Jamais Jochim
Bio
I'm the guy who knows every last fact about Spider-man and if I don't I'll track it down. I love bad movies, enjoy table-top gaming, and probably would drive you crazy if you weren't ready for it.
Stories (248)
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Defending the Homestead
One of the biggest problems with a post-apocalyptic scenario is defending the homestead. The homestead should be able to defend itself from most invading forces, be it roving gangs, organized squads, or even zombies The problem is that too many preppers assume that simply having enough weapons is all that they need, and so worry about the weapons more than any other factor; this is the best way to lead to disaster. You need to consider a more general response, and one that allows for foraging and hunting (if animals are on your land). All you need are a few simple considerations and you should be ready for just about anything. In fact, some of these systems will make pre-apocalypse life a little easier.
By Jamais Jochim3 months ago in Lifehack
How To Build A Fantasy Wheelchair
One of the more common handicaps taken by players is the paraplegic, someone whose legs don’t work. In a modern setting, this isn’t a major problem as wheelchairs can be fitted with all sorts of motors, enabling the person to keep up with their less-handicapped peers. In a fantasy setting, however, there needs to be more thought put into the apparatus as it has to deal with some basic disadvantages, However, with a little thought and abusing the setting rules, it’s possible to devise a wheelchair with almost no major limitations, and that can be somewhat scary in and of itself.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Gamers
Running Faster Battles is a Matter of Planning
Combat can be the bane of any game. A badly run combat can slow a game down, making an otherwise fun session boring and more of an annoyance. However, if the players and referee don’t mind a little preparation ahead of time and some extra teamwork, combats can be run quicker and much more efficiently. With a few basic options, combats will run much smoother and thus faster, allowing everyone to enjoy the entire session.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Gamers
Safe Jogging Basics
Jogging is a great way to build up endurance and enhance strength training. Throw some good music, and you have a good half hour of exercise. However, there are numerous dangers to be worried about, from robbers to rapists, waiting behind every blind corner and tree. Just like any other environment, you need to figure out the potential issues with that environment and prepare for as many contingencies as possible; luckily, this is easy to do and implement.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Lifehack
Good Weapons Worth Considering
Part of defending yourself sometimes requires a weapon. Fortunately, there are a number of decent weapons that should be considered for your personal self-defense. For our purposes, we’re looking at the ones that are small, light, and can be carried with little to no problem. In some cases, they are even recommended by local authorities. The key is to figure out which one works best for you and carry it with you at all times.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Lifehack
Forcing Other to Deal With Their Horrible Directives
Managers are not perfect. However, some are, putting it less than diplomatically, idiots. These are managers who are more interested in their careers than actually managing; they come in with the need to make major changes to prove their value to the company. Some just want to prove that they are the alphas and that their word is law. Others are more worried about covering their butts than actually managing. These are all great examples of bad management.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Lifehack
Unbound Spellbooks
Anyone can have a leather-bound book to carry around their spells. There’s a reason it’s the default, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t explore other options; there are a lot of different cultural reasons to explore different concepts of spellbooks. Other rulebooks have even suggested different concepts, such as card-like ofuda or even pearls; one module even has a sorcerer who uses an army of slaves as his spellbook. Once you start playing around with the idea, there are plenty of different “spellbooks” you can employ for storing your spells.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Gamers
Using The Environment to Your Advantage
Defending yourself can be helped or hindered by your environment. The environment defines the encounter on numerous levels, ranging from where you can hide, what tactical options you have, and what offensive options present themselves. Your goal should be to be aware of these options whenever you enter a new environment so that you can take better advantage of those options should danger present itself.
By Jamais Jochim4 months ago in Lifehack
Making Money at Conventions
The biggest problem authors have when it comes to making money at conventions is the lack of preparation. There’s a lot of preparation that goes into a successful convention foray, and most authors have no idea how much preparation it takes; most figure they just need the books, some way to deal with credit cards, and then show up and sell books. Yeah, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Authors need to realize that a lot of planning goes into a successful convention table, and this article should help with that planning process. Just be prepared for a lot of research and paperwork, but that’s just part of the business.
By Jamais Jochim5 months ago in Writers
Using The Environment to Your Advantage
Defending yourself can be helped or hindered by your environment. The environment defines the encounter on numerous levels, ranging from where you can hide, what tactical options you have, and what offensive options present themselves. Your goal should be to be aware of these options whenever you enter a new environment so that you can take better advantage of those options should danger present itself.
By Jamais Jochim5 months ago in Lifehack
Unbound Spellbooks
Anyone can have a leather-bound book to carry around their spells. There’s a reason it’s the default, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t explore other options; there are a lot of different cultural reasons to explore different concepts of spellbooks. Other rulebooks have even suggested different concepts, such as card-like ofuda or even pearls; one module even has a sorcerer who uses an army of slaves as his spellbook. Once you start playing around with the idea, there are plenty of different “spellbooks” you can employ for storing your spells.
By Jamais Jochim5 months ago in Gamers
The Avavatar Crew Is a Lousy Five-Man Band
A lot of those who offer writing advice like to use Avatar: The Last Airbender crew as an example of the Five-Man Band. The Five-Man Band is the center of most teams, with its leader, the lance (the rebellious hothead with issues), the girl (who is usually the source of conflict but is the heart of the group), the brain (the guy with all of the technical knowledge), and the tank (the combat specialist with the biggest weapon). However, it's entirely possible that they have picked the wrong group, figuring that its iconic status and five leads should be the best example of a standard team set-up.
By Jamais Jochim11 months ago in Writers
