I like Pasta

I like Pasta products. These include Vermicelli and Ramen Noodles. I find them to be tasty.

Awwww....

Apparently, no one reads my blog anymore. I have a new character up, and I thought it was pretty easy. Not one guess.

: (

Sweden

My parents have gone to Sweden for a week and a half. I was assured that they would contact me (via e-mail) as soon as they were able. It has been three days now, with no word. I have a vague suspicion that their trip may be more permanent than they described to me.

Character #4

Name: XXXXXX


Attributes [15]
ST 9 [-10]
DX 8 [-40]
IQ 15 [100]
HT 9 [-10]


TL: 7 [0]

Languages: English (Native) [0]; Yiddish (Native) [6].

Advantages [38]
Absolute Timing [2]
Photographic Memory [10]
Reputation (Celebrity) (4) (10 or less; Large class) [5]
Status (1) [5]
Wealth (Comfortable) [10]

Disadvantages [-27]
Bad Sight (Nearsighted) (Glasses) [-10]
Compulsive Behavior (Writing) (-1) (9 or less) [-7]
Phobia (Acrophobia: Heights) (12 or less) [-10]

Quirks [-4]
Afraid of Needles and Blood [-1]
Alcohol Intolerance [-1]
Likes Small, Enclosed Spaces [-1]
Proud [-1]

Skills [55]
Astronomy/TL7 IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Biology/TL7 (Earthlike) IQ/VH - IQ-3 12 [1]
Chemistry/TL7 IQ/H - IQ+1 16 [8]
Connoisseur (Literature) IQ/A - IQ+0 15 [1]
Connoisseur (Music) IQ/A - IQ-1 14 [1]
Driving/TL7 (Automobile) DX/A - DX+2 10 [1]
Geology/TL7 (Earthlike) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
History (Ancient Greece) IQ/H - IQ-1 14 [2]
History (Ancient Rome) IQ/H - IQ-1 14 [2]
History (Biblical) IQ/H - IQ-1 14 [2]
History (Science) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Mathematics/TL7 (Applied) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Mathematics/TL7 (Computer Science) IQ/H - IQ-1 14 [2]
Naturalist (Earth) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Public Speaking IQ/A - IQ+1 16 [4]
Singing HT/E - HT+2 11 [4]
Sociology IQ/H - IQ-1 14 [2]
Soldier/TL6 IQ/A - IQ-1 14 [1]
Teaching IQ/A - IQ-1 14 [1]
Theology (Christian) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Theology (Judeaic) IQ/H - IQ-2 13 [1]
Typing DX/E - DX+8 16 [4]
Writing IQ/A - IQ+3 18 [12]

Does it Work? Don't Ask the Salesman!

What gets me about the news is that they placidly accept whatever an authority figure says. If there are two authority figures involved, they let both have a soundbite. There's no concern about what is true.

For example: Is Depleted Uranium dangerous? Authorities say no. some crackpots say yes.

The news does no research into the matter, they just repeat the positions of the two sides. Worst of all, they seem unconcerned that both sides have an obvious agenda. (The military wants to keep using DU regardless of whether it causes cancer, and the "crackpots" want medical care for their cancer.)

Promotions Lost

So I didn't get that promotion. Too bad. Apparently, I didn't do good enough on the written test. That test really puts too much emphasis on knowledge of St. Paul.

It's not that bad, I'll live.

Moving in Minneapolis

It's strange looking for a place in Minneapolis. The owners don't try to sell you the place, because they know someone will end up getting it. Their general approach is to show you the place, and tell you its price. If you don't like it, someone else will get it soon.

Concerning character #3, I'm raising the bounty to 2 character points, due to the difficulty.

Character #3

If you guys solve this one fast, I'll be jiggered.

Make sure that you know the rules before you respond!

Name: XXXXXX

Attributes [20]
ST 10
DX 10
IQ 11 [20]
HT 10


Social Background
TL: 8 [0]

Languages:
English (Native) [0]

Advantages [50]
Gadgeteer (Quick) [50]

Disadvantages [-67]
Alcoholism [-15]
Bully (12 or less) [-10]
Compulsive Lying (12 or less) [-15]
Enemy (XXXXXX) (Less powerful than the PC) (Rival; 9 or less) [-2]
Odious Personal Habit (Cruel to Animals) (-2) [-10]
Reputation (Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know) (-2) (Small Group Of People; All the time) [-5]
Workaholic [-5]

Skills [33]
Driving/TL8 (Automobile) DX/A - DX+0 10 [2]
Engineer/TL8 (Small Arms) IQ/H - IQ-1 10 [2]
Engineer/TL8 (Automobile) IQ/H - IQ+1 12 [8]
Explosives/TL8 (Demolition) IQ/A - IQ+1 12 [4]
Fast-Talk IQ/A - IQ+3 14 [12]
Mathematics/TL8 (Applied) IQ/H - IQ-2 9 [1]
Mechanic/TL8 (Automobile) IQ/A - IQ-1 10 [1]
Throwing DX/A - DX+0 10 [2]
Traps/TL8 IQ/A - IQ-1 10 [1]

Broken Promises

So I showed Eric that another character was up. My bad. (Congrats on getting is so fast, by the way.) Anyway, the next entry will have no forewarning. I assure you. Again.

Character #2

Before you try to answer this one, make sure you know the new rules for guessing.

This one is quite a bit more tricky, so try to stretch your imagination, or whatever it is you do to get ideas. It's also a little deceptive, so be clever.

Name: XXXXXX

Attributes [60]
ST 10
DX 10
IQ 12 [40]
HT 10

HP 10
Will 16 [20]
Per 12
FP 10

Social Background
TL: 8 [0]
Cultural Familiarities: Western [0]
Languages: English (Native) [0].

Advantages [20]
Charisma (1) [5]
Fit [5]
High Pain Threshold [10]

Disadvantages [-45]
Delusion (XXXXXX) (Major) [-10]
Incurious (12 or less) [-5]
Insomniac (Severe) [-15]
XXXXXX (12 or less) [-15]

Quirks [-2]
Distractible [-1]
Dreamer [-1]

Skills [7]
Brawling DX/E - DX+0 10 [1]
Cooking IQ/A - IQ-1 11 [1]
Professional Skill (Claims Adjusting) IQ/A - IQ+1 13 [4]
Wrestling DX/A - DX-1 9 [1]

Rules Changes

A rule change: You can guess as often as you like, but you must either wait for an hour, or for someone else to make a guess. I don't want someone guessing a dozen people before anyone else even sees it.

The rest of the rules are Here, for those that haven't seen them yet.

We have a winner!

Well, it looks like Jeff has already won, and pretty fast if I say so myself.

Next time, I won't be giving any advance notice about when the character will be posted, so it won't be answered so quickly, I think.

The First Challenge

Here's the first character. Put your guess in the comments section, and make sure to sign it in such a way that I know who you are!

Name: XXXXXX

Attributes [40]
ST 9 [-10]
DX 10
IQ 12 [40]
HT 10

HP 9
Will 12
Per 14 [10]
FP 10

Basic Speed 5
Basic Move 5

Ground Move 5

Social Background
TL: 7 [0]
Cultural Familiarities:
Languages: Arabic [4]; Cantonese [4]; Dutch [4]; English (Native) [0]; Finnish [4]; German [4]; Mandarin [4]; Mayan [4]; Mongolian [4]; Spanish [4].

Advantages [291]
Business Acumen (4) [40]
Language Talent [10]
Permeation (Treasure) (Rare) [5]
Wealth (Multimillionaire 6) [200]

Disadvantages [-33]
Bad Temper (12 or less) [-10]
Enemy (XXXXXX) (Equal in power to the PC) (6 or less; Rival) [-3]
Jealousy [-10]
Miserliness (Spends Freely In Pursuit of More Wealth) (15 or less) [-5]
Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) [-5]

Skills [51]
Climbing DX/A - DX-1 9 [1]
Connoisseur (Visual Arts) IQ/A - IQ-1 11 [1]
Current Affairs/TL7 (Business) IQ/E - IQ+1 13 [2]
Economics IQ/H - IQ+5 17 [1]
includes: +4 from 'Business Acumen'
Finance IQ/H - IQ+8 20 [19]
includes: +4 from 'Business Acumen'
Hiking HT/A - HT-1 9 [1]
History (Ancient) IQ/H - IQ-2 10 [1]
Merchant IQ/A - IQ+8 20 [16]
includes: +4 from 'Business Acumen'
Navigation/TL7 (Land) IQ/A - IQ-1 11 [1]
Navigation/TL7 (Sea) IQ/A - IQ-1 11 [1]
Savoir-Faire (High Society) IQ/E - IQ+0 12 [1]
Survival (Jungle) Per/A - Per-1 13 [1]
Swimming HT/E - HT+2 12 [4]
Tracking Per/A - Per-1 13 [1]

The Contest!

I have designed a contest. Its premise is simple: I will write up a character in GURPS terms, and my loyal readers will attempt to decipher who it is. The first person to respond with the correct name in the 'comments' section of that post will win a character point.

Obviously, I will skip any proper nouns in the write-up that would make the game winnable with a simple google search. Also, my write-ups won't be perfect, so feel free to guess things that aren't perfectly in accordance with your view of the character.

The characters can be from history, modern times, mythology, modern fiction, or popular culture. They can be well known, or very obscure. Keep in mind that some characters could have a completely different character sheet at different times in their lives.

I plan to have the first character up later today or tomorrow, then I plan to put one up roughly once a week.

Back and Stanky

I'm back from the BWCA. While I was there, I thought of a cool thing to do with the blog. I'll have the details soon, but rest assured: it's cool.

BWCA

I am heading out to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I'm leaving on Sunday, so today is my last day in civilization for a while. I'll be gone until Thursday, so try to get by without me, everyone.

I know you are all utterly dependent on this weblog, but try to get by without any updates for a few days.

Promotion

I'm going for a promotion today. I give a five minute speech, then I take a written test. Wish me luck!

Movin' Out

I am moving out of my place at Melrose Apartments (not Melrose Place). Instead, I am going to a place all my own. I will have a personal refrigerator and oven in my own kitchen. Calling it a kitchen is an exaggeration, but so it goes. Later, I'll provide photos of the new place.

Venture Bros. Vs Screw-on Head

So, the 'best show on TV' award belongs to Venture Bros. or The amazing Screw-On Head. If Screw-On Head has another episode, I'll give it my vote.

There are a few similarities between the two shows:

Both are cartoons.

Both are parodies of the 'super' genre.

Both have a relatively low budget.

Both are on non-major channels (Sci-fi and Cartoon network, respectively).

What does this tell us? Shows don't need money to be good, and there's nothing about the 'major' channels that makes them better than the fringe channels. All a show needs is talented people putting their best into a product.