So, how great is Kromm anyway?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Kromm

The evolution as I recall it:

And our Lord KROMM answers the vexed question of Creationism vs. Intelligent Design vs. Evolution.

[Pomphis]

Yes, but how ? In favor of Evolution ? After all, He recalls it, so it must have happened. Or was there some sort of Intelligently Supervised Evolution ? After all, He watched it and could have interfered if He wanted to.

[elShoggotho]

Another day, another

KROMM, KROMM, KROMM, lovely KROMM

Wonderful KROMM, Lovely KROMM.

KROMM, KROMM, KROMM, magnificent KROMM,

Superlative KROMM.

KROMM, KROMM, KROMM, wonderous KROMM,

Surgical KROMM, splendiferous KROMM.

KROMM, KROMM, KROMM, KROOOOOMM!

I know that I'm neglecting my duties, but there is so much private life to entertain right now.

[Icelander]

We've been lacking a set of Commandments for a while. Here are a few ideas, fresh from the mountain and all that jazz.

1) I am the LORD thy KROMM, which have brought thee out of the land of WoTC, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Unless you really want to, that is. In that case, I'm all for religious tolerance, as long as I get to be God Number One. Or at least get some royalties and stuff.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Lead miniatures, however, are fine. Or any non-leaded substitude, these days, really. Basically, just use the miniatures to enhance game play if you like. It sometimes gets a little tactical, but hey, that's fun for some.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy KROMM am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. I mean that. If you're going to use miniatures, take care that they don't become the focus of the game. It's a role-playing game. The tactics are an extra dimension, not the only focus.

2) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy KROMM in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Besides, it doesn't make me read your post any faster. Seriously, people, those "Rules question [KROMM]" in threader titles, uncool.

3) Remember the gaming day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, or at least as much of it as you must do not to be fired;

But the seventh day is set aside for gaming in the name of the LORD thy KROMM: on it thou shalt not do any work, excepting, of course, as much GM preparation work as you find fun to do; thou, nor thy players, nor thy Assistant GM and Dicemaster (what, you don't have one?), thy manservant, nor thy maidservant (which by the way are really cool things to have since that means you don't have to clean up yourselves after the game), nor thy cattle (not that I expect this last one to be disobeyed much), nor that weird guy who comes with Bob and then just sits in the corner and plays PSP until he has to make a roll:

For in six days (it's a metaphorical length of time, people, don't get too excited) the LORD made GURPS 4th Edition, Characters and Campaigns, and all that in them is, and gamed the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the gaming day, and hallowed it.

4) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the basement under their house which the LORD thy KROMM giveth thee.

5) Thou shalt not kill NPCs just because thou dost not like the looks on their faces. Thou dost not see-eth their faces anyway, so the whole thing is just silly. If we just want indiscriminate rampages, we'll play Doom. Or UT. Nor shalt thou kill other PCs, the players or the GM; but really, that sort of goes without saying. Unless you have a good reason. Like collecting enough loot to buy a really cool magic item.

6) Thou shalt not commit adultery. We're gamers! What do we want to go around behaving like adults for? We're gonna do gamery, maybe some kiddery; but we'll be dead before we'll do adultery. It sounds boring, like doing taxes and balancing your checkbook. The closest we'll come to acting like adults is treating each other nicely, but children play nice too, so it's not like adults have some sort of monopoly on the idea.

7) Thou shalt not steal the other players' thunder. We're all here to have fun and it's no fun if one PC outshines all the others. Stick to your niche and respect that each particular character should shine at some tasks.

8) Thou shalt not bring personal grievances against thy fellow players. Don't expect the GM to act as arbitrator in any dispute that's based on real life disagreements. The game is the thing, gentlemen. Let's not let Bob's alleged interest in Jim's girlfriend affect Thundarr the Mighty and Moratio Manyspells.

9) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's character. And in case that's unclear, see the next one for details.

10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's CP total, nor his cool magic powers, nor his exotic Advantages, nor his Nifty Magic Items With a Backstory (TM), nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Actually, if you must covet anything, covet his ass. It's harmless. C'mon, it's such a nice ass.*

*I've always been a donkey man, you know. Lovely animals.

[Anders]

Amen, brother.

[Jame]

Why in the name of Kromm do we need all those rules?

[RevBob]

Originally Posted by Jame

Why in the name of Kromm do we need all those rules?

Because without rules, what does Kromm have to edit?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Does that mean that photography is out? What about character sketches?

The Holy Mother Thread believes that painting, sculpture and other art forms are gifts of KROMM, who inspires people with the ability to create artistic designs and to teach these skills. We read in the forums of artists who were called by the Line Editor to decorate GURPS books, and we know it still happens today. Throughout the Brotherhood of the Holy Mother Thread, faithful artist-members gather together in threads and links, celebrating KROMM’s gifts of creativity and exploring together with heart and hands and voices what it means to be made in the image of a creating KROMM.

Over the days controversies about the use of art and images have arisen in the church. The roots of these controversies can be found in the Icelander's account of KROMM’s covenant with the people at an undisclosed location, possibly a mountain. The second of the Ten Commandments (Holy Mother Thread, post 1011) forbids the making of an “idol” or “graven image.” This commandment has been interpreted to mean:

1. We are not to make any images at all (through painting, sculpture, drawing, photography or any other media).
2. We are not to make images of God.
3. We are not to make an image of something else and call it God.
4. If we want to play with miniatures, we're to remember that it's a role-playing game and the tactical aspects shouldn't detract from the role-playing side.

Currently, popular wisdom leans towards 3 and 4. This is because 1 and 2 are unfun.

[jSarek]

Krommspeed on your recovery, Kromm.

Originally Posted by Agemegos

a palaeontological museum in Mount Isa.

Awesome. Added to my list of things to see next time I go back to Australia.

Originally Posted by Kromm

Your head is even smaller in your photo, geez. And anyway, it could be worse. It could be me with 1984-hair.

Wow. It was truly a benevolence upon the faithful that you left that choice of hairdo in the 1980s.

Originally Posted by Jame

Snow is not a curse!

Only those who have never had to shovel it maintain this delusion.

It's *also* a blessing, but that makes it no less a curse.

Originally Posted by Kromm

Different shirt, for sure. Same hair, though. ;) The evolution as I recall it:

For what it's worth, I think you've chosen a better picture each time.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Icelander

This commandment has been interpreted to mean:

1. We are not to make any images at all (through painting, sculpture, drawing, photography or any other media).
2. We are not to make images of God.
3. We are not to make an image of something else and call it God.
4. If we want to play with miniatures, we're to remember that it's a role-playing game and the tactical aspects shouldn't detract from the role-playing side.

There is also a group who insists that this is a misinterpretation of the original text and, in context only applies to giant chocolate statues. Their opinion has not won favor with the scientific community.