BradleyNull's recent activity
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Comment on Team Fortress 2: Nobody's home in ~games
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Comment on Riot's League of Legends MMO is being 'reset,' likely going dark for 'several years' in ~games
BradleyNull Link ParentFFXIV might have a good story, but it has very middling gameplay. If you compare the amount of mechanics to FFXI (its mmo predecessor), for example, the game has been stripped to its bare bones....FFXIV might have a good story, but it has very middling gameplay. If you compare the amount of mechanics to FFXI (its mmo predecessor), for example, the game has been stripped to its bare bones. No longer are there different types of damage (Slashing, piercing, blunt, etc.) or different types of magic damage (dark, every element, holy, etc). No longer are there different types of enfeebling effects both for players and NPCS and requisite spells to cure them. You no longer work with your teammates to create skillchains and magic bursts to more effectively take down enemies. There is no careful management of enemies through CC - just wall to wall pulling and AoE'ing. There are no "jack of all trades" jobs - because everything has to fit a small, tightly bound niche so that the "instant action" aspects of the game can be easily fulfilled.
For brief moments, FFXIV seemed like it wanted to add in interesting mechanics - like the old buffing system from astrologian - but these ultimately get wiped out. Of course, the old buffing system wouldn't make sense in modern FFXIV, because they essentially removed all restrictions on TP and MP - but that's just another example of middling the game out. Over time, they have removed mechanics so that all that's left is avoiding fire on the floor and keeping up a personal rotation. The buffs are all boring 3% damage buffs - no more adding double attack, crit chance, or extra elemental damage. You're barely playing with your group - almost everything is personal. FFXIV actually falls far behind even WoW in terms of party interactions, since the healers are spending so much time spamming a couple damage spells at bosses.
FFXIV dancers would weep if they saw what their counterparts were able to do in FFXI. This was a job to buff your teammates with haste or aspir (almost never used, but was interesting to have the choice), setting up skillchains, using TP to heal or cleanse teammates - great when bosses would silence the healers, dealing damage, and providing out of combat buffs like movespeed. Now it's like, click on party member, make dance partner, congrats 3% extra damage. Resume playing solo. Who cares? That's not an interaction. It's boring.
"Instant action" i think is the crux of the issue. When i say these games are middling - what I mean is that these are really just action games with vestigial leveling systems included. And they're all designed to just hop in a dungeon in the random matchmaker with people you'll never see again, steamroll a dungeon without even thinking, then hop out. There are so few mechanics left in these games - this is why i tend to compare them to mobile games rather than the vast and expansive games they used to be.
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Comment on Riot's League of Legends MMO is being 'reset,' likely going dark for 'several years' in ~games
BradleyNull LinkI don't have much hope for any mmorpg anymore. I think these games need to be gigantic cash cows for the business to have any interest in them, and in order for them to be cash cows, they have to...I don't have much hope for any mmorpg anymore. I think these games need to be gigantic cash cows for the business to have any interest in them, and in order for them to be cash cows, they have to be as average as possible. They have to cast that extremely wide net in order to bring in as many players as possible to satisfy the business.
But that doesn't make a very good game. Great games are unique. Great games are paradigm shifts. Great games are artistic. All of these features are extremely hard to integrate while also making the game accessible to as many people as possible.
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Comment on Game recommendations, specifically (round 2) in ~games
BradleyNull LinkI've always loved games that dramatically and seamlessly change a sense of scale. For me this was many of the battlefield games and the Halo games when you went from footsoldier to vehicle. I'm...I've always loved games that dramatically and seamlessly change a sense of scale. For me this was many of the battlefield games and the Halo games when you went from footsoldier to vehicle. I'm interested in more games that change scale, but they don't have to be in the FPS or multiplayer shooter genre. I'm interested in any games that dramatically change scale based on different circumstances or player interactions with the world.
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Comment on The history of MMOs (and where it all went wrong) in ~games
BradleyNull Link ParentDo you remember helping people in MMORPG's? It's such a small thing, but that doesn't really exist anymore. I remember powerleveling people, giving random rezzes or heals, running them through...Do you remember helping people in MMORPG's? It's such a small thing, but that doesn't really exist anymore. I remember powerleveling people, giving random rezzes or heals, running them through instances. All content is so fine-tuned to just be exactly the same level of difficulty all throughout your journey that it's like it barely happens at all. You literally can't be helped in most MMO's now.
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Comment on The history of MMOs (and where it all went wrong) in ~games
BradleyNull LinkThis is why i've always compared modern MMO's (Even those that started a long time ago but changed over time, like WoW) to mobile games. The art of pacing has completely disappeared from these...This is why i've always compared modern MMO's (Even those that started a long time ago but changed over time, like WoW) to mobile games. The art of pacing has completely disappeared from these games. They are designed to teleport you to boxes, do a thing in that box, then leave the box. Combine that with the super strict class requirements in order to engage in these boxes and what you're left with is something that is much less immersive, and lacking in potential skill expression.
I'm also a little disappointed that these games kind of started to revolve around all skill expression being an individual thing - rather than being related to how you interact with a group. Basically, the skill expression in MMO's now seems to be around keeping up your personal rotations. You don't have to worry about threat or target selection or CC or managing buffs and debuffs - which all involve other party members or keeping track of other enemies. Games that at some point in the past would be referred to as MMORPG's are more just MMO action games. And MMO action games are fine, I just miss having the option of that MMORPG niche. Think i might go fire up some FFXI and try to recapture that feeling.
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Comment on What are you favourite grim, dark, atmospheric films? in ~movies
BradleyNull Link ParentNot only grim and intense, but kind of a masterpiece in the technical aspects of filmmaking. So many great, long, single shot sequences. After you watch the film, watching the making of is pretty...Not only grim and intense, but kind of a masterpiece in the technical aspects of filmmaking. So many great, long, single shot sequences. After you watch the film, watching the making of is pretty interesting. I love watching how they filmed the car sequence. The whole thing is so intense, but surprisingly grounded at the same time.
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Comment on Your creative ways to say "none of your business"? in ~talk
BradleyNull Link ParentI got better at it over time. I remember being more of a people pleaser when i was young and stuff like that would have been hard. I would have hedged infinitely, just skirting around saying 'no',...I got better at it over time. I remember being more of a people pleaser when i was young and stuff like that would have been hard. I would have hedged infinitely, just skirting around saying 'no', but never say it. Then eventually cave and say 'yes'.
I think i was about 28 when I got over it and i realized it when I was at a bar and this guy was trying to get in front of people in line to order - and actually succeeding. He got to me and he had some line prepared like "Hey man, my friend is bartending. Let me go ahead and we'll all get served faster." Had i been younger, i wouldn't have been so naive to have believed him - but i certainly would have made up an excuse or beat around the bush or something - but in that moment i just looked at him and said "No." And he was taken aback - he held up his hands and started talking like i had just told him to 'fuck off'. But all i said was 'No.'
Pretty powerful word, that. And yeah nowadays I am also pretty blunt.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BradleyNull Link ParentYeah, i was using that system, but it doesn't show amounts - which is critical when you need to juggle inventory and weight. I staked out an outpost and calculated the costs of the things I wanted...Yeah, i was using that system, but it doesn't show amounts - which is critical when you need to juggle inventory and weight. I staked out an outpost and calculated the costs of the things I wanted to build there, so i could got and buy or drill what i wanted, but still had to write out the exact amount of those things I needed on a notepad.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
BradleyNull Link ParentI really dislike Starfield for a different reason. I have dumped hundreds of hours into every fallout and every elder scrolls game - and I'm a person that even loved the barren wasteland of...I really dislike Starfield for a different reason. I have dumped hundreds of hours into every fallout and every elder scrolls game - and I'm a person that even loved the barren wasteland of Fallout 3. There's something compelling to me about traversing wide spaces and wondering what's around each corner.
But that mostly hinges on actually traversing the space. Ironically, you don't do that in Starfield. Everything you explore in Starfield is a little compartmentalized area - there are no 'between the places' spaces. Just can't overstate how ironic that is for a Bethesda game set in space. It almost reminds me of what I hate about modern World of Warcraft - that there's almost nothing happening in the world ... everything, instead, happens in little instance spaces you teleport to (although i heard the new expansion may be an exception).
This feeling is particularly exceptional given the procedurally generated nature of the worlds. Now i'm teleporting to little boxes of procedurally generated rocks with some really underwhelming caves, natural formations, and settlements. And these things were all set the world to make it feel more alive, but the lack of personal touch seems to make it feel the exact opposite.
It's very hard to feel "in" the game. Everything seems to be pulling me out. And speaking of pulling out, i'm sitting here pulling my hair out navigating all the terrible menus in the game. Man, those things really suck. I had to take a step back to 2000, where I'm keeping track of things on a separate physical notepad next to me because I can't keep track of what i have on my ship, what i need to buy, and all the ingredients i need to finish building my little outpost setup. What a slog. Menus need a lot of help, and I really need a shopping list in the game.
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Comment on Would y'all mind if I post playlists here? in ~music
BradleyNull LinkProbably not an issue now. It's something i think could eventually devolve into "low effort content", but cross that bridge when we get to it. If it inspires others to do the same then we may want...Probably not an issue now. It's something i think could eventually devolve into "low effort content", but cross that bridge when we get to it. If it inspires others to do the same then we may want to do like a monthly big post.
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Comment on Best genre, artist, playlist etc., to boost productivity when writing? in ~music
BradleyNull LinkThe first System of a Down album, the song 'State of the Union' by Rise against, some Botch songs, Silversun Pickups. Kind of high energy gritty songs i guess is what does it for me.The first System of a Down album, the song 'State of the Union' by Rise against, some Botch songs, Silversun Pickups. Kind of high energy gritty songs i guess is what does it for me.
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Comment on Tech billionaires launch California ‘utopia’ website in ~design
BradleyNull Link ParentDoes this relieve housing pressure? People tend to want to get all their value back for the houses they're leaving. So they're going to either sell the houses to people of similar socioeconomic...Does this relieve housing pressure? People tend to want to get all their value back for the houses they're leaving. So they're going to either sell the houses to people of similar socioeconomic standing, rent the houses out, or sit on the property. If the house is sold to someone of similar socioeconomic standing, then nothing has effectively changed except the person who moved gets to live in a nice new place - good for them, but still totally out of reach for most people. If the house is rented out, then we have people in poorer circumstances funneling money to an already extremely advantaged city. If the owners sit on the property then they essentially kill parts of the towns they leave.
I know this is all super negative, and I don't like to be like this - but I'm not really going to be excited about a bunch of billionaire's pet project when it feels like it's going to turn into a Utopia for only the Elite.
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Comment on Tech billionaires launch California ‘utopia’ website in ~design
BradleyNull Link ParentI like the idea of the city, but my personal cynicism stems from a general distrust of most capitalist-led ventures. I'm suspect that this will be a 'by billionaires, for billionaires' kind of...I like the idea of the city, but my personal cynicism stems from a general distrust of most capitalist-led ventures. I'm suspect that this will be a 'by billionaires, for billionaires' kind of project. The fact that urban projects have been spearheaded in the past doesn't fill me with hope, because i feel like the entire zeitgeist is different in this area and this time. I would love to be wrong, though.
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Comment on Vegans of Tildes, what are your favourite sources of protein? in ~food
BradleyNull Link ParentNot quite sure what you mean by '...has been debunked.' The article you linked even recognizes the differences in 'complete' vs. 'incomplete' proteins. When I was taking nutrition classes, we...Not quite sure what you mean by '...has been debunked.'
The article you linked even recognizes the differences in 'complete' vs. 'incomplete' proteins. When I was taking nutrition classes, we referred to the balancing of 'incomplete' proteins as taking 'complimentary' proteins. The fact that plant based sources, with a few exceptions, are largely absent in one amino acid or another is well established. Of course, a vegan diet can be rich in all amino acids - one just has to know how to vary their diet to get the compliments - which is the core of the question being asked by OP.
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Comment on Meat eaters of Tildes - what have you tried to make use more ethical? in ~food
BradleyNull LinkI have not done much to try to source ethical meat. i would like to, and i think it's important, but most of the methods of doing that are prohibitively expensive for me, or require more space...-
I have not done much to try to source ethical meat. i would like to, and i think it's important, but most of the methods of doing that are prohibitively expensive for me, or require more space than i have, or are mired in my own cynicism - meaning, like, when someone says 'cage free chicken' in the U.S. I know that doesn't really mean what it means on the surface. It's hard to put any trust into someone selling you something because businesses are intentionally misleading.
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I can eat vegetarian for long stretches of time, but not vegan. My main source of protein can be protein shakes for a long time, totally eliminating any need for meat in my meals. My real food tends to just be veggies, nuts, fruits, and rice. I will get something like chicken teriyaki once a week.
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I like the quorn products, but they're hard to find near me and they're pricey. Beans and rice are always a classic - but the beans are hard on my stomach. Protein shakes are palatable, but I wouldn't call them tasty - they're more just a means to an end. Same with fried tofu.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
BradleyNull Link ParentThanks for that. Yes part of the reason I struggle with this is exactly what you said - the software/data engineering contribution is abstract. But there's also this other part, and i'm not sure...Thanks for that. Yes part of the reason I struggle with this is exactly what you said - the software/data engineering contribution is abstract. But there's also this other part, and i'm not sure i'm going to be able to articulate it correctly - being a part of these organizations sometimes feels very inefficient. A fitting comparison given the subject matter is that i often see it like an engine. A complex set of moving parts, but 70% of that energy is being dissipated as heat. Maybe it's just the places i've worked, but there often seems to be a lot of motion but nothing really happening.
But yeah, I work in local government so my job isn't as lucrative as one i could get somewhere else - but I do get a fair amount of free time as my entire job is about automation and I regularly automate things I do. So i figured I would fill that time with studying. I just made a profile on that job board though and I will browse through it.
Thank you.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
BradleyNull Link ParentThanks for that link, I made a profile and I am perusing it now.Thanks for that link, I made a profile and I am perusing it now.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
BradleyNull Link ParentThank you for the ping, yes I will check these out.Thank you for the ping, yes I will check these out.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
BradleyNull (edited )Link ParentThe skin is not as stretchy - it is a bit thinner than a perogi. You can get them with different meat fillings, or potatoes. My favorite being mixed! And yes, I am compelled to eat an unhealthy...The skin is not as stretchy - it is a bit thinner than a perogi. You can get them with different meat fillings, or potatoes. My favorite being mixed!
And yes, I am compelled to eat an unhealthy amount every time I get them. There's a restaurant near me that sells them, but there's also some larger russian communities and eastern european goods stores further north of me that sell them frozen. They're very good.
Isn't the solution simply to make nothing worth botting for? That is, make a game where the only reward is the fun we have playing it? No skins or doo-dads. No "meta-progression". I mean, is any of that stuff actually fun? Or is it just a cheap dopamine hit?
Maybe i sound like a time traveler here, but the solution is pretty obvious to me.