Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

I really, really want to tell you all about The Elder Scrolls Online, the new massively multiplayer online role playing game from Bethesda Softworks which officially began yesterday, for those who preordered early access, and will be open for general play on Friday.

If you are unfamiliar with an MMORPG, they are like computer games that you play online, not just with your friends but with everyone else, in one huge world. Bethesda has previously created some excellent Open Sandbox style games, such as Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, all of which were truly excellent for developing and playing your own character in an RP style game, and for their great graphics and world settings. We are hoping for similar things in The Elder Scrolls Online.

Here is a trailer for it:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XH9fCA3dmGc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You can create a character, be it a mage, assassin, templar, or fearsome dragonkknight, complete quests, develop your characters skills, meet friends, join guilds, explore a truly gorgeous world (yes, I have the early access and visually, it is great) and generally have tons of fun.

If you've never tried an MMO, they're hugely popular, so maybe this will be your first.

If you've played them before, then what are you waiting for? Come join the action!

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

You, like myself and other fans, have a definite need for something--more merchandise from their obsession of choice!



This week, I wanted to talk about a particular type of merchandise that really is a kind of collector's item, or rather, a potential collection. If you could have something from the Wheel of Time world, what would it be? Likely, many things come to your mind, there are lots of possibilities, be it a ring, or a weapon.  One that you may not think of, however, is actually a great idea--a coin!

People have coin collections from the "real world." As a child I had one of old coins (or copies of). Well, now you can get them from your favorite fictional worlds as well!

And that's the idea behind The Shire Post Mint, a website dedicated to making these replica coins, including the silver Tar Valon Mark and the Golden Crown of Ellisande from The Wheel of Time books. They also have coins from George R. R. Martin's fictional world of Westeros, and from Patrick Rothfuss' Four Corners of Civilization too.



Their latest Wheel of Time coin is the pure silver Tar Valon Mark. This coin differs from the previous version and features Siuan Sanche on one side, and the other has the Flame of Tar Valon and the Great Serpent around the edge.  This special edition includes the coin in sealing wax atop a letter from Siuan Sanche, herself ("What the bearer does is done at my order and by my authority. Obey, and keep silent, at my command.").

The Shire Post Mint will be a vendor at JordanCon this year.  Check them out and you could be well on your way to starting or expanding your fantasy/fiction coin collection!



That's all for now! Have fun!



Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Have you ever wants to punch somebody in the face as hard as you can? Wait, no... that came out wrong.

If you, like many of us here on Dragonmount, have ever taken part in some sort of sparring exercise, be it martial arts or self defense or some form of armed combat, you will have come across a very common problem. You always get to the point where you wonder how you can truly test your abilities in a "friendly" combat, where you have to pull your punches or otherwise take care not to cause injury. Unless, of course, you take part in some form of actual combat sport like MMA or boxing. However, for most of us it's more of a hobby, particularly something like sword fighting, and the limitations can become very frustrating.

Well, look no further. Technology is, of course, always advancing, and the next in the kind of "gadgets I absolutely must sell my other kidney to have" is the Lorica, an armored suit also equipped with an array of sensors to monitor what is happening to it. The idea? You can be smacked about--or preferably, can smack someone else about--without fear of injury. I particularly relish the prospect of live steel sword fighting in this thing.

If you want to know more, check out the links below.

CNN had an article on it with a few pictures and a lot of information, and Singularity Hub has an article with several videos.

What do you think? I want two at least for the Warders Guild here on Dragonmount!

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

It is March, 2013. This means one thing, and one thing only, to my mind, anyway--we nearly made it! We nearly made it two-thirds of a year without the magic of HBO's epic A Game of Thrones series, an adaptation of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books, which has proven wildly popular across the world. The wait is almost over, in just a few short weeks, on April 6, Season 4 will premiere and I and many others cannot wait. Here is a sneak preview of what is in store:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSg_gJkU7ko

And here is another video with extra information and interviews etc, but even if you don't want to watch that, then the opening sequence has the trailer clips set to music and is worthy of a view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5iS3tULXMQ

What are you most looking forward to seeing? Which arc are you looking forward to following? Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how Arya gets on.

I. Can. Not. Wait.

I hope you are as eager as I am. If you haven't yet seen the previous seasons, do so now! Or maybe you fancy getting a re-watch in before the new series begins.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

The time is fast approaching when those among us who are lucky enough to be able to go can begin planning to attend the Sixth Annual JordanCon. Who knows? Maybe this year is the year you will be able to make it as well. Here is a bit of information to entice you and help you make those plans.

JordanCon is an annual convention for all fans of the works of our beloved Robert Jordan, which should certainly include us here at Dragonmount. It is held each year with great success. People often turn up in costume and attend panels on various subjects, meet other fans, and have a generally great weekend!

(JordanCon 2010. Costume contest.)

The event will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on April 11th to the 13th this year. The website for the event is JordanCon.org if you want to peruse and find more information.

What's incredible this year is that the special Guest of Honor is none other than Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind, a fantastic book (it is actually my best friends favorite book ever... Hmm... Maybe I can get him to go to JordanCon!). Our very own Brandon Sanderson will also be participating in the program. If you are a follower of the tWoTcast, the podcasting team, you will be pleased to know that they will be the Toastmasters of the event! Their website is linked above if you want to find out more about them (be warned--they are not a PG-13 site).

(JordanCon 2010. From left to right: Harriet McDougal, Maria Simons, and Brandon Sanderson.)

Do you think that you will possibly be able to attend? Well you'd better make your mind up quickly if you haven't already, because the tickets are available now at a very modest rate.  But this will increase somewhat after the end of March, and per-registration closes after April 1st.

Yes, JordanCon is a fantastic event each year, and everyone either goes and has a great time or is green with envy. Which will you be come April this year?

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Unless you have either been living under a rock, or else you really dislike video games, you must know of Skyrim, by video game company Bethesda.  It is the latest in The Elder Scrolls series which came out at the end of 2011 (my, how time flies). Skyrim is a role playing game in which you battle dragons and complete quests with a variety of weapons and magic available. Upon its initial release, it was pretty popular, and still is.

The point of all this being that recently, some clever people combined an Occulus Rift virtual reality device, an omni-directional treadmill and some Wii remotes to play Skyrim in virtual reality! It looks incredible! Here is an image of it in action:

And here is a link to the original article in case you want to find out more.

Right, so... All we need now is for someone to create a huge MMORGP set in the Wheel of Time world! And for all that virtual reality stuff to be readily accessible! And I can finally be a real boy... I mean Warder!

Here's hoping.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

A noteworthy news item I spotted this week was the release of a still image of Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who costume. Capaldi will play the 12th incarnation of the Doctor and much has been made about the style he will bring to it--one perhaps more direct, action-oriented, and intimidating than his recent predecessors, David Tennant and Matt Smith. This week, the image below was the first to be leaked of the 12th Doctor all over the internet:

In light of this, I decided to look for a couple of other interesting Doctor themed internet items and came up with the following table of the first and last lines of each Doctor thus far.

And I also found on tumblr a collection of Tim Burton styled animated pictures of each Doctor.

I hope you are excited to see the new Doctor hit the screens, which is scheduled for Autumn this year.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Just a quick one because I am on vacation in a forest and Internet is somewhat sketchy! This week my mind is focused on a film that comes out at the end of the week here in the UK which I'm looking forward to seeing: Shadow Recruit, the origins story of Jack Ryan, a character created by Tom Clancy in a great series of novels.

The character is portrayed by rising star Chris Pine, probably best known as James T. Kirk from the Star Trek reboot movies, and it looks to have a strong supporting role from Kevin Costner.

What's interesting about the character Jack Ryan is he is not a Jason Bourne style all-action hero--he is a highly intelligent analyst, usually desk bound, who gets thrust into the middle of a field operation. I'm hoping they play this up and have him think his way around situations.

Of course there are a lot of other films coming out this year too--Robocop, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, a new 300 that looks epic, and many more.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

[Editor's note: Shadow Recruit opened in the US January 17th, and is set to open in the UK January 24th.]

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

I hope you all had a good couple of weeks whether or not you observed a religious celebration, had a holiday, or if life went on as normal!

This week we are going to talk about something I got into over the winter holiday season, a BBC television series called Sherlock. It is a modern day adaptation of the character Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and the plot lines throughout the series often hold subtle homage to the plot lines of the original novels.

This is different from your ordinary television series in a couple of ways. Firstly, the seasons are very short, only 3 episodes each. Noticeably as well, the main actors are very well known for television work. Sherlock Holmes himself is portrayed very well by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch who has appeared in more than one high profile movie recently, notably Star Trek: Into Darkness. And his companion Dr. Watson is equally well depicted by Martin Freeman who you may recognize as Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit.

I won't spoil any of the series for you, but it is intelligent, witty, personable, and it's adaptation into a modern day setting is well done. As a childhood reader of Conan Doyle's works, I am satisfied with this rendition of the characters and settings, whereas with the feature films of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, whilst reasonable movies, I felt were not really true to the original works and would have been better served as their own animal.

Give it a go and see what you think! It isn't my favorite series ever, there are several that come to mind that I enjoyed much more (perhaps a future article on that!) but I would recommend it as worth a watch. I understand there is also an American take in the same character on-going presently called Elementary, but I have not seen it and have heard mixed opinions on it so far.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

(image by allegator)

(Editor's Note: Season 3 of Sherlock premiered in the UK on January 1st, 2014.  For US viewers, the season will begin on PBS on January 19th, 2014.)

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Are you a huge, mega, massive Wheel of Time fan? Oh, yeah?! What do you have to prove it?

In case you're wondering what I'm referring to, it's Wheel of Time merchandise! The internet is full of various Wheel of Time related things for purchase. A little while ago you may remember we discussed where you could procure a heron-marked sword, should you so desire (and if you don't desire, why on earth not?!)

There is so much more available though. One leading Wheel of Time merchandise website I wanted to bring to your attention is Ta'veren Tees.

As you would expect, they sell Wheel of Time T-shirts, such as one with the Golden Crane of Malkier below, which is the one that caught my eye.

But they also do a lot more. From posters to maps, coins to ornaments, calendars to playing cards, they have a wide range of themed merchandise from our favorite series. The artwork looks pretty good on the clothing range. A colleague of mine at the White Tower Social Group here on Dragonmount has a few of their T-Shirts and she really looks spiffy in them. If you have any of their other products, drop us a line below in the comments to let us know what you have and what you think of it!

Me? Well, the spare money I have for such things is still going into my piggy bank to be able to afford that heron-marked sword which I know is coming to me!

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Just a quick one this week folks, as I haven't had much time to write. I wanted to briefly draw your attention to something which might just slate your thirst for that bit more Wheel of Time goodness, if--like me!--you were not aware of its existence, and perhaps have finished the series and are looking for something else to fill your fan needs!

I came across it recently and found it fascinating. To cut to the chase, it's a little background story, written by Robert Jordan himself, which better explains the attack on Shayol Ghul and the sealing of the Bore by the Hundred Companions. If you're a hard core Wheel of Time fan, you probably know of it already! And shame on me for only just having found out about it. If you haven't heard of it before, though, then I'm doing the world a service by spreading the word about this extra bit of Robert Jordan goodness.

You can read it on Dragonmount itself by clicking on this link.

Below is the excerpted forward Jordan wrote for this little background story. It's such a shame his ideas for future tidbits of extra information will never fully come to fruition.

Foreword

Sometimes fans ask me whether I mean to write prequels to The Wheel of Time. While some requests are for books about The Trolloc Wars or the rise and fall of the High King, Artur Hawking, or the life histories of various characters, the most frequent are for books about the AOL and its end in the War of the Power, and the most often asked question is, I believe, "Why, when the greatest feats of the Age of Legends were done by men and women working together with the One Power, was the final attack on Shayol Ghul carried out by men alone?" At present I do not intend to write any of those books, but I won't say that a story or two might not creep out eventually. I do not normally do short fiction. My editor claims that for me, a short story means fifty thousand words. As for the question, though...I hope that those fans (and the rest of you) will be satisfied for the time with what follows, a fictional bit of "non-fiction," a piece from an Age called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past...

 

- Robert Jordan

 

(A version of this was included in An Illustrated Guide to The Wheel of Time, published by Tor Books in 1997.)

I hope you enjoy reading it! Let me know if there is any other parts of the series I have somehow managed to live my life without up until now!

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

We're almost halfway there! Where you ask? To the next season of the hit television series A Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice And Fire books by George R. R. Martin. It airs once per year, for ten weeks only, and then it seems like such a long wait till the next season! But it should be back beginning of April 2014 so we're getting closer.

If you know anything about the books or the series, you will know that it is one of the most brutal stories you will come across. It seems no character is safe from serious injury or some form of untimely demise. This reputation caused one fan to create the following image:

That, is the series of books so far and each of those colored pieces of paper represent the point of death of a named character within the series. It's quite a body-count. All in all, if you get the chance to fulfill your dream of living within a fictional world, Martin's may not be your wisest choice.

I wonder how that body-count stacks up against other works of fiction, or our own dearly beloved Wheel of Time series. In the comments below, see who you can name who died--permanently!--within the series. (Beware of spoilers in that list if you haven't yet completed the books) and let's see how many we can collectively come up with.

As a bonus feature after such a morbid topic, here is a selection of Game of Thrones heroines as art nouveau paintings.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

I'm beginning to get excited! Are you?! Wait... You don't know what I mean, do you?The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be hitting cinemas in a matter of weeks! That's what I'm excited about and I hope you share my enthusiasm since this article will be looking back at the first film and ahead to part two. This article will include some light spoilers.The Lord of the Rings trilogy stands out for me as one of the best film trilogies around, and certainly one of the all time best book-to-film adaptations I have witnessed. The Fellowship of the Ring in particular for me was visually stunning and just captured everything the book had in it. I could watch it again and again.

I was particularly happy to learn, therefore, that Peter Jackson would continue where he left off with those films and produce the film adaptation of The Hobbit. I went straight to the cinema to watch the first installment, An Unexpected Journey when it came out.

Although it perhaps didn't live quite up to the heights of The Lord of the Rings, I was still very happy with it. It reflected more of a comical nature, with the action being fast but not as intense or serious, but I think that really reflected to the different style of the book, and although serious adult movie-goers may have been less impressed, fans of J.R.R Tolkien's works, and of fantasy fiction, in general I think would appreciate that.

As usual I particularly liked the visuals. New Zealand is such a picturesque place and really fits well with Middle Earth; the story was well done and pretty faithful to the book, although they did deviate in places, particularly in the creation of a villain that was more relatable to the audience and could be carried through the plot. The scene with the trolls--a childhood favorite--was well done, as was the scene with Gollum and the riddle competition; all in all, I was impressed. What was your take on it? Leave a comment below!

Looking forward to part two, The Desolation of Smaug, I'm definitely excited and in anticipation. There are some great scenes to show on the big screen--Mirkwood in particular stands out as one I'm looking forward to, as well as the great Wyrm himself.

There's also plenty of eye candy for all with Orlando Bloom reprising his role as Legolas and Evangeline Lilly, of Lost fame, also playing an Elven beauty, Tauriel.

Here is a link to a "sneak peek" in case you haven't seen it already. I'm really looking forward to it. Really really!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfflhfn1W-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Firstly a quick apology for not having written an article myself the last few weeks--a few issues in my life have restricted my time, but I'm glad to be back, and will try and keep it going; and thank my fellow bloggers for ably filling in for me!

Now, during the month of November, you have the chance to take part in a very special activity called NaNoWriMo. What's that, you ask? Well there is more information available at www.NaNoWriMo.org but in a nutshell it is National Novel Writing Month, a sort of little personal challenge for aspiring writers and wannabe novelist to complete their novel in just one month--the month of November. So you'd better get cracking!

The website has a whole load of useful tools such as a progress tracker, online support, and a community of fellow writers to help you along the way.

Here at Dragonmount we are very interested in this activity. For more information on how to take part here at Dragonmount, check out the NaNoWriMo sub-board of the ACW Tuathan'an camp.

You may also have noticed that I tied in the word "Movember" into the title. Movember is a sponsored charity event to grow a moustache during the month of November (I think it's for guys only, but whatever floats your boat!). I mention it because it is also taking place this month, and I'd love to show off our efforts here on Dragonmount. So if you are taking part please send me a Private Message with some photographs you'd be happy to be used in a future article.

That's all for now! Have fun!

Until next time friends!

[Editor's Note: This is an article Moon Sedai published on Landofnerds.com, on September 12th, 2013; she has several other articles that focus on strong female characters.  It's posted here with her permission.]

This will contain spoilers from the whole Mistborn series.  Read at your own risk!

Strong Females: Vin Venture, Mistborn

First, let me apologize for taking so long to write this blog. I had a rather busy month of August, plus I spent time reading the Mistborn series so I could do a proper showcase for the character of Vin, from Mistborn. I promise that soon, I’ll be getting back to a regular blogging schedule, and catch up on Space City Con.

Before I begin talking about Vin, let me describe the world of Mistborn.  Mistborn takes place in a world known as the “Final Empire.” For a thousand years, a tyrannical god-king known as the “Lord Ruler” has ruled the world. He is the center of the world’s only existing religion and the most powerful magician in the world. He can create, he can destroy, and he is seen as unstoppable.  He also has complete control of the economy.

A thousand years ago, the Lord Ruler did some amazing things, stopped the destruction of the world, and named himself the “Sliver of Infinity” and Lord Ruler. He stamped out all other religions. He worked to actively wipe out entire populations of some people, created monsters and allies to help him run the world, and led a society that was led by the religion he founded around himself. Society is highly stratified: there are nobles, who were the descendants of those who ‘helped’ the Lord Ruler a thousand years before. The nobles have rarely had to battle, breed very few children, and have a tall stature. There are also the skaa. Skaa are a race that has been relegated to little more than slaves. They are generally smaller, have a lot of children, and are raised to be superstitious and complacent. Interbreeding is forbidden, and noblemen who take skaa lovers are encouraged to kill them before they give birth to half-breed children.

The main form of magic in Mistborn is called “Allomancy.” Essentially, Allomancy is magic where the Allomancer “burns” metals in their body, either swallowed directly or ingested through foods. (To learn more about Allomancy, check out the Misborn Wiki entry on allomancy). Most Allomancers can only use one metal at a time, and their magical style is often named after the metal or what that metal does. Mistborn are different, because they can burn all metals. The Lord Ruler’s Steel Ministry seeks out skaa Allomancers to eliminate. They are an abomination.

The planet is not a beautiful world. There are Ash Mountains that spew volcanic ash at irregular periods, covering everything with a dirty grey pallor. Plants no longer produce color. The Sun is a deep red. Every night, the air is filled with Mist: a seemingly powerful source of spooky power that “eats people.”

To those fans of Mistborn, I am going to focus primarily on the first book of the series to avoid spoiling the ending. There are going to be mild spoilers for the series.

1. Who is the Character?

Vin is the primary character of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series. She is a half-skaa (slave race) half-noble born girl, raised on the streets of Luthadel, the capital of the “Final Empire.” Her father never knew of her existence, her mother was insane. Her brother raised her, teaching her to be constantly paranoid, and raising her to a life of crime.  In the beginning, she has joined up with a thieving crew that depends on her extraordinary “Luck” to help them pull off their heists.

After a botched heist, Vin’s crew is approached by a man named “Kelsier,” who is known as “the Survivor of the Pits.” Kelsier is a legend: He is the only skaa who has ever broken out of the Lord Ruler’s prison.  He hates noblemen with all his being. He is brave, he is strong, he is powerful. He is also openly Mistborn. Kelsier introduces Vin to the idea of Allomancy, lets her know that she is a Mistborn, and trains her to help him pull off the greatest heist known to the Final Empire: The overthrowing of the Lord Ruler.

2. What is her role/career in the world she belongs to? 

In the first Book, Vin is training to use her Mistborn powers. She takes a place on Kelsier’s crew as a spy: She masquerades as a ‘country noblewoman in the big city for the first time” to help spread false rumors and make the noble houses mistrustful of one another. She is also supposed to report what she learns of the various noble houses back to her crew.

As a Mistborn, she becomes one of the most powerful fighters and magicians in the world. She might be from a place of poverty, fear, and paranoia, but Vin becomes one of the most fearsome forces within the Empire.

3. What is the source of her power? Does she have [magic] power because she was born with it? If she was not “born to power,” how did she get the power? (i.e “Chosen” by a mysterious council, win via election, did she take the power or have it forced upon her?) Did she have to put up a fight to obtain her power?

Allomancers are born with something in their genes that allow them to use magic. At some point in their life, after experiencing near-death trauma, they “Snap” and start using their power. They are either an Allomancer, a Mistborn, or a normal person, without abilities. Noble houses often beat their young children to a point to where they either Snap, die, or just take a really strong beating. Skaa Allomancers often don’t need that kind of encouragement. The life of poverty led by most skaa forces their Snapping, and sometimes, they don’t know what it is they can do. Very lucky is the skaa that Snaps and manages to evade the Steel Ministry.

This being said, Vin owes her Mistborn powers to her good genetics. She did not have to fight to get power, she had to fight to survive, and that fight is what allowed her to live.

4. Who are the important men in her life? Can we, in any way, attribute her position, power, or authority in thanks to the men in her life (father, brother, boyfriend/husband/lover)? (Did Daddy give her the power, is she only cool because she’s the Chosen One’s girlfriend?)

Reen: Reen is her brother, who rescued her from their crazy mother after their mother killed their little sister. Reen taught Vin to be paranoid and suspicious, traits that might have helped keep her alive. Ultimately, he abandoned her, confirming to her that “everyone will betray you.”

Kelsier: Kelsier is her mentor. He brings her into the Crew, teaches her how to use her Allomancy. He is a father-type figure, not her actual father, but he cares for her, looks at her like the daughter he never had. Through Kelsier and his Crew, Vin learns what it is like to really trust and work with others.

Sazed: Sazed is a Terris Steward, a man who is of a race that the Lord Ruler subjected to strong breeding programs to eliminate the Terris style of magic (because of this, Sazed is a eunuch.) Sazed teaches Vin about how to act like a ‘proper noblewoman’ and about the different religions squashed by the Lord Ruler. Sazed is a uses Fereuchemy, a power that stores magic within metals worn outside the body.

Elend Venture: Elend, Vin’s ultimate husband, is important because he tells Vin that not all noblemen are bad. He is the only man Vin every really “loves” and is brokenhearted when ordered to end the relationship and when he tries to end it to protect her. Vin goes to great lengths to protect and care for her husband.

5. Is she ever used as a “Damsel in Distress?” If so, how does she handle her capture/stress? Does she rescue herself or did she put herself into the stress to begin with?

Vin only rarely is in distress. Once, when she pushed herself too far with Allomancy, and a second time when she is *almost* killed in a battle. After pushing herself, she was bedridden for a time, and then was ‘forbidden’ from using Allomancy until she was fully healed. Vin did not enjoy this, and she used her powers anyway.

The only time she is directly a “Damsel in Distress” is when she is caught by the Steel Ministry. Sazed uses his Feruchemical powers to rescue her, which ultimately allows Vin to  …{Left out so to avoid a SPOILER}.

6. Sex. Is sex and sexuality important to the character? Does she spend much of her time trying to impress the men around her? Is she the maiden/mother/crone?

 Vin is a weird mix of maiden and mother. In the first novel, Vin must act as an immature, unknowledgeable noble girl, trying to make her place in Court. 

At first, she is annoyed with Elend. He’s a nobleman who would rather read than dance. But she falls in love with him, perhaps because he was genuinely concerned with the state of the Empire, and openly displeased with his father’s actions and how the Lord Ruler ran society.

Vin does not specifically dress up and go to Balls to court Elend. She does not "pursue” him, directly, and once the “jig is up” about her heritage and identity, she actively avoids dressing the part of the flighty noblewoman. If Elend is going to love Vin, he was going to love who she was, not who she pretended to be.

Vin and Elend have a fascinating relationship. They work well together, support one another, and seem to be a true partnership. She is not in power because she’s his girlfriend/wife. She is the one with the power. He takes authority because of her. She is often used as a tool to support his authority, but it is because of her choice.

In later books, she acts as an unofficial mother to the various peoples. To the religion that spawns as a result of the first book, to some of creatures that the Lord Ruler created to help run the empire.

7. How ‘manly’ is the character? Is she a tomboy, or androgynous? Is she really just a male character in a female body?

Vin does not initially enjoy the dresses and make-up of the noble courts. She prefers male clothes, pants, short hair.

Girls who look like boys on the streets are not raped.

She does eventually come to relish the dresses and female clothing, but she prefers to wear the comfortable pants and boots to dresses and corsets.

8. What are her weaknesses?

Vin is paranoid, almost to a fault. She is constantly convinced that her friends and lovers are going to betray her. She constantly hears the whisper of her brother in her ear, telling her that her friends are just waiting to stab her in the back, to turn her in to the Steel Ministry, that they will abandon her, leave her alone, betray her. Her strongest struggle is not with the Lord Ruler, but with fighting this paranoia within herself.

9. How Interesting would she be if she were a male character?

If Vin were a male, it would have removed the relationship with Elend Venture, that is ultimately critical to the resolution of the first book.  Elend ultimately takes place in the rebellion out of his love of Vin, not out of his high ideals and morals.

The thieving crews where Vin got her start might not have considered a male Vin innocuous, might not have mistreated her as badly. She would not have been as useful. Or maybe a male Vin in the thieving crews would have been used as a bodyguard, and given away his Allomantic powers earlier.

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Last week, on the 19th of September 2013, Dragonmount celebrated a very special day--its 15th birthday! That's right, this incredible website which has been part of the lives of some of us, for many years now, is 15-years-old and going strong.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided that this week's article would feature a very special interview, with Jason Denzel, the founder and owner of Dragonmount and one of his right-hand cronies... that is to say, assistants... Jenniferl, previously known as Kathana, Dragonmount's project manager.

Without further ado, here is that interview. I posed a long list of questions, written below in italics, and they gave their answers when they felt they had something to say. I hope you find it interesting!

An Interview With Jason and Jenn

What problems did you encounter when creating Dragonmount? What was the most difficult time in the history of Dragonmount? How did you overcome those problems?

[Jason] The biggest challenges in running Dragonmount has always been overcoming technical hurdles. The original version of the website ran on a shared Windows server sitting on a network connection with a speed of around 700 kbps. That was fast back in 1998, but for comparison, that speed is about 9 times slower than the average home internet connection in the US today. It was housed in somebody's apartment and I had little to no control over it. I knew nothing about hosting websites at the time, so I was completely at the mercy of somebody else.

Dragonmount received a lot of visitors right away and the traffic would frequently crash the website. Fortunately, I've always had no shortage of incredible people who were willing to help. In those early years I relied heavily on people like Robert C and Jon J just to keep the website online.

Eventually I got to point where I was no longer renting somebody else's server space, but building my own servers to have them hosted in rented data centers. That was a disaster because my hand-built servers tended to fall apart. One time I had two large CPU fans pop off the motherboard during shipping, and it smashed up several internal components. I also went with the cheapest service I could find back then, and got, well… the cheapest service. If the website crashed, it would take half a day or more before somebody near that facility would drag themselves over to press the reset button.

I finally surmounted this problem when I moved into my current house about 9 years ago. The house was brand new and had fiber optic lines running to it. As a result, my internet provider offered a fiber service which, in 9 years, has never once gone down. I've had 100% uptime for almost a decade. They offered a reasonably priced package of 35 Mbits (about 4-5 times faster than the average US internet speed). This was a dream come true cause now I could stop paying massive hosting fees and have direct access to the server. To this day, I have no problems with our connection speed.

But the final technical hurdle has proven to be the greatest challenge: keeping up with the demand. Dragonmount is a big website with a big community. A lot of people enjoy the Wheel of Time series and we've always been the go-to site for it. As a result, our hardware hasn't always been able to handle the load. Up until the last 3 or 4 years, Dragonmount ran entirely on a single server. I had backup servers, but really, it was just one computer running the entire website.

When Robert Jordan died, we got about 2,000 times our normal traffic to his blog. And because we hadn't optimized the website as well as we could have (no caching, no pagination for long lists of comments, etc), our poor little server was simply destroyed. I was invited out to his funeral, so for basically a week nobody could remotely access my crashed server. I remember calling my wife every few hours at home asking her to press the reset button on the server.

Those days were our darkest. Just when the community was MOST interested in seeing us online, we were unavailable.

Today, we're very prepared for large, perhaps even massive amounts of traffic. DM runs across a pair of separate Dell servers, both loaded with hardware and fully redundant. We were slammed by an ongoing DoDOS attack last year, but now have protection against that (as best we can anyway) due to our partnership with a well known CDN service.

15 years ago, I didn't have a clue what it took to run a website. But looking back, I'm proud of the independent, do-it-our-way approach I've chosen to take. I wracked up some debt in keeping things afloat, but it would have been significantly more had I just paid somebody to take care of it for me. I was a college student with no money back then, so it's wonderful to see that we somehow survived.

How closely do you work with team Jordan? How did you come to be noticed by them?

[Jason] I first came into contact with Robert Jordan when he sent me a Cease-and-Desist letter. Good times, eh?

At the time, I was attempting to make an animated short film based on the "Dragonmount" prologue from the first book. He got wind of it via an online interview where a fan asked him what his thoughts were. Well, his "thoughts" were to shut it down. His agent contacted me and I explained what I was up to. They understood, and RJ agreed to give me a license to produce the short film on the condition that he needed to approve the script, designs, etc. I remember asking the lawyer, "How will he approve the materials?" And the lawyer said, "Oh you can just work via email with him." That was pretty much one of the coolest things anybody had ever said to me. It was 2002.

My email exchanges with Robert Jordan began very formal. "Dear Mr Jordan…." We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I sent him a photo of my wife and I cutting our wedding cake with a heron-marked sword. (RJ: "I know some women who would rather cut YOU than the cake!") But mostly we talked about the movie project. He signed all of his emails with a big salutation, "Sincerely, I remain… Robert Jordan". Something like that.

Over time, we chatted a little more frequently, and talked about other topics. We talked about his writing, of course, or his upcoming book tours, the housing market, even the weather. I know, how cliche, right? He began signing his emails simply, "RJ", and then later, "Jim". (His real name was Jim Rigney if you were not aware.)

I never finished that film, but that was all right. It put me in direct contact with Robert Jordan, and from there we launched his blog on DM, and I received early copies of each of the new WoT books. He asked me what I thought of each one, and I'd tell him honestly. But he never sought my input or feedback on anything.

The first time I was ever asked for any real input was at his funeral. Harriet hosted a beautiful get-together at her house on the evening of his burial. She and Tom Doherty (the publisher of Tor Books) sat me down on their porch and asked me who I thought should finish the series. I mentioned a few names and gave feedback on the names they suggested. Nobody mentioned Brandon. I'm glad they didn't go with anybody else.

When Brandon wrote the final books, Jenn and I were both invited to be one of the beta readers. That's when we really began to work with Team Jordan from a creative standpoint.

What made you decide to begin hosting conventions? How easy was it? Do you enjoy it? Will you continue to do it?

[Jenn] I went to my first Dragon*Con in 2000. It was my first fan convention ever. I liked it and thought it might be fun to get a bunch of DMers to come. One thing went wrong after another and I ended up starting a new track of programming devoted entirely to the Wheel of Time. After a few years of that, people started pestering me about starting a standalone convention. I demurred for several years, because I thought my hands were pretty full, but apparently I'm a sucker for peer pressure.

It's tough to run a con. I've had to learn so many things I never thought I'd need, like running a business, managing volunteers and arguing with the IRS about our tax exempt status. I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it though. I love walking around the JordanCon and seeing the beautiful Art Show, intricate costumes and groups of friends chatting in the hallway and thinking 'Hey, I did this!" I've had lots and lots of help, obviously. But I love the community that has grown up around JordanCon and I feel like we're finally becoming known outside of the WoT fandom as a "must attend!" event.

What are some of your favorite memories of Dragonmount?

[Jason] I have so many. Running a website like Dragonmount for 15 years is like having a second job. It turned out to be one of the significant things I've done with my life so far. I've loved going to book signings and meeting people, going to conventions, going out to dinner with RJ and Harriet, playing Magic: the Gathering with Brandon, making the Towers of Midnight book trailer, and so on.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

[Jenn] I'm 33, married, no kids. I teach at a small private school for kids with autism spectrum disorder. In my non-fannish spare time, I like to refinish old furniture and I have a food blog. I'm married to a Seanchan and we live just north of Atlanta in a small town where Sherman committed some of his worst war crimes. In addition to DM, I'm the 10th president of the Southern Fandom Confederation, the oldest still active fan organization in the southeast, and thus entitled to wear my Presidential tiara at all fannish events.

[Jason] I'm 35, married, with two little red-haired boys. My day job is with a major technology company where I work on enterprise-class Linux servers every day. (That's been very helpful for running Dragonmount!) In addition to family, DM, and work, I'm a writer and a filmmaker trying to complete that elusive first "big project." I work very hard every day at my craft, planning to someday have something professionally produced someday. I'm also a student of Choy Li Fut kung-fu, love cartography and writing haiku. I have a personal website at JasonDenzel.com, and am on twitter @JasonDenzel.

How did you meet?

[Jenn] We "met" when Jason was asking for applications to run the White Tower Organization at DM. I sent him a long email, in character as a loopy Brown sister who didn't quite have it together. Fun fact! It is not hard at all for me to act like that. We finally met in person when Jason and his wife came to Dragon*Con in 2003.

[Jason] Yeah, what she said.

On a day to day basis, just how much work do you have to put into running Dragonmount?

[Jenn] Right now for me it's very little. I check the staff boards every day to make sure no one is on fire, but that's about it. The last five years have been very intense for me as a Wheel of Time fan and I feel like I'm finally taking that vacation I promised myself a couple years ago. Jason does more, but he handles the business side of things and that requires constant tending.

[Jason] DM is never far from my mind. I'm always working on something related to the site, even if it's to process an order from our online store, answer questions on our social media, or tweet about a WoT-related link. It's hard for me to put an amount of time on it. Just like a parent doesn't track the hours they raise their kids, I don't track my time at DM. The website, servers, community, relationships, and effort that all go into it is a daily extension of myself.

How did Dragonmount begin? Who was involved?What motivated you to start Dragonmount?

[Jason] In 1998 I was a college student who was re-reading the series in anticipation of the next book coming out (Path of Daggers). They were, by far, my favorite books and I really had a hunger to speak to people about them. I knew a few other fans, but none of them were really into talking about theories or glossing about their favorite scenes and characters.

Around that time, I took a workshop in basic HTML. Since I couldn't find anybody to talk to about the books, I decided to try and make a website to attract fans and see if I could find some people to talk to. Well, I think I was successful!

My goal with the first 1.0 version of the website was just to put something online that was visually appealing. Of course it looks terrible by today's standards but you have to think about what it was like in 1998: most websites were just text and animated GIF's. And most Wheel of Time websites were just text back then. I wanted to feature art, and active message boards and foster community. It wasn't until many years later that I began enlisting the help of real designers and artists and web developers.

How would you like people to use the website? What would you like people to get out of the website?

[Jason] Dragonmount's #1 goal from day one has been to enhance a person's enjoyment of The Wheel of Time. We're here to keep you posted with news, provide commentary, resources, and community. I'd love if people met new friends on our forums, joined a writing group, or shared with artwork.

One of our newest features is our eBook store. Aside from being an opportunity to make a little money (and help pay off that debt I mentioned above and offset the costs of our servers!), I really believe in the DRM-free approach to selling books. I'm working hard to expand this, and hoping to one day add new publishers and titles. I hope visitors will check us out and consider buying some eBooks from us rather every now and then. You get multiple versions of the book, so you can read them on Kindle and any other device, and they are fully unlocked so you never have to worry about them expiring or not working in future platforms.

What do you see in the future of Dragonmount?

[Jenn] I think DM is always going to be a community hub for those who enjoy the Wheel of Time and other fantasy fiction. We have no plans to transition to being a Brandon Sanderson fan site.

[Jason] Dragonmount will have an active, thriving community for as long as the Wheel of Time books are in print, and even beyond that probably. These books are still published and selling well worldwide. That means every day there are new readers who are just as entranced by the story like we were. While there's no denying that things might slow down a little, we'll always be around and active.

Oh, and if they ever manage to make a movie or TV series based on the books, DM will be flooded with more traffic than we've ever seen. Even if the production tanks, there will be enough marketing interest that we'll see a large rush of new readers.

Now that the series has ended, what are you going to read?

[Jenn] I read lots of different authors. Off the top of my head, I've recently read things by Pat Rothfuss, Saladin Ahmed, Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGuire, John Scalzi, Lois McMaster Bujold and N.K. Jemisin. They are all excellent authors and I recommend them.

[Jason] I read most of the same authors Jenn mentioned. But most of my reading these days is for unpublished or in-progress books. I read a lot of stuff for my writing group, and I often volunteer to beta read people's novels. Even though I've not been published (yet), I think I have a pretty good eye for character development, story, conflict, and the publishing industry in general. I enjoy helping other aspiring authors, especially those inspired by Robert Jordan. And of course, I read my own stuff, every day, over and over in order to try and make something I hope people will want to read someday.

What did you think of A Memory of Light? Which was your favorite book of the series? Which is your favorite character? Which is your favorite villain? If you existed in the Wheel of Time world who would you like to be and who would you most likely really have been?

[Jenn] That is too many questions. But yes, I did enjoy A Memory of Light. I think it was a worthy ending to the series. The last couple pages make me tear up every time I look at them.

[Jason] I loved A Memory of Light. But like the other beta readers, I saw it while it was still imperfect. I saw it, as Brandon likes to say, without its makeup and hair done while it's still in frumpy pajamas. But I thought it was a beautiful and poetic ending to the series, even though there were things that may perhaps could have been better if Robert Jordan had completed it personally. But I sincerely think that nobody would have put as much love and effort into it as Brandon did, and for that, I'll always be grateful.

My Favorite character: Rand

Villian: Graendal

Who I wish I was or suspect I would be: I'd want to be the Rand we see at the end of the series.

What do you get out of running Dragonmount?

[Jenn] A sense of satisfaction and the occasional freebie from Tor. But mostly satisfaction.

[Jason] Pure joy. Fulfillment. The sense of following the course of my river of life.

Also, frequent annoyance when the damn servers act up.

Have you made any real, lasting friendships on Dragonmount?

[Jenn] I met my husband on the forums at DM. So yes, definitely. Other than Jimmy, I've met many wonderful people and had many long friendships with people I've met either at DM or at conventions.

[Jason] I met some of my closest life-long friends through this website, including Jenn. But don't tell her I said that. I want her to think I hate her.

Which social groups were you most heavily involved in? Can you tell us briefly about any role-playing characters you had on Dragonmount?

[Jenn] I ran the White Tower for ten years. To this day, I believe I'm still the longest serving Group Leader at DM.

[Jason] Thanks for taking the time to listen to our stories, and I hope we can have this conversation again in another five, ten, and fifteen years. Thank you also to everyone who's visited and contributed over the years to DM. A special shout out to the staff and admins, both current and past. You can never know how much it meant to me that you helped out. In many ways, this site will always be as much yours as it was mine.

Jason Denzel, Jason@dragonmount.com

Interview Ends

I really hope you have enjoyed reading this interview with two people who have given of themselves so much so that we all in the world of Wheel of Time fandom may enjoy this incredible site. And I hope it inspires you to go on making use of it to the fullest and to stick around for many more years to come.

That's all for now. Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

As much as we all here at Dragonmount are Wheel of Time fans, I think it is safe to say that many of us are also fans of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and it's HBO smash hit television version, A Game of Thrones. It has been the subject of this particular blog before, and today we return to the land of Westeros to look at a couple of fun items around the Internet by other Game of Thrones fans.

First up, here is a tour of the cities of Westeros painstakingly recreated in Minecraft mimicking the Game of Thrones series opening sequence. It's very impressive I think. If you want to know how much work goes into something like that, have a look at other Minecraft videos. It's essentially a game where you can build simple constructs--or incredibly complex ones--out of game building blocks.

Next, we have an even more impressive set of Minecraft creations. These are just still photographs, but look at this image:

And I defy you not to want to follow this link and see what else there is to feast your eyes upon. Imagine having an unlimited about of (digital) Lego blocks to play with and the space and skill to do whatever you want with them. Well this is what someone has done within that concept.

As a final little Game of Thrones related treat, check out the theme tune on church bells.  And for bonus win, violin.

That's all for now. Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week we return to our semi-regular look at some of the parts and pieces that make up Dragonmount in our Features of Dragonmount series of articles, and specifically I am going to be telling you a little bit about the White Tower and Warders Guild Social Group.

We discussed Social Groups a few weeks ago in this article if you want to refresh yourself as to what they are and what their purpose is.

The White Tower section of the forums, found here is probably the biggest and busiest of all the Social Groups, as the Aes Sedai and Warders are such a fundamental and appealing aspects of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Many people are drawn to sign up as members there and meet like-minded people and enjoy participating in online events, activities and discussions. By doing this, they can then rise in rank, either from Novice, through Accepted, and all the way to Aes Sedai, or even Sitter, Ajah Head, or maybe even Amyrlin one day (!) or the equivalent ranks of the Warders Guild.

The following is lifted from the White Tower 101 post to give you a taste of what is involved:

The term "Aes Sedai" means "Servants of All" in the Old Tongue. The White Tower and Warders Social Group has used the philosophy of Servants of All to create a social setting based on the hierarchy, purpose and set-up of the White Tower and Warders in the WoT series. This inspires the way in which we interact and some of the activities which we organize, although we are a social community and not a role playing group.

We offer people of varying common interests - related to the books or otherwise - a chance to find their niche with like minded people in one of the Ajahs or the Warders guild. Whether you become a Warder or an Aes Sedai (here males can be Aes Sedai and females can be Warders), at the White Tower and Warders Social Group, you can live out that philosophy and have fun doing it!

And this from the Warders Guild equivalent--my own little corner of Dragonmount.

It took a unique kind of man to show this kind of dedication, this kind of vigilance. This kind of humility…men like Sleete quietly did the work of heroes, each and every day. Without glory or recognition. If they were remembered, it was usually only by association with their Aes Sedai. Or by other Warders. You didn’t forget your own- TGS [The Gathering Storm] Ch13.

 

Just as in the books, the Warders here are men and women who live to serve and protect. The difference is a change of focus. Instead of dedicating our lives to an individual, first and foremost we serve the White Tower by protecting it and all of its members against all possible threats.

 

How do they do that on a community site like the social side of DM? Well, we stand ready to aid and assist wherever needed. Be that by participating in Ajah activities, helping new initiates get around, offering a listening ear to the Aes Sedai, assisting the Mother in Tower events and filling in whenever activity levels come under threat anywhere within the Tower. We keep the Tower alive and healthy, through whatever means necessary, at whatever cost to ourselves. That is the path of a Warder, so think carefully whether you wish to dedicate yourself to it! This way, we serve the Amyrlin, the Aes Sedai, and the White Tower as a whole.

We have a lot of fun and form truly lasting friendships, so come by and check us out and you might find yourself staying around for a long time...

Have fun!

Until next time friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week it's time once again for a book review. I have recently re-read a fantasy novel called The Shadowed Path, by one Simon Stone. I have met him in real life and got chatting with him, and his story and that of his novel is quite interesting.

To be brief, Stone is not yet a well known author, although I wish him all the success in the world in the future. He is, however, at least in my opinion, an excellent writer. From what I know about Dragonmount, several of its members are in a similar position, which is why the story of Stone and The Shadowed Path might prove interesting and I decided to pass it on. Stone decided to self publish his book by making it available on Amazon. It is a fascinating concept which allows you to get that story you've been working on out there for people to read, and to get yourself and your friends a copy of it as a finished article, because as everyone who has tried to get into publishing knows, sometimes it isn't how good you're writing is, it's just getting that first break and getting your name at least a little bit known.

Why do I say that? Because Stone's The Shadowed Path is as good as many books I have read from the shelf of a library or book store, to be frank. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing style flows, the plot is interesting and fast paced, the action is well written and dynamic, the characters at once interesting and believable, and the setting is a little different.

The book follows the journey of three principle characters from a Roman-inspired fantasy setting into a nightmarish forest--and then shows not so much what happened to them, but how it changes them, particularly the main character, Marcus. Meanwhile a horde of horrifying monsters are on the rampage, an Aztec-like kingdom is seeking war, and the most intriguing part of the book, the waylander, famed for not being able to harm a living creature, are suddenly able to kill, and frighteningly good at it.

It's well worth a read. The Amazon store has both a Kindle eBook and a paperback edition. I enjoyed it enough to get the paperback. I'd recommend it to you if you're looking for a new fantasy read, something a bit different, and I hope you enjoy it too.

Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

[Editor's Note: Ireond, our Humor Blogger, is filling in the role of Rotating Features Blogger because he wanted to share a more in depth look at A Game of Stones with the Dragonmount community.  He's been playing for awhile and has a better insight to the attractions of the game.  Fnorrll will return next week with "The Wheel Turns."]

A Game of Stones is a browser based multiplayer role playing game set in The Wheel of Time universe.  Currently in its eleventh version, players can choose a nationality and class and then go explore, fight, and earn money to their hearts content, or at least until the Last Battle.

The basic overview of the game:

Character creation consists of choosing a nationality for your character, and then picking a basic class.  As you gain levels, you open the opportunity to build estates in wilderness areas, gain profession points which can be used to buy businesses in town and gain other bonus, and eventually gain the option to add more classes to your character.  Classes offer a skill tree with various bonus stats, and every level, you are given skill points to customize your character.  

Players are ranked by experience, alignment, and Ji. Experience is a pretty standard affair, you attack non-player characters (NPCs) or players, and gain experience accordingly.  Alignment is how your actions have defined you in terms of leaning more towards the Shadow or the Light.  Ji is an interesting factor, and affects a fair amount of game play.  Each action you do brings you honor.  As you rise in honor, your standing in the game rises as well, but the true benefit is when you're a member of a clan, as your gain in honor carries over to them, allowing them to take control of the local towns.  Towns have shops where you can purchase gear and temporary bonus items, as well as restock your stamina; the clans can invest in upgrades, allowing you to gain bonuses from towns that your clan controls.  Lose the town though, and you lose those bonuses.

Combat is limited by each character only gaining two combat points an hour, but you are allowed to bank up to a hundred, allowing you to walk away from the game for long periods, if you desire, and not falling behind.  However, movement is determined by stamina, which can be replenished by resting or using an inn at a city, allowing you to move freely completing non-combat quests if you wish. You can play with your stats, change equipment around, and hang out on the clan or world chat boards while waiting for combat points.

The early game consists of securing towns for clans and leveling up your character.  You can compete in tournaments, build a commercial empire, or just run around completing quests.  Eventually the seven seals to the Dark One's prison will appear, and then they start breaking.  This is the point the current game is at now, but that means the fun is just beginning.

You see, the Last Battle is coming.  Hordes of NPCs will be descending and doing their hardest to make sure the towns are wiped off the map.  Then players will be divided by alignment and fight for all creation.

Then, the Age ends. 

The next version comes out, where a new Age will unfold, and a new battle for creation will begin.

Which side will you fight for?

Swing by A Game of Stones and take a look.

I spoke with Tim Jensen, current programmer and administrator for "A Game of Stones."

Q: When did the game first start, and when did you take over?

A: I'm not sure on exactly when the game first started. I first started playing in the Summer of 2003, which I believe was towards the beginning. After a releasing couple different versions of the game, the original Creator, Craig Harrison, decided he wanted to move on and posted the source code online in May of 2007. I took the code, made a few modifications I thought would be nice and launched my first version in September 2007.

Q: What is the one aspect about the game you feel brings in the most players?

A: Honestly I'd have to give credit to the Wheel of Time for that one. I'd estimate about 90% of the vocal users of the site are fans of the books that checked the game out due to their love of the series. Though even if you haven't read the books, the game is still accessible. It's really a pretty standard RPG game with a Wheel of Time skin on it, though I've tried to get as many details right as I can while keeping the game balanced.

Q: What do you feel attracts first time players?

A: Beyond the idea of playing a Wheel of Time game, I'd say that it's the fact that it's an online game that can suck up as much or a little of your time as you want and you can still be fairly competitive. That's something I've tried to strive for with how the game is set up. Some people complain about the limited turns players are allotted, but to make up for it each person can have 3-6 characters. Keeping up with that many characters and fully taking advantage of all the game has to offer with each of them can suck up a lot of time if you let it.

Q: What do you feel keeps players coming back for each new version?

A: This one I have to give to the GoS community. They've kept the atmosphere of the game friendly but competitive. It's always interesting to see how things play out each version. Alliances shift from Age to Age and the new players and clans that pop up add a wrinkle into existing dynamics. Another thing I've tried to do is be responsive to what the players want for the game (within reason). Most of the changes that I have made have been at the suggestion of the players. With each version has come something new and I hope it the thought of seeing what's next keeps players coming back.

Q: If you had a tip for players that are new to the game, what would it be?

A: Don't be afraid to ask questions. I openly admit that my weakest point is documenting how things work, so the game can be a bit overwhelming for new players. Luckily, the existing player base is quite friendly to new players and quick to answer questions. I suggest joining an existing clan your first time through rather than creating your own. That way you can learn the ropes from the more veteran players and hopefully make a few friends in the community along the way.

Q: What made you decide to institute the last battle?

A: Two reasons. One, I originally planned to launch V10 in February of this year, so that would have been within 1 month after AMoL released so that seemed fitting. More importantly was the need that each "Age" of the game needed a firm ending. In previous versions, people would play for a month or so, then gradually let their characters fade into neglect. By adding the Last Battle, there's a point that everything is working towards so people know what's coming and how much longer things will keep going. Hopefully it will keep players engaged to the end.

Q: What do you see in the future for this game?

A: I honestly don't know. I hope the game continues to thrive. This last version has been the most successful yet since I've taken over, so hopefully the trend continues. I still have plenty of ideas on where the game can improve. So as long as people keep playing and I have time to work on it (thanks to my wife for putting up with me!), I'll keep releasing new versions.

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

This week I want to talk about a hobby of mine, and that is board games. Now I need to stress a few things here--firstly, by board games I don't mean Monopoly. There is a growing trend of geeky board games in various fantasy, science fiction, and other settings, and they are awesome. If you aren't yet a fan of gaming, watch this video.

Personally I'm really getting into the board game scene and have picked up a few of them. And one that I am really enjoying is Arkham Horror. It's not Arkham as in Batman, by the way, but a city or town in the world of renowned writer H. P. Lovecraft. You may have heard of one of his more famous works, "The Call of Cthulu." His writing is a blend of dark, Gothic science fiction/horror.

The game Arkham Horror is very immersive, as you control investigators in the city of Arkham. Portals to other worlds keep opening and various hideous monsters pop out and roam the city streets. You, the investigators, must arm yourselves, collect clues, close the gates, kill the monsters, and try to prevent the Ancient One--which could even be Cthulu himself--from awakening! It's really great fun, challenging, and almost like a role playing game. I thoroughly recommend it, although it may be a little off putting if you aren't used to playing these kinds of board games.

If that is the case, I really do recommend you to find your nearest genuine gaming shop and see what is out there. Settlers of Catan is an excellent, easy to play game, even better with the Cities and Knights expansion. There is also a very good Game of Thrones board game where you each play as one of the Houses of Westeros. There is literally so much to choose from. I haven't yet seen a Wheel of Time board game but there may well be one!

If you're at all like me and are a little bit geeky--which is in fashion these days, by the way!--you really want to get into tabletop gaming. And if you are, then try out Arkham Horror--I've fallen in love with it.

Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

<!-- isHtml:1 --><p>Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!<br />

This week I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of interesting <em>Game of Thrones</em> related news items that I picked up on over the last few days.<br />

First, I noticed that a huge dragon skull washed ashore in Dorset, England, proving that the huge mythical beasts were, in fact, real. Or at least it would do, if it were not actually a man made structure promoting the series being released on a streaming service. Which is a shame, but it's still pretty cool. I'd love to see more companies go to this effort to advertise the things we love! Here is a picture of it:<br />

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<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/gallery_16065_320_20221.jpg" /><br />

I wonder what could be done to advertise <em>The Wheel of Time</em> at an appropriate moment? Maybe a replica of the part of the statue of Hawkwing they found?<br />

The other thing I thought worth bringing to your attention was the "Iron Throne" painting by <strong>Marc Simonetti</strong> which <strong>George R. R. Martin</strong> says <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://grrm.livejournal.com/327569.html'>best fits</a> the idea he had in mind when writing the books. Not that the H.B.O. version posted at the top of this article isn't cool, but Simonetti's work is amazing. Here it is, and as you can see in George R. R. Martin's vision the throne is much bigger.<br />

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<img src="http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/uploads/gallery/album_320/med_gallery_16065_320_136519.jpg" /><br />

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I'm sure you'd agree it is totally awesome. I wish they had done something like this for the show. What an amazing visual image it makes. This goes to show that no matter how well a series is translated onto the big screen, it can never be quite as epic as the imagined version.<br />

Well I hope you found both of these little tidbits as interesting as I did. And if any of you are amateur (or professional) sculptors or something, feel free to do something equally as awesome for our beloved <em>Wheel of Time</em> series and take pictures for <em>Dragonmount</em>. I'll even post about it in Rotating Features! Have fun!<br />

Until next time, friends!</p>

Hello friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: it's nearly the weekend, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

Have you recently finished The Wheel of Time series and would like to do a re-read, but the thought of finding time to wade through such a big series is a little off-putting? Or have you not yet finished the series and just don't seem to be able to get through it, but you're dying to see how it all ends?

Well, have no fear because help is very, very near!

Here at Dragonmount we have our very own eBook store.

It has all of the books by both Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, so you can choose which ones you need to read or re-read, and download them to a variety of devices--which you can then easily carry about with you to read a little when you can. So there really are no excuses!

What is great about the store is that the eBooks are offered digital rights media (DRM) free--which means you can download them onto more than one device, and that makes it even more convenient for you. Whatever gets you reading The Wheel of Time is fine by us!

The prices are very reasonable and what's more, you can buy a gift voucher for a friend you may know who would really appreciate help reading the books as well... Whatever gets them reading The Wheel of Time, too!

Dragonmount has partnered up with Tor, the licensed publishers of The Wheel of Time eBooks. In fact, we also stock many other eBooks from Tor, if you wanted to check out some other works of fiction--but only if you have finished The Wheel of Time first. Twice!

I jest, of course. Check out the store and see if it offers anything of interest to you.

If you have questions, you can learn more in our eBook FAQ.

Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!

I'll begin by holding up my hand and saying that the title of this article isn't really true. Sorry about that! I drew inspiration this week from a couple of things, firstly, Dragonmount is holding its annual Cage Match again. You can read about it in this article.

Secondly, I remembered reading a while back that both Brandon Sanderson and George R. R. Martin had composed a write up for a Rand Vs. Jaime Lannister cross-world cage match, which I thought was pretty epic! Martin's takes the form of an actual piece of fiction, whereas Sanderson's is more a collection of ideas.

Now, I thought this was pretty epic, to be honest. The creator of one world and the heir to the creator of another, their respective one-handed champions, their respective predicted outcomes. If you haven't yet clicked on the links above, do so now because spoilers are below.

Martin's write up was quite nice, and he certainly found a way to level the playing field, because of course with the One Power, Rand would be unbeatable by the likes of Jaime. A Trial of Seven also gave it a nice way to allow Rand the chance to show some of his power before losing. I don't agree with his conclusion on the grounds that I don't think Jaime is taller and heavier than Rand, although I suppose in his armor he would be taller, so that at least makes sense. I did like that it came down to man to man at the end.

Is Jaime the better swordsman? I suppose that's the million dollar question. So get involved and post your thoughts on it below. And don't forget to go and check out our own Wheel of Time only Cage Match, too! Have fun!

Until next time, friends!

For many who are interested in fantasy worlds and perhaps also have an interest in tabletop games and role playing, the Warhammer world will be at least somewhat familiar.

Warhammer is a tabletop strategy game using miniature figures which has been produced by a UK based company called Games Workshop since the 1980's. Its setting is a fantasy world which has often been said to be largely inspired by the high-fantasy genre of fiction largely crafted and made famous by J.R.R Tolkien--as such it includes very familiar settings of Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and humans as a younger race, although from there it is fair to say they have expanded and made their own world.

The book I am reviewing today, Trollslayer (written by William King and printed by The Black Library, Games Workshop's own publishing house), is the first book in a series focusing on the adventures of a Dwarven character, Gotrek Gurnison, and his human companion, Felix Jaeger. Gotrek is a Dwarf Slayer, who's unspecified crimes demanded that he dedicate his life to trying to find a glorious death in battle as a form of atonement. As such, he often goes on highly dangerous adventures and quests, with Felix in tow to record his legacy.

Although it is set within the Warhammer world, you don't need to be a fan of the game or know much about the background to enjoy the book, as the author does a good job of fleshing out the world and the races in it and some of the background history in a very natural way. I have only a passing knowledge of Warhammer and yet I did not feel lost at all in the book. The book is relatively lighthearted--there are a few laughs--yet the main reason I describe it that way is because it is perhaps not to be taken too seriously; the main characters accomplish some pretty heroic feats. It is fairly well written, and engages as a series of short sections, each outlining an adventure the pair undertake. While it may not be an epic fantasy classic like The Wheel of Time or A Game of Thrones, I did enjoy reading it. It is action packed and adventurous.

As a side-note to explain why I began reading this novel--I recently downloaded a game called Warhammer Quest on to my iPad, which I believe is also available on other devices. It is an adaptation of a board game of the same name and is very good, and very playable, a real dungeon-crawler in which you control and level up a party of characters of various backgrounds and skills. So I recommend that as well to any gamers out there, and it piqued my interest to get this novel on my tablet as well to read during commutes. Have fun!

Until next time, friends!