Tag Archives: history

Gettin’ biblical before the match

Posted on September 11, 2019 by

緊褌一番 kin.kon.ichi.ban Literally: tense – loincloth – one – [ordinal counter] Alternately: To brace yourself mentally for something. To prepare to face difficulty or hardship, or at least a high-level competition of some sort. Literally, to gird one’s loins. Notes: … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some Kind of Progress

Posted on April 16, 2019 by

It’s a small thing, in the grand scheme of… well, of things. But I can’t help but find it encouraging that over the course of approximately my lifetime, tabletop role-playing games have gone from a hyper-niche hobby for the nerdy … Continue reading →

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The best way to be salty

Posted on February 24, 2019 by

敵に塩を送る (Teki ni shio wo okuru; “To send your enemy salt”) Definition: When an opponent is having some difficulty in distress, to offer aid instead of taking the opportunity to strike. May especially apply if the distress is unrelated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Give me a pass at Cave Pass

Posted on August 16, 2015 by

I learned this one a long time ago when I was studying for the Kanji Kentei and came to 峠. It’s got an interesting little bit of history bundled up in it, which I like. 洞ヶ峠を決め込む (Horagatouge wo kimekomu; “Staying … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Tale from Clevaria

Posted on January 8, 2015 by

In the time of the god-king, lord of the sky, director of rain, clouds, and wind, whose name was secret, emissaries came from the plains to Clevaria. They worshipped strange gods of earth, and carried one with them in a … Continue reading →

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More Musings on Skill Points and Economies Thereof

Posted on December 23, 2013 by

When I think about pen-and-paper RPG design, I invariably come around to skill systems and skill points. One thing that strikes me as odd about D&D is the almost complete disconnect between the systems for combat and the systems for … Continue reading →

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Location: Fair-Vickelt-after-the-Flood

Posted on February 12, 2011 by

History and overview The island of Kyper lies in the northern reaches of the Diarchal Archipelago.  Even less hospitable than its neighbors, for centuries its largest sign of civilization was the thrice-rebuilt city of Vickelt, a sea-town with decent natural … Continue reading →

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The Diarchal Archipelago

Posted on February 9, 2011 by

“Setting” entries detail various aspects of the world itself.  Here’s a colorful one that I hope to use for a coming RPG campaign. Geography The continent of Vestan, heart of the known world, is a vast open grassland, surrounded by … Continue reading →

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