KapteinB's recent activity
-
Comment on Swedish singer Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest – only the second performer to take the prize twice in ~music
-
Comment on Miasma Chronicles wants to be bigger and better than Mutant Year Zero – I think it's going to do it in ~games
KapteinB LinkI really liked Mutant Year Zero, so I'm looking forward to this one. :-)I really liked Mutant Year Zero, so I'm looking forward to this one. :-)
-
Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
KapteinB LinkHaken - Fauna Still listening to the new Haken album, which has been out for a while now. It's more prog-y than most of their work, so some of the songs had to grow on me a bit. Of the four...Haken - Fauna
Still listening to the new Haken album, which has been out for a while now. It's more prog-y than most of their work, so some of the songs had to grow on me a bit. Of the four singles they released ahead of the album, the only one I really liked on first listen was Alphabet of Me, which I feel isn't really that representative of the album as a whole. My favourite track from this album is Elephants Never Forget, clocking in at 11 minutes 7 seconds, which I admit may be a bit too long for a single.
There are also some seriously catchy choruses on this album, which maybe isn't what listeners usually look for in prog metal, but I enjoy them.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
KapteinB (edited )LinkDeadlands (tabletop) Finished our first campaign. The rules are very lightweight and quick to get into, but the game is very swingy, with a thin line between being in control of the situation and...Deadlands (tabletop)
Finished our first campaign. The rules are very lightweight and quick to get into, but the game is very swingy, with a thin line between being in control of the situation and being bleeding out on the ground. A careful playstyle is rewarded, something my group never really took to heart. We still had lots of fun though.
Ability scores and skills equate to dice size (minimum d4 to maximum d20). If you roll the maximum number, you roll again and add it to the total. In general, any roll 4 or higher is a success, and every increment of 4 above the target number is a raise, giving you some sort of bonus effect (in combat; typically more damage).
The setting of the game is The Weird West, basically The Wild West, but with steampunk machinery, magic, and monsters. Right up my alley. Though we played the second edition of the game, and to me the first edition setting sounds even cooler, taking place during the Railroad Wars between different transportation companies competing to complete the trans-continental railroad.
We had lots of fun. Me and another player played Mexican mariachi cousins with intelligence as our dump stat and limited understanding of English. It was that type of campaign.
This week we're building characters for a new Scum and Villainy campaign, which will probably be about the same level of whackiness. Should be good!
edit:
I forgot to mention one of the coolest things about the game: The bennies (benefits).
Many of you are familiar with Inspiration in D&D 5e. The GM will occasionally give it to you as a reward for doing something cool in game. You can have a single Inspiration, represented by a checked box on your character sheet. It has a single use (spend it before a d20 roll to roll an extra die and keep the highest), and you always forget to use it when you really need to.
Bennies are different in important ways. There's no hard limit to how many you can have, and you start every play session with three of them. They have more uses (reroll a failed roll, remove a status effect, resist damage, redraw initiative). And there's no place for it on your character sheet, incentivizing the use of physical tokens as reminders. The GM in my group bought the deluxe edition, which came with poker chips to use as bennies, so whenever things were going south and we needed to change the course of the game, we would hand him one of these large heavy tokens, and it felt great.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
KapteinB Link ParentI think I ignored it when it came out party because of the name, but I just looked up the IGN review, and that actually looks really fun! How well does it run on the Switch?I think I ignored it when it came out party because of the name, but I just looked up the IGN review, and that actually looks really fun! How well does it run on the Switch?
-
Comment on Tildes Video Thread in ~misc
KapteinB LinkIt's Eurovision season, and Overthinking It are as usual overthinking some of this year's songs. Funny and sometimes educational and thought provoking.It's Eurovision season, and Overthinking It are as usual overthinking some of this year's songs. Funny and sometimes educational and thought provoking.
-
Comment on What are your favorite non-service apps? in ~tech
KapteinB LinkReadup Removes distractions while reading articles, share them with other users, share your thoughts in the comment sections (and know that everyone who comments have actually read the articles!),...Removes distractions while reading articles, share them with other users, share your thoughts in the comment sections (and know that everyone who comments have actually read the articles!), and discover new articles to read recommended by other users (who, again, you know have actually read the articles!).
Sadly no Android version yet, but the Firefox extension works quite well, using the old add-on collection trick.
-
Comment on The long history of the figurative 'literally'—and eight great writers who used it in ~humanities
KapteinB LinkMost of these examples seem to be from dialogue or a narrator's monologue. Should those even count towards the argument the writer is trying to make here? If an author wants to make a believable...Most of these examples seem to be from dialogue or a narrator's monologue. Should those even count towards the argument the writer is trying to make here? If an author wants to make a believable character, they may have that character use literally the way most people do; to mean figuratively.
And I wouldn't be surprised if Tom Sawyer literally laid out his treasures on the ground and rolled around on top of them. Well, not the tin soldier; that would both hurt and risk breaking it.
-
Comment on Saudi-Iranian détente is a wake-up call for America in ~misc
KapteinB Link ParentDoes the plan account for a population decline of roughly 100 million, and one of the oldest populations in the world? If not, I think China may be in for its own rude awakening soon.Meanwhile, China is laying chess pieces toward its 2049 plan. 2049, still more than a quarter century away.
Does the plan account for a population decline of roughly 100 million, and one of the oldest populations in the world? If not, I think China may be in for its own rude awakening soon.
-
Comment on What's a good and/or competitive video game that does not require quick aiming, a lot of actions per minute, or precise motor skills? in ~games
KapteinB Link ParentOne TBS game I've enjoyed a lot lately is Ozymandias. It's a little bit like Civilization, but matches rarely last more than an hour. Online multiplayer seems to be decently active.One TBS game I've enjoyed a lot lately is Ozymandias. It's a little bit like Civilization, but matches rarely last more than an hour. Online multiplayer seems to be decently active.
-
Comment on What's a good and/or competitive video game that does not require quick aiming, a lot of actions per minute, or precise motor skills? in ~games
KapteinB Link ParentLots of other good board games! Be on the lookout for board game meets in your town. Nerds will be all too happy to teach you their favourite games.Lots of other good board games! Be on the lookout for board game meets in your town. Nerds will be all too happy to teach you their favourite games.
-
Comment on What's a good and/or competitive video game that does not require quick aiming, a lot of actions per minute, or precise motor skills? in ~games
KapteinB Link ParentHave a look at Overwatch, and it's older sibling Team Fortress 2; they seem to check a lot of your boxes. Many of the classes don't really require good aim or quick reflexes. Batttlefield too...Have a look at Overwatch, and it's older sibling Team Fortress 2; they seem to check a lot of your boxes. Many of the classes don't really require good aim or quick reflexes.
Batttlefield too might be worth a look. I've mostly mained engineer, focusing on keeping my team's vehicles operational, but you can also try your hand as a medic, or play around with support gadgets like drones and mortars.
Actually, on the topic of vehicles, you may also enjoy World of Tanks and its siblings. When I'm having an off day and can't aim for shit, I bring out one of my artillery cannons and join the arty party in the back.
-
Comment on Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha (2023) in ~music
KapteinB LinkCurrently number 3 in the betting odds and number 1 in my heart. I'm getting Electric Callboy vibes, and that's not a bad thing.Currently number 3 in the betting odds and number 1 in my heart. I'm getting Electric Callboy vibes, and that's not a bad thing.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
KapteinB Link ParentMy enthusiasm for VS has been a bit of a weird rollercoaster. At first my hipster-gene kicked in, making me not really interested because it felt like everyone else was playing it. But then a...My enthusiasm for VS has been a bit of a weird rollercoaster. At first my hipster-gene kicked in, making me not really interested because it felt like everyone else was playing it. But then a friend gifted it to me, so I felt obliged to play it, and thought it was a neat idea (single-stick shooter) that I might get a few hours of fun out of. Then by coincidence I got two evolved weapons in the same run and it felt like I broke the game, because it was suddenly way too easy, and most of my enthusiasm was gone, except I'd get a brief burst of enthusiasm every time I unlocked a new character or map, and a significant drop in enthusiasm from trying the bonus maps, which I didn't really like. But then I decided to do some achievement hunting, and it was more fun again with concrete goals to achieve, but the game felt wonky in that you'd either luck into an evolved weapon which breaks the game, or you die much too soon. But then, after dozens of runs and several hours spent playing the game, for the first time I had the need to pause the game (not much need to pause it since it pauses when leveling up and when picking up chests), and I discovered there's a map! And it has icons on it! So that was a fresh wave of enthusiasm as I hunted down the artifacts and the mysterious question marks. I struggled for a long while with figuring out how to defeat the guy blocking the path downwards on Milk Factory, and with defeating the rolling ball of bones on Bone Zone. At some point I accidentally turned off arcanas, which made the game so much more difficult that I lost much of my enthusiasm, until I many runs later discovered how to activate arcanas again. I discovered an important button on the pause meny, the grimoire, and felt a burst of enthusiasm about discovering all the evolved weapons (struggling a bit with the ones that require items that make enemies more powerful, and especially the evolution for the clock lancet). Most recently, just a few days ago, I discovered a button named "secrets", so now I have renewed enthusiasm hunting for secrets!
-
Comment on Alessandra – Queen of Kings (2023) in ~music
KapteinB LinkAnyone else getting some vague Efendi vibes from this? I think it's mostly from the way she looks. Her song isn't really all that similar to Cleopatra or Mata Hari. I voted for the swing song, but...Anyone else getting some vague Efendi vibes from this? I think it's mostly from the way she looks. Her song isn't really all that similar to Cleopatra or Mata Hari.
I voted for the swing song, but it was slaughtered by the juries and largely ignored by the voters. UK was my favourite in 2015. What can I say, I'm a sucker for modern pop swing.
Overall, I thought the quality of songs and performers were quite high this year. There were none of the nine finalists that I would have been ashamed to see in Liverpool. No Eurovision winners on that stage tonight though, I'm pretty sure. Maybe Jone would have had the best chance of a high finishing position in May, especially if he'd performed in Norwegian, and not translated to English like Tix did.
-
Comment on Which web browser do you use? in ~tech
-
Comment on Food suggestions, dieting help in ~health
KapteinB LinkOne thing that helps me avoid snacking is brushing my teeth more often. It's probably at least partially psychological: I'm conditioned from a young age to not eat anything for at least a few...One thing that helps me avoid snacking is brushing my teeth more often. It's probably at least partially psychological: I'm conditioned from a young age to not eat anything for at least a few hours after brushing my teeth. But the minty freshness also somehow seems to reduce cravings, and even makes some snacks taste less good. As a not insignificant bonus, it will reduce your chance of experiencing toothaches, and probably reduce your dentistry costs.
Keep a bottle of mouthwash around too, both at home and at work. It's somewhat less effective (at least for me), but it's quicker and easier than brushing your teeth, and doesn't require running water, just somewhere you can spit.
-
Comment on Which web browser do you use? in ~tech
KapteinB Link ParentVivaldi on my phone. I like to read long articles, but I'm an intermittent reader, and my Android phone likes to reload apps whenever I launch them. It even reloads when I switch between tabs! And...Vivaldi on my phone.
I like to read long articles, but I'm an intermittent reader, and my Android phone likes to reload apps whenever I launch them. It even reloads when I switch between tabs! And it's not that Chromium is that much faster than Firefox these days, but it's down to how it reloads pages. Chromium will first scroll down to where on the page you last were, then you can resume reading while it loads the CSS and the Javascript and stuff. Firefox will load the entire page, then finally scroll down to your last location, so you can resume reading.
Vivaldi has two features that makes it my favourite Chromium browser for Android: The tab bar for quicker and easier switching between tabs, and the preview page feature for visiting a link without your current page reloading when you switch back to it.
-
Comment on Which web browser do you use? in ~tech
KapteinB Link ParentI'm pretty sure Firefox does that. Honestly kinda surprised Edge doesn't. Edit: Also, if you decide to check out Firefox, it does have a pretty good vertical tabs extension.I'm still waiting for a web browser that syncs my search hotkeys across devices!
I'm pretty sure Firefox does that. Honestly kinda surprised Edge doesn't.
Edit:
Also, if you decide to check out Firefox, it does have a pretty good vertical tabs extension. -
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
KapteinB LinkSalvation (Peter F. Hamilton) I was in the mood for sci-fi again, so I decided to see what my favourite author has been up to lately. Apparently there's a whole new trilogy of books ready for my...Salvation (Peter F. Hamilton)
I was in the mood for sci-fi again, so I decided to see what my favourite author has been up to lately. Apparently there's a whole new trilogy of books ready for my consumption! Excellent. Just finished up the first of the three last week.
It's weirdly structured. Primarily, it follows two different timelines. The first is in the year 2204, when a team of specialists is recruited to investigate a mysterious crashed spaceship in a distant star system. The second is set many years later, following a team of genetically engineered warriors trained from birth to fight a mysterious enemy, revering the five main characters of the first timeline as saints in a quasi-religion. But much of the book consists of a number of lengthy flashbacks focusing on the individual characters from the first timeline.
Actually, the book kinda reads more like a collection of short stories than a novel. Each flashback introduces a bunch of new characters, most of whom are never mentioned again after the flashback ends. At first, I thought the flashbacks were too lengthy, hampering the pacing, and it took me a while to warm up to the structure and lean back and enjoy the journey. In the final few chapters though, all the puzzle pieces come together to reveal the whole; quite suddenly everything made sense, and I realized how many hints had been placed throughout the book about what was really going on all along. It's one of the most satisfying endings to any novel I've ever read, and it made me immediately pick up the next book in the series and start reading.
The book still suffers a bit under the weight of too many characters, but the lengthy flashbacks are where the author sets up most of the world building. And world building is, at least in my opinion, one of Hamilton's greatest strengths.
Usually he focuses on a few revolutionary technologies, and how they would change our society. The big one this time is quantum-spatial entanglement portals, that allow instantaneous travel over large distances. The portal pairs have to be created in the same space though, and one end then transported to the wanted destination. But they have a few other uses than just transportation: Drop one end into the sun, and the other can be used as fuel to create enormous amounts of electricity; or strap the other end at the back of a spaceship as an immensely powerful thruster.
Instant travel and super-cheap electricity, in combination with AI and 3D-printing advancements, and medical advances brought by religious aliens arriving on an arkship, have together launched human civilization into its post-scarcity stage. Humanity has however been split into two factions with very different views on how this new era can best benefit everyone.
Overall, I think I like this book less than The Night's Dawn Trilogy and the Commonwealth Saga, but more than the Void Trilogy.
It's a real earworm, that's for sure!