Aran's recent activity
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Comment on You can change ONE thing about a game. What do you change? in ~games
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Comment on What are everyone’s favourite pens and stationery items? in ~creative
Aran (edited )Link ParentI think a popular explanation is that characters in most east Asian writing systems tend to require finer lines to be distinguishable. I happen to have some old photos on hand that I took back...I think a popular explanation is that characters in most east Asian writing systems tend to require finer lines to be distinguishable. I happen to have some old photos on hand that I took back when I sold some pens on Reddit...
Above is a Pilot F, below is a Pelikan F, on 5mm grid Hobonichi paper
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Comment on What are everyone’s favourite pens and stationery items? in ~creative
Aran LinkI rotate through my pens and I feel like the search for the One True Pen has unfortunately kept that Reddit-hobby-consumerist-treadmill going far longer than it should have. I think my actual...I rotate through my pens and I feel like the search for the One True Pen has unfortunately kept that Reddit-hobby-consumerist-treadmill going far longer than it should have. I think my actual favorite pen was a Sailor Pro Gear Slim that I got on sale, which started life with a broad nib that I sent to Kirk Speer to be ground to a fine architect. I say "was" because in an effort to destash, I let some folks try my pens and freely take the ones that they liked. My partner chose the PGS so off it went!
Anyways, it really depends on what I'm doing! I favor smaller handwriting but also really like to admire ink on the page, so any note taking is done with my Parker 51, Sailor 1911s, or a Pilot Kakuno which all lie somewhere on the western EF, Japanese F/M range in terms of line width. If I'm doodling I bring out the Japanese EF/Fs that are pretty dang close to needlepoints, with maybe some messy coloring done with my broader nibs (shout out to my EF Lamy Safari that basically writes the same as a broad Pilot, oof).
I really like my Take a Note A5 planner. I'm not great at keeping up with planner use throughout the year, so the empty pages get filled with random musings or doodles. And when I do keep up with it, it's like a brief several days of clarity and groundedness before I regress back to an ADHD fugue. I'm working on it!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Aran Link ParentI've been waffling on getting this game, because I actually don't like metroidvanias and not huge on platforming (Celeste is basically the only platformer I've really played in the last.... many...If you enjoy those epiphanies where not only you understand something new about the game, you realize that thing has been under your nose the whole time and at some point you'll want to re-check twenty five different locations armed with that new knowledge, this is the game for you.
I've been waffling on getting this game, because I actually don't like metroidvanias and not huge on platforming (Celeste is basically the only platformer I've really played in the last.... many many years). This might be the comment that gets me to pick it up next time it's on sale. I'm not crazy about The Witness but that "epiphany" moment in games is so, so underused.
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Comment on ADHDers, how do you speed-up, bypass, or otherwise eliminate the "ramp-up" period required for big tasks? in ~health.mental
Aran Link ParentI think you've just written down exactly why I struggle with some of my long-term goals that, like many things in life, simply require consistent time put in. I open my study materials, maybe I'll...But the important part is to still consider that a success.
I think you've just written down exactly why I struggle with some of my long-term goals that, like many things in life, simply require consistent time put in. I open my study materials, maybe I'll get a 25 minute Pomodoro session in, even feel like I have the energy to do more... and then I don't. Sometimes I open the study materials and then start browsing Youtube. Worst is when I have free time and the thought of studying crosses my mind, and I think "Yes, I really would like to put an hour or two into studying..." only to not even take the first step of moving to my work/productivity desk and open up the study materials. But that worst case scenario tends to be preluded by multiple instances of getting the first step "done" and not following through, and feeling bad about it. Heck, I put 30 minutes in and then start browsing Reddit, never to return, and consider that a failure when maybe I should have just been happy that I even bothered putting in 30 minutes, because putting in 30 minutes every day would put me way ahead of where I am now, where I might get a 1-2 hour session in once in two weeks.
Anyways, I'm here writing this after quitting my studying after yet another 30 minute session :) Will see if the mindset change helps me keep it up, I guess.
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Comment on It's official: My back is shot in ~talk
Aran LinkBack in 2018 I got back from an uncomfortable drive home to LA from Vegas; for a few days after, a sore lower back turned into an awful stiff pain (couldn't really stand up straight and walk). It...Back in 2018 I got back from an uncomfortable drive home to LA from Vegas; for a few days after, a sore lower back turned into an awful stiff pain (couldn't really stand up straight and walk). It got better, but ever since, sitting down was now always accompanied with this burning pain in my lower back. I didn't even categorize it as "pain" back then, just really annoying how hot my back would feel. It got to a point where I was trying to treat it with stuff like Biofreeze or Permatex cream, which honestly felt like a shitty bandaid on a problem that wasn't going away. The only thing that worked was using prescription lidocaine patches, except it got to a point where I could absolutely not function without them and they were leaving some ugly marks on my back. I got a standing desk and that helped a lot; walking and standing felt great and I could sit for short periods, but sleeping was where the real issue was. I've never been a good sleeper but it was truly hellish being kept up for hours, not able to find a sleeping position that didn't hurt after 5 minutes.
And I, being foolish, 24, and deathly allergic to making appointments with the specialists I was referred to, avoided actually getting my back checked out seriously until 2023. I discovered after a year or so that heating pads provided a lot of relief when lying down, so I used those instead of going to a doctor. (In my weak defense I was also really discouraged when I was reapetedly told that I couldn't possibly be rating my pain at a 5 or 6 if I could walk perfectly without pain. What do I know) And I only went because I looked in the mirror one day and realized I've been lowkey burning my lower back with the heating pads.
I had my highs and lows with the physical therapy I was prescribed. I definitely felt better while sitting after the stretches, but it didn't seem like anything was changing when I was lying down. I did end up getting an MRI done and the solution was still... just strengthen my core muscles. But the specialist did mention that the disc bulge was something that would take years to fix - something like maybe 1 mm a year. At this time I had only done the daily exercises from my therapist for... 7 months? So that really helped me mentally (that, plus the Voltaren I was prescribed...), because he said yes, me experiencing this pain was not me being crazy, and that I should expect this to be a years-long endeavor and not be too discouraged if I wasn't seeing noticeable results from the several months of physical therapy.
I don't even think my diagnosis is anywhere near as bad as yours (though who knows, I never did get my back checked out when I first had the issue years ago). I'm still occasionally reaching for the drugs, but I'm definitely doing better than I was at 24, which is sad to admit but I for one am happy to not be crying myself to sleep at 3 am. So, IDK, recovery-story-in-progress...?
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Comment on Nintendo Switch release reactions in ~games
Aran Link ParentI don't doubt you! I have hands that were smaller than some of the 4th/5th grade students I tutored back in the day, so more compact form factors tend to work better for me... but most of my...I don't doubt you! I have hands that were smaller than some of the 4th/5th grade students I tutored back in the day, so more compact form factors tend to work better for me... but most of my friends had issues even with the 3DS XL's form factor haha.
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Comment on Horror in impossible places: liminal spaces and the backrooms in ~games
Aran LinkSuper Eyepatch Wolf's video predates the release of Myhouse.wad, but if it did not I'm sure he would have featured it. I would highly suggest anyone interested in horror in liminal spaces to...Super Eyepatch Wolf's video predates the release of Myhouse.wad, but if it did not I'm sure he would have featured it. I would highly suggest anyone interested in horror in liminal spaces to either play the game (well, Doom mod) or watch Power Pak's video on it - yes the video is on the long side, but the first ten minutes had me hooked. The video was shouted out by the author of House of Leaves and the mod draws some inspiration from it.
mild spoilers for Myhouse.wad, House of Leaves inspiration
There is a random chance for one of the house's closet doors to open into a dark corridor and maze similar to the one described in House of Leaves; I don't think the video shows it but there's a room with a gaping pit and an endless stairway downwards.And that's just the more overt inspiration; perhaps YMMV but I think it's actually terrifying how doors and hallways appear just as you get used to the layout of the home.
There are also other callbacks to the more internet-famous liminal spaces but IMO done in a way that feels just right (unlike the many Backrooms-inspired video games).
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Comment on Nintendo Switch release reactions in ~games
Aran (edited )Link ParentI can totally see where you're coming from - it's been many years now (I got my Switch late 2017 around when I got my first "real" job and with the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 2) but I do...I can totally see where you're coming from - it's been many years now (I got my Switch late 2017 around when I got my first "real" job and with the release of Xenoblade Chronicles 2) but I do remember a significant period where the handheld mode just made no sense, after many years of previous handheld consoles (3DS and DS, PSP, ye olden Gameboys...). I also hate the joycons.
I'm wondering if my recent memory of the Switch's comfort is skewed because I've been playing a lot of games that don't require fast or complicated input. They also tend to be games that I rather not play while sitting at my PC even if they are available there.
Unfortunately the asking price of an OLED Steam Deck is a bit much for me with the weight in mind, so lowkey am hoping SO ends up getting one so I can try before buying :')
edit: I'm actually being reminded of when I finally caved and bought an N3DS at the XL size since Nintendo at the time claimed they were not going to release the standard size N3DS in the US. Going from the standard to the XL made my hands really unhappy lmao. I "got used to it" after several hundreds of hours of Monster Hunter and I barely even remember the initial issues I had with the size... which doesn't mean either the 3DS or handheld Switch are ergonomically designed by any means; just easy to forget after many hours assuming the issues don't actually contribute to health issues like carpal tunnel
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Comment on Nintendo Switch release reactions in ~games
Aran Link ParentThe smaller size and weight of the Switch honestly doesn't get talked about enough (at least in my circles). If you can handle a Steam Deck no problem, great! I have tiny baby hands and even just...The smaller size and weight of the Switch honestly doesn't get talked about enough (at least in my circles). If you can handle a Steam Deck no problem, great! I have tiny baby hands and even just the weight itself is really keeping me from picking one up. An embarrassing amount of my hours on the Switch were accrued while in bed...
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Comment on If your games library disappeared, which games would you repurchase? in ~games
Aran LinkScrolling down my Steam library and Nintendo eShop titles... I'm trying to curb my gaming time (not because it's a problem; just have upcoming life events) so I'd probably just want the games I...Scrolling down my Steam library and Nintendo eShop titles... I'm trying to curb my gaming time (not because it's a problem; just have upcoming life events) so I'd probably just want the games I occasionally pick up and get sucked into for a week or two, then drop (rinse and repeat after a few months). So that would be...
- Factorio
- Final Fantasy VII (my first non-handheld video game... I replay maybe once every few years)
- Skyrim... nostalgia and I only play on the Switch
- whichever Monster Hunter game I'm playing at the time (RN that would be Generations Ultimate)
- Theathrythm Final Bar Line
I'm sure there are a few farm sim or indie titles I'd rebuy just because of (usually) lower price tag and supporting the devs, like Stardew if I feel the itch (though I don't get that into it as often as the above)
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Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games
Aran LinkFinal Fantasy XIV (yes, the MMO) has an incredibly huge and varied soundtrack. I... have never actually understood musical genres (I also mostly listen to video game music and honestly, enjoying a...Final Fantasy XIV (yes, the MMO) has an incredibly huge and varied soundtrack. I... have never actually understood musical genres (I also mostly listen to video game music and honestly, enjoying a track in a particular genre never meant that I would enjoy listening to another song in that genre) so I can't personally list them here from my own experience. But you'll have your typical modern orchestral JRPG fare, to a boss theme with strong South Asian inspiration*, or... whatever the heck genre this is, some kind of electronic dance thing??? Sometimes there are even boss encounters where they'll change the music per "phase", and it will wildly swap genres without missing a beat and it won't even sound strange (YMMV).
Oh, and they have some neat (IMO) remixes of classic tracks from older Final Fantasy games, like FFVI (The Decisive Battle and the entirety of Dancing Mad), FFVIII (Force Your Way, Don't Be Afraid, The Extreme), even FF Tactics (Ultima's Perfection, I really love this one no matter how much my friends complain about it). Not all are just straight orchestral remakes of the old music though - FFIV has some really fun ones (two versions of Battle with the Four Fiends, and The Final Battle)
It's difficult to decide which tracks I'd even want to single out, because IMO one of the neatest parts of the soundtrack is how often leitmotifs are reused; many of my favorite tracks just don't feel right to toss as a single recommendation without the 2-3 other tracks that reuse the motif. My favorite example are these two songs: Footsteps in the Snow (2010-11ish?) and a Return to Oblivion (2018). My funny story about these two - when I first started playing the game, I would look up the music tracks that stood out on Youtube. Naturally, the algorithm would start suggesting songs from parts of the game that I had not gotten to yet. But the songs were really catchy so I'd just click on them, spoilers be damned. Then I got to the part of the story where the original 2010 track plays and it was... actually really cool because I recognized the motifs from the newer song! I don't think I have a particular ear for music; musical analysis goes over my head much the same way genre labels do, but it's difficult to listen to these vastly different tracks and not hear the callbacks!
After finishing writing this, I realized I didn't even link any non-boss themes - the boss themes just tend to be more memorable, but honestly a lot of dungeon and overworld themes are great too.
*I hope this isn't incorrect, this is why I hate genre names or using a geographical location to describe a style of music
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Comment on Your favorite game OSTs in ~games
Aran Link ParentSeeing fellow Xenosaga enjoyers in the wild in 2025 brings me much joy! I'm so sad that they are seemingly not interested in revisiting the series. It's certainly not as mainstream friendly as the...Seeing fellow Xenosaga enjoyers in the wild in 2025 brings me much joy! I'm so sad that they are seemingly not interested in revisiting the series. It's certainly not as mainstream friendly as the direction they've taken the XBC franchise, but one can dream.......
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Comment on The 2024 Steam Winter Sale is live (runs December 19 - January 2) in ~games
Aran (edited )Link ParentThe House in Fata Morgana took me a while to get into - as in, I read two hours and was falling asleep and didn't pick it up again for months. Once I got to the second "story" I was hooked,...The House in Fata Morgana took me a while to get into - as in, I read two hours and was falling asleep and didn't pick it up again for months. Once I got to the second "story" I was hooked, though. I think it was very well worth it. It isn't romance-free (personally I'm outright allergic to most romance anythings) but it was... well, it was heavy.
Absolutely recommend.
edit: on second thought, romance might be a big enough part of this one that it may not fit requirements
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Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
Aran LinkI'm not the first to mention a mechanical keyboard but I wanted to talk about my very specific mechanical keyboard! Heck, I was honestly thinking about this thread title when I disassembled it...I'm not the first to mention a mechanical keyboard but I wanted to talk about my very specific mechanical keyboard! Heck, I was honestly thinking about this thread title when I disassembled it over the weekend for a quick clean (which then inspired me to go seek out the designer on Discord to send a message telling him that this thing has been a beautifully designed truck of a board...)
This got long so I'm stuffing it in this details tag
This is a 40-45%-ish dubbed the V4N4G0N, also affectionately referred to as the Gamervan - "van" being a reference to the designer's Minivan design that serves as the base for this, and "Gamer" referring to the 1-6 numrow available that you wouldn't find on a 40% board. I don't need to proselytize 40%s and hopefully I don't have to explain why I just cannot do even a 60% ("because I wanna!" should be as good a reason, but I can come up with more convincing ones). I had already been using solely 40%s for work for a year or two at this point, but the overwhelming majority of PC games assume the existence of a numrow and using layers to access numbers in a gaming environment is not a fun time. So "40% but with numbers for your stupid League games" sounded great.
I purchased this in Jan 2020, assembled it Feb 2020, and it has been my sole PC keyboard for the last... almost 5 years now. It weighs just shy of 3 lbs; the brass midlayer adds a good amount of heft to it and the board absolutely will not budge from regular keypresses alone. You can see the spots where my gross hands have somehow managed to eat through the anodization. It has survived no less than 5 direct liquid spills, some of which were sugary alcoholic drinks (I have since invested in a cup holder). I've replaced maybe three switches - two because they weren't registering keypresses anymore (gunk in the switch? idk, I have plenty of replacements) and one recently just because it sounded scratchy. In the worst case scenario where the PCB is not repairable for someone who has a soldering iron but absolutely no experience with diagnosing electronic parts, I did purchase an additional PCB in the original group buy.
You know how wear and tear can be pretty visible with hardware? I feel very, very little of it with this thing after five years of extreme use. I work from home and let's just say, someeeetimes I'm not exactly working... like right now, typing a love letter to my keyboard, using my keyboard. I'm pretty sure that some of the switches for the alphas, at this point, are at the level of worn-down smoothness that is oft-praised with switches from well-used-but-somehow-clean vintage keyboards, minus some outliers like the keys I replaced. I hate the issues that plague all my game controllers, whether it's stick drift or just deteriorating rubber on thumb sticks; I hate that I need to replace my mouse every few years because I just haven't found one that can live forever. But this keyboard just has no functional faults despite being figuratively beat to shit for five years.
My devotion to this keyboard might be tested soon; after I reached out to the designer, he informed me that he's actually had a fourth revision of this board (mine was of the very first revision) in the works with some not-necessary-but-nice-to-have internal design changes. I really don't need it because I think my current keyboard will live forever, unless I really wanted to try Hall Effect switches (new revision will support both MX and HE). But I want to support the designer and yada yada.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Aran LinkI am halfway through The Hobbit. I actually did read it back in elementary school and didn't really enjoy it, and my family weren't crazy about the LOTR movies so I never watched (or read) the...I am halfway through The Hobbit. I actually did read it back in elementary school and didn't really enjoy it, and my family weren't crazy about the LOTR movies so I never watched (or read) the trilogy either. But I have avoided it for long enough!
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Comment on What’s something that you weren’t supposed to see/hear, but did? in ~talk
Aran Link ParentYou and Banazir have absolutely made my day. I even see there appear to be classes available in the city I'm relocating to next year... if that pans out I'll be sure to report back!You and Banazir have absolutely made my day. I even see there appear to be classes available in the city I'm relocating to next year... if that pans out I'll be sure to report back!
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Comment on What’s something that you weren’t supposed to see/hear, but did? in ~talk
Aran Link ParentThis thread has unlocked some buried memories from my high school years... I remember having to come up with "careers" I was interested in and, while most were BS pulled from Google for the sake...This thread has unlocked some buried memories from my high school years... I remember having to come up with "careers" I was interested in and, while most were BS pulled from Google for the sake of the assignment, I remember thinking I was genuinely interested in blacksmithing. The problem is that I am 4'10" and 90 lbs... how much of the physical aspect, do you think, should play into whether I look into learning this down the road?
(I realize that probably nothing is stopping me from trying, especially if there are classes available, but I have plenty of other less-physically-intensive hobbies that I COULD get into if #1 is too difficult, y'know?)
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Comment on Valve is possibly making a Steam Controller 2 and a ‘Roy’ for its Deckard in ~games
Aran Link ParentWow, I gave my Steam controller away (paid something like $15 on sale) to someone I had a very, very bad falling out with. Unfortunate... I really wanted to like the controller! Unfortunately I...Wow, I gave my Steam controller away (paid something like $15 on sale) to someone I had a very, very bad falling out with. Unfortunate...
I really wanted to like the controller! Unfortunately I just can't look forward to most "handheld" releases that aren't Nintendo - my hands are extremely small (I've had ten year olds with bigger hands than me) and even the modern PS5 controller is really pushing my level of comfort. I realize it's because the western gaming market consists of bigger hands on average... but it would be nice to get something that fits.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
Aran Link ParentI am actually in CA but never knew this was a place you could visit! I'm even relocating to norcal in a few months so I'll add it to my list :)I am actually in CA but never knew this was a place you could visit! I'm even relocating to norcal in a few months so I'll add it to my list :)
ok, also hear me out for MH specifically!
I do not hate resharpening (I will assume y'all are talking about sharpening, not sharpness itself). Choosing to sharpen mid-fight is just an additional decision you make that isn't just "dodge monster, hit monster". Factors like whether you bounce off certain parts at your current sharpness, or whether it's around time for the monster to change areas, or how the loss in damage from the sharpness modifier compares to the loss in damage from sharpening and not hitting monster... Maybe that's all tedium, but it's just a small extra little bit of flavoring to a hunt IMO. It also lets certain skills like Razor Sharp exist, that aren't simple straightforward growths in stat and will yield different mileage based on your weapon type and whether you are skilled enough to stick to the monster enough for the slower sharpness degradation to matter.
I don't even think the ability to mount out of danger and running in circles is necessarily making sharpness less relevant. That shit takes time and MH eventually gets more about killing something more efficiently, not just getting a single clear. It gives an option to make sharpening mid-combat easier, but doesn't fully kill that tradeoff of mid-combat sharpening.