ICN'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
ICN Link ParentThanks, I'm looking forward to the update. I appreciate a challenge when it can hit just the right difficulty sweet spot. Noita often frustrates me in this regard, but somehow I keep coming back...Thanks, I'm looking forward to the update. I appreciate a challenge when it can hit just the right difficulty sweet spot. Noita often frustrates me in this regard, but somehow I keep coming back anyway.
The secrets and puzzles in Noita cover an interesting range. Some are built on a personal level, where it's entirely possible someone will figure it out themselves. Some are built more on a community level, where the chance of any specific player doing the right thing is low, but the chance that somebody in the community will do it is high. Then there's one that people still haven't figured out. IIRC the progress menu keeps track of how many secrets you've found.
There isn't any way to remove an always cast from a wand, but there is one modifier that would do the trick here. The Spells to Power modifier does exactly what it says; converts spells around you into more damage for a projectile. If you found that somewhere, you could use it to clean up the old instances of Circle of Stillness. There are a lot of spells and modifiers though, so it's unlikely to turn up. Still, if you end up tossing the wand, maybe leave it somewhere you'll remember in case you want to double back.
A quick note on lag, the Gold is Forever perk can potentially cause some issues in longer games where you go off the beaten path. I'd avoid it myself.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentNoita is lots of fun, in a brutally unforgiving way. I've been diving back in myself with the update. Going for as few spoilers as possible is the right move; Noita is a game that rewards...Noita is lots of fun, in a brutally unforgiving way. I've been diving back in myself with the update. Going for as few spoilers as possible is the right move; Noita is a game that rewards exploration and experimentation, unless it's one of those times it punishes you for it (the creature that has killed me the most according to the game stats is myself). I'd enjoy updates on your playthroughs, as sadly the only way to recapture that initial exploratory experience in games is vicariously.
One note, the green tablet should automatically translate if you stand next to it for a few seconds (at least they do for me in English). Also have some notes on mechanical controls that aren't made quite clear by the game (or at least for me, I didn't realize they were a thing until I read someone else pointing them out), but just in case you want to avoid even those I'll spoiler them.
Game control notes
-Kicking moves in the direction of your cursor, not just away from you.-The force of objects launched by spells (dynamite, bombs, things like that) is determined by the distance from the Noita to your cursor, i.e. the farther your cursor the farther they'll go.
-Right clicking a potion icon on your inventory bar will drink 10% of it.
-You can drink liquids/eat some things by pressing down next to them.
And one hint that makes starting out a little nicer, in case you want it. It sheds some light on one game mechanic, but I wouldn't say it spoils anything.
What could it be?
That green tablet you found is a very practical and useful item.If you have any questions, feel free to let me know; I've done quite a lot of what there is to do and can use the wiki without fear of spoilers at this point, so if you want a hint or clarification on something I can serve as a buffer.
-
Comment on Scientific research suggests it might be a good idea to add python to your diet in ~food
ICN LinkThis article seems a bit disingenuous to me. Yes, pythons have a high food-to-meat-produced conversion ratio compared to other livestock animals, but isn't that because pythons eat meat rather...This article seems a bit disingenuous to me. Yes, pythons have a high food-to-meat-produced conversion ratio compared to other livestock animals, but isn't that because pythons eat meat rather than plants?
Possibly there could be a situation where pythons could effectively recycle meat waste products from other animals into more meat, but there are so many hurdles involved, in addition to health questions of whether it'd be safe for humans to eat the meat of an animal fed entirely by meat unfit for human consumption, with the moral considerations looming on top of it all.
Also, they acknowledge they didn't factor in how snake meat actually tastes, so it may all be moot. Any Tilderinos tried it?
Edit: Missed MimicSquid's comment, which covers the inefficiency inherent to feeding an animal meat to make meat.
-
Comment on New moons of Uranus and Neptune announced in ~space
ICN LinkIt's incredible to me that something like this is possible. A quick bit of math and a search for the closest Uranus is to Earth suggests that finding the smaller moon is like spotting the head of...It's incredible to me that something like this is possible. A quick bit of math and a search for the closest Uranus is to Earth suggests that finding the smaller moon is like spotting the head of a pin from 325 km (or 202 miles) away. And that's the best case, while also being done on Earth, with all that pesky atmosphere making things even more difficult. It's just astounding.
-
Comment on Does anyone else have posting anxiety? in ~tech
ICN Link ParentHuh, I hadn't considered them that before, but I don't see what else they could qualify as.Huh, I hadn't considered them that before, but I don't see what else they could qualify as.
-
Comment on Does anyone else have posting anxiety? in ~tech
ICN Link ParenteM dash for Musings eN dash for Numbers In case that helps anyone remember the difference better This post is made without punctuation so as to avoid any appearance of biaseM dash for Musings
eN dash for Numbers
In case that helps anyone remember the difference betterThis post is made without punctuation so as to avoid any appearance of bias
-
Comment on Tildes Minecraft Survival Bi-Weekly Thread in ~games
ICN Link ParentEmergency building project, we must construct a courthouse at once in light of this heinous crime.Emergency building project, we must construct a courthouse at once in light of this heinous crime.
-
Comment on Bluesky Social is now open to the public in ~tech
ICN Link ParentAh, serves me right for going off vague memories instead of proper research. Thanks for the correction.Ah, serves me right for going off vague memories instead of proper research. Thanks for the correction.
-
Comment on Bluesky Social is now open to the public in ~tech
ICN LinkI don't think Bluesky is really going to make it; it's in too awkward of a position. For one thing, I think we've all seen that it's quite difficult to get people to switch platforms in serious...I don't think Bluesky is really going to make it; it's in too awkward of a position. For one thing, I think we've all seen that it's quite difficult to get people to switch platforms in serious numbers. Network effects and inertia are tough challenges to overcome.
Secondly, even before Twitter was bought out, the general vibe I got from people (not having used the platform myself) was that it had gone downhill and its "villain of the day" algorithm led to a ton of exhausting outrage and toxicity. So Twitter 2, from the guy who brought you Twitter 1, is going to be a hard sell to a lot of people.
So Bluesky's pitch read, to me, as trying to get people to go through all the effort of jumping ship, for a return to when things were better but still a long ways from good. There is a small community there, and small communities can keep going for quite some time, but that's not going to look like success to big tech companies and the VC money I'm guessing is behind it.
-
Comment on It took divorce to make my marriage equal – I spent twelve years fighting for an equal partnership, when what I needed was a divorce [2020] in ~life
ICN Link ParentIt's great that you and your partner do that for each other, but I think the praise is just how the issue manifests, rather than the core issue itself. The real problem is when the man feels like...It's great that you and your partner do that for each other, but I think the praise is just how the issue manifests, rather than the core issue itself. The real problem is when the man feels like they've gone above and beyond, when in reality they haven't actually made up for the imbalance that existed in the first place. Like, it's great that they emptied the dishwasher this time, but it needs to happen every time if things are actually going to change. If the man only does it when they get a lot of praise for it, or if they never learn it well enough so that the woman always has to finish up afterwards, they haven't actually taken the matter off her plate; there's still a significant amount of emotional labor that remains.
And while praise is nice, I think what most of the women who write stuff like this are looking for is balance in a relationship of equals. Getting praised for how much harder you work or how much better you are at working more often doesn't feel that good if you're supposed to be partners.
-
Comment on Extreme metal guitar skills linked to intrasexual competition, but not mating success in ~science
ICN Link ParentFor anyone who enjoys this sort of thing BAHfest has some similar silly science vibes. People make an absurd hypothesis, then justify it as best they can.For anyone who enjoys this sort of thing BAHfest has some similar silly science vibes. People make an absurd hypothesis, then justify it as best they can.
-
Comment on A new global gender divide is emerging in ~life
ICN Link ParentFair enough; complicated issues don't boil down to a single cause. The fundamental shift in the human experience in recent times is likely a significant factor, as you point out, and there are...Fair enough; complicated issues don't boil down to a single cause. The fundamental shift in the human experience in recent times is likely a significant factor, as you point out, and there are also financial difficulties, climate change, increased atomization, and more.
Problems often bear some similarity to the coastline paradox; the deeper you go searching for the cause, the more issues you find.
-
Comment on A new global gender divide is emerging in ~life
ICN Link ParentFirst, I think we might've talked past each other a bit, or I misinterpreted something. My interpretation of the conversation was an initial assertion that misogyny was to blame, your rebuttal...First, I think we might've talked past each other a bit, or I misinterpreted something. My interpretation of the conversation was an initial assertion that misogyny was to blame, your rebuttal that it's a cultural issue, and then my response is that if it's a cultural issue born out of misogyny, it's still a misogyny issue.
Second, to address your point about birth and marriage rates that I didn't before, there's nothing stating that misogyny is going to express itself in the same ways at all levels.
At a 10 (completely made up number for illustrative purposes) on the misogyny scale, women don't have any choices. Birth and marriage rates are high, because they're completely dictated by what men want with no concern for the women involved.
At a 5, women get choices, but they're bad ones. Everything comes with a serious price attached. Birth rates are low, because having a family will tank their career, lead to a huge and unevenly distributed amount of new work, and many other issues. Marriage rates are low because women can now, as opposed to when they had no options, choose not to get into terrible marriages with still plentiful misogynistic men, or divorce them.
In short, high misogyny can cause high birth/marriage rates, since women are denied agency. But medium misogyny can lower birth/marriage rates too, since women can use the agency they get to opt out of making the unfairly biased and unjust choices society gives them.
-
Comment on A new global gender divide is emerging in ~life
ICN Link ParentI'm unconvinced that misogyny isn't the primary driver. You blame a hyper competitive economy and a status-obsessed culture. The culture sounds to me like the natural evolution of a society where...I'm unconvinced that misogyny isn't the primary driver. You blame a hyper competitive economy and a status-obsessed culture. The culture sounds to me like the natural evolution of a society where men can gain status and financial security on their own, but women can only gain the same through men. My understanding is that South Korea has made some strides, but there's still a long ways to go on the matter of gender equality, and culture is slow to change.
-
Comment on ‘No cash accepted’ signs are bad news for millions of unbanked Americans in ~finance
ICN Link ParentIIRC, the interest rates on payday loans were actually lower when the mob was running an equivalent. They're absurdly predatory.IIRC, the interest rates on payday loans were actually lower when the mob was running an equivalent. They're absurdly predatory.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentOnce you pointed that out, I do see some of that influence. But, in this case, I think it's the type of thing I'd prefer learning more about in a hypothetical youtube deep dive style, rather than...Once you pointed that out, I do see some of that influence. But, in this case, I think it's the type of thing I'd prefer learning more about in a hypothetical youtube deep dive style, rather than by playing the game itself; the aesthetic ended up being the deal-breaker.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentI did get Rebirth. The controller thing I realize was unclear; I'm a PC gamer, so I was bemoaning the lack of mouse support rather than any other controller option. Your general sentiment to the...I did get Rebirth. The controller thing I realize was unclear; I'm a PC gamer, so I was bemoaning the lack of mouse support rather than any other controller option.
Your general sentiment to the game is one I've seen fairly often, which is what drew me to it in the first place. And elements of that were visible, even in my limited amount of playtime; it's clear that the developer put in a lot of work. But overall, I just find the general aesthetic too unpleasant a space to exist in. Quite possibly that would fade over time, but I'd need a deeper discount to consider taking that gamble, which is why I ultimately decided to return it.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN LinkI tried out The Binding of Isaac. It's a rogue-like shooter game, somewhat like Enter the Gungeon. The game leans into its grotesque aesthetic. The input is keyboard only, even in menu screens....I tried out The Binding of Isaac. It's a rogue-like shooter game, somewhat like Enter the Gungeon.
The game leans into its grotesque aesthetic. The input is keyboard only, even in menu screens. There's no way to review the name of the items you've got. Stats are extremely vague (Damage up, by some nebulous amount; +3 Evil, which quite possibly does something, maybe). There are no descriptions of any kind (you got the Emperor Card consumable. What does it do? Memorize all of them or check the wiki). Also, there's a bunch of blood, poop, and offal and the like, but the UI issues are the truly sickening part.
Gameplay-wise, I rather prefer Enter the Gungeon moment-to-moment. The default weapon in The Binding of Isaac has slow projectiles and is annoying to aim, and items don't seem to shake that up much for the most part, which is a problem when in a rogue-like where it's expected that you'll spend a lot of time with that annoying starter weapon. I miss dodge rolling too.
There are good qualities too. Even the cursory look I've taken has revealed that there is a significant amount of depth, from the plentiful unlockable characters, to the various mechanics and indications of something more, like doors I don't know how to open or running into a one or two of the seven deadly sins on a run; it's a game that seems like it encourages discovery and exploration (Kind of; the game being so anemic with information, even stuff the player has seen before, aggressively pushes players to the wiki, where, in my experience with other games, things tend to get spoiled even if you're not looking for them.). There seems to be a healthy modding community around the game, and it was easy enough to install a couple to help with the UI issues. The general impression I get is a game where you can get out of it what you put into it, however much you want that to be.
Overall, The Binding of Isaac seems like one of those games you either spend one hour on, or a thousand. Personally, I'm leaning towards one and returning it. I find the aesthetic unpleasant, the lack of quality of life features is frustrating, and given the choice, I'd go with a show that's good all throughout, rather than the one that gets good after a couple of seasons, to use an analogy.
-
Comment on Substack turns on its ‘Nazis Welcome!’ sign in ~tech
ICN Link ParentIf people finding out what Substack is doing causes a reputation issue, the problem isn't with the whistleblowers. Platforming Nazis is a bad thing in and of itself, even if the Nazis are...Substack is getting a reputation problem, but the direct cause (for now) is people calling this stuff out. That's a different problem from the Nazis themselves causing a reputation problem from their own interactions with other people.
If people finding out what Substack is doing causes a reputation issue, the problem isn't with the whistleblowers.
Platforming Nazis is a bad thing in and of itself, even if the Nazis are well-behaved (for now), because doing so leads to more Nazis. Increasing their reach increases the number of people vulnerable to that ideology who will see them. The farther they are from the fringes of the internet, the more legitimate their position appears, and the easier it gets for random people to stumble across them. One of the most effective measures for dealing with an infection is quarantine.
And I invite you to consider how it feels to be a member of one of the many groups that Nazis hate. Over there, in the same room but sitting quietly in a little square of tape is someone who wants to murder you. They will do anything they can to gain power until they can murder you, and everyone like you. Do you see how that might make members of that group feel unwelcome or uncomfortable on the platform, even if the section of the room over here is fine? Quite a lot of marginalized people are driven away when you allow the voices of the people who want to kill them equal weight as their own, to the detriment of people and platform both.
For many people, the best time to get off a sinking ship is now, even if they could potentially swing by the buffet real quick before leaving. If you want to stick around to get as much as you can out of the experience, that's entirely within your rights. But many people will want to exit before any unpleasantness, and it'll be much more difficult to bring in anyone new.
Maybe you're right that people are panicking early, and Substack will turn things around somehow. But I've never even heard of a place getting better after adding Nazis into the mix, so personally I'm going to give it a wide berth.
That was fun to read, thanks for the update. Nice work shredding Steve, and finding out about the Hiisi healer trick; that one can really come in handy. My experience in the jungle matches yours, where it is noticeably easier than what came before. Hiisi Base is kind of where the rubber meets the road in the game though imo; the first couple biomes, you can muddle through with your starter wands if need be. The third is a significant step up, though it's a bit sparsely populated and with the wide open spaces you can rush for the holy mountain if need be. Hiisi Base though is cramped, full of enemies, riddled with metal, and stuffed with explosives. In comparison, the jungle is a nice quiet place to recover after the mayhem.
Then comes the Vault, and your nice tropical vacation ends. Sudden death is a quintessential Noita experience, so you can rest in peace knowing you're playing the game as intended.