Darin House's Poker Photo

Photo courtesy of Darin House’s Flickr Stream

So you have a room full of shady, reasonably wealthy characters, each of whom who have a tendency to bluff and exaggerate, smoking in a bar stocked with expensive booze. How long before they start gambling?

I’m sure its possible to come up with a narrative method for card games. Rules would have to be ironed out and someone would probably figure out how to utilize the RNG to address ties…but why bother when you can just download an addon?

Back in Vanilla, people played a few hands of Anzac between pulls (or wipes) just to pass the time. But a poker game can be an RP event in and of itself. A small, illicit game can be part of a regular RP night. Imagine a regular, floating game that people try to find in a major city.

But a full on poker tournament can be a large scale event. It could be a charity event or just a damn big game. Right now on Feathermoon, the regular poker game is phase one of a big story… But that’s a post for a differnt story.

A mini game like this can add another dimension to RP. Are there other mini games available now, or are we going to wait for Pokewow?

Stemming from a few of the comments there about the relative scarcity of strong female characters in fantasy, I thought this would be a good spot for you lot to share your recommendations for books, movies, games and tv shows that feature women who aren’t just supporting cast for the male protagonist.

Tarquin got us started off with George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law Trilogy (and I’ll add in his new book, Best Served Cold), and Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy.

Itanya gave us Curse of the Azure Blade.

I’m going to throw in Frannie Goldsmith from The Stand and Susannah from The Dark Tower series.  I know, Stephen King’s not exactly fantasy, but I won’t tell if you won’t (and the Dark Tower books I’d argue are fantasy.)  Pamela Freeman’s The Castings Trilogy (Blood Ties, Deep Water, and Full Circle) have a stellar cast of characters who challenge stereotypes without bashing you off the head with it.

For tv series, there’s Firefly and Battlestar Galactica, just to start.

And here’s what I want you to remember: “strong female character” doesn’t have to mean ass-kicking super warrior.  I know Rashona has expressed frustration several times when female characters who like to cook and sew get dismissed out of hand, and she’s right for that.

So, have at it!  Add to my (and I’m sure several others’ here…) never-ending piles of books to read and things to watch!