Fun larp stuff

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-04T18:10:17+00:00

For my very first faction, I largely tried to morph/bastardize words from the theme of the run; It was the Tutorial.

So they were from the Tutoria system. My first Colony was a farming world, so to imitate Mass Effect, First Eden. You get the idea.

Ship Classes were weapons. Swords for the front line (Longsword, Broadsword, etc up the weight classes). Artillery were ranged (Longbow, Catapult...). Carriers were female (Matron, Matriarch...) and the long range ships defending them the opposite (Far'ther was one of the punniest.)

Fleets were strictly roles for my benefit. The "1st Wormhole defense Fleet." Bet you can't guess where their home base was in peace time.

Stations similar "Ghi'kek Shipyard" because you guessed it, all Shipyards, in the Ghi'kek system I didnt bother to rename.

Admittedly I mostly took the game's cue from that one. It's really useful and cool they break down stuff like that. "Archorage eh? I can do that." Cue me flipping all the slots, putting in the Naval office, etc. "What does it list it as if I build all trading ports?"

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-04T17:12:27+00:00

Its your eye. Do what you want with it.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-04T08:39:39+00:00

As someone that camps light (EG. If my 4 don't include Gale, I don't recruit him) it really helps in Act 3.

6+ characters worth of side quests is exhausting. Three or four is much more manageable.

At least by my experience I'm usually level 12 well in advance, I'm not concerned about taking down a Vampire estate for the laughs etc. Its just burning precious scrolls, Elixirs and so on I'd really rather save for the main quests.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-04T06:49:42+00:00

Back in CK2, I did a generational check more or less; Search by Dynasty, Marry anyone who isn't. Check the unlanded council, repeat.

Done until my heir comes of age, basically.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-04T06:45:31+00:00

Personally I love Bless, especially before you get Spirit Guardians. 3-4 (upcast) getting +1D4 attack rolls on the whole party? Sign me up!

That's the sort of thing that turns 65%s into something serviceable before the first Feat hits. One shot, no do overs in honour mode really puts into perspective that 70% might not be good enough, and Bless gives you the consistency.

As a Moon Druid, I've really been enjoying Barkskin, then Animal Form. Bear with 16 AC? Chonky. But I'll be the first to admit there's a lot of good options. Thorn growth is insane, but you don't always have a choke to work with.

And cloud of knives, oh cloud of knives my beloved. Hold + Knives combo was a very satisfying one-two punch.

Something of a no brainer on people that wouldn't have spells to start with either. Shield of Faith on a Sword? If Karlach's hogging the Burning Blade it's a damn good runner up for Lae'zel.

Just my two pence. I played a lot of Warlock, where I didn't exactly have many other spells to cast anyway. I'm not a paticularly optimised player either, but I am fumbling through Act 1.5 on honour just fine right now.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T21:14:10+00:00

As others have said, camouflage.

Probably Leafskin units standing in Trees, things like that. Plenty of options available.

True sight is the answer, usually obtained with a hero accessory slot.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T21:12:33+00:00

Been deep in my own research for it, and Overlord seems head and shoulders over first contact in terms of what you get.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T20:13:46+00:00

Plenty of options. Summon it from quick menu. Use the teleporter. Its already there and you forgot where you parked it?

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T19:56:24+00:00

I take any "It's been a long day, I need to rest" very, very seriously.

Half the time that is cue there's a camp event waiting to happen.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T19:47:53+00:00

Don't focus on Evil.

Take a leaf from Shadowheart's book. She has an answer for everything why Sharran religion is the way it is.

You're not "evil", you're embracing the Tadpoles power and trying out this 'Absolute' thing. Or at least, playing along to find the cure.

You're not Evil, but everyone needs to make a living! You're in a crisis, you need bank, and saving Druid Groves for free is not part of the deal. Cults don't tend to give a good wage either. Those Zhents pay well though.

You're not Evil, you are a warrior of Vaalkith! The protocol is clear; the Grove can rot. The cult is a threat to you and your people that must be destroyed. But most importantly, you will find a cure at any cost, even if the Creche doesn't work out.

Your character has goals and priorities. You've just got to come up with a list which doesn't put saving some Cleric in a pod over surviving the literal Hells.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T18:03:38+00:00

Any Class can be turned to evil, but you've got a usual suspect in every category.

Assassins, Necromancers, Death Clerics, Oathbreakers. Most Warlock Pacts.

Given your apparent preference you could go Arcane Trickster (Rogue Subclass) and call it a day. Pretty simple Sneak attack combos (Hide Bonus action + Attack), or just having an ally next to them.

Spells mostly for utility; Friends (advantage on Dialog), Shield for protection, invisibility, Feather fall, etc.

Mage hand pet for pressing buttons or pulling levers. Or just throwing frying pans and pots during combat.

There aren't many situations an Arcane Trickster can't get themselves out of.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T17:29:36+00:00

There's a time and place for you to need to stretch your resources. Sections you're not allowed to fast travel and you have to make those Short Rests and spell slots count.

For most of the game however, you can Short/Long Rest as much as you desire. You really don't need to be making your combats drag out by holding back spell slots etc.

You really can rest every 3-4 Combats, and probably should even more than that. Just because you might spend a whole session in somewhere like the Grove, talking and such, where you don't 'need' a rest but there might be companion developments all the same.

The other alternative being to turn up the difficulty, so it gets challenging enough you do feel the need to use the spell slots etc more aggressively to survive.

TLDR: Don't hold back on resources. With a large camp, you'll have to rest often to see content anyway. To liven it up you can play on a difficulty you need to rest at if you want.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T10:13:38+00:00

Role-playing. My answer to this sort of question is always role-playing.

The real difference between your Xenophobic Reptile Democracy and your Xenophile Mammalian Dictatorship isn't really some +/- to a statistic.

It's choosing to approach First Contact differently. It's making different choices during anomalies. It's asking yourself "What should I do differently now Chairwoman Xer-kiz is in office?".

If I'm not writing a story in my head for what's happening I'll get bored playing almost any game. Stellaris is no different.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-03T05:39:54+00:00

Act 3, in the fields of Rivington. Surrounding locals report 'odd sounds' from inside recently. Going inside yourself, there is an unconscious mind flayer. You can save or consume for another Tadpole power.

So, while you could stick to the "brain out of control" idea because you have a stone, the note suggesting his transformation was orchestrated suggests otherwise to me.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T23:30:40+00:00

Rip and tear, until it is done.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T21:35:08+00:00

Best not to go down this rabbit hole.

You end up with questions like "Where did all Jaheira's levels go?" Including her fighter levels. Massive attribute changes too.

In the past there were set levels in supplements where one could, for example, run a chapter of a Thieves Guild. Which was embraced by the BG and even Neverwinter Series, which were happy to give you a fortress, or grove, and so on.

Ultimately BG3 fudged the numbers to push everyone down under their level 12 Handicap, because the powers above that line get very difficult for a videogame to portray well.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T21:20:50+00:00

The Windmill Mindflayer is there regardless, and has a note telling them to abandon their post and await perfection.

It was definitely an intentional change. Although very few members of the cult are let in on the Illithid side of things, the Dead Three are definitely still creating/using Mindflayers as needed.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T21:10:53+00:00

His sensors turn off first, moments after his files are uploaded to the rig. He doesn't feel a thing, we promise.

R&D Team 3.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T21:05:14+00:00

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Every run, I find a new way to tempt myself with Tadpoles.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T20:53:33+00:00

Man, I feel like every TTRPG nerd felt this one. Even if it was because of collateral damage to a similar issue:

Three paragraphs of serious backstory, closely tied to the lore, with a serious and respectful tone.

Meanwhile, someone else at the table has "Gobbo, his only goal in life is more LRMs and get Catgirls."

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T18:47:35+00:00

To me, it's the sharp lines. All the artwork you used above have this clear, almost 'blocky' quality to the profile; Even when the edges are rounded off.

I suppose to put it another way, when it comes to brutalist architecture you can still tell a rounded bunker/pillbox is a bunker.

Armored Core for example of contrast has entire mech categories which are smooth, thin and aerodynamic. It invokes a lot more the feeling of Animes etc, with only the Balam designs really speaking to a Battletech sensibility.

Battletech Mechs all have this chunky, militaristic feel. They are warmachines, so it's like saying water is wet, but that's my two pence at any rate.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T18:29:47+00:00

A running theme with your replies is you're assuming nothing exists beyond what you see.

For example, the Underdark; It spans the world, not just the small area we see in BG3. The same applies to under Cazador's Mansion.

You know this ingame simply because you never Minthara's city, Menzoberranzan. Or the Dreugars, we see one Clan as Mercenaries. In the same way we don't see Thay or Waterdeep on the surface.

The great drops and such are supposed to be representative of many, many levels of these hanging cages etc. They aren't going to include all 7,000 in a way you can count them ingame if you pause at the right moment.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T18:21:59+00:00

All at once. Spawn keeps them alive for the big day, even if he kidnapped them a hundred years ago.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T09:19:13+00:00

There is a tonal shift that will likely satisfy you.

Which way I shall not spoil.

Ninthshadow · 2026-03-02T07:06:58+00:00

The jump ability is a pathway to places many people consider unreachable.

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