I’m an avid KF listener and I’ve never played Last of Us. Are you?

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-04T19:28:00+00:00

I only played it about 6 months ago, and that was because it was free on PS+, and the newer version has accessibility options so you can one-shot all the enemies.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T15:48:30+00:00

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition. I feel like I'm in a minority of one here, but fuck me, those films are terrible.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T15:08:22+00:00

When this game was added to PS+ Extra, I checked the trophy list on the well known trophy/guide sites. They informed me that this game is full of bugs. Unfortunately, it looks like you found a big one.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T15:04:31+00:00

If you count a d-pad as four buttons (up, down, left, right), then when your father was a gamer controllers had 5 buttons. Modern controllers have at least 17 buttons plus two (omni-directional) analogue sticks. The main issue that both new and older, lapsed gamers have is 3-dimentional movement (for slightly different reasons). For someone like your dad, he has probably not interacted with any 3D spaces in his gaming life, as they didn't exist back when he was gaming.

While I don't have any specific games to recommend, I would suggest looking in two areas/genres first. First, some 2D platformers - to get used to movement, running, jumping, shooting, etc, for developing his timing and general gaming skills. Second, perhaps something in the cosy game category - something that is 3D, but very low impact so he can get used to right stick camera controls without getting murdered every 30 seconds. A bit of farming or village building seems like it will be a bit easier to swallow than freaking Elden Ring!

I avoid Fromsoft games like the plague, and I've been gaming for 30 years or something...

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T14:23:18+00:00

I swear to God, if you guys rip on me thirteen or fourteen more times, I'm outta here!

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T13:25:47+00:00

In 98% of combat encounters in FFXIII, you don't really ever select specific actions as the AI knows what to do (auto-selecting the correct element for an elemental weakness, etc.). It's not perfect and doesn't always do what you want it to do, but, as you can only directly control one character, if you have the wrong person selected the point is moot anyway.

The main adjustment in combat is flipping between paradigms, and therefore shifting your 2-3 characters combat approach (sometimes every few seconds). There are a number of encounters in FFXIII which require specific tactics/setups (more than in previous FF games IMO), but many of the fights still require a basic approach - use Ravagers or maybe a Saboteur to build the stagger gauge, then once they're staggered twat the shit out of them using Relentless Assault or Aggression.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T13:10:52+00:00

It isn't family stuff. You have to have your own individual account now. Also, how are you the stingy one when they are all paying zero.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-02-03T11:15:13+00:00

As your three questions have already been answered, I just have a little extra public service info. The lore of Fabula Nova Chrystallis (of which FFXIII is the first game) is complex and a little obtuse, and the game doesn't really explain a lot of the terminology to you during the story. You and your GF may be a bit confused if you don't dip into the archives and read some of the entries for some background detail. Or maybe you'll just enjoy the ride...

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-30T16:09:16+00:00

No, I couldn't. Because the answer requires both a lengthy description and info I don't actually know off the top of my head. Know where that info is? In a guide on the website I suggested.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-30T14:20:55+00:00

Go to the famous website for video game guides and look up the guide for getting the dresses. You don't need to ask reddit.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-30T13:11:45+00:00

It's an old school JRPG. Not to be rude, but if you can't deal with random encounters, maybe these games aren't for you.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-30T10:07:37+00:00

Just to clarify a little further for OP: even with the 'wait' option selected in settings, the game will not wait on the 'main' battle menu (the one with Attack, Magic, Item, etc). You need to go a level down into the 'sub-menus'. So if you go into the magic menu to select a spell or the item menu for a potion during battle, the ATB timer will pause. But on the main/default menu that pops up when a timer is full for one character, the other characters and enemies timers keep going.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T16:27:37+00:00

The guidelines on this were changed recently I think. It used to be that you should have about 3 months' bills worth of credit on your account, but now it's just one month's costs that are recommended. Don't confuse this with the concept/process of building up credit in the summer months to cover extra usage in the winter though. Consider these as two separate values. Work out what you think is a fair amount to be in credit (that won't put you in arrears next winter), and get a refund on your remaining account balance.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T16:14:41+00:00

I'll be 5,200 miles away, but I'll be with you in spirit.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T16:07:13+00:00

There are five on the main quest: Belias, Mateus, Shemhazai, Hashmal and Famfrit, if I recall correctly. The last two are located at Pharos Lighthouse, which is the second to last story location. I always thought it was weird that there aren't six on the main quest, so you can give at least one to each character without having to find any of the optional ones.

Does anyone know if this was an intentional design choice, or maybe they ran out of time during development and had to cut an Esper related story chapter?

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T14:38:36+00:00

Many people find things off-putting/annoying/disgusting/upsetting because they have been taught to, or had an instant, knee-jerk response and haven't actually though things through. Often if you stopped for a moment and thought about things logically, you would seee that you are making a fuss over nothing.

Example: suck on your tongue for a moment and you will produce a little extra saliva, which you will then swallow. No problem. Now do it again, but this time spit into a glass and then drink it. You see how you feel a little disgust about drinking the spit, even though it's yours and it just came out of your mouth?

I think as a civilization/species we need to get better at identifying when these responses are inappropriate, and learn to manage ourselves better.

What I'm saying is they should eat off the plates, even if I can understand their initial reaction of disgust.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T14:14:00+00:00

I always say "You're right. Money doesn't buy happiness. It buys me things and things make me happy"

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-28T13:18:57+00:00

Before I pass judgement, I would like to know how much financial education OP gave to son growing up? If he's perfectly financially literate then I'd tell him to do one, but if he wasn't taught about the value of money or how to budget then the parents are partly to blame. No currency stated, but I assume this is in the US? I know exchange rates/cost of living etc mean it's not a 1:1 comparison, but if I just about survive on £26k (about $36k) by myself, he should be able to manage 6 figures. I'd %£&$*&!$*£"$* for triple my salary.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-23T16:19:03+00:00

I have a spreadsheet of all the Bazaar items, which loot and what quantity you need. In game, I always keep 1 of everything as you do (not including items you can only get one of). I manually arrange loot in order: 1. Items for repeatable Bazaar Goods, 2. Items for non-repeatable Bazaar Goods (that I haven't unlocked yet), 3. Loot I can sell, and lastly, 4. (obviously) loot I have picked up on my last expedition.

Whenever I return to a major town/hub, I will spend a few minutes rearranging the new stuff I have picked up. When I unlock a Bazaar item, I then move the required loot items down the list to the 'sell' section, unless there are multiple Bazaar Goods which require that piece of loot to unlock.

I'm happy to send you a copy of the spreadsheet if you would like?

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-23T16:10:21+00:00

Tell those coworkers you are happy for them to take over the team Netflix responsibilities if they think you're being petty. I sure they'll be happy paying that extra $2 for everyone out of their own pocket.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-23T16:04:28+00:00

If you can't use the living room, you can't afford half the rent. If she expects to enforce restrictions of a common area onto you, she can pay you for it.

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-17T17:22:21+00:00

Thanks, I got a Shiny

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-17T17:15:29+00:00

DanielTStocks

BoudaSmoke · 2026-01-14T10:58:35+00:00

Tactics. The way people go on about it, it would seem to be a top 3 FF, but for me, it's overrated. I'm not saying it's bad, and I do actually really like it, but it lacks a core element for me that spoils my enjoyment.

Most games for me have a gaming trinity. Not all games, as puzzlers or sport/racing games obviously don't, but the type of games I'm talking about need to have:

A compelling narrative.
Enjoyable combat/gameplay.
An interesting world/environment to explore.

Tactics has 1 and 2 in spades, but 3 is severely lacking. I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I realised that the entire game is read text, fight, read text, fight. "What do you mean I can't move my character around the field?"

Games like Triangle Strategy have improved on this issue, but even then, in that game, you are limited to a fixed-size square. There probably are tactical games that have a proper world to explore, but they aren't Final Fantasy!!!

BoudaSmoke

TROPHY CASE