James R. Andersen

  I loathe my smartphone. An audit of the hours in my day would say otherwise. I would destroy it and trade it in for a Nokia if it were not so insidiously enmeshed in my life. Work, social life, banking, travel; it is increasingly difficult to do any of these things without a smartphone (which is constantly monitoring you on behalf of the state, by the way). Even Mr. LaFond, who is fortunate enough to eschew the damned device, relies on others who use them for publishing and web related purposes. We have so completely enslaved ourselves to The Device that I doubt many would be able to survive without them. What is to be done? They are not going away, soon anyway, and living without one requires an almost complete exit from society. This is no doubt attractive to some, less so to others with ambitions of conquering some small part of this decrepit civilization. This is for the latter, those who for whatever reason have to move and interact within society at large, and thus must car...

I would not rate a man worth mention or account either for speed of foot or wrestling skill, not even if he had a Cyclop's size and strength or could outrun the fierce north wind of Thrace; I would not care if he surpassed Tithonus's looks, or Cinyras's or Midas's famous wealth, or were more royal than Pelops son of Tantalus, or had Adrastus's smooth persuasive tongue, or fame for everything save only valor; no, no man is of high regard in time of war unless he can endure the sight of blood and death, and stand close to the enemy, and fight. This is the highest worth, the finest human prize and fairest for a bold young man to win. -Trytaeus  Th is is for warriors. Others may not understand or find it disturbing. Contemplate this; driving your thumb into the eye of an enemy, feeling the viscous liquid as the sclera pops, hear his screams of pain in your ears. His cries to family and God. See the twisted terror in his face, the writhing of his body under yours. You ar...

  It’s about killing.  It’s not about workouts.  It’s not about times on the range.  It’s not about corporate leadership summits.  It’s about killing.  Men who practice the warrior’s craft in peacetime often mistake the purpose. The purpose is killing. Ending your opponent's life before he ends yours. There are many pieces to achieving this, many capabilities to train. The purpose of all of them is to become more efficient at killing. Peace obscures this.  It is not possible to be constantly at war, and training cannot involve killing. Nor does it always need to suggest or simulate violence, either. The tools at the disposal of warriors are vast. Many capabilities, especially in current conflict, are required to be effective on the battlefield. It is the task of the individual, supported by organization and team culture, to remember the greater purpose: closing with and destroying the enemy.  Climbing and land navigation training assist in m...

  Grappling is often over-simplified in roleplay gaming and does not offer the possibilities it does in reality. This is an attempt to fix that. A skilled grappler can manipulate their opponent in myriad ways not limited to pinning and restraining. Depending on style they can break limbs, inflict damage by smashing their opponent on the ground, strangle them, or put them in a weaker position to be finished off with a weapon.  Grappling is a crucial part of armed combat and neglecting it makes for a less dynamic and believable game.  More versatile grappling rules enhance gameplay and player agency, opening up many new possibilities in combat and non-lethal encounters.  5E:  Everyone is a Grappler Grappling/wrestling/open-handed-fighting is not the purview of one class or style of fighting, it may be necessary for any archetype of adventurer to engage in grappling at some point. This is a key aspect of close quarters fighting.  A strong character might grapp...

A spear with a shaft made of the wood of a still-living sacred ancient oak. The shaft is intricately carved with runes and animal figures.  The head is fine steel but can become dull and break like any metal.  The wood never chips or splinters, and metal weapons bounce off of it as if it were stone, but it is as flexible, springy, and light as the best wood.   It is said that it can be broken, but a giant would have trouble breaking this shaft.  If the oak dies the spear loses these properties.  

  Spring. The air is cool, the morning light is pink and pale. Small white flowers form a carpet around trees still bare from winter only recently departed.  I see her there. Flushed and fair. Glowing in that tender light, which morning only produces. She wears no smile on her lips,  nor any expression on her brow. There is no need, peace prevails . Birds sing gently through the boughs and branches. Each playing their part in the rich symphony. The flowers sway in a light breeze.  There are her eyes, searching in their depth. Like a purling stream in green and blue and gray. Now glancing from petal to branch, trunk to sky. Looking for nothing.  Hair pours down her back, long and full. Only a few strands disturbed by the breeze. Golden-brown and shining like a wood finely polished.  Softly her breast rises and falls with slowly drawn breaths. As she steps with care and grace among the blooms. I watch her pass behind a tree, she is gone. The birds are singing...

     Firelight dances among raucous figures, casting long twisting shadows into the smoky heights of the hall. The din of laughter echoes out into the night, resounding beneath the high-gabled roof. Warriors line the benches, finely bestowed with golden rings glinting. They hail their chieftain, sitting proud in his high-seat, giver of rings and glory. The noble war leader is poured mead by his gracious and wise queen, and standing from his seat raises a golden horn glimmering with jewels. He praises his mighty host, calling upon the gods to grant them glory, and downing the horn to great cheers signals for the food to be served. This image is inseparable from conceptions of the Viking Age, and simultaneously represents an ideal. Then, as now, ideals do not always reflect reality.               Viking Age Scandinavian society was a feasting society. The feast in this period served a number of purposes, including ...