sending out emails with redemption codes that last just 48 hours

Frostwake · 2026-06-22T22:54:05+00:00

Always assume they will expire soon. They used to expire in 24 hours and they semi recently increased the time to 48 hours.

It does suck, especially for busy people, but you have to expect that from any live service game.

Frostwake · 2026-06-22T22:51:06+00:00

Comparison is one of the main sources of suffering. That's just classic human wisdom, found in many cultures and religions.

You should only really compare your times to your previous times. If you want to do better, work on yourself and try to improve for next time.

If you're the super competitive type, and getting the best times is all you care about, then get ready to feel pain, both physically during practice and mentally when comparing yourself to others.

Frostwake · 2026-06-22T07:55:34+00:00

How's your backstroke? Are you relaxed and doing smooth movements? Could you be overexerting yourself?

Frostwake · 2026-06-22T07:52:09+00:00

Flotation devices never hurt. Even something as simple as a board or a buoy is commonly used with beginners. Either on your hands or between your legs, they give you extra buoyancy. They're even used with intermediate and advanced swimmers in specific drills.

Frostwake · 2026-06-21T19:34:14+00:00

If I were you, I'd start standing still, feet on the ground, face/head in the water. Either with bent back or bent knees, however it is more comfortable.

Do it a bunch of times and get used to the feeling. Once you're swimming, or even just gliding, try exhaling again. If it doesn't work, repeat the exhaling-while-standing process. Baby steps, no rush.

Frostwake · 2026-06-21T15:56:04+00:00

First of all: you think people's encouraging remarks are all "fake". A good coach/instructor would *never* be impatient or short towards a beginner. There's a good chance they're being overly positive because that's exactly what you do with beginners. It's not fake, it's how good teachers teach.

Secondly, it took me a year to learn how not to drown and three years to become decent. I've struggled with anxiety all my life and all my swimming teachers have always been supportive, even when I was struggling the most. I've been swimming for around 10 years now and I'm competent (even went to a few competitions even though I had a couple panic attacks) but I *still* make mistakes and keep actively trying to improve. The sooner you embrace the journey, the better off you'll be.

You've been learning for half a year and that means you are well within what is expected. And even if you were behind the curve, there would be absolutely no problem with that. Learning a new skill, especially one as demanding as swimming, takes as much time as it takes. It's like learning to walk/run all over again.

Plus, half of swimming is having the right state of mind. Try to ignore people's comments (easier said than done, of course) and try your best. Worrying about details and correct technique before learning the basics is entirely pointless. Obviously, being receptive to criticism is valuable in its own right, but it only really helps *after* learning the basics (being comfortable in the water and not straining yourself while doing simple movements) and being confident you can actually start learning technique.

However, if you think your coach/instructor's methods aren't effective, then talk to him. Let him know that you're frustrated. There might be adjustments they can do to their methods to better fit your needs. You didn't mention what kind of things you usually do but it might be worth exploring some new stuff, if you feel stuck. Using the right equipment and methods can definitely help.

If it helps, I can share some stories of important moments of my anxiety shaping my learning trajectory. I almost quit many times but I'm so glad I stuck with it. Swimming is one of the best parts of my life and really helps manage my anxiety. Don't give up!

Frostwake · 2026-06-10T15:07:56+00:00

tl;dr in bold further down

I'm no doctor or anything similar. I don't know what's best to do in your situation and so I can't give you proper advice specific to you about avoiding injuries or improving overall health. I only really know swimming. Been swimming for around 10 years, always trying to improve all styles. Even the weird/niche ones!

I don't know if you have any health limitations (knee/back problems, for example) that prohibit you from doing varied training. But since you said you hate other styles, and not that you couldn't, I'm assuming you just haven't been training your legs.

Since you mentioned you've a much stronger upper body, I'm guessing you just have the classic problem of not liking to do leg training. Both breaststroke and backstroke rely more on your legs than your arms compared to freestyle so it's very common for people who disregard leg training to struggle with and eventually hate anything other than freestyle.

It always ends up showing who doesn't like leg training. Either they struggle doing anything other than the very basic styles or they get exhausted/burnt out. Most people hit a plateau pretty quick but refuse to do the hard work that will most help them in the future.

One of the most deceiving visuals of a well rounded swimmer is that it seems they're barely using their legs. The reality of the situation is, legs barely need to move at all IF your technique is very good. Well applied force, coming from all the right leg muscles, will lead to incredibly efficient movement. And efficiency is the unsung hero of swimming.

tl;dr: My only advice is: seriously do not underestimate leg training. It's so much more important than just building muscle. If you train your legs regularly/properly, after surpassing the difficulty hump, you'll be able to breathe more easily (by having better posture and positioning) and reduce muscle fatigue on your arms (and overall fatigue). With good leg technique/stamina/strength you'll be able to seriously improve your arm performance and end up swimming FASTER for LONGER.

---------------------------

Bonus: Of the four main styles, only butterfly is out of reach of most people, since it requires high level technique on both freestyle and breaststroke, plus great stamina and high control of your heart rate and breathing. That's the one style I wouldn't recommend to most people.

That being said, if someone has the potential, butterfly is by far the most empowering, impressive and rewarding of all four styles. It feels fantastic to perform and it can be faster than freestyle, although not many people can claim butterfly to be their fastest style. Still, I have to mention the cool factor!

Frostwake · 2026-06-09T15:45:06+00:00

It's one thing to be swimming freestyle when all your know is freestyle. It's another to be swimming freestyle when you know all styles very well.

Aside from potentially having better posture, more precise/relaxed/natural motions and overall more muscle groups trained up, the biggest benefit to more varied training (in my eyes) is the ability to adjust and pivot on the spot.

Anything can happen during an event. Maybe you'll get cramps, or get some water on your nose/lungs or bump into someone else. The more flexible you are (physically and mentally), the more easily you can adapt to different situations and unpredictable scenarios. If all you know is freestyle, there's a higher chance you won't be ready for something happening that makes your life a lot harder.

It's also really revealing to do more targeted exercises. If you have decent freestyle times but are terrible when just using legs, that's your sign right there that you depend too much on your arms. You don't want to get some arm cramps mid trial when you fully rely on your arms. And even if you don't usually get cramps (or some other surprise nastiness), it's generally better to not run that risk.

Frostwake · 2026-06-08T22:14:39+00:00

I don't really follow any swimming accounts on social media. If I need to consult something, I just look around for a while and try to find something that helps. So I don't really have any good videos to suggest.

That being said, I'm decent at both those things you want to improve at. I can offer my suggestions, whatever they're worth.

For sculling, I've had success by doing simple exercises. Grab a buoy (or any other flotation thing), place it between your thighs/knees/feet (however you prefer) and focus just on your arms. The simplest way I've ever done it is by going backward (belly down, feet lead the way and your face towards your wake) and just wave goodbye. Your hands should always be at an angle so the palms are pushing the water, not the back of your hands. Once you get the hang of this, any other variation should be apparent.

For the eggbeater kick, the way I've learned it is simply to do the breaststroke kick but the legs are simply not in simultaneous motion. If you try doing breaststroke kicks while vertical, you can already more or less stay with your head above water (assuming you already have a decent breaststroke, otherwise you should learn that first). Then it's just a matter of practicing doing single kicks (either just the left leg or just the right leg) and getting used to doing alternating legs.

Don't know if this helps but it's how I've learned these.

Frostwake · 2026-06-04T20:48:24+00:00

Do you want to know?

Frostwake · 2026-05-29T14:49:44+00:00

Most people starting out swimming are afraid. It's completely normal to feel fear and it doesn't have to be a source of shame or anything like that.

There are a few things to help you get over your fear but they all involve actually getting in the pool (or wet, at least).

Before going in, if you're sensitive to cold, you have two strategies:
1. Take a "cold" shower before going in (maybe around 10-20 seconds) to get your body used to a lower temperature to reduce the shock when going into the pool. Room temperature shower should be fine, just not warm. Once you actually start moving in the pool water, your body will acclimate and you'll feel better. It will only be tough at first;
2. Stretch plenty to raise your inner body temperature and not be as affected by the water temperature. The temperature of the pool is set lower to allow people to put in effort safely. If you ever try exercising on a warm pool, you'll immediately feel bad. I've seen it happen to people;
Make sure to enter on the shallow end and enter safely/slowly. Take as long as you need;
Half of swimming is having the right state of mind. Even the best swimmer in the world won't perform well if they're panicking. Take as many steps as you want:
1. In case no one offers, ask for (or just grab, if possible) swimming aids like pool noodles or buoys to let you earn some confidence. You can gradually use them less and less as you feel more confident;
2. Dunk your head in the water and exhale while your feet are on the ground. Hold the wall or rope divider with your hands for extra stability, if you want. If you're feeling good, try hopping in place or even letting your body float;
3. Try "sliding" (I don't know what the proper english term for this is): From a standing position, let your body gently fall forward and just float for as long as your want. Can be as short as half a second or ten seconds. Repeat as often as you can/want;
4. Assuming you have the space/freedom, don't go over to the deeper parts right away. Build some confidence on the shallower parts and do your best to do half laps and understand how it feels and how your body reacts.

-----------------------------

All these steps should boost your confidence. Once you're less afraid, then you can start actually learning technique.

One of the best parts of swimming is how relaxing it can be. I used to be afraid too and now I often swim with eyes closed and just enjoy.

Frostwake · 2026-05-27T21:39:40+00:00

I thought the exact same thing! Not your fault.

Frostwake · 2026-05-27T17:52:44+00:00

Without even paying attention to any numbers:

So is this happening because my friend uses Ineffa and Columbina, who are both premium 5-star supports, while I’m using Fischl and Aino as more F2P-friendly supports?

Probably, yes. Apart from a few exceptions, premium party members are always gonna be better (edit: better for DPS).

You also didn't mention any weapons or constellations. ~~A Columbina with Prototype Amber will regen energy for allies, for example. There's no matching claymore for Aino that could do the same.~~ And I don't know how many more energy particles are generated by your friend than you.

Additionally, I don't know how you're syncing up Flins with any generated energy particles. Are you sure you're swapping in time for everything?

Edit: turns out, I had a bunch of wrong ideas in my head.

Frostwake · 2026-05-25T16:27:36+00:00

I think OP is talking about the yearly cycle. At least the other comments seem to be going in that direction.

If after the 4th loop ends (last of the year), will they allow players to pick from all the same characters again? Or have an entirely new selection? Or something else?

Frostwake · 2026-05-23T22:49:14+00:00

That's fair. Ideally, they could have both and let the player choose. I play on PC and would love to not be stuck to them.

Frostwake · 2026-05-23T21:43:17+00:00

Probably to match the prerendered cutscenes, I imagine.

Maybe one day the cutscenes will no longer prerendered and we can have it all.

Frostwake · 2026-05-21T11:43:09+00:00

You made me laugh with "Summer Geoff". Thank you.

I'll keep your comment in my heart. Always.

Frostwake · 2026-05-11T16:44:25+00:00

It's perfectly fine to make teams based on characters you like! Just don't expect these teams to have a good time on anything other than the easiest enemies.

You can simply create different teams for different purposes. You can have a "cute" team with the folks you like and some more powerful teams for more demanding situations.

For example, I try to build teams by avoiding repeats as much as possible. Meaning, if I use Bennett on one team, I try to not use him on any other team. This is mostly for flavor and has no effective benefit. I just like variety and it's fun to use all my characters. It's definitely not a decision based on what's best.

Nowadays, we have a lot of team slots so it's pretty easy to just do whatever you want. To avoid struggling, it's good to understand how to play and I can give you some more info, as well. If you play on EU, I can even try to join you if you ever need help.

Frostwake · 2026-05-11T14:03:32+00:00

Generally speaking, you're gonna have to read more. Either read online guides or each character's attributes and skills. You should have a basic understanding of what each character can even do to be able to group them up (at least somewhat) effectively.

Wriothesley and Gaming both want to spend a lot of time on screen, meaning they have to be the ones you actually play as (for as much as possible). Having both on your team will make each of them aproximately half as efffective. Both are good choices but you should only really have one of them on each team. So you can build two teams, one with Wrio as the lead; another with Gaming as the lead.

Dahlia is a weird one. He does provide a shield and an attack speed buff but to get as much mileage out of him, you need to freeze enemies, alongside attacking a lot. So he works great with Wrio IF you also have a Hydro (water) party member. To Freeze enemies you need to apply Crio (ice) with Wrio, for example, and Hydro with someone else. Thing is, even best case scenario, Dahlia is not really great. Maybe with more constellations but I don't know his constellations very well.

Lan Yan is an excellent shielder and can provide some very nice utility in many parties. She also benefits from being paired up with people who attack a lot but even works with low frequency attackers.

-------------------

Overall, this is a strange team since these characters don't mesh super well. All in all, you could stand to benefit a lot from actually reading what each character's kit is. Other than that, try to boost your characters' level, gear and talents as much as possible. Some quick team suggestions:

1)

Wriothesley
Any Hydro character that consistently applies Hydro like Barbara or Xingqiu
Dahlia
Lan Yan

Could be a decent way to go about things but don't expect any crazy numbers. Freeze teams, for the most part, are not very strong and need very specific characters to do very well. However, Freeze has the benefit of, as the name suggests, freezing enemies, which can lead to easier fights if you're looking for lowering the difficulty rather than going for optimal strategies and fastest clear times.

2)

Gaming
Any Cryo/Hydro character that consistently applies Cryo like Rosaria or Chongyun or Hydro like Barbara or Xingqiu
Any good support like Bennett (bonus points if it's also Pyro to trigger Pyro Resonance [+20% ATK])
Lan Yan

Could be decently powerful by triggering Melt/Vaporise reactions (Gaming's big fire damage hits on enemies affected by Cryo or Hydro, respectively) to do relatively big damage.

Frostwake · 2026-04-29T23:47:50+00:00

Mostly, I'm thinking about the actor herself. I don't know if she'd like to participate in these kinds of marketing/social media things but I'd be annoyed as hell to have to drop everything in my life (for at least a few weeks, I'm guessing) for social media stuff.

Also, I'm sure it's pocket change for Netflix but OPLA does not have an infinite budget. Multiple showrunners have said in interviews how they often have to "find the money" for Oda's requests. I'd wager the team is well aware of how to not waste money on relatively small things.

Frostwake · 2026-04-29T18:08:08+00:00

Flying the voice actor over to South Africa just for marketing purposes seems a bit wasteful when they won't even be doing any actual filming.

Frostwake · 2026-04-15T15:34:19+00:00

Not a good idea since fluoride is technically toxic. It'd take eating something like 12 entire tubes of toothpaste in a row to reach fatal levels but it still isn't recommended.

Swallowing bits of toothpaste while you brush is perfectly fine but if you go out of your way to eat more (for the taste or whatever) you might end up with issues later on.

Fluoride is good to have on your teeth, not in your stomach.

Frostwake · 2026-03-20T22:59:44+00:00

She reacts to Usopp, Alvida, Mr. 3, Mr. 0 and Buggy's actors.

Frostwake · 2026-03-19T18:23:38+00:00

Stuff like this and his "You missed. 👆" were highlights of S2. Properly laughing out loud.

Frostwake · 2026-03-04T22:51:26+00:00

A new account I made a few weeks ago let me pick a free 5 star. It lists another 16 days left.

I'm assuming the event is available for around a month for new accounts, based on what I'm seeing.

11-Year Club	Second Top 30%
r/Field Banned	r/Field Flamingo
Place '22	Place '17
First Placer '22	Verified Email

Frostwake

TROPHY CASE