TheRtRevKaiser's recent activity
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Comment on I think Tildes moderators and admins may need to make a decision regarding how to handle Harry Potter related posts in ~tildes
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Comment on No Kings protests live updates: hundreds of thousands rally in cities around the world against US President Donald Trump and his administration in ~society
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentOh wow, it was in the 80s where I'm at today. Turnout was really good for the deep south, too.Oh wow, it was in the 80s where I'm at today. Turnout was really good for the deep south, too.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI think there's probably more of a core mystery that you're unravelling in each book that feels like it is resolved in a satisfying way, like: spoilers for Locked Tomb books Book 1. What the...I think there's probably more of a core mystery that you're unravelling in each book that feels like it is resolved in a satisfying way, like:
spoilers for Locked Tomb books
Book 1. What the actual hell is going on
Book 2. What the actual hell is going on, and also what the fuck?
Book 3. What the hell is going on, and who the fuck is the protagonist of this book, even?It makes them feel like complete stories that do still have events that move from one into the next, and a bigger metaplot, but they don't just feel like smaller chapters of a longer narrative in the same way that lots of fantasy series do.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentYeah I'm not sure why but I've never felt like the Locked Tomb books being worth reading was contingent on the series being finished in the same way that, say, the Kingkiller Chronicles are/were....Yeah I'm not sure why but I've never felt like the Locked Tomb books being worth reading was contingent on the series being finished in the same way that, say, the Kingkiller Chronicles are/were. I'm not sure what it is about them, I just feel like they are more complete works than a lot of book in fantasy series are.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI love these books, they're this fever-dream combination of really beautiful writing, very cool sort of gothy science-fantasy worldbuilding, some pretty unusual narrative structures/devices, and...I love these books, they're this fever-dream combination of really beautiful writing, very cool sort of gothy science-fantasy worldbuilding, some pretty unusual narrative structures/devices, and then goofy-ass meming to top it all off. I know a lot of people bounce off of the anachronisms and humor (it didn't bother me, and honestly they're pretty well explained by the end of the latest book) but I really think folks should try these books, and go into them with an open mind.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentAlso, iirc, kind of people's souls?Also, iirc, kind of people's souls?
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentYeah I wasn't expecting "gilded age magical legal thriller/murder mystery" when I went into these books. Ultimately I found them to be kind of bleak for me, but I wish I could have stuck with them...Yeah I wasn't expecting "gilded age magical legal thriller/murder mystery" when I went into these books. Ultimately I found them to be kind of bleak for me, but I wish I could have stuck with them because they were SO well written.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI've always felt that Warehouse 13 was Syfy's attempt at continuing The Lost Room (and riding the SCP wave that was (I think) inspired by it in part). But Warehouse 13 was goofy as shit where The...I've always felt that Warehouse 13 was Syfy's attempt at continuing The Lost Room (and riding the SCP wave that was (I think) inspired by it in part). But Warehouse 13 was goofy as shit where The Lost Room took itself perfectly seriously even when it did have humor from time to time.
I think the game Control is actually a pretty good continuation of the same kinds of themes, IMO, with some additional stuff picked up from the later SCP stuff as well.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentYeah I think this is a fun take on this trope - it's not that dragon bones or scales are harder than steel from a material science perspective, it's that there are supernatural processes happening...Yeah I think this is a fun take on this trope - it's not that dragon bones or scales are harder than steel from a material science perspective, it's that there are supernatural processes happening that are concentrating power of some kind (I tend to lean away from the Sandersonian over-explanation of this stuff but that's a matter of preference) that makes them better/stronger/more potent or even just more significant than mundane materials.
I like the way that Will Wight does this for some things in his Cradle series. This is my take on it, it's not elaborated on a ton in the books, but some objects - even just ordinary objects made from ordinary materials - have significant metaphysical weight because they were used by someone of significance, or for/in a significant act. It's more powerful if the object conceptually aligns with both the act/person that lent it significance, and if it aligns conceptually with the purpose it's being put to. So, for example, the (mundane iron) sword of a significant conquering figure (especially one who aligns with the cosmic category of "swordness") would carry a lot of metaphysical weight, while that same figure's dinner knife might still be a potent object, but wouldn't quite have the same significance. And if you use that sword to make another sword, it would lend most of that metaphysical weight, while if you were using it to make something that wasn't as closely aligned to the concept that gave it power it might still be potent, but not as much.
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Comment on Interesting material types for fantasy resources/macguffins other than crystals or metals? in ~creative
TheRtRevKaiser LinkI always enjoy things made from the bones or other remains of powerful or uniquely magical beings/creatures.I always enjoy things made from the bones or other remains of powerful or uniquely magical beings/creatures.
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Comment on Angine de Poitrine - Sarniezz (2026) in ~music
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentSome favorites of mine were AndSome favorites of mine were
Finally, music 2
And
These guys are the best at whatever this is.
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Comment on Wordle on first guess? in ~games
TheRtRevKaiser LinkHmm, it kind of seems like it might not be the same puzzle for everyone at that site, because my word was answer CRIEDHmm, it kind of seems like it might not be the same puzzle for everyone at that site, because my word was
answer
CRIED
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Comment on Meet the UK's Eurovision entrant: 'The BBC is taking a risk on me' in ~music
TheRtRevKaiser LinkI've been following Look Mum No Computer since the Furby Organ days and this seems like a really cool opportunity for him!I've been following Look Mum No Computer since the Furby Organ days and this seems like a really cool opportunity for him!
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Comment on D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming in ~games.tabletop
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI've had some of my best sessions in PbtA games, along with some of my absolute worst. They definitely require a certain mindset that sometimes veteran tabletop players struggle with, especially...I've had some of my best sessions in PbtA games, along with some of my absolute worst. They definitely require a certain mindset that sometimes veteran tabletop players struggle with, especially more munchkin-leaning players. Folks sometimes bounce off the concept of fictional triggers and and playing in fiction and just want to be able to say "I do the thing it says I can do on my sheet", which is fair, tbh. But PbtA games really don't want you to do that, and they shine when players are just playing their character in fiction and the moves are flowing from that. But I've never played a PbtA game that had satisfying progression across lots of sessions, so the typical rewards for play feel absent for folks used to leveling up instead of leveling sideways or whatever.
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Comment on D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming in ~games.tabletop
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI've wanted to run a "monster of the week", supernatural style campaign for a while, so maybe SW would be the way to go for that. I have run Monster of the Week, which I think is a decent example...I've wanted to run a "monster of the week", supernatural style campaign for a while, so maybe SW would be the way to go for that. I have run Monster of the Week, which I think is a decent example of PbtA but I've never really found those games to work all that well for extended campaigns, they're best for shorter campaigns imo.
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Comment on D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming in ~games.tabletop
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentVery cool, thank you! No idea if I'll be able to persuade my group to give it a shot. I may have to ponder what settings/genres are available and see if I can come up with something that might...Very cool, thank you! No idea if I'll be able to persuade my group to give it a shot. I may have to ponder what settings/genres are available and see if I can come up with something that might hook them.
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Comment on D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming in ~games.tabletop
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentAre core rules laid out in the different setting books as well, or is it a Core+Setting situation? I don't have a ton of experience with generic systems so it's always seemed a little hard to...Are core rules laid out in the different setting books as well, or is it a Core+Setting situation? I don't have a ton of experience with generic systems so it's always seemed a little hard to figure out what all is needed.
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Comment on D&D Beyond will label the 2024 rules as "5.5e" to match the community's naming in ~games.tabletop
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentI've liked the idea of SW but haven't really been able to get into it. Are you using it for fantasy RP or one of the other genres? Is there a particular mix of books/supplements you'd recommend?...I've liked the idea of SW but haven't really been able to get into it. Are you using it for fantasy RP or one of the other genres? Is there a particular mix of books/supplements you'd recommend? It seemed a bit overwhelming when I looked into it a few years back.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
TheRtRevKaiser LinkI've been playing Dice a Million, which is a fun Balatro-like (is that a thing we're calling games?) but with dice rolling rather than card mechanics. It's got a lot of fun items and synergies,...I've been playing Dice a Million, which is a fun Balatro-like (is that a thing we're calling games?) but with dice rolling rather than card mechanics. It's got a lot of fun items and synergies, although I haven't quite figured out how to break the game quite like I had with Balatro, so I'm still in that middle phase where I'm figuring out the best synergies.
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Comment on How far back in time can you understand English? in ~humanities.languages
TheRtRevKaiser Link ParentYeah I lost the thread pretty much where you did. I was slowing down by 1300 but not struggling very much, but in 1200 only had enough knowledge to be able to get probably 2/3 to 3/4 of it and...Yeah I lost the thread pretty much where you did. I was slowing down by 1300 but not struggling very much, but in 1200 only had enough knowledge to be able to get probably 2/3 to 3/4 of it and mostly gleaned the meaning, but it was definitely an educated guess. 1100 pretty much lost me right away, I could puzzle out a few words but couldn't catch the meaning.
We have, in fact, had a few discussions that came quite close to debating the pros and cons of eugenics. It's been a few years, and I don't really feel like going digging, but it has happened more than once that folks here though it would be fun to "devil's advocate" eugenics.