Snowflake Challenge #13

Howdy, everyone! We're in the home stretch of the Snowflake Challenge! Today's challenge is:


The Oxford Dictionary defines fandom as being 'the state or condition of being a fan of something.' Which is a fancy way of saying that fandom doesn't exist in a vacuum and is based on something else.

Even if you're not a creator, there are many things that enhance your enjoyment / knowledge of your fandom, or fandom in general.

This challenge is interested in those supplemental things. What supplemental things do you enjoy, read, use as research, connect with fellow fans on? We're looking for anything that adds to your enjoyment of your fandom(s). Wikis, web sites, videos, software, games, books, people... anything!

There are some great fandom resources out there and we'd love to see what they are.


In your own space, tell us about 3 fandom resources you use or enjoy. (One or two is fine, especially if you're in a smaller fandom!)

One of the best resources for anything fandom is TV Tropes! Is it universally good? No, but it has just about everything fannish (or not) you can think of - all with trope lists. It's often my go-to source for looking up fandoms by tropes I'm interested in, and I've found quite a few fics I love from browsing there. It can get a little... obsessive, but it's still useful.

Another great resource, specifically for video games, is the Before I Play wiki - where people submit spoiler-free tips on games, designed to give newbies an idea of, well, what they should know before they play a game. It's not an exhaustive list, but it has helped me out a few times!

Finally, the last great resource I always go back to when I play Pathfinder is the Archives of Nethys - a complete explanation, listing, and searchable database of Pathfinder rules, lore, and mechanics. One of the things I love about Pathfinder is that it's very generous with its sharing policy - enabling officially sanctioned sources of information that other systems (looking at you, Dungeons and Dragons) lack. Of course,  you can get the same information.. elsewhere, among other things, but Archives of Nethys is legal, easy to use, and readily available. Heck, it even has first edition and Starfinder!

10k Words!

I've reached 10,000 words already! It's almost entirely journal posts though. I should start actually writing something...

Progress on The Hobbit, Part 3

There's been less posts for The Hobbit than the other books I've read, simply because I've been speeding through it - not because there's not things to say! Though, to be fair, I think I'm focusing less on analysis this time.

I really like the authorial voice that Tolkien created. I can just imagine a person sitting in front of a fire in a comfy chair, telling this story verbally with witty asides and a bit of personality. It also adds to the idea that this is a true history of a bygone age. Many imitators have cribbed this style from Tolkien, but I don't think any have done as well or as naturally. I think it has to do with Tolkien being heavily influenced and a translator of folklore (Beowulf being the example I got off of Wikipedia, though he clearly incorporated other Anglo-Germanic stories) - most of which was recorded from verbal retellings.

( Spoilers for an 80-year-old book within... )

Bingin' Buffy - Season 3 thus far (up to 3x14)

Hiya! This is a little late coming, but I've been having trouble with my wrists and shoulders again so I've avoided using the computer outside of work. (...When you see me post, it's almost 100% at work, shh!)

( Spoilers for a 22-year-old television series season within... )

Well, I'd go into more detail, but then I'd have a chunk missing out of my season recap! See you then, and stay warm!