ICN's recent activity
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Comment on Anthropic rejects latest US Pentagon offer: โWe cannot in good conscience accede to their requestโ in ~tech
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentYou're welcome! I find it annoying how obtuse and sometimes counterintuitive the mechanics in the game can be. What's the difference between Lune's Hell skill's 'very high' damage and Elemental...You're welcome! I find it annoying how obtuse and sometimes counterintuitive the mechanics in the game can be. What's the difference between Lune's Hell skill's 'very high' damage and Elemental Genesis' 'extreme'? (Elemental Genesis does 24x a base attack, Hell does 10x baseline or 30x with appropriate stains. Fully charged Mayhem is 7.2x for context) Do modifiers stack additively or multiplicatively? (It depends) IIRC, burn only starts hitting the serious diminishing returns around 40 stacks, so probably no problems on that front yet, but something to keep in mind for later on. And if you ever want to know the actual numbers for anything just let me know; I got a mod that gives the details.
A good counter attack is the most satisfying thing in the game IMO, but in my own play through I mostly ended up eating dirt when I tried for them; between that and my going with a setup that pumped out AP, I stuck to dodges. After finishing though, I reconsidered things and made some builds that allowed the leeway to try for the fun option instead of the safer one.
Your weapons sound good for your point in the story I think. Normally, level 20 weapons are gated until much further along; Frozen Hearts is a way to sequence break if you've got a weapon with a build defining level 20 ability. Something to keep in your back pocket in case something catches your eye.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentSome tips that might help mitigate the dodge issue if you'd like: If you return to the Stone Waves Cliffs after Act 1, there's a picto past where you fought the Lampmaster called Defensive Mode...Some tips that might help mitigate the dodge issue if you'd like:
If you return to the Stone Waves Cliffs after Act 1, there's a picto past where you fought the Lampmaster called Defensive Mode that burns 1 AP when hit to reduce damage by 30%. If you combine that with Energizing Pain from the same area, you take 30% less damage at no AP cost.
Maelle can be a pretty good tank with the Egide skill. If you combine that with the Duenum weapon and the above pictos, she'll tank single target hits for the whole party and give everyone else AP every time she gets hit.
Forgotten Battlefield notes
Egide does run into an issue where you can't permanently maintain it and defensive stance unless you get an extra turn. If you got the Exposing Attack picto from the gestral in the water zone, then Verso can use the weapon from the Forgotten Battlefield, Dualiso, to easily apply defenseless, allowing Maelle to chain Breaking Rules -> Egide every turn. The Benisim weapon from that location's merchant for Lune can also be quite good.
There are a variety of pictos available that boost healing skills, or apply a different type of buff if you apply a buff. If you explore, you can get to the point where healing skills provide tons of AP and several buffs.
Sciel's skill that instantly gives another turn to a party member is extremely useful for setting up combos.
The First Strike picto gets a bit weird if everyone has it. The first turn order is the order people were added to the party, so if you want to set a specific order, remove everyone but who you want to go first, then add party members in the order you'd like them to go. IIRC, everyone First Strike makes blasting enemies to initiate combat counterproductive; if you have high speed, you can potentially get two turns if you just run into enemies instead.
Burn is weird. You get diminishing returns for each stack, and the higher the defense stat of the character applying it, the lower the damage it deals. IIRC, the whole burn stack also seems to use the stats of the last person to apply it, so if you've got someone specialized in burn it can be counterproductive to have anyone else use it.
I didn't try this myself on my run, but I'm guessing you could get pretty far with a full glass cannon approach. You could even combine this with a more conventional approach by sending any extra party members in first as glass cannons to do as much damage as possible before your more sustainable main party comes in to mop up anything that survives.
If you've made a new friend
The train station Monoco's at has 3 exits; think of it as a Y where you come in from the bottom, and the story tells you to go left. If you go right, you can find the Frozen Hearts area. Everything there will kill you easily, but if you avoid fights you can run around and pick up an upgrade component or two that will allow you to level a weapon to 20.
If you've unlocked the ability for Esquie to break coral
If you do want to give parrying a try, there's a weapon in there that gives Maelle a shield for each successful parry that makes things much more forgiving, especially if you combine it with the picto that heals a bit on a parry.
If have any questions or want someone to pass on some information from the wiki sans spoilers, just let me know.
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Comment on The mega-rich are turning their mansions into impenetrable fortresses in ~finance
ICN Link ParentI think a simpler explanation is that they believe that wealth and power will insulate them from any consequences of their actions, so the best thing they can do on a personal level is accumulate...I think a simpler explanation is that they believe that wealth and power will insulate them from any consequences of their actions, so the best thing they can do on a personal level is accumulate those things even if that creates negative consequences for everyone else.
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Comment on List animals until failure in ~games
ICN (edited )Link ParentIt got me good when the title changed to "list animals OTHER THAN DOGS" I had a brief moment of excitement when I discovered it would accept dinosaurs, but then I realized I don't actually know...It got me good when the title changed to "list animals OTHER THAN DOGS"I had a brief moment of excitement when I discovered it would accept dinosaurs, but then I realized I don't actually know the names of all that many dinosaurs. 6 year old me in shambles now.
146 animals listed
๐ฉ๐ธ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ง๐ผ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ป๐ป๐ฆ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ท๐ฆง๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ชฑ๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ธ๏ธ๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ ช๐ธ๐๐ชฐ๐๐๐๐ชณ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ชธ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฆญ๐ฆฆ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ชฒ๐๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆซ๐โฅ๐๐บ๐ป๐ฆฅ๐ฆฃ๐น๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐๐ท๐ชฐ๐ฆ -
Comment on Terra. Invicta. in ~games
ICN LinkOh, hey, they did it! Quick history lesson: Pavonis Interactive, the studio that made this game, got their start as a team of modders; specifically, modders for the rebooted XCOM game. Their mod,...Oh, hey, they did it!
Quick history lesson: Pavonis Interactive, the studio that made this game, got their start as a team of modders; specifically, modders for the rebooted XCOM game. Their mod, Long War, was such a hit that the developers of XCOM 2 purposefully made that game to be extremely mod-friendly, citing them as the inspiration (the XCOM devs even brought them on to make a few mods that were launched with the game in the Steam workshop). The Pavonis folks took a step back from modding at this point though to focus on their own game, Terra Invicta.
Now, personally, Long War never quite clicked for me; it was a little too involved and complicated for my tastes, but I loved XCOM 2. The mods opened up so much customization of almost literally every aspect of the game, and really extended the the lifespan of a work whose franchise now seems effectively dead. So while Terra Invicta seems like one I'd probably bounce off of, it's a real bright spot in my day to see that the people who contributed so much to something I enjoy seem to be thriving.
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Comment on Whatโs a point that you think many people missed? in ~talk
ICN Link ParentI think the easiest example that most people will be directly familiar with are social media companies. They were built on harvesting personal information, and we've seen what they chose to build...I think the easiest example that most people will be directly familiar with are social media companies. They were built on harvesting personal information, and we've seen what they chose to build with it. Endless addiction machines, doom scrolling, the death of nuance, and the erosion of the social fabric. All in pursuit of extracting every last bit of value they can from their users. If there's more money to be made in your misery than your happiness, companies like Facebook have chosen to do so and will choose to again. If wealthy groups want to target the vulnerable, social media companies will happily serve as the middlemen so long as they get their cut.
In short, anyone who's unhappy with the state of social media, whether its direct effects or the indirect ones, have a vested interest in privacy.
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Comment on Want to get a 3D printer for miniatures that work well with open source software in ~hobbies
ICN LinkThe Tome of 3d Printed Horrors focuses on printing miniatures with fdm printers, with the Bambu A1 Mini as their printer of choice. Resin printers still have an edge, but I was surprised to see...The Tome of 3d Printed Horrors focuses on printing miniatures with fdm printers, with the Bambu A1 Mini as their printer of choice. Resin printers still have an edge, but I was surprised to see just how detailed you can get with fdm.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 17 in ~society
ICN Link ParentGenuinely, what kompromat could they possibly have that Trump's base would care about and wouldn't get dismissed out of hand as fake news, AI, or a deepfake?Genuinely, what kompromat could they possibly have that Trump's base would care about and wouldn't get dismissed out of hand as fake news, AI, or a deepfake?
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentYeah, on the XCOM front the biggest mistake Firaxis made was creating a system where it's detrimental to reveal aliens on your turn. The whole rest of the series can be seen as them trying to...Yeah, on the XCOM front the biggest mistake Firaxis made was creating a system where it's detrimental to reveal aliens on your turn. The whole rest of the series can be seen as them trying to counteract the slow and tedious gameplay this naturally leads to.
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Comment on Around the world in eighty days ... sustainably in ~talk
ICN LinkSince "around the world" isn't a strictly defined term, we can make this easy on ourselves. Most people wouldn't insist on sticking to the equator for the trip and would accept a trip along the...Since "around the world" isn't a strictly defined term, we can make this easy on ourselves. Most people wouldn't insist on sticking to the equator for the trip and would accept a trip along the Tropic of Cancer, for example. Extrapolating to absurdity from this, the simplest way is to get to the south pole by whatever means*, then "circumnavigate" the globe with a leisurely stroll around said pole.
*Yes, that part is complicated, but since it's not technically part of our trip around the world I'm counting only the circumnavigation itself.
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Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 10 in ~society
ICN (edited )Link ParentThe Democrats just demonstrated they'll cave in exchange for nothing. If they shut down the government again, the Republicans will just wait them out again, because it's proven to be an effective...The Democrats just demonstrated they'll cave in exchange for nothing. If they shut down the government again, the Republicans will just wait them out again, because it's proven to be an effective strategy.
Ugh. This whole situation was just a real kick in the teeth for me, so apologies if this post is too aggressive or something; I have difficulty gauging tone right now. I was feeling some hope for the first time in a while after the elections, and then almost immediately the Democrats gave up.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentCompletely fair. For myself, as I get older and repetitive stress injuries and the like become greater concerns, I find myself leaning away from the more button-mashy games. For Hades 2, I find...Completely fair. For myself, as I get older and repetitive stress injuries and the like become greater concerns, I find myself leaning away from the more button-mashy games. For Hades 2, I find the daggers and the coat are still pretty fast paced, as is the skull with Medea's aspect, and you can turn on Frenzy if you want things to be even faster. And honestly, even with the increased options, I find myself still often defaulting to just plain hitting things and spamming dodge as much as possible.
For omega moves, it took me a bit to get in the habit of watching for it on boons, and I'll usually ignore at least one. I also like the eternity arcana (slows down time for a bit when using an omega move); it gives a bit of breathing room, and also means I'll occasionally catch an incoming hit in time to dodge, and when you catch a boss attack with it seeing it slowed down really helps with learning the pattern.
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
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Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ICN Link ParentThey really knocked it out of the park. The removal of double-dashing, the cast as an aoe that slows down creatures, and the addition of omega moves all serve to make for less frenetic and more...They really knocked it out of the park.
The removal of double-dashing, the cast as an aoe that slows down creatures, and the addition of omega moves all serve to make for less frenetic and more considered gameplay. Hexes are a much more customizable and fun version of calls. I like grasp and making choices about which benefits you get better than the first game's one or the other approach on the mirror. The rare resource acquisition is rendered much nicer with the loyalty card system, and aspects aren't anywhere near as much of a slog to max out. Familiars are a fun and cute little addition and offer a little way to further customize your play style.
While all told I found the game a fair bit easier than the first, almost every aspect of the game is just that little bit better, nicer, and more fun. It's truly an incredible achievement. Though all the cosmetic options are too expensive.
Spoilered ending 1 thoughts
The one fly in the ointment for me was the ending. It's very abrupt and didn't feel well foreshadowed to me, and while it's a great moment for Zagreus, it leaves Melinoe feeling like a bystander in her own game. And afterwards is just kinda sad. Melinoe is fighting the same war she's been fighting her entire life, and mostly doesn't see her family. Zag doesn't even really try to get to know her better, since he already learned about her in the timeline Melinoe has no memory of.
But my biggest criticism by far is that there's no way to get Scylla and the Sirens to play a concert at the camp. I bought all their songs, I got the poster, they wrote a love song, and still nothing!
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
ICN Link ParentTrue, I was looking at things through the lens of my own situation, where I keep the volume adjustment interval pretty low, so fine adjustments are easy but large ones take a few more clicks. For...I think it is also good for small fine tuned adjustments. Mine are not stepped, so I can really dial it in at the volume I want, and not stuck either being on a notch slightly too loud/quiet.
True, I was looking at things through the lens of my own situation, where I keep the volume adjustment interval pretty low, so fine adjustments are easy but large ones take a few more clicks.
For comparison, my own setup is generally headphones with a random grab bag of content in a household where I've come to suspect the other inhabitants don't always have absolute silence as their top priority. It sounds like your soundscape may be a bit more consistent, so I wouldn't go out of your way to get a mouse that can do it, but if you've already got one I'd give it a whirl; you'll know in a day or two if it clicks.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
ICN Link ParentA dedicated volume knob is tactilely satisfying and is better for large adjustments, but the whole point of having volume controls on the side tilts of my mouse wheel is so that I don't have to...A dedicated volume knob is tactilely satisfying and is better for large adjustments, but the whole point of having volume controls on the side tilts of my mouse wheel is so that I don't have to reach for anything; if the mumbler starts talking on a podcast or the loud part of a song starts up or whatever, my hand is already on the volume control. It's constant virtually effortless fine-tuning that never breaks my flow.
It's a relatively small change, but I'd liken it to getting forward/back buttons on a mouse; no, it's not difficult to click on the actual buttons, but once you've made things just a little bit smoother all the time it's hard to go back.
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Comment on What's a setting that you'd recommend? in ~tech
ICN LinkI find binding volume controls to a programmable mouse so convenient for gaming or web browsing that I refuse to use one where it's not possible these days.I find binding volume controls to a programmable mouse so convenient for gaming or web browsing that I refuse to use one where it's not possible these days.
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~society
ICN Link ParentI think another factor is also that the left is less comfortable with snake oil. Supplements in the US are mostly unregulated; IIRC there's no guarantee that they contain what they're supposed to,...I think another factor is also that the left is less comfortable with snake oil. Supplements in the US are mostly unregulated; IIRC there's no guarantee that they contain what they're supposed to, don't contain harmful ingredients, or have any of the claimed effects. This has led to the supplement industry being a huge funder of medical misinformation/mistrust (You can't trust doctors, which is why you need my brain pills) awash in right wing grifters. Since workout supplements run parallel to that industry, there's a fair bit of spillover.
LLMs would be fantastic for a probable cause generator. Poke it until it says that whatever person/group you're targeting is the suspect, and now that an advanced AI system has said it you've got all the justification needed to go after them.