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Fan Friday: Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer!

February 15th, 2013

Hey, everyone! It’s Fan Friday and this week I’m talking about a fantasy themed card game called Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer. For those of you unfamiliar, Ascension is a deck building card game. If you don’t quite know what I’m talking about, don’t worry. Two months ago, I was also unfamiliar with the term but now I can explain the premise.

It’s 2-4 players, so a few of your friends can enjoy it as well.

With Ascension, each player begins with ten cards shuffle into a deck. You then draw five cards from your deck and that’s your hand.

In the middle of the board (yes, there’s a pretty cool looking board and it keeps everything super organized) is the main deck. This deck has things like monsters and heroes. Six cards are drawn from the top of that deck and put into the center.

Next, you use your hand to defeat monsters or acquire heroes. Heroes and other similar card go into your deck and can be used as the game progresses. For monsters killed, heroes acquired, and so on, you gain honor in the form of gems. At the end of the game (when the gems run out), whoever has acquired the most honor wins. If you think Zuko would love this game and scream “honor!” all the time, you’re right. If you didn’t catch that reference, don’t worry about it.

That’s the best and simplest explanation I can give without actually showing you the cards and playing the game. Believe me, this game is worth playing.

Why do I love it?

Art: I mentioned that it’s a fantasy themes game, right? Well the art is really great on these cards. I love card art. Honestly, I just love art. In card games or board games, I think art can make or break you. Monster, heroes, and other cards have themes attached to them. You can tell because the art is different. Color choices are different. The whole game is great and the art makes it even better.

Competition: I’ve played various tabletop and card games but this one is probably the most enjoyable one because you’re not in direct “combat” with one another. I enjoy going head to head with someone, I enjoy attacking their characters, cards, and other stuff, it can be a fun experience. However, such games usually lose their casual and fun tone. Ascension is different. You’re vanquishing monsters, acquiring cards, and gaining honor. You’re seeing who can acquire the most honor, so the game is less about the other player and more about how well you can do. At the end, you find out if you’ve done a better job than the other player. To me, it’s a casual and fun way to play.

Fair: Here’s the deal. Players start with the same cards, see all the same cards in the center area, and have equal opportunities. It’s extremely fair and even a new player can beat an experienced player if they get the hang of the game.

Price: This is debatable with anyone but I think the game is reasonably priced and the expansions are a great value for what they cost. Here’s what I really love, they’re closed sets. You can play wit just an expansion. You can add the expansion to your game. Or, you can play an expansion (2p) when you have less people and the main game when you have more (2-4p). HEre’s the other thing I love. Unlike trading card game (where card rarity is a factor), you’ll never find yourself spending big money to have the rare card that gives you an edge. It’s fair, you pay once (or more if you’re interested in expansions), but you never need to buy more. You don’t need to keep up with new sets if you enjoy the original.

Close games: I’ve had a ton of close games. Rarely have I seen someone lose by a substantial amount, maybe just once. Otherwise, I’ve seen and taken part in many close games. While you may still lose, it’s always nice to know that the game was close. On that same note, when playing multiple games, I’ve never seen someone dominate the field. The title of winner gets passed back and forth pretty regularly because the game is incredibly balanced.

Mystery: The cards you acquire are worth a certain amount of honor as well. You combine the honor you’ve acquired in gems with the honor you’ve acquired from your deck. This means that someone can have a ton of gems, but their cards aren’t worth much. If the opposing player has acquired cards with higher honor and focused less on gems, they can still win the game. You may think your winning or losing, but it’s truly a mystery until the end of the game.

Apps: That’s right, they have apps for this. Want to try it out but don’t want to make the big investment? Buy the app and see what you think. The app even teaches you how to play and then lets you play with people from around the world. It’s great, it’s reasonable, and you don’t have to shuffle a thing. Timed matches are perfect for when you only have fifteen minutes to spare.

Expansions: I love the expansions for this game! Each expansion has added something new. Buy the original, play it for a while, it’s great. Then, if you want to mix it up, check out the expansions. Each one brings something unique. Here’s something awesome, you can play expansions on their own or shuffle them into a main set. I love it, the whole game is great and the designers are truly brilliant.

Where can you find Ascension? Let me give you some links…

Main site- www.ascensiongame.com

Retailer- www.miniaturemarket.com/ascension-chronicle-of-the-godslayer.html

(and it looks like they might have a special running this week)

Actually, I’m going to stop there. Ascension’s home page has a link to Facebook, Twitter and the app store.

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Writing Wednesday: Establishing Characters

February 13th, 2013

Last month I wrote about reader expectations and how failing to meet such expectations can result in the loss of a reader. Right now, I want to talk about how to establish a character quickly within your own writing. Introducing a character and trying to convey something meaningful about can be a tough balancing act sometimes.

When you describe someone, maybe a friend or character, you probably strive to say the most with as few words as possible. If you’re writing a novel, short story, poem, etc., this is very true.

During residency I was asked about one of my former professors from undergrad. I had mentioned that, while he didn’t know anything about fantasy, he taught a few genre writers and genuinely helped them. Well, this prodded someone to ask what I meant by “he didn’t know anything about fantasy.” A fair question, so I told her…

He’s a great writer, his readings are amazing, and he has a gift when it comes to teaching. However, when I mentioned the word “werewolf,” his only point of reference was Teen Wolf with Michael J. Fox. When I mentioned “elves,” his only point of reference was Keebler.

Not only did I make my point pretty clearly but what I said was absolutely true. When I use that description, I’m usually making the point that someone can help a beginner with their writing, even if they lack knowledge of the genre. It’s always meant as a complimentary statement because he’s an incredible professor and friend.

My example was to establish the person with a specific purpose. When first introducing a character, you want to portray a dominant feature about them. You want the reader to feel like they know something about the character other than just physical traits. Let’s take a look at an example from John Cheever’s story, The Swimmer.

“He was a slender man— he seemed to have the especial slenderness of youth— and while he was far from young he had slid down his banister that morning and given the bronze backside of Aphrodite on the hall table a smack, as he jogged toward the smell of coffee in his dining room.”

So this guy, an older man, slender, slides down a banister and slaps the backside of a statue. To me, it says that while he’s not young, he has a young and potentially immature personality. He’s also jogging in the morning, so he’s probably a morning person. The reader knows that this man, young or not, has a lot of energy. All of this is done while creating an image for the reader to enjoy. We can see the man doing this while simultaneously picking up on what it says about his character.

Sometimes, I like to think of type of introduction as answering two questions. What do you want to convey about the character? How can the character interact with immediate surroundings so deliver that message? This isn’t the only way to introduce a character but this is one useful way to think about it. This method is extremely useful for minor characters because the reader spends less time with them. Therefore, you as an author have less time to establish who they are, what they want, and why the reader should pay attention to them.

So now it’s your turn, what kind of introductions do you like to read or write? What other elements can an introduction employ to be impactful? Can you think of any memorable character introductions in stories you’ve read?

While this isn’t an official citation, I do like to give sources for things I use on the blog.

Cheever, John (2010-07-23). The Stories of John Cheever (Kindle Locations 12280-12281). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

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Story Sunday: The Walking Dead: A Story of Survivors

February 10th, 2013

Hi, everyone! It’s Story Sunday again and this week I’m writing about The Walking Dead. For all of you who have been waiting (myself included), season three continues tonight!

Honestly, the topic I’ve chose for today could have fit into Writing Wednesday but I think it works for Story Sunday as well. I was going to look at a specific arc in the show but I kept coming back to one idea, just how different The Walking Dead is from other zombie stories I’ve seen. So I decided to look at the beginning of the show, the world building that took place, and how a (somewhat) unresolved arc set the tone of the show.

In the first episode, Rick runs into a man named Morgan and his son named Duane. Morgan and Duane have a tragic story at the end of the world. Morgan’s wife turned into a zombie and at night she him and Duane can see her roaming around outside of their house. Morgan wants to kill his wife, he wants to put her out of her misery, but he can’t seem to do it. This kind of storytelling sets a personal tone for the story. Zombies aren’t chasing them through the streets, they’re not breaking through doors, though we find out later that they’re capable of such things. What the audience is shown initially is the emotional trauma of being left behind in this new world. Rick, who is only beginning his journey, doesn’t know the fate of his family. This begins another emotional arc for the main protagonist.

The Walking Dead isn’t just a survival story at all costs. The narrative focuses on the repercussions of actually living as a survivor in a world that’s a husk its former self.

In order to continue his journey, Rick leaves behind Morgan and Duane. This is kind of a strange thing for the show to do, but like I said before, it sets the tone for the show. Rick says that he’ll turn on his radio every morning at dawn. This gives the audience, and Rick, some hope that he’ll meet back up with Morgan and Duane. This arc isn’t really given much closer, it just fades away. Rick doesn’t see Morgan or Duane again. He doesn’t hear from them on the radio and he can only hope that they’ve survived. As Rick (and the audience) learns more about the world, the less likely their safety seems.

The writers established that in this world, you may need to leave people behind. Unlike many stories, leaving someone behind can be a permanent choice. The protagonist and the viewers may not get to see the resolution of every person they encounter along the way. For some things will end well, for others they’ll end terribly, and some people will just disappear without resolution.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think of the first episode? Were you hooked after just one episode? What other moments did you enjoy from the first season?

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Fan Friday: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

February 9th, 2013

Hey, everyone! It’s Fan Friday here on the blog and this week we have a theme of The Walking Dead. Obviously, I’m a fan of the show and the comics. Since I’m talking about the show this week (and the comic at a later date), I’m going to focus this post on the character of Daryl Dixon. His character doesn’t exist in the comics and he’s brought some interesting things to the show, like his brother Merl. While he may not be everyone’s favorite character, there are some really great reasons to be a fan.

Daryl doesn’t really need the group for physical reasons. Sure, he’s been in danger like everyone else, but he seems to handle it a lot better than anyone else. He can hunt on his own, he can track animals, walkers, and people through the woods. He’s careful, this isn’t the guy who’s going to charge a group of walkers unless it’s absolutely necessary. If I had to guess, the group has actually slowed him down and put him in danger a few times.

Here’s one of the best things about his character, he’s still with the group. Even though he may not need them physically, he’s formed a bond with them. That bond was questioned in season two and it’s only grown since then. He’s expressed that he’s unlike anyone else in the group. He comes from a different background and a different way of living. Their current situation, however, forces them all to live the same way and under the same conditions, more or less.

Loyalty, shared experiences, and compassion have kept him in the group as a major player. While he might not need them all they time, they would certainly feel the loss of Daryl. Loyalty means so much to Daryl, the conflict they’ve built up this season with Merl is going to be amazing. He wants to help his brother, not because Merl is a good guy, but because Daryl is a loyal guy who tries to do the right thing. Merl’s interests are in direct conflict with the rest of the group and that makes for some great tension.

If you need another reason to like Daryl, he’s played by Norman Reedus. This is one of those times where the casting was absolutely perfect. With the acting skills of Reedus and the well-constructed character of Daryl, there’s no reason not to be a fan.

Now it’s your turn, who is your favorite character? What are you looking forward to in the last half of the season?

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Writing Wednesday: The Walking Dead: Leadership Roles

February 6th, 2013

Hey, everyone! It’s Writing Wednesday again and this week’s theme is The Walking Dead! This week, I’ll be sticking close to what we’ve seen in the show. It’s possible that later in the year I’ll talk about the comic. Today I’ll be focusing on the character of Rick as a protagonist that becomes darker and darker as the show goes on. This post may contain mild spoilers.

If you’ve been watching the show, you know that Rick is pretty much the leader of the survivors right now. This has been true since season one but the position becomes more prevalent and defined as the show goes on. Rick once ruled through democracy but an inability to make certain decisions has forced Rick into the role of leader.

The role of leader is a tricky one. I think many writers are inclined to make their leaders fearless, doubtless, and correct in their decisions. The trick to keeping Rick interesting is that the group is often split on his decisions. Because the group is split, the audience is likely to be split on what Rick should do. This tactic keeps the audience engaged in the decisions being made. It also keeps Rick from being a constant do-good hero without flaws.

Each decision, from killing outsiders to killing insiders, pushes Rick a little further from being “good” by his own definition. In season three, the audience is introduced to the character of The Governor. He’s the leader of a town, an actual working town in the apocalypse. On the surface, he seems like a good guy. Underneath, not so much. He goes to great lengths, killing, experimentation, and an iron fist, to keep his own town safe. Like Rick, he’s a leader who has had to make hard decisions to survive. His group is quite a bit larger than Rick’s, so we can only assume that he’s also made difficult decisions to survive.

However, it’s not to be mistaken, The Governor is a bad guy. He’s portrayed as such, even though the water is murky when it comes to the difference between him and Rick.

What separates Rick from The Governor?

The lines are blurry on this one. Earlier in season three, The Governor had his men kill a bunch of military survivors. The reasoning, according to The Governor, was that those men could overthrow their town. Would Rick do that? Right now, I don’t think he would. However, with each passing episode I believe he’s moving closer and closer to being that kind of person.

So, when the lines are this blurred, the audience needs something to latch on to. Here’s where The Governor’s treatment of Maggie comes in. The Governor forces her to strip down in front of him. If you’ve read the comics, you know he’s even worse. This is something the audience probably can’t imagine Rick ever doing. For all the terrible things Rick might be willing to do, they all revolve around protecting the group. They do not revolve around power. The Governor’s traits are centered around personal power and it’s apparent in this scene.

How does the show keep Rick and The Governor relatable and humanized?

Rick has a family, so this is easy. He has children, a wife, and people that he cares about. These are people he can lose, and so these are people he needs to protect. People and attachments help to keep Rick somewhat grounded during these difficult times.

I don’t think it’s out of place to say that The Governor might be Rick’s potential future. The Governor has lost his wife and seen his daughter turned into a walker. Because of this, The Governor is the protector of a group but has few grounding emotional attachments. In fact, his largest attachment is his zombie daughter. If Rick went through the same thing with Carl, I wonder if he truly would break and become nearly indistinguishable from The Governor.

Now it’s your turn, what do you think? Do you see Rick becoming more and more like The Governor? Do you think the writers have done a good job drawing both similarities and differences between these two leaders? Have you seen other leader portrayed the same way Rick has been portrayed over the three seasons?

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