One of the best two-player boardgames I've played is a fast paced British take on American football called Bloodbowl. It's set in a fantasy world, so your team is made up of orcs, elves, ogres, and pretty much any other creature seen in The Lord of the Rings.
One of the best things about the game is that as you play more matches, your team advances. Individual players acquire new abilities, your team garners more fans, and newfound wealth provides access to wizards and other tricksey stuff. Of course, over time you also lose players to attrition, aging, and the occasional fist-through-the-face.
Although Bloodbowl is a fun game, I rarely get the chance to play it. That's what makes the discovery of FUMBBL noteworthy. It's essentially an online Bloodbowl community with it's own playable java client, sizeable user base, and complete record retention. Definitely worth a look for any fan of the iron ballet. If you do make it over there, look me up. I'm coaching under my nom de guerre LeperColony.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
The Price of Independence
Well, Barack Obama has gone ahead and picked someone other than Hillary Clinton. I can understand why Obama would be looking to go in another direction. Given Hillary's popularity, committed base, and probable importance in the upcoming electoral contest, her clout could make her something of a co-president.
Unfortunately, in declining to name Hillary, Obama has created an opening which McCain quickly seized. It remains to be seen exactly who Sarah Palin is, and I do not think that there mere fact of her gender will necessarily sway that half of the electorate. Particularly since Republicans tend to be on the unpopular side of many women's issues.
Nobody can fault Obama for wanting to preserve his independence from the kind of entanglement a Hillary VP would necessarily bring. Now we can only hope that he, and we, don't live to regret it.
Unfortunately, in declining to name Hillary, Obama has created an opening which McCain quickly seized. It remains to be seen exactly who Sarah Palin is, and I do not think that there mere fact of her gender will necessarily sway that half of the electorate. Particularly since Republicans tend to be on the unpopular side of many women's issues.
Nobody can fault Obama for wanting to preserve his independence from the kind of entanglement a Hillary VP would necessarily bring. Now we can only hope that he, and we, don't live to regret it.