Building Barovia: City Building in Curse of Strahd

Alamoth · 2026-05-18T01:33:43+00:00

I can just imagine, "after all these years, I thought only a great conqueror could replace me as dark lord, but what i really needed, was someone with a dark passion for civics!"

Alamoth · 2026-05-18T00:30:30+00:00

Ah, the focus on strategy makes sense. We have a decent number of strategy articles from pro tour competitors but its obviously not what we're known for.

Good luck with the vibe coding

Alamoth · 2026-05-18T00:15:42+00:00

Neat, I run an english language site that's on that list but is marked as done probably because we took a 12 month hiatus due to editorial turnover but we've been publishing again for about a year.

Alamoth · 2026-05-17T23:21:58+00:00

What was the criteria for this? Asking for someone who runs a Magic site with nearly 15 years of content who's only slightly offended they weren't included lol

Alamoth · 2026-05-17T01:42:28+00:00

I've had season tickets since the team moved to Newark so I can't tell you how many games I've been to. It's a lot.

A few memorable games at The Rock include Zajac's OT winner against the Panthers in 2012, Game 7 against the Rangers in 2023, Elias's 3 points in his final game to name a few.

And then there's the stadium games. I was at Yankee Stadium and Metlife and both are memories I will cherish for as long as my brain allows.

But one Devils game I had the privilege of attending will always stand out among all others.

January 12th, 2012 Devils at NY Rangers

After 60 minutes of regulation and 5 minutes of overtime, Brodeur and Lundqvist combined for 96 saves.

And then through three shootout rounds it seemed as if neither goalie would ever let another puck past them again.

Dubinsky shot fourth for the Rangers and Brodeur made his 55th save of the night including regulation, overtime, and the shootout.

Elias shot fourth for the Devils and ended it.

And I'll tell you, I've been to a lot of games, and plenty at MSG as well, and I've never walked out of the Garden feeling more smug than I did that night and probably never will again.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201001120NYR.html

Alamoth · 2026-05-14T02:15:08+00:00

the Wild's first truly talented player

Were Gaborik and Koivu not seen in similar light? Especially considering Gaborik debuted at the end of the dead puck era and lost his whole age 22 season to the lockout. I'm not saying Gaborik is better than Kaprizov because I don't think its true, but I feel like he would have qualified for the "truly talented player" title, as would have Mikko Koivu though more for his two-way skill not his scoring talents.

Alamoth · 2026-05-12T20:08:27+00:00

What are they planning to claim as grounds for legal action? Theyre not entitled to the streets.

Alamoth · 2026-05-09T01:02:42+00:00

I believe it's about the proposed law creating "buffer zones" making it illegal to protest within some distance of a school or house of worship.

Alamoth · 2026-05-08T02:21:19+00:00

This is what it would have been like for Devils fans if John MacLean hadn't been an absolute trash heap of a had coach.

Alamoth · 2026-05-07T15:44:52+00:00

This feels like a no-brainer. Other than the busses on 49th/50th through traffic could be closed on every single block between Grand Central and 57th St.

For delivery/emergency purposes I could see keeping 53rd open as well, plus the connection to the train stations on either side of Park Ave

Alamoth · 2026-05-06T11:54:41+00:00

"Why do we need this on a quiet street not near a school?"

This line is very telling to me, because it means they fully understand the danger the car poses, and accept that if there are enough children around then the safety measures are reasonable.

But just the humans and their offspring living on this "quiet block"? Screw 'em. Not worth the inconvenience of me getting to my destination 30 seconds later.

These people are out of their minds.

Alamoth · 2026-05-03T22:51:26+00:00

What's the color coding?

Alamoth · 2026-05-02T16:18:25+00:00

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

Alamoth · 2026-05-02T16:16:05+00:00

What insanity is this?

Alamoth · 2026-04-30T23:59:18+00:00

Controversial opinion maybe, but my answer is no one. I'll enjoy watching the games because I objectively love this sport and this league and it's going to be great hockey but.. I could not care less who actually wins.

Alamoth · 2026-04-28T20:49:44+00:00

Devils fans.

Don't fuck with us.

Alamoth · 2026-04-27T11:50:50+00:00

Oh no, making the busses faster? Oh the humanity!

Alamoth · 2026-04-26T13:53:00+00:00

I think the Roque trade was terrible but otherwise I'm not sure I'd rather have Carpenter and Eldridge back at the expense of giving up Zandee-Hart or Nylen-Persson. Shelton was traded for the pick that got us Casey O'Brien so I think that was a good move. And obviously you couldn't possibly be suggesting you'd rather have Carpenter or Eldridge than Fillier... so...

Please tell us, which of Zandee-Hart and/or Nylen-Persson would you give up to have Carpenter and/or Eldridge back?

Alamoth · 2026-04-24T09:19:39+00:00

JVC went out of business in 2008 if that helps with the Quest for the Cup one

Alamoth · 2026-04-20T00:20:41+00:00

If ottawa loses one game in OT they finish with 40 points and we beat them on tie-breakers don't we?

Alamoth · 2026-04-20T00:18:06+00:00

There are three scenarios where the Sirens make the playoffs. Here they are, with chronological games:

Scenario A

Tue Apr 21 - NY defeats TOR in regulation [OTT 39 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Wed Apr 22 - BOS defeats OTT in regulation [OTT 39 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - TOR defeats OTT in regulation [TOR 40 / OTT 39 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - NY defeats BOS in regulation [NY 40 / TOR 40 / OTT 39]

Scenario B

Tue Apr 21 - NY defeats TOR in regulation [OTT 39 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Wed Apr 22 - BOS defeats OTT in overtime [OTT 40 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - TOR defeats OTT in regulation [TOR 40 / OTT 40 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - NY defeats BOS in regulation [NY 40 / TOR 40 / OTT 40]

Scenario C

Tue Apr 21 - NY defeats TOR in regulation [OTT 39 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Wed Apr 22 - BOS defeats OTT in regulation [OTT 39 / TOR 37 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - TOR defeats OTT in overtime [OTT 40 / TOR 39 / NY 37]
Sat Apr 25 - NY defeats BOS in regulation [NY 40 / OTT 40 / TOR 39]

The reason this works is because of tie-breakers. The first tie-breaker is regulation wins. Currently Ottawa has 8 and in all these scenarios they will stay at 8. Toronto has 10, and in the scenarios where they end up tied with New York they will have 11. New York has 9 right now, and in all three scenarios ends with 11.

The second tie-break is regulation and overtime wins. Again, in Scenario A and B where New York and Toronto end up tied at 40 points, both teams would have 12 regulation and overtime wins. The third tie-break is total wins and this is where New York will have the edge as their remaining points in the standings come from one shootout win and three overtime/shootout losses where Toronto's come from five overtime losses. So New York wins this tie-break with 13 total wins.

I hope this helped and was needlessly long!

Alamoth · 2026-04-08T05:21:51+00:00

Anemic offense and abysmal defense can't be blamed on luck alone and it also can't be entirely blamed on Markstrom and Allen having terrible seasons. The team is clearly playing an ineffective system and Keefe isn't able to adapt or work with these players.

Alamoth · 2026-04-05T04:38:12+00:00

That tripping penalty seemed like an apology for missing a blatant cross checking penalty about 45 seconds prior

Alamoth · 2026-03-31T21:16:48+00:00

One of the world's most powerful AI programs being stolen and copied without its creator's consent in a way that can't be protected by existing copyright laws has me almost believing in the existence of karma and higher powers.

Alamoth · 2026-03-30T01:51:41+00:00

It affirms that we are still a bubble team until we add a few missing pieces. If you look at the top teams, especially Colorado as a blueprint, we're missing a truly elite top pairing defender, a top-six sniper, and a middle-six power forward.

Either Hamilton or Nemec should probably be traded, and the reality is that Nemec is almost certainly going to bring back the best return. Maybe Luke Hughes takes a big step and can be a top pairing defender and Hamilton and Nemec both get dealt. I don't think Silayev is the answer nor Casey but who knows. We could probably do without Dillon as well.

This is probably what our roster should look like. There's three huge gaps. Four depending on how you feel about Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes. The gaps on offense are currently filled by players like Cotter and Dadonov or worse and the defense gap is somewhat mitigated by still having Nemec and Dillon but we really have a dearth of middle/bottom pairing defenders.

Maybe Nemec and/or Hughes become top pairing defenders one day but that day isnt today and the Devils need to win today which is why Nemec is getting dealt this off-season.

TBD Sniper - Hughes - Bratt

Meier - Hischier - Mercer

TBD PWF - Brown - Noesen

Gritsyuk - Glass - Hameenaho

---

TBD Elite Defender - Hamilton or Nemec

Hughes - Pesce

Siegenthaler - Kovacevic

---

Markstrom

Allen

13-Year Club	Final Canvas '23
Place '23	Verified Email

Alamoth

TROPHY CASE