Enderlord's Random Banter #230 (Friendly warning: Might teleport. Don't get wet.) [Archive]

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enderlord99

2020-12-20, 04:55 PM

It's too bad there are so few friends still here. Friendly suggestion: let someone start threads #231+ after waiting for the turns of... say... a dozen friends? One dozen seems like a friendly number.

RANDOM BANTER #230

Amotis' Random Banter #1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13484)
Dhavaer's Random Banter #2 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13401)
PhoeKun's Random Banter #3 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13319)
Rei Jin's Random Banter #4 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13205)
Toxic Avenger's Random Banter #5 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13146)
Jibar's Random Banter #6 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13026)
Ego Slayer's Surrogate Random Banter #7 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12939)
Sneak's Random Barroom Brawl #8 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12918)
Sophistemon's Solemnly Random Banter #9 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12855)
Vaynor's Very Random Banter #10 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12834)
Bookman's Blathering Random Banter #11 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12809)
Gralamin's Glorious Random Banter #12 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12785)
Rilik's Resplendently Random Raillery #13 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12766)
Gezina's Growling Grazing Random Banter #14 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12747)
The Zerglings Utterly And Geeky Random Banter #15 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12740)
jaqueses Truthfully Randomly Fireside Banter # 16 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12735)
Jack Squat’s Jubilantly Quixotic Random Banter #17 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12693)
Cardel's Banter of Cookie Jubilation #18 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12668)
Archonic's Chaotically Random Banter of Rods #19 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12657)
The Rod's Inanimate Temple of RANDOM banter #20 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12638)
Lucky’s Loquaciously Loud-Mouthed Random Banter#21 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12630)
Deckmaster's Divinely Delightful Random Banter #22 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12614)
Saithis' Soliloquy of Random Banter #23 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12598)
Loveable Lianae's Ludicrous Lampooning Lottery #24 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12578)
NEO|Phyte's Neolithic Nest of Weasel Banter #25 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12544)
Target's Random Banter of "non-violence" #26 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12533)
Tarnag40k's Random banter of "grammar errors" #27 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12515)
Kyrian's Random Banter of ADHDness #28 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12507)
El Jaspero's Random Drunken Ramblings #29 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12503)
Boss Smiley's Eloquently Eggy Banter #30 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12494)
Lykan's Looney Explosionarama & Random Banter #31 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12482)
Iames's Iambic Yarn of Yammering #32 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12468)
Dispozition's Deviously Distressed Banter #33 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12458)
CP's Copiously Combusting Banter of Carnage #34 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12445)
Alarra's Altar of Random Banter #35 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12432)
Eloquent Rune's Electrifying Rambling Banter #36 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12423)
E_P's Very Own Quite Popular Random Banter #37 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12419)
Hydrogelic's Foolish Mortal Random Banter #38 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12413)
Ink's Smudgy Splotchy Random Banter #39 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12405)
Azrael's Big Black Book of Banter #40 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12397)
The Logic Vampire's Rational Random Banter #41 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12387)
Shiny's Shimmering Space-hitchin Random Banter #42 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12376)
ZombieRockStar's Random Banter #43 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12360)
Nostrabel's Realm of Cookies and Random Banter #44 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12342)
Charity's Cheery Chatter Circle #45 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12328)
Samiam's Spontaneous Scintillating Soliloquy #46 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12310)
LLama's Masked Mysterious Random Banter #47 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26599)
Ravishing Rydia's Recumbentibus ^_^ Random Banter #48 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27622)
Penguinizers Perilous Random Banter #49 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28083)
Death's delightfully morbid surrogate random banter #50 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28444)
Wayril's wonderfully weird surrogate random banter #51 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28990)
Rawhide's Deck of Random Banter (52 Cards) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29697)
Korith's Sorrogate Random Banter of Zombie Killing #53 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30353)
Surrogate thread of random Bor-dom #54 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31109)
Rex Idiotarum's Painfully Pogoing Thread #55 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31512)
The Wrath of KHAAAAAANtalas’s William Shatner Flavored Random Banter # 56 (Surrogate) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32080)
EmeraldRose's Random Banter of Lashing Wit #57 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32494)
Captain van der Decken's Surrogate Ship of Random Loot (Banter) #58 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32847)
SDF's Neverending I-Don't-Have-an-OotS-Avatar-Yet Story Banter #59 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33465)
Mauril's Surrogate Dwelf Banter of Fantasy Race Confusion 60th Edition (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34165)
Rockphed's Dice Rolling Toga Party of 61 Drunken CIA Analysts (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34568)
var Lord_Magtok = Random(Banter*62) + Surrogate (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34801)
Jibar's Retro Random Banter #63 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35014)
Malina's Random Spanish Banter #64 of morphical annoyance (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35256)
Mr. E's Random Banter #65 of Cane Toting and Hat Tipping (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35418)
Ego Slayer's Hellishly Random Banter #66.6 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35596)
Purple Gelatinous Cube o' Doom's bowl of bantery j-e-ll-o randomness #67 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35859)
Zephra's Random Banter of Ghostly Wailings, and Howling Fun#68 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36317)
Cobra Ikari's Random Banter #69 of Rampant Hugging, Guttermindedness, and ;-) Kinky. (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36977)
Scorpina's Random Banter #70 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37480)
Raistlin1040's Super Special Awesome Random Banter #71(Now with 20% more tacos) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37824)
Uberblah's Random Banter #72 Of Caffeine And Sleep Deprivation Induced Randomness (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38225)
Lucky’s Random Banter #73 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38987)
Castaras's Random Banter #74 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37836)
D'anna Biers RB #75 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39495)
Zeb The Troll's RB#76 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39801)
Eldpollard's RB #77 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40128)
Gezina's and Calamity's Random banter #78 of double entendre and doom (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40410)
Random Banter #79 In Loving Memory of Hexa_Regina (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40909)
Zeratul's random banter #80 of throwing puppies off bridges (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41778)
Vespe's Random Banter #81 of singing dolphins and mostly harmless planets. (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43254)
CSK's Giant in the Playground Forums Addicted Anonymous, Random Banter #82 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44919)
Iames's Ramblingly Erratic Belldandy-Charged Random Banter #83 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47592)
Serpentine's Scintillating Sensually and Sinuously Seductive Stochastic Satire #84 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49048)
Radikalskippy's Random Banter #85 of lost ideas and where to find them... (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50658)
Moon Called's Random Banter #86 of Sexy Anime Boys and Fangirl Squeals (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51825)
Lilly's Lovely Random Banter #87 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52783)
FdL's Fuzzbox-Fueled Random Banter #88 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54612)
SweetRein's Sugary Restrained Random Banter #89 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59668)
Midnight's Mutant Motorcycle Madness Random Banter #90 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62430)
Em's Extremely Extraordinarily Epic Random Banter #91 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65645)
Dragonrider's Random Banter in Conjunction with the Weighted Cube #92 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67629)
Bushranger's Bodaciously Buffed Random Banter-y Rooster #93 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69425)
Haruki's Historically Hilarious Honey-covered Random Banter #94 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71161)
North's Maple Syrup Flavored Non-Alliterative Random Banter #95 Eh? (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73464)
Wadledo's Weirdly Warbling Watercress Watching Washing Machine Only Random Banter #96 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75946)
SMEE's Random Banter #97 of gender bending and closet bursting (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78694)
Raiser's Rambunctiously Rambling Random Banter #98 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81626)
Dr. Bath's Random Banter, dripping with daring deeds of dastardly deipnosophists #99 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84068)
VOTE, the Democracy Demon's Devilishly Devious and Decidedly Diabolical Desultory Derision (Random Banter) #100 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84914)
Jack Squat's Justlessly Juxtaposed Random Banter #101 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87577)
Dallas-Dakota's Dundering Dandelion's Devilish Damsel's Distress Random Banter #102 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4790602#post4790602)
Destro Yersul's Dangerously Distracting and Doubtlessly Disturbing Random Banter #103 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4903962#post4903962)
Aziraphales Actually Alliterative and Awesomely Affluent Random Banter #104 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92718)
Cristo's Consistently Confusing and Constantly Casual Random Banter #105 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94491)
Dish's Delightfully Deranged and Deliciously Deliquent Random Banter # 106 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95905)
Slayer's Seemingly Sweet and Socially Silly Random Banter # 107 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97703)
Zero's ambrosial and aberrantly adventitious, abstemiously erudite Random Banter #108 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99100)
Coplantor's Completely Creative Cautious and Contemplative Random Banter #109 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100414)
Rutskarn's Roly-Poly Rebellious and Rejected Random Banter #110 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101156)
TwoBitWriter's Tubular Tracts of Thought-Talking Random Banter #111 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5600540#post5600540)
Phase's Phully Phormed, Phalangeal, and Phantasmagorical Random Banter #112 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101988)
Wolfbane's Wonderfully Wacky and Wildly Wandom Random Banter #113 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102865)
The Kiwi's Kinkily Knotted and Kookily Kickass Random Banter #114 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103674)
Jude's Judgmental Jugular Jab and Jibber Jabbery Random Banter #115 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104480)
The Throne of Thufir's Thoroughly Theoretical and Therapeutic Random Banter #116 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105584)
Random Banter #117 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106698)
Dragonprime's Dynamically Dangerous Dextrous and Destructive Random Banter #118 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107882)
Farmer Felix's Fantastic FRandom FBanter #119 (may contain traces of fnuts) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109007)
Groundhog's Random Banter of Weather Prediction and Anti-Gopherness (part one) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110963&page=50)
Groundhog's Random Banter of Weather Prediction and Anti-Gopherness (part two) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113197)
Mrmud's Mixed-Up and Minimally Mechanized Random Banter #121 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114623)
Dogmantra's Dastardly, Despotic and Dangerous Random Banter #122 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116660)
Alteran's Amazingly Anachronistic, Altruistic, and Antagonistic Random Banter #123 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118380)
Admiral Euphoria's Random Banter Thread of Delusional Grandeur #124 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6614894)
Fred's Flying Fishy, Fighting, Fiery, Fantastic Face Off Random Banter #125 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121385)
Cyrano’s Non-Alliterative Inaugurational Random Banter #126 To Usher In The Future (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122977)
Thanatos's Tharmturges Present: Tropical, Tipsy, and Typically Random Banter #127
(https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123816)loopy's Legendary and Long-Awaited Lollipop Fuelled Random Banter #128 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124786)
Shadow's Shady Shop of Sharks, Shingles, Shammies, Shiny and Random Banter #129 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125667)
KataraAltinaII's Premature Not So Short & To-The-Point Random Banter #130 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126557)
Supagoof's Supa-Sensational Silly Symphonies Set Sizzingly On Fire Random Banter #131 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128570)
Pyrian's Pyrotechnic Pyre of Pyrrhic Pyros with Pyrotic Pythics Random Banter #132! (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130459)
Perenelle's Pleasantly Playful and Passionately Peculiar Random Banter #133 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131814)
Rpgsr4me's Ravenous, Roaring, Raging Rampage of Random Banter #134 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7373844#post7373844)
Il'deav Ilah'naie's Indiscreet Intimacies on Indigo Iceboats Random Banter #135 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134438)
Recaiden's Resplendent and Rotating Realistic Random Banter #136 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136879)
Jibar's Random Banter #137: Return of the Cat-muffin (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138879)
Edge's Effluence of Extravagant and Effulgent Random Banter #138 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7876065)
Zeb The Troll's Zecond Go At Ze Random Banter #139 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8061505&postcount=1)
Curly's Rambunctious and Erudite Random Banter #140 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148462)
Deth Muncher's Destructive and Meandering Random Banter #141 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150904)
A Thread in Which Banter Most Random is Expulsed Into Existence, By Ravens_cry #142 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8722755)
Several Silly Sealions Stuffed Seaweed Southward Swiftly (Or, Random Banter #143) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159998)
The thread that changed name one last time, with style. (Random Banter #144) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161407)
Banjo’s Bodacious & Boosted Bumper Bulletproof Box of Banter Most Random #145 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162819)
Masa's Massively Masterful Message Medium - Random Banter #146 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164224)
KuReshtin's Vociferously Ruminating Harbinger of Random Banter - #147 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166664)
Archonic's Archaic Acronymical Antidisestablishmentarianism Random Banter - #148 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169890)
Skeppio's Splendidly Strange & Superbly Scintillating Random Banter - #149 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173056)
Teddy's Turbulent and Topicless Random Banter #150 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175338)
Fifty-Eyed Fred's Ferociously Fanatical and Fabulously Fascinating Random Banter #151 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178205)
Rae's Really Rascally and Ridiculously Rowdy Random Banter #152 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181296)
Haruki's Hot n' Holy Random Banter #153 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10176275#post10176275)
MoonCat's Magnificently Mythopoeic Random Banter #154 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187576)
Eadin's Exchange of Extraterrestrial Excuses AKA Random Banter #155 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190034)
Happy HalfTangible's Horrific Hail of Random Banter #156 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10629167#post10629167)
AtlanteanTroll's Atrocious and Terrific Arcade of Terror - RB #157 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196302)
LaLa’s Laughably Silly Random Banter Thread – RB #158 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198767)
Zaydos's Zany Zooetic Random Banter - RB #159 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200208)
Blue's Blessed and Blissful Random Banter - RB #160 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201653)
Absolmorph's Azoic Arete of Adventitious and Aimless Random Banter - RB 161 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202546)
Gwyn's Gloriously Green Garrumphing Garter of Garrulous Gabble! Random Banter #162 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203954)
Eruantion's Euphoric, Elephant-filled Elevated Epoch of Eurhythmic Random Banter #163 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205487)
ATW's Awesome Androgynous Avaricious Azure Ardent Adamant Alluvial Random Banter #164 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207269)
Cynical Avocado's Absolutely Admirable Accumulation of Random Bantering #165 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209860)
August's Pink Plushy and Phantasmagorically Random Banter Thread #166 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212011)
Heliomance's Everchanging Thread Title Random Banter #167 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213053)
Tragic_Comedian's Tremendously Tropical Random Banter #168 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215180)
Qwertystop's Quickly Quilted, Quip-filled Random Banter #169 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217326)
Thufir's Thupremely Thatithfying Thecond Random Banter With a Lithp #170 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219654)
Feytalist's Fantastically Freakish First Random Banter #171 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222713)
Dragonprime's Dashing Delight-fu Dazzling Dualistic Random Banter #172
Castaras' Random Banter #173: Bringing back your nostalgic Great Old Ones (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229164)
Pokemon-freak89's Random Banter number eleventy-twelve... uhh... I mean... number 174 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231235)
Dark Elf Bard's Random Banter #175:Playin' Underdark Jazz since the Drow went dark. (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235950)
Mutant Sheep's Post Septaquintaquinquecentennial ApRiL fOoLs Random Banter: #176 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238117)
Elemental's Excitingly Excellent Random Banter: No.CLXXVII (177) (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13163770)
Amiel's Appeasingly Appropriate Arbitrary Amusement (Random Banter): No.CLXXVIII #178 (https://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245179)
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2D8HP

2020-12-20, 05:14 PM

Nice new thread smell!

I hope folks are well!

(Among other stuff) 2020 is a year that I lost about 25 pounds without trying to, my waist size hasn't been this small since the '90's, which is weird.

Peelee

2020-12-20, 05:18 PM

(Among other stuff) 2020 is a year that I lost about 25 pounds without trying to

In a good way?

Fyraltari

2020-12-20, 05:19 PM

Let's go with twelve. Twelve is a nice number.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-20, 05:22 PM

I need to know: can I feedthe thread after midnight?

Peelee

2020-12-20, 05:23 PM

Let's go with twelve. Twelve is a nice number.

Aye, it would have been a good base. I blame evolution. Stupid five-fingered hands....

Tvtyrant

2020-12-20, 05:24 PM

Nice new thread smell!

I hope folks are well!

(Among other stuff) 2020 is a year that I lost about 25 pounds without trying to, my waist size hasn't been this small since the '90's, which is weird.

It this good weight loss? Are congrats or worries in order?

Fyraltari

2020-12-20, 05:28 PM

Aye, it would have been a good base. I blame evolution. Stupid five-fingered hands....

Use your thumb to count on your other fingers phalanx bones.

Like so. (https://youtu.be/g-dqGgn50T4?t=27)

enderlord99

2020-12-20, 05:28 PM

I need to know: can I feedthe thread after midnight?

The thread eats whenever it wants to. Just keep the pile stocked with chorus fruit, and don't try to observe it's feasting. It's not very friendly to stare at it.

Getting it wet isn't dangerous, merely mean.

Rawhide

2020-12-20, 05:30 PM

So hey, If someone has played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons 3.x, but absolutely no 5e, what are some good 5e books, sets, or kits to get (beyond the core rulebooks)?

Starter kits, splatbooks, campaign settings, adventures, you name it. What are the best books to get started with in each category, and what are the best books that you wouldn't necessarily recommend starting with but would recommend looking forward to extending the experience?

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-20, 05:41 PM

5ehas books?

Xanathar's Guide to Everything and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything are where you'll find most of the extrs zfeats and Subclasses as well as some (hit or miss) subsystems. For the others I don't hae a clue, I don't own the monster books and was only interested in one setting book, and also don't personally buy modules or the like.

2D8HP

2020-12-20, 06:09 PM

In a good way?

It this good weight loss? Are congrats or worries in order?

No limbs were lost, the weight loss was among the reasons my "primary care physician" told me that there was an "80% chance you have lung cancer" (rescinded after a week), so far it's a mystery, I was fairly overweight after the '90's so probably a good thing.

So hey, If someone has played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons 3.x, but absolutely no 5e, what are some good 5e books, sets, or kits to get (beyond the core rulebooks)?

Starter kits, splatbooks, campaign settings, adventures, you name it. What are the best books to get started with in each category, and what are the best books that you wouldn't necessarily recommend starting with but would recommend looking forward to extending the experience?

I made characters but never played much 3e, but I played a lot of 0e/1e, and I have played a little 5e and have some recommendations.

The Starter Set and its "Lost Mines of Phandelver" is excellent, and frankly it and the free online rules are all you need, of the "corebooks" The Player's Handbook has an excellent bibliography, The Dungeon Master's Guide is fun to read and has some good rules options inside, and The Monster Manual is easy to use and well illustrated.

Of WotC adventure modules I'd say Tomb of Annihilation, Saltmarsh, and Tales from the Vagabond Inn are best, but the Goodman games reprints/revisions for 5e of '70's/'80's adventure modules are as good or better and I highly recommend them staring with Into the Borderlands.

For "splat" there's Xanthar's, Tasha's, Volo"s and The Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Xanthar's is probably the one you want but it's version of the "Swashbuckler" Rogue sub-class is very slightly weaker than than the same sub-class in the SCAG.

Qwertystop

2020-12-20, 06:54 PM

No limbs were lost, the weight loss was among the reasons my "primary care physician" told me that there was an "80% chance you have lung cancer" (rescinded after a week), so far it's a mystery, I was fairly overweight after the '90's so probably a good thing.

Well, it's good you don't have lung cancer, then.

Rater202

2020-12-20, 07:16 PM

I believe I've mentioned this before, but sometimes I wake up wondering why I'm not a dragon.

I just want my wings to be a hurricane, is that so much to ask?

DataNinja

2020-12-20, 07:31 PM

Let's go with twelve. Twelve is a nice number.

I agree that twelve is indeed a good number. I in no way went to look to see if that meant I could make another thread (which I am just able to do). :smalltongue:

Tvtyrant

2020-12-20, 07:34 PM

Peelee

2020-12-20, 07:34 PM

I agree that twelve is indeed a good number. I in no way went to look to see if that meant I could make another thread (which I am just able to do). :smalltongue:

What will the lighting be like?

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-20, 07:40 PM

I can't wait for Christmas. I'm going to watch Christmas movies all day on Christmas. :smile:

Peelee

2020-12-20, 07:51 PM

I can't wait for Christmas. I'm going to watch Christmas movies all day on Christmas. :smile:

Oh, like In Bruges, or First Blood, or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, The Last Boy Scout, Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero, really anything by Shane Black, or maybe Rocky? Rocky is kind really more of a holiday movie in general, though, since it also nets Thanksgiving and New Year's.

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-20, 07:53 PM

Oh, like In Bruges, or First Blood, or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, The Last Boy Scout, Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero, really anything by Shane Black, or maybe Rocky? Rocky is kind really more of a holiday movie in general, though, since it also nets Thanksgiving and New Year's.

Actually more like family movies but hey I'll add these action movies to my Christmas movies list. :wink:

Peelee

2020-12-20, 08:02 PM

Actually more like family movies but hey I'll add these action movies to my Christmas movies list. :wink:

Actually, I wouldn't really call any of them action movies. Most Shane Black movies are closer to buddy-cop or crime-comedy, First Blood I'd call a thriller, Rocky is a character study or a drama, and In Bruges is a super dark comedy.

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-20, 08:07 PM

Actually, I wouldn't really call any of them action movies. Most Shane Black movies are closer to buddy-cop or crime-comedy, First Blood I'd call a thriller, Rocky is a character study or a drama, and In Bruges is a super dark comedy.

I never heard of Bruges. Rocky, I'm familiar with. First Blood...maybe. :confused: Also I do know Die Hard is an action movie even though I saw it before.

Peelee

2020-12-20, 08:11 PM

I never heard of Bruges. Rocky, I'm familiar with. First Blood...maybe. :confused: Also I do know Die Hard is an action movie even though I saw it before.

But Die Hard was not on my list.:smallamused:

That list, of course, being "Peelee's List of Unconventional Christmas Movies That Don't Include Die Hard."

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-20, 08:18 PM

But Die Hard was not on my list.:smallamused:

That list, of course, being "Peelee's List of Unconventional Christmas Movies That Don't Include Die Hard."

I meant I never saw Die Hard before. Sorry my mistake on my error. But I've heard of it before. Yes, Die Hard is a very unconventional Christmas movie even though it's a summer blockbuster.

2D8HP

2020-12-20, 09:04 PM

Well, it's good you don't have lung cancer, then.

A bit worrying, but hopefully it is a good event then.

Thanks Qwertystop, and Tvtyrant

I can't wait for Christmas. I'm going to watch Christmas movies all day on Christmas. :smile:

My two favorites are 1938's Alexander Nevsky which features medieval sword fighting, a shield wall, and ice, lots and lots of ice, and 1990's Metropolitan which features witty downwardly mobile young adults, a little sad, but very funny.

Oh, like In Bruges... [/i]

Seconding In Bruges, 'tis a fine film, features gangsters and fantastic architecture.

[from the last thread]

I've got an urge to rewatch Horrible Histories. Probably from the fact that I swear my girlfriend has memorised every song from it.

Back the truck up Anonymouswizard - girlfriend as in sweetheart?

Oh please dish, tales of young love are irresistible, first: How serious is it?

Have you exchanged mixed tapes (or whatever your generation's equivalent is) yet?

Have you stood outside her window holding up a boom-box playing "In Your Eyes" yet (or "Love You More" by The Buzzcocks instead)?

I had it on good authority (in 1980) "If you want to get the girls you have to feather your hair" - totally worked!

Spiky medium length hair (on a boy or girl) gets you older men taking public transportation "hitting on you" instead as you and a girl who has almost the same hair ride the bus or wait for the train.

And that's about all my dimming memories can think of romance-wise now, except that (IIRC) you (me back then) won't feel as intensely "in-love" with your second girlfriend as you did with your first, but the (likely in the future) breakup doesn't hurt nearly as much, and you feel more gratitude that she was with you at all than the pain of loss, and 31 to 32 years later you're friends and dish and kvetch about step-kids and current spouses together pleasantly, don't try this with your first girlfriend though, those scars run deeper.

Peelee

2020-12-20, 09:13 PM

Thanks Qwertystop, and Tvtyrant
Hey, I'm also happy about that!

Seconding In Bruges, 'tis a fine film, features gangsters and fantastic architecture.
It's easily become one of my favorite movies.

Also, it's like a ****ing fairy tale.

I had it on good authority (in 1980) "If you want to get the girls you have to feather your hair" - totally worked!
Feathered hair looked amazing. Shame it went out of style by the time I came of age.

Also, two statements you made me think of.
1.) "1980's John Cusack movie" is a full-fledged genre of its own.
2.) I love that genre.

DataNinja

2020-12-20, 09:14 PM

What will the lighting be like?
Probably rainbow coloured. At a hunch. :smalltongue:

I had it on good authority (in 1980) "If you want to get the girls you have to feather your hair" - totally worked!
Bah. That explains why I can't get any girls. I prefer waterfalls of hair. :smallamused:

Peelee

2020-12-20, 09:18 PM

Bah. That explains why I can't get any girls. I prefer waterfalls of hair. :smallamused:

Also amazing.

Im just a sucker for long hair, really.

2D8HP

2020-12-20, 09:36 PM

Hey, I'm also happy about that!

And thank you kindly Peelee!

like a ****ing fairy tale.

It was indeed!

Feathered hair looked amazing. Shame it went out of style by the time I came of age.

Let me tell you of ancient times...
BACK IN MY DAY

(in no particular order, '70's, '80's, even a little '90's):

Supermarkets had cigarette vending machines.

Seat belts were optional

People smoked on airplanes.

"Candy cigarettes" were a thing.

Slept on a waterbed.

Had two VCR tapes (Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Things to Come) that we watched over and over again.

Star Wars (1977) was still in the movie theaters, was awesome and you got coolness points based on how many times you saw it (no way you saw it 12 times Ben, where are the ticket stubs?).

Same for Wizards

The rules I had for Dungeons & Dragons were only 48 pages.

Girls bought the liquor.

Ten teenagers in a station wagon driving to nowhere was how you spent a weekend, unless you just hung around The Pacific School of Religion after dark begging from each other.

The sound of gunfire could be heard every month for years, sometimes every week.

When Car Wash came on the radio on Sundays, all the men in the neighborhood would rush out, turn on their car radio's to the same station and start polishing their cars.

Most houses in the neighborhood had pictures of [people who were assassinated] on the walls, ten years later it was Hannibal, Shaka Zulu, and other "Great Kings of Africa" on the same walls.

Male teachers would get marijuana from their 12 year-old female students (and years later get arrested for having sex with a minor).

Three times I left my night shift job and walked out into a riot complete with cops wielding billy clubs, looting, and (once) with a car set on fire.

A friend died of AIDS, I was still a teenager.

Beggars on the streets were uncommon, and mostly young and white hippies (until '82).

Gasoline had lead in it, tasted great!

All the girls in high school loved "wine coolers".

Hair memories! Into at least the late '80's there was an all night dinner on Broadway in Oakland (the building is still there, but it's inside a used car lot now) and some of the "old" (they probably were the age I am now) waitresses still had "bouffant" hairdo's! The oldest looking waitress (who had the most impressive 'do of all) was "Bev".
1983, at the U.C. Theatres in Berkeley two "New Wave music" films were screened ('Breaking Glass' with Hazel O'Connor and "Starstruck" with No Kennedy) and many seats just behind the front row are empty because a large section of the front row is occupied by late teen/20's ladies with "beehive" hairdos, and I knew them! Usually their hair (while still impressive) wasn't so high, but this was an occasion! Despite my still being a young teen boy (while they already were out of their parents houses) they sometimes let me tag along, I had medium length spikey bleached blonde hair, was rail thin and usually wore a raincoat (despite it being sunny California) or dressed like an imitation Elvis Costello (complete with glasses) and with my looking like that me and "M" (with a magenta "B52") rode an A.C. Transit bus together, an older man approached us and spoke at length to us - especially to me, after he got off the bus she told me "You know he was trying to pick up on you right?" (no I didn't, I was 14 and pretty naive), and in a subsequent year ('84 or '85), I was at a BART station with "K" (who I met when we both attempted to see The Dead Kennedys at the Mabuhay, instead we just got drunk in an alley) and an older man approached us and (this time I could tell) tried to pick her up, and her hair? Medium length bleached blonde and spikey. So...
...boy or girl, if you want to be hit on by older men taking public transit go with medium length and spikey, BUT if you want to be remembered by a younger man even more than thirty years later?
Rock the bouffant.

Laundromats still had large hair dryers that ladies would pay a quarter to use.

At dances when "Rock Lobster" by The B52's played every one would slowly drop to the floor at "down, down, down".

You'd smoke Indonesian "clove" cigarettes as a teen, the grown ups didn't.

I wore paisley pattern J.C. Penny shirts with at least two buttons unbuttoned and "flared" corduroy pants, two years later: black "pegged" jeans stuffed into black socks, "China flats", shirt buttoned all the way to the neck, raincoat, two years after that: black leather jacket, black t-shirt, and Doc Martin boots.

It was "death rock" not "Goth".

All the girls loved "Tainted Love" by Softcell.

Ramones in '85, best show EVUH!

Operation Ivy in '88, damned good show.

Motorhead in '88,.such a violent show, still glorious.

Both boys and girl teens knew all the lyrics to "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, and "Institutionalized" by Suicidal Tendencies.

It was "New Wave", not "Alternative", or "Indie"

Two "Star Trek" shows, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, every week on broadcast television.

It was "slam" or "thrash", never "mosh"

Ska started cool, then became lame.

Wonder Twin powers activate!

1.) "1980's John Cusack movie" is a full-fledged genre of its own.
2.) I love that genre.

Yes!
Not the '80's, and ir only has a little bit of John Cusack, but 1992's "Roadside Prophets" is excellent.

Mith

2020-12-21, 12:57 AM

And thank you kindly Peelee!

It was indeed!

Let me tell you of ancient times...
BACK IN MY DAY

(in no particular order, '70's, '80's, even a little '90's):

Supermarkets had cigarette vending machines.

Seat belts were optional

People smoked on airplanes.

"Candy cigarettes" were a thing.

Slept on a waterbed.

Had two VCR tapes (Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Things to Come) that we watched over and over again.

Star Wars (1977) was still in the movie theaters, was awesome and you got coolness points based on how many times you saw it (no way you saw it 12 times Ben, where are the ticket stubs?).

Same for Wizards

The rules I had for Dungeons & Dragons were only 48 pages.

Girls bought the liquor.

Ten teenagers in a station wagon driving to nowhere was how you spent a weekend, unless you just hung around The Pacific School of Religion after dark begging from each other.

The sound of gunfire could be heard every month for years, sometimes every week.

When Car Wash came on the radio on Sundays, all the men in the neighborhood would rush out, turn on their car radio's to the same station and start polishing their cars.

Most houses in the neighborhood had pictures of [people who were assassinated] on the walls, ten years later it was Hannibal, Shaka Zulu, and other "Great Kings of Africa" on the same walls.

Male teachers would get marijuana from their 12 year-old female students (and years later get arrested for having sex with a minor).

Three times I left my night shift job and walked out into a riot complete with cops wielding billy clubs, looting, and (once) with a car set on fire.

A friend died of AIDS, I was still a teenager.

Beggars on the streets were uncommon, and mostly young and white hippies (until '82).

Gasoline had lead in it, tasted great!

All the girls in high school loved "wine coolers".

Hair memories! Into at least the late '80's there was an all night dinner on Broadway in Oakland (the building is still there, but it's inside a used car lot now) and some of the "old" (they probably were the age I am now) waitresses still had "bouffant" hairdo's! The oldest looking waitress (who had the most impressive 'do of all) was "Bev".
1983, at the U.C. Theatres in Berkeley two "New Wave music" films were screened ('Breaking Glass' with Hazel O'Connor and "Starstruck" with No Kennedy) and many seats just behind the front row are empty because a large section of the front row is occupied by late teen/20's ladies with "beehive" hairdos, and I knew them! Usually their hair (while still impressive) wasn't so high, but this was an occasion! Despite my still being a young teen boy (while they already were out of their parents houses) they sometimes let me tag along, I had medium length spikey bleached blonde hair, was rail thin and usually wore a raincoat (despite it being sunny California) or dressed like an imitation Elvis Costello (complete with glasses) and with my looking like that me and "M" (with a magenta "B52") rode an A.C. Transit bus together, an older man approached us and spoke at length to us - especially to me, after he got off the bus she told me "You know he was trying to pick up on you right?" (no I didn't, I was 14 and pretty naive), and in a subsequent year ('84 or '85), I was at a BART station with "K" (who I met when we both attempted to see The Dead Kennedys at the Mabuhay, instead we just got drunk in an alley) and an older man approached us and (this time I could tell) tried to pick her up, and her hair? Medium length bleached blonde and spikey. So...
...boy or girl, if you want to be hit on by older men taking public transit go with medium length and spikey, BUT if you want to be remembered by a younger man even more than thirty years later?
Rock the bouffant.

Laundromats still had large hair dryers that ladies would pay a quarter to use.

At dances when "Rock Lobster" by The B52's played every one would slowly drop to the floor at "down, down, down".

You'd smoke Indonesian "clove" cigarettes as a teen, the grown ups didn't.

I wore paisley pattern J.C. Penny shirts with at least two buttons unbuttoned and "flared" corduroy pants, two years later: black "pegged" jeans stuffed into black socks, "China flats", shirt buttoned all the way to the neck, raincoat, two years after that: black leather jacket, black t-shirt, and Doc Martin boots.

It was "death rock" not "Goth".

All the girls loved "Tainted Love" by Softcell.

Ramones in '85, best show EVUH!

Operation Ivy in '88, damned good show.

Motorhead in '88,.such a violent show, still glorious.

Both boys and girl teens knew all the lyrics to "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, and "Institutionalized" by Suicidal Tendencies.

It was "New Wave", not "Alternative", or "Indie"

Two "Star Trek" shows, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, every week on broadcast television.

It was "slam" or "thrash", never "mosh"

Ska started cool, then became lame.

Wonder Twin powers activate!

Yes!
Not the '80's, and ir only has a little bit of John Cusack, but 1992's "Roadside Prophets" is excellent.

It's good to see you around again, 2D8HP, and that you are doing well.

I have never gotten the impression that Ska is lame. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGMUAMevH0)

Rawhide

2020-12-21, 02:08 AM

Rater202

2020-12-21, 03:22 AM

I've just had the realization that all of my power fantasies have a logical end result of "can bend reality" or "at best only superficially resembles a human but honestly can't be categorized taxonomically or cladistically and probably gives you a headache if you think about it too hard."

Often both.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-21, 03:31 AM

Thanks!

No love for Eberron in 5e?

Well if you want official one, you get Eberron Rising from the Last war.

But if you also want the 5e book written by Keith Baker himself and is honestly the best Eberron thing I've ever read? then get Exploring Eberron. its third party though, and kind of assumes you have Rising From The last War

Rawhide

2020-12-21, 07:02 AM

Well if you want official one, you get Eberron Rising from the Last war.

But if you also want the 5e book written by Keith Baker himself and is honestly the best Eberron thing I've ever read? then get Exploring Eberron. its third party though, and kind of assumes you have Rising From The last War

This is the same impression I'm getting. Eberron: Rising from the Last War is the campaign setting, for which Keith Baker was one of the lead designers. Exploring Eberron is an unofficial extension to that campaign setting (though written by the setting creator and one of the lead designers), and requires the base official book. It looks pretty good, though!

Rater202

2020-12-21, 07:36 AM

The Way of the Living Weapon Monk from Exploring Ebberon is probably my favorite subclass.

A level 20 monk being able to, for example, punch a creature that resists non-piercing, non-Adamantine weapon damage and not only deal 1d12+1d6+dex damage, have that punch do piercing damage, have that punch count as adamantine, and then have the creature have to make a saving throw were at bare minimum they're taking another 1d6 of that damage and on a fail that takes 2d6 and flies back 15 feet seems to be the most "Monk" thing to me.

If I ever get to use my "Conan or Sonja style Pulp fantasy hero*" concept I'm probably going with Way of the Living Weapon Monk to represent their almost inhuman strength.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 09:11 AM

Back the truck up Anonymouswizard - girlfriend as in sweetheart?

Oh please dish, tales of young love are irresistible, first: How serious is it?

Really quite serious,as far as 'less than a year' goes.

I had it on good authority (in 1980) "If you want to get the girls you have to feather your hair" - totally worked!

Spiky medium length hair (on a boy or girl) gets you older men taking public transportation "hitting on you" instead as you and a girl who has almost the same hair ride the bus or wait for the train.

Sadly the shoulder length curls put a difficulty in either of these being a thing.

except that (IIRC) you (me back then) won't feel as intensely "in-love" with your second girlfriend as you did with your first

Nah, my advice is that you start dating three people. Lots of love there, and even more cuddles!

Although we haven't managed to all get together for one group snuggle yet.

Thanks!

No love for Eberron in 5e?

Ity's the one setting book I own. And an unofficial expansion by the dude in charge sounds amazing!

LaZodiac

2020-12-21, 10:10 AM

Rater202

2020-12-21, 10:34 AM

I'd also recommend Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which is just an excellent guide in general but also has Many Good Ideas in it, as well as more fun subclasses.

Honestly, as someone who has been DMing and playing in 5e for a couple of months, I can say straight up that honestly, every book is actually pretty good.

I like Tasha's solely becuase the "customize your racial bonus" rules make it much easier to do my "Conan or Sonia" concept.

I like using female characters, children, or both when I roleplay.

Recreating Bobby from the 80s Cartoon isn't gonna fly at most tables, so...

But a grown woman who walks around in a revealing outfit becuase she has no need for armor and wants to show off her muscles as a visual shorthand for being a larger than life pulp-fantasy hero type thus requires careful justification less you be accused of needlessly sexualizing the character.

I mean, I'm sure that everyone here is familiar with the stereotype of the creepy who insists on playing lesbian stripper elves.

With the race customization rules, I can just take say, a sea elf who grew up fully amphibious around a tropical island, and then shunt her con bonus into wisdom if I need to. It's a lot easier to justify a character whose default outfit is essentially "bikini+modestry skirt" if that... Actually makes sense from the kind of culture they'd be from, and Tasha's just lets me find a race likely to have that kind of culture and change things around as needed to make it play with the class.

LaZodiac

2020-12-21, 11:15 AM

The best min-maxing is when you do it for entirely flavour reasons.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 11:20 AM

I'd also recommend Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, which is just an excellent guide in general but also has Many Good Ideas in it, as well as more fun subclasses.

Honestly, as someone who has been DMing and playing in 5e for a couple months, I can say straight up that honestly, every book is actually pretty good.

I love Tasha's, except for about the first two pages. To be fair my main concern is that they basically ignore the very really balance concerns for about a page's worth of material and I'd really wish they'd devoted a bit of discussion to it, but that one section still annoys me.

It does, however, have worthwile psionic options, including three subclasses and two feats, two cool new warlock patrons, and lots of cool musings. I think my main problem with it is that nothing is developed quite as much as it should be, it feels like they had to cut out an extra half a book. It makes me wish for a book delving into the psionic, eldritch, and gribbly aspects of 5e, whether that's character options, a new setting, or even an adventure module (Against the Aboleths).

My next character is totally a human Psi Warrior with two dao (scimitars) and the Telekinetic, Telepathic, and Alert (ESP) feats by level 6. My 18 INT Fighter will psychic the **** out of whatever setting they end up in. Probably grab that Feat that gives Expertise in a skill as well, just so if the game gets far enough I can start backflipping over enemies.

Rawhide

2020-12-21, 11:36 AM

Thanks again everyone! Some really useful information in there.

Honestly, as someone who has been DMing and playing in 5e for a couple months, I can say straight up that honestly, every book is actually pretty good.

Really good to know. There were some absolute doozies in 3.x.

I love Tasha's, except for about the first two pages. To be fair my main concern is that they basically ignore the very really balance concerns for about a page's worth of material and I'd really wish they'd devoted a bit of discussion to it, but that one section still annoys me.

Do you remember the name of the section? Or can you explain what it's about (without copying more than a small segment verbatim at most)?

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 11:41 AM

Do you remember the name of the section? Or can you explain what it's about (without copying more than a small segment verbatim at most)?

Customising your origin. My issue is that the designers had a clear goal with this, but it's the laziest way they could have done it.

Rawhide

2020-12-21, 11:45 AM

Thank you!

Also, I forgot to include this in my last post.

Ity's the one setting book I own. And an unofficial expansion by the dude in charge sounds amazing!

Exploring Eberron (https://www.dmsguild.com/product/315887/Exploring-Eberron) is only available from DMs Guild, though you can get it in both physical and digital (PDF). Pro-tip: If you're getting the physical, you should absolutely get the digital (PDF) version thrown in for just $5 more. It's searchable, sometimes more handy/portable, and you can start reading right away.

The Fury

2020-12-21, 12:08 PM

I meant I never saw Die Hard before. Sorry my mistake on my error. But I've heard of it before. Yes, Die Hard is a very unconventional Christmas movie even though it's a summer blockbuster.

Die Hard takes place during Christmas, so I think it qualifies. Plus it includes running around thwarting Alan Rickman while wearing no shoes, and isn't that what the Christmas season is all about?

Anyway, watch Die Hard. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Rawhide

2020-12-21, 12:12 PM

You should watch Die Hard immediately after watching Love Actually, make it a movie marathon. This way you can watch Alan Rickman get punished for the way he treated Emma Thompson.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 12:12 PM

Die Hard takes place during Christmas, so I think it qualifies. Plus it includes running around thwarting Alan Rickman while wearing no shoes, and isn't that what the Christmas season is all about?

Anyway, watch Die Hard. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I thought Christmas was about learning the drums to impress your crush at the school nativity play.

Annoyingly I never got to be first lobster.

The Fury

2020-12-21, 12:21 PM

I thought Christmas was about learning the drums to impress your crush at the school nativity play.

Annoyingly I never got to be first lobster.

Oh, it's about that too. Though if you play drums without shoes, you can sort of do both. Assuming you have a crush on Alan Rickman and he showed up to your nativity play.

Rater202

2020-12-21, 12:25 PM

The best min-maxing is when you do it for entirely flavour reasons.

Also narrative and aesthetics.

the mental image of a thing-bu muscular girl muda-muda-mudaing the everloving crap out of an armored brute twice her size and defeating him without breaking sweat appeals to me for aesthetic reasons.

Semi-related: If the resulting dysphoria wasn't an issue, I'd have "turn into a little girl while keeping the physical attributes of my adult male body" as one of my superpowers partially for identity reasons* and partially becuase the idea of a little girl kicking the crap out of a hardened criminal amuses me.

*It's the ultimate secret identity: Nobody is going to look for a grown man when trying to track down the little girl who showed up out of nowhere to foil their evil schemes.

LaZodiac

2020-12-21, 12:30 PM

Also narrative and aesthetics.

the mental image of a thing-bu muscular girl muda-muda-mudaing the everloving crap out of an armored brute twice her size and defeating him without breaking sweat appeals to me for aesthetic reasons.

Semi-related: If the resulting dysphoria wasn't an issue, I'd have "turn into a little girl while keeping the physical attributes of my adult male body" as one of my superpowers partially for identity reasons* and partially becuase the idea of a little girl kicking the crap out of a hardened criminal amuses me.

*It's the ultimate secret identity: Nobody is going to look for a grown man when trying to track down the little girl who showed up out of nowhere to foil their evil schemes.

Flavor covers all of that, but yeah absolutely that rules.

I try not to diagnose people because obviously I'm not a doctor, but Rater you are more and more striking me as someone who might be nonbinary. This is a good thing, as an aside.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 12:47 PM

Non binary is great! Which reminds me, I need to get myself some tartan blouses and a few skirts.

Rater202

2020-12-21, 12:47 PM

I try not to diagnose people because obviously I'm not a doctor, but Rater you are more and more striking me as someone who might be nonbinary. This is a good thing, as an aside.

I will consider this word but I don't think so: The masculine gender identity doesn't feel "wrong" per se even if I occasionally wonder what a female body would feel like or consider "removal of concrete biological sex" as a step towards apotheosis into a superior being.

I think thoughts like "what would it be like to be a girl, or intersex, or have no biological sex at all" the same way "if i had my appendix out, would I notice a difference once I finished healing and the pain was gone. What about a kidney?"

Likewise, the idea of being able to change my body into whatever I want without experiencing dysphoria or dysmorphia appeals to me... But my current body doesn't feel wrong, except in that parts of it hurt or are difficult to manage due to a combination of genetic predisposition and bad choices when I was younger.

Like, I can understand why you might see that in my words but I don't really see it that way.

Of course, I'm also really not much into labels for that kind of thing and I think a lot of the labels that exist are too specific and/or too easy to read as ascribing traits that aren't universal within the group it's described, so that's also part of it.

Peelee

2020-12-21, 01:28 PM

I've never foiled any evil schemes. The closest I've gotten was foiling doctors appointments.

LaZodiac

2020-12-21, 01:34 PM

I will consider this word but I don't think so: The masculine gender identity doesn't feel "wrong" per se even if I occasionally wonder what a female body would feel like or consider "removal of concrete biological sex" as a step towards apotheosis into a superior being.

I think thoughts like "what would it be like to be a girl, or intersex, or have no biological sex at all" the same way "if i had my appendix out, would I notice a difference once I finished healing and the pain was gone. What about a kidney?"

Likewise, the idea of being able to change my body into whatever I want without experiencing dysphoria or dysmorphia appeals to me... But my current body doesn't feel wrong, except in that parts of it hurt or are difficult to manage due to a combination of genetic predisposition and bad choices when I was younger.

Like, I can understand why you might see that in my words but I don't really see it that way.

Of course, I'm also really not much into labels for that kind of thing and I think a lot of the labels that exist are too specific and/or too easy to read as ascribing traits that aren't universal within the group it's described, so that's also part of it.

Totally fair and reasonable. Like I said I'm not one to diagnose things, and everyone should come to their own understanding of themselves where they are happy and content with who they are. Sometimes it helps to just air thoughts though.

Rater202

2020-12-21, 01:52 PM

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 02:18 PM

On the other hand I'm very much, uh, romantic? I enjoy the effort that goes into maintaining romantic relationships and the flitting back and forth between close friendship and actual romantic and flirting stuff.

What is flirting? No clue, but I enjoy it.

Although I do understand that me getting more things out of it (which are cuddles or [removed for good taste]) doesn't mean that everybody does. It can be exhausting, but I do find that to me I get things that are worth that.

The Fury

2020-12-21, 02:20 PM

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 02:39 PM

I will say that I'm probably aromantic.

The effort needed to have and maintain a healthy romantic relationship sounds exhausting but not making the effort is either opening yourself up to abuse or exploitation or(in my opinion, much worse,) exploiting or abusing someone else.

Where I'm sitting, it seems that you can get similar emotional fulfillment from close platonic friendships for much less hassle. Romance only seems to have inherent value in that it's a tool for creating familial units but the familial unit likewise only has value in that it creates a support network and there are other ways of creating those.

I hear you. I wouldn't say I'm a-romantic, but my time frame for developing romantic feelings is so glacially slow that it is nearly impossible to find someone willing to wait 6 months before I decide if I want to start something.

Which is quite reasonable on their part, but anything less then that and I'm lying to them. I recently had this come up where a woman spent quite a lot of energy making sure I was safe and wouldn't be physical with her, and then was put out by me not wanting to be physical early on.

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 02:46 PM

Non binary is great! Which reminds me, I need to get myself some tartan blouses and a few skirts.

You shouldn't have to be Non-Binary to enjoy that. Grumble grumble something something unisex skirts. I want to see more men in skirts, too, dang it! ...maybe I just like skirts too much, and want to let everyone be able to enjoy them.

...also, I guess, maybe I'd hate the tyranny of pants less if clothing designers decided that men weren't the only ones that got pockets.

Maybe. Though I'm struggling a lot with my platonic relationships too. My point is that close platonic bonds can be a bit of a minefield too.

Yeah, that's a mood. Doesn't help that I'm constantly worrying that I'm bothering them, or that what I know are my weaknesses are annoying them and they're just humouring me, and... yeah, it spirals. I'm really just an inoffensive side friend. So I get clingy. >.>;

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 02:51 PM

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 02:53 PM

You shouldn't have to be Non-Binary to enjoy that. Grumble grumble something something unisex skirts. I want to see more men in skirts, too, dang it! ...maybe I just like skirts too much, and want to let everyone be able to enjoy them.

...also, I guess, maybe I'd hate the tyranny of pants less if clothing designers decided that men weren't the only ones that got pockets.

Yeah, that's a mood. Doesn't help that I'm constantly worrying that I'm bothering them, or that what I know are my weaknesses are annoying them and they're just humouring me, and... yeah, it spirals. I'm really just an inoffensive side friend. So I get clingy. >.>;

Kilts at least have been popular here at some points, but here being Portland it doesn't necessarily apply anywhere else.

Oh, true. The only downside that I have with skirts is that they turn knickers from optional to required. Otherwise they're great, I just don't clothing shop enough in general to have got around to picking them up.

But women's trousers should definitely be a bit looser if it means functional pockets. I swear the lack of them is half the reason why one of my partners wears men's trousers. The other half seems to be a ixture of cut and tightness.

The irony of wanting options for less pockets and tighter pants is palpable. Also women's pants are thinner and stretchy, which is nice. The dressier the slacks I wear the more they look like parachutes :/

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 02:56 PM

I recently had this come up where a woman spent quite a lot of energy making sure I was safe and wouldn't be physical with her, and then was put out by me not wanting to be physical early on.

Ah, that sucks. It's frustrating when double standards come up - especially ones that're often societally driven, but even just in general. You should be willing to extend the same courtesy to others as you expect for yourself. Like, I 100% support her choice in not wanting to jump into anything, but... she should have been understanding that you may have wanted the same for yourself, not jumping into anything.

Oh, true. The only downside that I have with skirts is that they turn knickers from optional to required. Otherwise they're great, I just don't clothing shop enough in general to have got around to picking them up.

But women's trousers should definitely be a bit looser if it means functional pockets. I swear the lack of them is half the reason why one of my partners wears men's trousers. The other half seems to be a ixture of cut and tightness.

Just get skirts with built in shorts. :smalltongue:
(I know that's the only reason that I wear my miniskirt. Because it comes with a nice discreet shorts component built in. I don't want to fall a victim of embarrassment on an abruptly windy day.)

Kilts at least have been popular here at some points, but here being Portland it doesn't necessarily apply anywhere else.

Psh, Portland being different? Perish the thought. :smallbiggrin:

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 03:01 PM

Ah, that sucks. It's frustrating when double standards come up - especially ones that're often societally driven, but even just in general. You should be willing to extend the same courtesy to others as you expect for yourself. Like, I 100% support her choice in not wanting to jump into anything, but... she should have been understanding that you may have wanted the same for yourself, not jumping into anything.

Psh, Portland being different? Perish the thought. :smallbiggrin:

I get it, she's worried about assault and I'm not so it feels like disinterest. There's also bound to be a decent number of guys who said they want to take it slow trying to get an opening, but it is very frustrating to be open about it and having the other person totally misunderstand.

Oh lordy, Portland. One time I applied for a job at the NAACP and went in a suit. I was interviewed by a man in sandals and a hoody and another interviewee told me I looked like a used car salesman. It's a very odd place.

Rater202

2020-12-21, 03:06 PM

On clothes: This is one of the reasons I want a Marvel Comics style symbiote.

As long as you don't run into intense fire or sounds loud enough to be harmful to humans, you don't have to worry about clothes anymore.

Just will the symbiote into the shape of whatever outfit you want without the time or hassle of having to get ready the hard way and without any needless discomfort.

(Also, they remove the need for pockets. Just store all the stuff you need in the symbiote.)

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 03:09 PM

Just get skirts with built in shorts. :smalltongue:
(I know that's the only reason that I wear my miniskirt. Because it comes with a nice discreet shorts component built in. I don't want to fall a victim of embarrassment on an abruptly windy day.)

I mean, it's certainly a solution, and on windy days probably the most socially acceptable. Also probably what I'll end up doing next time I'm clothes shopping.

I get it, she's worried about assault and I'm not so it feels like disinterest. There's also bound to be a decent number of guys who said they want to take it slow trying to get an opening, but it is very frustrating to be open about it and having the other person totally misunderstand.

I feel like people need to be more open about this stuff, and stop thinking that women actively asking for intimacy as a taboo.

Like, I've only dated a handful of people, but whether we're going to do that yet is something that was talked about early on, just so there's no misunderstandings.

... anybody else ever had that fantasy where humans being intersex and nonbinary was common and accepted? Or is this just me being weird?

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 03:11 PM

I get it, she's worried about assault and I'm not so it feels like disinterest. There's also bound to be a decent number of guys who said they want to take it slow trying to get an opening, but it is very frustrating to be open about it and having the other person totally misunderstand.
Yeah, that's what I was meaning about societal expectations. It sucks in all directions. We shouldn't have to worry about people taking advantage of us, or forcing onto us. But people should realize that men (and others) can have the same things happen to them, too! And just the expectations of what each box of people wants is supremely generalized. It's super frustrating, even from someone who's never really managed to properly step foot into the dating world.

Mystic Muse

2020-12-21, 03:14 PM

... anybody else ever had that fantasy where humans being intersex and nonbinary was common and accepted? Or is this just me being weird?

Not personally. If I had shapeshifting I'd be okay with it, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be full female.

The Fury

2020-12-21, 03:29 PM

Yeah, that's a mood. Doesn't help that I'm constantly worrying that I'm bothering them, or that what I know are my weaknesses are annoying them and they're just humouring me, and... yeah, it spirals. I'm really just an inoffensive side friend. So I get clingy. >.>;

Oh yeah. That sounds familiar. What I've found out about myself is that I have a poor understanding of why I keep people at arm's length. It might be out of respect for boundaries that I know are present, but I can't see. It might be because I don't understand how to be close with people.

Oh lordy, Portland. One time I applied for a job at the NAACP and went in a suit. I was interviewed by a man in sandals and a hoody and another interviewee told me I looked like a used car salesman. It's a very odd place.

Not to dive too deep into Northwest stereotypes, but flannel shirts and jeans work well for most social encounters. At least in my experience. Though maybe not job interviews.

... anybody else ever had that fantasy where humans being intersex and nonbinary was common and accepted? Or is this just me being weird?

No, I've had that fantasy too.

Peelee

2020-12-21, 03:38 PM

Oh, true. The only downside that I have with skirts is that they turn knickers from optional to required.

Assuming I have my British terminology right.... Speak for yourself. :smallamused:

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 03:44 PM

Yeah, that's what I was meaning about societal expectations. It sucks in all directions. We shouldn't have to worry about people taking advantage of us, or forcing onto us. But people should realize that men (and others) can have the same things happen to them, too! And just the expectations of what each box of people wants is supremely generalized. It's super frustrating, even from someone who's never really managed to properly step foot into the dating world.

It's rough for sure. I think there is some movement in the right direction, but I'm fairly certain I will age into senile bachelorism before then :P

Not to dive too deep into Northwest stereotypes, but flannel shirts and jeans work well for most social encounters. At least in my experience. Though maybe not job interviews.

That was my outerwear for most of my life, full hiking boots and all. Flannels are fairly informal though, I prefer feeling a little more dressed up for a professional interview. Now I really do dress like a used cars salesman, so you know, progress.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/523318572483870741/790679690129702912/i_am_herb.png?width=258&height=398
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/523318572483870741/785941104884449340/20201208_104526.jpg?width=531&height=398

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-21, 04:00 PM

Not personally. If I had shapeshifting I'd be okay with it, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be full female.

Like, common is not universal.

I'm not saying I wouldn't go for it if I had the option, but common is not universal.

Assuming I have my British terminology right.... Speak for yourself. :smallamused:

Unfortunately I have no horde of natives which I desire to scare off :smallwink:

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 04:36 PM

Oh yeah. That sounds familiar. What I've found out about myself is that I have a poor understanding of why I keep people at arm's length. It might be out of respect for boundaries that I know are present, but I can't see. It might be because I don't understand how to be close with people.
I know I'm rarely able to tell exactly how someone feels about me. So I consistently worry about just... crossing a boundary of being too close. Of using a nickname that friends use... but what if I'm not there? Of just assuming that they actually want to talk to me about random stuff, assuming I ever think of any. Stuff like that.

tyckspoon

2020-12-21, 05:29 PM

Flannels are fairly informal though, I prefer feeling a little more dressed up for a professional interview. Now I really do dress like a used cars salesman, so you know, progress.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/523318572483870741/790679690129702912/i_am_herb.png?width=258&height=398
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/523318572483870741/785941104884449340/20201208_104526.jpg?width=531&height=398

You do have a really nice lumberjack groove going there... what even is lumberjack formal? :smallconfused:

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 05:38 PM

You do have a really nice lumberjack groove going there... what even is lumberjack formal? :smallconfused:

Timberjeeves? Woodobson?

Barksdale seems to fit too well.

I know I'm rarely able to tell exactly how someone feels about me. So I consistently worry about just... crossing a boundary of being too close. Of using a nickname that friends use... but what if I'm not there? Of just assuming that they actually want to talk to me about random stuff, assuming I ever think of any. Stuff like that.

Earlier I didn't post a sentence about how if someone doesn't complain to me about their personal problems after a while I just assume we are acquaintances. We all have dumb, borderline unacceptable opinions and petty problems; if someone never expresses those then I just think they are being polite. On the other hand, if they start on those on the first and second meeting I feel like they are forcing intimacy.

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 06:01 PM

Earlier I didn't post a sentence about how if someone doesn't complain to me about their personal problems after a while I just assume we are acquaintances. We all have dumb, borderline unacceptable opinions and petty problems; if someone never expresses those then I just think they are being polite. On the other hand, if they start on those on the first and second meeting I feel like they are forcing intimacy.
Yeah. I get it.

...I must admit to have never really had a 'best friend', at least not one that was mutual. I was always the inoffensive "there" acquaintance. So, it was always envious, hearing stories from other girls of just... staying up for hours, listening to someone's problems. Or being the first one to know of anything important happening in someone's life. Just being the person willing to bother you at all hours.

Comrade

2020-12-21, 06:47 PM

Earlier I didn't post a sentence about how if someone doesn't complain to me about their personal problems after a while I just assume we are acquaintances. We all have dumb, borderline unacceptable opinions and petty problems; if someone never expresses those then I just think they are being polite.

Boy, I sure hope none of my friends have this criteria. I don't share my personal problems with friends, doesn't mean I value them any less or care less about them-- that's just not how I am. I'm sure that goes for plenty of other people too.

Re: dressing fancy for work-- one of my favorite work moments from the past couple of years was rolling up to the office I'd recently joined at the time wearing cowboy boots. They're what I wear almost all the time outside of work anyway, but it was the first time I'd shown up to that office wearing them instead of the usual boring dress shoes, so I figured there was a solid risk of being told they weren't appropriate for the office. Instead, when my boss saw them, she immediately started talking with me about the finer points of cowboy boot care and preferred brands. I haven't worn dress shoes since.

Tvtyrant

2020-12-21, 07:14 PM

Yeah. I get it.

...I must admit to have never really had a 'best friend', at least not one that was mutual. I was always the inoffensive "there" acquaintance. So, it was always envious, hearing stories from other girls of just... staying up for hours, listening to someone's problems. Or being the first one to know of anything important happening in someone's life. Just being the person willing to bother you at all hours.

Boy, I sure hope none of my friends have this criteria. I don't share my personal problems with friends, doesn't mean I value them any less or care less about them-- that's just not how I am. I'm sure that goes for plenty of other people too.

Re: dressing fancy for work-- one of my favorite work moments from the past couple of years was rolling up to the office I'd recently joined at the time wearing cowboy boots. They're what I wear almost all the time outside of work anyway, but it was the first time I'd shown up to that office wearing them instead of the usual boring dress shoes, so I figured there was a solid risk of being told they weren't appropriate for the office. Instead, when my boss saw them, she immediately started talking with me about the finer points of cowboy boot care and preferred brands. I haven't worn dress shoes since.

My Foot in Mouth Disease is acting up again, sorry. I wasn't trying to imply I had the right of it, just giving my particular experience.

Nice! I wish hiking boots were dress shoes, they are so much more comfortable! I already take tennis shoes to drive to and from work with, because thick soled shoes make driving a pain.

DataNinja

2020-12-21, 07:35 PM

My Foot in Mouth Disease is acting up again, sorry. I wasn't trying to imply I had the right of it, just giving my particular experience.
Nah, all good. I figured you were just speaking your own opinion. And not a One Universal Experience. Just how your own brain works. :smalltongue:

BisectedBrioche

2020-12-22, 03:03 AM

Assuming I have my British terminology right.... Speak for yourself. :smallamused:

Careful now, mods are meant to be the ones hitting people with giant hammers, not the other way around. :smallamused:

Rater202

2020-12-22, 06:26 AM

So, when it comes to meatloaf there are two main camps: Serve it with gravy, or apply a ketchup-based glaze to it.

I mostly prefer to serve it with gravy, but for the last couple of days, I've been wondering if my homemade barbecue sauce (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24770455&postcount=293) could be adapted into a glaze and if that would work.

My family has experimented with cooking meatballs in (storebought)barbecue sauce and that goes well, so in theory it would turn out, but sometimes things you think would go well together don't.

Rawhide

2020-12-22, 06:46 AM

So, when it comes to meatloaf there are two main camps

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Rater202

2020-12-22, 06:54 AM

You took the words right out of my mouth.If the purpose of your punnery was to invoke my hatred, you have succeeded.

More than you could ever possibly realize.

There are approximately ten-billion miles of genetic code in microscopic bundles in the cells that make up my body.

If the word "HATE" was engraved on every nanoangstrom of those thousands of millions of miles, it would not equal one one-billionth of the hatred I feel for you at this micro instant.

(/s, if it has to be said.)

Rawhide

2020-12-22, 07:15 AM

Sounds like you're all revved up with no place to go.

Peelee

2020-12-22, 08:02 AM

Why would you pour gravy on meatloaf (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf)?

Rawhide

2020-12-22, 09:02 AM

Why would you pour gravy on meatloaf (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf)?

Darn it, I was hoping to get a third song title in before we got interrupted. Oh well, I guess two out of three ain't bad.

Rater202

2020-12-22, 09:24 AM

Darn it, I was hoping to get a third song title in before we got interrupted. Oh well, I guess two out of three ain't bad.

Okay, I'm gonna be honest, the joke is actually annoying me a bit.

Please desist before I am forced to chase you down with a speed that is like a bat out of hell.

In Marvel Comics, there is a race of aliens called the Ovoids who, after having somehow been rendered unable to reproduce, developed 1: The technology to create cloned bodies that were stable and functional, but did not possess consciousness or anything that would be recognizable as a "soul,"and 2: A psionic technique that allows one to transfer their soul and consciousness into another body.

The combination of this technology and this technique allowed them to avoid extinction through functional immortality: When they get too old, come down with a terminal illness, or so on they just hop into a new body.

The cloned bodies being inherent without minds or souls is important--not only for ethical reasons but because a native mind or soul is capable of fighting back and successful transfer puts the victim in your original body.

While the technique--the Ovoid Mind Switch--is psionic in nature, one does not need to be natively psychic to learn how it's done: Both Doctor Doom and She-Hulk have been taught how to do it(though She-Hulk's powers interfere with the process)

I've spent time on and off for the last few months wondering how to make the optimal "host body," as the host body does not have to match your original(Doom uses it all the time to borrow other people's bodies as part of one scheme or another, though it occasionally backfires.)

The best I can think of is to try and combine the Ovoid's cloning technology with the technology and procedures that created Xraven (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Xraven_(Earth-616)), but that's assuming that you can get a piece of a symbiote and six samples that would play well together.

LaZodiac

2020-12-22, 09:26 AM

The Fury

2020-12-22, 10:35 AM

I know I'm rarely able to tell exactly how someone feels about me. So I consistently worry about just... crossing a boundary of being too close. Of using a nickname that friends use... but what if I'm not there? Of just assuming that they actually want to talk to me about random stuff, assuming I ever think of any. Stuff like that.

Yeah. I feel like that a lot too.

Rawhide

2020-12-22, 10:40 AM

bat out of hell

I'm going slightly mad. (http://www.galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=115)

Rater202

2020-12-22, 10:44 AM

I'm going slightly mad. (http://www.galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=115)
I am the very model of a modern major general.

*if this is to continue, however, t'wood be best to start a forum game thread methinks*

I got the Dresden Files novel Peace Talks back in July but I only just got around to reading it.

Rawhide

2020-12-22, 11:25 AM

Live action Neon Genesis Evangelion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H48GPv4BZI)

WARNING: MASSIVE spoilers if you haven't watched the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series.

tyckspoon

2020-12-22, 11:50 AM

Live action Neon Genesis Evangelion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H48GPv4BZI)

WARNING: MASSIVE spoilers if you haven't watched the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series.

Watched, will confirm this is an accurate representation of Evangelion.

The Fury

2020-12-22, 12:36 PM

I guess this is more of a confession than it is asking for help. Just in the interest of letting people know why I'll probably be weird and a little slow in the head for a while. I've been growing apart from my IRL friends for a while, which is fine. Things like this happen.

A few days ago, a friend of mine had a severe mental health crisis. I'll spare y'all the details, but it's one of those situations where I'd like to help, but my help is unwanted. If my friend actually needs help, there are other people that can and will do it. It's not been easy to accept that the most helpful thing I can do is back off. In fact parts of my brain have gone through emergency shutdown because of it.

Take this as a disclaimer, I suppose. That I'm probably going to be a lot dumber than usual.

BisectedBrioche

2020-12-23, 02:37 AM

Live action Neon Genesis Evangelion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H48GPv4BZI)

WARNING: MASSIVE spoilers if you haven't watched the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series.

That was incredible! o.o

Rater202

2020-12-23, 05:45 AM

I read a few years ago that a lot of restaurants got into the habit of skimping on or even completely omitting salt from their recipes after noticing a trend of customers salting their food at the table without even tasting it first.

I don't know how true that is, but I did start making a conscious effort to avoid adding salt or pepper to my lemon rice soup until after I'd eaten a spoonful whenever my family went to a restaurant that had it.

Insane Jeenyus

2020-12-23, 05:52 AM

*walks in dripping sea water*

Sorry I am late to the chattery, but I was teleported to the gulf of Mexico.

So, when it comes to meatloaf there are two main camps: Serve it with gravy, or apply a ketchup-based glaze to it.

I mostly prefer to serve it with gravy, but for the last couple of days, I've been wondering if my homemade barbecue sauce (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24770455&postcount=293) could be adapted into a glaze and if that would work.

My family has experimented with cooking meatballs in (storebought)barbecue sauce and that goes well, so in theory it would turn out, but sometimes things you think would go well together don't.

Well, an alternative to Ketchup based sauce could be a tomato, basil and garlic sauce. . . bur BBQ sauce would work great!!

**snip** I got the Dresden Files novel Peace Talks back in July but I only just got around to reading it.

I got my copy back then too, but read it immediately.

Rater202

2020-12-23, 06:01 AM

I got my copy back then too, but read it immediately.

I put it off to read Initial Sparks, since I was participating in Fury's book club thread at the time and then just didn't get around to reading the Dresden novel.

I do not regret that choice. Peace Talks is a good book but it's very obvious that it's only half of a story and most of the emotions it sparked in me were to ignite my general feeling reading the series as a whole that someone needs to smack the Holy Hell out of half of the Senior Council and take them to task for their arrogance and general asshattery.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-23, 07:46 PM

It's Christmas eve!

I should really get to bed.

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 02:12 AM

I put it off to read Initial Sparks, since I was participating in Fury's book club thread at the time and then just didn't get around to reading the Dresden novel.

I do not regret that choice. Peace Talks is a good book but it's very obvious that it's only half of a story and most of the emotions it sparked in me were to ignite my general feeling reading the series as a whole that someone needs to smack the Holy Hell out of half of the Senior Council and take them to task for their arrogance and general asshattery.

I know I shouldn't but I can't help but see this post and go "Heh, move over Dresden Codak, it's time for a new hottness!"

Definitely not true in most regards, but still funny to imagine :smallamused:

Rater202

2020-12-24, 02:34 AM

I know I shouldn't but I can't help but see this post and go "Heh, move over Dresden Codak, it's time for a new hottness!"

Definitely not true in most regards, but still funny to imagine :smallamused:

1: Dresden Files. Completely different thing.

One is a series of novels about a Private investigator who openly advertises his services as "Wizard for Hire" and who is in fact a wizard... And periodically gets crank calls from people who are incredulous that he's actually a wizard named "Harry." (Even he jokes about it now.)

His adventures have included recruiting an army of fairies by bribing them with pizza, Santa Claus(who is also Odin) coming to his birthday party, he and an honest to God Holy Knight being arrested for breaking into a maternity ward(a ghost was smothering babies,) and committing complete and total genocide of one of four main species of Vampire becuase they ****ed with his daughter. (Note, he didn't know the daughter existed until his ex-girlfriend showed up and told him that their child had been kidnapped by vampires.)

Dresden Codak is a dadaist Webcomic focused on philosophy and transhumanism.

The Dresden Files are named in reference to the main character, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, who was in turn, named after Harry Houdini, Harry Blackstone sr., David Copperfield, and The city of Dresden.

This is because Hary is a Wizard, who is the son of a stage magician, and becuase Harry is best at Fire Elemental Evocation and tends to leave destruction in his wake.

Dresden Codak is named in reference to the Dresden Codex.

Completely different.

2: You've got the potential. I said it in Fury's thread, but reading the last chapters of Initial Sparks gave me a feeling of anticipation I hadn't felt since I was a teenager trying to read an entire Harry Potter book in one sitting.

enderlord99

2020-12-24, 03:29 AM

Until very recently, I thought shillings were still being minted.

It turns out the UK switched to a decimal currency-system in the early 1970s.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 04:52 AM

I think I still have a few Austrian shillings around somewhere.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 04:53 AM

Until very recently, I thought shillings were still being minted.

It turns out the UK switched to a decimal currency-system in the early 1970s.

Lies and slander I assure you :smallwink:

Fyraltari

2020-12-24, 05:43 AM

I think I still have a few Austrian shillings around somewhere.

Wanna trade for some gold Louis?

Rater202

2020-12-24, 05:45 AM

I think it's been established that I'm a huge Marvel comics guy. This frames the following.

Back in 2018, Donny Cates introduced the concept of "Symbiote Dragons," which are to say, dragons made of the same substance as Symbiotes that, when defeated, have bits and pieces of themselves come off and infect people in order to steal their power and control their behavior. Symbiotes proper seem to be derived from this phenomena, though symbiote dragons and their derivatives are more powerful than proper symbiotes--a normal symbiote will die if it falls into a bonfire. A symbiote dragon or derivative symbiote can shrug off napalm and thermobaric missiles.

Symbiote dragons are capable of FTL interstellar flight, using offshoots of itself as a conduit for necromancy, and controlling or influencing the behavior or other symbiotes--even ones not directly connected to it. One symbiote dragon was shown being able to breathe both fire and a strange blue plasma that was described as being burning hot and freezing cold at the same time.

The only things shown to be able to meaningfully harm an intact symbiote dragon have been large concentrations of electricity(which temporarily incapacitate it) and cosmic energy, and enough heat to kill most things—"Locked in a blast furnace turned up to at least 10,000 Fahrenheit (5,600 Celsius) for several minutes" and "had a miniature star created ex nihilo in your chest cavity by a reality warper" hot.

The majority of symbiote dragons merged into a living planet after they were freed from the control of their creator god and decided "screw this guy" and kicked his ass. Essentially serving as a Cage for him after beating him into a coma, but recently he woke up and took control of them again, and at least two(Grendel and Big Mother) of them were present on Earth at the time

This week, it was established that the whole freaking dragon can bond to someone the way a lesser symbiote would, not just an offshoot or remnant

I am sharing this becuase... That's the next best thing to being a dragon, isn't it?

All I can think about since reading that is being bonded with one and then manifesting the full dragon body around myself and then just being the dragon.

factotum

2020-12-24, 06:34 AM

It turns out the UK switched to a decimal currency-system in the early 1970s.

We still actually used the old shillings for quite a while--I was born in 1970 and I still remember using the old shilling pieces. They had a value of 5p rather than the original 12p, of course.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 10:03 AM

Wanna trade for some gold Louis?

Hmmmmmmmmmm...........

I do like gold...

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 11:39 AM

1: Dresden Files. Completely different thing.

Dresden Codak is named in reference to the Dresden Codex.

Completely different.

2: You've got the potential. I said it in Fury's thread, but reading the last chapters of Initial Sparks gave me a feeling of anticipation I hadn't felt since I was a teenager trying to read an entire Harry Potter book in one sitting.

Blegh, my bad. That's why I shouldn't post when tired XP

D'aw, shucks.

I think it's been established that I'm a huge Marvel comics guy. This frames the following.

Back in 2018, Donny Cates introduced the concept of "Symbiote Dragons," which are to say, dragons made of the same substance as Symbiotes that, when defeated, have bits and pieces of themselves come off and infect people in order to steal their power and control their behavior. Symbiotes proper seem to be derived from this phenomena, though symbiote dragons and their derivatives are more powerful than proper symbiotes--a normal symbiote will die if it falls into a bonfire. A symbiote dragon or derivative symbiote can shrug off napalm and thermobaric missiles.

Symbiote dragons are capable of FTL interstellar flight, using offshoots of itself as a conduit for necromancy, and controlling or influencing the behavior or other symbiotes--even ones not directly connected to it. One symbiote dragon was shown being able to breathe both fire and a strange blue plasma that was described as being burning hot and freezing cold at the same time.

The only things shown to be able to meaningfully harm an intact symbiote dragon have been large concentrations of electricity(which temporarily incapacitate it) and cosmic energy, and enough heat to kill most things—"Locked in a blast furnace turned up to at least 10,000 Fahrenheit (5,600 Celsius) for several minutes" and "had a miniature star created ex nihilo in your chest cavity by a reality warper" hot.

The majority of symbiote dragons merged into a living planet after they were freed from the control of their creator god and decided "screw this guy" and kicked his ass. Essentially serving as a Cage for him after beating him into a coma, but recently he woke up and took control of them again, and at least two(Grendel and Big Mother) of them were present on Earth at the time

This week, it was established that the whole freaking dragon can bond to someone the way a lesser symbiote would, not just an offshoot or remnant

I am sharing this becuase... That's the next best thing to being a dragon, isn't it?

All I can think about since reading that is being bonded with one and then manifesting the full dragon body around myself and then just being the dragon.

I'll be honest, as cool as Venom and friends are, the entire Symbiote spin off always sounds super weird to me? I LIKE what you're presenting here, don't get me wrong, and I really like how the Venom movie gave us the implication that Venom is just kind of a weirdo loser on his planet like Eddie is, but it definitely feels like "we made something pretty neat and then we accidentally created extreme Deep Lore about it"

Also it reminds me of Blue Beetle a whole bunch.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 12:06 PM

I'll be honest, as cool as Venom and friends are, the entire Symbiote spin off always sounds super weird to me? I LIKE what you're presenting here, don't get me wrong, and I really like how the Venom movie gave us the implication that Venom is just kind of a weirdo loser on his planet like Eddie is, but it definitely feels like "we made something pretty neat and then we accidentally created extreme Deep Lore about it"

Also it reminds me of Blue Beetle a whole bunch.

Nah, that's basically how it works.

Originally, the plan was to just give Spider-Man a new costume with a design similar to the one worn by the Second Spider-Woman, and while they were at it make it cool--"ooh, it can disguise itself as other things and produce web fluid on its own and makes him slightly stronger."

But then the cool costume didn't sell well--people liked the Black Suit design but felt that the upgrade was a bit much...

So they made the costume a symbiotic alien, did a storyline of it possessing Peter to keep fighting crime when he was asleep(resulting in him sleeping for most of a day and waking up exhausted) and then he went to the Fantastic Four to figure out what's up and then they're like "hey, the costume is alive and it's trying to permanently bond to your body" and he was all like "nope, nope, nope."

And then it got to be the lead up for a major milestone--300 issues of Amazing Spider-Man and the wheels got turning: Whatever happened with the symbiote?

So they have it bond with someone who has a not entirely rational grudge with Spider-Man--and, for bnus points, they tie it in with another Spider-Man storyline, the murder spree of Sin-Eater: Journalist Eddie Brock thought he had the break of a lifetime when he was approached by a man, Emil Gregg, who claimed to be the serial killer Sin-Eater who wanted to confess his crimes.

A few days later, Spider-Man captures the Sin-Eater and unmasks him, revealing a man named Stan Carter: Stan and Emil lived in neighboring apartments, both were mentally ill, and Emil heard Stan mumbling through the walls at night.

Eddie then loses his job over the mixup, which, to be fair, wasn't exactly fair.

(Irony: It was later revealed that Emil and Stan were both independently committing murders as The Sin-Eater and Emil's mental illness led him to take credit for Stan's murders, while Stan was falsely credited with Emil's crimes--and Emil was the original, Stan started as a copy cat.)

Venom was originally only planned to be in a few stories and then be killed off, with the symbiote later periodically emerging to bond with members of Peter's rogues gallery, but he exploded in popularity leading to stories that added more depth to Eddie and the symbiote as a character, which in turn led to 1: Eddie being shifted from an out and out the villain to more of an anti-hero and 2: The creation of the unambiguously evil Carnage to take Venom's place as a villain.

And then ever since people have just been adding more and more to the backstory--no ****ting you, Donny Cates has flat out admitted that a good chunk of what he's been doing since he took over as Venom's main writer is stories and ideas he had as a kid reading Venom comics.

The super interesting thing is that there have been surprisingly few out and out retcons. Most additions to the Venom lore add to and expand on what was previously established rather than changing it.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 01:31 PM

And people sometimes wonder why I dislike mainstream US comics and unending series. I read the entire explanation and I'm still confused.

Also, why isn't Peter Parker in his 70s now? Never made that much sense to me. At least Logan has a reason to have not aged.

(Yeah, this is arguably incompatible with me being a massive Whovian, but I feel like the Doctor is allowed to change a lot more than your average Marvel character even without regeneration, and the BBC's status on what's canonical is 'it all is, but we can contradict previous events whenever we like')

Rater202

2020-12-24, 01:44 PM

Also, why isn't Peter Parker in his 70s now?

A pair of Cosmic Beings named Now and Then(the children of Eternity, the Abstract Concept of Time and the anthropomorphic embodiment of reality) maintain the library at the House of Ideas in Omnipotence city, where all of the highest level deities and cosmic beings in the Multiverse live(Excepting the One Above All who resides at the exact top of the Universe and the One Below All who resides in The Below Place.)

Now and Then, more than anything, love stories about Heroes.

And the library automatically updates with the stories of people as they happen.

Now and then use their powers overtime to extend the lifespans and vitality of Heroes and the people around them in order to get more stories.

This is also, for example, why you sometimes get examples of a hero seeming to be is more than one place at once.

Now and Then also compress people's perception of time so that people don't freak out--though it's not perfect, Reed Richards, for example, has noticed that he and his friends and family either aren't aging at the right rate or aren't aging at all and that his perception of time doesn't match actual events. He concluded that there's a cosmic being that wants a lot of heroes around in their primes and left it at that.

(Notably, Reed and Sue gave up on trying to figure out how Old their son Franklin--who was born in 1968 but is only recently old enough to drive--is supposed to be and just don't talk about it.)

Also, not everyone's perception is compressed to the same level, not everyone's aging is as slowed as everyone else's--the aforementioned Franklin was born before most of his babysitters--and not every hero is affected by it.

Doctor Strange, for example, is explicitly experiencing all of this in real time and has not had his perception of time altered, becuase one of the perks of being Sorcerer supreme is that you don't age and can't die of natural causes as long as you officially hold the position so there's no need to compress him in comparison to other people.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 01:53 PM

My problem is that this doesn't make as intuitive sense as, say, 'long lived alien with a time machine'. It reads as a very thrown together explanation so they don't have to have characters age.

Maybe it's because I never had the chance to get into US comics as a kid, but was introduced to Doctor Who. But I maintain that, from my point of view at least, the latter show makes massive changes that DC or Marvel never will.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 01:57 PM

Fyraltari

2020-12-24, 02:02 PM

A pair of Cosmic Beings named Now and Then(the children of Eternity, the Abstract Concept of Time and the anthropomorphic embodiment of reality) maintain the library at the House of Ideas in Omnipotence city, where all of the highest level deities and cosmic beings in the Multiverse live(Excepting the One Above All who resides at the exact top of the Universe and the One Below All who resides in The Below Place.)

Now and Then, more than anything, love stories about Heroes.

And the library automatically updates with the stories of people as they happen.

Now and then use their powers overtime to extend the lifespans and vitality of Heroes and the people around them in order to get more stories.

This is also, for example, why you sometimes get examples of a hero seeming to be is more than one place at once.

Now and Then also compress people's perception of time so that people don't freak out--though it's not perfect, Reed Richards, for example, has noticed that he and his friends and family either aren't aging at the right rate or aren't aging at all and that his perception of time doesn't match actual events. He concluded that there's a cosmic being that wants a lot of heroes around in their primes and left it at that.

(Notably, Reed and Sue gave up on trying to figure out how Old their son Franklin--who was born in 1968 but is only recently old enough to drive--is supposed to be and just don't talk about it.)

Also, not everyone's perception is compressed to the same level, not everyone's aging is as slowed as everyone else's--the aforementioned Franklin was born before most of his babysitters--and not every hero is affected by it.

Doctor Strange, for example, is explicitly experiencing all of this in real time and has not had his perception of time altered, becuase one of the perks of being Sorcerer supreme is that you don't age and can't die of natural causes as long as you officially hold the position so there's no need to compress him in comparison to other people.
I genuinely can't tell wether you're making that up.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 02:03 PM

Tell me, do you ask why Bart Simpson has been ten-years-old for thirty-three years?

American Comic books don't really need to give a reason, but often do anyway.

Question 3, after 'is it still running' and 'why is it still running'.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 02:08 PM

I genuinely can't tell wether you're making that up.

Now. (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Now_(Cosmic_Being)_(Earth-616))

Then. (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Then_(Earth-616))

Before Now and Then were revealed to be behind the Sliding Scale timeline, I assumed that it had something to do with Franklin Richards--Marvel comics stories proceeded in real-time until 1989, just a little after Franklin was born, and Franklin's is nigh-omnipotent reality warper whose abilities have been coming and going since birth.

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-24, 04:36 PM

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 05:23 PM

I don't know. I've been wondering the same thing. :confused:

Short answer: over reliance on status quo is god. Well that and a tendency for backlash when changes stray too far from the well known concepts. There's a longer answer, but it boils down to 'there are some things comic writers are afraid of changing, characters' ages are one of them'.

I once tried to sketch out a M&M setting that was 'DC, if time had passed'. I can't remember all the details, but Superman was the grandson of the original, the current Green Lantern was a random person, and the Batman mantle hadn't been passed on but Robin had been (never decided on Nightwing). Some successors had surpassed their originals, some lived in their shadows, and only a handful of the OG were even alive. I think if I ever revisit it I'll focus it in on being a future of the Golden Age heroes.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 05:28 PM

Short answer: over reliance on status quo is god. Well that and a tendency for backlash when changes stray too far from the well known concepts. There's a longer answer, but it boils down to 'there are some things comic writers are afraid of changing, characters' ages are one of them'.

I once tried to sketch out a M&M setting that was 'DC, if time had passed'. I can't remember all the details, but Superman was the grandson of the original, the current Green Lantern was a random person, and the Batman mantle hadn't been passed on but Robin had been (never decided on Nightwing). Some successors had surpassed their originals, some lived in their shadows, and only a handful of the OG were even alive. I think if I ever revisit it I'll focus it in on being a future of the Golden Age heroes.

You wanted to go with "DC if time had passed" and didn't incorporate Batman Beyond?

https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/but-why.gif

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-24, 05:33 PM

Short answer: over reliance on status quo is god. Well that and a tendency for backlash when changes stray too far from the well known concepts. There's a longer answer, but it boils down to 'there are some things comic writers are afraid of changing, characters' ages are one of them'.

I once tried to sketch out a M&M setting that was 'DC, if time had passed'. I can't remember all the details, but Superman was the grandson of the original, the current Green Lantern was a random person, and the Batman mantle hadn't been passed on but Robin had been (never decided on Nightwing). Some successors had surpassed their originals, some lived in their shadows, and only a handful of the OG were even alive. I think if I ever revisit it I'll focus it in on being a future of the Golden Age heroes.
Usually, Cartoon and Comic Books Characters don't age unless if the writers decide if they want to age.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 05:42 PM

You wanted to go with "DC if time had passed" and didn't incorporate Batman Beyond?

https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/but-why.gif

Yeah, that's a mistake.

You don't ignore the thing that permanently solidified Mark Hamil as the platonic ideal Joker.

Ajustusdaniel

2020-12-24, 05:45 PM

Franklin Richards is a normal human meat child and is exactly the age he is supposed to be.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-24, 06:00 PM

You wanted to go with "DC if time had passed" and didn't incorporate Batman Beyond?

https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/but-why.gif

Batman Beyond What? Also too far future with a too young Bruce for the concept.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 06:00 PM

Franklin Richards is a normal human meat child and is exactly the age he is supposed to be.

Franklin Richards is a Homo s superior* and a second-generation cosmic ray mutate enhanced prenatally by the power of the Cosmic Control Rod.

He has been demonstrated to be more powerful than Galactus and Mephisto(within the heart of Mephisto's Hell, where he is many times stronger than in the mortal world, mind you) on separate occasions and in a weakened state was still explicitly more powerful than The Silver Surfer, Thor, and the Hulk combined, and he spent the time between Secret Wars and his family's return to Earth 616, stated to be five years from his perspective, alternating between restoring to existence universes that were destroyed in the Incursions or creating brand new universes from scratch for fun.

As a teenager, Franklin openly identifies as a God, and going by comments from both Thor and The Griever at The End of All Things, he is correct to do so.

Franklin is, supposedly, immortal and it is his destiny to be the last living being in the universe who will fuse with the will of the Cosmos and become the Galactus analog of the Next incarnation of the Multiverse. He is referred to as the "Chosen Prince" by the One-Below-All in a possible future for this reason.

*Dan Slott can screw himself, his Retcon breaks too much and pissed off too many people for it to stick and if he doesn't fix it himself it'll be one of the first things changed since he's only set to do 50 issues of Fantastic Four.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-24, 06:07 PM

I genuinely can't tell wether you're making that up.

As someone who roleplays with him and has many many debates on various canonical stuff.....he never is. Rater is a person who finds it easier to stick and adhere to canon rather than make something up. sure to someone on the outside looking in like you or me Now and Then and their weirdness is completely ridiculous when the usual less study intensive option into something esoteric and not really important to most peoples lives of assuming its just being the status quo is god trope being left unexplained is what we go with and not think about it too much. Rater on the other hand just accepts it as evidence and adheres to and builds on the logic presented no matter how weird it is. it makes me wonder what'd he do with something incredibly strange like Nobilis or something that runs on memes like Dungeons the Dragoning.

Edit: Batman Beyond is an animated batman series set in a cyberpunk-like future. its real good, and even has a movie.

Ajustusdaniel

2020-12-24, 06:15 PM

Franklin Richards is a Homo s superior* and a second-generation cosmic ray mutate enhanced prenatally by the power of the Cosmic Control Rod.

He has been demonstrated to be more powerful than Galactus and Mephisto(within the heart of Mephisto's Hell, where he is many times stronger than in the mortal world, mind you) on separate occasions and in a weakened state was still explicitly more powerful than The Silver Surfer, Thor, and the Hulk combined, and he spent the time between Secret Wars and his family's return to Earth 616, stated to be five years from his perspective, alternating between restoring to existence universes that were destroyed in the Incursions or creating brand new universes from scratch for fun.

As a teenager, Franklin openly identifies as a God, and going by comments from both Thor and The Griever at The End of All Things, he is correct to do so.

Franklin is, supposedly, immortal and it is his destiny to be the last living being in the universe who will fuse with the will of the Cosmos and become the Galactus analog of the Next incarnation of the Multiverse. He is referred to as the "Chosen Prince" by the One-Below-All in a possible future for this reason.

*Dan Slott can screw himself, his Retcon breaks too much and pissed off too many people for it to stick and if he doesn't fix it himself it'll be one of the first things changed since he's only set to do 50 issues of Fantastic Four.

That's correct. Franklin Richards is a god level reality warper...

Who has decided that he's a normal human meat-child, and is exactly the age he is supposed to be.

(Well, for a long time. Now he's a normal angsty human meat-teen).

Peelee

2020-12-24, 06:16 PM

Yeah, that's a mistake.

You don't ignore the thing that permanently solidified Mark Hamil as the platonic ideal Joker.
Batman TAS? :smallwink:

As someone who roleplays with him and has many many debates on various canonical stuff.....he never is. Rater is a person who finds it easier to stick and adhere to canon rather than make something up.

Whereas I make stuff like that up left right and center IRL. It's fun to see how far I can take it until the person listening catches on. Plus, one of my besties is the same way, and we play off each other super well when either of us starts doing that.

Mystic Muse

2020-12-24, 06:21 PM

You wanted to go with "DC if time had passed" and didn't incorporate Batman Beyond?

https://www.reactiongifs.com/r/but-why.gif

To be fair, Batman Beyond is very much a "bad end" type setting for many of the Batman characters, so I think there's an argument for not including it depending on the intended tone.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 06:23 PM

Dungeons the Dragoning..

I have a pair of Dryad characters I'd like to try.

One is a Dragon-Blooded Gunsliger who is looking for the no-good dirty yella-bellied varmit what cut down and made a desk out of her Ma.

The other is a Deamonhost Paladin on Slaanesh who just wants everyone to get along and would play around with the fact that Slashe's morality chart is the only one that doesn't require you to be a **** to people to maintain a high Alignment score, though admittedly that one would require a mature group since there would naturally be flirting. Probably not safe for the playground, either.

I'm also interested in a Vampire or Atlantean who is physically a human child but who acts well beyond their apparent age because they are, literally or effectively, in fact much older and serves as both the party's main financial backer and combat mage and a Gurren Laggan inspired Ork Promethean.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-24, 06:28 PM

Rater.....you do know the unaligned alignment chart exists on page 154 of book 2, right? you don't need to be Slaaneshi or any god aligned if you don't want to be.

Rater202

2020-12-24, 06:46 PM

Batman TAS? :smallwink:

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

I've seen arguments for episodes like Joker's Favor and the like as being good performances, and they most certainly are, and honestly, as someone who was a kid and teen in the 90s and 00s, Mark Hamil being my default Joker was a given, but...

But the flashback to the final confrontation between Bruce and the Joker. What the Joker did to Tim. The Joker's speech when he reveals to Bruce that he knows...

Bruce saw what the Joker did to Tim, and... A running theme in Batman TAS is that the Joker wants to go out in a fight to the Death with Batman, but he can't break Batman's morals, Batman won't kill...

This, seeing what happened to Tim? The Joker finally broke Batman. Bruce threw a knife at the Joker's head. He was going to kill him.

Only for little Tim Drake to snap out of it and beat him to the punch.

The Joker died here, and not in the way he would have preferred, but... he won.

And then he comes back. And almost breaks Bruce all over again.

That. That is the Joker. I will die on this hill.

...and then you remember the episode of Batman Beyond, the series proper rather than the movie, where Terry goes under the ruins of Arkham and there's a prominent shot of a human skeleton and you realize that that wasn't a set-piece, it was forshadowing.

This, this doesn't happen without Batman Beyond being a thing. I mean, nothing about it narratively needs Terry's future to come to pass, but if Batman beyond as a series didn't happen than this movie, this confrontation with the Joker, wouldn't exist.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 06:52 PM

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

Yes, I am familiar. Hamill nailed the Joker well before BB in TAS, though. Everything you're talking about is how the character is written, which has no bearing on the voice actor. The plot and script would have been that way regardless.

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 06:57 PM

I think what I'm gathering here is that if I wanted to do a TTRPG in my book's setting, I should extend my horrifying mindflayer ass graspers at Rater and Raziere :smallamused:

Batman Beyond is the best, and Mark Hamil's work in Batman Beyond is his best work.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 07:05 PM

Batman Beyond is the best, and Mark Hamil's work in Batman Beyond is his best work.

I dunno, I'm a bit partial to Star Wars myself...

As for Batman, RotJ is definitely up there, but the Arlham games beat it out for me concerning Hamill's performance.

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 07:10 PM

I dunno, I'm a bit partial to Star Wars myself...

As for Batman, RotJ is definitely up there, but the Arlham games beat it out for me concerning Hamill's performance.

His performance is Arkham is brought down by the fact that Joker brand Venom Drug is actually something I just dislike conceptually. It makes sense I just don't like it; Joker shouldn't be a physical fight for anyone, he's a Charisma villain.

Peelee

2020-12-24, 07:12 PM

His performance is Arkham is brought down by the fact that Joker brand Venom Drug is actually something I just dislike conceptually. It makes sense I just don't like it; Joker shouldn't be a physical fight for anyone, he's a Charisma villain.

For Arkham Asylum, I can understand that. However, both sequels don't have that, and while the third is sadly the weakest, the Joker still shines conceptually just as bright as in the second, which is stellar.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-24, 08:38 PM

I think what I'm gathering here is that if I wanted to do a TTRPG in my book's setting, I should extend my horrifying mindflayer ass graspers at Rater and Raziere :smallamused:

I mean....your probably not wrong, but what we do is freeform and most ttrpgs are about their ruleset, so the biggest hurdle with that would be figuring out what system to use for that. I can handle the worldbuilding just fine though. if I get into worldbuilding a setting I can just make tons of stuff.

speaking of worldbuilding I've been trying to look into Star wars worldbuilding more because one of the weirdest ironies about star wars is despite its immense popularity wh40k rpgs are somehow something I've played more of than star wars ones so I want to balance out the grimdark with something brighter and more idealistic. the weirder part of which I've always liked the Han Solo and Rebellion parts of Star Wars more than the Jedi parts, I mean don't get me wrong those are cool to, but if I was to have a power fantasy in star Wars it'd be as some lovable han-solo like scoundrel with some YT-series ship traveling the stars. because Jedi either are oppressed by an evil empire or are boring monks in a temple, but smugglers? always a fun time.

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 08:59 PM

I mean....your probably not wrong, but what we do is freeform and most ttrpgs are about their ruleset, so the biggest hurdle with that would be figuring out what system to use for that. I can handle the worldbuilding just fine though. if I get into worldbuilding a setting I can just make tons of stuff.

speaking of worldbuilding I've been trying to look into Star wars worldbuilding more because one of the weirdest ironies about star wars is despite its immense popularity wh40k rpgs are somehow something I've played more of than star wars ones so I want to balance out the grimdark with something brighter and more idealistic. the weirder part of which I've always liked the Han Solo and Rebellion parts of Star Wars more than the Jedi parts, I mean don't get me wrong those are cool to, but if I was to have a power fantasy in star Wars it'd be as some lovable han-solo like scoundrel with some YT-series ship traveling the stars. because Jedi either are oppressed by an evil empire or are boring monks in a temple, but smugglers? always a fun time.

Honestly I was thinking Mutants and Masterminds, or if I wanted to make fixing a game system my life work I'd maybe think of using Big Eyes Small Mouth and then after a couple hours give up and go to MAM.

You mean you're more interested in... the more interesting aspect of the series? What a shocker :smallamused:

Rater202

2020-12-24, 09:14 PM

I'm bad at game balance and am what would charitably be called a Power Gamer.

I'd probably be of little help in designing an rpg.

LaZodiac

2020-12-24, 09:19 PM

I'm bad at game balance and am what would charitably be called a Power Gamer.

I'd probably be of little help in designing an rpg.

Wasn't talking about designing, was talking about hypothetically playing within :smallwink:

Rater202

2020-12-24, 09:32 PM

Wasn't talking about designing, was talking about hypothetically playing within :smallwink:

So, I just spent five minutes wondering if, should I find myself transferred to the Marvel Universe if I couldn't extract the symbiote codices* from Ororo "Storm" Munroe** and combine them with the DNA of Raven "Mystique" Darkholme, Bobby "Iceman" Drake, Meggan "Glorianna" Puceanu-Braddock, Gabriel "Vulcan" Summers, Amara "Magma" Aquilla, and Klara "Rose Red" Prast in order to create a body that I could then transfer my soul and consciousness into to become an immortal Shapeshifting Captain Planet.

You don't want me playing in your setting, becuase I will try to find a way to break it.

*Once you've been bonded to a symbiote, part of it is just in your body forever, permanently bund to you. It mostly concentrates in the spine, and this bit can be removed, but technically there are traces in the nucleus of every one of your cells. This "codex" is constantly recording your memories, emotions, experiences, DNA,and other biological and physiological information for use by potential future symbiotes... Or they can eat the codex for a power boost.
**Storm was forcibly bound to a benevolent symbiote that had been altered to bond instantly, adapt rapidly, and be difficult to remove in Venomized and more recently was possessed by an offshoot of a symbiote dragon in King in Black.

DataNinja

2020-12-24, 10:16 PM

Wasn't talking about designing, was talking about hypothetically playing within :smallwink:

I volunteer as tribute, even if I probably Know Too Much(tm). :smalltongue:

But, no, more seriously it's always fun to be able to explore aspects of worlds that... won't necessarily come up immediately for a story. It's always cool to be able to pick brains, or be like "huh, I guess that's how it is."

Mystic Muse

2020-12-24, 10:18 PM

You don't want me playing in your setting, becuase I will try to find a way to break it.

I actually feel like this could br a very useful service.

If I can figure out how to break the Warhammer setting beneath my stilletto heel, then it wasn't put together very well.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-24, 10:19 PM

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-25, 12:21 AM

Merry Christmas everyone. My older brother gave me new boots for Christmas. :smile:

Rater202

2020-12-25, 04:24 AM

I had a minor panic attack a little bit ago when I realized it's been almost a decade since I was hospitalized with a massive blood clot.

Now, objectively speaking the fact that I haven't had any further issues on that front in that time is a good thing, but part of me still thinks of that as a "recent" event and freaked out at the realization of how long it's been.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 05:01 AM

Merry Christmas everyone. My older brother gave me new boots for Christmas. :smile:

So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's... probably going to be more of the same for the moment to be honest.

Haven't had a chance to open my presents yet due to work. I do know though that I'll have one of the Lego blind bags to open, so it's time to see if Brick Rogers (https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ML/col296.png) gets a friend as cool as him.

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 09:41 AM

So, I just spent five minutes wondering if, should I find myself transferred to the Marvel Universe if I couldn't extract the symbiote codices* from Ororo "Storm" Munroe** and combine them with the DNA of Raven "Mystique" Darkholme, Bobby "Iceman" Drake, Meggan "Glorianna" Puceanu-Braddock, Gabriel "Vulcan" Summers, Amara "Magma" Aquilla, and Klara "Rose Red" Prast in order to create a body that I could then transfer my soul and consciousness into to become an immortal Shapeshifting Captain Planet.

You don't want me playing in your setting, becuase I will try to find a way to break it.

*Once you've been bonded to a symbiote, part of it is just in your body forever, permanently bund to you. It mostly concentrates in the spine, and this bit can be removed, but technically there are traces in the nucleus of every one of your cells. This "codex" is constantly recording your memories, emotions, experiences, DNA,and other biological and physiological information for use by potential future symbiotes... Or they can eat the codex for a power boost.
**Storm was forcibly bound to a benevolent symbiote that had been altered to bond instantly, adapt rapidly, and be difficult to remove in Venomized and more recently was possessed by an offshoot of a symbiote dragon in King in Black.

Like Muse said, this is actually kind of useful. Also don't worry as a DM, any amount of "breakage" you do is completely within the realm of my control :smallwink:

I volunteer as tribute, even if I probably Know Too Much(tm). :smalltongue:

But, no, more seriously it's always fun to be able to explore aspects of worlds that... won't necessarily come up immediately for a story. It's always cool to be able to pick brains, or be like "huh, I guess that's how it is."

I should note this isn't something I'm actually planning in any respect. I'm too bogged down as it is. But it's something I want To Do Someday, for sure.

I actually feel like this could br a very useful service.

If I can figure out how to break the Warhammer setting beneath my stilletto heel, then it wasn't put together very well.

It says a lot about me that my immediate response to reading this was just "hot".

I had a minor panic attack a little bit ago when I realized it's been almost a decade since I was hospitalized with a massive blood clot.

Now, objectively speaking the fact that I haven't had any further issues on that front in that time is a good thing, but part of me still thinks of that as a "recent" event and freaked out at the realization of how long it's been.

*sends hugs* That is completely understandable.

Also... Merry Christmas~!!!!

Peelee

2020-12-25, 09:45 AM

For Christmas I got a power outage.

Rater202

2020-12-25, 10:03 AM

Merry Christmas.

I don't know what I got yet, but considering my grandma seemingly went through 3/4 of a bottle of Kentucky bourbon last night, I suspect a hungover retiree is on the list
Like Muse said, this is actually kind of useful. Also don't worry as a DM, any amount of "breakage" you do is completely within the realm of my control :smallwink:
So what happens if two different Mancers have a baby? Are there say, metamancers who instead of manipulating an element manipulate the concept of mancy itself, making them "anti-mages" if you will?

What about Biomancers who twist their flesh--and that of others--into horrific constructs for the sake of inflicting violence?

What happens if a Sanquinomancer drinks all of someone's blood, fresh from the tap?

These are the kinds of questions you would find yourself asking if you wanted me to roleplay in your setting.

(Don't actually answer these here.)

For Christmas I got a power outage.

Would you like a hug?

Peelee

2020-12-25, 10:15 AM

Would you like a hug?

Ha! I really appreciate it, but nah, we're alright. No storm or anything, so the outage is more confusing than anything. Plus, the lack of heat and the sudden cold temperatures gave me an excuse to light a fire. Almost time to get a new cord, this might only last the rest of the winter if we actually use it every night (spoiler alert, it'll probably last another winter).

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 10:28 AM

Merry Christmas.

I don't know what I got yet, but considering my grandma seemingly went through 3/4 of a bottle of Kentucky bourbon last night, I suspect a hungover retiree is on the list
So what happens if two different Mancers have a baby? Are there say, metamancers who instead of manipulating an element manipulate the concept of mancy itself, making them "anti-mages" if you will?

What about Biomancers who twist their flesh--and that of others--into horrific constructs for the sake of inflicting violence?

What happens if a Sanquinomancer drinks all of someone's blood, fresh from the tap?

These are the kinds of questions you would find yourself asking if you wanted me to roleplay in your setting.

(Don't actually answer these here.)

I won't answer these here because you asked, but know that I have answers for each. I just wanna point out that Sanquinomancer is a good ass typo.

I hope you have a good Christmas, bourbon grandma aside!

(if you're actually curious about the answer to those, feel free to PM me I guess?)

Fyraltari

2020-12-25, 10:31 AM

For Christmas I got a power outage.

Did Father Christmas give you any coal?

Peelee

2020-12-25, 10:32 AM

Did Father Christmas give you any coal?

No, gummy bears.

Fortunately we got a cord of hickory about five years ago or so. We have the best smelling fires.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 11:15 AM

My partner and I are having great fun corrupting the lyrics to Meet Xmas Everybody to more accurately reflect the current year.

Unfortunately it's now at the point that I can't share it here.

Rater202

2020-12-25, 11:18 AM

I won't answer these here because you asked, but know that I have answers for each. I just wanna point out that Sanquinomancer is a good ass typo.

I hope you have a good Christmas, bourbon grandma aside!

(if you're actually curious about the answer to those, feel free to PM me I guess?)

I'm just saying...

If I ended up in Middle Earth, I'd be the kind of person who waits for Smaug's death and then tries to figure out how to make clothes out of the hide and scales of... Well, any part that wasn't his vulnerable belly.

Form

2020-12-25, 11:26 AM

My partner and I are having great fun corrupting the lyrics to Meet Xmas Everybody to more accurately reflect the current year.

Unfortunately it's now at the point that I can't share it here.

Ha! Good! And yet, your task is not yet done I imagine. Corrupt away!

I'm just saying...

If I ended up in Middle Earth, I'd be the kind of person who waits for Smaug's death and then tries to figure out how to make clothes out of the hide and scales of... Well, any part that wasn't his vulnerable belly.

I'd probably be a random peasant that gets killed off screen. -.-

Peelee

2020-12-25, 11:27 AM

I'd probably be a random peasant that gets killed without anyone noticing. -.-

I think the vast majority of us would be that. Random villagers, and if we had the misfortune to be in Lake Town, either killed by Smaug or refugees who just lost everything.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 11:35 AM

Ha! Good! And yet, your task is not yet done I imagine. Corrupt away!

Couple more verses, then we can release it next year as a throwback.

Form

2020-12-25, 11:36 AM

I think the vast majority of us would be that. Random villagers, and if we had the misfortune to be in Lake Town, either killed by Smaug or refugees who just lost everything.

True, that. Or, more likely, we'd be some random peasant that survives off screen. And you know what? That's fine by me. Let the heroes risk their lives for fleeting glory. I'm perfectly content with a relatively simple and comfortable life in the background, thank you very much. And to have my own turnip.

DataNinja

2020-12-25, 11:38 AM

I should note this isn't something I'm actually planning in any respect. I'm too bogged down as it is. But it's something I want To Do Someday, for sure.
I figured, but, look... gotta jump at any chance to play games with people I like. Especially in a setting I find interesting. :smalltongue:

It says a lot about me that my immediate response to reading this was just "hot".
That you like the ability to frivolously destroy expensive stuff. ;P

For Christmas I got a power outage.
Oof. That sucks, man. I had a few of those recently (especially when it snowed on the solstice), but, yeesh. Hope it returns swiftly.

Also, a return to those Merry Christmases, and a Happy Holidays to everyone.

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 11:40 AM

I'm just saying...

If I ended up in Middle Earth, I'd be the kind of person who waits for Smaug's death and then tries to figure out how to make clothes out of the hide and scales of... Well, any part that wasn't his vulnerable belly.

Well I mean that would require being in that particular podunk town to scrounge for dragon bits at the right time. Which again, if I was DM I would account for; for one, out of character knowledge is a no-no.

Rater202

2020-12-25, 12:02 PM

Well I mean that would require being in that particular podunk town to scrounge for dragon bits at the right time. Which again, if I was DM I would account for; for one, out of character knowledge is a no-no.

I mean, they kind of just left his body there. Didn't even scrape the gold and gems of his belly.

And that wasn't a "meta knowledge in a game" thing, that was a "this is the way I think" thing.

I was reaching for a non-Marvel example so that I don't seem to be too one-note, but...

Fyraltari

2020-12-25, 12:06 PM

I'm just saying...

If I ended up in Middle Earth, I'd be the kind of person who waits for Smaug's death and then tries to figure out how to make clothes out of the hide and scales of... Well, any part that wasn't his vulnerable belly.
You do know he can't die of old age, right?

I think the vast majority of us would be that. Random villagers, and if we had the misfortune to be in Lake Town, either killed by Smaug or refugees who just lost everything.
Hey man, the kingdom of Dale looks pretty spry when all is said and done.

I mean, they kind of just left his body there. Didn't even scrape the gold and gems of his belly

Pretty wise if you ask me, these just spent 170 years on the belly of spirit of Evil in somewhat wormic form, the odds they are cursed is pretty great.

Peelee

2020-12-25, 12:07 PM

I mean, they kind of just left his body there. Didn't even scrape the gold and gems of his belly.

I haven't read the Silmarillion, but are you sure? Smaug's body being stripped may well have happened and just was not covered in the book.

Rater202

2020-12-25, 12:12 PM

I haven't read the Silmarillion, but are you sure? Smaug's body being stripped may well have happened and just was not covered in the book.

I checked the wiki before posting that to see if it said anything about what was done with his remains, which I know isn't 100% reliable, but apparently, his body was just left to rot and people were too scared to claim the fortune in gems and precious metals within his copse.

@Fryaltyr. I also know that he eventually catches a bad case of arrow in the one part of his body that isn't invulnerable.

That wasn't "I am playing a character in Middle Earth." That is "I find myself in Middle Earth, here's the kind of thing I'd try to do as an example of how my mind works when it comes to this kind of thing."

Peelee

2020-12-25, 12:14 PM

I checked the wiki before posting that to see if it said anything about what was done with his remains, which I know isn't 100% reliable, but apparently, his body was just left to rot and people were too scared to claim the fortune in gems and precious metals within his copse.

@Fryaltyr. I also know that he eventually catches a bad case of arrow in the one part of his body that isn't invulnerable.

That wasn't "I am playing a character in Middle Earth." That is "I find myself in Middle Earth, here's the kind of thing I'd try to do as an example of how my mind works when it comes to this kind of thing."

Huh. That's interesting. Wondering if they saw it as cursed or something. Thanks for checking for me!
ETA:
Hey man, the kingdom of Dale looks pretty spry when all is said and done.

Pretty wise if you ask me, these just spent 170 years on the belly of spirit of Evil in somewhat wormic form, the odds they are cursed is pretty great.

A.) And there it is. Not sure how curses work in Middle Earth, but I wouldn't chance it.
2.) What about the kingdom of Tucker?

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 12:46 PM

I mean, they kind of just left his body there. Didn't even scrape the gold and gems of his belly.

And that wasn't a "meta knowledge in a game" thing, that was a "this is the way I think" thing.

I was reaching for a non-Marvel example so that I don't seem to be too one-note, but...

Ah, sorry, my mistake. Still a little sleepy, I was up till 2 wrapping presents and writing a short gay holiday story about Rei and Chloe.

I mean, again; I'm able to account for that. Something I need to make clear is that I've had like, almost 20 sessions of DND and I've managed to plan for the actions of almost everyone.

Peelee

2020-12-25, 12:58 PM

Its very rare for Alabama Power to leave us out this long. They're normally super good about getting the lights back on fast.That's about all they're super good at, of course.

Form

2020-12-25, 01:07 PM

I mean, again; I'm able to account for that. Something I need to make clear is that I've had like, almost 20 sessions of DND and I've managed to plan for the actions of almost everyone.

Impressive. I mean, not every PC is a chaotic gremlin of destruction, but predicting your player's behavior to that degree and accounting for the results is no small feat.

...

I am now imaging you have constructed detailed psychological profiles of each and every player. :smalltongue:

Its very rare for Alabama Power to leave us out this long. They're normally super good about getting the lights back on fast.That's about all they're super good at, of course.

Bugger. So you're still sitting in the dark, then? Ugh, and during christmas no less.

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-25, 01:09 PM

So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's... probably going to be more of the same for the moment to be honest.

Haven't had a chance to open my presents yet due to work. I do know though that I'll have one of the Lego blind bags to open, so it's time to see if Brick Rogers (https://img.bricklink.com/ItemImage/ML/col296.png) gets a friend as cool as him.

Yes. The only present that I give him is being a loving and supported little brother. :biggrin:

Rawhide

2020-12-25, 01:34 PM

Its very rare for Alabama Power to leave us out this long. They're normally super good about getting the lights back on fast.That's about all they're super good at, of course.

They can't charge you for electricity you're not using.

Fyraltari

2020-12-25, 01:34 PM

I haven't read the Silmarillion, but are you sure? Smaug's body being stripped may well have happened and just was not covered in the book.
The Silmarillion barely skims the events of The Lord of the Rings (which ot gets wrong, hilariously enough) and doesn't mention the events of The Hobbit at all. It's a short book with a lot of ground to cover.

I checked the wiki before posting that to see if it said anything about what was done with his remains, which I know isn't 100% reliable, but apparently, his body was just left to rot and people were too scared to claim the fortune in gems and precious metals within his copse.
Yup.

For centuries [Smaug's] boned could be seen by calm weather in the ruins of the old town. But few are those who dared cross this accursed place, and none dared dive in that shivering water, or gatjer the gems that fell from his rotting carcass.
Emphasis (and backward traduction) mine.

@Fryaltyr.
Fyraltari.

I also know that he eventually catches a bad case of arrow in the one part of his body that isn't invulnerable.
Not my point.

That wasn't "I am playing a character in Middle Earth." That is "I find myself in Middle Earth, here's the kind of thing I'd try to do as an example of how my mind works when it comes to this kind of thing."
Well, you should be mindful of dark magics, then, should the situation call for it.

Huh. That's interesting. Wondering if they saw it as cursed or something. Thanks for checking for me!
ETA:

A.) And there it is. Not sure how curses work in Middle Earth, but I wouldn't chance it.
No one really knows how curses work on Arda. The jury is still out on wether Tùrin Turambar was really cursed or not, for example. However it seems like Smaug's hoard has a habit on bringing bad luck to people who are greedy about it.

2.) What about the kingdom of Tucker?
Is that a reference to something?

factotum

2020-12-25, 01:40 PM

No one really knows how curses work on Arda. The jury is still out on wether Tùrin Turambar was really cursed or not, for example. However it seems like Smaug's hoard has a habit on bringing bad luck to people who are greedy about it.

The Curse of Mandos sure as heck seemed to do a bang-up job of messing up the Noldor and particularly the sons of Feanor...

Mystic Muse

2020-12-25, 01:41 PM

Is that a reference to something?

Tucker and Dale versus Evil I would assume.

Fyraltari

2020-12-25, 02:17 PM

The Curse of Mandos sure as heck seemed to do a bang-up job of messing up the Noldor and particularly the sons of Feanor...
Right, let me amend that to "Nobody on Arda really knows how curses work. However, if the Lord of Death and Fate personally shows up to tell you you done goof'd up and if you take one step further your ass is gonna be super-cursed, then yes, you should assume a curse is at play."

Tucker and Dale versus Evil I would assume.
I didn't know that existed. Is it any good?
Also didn't know Dale was an English given name.

Rater202

2020-12-25, 02:30 PM

Just once I'd like to go a Christmas without being given something that I'd feel guilty for using, feel guilty for not using, or both.

Especially when I explicitly tell people not to get me things I didn't ask for in the hopes of avoiding this exact situation.

Peelee

2020-12-25, 02:48 PM

They can't charge you for electricity you're not using.
You clearly have never interacted with Alabama Power.

I didn't know that existed. Is it any good?
Also didn't know Dale was an English given name.

It is so good that I would recommend watching it ASAP and if it isn't on a free streaming service to go ahead and rent or buy.

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 02:56 PM

I've seperated my list into three sections. Here is what I got!

A Figma, from Rebecca (she told me which and I'll be honest I legit forgot it hasn't arrived yet lol)
and for Rebecca, a Satsuki Figma

Umineko: Golden Fantasia, from Deme
and for Deme, Jenny LeClue

A cute commission of my DND character,
Hand of Fate 2, from Trobby
and for Trobby, Iconoclasts

Something from Durkoala
And for Durkoala, Guild of Dungeoneering

A cute drawing, from Fury
And for Fury, Control (Ultimate Edition)

Return of the Obra Din,
An Ike Plushie, from Blue
And for Blue, Jenny LeClue

For Robin, Jenny Leclue

For DataNinja, Iconoclasts
And in return, Earth DEfense Force 4.2: The Shadow of New Despair
Also Ambition of the Slimes
And Super Crush KO

For Em, Planet Zoo
And in return, the ****in' RWBY Grimm Eclipse school coutfit costume pack I can't believe I finally got pranked by the joke gifts I put on my dang list.
Also Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus.

For HT, Disco Elysum
And in return, Sniper Elite 4

For Saria, Disco Eylsum

For Pinkhair August, Jenny Leclue

For Hawk, Jenny LeClue
And in return, Lethal League

For Knight, Disco Elysum

For Randman Rom, Jenny LeClue

For Jeff, Jenny LeClue

For Wombat of Doom, Disco Elysum
And in return, Gris

For Amidus, Fuser

For Finn, The Pillars Of The Earth
And in return, some sort of jewelry that will arrive later

For Teddy, Night in the Woods
And in return, Jenny LeClue

For Qwerty, Iconoclasts

------
------
------

50 Dollars,
Mystery Chocolate I cannot identify because the 50 dollars are tapped to it,
A hot chocolate bomb, from my Aunt
And for my Aunt, a picture of her dog professionally drawn (not yet arrived)

A shelving unit (just loose pieces because the company shipping this is incompetant)
A toaster w/ bread and bagels (will expire tomorrow)
Cream Cheese.
A fit bit...?
Some towels
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Yakuza: Like A Dragon Quest (oops bought this already because I forgot it was on my list!)
Cooler glasses, all from Dad

Marshmellows,
Hot Chocolate Mix
And a coffee mug with a silly saying on it, from Sister

------
------
------

STOCKING STUFFERS
Bag of chocolate orange slices
Four pack of toothbrushes (teethbrush?)
Box of After 8 Mintes
Big ole Toothpaste
Three pack of Ferrero chocolate orbs
25 dollar gift card for Subway

factotum

2020-12-25, 03:07 PM

Also didn't know Dale was an English given name.

Never heard of the Disney cartoon Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers? :smallsmile: (My nephew is called Dale, and my brother always used to annoy his mother by referring to him as Chipmunk after the cartoon...).

Peelee

2020-12-25, 03:15 PM

Return of the Obra Din
I saw a friend play that a few days ago. Looked super interesting, to the point I'd like to play it myself.

Never heard of the Disney cartoon Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers? :smallsmile: (My nephew is called Dale, and my brother always used to annoy his mother by referring to him as Chipmunk after the cartoon...).

There's also Alabama's go-to quick and dirty marinade (https://www.dalesseasoning.com).

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 03:20 PM

Rawhide

2020-12-25, 03:27 PM

it's a) Cyberpunk

I haven't played it yet, but from reviews and direct friend testimonies, I'm assured that it is anything but cyberpunk.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 03:52 PM

I haven't played it yet, but from reviews and direct friend testimonies, I'm assured that it is anything but cyberpunk.

Wait, let me guess. A big corporation acquired a licence that's anti -corporate and left that bit out?

Peelee

2020-12-25, 03:52 PM

Powers back on. But it came on twice and shut right back off within minutes twice before, so I'm not turning my generator off yet.

ETA: Amd there if is.

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 04:22 PM

Wait, let me guess. A big corporation acquired a licence that's anti -corporate and left that bit out?

This but times a thousand, on top of the gameplay just being ****, and the game being broken on release.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 04:26 PM

This but times a thousand, on top of the gameplay just being ****, and the game being broken on release.

I never thought I'd utter the sentence 'maybe I'll buy Assassin's Creed: Odyssey instead'. I mean it is significantly cheaper, but I never thought I'd say that...

Wait, Ubisoft is that company which had the allegations earlier this year. Are there any games which are safe to buy?

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 04:45 PM

I never thought I'd utter the sentence 'maybe I'll buy Assassin's Creed: Odyssey instead'. I mean it is significantly cheaper, but I never thought I'd say that...

Wait, Ubisoft is that company which had the allegations earlier this year. Are there any games which are safe to buy?

Indie games, specifically Supergiant ones. Buy Hades, it's excellent.

Alternatively just accept that you live in a capitalist system and you cannot really be held accountable for their power being what it is. You buying a copy of the good assassin viking game will do nothing to help Ubisoft or hurt the people Ubisoft has hurt.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 04:51 PM

Indie games, specifically Supergiant ones. Buy Hades, it's excellent.

Alternatively just accept that you live in a capitalist system and you cannot really be held accountable for their power being what it is. You buying a copy of the good assassin viking game will do nothing to help Ubisoft or hurt the people Ubisoft has hurt.

I really shouldn't be getting anything expensive until I've finished Bloodstained.

And wouldn't be getting the Viking one because it's more expensive, I'd be getting the Greek one so I'd be giving them less money. Living in a capitalist system does not mean paying full price for stuff, and arguably doing so would mean I'm being a bad capitalist. I'll clearly get the one with both a female protagonist and the attribute of 'is on sale'.

Like, I will pick up Cyberpunk eventually. But from what you're saying it's sounding more like a 'play the RPG, waiting until the computer game is under £20' deal.

EDIT: sadly most of the presents from my snuggle buddies haven't arrived. Still waiting on the book, the DSi we're going to mod together, and the last bit of Doctor Who collectables. This makes me v sad (for the record, they respectively got two books, a couple of Steam games because she has no space for anything physical, and the first three New Eighth Doctor Adventures audio dramas).

Fyraltari

2020-12-25, 05:19 PM

It is so good that I would recommend watching it ASAP and if it isn't on a free streaming service to go ahead and rent or buy.
I'll see. I've still got a lot on my playe right now.

Never heard of the Disney cartoon Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers? :smallsmile: (My nephew is called Dale, and my brother always used to annoy his mother by referring to him as Chipmunk after the cartoon...).
I think some American youtuber mentionned it in a video I saw once. There's like, squirrels in it, yes?

I never thought I'd utter the sentence 'maybe I'll buy Assassin's Creed: Odyssey instead'. I mean it is significantly cheaper, but I never thought I'd say that...

Wait, Ubisoft is that company which had the allegations earlier this year. Are there any games which are safe to buy?

You can get The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: the Amulet of Chaos for less than thirty dollars on Steam. If you like Tactical RPG, go for it, it's very well done and very funny. I know one Native-English speaker who had a blast streaming it, so this isn't just my bias showing.

Besides, I'm still eagerly waiting for Deathloop in May.

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 05:35 PM

I really shouldn't be getting anything expensive until I've finished Bloodstained.

And wouldn't be getting the Viking one because it's more expensive, I'd be getting the Greek one so I'd be giving them less money. Living in a capitalist system does not mean paying full price for stuff, and arguably doing so would mean I'm being a bad capitalist. I'll clearly get the one with both a female protagonist and the attribute of 'is on sale'.

Like, I will pick up Cyberpunk eventually. But from what you're saying it's sounding more like a 'play the RPG, waiting until the computer game is under £20' deal.

EDIT: sadly most of the presents from my snuggle buddies haven't arrived. Still waiting on the book, the DSi we're going to mod together, and the last bit of Doctor Who collectables. This makes me v sad (for the record, they respectively got two books, a couple of Steam games because she has no space for anything physical, and the first three New Eighth Doctor Adventures audio dramas).

In my defense I forgot which one was the viking one, my bad.

I'd legitimately just say not to pick up Cyberpunk because aside from the fact that the game is broken, the gameplay is bland, and the game is so anti Cyberpunk that it beggers belief, it's also made by a company that said "we will not do crunch ever" and then crunched their employees to death and back. And while yes this may seem in contrast to what I said about Ubisoft, I feel like "lying about abusing our employees" is worse than "not admitting the crimes they did do". It's a minor difference in kind.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-25, 05:55 PM

In my defense I forgot which one was the viking one, my bad.

I'd legitimately just say not to pick up Cyberpunk because aside from the fact that the game is broken, the gameplay is bland, and the game is so anti Cyberpunk that it beggers belief, it's also made by a company that said "we will not do crunch ever" and then crunched their employees to death and back. And while yes this may seem in contrast to what I said about Ubisoft, I feel like "lying about abusing our employees" is worse than "not admitting the crimes they did do". It's a minor difference in kind.

I feel like it should be a crime. Actually, I'm fairly certain it is over here (okay, strictly speaking crunch itself isn't, but I believe it is at that level).

Honestly, both companies lied about abusing their employees, and I'm legitimately not sure which abuse is worse. One is institutional abuse that was directly lied about, the other seems to have been jerks covering for jerks via lies omission (and I'm really not sure how much of it we're allowed to talk about here).

And it's a shame because I like cyberpunk, and I like post-cyberpunk, and doing some research it sounds like the game managed to miss both genres which is... confusing. Maybe it's a reflection of the world we're in. It's sounding like they took the cyber and left out all the punk. The punk's the good stuff! And it's more than the pink mohawks, which I'm not even certain are in the game.

Peelee

2020-12-25, 06:37 PM

UNLIMITED POWER!

OK, so all pretty limited, but I have power back. Gonna leo the fire gong, because my whole house smells like hickory and I want to keep that going. Plus, fire at night is just cozy.

I'll see. I've still got a lot on my playe right now.
Understandable. Definitely put it on your list, though.

Some college kids are going camping out in the woods for spring break and encounter some super creepy hillbillies. One of their friends gets taken by the hillbillies and they must attempt to rescue her from their super creepy murder house. Standard slasher flick.

Except the hillbillies, Tucker and Dale, are just these super sweet guys with poor social skills who just tossed down all the money they had on a vacation home in the woods. It's very run-down but they are excited to fix it up through good old honest labor and hard work. While going fishing the first night, they rescue one of the girls when she hits her head while diving. They want nothing more than for her to be alright and get her back to her friends safe and sound. Everything they do is misconstrued by the friends to be psycho-killer actions, when all they want is for the teens to be back together and for everyone to enjoy their vacations.

One of the best lines, which is not a spoiler as it's on one of the trailers but does include information I deliberately left out of the synopsis:Tucker : All right... I know what this is.
Dale : What?
Tucker : This is a suicide pact.
Dale : It's a what?
Tucker : These kids are coming out here, and killing themselves all over the woods.
Dale : My God, that makes so much sense.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-25, 07:43 PM

Rawhide

2020-12-25, 07:47 PM

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is officially more cyberpunk than Cyberpunk 2077.

Mystic Muse

2020-12-25, 07:54 PM

Can somebody elaborate on why Cyberpunk2077 isn't Cyberpunk rather than just complaining that it's not Cyberpunk please?

LaZodiac

2020-12-25, 08:31 PM

Can somebody elaborate on why Cyberpunk2077 isn't Cyberpunk rather than just complaining that it's not Cyberpunk please?

Your gender is determined by tone of voice, you are encouraged (and forced to) work with cops, you can't change how you look once you're done character creation, and it is generally all very... homogenized towards the white-male experienced. I don't imagine I can say more than that on the forum.

Peelee

2020-12-25, 09:30 PM

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is officially more cyberpunk than Cyberpunk 2077.

Because the snowboys tell you that their life is a sham due to your poor craftsmanship?

LaZodiac

2020-12-26, 12:12 AM

Because the snowboys tell you that their life is a sham due to your poor craftsmanship?

It's about a bunch of lgbta people eschewing civilization to live in a hand crafted island commune. That's punk as hell.

enderlord99

2020-12-26, 12:16 AM

So... Cyberpunk2077 is cyber- but not punk, and Animal Crossing is (accidentally) punk, but not cyber-.

Do I understand this correctly?

Rawhide

2020-12-26, 12:25 AM

Because the snowboys tell you that their life is a sham due to your poor craftsmanship?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep8l-FxU8AEYTgg?format=jpg&name=large
(Link, if the image doesn't embed) (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ep8l-FxU8AEYTgg?format=jpg&name=large)

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons you can use any hairstyle on any body.

factotum

2020-12-26, 01:23 AM

I saw a friend play that a few days ago. Looked super interesting, to the point I'd like to play it myself.

Oh, you absolutely should. Obra Dinn doesn't have a lot of replay value and isn't the longest game in the world, but it's a fantastic experience I'd recommend to anyone. It actually won two BAFTA game awards (Artistic Achievement and Game Design), beating the likes of God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 to achieve that.

Bartmanhomer

2020-12-26, 01:53 AM

I'm thinking about playing my solo D&D 3.5/Pathfinderr game again. Also all Christmas day, I've been watching Law & Order Special Victims Unit from the last season.

enderlord99

2020-12-26, 02:10 AM

It seems that Trobby has excellent taste in indie games.

Form

2020-12-26, 05:32 AM

Christmas is nearly over, and part of me still wants to spend £40 on the Stadia version of Cyberpunk. Even though I know all the problems with it, it's a) Cyberpunk, and b) will let me create a character with all the lumps I choose.

Darn £10 off any game you want promotions.

If you're looking for cyberpunk, or perhaps dystopian cyberpunk specifically, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the shadowrun returns RPGs. Deadman's switch, Dragonfall and Hong Kong are all very good. Crapsack world, megacorps exploiting people for profit, mercenary work for and against megacorps, sci-fi, it's cyberpunk to a T.

I was pretty psyched about cyberpunk 2077 myself as well before its release, buuuuut then they released it and it was a mess. Now I'm thinking I might let it pass by entirely.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-26, 06:05 AM

If you're looking for cyberpunk, or perhaps dystopian cyberpunk specifically, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the shadowrun returns RPGs. Deadman's switch, Dragonfall and Hong Kong are all very good. Crapsack world, megacorps exploiting people for profit, mercenary work for and against megacorps, sci-fi, it's cyberpunk to a T.

I was pretty psyched about cyberpunk 2077 myself as well before its release, buuuuut then they released it and it was a mess. Now I'm thinking I might let it pass by entirely.

I own Dead Man's switch (, twice over I believe, on both Steam and Google Play), but I'm really feeling like straight cyberpunk instead of the cyberpunk/fantasy mix of Shadowrun. From what I've played it really is proper cyberpunk, but I don't want Elves and dwarves right now.

I would play Deus Ex, but I'm not feeling like playing a male character.

LaZodiac

2020-12-26, 10:31 AM

So... Cyberpunk2077 is cyber- but not punk, and Animal Crossing is (accidentally) punk, but not cyber-.

Do I understand this correctly?

Correct!

It seems that Trobby has excellent taste in indie games.

He does, but so do I! Jenny LeClue is amazing... also one of the only games Steam let me send people.

If you're looking for cyberpunk, or perhaps dystopian cyberpunk specifically, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the shadowrun returns RPGs. Deadman's switch, Dragonfall and Hong Kong are all very good. Crapsack world, megacorps exploiting people for profit, mercenary work for and against megacorps, sci-fi, it's cyberpunk to a T.

I was pretty psyched about cyberpunk 2077 myself as well before its release, buuuuut then they released it and it was a mess. Now I'm thinking I might let it pass by entirely.

As long as you're also okay with fantasy elements, those three Shadowrun Returns RPGs are the best cyberpunk experience I've ever had. Nothing sells the feeling of cyberpunk like a character going "as it was with global warming, so too will it be with dragons".

I own Dead Man's switch (, twice over I believe, on both Steam and Google Play), but I'm really feeling like straight cyberpunk instead of the cyberpunk/fantasy mix of Shadowrun. From what I've played it really is proper cyberpunk, but I don't want Elves and dwarves right now.

I would play Deus Ex, but I'm not feeling like playing a male character.

I don't know how it does character stuff but play Disco Elysum, it's awesome from what I've heard.

Peelee

2020-12-26, 11:00 AM

So... Cyberpunk2077 is cyber- but not punk, and Animal Crossing is (accidentally) punk, but not cyber-.

Do I understand this correctly?

Graham would take issue with Animal Crossing not being cyber.

Form

2020-12-26, 11:46 AM

I keep seeing people say wonderful things about Animal Crossing and I'm actually a little disappointed there's no PC version. I suppose I could buy a Switch just for Animal Crossing, but I'm not going to buy a Switch just for Animal Crossing (glorious though the game may be). Erh, I got some games that are apparently somewhat similar to that, so I'll make do with those.

Correct!
As long as you're also okay with fantasy elements, those three Shadowrun Returns RPGs are the best cyberpunk experience I've ever had. Nothing sells the feeling of cyberpunk like a character going "as it was with global warming, so too will it be with dragons".

That stuff was great. When I first heard of shadowrun I thought that the fantasy elements would not mix well with cyberpunk and its sci-fi nature, but it was quite the opposite. I found that the fantasy elements and the magic adds a lot of mysticism to the setting and the games and I absolutely loved it. It was done really well.

Peelee

2020-12-26, 02:41 PM

I keep seeing people say wonderful things about Animal Crossing and I'm actually a little disappointed there's no PC version. I suppose I could buy a Switch just for Animal Crossing, but I'm not going to buy a Switch just for Animal Crossing (glorious though the game may be). Erh, I got some games that are apparently somewhat similar to that, so I'll make do with those.

I don't think Nintendo has ever put out a game on more than one platform but I could be wrong. But yeah, don't get a switch just for that one game. That being said, I never thought I would enjoy a game like Animal Crossing until I played it, and holy crap have I loved it. I still have a few issues about mechanics from New Leaf that were changed in New Horizons, but overall, huge fan. Huge. If you ever get a Switch for any other reason, absolutely snag an AC.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-26, 02:42 PM

As long as you're also okay with fantasy elements, those three Shadowrun Returns RPGs are the best cyberpunk experience I've ever had. Nothing sells the feeling of cyberpunk like a character going "as it was with global warming, so too will it be with dragons".

Agreed.

I don't know how it does character stuff but play Disco Elysum, it's awesome from what I've heard.

Played it all the way through, will play it again when the big upgrade drops and I have a better PC. It's about 90% as punk as Animal Crossing, and has many amazing moments.

Rawhide

2020-12-26, 02:46 PM

Animal Crossing is also on:
Nintendo 64 (Japan only)
GameCube (Enhanced N64 version, worldwide including Japan)
Wii
Wii U
DS
3DS

If you have any of those, you can experience an earlier version of the series.

There's also a version on iOS and Android. It's very cut down, very heavy on micro-transactions. Not recommended.

Peelee

2020-12-26, 02:50 PM

There's also a version on iOS and Android. It's very cut down, very heavy on micro-transactions. Not recommended.

Who taught Tom Nook how to use dev apps?

Rater202

2020-12-26, 02:54 PM

Peelee

2020-12-26, 02:59 PM

So, a thing my family buys sometimes are basically breaded/battered balls of goat cheese that you fry or cook in the oven. They come with a cheesy marinara sauce so they're a bit like mozzarella sticks but goat cheese instead of mozzarella.

You bite into them, and it doesn't really taste anything like "cheese" in my mind, a bit sour... honestly, my first thought trying them was "I don't like this..." until I found myself eating more despite myself and now it's grown on me and I can't explain why I like them.

Anyone else have a food like that?

IIRC traditional mozzarella is made with goat milk! Just a fun fact there. I don't think it's really that easy to find outside of Italy, though.

Anyway, yeah. Guthrie's sauce. Every thing I dip my fries in it I'm like, "i don't know if I like this. Not sure. Don't think so. Nah, not too good." By which point every gry has been dipped and the fry box and sauce are both empty.

enderlord99

2020-12-26, 03:32 PM

I don't think Nintendo has ever put out a game on more than one platform but I could be wrong.

Twilight Princess, IIRC.

Rawhide

2020-12-26, 03:36 PM

Twilight Princess, IIRC.

And Breath of the Wild.

But that isn't what he meant, those are just different generations of Nintendo consoles. Nintendo made games don't appear on non-Nintendo consoles (except for some iOS/Android games).

The Fury

2020-12-26, 05:26 PM

I put it off to read Initial Sparks, since I was participating in Fury's book club thread at the time and then just didn't get around to reading the Dresden novel.

I'm late to the party on this one, but thanks again for doing that. You added a lot to that thread.

I think what I'm gathering here is that if I wanted to do a TTRPG in my book's setting, I should extend my horrifying mindflayer ass graspers at Rater and Raziere :smallamused:

Batman Beyond is the best, and Mark Hamil's work in Batman Beyond is his best work.

Aw, man. Now I'm imagining what I would play in your book's setting. Probably token vanilla human in way over their head.

"Oh no! There's an aeromancer leading those ONY operatives!"

"Yeah, and we know that there's mnemonic puppets out there somewhere! What do we do, Fury?"

"I don't know! I'm just an ordinary person!"

As long as we're talking about Mark Hamill playing The Joker, my favorite still has to be Mask of The Phantasm. While his scenes in Return of The Joker were undoubtedly some of the darkest the character has ever been, Mask of The Phantasm had some scenes where he seemed threatening, then amiable, then... terrifying.

For real though, Batman Beyond was rad as hell.

Rater202

2020-12-26, 05:50 PM

I'm late to the party on this one, but thanks again for doing that. You added a lot to that thread.

Yeah. Was fun.

I'm probably gonna go through Initial Sparks again at some point. See if there are any minor details I missed. Maybe fill out the Trope page more.

The Fury

2020-12-26, 06:19 PM

Yeah. Was fun.

I'm probably gonna go through Initial Sparks again at some point. See if there are any minor details I missed. Maybe fill out the Trope page more.

Yeah, I really ought to add some stuff to the Tropes page too. There really ought to be a YMMV subpage. There's some stuff in there that qualifies as Nightmare Fuel in my opinion.

I'll definitely reread Initial Sparks at least once before Hidden Embers comes out.

Rater202

2020-12-26, 06:27 PM

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-26, 06:32 PM

God, I had trouble reading it because of people at work talking and so never finished the first chapter. Sorry Zodi! (At least you still have my money. Unless you spent it.)

I really need to get back to writing. Get one of these story ideas down on paper, or actually finish one of my games (Intelligent Hamsters from Beyond the Stars is looking the mopst promising, mainly because I've written about 80% of the rules and the rest is setting, advice, and linking text).

AtlanteanTroll

2020-12-26, 06:32 PM

Peelee

2020-12-26, 06:43 PM

Is there non-dystopian cyberpunk? :smallconfused:

Sure, the Outher Rim of Star Wars galaxy.

The Fury

2020-12-26, 06:52 PM

...Zodi?

So I actually got a bit...

Was Rei's home city being called "Laketown" a Tolkien reference?

Becuase, if so... That's a concerning reference to make when the protagonist has power over fire and a personality best described as being "fire incarnate."

...And now I'm imagining Rei as a dragon and it fits with what I recall of her character.

It seems like it might be a somewhat oblique reference to Tolkien. Rei has personality traits that are like fire, sure. Though I don't see her as deliberately destructive, so she could be like a dragon I suppose. She's definitely no Smaug though.

Razade

2020-12-26, 07:30 PM

IIRC traditional mozzarella is made with goat milk! Just a fun fact there. I don't think it's really that easy to find outside of Italy, though.

Mozzarella is made with goat cheese but it is not, by any metric, traditional. It's actually fairly recent. Traditional mozzarealla is either fior di latte which is unpasteurized cow's milk or buffalo mozzarella which is made from the Italian Buffalo, a type of water buffalo.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-26, 07:53 PM

Is there non-dystopian cyberpunk? :smallconfused:

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

There is less dystopian cyberpunk, and there is also post-cyberpunk. You can argue both for and against the latter being it's own genre, and how integral the notion of dystopia is to cyberpunk.

But at the very least there are stories that take cyberpunk ideas and run in not entirely dystopian directions with them. The book Altered Carbon is halfway there, Snow Crash presents a relatively soft vision of your classic cyberpunk world structure (weakened government+strengthened corporations), and various other examples that slip my mind right now. You've also got TTRPG settings like Transhuman Space and Eclipse Phase that include strong cyberpunk elements but fall all over the place on the utopia-dystopia scale.

It all depends on what you count as cyberpunk. The historical roots of the genre go back at least decades before Neuromancer, I'd personally argue that Caves of Steel (a very idealistic novel with a society not meant to be dystopian or utopian) is an example of proto-cyberpunk (but YMMV). It's all a case of perspective and personal definitions.

Peelee

2020-12-26, 09:12 PM

Me when I was in an apartment: "Man, this is bull. I spend all this money and at the end of the day I don't own anything. Whenever I decide to leave, I get none of that money back. I need a house."
Me now that I own a house: "...I miss when literally everything was 'not my ****ing problem.'"

2D8HP

2020-12-26, 09:28 PM

Lord Raziere

2020-12-26, 09:29 PM

Sure, the Outer Rim of Star Wars galaxy.

Well Outer Rim technically thats really a space western mixed with mafia stories and pirate stories so.....kind of three different genres there. like Star Wars is basically a mix of space pulp genres that probably have nothing to with cyberpunk.

also, Nar Shadda disagrees and says its a total dystopia.

Peelee

2020-12-26, 09:38 PM

Still worth it to not hear every footsteps of your neighbors @Peelee

Oh, I don't regret a thing. But I do miss that feeling. Nobody ever tells you that with the house comes a free Sword of Damocles.

Well Outer Rim technically thats really a space western mixed with mafia stories and pirate stories so.....kind of three different genres there. like Star Wars is basically a mix of space pulp genres that probably have nothing to with cyberpunk.

also, Nar Shadda disagrees and says its a total dystopia.

Hutt Space is not dystopian at all. Heck, if anything, Hutt Space is even more non-dystopian cyberpunk (Nar Shadaa being a pinnacle of it).

Lord Raziere

2020-12-26, 09:47 PM

Hutt Space is not dystopian at all. Heck, if anything, Hutt Space is even more non-dystopian cyberpunk (Nar Shadaa being a pinnacle of it).

again, three different genres of space pulp mixed together: actual cyberpunk doesn't allow you find a ship and go found a new colony on the frontier or travel around to better planets, thats more of a space western thing. cyberpunk is all about the fact that you can't really escape it.

also what are you talking about, Nar Shadaa is literally a city of urban decay run by crime lords with poor people who if they get a credit will get mugged for that credit if you give it to them. it is the most wretched of hives where desperation, scum and villainy are all that you'll find. it is a dystopia, just because its in Star Wars noblebright space pulp fantasy where you can get on your ship and take off to visit some paradise doesn't mean it isn't.

Mith

2020-12-26, 11:28 PM

Still worth it to not hear every footsteps of your neighbors @Peelee

While I am a while away from having to deal with home vs. an apartment, my issue is that I both would love just a small little area to call my own (like I like large apartment sizes for the most part), and roughly a ****ton of land (I live in the Prairies, we have the room) so that my only sign of neighbors is chimney smoke.

This problem can be solved with a small house on a lot of land, but that requires a lot of money that I am in no position to have.

enderlord99

2020-12-26, 11:40 PM

It is my understanding that when Peelee says something that is not true, it is almost always an attempt to be funny.

Hutt Space is not dystopian at all.
This was clearly an attempt to make everyone laugh until they pass unconscious from lack of oxygen. It didn't work. I'm someone, and I barely giggled.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-27, 02:45 AM

Oh, okay. sorry I didn't get the joke?

enderlord99

2020-12-27, 02:46 AM

Oh, okay. sorry I didn't get the joke?

Do you mean the "say something outrageous"-joke Peelee was probably making or the "observe a phenomenon and extrapolate with more detail than optimal"-joke?

I don't actually think that the less true something Peelee says is, the funnier he's trying to be; it seems more of a boolean "IF:THEN" than a scalar gradient.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-27, 04:23 AM

Do you mean the "say something outrageous"-joke Peelee was probably making or the "observe a phenomenon and extrapolate with more detail than optimal"-joke?

I don't actually think that the less true something Peelee says is, the funnier he's trying to be; it seems more of a boolean "IF:THEN" than a scalar gradient.

I don't know, I'm just apologizing in general.

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-27, 04:39 AM

I'm sorry that you feel like you have to do that.

enderlord99

2020-12-27, 04:42 AM

I'm sorry that you feel like you have to do that.

...as am I.

DataNinja

2020-12-27, 05:03 AM

I don't know, I'm just apologizing in general.

Ah, an honourary Canadian! Step right over here. You can get your hockey stick and pet moose on your right, and over on the left here are your extraneous 'u's. The maple syrup fountain is up ahead. :smalltongue:

Fyraltari

2020-12-27, 05:57 AM

I don't know, I'm just apologizing in general.
You monster.

AtlanteanTroll

2020-12-27, 10:44 AM

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

There is less dystopian cyberpunk, and there is also post-cyberpunk. You can argue both for and against the latter being it's own genre, and how integral the notion of dystopia is to cyberpunk.

But at the very least there are stories that take cyberpunk ideas and run in not entirely dystopian directions with them. The book Altered Carbon is halfway there, Snow Crash presents a relatively soft vision of your classic cyberpunk world structure (weakened government+strengthened corporations), and various other examples that slip my mind right now. You've also got TTRPG settings like Transhuman Space and Eclipse Phase that include strong cyberpunk elements but fall all over the place on the utopia-dystopia scale.

It all depends on what you count as cyberpunk. The historical roots of the genre go back at least decades before Neuromancer, I'd personally argue that Caves of Steel (a very idealistic novel with a society not meant to be dystopian or utopian) is an example of proto-cyberpunk (but YMMV). It's all a case of perspective and personal definitions.
I appreciate the level of thought that went into this post. I don't know much about cyberpunk, which is the main reason I asked.

I haven't had much time to read for pleasure, and when I do, it's generally been non-fiction. But, I do still love a good sci-fi novel. Ender's Game, Jurassic Park, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Andromeda Strain, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Space Odyssey—Frankenstein and Brave New World, if those books count—are all among my favorites. Any recommendations of the books you discussed above, given the books I've mentioned here?

Rater202

2020-12-27, 04:09 PM

I'm not the only one who occasionally fantasizes about being a fae-like being giving a carefree life in a pocket reality that bends to my every whim, am I?

Sermil

2020-12-27, 04:49 PM

Anonymouswizard

2020-12-27, 05:06 PM

I appreciate the level of thought that went into this post. I don't know much about cyberpunk, which is the main reason I asked.

I haven't had much time to read for pleasure, and when I do, it's generally been non-fiction. But, I do still love a good sci-fi novel. Ender's Game, Jurassic Park, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Andromeda Strain, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Space Odyssey—Frankenstein and Brave New World, if those books count—are all among my favorites. Any recommendations of the books you discussed above, given the books I've mentioned here?

Okay, I've not read the first four you've mentioned but I have read the last four.

Caves of Steel is one of my four favourite books. It's Asimovian science fiction crossed with a kind of pseudo buddy cop, with exploration of the effectsof automation on a workforce.
If you can stomach exposition and musings on what people in their twenties like to think of themselves as Snow Crash is very good. Nut it kind of helps to have a decent grounding in classic cyberpunk.
Neuromancer is the cyberpunk novel. Not the best written, not the deepest characters, but an enjoyable plot and if you enjoythe genre it can be worth reading the codifier.
Altered Carbon is potentially overlong rather cheesy cyberpunk. It can be very enjoyable,especially how unlike the series it takes a more neutral stance on it's key technology, but it probably helps to like cheesy cyberpunk.

I keep waiting for a true Scotsman to come by and slap them, but of course no true Scotsman ever does.

That's because there's no such thing as a true Scotsman. I know, I was surprised as well, but the entire country did come out as nonbinary.

Lord Raziere

2020-12-27, 06:40 PM

I'm not the only one who occasionally fantasizes about being a fae-like being giving a carefree life in a pocket reality that bends to my every whim, am I?

Wait a minute, didn't I say I had that fantasy first or something much like it not too long ago? are you just copying me now? :smalltongue:

LaZodiac

2020-12-27, 07:15 PM

Yeah. Was fun.

I'm probably gonna go through Initial Sparks again at some point. See if there are any minor details I missed. Maybe fill out the Trope page more.

Always excited to hear stuff like this.

Yeah, I really ought to add some stuff to the Tropes page too. There really ought to be a YMMV subpage. There's some stuff in there that qualifies as Nightmare Fuel in my opinion.

I'll definitely reread Initial Sparks at least once before Hidden Embers comes out.

Still some time yet, don't worry :smallamused:

...Zodi?

So I actually got a bit...

Was Rei's home city being called "Laketown" a Tolkien reference?

Becuase, if so... That's a concerning reference to make when the protagonist has power over fire and a personality best described as being "fire incarnate."

...And now I'm imagining Rei as a dragon and it fits with what I recall of her character.

One of the benefits of being an active creator with a small community is that I can absolutely look at things like this and give answers to them.

With that in mind, not intentionally. I didn't even know the place was called Laketown in The Hobbit, and I watched the Hobbit films with my girlfriend like twoish years ago? Maybe? And I only watched LOTR probably a bit before then even. So yeah, not an intended reference. Cute thought though; and now I'm imagining Rei dressed up as a dragon for <insert name of Halloween equivalent here>

God, I had trouble reading it because of people at work talking and so never finished the first chapter. Sorry Zodi! (At least you still have my money. Unless you spent it.)

I really need to get back to writing. Get one of these story ideas down on paper, or actually finish one of my games (Intelligent Hamsters from Beyond the Stars is looking the mopst promising, mainly because I've written about 80% of the rules and the rest is setting, advice, and linking text).

It's okay! And hey, you HAVE the book. So long as you draw breath, there will time to read it (and my personal hope for an afterlife is that you just get to keep up with any media you're interested in because come on, that'd just be unfair otherwise!).

As for the discussion re: Cyberpunk... I genuinely don't know. I've somehow not read ANY of the famous Cyberpunk novels... except for Johnny Mnemonic. I guess The Matrix and associated films count as Cyberpunk, sorta kinda? There are aspects of it that are SUPER Cyberpunk and then also aspects of it that are Christian Rock Band Album Cover.

BisectedBrioche

2020-12-27, 09:38 PM

Okay, I've not read the first four you've mentioned but I have read the last four.

Caves of Steel is one of my four favourite books. It's Asimovian science fiction crossed with a kind of pseudo buddy cop, with exploration of the effectsof automation on a workforce.
If you can stomach exposition and musings on what people in their twenties like to think of themselves as Snow Crash is very good. Nut it kind of helps to have a decent grounding in classic cyberpunk.
Neuromancer is the cyberpunk novel. Not the best written, not the deepest characters, but an enjoyable plot and if you enjoythe genre it can be worth reading the codifier.
Altered Carbon is potentially overlong rather cheesy cyberpunk. It can be very enjoyable,especially how unlike the series it takes a more neutral stance on it's key technology, but it probably helps to like cheesy cyberpunk.

That's because there's no such thing as a true Scotsman. I know, I was surprised as well, but the entire country did come out as nonbinary.

Isn't the author of AC a massive transphobe who keeps angrily defending The-Author-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named on Twitter?

AtlanteanTroll

2020-12-28, 12:02 AM

Of course they count.

Pet peeve, I hate it when literary snobs try to discount all fantasy and sci-fi as "genre trash" and then ignore all the counter-examples. "Fantasy is all junk!" "OK, what about Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest?" "But those are Shakespeare, not fantasy!"

I keep waiting for a true Scotsman to come by and slap them, but of course no true Scotsman ever does.

I ask about Brave New World and Frankenstein not because I'm worried about a Scotsman argument, but because there seem to be some legitimate questions. Frankenstein is frequently referred to as "proto sci-fi," which makes sense, and I've rarely heard Brave New World called anything other than "dystopian."

Okay, I've not read the first four you've mentioned but I have read the last four.

Caves of Steel is one of my four favourite books. It's Asimovian science fiction crossed with a kind of pseudo buddy cop, with exploration of the effectsof automation on a workforce.
If you can stomach exposition and musings on what people in their twenties like to think of themselves as Snow Crash is very good. Nut it kind of helps to have a decent grounding in classic cyberpunk.
Neuromancer is the cyberpunk novel. Not the best written, not the deepest characters, but an enjoyable plot and if you enjoythe genre it can be worth reading the codifier.
Altered Carbon is potentially overlong rather cheesy cyberpunk. It can be very enjoyable,especially how unlike the series it takes a more neutral stance on it's key technology, but it probably helps to like cheesy cyberpunk.

Sounds like I should start with Neuromancer!

Rater202

2020-12-28, 03:20 AM

Wait a minute, didn't I say I had that fantasy first or something much like it not too long ago? are you just copying me now? :smalltongue:

I don't know.

All I know is that for a brief moment I was imagining being a thin, youthful elf or spritelike being, laying on a beach whose sand was warm but not hot and wasn't course, wasn't rough, wasn't irritating, and didn't get anywhere below a sun that warmed but did not burn and was bright enough to illuminate but not bright enough to hurt my sensitive eyes, while whatever beverage would most effectively quench my thirst would pop into existence jut as I began to need it and my thoughts were "why is this not reality?"

Fyraltari

2020-12-28, 04:56 AM

I ask about Brave New World and Frankenstein not because I'm worried about a Scotsman argument, but because there seem to be some legitimate questions. Frankenstein is frequently referred to as "proto sci-fi," which makes sense, and I've rarely heard Brave New World called anything other than "dystopian."

Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus is also often refered to as the firdt science-fiction book. I guess it's a question of where one draws the line bit I see no reason not to call it science-fiction.

Brave New World happens in the far future where people use technologies that don't exist (but are extrapolations of then-current scientific knowledge) which have profoundly changed society. If it's not science-fiction nothing is. People not classing it and 1984, and basically every dystopian novel, as science-fiction stems from XXthcentury snobs refusing to admit that science-fiction could be good literature.