Focus, focus, focus!

I'm slipping.

Been a little too wonky from the alternate sleep schedule I'm having but I'm getting back in focus now. Working on three different things at the moment, one of which is terribly overdue, but from the way things are looking right now, I'll have it up to date and operational by the end of the week.

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Check it out guys! You might find something you like. :)

Reposting a quiz...

Hmm...

It looks like that blogger is getting more and more complicated by adding more features to dress up the posts. Not that I mind, but it does tempt one to spend more time sprucing up the posts with colors and stuff now that it's easier to do.

Anyway, first of all I'd like to repost the Mage: the Ascension Quiz for the benefit of my co-workers who are interested in the game. It might help you guys with what Tradition in the game fits your natural perception of the world best:

Here's my result for today (it varies on my mood apparently)


Rock on; you're a Cultist of Ecstasy. Magic is the
result of moving beyond the limitations of the
human form, the constraints of body, mind, and
perception. You do this through EXPERIENCE:
the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual.
Chances are you're rebellious, artistic,
philosophical, radical, meditative, or all of
the above. Most people see you as a hippie, a
druggie who sees "enlightment" in a
ketamine haze, but you merely rediscover what
the ancients saw in the natural world: rhythms
that are gateways to the trance state, through
which anything is possible.


Which Tradition Mage Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Whoa... never got this result before. Must be due to my lack of sleep.

Feels like Christmas

Well, it looks like that the Crimson Skies packs I've ordered from ebay just arrived today, and I have to say that it's satisfying to open a package and sift through foam peanuts in order to see six factory fresh packs all still sealed in there.

I've developed a liking for the Crimson Skies universe ever since I've heard of it. Originally a board game from FASA Corporation, it's a game based in an alternate version of the United States of 1937, with a few drastic changes. As their blurb puts it:

"The year is 1937. The United States has shattered under the weight of the Great Depression, regional Prohibition and mounting isolationism. The transcontinental railroad and the budding highway system have become useless as they now cross hostile borders. Commerce and trade leave the ground as air travel—once a national obsession—now becomes a vital lifeline connecting allied countries. Giant zeppelins crisscross the skies, carrying both passengers and cargo. It is a time of gunship diplomacy and airship piracy. It is the age of the fighter pilot and a time of daredevil adventure and sinister intrigue. It is the world of Crimson Skies…"

The game focuses primarily on pulp action and dogfights with miniatures. I'm not lucky enough to have discovered this game when it was still coming out from FASA, so I got the next best thing. It turns out that Wizkids came out with a simpler, miniatures based version, and that's the game that I picked up. Alas, it looks like Wizkids is also putting the brakes on the production on other expansions on the game (apparently it's a niche thing) so I'll have to content myself with the ones that I already have.

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On other notes, I've been taking a few live calls already for the past two days. So far the experience has been interesting, though I don't really have all that many funny stories to relate yet. I'm pretty sure that'll come in time, once I start taking calls full time. Getting a hang of the system that we're using at work takes a bit of practice, and I find myself trying to figure out how to handle an issue as effectively as possible. My trainer wasn't kidding when she said that the work we'd be doing would be relatively complicated compared to the other accounts. We're sort of operating as part researchers, part customer care and part educators. It's not enough that we find what the hell went wrong, we have to make sure the customers don't get pissed and tell them what they have to do and what we'll be doing to fix their issues.

So far, I think I'm doing okay, but I'm pushing myself to learn how to do things faster and more efficiently. I'm planning to work my ass off all day, and apply to any and every promotion that rears it's head in my presence.

Just the Beginning...

I just got my finals results today, and I'm really happy about it. Passing was what was on my mind while taking it, but it turned out that I got 98%!

That's just the beginning though. Tonight, I'll be taking on real calls for the first time, and technically that's when I get to see how things are on the floor for real.

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Speaking of beginnings, we ran into a group of D&D gamers in Greenbelt 3 last weekend, and it turns out that they're a relatively new group to the hobby. I've invited them to the AEGIS mailing list, and it looks like they're all hyped about the prospect of meeting new people and trying new games.

Now I remember why I became a semi-active advocate of the hobby. It's not enough that I enjoy the games I run (or play in), but I want to share the experience with other people. There's a lot more to these games than just rolling dice and drawing looks from other tables in greenbelt when we announce our character's actions, or speak in character. It's fun, and that's exactly what I want to share.

Besides, the more the hobby supports it's fans, the greater the amount of money goes into the hobby, driving down prices, and expanding the diversity of games. It's a win-win situation for me.

I'm sure that most of the hobby store owners will agree with me. In the long run, what makes a game sell is the fact that there's a community for it. Playing is a social activity for the most part, and like kids, if there's nobody to play with, it just won't be fun anymore.

What I'm hoping though, is that we can sustain their interest and their continued participation in the AEGIS community.

Cult of Personality

Personality Quiz Meme!

Wackiness: 54/100
Rationality: 92/100
Constructiveness: 70/100
Leadership: 84/100

You are a WRCL--Wacky Rational Constructive Leader. This makes you a golden god. People gravitate to you, and you make them feel good. You are smart, charismatic, and interesting. You may be too sensitive to others reactions, especially criticism. Your self-opinion and mood depends greatly on those around you.

You think fast and have a smart mouth, is a hoot to your friends and razorwire to your enemies. You hold a grudge like a brass ring. You crackle.

Although you have a leader's personality, you often choose not to lead, as leaders stray too far from their audience. You probably weren't very popular in high school--the joke's on them!

You may be a rock star.

One more challenge... and a little respect for Mage

Finals today.

This is the other "Make-or-Break" part of training for my new job. I'm not really nervous, but I'm pretty sure that I'd still need good luck. I've studied, and I've got little mental notes floating about my mind right now on little reminders, rules and things not to forget.

This is as ready as I'll ever be.

Wish me luck?

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On the hobby end of things, I came upon this review of Mage: the Ascension as a game line in general, dealing with the themes and changes of the game from its initial incarnation over to the revised edtion that currently graces my shelves.

Presenting, Señor Mortgage!

I kid you not. Here I am, only two weeks from hitting the floor in a call center and dealing with homeowners on their Mortgages, and I see THIS. Man, I should see a doctor about this... I'm picking up weird links like crazy. :p