I Died

Not really, but with the lack of updates to my blog, you may as well have thought me dead, gone, and other words of a similar meaning to which my absence can be described as.

So, last week on Wednesday I finally got my drivers license. Took the road test exam, did well on it. Only one problem with my driving, I don't shoulder-check when turning right or left at a stop sign, otherwise my driving is good. So, I've finally gotten rid of my 'N' -- can't say I'll miss it, either.

Another thing that happened on Wednesday last week was that I got to fly for the first time in my life. A short hour long flight down to Vancouver. Did I get a window seat? Nope, I got an aisle seat, so I didn't get to see anything. Which is probably for the better, since I fell asleep once the plane was in the air. Just out like a light. I guess you could say I wasn't entirely excited about flying for the first time, or anxious, or even nervous. Just another thing that's happened to me in my rather rushed pace as I head off for Basic.

Oh, yes, and I'm not army, Canadian Forces. I was sworn-in last Thursday at CFRC Vancouver, which was why I flew down there in the first place. A lot of paperwork, but in the end, I think it was well worth it. And then on Sunday, just a couple days ago, I got Baptized. About time I did that -- been a Christian for well over sixteen years now. And lastly, I leave for Basic this Friday.

So much happening in such a short time, who knew?

 

- W. Visarett

I'm In

Two days ago my life took another change. This one I consider of course for the better. At 8 AM Wednesday morning, the recruitment center told me that I was in and had a job waiting for me if I still wanted it. Of course I said yes. I will be leaving soon to report in for training Feb 20, 2006. Suffice to say, I can't wait. I'm anxious, but still, it'll be a new experience and something I should look forward to since I've been mulling it over for so long and wanting it for the past couple months. Wish me luck, I'll need it.

- W. Visarett

The Invincibles

In the vein of going ultimately fast without reason, we run ourselves into a completely different wall with this other estranged fact. This little brick and mortar construct that impedes us when we role play is our over-attachment to our characters. We develop such a connection with our characters that often, we don't want to see them get hurt, especially were, or if, we spend hours upon hours or days upon days crafting those characters.

This is somewhat understandable, however, since the characters themselves are supposed to be extensions of ourselves. As we wish to avoid pain, so too do our characters, and this avoidance to pain and suffering can also be detrimental. In dueling, as with real life, the fact is, we feel pain. While we might wish to save our characters from feeling those same pains, whether physical or emotional, it is better that we don't. Pain teaches experience, after all; a lack of pain means a lack of feeling.

The character, especially in dueling, is supposed to take a hit, supposed to become hurt. A fantasy world we may be playing in, but some semblance of reality is still there, or leaks through, and thus it can only be expected that the character would become hurt. We don't like it when our characters get hurt, when they experience physical pain. In dueling, the characters are supposed to get hit, take a hit every so often. When you evade everything thrown at you, you are in turn God Modding.

There are guides out there that say how to determine damage done, but here's a thought--instead of just taking damage based on how powerful you percieve the attack to be, take damage based on how you think a person would take damage based on the reality of getting hit by such. Of course, if you can evade within reason, do so, but always remember that sooner or later, you're going to tire and fatigued people make mistakes.

Then again, some attacks are so outstandingly overpowered that were you to take the damage based on how powerful the attack was, the character would die. It comes down to descretion, as always, on how much damage should be taken. Some people have a habit of taking too much damage, even from simple attacks, while others take too little. Again, always searching for that happy medium where everything fits.

 

- W. Visarett