ocdbear's recent activity
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Comment on What books do you recommend for someone looking for positive vibes or casual amusement or escape in ~books
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Comment on Designing a parlor whodunit for a castle holiday in Ireland in ~games
ocdbear LinkWhen I wrote/ran one in the past for a large group (30+) I had a core group of 6 people (including the person that will be murdered) be essentially actors for the event. These individuals were in...When I wrote/ran one in the past for a large group (30+) I had a core group of 6 people (including the person that will be murdered) be essentially actors for the event. These individuals were in the know of what would happen and their relationships with each other. We had the murder play out shortly after party started (lights turned off, body on the ground). For the rest of the guests they know the theme ahead of time and that they will be trying to figure out who among the remaining five individuals committed the murder.
You will want to create a matrix (for your usage) of all the suspects and columns for motive, means, opportunity, connection to murder weapon.
Everyone of the five should have multiple boxes checked and corresponding evidence/statements made by others collaborating as such. (AND evidence/statements that could collaborate unchecked boxes). The key is the only the murderer should truly check all of those boxes.
Another layer to add is red hairings to make it harder to parse for your guests. Keep the number if these low as you will need to thoughtfully weave these into the narrative. Two people who dislike each other casting needless blame on each other, etc. I tracked these with red checks on my matrix. Each red hairing should have evidence that refutes it that can be found by your thorough players.
We concluded the party with meeting where we let guests share who they thought had done it. In my experience not everyone will proffer one. We had the killer draw a "weapon" at the end on the person who guessed correctly and provided the most correctly collected evidence for the killers guilt. We then had the some of the 5 core members take down the killer.
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Comment on The rise of DIY, pirated medicine: Four Thieves Vinegar Collective has made DIY medicine cheaper and more accessible to the masses in ~health
ocdbear Link ParentAutonomous by Annalee Newitz explores these exact themes. In this near future setting, economic unions and IP coalitions have consolidated more power than regional governments. One of the...Autonomous by Annalee Newitz explores these exact themes. In this near future setting, economic unions and IP coalitions have consolidated more power than regional governments. One of the characters in the novel is a "drug pirate" that manufactures generic versions of medicine to sell at more affordable prices on the black market. Highly recommend it.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ocdbear Link ParentI too have taken a long year-ish break from tears of the kingdom. I sunk 95 hours in right after launch and completed a lot of main quests, but only ever did one temple. Since picking it back up...I too have taken a long year-ish break from tears of the kingdom. I sunk 95 hours in right after launch and completed a lot of main quests, but only ever did one temple. Since picking it back up (after failing to get back into several times) I have finally completed my second temple.
I don't know why this game in particular has been so hard to get back into. Maybe it is just the shear size of the game that mentally creates a large static friction to get started again. As I continue to play I hope that I build up an inertia to push through the end.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ocdbear Link ParentAbsolutely worth it at this price. Truly amazing support by the developers so far too. In the week since release I think they have pushed out 5 hotfix patches.Absolutely worth it at this price. Truly amazing support by the developers so far too. In the week since release I think they have pushed out 5 hotfix patches.
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Comment on Does anybody play Scythe? in ~games.tabletop
ocdbear LinkScythe was my introduction as well to boardgames outside of the classic ones most people played growing up. I was enthralled by power dial concept for combat. "What do you mean I don't roll dice?"...Scythe was my introduction as well to boardgames outside of the classic ones most people played growing up.
I was enthralled by power dial concept for combat. "What do you mean I don't roll dice?" From there the intricacies of the player board and growing your empires efficiency was such a cool mechanism. Through asymmetric factions on top of all of that and fantastic art to boot, I was in love.
Kept forcing my friends to play it that I think they got burnt out. Most of those games were at or near top player count that even with the fact that the next player can start their top row action while the previous player resolves their bottom row action these games ended up being really long play times.
Something I have learned now that I didn't grasp back then is when teaching modern boardgames to people, your primary objective isn't necessarily to win/maximize your own fun. But to instead maximize everyone else's fun/understanding of the game. That first game in particular is critical to "hook" people. It is an investment in potentially many more future games with people that will have now had the time to truly learn and enjoy the game like you do.
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Comment on The Pirates trilogy is pure bliss in ~movies
ocdbear Link ParentJust re-watched these all because of this post. The first three really are fantastic, while a step down for sure the fifth I feel picked up on the quality over the fourth. It may be due to it...Just re-watched these all because of this post. The first three really are fantastic, while a step down for sure the fifth I feel picked up on the quality over the fourth. It may be due to it wrapping up the story line from the original, but it gets some extra point for that.
The forth one really is horrible though.
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Comment on Which board games have you been playing? (to 25th September) in ~games.tabletop
ocdbear LinkI have recently picked up Stellarion. I have played a few games and have intergrated the first of the in box mini expansions. Compared to to Onirim, I enjoy how spread out the decks are. Makes for...I have recently picked up Stellarion. I have played a few games and have intergrated the first of the in box mini expansions. Compared to to Onirim, I enjoy how spread out the decks are. Makes for a more dynamic logic puzzle you are solving. With Onirim it feels more like rolling with the hands and trying to make do with what you've got.
I am looking forward to adding in more of the expansion to Stellarion, the reviews have stated that the game shines with all of them incoprteted. This was never the case, in my opinion, with Orinium as it would make the main deck a chore to shuffle, but with Stellarion you will only be shuffling around 8 cards at a time.
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Comment on Recommend your favorite "cozy" games, please in ~games
ocdbear LinkI highly recommend Fae Farm. It just released recently for PC/Switch. Been having a blast. Great quality of life tweaks to the common farm sim mechanics.I highly recommend Fae Farm. It just released recently for PC/Switch. Been having a blast. Great quality of life tweaks to the common farm sim mechanics.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
ocdbear LinkFae Farm. My wife and I cannot stop playing. It takes the best of features from the farm sim genre but focuses on the player experience. So many quality of life features that just make you...Fae Farm.
My wife and I cannot stop playing. It takes the best of features from the farm sim genre but focuses on the player experience. So many quality of life features that just make you question why others games weren't designed the same way.
The multiplayer is also fantastic. Everyone of the players can fully interact with the quests/world like the primary player.
I can appreciate complaints about the price being steep, but for a fan of this type of game I cannot get enough of it. Such a wonderfully whimsical experience.
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Comment on What are your experiences with used electric cars? in ~transport
ocdbear LinkI recently bought a 2020 huyndai kona cert. Pre-owned with about 20,000 miles on it. A couple of strange circumstances made it fantastic deal. First it had 2 previous owners. But the original...I recently bought a 2020 huyndai kona cert. Pre-owned with about 20,000 miles on it. A couple of strange circumstances made it fantastic deal. First it had 2 previous owners. But the original owner only had it for a month back in March 2020. I figure they had bought it but when covid hit they sold it.
Second, this model had a high voltage battery recall. Some of them were catching on fire, it was a check and replace if needed type recall. This particular kona had its high voltage battery replaced at half its current miles.
These factors combined with the car being a little on the more worn side considering the cert pre-owned and that it had been sitting for a bit made for a steal.
With all that said, I have absolutely loved the car. I will be hard pressed to go back to an ICE.
I cannot really comment on an aged battery as mine isn't really all that old. I can say that even on a level 1 charger at home, my vechile charges about 50 miles over night. So if your intended daily usage is around there then you may not even need to install a dedicated level 2 charger.
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Comment on 'Barbie' review: Sometimes corporate propaganda can be fun as hell in ~movies
ocdbear Link ParentSaw the movie this weekend with my wife. Our take was the same that this movie was an inversion of the power dynamics seen in the "real world." Barbieland is dominated by Barbies, where the Kens...Saw the movie this weekend with my wife. Our take was the same that this movie was an inversion of the power dynamics seen in the "real world."
Barbieland is dominated by Barbies, where the Kens only purpose to accent and supplement Barbies. We found it interesting as well that every Ken character in this beginning state of Barbieland would fail an inverted Bechdal test. The Kens literally have no inspiration to try and achieve more in this society.
It isn't until Ken travels with Barbie to the real world that he see his first examples are male role models. Further reinforcing the concept from the first scene of the movie that representation matters.
From here the movie continues to reinforce the destructive nature of unequal societal structures by having Ken bring "Patriarchy" back to Barbieland.
Anyone that simply claims the movie is anti-men missed the point. It is plainly anti-inequallity.
There are literally so many more aspects to this movie that we loved. We cannot stop discussing with each other. Will most likely be seeing it again.
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Comment on Do you always finish games you started? I am overwhelmed with the amount of available games. in ~games
ocdbear Link ParentI have been using howlongtobeat to track my playthroughs of games. What features do you like on backlogged?I have been using howlongtobeat to track my playthroughs of games. What features do you like on backlogged?
Thirding A Psalm for the Wild Built. First book I though of after I read "casual entertainment." It is the easiest book to recommend, truly a delightful little read.