RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 14

Day 14-What to order to 'Eat like a local'.

"Living on my own, moving from planet to planet to avoid the unpleasantness of my own people, I ate whatever I could get ahold of that wasn't dangerous to my health. As I noted previously, sometimes I made some fantastic discoveries and sometimes what I came across was pretty foul.

Now that I'm in Starfleet and travel to new planets and civilizations on a regular basis, I find that my earlier experiences have turned me into a rather adventurous eater. Not deterred by the occasional bitter fruit or utterly bland plant, I am always curious to try something I haven't taste before. The foods of the galaxy exhibit infinite diversity in an infinite combinations of flavors (my apologies to the my Vulcan friends for the one. *Chuckle*). 

While there appears to be an endless number of great restaurants in the Federation, I really relish trying local foods in the regions I visit. Here are a few that really stand out to me...

Andorian Cuisine

Thuush shu Hetht

'Thuush in a Nest'

Technically, Andorian foods are not local to the sectors we're currently exploring. Andor is a long way from the Tango Super Sector but there are a considerable number of Andorian colonists and merchant vessels traveling throughout the area, so their cuisine is pretty prevalent in this vicinity. As I have close relationships with two Andorian friends, I've had the opportunity to sample a large number of different dishes. Here are my thoughts, combined with some additional research.

Most non-Andorians find Andorian foods either very bland or sickly sweet. One of the staples of their fare is, as an example, Thelodoln or Andorian Tuber Roots, a root vegetable not unlike the Earth potato, turnip, and taro. Nine out of ten non-Andorians who try them find them almost tasteless, while those who do like them tend to absolutely love them. I find them bland myself but not tasteless by any means. They are just so subtle that I'd rather eat something else. 

Andorian Redbat is a flying mammal native to their homeworld that Andorians ate on a regular basis in regions of the planet where the animal flourished. As travel between different regions of Andor became more common,  the popularity of the creature as a food spread. Raising Redbats became a rising industry, though to this day most Andorians agree that wild Redbat tastes much better than domesticated. Eventually the meat became popular beyond Andor, real and synthesized, and is one of the few Andorian dishes liked by species all across the UFP. It has been described by more than one Human as 'steak cooked in chicken broth'. It is very rare to find Redbat out here on the frontier and apparently the Andorians are willing to pay considerably to get ahold of some. 

Thuush is a comfort food that is eaten by everyone from the average working citizen to the highest Clan nobles. Throughout Andorian history, different classes of people have prepared it differently, given what other ingredients they are able to obtain by their station in life. Basically, Thuush is a thick, whipped egg custard that is mixed with blue barley flour and buttermilk. It looks like semi-solid custard or Earth's flan. It is normally served as a side dish. Often it is mixed with other things like honey, salt, butter, or even Andorian garlic. The resulting flavors are usually very sweet and/or salty but a savory version is not unknown. 

There is a related dish once considered fancy by common folk that eventually impressed the nobility as well known as Thush shu Hetht or 'Egg in a Nest'. These are absolutely delicious! Commander Bhoth told me his mother made them on Andorian holidays when he was a child. The first time I had them they were made by renowned Vulcan chef Solna, younger sister of former First Officer Commander Solok and married to Commander Bhoth's blood brother, Lt. Hallee Thran of the USS Algol. These are threads of deep fried Tuber Root, formed to look like a small bird's nest, that is then filled with Thuush heavily sweetened with honey and butter. Some people add tiny Miteberries and crushed nuts but that isn't the traditional way. 

As for Andorian Ale, that ever-present effervescent blue beverage that has a massive impact on Andorian culture and power in the Tango Super Sector; I've spoken a little about it already but I can not emphasize enough the importance of this drink and the industry around it to the economic, social, and even political well-being of this region of space.

[Blue] Orion Cuisine

Barbequed Garadius Wing-Slug, Orion Style.

The blue-skinned Orions (who pronounce their species 'OR-ee-ans') likely came to this region of space in one of several lost sleeper ships launched from Orion Prime nearly a hundred years ago to colonize some far off world that they may or may not have successfully reached. For the most part, these Orions live in small enclaves on a variety of planets, as well as in nomadic caravans of starships that travel around in constantly moving pirate fleets. 

Their food is a weird combination of traditional Orion recipes and local ingredients available in the Tango Super Sector, much of which they obtain through piracy. This means the supplies you have to work with this week may not be seen again for weeks or even months. It is therefore even more impressive that they even have a defined cultural cuisine at all.

One of the most popular mainstay Orion dishes is the cooking of Orion Wing-Slugs, an insect-winged invertabrate animal native to their home planet of Orion (Pi3 Orionis III). Different Orion Houses, regions, and even colonies have different ways of preparing the creature. Additionally there are a number of subspecies, some of which are rare and considered a delicacy.

A similar alien species exists on the planet Garadius IV (Garadius System - Delta Muscae) and the Blue Orions poach them as often as they can. I say poach because the people living on Garadius IV are not catching these creatures and selling them to the Orions but rather the Orions are sneaking onto the planet and illegally capturing and removing them. They are most commonly drowned in a beer-like marinade and then allowed to dry out a bit before barbequing them, either slow roasting or over a grill. 

Most of their other foods are, as noted, whatever they can find and steal from the ships they pilfer. As a result, some of the other foods in this entry may end up on Orion tables. According to some reports, they have a version of the traditional Orion Wanderer's Biscuit, which they call a Raider's Biscuit, which is akin to the Hardtack of ancient Earth sailors.

Orion Beer, interchangably called Orion Ale, and Orion Dulaq are popular alcoholic beverages with both Green and Blue Orions. The local versions of these use alternate ingredients but come very close to their traditional forms. Their beer has a greener tint to it than the traditional recipe and their dulaq is a very deep green and can cause hallucinations if overindulged (or even if you aren't used to it). 

Mazzulan Cuisine

Mazzulan Zoh'meza with Spicy Cream Sauce.

As seen on New Cheron. 

Not a lot is known about Mazzulan cultural details such as art, music, and food. Relations between the Mazzulans and the Federation had a very rough start and although things are progressing slowly, they do seem generally promising.

That said, some observations can be made based on early trade discussions, what visiting diplomats eat, and their physiology, which as I've previously mentioned combines Vulcan/Romulan biology with that of Green Orions. 

They tend to prefer Vulcan dishes but will add far more spices to them, notably black pepper, chili pepper, and cinnamon. In addition, whereas most Vulcans are vegetarian, the Mazzulans are not and will add meat to Vulcan dishes that traditionally do not include it. One example is chili pepper and shreaded fowl meat, such as chicken, being added to Plomeek Soup, a Vulcan favorite. It seems to be a Mazzulan staple and I recently found out they call it Ploh mez'mehk. 

A food unique to the Mazzulan people was found on New Cheron (Xices II, Star System Xices/GL 570.1)  during our recent visit there. Pre-prepared and available to take away, the Zoh'meza or 'Leaf Meal', was made by the fellow in charge of the colony's provisions and general store. He and his daughter had made them for those working to keep the colony operating. This food consists of a millet-like grain mixed with meat and vegetable which is then wrapped in the wide edible leaf of a tropical plant native to Mazzula. It is often served with a mildly spicy, creamy sauce. Humans have described it as a cross between a Tamale and Sticky Rice in a Lotus Leaf. The ones I saw were formed into a pyramid shape, making them easy to carry and eat 'on the go'. I imagine they might make variations on this shape as well. 

I don't know about you but I'm full. 

Let us continue on our journey,

AD

Barking Alien

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026 - DAY 13

Day 13-Where can we get a drink and a bite to eat?

"Food is another thing I have come to appreciate in a very different way today compared to how I felt about it before joining Starfleet. 

I don't recall much about food on Cheron. My family, specifically my mother, made due with what meager provisions and ingredients we could afford and get ahold of. She regularly made a kind of watering stew made out of...whatever was available. It never tasted exactly the same, never looked identical to the last time she made it, and yet it was always 'Sustaining Soup'. I didn't hate it and I didn't like it. I simply ate it, because that's what my mother had made and that's what would keep us alive.

When I was out on my own, foraging and hunting in a manner I would never have imagined I'd be doing in a million millennia, I discovered...well...flavors. Some fruits and vegetables were dangerous, some full of nutrients, but even more incredibly, some tasted really bad and other really good. The same with meats! Herbs allowed me to change the taste of the food. It sounds silly to me know but it was a startling revelation at the time.

In Starfleet...pardon me, I need a moment. *Plays off rubbing her eye as she wipes away a tear while smiling all the while* My apologies, something in my eye. During my time here in Starfleet I've experienced such a wide variety of flavors and textures in food that I often can't wrap my mind around how such a thing is possible. I once eat to live and its not that I live to eat per se but I actually enjoy meals now and its a pretty wonderful experience. What makes it even better is having others to share food with. Be it in the Mess Hall or in a restaurant, sitting down with friends to have a meal together is one of the highlights of my off hours these days. 

I'd like think to my parents would be happy for me but it makes me sad that they never had the chance to enjoy this life with me. My apologizes again. Lt. Commander Gravph always says 'food brings up memories' and it seems he's right. Even 'Sustaining Soup'. 

The Restaurants of Starbase 25

I've spoken of the restaurants on Deep Space Station K-12 previously and while they are quite good, even very good, they don't have notoriety or diversity of those on Starbase 25. When I first defected to the United Federation of Planets and made the decision to join Starfleet, I went to Starbase 25 and my goodness, I had never seen so many different places to eat in my life. I would later learn that some of these are truly top rated restaurants. I'll describe only a few that I or one of my close crewmates have been to.

Tavern Keep! Another!

The Andorian restaurant Clan of Comfort Brew House is more bar than eatery but also a very interesting window into Andorian culture and history. Based on the ancient Brew Houses popular during the time of Krotus the Conqueror, the single, very large room contains two long tables with three [simulated] hearth fires. Lighting overall is low, allowing the hearths to generate a warm light akin to a crackling fireplace no matter where you are in the restaurant. The entire place has a rustic atmosphere. A Human friend said it reminded her of Earth's Medieval Europe.

Mostly the restaurant serves Andorian Ale, a bright blue, carbonated beverate not unlike and yet very different from Earth beer. It has a mildly sweet, berry-like taste. The Clan of Comfort Brew House carries over 50 different brands and types of Andorian Ale, ranging from the dark blue 'Stout of Andoria' to my personal favorite, 'Blue Moon Sour', which is very hard to find anywhere outside of Andor and its close colonies. It tastes a bit like sour blueberries, vanilla, and lightly sweet honey. 

Only very basic food choices are available but most of them are quite good. Tuber Root sticks deep fried in animal fat from a native Andorian creature (ethically sourced) and seasoned 'Nut Shells', which are actually the baked, cast off shells of a Andorian land dwelling crustacean, are both very popular (at least with Andorians). 

The restaurant is run by two joined families in the Clan of Comfort, a Keth governing bars, restaurants, and hospitalities such as lodging, tourism, and other related industries. 

Good Morning Starbase 25!

Good Morning/Good Evening is a bakery and cafe with signage saying 'Good Morning' early in station's day, open from 0600 hours until 1200 hours. It than closes until 1800 hours when it reopens with the sign now displaying 'Good Evening'. It remains open until 2400, when it closes until 0600 rolls around again. 

As I understand it, while it is a well liked restaurant, the Good Morning phase has about twice the popularity and patronage as the Good Evening phase. I will say for myself, this place has some of the most delicious baked goods I've ever encountered. True, my exposure to such food is small but many of my fellow crewmates have said the same thing. They make all sorts of muffins, rolls, cakes, and similar bread items but there is this one...a salty, buttery roll or biscuit that is probably one of my favorite things to eat in the universe. I'm full after one but always considering getting a second one immediately after I finish the first.

Good Morning also serves excellent Coffee which, if you are not familiar with this beverage, is essentially the life blood of Human society and certainly Starfleet. The Captain always has a cup of coffee to start her day. Commander Carr likes his black or dark (very little milk) and very sweet. The first time I had it I had to spit it out. It was awful. Doctor Hanover realized the acidity of the drink was too low for my body. After adjusting the pH level of the water in it I tried it again and I was stunned. I loved it and it's near-magical awakening effect was like nothing I'd ever had before or since outside of a Medical Stimulant from a hypospray. Of course coffee is a lot more pleasant than the later. 

The owner of the establishment informed me that the restaurant is in the retro-style of Earth's 1950s 'Americana' period, with specialized lighting to give Morning mode and Evening mode very different moods.

Spicy and Comfy!

Oasis in a Desert Haze is a Zaranite restaurant that, for reasons I will go into, usually isn't especially busy and that is a shame. Both the food and the overall atmosphere there is wonderful. One sits on the ground, which is covered in wooly rugs and small square pillows, positioned around a table carved by hand out of some sort of smooth sandstone. The food usually consists of one or two large plates with main dishes, two bowls of soup - one hot, one cold - and a dozen small plates of everything from vegetables and nuts to flat breads and deeply fried meats. Everyone takes a little of everything and puts it on their own plate so you can try it all. Variations on this set-up are available but I am told this is the traditional and preferred way of serving a Zaranite meal.

While most of the food is what would generally qualify as spicy, some is savory, and some is sweet, all in the same sitting. The Zaranites do not appear to have 'courses' or the concept of 'dessert' as a separate meal, except on special occasions. Drink usually consists of one of several types of spiced [though not spicy] tea or a sort of sweet beer.

The Zaranites, a desert dwelling species from the planet Zaran (Mu Capricorni II), have an antagonistic history with the Andorians and friction with the Efrosians, resulting in many people giving them and their establishments a wide berth that I do not personally feel is warranted. Additionally, a Zaranite Phaser Engineer on the Prosperity, who has proven to be an honorable and heroic individual, invited me and a number of others to this restaurant and I can attest it was definitely something you should experience yourself. 

All this talk has made me hungry *laughter*.

Who's up for a bite? Let's try some local cuisine...

AD

Barking Alien

Twice As Thorough Thursdays : THE SECRET LIVES OF GINGERBREAD MEN

So, funny story...

I put this post together last Thursday, September 17th. It was meant to be a companion to the previous post, resulting in two Thorough Thursday entries on a single Thursday. Wow!

Then...I forgot to hit publish. I thought I did, but I guess I didn't.

So embarrassed.

As promised, here is your second helping of Thorough Thursdays for today, which I hope will fill you up until my next post.

It's a taste of something strange, and a bit different, designed to add a little spice to your holiday gaming. Normally I would've waited until December to serve this up, but I intend to focus on Science Fiction, and Space Adventure gaming in the last month of the year. Since this dish has a comedy flavor, I figured why not give it to you now while the thought of it is still piping hot in my mind.

Had enough of the food puns yet?

Several lines ago actually.

Ha! Well then, let's dig in...

Our next guest can be seen in a few places all year round, but is really a traditional holiday favorite. Here today with a somewhat non-traditional approach to fun, ladies and gentlemen, and other things please welcome...

The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men

Prior to this post, I have only tagged The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men, the 2004 independent Role Playing Game designed by Annie Rush, and published by Itesser Ink and Wicked Dead Brewing Company, one time before.

That's just wrong.

Not only is it wrong because it's a game I am quite fond of, but also because its become something of a holiday tradition for me at the tutoring center where I teach on Sundays.

Before I get into that however, a little background on the game, its origins, and because they are so damn delicious and fun, Gingerbread Men.

I would like to point out that although I will more often than not refer to them as Gingerbread Men, I am a strong advocate of Gingerbread Women, trans-Gingerbread People, and any other incarnation of sexuality, and/or gender in Gingerbread form.

The Gingerbread Man is believed to date back to 15th century, although they became popular in the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth I of England is noted as having used Gingerbread figures as decorations at a party. These early Gingerbread people resembled some of her more noteworthy guests, and were later given to those people as gifts.

The existence of this baking phenomenon inspired the fairy tale which is itself known as The Gingerbread Man, or alternatively The Gingerbread Boy, or Gingerbread Runner. It is also possible that this story was simply a modern (for the time) take on a classic folklore theme of talking, runaway food.

There are a number of variations of the story, though the most well known comes from the first time The Gingerbread Man folk tale was put into print. In 1875 it appeared in St. Nicholas Magazine, a popular American children's magazine of the late 19th century. The story has the newly baked bugger run from the oven of a childless old couple, all the while taunting them with its now well known refrain:

"Run, run as fast as you can!

You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!"

Originally the words were different, but over time, and numerous reprints and retellings, it has become the famous lines above.

Now, let's look at the game shall we? On the surface, it is a relatively simple D6 dice pool system, easy to learn, and teach to others. It's the premise is what makes it special, as well as the unique, and dare I say charming nature of character creation. Add in some house rules by yours truly, and you've got a game that's fun for the whole family. And then some.

The key element that makes this game special is that, if played by the book (I'll explain what I mean a bit later), characters are generated by making Gingerbread cookies. I crap you not. You bake Gingerbread Men, and Women, and you decorate them in order to create your characters.

The various decorations you put on your cookie determine it's unique abilities, and gimmicks. Gumdrops, M&Ms, Icing, and all other manner of tasty, and colorful add-ons can give your Gingerbread Person powers ranging from Invisibility, to Floating on Water, to Frosting Melting Heat. Many sweets provide weaponry, or equipment, such as the various colors of M&Ms, black licorice for a ladder (or rope in my house rules), or flying around on pretzel rod broomsticks.

I established a different, and greatly expanded, set of guidelines as to what items did what. My original players, a group of students from my Sunday classes at the tutoring center in Brooklyn, demanded a larger, and somewhat more flexible array of items, and confections. For example, in my game the effects of M&Ms are categorized not by their color, but by the type of M&M (Plain/Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Almond, Mint, etc.). Icing and other such decorations provide direct bonuses to defense (like armor), speed, etc.

Combat consists of breaking, mostly in the form of limbs, and your head. While the head is kind of essential (and always the last part to break), limbs can be repaired, and 'healed' to some degree. I expanded on this a bit as well for my game, enabling the sessions to last a bit longer if needed. It's also greatly expanded our collective mythos. Icing, and eggs are a good bandage, but not a permanent fix. Finding batter and re-baking the injured area is the key, but it takes time.

Oh the Humanity!

One of the biggest differences between the games I've run with this RPG so far, and the game as written, is that I haven't used actual Gingerbread Men, as is suggested, and recommended in the rulebook. In all honesty, I would love to have done it that way, even preferred it to be sure! Unfortunately I didn't, and couldn't for very practical reasons.

As I've stated, I've mostly run the game with students at the tutoring center where I work part-time. Without access to a kitchen, kids with possible allergies (although I don't think we actually have any of those), and all that sort of thing, an alternative form of character creation was developed.

Using either paper, or the dry erase board at the tutoring center, we drew out the shape of Gingerbread Men, and Women, colored them in, and then drew on, glued, or otherwise attached the decorations. In our home version of the game, Chocolate Chip Cookies (the crunchy kind) are used as Shields, and Candy Canes serve as a hooked staff, useful as a tool for climbing, or pulling, as well as acting as a weapon when needed. If drawing your Gingerbread People on paper, consider attaching the items with removable double-sided tape, or simple weak tape folded over on itself. This makes the items easily removable if you should lose your Shield, or need to give your Staff to an ally.

Lastly (as I could really go on, and on with another post this size on cool ideas for this game), there is the matter of the 'Secrets'.

Yes, every Gingerbread Person has a secret, and they give the game a bit more depth, even if the secrets are often downright ridiculous. They could be anything.

You're secretly in love with the Angel at the top of the Christmas Tree. You must tell her before she, and the tree are taken down this year.

You panicked last time the Burnt Sugar Cookies attacked. We lost a lot of good Gingers that day. You seek to avenge them, but the Burnt Sugar Cookies scare the bejeebers out of you.

After the Holiday, one cookie is covered in a glaze, and can no longer be eaten. It has the honor of adorning the tree as a decoration the following year. You must be that cookie! No matter what...

So this is just a taste (HA!) of the awesome that is The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men. I have a session of it planned for this coming December, and a second one with another group possible around the same time. If anyone is interested (or if it's so much fun I can't help myself) I'll post play reports afterward.

Check it out for yourself, and if you have kids, consider letting them in on the action.

AD
Barking Alien

Hunter X Hunter RPG - On A Roll

Before I begin with the regularly scheduled post, I just wanted to say a few words about a few subjects. Trust me, this won't take long at all...

Happy Birthday to Mark Hamill and the late Christopher Reeve, two gentlemen who each played one of my favorite heroes.

This last month or two (OK three) has been very tough financially. Business was especially weak this summer season. As a result, I may sell off some old game stuff I don't need (even though I'd really rather not). If I do, you'll be the first to know.

There is a new flavor of Oreo Cookie called Cookies N' Cream. Although they are available at my local supermarket, the only proof I could find on the internet was a package of the product on ebay. Ebay? What...The Hell? What an odd choice for a variation on the classic too. A Cookies N' Cream Oreo is a bit like tiny bits of lettuce between two pieces of lettuce, no?

Once more, not as many comments as I would like or as I would have expected on some of the subjects I posted about. Specifically, I am surprised by the low turn out on the last post about ideas for Marvel Heroic. No love for Marvel Heroic? No love for my ideas? Are you secretly a clone of Spiderman currently working for SHIELD and are afraid commenting on my blog is a conflict of interest. Well fine. You, that last guy, you're off the hook (I don't want you getting in trouble over it) but the rest of you have no excuse.

OK, down to business...

***

We had our second session of Hunter X Hunter this past Saturday with Amari (Dave), the Barber (Lee*) and Smiley McGee (aka Stan - played by me), joining hundreds of other Hunter wannabes in the attempt to overcome the first of many challenges on the way to getting our Hunter licenses. If we pass that is...and of course survive.

The opening challenge was a Ninja Warrior style obstacle course, modified by the GM (Ray) into D&D-like death traps. There were 10 traps in all. Most could be taken singularly, with a partner or as a team but some required you to go 'single file' with no assistance from anyone else.

We managed to get past them all with only one or two scary moments where a poor die roll seemed to hold the power of life and death over our characters' heads. I hate that.

There was a lot of die rolling this session. A. LOT. Now I must give Ray some props because it was never boring and didn't ever deteriorate to the point where I felt like having someone else roll for me while I went to read a book or play some video games because so much was based on random luck that I felt like I didn't need to be there.

I've been there and done that, didn't like it and told the GM what he could go do with the T-Shirt.

I have a love/hate relationship with rolling. I don't want to eliminate it and play some crazy diceless thing but I can't stand when GMs make you roll for every breath you take and every move you make (thank you Sting and The Police). I also hate it when, as a player, you come up with a reasonable reason why the die roll should be altered in your favor and it feels like it was rolled straight.

Case in point, one of my least favorite gaming moments of the last three years...

OK, using a system that is a homebrew variant of D&D 3.5, we set out into a homebrew medieval world that is described awesomely but feels like every other D&D game world I've ever gamed in. Its Lord of the Greyhawk Realms basically.  

I was playing a Gnome

We come to this odd valley, essentially a very large crater with shear cliff walls. We need to explore the incredibly dense forest down in this pit/canyon. First we need to climb down. Four or five of us, sheer cliff walls, everybody first level.

We have rope and we come up with a plan using iron spikes and a cheap pulley system (thanks to a nearby tree and rock) to lower us down more carefully. It's about 50 ft down I think, maybe more.

All I know is that the GM made us each roll our Climbing skill at least four times on the way down. Now lets do the math. Four players each rolling four times to climb down a wall. That's Sixteen rolls just to get to the woods. Why? For what reason? Are we getting bonuses on our rolls for the mountain climbing ingenuity we rigged up? Didn't feel like it. One guy fell a short distance and got stuck but the rest of us helped him down. One guy fell kind of far and got hurt but our Cleric healed him.

In the end it was so tedious, so boring and so dangerous to our characters that it drove the majority of us a little bonkers. Dude, if you are that determined to hurt somebody for no reason don't pretend. Just number the PCs, roll 1d4 and deliver 1D10 damage on that guy and move on. No. We had to sit through 16 goddamn rolls.

Luckily, Ray didn't go that far but it felt very much like it was threatening to go in that direction. It started out challenging, with each player/PC trying to figure out a way around the traps based on the predicament and our own unique abilities (or at least strong suits). Eventually at some point near the end we were just rolling dice and seeing if we made it.

It's a good game and I am looking forward to continuing but I will say it needs to kick up a notch on the excitement level. It is engaging. Yes, that is a good word. It is a very engaging game and yet I am hoping it turns into a 'Holy Crap! Wow!' game.

Time will tell. 

AD
Barking Alien

*I still can't remember his character's name even though he told me twice already. I think it starts with an N.

My Mind At Warp

Hmm...no responses to my previous post on the intro to my new BattleTech Reborn campaign are a bit discouraging. I was hoping someone out there would tell me if I was hot, luke warm or just plain cold with the lead in to the game's setting and main premise. -Sigh-

The problem with me is that sometimes, when I don't see any reaction or enthusiasm to my ideas, I start to get distracted and drift toward other ideas in hopes that they may wow where the previous one has perhaps failed.

This is especially true when other things are occupying my mind and double-plus-so if they were lurking in the gray matter before the current project even got started.

No, I am not dumping my BattleTech Reborn idea but I am in the 'lull before the season starts', not as excited about it as I was when I came up with it or as I will be when I am ready to start running it. And I will be excited when I am ready to go, of that you can be certain. Right now I am in a holding pattern, trying to complete our current Champions game and prepping for BR but not quite set to launch.

Other things bouncing around the padded room that is the inside of my noggin' are Star Trek-like games and Vegan Pancakes.

When I say Star Trek-like games, I include Star Trek itself of course but what I am really thinking of is Starships & Spacemen (especially E.T. Smith's variant, which I played at RECESS some time back) or my Galaxy Quest games or any number of other alternate 'Trek' themed settings, systems or campaign ideas. I recently read Redshirts by John Scalzi and while I didn't end up liking the book very much, I liked the initial premise and it definitely inspired me to start toying with a pet project I started a while back but haven't looked at again in a while.

I had this idea of mixing the aforementioned Starships & Spacemen game with the resource management elements of Meikyuu (Make You) Kingdom, the Japanese TRPG where you play the ruler and court of a small nation who go adventuring in dungeons to build up the coffers and expand your country.

One of the neat ideas in Meikyuu Kingdom is that each PC has a number of minions, little more than pips on his or her character sheet, that serve the sole purpose of adding bonuses to certain rolls the PC makes or dying in the PCs stead. For example, if you are attacked for 5 hit points you can put three of these minions in front of you and shave the damage done to 2.

Imagine that in a Star Trek-like setting. Each PC can beam down with a number of extras that are pretty much there just to die when the group is caught in a cave in or attacked by an Altairian Flint-Eel or whathaveyou. Perhaps a system could be put into place that differentiates them as Science Extras, Security Extras, etc. Maybe you can use your experience points to bump one up from Extra to Reoccurring Character and get a more useful henchman.

I really like this concept and I think I'm going to put some work into it on the side while I force myself to work on BattleTech Reborn...ooh...did I say that out loud? I didn't really mean it. I just...so...Vegan Pancakes...

By Vegan I don't mean the pancakes originate on a planet orbiting the star Vega. Those are much more difficult to make and digest if you are not a solinium based life form. No, see, my girlfriend is Vegan and I love to cook and I make awesome pancakes so now I want to make ones she can eat and enjoy. This may be a tougher task than getting my current gaming group to agree on a single course of action but then again I have never been one to take the easy route when it comes to creative problem solving.

Wish me luck...in all endeavours. Hey, if you're already wishing you might as well...

AD
Barking Alien

Cameo #4 - Und noo, Zee Heppy Vheesk

"Yorn desh born, der ritt de gitt der gue,
Orn desh, de born desh, de umn,
Bork! Bork! Bork!

(Crash of thrown utensils)

Hedu de hoo! Vercum der me de shoo de keetchee! Und me gust tudu de Heppy Vheesk! Mmm-hmm. Und de Heppy Vheesk ish cook un du Strudiburrbies und du Crem Biskee Skoons. Oo-ooh! Du Strudiburrbies und Crem Biskee Biskee Skoons! Yum!"

The Swedish Chef always makes me laugh and he inspires me to try new ingredients. But sometimes he scares me, too. 

"Ooh-oh. Me du scuri? No. Me du no du scuri."

Like the time he wanted to make frog legs using Kermit's nephew. The poor little guy was still alive and screaming, "Help! Uncle Kermit, help!" Good thing Uncle Kermit showed up. Whew. That was a close one.


"Weel du shtum muss ruddin ish boo du shoo. Me du tinkee tinkee!" (Points at his own head)

Then there was the time the Swedish Chef used a shotgun to make holes in doughnuts, a bazooka to make talking pumpkins into pie and a cleaver to decapitate a live turtle. That's some scary stuff.

(Chef puts away the jackhammer he intended to use to mix the ingredients)

"No no. Ish me du cheef. Ish du cheef is du tru jorn de difren tingee du mudensherd goot de meel!"

(Sweats. Dabs forehead with a cloth).

But scary stuff aside, the Swedish Chef cooks with style, never runs from a challenge and always has fun. Just like the time he made bouncy ball meatballs and used a tennis racket to knock them into the audience.

"Aww ya ya! Ishoon der du de booncee-bouncee be de meetee bawls! Heheh. Ood gud ish un datee woond. Muyorn be du hee hee hee."

Say what you will about his muffled speech, messy kitchen and scary cooking - that's one chef who knows how to cook. And, he's never afraid to try new ingredients, even if they're screaming for help.


"Aww, tandu ud de Heppy Vheesk...Ud tinkee."






Strudiburrbies Und Du Crem Biskee Skoons
Biscuits/Scones with Strawberries and Cream
Ivy Shorts (The Happy Whisk)

Preheat oven: 425F, 200C, Gas Mark 6.

Strawberries: I often use frozen berries.

Put them in a bowl with raw sugar and honey.

When they start to defrost, mash and adjust sugar to taste.

Cream: I enjoy making whipped cream with double cream, raw sugar and organic vanilla. But I also buy spray whipped cream from the market. Either will do nicely.

Ingredients:

Plain flour (145g)
Good salt (1ml)
Raw sugar (17ml)
Baking powder (7ml)
Liquid (80ml)

I’ve used half and half, double cream, almond milk and soy. They all worked well in the dough. I recommend trying them all and picking your favorite.

Organic or good butter (60g)

Steps: Mix all four dry ingredients into a bowl.

Cut butter into pieces. Hand-mash butter into dry mix, leaving some butter chunks. Make a well and add just enough liquid to make dough pliable. About 80ml or so.

Don't add too much liquid.

Once ready, I work the dough on a surface of raw sugar crystals with a bit of flour.

Roll dough to about 2cm thickness and slice into preferred portion size. I make mine a little smaller than the size of my palm.

Place on a sprayed cookie sheet.

Lightly spray tops of biscuits and quickly sprinkle additional sugar crystals on top.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

To Eat: Fork split the biscuit/scones and cover with berries and cream and eat. Or, if you’re me, show your husband, but refuse to let him eat it until you’ve snapped just the right shot.

-Happy Whisk

Barkley
Barking Alien

There Are Always Possibilities

Greetings One and All,

So its been quite a while since I've posted anything to my blog and I'd like to start by apologizing for that. I really had intended on continuing with my 'How to Run a Star Trek RPG Campaign', not just for those who were interested but also for myself. It was a great way, I thought, to explore the how's and why's of my favorite subject within a favorite subject. It would be akin to "Duff" Goldman talking about making a bass guitar themed cake. How freakin' cool would that be for us and for him?

Then something unexpected happened...I ran my first Star Trek adventure in nearly 3 years for my new/current group, it went over really well and then I...I lost all interest in continuing it.

I'm not entirely certain I can tell you why. Partially, it was...off somehow. The players enjoyed it but I felt it was distinctly less amazing then previous attempts at running the game. It was missing heart, feeling somewhat hollow and empty. It was Star Trek with all its Phasers, Warp Drive and Transporter Beams but little of its depth, intelligence or soul. I had somehow failed to follow my own advice. I had made Voyager, or worse, the JJ Abrams film. Wow, where did that come from? Was that my outside voice?

Well, the latest movie did indeed dampen my enthusiasm and I wonder if perhaps I let it get to me more than I should have. Be that as it may, I know that I can't run a game if I'm not feeling it on a deep, core level. The campaign is just going to end up crappy and I don't want that. Better to nip it in the bud right away. Unfortunately, by deciding to cancel the new Star Trek campaign I felt almost embarrased coming back on here to my blog. I didn't know what to say, what to talk about next and honestly, wasn't excited about the prospect of admitting defeat.

So what does this mean for my blog? Well, it means owning up and saying, "Hey, I'm a damn good GM but I'm not perfect." It means accepting temporary defeat while I marshal my resources for another go later on. It means talking about something else for a while. It means using this as a way to discuss ideas that may eventually bring the magic back. I am not without other games, interests or ideas and therefore I am not without something to discuss on my blog.

I hope those who were coming here to learn more about Star Trek gaming don't feel cheated. Hopefully you'll keep coming back anyway.

Live Long and Prosper,

AD
Barking Alien