Wiki Govt: Participation

Image via WikipediaSorry to post all of these at once they were created much earlier in Google docs and I thought they would automatically post to my blog the way the rules update posts did. turns out no.

Anyway, the book seems to take axiomatically that increased participation is a worthy goal. By and large it is correct, to enough eyes all bugs are transparent. But there is the problem of self selecting social networks the book mentioned in that often the people who gain the social capital are neither the wisest nor the most skilled bu the loudest, and volume is no substitute for being right. Now this is not to say that this is not the case currently but often with a smaller volume of information teasing out what is propaganda vs what is useful credential is at least possible. An incrfease in volume of data does make organizing the entire endeavor much more difficult. Some things cannot afford to be measured by reddit-like thumbs up and down as sometimes esoteric ideas are quite unpopular. That having been said any suggestions made by such a body would presumably go through less time in lobbying and other craziness because everyone already agrees with whatever the decision is. Efficiency is a worthy thing and not to be disparaged.

Wiki Governance :East Coast Code

Image via WikipediaWhy shouldn't policymakers design the computer code and device parameters to more closely hew to the desired legal outcome? Because the desired legal outcome is created by committee and the law is not obliged to work only to make people feel like they've done something. Bad laws are passed constantly and by and large if the law is too ludicrous or unrealistic people merely won't enforce it or will enforce it selectively and pretty much forget over time. Bad design is eternal, the physical world does not simply ignore foolish or impossible design decisions consequence happens and usually in a devastating manner. An engine or device that clings to what is legal will often not do what is practical, especially as what is legal can be fluid throughout the design process. We currently have cars that will not start until a breathalyzer is used on the steering column and that is all well and good. What if a similar device was made slightly earlier, say when in some counties women were not allowed to drive without a man present, or devices that keep a car from exceeding the speed limit under any circumstance. These may be silly but are unjust and unsafe. One of the founding ideals of the law is the idea that sometimes the law is wrong and human judgment should be used. Technology cannot apply such judgment. nor in many cases should it try. In the Time of Gilbert and Sullivan some unscrupulous people transmitted their works by telephone and telegraph across the Atlantic to America so that actors could perform bootleg operettas. If the policy makers of the time decided that such illegalities were important and had a hand in designing the phones, would we even have he clear signals we take for granted today? Think of what a printing press that values the local ordinance for obscenity or property over clarity of copy. Would we even have modern faith as we understand it if the Church policy makers chained the press to their requirements instead of those of the people? Technological growth is unfortunately amoral, sometimes our reach exceeds our grasp and the capacities science gives us are ones we are not mature enough to use well, but far more often this increase in capacity is the spark that topples existing injustice simply by making control of the new capacities too expensive to police. I don't want my equipment designed by people who care about what's legal I want it designed by people who care about making good equipment. I have my own moral faculties.

Lunar charms index

Image via Wikipedia

It is a conceit of white wolf that the Lunar Exalted Manual of Exalted power is badly organized and impossible to navigate as an out of character side effect of the in character sundering of the lunar castes. We have had the counterpoint that a character can get a lore or occult of 5 and an int of 5 and then should be able to demand form the storyteller an answer as to which is the correct charm to purchase to gain a desired effect or power. frankly we should also be able to do this to the publisher but hey. This is an early attempt to provide an outcome based index of lunar charms.

Incidentally this is the only complete list of lunar charms with page numbers I have been able to find online. if someone wants to alphabetize it, feel free.

Category [null] :

These are charms that you are taking as a requisite for other charms but by and large they have no function or a purely flavor text function.
Butterfly Eyes Tread: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 173

Butterfly Eyes Defense: req Any Manipulation Excellency (the good charms that these are requisite for is Butterfly Eyes Fist) p 173

Category 0, (All):

The following Charms could in theory apply to any ability under a variety of circumstances
Dilligent Hive Imitation: req Any Dex Excellency 154
Wasp Sting Blur: Any Dex Excellency p 154
Wolf Eye Advantage: req any Perception excellency p 183
Many Armed Monkey Style: req Wasp Sting Blur p 193
Blinking Eye of Chaos: req Many Armed Monkey Style p 193

Inevitable Genius Insight: Req Any Two Intelligence Excellencies (Buy This Charm) p 188

Category 0.1 (all social):

Affects all social rolls pretty Much

Irresistible Silver Spirit: No Req (You Should Probably Get This Charm) p 177

Wolf Ear Advantage: req Any Perception Excellency p 183

Sliver Swift Retort: req Meerkat Alertness Practice p 193

Serpent's Tooth Reply: req Silver Swift Retort p 193

Rapid Speech Technique: req Any Charisma Excellency p 166

Charismatic Lunar Trick: req Instinct Memory Insertion p 167

Chattering Magpie Inflection: Req Any Manipulation Excellency p 174

Perfect Symmetry: req Any Appearance Excellency p 176

Category 1 (Kicking Peoples' Asses)
Archery, Martial Arts, Melee, Thrown enhancing charms:

Wind Wings Carry Technique: req any strength excellency p 142
Agitation of the Swarm Techique: req any strength excellency p 142
Ferocious Biting Tooth: req Any Strength Excellency p 142
Lightning Stroke Attack: req Agitation of the swarm Technique, Ferocious Biting Tooth p 142 and p 154
Foe Marking Style (largely Pointless): req Any Strength Excellency (while this does not assist in any ass kickery it enhances archery, thrown, melee etc and has no other use) p 142
Prey Hobbling Bite: Req Any Strength Excellency p 143
Inviting the Winter Wolf: req Prey Hobbling Bite p 143
Impressions of Strength: req Any Strength Excellency *quite good p 144
Shell Crushing Atemi: req Impressions of Strength p 145
Unstoppable Lunar Wound: req Impressions of Strength p 145
Burrowing Devil Strike: req Impressions of Strength p 145
Consumptive Worm Hungers: req Burrowing Devil Strike p 145

Tearing Claw Atemi: req Any Strength Excellency (N.b. Also enhances Athletics) p 145

Subduing the Honored Foe: no req p 147
Hibernation of the Dog: no req p 148
Secure Cat Stepping: Any Dex Excellency p 150
Finding the Needle's Path: Any Dex Excellency p 150
Twin Fang Technique: Wasp Sting Blur p 154 and 193
Octopus and Spider Barrage: req Lightning Stroke Attack (very powerful, but badly written) p 154
Spreading The Wild Roots: req Octopus and Spider Barrage p 154
Might Bolstering Blow: req Any Stamina Excellency p 158
Breath Drinking Executioner attack: req Might Bolstering Blow p 158
Relentless Lunar Fury: No Req, mandatory, but if you didn't know that you wouldn't be online looking for assistance to maximize your exalted. p 158
Durable Battle Mind: req Relentless Lunar Fury p 159
Riding the Secret Wind: req Wolf's Eye Advantage p 183
Eagle Eye Advantage: Any Perception Excellency p 183

Furious Unhappy Recourse: req Meerkat Alertness Practice p 193

Hungry Eagle Method: req Furious Unhappy Recourse p 193

Category 1.0.1 Violent Tool Use:

These charms are still used for ass kicking but only through

Thrown, Melee and Archery Not Martial arts

Molted Feather Weight Technique: req Tearing Claw Atemi p 145

Weapon Shaping Method: req Clay Wetting Practice p 150

Lunar Blade Reconfiguration: req Clay Wetting Practice p 151

Category 1.1 (Kicking Peoples' Asses with kicking):

These are pure martial arts charms

Claws of the Silver Moon: no req p 144

Form Destroying Touch: req Shell Crushing Atemi and Unstoppable Lunar Wound p 145

Roused Bear Throw: req Any Strength Excellency p 147

Throat Baring Hold: req Any Strength Excellency p 147

Wasp Binding Method: req Throat Baring Hold p 147

Jaws of the River Dragon: req Throat Baring Hold p 147

Flesh Tearing Entanglement: req Jaws of the River Dragon p 147

Cunning Porcupine Defense: req Wasp Binding Method, Jaws of the River Dragon p 147

Also All of Lunar Hero Style and its expansions but that should be pretty straightforward. The expansion charms for those who care are on p 151 the style it self is on p 194.

Category 1.1.2 Gotta Be Difficult:

Some mother****ers always gotta ski uphill,

This is useful for Thrown, Athletics and Martial Arts

Cobra Eye Method: req Scorpion and Toad Mastery p 162

Category 2 Trauma Avoidance:

Melee(Parry), Martial Arts (parry), and Dodge Charms, fun with DV.

Golden Tiger Stance: req Any Dex Excellency p 151

Wary Swallow Method: req Golden Tiger Stance p 151

Wind Dancing Method: req Golden Tiger Stance p 151

Outworld Forsaking Stance: No Req (Note this also helps your Parry MDV) p 165

Category 2.0.1 Trauma Escaping:

Dodge charms only.

Flowing Body Evasion: req Wary Swallow method and Wind Dancing Method p 151

Ground Denying Defense: req Any Dex Excellency p 152

Category 3 Trauma Resisting

Resistance, self healing etc charms

Ox Body: no req p 156

Steadfast Yeddim Meditation: req Any Stamina Excellency p 156

Unstoppable Juggernaut Incarnation: req Steadfast Yeddim Meditation p 156

Luna's Fortitude: req Steadfast Yeddim Meditation p 157

Bruise Relief Method: req Any Stamina Excellency p 159

Halting the Scarlet Flow: req Bruise Relief Method p 160

Hide Toughening Essence: No req p 160

Frenzied Bear Fortification: Hide Toughening Essence p 160

Wound Mastering Body Evolution: req Frenzied Bear Fortification * quite nice p 160

Armor Forming Technique: No Req p 160

Stone Rhino Skin: req Armor Forming Technique p 160

Invulnerable Moonsilver Carapace: req Stone Rhino Skin p 160

Scorpion and Toad Absolution: req Any Stamina Excellency p 161

Scorpion Toad Immunity: req Scorpion and Toad Assumption p 161

Category 4 Athletics:

What is says on the tin.

Lightning Flash Might Methodology: req Tearing Claw Atemi p 146

Graceful Crane Stance: no Req p 149

Lightfooted Mountain Goat Stance: req Graceful Crane Stance p 149

Cat Falling Attitude: req Graceful Crane Stance p 149

Instinct Driven Beast Movement: req Any Dex Excellency p 152

Furious Hound Pursuit: req Instinct Driven Beast Movement p 152

Flight of the Sparrow: req Instinct Driven Beast Movement p 152

Pack and Flock Guidance: req Furious hound Pursuit and Flight of the Sparrow p 153

Yeddim's Back Method: req Tearing Claw Atemi p 146

Category 5 Survival:

Survival Charms

Fertile Breath Inversion: req Any Stamina excellency p 155

Moonsilver Stomach Conversion: req Any Stamina Excellency p 156

Bear Sleep Technique: Steadfast Yeddim Meditation p 156

Directional Mastery Technique: no req p 157

External Hide Perfection: req Any Directional Mastery Technique p 158

Dog Tongue Method: req Any Charisma Excellency p 163

Pack Instinct Affirmation: req Dog Tongue Method p 163

Nature Reinforcing Allocation: req Dog Tongue Method p 163

Blood On The Wind: req Any Perception Excellency OR Lodestone Reckoning Manner p 181 and 194

Secure Den Prana: req Many Pockets Meditation p 191

Invisible Warren Creation: req Secure den Prana p 191

Lodestone Reckoning Manner: no Req p 194

Predator and Prey Recognition: no req p 194

Category 6 Medicine:

Medicine Charms

Scorpion and Toad Assumption: req Scorpion and Toad Absolution p 161

Scorpion and Toad Mastery: req Scorpion and Toad Assumption p 161

Adder Fang Method: req Scorpion and Toad Mastery p 162

Category 7 Craft:

These are the charms that make the artifacts happen.

Clay Wetting Practice: req any dex excellency p 149

Flaw Finding Examination: req Any Perception Excellency p 178

Monkey Shaping Emulation: req Any Perception Excellency p 178

Luna's Blessed Hands: req Instinctive Intelligence Unity and Lunar Blade Reconfiguration p 186

Form Fixing Method: req Any Intelligence Excellency p 186

Category 8 Occult Charms:

Occult Charms

Mist Walking Prana: req Pack and Flock Guidance p 153

Devil Restraining Grip: req Eye of the Cat p 179

God Cutting Essence: req Eye of the Cat p 179

Spirit Maiming Essence Attack: req Devil Restraining Grip and God Cutting Essence p 179

Instinctive Essence Prediction: req Any Perception Excellency p 179

All Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight: Eye of the Cat and Instinctive Essence Prediction p 179

Fellow Hound Insight: req Eye of the cat and Leaf Falling Scrutiny

Terrestrial Circle Sorcery: No req p 190

Celestial Circle Sorcery: req Terrestrial Circle Sorcery p 190

Withdrawal of Assumptions: req Still Pond Inflection and Burgeoning Wyld Infliction p 190

Category 9 Mob Mentality:

War and Socialize Charms

Face of the Moon Concealment: req Any Charisma Excellency p 168

Maintaining the Pack: req Any Charisma Excellency p 168

Moonlight Curtain Drawn: req Any Charisma Excellency p 169

School Becomes Shark Formation: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 175

School in the Reeds Technique: req School Becomes Sharks Method p 175

Rats In the Basement Style: req The Spider's Trap Door p 192

Meerkat Alertness Practice: req Any Wits Excellency (also useful for Awareness) p 193

Category 9.1 What is it Good For?:

War Charms

Pack and Flock Guidance: Furious Hound Pursuit and Flight of the Sparrow p 153

Wolf Pack Training Technique: req Nature Reinforcing Allocation, Sharing the Gifts of Luna p 164

Lesson of the Winter Wolf: req Wolf Pack Training Technique p 164

Diving Hawk Inspiration: req Any Perception Excellency 182

Bird Falls From Flock Targeting: Diving Hawk Inspiration p 182

Category 9.2 Why Can't We Be Friends?

Socialize Charms

Herd Reinforcement Stance: req Any Charisma Excellency p 169

Forsaking the Blood Posture: req Herd Reinforcing Stance p 169

Culling the Pride: req Any Charisma Excellency p 170

Topiary Culture Meditation: req Calling the Pride p 170

Herd Strengthening Invocation: req Calling the Pride p 170

Mask of White Jade: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 172

Cat Face Presentation: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 172

Mystic Butterly Fraud: req Butterfly Eyes Fist p 174

Falling Leaf Distraction: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 174

Creating the Wolf Attitude: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 175

Feeding the Bear Progression: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 176

Category 10 Making Friends and Influencing People:

Presence Performance and Socialize charms

Unnoticed Confusion Attack: req Cobra Hypnotic Method (Double Check this it may be all social) p 166

Category 10.1 Singing and Dancing

Presence and Performance Charms

Foe Turning Rebuke: req Outworld Forsaking Stance p 165

Scathing Lunar Combination: req Foe Turning Rebuke p 165

Cobra Hypnotic Method: req Any Charisma Excellency p 165

Forgetful Victim Prana: req Cobra Hypnotic method p 166

Instinct Memory Insertion: req Any Charisma Excellency p 166

Perfect Fear Scent: req Any Charisma Excellency p 167

Terrifying Lust Infliction: req Any Charisma Excellency p 168

Mirror Sight Dismay: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 171

Lost Mirror Flight: req False Burrows Pursuit and Mirror Sight Dismay p 172

Observed Predator Instinct: req Any Appearance Excellency p 177

Hard Nosed Denial Style: req Any Charisma Excellency

(also works with investigate, perfect social parry p 168)

Category 10.1.1 see category 9.2

Category 10.1.2 Performance Charms

Performance charms

Secret Speech method: req Rapid Speech Technique p 166

New Friend Aroma: No Req p 177

Category 10.1.3 Presence Charms

Presence, don't you see Kyle, Presence

Subtle Silver Command: req Forgetful Victim Prana and Unnoticed Confusion Attack p 166

Mind Blanking Fear Technique: req Instinct Memory Insertion, Perfect Fear Scent p 167

False Burrows Pursuit: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 171

Butterfly Eyes Fist: req Butterfly Eyes Defense and Butterfly Eyes tread p 173

Category 11 Lore Charms:

Lore charms OR charms in which their solar equivalent was a Lore Charm.

Silver Lunar Resolution: req Any Stamina Excellency p 158

Sharing the Gifts of Luna: req Any Charisma Excellency p 164

Resisting the Lure of Madness: req Wyld Sensing Instincts p 185

Wyld Migration Formation: req Resisting the Lure of Madness p 186

Harmony with Reality Technique: req Form Fixing Method p 187

Ritual of Lunar Stability: Harmony With Reality Technique p 188

Counting the Elephants Wrinkles: No Req p 188

Still Pond Infliction: req Any Intelligence Excellency p 190

Burgeoning Wyld Infliction: req Any Intelligence Excellency p 190

Category 12 Investigation:

Investigation Charms

Hard Nosed Denial Style: req Any Charisma Excellency p168

Inevitable Spoor Discovery: req Any Perception Excellency p 181

Blood Kin Sense: req Any Perception Excellency p 183

Motive Dissecting Eye: req Blood Kin Sense p 184

Leaf Falling Scrutiny: req Blood Kin Sense p 184

Fellow Hound Insight: req Eye of the Cat and Leaf Falling Scrutiny p 184

Category 13 Integrity:

Integrity Charms

Labyrinth of the Beast: req Cat Face Presentation p 172

Commanded to Fly : req Mask of White Jade and Labyrinth of the Beast p 172

Righteous Lion Defense: No Req p 188

Intimacy of the Hunter and the Prey: req Righteous Lion Defense p 188

True to the Pack Dedication: req Righteous Lion Defense p 188

Category 14 Linguistics Charms:

All Both of em

Third Veil Suggestion: req Falling Leaf Distraction p 174

Glance Oration Technique: req Any Appearance Excellency p 177

Category 15 And Taking their Stuff:

Larceny Charms

Perfection of the Mockingbird: req Any Manipulation Excellency p 174

Hide of the Cunning Hunter: No Req p 176

Lessons in the Blood: req Any Intelligence Excellency p 189

Thieving Magpie Prana: req The Spider's Trap Door p 191

Many Pockets Meditation: req Thieving Magpie Prana p 191

Category 16 Stealth:

Stealth Charms

One of the Herd: req Any Appearance Excellency p 176

Clover Can't Be Found: req One of the Herd p 177

The Spider's Trap Door: req Any Wits Excellency p 190

Category 17 Awareness:

Awareness Charms

Eye of the Cat: req Any Perception Excellency p 179

Sense Borrowing Method: req Any Perception Excellency p 180

Watchful Spider Stance: req Sense Borrowing Method p 181

Grandfather Spider Majesty: req Watchful Spider Stance p 181

Wolf Eye Advantage: req Any Perception Excellency p 183

Keen Sense Technique: req Any Perception Excellency p 184

Heightened Sense Method: Req Keen Sense Technique p 183

Wyld Sensing Instincts: req Any Perception Excellency p 185

Meerkat Alertness Practice: Req Any Wits Excellency p 193

Category X (Just plain odd charms):

these charms aren't in category null for they clearly do things sometimes moderately important things but nothing that fits really into a standard charm list, even one as eccentric as the lunars. Many of these charms are quite useful just odd.

Predator is Prey Mirror: req Sense Borrowing Method p 180

Eagle Fish Transition Prophecy: req Any Perception Excellency and Any Intelligence Excellency p 186

Boundary Marking Meditation: req Any Charisma Excellency p 170

Ranging Wolf Marking: req Boundary Marking Meditation p 170

Oh my, More Changeling Contracts Part 2 of 4

Below are seeming contracts each set of contracts are easier for a particular seeming to learn and harder for all others. As before anytime they document references another power or vampire go to vampire.echoesofempires.com for the appropriate rule text

Seeming Contracts-----

Contracts of Artifice: uses crafts to retest. Catch - crafter must create and give away for free an item of difficulty equal to the level of power used to someone he does not know

lvl 1 MacGyver - may repair an object without a scrounge roll for materials, repair lats a number of days per level of power.

lvl 2 Gremlinize - mental challenge vs 10 mentals look a complex mechanical device (must have multiple moving parts) and suppress its function for as long as gaze is maintained

lvl 3 Shoemaker's Bright Hammer - gain a an additional discipline retest on extended crafting challenge

lvl 4 Eye of Balor - spend a willpower as per Kuldonic's way of fire Shatter

lvl 5 Wings of Wax - Spend a willpower and create in one hour, without a scrounge roll needed for materials any object the crafter can normally craft, item lasts a number of days per level of power.

Contracts of Darkness: Uses intimidate as a retest Catch caster must have in their possession a vial of tears of someone they have frightened, the tears are consumed in the casting
lvl 1 Whistling to the Dark - as per obtenebration 1
lvl 2 Numbing Teror - as per nightmare lvl 1
lvl 3 The Following Dark - as per obtenebration 2
lvl 4 Fell Countenance - as per nightmare lvl 2
lvl 5 Form of Nightmares - as per obtenebration 3 except player may decide the look of the creature, i.e. the tentacles could be tendrils of vine or lobster claws or whatever, no game effect difference though.

Contracts of Elements: uses survival as retest, this is actually seven paths that must be purchased separately the path options are: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Lightning, for damage, lightning and metal do lethal, fire does ag all else does bashing. Catch: character must sit in meditation of their element with that element present for half an hour for each level of the power to be used. This catch lasts one day.

lvl 1: Cloak of Elements: spend a survival and take one less damage per attack for the round from that element

lvl 2: Armor of the Elements: spend a survival, the caster is surrounded by a swirling shroud of their element that does a level of damage to anyone using a non-reach or ranged attack against them, and includes the effect of the lvl 1 lasts one round

lvl 3: Gladius of Elemental Wrath: costs 1 glamour, the character's weapon is sheathed in substance of their element and adds one level of damage to the damage done by a weapon the character is using. after this level of damage is done the effect dissipates. effect does not stack with other elements or itself. if the damage is not done within an hour or the weapon is sheathed/put down by the caster the effect ends. lasts an hour

lvl 4: Elemental Passage: Costs 1 willpower
Caster must step into an amount of their element larger than their surface area and can step 10 feet per level of Contract to another amount of their element of a size larger than their total surface area. note unless other powers are used the caster still takes damage from passing through a fire for example.
If the destination for some reason is not present (i.e. someone knows what you're moving to and extinguishes the fire, turns off the electricity) all people going through transit take 4 levels of appropriate damage type and are spat out at their point of departure.

lvl 5:Form of the Elements: costs 1 glamour 1 willpower. Character becomes a living embodiment of their element, gaining an additional healthy health level and a discipline retest (like might) on all situations where might would apply. they also gain the benefits of the armor of the elements. character does not actually entirely become the element but their hair may turn to fire, skin to steel etc. lasts one hour

Contracts of Fang and Talon: this is actually 8 different disciplines that must be purchased separately but the beast seeming discount applies to all of them even those not of their specific kith. these eight disciplines govern the eight kiths of the beast seeming: broadback, hunterheart, runnerswift, skitterskulk, steepscrambler, swimmerskin, venombite, and windwing. all use animal ken as a retest. Catch: character must care for and feed an animal of the appropriate type for a day per free use of the power. these free uses all disappear when the character stops taking care of the animal.
lvl 1 beast speech - as per animalism but only communicates with the specific group of animals related to the seeming.

lvl 2 beast's keen senses - costs one animal ken as per auspex 1 heightened senses

lvl 3 pipes of the beast caller - as per animalism beckoning

lvl 4 borrowing - as per subsume the spirit

lvl 5 cloak of borrowed form - character can turn into any animal in the appropriate group. All attributes remain the same.

Contracts of Stone: has no appropriate retests Catch: Character must be outnumbered by 3 to 1 or better. these powers do not take an action to activate. when active they activate for one hour. a glamour must be spend for each.
lvl 1 Strength of the Wold - as per potence 1
lvl 2 Enduring Stone - Caster does not suffer wound penalties beyond bruised.
lvl 3 Strong as the Hill - as per potence 2
lvl 4 Hale as the Stone - Caster has an additional healthy health level.
lvl 5 Redcap's Hungry Maw: Must spend one hour devouring all food in sight, and must devour at least one's head's weight in food. heal 3 health levels.

Contracts of Vainglory: retested with leadership Catch: Character must have exchanged bodily fluids of some sort with subject(s)within the past month. a kiss will do.

lvl 1 Mask of Superiority - lasts 1 hour character gains +1 social trait as per potence's physical trait
lvl 2 Splendor of Arcadia - as per awe lasts one hour
lvl 3 Fanfare - character gains an additional social trait, stacks with lvl 1
lvl 4 Mantle of Terrible Beauty - everyone in sight of character must make a Courage test difficulty of the character's level in the power or flee. spending a willpower will automatically cause the challenge to succeed.
lvl 5 Echoes of the LLano - as per Melpominee Siren's beckoning using leadership

Spring break and Storytelling Advice

odd sleep schedules make for erratic updates. i will try to keep on time for the rest of the break though.
Inspiration for storytelling is everywhere.
Sometimes if you really need npcs or plot in a pinch you can't do better than apocryphal lunatic ramblings on the internet

http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wiki Fatigue

I have just finished several hours of editing a wiki. I am beginning to suffer 21st century fatigue. On the plus side the best damn rules for Vampire The Masquerade LARP in the whole damn world are now just a little bit better.
I am willing to make the boast of Lu Buwei anyone who can add or subtract a single rule and have it pass the standards of heaven (the head storyteller) shall be richly rewarded.

Getting in shape

Well the thing about a blog is to get used to writing regularly, so here is my every-other-day post until Monday when I try to get used to twice-a-day.

Now, because at least part of my audience is made up of journalists, we begin our first regular feature, pithy quote from famous journalist.

The famous Journalist in question is Paul Boutin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boutin_(journalist)

I first came across the work of Paul Boutin oddly through something called the Jargon File. I read the Jargon File pretty religiously in the late 80's early 90's in the old BBS days of computing.

in the jargon file Paul Boutin is quoted

TLA: /T·L·A/, n.
[Three-Letter Acronym]

1. Self-describing abbreviation for a species with which computing terminology is infested.

2. Any confusing acronym. Examples include MCA, FTP, SNA, CPU, MMU, SCCS, DMU, FPU, NNTP, TLA. People who like this looser usage argue that not all TLAs have three letters, just as not all four-letter words have four letters. One also hears of ‘ETLA’ (Extended Three-Letter Acronym, pronounced /ee tee el ay/) being used to describe four-letter acronyms; the terms ‘SFLA’ (Stupid Four-Letter Acronym), ‘LFLA’ (Longer Four Letter Acronym), and VLFLA (Very Long Five Letter Acronym) have also been reported. See also YABA.

The self-effacing phrase “TDM TLA” (Too Damn Many...) is often used to bemoan the plethora of TLAs in use. In 1989, a random of the journalistic persuasion asked hacker Paul Boutin “What do you think will be the biggest problem in computing in the 90s?” Paul's straight-faced response: “There are only 17,000 three-letter acronyms.” (To be exact, there are 26^3 = 17,576.) There is probably some karmic justice in the fact that Paul Boutin subsequently became a journalist.

Wikipedia gives the reason behind the math:

Statistics

The number of possible three-letter abbreviations using the 26 letters of the alphabet from A to Z ( AAA, AAB ... to ZZY, ZZZ) is 26 × 26 × 26 = 17,576. Another 26 × 26 × 10 = 6760 can be produced if the third element is allowed to be a digit 0-9, giving a total of 24,336.
In English, WWW is the longest possible TLA to pronounce, requiring nine syllables. Although in written English it is an abbreviation, in spoken English it may use more syllables than that which it is abbreviating.[9] See also Pronunciation of "www".

what makes the quote so amazing to me is not its pithyness or its accuracy but how quickly Boutin could calculate a remarkably accurate estimation of the number of TLA's possible in the English language.