ahatlikethat's recent activity

  1. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    This is very helpful advice, especially from someone who also likes to stretch games out, thank you!

    This is very helpful advice, especially from someone who also likes to stretch games out, thank you!

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Honestly I immediately disregarded playing as an origin character, and then I always felt like I needed more room in my party for the origin characters...this might be a solution. Not...

    Honestly I immediately disregarded playing as an origin character, and then I always felt like I needed more room in my party for the origin characters...this might be a solution.

    Not exploring...that might be tough. I am the sort who likes to stretch out a good play-through for as long as possible, but maybe I can try to relax that a bit the first time and then have more to enjoy the next. I

    OMG your berserkers..brilliant.

    2 votes

  3. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Nail on the head, there. Sounds obviously unfun when you put it that way! I always play easy when I first start a new game, because it takes me a while to remember which key to press, etc, and...

    The way you've been approach it is like reading ahead in a Choose Your Own Adventure book before you make a choice.

    Nail on the head, there. Sounds obviously unfun when you put it that way!

    I always play easy when I first start a new game, because it takes me a while to remember which key to press, etc, and lose the muscle memory of whatever game I played last.

    Thanks for the excellent metaphor, you are so right!

    6 votes

  4. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you! The companion strategy is something I can use once I get a better idea of the characters, but also your reminder that this is such a replayable game helps reinforce the importance of...

    Thank you! The companion strategy is something I can use once I get a better idea of the characters, but also your reminder that this is such a replayable game helps reinforce the importance of not trying to do it all and be it all the first time.

    2 votes

  5. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Yeah, I think I've been affected by computer games that are only sorta rpgs, where you are kinda guided into results, with one clear "good" outcome. Playing tabletop RPGs, I never worried about...

    Yeah, I think I've been affected by computer games that are only sorta rpgs, where you are kinda guided into results, with one clear "good" outcome. Playing tabletop RPGs, I never worried about the long term outcome. I think I need to channel that more.

    2 votes

  6. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you for the helpful mod suggestions!

    Thank you for the helpful mod suggestions!

    2 votes

  7. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Well, this seems to be a theme, and definitely what I was missing in my last attempt. It's good to hear that you didn't really miss what you didn't find, in the end, that's encouraging!

    Well, this seems to be a theme, and definitely what I was missing in my last attempt. It's good to hear that you didn't really miss what you didn't find, in the end, that's encouraging!

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you, I think you are right. Especially embracing failure. (At least now that I know where the most important companions are...) It's a lot easier to dive into a character when you've got a...

    Thank you, I think you are right. Especially embracing failure. (At least now that I know where the most important companions are...) It's a lot easier to dive into a character when you've got a DM there enforcing things, maybe I need to create an imaginary DM to keep me honest!

    1 vote

  9. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thanks, I think you are right. Unfortunately I think I have been following your #3, except my character type is "the one who always makes the right choice and says the right thing and chooses the...

    Thanks, I think you are right. Unfortunately I think I have been following your #3, except my character type is "the one who always makes the right choice and says the right thing and chooses the right fork in the road." I think I will try making a character that has some flaws and force myself to play through those. And not try to get it all in one play-through. Because, honestly I never finish a game I love anyway--I always stop just short because I can't bear the finality.

    3 votes

  10. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Wow this is such a lovely and generous and thorough reply! Thank you! The rest thing is very helpful, and the not needing to feel rushed--I think that was part of my stress last time. Also about...

    Wow this is such a lovely and generous and thorough reply! Thank you!
    The rest thing is very helpful, and the not needing to feel rushed--I think that was part of my stress last time. Also about the dialogue being forgiving.

    I love mods in Cyberpunk for maximizing my game-play style and such, and modding made Skyrim worth playing, but I never felt like I needed to mod Witcher 3, or Dragon Age, or Divinity-- if a game doesn't need it, that's one level of possible technical failure avoided.

    Thank you for the offer of co-op! I think I'd feel better mucking around alone, but if I ever get to the point where I feel comfortable trying coop, I will see how things stand with you! Thanks again, your enthusiasm is inspiring!

    5 votes

  11. Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3

    ~games Ask
    I've owned Baldur's Gate 3 pretty much since it came out. I prefer role-playing games with good stories and characters that feel real and interesting, so this game should be right up my alley....

    I've owned Baldur's Gate 3 pretty much since it came out. I prefer role-playing games with good stories and characters that feel real and interesting, so this game should be right up my alley. Turn-based, party combat is not my favorite but I find it enjoyable once I make the mental switch.

    I've tried playing 3 times. The first time, I went in blind (as did everyone) because it had just come out. Having gotten into it somewhat, figured out the basics, I realized that I had managed to totally miss 2 of the main companions. I was also playing as a ranger and regularly getting my butt handed to me, because I had no warriors in my party. . So I restarted, but found the restart a slog And then an update broke my play-through so put it away for (quite) a bit.

    After many months, I thought I'd try again, when Cyberpunk fatally crashed late in the game because of my modding addiction. This time there was LOTS of information on the web about BG3, which I read, hoping to make sure not to miss anything important (like, all the warrior companions...) I tried playing a mage. But this time I felt constantly stressed about getting the "right" outcome, picking the "right" dialogue, getting the "right build....It wasn't fun. I think it was my fault.

    There are a bunch of people who consider this game the greatest ever, and I really think it could be up there for me, but I'm doing it wrong. So I am asking--how to you play this game to maximize your enjoyment? How much did you rely on wikis or our guides? Are there mods out that you recommend? What attitude so you bring when playing that makes the game enjoyable for you? Help me love this game, I really want to!

    EDIT: Thank you everyone, I'm totally psyched to start again with a new attitude and some new strategies!

    30 votes

  12. Comment on The pointe shoe makers of Hackney in ~life

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    I mean, yes, they talk about the pain in their hands, but their working conditions seem to me far above the average--getting to make something from start to finish and being personally recognized...

    I mean, yes, they talk about the pain in their hands, but their working conditions seem to me far above the average--getting to make something from start to finish and being personally recognized and appreciated for it, a pride of purpose and a knowledge of where and how your work is meaningful. I envy them and I wish there was more of this in the world.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Your "Yukon Gold" potatoes probably aren't Yukons—here's why in ~food

  14. Comment on Your "Yukon Gold" potatoes probably aren't Yukons—here's why in ~food

    ahatlikethat
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    I grow my own potatoes and personally find German Butterball much superior in flavor, with similar texture and cooking qualities to Yukon Gold. Where I live (high desert southwest US) Soraya is a...

    I grow my own potatoes and personally find German Butterball much superior in flavor, with similar texture and cooking qualities to Yukon Gold. Where I live (high desert southwest US) Soraya is a tough plant that is extremely prolific, similar cooking/texture and also delicious, but the tubers are smaller. Not sure if you'd ever find that one in the store.

    Honestly, if growing your own interests you I fully recommend it. The flavor of a freshly-dug potato is exponentially superior to anything at the store. I would not recommend putting the potatoes from the store into your soil-- you want to buy certified disease free seed potatoes from a reputable vendor. It's likely that the store potatoes could have diseases (not a problem for eating) that once you introduce into your soil are never going to go away. Once you start your own, however, you can keep some overwintered every year and you'll never have to buy more. Unless you want to try a different variety--there are tons of great potatoes you can grow that you will probably never see in a store.

    Edit-- just saw the beetles comment: you could try floating row covers or fine mesh? I've never had a big problem with beetles here, we get a few, and I just pick them off.

    5 votes

  15. Comment on 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars coming to theaters in 2027 in ~movies

    ahatlikethat
    Link
    I'm old enough to have been there for the original release. It was back when parents felt safe letting even groups of preteen kids loose at the mall--we'd wait in line for an hour or something,...

    I'm old enough to have been there for the original release. It was back when parents felt safe letting even groups of preteen kids loose at the mall--we'd wait in line for an hour or something, then sneak back in to see it twice. I saw it fourteen times that summer. We all had it memorized and play-acted it at home. At the time it seemed like the best thing ever (probably our parents thought so, too...)

    Lucas has been pretty vehement in his dislike of the first release. It definitely was more low budget and from a modern view sometimes laughably hokey but it deserves to be preserved and available. At the time it was earth-shattering.

    6 votes

  16. Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Wow, thanks for the guidance, I will try the gochujang. I love heat, and those cookies look amazing! Around here, people eat red chile brownies and green chile apple pie, so the cookies don't seem...

    Wow, thanks for the guidance, I will try the gochujang. I love heat, and those cookies look amazing! Around here, people eat red chile brownies and green chile apple pie, so the cookies don't seem odd at all.

  17. Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thanks! Do you have a recommendation for a good brand of doenjang? I have zero experience with Korean food, so if I'm going to try it I don't want to ruin it by using bad ingredients.

    Thanks! Do you have a recommendation for a good brand of doenjang? I have zero experience with Korean food, so if I'm going to try it I don't want to ruin it by using bad ingredients.

  18. Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    I recently started making humus because my partner likes to take it to work for lunch, but it's sooo expensive, relative to the actual cost of the ingredients. I usually make it with roasted red...

    I recently started making humus because my partner likes to take it to work for lunch, but it's sooo expensive, relative to the actual cost of the ingredients. I usually make it with roasted red bell pepper--I roast a bunch of red peppers and freeze them when I can get them cheap (or grow them). I just defrost one and add it to everything else. Also roasted garlic is a nice change. And fresh chopped cilantro if you have it, but in my experience that's much better if sprinkled on top at the last minute.

    1 vote

  19. Comment on What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking? in ~food

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    This looks delicious and I was just thinking about what to do with a bunch of spinach. But I don't have doenjang. Is there anything that can sub for it in a pinch? Fish sauce? Tamari? Or should I...

    This looks delicious and I was just thinking about what to do with a bunch of spinach. But I don't have doenjang. Is there anything that can sub for it in a pinch? Fish sauce? Tamari? Or should I order some and wait to try the recipe?

  20. Comment on Body time and daylight savings apologetics in ~life

    ahatlikethat
    Link
    Here's what I don't get about the standard-daylight time shift: Wouldn't a person living on the far east edge of a time zone is basically living the "spring forward" experience compared to someone...

    Here's what I don't get about the standard-daylight time shift:
    Wouldn't a person living on the far east edge of a time zone is basically living the "spring forward" experience compared to someone on the far west edge during standard time? Is there any data showing that people on the extreme edges of a time zone suffer compared to those in the middle? And people closer to the poles are obviously getting a much greater change depending on the season in any case.

    I get why people don't like changing time twice a year, and that there can be jet-laggy health consequences to that, I just don't get why it would matter if we picked constant standard vs constant daylight savings.

    3 votes