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User: Tilgore+Krout

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Comments · 15

  1. Re:My favorite board game is Third Reich on Designing the Best Board Game · · Score: 1

    Have you tried using VASSAL? It is a great way to play the game interactively or via PBEM. There are also modules for many, many other games that you can play with this gaming engine. You still need to own the game for the rules and charts, but the maps and pieces for the most part are handled by the VASSAL engine.

  2. Re:My favorite board game is Third Reich on Designing the Best Board Game · · Score: 1

    Obviously you and I differ on what constitutes a simulation. I don’t think Sabin or Dunnigan would say that Third Reich constitutes a true simulation since to many fudges and shortcuts have been taken to enhance game play at the expense of simulating true strategic warfare.

    Maybe you need to reconsider the definition of the word “obtuse” (“difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression”). The Third Reich rules are simple, well organized, and follow the basic outline followed by many games published by Avalon Hill, SPI, Strategy & Tactics, and others. (RE: “Wargame Design” by Berg, Dunnigan, et al). Maybe because I’ve played so many games by those publishers in the past that I find wargames much easier to play when they are organized similar to the way the Third Reich rules are organized. Especially when compared to many modern gaming system rules which are scattered throughout a large rambling rulebook that is 3/4 fluff and 1/4 actual rules (i.e. Warhammer/Warhammer 40k).

    I understand that the “obtuseness” of a set of rules is a subjective judgement, and I may be a special case (after all I consider Advanced Squad Leader to be the best set of rules in existence). At least you an I agree in the subjective judgement that Third Reich is a great game.

  3. Re:My favorite board game is Third Reich on Designing the Best Board Game · · Score: 1

    You might give VASL or VASSAL a try. With one of these programs you can play ASL opponents interactively or via PBEM. The basic engine for VASL has been ported to VASSAL which have modules for other game system (including Third Reich). You still need to purchase the game for the rules to use VASSAL but the VASSAL engine takes care of the maps, pieces, and die roles for you.

  4. Re:My favorite board game is Third Reich on Designing the Best Board Game · · Score: 2

    About the only thing we agree upon is that Third Reich is a great game and could take a day or longer to play. I don't consider the rules to be complicated/obtuse, and it is definitely not a simulation. It is a meat and potatoes grognard style game.

    I love the modern Euro-games but many times would rather play Third Reich, Empires in Arms or Advanced Squad Leader with some old friends whenever I get a chance. The former are easier to get new people into playing and don't take a lot of time, the latter require a particular kind per pedantic personality and a commitment of time.

  5. Re:Glimmer of hope, squashed on White House Pressures Legislators Into Gutting USA FREEDOM Act · · Score: 1

    The irony is that even though a McCain or Romney would be just as bad (or worse) we would at least have the Democrats screaming bloody murder over this. As is it, since their guy is in office they are hesitant to speak out against this.

    ...and vice versa

    Not really. Only the Libertarian fringe of the Republican party and the far left fringe of the Democrat party seems to be upset over this. The remaining Republicans are for the surveillance program and most of the Democrats don't want to go against the leader of their party. (Not a good thing to do in an election year)

  6. Re:Glimmer of hope, squashed on White House Pressures Legislators Into Gutting USA FREEDOM Act · · Score: 1

    The irony is that even though a McCain or Romney would be just as bad (or worse) we would at least have the Democrats screaming bloody murder over this. As is it, since their guy is in office they are hesitant to speak out against this.

  7. Re:Layoffs have legal notice requirements on Ask Slashdot: When Is It OK To Not Give Notice? · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Very true. What most people forget is that when you are laid off you are normally given a couple of weeks or more notice, just that the company doesn't normally expect (or want) you to show up for those two weeks.

    About 10 years ago I was laid off from a large company after being given my termination date about a year in advance. If I stayed on for the whole year (to help ease the transition of my job to several sites overseas) then I would get a rather large bonus for staying on.

    Of course the last couple of months I was there I was bored to death since my job was already transitioned and I was just sitting on my thumbs in case something unexpected came up and they needed to consult me. I spent my days surfing the web, and doing job searches. When I had job interviews I told my boss and he gave me the time off to go to those. By the time of my exit interview I had a new job and reported to it that job that afternoon. I was able to pocket all of my severance and bonus for staying on until the bitter end, but in retrospect I wish I would have taken a little time off since I didn't take any vacation the previous year.

  8. One Dinosaur to Rule them all... on New Dinosaur Named After the Eye of Sauron · · Score: 2

    ...One Dinosaur to find them,
    One Dinosaur to bring them all and in the darkness eat them
    In the Time of Cretaceous where the Shadows lie.

  9. Re:Tied to a time and place on TV Isn't Broken, So Why Fix It? · · Score: 1

    The very fact that there exists a kludge to fix TV demonstrates that TV is broken.

  10. This topic is ripe with jokes on Drought-Stricken Texas Town Taps Urine For Water · · Score: 1

    This is old news, Texas has been recycling piss for years and bottling it as Lone Star and Pearl beer.

  11. Re:USBee on Oscilloscopes For Modern Engineers? · · Score: 1

    Many of the embedded software engineers where I work use the USBee DX at their on-site workstations or desks and when they travel off-site. Just need a laptop and this and you have a very flexible and light 2 channel O-Scope, 16-channel logic analyzer, streaming bus protocol decoder and digital signal generator.

    While I don't have a huge amount of experience with other similar products, I do recommend this one assuming you don't need a device with higher bandwidth.

  12. Re:Not really. on Code for Unbreakable Quantum Encryption · · Score: 1

    Even after a bit of reading I still fail to see how Quantum Cryptography prevents man-in-the-middle attacks from working.

    If the OTP is intercepted from the transmitter by a 'man-in-the-middle' and at the same time he transmits a new OTP to the receiver how will either side be any wiser? The man-in-the-middle does not let either side of the conversation to communicate directly with each other therefore not allowing them to compare notes to see if the OTP was intercepted (or even if they are using the same OTP).

    The 'man-in-the-middle' can then intercept the encrypted message using the first OTP and re-transmit it to the intended receiver using the second OTP.

  13. Re:Here is the product website on Cassette-Shell Sized MP3 Player/Recorder · · Score: 1
    The DUO-DX 496 web site lists as one of the features:
    • Texas Instruments Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with upgradeable firmware supports new audio codecs and digital rights management
    So it might not be as nifty as it first seems to be.
  14. Re:MMC? on PDA Killer or Thickening Vapor? · · Score: 1

    It is refered to as MCC in the press announcement. It must have been a typo by the story submitter.

  15. What about an exact copy? on 321 Studios Plays It Safe Against the DMCA · · Score: 1

    What if I marketed a device that would make and exact copy of a DVD? You know, don't bother to decript the data, but make a copy of the DVD that reads exactly the same as the original. It would be marketed as a device to make legitimate backup copies and it wouldn't be decripting the copy protection on the DVD. Would it then be legal? Would anyone be able to successfully sue me?