Best posts made by Lotherio

@Steven-Universe said in If you work hard, son, maybe someday you'll RP:

Sometimes I'll log in when I can't play yet because I know in "x amount of time" I should be free and I maybe can line something up for later. This new person though is so thirsty that its kind of a turnoff

Regardless of the intent of troller, I do think this is the crux of the situation. Both are a turnoff, but feels like neither side is saying 'okay, how can I change to contribute to the community.'

The folks only on to chat with friends to line up RP for later is a turnoff for some that likes spontaneity, as much as the hyper thirsty new player always asking for RP can be. And I see nothing wrong with a player asking sporadically throughout the day, multiple days, on appropriate channels for RP - that's the purpose of the channel. I do see a little issue with, by judging the wiki of this PC, its determined they want 'special' rp is a bit judgey.

I do agree with what some have said, instead of just asking at regular intervals, that time could be devoted to researching other characters on the game and offering a hook for RP instead of 'what do you want to do today, I don't know, what do you want to do'.

Inversely, instead of writing off someone who asks for RP as special or different or needy, maybe the time lining up could be spent paging them as well 'I'm not available now, maybe we can figure something out to RP when I/we both have time.'

Otherwise, its a two way street with an island in the middle no one wants to cross. I've had some great RP with random strangers, where I've taken their 'anyone want to rp' and hobbled something together, as much as it was a real sinker. But same with lining up something, sometimes its a basic lets met, my char has a question about the murder case for you and its great in the end, but other times its like 50 pages of back and forth, well my char would do this, maybe your char should approach it this where, to the point it feels like we've basically concluded the scene and are just RP'ing it to fill in the words the characters would say already knowing the conclusion.

This is going to good realm for a new thread .... creating original theme. Only because there is another topic, what do you look for in a game and there is a mix between liking established published stuff versus original theme. Part of my reply stems from that topic.

I don't mind checking out Victoriana, it sounds great. But most established settings always miss a little mark for my with interest in Mu* settings. Its usually the theme sounds good, Victorian/Gothic/Steam/Fantasy sounds like a great mix, but its the implementation. Some race isn't done quite right for me, or the politics just don't work in my mind. Or it just feels like some fluff schlepped onto an otherwise good idea, usually rehashed from another idea. Not inspired buy, but really the fluff is skeleton of other idea with hints of a new façade thrown onto it.

I'd personally be more interested in seeing what @Songtress or @surreality come up with for original theme, or develop my own even. I'd be interested in a joint project even, Redemption Mu* (the fantasy in lost future world Redemption) was developed jointly and a great experiment as far as that went. But I'd be far more interested in playing a mu* developed by someone in the community or by the community than trying Victoriana. Maybe that goes back to the most RPG's are better suitable to TT and not Mu discussion?

Definitely congrats there!!

In other news, I find myself in need of new employment. Any volunteers to pretend to be professional references.

Just watch your caller ID, if its a US number, you don't know me, otherwise I was lead on all those 'cover ups' they may ask you about. Just make it sound good.

@Sunny

While curious what others have to say, I lean towards a no means no harassment policy on my games. Recent games I spell it out directly, if someone says no, drop it. Any further pursuit of whatever it is will not be tolerated. I don't know if having some X flag to raise would make it easier than saying no giving its text based environment, but curious. Like some xflag pc=reason (so that is sends a message anonymously to other PC, someone in the current scene is not comfortable with reason).

Inversely, as there is a larger social group involved, if the rest of the group wants to continue, can the flag raiser be suggested that the scene may not be suitable given that more is planned?

Or like warnings on a scene (or in a posted event), I start something and +scene/flag Rated R for violence, drug use, suicide, whatever?

@skew Depends what hardcode. For pennmush, @faraday has a core that includes all that and many common globals like cron, Myrddin's bbs, anomaly jobs and a bunch of standard globals. Ditch the FS3 components and diceless, sheet less elements.

I'm addicted to oyster sauce. It is mana from the heavens. Any sauce I make lately, bbq, rubs, anything has this mixed in. Don't tell my kids they'd freak out probably.

@Ghost said in X-Cards:

You don't go to a Catholic church and demand sermons on Xenu
You don't go to AA and demand them not to talk about alcohol
You don't go to a Magic: The Gathering night and demand everyone plays Yu-Gi-Oh instead

This summarizes the stance against the concept, but there is a lot of middle ground. Like if you see a certain theme for a game, adult horror, you can expect there to be varying levels of horror (not just dark fantasy, but real horror). If there was no horror, players would probably be let down. But if someone goes to like Star Trek and some game runner wants horror night event (horror planet was discovered or holodek went crazy), does someone opting out or saying its out of them get discounted? And if one staffer or staff approved ST keeps trying to do horror events that don't jive with theme? While we assume most are comfortable talking about this on the community level, what about the players that feel its wrong to bring up weekly slaughter fest on the Star Trek Game with head staff or the other players (like, I see you guys love horror star trek, ever think going GOMO, I'd probably play there cause it sounds fun, but this might not be the place to do that).

A fleshed out Flash Gordon Mu would be good. Room for lots of whacky nobles and politics for L&L folks, play between rebellious groups, neutral sorts (Thule and the Lion Men), and Ming and his allies like the king of the ice giants. Tons of play in wars between the factions. Lots of atomic age sci-fi'ery with ray guns, tractor sleds, air sleds and other tech weapons and gadgetry. Hoards of natural monsters for action on the fly, dragons, ice worms, you name it. Not that it helps OP, but would be ripe for space L&L with loads of room for action adventure without upsetting the overall meta.

@Auspice said in Preferences:

@Lotherio said in Preferences:

I'm addicted to oyster sauce. It is mana from the heavens. Any sauce I make lately, bbq, rubs, anything has this mixed in. Don't tell my kids they'd freak out probably.

I ran out recently because any time I make ramen I just dump sriracha and oyster sauce in that bitch.

I'm finishing beef veggies, but that made my mouth water. I know what lunch well be tomorrow.

@Ghost said in X-Cards:

...could it be said that for the same reason people are uncomfortable with the use of social dice there could be some correlation to the reasons why they would be comfortable using the X-Card, but aren't paying enough attention to the fact that on some level the X-Card is in the same category of the very thing they hate about social dice?

One quick thing, I think everyone has moved past the fundamental concept of 'no questions ask free pass' of the X-Card. I think there are a couple things on the table, players flagging likes/dislikes on them (hey, it works on the adult MU's, people know what's fair game and what to avoid by checking them), and putting in the warning X-content for an event to help players signing up understand whats involved.

The thing I like that has been sort of mentioned is some flagging system to help get to the RL communication thing to help players and staff alike.

RL communication is not an RPG that requires an icon on a table and a coordinating Google writeup on how to use the system

Its not an RPG, but knowing MU's do want to attract others, giving them (new players, visitors, anyone) the tool to say I'm not comfortable sounds helpful. To facilitate between players and staff alike whether its an issue of the player needing to know when to bow out to comfort level (Hey, its WoD, darkness is a part of it, we'll not include you in the one part, whatever) or if staff is going beyond perceived them (hey, this is harry potter verse, the house evles did not all wear bondage gear nor was it common place to refer to them as the gimp, can we stop having that show up in every scene even if you think its funny, its just creepy).

Can we stop going back to anyone wanting to ponder how to enable (and engage with) RL communication despite comfort levels is trying to get a free pass nope with an X-card. Its moved on?

@Macha

I'm addicted to instant pot.

A favorite is pulled pork. Get 4 to 6 pound of your favorite part. Cut it up into 6 chunks. Through on your favorite dry rub ( garlic powder and onion powder if your not sure what a dry rub is, experiment from there). A little oil in bottom, saute in high. Just get the outside a little. This gets some grease to Brown not quit bkacken in the pot for the next part. Put those chunks aside.

Put a little water in and scrap all that Brown stuff of bottom. This is the base. Throw in Apple cider vinegar, 1/4cup or so. Some ketchup/ mustard, srirachi, to flavor, a little Worcestershire. Put the meat back in, water until the meat is mostly covered then pressure on high for an hour. Natural or show depress for 10 minutes then vent. That pork will fall apart just trying to get it out with tongs. Pull apart with forks.

My way for the high pressure cooking mix. After you scrape the bottom, do rice vinegar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, a little Louisiana hot sauce, some brown sugar.

I can't say the measurements I eyeball it, but mmm.

@Prototart said in Comic/Superhero Games:

went to drink straight chartreuse and watch zombie movies in her underwear

Did you not watch the past 50 years of zombie/low grade horror. This is just the situation zombies (insert title monster) wait for to attack. Lucky you survived to tell about it.

@Auspice said in Lifehacks:

@The-Sands said in Lifehacks:

(Also, some people really, really like it for doing eggs in a sort of Japanese soft-boiled style. I never really got into them that way so after experimenting for a bit I gave up, but your mileage may vary)

Hmmmm. Marinated eggs for ramen.... @Lotherio what do you think?

That does sound good. I'll reduce water to what i like sometimes and drop eggs right on in. I did do oyster and srirachi. I want to try that with egg now. Heh, ramen is versatile. It's so easy to add good stuff too.

This thread blew up, I can't read 9 pages to see if this has been covered.

A large barrier to entry for Mu* compared to forum/discord/other game (like RP on WoW or Minecraft) is ... the cost of entry.

I remember back in the 90s my group discussed the need for 2nd+ editions, which is because some companies can only sustain by releasing new editions. If everyone in the hobby has 1st edition and nothing else sales ...

Most Mu*s have some system and knowing the system is a barrier to entry which requires having the books for that system.

As a teen or young 20-something with little disposable income, would I be more inclined to play on a forum or discord where I don't necessarily need to know rules or buy books ... or jump into any number of Mu*s that require one book to really know the system and usually use a handful of others to make it more 'complete'?

Lots of places use a specific theme (aside from system) and that requires having read the books to get through CG half the time.

I prefer simple universal systems and original theme, but that's not really the go to for most folks who have been in the hobby for a while it seems. So by being specific and using well established themes, we're in part creating the barrier to entry. The young blood will find a place to play that doesn't require an expenditure of resources (money and/or lots of reading time just to understand the basics before getting into specific theme/house rules for that setting).

@Derp said in The Work Thread:

they would have gotten away with it -- if it hadn't been for the fact those meddling kids literally just read that obscure little portion last week for another case

FTFY

@Ghost said in Dark Ages Vampire -- Terra Mariana:

Nosferatu ghouls who worked with the noxious tanning chemicals

Small one, small one, small one for sell ...

This is how it was in the dark ages.

@Ghost said in Kickstarter:

@Lotherio said in Kickstarter:

@Ghost said in Kickstarter:

You're racist against minors.

This is a Minor Threat you're saying?

Only if they have Suicidal Tendencies and you are carrying a Pepsi.

There are a few, enough to be a (Youth) Brigade, but calling it that would be a Social Distortion. The thought of it completely puts me in Another State of Mind.

@Ghost said in The ethics of IC romance, TS, etc:

I would expect more language about story/plot continuation and less about how polyamory is approached in RL.

I think its more that writing is a mutual sport, if we're collaborating on a story and I don't want curve balls, am I in the wrong. I mean with trusted players I know, they can throw any curve ball they want, but as mutual writers making a story together there has to be some trust?

@Ganymede said in Good TV:

@surreality said in Good TV:

I wouldn't say the series is at all dependent on having seen it, as a prequel. There are some things from the film you can look at and say, 'oh, so that's why that was how it was!' but that's fairly standard for any prequel.

It's not, and I've been told by my partner that there are some glaring continuity differences, but it is still very good. I appreciate the mix of puppetry and CGI.

Also, Simon Pegg does a great job of impersonating the Chamberlain.

This, even with glaring continuity differences (big picture for the movie's theme/prophecy), its a great work. Chameberlain is near spot on, that is great and I like Hamill on the scientist. The development of character for each of the Skeksis is great and I like the portrayal of the Emperor who is only seen briefly in the movie.

Frankly, I like the stiffness. It reminds me of how much effort went into the puppetry, and how much the creators wanted to pay homage to Henson and the franchise's roots. So, give me a bit of stiffness, please.

With all the CGI available, especially to the Henson Company, I'm glad to see the use of puppetry. They is some great advancements and without having read the reason why they choose to keep it near the same, I imagine its homage and continuity with the puppetry of the first one, they don't look out of place compared to their originals despite how much more advanced the puppetry is.

I'm enjoying it even with my reservations as a proud fan since the original movie.

***=Not sure if this is needed but***

@Thenomain said in Punishments in MU*:

(For the audience: Faraday and I don't get each other about 95% of the time.)

Lies, that estimate is far too low.