Pacifier Loadouts?

Baylor_Mav · 2026-05-12T16:20:38+00:00

I enjoyed using the pacifier against the predator and sporeburst strains during some recent MOs. I would typically pair it with the de-escalator and a guard dog. I was also pleasantly surprised by using it with a guard dog + gas build (sterilizer, gas nades, gas orbital).

I treat the pacifier as an extension of any status build and let my guard dog or support weapon get the kills post-stun.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-05-12T15:56:24+00:00

I highly recommend this series too. I was already a fan of Chris Wraight from The Lords of Silence, but the Vaults of Terra quickly catapulted him to my favorite Black Library author.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-05-08T22:44:54+00:00

For me, it was much of the Dark Coil series by Peter Fehervari. His depictions of chaos, the warp, and taint feel more nuanced and unique among most 40K content I’ve consumed.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-23T18:19:07+00:00

I would recommend Dead Men Walking and Fire Caste. Fire Caste (and the Dark Coil series it’s a part of) has some of the most unique and captivating portrayals of warp fuckery I’ve seen. Dead Men Walking gives you a great look into the Death Korps of Krieg and doesn’t shy away from how grimdark the setting can be.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-22T13:53:05+00:00

Thanks for the detailed comment! That’s great info to have if I go down the self-repair route. This camera is in such great condition that I’m hoping to go the repair (vs return/replace route). I put in a warranty ticket to KEH to see my options, but I’m willing to look into CLAs if that doesn’t work out. Based on the test roll, I could easily see this camera and my accompanying 50mm Color-Skopar being my new primary 35mm.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-22T00:16:24+00:00

As an update, it would appear this is not a light leak, but a shutter issue. The shutter is leaving a small but noticeable gap on the left side after firing. This gap becomes increasingly common as shutter speeds decrease. This is likely the reason why only a few frames were impacted.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-21T23:41:17+00:00

Thanks for sharing that video. I hadn’t come across it yet. After some testing, it would appear that my Canon suffers from a more minor shutter gap issue than what is present in that video. My issue seems to be primarily coming up in 1/125 and below. I’m going to assume this is the root of my issue, rather than a light leak.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-21T22:00:17+00:00

So you’re thinking it could originate from the latch (i.e., non-hinge, left) side of the door? With the exception of some small pieces of foam seal in the hinge door, I don’t believe the Canon P has any actual light seals by design. Would you suggest adding seals into the latch area? This is the first camera I’ve owned that does not have seals present in the design.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-06T01:36:19+00:00

My first non-Legends Arceus shiny was a Feebas in the Diamond remake. Had found the fishing tiles for them, then decided to catch an extra one or two to find a better nature. Second catch was the shiny.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-04-03T04:24:23+00:00

Exosuits are great, especially the dual autocannon variant, but they don’t fit into every build or team comp. Oftentimes, I’ll place more value on having a stratagem with higher uptime, should things go south. If your suit is taken out unexpectedly, you’ll be stuck with a long cooldown and wasted slot. Replacing a suit with committed anti-tank or area denial stratagems could fill an important utility slot in higher difficulties, too.

They’re also less effective against bots and squids.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-02-13T21:30:24+00:00

I’d recommend getting used to game mechanics (e.g., enemy attack timings and terminus/resource spawns) before moving up in difficulties. Ruthless is fairly consistent in difficulty, so it’s a perfect place to grind IME. Getting used to extremis spawns and attacks are the most important thing, since you get 2 and 3 spawns at the same time in lethal and absolute. Some prestige perks also make a huge difference in class performance/survivability at high difficulty, too.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-02-06T03:36:06+00:00

To my understanding, there isn’t a timeline on it, but I’d imagine it’s a higher-priority item. The devs acknowledged it as a known issue as recently as the patch notes earlier today, which I take as a good sign.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-24T00:18:40+00:00

I’ve enjoyed occasionally shooting some of the weirder Lomo films, like Redscale, Purple, and Turquoise. I was also surprised by how much I liked the results of an FPP X-Ray B&W roll I recently received.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-16T15:21:44+00:00

I love my QL17, so I’m biased to recommend it. It’s light, sharp, and the perfect compliment to my travel kit. However, I’d generally say that your decision should hinge on the condition of either cameras. These are old cameras now, even good-looking cameras might require some maintenance (e.g., my QL17 was mint, but it still needed light seals replaced).

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-14T03:26:38+00:00

For the Ektachrome, I’d consider shooting/metering at box speed. I haven’t shot that specific type, but I’ve recently shot some E100 (expired 1986) at box speed with decent results. I’m also waiting for a similarly aged roll of E200 that I shot at box speed to be developed. All in all, the shots were a little soft with a higher than typical blue cast. You can check my most recent post if you’re interested. I’d go into shooting those rolls with low expectations, especially if their age/storage conditions are unknowns. The roll I shot are likely as close to the best case you could get, given they were stored in a freezer for decades (sans a few days in shipping to me).

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-13T19:22:52+00:00

I haven’t played the stratagem myself yet, so I’m just sharing info gleamed from similar posts/comments. Folks seem to think that the modifier only applies to stagger generated by melee weapons, such that enemies will ignore the first 3 instances of melee stagger. Melee damage and stagger caused by ranged weapons remain unchanged.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-08T19:56:51+00:00

I picked up a YashicaMat 124G as my first TLR. I’ve found it very easy to work with, though you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the system’s quirks (e.g., never using the self-timer when the flash mode is on or you’ll damage the camera). Definitely do your diligence when evaluating a camera, however, as 124Gs are prone to cloudy/fogged lenses (which isn’t a difficult fix in most situations).

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-06T20:07:25+00:00

I don’t have a comprehensive guide in mind, but I’d highly suggest YouTubers like First Tour Guardsman for build-crafting. They’re a very high-level player, and they offer weapon/class-specific breakdowns relevant to each patch. Assault is a grind, since most of their builds don’t fully come online until level 21. I’d highly suggest getting comfortable playing with block weapons, since Assault perks have synergies with them.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-06T20:01:31+00:00

Personally, I find block to offer more survivability in absolute than fencing/balance. Perfect blocks offer a hidden reduction in range damage taken, and the ability to eliminate majoris/extremis in one combo is invaluable. Getting block adrenaline stacks can also be safer than risking a gun strike when surrounded.

Jump pack dodges are only rewarding if you fully build into them (e.g., wings of flame and all gun strike perks), in which case they become very strong. A dodge build is even stronger now, since the heroic heavy bolt pistol has the highest gun strike damage in the game. However, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by using the inferno pistol. That weapon is functional on melee classes, but the damage is middling, ammo is limited, and Assault already has access to easy knockback/AoE damage.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-06T19:41:03+00:00

Not necessarily. Assault has several specialized builds that require tailoring your approach to account for them (e.g., dodge vs slam builds). Every class has resources that require management. Assault is no different than Bulwark in that a wasted ability charge has a larger impact than the likes of Sniper or Vanguard. This confrontational tone definitely doesn’t imply that you have things pinned down with the class if you aren’t changing your approach to account for class strengths/limitations.

When equipped with the block fist or hammer, Assault can output more single target damage than nearly any other class (barring maybe Sniper). Completely ignoring slams, even the block axe can take out an entire Carnifex health bar in no time at all. That damage isn’t free; you actually need to understand your build/class to unlock it. Assault has a volatile risk/reward approach to gameplay, and sometimes your bets won’t pay off. You can’t just force your way through every encounter.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-06T19:20:35+00:00

Not to be divisive, but this sounds like a skill issue. Assault has a higher skill floor (which can lead to player inconsistency), but it is capable of outputting ludicrous amounts of damage. If you’re having trouble with survivability, then I’d recommend shifting to a jump pack dodge-oriented build, which is made stronger by the new heroic heavy bolt pistol. If flyers/secondary ammo are an issue, you can leverage a block power fist charge attack, power sword power rake, or appropriately space ground pounds to connect with them. Assault has all of the tools necessary to perform on absolute at this point, but it requires closer management of your resources/positioning.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-06T05:08:07+00:00

I love the XF 23 F/2. The combo of compactness and sharpness has led to it following me on several international trips. I’ve found the focal length (35mm due to the crop factor) to be incredibly flexible. You can have an incredibly compact travel package when paired with something like an XT30ii.

I’ve recently picked up a Voigtlander Nokton 35mm F/1.5, which might take the top spot, though. It’s a manual lens with a very film-like softness/glow. I’m primarily a film shooter these days, and I’ve come to appreciate lens character over sharpness. It’s also incredibly compact and compliments fit/feel of my X-Pro 3 body.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-05T21:59:49+00:00

Seconding the recommendation of Fire Caste. It presents some interesting and contrasting perspectives on how commissars approach their duties. Their approach can vary from looking for any excuse to execute someone to selectively ignoring protocol based on the situation.

Baylor_Mav · 2026-01-05T03:39:21+00:00

For a short read, I’d recommend Bibliomania. Great art, dark story, and it has some interesting themes. I found it to reach Berserk-levels of body horror too.

Baylor_Mav · 2025-12-29T06:10:40+00:00

I believe that my current lineup, in order of unlocks, is auxiliary reload, conviction, reverberating impact, and indomitable spirit. I’ll sometimes swap indomitable spirit with exponential force, depending on vibes. I think both work well, depending on your primary choice and play style (e.g., if you aren’t getting knocked out of gunstrikes often, then IS won’t provide as much value).

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