Down with the sickness

Wah-ah-ah-ah!
All joking aside, I really have been down this last week or so with this whole nasty cold bug that's going around. I refuse to take too much time off, but it's really been hurting my attendance, let me tell you.
I hate being sick. I hate it worse, being sick and poor. It's not an easy combo to deal with. Fortunately, I have faith that it will all work itself out. Now... if I can just breath for longer than ten minutes, and not have my brain rattle every time that I blow my nose...
So, this evil virus has grasped me by the chest, and given me that which is most dangerous. Time to think and read. Let's get the serious stuff outta the way.
First and foremost, ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for NASA. Let's break down the facts. We've got a 30 year old space vehicle that keeps orbiting the planet, there's no word on when, much less if, there's going to be something new to replace it any time in the near future. We've dismantled all of our moon going technology, so if we actually want to GET to the moon, we need to start at ground zero. We have decaying technology at every aspect and level of the space program. The best that we can hope for is the brave astronauts who boldly go where every astronaut has been prior to them, and return to Earth heroes. Until one of them decides that taking a 900 mile road trip in adult Pampers, and trying to off another NASA employee is a good decision.
I know that no one in NASA will actually ever read this, but honestly, guys. You need to step up here. I'm as giddy as a school girl that we've got 'bots on Mars, but we need to do more. We need to actually step "forward", not just side to side. I know we don't have the Russian Commie Pinkos anymore to compete against, but when Virgin is doing more for the space program than NASA, it's definitely time for some re-evaluation. And not just the psyche kind.
Second, is my school the only one in the world that thinks that all classes should not be about what the curriculum says it's going to be about. My poor wife is locked in heated augment with the fourth teacher here at Stevens-Henager in Orem, UT, that Resume writing class is not meant to be a "how to write paper" and "project management" class, which is what her class is currently about. The poor students of this class, the teacher just really doesn't seem to care. Man, when did education become "Us vs. Them"? Teachers aren't supposed to play "Here's what I want... oh, wait, here's what I want instead, in three hours. Oh, you don't like it... you're not the teacher, are you?"
Third, Games, games and more games...
I've had the chance to read through a few more D&D books. Let me break them down as I see them.
Complete Scoundrel- I like this book. Not surprising, since I seem to like most of the Complete series. The addition of Skill Tricks is a nice twist. It's a good chance to add some abilities that I've been kind of running off the cuff. Personally, some of them should just be part of the skill description (like being able to cast unnoticed with high enough ranks of Sleight of Hand), but they do make for a more cinematic game. I'm going to be introducing that information to my gaming group this week. I know of at least one character who will be all over the idea of increasing her scout-ranger-sneaky-sneak's little ability portfolio.
I also found that this book makes interesting use of Prestige Classes. They're not all meant to be a stand-alone prestige class. It's nice. The magical trickster can be used to supplement another prestige class like the Mindbender, Arcane Trickster, or even a roguish Red Wizard... now there's an interesting combination. Most of these trickster PrCs are only three or four levels long. They're more like L5R Paths. You know, like where a Bayushi Bushi enters the one school, and comes out with a different ability than the standard Bushi path. It's like that.
If I had to rate it, I'd give it a definite 4 out 5 wings up.... or something like that. There's a bit of superfluous fluff stuff (more organizations than I can shake a campaign setting book at) that has some context, but not a lot.
Magic of Incarnum- Hmm.. yes... well, let's see... where do I start with this. Actually, it's a fascinating concept. An interesting approach to creating something and fangdangled. Sadly, I think a bit of the book falls kind of flat. There are a few aspects to this book that I found fascinating and I may actually incorporate into one my games in the future.

• Azurins, Rilkans, and Skarn- Three new races that I actually found very interesting in presentation, and creativity. I like the flexibility the Azurins present to introduce into any campaign setting. The Rilkans and the Skarn are both nice, since they present opposite side of almost the same race. Also, since the Skarn remind me so much of Nietzscheans from Andromeda, I think they're pretty darn cool.
• Totemist- A new class that creates soulmelds (kind of quasi-realistic items formed out of Incarnum... yeah... the explanation kinda sucks, but the concept itself is interesting) with an animalistic bent. Kind of a shamanistic mask dancer that makes his masks out of the thin air, and they actually do things. Of all the classes presented in the book, this is the only one that caught my attention. I like the "becoming one with nature" this class presents. It's an interesting interpretation and expression of this games concepts. That may be the reason that I'm able to find more totemist information, and not the other classes.

Sadly, that's it. There are some good maps in it, and there's a few PrCs that may or may not work in a campaign setting. I liked some of the stuff in it, but I found it fell a little flat to my tastes. Maybe I'm just a putz, or maybe it's not twinkie enough for me (That I doubt because I flipped through the other class and stuff and just tasted the sugary filling...), but I'd have to give the whole book about a 2 out 5 dancing monkeys eating Ho-Hos.
I still haven't had a real chance to look through Cityscape, yet. I also am hoping to get a chance to look through Dungeonscape soon. I don't know though... when are they going to come out with a jungle book? Honestly, I'd like to see a jungle environment book, that or maybe a Chult Jungle book for the Forgotten Realms. I mean come on... a book on how to run a Tarzan game. Huh? Huh? Huh? How'bout it? Yeah, like anyone from WotC actually reads this thing. Pahaff...
In a related vein... Star Wars miniatures. Namely the Space Battles set. I kind of hope they come out with more of these. I'd like to see a few more sets of the capital ships coming out. There's a lot of ships out there in the Star Wars universe, and I'm interested to see if WotC decides to come out with things like the Hapan Battle Dragon. I've got a Star Wars game that really needs to have a miniature for the Battle Dragon. I just think I need to come up with my own rules. That's the only real complaint I've heard from people about the miniatures. The rules are difficult to follow from what I'm told. I won't know for sure until I get a chance to play the game itself, though. I do know one complaint I have already.
Scale! I think there needs to be some work on scale. Honestly, an X-Wing
should not be as large as the Rebel Blockade Runner!
It's a little frustrating, though I can understand why WotC did it (::cough:: cheap ::cough::). I just have found some cool miniature from Battle Fleet Gothic that I want to paint up and use an a "new fleet" for the Star Wars campaign that I've had on hold for over a year... hmm... I should pick that back up one day. Ship battles are such an important part of that game, though. I think I'll have to pick up some minis.
Hmm... pictures. I know understand how to put in pictures. Now, I need to get a good head shot of myself, and post it somewhere. That's a good way to ensure no one EVER reads this thing.
Well, I should go over medicate myself again to make sure I don't get sicker than I already am. Until next time... umm... 7 out of 3 swinging leopards doing the hula say, "Never eat soup with your tail."
... or something like that.

By the way, let me know what you think of the fact I'm putting pictures in this thing. I know no one reads it, but maybe look at it?