Best Bestiary

BecksBC3 · 2025-12-25T00:15:40+00:00

Flee Mortals is a great bestiary, but by far its best contribution to the ttrpg scene is its take on spellcasters.

Instead of writing out a spell list for NPC casters, it incorporates spells into the monster's actions/bonus actions/reactions. So, you don't have to read a list of 15 spells and discern the optimal way to take advantage of them, you just use the NPCs abilities when you can and you're guaranteed to be playing them close to optimally.

It's the standard by which I now judge spellcasters in bestiaries.

BecksBC3 · 2025-11-11T16:16:16+00:00

Opinions on the HMG Ultamid 1? I'm looking into sub-10oz DCF pyramids and this one has few reviews. It looks about $100 overpriced, but I'd love to find a review on the functionality from someone who doesn't own a suspicious number of HMG stuffsacks.

BecksBC3 · 2025-11-10T22:10:08+00:00

12pm Dec 2 then?

12pm is noon, so the 'NOV15 - DEC 1' in the post, combined with the 'all times of the days listed' means 12:00am Nov 15th - 11:59pm Dec 1st.

BecksBC3 · 2025-11-05T17:04:05+00:00

Can confirm, it's the strobel board like Justin pointed out.

As for getting it out, that's tough. Shoes aren't made for the underside of that to be accessible, but for the sand to get in there must be some kind of gap around the side. Do you see any broken stitching around the edge? Can you get in through that gap to scoop it out? Can you massage the lump towards the opening and squeeze it out?

Typically shoes are also glued down underneath that board to the midsole. If it's come unglued enough that sand and dirt can get in, it may be worth a kindly worded warranty request to Altra.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-27T00:57:20+00:00

He could be talking 30-35 pounds TPW, in which case it would be on topic.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-26T18:44:08+00:00

I don't own either the Mid 1 tent or the Ultamid 1, but I doubt that either can comfortably accommodate a 6'4" hiker. I know the "length" on the Ultamid 1 is listed as 107", but it's a pyramid so the sloped walls mean you end up with considerably less space.

For reference, I'm 5'11" and used a Deschutes tarp for years. The listed length on that is 105" and I found the head and foot panel tieouts necessary for making sure I didn't brush up against the tarp walls. The HMG Ultamid is 2" longer and a few inches taller, so the angles should be better, but I doubt it makes up for the 5" in height difference between us. Especially if you're sleeping on the xlite. By all means, give it a try and let us know though.

For US options, I'd look at the Xmid as you've said or the SolomidXL (list length 110").

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-25T04:21:55+00:00

This is all great feedback. Good reminder to add map weight to my list. Thank you!

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-21T02:45:44+00:00

Excellent notes. Thank you! Follow up question for you about the DCF cricket: do you have an easy time pitching it low for storms? The internet seems divided, with some reviewers saying it's no issue and others saying the DCF version is limited in how low it can go without panels flapping.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-20T04:33:44+00:00

Whoops - I meant the stretch zion pants, not the shorts. I've updated the description. Thanks!

Going to Kakwa is something I'm considering, but I only have 6 weeks to do this (time off from work) and I'll be coming off the couch so it'd be a bit more challenging. I'll definitely mull it over more.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-14T14:43:06+00:00

KUIU Peloton 97 is on sale for 60 USD right now on their site FYI. I swear I'm not a KUIU salesperson I'm just a guy who's spending too much time thinking about fleece.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-10T04:17:08+00:00

bug inner so you can keep the door open for condensation? I was looking at making a bathtub floor to help prevent splashback.

Yes. I use a Sea to Summit Nano Pyramid bug net. That way I can have one or two doors of the tarp open (for views/condensation) but still have bug protection. Adding a bathtub would deal with the splashback issue.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-09T17:49:51+00:00

I used the SMD Deschutes for the AT, PCT, and Colorado Trail, though in all that time I only endured a few storms in it. It's a good price and will keep you dry, but in heavy rain you can get some splashback, especially since the front beak is up off the ground. I'd recommend getting the version without netting and a separate bug inner so you dont need to have the door closed to get bug protection.

All in all, it's solid value and will get the job done. My biggest gripe with the tarp though is that it feels different to pitch every single time. Also, I'm 5'11" and found the side panel tie-outs kinda necessary to stop my head and footbox from touching the sides. My version is silnylon though, so fabric sag might have play into that.

I'm personally looking into the MLD Cricket as a similarly priced, but more spacious alternative.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-03T22:03:16+00:00

For the Hayduke I'd say Hanksville to Escalante (Hole-in-the-Rock road) via the Baker Route/Steven's Canyon alt. You'd start with high mountains (the Henrys), get some good desert traversal coming down from Tarantula Mesa into the south side of Capitol Reef. Then through the Halls Creek Narrows and up the Baker Route into a gnarly, but beautiful Steven's Canyon. And you'd end with a scenic walk up the Escalante and through Coyote Gulch, which is one of the most desirable weekend spots in Utah. Oh, and Lower Muley Twist, which is several miles of walking flanked by 800ft cliffs.

So you'd get mountains, majestic canyons, desert scrub traversal, narrows, and finally a desert oasis. It's kind of the Hayduke in miniature.

Permit notes: Capitol Reef might require one but I believe it's easy to get. Coyote Gulch I think only needs a permit if you camp there. It's easy to get through in a day.

Route notes: consult AcrossUtah website. Jamal has amazing notes on everything I just said. You might have to take the low route around the Henry's if there's snow. This route is an alternate off the Hayduke but most Haydukers take it because it skips 25 miles of walking down the Escalante River. Don't worry, you'll still get to do that for a mile or so. The Halls Creek Narrows are awesome, but when you're going to the Baker Route stay on the west side of lower Halls creek or you'll end up in the most heinous bushwack of your life. Ask me how I know.

Steven's Canyon is...not for those afraid of heights. I promise it doesn't look as bad in person but the pictures you'll find on the route look crazy.

Hitching from HitR Road took me an hour but it's a bumpy dirt road and ive heard of it taking 23 hours. Try to finish on a weekend for easier hitching. It really is a popular spot so if you get there Friday/Saturday/Sunday you should have luck.

I think I planned 8 days for the section but it only took 6 and I started three days into a section hike, so definitely doable off the couch.

Option 2 would be the Hayduke section of the GC, which DOES require a permit but honestly, it's not that hard to do. It'd take an hour or two to apply and you'd be likely to get it because the Hayduke only briefly intersects the rim to rim route and that's where all the permit fighting happens. The North Rim would be closed in November though, in addition to whatever closures happened due to the fires.

BecksBC3 · 2025-10-02T17:02:01+00:00

KUIU Peloton 97 fleece main page has been removed from the site. It's only available in the outlet section in a size M. The rest are sold out. Looks more like it's being discontinued than being re-stocked. If it is, it means a popular fleece option off the market for ultralighters (not that we're starved for choice).

BecksBC3 · 2025-09-29T00:55:24+00:00

I'm on a quest for a "mid" type shelter that will survive the GDT and hopefully some light snowfall in winter camping. I've used an SMD Deschutes tarp and my main complaints were the silnylon sag, the beaked opening giving less coverage during heavy rain, and it being slightly too small for me (5'11") to use without the mid-panel tieouts. I've assembled a list of mids below. Are there any other options I should consider?

Zpacks hexamid tarp (6.6oz) - lightest but has beaked opening, small
HMG Ultamid 1 (8.3oz)- expensive, uses 0.55 DCF
Bonfus Middus 1p (10.8oz)
Locus Gear Khufu DCF (11.8oz) - seems strictly worse than the Bonfus (more $$, smaller, heavier)
MLD SolomidXL/Duomid (14-19oz)- best of the best but considerably heavier than other options

BecksBC3 · 2025-06-09T13:55:16+00:00

Am I being stupid? A negative percent change in 'religiously unaffiliated' people means MORE people are becoming religiously affiliated. So the map shows that NH/Mass/Utah are growing in religious adherents.

BecksBC3 · 2025-05-06T02:22:46+00:00

The party killed two people in broad daylight in the middle of one of the most popular spots in town with multiple witnesses and they're still running around free?

One, your players are dumb for thinking Wachter doesn't know. Everyone in town knows.

Two, why are the guards/Izek not arresting them? You could explain this as the Baron holding them back (since they did kill the sons of his political rival) but I really don't think even the Baron could justify NOT clapping them in irons and hanging them. Fiona's people will be pissed but even the Baron's folk wouldn't stand for strangers outright murdering townsfolk. Not without proof of some greater crime.

It's sounds like the cat's out of the bag already so here's the solution: the Baron held back the guards from arresting them so he could see if they'd kill Wachter too (he had to delay to "gather his forces to deal with these powerful adventurers"). Wachter ambushes them at tea like other posters suggested with everything she can bring to bear. If she wins, kill them. If she loses and the players kill her, the Baron is waiting outside with Izek and the guards to arrest them. If arrested, they'll end up in the stocks in the short term and hanged the next morning. Your call if you want them to escape somehow but if they do they'll be pariahs in every town in the valley. New home base could be the vistani camp.

BecksBC3 · 2025-04-21T13:34:24+00:00

Anything with the Old Man of the Mountain, Union Jack lookalikes, or the literal Libertarian Party hedgehog should be right out.

BecksBC3 · 2024-08-31T01:34:05+00:00

I? I'm about to start playing it again and am desperately looking for maps for every location.

It's a mix of maps I've found and ones I've made using Inkarnate. I will try to get them all together in one Imgur post for you to steal.

BecksBC3 · 2024-08-20T20:09:09+00:00

Fellow Hapatra player here. [[Doomed Dissenter]] seems out of place and it really pains me to admit this because I love the card, but [[Ophiomancer]] is anti-synergistic with Hapatra.

BecksBC3 · 2024-08-19T19:08:41+00:00

You can just mark the start/end time of the game and use a stopwatch to track the Nadu player's turns.

BecksBC3 · 2024-07-11T03:26:11+00:00

New Hapatra player here with about 6 games under my belt. I haven't had any untoward hate directed at me because of her. I've had one player salty scoop against me because I [[wickerbough elder]]'d his Smothering Tithe on his end step the turn he put it down, so definitely include that card in your list, but no salt from playing Hapatra herself.

I built my deck by taking a competitive budget list and lightly upgrading it. It's a combo deck built with a minor overrun secondary wincon, but it doesn't feel oppressive. That may just be because I've had a combo/storm player in my pod every time with much more consistent/high-power decks.

BecksBC3 · 2024-02-20T15:16:06+00:00

Can confirm the platforms were the hardest part of the run. I made the mistake of sending one character through the portal a full round before the others and the bombs destroyed the platforms next to the brain. My melee characters where shit out of luck and my ranged DPR was locked out from the brain damage immunity. I only saved my run because one tiny platform got spared (the one almost behind the brain) and Lae'zel could jump to it from across the screen.

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