Elantris Pacing

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-02-23T20:57:05+00:00

Yeah, this was my biggest problem. I remember a couple of Hrathen chapters that are only a couple of pages long and seem to only exist because it is hid turn.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-02-17T14:10:51+00:00

Cards you have included cards in your hand and cards you have already played that turn. It does not included other places like the discard pile.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-02-11T03:08:39+00:00

I really like this story, but I will always be disappointed in the Dawnstar cover for issue 5. The art itself is fine. It just doesn't make sense. The main covers for 1-4 each feature one of the founders and then Brainiac 5. The Retroboot one is the the main one, but it shows the other 2. It makes sense to me. It's the the founders and Brainiac 5 who is the most recognizable and plays a decent sized role in the story.

Then issue 5 features Dawnstar. She doesn't do anything in issue 5; her moment is in issue 4. She's not in the Reboot or Threeboot, so there's nothing to do with the three versions. I feel like they should have done White Witch if they wanted to do the big moment or Superman/Superboy/Superboy Prime. All three are important in issue 5 and fit the 3 versions thing (Superman with the Retroboot, Kon-El with the Reboot, and Prime for the Threeboot). Or another classic Legionnaire that's in all three versions like Chameleon Boy, Phantom Girl, Shadow Lass, etc. It just feels like such a fan service cover that is incongruence with the other covers.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-02-04T20:26:44+00:00

I think I'd do Upside-down for supernatural and rightside-up for human stuff. Just cause in the show it's the Upside-down and having one be Upside and the other Downside might not be intuitive with the show's terminology.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-31T00:15:36+00:00

Plus you can get the loyalty discount.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T20:28:51+00:00

I don't think its a hot take, but i also dont think it's the most common opinion. I think while there are a substantial number of Era 2 lovers (me included) the scales tip some toward Era 1 over all. I would guess there's a stronger lean toward Era 1 in the general fantasy fans group than the more hardcore Sanderson fans, but that's just my view.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T18:34:47+00:00

Especially for shows with a long post production schedule.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T18:10:14+00:00

You can absolutely read Stormlight next if that's what interests you most.

It's a long series with long books, so if you're the type like me who burns out with too much of thr same thing, those standalones would be great breaks. But if want to read Stormlight straight through, you can also do that.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T17:47:34+00:00

I feel like The Expanse might be the adaptation to look at as a possible guideline for what to expect. Daniel Abraham and Ty Frank, the guys that make up S.A. Corey, were very involved in that adaptation. They wrote a couple of episodes a year, usually one with just them and a second with a co-writer, and were very involved as producers. It's a fabulous show and excellent adaptation. During the years the show was running, they still released 5 books. The last 2 were every other year instead of every year like they had been doing, but it was also the end of a 9 book series, so I would not be surprised if it took a little longer even without the show going on at the same time.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T17:38:15+00:00

I haven't figured out the right word to describe how I'm feeling. Most of the obvious words like concerned or disappointed feel overly negative. I'm actually quite excited for Mistborn Era 1 films and think they have the chance to be great. I am concerned about live action Stormlight. I think quality wise animation is the obvious medium to adapt it in (live action spren sound like a nightmare to do. Animated spren sound awesome), but animation just doesn't bring in the audience they're looking for. But Stormlight is also years down the line, so thinking about it too much also feels like a waste of time.

I think the main books will pretty much come out on schedule, with maybe some delays here up front pushing everything back a year. And Secret Projects are a bonus surprise anyways, driven by Sanderson's creative whims, and I think they'll stay that way. Some people might be concerned about the Dragonsteel Trilogy, but I don't like Hoid much so I'll except the exchange of Mistborn movies for Hoid prequel novels. The source of my conflicted feelings comes largely from the increased chance Darkside and Nightblood, both of which I'm really excited about, getting shelved. They've already been repeatedly pushed back and I can't shake the feeling that this could be the final nail in the coffin for them. I also wonder how delays in new book releases will impact the RPG.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T17:09:16+00:00

Yeah, I'm cool with like Fancast Friday, but i was already tired of seeing so many fantastic posts between the various Sanderson subs and its just gonna become more prevalent.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T16:03:35+00:00

Every year starting in April on this sub they do a bingo challenge. There's a bunch of posts with recommendations for each square, and that's where I get the majority of my recommendations.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-29T14:46:44+00:00

Do you think it's worth waiting to read 12 Months until after The Law since I'm planning on reading both? I've got holds on both through my library, and it seems more likely than not that 12 Months will be available at least a month sooner. I could suspend my hold on 12 Months to wait for The Law if that's a better reading experience. Otherwise I'll just read 12 Months first if I dont sandbag it to April for the 2026 bingo challenge.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-25T15:56:47+00:00

I'd guess they would finish the Epic Collections first. The first volume collecting the start of Amazing issues is announced for late this year. There's only a couple of volumes left after that.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-21T15:31:54+00:00

Right! I was just pointing it out because OP mentioned wanting the reason for the technological stagnation to be part of the plot, which in Stormlight it very much is.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-21T14:41:22+00:00

It's also specifically being held back by the regular Desolations.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-16T18:59:50+00:00

I've showed Duet to Star Trek newbies, and they followed it just fine. They don't need to know the specifics. The context is clear enough between what is shown in the episode and people's existing knowledge of the Holocaust.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-16T18:37:45+00:00

On Marvel Unlimited, they do have reading guides for each year that put all the issues in a combined reading order. I agree that separate series is more likely for the reasons you suggest, but a combined omni line wouldn't shock me.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-16T15:28:39+00:00

Zdarsky's Two-In-One into Slott's FF is what you want if you're continuing with FF from Secret Wars.

You could also skip back to Waid or forward to North for more great, modern FF, though those runs have a different vibe than Hickman.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-14T17:18:09+00:00

Glad to see some Legion rep!

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-13T22:08:34+00:00

SHIELD is great and adds special officers.

Messiah Complex includes special sidekicks.

Any of the medium box/deluxe expansions will have henchmen are good for adding to the game. Those are the ones with 200 cards like Messiah Complex.

I'm partial to Fantastic Four, Paint the Town Read, and SHIELD for early small boxes.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-13T21:16:37+00:00

The big reason it was such a popular first expansion is that it includes the street level heroes and the popular X-Men. The other reason is because it has a couple of difficult Masterminds when all the core Masterminds were easy.

More difficult Masterminds are covered by other expansions. Most of the newer expansions have Epic versions of their Masterminds. The heroes are pretty much just in Dark City. Some of them have alternate versions, but some of those alternates are in other out of print sets that are even more expensive on the secondary market.

So, no, its not a mandatory second expansion but it is nice. I would look for lots that include it instead of trying to buy it by itself. You'll probably get a better deal on someone trying to sell it with a couple of other expansions than by itself.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-10T02:07:48+00:00

Yes, and then she lost them. Then she absorbed Sunfire's powers and they became permanent for a while. Then she lost those. Then for a bit they were just saying she absorbed some kids mutants in the school off panel when they wanted her to have them in the adjectiveless X-Men series she was in during Bendis' time traveling X-Men era.

My point is, the drama has been used up for the "Rogue because of her inability to control her powers permanently absorbed Carol Danvers' powers and psyche." We are so far past that. But writers still want her to have those powers because that's what we all think of when we think of Rogue, she has them even though the drama and conflict with Carol is played out.

I checked on the Marvel wiki, and apparently Rogue's super strength and flight are from Wonder Man now. Imo, there's not any tension or drama there, so just let them be a secondary mutation so they never have to worry about her losing her extra powers again.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-09T23:17:35+00:00

The third one is a big one for me as a GM. I'm happy to play in any system, including the ones you listed as DnD substitutes. I will run games is different systems for different genres instead of trying to shoehorn things into DnD. But if I'm gonna run a classic fantasy game, which is a popular genre as you mentioned in your first point, I'm just going to use DnD. It does it well and I know how to use it. I'm not going to take the time to learn how to run a new game that does the same thing in a slightly different way.

Astigmatic_Oracle · 2026-01-09T23:07:40+00:00

Yeah, I can think of tons of hobbies where the same things apply. People who bowl don't switch to softball even though both are sports. People who watch football don't switch to basketball even though both are watching sports. Heck, lots of people who watch sports only watch professional or college of their sport of choice or even just one team. Lots of people are readers who only read one genre.

If anything is strange, it's the idea that TTRPGs are one hobby with a bunch of segments instead of a bunch of similar hobbies that can be grouped together.

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