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28 décembre 2017

Voici qui m'intrigue...

Voici qui m'intrigue...

Originally shared by Côme Martin

L'Envers du dédale, roman-puzzle, roman-labyrinthe, roman aux quatre vents éparpillé dans une boîte, sortira le mois prochain !


Pretty Doesn't Save Black Women

Originally shared by Kymberlyn Reed

Pretty Doesn't Save Black Women

A few months ago there was a meme on my Pinterest wall which claimed to be a picture of a “young and beautiful” Harriet Tubman elegantly dressed in the height of Victorian fashion. This meme alleged the only images of Tubman that we normally see are those with her in a kerchief and/or holding a rifle, looking old and haggard.

Turns out the photograph was of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a young woman of West African royalty whose incredible journey began in slavery and ended with her as the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. A fact I and several others pointed out to whoever posted the image in the first place. It made me wonder where this desire to see a “glamorous” (and fake) version of Tubman rather than the flesh and blood figure who risked her life to free hundreds of slaves, and who spied for the Union Army came from.
It took two films - Wonder Woman and Black Panther - to finally connect the dots on something that has been simmering beneath the surface of my consciousness for a long time.

*

I read an online critique of the new Wonder Woman movie. Now I enjoy a well-written, thoughtful social critique of media (even media that I enjoy, such as Game of Thrones). I understand that art, books and other media do not exist in some untouchable vacuum. That even the best of these endeavors may contain problematic elements. I'm good with that, even if I don't always agree.

While some of the criticisms of the film were valid - like not letting Zach Snyder anywhere near a movie with female characters - ever - (still reeling from the creeptastic pedobear rape-fest that was ‘Suckerpunch’) there was one criticism in particular that made me say “oh hell no, not again” and made me think back to that fake Harriet Tubman meme.

Recently I'd been watching a ton of reaction videos about the upcoming Black Panther movie. Now, most of my fellow nerds of color (and nerds in general) are super excited about this film. One young African man was so overcome with happiness that he started crying. I know I've watched the official trailer like a zillion times and just looking at the elegance of Florence Kasumba, the nobility, the way she carries herself. Add to the cast Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Danai Guerra, Letitia Wright, Phylicia Rashad and it's like a generous heaping of #BlackGirlMagic.

Of course, with all the positivity and excitement, there just had to be the faux-black foot in the mouth types who know absolutely nothing about the character and who don't bother to support Black comic creators (because geek stuff is for ‘white people’ dont'cha know). Amongst those was a ‘Dee Dee Downer’ (not her real YouTube name) who, in her desire to prove how ‘woke’ she was, decided to take a different tack. Her argument was the dark-skinned Black women of Wakanda weren't ‘feminine’ enough for her. That their very looks and physicality rendered them ‘too masculine’.

It's a criticism that I've seen leveled over the years at Black women, especially Black women like Grace Jones, Leslie Jones, Danai Guerra, Venus and Serena Williams, Michelle Obama, and Viola Davis. A criticism with its genesis in white supremacy and heteronormative norms and one that seriously needs to be examined instead of unthinkingly embraced.

No matter how much makeup we wear, the color of our contacts, or the length of our weaves or 4C curls, Black women remain the most unprotected class in America. Our beauty is derided on the one hand, co-opted on another. Little Black girls get suspended for wearing braids. Kendall Jenner gets magazine covers and accolades on fashion blogs. Yet we're still trying to live up to beauty standards that were not even made for us in the first place. Just as respectability politics won't save Black people, supremacist notions of femininity and beauty don't save Black women. Our value and our right to be vulnerable, complex human beings has nothing to do with what we look like and everything about the fear and loathing (and fetishistic fascination) blackness holds.

Pretty doesn't save us. It has never saved us. It will never save us.

*
In Wonder Woman, the two Black Amazons - Artemis and Phillipus - are on the training grounds while the young Diana watches, completely enraptured and wanting to be out there. In those scenes, I felt exactly how that young Diana did, watching these proud and noble women kicking ass and looking great doing it. I admired their strength and their dignity, and yes, their beauty. They were warriors and behaved as such. Frankly, that's what I was there for, to see women of all shapes and colors going full tilt on the battlefield. I saw Black women like me up there on that big IMAX screen in living color, living in a world where their contributions were valued, their voices heard.

Yet, because their characters didn't fit those traditionally accepted standards of beauty, this made them problematic in some eyes. That their image somehow contributed to the supremacist idea that Black women don't need protection nor are worthy of it. However, this criticism ignores the stark fact that no matter how close to the Eurocentric ideal some may strive for, both the dark-skinned field slave and the fairer skinned house slave were still subject to violence and abuse.

Then there's Black Panther and the Dora Milaje. Firstly, this is a popular comic series about a fictional African country that was never colonized by Europe. So why would the standard of beauty/femininity be centered around those ideals? Secondly, Ruth E. Carter, the costume designer for Black Panther, looked to the Masai and the Suri for inspiration - not New York, Paris or Milan. The entire look of Wakanda and its people are centered around an African aesthetic. The villain, Erik Killmonger, has ritual scarification on his upper body, mirroring that of several African cultures.

Neither the Black Amazons of Themyscira nor the women of Wakanda are meant to be the epitome of white supremacist femininity, and that's okay. They - and the women who portray them - have their own beauty, and it's one that we should embrace. Instead of shaming them, we need to do a better job protecting Black women in this racist and sexist system, not policing them because of internalized self hatred. With that said, I admit I'd love to see both Artemis and Phillipus with larger roles in the next Wonder Woman movie. It would be nice for their screen personas mesh with their fully fleshed comic roots.

Quiet as it's kept, why shouldn't we embrace warrior women in our culture? Africa has a long, storied history filled with them - from the Kandake (Queens) of the Kushites (a country that resisted the might of the Roman Empire long after Egypt had become another province) to the Amazons of Dahomey to Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa of the Ashanti who raised and led an army of thousands against the British colonial forces in Ghana.

*

I understand very well how Black women are viewed in our supremacist society. We are either long-suffering Mammies taking care of everyone but ourselves, sexually irresponsible Jezebels aka Baby Mamas aka hoes; or loud, “emasculating” Sapphires. I get the whole ‘strong Black woman’ syndrome, which has its roots in slavery. However, fifteen year old Dejerria Beckton was not an Amazon, still we watched her being slammed face down on the grass by a two-hundred pound white cop. Korryn Gaines wasn't Dora Milaje yet was gunned down by police. Sandra Bland was found hanging in her jail cell. Zerlina Maxwell and Melissa Harris-Perry are both survivors of sexual assault. Thousands of Black women are living (and dying) due to domestic violence. The ones sitting in prison for defending themselves or being ‘ride or die’ chicks. There are thousands of Cookie Lyons’ behind bars right now. Five year old Black girls are considered more knowledgeable about sex than their White counterparts. Who could be more elegant and classy than former First Lady Michelle Obama, yet she was dragged through the swamp of racist bigotry because she wasn't blonde, blue-eyed and thin.

But hey, let's complain about Black women with bald heads. Let's buy into the idea that the two Amazons in Wonder Woman, Ann Wolfe (in real life a boxer) and Ann Ogbomo (in real life a Nigerian heptathlete) are not satisfactorily “feminine” in a world that values the feminine only as a means of oppression or ownership. Somehow their strong looks and dark skin marks them unworthy of esteem and protection.

No matter what we do as Black women, it will always be viewed through the white supremacist lens. We can't be funny without it somehow having to do with lack of intellect. The pretty Black girl often ends up as sassy sidekick or magical negress for the white heroine. We sure as hell aren't allowed to express healthy desire without dealing with our supposed lack of morals.

When we are afforded complex narratives, such as Halle Berry in Monsters Ball or Kerry Washington in Scandal, the only thing a lot of Black people cared about was that both of these women were having sex with white guys. Never mind that Washington’s Olivia Pope is way more than her sexuality (which by the way she owns). Never mind Berry’s heroine was a woman trying to make sense of a her husband's death. Even the remake of Cinderella with Brandy and the late Whitney Houston came under the faux-Black knives for being ‘unrealistic’. How many of these Black people are watching Still Star Crossed? Or don't they believe there were Blacks in Renaissance Europe?

*

I won't cosign white patriarchal notions of beauty, notions that have never ever included Black women to begin with. This whole discussion of looks (coupled with an unhealthy dose of colorism) doesn't help real life Black women in our struggle for equality. Sojourner Truth, one of this country’s greatest figures once said:

“Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?”

22 décembre 2017

CHEAP SCREENWRITING

CHEAP SCREENWRITING
This one works like the harm move.
When you want to prevent or clear a misunderstanding, to explain yourself, something important, or to warn somebody, roll+drama. On a 10+ they choose: you’re making it worse or are interrupted and can’t proceed at all. Brace yourself.
On a 7-9 they choose one:
- you are interrupted halfway through,
- someone overhears,
- you’ve given them more than you thought,
- you’re leaving with a misunderstanding of your own.
On a 6- you successfully explain yourself.

In AW, it could be used as a custom move, rolling+weird.

14 décembre 2017

This.

This.

Originally shared by Paul Beakley

Getting ahead since we’re headed into a weekend soonish. Number 8 is deep in my wheelhouse. Pull up a chair, I have things to say.

#8: Talk about your typical approach to preparation for running an RPG. Is there a particular method you generally follow? What use do you make of published setting or adventure material, if any?

I fucking hate prep. I just have no interest at all any more in building and balancing and tactical second-guessing and writing aaaalll that material that might be nice for me but will never make an appearance at the table. Any game I can’t comfortably improvise gets serious side-eye.

That said, I do like thinking about my games between sessions – and if I can’t, like if I don’t have a game going, I feel off-center and unhappy. So I guess that’s a kind of prep.

When I’m noodling between sessions, I think about interesting questions, not interesting answers. Interesting answers is their job, not mine.

Regarding the second part of the question: I super-hate published adventures, usually because they cheat or are not representative of how the game actually works. They also exist entirely outside the context of the characters at my table. My games emerge from the needs and priorities of the characters, so being shoved through a prepackaged situation is just awful.

There are exceptions! Like, the big arcs of The Great Pendragon Campaign and The Darkening of Mirkwood are just great: big enough to fit the character-driven stuff inside. I love that stuff. Sometimes it feels constricting, like, if the characters do something that contradicts the arc. We had a major-ish NPC in Darkening die at the hands of the characters, and it took some hustling to make it make sense down the road. The good big-arc setups will be robust enough to work with those events, because nothing sucks more than plot immunity.

An interesting prep-intensive variant on the big arc was Space Wurm vs Moonicorn. There is legit a lot of prep before the first session of play, although the other players are heavily involved in the initial creation of the game’s five Fronts. Johnstone did a good job of asking interesting questions of the GM to answer throughout play, without demanding it all be worked out in advance. It mostly works. The temptation to go down the prep hole is strong, though. The result is similar to GPC or Darkening: you know events are headed toward the titular characters pursuing their goals, and the rest of the game happens inside that.

I have no use for published setting material any more. If it’s a big canonical download, ugh, no thank you. Very few things aggravate me more than canon fights with players. This is what kills me about Star Wars games, although there are ways around it if you’re not playing a technically detailed game. Gosh, it’s been years since I ran a game with an important setting. Probably good old Rogue Trader was the last time.

I do kind of miss the lonely pleasure of reading and dreaming about elaborate settings. I used to love mining out situations and ideas from, say, Exalted. That’s definitely a legit mode of play, and a provocatively incomplete text can be tons of fun. It’s just not my jam any more.

Really, the only prep I do any more is related to the nontrivial task of getting everyone up to speed on a new tabletop game as fast as possible. My methodology there is pretty well established:

1. Read the rules. All of them. Once.
2. Read them again, this time jumping around as questions occur to me.
3. Flowchart the game’s reward cycles to help me understand the whys of how the game works. (Far less important in freeforms and larps and whatever). I can dredge up old posts where I show this in action.
4. Read the rules again.
5. Write cheat sheets for the game’s primary procedures, if they’re not encapsulated in playbooks or moves or whatever. The process of reiterating stuff in your own voice is my #1 prime learning trick. Teaching is learning, as they say.
6. Make characters and develop a premise from that process, probably developing a relationship map as part of that (but not always – some games aren’t concerned about relationships). I can’t think of the last time I wanted to pitch a premise and have characters made in response. It’s a legit approach, and maybe I should sometime, but I’m so service-oriented that I greatly prefer to wait ‘til characters are done.
7. Run a first session. Try out all the primary procedures, if it’s that kind of game.
8. Reread the fucking rules and update the reward cycle flowchart and cheat sheets, because game designers almost never understand their own games.
9. Optional: start a fight with the game’s superfans, who are convinced they possess special insight into the game’s secrets. Maybe learn something. Probably not.

And that’s it!

#12rpg

pom pom pom pooom les podcasts parlent aux podcasts, des podcasts po po po pooom

pom pom pom pooom les podcasts parlent aux podcasts, des podcasts po po po pooom

Originally shared by Olivier (overb)

Nouvel épisode des Carnets d'un Quarantenaire Curieux : Les Podcasts sur le jeu de rôle
http://olivierverbreugh.fr/index.php/medias/mes-podcasts/18-les-podcasts-sur-le-jeu-de-role
#JdR
#Podcast #JeuxDeRoles
http://olivierverbreugh.fr/index.php/medias/mes-podcasts/18-les-podcasts-sur-le-jeu-de-role

11 décembre 2017

> disengaging from patreon - in progress %%%%%%%

> disengaging from patreon - in progress %%%%%%%

I'd be quite happy to support you elsewhere.

How to deal with bad design suggestions this is not about game design per se, but the same struggles show in...

How to deal with bad design suggestions this is not about game design per se, but the same struggles show in different areas of creativity and technicity. Solutions can be shared.
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/bad-design-suggestions/?utm_source=Alertbox&utm_campaign=87b89c0964-bad_design_suggestion_practiced_pattern_2017_12_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7f29a2b335-87b89c0964-24205865

As a player, I specifically mean not-gamemaster (when\re applicable) not-host, are you sometimes the one that brings...

As a player, I specifically mean not-gamemaster (when\re applicable) not-host, are you sometimes the one that brings the X-Card at the table? How do you do that?

#x-card

The 1000 word RPG theory metaphor challenge

Originally shared by Meguey Baker

The 1000 word RPG theory metaphor challenge

Using a key metaphor from your own life and frame of reference, write 1000 words about how that metaphor explains or clarifies your take on role-playing game design and play. Be specific.

By Dec 31, post it somewhere with the hashtag #RPGmetaphor1000.

If you want me to see it, put it somewhere I can see it, like g+ or facebook, or put a link to it and flag me on mastodon: @meguey, or twitter: @nightskygames.

If your metaphor is clear and gives good insight into how you think about role-playing game design and play, you win.

I may send winners an actual award.

Yep.

9 décembre 2017

Pour un débat marronnier des indépendalternarrativogan.


Pour un débat marronnier des indépendalternarrativogan.

Le 20 et 21 janvier 2018, ce sera le BEta Larp, un weekend convivial d’échanges et de rencontres autour du GN, avec...

Le 20 et 21 janvier 2018, ce sera le BEta Larp, un weekend convivial d’échanges et de rencontres autour du GN, avec des conférences, des ateliers, des tables rondes, des mini-gn et des moments festifs.

Le programme exact est encore en élaboration, mais vous avez l'exemple de l'année passé dans ce document très clair : http://beta.larp.be/betafiles/2017/Public/BEta%20Guide%202017.pdf

C'est gratuit, mais il faut s'inscrire. Au château de Hollogne tout près de Liège (Belgique). Possibilité de loger (30€ pour 1 nuit, 40€ pour 2).

http://beta.larp.be/

8 décembre 2017

Harassment in Indie Games: Part 4 (Conclusion) - How

Originally shared by Brie “Beau” Sheldon

Harassment in Indie Games: Part 4 (Conclusion) - How
Content warning: sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual violence, threats, online harassment, threats of violence, harassment and assault of minors, statutory rape, rape, mental illness, anxiety, social ostracizing Harassment in Indie Games: Part 4 (Conc...

Les 3 derniers portraits de joueuse du blog Et pourtant elles jouent, entretiens enregistrés (audio).

Les 3 derniers portraits de joueuse du blog Et pourtant elles jouent, entretiens enregistrés (audio).

Jenny alias Scarlet Witch est une rôliste tarbaise de 23 ans. Avec ses cheveux de feu et son tempérament volcanique, elle nous parle de sa découverte du jeu de rôle, de son expérience associative ! Quelques anecdotes bien senties sur son expérience en tant que femme dans un milieu très masculin, le tout saupoudré de beaucoup d’humour. https://etpourtantellesjouent.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/portrait-jenny-alias-scarlet-witch/

Fanny est podcatrice à Ludologies, le podcast du jeu sous toutes ses formes. Joueuse de jeux vidéos, elle a longtemps cru que le jeu de rôle papier c’était pas pour elle : « J’avais, parmi les gens que je côtoyais, des gens un peu snobs qui voulaient pas de noob, qui voulaient pas de gens qui savaient pas jouer parce que ça allait gâcher le jeu ». Jusqu’au jour où, il y a quelques années, son copain lui dit : « Mais le jeu de rôle c’est pas ça ! Tout le monde peut venir jouer ! ». https://etpourtantellesjouent.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/portrait-fanny/

Selene est joueuse, meneuse, autrice de scénario, podcastrice à Ludologies (le podcast du jeu sous toutes ses formes), organisatrice de la Queervention qui a eu lieu à Rennes… « C’est à l’école d’ingénieur où on était en internat, où c’était un milieu plutôt intellectuel etc, que j’ai pu faire du jeu de rôle. Et de façon intensive. » https://etpourtantellesjouent.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/portrait-selene/
https://etpourtantellesjouent.wordpress.com/category/portraits/

« Parce que t’as une grosse poitrine »

« Parce que t’as une grosse poitrine »

Je n'avais pas répercuté les derniers témoignage et portraits du blog Et pourtant elles jouent qui continue sa petite bonne femme de chemin.
https://etpourtantellesjouent.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/anonyme-13/

J'aime toujours beaucoup la démarche de Thomas Munier et ce qui en ressort.

J'aime toujours beaucoup la démarche de Thomas Munier et ce qui en ressort.

Ici, Inflorenza Minima

« Depuis quelques temps, je portais un grand intérêt au minimalisme en jeu de rôle (...) Au passage, j’avais un autre défi : accentuer la dimension sacrificielle qu’on avait dans Inflorenza, mais en faire un choix du personnage et non de la joueuse (...)Je voulais pouvoir jouer à Inflorenza mais de façon plus légère (...) Je pouvais enfin jouer dans l’univers forestier de Millevaux sans utiliser aucun matériel. Ni feuille de personnage, ni crayon, ni dé. J’avais des règles très simples qui n’utilisaient ni chiffre ni hasard. Des règles qu’on n’entend même pas quand on joue. Des règles qui se passent même d’explication. Des règles qu’on peut jouer partout (...) Le jeu de rôle sans chiffre, sans hasard et sans matériel a quelque chose de très primitif. »

http://outsider.rolepod.net/inflorenza-minima/

6 décembre 2017

Brie Sheldon is publishing an awesome multipart analysis on harassment in Indie Games.

Brie Sheldon is publishing an awesome multipart analysis on harassment in Indie Games. This is part one (part 2 and 3 are out already). Go read it.

Originally shared by Brie “Beau” Sheldon

Harassment in Indie Games: Who, What, Where, Why, and HOW Part 1
Harassment in Indie Games: Who, What, Where, Why, and HOW Content warning: sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual violence, threats, online harassment, threats of violence, harassment and assault of minors, statutory rape, rape, mental illness, anxiety, ...

Disons que pour chaque partage, le message est apparu dans le fil de 10 personnes non intéressées ou déjà au courant.

Disons que pour chaque partage, le message est apparu dans le fil de 10 personnes non intéressées ou déjà au courant. Ce qui me paraît extrêmement prudent comme estimation. Ça fait minimum 20.000 spam pour gagner un signet. Bravo les gars.

Je vous ai déjà dit que je déteste les paliers sociaux, que je trouve extrêmement irrespectueux pour tout le monde ?

Originally shared by Black Book Éditions

Avec plus de 2000 partages, un signet a été ajouté à Starfinder !
Et pour fêter ça, une preview de l'une des nouvelles classes les plus passionnantes du jeu : le Solarien !
⏳🔥 Plus que 5 jours pour profiter de la PP et du prix de lancement de 40€ !!! 🔥⏳

https://www.gameontabletop.com/crowdfunding.php?news_id=1719

Sharing as a bookmark, I want to read this later.

Sharing as a bookmark, I want to read this later.

Originally shared by Richard Williams (Epistolary Richard)

This post is shareable
Hand out for What's Hot in Story Games 2017 seminar
This is my one page review of 2017 from what I've seen in the world of story games that I gave out as part of the seminar at #Dragonmeet last Saturday.
The post for the hand out for games released is here:
https://plus.google.com/104855606903841258736/posts/HwAKALVJLzU
I'd be very interested in other folks reviews of the year so if you have them please link them here.
I'll be adding the audio from the seminar before the end of the week.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Dj9hBvfBx2EYgre_nQCTqbJKRqlkHE_8

5 décembre 2017

#12RPG Question 1: You’re running an RPG to introduce new players to the RPG hobby this month.

#12RPG Question 1: You’re running an RPG to introduce new players to the RPG hobby this month. Which game and genre do you choose, and why?

It really depends on the persons, what they know, like and their commitment.

I'd easily go with Fall of Magic, because of the compelling material, the easy and short rules.

If I can interest them in archeology and metaphysical mysteries, I'd run (the french) Sphynx.

If they know and like lovecraftian horror - which is becoming common, Cthulhu Dark is a good candidate. For other cinema-like horror, I'd go with (the french) Sombre. Or Monster of The Week for a lighter mood. Or Murderous Ghosts if only one player.

Otherwise a small heist with Blades in The Dark, with pregen characters and the Crowfoot war.

“If you're not struggling to live, it's your responsibility to organize, to resist, to disrupt, for those who can't...

Originally shared by Meguey Baker

“If you're not struggling to live, it's your responsibility to organize, to resist, to disrupt, for those who can't but want to.”
-Doris Rodriguez

Sometimes we all struggle. When you are struggling, know that it’s ok to let other folks carry on the work. When you are able, carry on the work and take care of those that are struggling.

Sometimes we are struggling in one area but have space and energy to organize in another. Work where you are able.

Remember you are never alone; others are struggling along with you, and working along with you. Find your people and take turns carrying each other.

Hugs,
-Me

2 décembre 2017

Notre nouveau site Internet : https://fate-srd.fr est en ligne.

Originally shared by sioc fate

Notre nouveau site Internet : https://fate-srd.fr est en ligne.


Pourquoi un nouveau site ?

* Afin de clarifier la situation entre ce qui est fait par la communauté et ce qui est fait par 500ng (détenteur et hébergeur du domaine systeme-fate.fr).

* Pour facilité l'administration, le suivit et la gestion du wiki et du forum.

A-t-on perdu des choses dans le processus ?

* Sur le Forum : Oui, il y a eu un message dans le forum qui a été publié entre le moment ou j'ai fait la copie et le moment de la bascule, c'était l'annone de l'existence d'une autre communauté comme source d'inspiration pour du jeu de pirates... et je ne me suis pas battu pour le rajouter.

* Sur le wiki NON et nous avons même enrichit ce dernier, ajout des boites à outils 2 & 3 et les traducteurs de Transhumanity’s Fate ont commencés la relecture de leur traduction.

Ce changement nous à aussi permis de changer la version du forum et du wiki vers leurs dernières versions respective, ainsi que de passer les templates en réactifs pour être afficher sur terminaux mobile.

Nous avons aussi mis en place un anti-spam qui fonctionne ! 185 inscriptions de spammeur rejetés depuis la mise en place du site.

La mise en service a malheureusement coïncidé avec un gros incident chez ovh et nous avons eu une interruption de service de 35 heures environ.
Ayant tout en backup il n'y avait que l'indisponibilité qui était gênante.
https://fate-srd.fr