babypuncher's recent activity
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Comment on Study suggests that the Universe's expansion 'is now slowing, not speeding up' in ~space
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Comment on Overwatch 2 now: how does it look to you? in ~games
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentI think you misunderstood what I was saying, allow me to clarify: These limited time modes fully revert the map pool, hero selection, abilities, and balancing to the respective OW1 patch. When...I think you misunderstood what I was saying, allow me to clarify:
These limited time modes fully revert the map pool, hero selection, abilities, and balancing to the respective OW1 patch. When GOATS Meta is available in Arcade, you get DPS Doomfist exactly as he existed during Brig's reign of terror in 2018. Despite this, the real world balancing of this mode is notably different than it was 7 years ago.
I don't think getting used to playing a wildly different version of Doomfist over the last 3 years has made players better at DPS Doomfist, I think it boils down to the community as a whole just having a more thorough understanding of the game's fundamentals which haven't changed and that allows more players to better utilize DPS Doomfist's kit.
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Comment on Overwatch 2 now: how does it look to you? in ~games
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentJeff Kaplan deserves a lot of blame for how OW2 went down, but none of this was really known publicly at the time it was happening. He pushed really hard for the team to stop supporting the live...Jeff Kaplan deserves a lot of blame for how OW2 went down, but none of this was really known publicly at the time it was happening.
- He pushed really hard for the team to stop supporting the live game and focus solely on building out PvE, leaving OW1 to die on the vine
- He was offered budget and staff to run a separate team to focus on supporting the live PvP game and turned it down
- After years of development, OW2 PvE wasn't anywhere near a state of readiness, caught in the same kind of development hell that plagued Titan
- Allegedly, what they had built just wasn't very fun to play. I find this easy to believe, because none of the PvE content we have gotten has been all that fun to begin with
I think chasing PvE the way they did was a mistake. It should have been developed as a separate product, with a more ground up rethinking of the game's mechanics and heroes around the needs of a story focused PvE game.
The current team, headed by Aaron Keller, may not be delivering on Kaplan's promises for the game, but I think they've done a good job making Overwatch into something enjoyable again. The perks system and new Stadium mode they've added this year have added some of that variety into the game that was originally promised by PvE. Stadium in particular works those skill tree ideas into something that I think much better fits the game's core identity.
The current team is also much more responsive to community feedback, rapidly rolling out balance changes when needed and providing generally very good communication about the state of the game and where they want to take it going forward.
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Comment on Overwatch 2 now: how does it look to you? in ~games
babypuncher Link ParentThey replaced both 5v5 open queue playlists with a new 6v6 open queue, but with a "max 2 tanks" rule to prevent it from turning into GOATS. This format also gets separate tank balancing than 5v5,...They replaced both 5v5 open queue playlists with a new 6v6 open queue, but with a "max 2 tanks" rule to prevent it from turning into GOATS. This format also gets separate tank balancing than 5v5, with off-tanks functioning closer to how they did in OW1.
It's basic rock paper scissors now. DPS became way too dominant, and they pretty much removed hard CC as well.
This isn't really the case anymore. DPS is arguably the toughest role and has been for a while. The new perks system adds additional mild punishment for counterswapping, gives heroes options for better dealing with their own counters, and even restores some crowd control.
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Comment on Overwatch 2 now: how does it look to you? in ~games
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentThey've been doing Overwatch Classic events where they add a playlist that presents the game mostly as it existed as of a certain OW1 patch (1.0, Moth Meta, GOATS, etc.) These have been fun, but...They've been doing Overwatch Classic events where they add a playlist that presents the game mostly as it existed as of a certain OW1 patch (1.0, Moth Meta, GOATS, etc.)
These have been fun, but also very eye opening. Though mechanically identical to their corresponding OW1 patches, these modes don't actually play like OW1 back then, because the community knowledge of how to play Overwatch in general has changed so much.
Probably the most notable example of this is the GOATS meta mode, which really is no longer GOATS as it was 5 years ago. Brigitte is still a major force, but Doomfist now dominates lobbies in a way he didn't before because the playerbase is way better with the character, positioning, and target prioritization than they used to be.
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Comment on Is vaping less harmful than smoking, and does it help people quit? in ~health
babypuncher Link ParentI'd like to see more studies on the effects of nicotine addiction on mental health. It seems pretty well established that vaping is far less physically harmful than smoking, but I still find it...I'd like to see more studies on the effects of nicotine addiction on mental health. It seems pretty well established that vaping is far less physically harmful than smoking, but I still find it concerning how willingly kids are giving themselves a lifelong chemical dependency.
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Comment on I powered my house using 500 disposable vapes in ~engineering
babypuncher Link ParentI tried the Pax Mini a couple years ago and bounced off vaping because I found the vapor too hot and it made me cough constantly. Recently I dipped back in to dry herb vapes with the POTV Lobo and...I tried the Pax Mini a couple years ago and bounced off vaping because I found the vapor too hot and it made me cough constantly.
Recently I dipped back in to dry herb vapes with the POTV Lobo and a bubbler. I've found it to be a preferable experience. The water cools the vapor making it much more pleasant to inhale. It was a little pricey next to the Pax Mini, but now that I can buy flower instead of 510 cartridges it's already saving me a lot of money.
I bring this up in case anyone else has/had the same first time experience I did. In my state, it's technically not legal to use your medicinal cannabis with any kind of water piece, so the people at my dispensary didn't talk about this aspect of vaping and don't carry anything to support it.
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Comment on Unfuck Google Drive (It's Gemini garbage, of course) in ~comp
babypuncher Link ParentIf you're not opposed to self-hosting, copyparty is super powerful and easy to set upIf you're not opposed to self-hosting, copyparty is super powerful and easy to set up
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Comment on Upgrade desktop to win11 when hardware isn’t supported? in ~tech
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentLTSC versions have caused compatibility issues with software in the past by leaving users behind on feature updates. But Windows 10 is never getting another feature update.LTSC versions have caused compatibility issues with software in the past by leaving users behind on feature updates. But Windows 10 is never getting another feature update.
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Comment on Looking for feedback on a homelab design in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentSoftware RAID solutions (and ZFS in particular) have become very popular because they solve a lot of the pain, headache, and reliability problems that come with using hardware RAID controllers....Software RAID solutions (and ZFS in particular) have become very popular because they solve a lot of the pain, headache, and reliability problems that come with using hardware RAID controllers. It's gotten to a point where many are readily declaring that hardware RAID dead. While it still sees use in many datacenter/enterprise deployments, it is has become functionally nonexistent in the homelab scene.
I admittedly am not as well versed in ZFS. I opted against it in my setup for a couple reasons, mostly not wanting/having the RAM required to operate optimally on my NAS.
It's worth noting that the memory requirements of ZFS are often grossly overstated. The "1GB per TB" rule you might be familiar with is assuming more enterprisey workloads like hosting big high performance databases and/or dozens of concurrent SMB clients.
It's rare for home use cases to get that intense. I run my 60TB ZFS pool with only 8GB dedicated to ARC and that is likely still way more than it really needs to serve its purpose as a storage place for backups and my Jellyfin library.
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Comment on Can we bury enough wood to slow climate change? in ~enviro
babypuncher Link ParentAre you suggesting that my affection for cheeseburgers could be a vehicle for positive change in the world?Are you suggesting that my affection for cheeseburgers could be a vehicle for positive change in the world?
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentI say it's unsustainable because western democracies have a tendency of turning nasty, then eventually Doing The Right Thing when the situation becomes untenable for a large enough subset of the...I say it's unsustainable because western democracies have a tendency of turning nasty, then eventually Doing The Right Thing when the situation becomes untenable for a large enough subset of the population.
The Industrial Revolution created the Gilded Age, which in turn led to the Progressive Era.
I'm somewhat hopeful that as we watch history continue to repeat itself, the good parts will eventually be repeated too.
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentI think an AI pop is very much in the cards. Right now AI accounts for a way bigger slice of the American economy than the internet did in 1999. I also think the real world utility of AI is a lot...I think an AI pop is very much in the cards.
Right now AI accounts for a way bigger slice of the American economy than the internet did in 1999. I also think the real world utility of AI is a lot more dubious. This insane level of investment is predicated on the idea that "AGI" is just around the corner, and the first company there will win the market and go on to reap untold riches. That is seeming increasingly unlikely.
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Comment on Financial collapse? in ~finance
babypuncher Link ParentThe problem that has been growing steadily, and recently reached levels not seen since before 1929, is the the massive disparity in economic growth for the top 10% of the economy vs the bottom...The problem that has been growing steadily, and recently reached levels not seen since before 1929, is the the massive disparity in economic growth for the top 10% of the economy vs the bottom 90%. This has become extra obvious recently with the stock market hitting record highs while unemployment is exploding.
This trend is not sustainable, and I don't think many people will argue with that. What nobody knows is where the breaking point will be.
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Comment on Paramount considering a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery in ~tv
babypuncher Link ParentThese aren't the reasons Warner has been king of the box office this year. I think you're also overstating the damage done to the HBO brand by the train of nonsensical streaming service renames.He may have temporarily helped boost profits by firing a lot of people and cancelling completed projects for the tax write downs
These aren't the reasons Warner has been king of the box office this year. I think you're also overstating the damage done to the HBO brand by the train of nonsensical streaming service renames.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher Link ParentI think the "coming back" phase lasts for as long as sales volume keeps growing, and doesn't end until it plateaus, goes back into decline, or somehow makes it all the way back up to where it was...I think the "coming back" phase lasts for as long as sales volume keeps growing, and doesn't end until it plateaus, goes back into decline, or somehow makes it all the way back up to where it was in the '80s.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher (edited )Link ParentTo play a cassette tape requires the magnetic analog signal on the tape to be converted into an electronic signal, which is then electronically amplified to drive an electronic transducer such as...- Exemplary
To play a cassette tape requires the magnetic analog signal on the tape to be converted into an electronic signal, which is then electronically amplified to drive an electronic transducer such as a dynamic driver.
The early recording technologies which eventually evolved into the vinyl record, such as Emile Berliner's phonograph, reproduced sound through an entirely mechanical process with no electricity at all.
Here's a picture of Berliner with his first phonograph in 1878, three years before the first practical incandescent light bulb was invented. You can fairly easily make out how it works. The turntable is hand-cranked, no need for an electric motor. The pickup needle directly actuates a transducer, with the physical sound waves it produces getting amplified by the cone.
Modern vinyl records still operate on the same principal. And although we've enhanced everything around the record by replacing most of these parts with electronic alternatiaves, there's still no reason you couldn't build a purely mechanical phonograph capable of playing a freshly pressed Billie Eilish record from Target. You would just find out very quickly why electronics make the whole experience way, way better.
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Comment on Why cassette tapes are coming back in ~music
babypuncher Link ParentThese noise reduction tricks would also cause consumer frustration and confusion. Tapes mastered for any of the Dolby noise reduction systems and played back on decks without support will not only...These noise reduction tricks would also cause consumer frustration and confusion. Tapes mastered for any of the Dolby noise reduction systems and played back on decks without support will not only keep the high natural noise floor of the recording medium, but also make the music itself sound wrong in various ways.
It's no wonder that Dolby S never took off despite how good it was. CD was rapidly maturing and inherently free of this mixed bag of competing proprietary standards as well as the underlying problem they were all designed to solve.
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Comment on Help choosing a new linux computer? in ~tech
babypuncher Link ParentThis is finally changing with the new Nova modules, which will replace both Nouveau and the proprietary DKMS module once they are ready.This is finally changing with the new Nova modules, which will replace both Nouveau and the proprietary DKMS module once they are ready.
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Comment on ‘Predator: Badlands’ officially rated PG-13, meant to be “boundary-pushing” in ~movies
babypuncher Link ParentI think this movie really rubbed up against the ceiling of the PG-13 rating when it comes to violence. Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker and really knew how to make the action feel gritty...I think this movie really rubbed up against the ceiling of the PG-13 rating when it comes to violence. Christopher Nolan is a talented filmmaker and really knew how to make the action feel gritty and intense without being outright graphic. The prosthetics and CGI for Harvey Dent's face post-injury are another area they spent considerable time fine tuning to get exactly the right vibe while keeping it PG-13.
Even when I measure 3 times I still manage to fuck it up half the time