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.

Then come visit!

Signed, Totally Not Trying to Get People to Come Help Us Move.

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

It's d20 bare bones to the point of ridiculousness, but it seems to in turn make it so much easier to customize, working from such a humble beginning.

Signed, Totally Not Trying to Get People to Come Help Us Move.

AHA! The real motive finally comes out!

Well, it wouldn't happen any time soon, as we've already got a bunch of large trips planned, but S keeps telling me how much she'd love to visit DC and see the monuments.

Probably won't be in time to help move, though.

Just for the heck of it, my Oblivion characters. I fired it up last night after a long period of not playing.

My fighter type character for the main quest and a few side quests:

[link]

My thief type character for ignoring the main quest completely:

[link]