SuperSatellite

Data pack update for Earthdawn Character Generator

// November 23rd, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Games

Some friends and I have been working on starting up an Earthdawn again.  In the process of this, I’ve been revisiting some old resources that I used to use, one being the Earthdawn Character Generator originally released at the Lost Papers web site.  The current version is 1.3e, and was released back in 2004, so it’s probably safe to say that there will be no more development on it.  But luckily, the data files for the program are human readable, so they are easy to edit.

That being said, I used this to my advantage, found a more recently updated set of data files, and extended them further with some more disciplines, races, talents, and equipment (sorry, haven’t been through spells yet).  I dug around for all the bits I could find to bring together, and I put in most all that made sense.  That means yes, some things like the Hawkman race, Bladesman discipline, or Malac rifle didn’t make it in, but that’s mostly because I tried to stick with what made sense, was canon(ish), and would be helpful for character generation.  If there’s interest in something I didn’t put in, I’ll happily add it and repack it if people want me to.

EDCG 1.3e Data File repack 081123

Just in case the source ever goes down, for the sake of argument I’ll mirror a download for Earthdawn Character Generator 1.3e.  Just remember this will have the original data files in it, so you’ll need to download the repack above and copy it to your /data directory to get the new stuff.  Also, I did not create, nor do I maintain EDCG, so don’t ask me about supporting or updating the software itself, ask the guy who made it.

All of this being said, there’s also a newer character creator called The Second Step.  Their site looks gone now, but I still have a copy of the software if anyone wants it.  I’ll host that as well if people are looking for it.  Just understand that this is the default setup as well, with no updates to the data in it.  If enough people are using it, we could even work on updating the info in it as well.

The main problem is that Earthdawn, formerly of FASA, was liscensed to Living Room Games, who fell asleep on the job with it.  Then came in RedBrick, who are back to work on it.  EDCG is more tightly connected to the old style, which RedBrick is basically following, while The Second Step is designed for 2nd Edition, that Living Room Games put out.  Which is better?  I don’t know.  Personally, I think the Second Step program might actually be a better piece of software, but I haven’t looked too closely to see if it could be used compatibly with the classic system (I would assume so though).  There wasn’t a ton of difference between the two mechanics-wise.

Share your thoughts below.  Which would you rather use, which do you prefer?  If I worked on updating the data in one or the other, which would you prefer?

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Impressions on David Cook’s “Light On”

// September 26th, 2008 // 23 Comments » // Entertainment, Music

Okay, I caught word today that Idol winner David Cook’s first single is hitting the air.  While not generally an Idol fan, I am a big Cook fan.  More to the point, I am a big Axium fan, from back in the day before Cook went off on his own and ultimately decided to show up everyone on season 7.

Cook is like my one (very minor) claim to fame (aside from when I went to a Star Trek convention as a kid and saw William Shatner on stage).  Back when SuperSatellite was still a site for music and stuff, we worked to help promote local bands and concerts.  This brought me in touch with Cook a couple times, and we even did a big giveaway when Axium released “The Story Thus Far.”  I think that was a great example of what Cook is capable of, and what I’m hoping we hear from him in the future.  He’s a nice guy that really knows how to put together some awesome songs.

On to “Light On.”  It’s not a bad song.  My only worry is that it is terribly overproduced.  I’m not sure if I’ve heard a song in recent memory that sounded like it was trying to be so much all at once.  I heard a little Chris Cornell hook in there, you’ve got the quiet piano backed vocals, Cook opens up his voice in the first 25 seconds, the chorus is mainstream, the bridge reeks of everything Nickelback, and so it goes.  It sounds almost exactly how I would expect an Idol produced single for him to sound, and I just really hope the whole album isn’t that way.  That’s not to say it’s a bad song; it’s not.  I just think the record people tried way too hard.

Here’s my take on Cook.  Like many solo artists, it just doesn’t really work as well.  Few (male) artists can work without a band and be better.  Raine Maida did a good job of it, and I don’t have many complaints about Jeff Martin (except that he still sounds pretty much like The Tea Party), but generally speaking when guys go solo, bad things happen.  See Chris Cornell, Billy Corgan, Gavin Rossdale, Travis Meeks, John Popper, Scott Strapp, Jonathan Davis, all four members of KISS, and so it goes on.  The thing is, people are just more creative with a band.  There’s something more organic and collective about music being created by a group of guys with a vision rather than one person being fed lyrics by a writer, or in the case of some of the guys above, thinking they are good enough to do it all on their own.

With Axium, Cook put out what is arguably some of my favorite music.  I still listen to the albums regularly.  When he went solo with “Analog Heart,” it was good, but it just lost a little something.  Cook’s voice is an amazing instrument all on it’s own, and I think him singing and on guitar, with a bassist and drummer – just three guys – as a solid unit would be bulletproof.  American Idol has this idea that artists need to be solo to be successful, and I don’t think that’s true.  Cook needs to put a band together, and get writing their own stuff and get back to what he’s really good at.  The faster that happens, the faster you’re gonna see something unlike anything he did on American Idol.

I’m still looking forward to this album, and I have faith that he’s a sharp enough fellow to not let AI producers run the ship blindly, so I think we’ve got much more to hear from him.

Gentleman McCain

// September 4th, 2008 // 5 Comments » // Politics, Television

Holy crap! Am I the only person who has thought of this?  How creepy, right?  For those not in the know, those are The Gentlemen from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode Hush.  Great, now I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight.

Gentleman McCain

YouTube MADNESS

// July 2nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Entertainment, Life and Times, Movies, News

I’ve been busy molesting the YouTube lately, and have tossed up a few videos recently.  It’s been a while since I actually used YouTube, and I sorta hope I can find excuses to do it more (Steve, time to hunt down more energy drinks).  I figured that stuff, combined with some cool crap I saw recently, was worth making a post full of videos for you to waste 15 minutes on.

This weekend, Steve began his quest to find the most vile, awful energy drink on the market.  Naturally, I had to have my camera handy for the event.  Keep in mind, these things are only a buck a piece.  Popular drinks like Monster are about two and a half times that because… well… the actually care about important things like taste (sort of).  This first one was called Ol’ Glory.  Even though it had an aftertaste like homeless guy rubbed in orange peels, it was actually marginally tolerable.

Round two was a knock out punch though.  A couple days after the Ol’ Glory test, Steve decided to brave the blue can of death flavor of Steven Segal’s Lightning Bolt.  He had already tried the vile and disturbing Cherry Charge flavor a few weeks back.  That can had two things going for it: one was that it had a name that at least implied a flavor, and second was that it had some vague cherry Robitussin distillate overtone to try and cover the taste of your soul being burned away.  Asian Experience flavor had neither of these.  I’m pretty sure if you tried something that one might call a real Asian experience, it would not taste good, and probably leave you robbed and beaten in an alley, with untold STDs.  There is no logical path one can walk that would result in this concoction’s creation, where someone would try it and think, “Yes, this is absolutely marketable!” This must be what they give to prisoners at Gitmo to get them to talk.

I haven’t talked about any movies recently.  I will mention that Wanted wasn’t too bad, but I still haven’t caught Wall-E like I wanted.  Hancock is much more interesting to me now than when the first trailers came out.  And what I’m reading about The Dark Knight is beyond encouraging.  Then, out of the woodwork this morning came this redband trailer for Mirror, a remake of the Korean film Into the Mirror, and starring Kiefer Sutherland.  I know nothing about the original, and Alexandre Aja hasn’t endeared himself to me through his past work, but this trailer is certainly cut well, and implies a very good, creepy film.  Hopefully the movie itself is more than just the sum of the parts of the trailer.

Being a big Joss Whedon, NPH, and Nathan Fillion fan, I have no idea how Dr. Horrible managed to sneak under the radar and be missed by me until now.  But this looks plenty funny and entertaining, and I haven’t a clue what it’s really about, and I’m already planning on buying the DVD.  The matter is pretty cut and dry, really.  Joss does no wrong, except when he kills people.  Then I cry.  But they’re manly tears.  Don’t judge me.

Speaking of Joss, and having nothing to do with him, but everything to do with movies and awesome people, I am absolutely stoked about Repo! the Genetic Opera.  It looked quirky and interesting before.  I dig quirky and interesting.  Then the latest trailer came out, and it has moved from an oddity I wanted to see, to a top shelf, will-not-miss theater moment.  First off, the new trailer makes the flick look and sound badass.  Paris who?  I don’t even care.  The Repo Man is none other than Anthony Stewart Farking Head!  I had no idea he was even in it.  Then there’s also Bill Moseley.  So say what you will, I’m going, and you’ll miss out if you don’t.

Lastly, I was on TV last night!  Okay, so it’s not that big a deal, but hey, it’s exciting to me.  PSU got its single largest donation ever, a $10 million pledge to go towards building the oft delayed and much needed fine and performing arts center.  Being the only youngish theatre alum at the press conference, I was summoned to give some opinions.  Naturally, I DVR’d them and uploaded the two clips to YouTube, one from 6:00 and a different one at 10:00.  Apparently they also used me on the morning segment today.  I guess they were really short on interviewees.  In all fairness, this money totals about one third of the cost of the building, so we still have some time before we see ground broken, but this gets all the right gears in motion now.

Self Control and Addiction

// April 12th, 2008 // No Comments » // Entertainment, Movies

Addiction is an evil, nasty thing. It destroys relationships, eats away at your dignity, and leaves people helpless. It becomes a driving force in a person’s life, taking away a certain degree of free choice. And such is my curse. Forced to give in to unnatural desires and walk with an evil shadow over me.

I couldn’t help it. It’s hard when you have an enabler in your life. Especially one that offers a 40% off sale at your weakest moment (when you have 80 cool dollars burning a hole in your wallet). As a result, I walked out of Blockbuster today 11 movies heavier. Eleven. Only four of those were even on my current wishlist. At this rate, I will easily break 500 movies before the end of the year. That will be a dark day indeed.

This is nothing new. I’ve mentioned it many times, my collecting problem. I just never cease to amaze myself with how quickly I will just grab and pile up movies. I’m back to stacking them on the floor too, having ran out of shelf space yet again. I’m smart about it at least. I always buy previewed, and when there’s a sale. Using today’s sample as an example, I usually end up spend around $7.00 per movie, give or take. I have found that pretty true across the board. Based on that average, spanning 479 titles, that’s $3353.00 in movies, not counting tax (which would bring it up to nearly $3600). I wonder if I should itemize this stuff for insurance purposes…

And, much like a heroin junkie who needs increasing amounts to be satisfied, I keep buying more. I can stand at my shelves endlessly at times, not able to find anything that sounds like it is worth watching. That’s pretty insane when you consider how indiscriminately I purchase movies. Oh, and my wishlist is still about a hundred strong. In fact, it hasn’t shrank really at all over the past couple of years.

The only solution? Hollywood must stop making movies. Then I’d have nothing to buy. Simple, elegant.

In all seriousness, I look forward to having the opportunity to build a home theatre.  I big one.  My dad has built a few for people over the past couple years, and they’re awesome.  You’d never want to watch a normal TV again.  Can’t really do it here though, because my house doesn’t have room for it…yet…Just wait.  I have…ideas.