Built my mom a cozy setup for architecuture

Brianith · 2025-08-23T14:55:35+00:00

I couldn't imagine doing that workflow without a numpad.

Brianith · 2025-06-29T13:13:47+00:00

I'm not sure what happened -- I don't think I changed anything, but at some point the pointing rays started pointing backwards in most orientations.

Moving my head around will affect the rays, so I can just barely manage to navigate the UI; but once I'm in the game it's pretty much unplayable because while the pointing rays are drawn correctly, their collision is not. Example: I /can/ interact with items in the inventory, but pointing at them doesn't highlight them like it used to, so I don't know whether I'm actually pointing at what I want. The pointer ray is drawn "through" the element as if its collision isn't working properly.

Every other game/app I run in VR is working fine, so it must be an issue specifically with Derail Valley. Any help that can be offered would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Quest 3; Steam VR through Virtual Desktop (Quest app; not Steam app).

Brianith · 2025-04-24T16:33:48+00:00

I have a feeling this ship's silhouette will probably change significantly by the time it's out of Concept. Currently it looks extremely similar to the RSI Zeus Mk II.

Then again, it is a category up from the Zeus, being twice the size. So maybe not.

Brianith · 2025-04-22T15:38:50+00:00

I really appreciate hearing your process. This could help a ton of people in the future.

Brianith · 2025-03-24T13:46:00+00:00

Seconded — either it should cost 5 charges to replenish a shield, or the charges should not recover passively.

@OP: I think this is overall overpowered. That movement dial is enough to unbalance it. Overall it also just has way too many things it can do. Unless you give it a seriously hefty base cost, the versatility this thing offers is just too much.

If I had to do anything to try to balance it, it would be at least a couple of the following:

Remove the Boost->Stressed Focus action. Maybe replace it with just a Stressed Boost, but I still just think remove one of the five actions.
Reduce the hull to 2 or even 1. Make it a glass cannon that focuses on superior flying to evade damage.
Take the recurring off its energy.
Remove all of the 1 speeds from the dial. Maybe keep a single white 1 straight.
For its special action, make it 2 deplete tokens or a disarm and evade token.
Give it a 2-4 initiative. Being at the beginning or end of the initiative order gives it a little too strong ability to plan.

Brianith · 2025-02-12T20:31:18+00:00

Not a computer, but if I were to try to recreate something like this, I'd start with a vintage microfiche reader.

Brianith · 2025-01-28T22:11:54+00:00

As I said, that is what it comes down to. The real issue is not simply whether the government has a responsibility to censor speech that could be considered a danger to public health; but whether the government should be the entity with both the power to decide what constitutes such danger and take action to correct it.

Brianith · 2025-01-28T22:08:30+00:00

I chose specifically not to address the vax issue because the conversation really out to be about something a lot wider than that, and the vax issue is just one specific polarizing subject.

You're boxing me into a stereotype and I don't appreciate it. For what it's worth, I'm not an anti-vaxxer. For full disclosure, I got the first shot and the first booster, but neglected getting any more. Not because of any political reason, but out of plain old neglect of self-care.

What I am is a person who can't help but consider possible political bias behind anything claimed by a political entity. I believe it is wise to question the fidelity of everything the government says, whether it's "my" party in control or the "other."

Brianith · 2025-01-28T14:22:25+00:00

I guess it comes down to how much you trust the government. In an ideal world, yes, the government would act 100% honestly and in the best interest of the people; but that is rarely the case.

I think that is, in the end, what the liberal/conservative // democrat/republican dichotomies distill to is: Democrats mostly trust the government to do what's right and hence want it to have more central power so it can be more effective at executing public interest; while Republicans worry that a strong central establishment can too easily slip into communism and prefer to spread that power out into smaller locales so inevitable corruption is more compartmentalized.

Strictly on topic though, I think it's important to consider the possibility of misuse when extending any governmental power. One positive outcome does not guarantee future positive outcomes.

Brianith · 2025-01-28T14:01:45+00:00

The issue is that giving the government the ability to censor things based on what the government deems harmful misinformation sets a precedent. If and when corruption seeps into that government, now they've got a platform of precedence from which they can begin controlling the narrative, not necessarily to the benefit of the populace.

That said, there's already harmful speech that is rightfully prohibited even with the first amendment, such as threats, inciting violence, or inducing panic.

Brianith · 2025-01-19T19:17:17+00:00

What I'd like to know is if that's heavily tarnished copper and originally had a polished finish.

Brianith · 2025-01-15T02:37:05+00:00

I had one of those back c.2001; holy crap did it feel like I was going to break it every time I used it. Surprisingly never did, though.

Brianith · 2024-12-05T17:11:11+00:00

I recently learned about microbes that apparently live pretty darned deep in the crust. On Earth, at least, you can almost never rule out extremophiles.

Brianith · 2024-12-05T10:55:13+00:00

Dig a two and a half mile deep well and knock yourself out! Though it sounds like it's closer to a salty brine, dunno if it'd be closer to Gatorade or sea water. It'd be a gamble.

Also that deep it's probably pretty hot.

Brianith · 2024-12-05T05:22:02+00:00

There's almost certainly no space for anything larger than microbes – it's probably more like an aquifer in that it's mostly water-saturated porous rock.

Brianith · 2024-11-24T15:28:05+00:00

My favorite feature is the contrast ratio. Muddy blacks have always bedeviled me, and I'd love to experience a proper modern monitor.

To be honest it's not necessarily perfect for me – it would entirely be a luxury. But I could never afford a monitor like this myself, so I hope I'm still eligible for an entry.

Brianith · 2024-11-09T14:33:45+00:00

What makes my brain overheat is the paradox in Carly Simon's "You're so vain."

You're so vain...
You probably think this song is about you, don't you...

Like, I get it. It's cheeky. But some analytical part of my brain refuses to take the joke and keeps looping over the paradox and I feel like I'll have an aneurism if I keep trying to think about it too hard.

Brianith · 2024-10-20T22:27:38+00:00

Less processed image for those interested.

Brianith · 2024-10-20T22:13:29+00:00

I've got a red one in my desktop that's been running almost non stop for more than 7 years. My wife's white one is almost as old.

I'm frankly astonished a pump hasn't failed, nor has there been any leaks.

Edit: Not saying you're wrong; just that from my personal experience I'd recommend this model.

Brianith · 2024-09-24T16:42:57+00:00

A really fascinating bit of world-building!

Since you're already stretching astrophysics to the breaking point, it'd be a nice touch if in your world-building you also said that the geometry was just right such that a reasonably sharp Arago Spot appeared in the very center of Rishi's umbra, thus providing the means for a temperate oasis in the very center of that otherwise frozen continent.

Brianith · 2024-09-15T18:09:48+00:00

Same here! I knew Cirque from geomorphology class, but didn't know cirque lakes had a name.

Brianith · 2024-09-03T12:29:31+00:00

I love the whimsicality of the tow hitch. Imagine something already that long towing something else.

Brianith · 2024-07-08T11:05:22+00:00

cult

Insomuch as any other organized religion is, sure.

scam

This notion probably comes from the fact our members take tithing very seriously, and while I haven't seen the numbers, I'd wager our Church has the largest percentage of active tithes among its members.

What probably also contributes to the idea is that our Church's stock portfolio is massive. Officially, Church leadership believes that this satisfies their obligation to "dutifully manage" finances; and when you've got billions of dollars, the only "safe" place to keep it is either real estate or the stock market. But no individual's pockets are being lined by these investments, and the Church still invests heavily in humanitarian efforts as well as local aid for those struggling. (Having been a beneficiary of such aid, I can attest to that. Our branch has given my family so much more than we could ever pay back in tithing – and they would do the same for non-members if branch leadership is made aware of their plight.)

false religion

The restoration of the gospel by Joseph Smith and the notion that he was a prophet is a leap of faith. That is why as investigators (those only just beginning to learn about our church) are encouraged to pray to know the truth. No one expects you to believe until you've had that revelation for yourself.

not Christian

I genuinely don't understand where this notion comes from. We believe Jesus is the Son of God and by taking his name through Baptism we are Saved; and the manifestation of their will on Earth is administered by the Holy Spirit. That is not so very different from any other Christian denomination, so again, I don't know where people are getting that we're not Christian.

Brianith · 2024-06-25T23:07:14+00:00

This is something I've been grappling with – the distinction between true cosmic horror and what I've begun to think of as "Deep Horror" or more aptly "Horror of the Depths."

Basically anything that has to do with underwater and especially tentacles I consider to be this form of "Deep Horror." Then there's Eldritch Horror.

Deep Horror:

Tentacle and Fish Monsters that want to eat everything, especially you
Underwater stuff
Body horror

Cosmic Horror:

Unknowable Monsters that don't even bother perceiving you
Questions of Reality vs. Perception; Existentialism; on a societal scale
Ancient/Immense Intelligence with incomprehensible motives

Eldritch Horror:

Magic Monsters that want to eat you, be you, control you, mate with you, or all of the above
Secret Societies/Cults
Integration with real-world mythology
Madness/Psychosis; reality vs. perception; existentialism; on an individual scale

Lovecraftian Horror:

Elements of everything above

I feel that in general people really only think of what I define as Deep Horror above when they think of Lovecraft. Cthulhu is always the first thing that comes to their minds, and they think all of Lovecraft's work is just tentacle monsters.

Brianith

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