Writing Practice, Oct 31st 2001

This is the first in a series of short posts being presented so I can get back in the habit of writing on a daily basis. I'll be presenting various ideas and tidbits re game design, running games, and stray speculations. Watch out for low-flying weirdness. Before I get to today's idea/question I have a bit of news. I have re-started my world creation project. When I have enough to post on my site, I will do so. If there's enough interest in seeing an expanded version of said project I write it up and submit it to GO. When the new GO is up and running I'll be submitting the "Writing Practice" series as free articles for folks to read and comment on. Doing what I can to bring more subscribers to the site. With that out of the way I have this question for you all. Do you use vermin (rats, mice, telemarketers) in your game? If so, how do you use them? Do the PCs find scorpions in their boots, mice in the food, or pigeons roosting on the petrified paladin? Has any wizard lost a scroll or two to gnawing rats? Has any cyber-samurai ever woken-up to find sparrows nesting in his cyberlegs? How do you deal with pests? Vermin are found everywhere and get into everything. Ants could get into the healing potions, cockroach droppings could bollix the electronics in one's PDA. Considering that they're all over the place, how do you use vermin in your game? That's it for this atypical entry to the series. I have no idea what I'm going to write about tomorrow, but I'll think of something. Alan That which does not kill me could leave me in a vegetative state.