So I got my feet X-Rayed yesterday. Which is hopefully a step in the right direction in the ongoing “Scimon walks like a penguin, a drunk penguin” issue. Of course the final destination may be “Sorry, not much we can do. Here’s some inserts and would you like some pain management?” but it’s something.

But what got me was the options for pain management that were mentioned, Steroid Injections and (drum roll here) Acupuncture.

On the NHS.

I politely replied in the negative to this one, saying (and I quote) “I’d rather now have the Acupuncture because firstly I’ve got an intense fear of needles and secondly I don’t believe in it. So even if there’s a placebo effect I won’t get that.”

Which considering my usual desire to not offend people was pretty strong stuff. Anyhow, there are many things to do, so I shall got and do them.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Look more kitten pictures! Also me testing I’ve got whole Flickr to Blog to Social Mediaverse thang going down.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Well we got a new kitten, no he wasn't delivered in a box that had my new 1TB external hard drive in it. He's called Domino but my new nickname for him is Bitey as that's his hobby.

Just to say, I love my G1. When my contract runs out I’ll definitely be upgrading to the newest flashiest funky Android based phone there is around. And I’m even planning on getting back into doing some development with it. Real soon now (TM). As soon as I have an idea and learn a bit more Java (hey look I said Java without spitting I’m getting better.)

Anyway he’s a little thought, please please please please, make the App Store better. Mainly by making an online version that syncs to your Google Account. Everything else on the phone syncs to an account. If I want to edit a bunch of contacts I do it in Gmail. If I want to play with my Calender I tend to do it on a PC if it’s available. Because the big screen is easier to use. Right now the App Store is only accessible via the phone and it’s a pain. There’s so much stuff and it’s not easy to trawl through. Those Apple types get to do stuff via iTunes, which is nice, unless you’re using Windows because iTunes on Windows is a bit… poor. But you guys are Google you are masters of the web! surely we can get a web based interface for the App Store?

We’d be able to look through all the apps, mark the ones we’d like to download and our phone would pop up telling us it’s ready to download them. A bit like it does with the Updates at the moment. It would be wonderfully brilliant and all that jazz. On a side note I think I might have come up with a really cool App idea, I’m off to think. Have a nice day.

Yours, Scimon

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Well my holiday goes well. We all just got back from a trip to San Sebastien, hence the title. I think tomorrows plan is being scaled back to hanging about in St. Jean.
The weather is warm but humid, I’m expecting rain at any point. But it’s cool, we have ample supplies. See everyone later.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Just a quick post to say that I’m in France until next Saturday. I probably won’t be that easy to contact but I will check my emails… occasionally.
Expect any emails from me to possibly be a bit weird, a bit like this french keyboard.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Oh yeah. Did I mention that I’m currently playing the Open Beta of Champions Online? Well Ok, not currently, I’m at work right now. And if I was playing then I wouldn’t be writing a blog post about it, I’d be Twittering (yes you can Twitter in game…. pointless but fun).

For those of you who have been hiding under a rock Champions Online is what Cryptic did with the Marvel MMORPG they were writing after they sold City of Heroes. (Those boys do love their super persons). Some of you may be wondering if there’s a link between Champion Online and Champions the RPG. These being the ones who’ve been under the rock who have also not been following the links and poking around. Why yes, I shall say unto them, it is, Cryptic liked the setting so much the bought the company. Honest. Which is good because the only copy of Champions I currently own is New Millennium and well, the less said about that the better.

Anyway I’ve been playing Champions Online since the Closed Beta, something I may have let slip to a few people. So I can tell you some stuff about it. Please note, I’ve not been much into MMORPG’s, I’ve only really played this and City of Heroes and I only played that because I liked the CCG. anyway, I’ve had a lot of fun, there have been a few snafu’s (like the servers not coping with the load on the first day of the Open Beta) but I think it’s something I may end up playing for a while.

A few things that I think may be a bit different to what you may be used to. No classes, (it does have levels though, oh well) you can pick any power you like. Powers come in three tiers, as an example here is the Single Blade Powerset. If you stay within a powerset you get access to the Tier 3 stuff earlier, but you can mix and match to your hearts content. Also if you check out Dual Blades you’ll see each has it’s theme, but there are overlaps for things like Momentum. Add onto this advantages that let you increase the power of attack or add abilities to them. My current character has Lightning blasts that I’ve upgraded to jump to secondary targets a lot, lots of fun when you’re surrounded by mutant baddies.

Other stuff, costume creation like City of Heroes (as in be prepared to waste a few hours). Super travel powers when you leave the tutorial mission, which is actually quite fun to play through… well the first 3-4 times. Apparently there is a plan to make it optional. So you get to zip around the maps nice and fast, oh and LOTS of different ways to fly.

What else? The combat feels like a slightly slowed down button masher. In fact just randomly hitting your power buttons can be a legitimate tactic. But learning your combos (Charged Dragon Bite -> Scything Blade -> Reapers Embrace for instance) really makes a difference. PVP is fun, I wasn’t very good with my last character as I couldn’t fly, but I was good at throwing trucks at people. Did I mention that a lot of scenery is destructible and can also be picked up by super strong character to be used as a weapon? Generally it’s a good technique to get peoples attention, and knock a few out of course.

So anyway, I’ve been having fun. But I’m not getting the game when it comes out on the 4th of September (in Europe)

I’ll be in France on holiday. The week After it comes out though. That’s a different story.

Side note chorlte.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Well my rant yesterday spawned a little mental image, well a huge mental image really. Add to this the cities of Mortal Engines (and Ambulon from Dark Heresy) plus some James Blish by way of Gene Wolfe all smushed into an RPG idea I’d had kicking around a new idea was born. What? The normal way of things getting born is less messy? Anyway here follows some blurb and thoughts on a game. Knowing me it might never happen but enjoy.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

No, not the band.

I’m referring to the lamentable tendency for people to view whatever situation they are currently in as normal. The longer a state of affairs has been in effect the more people think it’s normal, and more to the point, that it should and will continue to happen. As the old saying goes “A many can get used to hanging if he hangs long enough.” (Or something like that).

Here follows a bit of a random rant that mostly came to me at 4am while I couldn’t sleep. You’ve been warned.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Hey look, I’m blogging again. It’s one of them wacky things I’ve been meaning to do for a while. I was debating a light hearted ranty type post about living in a country where it’s considered OK to hate you, as long as it’s a joke. But i’m feeling too peppy. Instead I thought I’d do a quick, what’s going on with Scimon type thing.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Just a quick post using the wptogo Android app.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

Hi folks, if this has worked then this post should not only be on my new (and very empty) blog Scimons Random Thought Table but also in my Livejournal which has been a bit… stale of late.

It might also turn up on my Facebook account, stranger things have happened.

I say new blog, it’s acutally my old web addres that I’ve had for a few years now sitting on it’s own server and looking shiny. If you do have a crazy desire to poke around in the old site you can look here, most of the links should work. The new site is powered by Wordpress and very shiny it is too.

Don’t be suprised if it breaks a bit over the next few days though.

Originally published at Scimons Random Thought Table. You can comment here or there.

I'm bloody knackered.

Amelie, who is being pampered after her op, slept in the bed with us last night. She loves being under the duvet, occasionally poking me with her claws. So I got to combine fear of rolling onto a cat (and I sleep wearing not much to nothing depending on the weather) with nutty dreams about acupuncture.

Which is especially not good if you have an intense phobia of needles.

But she's too God Damm cute to kick out, especially in her still healing state. Plus Dog is still treating her like some kind of alien invader. I think it's because of the plastic cone she's having to wear.

Anyhow, I should be through in Edinburgh for the post Conpulsion meeting tonight to offer more help for next years con. You know I might actually run a game of something. Of course I might have gotten round to getting my game finished by next year....

I'm afraid 'Destroy All Cities' was a joke. That I came up with at the last moment or I'd have made a web page for it too.

I am of course working on an actual game and I have got enthused about the whole thing again, more on that soon.

Well I can now announce that my first published RPG is back from the printers. I know I've been a bit quiet for the last few weeks but I've been working very hard to get this done. Anyway I can now reveal the secret project I've been working away on, 'Destroy All Cities' the game of Giant Monsters. This troupe based storytelling extravaganza finds you playing the fractured personality of a giant creature (robot, dinosaur, creature from before time it's up to you) as you struggle to find meaning in a world that seeks to destroy you.

I'm extremely happy with the new mechanic that seamlessly blends dice rolling, coin flips and card play into a unified whole. The 5 page 'Random Wandering' table you roll on when the players can not agree what to do to simulate your creatures reactions when not being controlled is a great read including 'Hump car', 'Eat Civilian', 'Attack building'. And I do think you'll find the 'Human Reaction Flowcharts' an extremely easy way to work out how the forces of mankind will try and deal with your rampage.

'Destroy All Cities' in shops soon!

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• 18:31 At silverburn, polli is getting a new phone. #
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• 20:41 Marines FTW! My commander and his entourage cut a swath through Mr Brinds undead robot hordes. Power Fist to the face! #
• 20:42 Now installing some old skool gaming fun. Baldurs Gate II, Shadows of Amn. Mmmmmm. #
• 22:02 Darn, damm and botheration. Disc 4 ees dead! So I've reinstalled NWN2 and am going to try a month of COH. See if it's got better. #
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