The Elf and Dwarf

V2 Episode 5: Geeking in the Dark

theelfanddwarf — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:58:40 +0000

Due to the recent storm that hit Michigan (and a neighbor who refused to call Ms. Digg before doing major landscaping) we’ve been both without power and internet until today. True to form we did get out a short conversation about geeking without power and how we’ve been surviving without email, the web, or WoW.

The Elf and Dwarf go Dark

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:39:32 +0000

Sorry folks, no show this week. Due to the massive storms that hit the midwest this week we are without power. Rorlins is cheating by blogging this from his desk in his classroom when he should be grading final exams. We will return to the virtual airwaves next week.

Why not use this week to check out the Wife Agro Podcast, or Mischief and Mayhem?

Or you can use this break to complain to all of your friends about how much you miss your weekly dose of Hunter Banter! Tell them how disappointed you were that you didn’t get to hear about the joys of balancing a marriage, multiple MMO subscriptions, a tabletop game and a newborn! Let them know how frustrated your entire week will be without your fix of book reivews, movie commentary and lots and lots of nearly useless statistics!

Then tell them how the Elf and Dwarf will be back next week, and how they can find the show themselves!

V2 E4: I am Iron Man

theelfanddwarf — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:43:47 +0000

Okay neither of us is Iron Man, but we did see it and we do want to talk about it, after we go over some of our impressions of modern heroes in the media. We also review the MMO City of Heroes, talk about the death of Gwen Stacey, and then close with a full spoiler review of Iron Man. Yes, kids, stop listening at the one hour mark to avoid spoilers.

V2 Episode 3: Raiders of the blah blah

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:26:05 +0000

It’s all about a dog! Well, a character named after a dog. This week we’re talking about Indiana Jones, looking at all four of the movies and some of the trivia and folklore that go with them. At the end of the show the Hunters look at the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in a full force spoilery review. You have been warned. Featuring audio clips from Motor City Comic Con.

V2 Episode 2: Ahoy!

theelfanddwarf — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:54:36 +0000

Avast and Ahoy ya swabs, this week we be talkin’ pirates. Why is it they’re so cool? What makes them among the top grossing films? What is about buckling swashes and swinging from chandelers? Oh, and what’s this new MMO Age of Conan? Rorlins reports on Motor City Comic Con (as much as Ady lets him) and we’ve got some preview material for the upcoming Indiana Jones movie. Special Musical guest: Tanglefoot with Traighli Bay.

Motor City Comic Con

theelfanddwarf — Sat, 17 May 2008 23:40:30 +0000

While I have little to report here (I’m saving it for the podcast) I do want to give a shout out to an old friend from my college years: Jane Irwin.

Jane’s the author of the Vogelein comic, as well as the historical “Clockwork Game” comic. On top of that and working a day job, Jane does speaking engagements at libraries and children’s groups to help encourage art, creativity and comics.

V2 Episode 1: Just a Game!

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:02:43 +0000

As our friends over at Wife Aggro like to have in their intro “it’s just a game”. Well, the Elf and Dwarf took this week to discuss just that idea. Is it really just a game? Is it more? Returning from their “Family Leave” the hunter duo tackle this and a book review of Novik’s “His Majesty’s Dragon”.

Not quite Back Yet

theelfanddwarf — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:34:17 +0000

We do plan to return soon. But we’ve had some complications. Little Xander is a bit more jaundiced then the doctors like so we are on a very strict feeding regimin of every 2 hours. This means that 30 min out of every 120 is spent feeding, and we get at most 90 min of downtime to eat, sleep, clean, do laundry, restock the changing table, etc etc.

We haven’t forgotten the fun of podcasting and with the holiday season coming we are anxious to get back to our pontifications on the world of Fantasy and Sci Fi entertainment.

In the mean time though, I’m going to be the proud papa and show off some more baby stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4irGkFDh4A

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/sirgarrett/P1010103.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/sirgarrett/P1010113.jpg

The Gnome has Landed

theelfanddwarf — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:32:25 +0000

At 11:00 pm EST, on Nov 21, 2007, Alexander Robert, weighing a pretentious 8 lbs, 5.2 oz, and measuring 23 inches in length was born. He was so excited to be out, in fact, and so pleased with this new world of light and sound, that he pee’d on the nurses while they gave him his first round of tests in the delievery OR.

Lots of fun stories to follow.

Where we went…

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:51:30 +0000

Well, we went off the air again, mainly because getting Addy to have the time to sit and talk was getting harder and harder as the pregency went on and on.

But as I type this, I am taking a break from the hospital. Addy’s water broke around 7:30 pm est 11/20/07. The gnome should be out and kicking sometime in the next day. We’ll keep you posted!

Episode 35: Vampires

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:41:00 +0000

That’s right to mesh with our Halloween theme, the Elf and Dwarf talk about the classic RPG Vampire the Masquerade. First comes some news (well a LOT of news) from the fantasy/ sci fi worlds including info on Pushing Daisies, the JLA movie, WoW news, and oh yeah, Dumbledore is gay. Then usual quick email segment (the Dragonlance Trailer is out there!) and then Ady does a book review!

Episode 34: Inspire Me!

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:42:33 +0000

So where do you start when you make a character? This episode is one part article review (thanks to the folks at WoW Insider) and one part RP advice column. In addition to our Topic of the Week, we talk about news, goings on, and Adeldia uses her own Bully Pulpit to talk about the challenges facing those that help adopt animals. Oh and there’s a new contest/ poll for the show!

The Baby Vote

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:14:02 +0000

So here’s the official entry: Cast your vote for the official name that Rorlins and Adeldia will use to tell his parents, the last people who insist on being surprised, what they’ve picked for a girls name. Your choices, in no particular order are:

a) Miranda

b) Serenity

c) Elizabeth

d) Kaylee

The winning name will be announced next week and will be the “official” name used to keep Rorlin’s parents in the dark about the nature of the Gnome. Of course if the gnome does turn out to be a girl gnome and not the boy we expect, we reserve the right to name her whatever we please.

OMG It’s Optimus Prime!

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:19:11 +0000

No Kidding you have Optimus Prime himself call you or your friend on the phone to warn them about the Decepticons moving in on earth!

http://optimus.transformersmovie.com/

This has to be the COOLest marketing ploy. Ever.

Episode 32b: Future Past Part 2

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:18:07 +0000

And now we’re into part 2. We talk about some of the more interesting time travel movies, TV shows and books we’ve encountered. In this episode we touch on Voyagers, Back to the Future, an obscure Ray Bradbury story, The Butterfly Effect and even Bill and Ted. Oh and after the music, we have spoilers for the upcoming Golden Compass movie (though they’re not spoilers to those that have read the books).

Episode 32a: Future Past

theelfanddwarf — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:17:13 +0000

This is part 1 of a 2 parter this week. In part one we cover the news from sci fi and fantasy (at least the news we’re interested in) and talk some more about the success and failure of movies from books, and video games. There are also some tidbits about City of Heroes and some friend’s new blog articles.

It’s about the Baby!

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:27:18 +0000

No, Ady did not go into labor. But she did spend all day at her mother-in-laws for a baby shower, one at which the Gnome got a TON of new (and needed) stuff. So we’re hoping to get Episode 32 recorded and in the can Tuesday night after Bones (though I think Ady forget she wants to watch Reaper that night too).

Episode 31: Know your Role (still)

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:23:03 +0000

Okay so that’s not all we have this week. First the Hunter Pair go through the news wire and gab about some of the more interesting stories to come down the pipeline. Kodath reports in on the new voice chat for WoW that’s finally implemented. Back to gaming talk we go over how MMO’s and Table Top gaming seem to be converging again, but with MMO’s seeming to be winning in the conversion. Some email reactions round out the show.

I feel… exploited

theelfanddwarf — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:12:48 +0000

http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/10/04/is-blizzard-exploiting-wow-players/

The case is made in a new paper that MMO’s exploit their players by failing to provide real entertainment but instead by stringing them along with very carefully planned rewards, often not relevant to what the player wants but what the player percieves they need. For example you “grind” through 10 levels from 30 to 40 in WoW, not because you are actually enjoying playing those levels but becuase there is a planned prize (Mount for example) waiting for you at the end of the grind.

And you PAY for the priveledge of this grind. The case made in the original article (go back a few links through WoW Insider) is that this is not only exploitive but borderline unethical. The initial author makes the case that a game should be fun at all turns and that the carefully planned rewards should be part of that fun. Instead MMO makers learn the thresholds people have for monotony and tedium and provide just enough incentive to start the next “grind”.

With all the talk about changing XP for the 0-60 game in WoW or the talk in other MMO’s about “grind levels” I’m forced to wonder if perhaps there might be something to this.

What do you think?

Episode 30: What We’re Watching

theelfanddwarf — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:18:18 +0000

The new season of TV is on us! Touching base on all the new TV in the Sci Fi and Fantasy genres that we plan to watch we make some predictions on what to expect this season, at least from our point of view. We also defended our “bashing” of Eragon, and took a new look at laws about violent video games thanks to some listener emails. Kodath makes his return to the show with a new regular news segment about goings on in WoW