Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1054635I remember when this site was about RPGs...

So do I, but then 'they' came in, and took over TBP and everything became political, whether or not we liked it.

So having an anti ILLEGAL ALIEN sentiment is now something to be shamed/feel bad for?  Come on now, are we being serious?

Quote from: oggsmash;1054662So having an anti ILLEGAL ALIEN sentiment is now something to be shamed/feel bad for?  Come on now, are we being serious?

Deadly serious, in the way that only an adolescent mentality can be.

I actually received a thread warning for posting in one of Pundit's video threads that it should have been in his forum instead of general.  I've kept my mouth shut about it since then.

A couple teammates and I were almost denied entry to the US back in 1999 (pre-9/11) while driving down to Seattle because we were honest about our reason for going.  The lady didn't know what fencing was (she probably thought we were going down to do work) and when we explained she freaked out thinking we were armed to the teeth.  We had to take out our epees while she kept her hand on her gun and showed her that they have blunt tips and can't do a whole lot of harm.

Quote from: KingCheops;1054675I actually received a thread warning for posting in one of Pundit's video threads that it should have been in his forum instead of general.  I've kept my mouth shut about it since then.

A couple teammates and I were almost denied entry to the US back in 1999 (pre-9/11) while driving down to Seattle because we were honest about our reason for going.  The lady didn't know what fencing was (she probably thought we were going down to do work) and when we explained she freaked out thinking we were armed to the teeth.  We had to take out our epees while she kept her hand on her gun and showed her that they have blunt tips and can't do a whole lot of harm.

I've been pulled for secondary inspection about five times over the years, never been refused entry (yet, insh'Allah). *

But just seeing the agent mark the box that you have to go and stand in the naughty queue is kinda scary.


*The most recent one was because a routine stop coming north from Mexico by land (maybe 1 in 10 cars gets pulled, I dunno).

We sit in an open-door cage area while they check the car.


Thus far, pretty routine. It suddenly got more exciting because my colleague had taken his anti-histamines out of the bottle and put them in a baggie for convenience. So there's a pro-tip, don't do that kids.

Luckily we were very white, very used to this kind of thing, and clearly not drug dealers, not even recreationally.

Still not pleasant.

Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1054635I remember when this site was about RPGs...

Maybe click on one of the other 30 or so threads on the front page.....

Quote from: Spinachcat;1054639Everybody needs to STFU about brutal deprivation. I once went 72 days without a French press or a waterbed.

How did you survive?
Were you in prison?

Quote from: Omega;1054634I was referring to the point that the three likely just said why they were there unaware they were there under the wrong visa.

But nice spin doctoring there to suit your own agenda.

Pointing out facts, how evil of me!!!!

Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1054635I remember when this site was about RPGs...

By my count, there's one, maybe two "political" threads on the front page. So be the change you want to see. Pick a thread and talk with us about the Witcher RPG, or your local RPG scene, or rules and rulings...

Quote from: Ratman_tf;1054691By my count, there's one, maybe two "political" threads on the front page. So be the change you want to see. Pick a thread and talk with us about the Witcher RPG, or your local RPG scene, or rules and rulings...

Agreed. I started a bit about Numenera, which isn't exactly a site darling, but my posts were responded to politely and I enjoyed sharing things. Even if they weren't responded to politely, I wouldn't have to slink away because I was bullied by those in favor of the forum Establishment. I sometimes think RPG Site isn't as welcoming to games as RPG.net but if I'm honest, a lot of the welcoming attitudes on TBP are clearly fake, due to fear of being honest and/or lock-step with that forum's agendas. I have gotten frustrated by Pundit at times, as well as some regulars here (and I've been an ass at times myself), but agree with a friend that while there might not be as many different games discussed or welcomed, this site's certainly better insofar as I don't fret upsetting Big Brother and his mob of cannibals.  

The only thing that I see as jarring in comparison between the sites is that the free speech here can set things off the rails, whereas on TBP it's (largely) contained. But that's not healthy as it's contrived and prevents honest discussion. It's peace by way of jackboots, which isn't OK. Yeah, there are some political rants here where they probably shouldn't be, but isn't a large part of that stemming from the feeling of catharsis? Not to be sarcastic but I find a perverse humor in this site being a truer safe space than RPG.net.

Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1054635I remember when this site was about RPGs...

I remember when RPGs were about RPGs.

jg

For those of you reading this thread who have experience with hiring artists (foreign or domestic) to create images for your publications, how did you go about finding them? What kinds of things did you look for to match their style to your publication? Once you find them, how do you describe to them what you want and keep their focus similar to yours, while allowing them the artistic freedom to create their best for you?

Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1054635I remember when this site was about RPGs...

I remember when RPGs used to be about RPGs.

Unfortunately increasingly we are seeing various agendas creep in. Sometimes just a hint. Sometimes its excessive. But this topic seems not really RPG related other than it involved RPG artists and an RPG company flubbing a visa and its not political as its just customs doing what customs is supposed to do.

Quote from: Mistwell;1054731For those of you reading this thread who have experience with hiring artists (foreign or domestic) to create images for your publications, how did you go about finding them? What kinds of things did you look for to match their style to your publication? Once you find them, how do you describe to them what you want and keep their focus similar to yours, while allowing them the artistic freedom to create their best for you?

For me. I know alot of artists and back in the 90s I hit up alot of conventions and talked to various artists on what their prices were. NeNe Thomas for example was in the several hundreds of dollars per piece, really expensive range and others were up or down from there in cost. Same for line art. Some were really expensive and others were more sanely priced. I learned to avoind anyone who started by saying they wanted to be paid "by the hour". Sorry. No.

Quote from: Mistwell;1054731For those of you reading this thread who have experience with hiring artists (foreign or domestic) to create images for your publications, how did you go about finding them? What kinds of things did you look for to match their style to your publication? Once you find them, how do you describe to them what you want and keep their focus similar to yours, while allowing them the artistic freedom to create their best for you?

Well I can show you
This is a written write up of the pieces I wanted
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Jog22cOJQ9FwH3Lpyj_X7ClbZxv-07sH

This is the cover template I referred too
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1KxezoOZoOF7ifqHEmGYwq3jkfkE6KLQM

Basically I paint a picture with words, we go back and forth, the artist does a rough pencil, if approved they do the final drawing. One illustration not on the list was a result of the artist reading the initial draft and wanted to draw a picture of a specific moment I written about.

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