My Little Pony C: Friendship Carries On

[BlueHamsterBean]

At the very least, I should keep phoenix stats within reach. I think Nebby would love to see Scorch again, and in a few sessions I am guessing that the party wants to find that hidden Shirewase lab in the hills.

Completely unrelated: anyone else remember The Kool-Aid Man's nemesis Scorch?

Nebby and Scorch are adorable together: here's hoping the two firecrackers get to enjoy the warmth of each others' company again some time!

Also, quick question about the name Shirewase: is it supposed to be a pun? I ask because I'm pretty sure the word for 'happiness' in Japanese is better romanized as 'shiarawase' (pronounced 'shee-ah-rah-wah-say').
Sorry for nitpicking if this was not a pun: it may be that Neighponese is a very different language from Japanese after all.

Don't know much about the Kool-Aid Man other than his eternal crusade against walls (I GMed for a ranger who started out with a portable battering ram once. Many a battle was begun that campaign with the destruction of a door/wall and the battle cry: "Oh yeah!").

Dad jokes are flexible with multiple uses. :3

Like the command spell? Wait: Hideous Laughter. Think about it: it has utility as battlefield control, as a party trick, and as an insurance policy if your stand-up routine is going poorly.

[DigoDragon]

Nebby and Scorch are adorable together: here's hoping the two firecrackers get to enjoy the warmth of each others' company again some time!

I'll pass that along. I'm sure they'll cross paths again. I do like to have reoccurring NPCs in my campaigns.

Also, quick question about the name Shirewase: is it supposed to be a pun? I ask because I'm pretty sure the word for 'happiness' in Japanese is better romanized as 'shiarawase' (pronounced 'shee-ah-rah-wah-say').
Sorry for nitpicking if this was not a pun: it may be that Neighponese is a very different language from Japanese after all.

The original name from Shadowrun is Shiawase Corporation. I changed 'Shia' to 'Shire', a breed of horse from England. So indeed, it is a pun.

Like the command spell? Wait: Hideous Laughter. Think about it: it has utility as battlefield control, as a party trick, and as an insurance policy if your stand-up routine is going poorly.

Something like that, but with the addendum that the victim can groan instead of laugh.

[BlueHamsterBean]

I'll pass that along. I'm sure they'll cross paths again. I do like to have reoccurring NPCs in my campaigns.


The original name from Shadowrun is Shiawase Corporation. I changed 'Shia' to 'Shire', a breed of horse from England. So indeed, it is a pun.


Something like that, but with the addendum that the victim can groan instead of laugh.

Recurring characters can be a lot of fun, though I've never been able to make a recurring villain... because they always die to the PCs in their first fight.

I just checked my Japanese dictionary, and Shadowrun had it right: there is no "ra" after "shia." My bad (it's been ages since I've seriously studied that language).
That's a pretty fun pun though: I never knew that shire was a breed of horse!

So Papa's Hideous Groaner then?

[DigoDragon]

Shadowtrot, session 7!
https://youtu.be/CWjtqPuoucY

Somewhere, there's an HVAC tech making money.

Recurring characters can be a lot of fun, though I've never been able to make a recurring villain... because they always die to the PCs in their first fight.

So Papa's Hideous Groaner then?

The best way to have your villain survive is just don't be there and instead send a message. You have illusion and sending spells for your fantasy setting, and stuff like video conference calls with modern and future settings. Use those minions as messengers.

Heh I like that name! Coin it!

[Aotrs Commander]

Bought more mechs from Clan Invasion kickstarter since they opened the pledges for the second wave again. (Total mechs will now exceed 15% of number of starships.)

Have now spent about £450 on BattleTech this year...

...

No... Let's be truthful...

Since lock-down.



Had one game.

[digiman619]

Bought more mechs from Clan Invasion kickstarter since they opened the pledges for the second wave again. (Total mechs will now exceed 15% of number of starships.)

Have now spent about £450 on BattleTech this year...

...

No... Let's be truthful...

Since lock-down.



Had one game.

If it's any consolation, I've been similarly getting Magic: the Gathering cards. Though I admittedly have webcam EDH to play them with, as suboptimal as that is.

[Rogar Demonblud]

I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure I've dropped close to $100 on dice this year.

On sale or clearance priced dice.

I may have a problem.

[Forum Explorer]

I've spent a couple hundred dollars on Warhammer, and am going to drop another couple hundred more likely enough.

But at least I can paint and build the stuff while in quarantine.

[BlueHamsterBean]

Shadowtrot, session 7!
https://youtu.be/CWjtqPuoucY

Somewhere, there's an HVAC tech making money.




The best way to have your villain survive is just don't be there and instead send a message. You have illusion and sending spells for your fantasy setting, and stuff like video conference calls with modern and future settings. Use those minions as messengers.

Heh I like that name! Coin it!

I managed to catch the middle of the stream in between puzzling a take home exam out. I'm glad GreatDinn liked my funny about kirin and fire extinguishers; felt nice to add to the fun if only a teeny bit.
Speaking of funny, I started watching the rest of the stream today and the bit with Nebby in the vent at the beginning was hilarious!


Huh... I'm embarrassed to say I'd never considered that. So something like what happened between Smirk and Golden Deposit then... hmm, you have my dormant GM brain stirring in its semester-long hibernation: thanks!

On the subject of Papa's Hideous Groaner, inspiration struck, and I have an idea for a 5e enchanter whose "hypnotic gaze" skill isn't so much "whispering sweet nothings into the target's ear" and more "telling unbearable puns that cause physical pain in the target ad-nauseum."
Basically every goofy embarrasing parent trope rolled into one... but a wizard... whose charm spells are all along the lines of "you're going into time out: stand there and think about what you've done!"

[Aotrs Commander]

Thing is, my usual expendature on models per year is basically nothing (maybe £50 total the last two years at Hammerhead, because GZG had some new starships) - because, like... I make my own dun I?

Aside from squeezing some elves out for Hammerhead literally the day before lockdown... The only stuff I've worked on was the Aotrs fleet stuff. (And the grand Aotrs release has gone out... As I expected... Like a lead balloon.) No conventions, no games, no RPG sessions = nothing to work towards.



I don't think you understand, this means that I have not Done Starships since *checks*

...

...

...

...my birthday.

...

...

...

Which is on Saturday.

[Rater202]

Thing is, my usual expendature on models per year is basically nothing (maybe £50 total the last two years at Hammerhead, because GZG had some new starships) - because, like... I make my own dun I?

Aside from squeezing some elves out for Hammerhead literally the day before lockdown... The only stuff I've worked on was the Aotrs fleet stuff. (And the grand Aotrs release has gone out... As I expected... Like a lead balloon.) No conventions, no games, no RPG sessions = nothing to work towards.



I don't think you understand, this means that I have not Done Starships since *checks*

...

...

...

...my birthday.

...

...

...

Which is on Saturday.

If it makes you feel better, I physically haven't left my house, except once to get my glasses replaced, since January.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Well, let me be the first to wish our skeletal overlord a Happy Birthday and express hopes that your next year will be a damn sight better than the last.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Well, Happy Birthday for Saturday, then.

I've only brought two games (Borderlands 3 and Bioshock - and the latter was to replace an existing non-functional copy); on the other hand I have blown £150 on a perpertual Lightworks licence to do video work with.

[DigoDragon]

I've spent money for the full license on Fantasy Grounds so I can run my pony campaign, but I also made about as much in art commissions, so I think I've broke even so far.

I'm glad GreatDinn liked my funny about kirin and fire extinguishers; felt nice to add to the fun if only a teeny bit.
Speaking of funny, I started watching the rest of the stream today and the bit with Nebby in the vent at the beginning was hilarious!

I never have the stream chatroom open due to only having one monitor and needing the space for all the windows I got open. I really need a second monitor, but first I need a new desk so I have the room for a second monitor. :P

Huh... I'm embarrassed to say I'd never considered that. So something like what happened between Smirk and Golden Deposit then... hmm, you have my dormant GM brain stirring in its semester-long hibernation: thanks!

yeah, it's the only way I can think of to keep your villain alive without resorting to cheese tactics. If I ever have mi villain show up in the flesh, I always make a plan b should the players slay my villain. I often expect it.

Basically every goofy embarrasing parent trope rolled into one... but a wizard... whose charm spells are all along the lines of "you're going into time out: stand there and think about what you've done!"

O, i like the idea! Yeah I could see that work out for either side of the table. :3

[Topaz]

Spoiler: What's that?

Show

Happy Birthday, Commodore Bleakbane!

I'm running one Pathfinder Second Edition AP and will be starting to run a second when our 4e campaign wraps up in a month or so, so I've been buying PDFs and Hero Lab Online data packages, but I'm putting then to good use.

I'm running online via MapTool, Skype, and HLO, and it's going pretty well. My third game is playing Pathfinder Classic over Roll20, and so far I fail to see the appeal, but we've only had two sessions.

[t209]

Trying Fallout 76 this week due to free week demo.
Not feeling Fallout even if it has functions that should have been (like disease system and weapon maintainence).
Also part of me wonder Ponies as Fallout 1 characters.
Like
Littlepip as Vault Dweller
Zecora as Aradesh or Shady Sands Doctor (exotic NPC)
Diamond Dogs as Supermutants (All except Lou are dumb brutes)
Applejack as Killian Darkwater (Honest storeowner and mayor)
Gladmane as Gizmo (Greedy casino owner)
Stygian as Master (misguided and mutated)
Chancellor as Lieutenant (Judge Frollo fell down into FEV).
Also Happy Birthday, Bleakbane.

[Manga Shoggoth]

It's Saturday. I'm actually on the site.

Happy Birthday Bleakbane!

I shall now return to my scheduled weekend stupor.

[Aotrs Commander]

It's Saturday. I'm actually on the site.

Happy Birthday Bleakbane!

I shall now return to my scheduled weekend stupor.

Ta!

Not terrible day (no day in 2020 is GOOD). On the down-hand, meditation was not restful once again, niece is having to isolate under school orders, so she couldn't come (and so no chance to play HeroQuest¹ with her and nephew); was yesterday unable to get an un-iced Chirstmas ckae for birthday cake in either Aldi, Sainsbury's OR Asda (Asda, at least, had sold out); unable to get peppermint cordial (which is a treat for my birthday party - which of course I'm not having this year - that I permit myself to have but ocne a year), since there is apparently a national shortage or something. Between that and work-problems, was feeling very very low yesterday.

Plus-hand, brother-in-law managed to get some on Amazon Prime to be delivered tomorrow. Oldest mate rang (haven't spoken to him since the day Nanny died, when he last rang), which was nice (and now means the number of times I have spoken to via phone or seen any of my mates since lock-down started now officially cannot be counted on the fingers of one hand); he later emailed me to say I should expect a delivery tomorrow, so that's nice. (I half-suspect he might have found some cordial as well, bless 'im, which would be grand).

Got three BattleMechs, four Three Investigators books, a Humorous T-shirt, Mars Bars (good, 'cos not long from now I shall consume the last half Easter Egg I have retained since Easter² while I watch the second season of A Certain Scientific Railgun) and Spider-Man Far From Home (which leaves, I think, only Endgame away from being up-to-date on the MCU on DVD).

Also sent away nephew (who had previously borrowed Transformers the Movie - before my sister found her copy) with GI Joe the movie and the first couple of DVDs of Centurions to watch and thus completely corrupt with the Best Magical Girl Manly-1980s-Men Anime.



¹By-the-by, there's a Hasbro-crowd-funded prject two weeks away for completion for a new version of HeroQuest (which is now more D&D than Warhammer World for obvious reasons), going for about $150/£150, which ain't bad for probably 80-90 plastic figures (you get the base game stuff, all the furniture is now plastic, four female versions of the heroes as well, plus both expansions, plus another odd figure or to and whatnot). I'd be quite tempted if it wasn't for the fact I really cannot be arsed to paint 25/28/30mmm figures anymore (I haven't painted the vast majority of the Lords of the Rings ones I got basically free with the magazine GW did for a bit aroundthe movies). Maybe not quite as good as my roughly-£4-a-mech-for-60-mechs-inluding-postage I will get off the Clan Invasion kickstarter, but I'm not getting anything other than just mechs models from that. (Don't need the rules, don't use battlemaps, don't want plushies, and very definitely doubly-so not of UrbanMechs. *shudder*)

²Had to buy very little chocolate this year, since lock-down killing the Easter day-quest meant I had all the Easter snacks to work through, so I have been practically urinating mini-eggs, and then I got quite a bit of chocolate from Nanny's house as well, since she got a lot but only ate it in small amounts. (At the end, just getting wheeled round Sainsbury's and Doing Shopping for food or clothes was entertainment for her, since she was house-bound aside from us taking us out.)

[Manga Shoggoth]

Ah, I used to love the Three Investigators books. My sister read them first, then passed them on to me; then I started buying my own.

I have the same issue with Mead - I get a lot of it at Christmas and Birthday, but these days I don't go out and buy it. My mother did have a go at making it a few times (she would make wine oit of anything that was vegitative and couldn't crawl away fast enough), but mead was a rare thing because the honey was so expensive. Then I married a girl whose father kept bees...

You know, you could always try making your own Peppermint Cordial, just for the experience.

[DigoDragon]

I'm running one Pathfinder Second Edition AP and will be starting to run a second when our 4e campaign wraps up in a month or so, so I've been buying PDFs and Hero Lab Online data packages, but I'm putting then to good use.

I'm running online via MapTool, Skype, and HLO, and it's going pretty well. My third game is playing Pathfinder Classic over Roll20, and so far I fail to see the appeal, but we've only had two sessions.

What is HLO?

I've been in two PF 2e games that each only lasted a few sessions, which saddens me because I feel like I would end up really liking this system. But the GMs keep flaking out so I have not been able to get in the door. :/

Ah well. I am still running my Shadowtrot campaign on Fantasy Grounds with Discord chat and having a good time so far. I think one of the favorite "set pieces" of the campaign is the news segments I air at the beginning.

FG had a recent update that really helps with character maintenance. I love this system for running games, but understand that the cost is a factor that'll turn people down to Roll20 and other cheaper programs. My players are having a great time with the campaign and right now they plot to steal a contest for Urban Brawl sports tickets. XD

As a player I am having fun in a D&D 5e Red Hand campaign (bet everyone can guess my class) and a GURPS 4e Fallout Equestria campaign in the frozen north. We just killed off a Windigo... or, we think we did. We aren't sure. XD

[Aotrs Commander]

So. I got a phone call from Nanny's. It's still connected, so I can do necessary ringing around while I go and doing maintenance. So it was odd, since my uncle isn't currently stopping there, and my sisters would have phoned from their phones. Nothing but noise, like someone there, stuff moving around and static and general distrotion, no voices. I said "hello" a few times to silence, before hanging up. Was someone there? Was it one of the girls and something had gone wrong? Was it Nanny's ghost? Was someone being attacked by a serial-killer or something? Who knew. So I grabbed Dad (since the big car was at the front of the drive) and we went over, not knowing what to expect.



Turns out I was right - there WAS someone in the house, and I was phoned by someone who didn't speak, and while stuff was being moved around in the background.



Sister was there, awaiting someone to come and pick up a chest of drawers. She was surprised to see us. (I'd have asked Mum if one of the girls had gone over today - who I'd have then called - but she was asleep.)

Turns out my nephew had phoned us.

No, not Botty-pain, the three-year old, happily playing Minecraft on the tablet.

No, the eight-month-old one.

Who, left to his own devices for a minute while mummy moved the drawers downstairs, had managed to get the phone to call us by picking up the handset from the charger and CHEWING IT.

That's pretty damn impressive, since to do that, he'd have had to have hit the phonebook button, and then the call button (since our homephone is the only number in the book).



His punishment was that he had to be held by Bleakbane for five minutes while his mummy helped moved the drawers out for the gentleman - since she had a mask and we didn't¹(unforunately, because lock-down, he really doesn't likie being held by anyone not-mummy and screams like a banshee. He has to get used to it, though, so we do what we can when we can).



¹I mean, I don't need one because Lich; and, following the result of an experiment for funsies, where using the advanced five-sense illusions I have to wear in public and my carefully secreted scanner extrapolating data projections, I determined that, wow, if I was alive I'd be like totally dead inside twenty minutes if I had to wear one.

[Topaz]

What is HLO?

Hero Lab Online; it's the new version of the Hero Lab character creator/tracker & GM tools program. That's where my budget goes, which is why I use a free VTT.

I've been in two PF 2e games that each only lasted a few sessions, which saddens me because I feel like I would end up really liking this system. But the GMs keep flaking out so I have not been able to get in the door. :/

As a GM I really ♥ PF2, though I have players who differ.

As a player I am having fun in a D&D 5e Red Hand campaign (bet everyone can guess my class) and a GURPS 4e Fallout Equestria campaign in the frozen north. We just killed off a Windigo... or, we think we did. We aren't sure. XD

I played GURPS 3e but never tried 4th. What sort of character are you playing?

[Form]

I have acquired a small Maud Pie plush:

Spoiler

Show

My first pony plush! She's very soft and has basically become my programming buddy. ^^

[DigoDragon]

As a GM I really ♥ PF2, though I have players who differ.

I played GURPS 3e but never tried 4th. What sort of character are you playing?

I've been lurking in the player recruitment area, waiting to see if a PF2 game opens up. Like I said, I'd probably like it if I could just play the darn system. XD

For the 4e FOE game I am playing an earthpony wasteland doctor from Manhattan. He has a neat little 'power' where healing items used by him can get an efficiency boost, healing more than their usual amount. He's also a pretty good sniper and swordsman, but dislikes having to use those skills because his mother was always pushing him to join the rangers instead of being a doctor. He doesn't want to admit to mom that he's pretty good at fighting. :3

He is pretty much the "straight man" in the party, trying to keep logic from getting lost in our adventures. Also currently the only stallion in the group, which has some amusing moments.

My first pony plush! She's very soft and has basically become my programming buddy. ^^

Very cute! Little fuzzy buddies are good to have around.

I probably should clean my Trixie plush, now that I think about it.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Hey Digo, do you have more comics with Doc Wagon to send Spud when he hits a break gap on Friendship is Dragons? Because those are fun.

[BlueHamsterBean]

I have acquired a small Maud Pie plush:

Spoiler

Show

My first pony plush! She's very soft and has basically become my programming buddy. ^^

Eeeeeee! virtual cuddles

Very cute! Little fuzzy buddies are good to have around.

I probably should clean my Trixie plush, now that I think about it.

Absolutely: I have a plush eevee that has been acting as my emotional support critter since half way through undergrad and now into graduate school. It's a shame society think that hugging plushies is for kids; I know a lot of people who could use a soft fluffy thing to squeeze when things get rough. (Plushies are also less expensive than pets.)

"Yes! The Great and Powerful Trixie demands warm water and scrubbing: to the spa! ...Wait, why are we headed to the kitchen sink? Surely Trixie deserves a more luxurious- sink turns on, indignant screams begin.

[BlasTech]

Happy belated birthday Commodore!

Spoiler: Have a pone.

Show

[Aotrs Commander]

Happy belated birthday Commodore!

Spoiler: Have a pone.

Show

Thanks!


Speaking of Apple Bloom, how am I only hearing her villain song now...?

Okay, so it's more Chrissy's, but shut up, Evil!AB is cooler.

[DigoDragon]

Hey Digo, do you have more comics with Doc Wagon to send Spud when he hits a break gap on Friendship is Dragons? Because those are fun.

I do not have anything in hoof at the moment. If I think of something I'll write it down for possible use. All depends on how busy I get as paying customers come first.

It's a shame society think that hugging plushies is for kids; I know a lot of people who could use a soft fluffy thing to squeeze when things get rough. (Plushies are also less expensive than pets.)

"Yes! The Great and Powerful Trixie demands warm water and scrubbing: to the spa! ...Wait, why are we headed to the kitchen sink? Surely Trixie deserves a more luxurious- sink turns on, indignant screams begin.

Okay, that Trixie part got me a good chuckle here. She would totally respond that way.

On plushies and hugs-- I mean, sometimes you have a rough day and a soft object to squeeze can be calming. I have on occasion combed Trixie's mane as a way of just distracting myself when I'm upset about something. I lost the tiny hat she had, but it was comically small so I'm not sad about it. Currently she has a unicorn hairband holding her mane in place. So... double unicorn? All the way? XD

Speaking of Apple Bloom, how am I only hearing her villain song now...?
Okay, so it's more Chrissy's, but shut up, Evil!AB is cooler.

Well, AB was the mastermind of the trio so...

[otakuryoga]

as if 2020 were not evil enough already....
24/7 xmas music station has started today Nov 1st
(technically yesterday)

now i kinda am hoping that asteroid hits later today and wipes us all out