It IS awesome, Sox. It's a perfect fantasy RPG album. It's got a war song, and a wedding processional, and some happy, dance around the Maypole songs, and various dirges, hymns and prayers.

More on Trio Mediaeval:

They Norwegian, not Finnish.

And yeah, many of their songs sound like they belong in Lord of the Rings or something (actually, in my head, this album has become the official soundtrack of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire).

One of the songs is called Nu Solen Gar Ned (The Sun is Setting). I looked around for the lyrics, and was able to find a translation. It's a prayer for the setting of the sun, that has a solemn, almost dirge-like quality. I just watched the sun set while listening to the song.

I think I may have shattered myself.

Omnis, you can create a profile for yourself on the main xbox console and then can sign in on your profile, start a new game, and save at will. Starting a new game in current mode would default to an ND game. You won't hurt either of our games by doing that, but you won't have a place to save, either.

I love the email gaming idea!

Also, did our wee little thread have its first mini-kerfuffle? Aw, now it's a real thread! *sniff* They grow up so fast!

Financial Times had an article about how Guitar Hero and Rock Band are both trying to get the rights to the Beatles' music. (Go Rock Band! Choose Rock Band!)

sean - I'm iTunesing asap to check it out.

Er. Then I will locate any errant corporate names that have not yet transitioned to verbs and (sigh) verb them. Or something equally ridiculous.

It appears I've addicted my entire family to Bookworm Adventures (you defeat your enemies by spelling (words, not magic)). When I came home last night everyone was playing it.

So. In the continuing quest for a "better" d20/D&D and/or free RPGs --

I have today been directed to a website for a system called Microlite20: [link]

It is a radically stripped down version of d20, with no feats, and few combat rules and maneuvers. I haven't looked it over yet, but I thought it worth a look. Raq and her DH in particular might want to look it over.

Wow. The Microlite20 people are NOT KIDDING when they call it a tripped down version of d20. The basic (PHB-ish) rules are two pages (not counting OGL license language)!

Same with the DMG, the spell list and the monster manual (monster stat blocks consist of about 4 bits of data, and take up the space of about a single sentence).

They have reduced the main stats to three: STR, DEX and MIND.

There are also only four skills.

Thanks Sean, we'll check it out.

Hmm....if I could have only 4 skills in a game, what would they be?

I'm going to go with Know Random Trivia, Raise Eyebrow to Devastating Effect, Apply Liquid Eyeliner, and Sporking.

ION, I got another toaster: our houseguest is hooked on Rock Band and we are going out tonight to buy a whole setup to ship with her to Baghdad. (She's naming it "Nero").

It has been way too long since I've been able to spend any good time with Rock Band or GH.