games while excluding movies, TV, books, and even the newspapers is just picking on the newest entertainment medium.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m totally against censorship in video games but fully support the rating system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly many games are inappropriate for certain age groups, but Gamestop has stopped my students from buying games they were too young for, and I’ve seen them stop other minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And honestly it was stuff I wouldn’t have even thought they needed to be carded for, like Halo, which is so common placed and omnipresent in video games I had glossed over the fact that it is violent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the point is, the rating system does catch it, and if they don’t then parents/caregivers should be at least checking all the games there kids play anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents did, and I was kicking myself forever after showing initiative and inviting my dad to play Street Fighter II in the arcade, and then being told “Boy you really messed up you know? I was thinking of getting it for you for Christmas, but it’s way too violent”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I just had to use Blanka and bite his face….I couldn’t have stuck with Guile like I always did, anyway…)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I felt worse for my brother losing GTA: Vice City until he was older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we both turned out fine, even given the stuff we were allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-36163796120913164412011-04-28T11:43:00.000-04:002011-04-28T11:43:11.412-04:00BPAL Launches RPG Based Scent Series <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiambQSJaJ3hTyRxWiTNOuCgPX4lWimIYqTOkrSzjFSMy5vxj_TOgq0k31kspu4XV4uCX0xzOL_LPDnMmoK2K56YplDPvyfhS-9LdPl60ay5aHYNJnVsIQhepiczbaZ4iCY8tLDPTEI210/s1600/rpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiambQSJaJ3hTyRxWiTNOuCgPX4lWimIYqTOkrSzjFSMy5vxj_TOgq0k31kspu4XV4uCX0xzOL_LPDnMmoK2K56YplDPvyfhS-9LdPl60ay5aHYNJnVsIQhepiczbaZ4iCY8tLDPTEI210/s1600/rpg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, I love the smell of critical hits in the morning!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A while back, we featured a <a href="http://princessandwarlock.blogspot.com/2010/08/gamers-grimoire-using-scent-in-your.html">Gamer's Grimoire article</a> on incorporating scent into your gaming experience as an added sensory effect. In said article we also mentioned Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's wonderful assortment of scents available on their site. <br />
<br />
Well now, it appears that they have launched new series with an <a href="http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com/rpg.html">RPG theme</a>!<br />
The Princess is most certainly eyeing the "Elf" oil blend, while The Warlock's affection seems torn between "Mage" and "Evil". <br />
<br />
Which one do you fancy?The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-41730018007668492092011-04-27T10:58:00.000-04:002011-04-27T10:58:38.983-04:00Romantic Misinterpretation in Gaming<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccYv3-fvDo4vP_VtB6W7sfapc6j9yqmbJrM5QDrXOMqHuO2kMTlAEwyScnqwetlrZY0ndFTIuvk6n3PHQqKvxFIl7k7U7vCgctSmB2fktD93vOv1qEHFfKEEcTplfSj9rJh1UqhILppA/s1600/Heal+Like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccYv3-fvDo4vP_VtB6W7sfapc6j9yqmbJrM5QDrXOMqHuO2kMTlAEwyScnqwetlrZY0ndFTIuvk6n3PHQqKvxFIl7k7U7vCgctSmB2fktD93vOv1qEHFfKEEcTplfSj9rJh1UqhILppA/s320/Heal+Like.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truer words were never spoken...</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A while back, someone in our local gaming group mentioned that girls shouldn’t wear “sexy perfume” to a game if they do not want to be hit on, because it sends the “wrong” signals. Obviously, this stirred up a rather large debate among the players, male and female alike. Though this occurred some time ago, the Princess and the Warlock feel it is quite relevant to discuss.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In role playing games males and females of varied backgrounds, nationalities, races, religions, and sexual preferences come together to enjoy a single hobby. We take on different roles much like actors. We play a part. In many cases, we are playing with a group of our friends that we interact with on a regular basis, but other times we are interacting with people for the first time whether at a convention or getting involved in a new group. However, among friends or strangers misinterpretation can and will occur from time to time.<br />
<br />
We can all intellectually distinguish the differences between OOC and IC, but sometimes the lines blur. Especially when you are throwing emotions into the mix. Sometimes we pause and question IC actions – “Why is Cordelia’s character constantly attacking mine? Is she made at me? What did I do?” or “OMG, Xander’s character is flirting with mine? Is he trying to hit on me?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As players in a game, it is our responsibility to keep OOC and IC separate. Again this doesn’t always happen though. Usually two types of responses in misinterpretation occur – transference and repulsion. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For an example of transference, if Willow decides to play a seductress, wear a short red dress and perfume and starts hitting on you, that is not an OOC invitation that she wants to date you IRL. It merely means she is playing a part. Don’t allow the IC emotions to transfer into OOC assumptions. Likewise if Angel’s character decides to hit on Willow ICly, it’s her responsibility not to freak out and worry if he’s being a creeper and trying to use the character to get close to her OOCly. Don’t have a knee jerk reaction of being repulsed by something that occurs IC. <br />
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One of the best ways to avoid misinterpretation of romantic intent is to be open and honest with the group. If you are playing a character who you intend to be a flirt, then it is best you let your gaming group know. Just take a moment to explain that you intend to play the character a certain way and that nothing you do is meant to be taken OOC, but that if you do something that makes another someone feel uncomfortable, then please let you know. That right there can eliminate any potential misinterpretation. But if you feel uncomfortable with something someone else does or says ICly, you need to speak to the person directly and be honest about how you're feeling. A clear line of communication is often the key to avoiding drama.</span></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-80181351411985649842011-04-21T15:33:00.000-04:002011-04-21T15:33:30.282-04:00New Poll: What generalized class type is your favorite to play in RPGs?With a total of 18 responders to our poll asking readers which comic book publishing company is your favorite, DC came in first place with a total of 7 votes.<br />
<br />
A new poll has been posted and is located to the right-hand side of the page:<br />
<br />
What generalized class type is your favorite to play in RPGs?<br />
<br />
Let us know!The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-48554010282332888482011-04-15T14:17:00.001-04:002011-04-15T14:38:02.311-04:00The Princess’s Garden: An Open Letter to Ginia Bellafante of the New York Times<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf7NjlMEHYwINVetN45M6VuelZdvn-VmZcpXsQFsrgmAeX2VjpXAOI7OeKgs1RN8-FcJSCOfqT70MAnkSrfMmtyqADAMg2WOTMiTPNVXEMsdmPmG6eNK6ygE8VTakHPhveepHHD31vtQ/s1600/WomanofFantasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRf7NjlMEHYwINVetN45M6VuelZdvn-VmZcpXsQFsrgmAeX2VjpXAOI7OeKgs1RN8-FcJSCOfqT70MAnkSrfMmtyqADAMg2WOTMiTPNVXEMsdmPmG6eNK6ygE8VTakHPhveepHHD31vtQ/s320/WomanofFantasy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll have my sword AND my tiara, thank you very much!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Ms. Bellafante,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After reading your recent article, "A Fantasy World of Strange Feuding Kingdoms", which reviews the upcoming HBO series, A Game of Thrones, I felt compelled to comment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I found this review to be offensive to fantasy lovers, particularly female fantasy lovers. Now, I will state for the record that yes, I am a fan of fantasy, I am a fan of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, and yes I regularly play D&D and LARP. However, the way you come off in your article you seem to attack the idea that females cannot enjoy these things and if they do that somehow makes them not feminine. Fantasy, this one or otherwise, is not gender specific. It is an interest just as RPGs are a hobby. It may not be something you are interested in, fine. But please do not presume all because you personally don't consort with women interested in the fantasy genre, that we aren't out there and those that are, are somehow flawed in some way. In fact, most of the fantasy lovers I happen to know (male and female alike) are very well-read, intelligent, creative and poised people. You may wish to consider having more of an open mind if you are to make judgment calls and critiques about things you are not familiar with. You are a writer. Do your research. It's part of your job.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Furthermore, from your jumbled piece I fail to understand exactly what it is that you do not enjoy or appreciate about the show. The message you sent with your review comes off as "I don't like fantasy, no woman out there could possibly like fantasy over any other genre, and this is just a fanboy service show to watch naked wenches." That is not a constructive nor professional review. What exactly didn't you like? What the quality of the writing poor? Were the performances stilted? Was the story too confusing and/or too contrived? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now you may be under the impression that as a fan of the series, I am just giving you are hard time. But I assure you that is not the case. I am very interested in hearing about reviews (both positive and negative) from critics who are new to the story. I like hearing about what aspects of the production work or don't work for you and why they do or do not. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I ask is that next time you write a review please refrain from making such sweeping generalities and attacks on a fan base and on my gender. That is not what you are supposed to be writing about - you are supposed to be reviewing the product and telling us specifically what merits and/or flaws the product has. End of story.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The Princess Comments</strong>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I did send that email to Ms. Bellafante after reading her <a href="http://tv.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/arts/television/game-of-thrones-begins-sunday-on-hbo-review.html?smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto">poorly written article</a> in the New York Times. Here are a few quotes from the “review” (if you can even call it that based on what little journalistic merit it actual has):</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The true perversion, though, is the sense you get that all of this illicitness has been tossed in as a little something for the ladies, out of a justifiable fear, perhaps, that no woman alive would watch otherwise. While I do not doubt that there are women in the world who read books like Mr. Martin’s, I can honestly say that I have never met a single woman who has stood up in indignation at her book club and refused to read the latest from Lorrie Moore unless everyone agreed to “The Hobbit” first. “Game of Thrones” is boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population’s other half.”</span></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Excuse me? So because I am female, I can’t like fantasy? And if I do, does that make me somehow strange, flawed or defective in some way? Or unfeminine? Articles like this and people like Ms. Bellafante are part of the reason why the Warlock and I have this blog. To show the perspectives of two fantasy lovers – one male, one female. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ms. Bellafante you have offended me as a geek and but what’s more, as a woman. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is it to you that makes someone feminine? Do I have to watch “Sex in the City”, have only girlfriends, shop at the Gap, carry a Prada bag, only watch rom-coms, drink cosmopolitans and spend my free time reading Nicholas Spark novels? Because while that great for some women, that is not who I am. And while I will not make judgments on those ladies, I want the same respect and not have you judge me on my own merit as a woman.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because some days this princess gets dolled up in lolita fashion, while other days she runs around in a Slytherin t-shirt, hoodie and jeans. She drinks both mint flavored bubble tea and beer (not together, mind you). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a collection of graphic novels, RPG manuals and children’s books. She gives to charity and does volunteer work. She spends her time running through forests pretending to be an Elven warrior, while sometimes she has tea with her friends. She is a fabulous, happy and intelligent and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If by your definition enjoying fantasy makes me less of a woman in your eyes, then maybe it is you who are flawed and not me and not all the other women out there like me.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.6pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(note: pic from <a href="http://weheartit.com/">weheartit</a>)</span></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-26210886307853706322011-04-12T09:15:00.000-04:002011-04-12T09:15:09.450-04:00Problematic Character Concepts<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUewMxqwLJHJ-PDpkiz6fGlPOjNr6ggcT8804WbLcV3bBss8ym_cIzxGTWKZE4Pa5k4KfuwkQ1QHcDGa6HCy97hmuOyn4ugeaJ1rV8z3fcY31_k_Yl_IZBfsu3EXKpxgpA0tGILin_Z4/s1600/Munchkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUewMxqwLJHJ-PDpkiz6fGlPOjNr6ggcT8804WbLcV3bBss8ym_cIzxGTWKZE4Pa5k4KfuwkQ1QHcDGa6HCy97hmuOyn4ugeaJ1rV8z3fcY31_k_Yl_IZBfsu3EXKpxgpA0tGILin_Z4/s1600/Munchkin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're doing it wrong</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Games, by their nature, are a social activity. When we come together, we are creating an interactive story. It’s a process of synergy wherein players and storytellers combine their creativity into a cohesive force. Well at least ideally anyway. Often we have plenty of issues along the way that spring up to prevent that synergetic process from occurring. Sometimes this occurs on the storyteller’s end and sometimes this occurs on the players end.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As players, it’s important to recognize that the game is not all about you. This realization and acceptance needs to start at character creation. When joining a game, it is your duty to understand what the setting and genre is so that you will be able to make your concept work. You also need to consider your fellow players and think how your character will benefit the game and how they will be able to contribute to the overall experience. So let us explore so common character archetypes and explain why they are problematic.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Loner</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This concept can range from the painfully shy misfit to the stone cold mercenary. For whatever the reason, your character just doesn’t play well with others. Are the warning signing flaring up? Because they should. Let’s take a look at the very first line of this post – “Games, by their nature, are a SOCIAL ACTIVITY”. Its fine to play an introverted character and it is fine to play someone with a dark and mysterious past, but when you take this to the extreme you are doing a disservice to yourself, your storyteller and your fellow players. You can play a loner, sure, but you need to create ways to hook your character into the plot and connect to other characters so that you are not forcing the game masters to jump through hoops to get you involved. And furthermore, its simply unfair to expect that the GMs should have to run you exclusive RP simply because you refuse to interact with others. They already have their hands full. Don’t wait on the GMs to throw you plot cookies. Flesh your character out and give him/her motivations that will help you connect them to the game and other players. If you are not interested in having a social experience, then you may wish to consider sticking to video games.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Psychopath</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the cute little girl with a bloody knife to another Joker rip-off, mental illness is suddenly so very in because heck, it’s just so darn cool. Only… it isn’t. Mental illness is not cool. It is not silly. It is not awesome. It is a very serious debilitation and to properly role play a character with such problems takes a commitment to do some extensive research. Too many times people describe their characters as “crazy” or “a psychopath”. But what do they mean by that? What specific mental illness is the character suffering from? Most immediately say “schizophrenia”, which seems to be the fan favorite among gamers and yet so few are willing to put any effort into understanding the ailment, and we have yet to see it accurately played. If you do want to accurately portray a mental disorder, then you need to pick up a copy of the 4th edition of the <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Disorders (more commonly referred to as the DSM IV among psychologists) and do your research. Try volunteering at a psych ward or consult a local psychology professor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do your homework. It can be insulting and disrespectful to improperly portray these illnesses to people who actually have suffered from them or who have loves ones who have. Please treat these concepts with the level of respect and sincerity that they deserve.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Nobody</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Nobody comes in a few different flavors. This can be a rushed character concept with just numbers on a sheet and no backstory or personality, the amnesiac character that the player just told the GM to come up with the character for him/her, or the character is a blatant rip off of a pre-existing character in pop media. For whatever the reason, you’ve put the minimal amount of effort to create an original, fleshed-out concept. You haven’t delved into who they are and are just drifting or else are trying to box your character in to a concept you didn’t create. In the first case, it’s an easy to solve problem - just take some time to actually think about your character before playing. If you don’t have a solid concept you run the risk of becoming inconsistent <span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">doing random things out of boredom because you don’t know what else to do since your character is lacking in motivation. The amnesiac is in a similar situation. It’s fine to play a character with amnesia, but have an idea of their baseline personality at the very least and work closely with the GM so you can have clearly defined goals to keep you involved in the plot. Lastly, we come to the blatant rip-off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fine to take inspiration from outside sources and piecemeal together a character from a patchwork of different characters, but when you create a character clone and just give it a different name you run the risk of confining your creativity. Your character is likely to be in situations that the base character was not in. Instead of struggling to figure out WWJSD (What Would Jack Sparrow Do), make your own character. You will know the in’s and out’s of their personality and have a clearer motivation which will allow you to react more naturally as the character. If you are struggling to connect to your character, then speak with your GM and ask for assistance. Don’t be a Nobody – be a Somebody!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><u>The Badass</u></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ahhh… the Chuck Norris with a side of Samuel L. Jackson. It’s fine to play a toughie, but when you refuse to allow your character to lose, look foolish or give someone else the chance at a victory, then you are in danger of becoming a problem player. This is less a character problem and more a player problem, because it becomes a “sword”-waving contest which usually results in the player becoming irate if they don’t get their way. One way to avoid this from occurring is by giving your character flaws, faults and fears and being aware of them and allowing them to play out and be exploited. You need to be aware that your character is not infallible. Perfect is boring. Mary Sues and Gary Stus are annoying. Not one wants to play with a sore loser. This kind of behaviour and character concept should stay at your kindergarten sandbox. Much like the problematic Loner, the Badass player needs to realize that gaming is a social activity. A player who throws a fit anytime his/her character loses is not going to win any friends. And honestly, these concepts aren’t interesting. Flaws (and we’re not talking the “cool” my-character-has-an-eyepatch type flaws – we’re talking about my 16<sup>th</sup> level samurai has an intense and crippling fear of confined spaces) are interesting. Grow up and shake off the inner power gamer. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What this all boils down to is being prepared and not settling for a gimmick, stereotype and/or a cliché. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Problem characters mostly just come down to players who have not thought about the consequences the character will have to the game. Consequences being both good and bad here. Players simply need to be encouraged to think about two things when developing a concept: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What will this character add to the game</i>? and 2) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Will this concept hurt the game or others enjoyment of it</i>? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before jumping into any game, take the time to fully develop your concept. In the long run it will make for a more enjoyable experience for you and everyone else involved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(We would like to thank the members of the <a href="http://www.nyclarp.com/">NYC LARP Troupe</a> for their insightful discussion which helped to contribute to this article. Thanks guys!)</span></span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-4930742897049633812011-04-06T20:05:00.000-04:002011-04-06T20:05:55.522-04:00How to Hook a Princess<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkDUsGxywnsB2ugAC3WSpS4huUl5sGI3M1NL4uYj60ZDD8nQ4-RJYyoiCuw3ZZtfu8Bfq2ZiKJIoGkfY-tEBy-PVrmSC6Yzb9bCJyv_Wd_huf464XG0N2UGLzvtu3RK6_7yFGWyLYJDw/s1600/Princess+Warlock+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkDUsGxywnsB2ugAC3WSpS4huUl5sGI3M1NL4uYj60ZDD8nQ4-RJYyoiCuw3ZZtfu8Bfq2ZiKJIoGkfY-tEBy-PVrmSC6Yzb9bCJyv_Wd_huf464XG0N2UGLzvtu3RK6_7yFGWyLYJDw/s320/Princess+Warlock+101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Warlock's notes on how he caught his Princess.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So you want a princess of your very own, huh? Well if kidnapping or coercion isn’t your style, here are a few tips on how to go about courting a scene girl especially if she’s in a subculture you are not very familiar with.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Gamer</b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Princess says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe you saw her at a convention, or maybe she’s a new girl in your gaming community. Whatever the case may be, her hobby makes her very accessible since gaming is a social hobbythat anyone can participate in.<span> </span>If she’s in your local gaming scene, then you’ll probably have a good chance to get to know her. If she’s at a convention, try to get involved in a game she’s playing in. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Play it cool with a gamer girl. She’s likely just as much of a fan as you are and probably just as eager to discuss the pros and cons of 3.5 vs Pathfinder. Treat her like an equal. Just because she’s a girl doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what she’s doing. I’ve seen plenty of guys make the mistake of assuming I don’t know anything about a given game based purely on the fact of being female. It can be very frustrating. If you happen to be involved in a game with her, an easy opener is using the game or her character as a conversation opener. Try to avoid instantly going into your character and all your war stories. Give her the chance to speak. Get her going enough and you may score a phone number. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Warlock says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ok, so you found the girl that does want to hear about your 20<sup>th</sup> level paladin, or at least will listen, so don’t over react!<span> </span>The worst thing to do is overwhelm her, you want her to be able to open up .<span> </span>Ask about her gamming experiences, ask about what games she likes, what her favorite characters are.<span> </span>Give her plenty of time to tell you about what she likes.<span> </span>Then once you have some footing<span> </span>try to find ways to compare your experiences with hers.<span> </span>You already have a lot of similarities if your both gamming, so try to find ways to cement that.<span> </span>You want her to look at your similarities not differences.<span> </span>Gamming can create some intense emotional experiences, find out what some of hers are, and then try to link it to one of your.<span> </span>Now you have a linked strong emotional experience in both your minds, try to find a few more common grounds, and she’ll start to think you were made for each other.<span> </span>Make sure she knows how to get into your other games, but don’t insist, just leave the comparison from her old game to this new one so entice her.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Lolita</b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Princess says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tread carefully when pursuing a lolita. As someone who in actively involved in this scene, I can say to you with confidence that lolitas are very wary about being approached by strangers. And with good reason – we’re constantly the target of creepers and random people shouting insults at us on the streets because of our unique fashion sense. Please understand that this causes us to be more on the defensive when we’re out and about.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first thing is not to assume that just because she is a scene girl does not necessarily also mean that she’s also into anime or gaming. Some are, yes. But not all. Lolitas appreciate sincerity and genuine displays of interest. Try starting off by complimenting her and follow up with a remark about how refreshing it is to meet someone who is willing to be themselves contrary to what popular media dictates. This will win you major brownie points. Saying something along those lines shows her that you are accepting her for who she is. Acceptance and validation are something many lolitas sadly lack in both society and their personal lives, so hearing this will certainly warm her up to you. From there feel to ask questions, just make sure to keep them respectful and be aware that she may be a bit guarded at first.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Warlock says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This one requires a bit of leg work, but if you put the time in at the beginning this one should a bit easier in execution.<span> </span>Learn fashion.<span> </span>Watch Project Runway, read a fashion magazine, or if you corner cutter (not a good plan here) at least watch The Devil Wears Prada.<span> </span>Lolita’s know their fashion so faking it just won’t work.<span> </span>Once you know a bit work on complementing the clothes.<span> </span>Ask “Is that Innocent World?” or “Did you see Angelic Pretty’s last fashion show?<span> </span>They had a dress very similar to that….”.<span> </span>You don’t need to be an expert they’ll forgive you if you can’t tell Baby The Stars Shine Bright from Victorian Maiden, but the fact that you’re not ignorant of their life style is a great foot in the door (In fact if your clever enough to actually know the difference, you may want to make the mistake anyway, her correcting you should take longer than her just saying yes, giving you more face time to make yourself memorable)<span> </span>Once you establish that you are 1) not making fun of them, and 2) know what they are about it should be easy to get them to talk to you.<span> </span>For extra brownie points brush up on Victorian etiquette and use it whenever you can.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Cosplayer</b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Princess says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the most part, you’re likely to meet a cosplay girl at a convention. Luckily, she’s displaying her fandom out in the open, so that gives you the opportunity to discuss a potential mutual interest right there. If she’s dressed out as a character from a video game series, you can ask her what she thinks of the newest game. It’s nice to be approached by someone who is interested in your thoughts and not the skin tight body suit you’re wearing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which brings me to the next point – her eyes are located on her head not her chest. Keep your sight above shoulder level. She’s likely been stalked around by shady characters with cameras all day. The last thing she wants is to have to deal with more lewd stares. Also remember that the more physically attractive and more revealing her attire is, the more frequently she has to deal with this behavior. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Warlock says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cosplayers are a bit eclectic so you’ll have to be a bit careful on your approach.<span> </span>Fortunately if you around them, there is probably a group so you should have a few chances.<span> </span>We’ll start with average/not revealing everything cosplayer.<span> </span>Most of them are out going, expressive, and excitable.<span> </span>Be very excited about their costume.<span> </span>They did a GREAT job on it, IT’S AMAZING!!!!!<span> </span>Working <span> </span>in a little physical contact, such a feel of the sleeve, or closer look at a head piece is a great way to get in close and intimate fast.<span> </span>Physical contact is a tricky situation but, they are usually used to being glomped so you should be good as long as you don’t just start caressing them or something.<span> </span>After that try to find out what their other interests are besides the show.<span> </span>Do they only like anime, do they love video games, are they any other category listed in this article.<span> </span>Once you know what else they are like try to use that to build conversations on.<span> </span>You want to stand out, and everyone is talking about their costume already so you need to talk about something else they like.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now onto the Poison Ivy/ Darth Talon/Is-that-just-a-pasty? cosplayer.<span> </span>Boy are you not the first guy to hit on her, and yes she is sick of it by now.<span> </span>So you have to make her come to you.<span> </span>If she’s in the costume she knows who it is, and is probably as knowledgeable as you.<span> </span>Use that.<span> </span>Make a comment about the costume, but DON’T complement it.<span> </span>“Really the costume from issue 18….bit overdone don’t you think?”<span> </span>“Is that a wig?” (If it looks real NOT if it’s obviously a wig)<span> </span>“Did you think about using liquid Latex for those scars?”<span> </span>Make her defend the costume.<span> </span>Make her interested in the fact that you’re not going out of your way please her like everyone else.<span> </span>If you can open it to other critiques of the costume.<span> </span>You don’t want to insult her but try to find neutral comments that make her fish for meaning, and therefore talk to you.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>The Rennie </b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Princess says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check out any local Renn Faire and you’re sure to find a flock of ladies with their bosoms half spilling from their tightened corsets. It’s an immediate allure for sure, and pair that with their fondness for bawdy songs and beer and you have yourself the chance for a potential vivacious and fun loving partner.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like the Cosplayer, Rennie ladies (or wenches, as some refer to themselves as), are used to being gawked at by passersby. They’ve also probably heard every come on there is in the book. Futhermore, Rennies tend to keep to themselves when it goes to relationships. Faire workers and faire regulars are infamous for having a rather incestuous social scene. To get her attention you’ll need to stand out from the crowd without coming off as a total creeper. Rennies tend to appreciate witty humor, devilish charm and intelligence, so cleverness is the way to go for a first move. Try pulling aside a roaming rose seller and asking him/her to deliver a rose to her for you. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Warlock says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fastest way to catch one is to be one, or at least seem to be one.<span> </span>Like the Lolita this requires a bit of leg work.<span> </span>You don’t have to have everything memorized, but learn a drinking song or two, review “medieval”<span> </span>English vernacular (you don’t have to use it, but be able to follow it, and laugh at jokes) , and build up your tolerance for drinking.<span> </span>You don’t necessarily need to be in costume or “garb” but it helps.<span> </span>Don’t go half way though.<span> </span>If it’s going to be a ruffled shirt with jeans and a Yankee cap don’t bother.<span> </span>Just dress normal and be yourself.<span> </span>If you’re going to wear garb then go and get a whole set and show your really invested.<span> </span>The last thing you need is some gimmick, to help separate you from the rest of the pageantry.<span> </span>If you can juggle, or ride a unicycle or do card tricks then great.<span> </span>Lug that stuff around and make an impression.<span> </span>If not try to find some obscure historical facts, memorize them and then drop them when you can.<span> </span>This should be enough to get you started, but you’ll probably need to really learn stuff if you want things to continue.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Closing thoughts</b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Princess says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are a few universal tips when it comes to pursuing any lady. First, we can smell <span> </span>desperation from a mile away. Women respond to confidence. That’s why you see so many of them with jerks. Don’t be a jerk, but do try to carry yourself with pride. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second, give her space. Emotionally and physically. If you’ve made your move, chances are she’s picked up on it. If she’s interested, she will respond, if she doesn’t, let her go. Additionally, when approaching any girl, please don’t invade her personal space and do not make physical contact. Most women find that very invasive and may be freaked out. So please respect herpersonal space.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Warlock says</i>:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Be memorable.<span> </span>Find ways to have a conversation, and make her think.<span> </span>The more face time you can get the better.<span> </span>Don’t be embarrassed by any of your likes and show interest in all of hers.<span> </span>You need to be confident and show you are compatible. <span> </span>Spend the extra money on good “garb” or clothes (at least 3 of the 4 Princess here are dressing up regularly) If you don’t look like you care about your clothes, then way would you care about theirs?<span> </span>Don’t walk around in a ripped T-Shirt even if it does show how old school you are.<span> </span>And last practice.<span> </span>You don’t have to hit on every girl you see, and you don’t need to be hitting on someone to practice.<span> </span>Just use the tips above to talk to girls about your hobby without wanting or needing it to go anywhere.<span> </span>You’ll both get a fun conversation and you can get over any jitters you have about talking to girls.<span> </span>Then when the time comes that you’re looking for that special someone’s number you can be more relaxed about it.<span> </span></span></span><br />
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(Or just make your own princess <a href="http://www.dolldivine.com/princessmaker.html">here</a>!)The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-67065945864957381922011-03-31T08:00:00.003-04:002011-03-31T08:00:00.882-04:00Review: Second Life Gaming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nCSrIYlO9izCDaBdOZvAlyac6Rb1miZ9ESYnbEgECWlFNyLb7jTTTFMpkwPi1lSCwx1kkxigyXsC7rsaXlYEWZYacwQ3bpE9fzFolofpxLKdiu5fMZl6RG3hEJp4QC5N58EkgaiYwQU/s1600/secondlife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nCSrIYlO9izCDaBdOZvAlyac6Rb1miZ9ESYnbEgECWlFNyLb7jTTTFMpkwPi1lSCwx1kkxigyXsC7rsaXlYEWZYacwQ3bpE9fzFolofpxLKdiu5fMZl6RG3hEJp4QC5N58EkgaiYwQU/s320/secondlife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Online gaming has certainly come a long way since back when the Princess used to play in the chat rooms of Q-Link. Rather than just relying on text based encounters with other players, we have visual representations via customizable avatars. While many of these online gaming platforms can be considered a glorified chat room, the level of detail and visual appeal they offer certainly raises the bar from what online gaming used to be like.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One such platform is Second Life. While many may argue that Second Life has lost its appeal and is old news, it still offers a variety of RPG sims for players to engage in. Like any game/system/platform, roleplaying on Second Life has its ups and downs. After over four years of experience playing and being involved in a number of sims, we’ve had a chance to see ups and the downs.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the good side, it can be much cheaper than many other MMORPGs out there. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no monthly fee and if you are a savvy enough user, you can create a good looking avatar for cheap (if not free).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paying for Lindens (Second Life’s monetary units) is purely optional. To create a perfect representation of what you envision for your character, you might have to shell out a bit. But you can likely make what you want for under $10.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You don’t have to worry about rounding up your friends and working with everyone’s hectic schedules – you can just log in and play wherever there are players. And with players located all over the world, you are bound to find plenty of people on at any given time. It can be hard to wait in between regular game sessions. Second Life game sims offer a great way to get a gaming fix in to pass the time.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can find sims that offer a deeper RP experience than a regular WoW style dungeon crawl. Many MMORPGs are focused more combat oriented games that leave out the role play aspect many of us are looking for. There are plenty of sims that offer a more enriched RP experience while still having combat, so you can get the best of both worlds.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then we come to the dark side. These issues are not unique to Second Life gaming, but they are certainly quite present.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anonymity breeds poor behavior. This above all else might be the one thing we cannot abide more than any other of the problems inherent to an online gaming experience. For some reason when people log in to online platforms they think they have the right to become complete jerkwads. Some use the argument that “It’s the internet. Deal with it.” While others claim that while they are being blunt, they are only being honest. No. You’re not. You’re being a jerk. All because you are hiding behind an avatar doesn’t make you any less of a jerk. In fact, it makes you pathetic on top of being a jerk. Being online does not excuse poor behavior. You will encounter MANY players that think it does. So be warned, because you will be sure to encounter these types. The only way to deal with it is to calmly confront the person one-on-one via IMs, ignore them, or leave for greener pastures. Whatever you do, don’t take what they say to heart because odds are they have more issues than Time Magazine. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may be looking for RP but they are looking for cyber. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we know what type of RPing is often associated with online gaming. And, hey, if that’s your thing, then have a blast. However, if you are looking for an actual RP experience that doesn’t involve tentacles and leather whips, then you need to make that clear in your user profile and steer clear of game sims that advocate that style of play. Even if you are playing in sim that doesn’t allow it, you still may run into players who are looking for that type of experience regardless of the rules. If you feel uncomfortable about it contact the player or else a staff member to make your feelings known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Poor internal game structure. After participating in a number of RPG sims on Second Life, we’ve noticed that it is rare to find one with decent and organized leadership. Whether it is that the rules are not clearly laid out, a lack of leadership present in the sim or the leadership exerting too much control, don’t expect much professionalism. We’ve played in some drama plagued LARPs and table tops in our day, but we’ve never seen the level of immaturity like we have in these sims. Like any game, the underlying problems are specific to each sim. Just be aware that you are likely not to encounter a stable game structure in this environment.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So would we recommend Second Life as a gaming platform? Well that depends on what you are looking for. As a quick fix for something with more depth than a standard dungeon crawl, it’s good. But only if you can ignore the drama that goes along with it. If you want it as a means to just kick back and play on a casual basis while waiting between LARPs, yes, it’s a good filler. But if you are looking for a group of like-minded individuals that share your style of game play, you may become frustrated. Sims are often made up of 60+ players. With so many players and the often poor game structure, most players have conflicting ideas about genre so it can be a feat to find any who share your game style. Pair that with the fact that generally speaking, these players tend to be in the late teens to early twenties, and hopefully you get the picture that, as a veteran gamer, you may not be able to find players with enough experience that meets your expectations. The lowdown is, if you set your expectations low, then yes, you can potentially have a fun time, but don’t get caught up in the BS. Do we have fun? Sure! But only after we learned that it really isn’t worth sweating the small stuff.</span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-20558948228557995752011-03-28T14:42:00.000-04:002011-03-28T14:42:51.536-04:00Gamescience DiceYeah, this may be old, but it's very interesting and we thought it would be appropriate to share with our readers in case they've never heard of these.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bR2fxoNHIuU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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Well that convinces us enough. Maybe we will pick up a set of the mint gem dice he has on <a href="http://www.gamescience.com/">his site</a>.The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-37599374960825485872011-03-24T09:29:00.000-04:002011-03-24T09:29:46.448-04:00Geek Chic FurnitureLooking to complete your gamer lair?<br />
You might want to head over to <a href="http://www.geekchichq.com/Co_Store/Co_Store.html">Geek Chic</a> and check out their awesome wares, including some very nice looking game tables.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiiKgnhFlLT4GhoH6cKiBNRSDae1AuyeVBCLL7dfml2GrAs6qbfb8157fe3lbm_MD1wYtxArqG2nsv7clJabTtEMJE3rrN5O7i59hkSDij34dM8Mg0cDdcJDIasDtAihwb0kIYPvIQTw/s1600/Geek+Chic+Sultan+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiiKgnhFlLT4GhoH6cKiBNRSDae1AuyeVBCLL7dfml2GrAs6qbfb8157fe3lbm_MD1wYtxArqG2nsv7clJabTtEMJE3rrN5O7i59hkSDij34dM8Mg0cDdcJDIasDtAihwb0kIYPvIQTw/s320/Geek+Chic+Sultan+Table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In addition to gaming tables, the company also offers nice storage solutions as well. <br />
The Sultan is definately on the wishlist for our castle!The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-28300933191323270782011-03-21T09:12:00.000-04:002011-03-21T09:12:34.219-04:00The Princess's Garden: Incorporating Lolita Fashion into LARPs<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When my friend Victoria of <a href="http://lolita-charm.blogspot.com/">Lolita Charm</a> was planning to try out her first LARP experience in a local boffer LARP, she wasn’t sure quite what to expect and came to me for advice on how to incorporate Lolita fashion into her character’s wardrobe. I felt that this would be an ideal topic to discuss here, since I know many other lolitas who are also gamers, or lolitas who are interested in getting started in LARPs.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LARPs (Live Action Role Playing) can be broken down into two basic forms – demonstrative and salon. Demonstrative LARPs include “Boffer” style LARPs in which the actions of the characters are played out. The combat is done in real time with fake, boffer weapons. These types of LARPs usually take place in campgrounds over long weekends. You will be expected to remain in-character the entire time and will have to actually perform anything you want your character to accomplish. For example, in a table top game, you might play a bard and explain to the DM that your character sings a song in the local tavern to earn some money. In a demonstrative LARP you would be required to actually sit and sing if that’s what you wanted to do.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salon style LARPs are more theatrical in nature. These include the MET (Mind’s Eye Theater) and Cthulu Live systems. In salon style LARPs, your character can perform actions you may not be able to. If you are playing a thief, you could make an ability check to see if you can open a lock rather than actually have to open the lock yourself. While dialogue and basic movements are all acted out, combat and abilities are determined by a system, often using rock-paper-scissors and dice rolling to determine the outcome.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Demonstrative LARPs, you will likely be spending a lot of time outdoors being physically active and getting dirty. It is not an ideal LARP form for strict Lolita fashion, and in most cases demonstrative LARPs tend toward historical and/or fantasy genres, so straight up Lolita fashion is really not the way to go (you don’t want that Angelic Pretty OP covered in sweat and mud, do you?). However, you can create a wardrobe that is “Lolita inspired”. There are two ways to go about this; create your own outfit or shop around and build up a costume. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwMXIpaMUdUGWhLYzNuS9AaDNqgWR1mHG8zDSxPtsSodaeWEVruKl1oMPfn_AaDFWPBazuZSggzdKoshNhHG43bULNHhaGunZAJDo7p8vSgcVSkZbb08Yn4nKyWiN3OUCJco_WIKTgxE/s1600/Demonstrative+Lolita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwMXIpaMUdUGWhLYzNuS9AaDNqgWR1mHG8zDSxPtsSodaeWEVruKl1oMPfn_AaDFWPBazuZSggzdKoshNhHG43bULNHhaGunZAJDo7p8vSgcVSkZbb08Yn4nKyWiN3OUCJco_WIKTgxE/s320/Demonstrative+Lolita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you want to wear Lolita in a demonstrative LARP, I would advise staying away from brand and keep with inexpensive offbrand that you will be okay with possibly getting dirty or damaged. You may wish to consider delving into mori girl or dolly kei fashions which may be more appropriate. However, if you prefer to stick with Lolita, then I would suggest wearing more classic lines like the Innocent World JSK shown above. Since, as I mentioned, the majority of demonstrative LARPs are more fantasy based and take place in forest campgrounds, you will probably want to stick with more muted, natural tones. You can wear a faux-fur wrap or cloak over your dress. To add a touch of whimsy consider playing a fairy or an elf and add elf ears, fairy wings and/or a crown of flowers. Pair this with leather arm bracers and a good pair of comfortable boots as you can easily portray an elven archer or a fairy enchantress.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Salon style, it is much easier to wear regular Lolita fashion since you will not be asked to participate in simulated combat nor will it be as physically taxing. Additionally, many salon style LARPs setting take place in modern times. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, in cases of historical games taking place before the Victorian era, I would caution against wearing Lolita fashion in favor of working with the game’s aesthetic. In these cases, it’s best to just wear a costume of the appropriate time period to help with being consistent with historical accuracy. Likewise, a sci-fi or futuristic game setting may also not be appropriate. But for games taking place from the Victorian era to modern times, you should be all set. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2-6D0R_QVMM-UDmf8nU05GgyK1FFeqnxQiaTtGIT6UYh0yVjMPH1sqE56eHqNtou9xZK5NQjqfQJYM2zSdKUwpCzGotSr-xt4ZkRngRGx7IySw7Nf02pcTvKKKn_lVy-FWHXh3CUJ-c/s1600/Salon+Lolita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2-6D0R_QVMM-UDmf8nU05GgyK1FFeqnxQiaTtGIT6UYh0yVjMPH1sqE56eHqNtou9xZK5NQjqfQJYM2zSdKUwpCzGotSr-xt4ZkRngRGx7IySw7Nf02pcTvKKKn_lVy-FWHXh3CUJ-c/s320/Salon+Lolita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The majority of salon style LARPs tend toward gothic and steampunk aesthetics, therefore classic and gothic Lolita attire will likely be the most appropriate. You can easily wear whatever attire you would normally wear out around the town for a salon style LARP since you will not be in any more danger of damaging your brand any more than you would going out on a shopping excursion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve never delved into steampunk, often times just adding a pair of goggles and a pocketwatch <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to your outfit will do. Character concepts like an occult scholar or an airship captain could be ideal for these type of games.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surely you have noticed the lack of concepts here for sweet lolitas. That is because sweet Lolita style generally will only work in salon style LARPs set in modern settings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that case, there’s not much you will need to do to adjust your outfit to the setting.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So in conclusion, if you are a Lolita wishing to get involved into LARPs and want to incorporate your fashion into the game, the key things to remember are the type of LARP it will be and what the game’s setting will be. It may simply not be appropriate for you to wear your frills at game, but there are plenty of times you can. Just do your research before jumping in.</span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-86762864019880346382011-03-19T09:00:00.002-04:002011-03-19T09:00:10.133-04:00We're Back + New PollWe apologize for the long hiatus, but as you can see from our last post, we plan to kick things back into action. Thank you for your patience.<br />
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The results from our last poll "Which monster would you prefer to fight?" is in. With 75%, you guys choose 'vampire'. A new poll is up on the sidebar for you. Enjoy!The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-31862184983428144262011-03-17T16:13:00.000-04:002011-03-17T16:13:16.900-04:00Character Integrity vs Compromise<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So you’ve written up a 3 page background for your character. You’ve researched the specific form of anemia they have. You’ve drawn up a whole family tree. You’ve filled out ton of those character Q&A surveys. You know what they wear, how they speak and what makes them tick. You know who this character is. You have become connected to who they are. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem? The GM has something else in mind…</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all have our own distinct and varied sensibilities and aesthetics. And when we create characters, we are tapping into that inner well of inspiration to form something we really want to express. It’s only natural that at some point, your ideas are going to come into conflict with a GM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here you are with all the research and character development you’ve painstakingly gone through and the GM wants to make changes that you feel are essential to your character. What do you do?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To avoid this unpleasant situation, the first step, even before you make your character, is to talk with your GM and to find out exactly what genre they will be portraying in the game. Many times character concepts conflict with the setting of the game. It can be frustrating to GM and player alike to learn you are playing completely different games. Always make sure to sit down with your GM and find out what the theme and setting is and also what their expectation of the game is. This may greatly help you figure out what type of character will fit.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, you did that and went ahead and created your character, but now there are all these changes the GM wants to make. Changes you feel go against the nature of the character you created. What now?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t be afraid to start an open dialogue. As a GM, it’s usually a primary importance to make sure their players are having a good time (Or at least it certainly should be). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take that first step to explain your concerns. Usually a good conversation can resolve any worries and both parties can come to a suitable compromise. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what if it doesn’t? What if they seem to understand, but when you go to play you realize that your GM hasn’t actually taken in anything that you’ve said? Or worse, what if they feel the changes are essential for the character to be in the game?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the instance where the GM still doesn’t seem to get it, it’s time for another round of discussions. Try to sit down with the GM and reiterate your concerns in a calm and polite manner. At this point be sure to go into a more lengthy discussion about your character’s ideology and details of the concept. You can even try to find close archetypes in popular media that you think your GM might be familiar with to illustrate your point (ie – “Hey Bob, I’m a little concerned because it seems to me that you are viewing this character as more of a Starbuck type character, when actually I feel she’s a bit more of a Wash but with the upbringing and background of Simon”). Break down each change they want to make and explain why it doesn’t work with your concept. But be sure to listen and be receptive to their ideas as well. Perhaps that Aunt Julie that you strongly feel shouldn’t be present has been placed there for an important plot point the GM wants to involve you in. Or maybe they don’t agree with a rationalization for a skill or talent your character has. Whatever the specific conflicts are, try to talk it out and be receptive. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If it doesn’t work out, then you might have to make a different concept. Sure, it’s not ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary. It’s difficult when we put so much effort into the creation process, but at the end of the day if it becomes clear that you are not on the same page, it might just be best to start from scratch (this time working very closely with the GM). In this way, it might be better (and less stressful) to play a concept you can both agree on rather than force yourself to play a character you are not satisfied with. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After exhausting all the options and finding you just don’t see eye to eye on your character and you don’t want to go through the process of making another one, then you may wish to consider dropping out of the game. There’s nothing wrong with this. Gaming is a hobby that should be about having fun. If you aren’t enjoying yourself there’s no point in forcing yourself to do it. Maybe the setting isn’t right for you. Or maybe you and the GM just have a different style of gaming. Just be sure to understand what your expectations are and what type of experience you are looking to get out of the game. If you don’t feel you are going to get that, it’s okay to step down and look for it elsewhere.</span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-5322650058869881202010-10-23T08:51:00.003-04:002010-10-23T08:51:00.347-04:00Poll Results<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our first poll, in which we asked our readers what their favorite gaming medium was, has come to a close. The results we as follows:</span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#1 Table Top (13 votes)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#2 Video Games (8 votes)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#3 LARP (7 votes)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#4 Online (5 votes)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it appears that we might have a lot of old school gamers on board here. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep pumping out new content to help enhance your gaming experience both in table top and other mediums.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In honor of Halloween, we’re kicking back to the days of <em>Monster Squad</em> with our new poll and asking our readers – if you had to face one of these monsters (Sea Monster, Werewolf, Vampire or Mummy) which would you choose to fight? Please take a moment to vote (poll located on the sidebar to the right).</span></div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-30684106335513740062010-10-22T08:25:00.001-04:002010-10-22T08:27:56.381-04:00Nightmare ReviewSorry that we’ve been away so long. Life has gotten busy and we were away for a while on vacation celebrating <strike>the Warlock’s victory</strike> our one year anniversary. So without further ado, a review… <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last week, we got the chance to visit a popular local haunted house, Nightmare. Every year, director Timothy Haskell, creates a new theme and house. The idea behind Nightmare is not just to scare, but to disturb you. The cast and crew work to create a truly immersive experience. We’ve been going to this house for the past four years, so we’re excited to have the chance to tell you more about it.</div></div><br />
<u>The Princess’s Take</u>: <br />
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This year’s theme was “Superstitions”. Being somewhat superstitious myself, it was a thrill for me to be confronted with some of the things I am actually apprehensive about. I suspect that most people are at least a little bit superstitious about one thing or another. Nightmare takes those fears and throws them in your face, forcing you to be face to face with them, exploiting your natural human emotions for a very visceral experience. <br />
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In my opinion, both cast and crew have done an excellent job at creating something new and exciting this year. The actors possess great timing and keep control of their given room (or hallway). Costumes and props appear to be detailed well crafted (though it’s hard to get a great look when you are fleeing from monsters coming at you). From prop work to overall story, it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the creation of this year’s house. <br />
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One of my favorite aspects of this year’s house is the level of interaction. At several points during your journey different members of your group will be singled out. As one of these people, I can speak from experience that it really gets your heart pumping when you are forced to leave the safety of a group and walk into the great unknown by yourself. It’s this quality that makes you feel like you are a part of the story rather than an outside viewer. <br />
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The rooms themselves were innovative and clever, creating plenty moments of unexpected scares and surprises. It’s a real feat and a testament to the staff’s talent at how they are able to create some many moments of surprises by diverting your attention only to have something come up right behind you when cramped in a small room. <br />
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4 out of 5 stars <br />
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<u>The Warlock’s Take</u>: <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Having had to manage such places in the past I was very impressed with the effort put into this year’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The added interaction and basic story line added so much and it was fun to have to flee some rooms, and wanting to flee others but being trapped and forced to talk to one of the ‘patients’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rooms were cleverly designed, and had some good effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being familiar with the different superstitions can definitely add to the horror and appreciation of each area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the rooms don’t come off as gimmicky, there are a lot of subtle touches that just add to theme without distracting you from the story. It was a lot of fun to go back and talk about each room, and how it all tied to the Superstion in ways we hadn’t realized at the time.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As for the actors I would love to have such talent in any of my dungeons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a great sense of timing and some nice physical work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Costumes were for the most part simple but effective with some nice makeup work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with a few nice pieces that are really able to stand out when used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire crowd gets worked over so you’re not really safe in the back, middle or front, that’s if you manage to keep any semblance of order at all going from room to room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Over all it was a great scare for a wide range of horror seekers with a good mix of physical and psychological thrills to entertain anyone looking for one, the other, or both, and skilled actors ready to give you a great Halloween experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole experience is worth it whether you are a first timer, haunted house pro, or a fellow haunter interested in the art. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Also the shirts are really cool.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">4 out of 5 Stars</div>The Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.com0