zod000's recent activity
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Comment on Another "help, looking for mechanical keyboard" thread! cherrys, color backlit leds, usb only (no bt), 100% size in ~comp
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 đĄī¸đĄī¸â¤ī¸đē INSERT CARTRIDGE đĸ The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
zod000 (edited )LinkMy body is ready! Edit: I think this is going to start being my CGA minishelfMy body is ready!
Edit:
I think this is going to start being my CGA minishelf -
Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 Link ParentLeopold makes GREAT keyboards and they have, IMO, the best included caps of any major OEM. The only things they don't do particularly well is embrace the less mainstream form factors or switches....Leopold makes GREAT keyboards and they have, IMO, the best included caps of any major OEM. The only things they don't do particularly well is embrace the less mainstream form factors or switches. I also don't believe I have seen any Leopolds with have hotswap sockets. If you just want a high quality mechanical keyboard in a standard form factor and have zero desire to customize it, they are my go to recommendation.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentThe Gades Blade is definitely not a 100% drop rate. Source: My endless annoyance repeating the fight to get it! I also got FF VI that Christmas. My parents wouldn't spent that much on a game so I...The Gades Blade is definitely not a 100% drop rate. Source: My endless annoyance repeating the fight to get it!
I also got FF VI that Christmas. My parents wouldn't spent that much on a game so I convinced my wealthy grandparents to get it. They had no idea what they purchased, but they were very glad I was happy with it lol
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 Link ParentSwapping the caps shouldn't be too bad. You can get some very decent key caps sets on Amazon quite cheap e.g. https://www.amazon.com/KBDiy-Keycaps-Percent-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0D1529M7K It's...Swapping the caps shouldn't be too bad. You can get some very decent key caps sets on Amazon quite cheap e.g. https://www.amazon.com/KBDiy-Keycaps-Percent-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0D1529M7K
It's totally fine if you don't want to do it, I've just done it so many times it feels easy I suppose.
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 Link ParentIt's a bit comical that Cherry on the list of official switches since nearly all of them are clones of Cherry MX switches. Not that many of the "clones" haven't surpassed the originals in ways at...It's a bit comical that Cherry on the list of official switches since nearly all of them are clones of Cherry MX switches. Not that many of the "clones" haven't surpassed the originals in ways at this point, but it just seems funny to me.
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 LinkJust one thing to mention, the "double press" issue is nearly certain to be an issue with the switches themselves. Since that keyboard is hotswappable, you can likely handle that particular issue...Just one thing to mention, the "double press" issue is nearly certain to be an issue with the switches themselves. Since that keyboard is hotswappable, you can likely handle that particular issue with just identifying and replacing the switches. That could be a good excuse to try out something slightly different (quieter, more tactile, etc) if you were up for it. EPOMAKER might be able to assist in replacing the battery as well. I'm not exactly one to shy from getting new keyboards, but if you are happy with your current keyboard, sometimes a repair is the way to go.
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 (edited )Link ParentI have an excellent keyboard that fits the bill that I use for my living room HTPC. I'll see if I can find out where I got it and if it is still available just to that I can share the info. Edit:...I have an excellent keyboard that fits the bill that I use for my living room HTPC. I'll see if I can find out where I got it and if it is still available just to that I can share the info.
Edit: The keyboard in question is the Vissles V84 (https://vissles.com/products/v84-wireless-mechanical-keyboard-hot-swappable). Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available anymore. I thought it was a 60% (also I got it confused with another wireless keyboard that is 60% I have around here). It is highly compact though, barely bigger than my Happy Hacking keyboard in footprint.
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 Link ParentIs there any reason you can't just replace the key caps with black on white key caps other than cost?Is there any reason you can't just replace the key caps with black on white key caps other than cost?
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 LinkI'm one of those weirdos that has owned dozens of mechanical keyboards of all varieties from vintage to hyped du jour boards so I'll throw my two cents in. My favorite board that fits you general...I'm one of those weirdos that has owned dozens of mechanical keyboards of all varieties from vintage to hyped du jour boards so I'll throw my two cents in. My favorite board that fits you general requirements would be the "WOBKEY Crush 80 Reboot Pro Aluminum Hotswap Wireless RGB Keyboard" (yes, its a mouthful). It is without a doubt one of my favorite modern mechanical keyboards, even though I rarely use the wireless functionality. The smaller "WOBKEY Rainy 75" might also work well for you and is a bit less expensive (I wasn't a fan of the form factor/less standard key caps).
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Comment on Help selecting a mechanical keyboard in ~comp
zod000 Link ParentI've actually had pretty poor luck with keychron keyboards. Two have had actual problems, but mostly I just didn't think they were "good enough" compared to other keyboards I have owned.I've actually had pretty poor luck with keychron keyboards. Two have had actual problems, but mostly I just didn't think they were "good enough" compared to other keyboards I have owned.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentAs I mentioned in another comment, I think I misjudged how much time it would take for the story to twist, the "hook" as you call it. I got there in roughly 7 hours, but I know I was blasting...As I mentioned in another comment, I think I misjudged how much time it would take for the story to twist, the "hook" as you call it. I got there in roughly 7 hours, but I know I was blasting through it. I expected most people it would be around 9-10 hours. The beginning is very "trope-y" from a story and lore perspective. I suspect part of that is that the game is a sequel (well prequel) and there was some presumption of many players going in with some notion of things outside of what is presented. I think the game stands more than well enough on its own, but I think that until you get the that point (as @Boojum calls it "after the time skip") it is supposed to feel like a standard fair "yay, we beat the bad guy everything is saved!" and until it then isn't. That alone doesn't seem all that original from a high level, but in detail it actually is much better done than other older RPG stories. In more recent RPGs, that are also usually much longer, they usually do this sort of thing by breaking the game up into chapters so it is clear it is a separate part of the story.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentThat great, I'm glad you are enjoying it! If you have any questions about any odd mechanics, especially the Ancient Cave, feel free to PM me when you get to it later.That great, I'm glad you are enjoying it! If you have any questions about any odd mechanics, especially the Ancient Cave, feel free to PM me when you get to it later.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentIts great to hear your you got that far, I hope you get to complete it later. Your pros and cons were pretty spot on, two of them (sprites and town variety) ,which others have touched on in their...Its great to hear your you got that far, I hope you get to complete it later. Your pros and cons were pretty spot on, two of them (sprites and town variety) ,which others have touched on in their comments, really just show how much of a leap FF VI (III in the US) was when it came out. It really pushed the SNES to its limit and even very early PS1 RPGs didn't look as good IMO (I'm looking at you Beyond the Beyond).
I'm very impressed that you managed to beat Gades without serious intentional prep. I have never played it on an emulator (only because I still have my working cart and SNES), so I haven't had save state shenanigans at my disposal, but that is a tough fight you are supposed to lose. I actually used to reset my game when I'd lose and do the fight over (I didn't bother this playthrough) because he has a chance (something like 12.5%) to drop the Gades Blade which has the best IP attack in the game. You can get it temporarily in the Ancient Cave because its random. Even though its stats are low by late game/end of Ancient Cave, it can be worth using for a specific fight. IIRC it does 8x damage and uses essentially the entire IP bar.
Anyway, I wish more people gave the Ancient Cave a single try during their run. You can get some excellent permanent items that are only replaced extremely late game.
Unrelated factoid because FF VI keeps getting brought up. The game was not intended to be so long (and amazing). The entire World of Ruin was the result of the game being seriously delayed, and is the rare case of a delayed game being great because of a delay.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentSome of the later puzzles get more challenging, I can definitely see some people lose their patience with them and reach for a guide. I do like that they are there as well, it breaks up the game a...Some of the later puzzles get more challenging, I can definitely see some people lose their patience with them and reach for a guide. I do like that they are there as well, it breaks up the game a bit. As I mentioned in the intro, the first few hours are a bit standard RPG trope-ish, but at least the puzzles and the original mechanics ideas make it fun.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI do consider it a hidden gem, but Chrono Trigger is quite literally the most lauded JRPG of all time made by the "Dream Team" all-star combination of different dev groups (Square, Enix, Akira...I do consider it a hidden gem, but Chrono Trigger is quite literally the most lauded JRPG of all time made by the "Dream Team" all-star combination of different dev groups (Square, Enix, Akira Toriyama and friends). Even the sequel to Chrono Trigger let me people down in comparison to that masterpiece.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 LinkA handful of more people will probably comment in on their experience, but it looks like this game was a big long for a CGA choice. I believe @kfwyre and I did discuss this as a potential issue...A handful of more people will probably comment in on their experience, but it looks like this game was a big long for a CGA choice. I believe @kfwyre and I did discuss this as a potential issue when discussing the schedule, but I clearly underestimated people's appetite for such a game. I wish people had been able to get to the Ancient Cave (@Akir was fairly close). It was fairly revolutionary at the time. As has been mentioned by others (including me in the INSERT post), the capsule monsters mechanic absolutely is vague in how it works. Modern games would have done it differently and probably explained that the monsters evolve into bigger forms with different abilities. You end up with several of them by the end, some being quite useful (there is a fairy monster that heals that can really save your butt).
Since we're over, please feel free to ask any questions about anything and I'll do my best to explain and "spoil the magic" as my wife likes to say. :)
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentIt sounds like most people didn't get too far into the game (@Akir gor the furthest that I know of), the story does get better, but I don't think it would necessarily alleviate your issues. I am...It sounds like most people didn't get too far into the game (@Akir gor the furthest that I know of), the story does get better, but I don't think it would necessarily alleviate your issues. I am actually surprised by your 11 hour playtime for where you were in the game, maybe the puzzles or general unfamiliarity slowed people down more than I expected. This will probably make me hold back on recommending any more RPGs in the future as this is honestly one of the shorter ones.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link Parent4.5/10 is rough, I guess the game isn't for you. I suspect you are remembering SaGa through rose tinted glasses (I am actually a super fan of that series), but it's all good. You were more like...4.5/10 is rough, I guess the game isn't for you. I suspect you are remembering SaGa through rose tinted glasses (I am actually a super fan of that series), but it's all good. You were more like 1/3 through the game, that's too bad that you didn't care for it. Also since you asked, IP stands for "Ikari Points" essentially "anger points" i.e. what gets called a limit break in later jRPGs which isn't really a better description IMO.
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Comment on CGA-2026-07 đšī¸đĨâī¸ REMOVE CARTRIDGE âī¸ Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals in ~games
zod000 Link ParentSince it was a turn based RPG, I expected some people to skip it based purely on preference. Thanks for giving it a shot!Since it was a turn based RPG, I expected some people to skip it based purely on preference. Thanks for giving it a shot!
All of the Ducky brands should work with Linux just fine. I have dozens of mechanical keyboards and they all work fine in Linux. The only possible issues might be with lesser known brands and trying to use their in house tools that update firmware or configs if they don't use the more standard configurable firmware. Mechanicalkeyboards.com has a good selection, but they don't tend to keep tons of stock and are constantly getting new stuff in. I've had good luck with them, so I'd personally recommend waiting it out for the stock to be replenished. They used to have a page on the site that showed their expected stock coming in with dates, so it might be worth looking at that.