DON_MAC's recent activity
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentHow strange! I'm pretty sure the chaos trials unlocked as soon as I unlocked a new aspect, at least after the initial batch when first activating the stone. Maybe you need to give Chaos some...How strange! I'm pretty sure the chaos trials unlocked as soon as I unlocked a new aspect, at least after the initial batch when first activating the stone. Maybe you need to give Chaos some certain amount of nectar before unlocking more?But you should still be able to switch aspects! Though you don't do it on the spot in the center where you upgrade them, you do it by going to the actual weapon, there you should get a prompt allowing you to choose aspect! Pretty sure that was available for me from the first unlocked aspect, but not sure...
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentIt's interesting how different opinions can be - the axe is one of the weapons I like the least! It hits hard, sure, but to me it too slow, so it's easy to be punished mid-animation, or to be...It's interesting how different opinions can be - the axe is one of the weapons I like the least! It hits hard, sure, but to me it too slow, so it's easy to be punished mid-animation, or to be cornered while recovering. Though I think I play pretty aggressively, so maybe it's a better fit for different playstyles.
Possible spoiler for weapons
Although the Charon aspect of the axe clicked pretty well with me. It had a nice of loop of plopping down a cast and then charging an omega special to deal ridicilous damage. Pretty expensive in mana though, so you really need a good mana-recovery boon towards the latter half as encounters drag on in length.I had a hard time "getting" the skull weapon as well, but after a few tries it clicked somewhat, so I can at least finish a run with it, but I avoid it if I'm not going for fulfilling some prophecy.
Favourites for me are probably the staff (spamming omega attack is pretty easy) or the dual flames (just holding attack and dodging gets you pretty far, though the special can be surprisingly strong as well).
-
Comment on Reading challenges in ~books
DON_MAC LinkWhen I started reading again for fun again a few years ago I set my reading goal to one book per month, and I've kept it at that since then. My feeling was that if I increased it to a book every...When I started reading again for fun again a few years ago I set my reading goal to one book per month, and I've kept it at that since then. My feeling was that if I increased it to a book every two weeks or something, I would avoid longer books that might take longer to read, or reading that longer book might be stressful as it would feel like I'm falling behind.
My overall goal is simply to keep reading for fun (not aiming for a large amount of books read), and having the goal at 12 books per year encourages me to keep reading while allowing me the freedom to pick any book I want. I could increase the goal as I typically overshoot it, but this philosophy has served me well these past years so I see no reason to change it.
-
Comment on Timasomo 2025: Week 1 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
DON_MAC Link ParentYeah, coal forges do seem a bit expensive. I might ask the instructor and see if he has any thoughts on how to start up a forge of my own! We've made a mix of things, two fire pokes, a j-hook,...Yeah, coal forges do seem a bit expensive. I might ask the instructor and see if he has any thoughts on how to start up a forge of my own!
We've made a mix of things, two fire pokes, a j-hook, some nails, and now we're working on a candle stick, so I guess it's comparably light work.
Yeah, that would be nice!
-
Comment on Timasomo 2025: Week 1 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
DON_MAC Link ParentSounds like a nice setup! Pretty inspiring to read about, I may have to clear out some space for a forge at home after all... At the course I'm taking we're working with a coal forge, so I'm not...Sounds like a nice setup! Pretty inspiring to read about, I may have to clear out some space for a forge at home after all...
At the course I'm taking we're working with a coal forge, so I'm not familiar with a gas one. Seems like some people find it difficult to get good fuel for a coal forge (compared to a gas one), so might have to look into that before deciding what type to get.
There's a hardware store nearby that has a 55 pound anvil for a reasonable price, so might get that as a starter. And then get a good hammer as well. The ones at the course are pretty heavy, so just like with your first one I get tired pretty fast. But then, too light and I guess it gets hard to get any smithing done!
-
Comment on Timasomo 2025: Week 1 Updates in ~creative.timasomo
DON_MAC Link ParentI've been taking a smithing course this fall (a short one, only 20 hours) and it's a ton of fun! I suppose you've got your own forge? The downside of smithing being fun is that I want to get my...I've been taking a smithing course this fall (a short one, only 20 hours) and it's a ton of fun! I suppose you've got your own forge?
The downside of smithing being fun is that I want to get my own place to do it! But that's an investment of money, time and space, so we'll see if I ever get around to setting one up.
-
Comment on Fatekeeper | Announcement trailer in ~games
DON_MAC LinkThis looks interesting! Hard not to compare it to the Elder Scrolls, which I've found has nailed the world aspect, but combat mostly just boiled down to spamming a mouse button (which I don't...This looks interesting! Hard not to compare it to the Elder Scrolls, which I've found has nailed the world aspect, but combat mostly just boiled down to spamming a mouse button (which I don't think is a hot take). The combat here looks more involved, which is promising! I've heard good things about the combat jn Awoved as well, but haven't played it myself.
But I didn't quite catch how the maps will be laid out? If it's open world, or larger areas or more linear?
-
Comment on Darksiders 4 | Offical announcement trailer in ~games
DON_MAC LinkLooks like all the riders will be present in the fourth (or I guess fifth?) installment! Personally I'm hoping it's not a strict co-op game as that would probably discourage me from playing it,...Looks like all the riders will be present in the fourth (or I guess fifth?) installment!
Personally I'm hoping it's not a strict co-op game as that would probably discourage me from playing it, but I know many people like that. Maybe it'll work like Genesis, where you could easily switch what rider you played as.
I've enjoyed the previous games, so excited to see how this one turns out!
-
Darksiders 4 | Offical announcement trailer
2 votes -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentSeeing BORE BLASTERS got me thinking of another game with bore in the title that's very dear to my heart (though I can't quite articulate why), namely Full Bore. It's a puzzle game in which you...Seeing BORE BLASTERS got me thinking of another game with bore in the title that's very dear to my heart (though I can't quite articulate why), namely Full Bore. It's a puzzle game in which you are a boar, and to solve the puzzles you have to do some digging! Might be something for you if you're on the lookout for digging games.
-
Comment on Steam Summer Sale 2025: Hidden gems in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentVactics sounds very interesting! Haven't played Hoplite, but Into the Breach is one of my favorite games. Might have to make a purchase! Steam deck compatibility is unknown (and nothing on...Vactics sounds very interesting! Haven't played Hoplite, but Into the Breach is one of my favorite games. Might have to make a purchase!
Steam deck compatibility is unknown (and nothing on protondb either), but one can always hope it works anyway, as it feels like a good game for the deck.
-
Comment on Please stop externalizing your costs directly into my face in ~tech
DON_MAC Link ParentI know the Interledger Foundation is making some effort in this area, like the Web Monetization API. But it's only a proposed standard at the moment, and I remember looking into this 5 years ago...I know the Interledger Foundation is making some effort in this area, like the Web Monetization API. But it's only a proposed standard at the moment, and I remember looking into this 5 years ago and not sure how much has changed. But I guess both web and payments standards are slow moving areas.
At least there does seem to be some real money behind Interledger, they have grants for people working to implement their open standards, so that hopefully means it not just some lofty ideals without effort behind them, or some vaporware or similar. The futurre (though perhaps far) will tell!
-
Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food
DON_MAC LinkI've been tasked with providing the bread for christmas, so I did a trial bake of an untested recipe to see if it was good enough to bring and to work out any potential kinks. It turned out pretty...I've been tasked with providing the bread for christmas, so I did a trial bake of an untested recipe to see if it was good enough to bring and to work out any potential kinks. It turned out pretty great! Oven was a bit hot, so will probably bring the temperature down a bit and bake for 10 - 15 minutes longer, but otherwise it was a success.
It's a rye and wheat bread, using porter instead of water as the liquid, spiced with bitter orange peel, cloves, fennel seeds, anise seeds & caraway seeds and sweetened with some syrup. The recipe produced two loaves, so in one of the loaves I added some raisins (loved by some, hated by others). It also called for coating the loaves with a syrup/water mixture before baking, which I forget, but they got a very nice crust anyway, so it was probably not needed.
So I'll probably have to do (at least) two more batches of this bread, and possible some other bread as well, as I know some people are not into the darker variety. I have a pretty good (and very simple) recipe for a wheat/durum bread that's been a favorite as of late.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentCitizen Sleeper is great (and the sequel is coming sometime next year)! I also really enjoyed the art style. Agree that it becomes too easy towards the tail end, and as a result of that loses a...Citizen Sleeper is great (and the sequel is coming sometime next year)! I also really enjoyed the art style.
Agree that it becomes too easy towards the tail end, and as a result of that loses a lot of the tension. To keep up some sort of difficulty they just upped the points required to complete tasks, which just turned it into a chore where I just threw all my dice into a task, went to bed and repeated. One minor thing I felt was that the game opened a bit too many separate story threads at a time, making it feel a bit disjointed at times. I think I would have enjoyed fewer but longer/deeper story threads instead.
But those are minor things, it's worth a play through, especially as a cyberpunk enjoyer!
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
DON_MAC Link ParentIt feels like The Murderbot Diaries are always recommended by people (starting with All Systems Red), so maybe you're already aware. The first four books are ~150 pages. Some time ago I read The...It feels like The Murderbot Diaries are always recommended by people (starting with All Systems Red), so maybe you're already aware. The first four books are ~150 pages.
Some time ago I read The Empress of Salt and Fortune, which I thought was pretty good as well! It's the first part of the Singing Hills Cycle (currently 5 books,) and they are all around 100 pages, some a bit above.
-
Comment on Kanonenfieber - Waffenbrüder (2024) in ~music
DON_MAC Link ParentYeah, a perfect score might be a bit of a stretch, but having listened to the whole album a few times now it does seem to have some real staying power, and as of yet no song has worn out its...Yeah, a perfect score might be a bit of a stretch, but having listened to the whole album a few times now it does seem to have some real staying power, and as of yet no song has worn out its welcome and made it into skip territory. So docking a a point or a half is probably fair, but no more.
-
Comment on Kanonenfieber - Waffenbrüder (2024) in ~music
DON_MAC (edited )Link ParentTheir previous release didn't really stick with me, but I've given Die Urkatastrophe a spin today and I've found it surprisingly good (given my opinion of their older album). Angrymetalguy...Their previous release didn't really stick with me, but I've given Die Urkatastrophe a spin today and I've found it surprisingly good (given my opinion of their older album). Angrymetalguy (although not AMG himself) giving it a 5/5 motivated me to give it a chance, and I'd say it well worth a listen!
Waffenbrüder, Menschenmühle (the track, not the old album) and Der Maulwurf stand out just a little bit extra, based on a first listen.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
DON_MAC Link ParentSad to hear that you didn't enjoy it! It's been some time since I played it, and while it's not the best Darksiders game I still remember having some fun with it. But maybe I'm the problem,...Sad to hear that you didn't enjoy it! It's been some time since I played it, and while it's not the best Darksiders game I still remember having some fun with it.
But maybe I'm the problem, Darksiders II didn't really stick with me (it seems to be the favorite), and I enjoyed the third one (which got a lot of critcism if I remember correctly).
But I'm also excited for whatever they teased, looking forward to some new Darksiders!
-
Comment on Three months free subscription to Lightspeed Magazine in ~books
DON_MAC LinkAt the beginning of August I subscribed to Clarkesworld in a hope to broaden my reading horizons a bit (although I've been busy reading other things so I haven't yet read the August issue). I was...At the beginning of August I subscribed to Clarkesworld in a hope to broaden my reading horizons a bit (although I've been busy reading other things so I haven't yet read the August issue). I was debating between it and Lightspeed, but decided on Clarkesworld as I felt more drawn toward sci-fi than the fantasy/sci-fi mix and the general chatter online felt more postive towards Clarkesworld.
But with the price of free, trying out Lightspeed is a no-brainer! So now I have 2 (soon to be 4 I suppose) magazine issues in the reading backlog!
Yeah, if I remember correctly the center area gets the "there's something new here" exclamation mark when you unlock an aspect, so naturally you'd except there to be something there. I think just I stumbled upon the selection, so it was pure luck for me! Great that you got it working, good luck in future runs.
Death to Chronos, and all that!