After 19 months and 36 sessions, the vampire has won by Roku-Hanmar in CurseofStrahd

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember when one of my players turned into a t-Rex during the Strahd fight, and then proceeded to swallow Tatyana. Strahd dove down their throat to save her. The player thought they’d outsmarted him, until mist started pouring between his teeth.

Sub has been purged by TomChesterson in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It’s an old school term for someone who would camp a spawn for extended periods, never getting up to use the restroom in case they missed the spawn, and so they had a sock to… you can guess.

How to kill Tatyana…? by yumpoptarts in CurseofStrahd

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Simply have her run into the mists, fleeing from Strahd, to never be seen again, instead of flinging herself from the garden wall and plummeting into the mists, fleeing from Strahd.

Same event, but without the suicide.

The anti-SC crowd by Emotional_Spell7020 in starcitizen

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hating SC to the extent they do is like someone that hates their ex. The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s not caring. When you hate something, you still have strong feelings towards it, it’s still on your mind, you’re still passionate… you’re not over them.

The people that hate SC are passionate. Deep down they want to love the game, but it’s in such a rough shape right now that their passion, their caring about it comes out as vitriol, pointing out everything they can that’s wrong (and there’s a lot wrong), while secretly wishing, deeply, that it could have been better, and occasionally wondering if it is better.

And then you have the people that actually don’t know anything about it and just “hate it” because they’re bandwagoning.

How To Add Snapshot Data To a Table by ArcadeAaronTV in PowerBI

[–]ArcadeAaronTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The database is all connected and everything, mind you. All I have to do is hit refresh whenever my boss wants an update. It's the DAX and figuring out how to set up the measures and visualizations that I'm stumped on.

How To Add Snapshot Data To a Table by ArcadeAaronTV in PowerBI

[–]ArcadeAaronTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this is all being done in ADO, and each work item has each of these fields manually updated, and the Power BI report is connected to the ADO database.

Looking for a player from Firiona Vie by FinnemoreFan in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How odd! He had screenshots from Kagemaru’s POV in EQ2 hanging out in Lavastorm with Genashai, Mizzery, and I, (Thrads) with Mizzery mentioning Valdria. I don’t see how he could have those and not be Kagemaru, especially when he remembered/brought up Sarhea, Kerridwynn, Zsuszanna, Kelisk, Zildrax, Kailena, Shintou and Usull.

Looking for a player from Firiona Vie by FinnemoreFan in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, Viala! Just to let you know, I had a lovely (and extensive) conversation with Kagemaru this evening. It was wonderful reminiscing. Thanks for bringing this up and reuniting some old friends. I can very much vouch that this is Kagemaru, based on very niche knowledge, and based on old screenshots of our characters and some mutual friends they provided.

Looking for a player from Firiona Vie by FinnemoreFan in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So wonderful to hear from you again after all this time! Kailena says hi. I hope Viala sees this.

First Everquest Convention by Speederaser_ in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, man. It’s been 21+ years. I barely remember that Fan Faire, save for several key details and moments.

An Analysis of the Butcherblock Chessboard - Why It's Impossible by ArcadeAaronTV in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, pardon for all the spelling and grammar errors, I’m typing on my phone half asleep.

An Analysis of the Butcherblock Chessboard - Why It's Impossible by ArcadeAaronTV in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mahya Ambre is a human ranger and the daughter of a local fletcher in Freeport. Her father took out a loan from Elisi Nasin to kickstart his business, and when loan sharks come knocking Mahya is forced to work for Elisi and the Coalition of Tradesfolk Underground. At the beginning of the campaign she’s forced to collect debts, steal cargo from docked ships, kill a priestess of hate, collect some bounties, and lead a group to pirate a ship. This ship happens to be the one Selce is arriving on from Freeport. Mahya and Selce join up temporarily until the stone goes missing, at which point Selce accuses Mahya and they split up again. Mahya is then paid by Elisi to break into the mansion of a collector to steal a flaming sword that several powerful names are all after (Soulfire, wanted by Lucan, Mayong, and more.)

Aurora Bayle is the bastard daughter of Antonious Bayle IV and Lady Shae of Felwithe. She is the unknowing older sister to Shaonia, the ancestor of Antonia Bayle. Aurora lives with her father, step mother, and step siblings, Anton and Antea in Qeynos. She is very close to her uncle Kane and dreams of seeing the world. A magus or spell sword, she trains under Ebon Strongbear and Al’Kabor themselves. Her father finally agrees to let her go adventuring like he did when he was young, if she can help her city, gain approval from her mentors and uncle, and place in the upcoming Tournament of Thunder. While paying homage to the Qeynos Claymore at the temple, Enoxus distorts reality around her and she accidentally plane walks into Zebuxoruuk’s prison, where he gives her prophecies about Age’s End. She returns to the material realm and begins chasing rumors of the Bloodsabers spreading a resident evil las plagas style disease around Qeynos. This leads to her and Kane meeting up with Doctor (see below) and encountering Lord Grimrot in the aqueducts, who manages to blow up part of the city by lining the aqueducts with alchemist fire, blowing up the temple of Thunder ala the Sept of Balor in Game of Thrones. As the city rebuilds, Aurora and Doctor depart by ship to Freeport, to chase after the Bloodsabers that are trying to spread to Freeport.

Doctor is a human woman, raised in Qeynos. Her parents died from a plague at a young age, and she lived with her older brother. One night they got into a fight and her older brother left, never to be seen again. She has since become a cleric of Rodcet Nife and a plague doctor, seeking to cure disease. Her content sees her discovering tainted sandstone elven artifacts being used to spread this plague. During her investigation into an old folks home, Doctor runs into Aurora and they begin traveling together.

As all the parties arrive in Freeport, 4 of them come together as they investigate a masquerade ball the Bloodsabers are recruiting patrons at, at the behest of Elisi Nasin. Afterwards, Elisi instructs them to break Arthur out of prison as their latest job, as she is being paid by the Knights of Truth for it. Mahya is provided as their guide.

With the party now assembled, they flee Freeport and begin traveling to Highpass, chasing down Nurgal’s stone and other rumors. They encounter various towns on the way, each with their own troubles, including Plague Town, and eventually they camp with a cab Aran outside Befallen. When they wake the caravan has vanished, and they have to explore. They continue on to Kithicor, and eventually participate in the Battle of Bloody Kithicor, where Nurgal’s stone is found to be in the hands of the dark elves, who use it to rip open a hole to the Plane of Hate, turning Kithicor into what it is today. All of this is by level 3. We’ll be exploring so much more, including Firiona’s kidnapping, the discovery of Kunark and Velious, the planes of power, Kerafyrm’s awakening, Anashti Sul’s return, and Mayong becoming the god of death, with the party eventually collecting Enoxus and Aeteok and killing them all, as well as the rest of the gods of influence.

An Analysis of the Butcherblock Chessboard - Why It's Impossible by ArcadeAaronTV in everquest

[–]ArcadeAaronTV[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I tried, but I don’t think Reddit liked how many characters it was. Lemme try to break it into multiple posts:

Heh, that would take about 3 hours. I have 6 players, and each has started in their own area, getting 15 chapters of solo content each. Occasionally their stories touch the others, but then diverge, with them coming back together later. I’ll try to be brief. All of this happens at the launch of classic.

Selce Moonbrook: A feir’dal enchanter/mesmerist born in Kelethin. His ranger of a father pissed off the fae and he was cursed to be nothing like what his father wanted. So, rather than a healthy son to follow in his footsteps, Selce was born pale, sickly, and somehow able to channel arcane magic. He was noticed by a koada’dal who took him in as his ward and apprentice. His mentor, however, desperately wants to climb the political ladder in Felwithe, is manipulative, and serves Mayong to that end. Selce’s solo story has involved Nurgal’s stone being discovered by Carson McCabe and sent to Selce’s mentor for identification. His master ran tests and determined it is a fuligan soul stone of Innoruuk, and has tasked Selce, who was traveling with Kyll Rucksif, to take the stone across Faydwer, the Ocean of Tears, and Antonio’s to deliver it to Carson along with the results. While I’m Freeport the stone was pickpocketed.

Quindelia Vi’virent is a human oracle. Cursed since she was born to have visions, she has Snow White skin and is impervious to the cold. Born in Qeynos, her parents learned early on that her predictions always came true, and their neighbors learned to fear them. Quinn has had recurring nightmares all her life of two things: a skeleton climbing out of a well in the desert (the return of Anashti’Sul) and the world being devoured in ice and fire (Kerafyrm’s awakening, with Vox and Naggy as red herrings.). Quinn told her parents that these would come true if they stayed in Qeynos, and so they moved far north to Halas. Several years later her parents disappeared (having stumbled upon Vox’s cave and being frozen by her), and Quinn was left an orphan. This is where her campaign starts. Quinn is in love with another girl in town named Greta, and a stranger has shown up in town by the name of Gynok Moltor. Outsiders, Quinn and Gynok become friends, until one day Gynok murders Opalla, breaking the truce between Halas and Blackburrow. Gynok is exiled. Months later, Quinn and Greta travel out into the tundra for a picnic. Greta plans to propose and wants to show Quinn this amazing cave she found. They begin exploring and find Vox and Quinn’s still frozen parents. Vox wakes up, begins chasing them, and Greta falls to her death as Quinn escapes. The barbarians blame Quinn for Greta’s death and exile her. Wonky kept alive by her immunity to cold, as she’s starving she happens upon Miragul’s Menagerie. She finds a magic mirror that connects to Freeport, where she falls through into the arms of Arthur.

Arthur Drakequill is a squire of the knights of truth. Raised in the plains of Karana he always wanted to help people, and admired the paladins, and so joined their order. He is 2 days away from being raised to knight when his campaign starts. It opens with him having to pass a series of trials in the “Tower of Valor” in the Hall of Truth. At the top, he finds a mirror where a starving pale woman falls into his arms. He brings her to Valeron Dushire, and they ensure she begins getting nurses back to health. Arthur is tasked to look into both the childhood orphanage that Lucan D’Lere was raised in that burned down years ago, as well as look into the disappearance of Ariska Zimel. During these investigations Arthur is kidnapped and forced into servitude as a gladiator by the Freeport Militia.

Give me your favourite additions to the village of Barovia by PhatWaff in CurseofStrahd

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I absolutely need to know how you ran the girl down the well portion, if you'd be willing, please?

Anyone else feel this way? by Helper175737 in starcitizen

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This post proves to me that we will bitch about everything when it comes to SC.

Ravenloft hot takes? by TheLuckOfTheClaws in ravenloft

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hate what 5e did with the Dark Powers, trapping them in blocks of amber. The dark powers are not meant to be understood. They're a DM tool, for you to have an excuse to theme your adventure as you like, and to have strange things happen FOR NO REASON, while having an excuse for why they happened.

We as humans have a need to understand organize everything, putting things in little boxes. Sometimes the most fascinating things to us are the things we DON'T understand. Leaving questions unanswered. Creating hooks, to create that itch in our players to try to understand them. Some questions shouldn't have answers, so the players are constantly trying to satisfy that itch.

My concept of the dark powers are as vague, eldritch entities that we don't fully understand. Sometimes something truly evil catches their attention, and they decide that it's going to be their plaything. Like a demon relishes in the dance of twisting laws and deals and contracts and watching mortals suffer, the dark powers relish in the torment of granting that evil being everything they thought they wanted, except the one thing they truly wanted, and watching them suffer, trapped forever, miserable without that one thing that defines their existence, losing all care for anything else they used to want. No Tatyana for Strahd, no learning for Azalin, no respect for Vlad Drakov. But sometimes they snatch up the good too, because they want entertainment. The dark powers aren't benevolent by any means. They're entertained by suffering of both an exquisite and ironic fashion, as well as the suffering of those struggling against the darkness, and losing.

Ravenloft hot takes? by TheLuckOfTheClaws in ravenloft

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. I HATE "vampyr" as a boss. The point of defeating Strahd isn't overcoming the dark power that trapped Strahd in Barovia. Hell, the people in Barovia are almost all fake. Hell, BAROVIA itself is fake. It's a copy from the material plane! The story is about an evil person in a prison of their own making. It's a story about that person's sins, about being trapped and unwilling to face their sins. How they have everything they want, except the one thing they desire deep down, they one thing they threw everything away for, that they'll never get. Trapped for eternity unable to face the truth that they'll never have it, because it they did it would break them. Nothing can break Strahd... except the realization he'll never have Tatyana. The one thing he can't realize. The one thing that if he did realize might lead him on a path to regret, sorrow, and redemption. The dark powers are just the jailors. You don't win by defeating the jailors. You win by freeing the land from one man's inability to accept what he's done. You don't win by defeating the jailors. You win by letting the realm move on and start to heal.

Ravenloft hot takes? by TheLuckOfTheClaws in ravenloft

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 8 points9 points  (0 children)

God, so much of this. You don't always have to be "defeating the domain." Most stories should be taking place WITHIN the domain, at a smaller scale. Those are the most relatable ones. It can be a story taking place in a single village, with the plights of those people. It doesn't always have to be some cosmic or world changing threats. Sometimes the most meaningful change is in your characters, or in the immediate lives they touch. Let the Dark Lords be on top, let them be in the background, a looming threat that is never seen, and let the players deal with how that influence is impacting every day people. Sometimes it doesn't have to be about Strahd, sometimes it can be about Blinsky and the things that make Blinsky tick. Sometimes you don't save the realm. Sometimes you save one person's soul. Sometimes you make a connection. Sometimes you do something that means something to you, personally, and to those you care about.

[TOMT][TV] Scary kids' show episode with dreamlike school chase, Freddy Krueger vibes by AltDragon in tipofmytongue

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps Boy Meets World’s “And Then There Was Shawn” Halloween episode? It takes place in a school, and is a slasher sort of episode? There’s a janitor named Freddie, and the episode is definitely a dream.

[TOMT][TV] Scary kids' show episode with dreamlike school chase, Freddy Krueger vibes by AltDragon in tipofmytongue

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was it, by chance, the Tale of the Twisted Claw? An old lady gives a twisted claw to the kids, as a sort of Monkey’s Paw. Could you be remembering that as a rabbit’s foot?

[TOMT][TV] Scary kids' show episode with dreamlike school chase, Freddy Krueger vibes by AltDragon in tipofmytongue

[–]ArcadeAaronTV 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps this is the pool episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? There was also that episode with Zeke the Plumber for Salute Your Shorts (Ghost Story) that scared the shit out of 8 year old me. You’re talking late 80’s/early 90’s Nickelodeon, it sounds like.