CptBluebear's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentYeah, exactly that. It felt unfair. I don't even know how to manage equipping a skillet, let alone survive the 5 zombies now surrounding me. Nothing about that looked fun so just watching someone...Yeah, exactly that. It felt unfair. I don't even know how to manage equipping a skillet, let alone survive the 5 zombies now surrounding me. Nothing about that looked fun so just watching someone else for a couple of times made me at least understand the basics.
It's a lot better when you're past that initial hurdle and hit the skill floor of understanding. Something like Shift + Scrollwheel through the inventory system is such a big difference in speed it sometimes literally means the difference between life and death.
I know it has a very substantial mod community but I haven't checked it out yet. I feel like that's something can't come back from. "Once you pop" and all that.
I'm loving the game as is and seeing how it changed in its lifetime, even between just build 41 and build 42, I think the important quality of life stuff will show up at some point anyway. The level of care by the developers is felt throughout. For now though it's a blissful ignorance that I want to keep alive because I don't know what I'm missing. Without major grievances so far I'll keep that up.I really like the level of detail and object interactions.
I do too. It's near enough to real life, or at least real life zombie-movie logic, that items are often intuitive enough to immediately understand whether or not something is useful. When they occasionally break down zombie movie tropes by making items a little too realistic on purpose that it becomes detrimental I'm especially enjoying myself.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear LinkFinally decided to bite the bullet and go for Project Zomboid. It's been on my wish/watchlist for years now and seeing someone play it made me give it a go. I think it helped that I didn't go in...Finally decided to bite the
neckbullet and go for Project Zomboid. It's been on my wish/watchlist for years now and seeing someone play it made me give it a go. I think it helped that I didn't go in entirely blind because I'm enjoying it far too much as I still have a lot of deep cut mechanics to figure out but I don't have to worry about learning that I need an empty pot and a paring knife to create a stew for food or even the basics of carry weight and inventory management.
I always thought the basics have quite a steep learning curve which made me hesitant to start playing. I'd rather try to figure out a long term plan for food before the power cuts out so that's exactly what I'm doing. Aside from utilizing a generator and somehow learning how to operate one, I don't know yet! Which is good!I never saw that game as a roguelike where you progressively survive longer each run. Instead, by knowing at least the basics, I feel that every run starts on an equal footing and then I'll figure out how long I can survive based on how the world spawned and if I check my doors and corners. It makes the experience different every run instead of iterative. The difference should be in how I approach difficult situations and utilize my skills, not learning whether or not a bread knife is a good weapon.
Having seen some gameplay means I knew what settings I wanted in my sandbox settings. I would've disliked some of the default settings of the Apocalypse or Survival modes, so I very very slightly upped the lootchance in highly infested areas, extended the day time to 2h real time, enabled multi-hit, and to balance that I set it to instant death on saliva infection. A single bite means death. And boy let me tell you that even 1% of all zombies becoming sprinters makes for some serious pucker moments that I think really enhance the game.
That aside: It's such a well thought out game and I love every moment of it. The dull moments are sharply contrasted by the heart thumping near death moments and they amplify eachother in a way that makes it difficult to put the game down. Reading a book and calmly going to sleep only to wake up coughing and hear banging on your door is enough of an emotional whiplash that it keeps me engaged every moment. Every trip is dangerous, even the ones where nothing happens. I'm also increasingly worried about my packrat and loot goblin tendencies.
It's randomness done right with genuine feeling emergent gameplay.
I've also played some Witchfire. A very smoothly optimized singleplayer shooter experience. By having you go to a map, clearing events and spawn areas that rotate, and making you choose between continuing or leaving through preset portals, it has a mix of elements reminding me of extraction shooters and looter shooters while not being exactly either.
It has a decent variety of weapons and playstyles, gives you the opportunity to squeeze in a single run for as long as you like, and coming back to it later. There is nothing pressuring you to keep going. Seriously, check out some footage. The game punches far above its weight.
Though it runs so buttery smooth and it almost doesn't feel like it, I do want to give a fair early access warning to those that care. The developers are very active and seem to be keen to develop something they think is fun. It's turning out well.Path of Exile 2 just received their latest 0.3.0 update. I've had some playtime but not a lot. Overall it feels a bit smoother? Some of the changes they made to gems and elemental afflictions are noticeably better and the sprinting is a great addition. The season has an interesting enough gimmick too. Haven't hit late game yet in the new season so I can't say too much about it other than that the game seems to be in a better place right now.
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Comment on Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentYou're right about that and I don't understand why Gallup doesn't dive deeper into this data, they have before. Last round this happened, the media picked up on the "collapsing war effort" story...You're right about that and I don't understand why Gallup doesn't dive deeper into this data, they have before.
Last round this happened, the media picked up on the "collapsing war effort" story but if you looked a little deeper it didn't actually change how many Ukrainians wanted to concede and give in to demands, just an increase in the amount that were now willing to negotiate.
I'm going to assume the latter holds true until someone shows me data that proves the opposite.
Regardless, their war exhaustion must be getting to levels that are difficult to manage. The endless Russian offensives must be rough on morale. I can sit here in my safe chair and say that they can absolutely grind the Russians to a humiliating loss, but that doesn't take into account the toll of their suffering.
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Comment on Finland will remove swastikas from its air force flags to enhance integration with Western allies following NATO membership in ~society
CptBluebear LinkYou can claim high and low that it's not associated with Nazism but that doesn't matter for the observer that already made up their mind, and it will always be a bad look fighting alongside the...You can claim high and low that it's not associated with Nazism but that doesn't matter for the observer that already made up their mind, and it will always be a bad look fighting alongside the symbol of the large scale human misery that took place under it.
I think they're in the right to change it, not because they're bad for having it, but because it will be used against them in bad faith.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
CptBluebear Link ParentLet me back that up and say it should be the only way one watches One Piece. One Pace improves the pace significantly. The original is such a slog it made me quit the show for at least a year....Let me back that up and say it should be the only way one watches One Piece.
One Pace improves the pace significantly. The original is such a slog it made me quit the show for at least a year. Three times.
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Comment on Blizzard Entertainment files lawsuit against World of Warcraft private server Turtle WoW in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentTo an extent, that's what Stop Killing Games is trying to do albeit after official servers close down, which is to have sanctioned methods of reproducibility like private servers without having to...To an extent, that's what Stop Killing Games is trying to do albeit after official servers close down, which is to have sanctioned methods of reproducibility like private servers without having to hand over IP rights and the like.
Nobody is willing to take the plunge into an actual court case to set precedent though. It's mostly big dudes like Blizzard and Nintendo throwing out C&Ds to force the kids to back down.
Maybe you're right and this isn't a copyright case. But who has the cash to fight Blizzard on that front?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentThe parry mechanism makes it divisive for sure. I think it's well implemented, but if you're not into games that have tight parry windows then yeah this game will be frustrating. As always, mods...The parry mechanism makes it divisive for sure. I think it's well implemented, but if you're not into games that have tight parry windows then yeah this game will be frustrating.
As always, mods solve that issue if you're actually annoyed by parries. I think there are mods to remove them outright or simply extend the window. I personally think it adds a lot to a turn based game and like @terr says it's the logical evolution of turn based RPGs in general.
I don't know what you mean with the story is jargon. If you mean that it requires a time investment to understand I'd like to assuage it by saying it starts off pretty easy to follow and will guide you towards understanding alongside the characters.
Good game tbh.
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Comment on America tips into fascism in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentNo worries, I can easily see how it can be interpreted in multiple ways. I didn't want to what if the rest of your post because it's A. Difficult to speculate and B. Undeniable the US has a...No worries, I can easily see how it can be interpreted in multiple ways.
I didn't want to what if the rest of your post because it's A. Difficult to speculate and B. Undeniable the US has a shitton more aircraft and most notably the carriers to take them places. You're right that just having the troop count doesn't equal being able to get them where they need to be. But if push comes to shove we can't rule out a stalwart resistance, at least on paper.
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Comment on America tips into fascism in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentI think you misinterpreted that as if I said the US isn't the strongest individually. The crux is that the combined forces of NATO sans US are already more numerous than the US forces alone before...I think you misinterpreted that as if I said the US isn't the strongest individually. The crux is that the combined forces of NATO sans US are already more numerous than the US forces alone before the spending increases. They're not a paper tiger without the US, which is often a point presented as if it's just the undeniable truth.
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Comment on America tips into fascism in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentI'd hope not just in theory but in practice an invasion would trigger Article 5 and see it honored. Look, this is of course speculative and in my honest opinion exceedingly unlikely, but...In theory we have NATO allies.
I'd hope not just in theory but in practice an invasion would trigger Article 5 and see it honored.
Look, this is of course speculative and in my honest opinion exceedingly unlikely, but realistically speaking an expansionist US will see more resistance than they'd probably expect. The current day rhetoric around NATO strength being mainly the US military is misguided at best. The new spending targets already see a combined military expenditure exceeding US defense spending.
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Comment on A US federal appellate court finds the National Labor Relations Board to be unconstitutional in ~society
CptBluebear LinkI always assumed 1880s English industrial revolution labour laws were something so much of the past I wouldn't ever see the return to them in my lifetime. They sure are trying to prove me wrong.I always assumed 1880s English industrial revolution labour laws were something so much of the past I wouldn't ever see the return to them in my lifetime. They sure are trying to prove me wrong.
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Comment on Ukraine admits Russia has entered key region of Dnipropetrovsk in ~society
CptBluebear Link ParentThe falling drone debris story never fails to get an eye roll from me. It's easily worse than admitting that a refinery went up in flames because of an explosive. The image of being untouchable is...The falling drone debris story never fails to get an eye roll from me. It's easily worse than admitting that a refinery went up in flames because of an explosive.
The image of being untouchable is so transparently false.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentUnsheathe is kinda strong though. I'd argue that Samurai is one of the best starts for that reason. Otherwise no remarks. All classes can get an early bloodhound fang and rip with stats only...Unsheathe is kinda strong though. I'd argue that Samurai is one of the best starts for that reason. Otherwise no remarks. All classes can get an early bloodhound fang and rip with stats only marginally different between each.
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Comment on Chinese property giant Evergrande delisted after spectacular fall in ~finance
CptBluebear Link ParentI mean that's rub. The bailouts had to happen in order for any economy to exist. I don't have a rebuttal, my comment about moral hazard and opportunity cost is what I think shouldn't be forgotten...There's also the opportunity profit of having a functional economic in 2009-2018?
I mean that's rub. The bailouts had to happen in order for any economy to exist. I don't have a rebuttal, my comment about moral hazard and opportunity cost is what I think shouldn't be forgotten when we move steadfast into another unstable crisis where BNPL subprime lending exists, car loan delinquencies are stupidly high, the fed relinquishes the 2% inflation target, quality of jobs is declining into gig work, 401k's now allow "alternative investments" like private equity funds, a crypto reserve, and fuck what ever is going on in the financial system in the US.
I don't particularly have a horse in this is what I would always think, being from the Netherlands, but when that market pops.. we also feel that crunch.
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Comment on Chinese property giant Evergrande delisted after spectacular fall in ~finance
CptBluebear (edited )Link ParentThat's about it, yes. Subprime mortgages were highly risky loans to people with low FICO scores. The moral hazard touches on your last sentence: It shouldn't have happened because they knew it was...That's about it, yes. Subprime mortgages were highly risky loans to people with low FICO scores. The moral hazard touches on your last sentence: It shouldn't have happened because they knew it was irresponsible, and the bailout confirmed you get bailed out if that ship ever sinks.
We're actually seeing similar nonsense with the BNPL credit schemes where the subprime lending is reaching a fever pitch at 60-70% of all loans being subprime. Taco on credit won't crash the market as much as housing did, but the default and delinquency rate on these is indicative of the risky nature of these loans being allowed to balloon to unsustainable levels. At some point someone in that scheme will default and it'll wreck whatever is nearby.
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Comment on ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ delivers Netflix first No. 1 box office win with $19M+, but streamer doesn’t want to officially report in ~movies
CptBluebear Link ParentAside from Bird Box I've seen none of those. Am I out of touch or is it the children that are wrong?Aside from Bird Box I've seen none of those. Am I out of touch or is it the children that are wrong?
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Comment on Chinese property giant Evergrande delisted after spectacular fall in ~finance
CptBluebear Link ParentThe money paid back doesn't erase the moral hazard created or the opportunity cost of public funds. It taught banks they could be risky with public money, financially ruining people in the...The money paid back doesn't erase the moral hazard created or the opportunity cost of public funds. It taught banks they could be risky with public money, financially ruining people in the process, because they'd get a bailout anyway. Ted & Tina still lost their home so Goldman Sachs could do it all over again with other subprime loans.
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Comment on Valve's secretive 'Fremont' gaming device surfaces in benchmarks in ~games
CptBluebear Link ParentYeah but not quite. I own the dock too but it's not quite a console. Requires some additional peripherals too. Something made to be connected to a TV and stay there would be nice.Yeah but not quite. I own the dock too but it's not quite a console. Requires some additional peripherals too.
Something made to be connected to a TV and stay there would be nice.
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Comment on Valve's secretive 'Fremont' gaming device surfaces in benchmarks in ~games
CptBluebear LinkI would buy a Steam console that I can hook to my TV and then play PC games on. Sure thing. Much better value add than a PlayStation, which I did indeed sell. I'll worry about vendor lock in...I would buy a Steam console that I can hook to my TV and then play PC games on. Sure thing. Much better value add than a PlayStation, which I did indeed sell.
I'll worry about vendor lock in afterwards. So far the Steam garden isn't yet walled off from the outside.
The regular war bonds are a 1000 super credits. You can buy 150 credits for a $1,99, 2100 credits for $19,99. They're roughly 10-12 dollars each.
The ODST war bond costs an irregular 1500 credits, so its cost is somewhere between 15 and 20 dollars.
Helldiver monetization differs in that these war bonds don't expire. Unlike many other battle passes, there's no FOMO inducing end date. Additionally you can find the premium currency in game at semi-regular intervals and you can unlock an extra 100 credits within an already owned war bond.
Theoretically you could play it entirely for free. If you play often or farm specifically for the premium currency it's entirely possible to do so.
So while a single war bond, or the ODST war bond is somewhat pricey if you buy it outright, I often don't have to spend anything or at most $5 to unlock a new one. In fact, a new war bond launches in two days and I have enough to unlock it immediately without spending anything.