Zarch Braeden's blog

New Hair!

Oct 1, 2007
Post a comment

So, here's a picture of the new do. I let it grow out so that I could go to someone who knew what they were doing and say, "Fix it." I went to Cindy, who does Arie's hair for her, and she did an amazing job if I do say so myself.

I didn't expect to score so high...

Oct 1, 2007
Post a comment

So, I took this quiz on how much of a computer geek you are, and I didn't expect to score nearly as high as I did, as I wouldn't consider myself more than just an average computer geek.

I know you're tired of hearing about it already, but one last pic.

Sep 15, 2007
Post a comment

Gauges

Here's a picture of the gauges. I forgot to take one earlier. I know they're a little dusty, but hey, it's GA, land of the 6000+ pollen count, what can you do?

Those pesky new cars, they keep showing up when you least expect them.

Sep 15, 2007
2 comments

P9150002

So, my wife comes home from taking Sage to get her passport and her tire pressure light had come on in her car. She decided that since she needed to get her first service anyway she'd call the dealer and see if they were able to do that and check the tire light. They were able to get her in so she ran up there to have it done. Now, when she came back she said that they were having a great sale on the Maxima that I was planning on buying later in the year, so I went up to talk to Rick about what kind of deal they could make. Well, the best price one could get on the Maxima was just too high. I mean, I'm not paying over $700 a month for a car, just not going to do it.

P9150001

So, after some wheeling and dealing I ended up buying the Altima. It's a lower price point car, which means that buying one with lots of features is still cheaper than the Maxima. Now, the car just looks great. The clean and elegant style is carried across the whole vehicle.

P9150004

As far as performance is concerned, it's just as impressive as the Maxima and Sentra. The stock tires on here are 400, AA, A tires, which are on par with my Yokohamas. I have never heard of the company that makes the tires, but they do perform nicely. The suspension is dialed in just the way I like it, and the power assisted rack and pinion is pinpoint responsive.

P9150003

The car is equipped with an intelligent key system that works by proximity. This is the one luxury feature that I love, and was really on my list of must haves. Just have the key on your person, walk up and push the button, the door unlocks. Sit down, put your foot on the brake and press start, the car starts up.

P9150006

The steering wheel is not only tilt but telescopic. The gages are beautiful. This car is every bit as nice as my wife's Sentra is. Nissan has really been working hard to make the most impressive cars they can. I am not at all disappointed that the Maxima was so expensive. I'm not settling for a lower car. I have found a car that truly fits me. I think that the Sentra and Altima is really the perfect combination of cars for us. If you haven't looked at a Nissan, go do so. They really are amazing cars.

I had an idea...

Jul 26, 2007
Post a comment

ZB-Cartography-Na'Shenassi(Mercator-Globe)-HiRes

So, here you can see a simple little map that I've started. It's a global map of my world, Na'Shenassi. The reason I'm showing this maps, is because I want to ask all of your opinions on an idea that I had. I was thinking of offering cartography services for authors or gamers who would like to have very high quality maps. Whether as visual aids for readers or handouts to help improve the atmosphere of their game.

ZB-Cartography-Na'Shenassi(East-Aengove)-HiRes

The image to the right shows of an example of a city map that I have been working on. These two maps are based off the styles of famous cartographers from history. This third map, shows a more normal fantasy style of map. This particular style was created by Sarah Wroot, who does some very nice maps for various companies.

ZB-Cartography-Na'Shenassi(The-Horned-Empire)-MidRes

This map is a bit of a contrast to the world map, which is intended to give the feel of old Mercator maps. It compliments the fantasy genre very nicely.

The styles of maps that can be created are virtually limitless. This example shows off a bit of style combination. I really like the way that borders were done on Mercator maps, and so I've taken Sarah Wroot's techniques and built upon them, adding political borders that are reminiscent of the Mercator mapping style.

ZB-Cartography-Na'Shenassi(Aengeria)-MidRes

The simple change gives the map a completely different feel, and is only one example of how things can be done. The software is a very advanced CAD program designed specifically for cartography (ProFantasy's CC3), and, once one learns to use it, can create some rather amazing maps
.

ZB-Cartography-Greece(Tragedy-of-Melnipone)-HiRes

This map is another example that I'm putting here simply because I like it. This is a map that I have made of Ancient Greece. The purpose of this map is to serve as a visual aid for a work of historical fiction.

Now, the questions that I am posing are simple. Do you think authors and/or gamers might be interested in a service like this? If you are an author, would you be interested in it? If they would be interested in it, do you think that I am good enough at it that they would be willing to commission me for this service? Feel free to comment with your opinions, it would be a great help to me.

The Great RPG Debate.

Mar 13, 2007
Post a comment

Go check out my RPG POLL on my LJ.

Go check it out.

Feb 15, 2007
Post a comment

Most of my blogging is done at Na'Shenassi News now, but I just had to update here with this link to my latest post. Check out Arie's new hair. Arie got this amazing free hair makeover thing at this really expensive salon. I think it's absolutely amazing.

Who would have thought?

Jan 28, 2007
Post a comment

For the longest time I did not even bother to try Guild Wars because I thought it was a PvP only game. So the other night Adam calls me up and says, "Hey, would you try this game with me? I've had the box for a year, and never installed it." So, after confirming there was an RP portion, I tried the game. I love it! Who would have thought.

"I'm going to have the only six year old who plays WoW."

Nov 5, 2006
1 comment

So, this morning I was accused of corrupting Sage, my soon to be step daughter. This morning I got up and went looking for breakfast, decided that some french toast was in order. Sage was, of course, up and very interested in what I was doing, and also in breakfast of her own. After some discussion about french toast, eggs, and other sundry breakfast things, the decision was made that she wanted two hard boiled eggs. So, while I was cooking she looks at me and asks in that cute little way she has, "Can I pay that game with you. Well, you play it but I click things?"

This was quite adorable. When I told her that I didn't have my EQ2 account and so we could not play that (she loved watching me play it a month or so ago), she shook her head and replied, "No. The game you were playing last night on the Superman computer."

I had not even realized that she had seen me playing Neverwinter Nights 2, so I was a little surprised. I smiled and told her that we could after she ate. So of course, the second she finished her eggs she was right there, climbing up on the couch beside me ready to play. And so we loaded up the good old (or brand new as the case may be) game and started character creation. I let her pick out all of her own stuff, and we created her a nice little human ranger named Sage. And well, the long story short is that Sage the ranger is now Sage the 2nd level Paladin/1st Level Ranger currently fighting to protect the village from attacking hordes. She was so worried when we went to turn the game off, because she didn't want to lose her game. When I explained to her that it was okay, the game would save and would always be there for her she was quite happy and excited.

All of this earned me the headshake from Arie, who says that I am corrupting her daughter. I say it's not corruption, it's getting them started young!

New Computer, New Look

Oct 17, 2006
3 comments

My desktop! :D It's pretty. The all new Xenomorph skin from Alienware. It is the best I've ever seen. You can't see the animated stuff on here, as it's a still.