First of all, I'd like to apologise about the rules mess ups: in 3.5, sure striking is probably useless since we've moved away from the +X minimum to bypass damage resistance rules. Sadly with 3.5E DRs, there is no "perfect" weapon (short of the Sword of Babette Maelstrom - +100/+100d6 does 1000Hp damage to all victims in 100ft radius 3/day, bypasses all resistances, etc... For ref: Encylcopedia Arcana vol 4 under "Swords" I believe. But it's a 1st/2nd ed weapon-artifact from the late 80s/early 90s) Seriously, any well equiped fighter would have 1 weapon of each type to smack the baddies. And since damage to bypass DR often does double extra dice damage (ie: fiends have DR that is penetrated by "good" and "good" does +2d6 not +1d6 against evil subtype...) this means dishing out the extra damage ain't that hard anymore. But you probably need _many_ weapons. I suspect this is the point where party mages/bards/clerics start tossing temporary enchantments on fighter weapons. Fighters are also better served in buying more 1-shot magic since the "big magic sword" could well be useless because your next opponent is immune, or spending more on armour. Moreover, since you have no gaurantee what the next weapon you'll have to use will be, weapon focus/specialisation is probably pointless unless it's in bows. Then again, magic arrows are used up upon firing... which is all very expensive. In fact, for mid-level parties it probably pays to do without some fighters and rely on summons to tank and dish out specific damage types. It all bears thinking...

Really, being a well equiped adventurer is all very expensive and tricky. The herd of insane cattle technique only really works on low level baddies (DR 10+ creatures are probably immune to a stampede. And 3.0 already had Gricks with DR10? 15? and they were CR2 or 3) The shear variety of potential victims means that parties have to be very well prepared and relatively general... Or you could only hunt down evil things or something (and drop the fighters for paladins, rogues for monks, etc) You'd get gnawed to death by a druid's horde of squirrels, but vampires would be a snap.

Think I ought to stop being so preoccupied with school. Seriously. I have better things to do. XP to A, who told me about the phyics-olypiad-like BAUPC. I know I reminisce like an old codger about my "glory days" but what the heck. I really do have better things to do than prove I'm good at physics (because I already know I pretty darn good). Thanks to H who made me remind myself that I miss tinkering. Yes, I may very well start looking for a research attachment in the coming semesters. Preferably something hands on.

If this keeps up, I'm going to start collecting Warhammer in self defence! At least it's a hobby, and I'd end up spending my nights and weekends rules lawyering away. I already have fun stuff I want to do with Nids and Tau. (The two most specialised races, too... Close combat and shoot-em-up respectively)

Just got back from community service with my chruch. Am now being subtly (well, not so subtly) poked into going for bible study. omfg.

Very happy spending the morning painting. It's fun/cool/etc. Nark! Also very amused/confused how some people were like "you don't mind getting those pants dirty do you" to me especially, just because I was wearing a pair of SAF issue no. 4 bottoms (which are now tight, dammit). Has been explained to me that some people are bizzarre military freaks and would treat camouflage cargoes as a mark of status. Maybe it would have been better if I threw a no. 4 top on top of this and they'd get it into their heads that it was all issued to me (actually bought on SAF credit, but who's counting?) not reverently purchased at some chic outlet. I guess it's hard to spot the pre-existing grease/paint (since they're all black) stains and holes on the camo pattern.

Ought to take a shower now. I have paint in my hair. *grin*
As to why I'm chatty today? I swear it's the fumes!

Oh, and there was a big earth day bash cum farmers market just outside the project side so we stopped by after and wandered around. Got me nice tasty fried mushrooms too. Erm.. Maybe _that's_ why I'm so trippy. Who knows what goes into Berkeley 'shrooms?