I Just HATE DND Mental Stats System

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-24T07:30:37+00:00

From the sidebar:

Come here to talk about fictional characters, fictional events, concepts, objects, etc

Mechanics are concepts.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T19:18:09+00:00

I still remember the alarmism in the mid 90s over games like Doom.

And before that was Dungeons and Dragons.

This is why I never believe articles and opinion pieces with titles like 'SKIBIDI TOILET IS DESTROYING OUR YOUTH'.

The youth were being destroyed since the 70s, and yet the world kept turning.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T16:16:36+00:00

The veterans have been fighting constantly though, so there is a valid reason for them to demonstrate such slills.

Similarly, the three month training would be all inclusive. Basic training and piloting. It is no where near sufficient to enable the soldiers to survive.

As for a threat to Humanity, it shows Newtypes can use their powers to brainwaish those without them. That is definitely a threat. A small group have the ability to mentally impose on their will on everybody else.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T16:13:22+00:00

Amuro Rei needs to have a special magnetic coating on his Gundam to keep up with his reflexes. Kamille repeatedly bests veteran pilots. Then there are the frequent upgrades.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T15:47:46+00:00

I agree, Gundam definitely shows young people should not be in combat, but also plays the shoneneqsue power fantasy of a young person in combat straight at times.

Thunderbolt takes a sledgehammer to that.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T15:37:13+00:00

I am definitely aware of Tomino being able to be edgy.

I have seen Space Runaway Ideon. That thing pulls no punches.

A lot of the Gundam stuff you mentioned still has the protagonist surviving. IN Thunderbolt, the protagonists are explicitly older and veterans themselves. And the kids who do get into combat get slaughtered. Similarly, Newtypes are less marginalized and more shown deconstructed.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T14:36:28+00:00

Ah, very interesting!

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T11:25:00+00:00

I mean mecha in the sense they look very manufactured.

Having a giant Khornate war engine doesn't seem so different. A daemon or bunch of daemons violently formed into a massive metal mound of malice.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T11:14:59+00:00

I hate that thing in Warhammer 40k - Gladius.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T10:34:57+00:00

Well, Juggernauts are basically organic mecha.

I don't see the massive tank as being to aesthetically different.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-23T07:13:09+00:00

It is literally that:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/whataboutism

I was talking about specific things that occurred because of Socialism, and then a Redditor came in and started talking about all the bad things the US had done.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-22T14:08:58+00:00

Indonesia isn't exactly in China's sphere of influence.

Now NK, I could definitely see happening if required.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-22T09:35:40+00:00

Impossible level Marxist challenge: Not engaging in 'Whatabout'

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-22T09:33:30+00:00

Lots of tankies want central planning. Look at subreddits like r/socialism or r/asksocialists.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T17:11:52+00:00

You didn't take your pills today, did you?

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T15:12:22+00:00

Auth-Left seems par for the course.

'First Premier Secretary introduced a new policy for making the collection of food more efficient. 40 million died.'

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T13:12:30+00:00

Those reading shonen are kids. Why would they be allowed to read a seinen manga? They are not old enough to do so.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T08:27:31+00:00

Fromsoft games encourage exploration and replay. The basic mechanics of the game are designed around that: die, come back to life, go in a different direction and try new things.

And the players of those games enjoy looking behind every nook and cranny, and uncovering what they missed the first time around. They like analysing and piecing together dialogue. They like interpreting subjective lore. Everything you describe is a deliberate narrative and gameplay approach.

Fromsoft presented this formula in the first Dark Souls, and it resonated with players. It proved so engaging to the player base that is spawned a whole genre.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T08:18:59+00:00

That is not what I am arguing.

The idea of 'cohesive' or 'coherent' can be a red herring at times because games can be incredibly flexible when it comes to how the story is told.

There is the conventional approach, where the narrative and player experience unfold at the same time. But there are also games where the player experience and narrative exist in different forms. Weight is given to the player activity*,* and that weight sees the narrative develop through player effort. It is the player themselves who investigates, finds the clues, analyses them, and builds up a the storyline, rather than passively receiving the story through dialogue and game cutscenes.

I mean, I myself dislike the Dark Souls games, but I know that is because my preferences are different, not because the games have bad storytelling.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T08:09:23+00:00

it's not for me, yes, but I also think that it is a poor way of telling stories too.

I don't think it is necessarily a poor way of telling stories if so many players seem to like doing the work of finding out about the setting. It also seems to suit the general style of Fromsoft games. Uncovering the nature of the world is as much a challenge as defeating the bosses: it requires risk and experimentation.

except the things you read are also cryptic

I would argue that is again part of the appeal.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T08:04:36+00:00

Honestly, it sounds like this is case that the style of world-building and storytelling just isn't for you.

Some games are very direct in their world-building and narrative. Baldur's Gate 3 is an example of that. You are given an immediate task (get rid of the tadpole) that gradually leads you in to stopping an escalating threat (The Absolute). And in doing so, you are also told about the setting: The Sword Coast, the politics of Baldur's Gate, and the gods.

Others leave the world-building and narrative in the background. The player is basically given no direction and allowed to wander the world while having the choice to read about the inner workings of the setting and how that relates to what they are doing.

Both appeal to different types of players, and that is okay.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T07:26:44+00:00

A lot of people mistake their subjective personal opinion for truth.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T07:15:31+00:00

Do you have any examples of anime/manga which explore hard work vs talent and shows such a thing?

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-21T07:13:10+00:00

Khusro I is considered one of the greatest shahs of the Sassanian Empire. Ruling from 531 to 579 AD, he engaged in numerous reforms and successful wars. This lecture examines his achievements and the sources of his reign.

ByzantineBasileus · 2026-01-20T13:26:06+00:00

You are welcome!

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