DnD 4e Impressions

Okay, I've read most of the character portions of the quick-start 4e rules. I'm not sure how to feel about it. On the positive side, it seems more cinematic, and (frankly) Spycraft-y. They consolidated skills, made skill points simpler, apparently gave the races tangible benefits through all levels (other than stat boosts or bonus feats and skills, of course), and evened up the character classes (on both the "fun-to-play" and "essential-ity for a full party" fronts).

However, that also acts against it for me. It seems like giving a first level fighter 30-odd hitpoints, or letting the first-level rogue get 2d8 sneak attack damage might de-balance some of the fun of low level games. That, and healing surges letting you recover a fourth of you hitpoints in 5 minutes. Part of the fun of the game (for me) was running around, close to death, scared of the Kobolds that may or may not be around the corner.

I don't know. I think it'll be good, but different. I want to see the character creation system, DM tools, and monster concepts. But provisionally, I'm neutrally ambivalent.

What I'm not neutrally ambivalent about is These Arms Are Snakes and Mastodon releasing new albums this year. I love Matt Bayles production on everything he does, and both are just such wonderfully creative bands. Now, I've got to play bass for Jazz band. And I forgot to add, "Medium Cool," our closer, should be really good too.

School's (Almost) Out For Summer

First things first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No15x3EcO64&feature=related

I just listened to the leak of Opeth's most recent studio album, Watershed. It actually has me excited about them again. I think that they really broke out of their more rote songwriting and grew tremendously. Also, It's a lot heavier, not just in timbre, but in composition. I attribute a lot of that to their new members Martin Axenrot (Drums) and Fredrik Akesson (guitar), and not having too much of a Steve Wilson (of Porcupine Tree fame) influence.

Next, I'm psyched about the Jazz Band concert this Wednesday, I think it'll be enjoyable. It's starts 6 :30, and they're will be a banquet. So come for free food and Jazz music. Stay for the crappy concert band (or not)! Highlights will probably be "Take Five" and "Area 51".

Next, Thursday and Friday at 7:30, is the Acting Shakespeare showcase, which will take place after the drama class show. I'm super psyched. Nora and I are performing the first 160 lines or so of Macbeth: Act IV, Scene iii. I'm playing Macduff, and she's Malcolm. It'll be a hell of a lot better than that terrible Daniel Hahn-BW rendition of Macbeth. I guarantee it. I'd tell you more, but you should really just come to see it. Be there, or be held guilty of missing out on some of the best pieces in the English canon performed by obnoxious highschool students.

Death Note

First of all, check it out -

Brother Gatling Gun of Looking at All Sides of the Question

My unitarian jihad name. Straight up badassery, I think. I do like to look at all sides of the question. Almost as much as I like acceptance, kittens, love, and ABJECT, DISMAL, BRUTALITY!

I like it. It seems especially, um, magnanimous.

Secondly, I watched the newest Death Note on adult swim. There are only about 6 episodes left and I'm super curious about what's going to go down. I'm also curious of what Adult Swim will put on after. It'll be good I'm sure. Now, I've got to go play some bass and do illumination stuff.

Brave New World! and Other Bullshit!

So, this is it. The internet. And a blog to boot. I kinda feel as though I'm standing on the spacious spacious frontier of technology and assembly. The precipice, if you will. It's weird, in a head-rushy, not sure what I'm doing sort of way. I'm not even sure why I'm doing this.

Maybe all my adoring fans (all 6 of them) will convince me to expand on this. I mostly think open forum is just a good idea, and really like writing. If whoever reads this is lucky, they may even get a few posts on my ideas on Emerson-ian philosophy, DnD or any kind of music I happen to be obsessing about (good or bad) at the moment.

Any how I'll leave you with these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEJLmFp5sNo - An angry man with a news show. Dedicated to Sean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDcUmLJtz6Y - THE shoegaze band. One of the best songs of a great album.