Pistos'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
Pistos LinkJust finished Mass Effect 3 (and, in so doing, the trilogy). Very good game! Easily 8/10. ME3 is the best of the three by a significant margin. Great world and story, several moral dilemmas (which...Just finished Mass Effect 3 (and, in so doing, the trilogy). Very good game! Easily 8/10. ME3 is the best of the three by a significant margin. Great world and story, several moral dilemmas (which I enjoy having in games), and fun, challenging combat. "Decisions matter", and your choices, their consequences, and your history carry on through the timeline, even across the trilogy. Would recommend this trilogy (Mass Effect Legendary Edition), considering you can probably pretty easily get it cheap because of its age.
I'm entertaining thoughts of replaying the trilogy with a new character, to explore a different character class, and to try different decision branches, and to do skipped or missed missions. What's holding me back is thinking about how many hours that's going to take, though I guess I can skip some dialogues as I feel inclined.
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Comment on What's an achievement (or achievements) you'll always be proud of? in ~life
Pistos Link ParentThat's interesting. It sounds like your teacher really stuck with trying to solve things for quite some time. I wonder if this means you could get better (faster) by practicing reading more....That's interesting. It sounds like your teacher really stuck with trying to solve things for quite some time.
sheet music. I could read it, but it took me a long time.
I wonder if this means you could get better (faster) by practicing reading more. Anyway, I'm hesitant to suggest you go do something which is boring and uninteresting for you, but you and your obstacles to music learning really are unusual and interesting. On some occasions, I teach people basic note reading, so your story makes me think about how I might better teach certain students who are very slow to learn and perform certain things, even though I've repeated the same concept many times ("As I've said, when the note is just to the left of the bar line, that's syncopation, so you need to sing it earlier").
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Comment on What's an achievement (or achievements) you'll always be proud of? in ~life
Pistos Link ParentThis is intriguing. Can you elaborate on this?Honestly, my tutor was baffled, because I was technical good (in his words) but completely shit at holding a tune or reading sheet music.
This is intriguing. Can you elaborate on this?
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Comment on Should I stay with Kingdom Come: Deliverance? in ~games
Pistos Link ParentYeah, that was an unfortunate part of the combat system. They had these neat combos, but they were hard to actually complete successfully; but they put in master strikes, which are relatively much...Yeah, that was an unfortunate part of the combat system. They had these neat combos, but they were hard to actually complete successfully; but they put in master strikes, which are relatively much easier to perform successfully. On top of that, harder opponents can master strike to interrupt your combo, so double disincentive. I haven't tried KCD2 yet, but I wonder how combat has changed in that.
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Comment on Wanted to share a song my friend and I put together in ~creative
Pistos Link ParentYeah, I hear what you're saying. It's actually quite good given the very small time constraint. "overcoming the fear": congrats. You did it! Send me the stems over DM with Nextcloud, Dropbox, or...Yeah, I hear what you're saying. It's actually quite good given the very small time constraint. "overcoming the fear": congrats. You did it! Send me the stems over DM with Nextcloud, Dropbox, or whatever. Just something that won't need an account signup, if possible; and don't forget to set up a way for me to send stuff back to you. Don't worry about cleanliness of the tracks. I can do a bit of cleanup there, too, if needed.
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Comment on Wanted to share a song my friend and I put together in ~creative
Pistos LinkThanks for sharing. My main impression is that I would have balanced the parts/tracks a bit differently. If you guys were deliberately aiming for a more "soundscape washing over you" feel, well, I...Thanks for sharing. My main impression is that I would have balanced the parts/tracks a bit differently. If you guys were deliberately aiming for a more "soundscape washing over you" feel, well, I guess you achieved that. But if I mixed it, I'd put the vocals more forward in the mix, perhaps right out in the foreground. Even in the instrumental parts, I'd bring one or two things out into the spotlight, for the ear and mind to focus on and "watch". Maybe even carry a melody of sorts. Perhaps I'm just too used to popular(ish) music of the last half century.
If you're willing to share the individual tracks, I could take a stab at a mix, and send that back to you. Overall, it's good that you guys put in the time and effort to make something tangible. With a lot of people, creative works are just ideas parked in their head, with nothing to show.
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Comment on What's an achievement (or achievements) you'll always be proud of? in ~life
Pistos LinkGrowing up as a kid, I had classical piano lessons, but never really got as far as I could have, due to cost and motivation. In adulthood, long story short, I stopped asking what if, and decided I...Growing up as a kid, I had classical piano lessons, but never really got as far as I could have, due to cost and motivation. In adulthood, long story short, I stopped asking what if, and decided I didn't want to regret at the end of my life not having seen how far I could have gotten with piano, so I went and signed myself up for lessons as an adult learner. One of the most fulfilling things I ever did. Didn't matter that I was the only grown up in the studio, or at the recitals, with everyone else being a kid being brought by their parents. I took lessons for a few years, and managed to complete the performance half (other half is theory) of the second-to-the-highest level/grade of accreditation in classical piano in Canada. I also took a theory exam as part of all this, and scored a perfect 100% on it. I'm proud of that. Even up to now, when I happen to drive by the place where I took that exam, I always happily remember this accomplishment.
If anyone has an unfulfilled dream or unchecked bucket list item: Go for it! Picture yourself at age 85, asking yourself why you didn't do it. Then, ask yourself if you'd be okay that you didn't.
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Comment on Should I stay with Kingdom Come: Deliverance? in ~games
Pistos (edited )LinkBe aware that it's often an option to avoid combat, or even just turn and run if you happen to get into a fight. Having lighter armour on helps with this, as (if I recall correctly?) you run...out of my league as an older, unskilled, semi-casual video game player
Be aware that it's often an option to avoid combat, or even just turn and run if you happen to get into a fight. Having lighter armour on helps with this, as (if I recall correctly?) you run faster in lighter armour. In some situations, you can talk your way to success, rather than fight. As you progress, stealth, bows, and horseback riding become additional available tools for avoiding direct hand-to-hand combat.
Another slightly amusing option is poking a hostile, then running and luring them into a populated area with guards; then the guards do the fighting, or at least act as an aggro sink. One thing to be aware of with this tactic, though, is that sometimes unarmed civilians get attacked by the hostile, and (as far as I could tell) they suffer from perma-death. Just mentioning this, in case it bothers you from an ethics standpoint. I suspect you might lose some small quest givers this way, too.
Anyway, all told, I encourage you not to give up, but, it's true: why spend dozens of hours on a game that isn't enjoyable for you, or is only enjoyable much later? Try some of the advice in the comments here before giving up, I think.
I'm a broke idiot with no charisma and I get my ass kicked everywhere I go. I thought the whole point of video games was to escape real life.
Laughed out loud at this (and still can't tell if the first statement refers to RL or IG)
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Comment on Should I stay with Kingdom Come: Deliverance? in ~games
Pistos Link ParentHonestly, I found that you could just cheese the game by spoiler / exploit semi-spamming master strike even if you're surrounded. Seemed to work 360 degrees for me. You just had to meet the timing...Honestly, I found that you could just cheese the game by
spoiler / exploit
semi-spamming master strike even if you're surrounded. Seemed to work 360 degrees for me. You just had to meet the timing criterion. -
Comment on The Tiny Soapbox: a platform for small, low-stakes rants in ~talk
Pistos Link ParentYes, indeed. It's a bit like the Internet. People are in a bubble, shielded from the interpersonal and social consequences of being inconsiderate, obnoxious, rude, or dangerous.Yes, indeed. It's a bit like the Internet. People are in a bubble, shielded from the interpersonal and social consequences of being inconsiderate, obnoxious, rude, or dangerous.
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Comment on Can anyone recommend a dead simple voice recorder? in ~tech
Pistos Link ParentTaking it a step further: OP could even set up syncthing on both the device, and a local (physical) server of their choice, and the files could autosync (copy to server) whenever the father comes...Taking it a step further: OP could even set up syncthing on both the device, and a local (physical) server of their choice, and the files could autosync (copy to server) whenever the father comes to visit (i.e. enters Wifi range), or comes home.
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Comment on The Tiny Soapbox: a platform for small, low-stakes rants in ~talk
Pistos Linkabolish semi-annual clock changes, . I'm tired of humans behind steering wheels. I really am. It makes me want to move further and further away from population centres. There's something about the...Let'sabolish semi-annual clock changes,please.- I'm tired of humans behind steering wheels. I really am. It makes me want to move further and further away from population centres. There's something about the steering wheel. Like a cursed artifact, it turns normal, mild-mannered people into horrible, selfish creatures who bring danger and irritation to everyone around them, pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists alike.
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Comment on Considering going with an ambidextrous mouse if anyone has recommendations in ~tech
Pistos LinkThis won't help you, but I can't help but chime in: I love my Logitech G300s (as a left-handed mouser), but they don't make them any more, and I really can't find a brand new one anywhere. Quite a...This won't help you, but I can't help but chime in: I love my Logitech G300s (as a left-handed mouser), but they don't make them any more, and I really can't find a brand new one anywhere. Quite a few used ones are on sale on the Internet, and I even found motherboards being sold. I half dream of buying a motherboard and 3D printing my own mouse, because I literally cannot find a non-right-handed mouse with [more than 2] top buttons like the G300s has. Roccat used to make some, but they stopped, too. Nobody makes such mice any more. I find it really hard to believe that top clickers like me are that tiny a minority. All the many-button mice on the market now have their buttons on the sides, usually clustered up on the right-handed thumb side. Disappointing. I'm a "finger mouser", and I really can't press thumb buttons on a mouse without really slowing down and being very deliberate about it, which is a showstopper for action gaming.
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Thundermail (by Mozilla): a Gmail, Office 365 rival
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Comment on Do you have games that you play (almost) exclusively? in ~games
Pistos (edited )LinkPlaying games for > 100 hours is the norm for me. For my all-time favourites, I have > 1000 hours on them, and it's common for me to have > 400 hours. Over a whole series or franchise, I might get...Playing games for > 100 hours is the norm for me. For my all-time favourites, I have > 1000 hours on them, and it's common for me to have > 400 hours. Over a whole series or franchise, I might get > 2500.
For me, the draw is multiplayer PvP. The thrill, the fun, the dopamine, whatever it is, it is just always there, and I can keep coming back again and again for that "hit". It takes a lot to dislodge me from that, like major, game-breaking bugs, or the playerbase being overrun by cheaters. Even the first few hundred hours, the time spent getting to the upper tiers of skill and ranking, are fun for me in and of itself. Doing the research, reading wikis, chatting in Discords, honing your characters, stats, ships, whatever. The practicing, the training. All part of the enjoyable journey and experience. Joining communities, guilds, groups, etc. in these games further cements one's involvement in and commitment to a game. You chat via text or voice, and form teams together, and win together.
I do play single player games, but those only last a few hundred hours, usually. I will say this, though: If a game is known to only offer < 50 hours of play, with no replayability, I just pass on it, unless it's gotten really rave reviews, and is on deep discount. I expect to get > 100 hours of a game I spend money on.
I almost always play a single game exclusively until I'm done with it. Open up Steam, start that game, finish the session, close Steam. Repeat at next session. At most, I might open a second or third game, but that's it.
To answer your question about "what games", to name a few:
- SOCOM series
- Splinter Cell series
- Killzone franchise (1, 2 ,3)
- Call of Duty franchise (just a few hundred hours)
- Battlefield franchise (BF3, BF4, BF1, BFV)
- Gran Turismo franchise
- Rainbow Six: Siege
- Monster Hunter: World
- MLB The Show franchise
- Guild Wars 2
- Elite Dangerous
- Eternal Card Game
- Kingdom Come Deliverance
- Europa Universalis IV
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Pistos LinkBeen working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy (by way of the Legendary Edition). It keeps getting better. Recently finished ME2, and am in the early going of ME3. The story and fictional...Been working my way through the Mass Effect trilogy (by way of the Legendary Edition). It keeps getting better. Recently finished ME2, and am in the early going of ME3. The story and fictional world are interesting. I like how you can create a custom appearance in ME1, and then import your appearance, stats, and major history (decisions) through ME2 and ME3. My main criticism is that the combat maps are too linear for my liking. Very few forks, almost no doubling back. For advancing a story, and keeping things going, I get it, but I like more openness, even in combat areas.
The combat also makes too much use of cover spots that your character snaps to. Too often, I was snapping to spots when I didn't mean to, sometimes even dying because of it. I prefer a more fluid and open-ended combat experience. It's seeming like ME3 is poised to provide more of that, though.
Anyway, I'm happy to finish this game and this series for the sake of enjoying the story.
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Comment on Cameras/software for watching roofs in ~tech
Pistos LinkGiven your description of the problem, I'm not quite seeing how this is a special case that goes beyond "just get a security camera system that meets your requirements". They run the gamut of...Given your description of the problem, I'm not quite seeing how this is a special case that goes beyond "just get a security camera system that meets your requirements". They run the gamut of wired vs wireless, on-board storage vs cloud, open source vs proprietary, linked vs standalone, weatherproof vs not, etc. etc.
The largest obstacle is probably the wiring for Ethernet and/or power, if you really don't want to go wireless. Solar powering is probably also an option.
Perhaps also consider setting up surveillance from nearby, instead of right on the target buildings themselves. i.e. in or on neighbouring buildings instead, pointing at the target buildings.
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Comment on Don't trust Firefox to backup your session in ~tech
Pistos (edited )Link ParentPretty much this. Also: Searching history can restore a lot, too. I've been using Firefox for years, and can't remember even one time when I was surprised that I lost my entire session, and...Pretty much this. Also: Searching history can restore a lot, too. I've been using Firefox for years, and can't remember even one time when I was surprised that I lost my entire session, and couldn't get back to key sites or tabs.
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Comment on Recommendations for a measurement microphone in ~tech
Pistos Link ParentThis a great article (and site). I'm learning some things. Thanks for sharing.This a great article (and site). I'm learning some things. Thanks for sharing.
lol. Honestly, I did ME1 trying to keep things professional, and was a little irritated that the game seemed very bent on funnelling us into a romance with Williams. It's almost like there were no dialogue tree branches that led to avoidance. For ME2 and 3, went for (and stayed with) Tali. Thought about (but didn't pursue) Liara. Continued to avoid Williams in ME3, even though several of the early dialogue branches looked biased to firing up a romance with her.