Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Boardgame Development - ZhanGuo (Illiad Mod) (2 to 7 players)




This is a mod for the cardgame Illiad which is originally based on the Trojan war between the Greek states and Troy over Helen.

Changes have been made to convert the game into the 7 states of late ZhanGuo (Warring States) period of China ca. 4th-3rd century B.C.

Distinctive elements of late Warring States warfare have been incorporated into the game, whilst trying to stay within the original spirit of the Illiad gameplay.

The following are some of the basic changes and assumptions I've made in the Mod:

I've introduced crossbowmen (Nu).

I've introduced a new "missile-formation" of archer/crossbow/bing 3-row deep ranks. Only the missile infantry of the first 2 rows of the "missile-formation" can attack. Units killed within the formation are removed and the formation is reassembled downward. Cavalry and Chariots can be attacked by missile troops in "missile-formation".

I've also bumped the game up to a 7 player game to match the 7 warring states. The 7 banners of the 7 warring states now replaces the 6 heroes.

I've increased some of the unit numbers and decreased others to enable the additional 7th player, to take into account the new crossbowmen, as well as to rebalance the game towards a slightly higher emphasis on missile troops.

Gorgon is now 7th Month Hungry Ghost Festival.

Thanatos is now Zhan Shen.

Helen is replaced by the Mandate of Heaven.

City/Tireme replaced by the duality of Civil/Military City/Fortress.

Agamemnon, Athena & Poseidon have been replaced by Bian (Tablets),a Bamboo Bian, a Stone Bian (for Civil City) & a Bronze Bian (for Martial Fortress) respectively.

Chariots are now split into lower value Cavalry & higher value Chariots.

Trojan Horse is now Yunti Che.

Elephant is now Chao Che.

Harrows are now Crossbow Traps.

All other units remain basically the same except labeled in their Chinese equivalent.

**************************************
State Banners (Heroes)
1. 赵 Zhao (Patroclus)
2. 魏 Wei (Menelaus)
3. 韩 Han (Odysseus)
4. 燕 Yan (Ajax)
5. 楚 Chu (Achilles)
6. 齐 Qi (Nestor)
7. 秦 Qin (.....)

Tiles
竹扁 Bamboo Bian +1 (Agamemnon +1)
石扁 Stone Bian +2 (Athena +2)
青銅扁 Bronze Bian +2 (Poseidon +2)

Units
隱弩 Crossbow Trap (Harrow) - 6 cards
- prevents Cavalry and Chariot from being deployed

云梯車 Yunti Che (Trojan Horse) - 6 cards
- hides units within (Bing, Gong & Nu)

霹雷車 Pili Che (Catapult) - 8 cards
- targets Crossbow Trap, Yunti Che, Pili Che & Chuangze Nu

床子弩 Chuangzi Nu (Ballista) - 8 cards
- targets Cavalry, Chariot, Chao Che & Chuangze Nu

巢車 Chao Che x2 (Elephant x2) - 8 cards
- allows mounting of infantry (Bing, Gong & Nu)
- mounted Nu and Gong can target any unit in any rank of Missile or Skirmish formations

馬 Cavalry 2 (Chariot 2) - 4 cards
- targets all infantry units, can attack without being first deployed

車 Chariot 3 (Chariot 3) - 4 cards
- targets all infantry units, can attack without being first deployed

弩 Nu 2 (.....) - 6 cards
when not in formation
- targets Nu, Gong & Ping or 1st to 2nd rank of Nu, Gong & Ping in formation
when in 3-row deep "missile-formation" in any value combination
- targets Nu, Gong & Ping, 1st to 2nd rank of Nu, Gong & Ping in formation or Cavalry & Chariots
- only missile units in the first two rows can attack
- values are calculated as the sum of unit values from the first two rows multiplied by the unit value from the last row

弓 Gong 1 (Archers 1) - 8 cards
when not in formation
- targets Nu, Gong & Ping or 1st rank of Nu, Gong & Ping in formation
when in 3-row deep "missile-formation" in any value combination
- targets Nu, Gong & Ping, 1st rank of Nu, Gong & Ping in formation or Cavalry
- only missile units in the first two rows can attack
- values are calculated as the sum of unit values from the first two rows multiplied by the unit value from the last row

兵 Bing 1 (Hoplite 1) - 6 cards
- can be deployed into 4-row deep "skirmish-formation" in decreasing value
- values are calculated as the sum of all unit values multiplied by the number of rows

兵 Bing 2 (Hoplite 2) - 7 cards
- can be deployed into 4-row deep "skirmish-formation" in decreasing value
- values are calculated as the sum of all unit values multiplied by the number of rows

兵 Bing 3 (Hoplite 3) - 8 cards
- can be deployed into 4-row deep "skirmish-formation" in decreasing value
- values are calculated as the sum of all unit values multiplied by the number of rows

兵 Bing 4 (Hoplite 4) - 9 cards
- can be deployed into 4-row deep "skirmish-formation" in decreasing value
- values are calculated as the sum of all unit values multiplied by the number of rows

Victory Cards
天命 Mandate of Heaven +5 (Helen +5) - 1 card
文 City +1 (Victory Town +1) - 4 cards
武 Fortress +1 (Victory Tireme +1) - 4 cards
文 City +2 (Victory Town +2) - 5 cards
武 Fortress +2 (Victory Tireme +2) - 5 cards
文 City +3(Victory Town +3) - 4 card
武 Fortress +3 (Victory Tireme +3) - 4 cards

Oracle Cards
戰 神 Zhan Shen -1 (Thanatos -1) - 4 cards
戰 神 Zhan Shen -2 (Thanatos -2) - 3 cards
七 月 7th Month Hungry Ghost Festival (Gorgon) - 2 cards

Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Wabbit's Wittle Adwenture in the Lion City (27 October - 9 November 2007)




One day, a wittle Fwench Wabbit fwom Pwaris, decided he wanted to visit his furry little fwends in the Lion City.

So he packed his suitcase, kissed his wittle wabbit babies and waved au revoir to Mrs. Wabbit to go far, far away to the other side of the world, for yes, the Lion City where all the other wittle wabbits and fwenchmaids lived was very, very far away.

Wabbit took with him all his gifts for his fwends, and his wittle suitcase with all his wabbit clothes, and boarded an airplane for his wong journey.

Weaving the cold wintery burrows of Pwaris, he eagerly looked forward to the sunny twopical burrows of the Lion City.

He cwossed gweat rivers. He cwossed gweat mountains. He even cwossed gweat oceans on his way to visit his wittle fwends in the Lion City....

And so begins the adwentures of the Fwench Wabbit.... What will the wabbit do in the Lion City? Will he get to meet all his wittle wabbity fwends? Will he get used to the stwange foods of twopical wabbits?

Archery Lesson #1 @ Potong Pasir CC

Start:     Nov 3, '07 09:30a
1st Lesson of 4, confirmed. There will be 7 PHEMAS people plus one other girl joining this class. Anyone interested, let me know and I'll arrange to go down this Saturday with you and shoot as well. My bow is itching to be used.

It's $50/class.

After 4 lessons, the instructor will qualify you for your license. It's $36/year at PPCC.

Thursday, 25 October 2007

Comet HOLMES 17P now at Magnitude 2.8 outburst!!!

Start:     Oct 25, '07 9:00p
End:     Oct 26, '07 05:00a
Remarkably, Comet Holmes (17P) previously a magnitude 18 comet in
Perseus on October 20th, has SOARED to several magnitudes brighter
today (since 24th Oct). It is now reported to be currently magnitude
2.8 and located in Perseus. It can be seen easily with the naked eye
even in light polluted skies as a yellowish blob (little tail). It is
now in outburst. Please do not miss this oppotunity to catch a really
brilliant comet (suddenly!), similar to the last outburst in 1892.

References:
http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/
http://www.spaceweather.com

Finder chart:
http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/comets/17P.gif

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Archery "Field-trip" to Potong Pasir indoor Archery Range

Start:     Oct 27, '07 11:00a
End:     Oct 27, '07 11:45a
Taking a group of 5 people from PHEMAS to Potong Pasir Archery indoor Range for them to get a feel of the range as well as to see if we can get them organised into formal lessons for licensing with Mr. Tang of Potong Pasir Community Club.

They need a total of 7 persons before Mr. Tang would form a class for them. Anyone else interested to join in? Lessons will not start this Saturday since this is just exploratory, but if we can get a total of 7 pax, we can then probably start lessons sometime in November.

Cost of archery lessons is $50/lesson for 4 weeks. That will qualify you for licensing which you can then register for. Timing and days yet to be arranged.

All training equipment provided by Potong Pasir CC Archery Club. You can purchase your own bow and arrows after getting your license to carry and shoot.

You are all most encouraged to join in. I need more shooting kakis or my bow will rot in this humid weather before long.

ps. you don't have to come this Saturday but still join the lessons if you like. I'll post the timing and schedules if and when I manage to form a class for the PHEMAS group. Just let me know if you are interested so that I've got the numbers for Mr. Tang.

Francois Arrives in Singapore

Start:     Oct 27, '07 07:00a
End:     Oct 27, '07 07:00a
Location:     Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

Iberian Fortifications - Town Walls and Castles




There are so many well preserved and completely intact town walls around that it's simply unbelievable! Everywhere you turn, especially in Castillia, you'll see medieval walls and/or castles and most in almost pristine condition. Mind boggling. This are a people who really cherish their history!

Castles are so common that they can be found everywhere and other than the really historical ones, anyone can buy a castle. The cheapest ruins go as low as Euro3000 for a castle. The only catch is that you are mandated by law to reconstruct it which could probably cost you Euro300k-500k depending on the extent of deterioration... but hey, it's nice to know I can afford to buy a Spanish Castle... maybe one of these days....

1. Avila Town Walls ca. 11th century A.D.
2. Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge ca. 12th century A.D.
3. Obidos Town Walls ca. 14th century A.D.
4. Avila Town Walls from the one of the battlements
5. Avila Town from afar
6. Lisbon Torre de Belem (built to defend the middle of the Tegus river and Lisbon port)
7. Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge (one of the cannons)
8. Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge (another one of the cannons)
9. Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge battlement
10. Lisbon Castle Sao Jorge interior walls
11. Seville Alcazar (Moorish fortress)
12. Seville Torre del Oro (Golden Tower built as a watchtower by the Moors)
13. Seville City Wall (built by the Moors)
14. Cordova Alcazar (Moorish fortress)
15. Obidos Castle (now an expensive hotel)

Obidos is interesting. Portuguese Kings give this town to their Queens as a wedding present every time they marry. lol.

Lots of different designs too. The Moorish fortifications are distinctly different from the Christian ones which tend to be squarish and more blockish.

Train busker.3gp




Spanish buskers... they're so good I suspect they are out-of-season members of symphonic orchestras earning a little bit of pocket money while they practice... :P

This guy does it in the underground Metro...

Coming Home.wmv




Simple montage of the return flights from Madrid to Singapore via Paris-CDG.

Apologies for the lousy sound quality. I did my best to fit it into a 10Mb file.

Monday, 22 October 2007

Travel - Europe (Spain n' Portugal) 12th - 20th October 2007




Madrid (12th-13th Oct)
-->Avila (13th Oct)
-->Salamanca (13th Oct)
-->Coimbra (13th-14th Oct)
-->Fatima (14th Oct)
-->Obidos (14th Oct)
-->Lisbon (14th-16th Oct)
-->Seville (16th-18th Oct)
-->Cordova (18th Oct)
-->Madrid (18th-20th Oct)

Commentary Impressions...
"I heard you're a shopper!"
"So we've saved you a spot on the beach."
"Right next to Superman and Meg Ryan."
"Coz' we'll all part of the Commonwealth."
"European lifestyle isn't as stressed. Look how thin they are and how fat we Americans are."
"It's a cultural thing."
"We're all so Westernized. Is your sister as Westernized as you?"
"You must be 18 and 23, 24 at most."
"Clothes here are SOOOOO cheap!"

Tapas @ Plaza Mayor, Madrid (19th October 2007)




Plaza Mayor, Madrid (18th October 2007)




Flamenco, Seville (16th October 2007)




Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Iberia

Start:     Oct 12, '07
End:     Oct 21, '07
Liang Jieming will be roaming the Iberian peninsula with Niang Ze from Madrid to Lisbon so don't bother trying to contact us. We're trying to get away from you.

Yes, you.