Four Color Wedges, or How Removing Something Makes Things Bigger

Recently, I read a post on MaRo's Tumblr regarding the lack of a four-color wedge set in Magic. I don't remember exactly what it said, but whatever it was, I took it as a challenge.

Right then, I did some research and work, parsing the color wheel and coming up with five reasonable tribes for the five four-color wedges (sans names and only a sketchy backstory).

I started by looking at the main qualities each color represents, then thought about what would happen to the other four colors if that color were no longer there to balance them. I then came up with a possible tribal idea that incorporates the qualities of those four colors, but more to the point the absence of the fifth. Finally, I came up with an ability that fits each tribe (except for one, but you'll see that one).

Here is, word-for-word, copied and pasted from my notes at the time an overview of the five wedge tribes, submitted for your approval:

Without white (Trust, Order)

• U - Advancement without Trust, reason without order - Intelligent / Mechanical
• G - Instinct without Order, Reliance without Trust - Opportunistic / Disloyal
• B - Selfishness - Survivalist / Self-important
• R - Spontaneity - Inventive / Unfiltered

Developers of artifice, as quick to break an alliance as to make one. Innovation above all, and for its own sake.  Artifact-based wedge

Wedge ability: Mechanize - Similar to Unleash - can choose to ETB with a +1/+1 counter and as an artifact creature

Without blue (Advancement, Reason)

• W - Order without Reason, Trust without Advancement - Unshakable / Dogmatic
• B - Selfishness without Advancement, Paranoia without Reason - Protective / Self-righteous
• R - Emotion - Zealous / Radical
• G - Instinct - Confident / Ignorant of consequence

True believers in a long-dead deity. The only truth to them is their god's truth, and they seek to spread that truth to everyone, for to do otherwise will doom the world to a fiery death.

Wedge ability: Martyr (ability word) - Creatures with martyr have either a discard ability to counter spell types or a sac ability to destroy permanent types, or both. (triggered on cast or ETB)

Without black (Selfishness, Paranoia)

• U - Advancement without Selfishness, Reason without paranoia - Altruistic / Ascetic
• R - Spontaniety without selfishness, Emotion without paranoia - Empathic / Overprotective
• W - Trust - Outgoing / Naive
• G - Reliance - Cooperative / Selfless

A peaceful, altruistic people whose kindness is all-too-often mistaken for weakness. They genuinely want what's best for people.

Wedge ability: Utopia - Listed as Utopia X, where X is a number. When you control creatures with total Utopia X (tbd [ed note: I think 20 might be appropriate -JP]), you win the game.

Without Red (Spontaniety, Emotion)

• B - Selfishness without Emotion, Paranoia without Chaos - Scheming / Antipathic
• G - Instinct without Spontaniety, Reliance without Emotion - Conniving / Cold
• W - Order - Disciplined / Infliexible
• U - Reason - Calculating / Machivellian

An organized, decentralized cabal of spies, infintrators, and assassins, seeking to impose their version of order on the world.

Wedge ability: Fluidform <mana> (Transfigure from FS{Future Sight}, expanded to include non-creature permanents)

Without Green (Instinct, Reliance)

• R - Spontaniety without Instinct, Emotion without Reliance - Impulsive / Reckless
• W - Order without Instinct, Trust without Reliance - Libertarian / Hierarchic
• U - Advancement - Self-betterment / Sociopathic
• B - Paranoia - Self-sufficient / Jealous

A loose-knit cabal of self-sufficient scavengers who individually seek to better themselves and dominate both their peers and the world at any cost - to anyone but themselves.

Wedge ability: None: all creatures are vanilla, but pushed. All wedge-based spells affect creatures with no abilities. (re: Muraganda Petroglyphs)

Regarding the no-Green tribe, any enchantments/spells that affect them do not have them gain abilities. For example, an enchantment that would say "Enchanted creature has flying" would instead read "Enchanted creature can block as though it had reach, and can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach". Wordy? Yes, but flavorful? You bet!

Anyway, that's my take, and my first update of this blog in several years.

Until next time, remember that you have the power to shape your own reality. Make it a good one.

I have no words (Devil Survivor: Overclocked) (*SPOILERS*)

There comes a time in one's life as a gamer - table-top, console, PC, what have you - when they see a circumstance unfold that is so unbelievably ridiculous that words fail.

And then, there are times when they see something so complex, convoluted, and needlessly complex - upward of Rube Goldberg-level fuckery - that their mind just wraps itself into a Möbius strip trying to figure out why someone would go to so much effort for so little gain.

And then... you have Devil Survivor.

Not the game as a whole, mind you. It's a bit far-fetched, but most of its metaphysics and mythoi are explained with enough detail and enthusiasm to spur suspension of disbelief.

But there is one aspect of the game that takes the above two concepts, twists them into an unrecognizable clump, dips said clump in Flubber, puts it into a pitching machine, and launches it full-force at its own head.

If you have not played DS: Overclocked, and would like to be surprised, read no further, because there are HUGE plot spoilers below the break.

NaNoWriMo 1 - Me 0 - It's off.

As much as it pains me to do so, I'm quitting NaNo.

I gave it a go.  I really did.  I got myself almost halfway to 50000.

But a good portion of that was forced, and, well... I just couldn't get into the story.

I'm not giving up on the story.  It's a good idea - one that I've been kicking around for years now - but I just couldn't project myself into the story like I could with the last NaNo or the Darian Hunter Files.  I could see myself in those roles and seeing the events occur around me, and I wrote what I saw.

I just... couldn't do that here.  And the pressure I'm feeling about forcing myself to "get 'er done" is making me feel less creative, rather than more.

So it's done for this year.  Stick a fork in it.  I'm not disappointed in my failure, but relieved of the pressure of forcing something that wasn't there.

Its time will come.  Believe me.  But not now.

In the meantime, I feel like I re-opened some creative avenues, and will be working on other things.

To give you an idea. I spent the day watching the first video reviews of my favorite internet reviewers: Todd in the Shadows, the Cinema Snob, and Linkara.  For inspiration.

Coming soon to Cover 2 Cover (I hope): "Calling All Stations"

Appeal for help with my writing. Please?

I'm experiencing some massive writer's block in my story, and it's mostly centered around one of my characters.

Whenever I try to write for him, my mind locks up like a freakin' steel trap.

For background, here are the four primary protagonists with some notes about their traits and personalities:

Selena: psychologist, clinical, analytical, rationalizes everything - even the weird, uncomfortable with praise

Christopher: paramedic, open-minded, knowledge-seeking, caring, never satisfied with any answer

(As a side note, I'm realizing these two are almost polar opposites of each other.  Anyway, moving on...)

Leeann: Professional thief. Cynical, cold, mistrusts everyone, doesn't open herself to anyone, even those she cares about. Feels like nobody can understand. Struggling to hold on to the happy moments, even if it means alienating everyone around her

Taylor: Pastor, denies his past, has allowed his devotion to God to be his purpose, even though it was not originally his choice, tries to win the praise of his overbearing father, answers self-doubt by burying himself deeper into his work

These four met as children and (without spoiling too much), they are reunited as adults to confront something from their mutual past.

Given that it's me doing this, you can guess that this "something" is nothing ordinary.

Anyway, in typing this just now, I can see Selena and Christopher seem to be a tad underdeveloped, Leeann is very easy to write for, and - this is the issue - Taylor is almost impossible for me to get into.

I think it's the religious thing.  I had some very poor experiences with religion growing up and, thankfully, I've moved beyond them.  But my mind slams shut every time I try to write for him.

If anyone has any suggestions, or any hints on something I may be missing, please let me know.  I want to win this year, and will accept any help you can give me, my little Empire.

NaNoWriMo 2011 - It's ON!

Day 1: Decided to go with introducing the main four characters, one at a time, while interlacing it with a flashback to their last meeting as kids.  I think this will work.  And I'm pretty sure I'm going to piss off some Christians.  Win-win!  Word count: 1815

Day 2: I'm getting the things down, and will probably go back and expand two of the sections when I get close to 50k, like I did in '09.  I'm thinking this will be book 1 of a trilogy, but I haven't thought of a title for the first book yet, but (mild spoiler) the series will be called Syrrennia.  I'm liking where this is going so far.  Word count: 3412

Day 3: I got pretty tired around 9:30.  I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to write today,  Glad I was able to do so.  Got a little more backstory on one of the characters than I anticipated, and am well into my first climax. This story I think will be pretty nice.  Word count: 5369

Day 4: Not much done today as I went to Pentacon and ran a game of Nuclear War.  Had a blast, but got a little work in.  I'm getting to the first real narrative hook of the story.  Word Count: 6407

Day 5: I knew this weekend was going to be a slow one.  I'll make up for it this week.  I also came up with a really cool plot twist, but it likely won't be seen until Book 2.  I need to figure out how to slip hints into the narrative, but I can do that during the cleanup phase near the end.  Word count: 7866

Day 6: I'm starting to think that one person is dominating the story.  I need to expand on the other three a bit more.  I'm also not getting a lot of word-work done.  Need to play catch-up this week.  Word count: 8660

Day 8: Day 7 was skipped due to a massive headache.  Day 8 is nearly skipped due to massive writer's block.  8 days in. FML Word count: 9364

Day 11: I've been kinda slacking.  I have no idea how to proceed from here; I've been expanding the backstories up to this point.  I actually need to have a plot instead of just a cool idea.  Once I get there, the words will just flow.[/self-delusion] Word count: 12300

Day 12/13 Part 1 - Bad news: Day 12 word count: 12817.  Good news: one hour into day 13: Word Count 14251.  I think I have a good direction in this.  Problem is going to be getting it all down and keeping it interesting.  Instead of a trilogy, it may just be a single book in three parts.  Once I reach 50K, I may not even remotely be finished.  I have the general plot outline started, involving many twists and turns.  I just hope I can play catch-up on the weekends and my days off.  Oh, well.  I fell behind last time and still finished with days to spare.  I may be a bit closer to the deadline this time, but if I hammer it down, I should make it okay.

I think I just need to write the parts of the story as they come to me, like I normally do instead of trying to write it in sequence.  Connect them afterward.  Thing is, I just need to do it.

It's back on, everyone.  Here goes.

Day 13 Part 2: Word count 15521.  I went ahead and wrote out the plot twist.  It was pretty cool.  I'm going to sit down and plot out the... um, plot, so I can have an idea where I'm going with this.

I want to win this year.  I think Thanksgiving is where I get this down, just like last time.

Day 14: Word count: 17050.  Now I know I'm going to hit 50000 and not have a whole story.  But finish it, I will, even after NaNo, even if I don't win this year.

Watch this space for daily updates!

Puss In Boots: A Review

Before I go into the review, I want to tell you something about myself.  It is very difficult to get me to sit in one place for any length of time.  As such, I never went to many movies (much to the frustration of my now-ex-wife) (Hi, Becka!).  Even the movies I went to I sometimes had to leave if it wasn't holding my attention enough, or if I couldn't talk my way through it (riffing and whatnot).

That has somehow changed as of late: In the past year or so, I actually made a point of seeing three movies in theaters:

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
the new Winnie the Pooh
and, now, Puss In Boots

The latter two were at the suggestions of my kids, Baby and Ben.  (Not biological children, of course, but if you've been following me for any length of time, you'd already know that)  It was actually during the previews of Winnie the Pooh that I saw the trailer for Puss.

At that point, it was pretty much unanimous: we HAD to see this movie.

So, because Baby and Ben are pretty much in charge this weekend, we went and saw it on opening weekend.

Best.  Idea.  EVER!

First thing I'll get out of the way are the previews, most of which I had no interest in, except for comedy.

Happy Feet 2: Flying penguins and melting polar ice caps being shoved in our face.  Um, no.

Hugo: I... have no idea what to say about this movie.  The trailer tells me nothing about the movie except it's about a boy and his mechanical doll and a girl with its key, and a police constable determined to get him despite his only "crime" being not having parents.  Even the constable's dog seemed to be embarrassed to be in the trailer.  I'm not a big fan of trailers that give everything away, but neither am I fan of trailers that tell you NOTHING ABOUT THE MOVIE.  I have no compelling reason to see it, and that's not the reaction to a movie trailer should be.

But I digress...

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Even Baby thought this was going to be stupid.  And he's very forgiving of little kid things.  Pass like Aaron Rodgers.

The Muppets: As much as I like metahumor, all the trailers I've seen indicate that this movie seems to be entirely centered around meta, and I think that's going to be what kills this movie.  It is possible to OD on both nostalgia and meta, and I think this movie, despite the slick ad campaigns, will die from it.

The Adventures of TinTin: Two words: Uncanny Valley.  This is an entirely animated movie made up of almost-too realistic human characters.  There is really no reason this couldn't have been made with live people, even with a CGI set (See also: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow).  It's not quite as detailed as Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, but getting closer.  And I think that will turn some people off.  The story looks interesting, but... eh...

Okay, with that out of the way, Let's get to the movie proper.

To start with, let me say that I have not seen any of the Shrek movies, nor do I have any intention of doing so.  So some of the ideas presented here may in fact be a function of its predecessors.  I'm going by this movie on its own merits without comparison to any of the Shrek movies.

I won't give away any plot details, or, at least, I'll try not to, but here goes:

Puss, again voiced by Antonio Banderas to great effect, is looking for his next big score, when he's told about how the infamous outlaws Jack and Jill (Voiced by Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedarkis, respectively) came upon some magic beans which, as you've probably guessed, lead to a giant's castle in the clouds and a goose that lays golden eggs.  (The scene with this bit of exposition sets the tone for the sense of humor in this movie)

It seems that Puss has been looking for these magic beans for years, so he follows this lead, only to be thwarted by the movie's love interest/foil Kitty Softpaws, voiced by Salma Hayek.  The two play off of each other perfectly and have great chemistry together.

After a very well-done chase scene, Puss discovers that Kitty is working with an old frenemy of Puss's, Humpty Dumpty, voiced by Zach Galifianakis.  Apparently, the two of them started out as friends in the same orphanage, seeking the same magic beans that started this whole thing, but had a falling out when Puss saved the Commandante's mother from a bull released by Humpty's careless actions.

Puss became a hero and stand-up guy, while Humpty took a lower road.  In the end, after tricking Puss into helping him commit a very heinous crime, Puss is branded an outlaw and leaves Humpty to the mercy of the town.

After some convincing, the three of them work together to steal the beans from Jack and Jill, go up to the Giant's castle, and steal the golden goose (mainly because the eggs were too heavy to steal).

That's as far as I'll go into the plot due to spoilers, but the plot twists - some obvious, some not so - are well-written and feel genuine rather than forced to create a happy ending.

I will warn you, that there are a few moments that are blatantly put in for the adults, but blended in well enough for the kids not to notice.  Well, except for the scene where Jack straight-up shoots a guy just to get his hotel room.  That might have been a tad over-the-top.

All in all, though, it was well-animated, well-written, and well-voiced.  Having all three in one animated movie is rare these days, where you're lucky to get one, let alone two, of these things.

The characters are deep and believable.  Through flashback and interaction we can tell these are more than just storybook characters with slapped-on backstories.  They are full, rich, and genuine.  Puss steals the show - I know he's the title character; that's how amazing a job was done on him - Kitty was more than just a backdrop female, Humpty was well-done, Jack and Jill, although their roles were relatively short-lived, were able to present both their gruff exterior and a hint at a softer side (talk about a role reversal...), and the supporting cast were all well-placed and added to the story without distracting.

The animation was top-notch all the way.  It made you believe that a world where humans interacted with anthropomorphic cats and walking eggs was plausible.  The action scenes flowed beautifully and drew you in without going over the top with the BOOMAMAZINGGRAPHICS type of CGI that takes you out of the story.

As stated, the voice acting was well-done, the actors had amazing chemistry, and were intense without being over the top.

...and that's why I think this movie is great: it's a ridiculous idea: storybook characters living "real" lives, intermingling the human world with the fairy-tale world seamlessly.  This could have been an idea that was played for laughs and a wink and a nod.  This movie made this combination seem not only possible, but believable.  It took itself seriously, but not too seriously.  And that's why it works.

Highly-recommended.  Go see it when you can.

As a side note: I did not see it in 3D, because I wear glasses, and the glasses-on-top-of-glasses look is not, and has never been, in.

I hope you enjoyed reading this.  See you on the next page!

NaNo 2011 - a minor update

I've decided the story that I'm going to write for NaNo this year.

It's a story I've been tossing around for a while, but it isn't any of the ideas I presented previously.

I'll fill everyone in 11/1 when I start my daily NaNo blog right here!