Mat Bowles

So, the inevitable has eventually happened, and Todd's announced the end of the game at the Temple.

I effectively stopped playing when I moved to London, just never got back into it. While it's not my favourite game, I definitely have to say that the community (not least the Temple itself which I invested a huge amount of effort in for awhile) is one of the best I'd encountered. I got my first adult passport to attend a tournament (and made a chunk of friends there *waves at Arne*). The Greek expedition was linked as well. My only trip to the US? With the_prince, to play Warlord. Sure, I stayed on for another three weeks and wandered around California, but still, wouldn't have gone over if that game hadn't existed. Travelling for events and cons and bracketing a holiday around it is a great way to travel. Sure, I missed the most recent KoHIT (as initially planned, that post now unlocked), but memories of the first will be with me, and I think the friends are keepers

In the CCG world, good games start, they build, they plateau and unless they're really lucky, they run out of steam and die. Some of them keep going for years (my default icon? From a dead CCG that I still love). That Warlord survived as long as it did surprised everyone that knew the industy. That it's finally dead doesn't surprise me at all, I thought it was going to die early last year.

Ah well. At least my choice for what CCG to buy into if I ever go back that way is easy now.

ETA: There are some comments from other players on the imported Facebook note as well, including Arne, the KoHIT organiser.

adamshadow is posting again, and has a question.

Good to see a dead LJ become active again, now all he needs is some readers. Oh, while you're at it, join warlord_ccg as well? It's not had a use for ages, but y'never know. shakalooloo? Can you kick granjero into posting something somewhere?

Ah. Oops. See, I went to Exeter today, granjero organised a Warlord tournament at Steve's. Took my phone with me, with my email and the login page for Infection bookmarked. Unfortunately, could only check between each, hour long, round. But an infection round is, um, 35 minutes currently (it was an hour when I signed up). Oops. mapp noticed and texted me, but I got the text a bit too late (reception at Steve's is awful) and logged in just as I died. Bugger. Worst bit? The team's dropping like flies as well. 13 members left out of 100? Ouch. Still, an interesting idea for an LJ based game, and it can work. I suspect when this game is over, the next one will have less players, but be more organised. Being able to set a sleep mode is essential, but an 'away' mode might be useful, and possible a weekdays only mode. Ah well.

The tournament? I borrowed a deck from Chris. New Merc Warlord, interesting idea, but as Chris said, not at all tuned and in need of some work. Huge turnout from the Barnstable lads, bugger all from Exeter, just 4 of us. Still, a good day. Went up to campus to see if there was anything worth doing at GeekSoc, but no, everyone playing bloody RPGs. Need to work on that a bit, never going to keep new members if there's no one available for pick-up games. Anyone up to doing something next week?

I'm in a bit of a 'meh' mood at the moment. Off to see the lawyers tomorrow morning, hopefully be able to talk about it openly tomorrow evening. Have no plans for Xmas, no plans for New Years. Am thinking family for Xmas, London for New Years; any Londoners got any specific plans made?

Right, am back in the country, sat at nadriel's PC as he's at work. More than a little exhausted, so today may become a lazy day, haven't decided yet. Anyway...

K, thanks for the comments on my previous few posts, sms_to_lj is a nice way to let off steam when frustrated, and I read the comments using Opera Mini on my phone, the reply interface is a bit crappy though so didn't until now. Easyjet let me rebook the ticket to a later flight, for only £35. Given that the total cost, including taxes, of the return ticket, had been about £33, I'm not sure that was a good deal, but it was cheaper than buying a new ticket, and it wasn't their fault, so not too bad. So, I'm on the plane, on the way, the rest is easy, right? Oh no...

( Travelling in Germany, a comedy of errors )

( KoHIT day one: a tournament with free beer! )

mapp! Doesn't that image look familiar to you? Why did no-one tell me the EVE MMORPG was using the Whately symbol for one of their factions? ( New shiny CCGs, Eve and World of Warcraft )

( KoHIT day two: Doubles and death )

( Read more... )

( Getting home & the Flying Rhinos of Dortmund? )

Got here (Mike's) last night at about 9ish, and essentially collapsed. Did decide that if I travel via Luton again, I drive to his, park up, and take the train, there's a direct train from Wimbledon FFS.

Now, to plot the rest of the week..

Well, I'm back in the country and sat at nadriel's computer, I'll be staying here for a day or so before heading on to Reading to see others (and that silly film...).

So, a report from the weekend. There are a lot of LJ2ME posts up on warlord_ccg, and one that made it to my journal by mistake, interface wouldn't let me change the default journal, ah well. After travelling overnight, I caught the plane on time, got to Dortmund, took a bus to the station and got to Muesnter easily. I then realised I hadn;t brought any directions for the venue from the station.

( Getting there )
( The main event )
( Side events, Americans that talk and talk and talk... )
( Pizza, friends and travel )
Aside, all the US players refer to themselves by surname or nickname, there are just too many witht he same first name; "Rich", "Chris", etc. Considering the huge wealth of cultural heritage they've got, couldn't "all-American" names have a slightly bigger pool to choose from?

( Getting home, broken bottles )
So, back in London, bummed around and slept. Oh, I broke the display on my mobile Sunday night, I can receive calls, and dial out if I know the number, but I can't look things up, nor send/receive texts, nor use any of the software I've got installed. So if'n you need me, a direct call is the only way to get hold of me.

In completely other news...


All to do with this traitor, the 'editor' of the Scum. Pass that link on, with the exact coding, we're google bombing again.

Well, I'm about half way through my annual hell, and it seems to be going so well, so much so that I managed to leave work early Friday (after an 11 hour day Thursday to get the work done) in order to drive to London for synth_culture.

( The journey and Synthetic Culture )

( Great night, despite the heat )

( Camden, omelettes and misprints )

( Famous stations, great bookstores, city life )

Got back home at approx 2am and collapsed into bed. Spent today watching DVDs and reading webcomics. The usual Sunday really. Still, an update was due.

( One last cut, especially for Miss Eve (she did ask nicely) )

Well, I'll likely be offline again until next weekend, when I think I'm supposed to be in Birmingham anyway, so don't expect to hear much from me anytime soon. Hope everyone else out there in LJ land is OK; to Exeter peeps, I hope to see those of you not going to Brum sometime in August...

Picked Chris, Alica and Laurence up (almost ontime) outside the Great Western, then drove to Barnstable, we only got lost once despite me forgetting to look at the directions before leaving...

Good to see Sy down here from London, the Barnstable guys were their normal friendly selves. The "great" chippy they "always" goto on Sundays when in the vllage is, um, closed every Sunday, so junk food diets R us, but who cares.

I won an Ironhall challenge, Chris beat a Morrigan giving him two of each DL, he came first in the tournament, and as he was the only undefeated player and he was the only person that beat me, I came second! I seem to be doing better in tournaments recently, I guess having the best player in Europe as a pretty good friend helps. Using his decks definately helps.

Beyond that, very lazy weekend, and when I got back to the flat, the lounge and hallway lightbulbs went when I turned them on. Must talk tot he landlord about the electrics (again). That means cleaning the flat so he can get in though. I'll leave it for a bit...

So, I used my last spare bulb, and dug out the weird 'red' one I inherited fromt he previous occupant. It's got to be all of 20watts, if that, completely pointless. Ah well, I'll have to stumble around a bit tonight and buy some more ont he way home tomorrow.

Colleagues over from Germany again, this time the Head of the German office, a regular conatact I've never met, so should be an interesting day. she's bring one of our most important agents along, so I have to be nice and presentable. Oops, maybe should have done some laundry. Ah well.

Grotty cold is back, but that's usual. Spent some time trawliung around LJ communities again, I find a few of interest somehow, and people I know are already members. Figures. New people found though, including Dr Ben of Spin (really must have that argument properly again sometime Ben) and a crazy American over here that almost might be as left wing in some areas as me...

I'll stop rambling now. Night all. Mark? drink some hot chocolate. IT probably won't help, but that's what normally gets me to sleep.