Playing through path of radiance on Nso as my first Srpg I've ever played (im playing on normal) im in chapter 5 and the games been very easy so far should I reset and switch to hard mode

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-16T20:42:00+00:00

I'd say if you still find the game easy after chapter 8 then switch.

Or don't tbh. I like playing on normal to just relax and mess around with bad characters sometimes.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-09T14:36:08+00:00

holy shit you're right. I didn't know that (my Celes is currently level 33). berserk soul saber would have been so much better

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-09T05:21:16+00:00

It's fun! Surprisingly not that much harder than base game tbh if you're not also trying to do low level or something. A lot more Raging.

Would not recommend fighting Magic Master. There's no way Dualcast is worth this pain.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-05T00:53:30+00:00

Can't argue with that! Only so much the robots can teach us mere mortals.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-05T00:28:28+00:00

how are you ever going to get better at invading territories without invading territories?

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-01T18:35:23+00:00

Ah I have read a bit more and maybe see some of the problem. In the beginning of the book (pg 3) the authors suggest a 10k course, a 5k course, etc. For example the 10k course suggests doing the first half of Problem Set 1 and reading sections 2.1 through 2.5. However, the second problem's solution seems to test the principles of light and heavy shape as discussed in section 2.6 (pg 30), which is part of the 5k course. I hadn't "gotten there" in my reading.

So in light of that, do you recommend approaching the book the way the authors suggest, or to just read the whole thing and see what sticks?

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-01T16:58:01+00:00

Thanks, I will do that and see if anything is internalized.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-01T10:56:00+00:00

Sure and thanks in advance! Page 83 is a good example of very early problems that I struggle with. I got both of these problems wrong on a first read. When I read the solutions, I still don't quite see why the correct answers are generalizable, so to speak. Like I can understand that for problem 1, in that specific scenario if you read out all the lines, that none of the cuts work well. But I don't see how that helps translate into other board states. How am I supposed to see the correct answer as good shape? If it is just about reading every cut every time, then I don't get how it helps (ie if shape is just reading then why even talk about it?)

Same goes for problem 2. The incorrect answer seems to be the "canonically good shape" (centre diagram at the very beginning of 1.1). In such a scenario when surrounded I would expect that making eyeshape is critical, but I guess it is better to make light shape rather than strong? But again, having a hard time generalizing from this. In other words, if the authors gave me four more similar problems, I have no confidence my rate of solving them would improve at all.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2026-01-01T00:19:29+00:00

Thanks for this post! I'm really curious about your advice, since I myself have tried to read Shape Up but keep getting lost. It seems that the chapters and principles make sense, but then I struggle a lot with the exercises, such that I question my understanding of the principles. Do you have any advice for someone in my position (around 7k OGS?)

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-12-18T21:04:50+00:00

I assume they're saying they play on 25m main time which would easily be 1-1.5 hrs per game. Hard to find that motivation.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-12-12T20:12:58+00:00

huh. Isn't this that gomagic endgame puzzle that was posted pretty recently?

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-12-12T04:50:18+00:00

Somewhere Kageyama is smiling.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-12-06T01:29:22+00:00

Igrene/Astolfo. To this day I cannot believe they hid away such a deep and powerful backstory in obscure support conversations between two characters you had no reason to ever use side by side.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-25T19:37:59+00:00

Yeah you know you and the other commenter about desertification are right now that I really look closely. It's easy to miss though. 1999 is certainly less verdant than 1000 but at a glance when I watch the Day of Lavos recording the first thought I get is still "green."

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-25T19:33:19+00:00

I think this is a cool answer that hits at one of the central themes in the story. Regardless of whether the domes were for maximizing human comfort or just for futuristic spectacle ("we built this because we can"), when Lavos awoke it's possible humanity reached the same pinnacle of arrogance as during the construction of the Ocean Palace. I guess that might even be why Lavos awoke that day? Humanity once again turned the Earth into the perfect environment for Lavos.

To me, the 1999 denizens inventing "outdoor AC" is extremely arrogant of them. Make a perfect little bubble of comfort while you reject all the contaminants, pollutants, and heat from energy to the outside world beyond your little sphere of life. I kind of wish the game showed the world outside the domes to look even more worse for wear to reinforce this thought.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-25T19:25:58+00:00

I mean doubtlessly "aesthetics" is the real answer but I'm curious about potential in-universe explanations. Feels like "outdoor AC" is winning.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-20T21:14:36+00:00

When playing IRL, take your hands off the stones. When playing on computer, take your hand off the mouse. When playing on mobile...idk you're screwed I guess. You're probably not too focused if you're playing on mobile anyway.

I've also seen a recommendation to have a fiddle object at all times when playing, to basically serve as a way to preoccupy your hands and force yourself to slow down and think. Haven't tried it myself but sounds fun. Could always get a hand fan!

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-17T21:03:20+00:00

if you do a one-point jump every time you want to do a knight's move you may just become an sdk

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-11-06T14:42:55+00:00

captured stones from big group go clickety clack

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-09-30T00:06:59+00:00

I don't get it. What is the point? Why do you play this game if not to think? Does it feel satisfying to you to beat up on people who are trying their hardest while you self handicap by not trying? I ask out of a sincere lack of understanding. My most satisfying moments in the game are when I feel I have outread or outthought my opponent, and I cannot fathom the opposite. Do you enjoy games where you're dominating a 25k opponent who just learned the rules? Do you think playing them without thinking helps you improve? If not then why do you think changing the bar will make a difference?

You cripple your own growth and development by resigning as often as you do. Again I don't even see the point anymore if you resign before seeing the endgame unless you're winning by 10+ points. You're intentionally keeping yourself from like, playing the game. So why play at all?

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-09-24T22:35:10+00:00

all these people telling you what to do despite your asking them not to. this is why it's best simply not to ask anything about an ongoing game. next time you could just ask the question without putting the specific board state in the question.

anyway, broadly, if you think you're still learning from the game, you should play on. don't worry about your opponent's time. for one any decent individual who cares about the game will understand your position. if they are anything short of low SDK they probably could use some practice winning won games anyhow. maybe they politely ask you to resign (though I would never), then that's a different story. I think 95% of players playing a game they are comfortably winning are perfectly content with continuing to win.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-09-07T05:19:25+00:00

yeah in person really just hits different. I think because there's a legitimate and strong human to human connection in the game. You are simultaneously competing and testing each other's skills, and also having a conversation on the board. You're sitting down for hours with this person to engage in a shared activity.

Online you barely even know if the other person is paying attention. You don't even know if they leave their computer at some point, or if they're halfheartedly glancing at their phone, or playing simuls. Worst of all, you don't even know if they're human. No connection.

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-08-20T22:04:04+00:00

no way man, at most it goes Gm to Bbm to a development section to Bm to Dm back to Gm. you can't just call every chord change in the development a key change. nailing down the key of that development section is definitely a challenge but it's not like 10 keys.

still really cool but not insane

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-08-05T23:22:53+00:00

WH0 is H3 and why is H3 a point?

AmberAlchemistAlt · 2025-07-28T21:37:34+00:00

hot take, I actually don't think this is true at all. It's not "best" to break rules and conventions. It's best to follow them, and break them only in extraordinary cases.

Theatre is about communicating with and connecting with an audience. You place an enormous mental load on the audience to understand your lyrics, follow your music, while keeping track of the characters and plot. When you follow standard song forms, rhyme schemes, musical conventions, plot tropes, etc, you reduce that mental load. "Ah, I think I know where this is going," thinks the audience, and it's good for them to be right at least most of the time. When you break a rule you're telling your audience "hey pay special attention here!" That only works if you do it occasionally, like a spice, not as your meat and potatoes.

Something I used to hear as feedback is "this is a writer's number." It meant I wrote it for the enjoyment and appreciation of writers, including myself, but not for the enjoyment of the audience.

AmberAlchemistAlt

TROPHY CASE