iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

We used the pregens in our first play through of the campaign. They are a great place to start and ours all really took off and established their own character. Hardly remembered them as pregens after a bit.

Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Pulled the 54mm Gladiators I have from the "someday pile" and into the "next up" queue. This will involve more skin tones, variety of fabrics, vibrant color and use of metallics. There is something engaging about 54mm and I think they would be great for display games for new players.

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

My WW2 Pacific USMC squad in 54mm is painted. I have three bases to finish. I'm really happy with both the Japanese and USMC figures in this project and doing a "glow up" on bagged toy soldiers. I've learned some history as well as new techniques and materials. Good to change it up, you know?

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Good lord, current affairs seems to have added more rabid raccoons to the diaper fire dumpster. I tell you, bronze and iron age history reading is a breath of fresh air by comparison.

FWIW, I am really enjoying working with Army Painter's Speed Paints 2.0. I have been using GW contrast paints since 2019 and while I have had good results, I don't think I would repurchase or invest further in the line after using Speed Paints. I love the dropper bottle, the flow and drying time.

54mm plastic toy soldiers are not anywhere near the clean sculpts of most 28mm modern plastics. The proportions and anatomy of the ones I'm working on from BMC tend to make up for that. 28-32 mm tends to feature big heads and chonky fists. It takes a little getting used more proportioned models.

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The 54mm US Marines are coming along nicely. I have goen over a few rule sets and one has a detailed island hoping campaign geared for solo and co-op play. Taking 54mm plastic toy soldiers and zhuzh-ing them up versus trying to go full "Golden Demon" has been liberating.

TBH, history books. The Achaemenid Persian dynasty makes Game of Thrones look tame. It happened, it was not forever. New people both awful and good enter and exit the stage. Also, painting toy soldiers. USMC WWII camo has a zen to it. I can't paint and freak out at the same time.

Anyone else having extra trouble with priority? We're 5 years out from going into Covid lockdown and convicted criminals are in power. I'm trying really hard to engage with the old LARP of society but it's just not sustainable. If it's going to be BS, we can make it fertilizer and plant something.

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Sometimes a session is just therapy. Sometimes it's a breakthrough. Sometimes you are just trying out a bit to see if it plays well. Before therapy, I usually go through a plan of what I think I'll say like I'm preparing for an audition. If I put this much effort into a set I'd have a tight 5.

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Now wealthy sociopaths can learn the value of empathy when they are out numbered and their money is not going to save them. Gold only buys obedience, not loyalty, faith, honor or any worthy thing.

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

I think I need a Yojimbo video to this. Toshiro Mifune in scuffy Ronin mode about to just go off. youtube.com/shorts/bar_-...

youtube.com

Killing In the Name - Rage Against The Machine Shamisen & Drum ( Sayo Komada & Tarn Softwhip )

YouTube video by Tarn Softwhip

Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Exactly 100% this. I let people know that I need to hear the how of the what before they roll the dice. I modify targets and results based on approach.

You know, I get it now.

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Hey cool. Ravensburger has a lot of my favorite Washington grown gamer crafters. You got a nice ship to board there. Congrats.

My Brother in Trek, will you be doing Deep Space 9. Because whoooo boy, does that show remain relevant to a lot we have going on just now.

Anna Mae Wong, Betty White, Mary Doria Russell, Ursula K. Le Guin. DC Fontana.

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

I'm enjoying working in Contrast / Speed Paints on 54mm figures. I have had some Gladiators in the wings for a while. Does anyone have a favorite set of historical Gladiator miniatures rules they care to shout out?

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Once more, the OST to Mechanicus is the Umami of getting painting done. So many projects of mine have been pulled along by this music. It's hard not to feel inspired.

Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Finished the painting on 8 more Japanese infantry for my 54 mm project. Still need basing on them. First long session of painting after a gnarly cold. I did not pivot to a new project in full ADHD hobby mode. Very tempting to do so but, seeing the unit painted is rewarding.

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Shadowdark, Dragonbane and Dungeon Crawl Classics. All easy to learn, dynamic and roll to cast for magic.

Zelinsky is more of a statesman than both these rubes combined. Trump looks lost and Vance is like a B movie day player.

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You don't have to be a better solution when you are the only solution. This was why we had anti-monopoly laws and lane dividers. Capitalism was supposed to be based on market choice. Freedom and Choice were supposed to be what made us better than the USSR.

A thing I miss about the FLGS of yore was that you could hang out, shoot the shit in community and get a game on the fly. Seattle had a number of good "third places" that felt less like they needed you to shop and GTFO so they could turn the table like a busy restaurant.

I don't often get to wargame, for that reason, I'm glad to play weird little indy things or "dead" games. I don't chase tournament meta in costly games which discourage tinkering and have reboots every 3 years. It's nice. Historicals are too. I mean, WW2 marines are not going to get retconned away.

I like Nordic Weasel and recently picked up "History Dad" it's geared towards Platoon level games. I realized I am Totally a "History Dad" when, lacking info on US Marine and Japanese units in the game, I went and figured them out with some searching and cross referencing.

Did some plinking with my honest to goodness Red Ryder BB gun. It's really zen and getting into "flow state" with it has been soothing.

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a video game is being played with a character named chris

Started playing Boltgun again today (40k FPS in the mode of Doom). The child made grabby hands for the controller and said "may I". It's fun to see the child rampage and their room clearing and planning is coming along well. 40k does not really encourage too much reason, given a chainsword mode.

media.tenor.com

Alt: a video game is being played with a character named chris

Sharing 70-80's conceptual art with the kiddo and explaining the wonder of paintings which spur the imagination. There is little "lore" to cue up and image. It's not Star Trek or Star Wars, just "cool shit is happening in space. What do you make of it, viewer?" Kid digs it.

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Garth Marenghi's Catbus @catbus.phd · 28/02/2025

Would you consider adding postcards to your store? I do Postcrossing and would love to send some. I would also love it if you did Cryptid merch.

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Reposted by Skuliver

I will never apologize for a post

Gandalf: tell me, "friend", when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for beans??!

Saruman outline made up of baked beans: [bean noises]

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Skuliver @imhal.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

I run kids RPG camps. I am working hard to move from WotC content. I'd like to offer more diverse ranges of games to adult #ttrpg folks looking to try new games. I'm thinking of doing open 5.00 sessions. Funds are tight for many, so this is a token ask. 100% free games have higher no show rates.

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Ker Nethalas: Into the Midnight Throne — Blackoath Entertainment

One session in on this with the kiddo and really loving it. You can play solo or co-op. Very flavorful and evocative. Undead heavy, hits the survival and exploration aspects really well. blackoathgames.com/ker-nethalas...

blackoathgames.com

A gloomy damp night in the PNW. Time to grab a mug of toasty warm drink and try to make it through some Ker Nethalas.

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There are Kiva user groups who coordinate to pick loans in need of direct mass support and together, the members help individuals and collectives to get over the line and on with their dreams which would be unreachable without this goodwill. There are days where that keeps me going.

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Not only empowering to those in need. Expressing agency through compassion is empowering for the lender. I am not alone. Scores of other people helped those in need pay medical bills, start businesses and rebuild after disaster and war. As loans are repaid, the funds go back out to do good work.

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Sometimes, what you can do to help in your own part of the world seems futile. You can't fund everyone. You are barely making it yourself. With interest free micro lending to other parts of the world, you can be part of transformative funding to those who have no other access to loans. #Empowering.

Make a loan, change a life | Kiva

In 2015, I joined KIVA.org. I needed a way to help, somehow, even as part of "the working poor" in America. All told, I think in 10 years, 300 USD has gone into my lending account. With repayments, I have managed to lend that many times over. I've funded 3,185.00 over 126 loans in 62 countries.

kiva.org

Kiva is the world's first online lending platform. For as little as $25 you can lend to an entrepreneur around the world. Learn more here.

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"If I can inspire young people to dedicate themselves to the good of mankind, I've accomplished something." - John Glenn

This is delightfully WTF as a concept.

I just reread Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett and it is so ON THE NOSE for the situation in the USA right now that it nearly hurts. I admire the Vimes / City Watch books for that central thread of "No Kings", tearing down both belief in "one's betters" as well as overconfidence in saviors.

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