pekt'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 are you reading these days? in ~books
pekt LinkI've continued enjoying other hobbies and doing other things besides reading which has kept my reading pace slower. I think this was in part me not feeling like jumping between books as much right...I've continued enjoying other hobbies and doing other things besides reading which has kept my reading pace slower. I think this was in part me not feeling like jumping between books as much right now when I felt a bit of a slow-down in my desire to read Return of the Crimson Guard as it built up to the climax since I'm doing several books clubs with people I know that have been more active lately. I'm also leading our church group in discussions so that has me doing more reading as well.
Finished:
Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian C. Esslemont is another Novel of the Malazan Empire. I got towards the climax and this book had me guessing what would happen at nearly every turn. I knew what the fate of some characters would be since they appear in later novels, but I was champing at the bit to find out what would happen
This was a fantastic book in my opinion and I felt like Esslemont found his footing as an author here compared to his previous work. I do think I'll take my coworkers advice and dive in to the other series to help get more background before reading the next book in this series, but I will be taking a small break from Malazan at least for a couple of weeks to read some other smaller works. Malazan has definitely cemented itself as the epic fantasy series I'll be reading for the next at least year or two considering the size of the novels and my usual breaks in between novels.
Progress made
Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a book club I started up with a guy I met at church. This has been on my reading list for a long while so I'm curious to see if it holds up to all the rave reviews I've seen. This is also the first book club that I've run on a schedule which different from the other book clubs I do that are more asynchronous and run whenever we both have a chapter finished.
The Emperor's Gift by Aaron Dembski-Bowden is another book club book I've been reading with a friend. He is in school finishing a second degree, and we are hoping that once he graduates we'll be able to start reading this more regularly as it has been months in between chapters at time.
I've enjoyed this as a Grey Knights lore fan and getting to see the Battle of Armageddon, and it's fall out from their perspective.The Brothers' War by Jeff Grubb a Magic the Gathering setting book that I'm reading with my friend. We've been more consistent with this and reading a chapter almost every other week which is a lot faster than our normal pace. We've crossed the halfway point, so I'm curious how this will end.
The Dying Earth by Jack Vance is the first book in his Dying Earth series. This has been on my list for a long time and I'm enjoying it immensely. It is a short book and consists of interconnected short stories that are all quick reads. I'm already almost halfway through the book and I started reading this only a few days ago.
This also is a story that has heavily influenced Dungeons and Dragons, and is mentioned in their Appendix N which I posted about here. You can really see the influences and I'm enjoying his prose along with how imaginative it feels. Reading this feels fantastical and has classic fantasy feel to it. I'll definitely be reading more of his works, including the other Dying Earth series books in time.
AI Engineering: Building Applications with Foundation Models by Chip Huyen still slowing reading this.
The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change by Camille Fournier I've only read a few pages here and there of this. I enjoy it, but I also am a bit of a lull in my work motivation, so my professional development reading is down right now.
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Comment on Grand Theft Auto VI | Launch trailer in ~games
pekt Link ParentI admit to being hyped for GTA 5 when it was coming out, I upgraded my graphics card and planned 24 hours of it in the first few weeks it was out. School and work and life got busy, and I never...I admit to being hyped for GTA 5 when it was coming out, I upgraded my graphics card and planned 24 hours of it in the first few weeks it was out.
School and work and life got busy, and I never went back to finish it. It seems like it'd be fun to do at some point, but I don't know when I'll build a new computer to play more demanding games and when I finally do I'm not sure I'll want to play GTA games again. I also don't know any of my friends who are that excited for GTA 6, but I guess I'll see how many of them end up getting it.
Edit: I'm not a fan of short form content, but there is one guy whose shorts I watch occasionally and so many of the skits and his voice makes me feel like he would be a perfect fit for a GTA radio broadcaster: https://www.youtube.com/@AudioOpera/shorts
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Comment on DroidDeck - new project to bring SteamOS to Android in ~games
pekt LinkI've seen other projects like GameNative, GameHub, Winlator and others that allow you to play your Steam (and other storefront/computer games) on an Android device. I had honestly been lazy to try...I've seen other projects like GameNative, GameHub, Winlator and others that allow you to play your Steam (and other storefront/computer games) on an Android device. I had honestly been lazy to try this out, but with how straightforward DroidDeck was to get setup I figured I'd give it a go.
So far it has worked pretty well in the couple of games I've tried it on. I did try the original MassEffect today and while it runs, the controller support integration isn't working for some reason, but if I connected a keyboard and mouse to my phone I'd be off to the races.
It also blows me away that this project was initially published less than a month ago. I'm really looking forward to see where this goes, and it also makes me hope for the day when Steam just decides to release SteamOS for ARM Android devices now that they have it running on the SteamFrame.
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DroidDeck - new project to bring SteamOS to Android
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Comment on Ludeon Studios announces new engine for Rimworld, teases new game in ~games
pekt LinkI still plan to eventually pick up the Rimworld DLC. I've had well over 150 hours in just the base game and know I could easily get 1000+ hours if I could sit down and play more often. Seeing this...I still plan to eventually pick up the Rimworld DLC. I've had well over 150 hours in just the base game and know I could easily get 1000+ hours if I could sit down and play more often.
Seeing this post has me crossing my fingers I can wrap up some of my current financial strains so I can treat myself on my birthday next year to the DLC.
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Comment on Exploring Appendix N in ~games.tabletop
pekt Link ParentI've enjoyed my dives into classic SFF as it gives a window into the past and how people in fiction viewed things. It also makes me wonder how people will view fiction created now 100+ years later.I've enjoyed my dives into classic SFF as it gives a window into the past and how people in fiction viewed things. It also makes me wonder how people will view fiction created now 100+ years later.
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Comment on Exploring Appendix N in ~games.tabletop
pekt Link ParentThanks for sharing that! Itch.io always has a lot of interesting things, and it is fun to browser through them. I'd love to get back in to TTRPGs eventually, and I'm hoping to move my future group...Thanks for sharing that! Itch.io always has a lot of interesting things, and it is fun to browser through them.
I'd love to get back in to TTRPGs eventually, and I'm hoping to move my future group away from DnD into other systems, so this is a great excuse to get some ideas.
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Comment on Exploring Appendix N in ~games.tabletop
pekt Link ParentThank you for sharing that. I've added that to my bookmarks so I can reference it when I start in on his works. I usually post about what I read in the fortnightly "What are you reading thread" so...Thank you for sharing that. I've added that to my bookmarks so I can reference it when I start in on his works.
I usually post about what I read in the fortnightly "What are you reading thread" so you'll see me post about those once I get started there.
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Comment on Exploring Appendix N in ~games.tabletop
pekt Link ParentThanks for sharing that link! I've bookmarked that and will probably start cracking away at some of the short stories. It's always nice having something quick and easy to read between other works.Thanks for sharing that link! I've bookmarked that and will probably start cracking away at some of the short stories. It's always nice having something quick and easy to read between other works.
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Comment on Exploring Appendix N in ~games.tabletop
pekt LinkGary Gygax included Appendix N in the Advance Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) Dungeon Master (DM) guide as further reading for DMs wanting to get inspiration for running their own campaigns. I've only...Gary Gygax included Appendix N in the Advance Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) Dungeon Master (DM) guide as further reading for DMs wanting to get inspiration for running their own campaigns.
I've only read a handful of the books included in here, but this has been a list of books I've been meaning to visit for some time, and actually plan to pick up one of them (Jack Vance's Dying Earth books) after I finish the current Malazan book I'm reading.
Being reminded of this list this morning I was curious if any other Tilders have explored it or these authors and I wanted to share it for those who haven't heard of it before. With how big of an influx DND has gone on to have it feels like diving back in to the works that inspired Gary Gygax would be a fun exercise.
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Exploring Appendix N
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Comment on Fall 2026 | Which anime do you look forward to? in ~anime
pekt LinkLooking at the list of airing anime made me realize it has been a long while since I watched anything that was currently airing. This also brought back memories of my roommate during Sophomore...Looking at the list of airing anime made me realize it has been a long while since I watched anything that was currently airing. This also brought back memories of my roommate during Sophomore year of university where we would pick out a ton of anime from the seasonal list and as the weeks went by would steadily drop them if they didn't hold our interest.
It's cool to see new Jojo's coming out. My friend group and I used to get together after a season would wrap up and binge the whole thing together which was a ton of fun. We've been talking about getting a call together to do watch some more, so I think this was a good reminder.
Psyren looks interesting. I remember really enjoying the manga years ago and was a bit sad at it's seemingly rushed ending, probably due to a cancellation. It would be cool to see them adapt this to an anime, so this will be going on to my big to watch list that I'll eventually get to.
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Comment on Popcorn! What's the best way to make it? in ~food
pekt Link ParentYou've got me curious as I've never though to use a wok to pop my corn. Thank you for the recommendation!You've got me curious as I've never though to use a wok to pop my corn. Thank you for the recommendation!
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
pekt LinkI've been playing Old School RuneScape, but I don't do much active playing. I've mainly been bank standing doing some skilling and flipping items to maintain active membership through Bonds (an...I've been playing Old School RuneScape, but I don't do much active playing. I've mainly been bank standing doing some skilling and flipping items to maintain active membership through Bonds (an item that can be purchased for real world money and then sold to someone in game for in game currency that grants membership [access to paid content] for 2 weeks or more if you redeem multiple Bonds at once). With Jagex nuking bots bond prices have dropped significantly. I had played a couple of times earlier in the year with a Bond, and now it is more sustainable with my current stats and not wanting to put in a ton of effort grinding things out actively. A bond price of ~11.5-12m is way more affordable than ~14-15+m when I was playing before
I've done a few quests this go around, and that part is very enjoyable. My friend jokingly said it would take me weeks-months to do some of the younger quests at my pace, but it works for me as dad so I'll take it. I'm also starting to unlock content that I either had only done briefly years ago or never touched. Last night I finally unlocked bird house runs so I can start adding those in to train my Hunter slowly.
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Comment on What was a small but bright moment of your day? in ~life
pekt LinkGetting to see my kids first thing in the morning after they wake up and come down for breakfast. One of the reasons I'm grateful to work from home and have a position with flexibility. I can...Getting to see my kids first thing in the morning after they wake up and come down for breakfast.
One of the reasons I'm grateful to work from home and have a position with flexibility. I can pause my work for ~10 minutes to get them breakfast and I can take a minute here or there as they eat tell me about their dreams/what they want to do at school.
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Comment on Why do we find Tildes (and Lobsters) more interesting than the alternatives? in ~tech
pekt Link ParentDropping in to share the link to the post: https://tildes.net/~tildes.official/1vjt/any_significant_changes_to_tildes_are_extremely_unlikelyDropping in to share the link to the post: https://tildes.net/~tildes.official/1vjt/any_significant_changes_to_tildes_are_extremely_unlikely
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Comment on Why do we find Tildes (and Lobsters) more interesting than the alternatives? in ~tech
pekt Link ParentThe niche sub Reddits are the only reason I haven't deleted my account there. A big example is the Harvest Moon sub. I don't play the new games, and while a lot of the conversation of the older...The niche sub Reddits are the only reason I haven't deleted my account there.
A big example is the Harvest Moon sub. I don't play the new games, and while a lot of the conversation of the older games can be somewhat stale, it's the only place where people are still talking about it and occasionally surface some random niche or obscure interaction I'd not heard about. I.e. someone posted the unique dialogue text you can find in of the Harvest Moon DS games when your character passes out from exhaustion in an NPC house. I have a feeling almost no one would have known there was unique dialogue for that considering it would almost be by accident that you would be at such a low energy level that you would pass out from accidentally using a tool in their house.
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
pekt Link ParentThat's fair, I read online that they fall off after a few books. I may read the next one at some point as a pulpy refresher in between other books, so I'll include my thoughts in a future comment...That's fair, I read online that they fall off after a few books. I may read the next one at some point as a pulpy refresher in between other books, so I'll include my thoughts in a future comment here if I do get around to it.
I still need to check out A Princess of Mars as I've heard about it for so many years.
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Comment on What is your dream game? in ~games
pekt Link ParentThat's totally fair, I tended to not a fan of the evil play through. What changed for me was that I started viewing it as the same engaging with media that follows an unlikeable/evil protagonist....That's totally fair, I tended to not a fan of the evil play through. What changed for me was that I started viewing it as the same engaging with media that follows an unlikeable/evil protagonist. I wasn't rooting for Walter White in Breaking Bad, but I did want to see how his story would play out.
I've been continuing to play Old School RuneScape, mainly on the side and in the background. Doing some merching to keep up a bond and slowly work through some quests. I don't have a ton of time to play, so I'll usually check the wiki if I get stuck on a quest. The recently released Raids 4 has up ended the economy a bit, so a lot of my stable flips that I was doing are no longer stable and I ended up losing a bit of GP as some items shot down in price.
OSRS continues to be a good Dad game, and I'll probably only be taking a break from playing during our upcoming vacation.
I also had a bit of time to play some more Pikmin with my sons watching. It's still an incredibly enjoyable game, and my boys got a kick out of it. I play a bit slower as they'll ask me to go look at something or what is going on a long. I've made it to the final boss and have 29/30 parts.
I actually forgot how difficult the final boss can be, and I'm also running into a bit of latency from my controller that adds that little bit extra difficulty as well. The first go of it I lost a lot of Pikmin and reset the day. The second time I was also losing more than I wanted and realized it was already bedtime, so I'll come back to beat it eventually. I had the facepalm moment when I remembered after getting the kids in bed that I'm using an emulator and I can just set a save state right before the boss, so I don't need to take the minutes to set everything back up again.