It's a curious time when you are finishing up at a job. Projects wind down, you prepare for the handover, but there is also the flurry of last-minute tasks, or projects you would have worked on but won't be but are instead in the meeting to help with the prep work.
Right now I am one month away from the end of my current position and the start of my new programming job. No commute. Fully remote working. Not in academia. That last one is a bit scary.
But change is exciting and that means it comes with the perks of no commute (though I will be learning to drive very soon!).
Iron Kingdoms
I was very lucky to not only write for the Borderlands and Beyond IKRPG expansion (and see some previews featuring my work shared — not anxiety-inducing at all!) but I was also one of the invited writers for scenarios that would be unlocked with the stretch goals. Now funding didn't reach that point, so we shall see how that works comes out in one form or another.
Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition - The Hedge
Currently wrapping up work on my second draft for this book. Otherwise can't say much more. Come back later. All I will say is that working with the team on this book has been a lot of twisted fun. Teaching
I actually like teaching. So in September, I was leading the teaching on a Python course I had designed for novice programmers. They were all chemists — researchers of some form — who wanted to learn some programming so they could begin to use machine learning and advanced analytical software. So I took the Software Carpentries course for Python and localized it for the attendees using data that had a chemistry context. I was teaching all this remotely, as we had researchers from the University of Nottingham, University of Strathclyde, and also attendees from the event sponsor, GSK.
Tales from the Lab
My contribution to the Tales from the Lab project is now live on Youtube, where I chat a bit about my life as a researcher and how I got to where I am now.
CYBR Issue 8
What with COP26 taking place, CYBR magazine this last few weeks released with the theme of Earth 2070: Dys(u)topia. This issue looks at numerous green technologies, including my articles on how we can remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere, and if Hyperloop is a green alternative for long-distance travel. The cover feature is the influencer, i_sodope, who talks about why nuclear energy is the best alternative for large scale energy needs while we ramp up renewables and fusion.
Streaming
Right now the Vampire: the Masquerade 5e chronicle trundles along and is proving a lot of fun and living up to the aim of being a gritty, dirty, street-level game. Also for the recent episode of Darkhammer we looked at roleplaying in or as Bretonnia and Bretonnians.
Gaming
Well since the last update Control has proven an excellent computer game to play while chilling out. Such a stylish game that reeks of Twin Peaks, Scanners and maybe even a bit of Hannibal.
I have also been collecting the Imperium magazine and building up a small crusade force of Blood Ravens that I still need to paint, and also picked up the new Warcry box - Red Harvest.
I have painted some stuff though — Epic minis for two new Epic 40k armies, and also the Aeronautica Imperialis boxed game. These are such fun little planes. Pew pew pew!
I was also a guest — very last minute — on the Rookery, chatting about the history of Warhammer. It was just great to hear more about the previous editions from those who worked on them.
Self Publishing
Under the Darker Days Publishing label, now that the Storytellers Vault allows for community content for Vampire the Masquerade 5e, we released the first of the demo event scenarios we created. This means all new layouts using the official templates and tools, and a re-edit while I was at it. They are PWYW on STV right now. https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/373978/Ascension-Night https://www.storytellersvault.com/product/373980/Make-Blood-Boil
That hasn't been the only writing for the STV that I have done, as I was invited to contribute to the Vampire: the Requiem 2e Daeva Clan Book, Sin Again. My contribution took the form of a rework of the Covenant known as the Nemites. That was a lot of fun to work on as I love Requiem a great deal even if VtM 5e is my main distraction right now.
Comments