venn177's recent activity

  1. Comment on How the heck do you go about moving cross country? in ~life

    venn177
    Link Parent
    I feel similarly about wanting to do this, but then I worry about 'striking out' per se and being out more than a few hundred bucks-- between boarding my dog, a round-trip ticket, the ubers, car...

    I flew to the city for a weekend to take a look at possible housing options

    I feel similarly about wanting to do this, but then I worry about 'striking out' per se and being out more than a few hundred bucks-- between boarding my dog, a round-trip ticket, the ubers, car rental, etc. It feels like it would be a lot. Any sort of optimization I can do there?

    7 votes

  2. How the heck do you go about moving cross country?

    ~life Ask (advice)
    I live in the southeast, and I'm finally in a situation where nothing is really keeping me here, so in the next month or so I'm intending to begin selling everything I can't fit in my car, and...

    I live in the southeast, and I'm finally in a situation where nothing is really keeping me here, so in the next month or so I'm intending to begin selling everything I can't fit in my car, and move out west.

    Unfortunately, I don't have a job lined up or anything like that, which obviously makes things more difficult. I figure something like offering to put a year of rent into an escrow account can probably cover that?

    On top of that though, how are you supposed to get a feel for everything? Like, there are virtual tours and things like that, but it's not exactly the same.

    I guess I'm just looking for general advice and tips at this stage. I feel like I don't even really know what I should be asking, but I'm definitely intent on ending up on the west coast.

    29 votes

  3. I'm looking for a suggestion on how best to organize my ideas for my weekly RPG

    ~games.tabletop Ask (recommendations)
    I implore anyone who can think of a better way to phrase the title, please suggest it. Essentially, I use a self-hosted MediaWiki which is where I write everything, but when I just have an 'idea',...

    I implore anyone who can think of a better way to phrase the title, please suggest it.

    Essentially, I use a self-hosted MediaWiki which is where I write everything, but when I just have an 'idea', I have a private Discord channel that I submit the information to. It can be a picture, or a character idea, or an idea for a scene or a shop or whatever-- I just have a channel where I dump all of my ideas, and then when I have time, I go back through them, iterate, add them to my wiki (making them 'canon'), and then deleting the messages.

    I would really like something else to do this, because Discord is obviously not meant for this. Unfortunately, the caveat is that it needs to be useable on mobile, because I'd say 80%+ of my ideas like this happen when I'm not at my computer.

    My first thought was to set up and self-host a ticketing system-- something like Znuny, but outside of using Zendesk for work, I don't really know that much about them, and it feels like it might be overkill (on top of not working on mobile, I don't think). It has the benefit of being able to immediately have the data organized, so I can double-check to make sure I'm not repeating character names, or ideas, or anything like that.

    So, with that in mind, what all are my options?

    12 votes

  4. Comment on On DM’ing for the first time in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link
    The number one thing I learned when I started running games over a decade ago is that whatever you prep, it will take longer than you expect for players to go through it. There's lots of narrative...

    The number one thing I learned when I started running games over a decade ago is that whatever you prep, it will take longer than you expect for players to go through it.

    There's lots of narrative "wheel spinning" when players have absolute agency over the story's movement. It's only really heavy combat focused groups that aren't focused on roleplay as much that will get through your prep quickly.

    7 votes

  5. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Yeah, I'm in the same boat, but with the free tier. I love the idea of two storytellers to help onboard new people quicker. I bet 8 players and 2 storytellers in trouble brewing could get people...

    Yeah, I'm in the same boat, but with the free tier.

    I love the idea of two storytellers to help onboard new people quicker. I bet 8 players and 2 storytellers in trouble brewing could get people into the game pretty damn fast.

    1 vote

  6. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Oh be still my beating goddamn heart. I've always just used clocktower.online (because I have a really weird, unhealthy financial relationship with subscriptions), but am 100% down if we have...

    I have a sub to blood on the clocktower online

    Oh be still my beating goddamn heart.

    I've always just used clocktower.online (because I have a really weird, unhealthy financial relationship with subscriptions), but am 100% down if we have enough people. The biggest hurdle is getting enough people, especially for that first time.

  7. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Awesome! Yeah, when you have time you can let me know or set an event yourself in the Discord server!

    Awesome! Yeah, when you have time you can let me know or set an event yourself in the Discord server!

    2 votes

  8. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link Parent
    If there are only certain times you want to/are able to play, you can create an event at that time and people can RSVP based on the games you want to play. I'm trying to make it as approachable as...

    If there are only certain times you want to/are able to play, you can create an event at that time and people can RSVP based on the games you want to play.

    I'm trying to make it as approachable as possible, especially given multiple time zones and people with busy lives.

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

  10. Comment on Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server? in ~games.tabletop

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Yeah, this is the main reason I made the post. Wanted to make sure there was enough interest so it was more than, like, four people that were wanting to join.

    Yeah, this is the main reason I made the post. Wanted to make sure there was enough interest so it was more than, like, four people that were wanting to join.

    1 vote

  11. Is there interest in a board game-focused Discord server?

    ~games.tabletop Ask (survey)
    Edit: Well, given there's already a vaguely positive reception to the idea, I've went ahead and set up the server! It's by no means a finished product yet, but it's at least a start! Here's the...

    Edit: Well, given there's already a vaguely positive reception to the idea, I've went ahead and set up the server! It's by no means a finished product yet, but it's at least a start!

    Here's the link: https://discord.gg/FqArkERU2U

    About a year ago, I was running a pretty active, small community board game server and it was a lot of fun until most of the regulars got busy with life.

    After that, things happened and it fell by the wayside, but my time here with Tildes makes me really want to bring it back, I just wanted to gauge interest first. The idea is that anyone could set events, anyone can invite people, etc. Obviously, it wouldn't be an open server, but one in the same vein as Tildes, but in board game community form.

    Specifically, things like hidden role games and other more complicated games really feel like they shine when there's a solid group of regulars that are able to teach newbies how to play.

    (And selfishly, this would be a great way for me to learn new board games, as well)

    23 votes

  12. Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games

    venn177
    Link Parent
    The motorcycles are a lot more responsive and easier to drive, IMO.

    the fact that I’m so bad at driving in games

    The motorcycles are a lot more responsive and easier to drive, IMO.

    9 votes

  13. Comment on Has anyone here received any benefit as a consumer from algorithmic ad targeting? in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    The classic one for me is when Amazon starts recommending you something more after you purchase it. No, Amazon, I don't think I'm going to splurge on a second or third toilet seat-- thanks, though.

    The classic one for me is when Amazon starts recommending you something more after you purchase it.

    No, Amazon, I don't think I'm going to splurge on a second or third toilet seat-- thanks, though.

    21 votes

  14. Comment on Recommendations for wireless earbuds for extended PC use? in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    After spending a while looking, I ended up going with a pair of Soundcores. They seem to have crazy good battery life, especially if you're not worried about ANC (which I'm not). So thank you so...

    After spending a while looking, I ended up going with a pair of Soundcores. They seem to have crazy good battery life, especially if you're not worried about ANC (which I'm not).

    So thank you so much! Ditto @prostetnicjeltz.

    3 votes

  15. Comment on Recommendations for wireless earbuds for extended PC use? in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    I am far too fidgety and move around. I've never been able to use wired headsets. Something about being literally tied to my PC just feels awkward to me.

    I am far too fidgety and move around. I've never been able to use wired headsets. Something about being literally tied to my PC just feels awkward to me.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Recommendations for wireless earbuds for extended PC use? in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Regarding this, does this mean buying a higher-end Bluetooth dongle for my PC, or will any of them still work just as good?

    Bluetooth has gotten quite good with the LDAC codec which can stream high resolution audio quite reliably.

    Regarding this, does this mean buying a higher-end Bluetooth dongle for my PC, or will any of them still work just as good?

    1 vote

  17. Comment on Recommendations for wireless earbuds for extended PC use? in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    Are Airpods okay connecting to a PC?

    Are Airpods okay connecting to a PC?

  18. Recommendations for wireless earbuds for extended PC use?

    ~tech Ask (recommendations)
    I've always been a speakers kind of guy because I'm not a fan of how bulky headsets are, but because of the fun of Zoom meetings and things, I've kind of gotten over my hatred of headphones. That...

    I've always been a speakers kind of guy because I'm not a fan of how bulky headsets are, but because of the fun of Zoom meetings and things, I've kind of gotten over my hatred of headphones. That said, I'd still prefer to commit to earbuds rather than big, bulky GamerTM headphones long-term. Instead, I'd like to pivot to earbuds.

    So my first problem is: I've always been under the assumption that 2.4Ghz dongle is superior to Bluetooth, but apparently modern Bluetooth is almost/practically as good. If that's the case, I wouldn't care about getting a Bluetooth-only set, but that does mean dropping more money on a dongle for my PC.

    My other caveat is that I hate having to pause what I'm doing to charge something. The only wireless thing I own is a headset I use for Zoom meetings and things, and it's a Arctis Wireless that can easily do 20+ hours without a charge. I would be using these for my weekly RPG that I run online, which is almost always 8+ hours long, not counting me watching videos/listening to music in the leadup to to the game.

    So yeah, with that in mind-- low latency and battery life are my big things, and I don't care about a microphone at all, but I'd like it to be fairly budget-friendly. Again, it just seems like... since I last used headphones 15+ years ago, things have changed a lot and even just googling and reading opinions on reddit-- all the opinions are varying and often opposing on what I should be shooting for.

    I don't care all that much about brand loyalty, or what color it is, or anything like that, either. So, what all would anyone here recommend?

    15 votes

  19. Comment on Copilot can't stop emitting violent, sexual images, says Microsoft whistleblower in ~tech

    venn177
    Link Parent
    As opposed to a fetus or something, I imagine.

    As opposed to a fetus or something, I imagine.

  20. Comment on What are your favorite series that are not from the US or UK and also not popular anime? in ~tv

    venn177
    Link Parent
    I really loved the premise, and season 1 was incredible, but I really felt like it was losing the thread during season 2, and I never picked it up for 3. Is it worth picking back up and finishing?

    Glitch is an australian show circa 2015 about several people getting resurrected and dealing with the weirdness that results from that.

    I really loved the premise, and season 1 was incredible, but I really felt like it was losing the thread during season 2, and I never picked it up for 3. Is it worth picking back up and finishing?

    3 votes