Thea's recent activity
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Comment on Why Bluesky remains the most interesting experiment in social media, by far in ~tech
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Comment on Larian Studios won't make Baldur's Gate 3 DLC, expansions, or Baldur's Gate 4 in ~games
Thea Link ParentI remember hearing after the Hasbro/WotC layoffs that no one who was originally at the table during BG3 development was there anymore. Any future work would require starting from square one to...I remember hearing after the Hasbro/WotC layoffs that no one who was originally at the table during BG3 development was there anymore. Any future work would require starting from square one to develop relationships, set expectations and communications, get used to working rhythms... and I would wonder whether anyone from the WotC side has anyone with passion for the game (DnD or BG3) or whether they're only really there on business. I remember when the backlash against WotC was in full force last year due to the discussion around licensing and fan-created materials; it seemed that they were not really clued in to the gaming community or the product outside of its monetization possibilities.
Larian proved that you can make profits, keep your team happy, and create an exceptional product. Good leadership and good allocation of adequate time and resources. I'm very sad that there won't be any Larian-created DLC or sequels, but I'm excited to see what they do next, and interested to see if WotC approves any further work on the franchise in the near future.
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Comment on Finland has remained the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row, according to the annual World Happiness Report published on Wednesday in ~life
Thea Link ParentI hear you, but I think understanding the "whys" is probably a big point of the study. It's not supposed to scale to make up for differences in the metrics of the population, it's supposed to be a...I hear you, but I think understanding the "whys" is probably a big point of the study. It's not supposed to scale to make up for differences in the metrics of the population, it's supposed to be a snapshot to show what current rates of happiness are, which can possibly then be studied. In this case, one of the points we could arrive at/study is that it's more likely for a small to moderate size nation to score high on happiness ratings - now we can try to figure out why that might be.
The US is a behemoth of a nation, both in population and landmass; I could imagine that it's hard for them to be agile and make decisions to improve the quality of life for their citizens from a policy perspective. But I don't think it's sensible to say "Aww man, if Finland had the same demographic distribution and geography that we do, they wouldn't rank so high!" I mean - maybe? But it doesn't really matter because that's not the point of the study. If that's the study you want to see, make it happen! I'd be interested to view the results, but curious as to how the data points could be adjusted for scale.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
Thea Link ParentI think world-building and map-making are one of my favourite parts of running a campaign! The maps are super cool - what program do you use to make them? The lil cobblestones and the effect on...I think world-building and map-making are one of my favourite parts of running a campaign!
The maps are super cool - what program do you use to make them? The lil cobblestones and the effect on the water - "Jimmy Jim Jim Jim Jimmy John's Sandwich shop" - I'm dying, please tell me that's a muppet treasure island reference. -
Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
Thea Link ParentThis is amazing. I am very interested to know how it goes! I love the place names - I can only imagine the maps!This is amazing. I am very interested to know how it goes! I love the place names - I can only imagine the maps!
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Comment on Seaweed could save a billion people from famine after a nuclear war in ~science
Thea Link ParentYeah, I agree... You know what else would save a lot of people? Not having a nuclear war. The only winning move is not to play.Yeah, I agree... You know what else would save a lot of people? Not having a nuclear war. The only winning move is not to play.
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Comment on If your morning routine were the subject of a montage in a movie, what would be the song that played over the top of it? in ~music
Thea LinkThis with excessively blue lighting. Sure life is beautiful, but pardon me while I go through the motions for a bit.This with excessively blue lighting. Sure life is beautiful, but pardon me while I go through the motions for a bit.
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Comment on Game suggestions for a weekly online group in ~games
Thea Link ParentOooh, thanks for the tap-in! I'll take a peek - not sure how my vtt group would feel about a heavy game, most of the shenanigans in our current 5e campaign are the narrative equivalent of a rubber...Oooh, thanks for the tap-in! I'll take a peek - not sure how my vtt group would feel about a heavy game, most of the shenanigans in our current 5e campaign are the narrative equivalent of a rubber chicken factory. Still worth a look, though!
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Comment on Game suggestions for a weekly online group in ~games
Thea Link ParentAmazing! Thank you for the links, I'm going to forward this to my tabletop group today.Amazing! Thank you for the links, I'm going to forward this to my tabletop group today.
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Comment on Game suggestions for a weekly online group in ~games
Thea Link ParentI'm looking up Emberwind - I like the idea of a GMless campaign, I'd be interested to see how that translates into game play. Do they have any VTT modules? If there is a ready-to-play ruleset and...I'm looking up Emberwind - I like the idea of a GMless campaign, I'd be interested to see how that translates into game play. Do they have any VTT modules? If there is a ready-to-play ruleset and assets that can just be plugged into something like Foundry, I'd buy it and give it a try for sure.
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Comment on Steam Winter Sale 2023: Hidden gems in ~games
Thea Link ParentI love love love the kind of review that is "you can only experience it for the first time once." To me, it's very high praise. I'll add this to my wishlist and see about it before the sale is over!I love love love the kind of review that is "you can only experience it for the first time once." To me, it's very high praise. I'll add this to my wishlist and see about it before the sale is over!
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Comment on What are your favorite Christmastime movies that don't deal with Christmas as a topic? in ~movies
Thea LinkLord of the Rings. The timeless, shapeless, black hole of a week between Christmas and New Years is the only time of year I can watch the trilogy back-to-back, so I watch all three movies and get...Lord of the Rings. The timeless, shapeless, black hole of a week between Christmas and New Years is the only time of year I can watch the trilogy back-to-back, so I watch all three movies and get things done around the house. It's a Christmas movie now.
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Comment on Steam year in review 2023 in ~games
Thea Link ParentWelp, there goes that blissful ignorance!! ^.^ Glad I'm in good company in the 1200+ hour club.Welp, there goes that blissful ignorance!! ^.^ Glad I'm in good company in the 1200+ hour club.
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Comment on Steam year in review 2023 in ~games
Thea Link ParentMath isn't my strong suit, so I'll just take my 445 hours in BG3 for 30% total play time and... keep not doing the math.Math isn't my strong suit, so I'll just take my 445 hours in BG3 for 30% total play time and... keep not doing the math.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Thea Link ParentI'm going to have to look into that! I play an Artificer in my TTRPG game and would love to give it a go in BG3.I'm going to have to look into that! I play an Artificer in my TTRPG game and would love to give it a go in BG3.
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Comment on The Game Awards 2023 winners: The full list in ~games
Thea Link ParentI think BG3 had the bigger overall impact - it could very well be a generational game that people are still playing and modding years from now. Larian hasn't even released any DLC yet, just...I think BG3 had the bigger overall impact - it could very well be a generational game that people are still playing and modding years from now. Larian hasn't even released any DLC yet, just patches (patches that contain entirely new game modes and interaction scenes, mind you), but I think it's got a lot of breath left in it yet.
Also, BG3 was the game that put AAA studios on the defence, with several devs and studio reps saying "this isn't the new normal for video games, it's an anomaly, it's not possible for studios to make games like this" - it was THAT good, and it's not possible for AAA studios to replicate something of that quality because of the artificial constraints put on them by shareholders and profit models. BG3 showed what is possible when you put story, talent, and creativity first, AND it showed what you can accomplish when you listen to and are responsive to the community.
I'm a lifelong gamer and I have become super wary of AAA titles and big-hype games. I dove into this one without any context other than it was a DnD game, and I love it. I love the game, I love the stories, the music, the mechanics (not the inventory system which I think they're working on fixing), the VOs, and I love the passion that you can SEE from the people who created it. 30+ years as a gamer and I think it's my favourite gaming experience so far. Personal preference aside, it's had a significant impact and I think we're going to feel the ripples through this next generation of titles. If that's not GOTY-worthy, I don't know what is!
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Comment on What is a classical music piece you like? And why? in ~music
Thea Link ParentI don't think that it's basic to appreciate something that is well known. Usually these things are popular for a reason! Check out the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra recording of the 1812 Overture...I don't think that it's basic to appreciate something that is well known. Usually these things are popular for a reason! Check out the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra recording of the 1812 Overture - it also includes the cannons and bells, but also includes a chorus singing the hymn Spasi Gospodi that provides one of the leitmotifs throughout the work. Highly recommend!
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Comment on Keeping a commonplace book in ~creative
Thea LinkI've tried to keep a commonplace book for 15 years, I always write a few things and then forget it exists and then pick it up a couple years later and feel sad that I forgot about it. I think that...I've tried to keep a commonplace book for 15 years, I always write a few things and then forget it exists and then pick it up a couple years later and feel sad that I forgot about it. I think that speaks more to my inability to build habits than the value of the books themselves! I've started keeping one on my desk; I attend a lot of lectures and discussions over Zoom, so I've taken to jotting down profound things that I hear in those settings with attribution that I can refer to later. That's the best I can do right now, I wish I was one of those very dedicated academics who journals every day and has a detailed record of their important communications and accomplishments, but my working/teaching style is too chaotic for that!
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Comment on Jezebel and the question of women’s anger in ~life.women
Thea Link ParentAn excellent addition, and well said. "Allies" who fan the flames rather than quell the fire because they haven't done enough listening and learning to understand what the issues are and how to...An excellent addition, and well said. "Allies" who fan the flames rather than quell the fire because they haven't done enough listening and learning to understand what the issues are and how to support; who are so fired up themselves that they add to the inferno. "Allies".
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Comment on Jezebel and the question of women’s anger in ~life.women
Thea Link ParentI'll jump in. I think there needs to be a distinction made between anger as a result of society, and Anger (which I'll identify with a capital A) as a means to drive clicks - they are two very...- Exemplary
I'll jump in.
I think there needs to be a distinction made between anger as a result of society, and Anger (which I'll identify with a capital A) as a means to drive clicks - they are two very different things with distinct nuclei and distinct pathways. In the former case, I think anger is a result - it's a byproduct of having to live every moment of our lives in a system that demeans us, commodifies us, restricts us, thinks of us as weak and in need of protection while simultaneously seeing us as too powerful, too reactive, too angry, too pushy. That anger is earned, and I think that finding healthy ways to let that out is a good thing. That can look like discussing and complaining with friends to explore ideas and solutions; it can look like writing a scathing play or blog post to raise awareness; it can look like influencing public policy and systemic change; it can look like jiu jitsu classes or hovering over a pottery wheel as acts of self and community care.
One important note: We as women are NOT heard when we are angry, I want to make that very clear - we are more likely to be called unflattering names and dismissed if we engage in discourse while angry. This is exponentially more true for BIPOC women - I speak from experience as an Indigenous woman. I will also mention that we are unlikely to be heard if we say X makes us anxious - we are waved off as hysterical, as over-sensitive, as frightened little things that need to be protected. Our anxiety, as legitimate and real as it is, is held up as proof that we don't belong in such-and-such place or such-and-such role.
I also want to point out the pile-on principle, which I have mentioned before on Tildes, which occurs when a marginalized person experiences several instances of discrimination or hostility (overlapping or in sequence) - the result being that the impact increases as time goes on such that what could be a very small slight feels like a very big blow. The learned behaviour that results in us being heard is the repression of our anger, and I don't need to tell you that repressing anger is itself unhealthy! I'm pointing this out as I think it contributes to both the anxiety and the anger that you are discussing and should be worked into the calculus of understanding.
Anger (capital A) is manufactured to drive clicks. It is intentionally over the top, provocative, and is meant to get people to engage in order to make a case for advertising dollars. The more ludicrous the better. This Anger - whether it is based in a truth or not, whether it is based in identified concerns from our communities as women or not - exists to get people riled up without any concern for what happens next, as long as engagement is involved. This kind of Anger creates hostile environments where anger and anxiety flourish, and takes no responsibility for the fallout. It's a petri dish in an unscrupulous lab where conversations are swabbed on, encouraged to develop into something dangerous, and then thrown out with the kitchen trash to infect the rest of the world.
Now, I am not just speaking specifically about Jezebel or women's communities in these examples. I am speaking about online discourse specifically, and discourse in popular media generally (e.g. lumping in network news and their ilk). We are only stuck because the loudest and most broadly available voices are not always the most balanced or the most responsible. "Anger" (capital A) is at least partially artificial and as a means to an end; "anger" is earned, caused, and a natural reaction to existing in an unbalanced system.
Anyways, that's enough of an essay for today.
I tried Mastadon and couldn't figure out how to follow people properly. I still have it, but don't use it - the feed is just like, 2 guys.
I follow a bunch of people on BlueSky, and it's still just 2 guys in my feed, but that's because one of those guys is Neil Gaiman and he posts constantly. CONSTANTLY. It's hard to see anything else for all the Neil Gaiman posts. I have an account because I think this is where social media is headed, I want to understand it and be familiar with it, and I want to be ready for when major personalities/companies start making the move.
Plus, it's kind of nice to have a new social media space without ALL the companies; lots of conversation, but less corporate noise at the moment.