I played D&D for the first time the other day, and to my surprise it did not require signing my soul over to the devil.

There seems to be an association between the game and cult-like attitudes, probably stemming a bit from the 80’s (movies from the time period would lead us to assume America was like Nazi Germany for nerds). The cultural setting at the time was an odd one, with MMO’s and the internet in general not being there, role playing had to be acted out in person exclusively, which I’m sure could be seen as a little creepy to outsiders. Truth be told, sitting in a circle with a group of young boys (who are we kidding here..?) and acting out fantastical-often violent- scenarios didn’t seem like it would appeal to me at one time. Hell, only geeks picked up a die with more than six sides, right?

Looking into it though, the process isn’t much different than other board games, but for the fact that player input is more essential. Creating a story along with your friends, adopting a different persona, being brought to the edge of your seat by every roll of the dice, it’s all quite entertaining, and I would assert that it only serves to strengthen relationships and charisma between people, rather than break it down.

The element of combat and stats can be a little bit tedious when everyone is still amateur-ish, but creating a character from scratch makes it really feel your own, and moulding that person throughout the game gives everything a really full and developed feeling. When you have an intergal part in the story writing, there’s a certain amount of immersion that you simply don’t get from Skyrim or Mass Effect. 

So I think I’ll try this again. But hey, maybe I’m wrong, maybe they break out the pentagram and candles on the second go..?

Bryton and I went up to the ski hill the other day, and the late afternoon had a distinctly blue feel. Photography isn’t exactly a strong suit for me, but I can ‘shop images just fine, hopefully I can improve the former with practice.

So today’s my birthday…

…but to be honest I hardly feel any different.

Though I still think it’s kind of cool I’ve made it halfway to 30 at this point. Not to say I’m thinking that far ahead, but it appears that this is the time in most people’s lives when decisions start being made that you can’t truly go back on. Have to start focusing on high school, post-secondary. Relationships with people become more serious, regardless of who they are. It all just seems to invoke a lot of pressure, almost as though life stops being so easy now. It’s like plan has to be made, followed. Am I up to the challenge? Of course. Am I a little scared? Definitely.

But hell, I’m 15. There should probably be less important things on my mind…

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  • Month Of MayArcade Fire

Arcade Fire - Month of May

Well hello Spring…

Hello there. This is now my fourteenth year on earth. Fourteen. And holy crap what a place to have spent it. We live on a planet that’s inhabited by millions of species, yet here we appear to be the ones governing it. It’s a privilege many have undertaken, and wasted, again and again throughout history. Today we see our age-old systems of worth collapsing at our feet while those at the top scramble to take what they can and get out. Rather than work together, the nature of our species insists we make life a power struggle. This all happens while old men in churches argue which versions of ancient stories should be used to determine our morals. The majority of people have slowly come to realize our flaws, and we have begun to rebel against those in power. Of course this hasn’t been met without oppression, whether from those who have different ideas about our future, or people that want to maintain the status quo. The world is full of violence and uncertainty on what many say is its final year, and I can’t help but think that’s somehow fitting. As it goes on the delusional are sure to riot, mass suicides will occur. Eventually we may grow to question if earth would be better off gone… …and I’m here to take part in every glorious second. Because for every horrible action we take, there is still the potential for good. We have achieved things no other known species has. Arts, science, compassion and understanding. As a race we have grown stronger and more intelligent, no longer sheep made to follow or be deceived. There are things created that amaze me every day, and the beauty of what is shaped by outside forces can be even grander. Humans are coming to realize that a harmonious relationship between both nature and ourselves is the only way to continue, and our technological advancements have never been as impressive. Slowly, ever so slowly, we are discovering how to navigate the path ahead. One that we accept is our responsibility to create and not that which has been laid out for us.  It’s just so hard to believe that this is all happening on a tiny rock rotating beside bigger ones, around an insignificant ball of gas of which there are millions upon millions more, making up all that we know as life and our universe.  Sic Parvis Magna indeed…
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Hello there.

This is now my fourteenth year on earth. Fourteen. And holy crap what a place to have spent it. We live on a planet that’s inhabited by millions of species, yet here we appear to be the ones governing it. It’s a privilege many have undertaken, and wasted, again and again throughout history. Today we see our age-old systems of worth collapsing at our feet while those at the top scramble to take what they can and get out. Rather than work together, the nature of our species insists we make life a power struggle. This all happens while old men in churches argue which versions of ancient stories should be used to determine our morals. The majority of people have slowly come to realize our flaws, and we have begun to rebel against those in power. Of course this hasn’t been met without oppression, whether from those who have different ideas about our future, or people that want to maintain the status quo. The world is full of violence and uncertainty on what many say is its final year, and I can’t help but think that’s somehow fitting. As it goes on the delusional are sure to riot, mass suicides will occur. Eventually we may grow to question if earth would be better off gone…

…and I’m here to take part in every glorious second.

Because for every horrible action we take, there is still the potential for good. We have achieved things no other known species has. Arts, science, compassion and understanding. As a race we have grown stronger and more intelligent, no longer sheep made to follow or be deceived. There are things created that amaze me every day, and the beauty of what is shaped by outside forces can be even grander. Humans are coming to realize that a harmonious relationship between both nature and ourselves is the only way to continue, and our technological advancements have never been as impressive. Slowly, ever so slowly, we are discovering how to navigate the path ahead. One that we accept is our responsibility to create and not that which has been laid out for us. 

It’s just so hard to believe that this is all happening on a tiny rock rotating beside bigger ones, around an insignificant ball of gas of which there are millions upon millions more, making up all that we know as life and our universe. 

Sic Parvis Magna indeed…