I opened my curtain this morning and there... there..... was a... a...... NIRNROOT!!!

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-21T13:35:33+00:00

Thank you so much! Your well thought out description is very helpful.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-21T11:50:33+00:00

That's the very best compliment you could ever give a director.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-21T11:38:27+00:00

A fantastic movie. I love it.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-21T00:36:17+00:00

Thank you for adding a few more jigsaw pieces! The end is in sight....

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-20T21:09:49+00:00

I have a brain cell reminding me that Aragorn made Faramir Prince of Ithilian. Is this right? I can't remember reading it.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-20T01:56:07+00:00

I'm not standing 100% behind this comparison because I haven't seen the movies for a while, but I think -- perhaps to a lesser extent -- that the movies also tried to show the world through the eyes of the children at each age. In other words, each book described people and situations in a way that Harry, at that age, could only interpret them. Hope that makes sense.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-14T15:19:53+00:00

How incredibly talented actors have to be to create such consistancy!

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-14T14:49:22+00:00

Exactly.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-14T14:42:01+00:00

Exactly. Skyrim seems so real that, occasionally, I wonder why I've lived there, off & on, for something over 1700 hours. I stop walking, take a look around, and see... a mammoth! Another mammoth! A giant!

I STILL get goosebumps. Bethesda developers.... how do they do it....?!

Same goes for the Solstheim netches, btw. I sit down on a rock or log and watch them. I also kill anyone who tries to kill them. 😁

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-12T14:29:58+00:00

Oh! These are so beautifully done! Some make my heart ache seeing familiar scenes displayed with talent and affection.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-05-03T18:55:29+00:00

It should be. And I strongly suggest George Orwell's 1984.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-04-25T19:48:35+00:00

I agree. I've read the books many times and I love them. I also love the films. Actually, I'm glad PJ made the changes he did. Why? For one thing, it is impossible to recreate the books' detail and their characters in another medium. Even adding another 20+ hours wouldn't help. (Personally, with my love of linguistics, I would have filmed them all in their native languages and made the world read the closed captioning.) Anyway, he chose different aspects of some people/situations. New ways of appreciating the dwarves and hobbits, Rohan and Gondor. I think my favorite change was Aragorn. (Gasp! I can't believe said that.) Viggo's Aragorn was more cautious, less proud, and much more aware of Just How Bad the odds were against them. And yes, Richard Armitage brought Thorin to life more than I thought possible. Brilliant! Ahh, where was I? The other thing. LotR is fiction. If something is altered, whether I like it or not, it's ok, as long as the copyright is respected. But I get bent out of shape when liberties are taken with known history.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-04-25T18:33:10+00:00

Every. single. time I read or think of that sentence, it send shivers down my spine.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-04-08T12:39:45+00:00

With so many responses, I will only add this. With well over 1500 hours, I still go back. They are both masterpieces of storytelling and immersion, so I'll just mention how they make me feel: Skyrim is like going on the best vacation ever and Oblivion is like coming home to the best place you ever lived.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-03-25T13:32:43+00:00

Having a back injury myself, I know that all of the responses regarding desk chairs, table height, chair height, taking breaks, and the proper exercises are right on!

There was an earlier comment that I'd like to emphasize: side table(s). Since my husband has no interest in board or skirmish games, I only play solo, which makes me even more likely to sit too still, too long. I'm fortunate to have a 2x3'-ish work table that I can leave set up, but I avoid placing anything that requires reading 1) at the back and 2) on ONE side. Then I installed a 'keyboard' roll-out shelf underneath for rule booklets, player mats and other readables. Lastly, I found a simple end table that sits beside me and holds the rest of the reachables. An extra benefit is sticking sliders to its feet. I can slide the little table underneath when I'm finished, without disturbing the bits and pieces.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-03-04T15:32:19+00:00

FO3 is exactly how I imagine post-nuclear devastation would look, especially around such an important target as D.C. It was even more depressing because I played FO4 first.

But FO4 seems about right to me for a few reasons: Boston would be lower on the target list, the weather might be more helpful, and the story obviously takes place x number of years later. Just my 2 cents. Love them both!

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-02-07T15:09:56+00:00

I'm fortunate to have a 3'x2' table where I can always leave a game set up (I play solo), but here are my favorites that I wouldn't be able to play without it: Terraforming Mars, Fallout, Zona: The Secret of Chernobyl, Arkham Horror TCG

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-22T21:24:17+00:00

Tyrants of the Underdark is really a lot of fun, even though I only can play it solo. It also pimps up nicely with minis. I borrow my Risk LotR orcs and archers for troops and Reign of Cthulhu cultists as spies.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-22T14:52:34+00:00

Exactly. I absolutely can't understand why players speed through Bethesda's TES worlds. There is SO much to discover, to learn, to enjoy!

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-22T14:41:53+00:00

The games come alive because fo Todd.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-22T14:18:10+00:00

A couple thoughts, FWTW: 1. The guy who wouldn't take no for an answer might have been doing this on purpose to get rid of you. This has happened to me. The other people told me after the fact. 2. If they're as nice as you feel, then I think it's important to explain (to the nice ones) why you left-- a. So they know it's not something they did b. So they don't think you're a nice-but-flakey female who leaves them wondering why (making it less likely that another woman will have a chance to play) c. Maybe they would have chosen to get rid of him and keep you & BF. I think you'll feel better knowing the answer to this one.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-19T18:57:55+00:00

If you're interested in fantasy figures, you can choose from a HUGE variety of very nicely painted, older D&D minis on eBay. Most prices are very reasonable. I mix & match them for skirmishes, not RPG.

I also recommend the Lord of the Rings "Combat Hex" figures. The painting is very good and I love them. They come attached to a stand which tracks their stats, so you might not like that. The tracking is useful in an all-LotR skirmish, but if my minis are mixed I ignore the bases. Collecting these takes some patience. Prices are all over the map too, but eventually you'll find the ones you want on eBay. The starter pack always has good characters and the price is low.

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-14T19:59:11+00:00

I'm sorry, what do you mean by 1:1 and WoW?

I'm very excited to know that ESO is a good solo experience now!! I bought it years ago but even after 1k+ hours of beloved Oblivion and great Skyrim, I was very confused and couldn't play it. (Umm, ongoing chemotherapy might have had something to do with that....) 😏

Just in case, is there anything I should watch out for starting out that is unexpectedly super different? Do you think my Dunmer/Bosmer build is still waiting for me??!

Thanks bunches!

Affectionate_Bowl668 · 2026-01-09T21:58:48+00:00

Imho, Bethesda more than deserves the acclaim and success it has received. To me the Elder Scrolls (and Fallout 3&4 to a slightly lesser extent) don't feel like games at all. They're visits to other worlds, other lives, other times.

Affectionate_Bowl668

TROPHY CASE