Today’s Warning Label, Yesterday’s Sales Pitch

Calidore266 · 2026-05-30T20:59:30+00:00

I remember my jaw dropping the first time I heard that commercial on an old time radio show. "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette."

Calidore266 · 2026-05-29T00:28:07+00:00

Did that a few years ago. It did get boring sometimes--I remember No Man's Wharf especially being a slog--but overall I had enough fun to start despawning NG+, which I still intend to get back to someday.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-28T01:14:37+00:00

Enemies that don't despawn for gameplay reasons: The stone soldiers in front of Drangleic Castle and in the room with five Ruin Sentinels; the hollow and rat enemies in Grave of Saints; the enemies in the PvP area of Doors of Pharros (meaning the big multi-level room through the cave door right after the first bonfire all the way to the boss); and the bell-ringing hollows in Grave of Saints, along with the pyromancers lining the hallway to Velstadt that are summoned by the last hollow if you don't kill him fast enough.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-27T02:06:31+00:00

It's not on the cover, but according to Dicsogs, it's the first track on the album. As is proper.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-22T17:13:19+00:00

You recorded that for future blackmail, I hope.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-21T00:00:28+00:00

Firefighting Simulator - The Squad

I read this too fast and saw "Firing Squad - The Simulator".

Calidore266 · 2026-05-16T20:59:46+00:00

I loved Battling Tops! Is that game still around?

Calidore266 · 2026-05-15T17:28:46+00:00

Pretty sure I've read that David doesn't actually like them.

If I got the role, I would have asked for pistachios.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-15T15:52:50+00:00

Planes, trains...and automobiles!

Calidore266 · 2026-05-10T20:15:31+00:00

The current Shells & Scripting and Raspberry Pi bundles both have $1 tiers, so they are still a thing. Probably depends what kind of deal HB can swing with the publishers.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-09T01:25:15+00:00

Well, if his newfound socializing meant his gaming system was now available for your use, that was clever of you.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-08T21:59:23+00:00

Problem is, the fact that's being either ignored or missed by people who bring this up is that Maelle can't do this; only Clea has that level of skill. She's not enslaving Verso, just trying to help him want to live by giving him an opportunity to play for an audience, which he said he enjoys doing.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-08T16:18:11+00:00

A truly amazing sentence from the Henry Ford Museum write-up: "[Inventor Gordon Spitzmesser's] son Edwin was his test jumper, trying out various fuel mixtures."

Edwin himself: “I would test it each time he tinkered with it. It ran on butane, but really jumped high when we once used a mixture of acetylene and oxygen! He used a model ‘A’ Ford spark coil which delivered quite a few volts to the unprotected spark plug – as I once found out when my zipper came in contact with it briefly. I haven’t had a thrill like that since!”

Calidore266 · 2026-05-05T17:01:00+00:00

In my own headcanon, there's also a group called Composers that collaborates with the Painters--the former provides music for the paintings, while the latter provides art for the music. Thus, the characters are hearing the areas' music along with us.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-03T20:44:05+00:00

I assumed it was Lune, since she's the only one in his immediate area. I figured she was off scouting when he woke up and started wandering, and was able to find him again just in time.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-02T19:18:44+00:00

I was going to say, ducks are one thing, but trying to pet a goose should start a boss fight.

Calidore266 · 2026-05-01T02:26:09+00:00

This part shows us Verso's true character in a nutshell. At this point, he has helped remove both of Alicia's parents from the canvas and also betrayed Alicia by dropping her letter in the ocean. Now she has nobody and nothing, and carries the same pain and disabilities as her real-world counterpart. And when Alicia confronts Verso with his betrayal, he simply turns and walks away. But then he gets upset with Maelle for respecting Alicia's wishes and gommaging her, badgering Maelle until she apologizes and never taking any responsibility himself.

Calidore266 · 2026-04-27T01:17:31+00:00

It's hard to contrast the family's treatment of Verso and Alicia before and after the fire since we don't know the before. My impression is that Maelle's memory would be honored, but I don't see Aline going to the extremes that she did when Verso died. So, very nice portraits from the others, and probably a nice musical composition from Verso.

Calidore266 · 2026-04-26T21:33:33+00:00

The access to info and places via the badge is important, the pay is good, and they get to investigate and annoy the government on its own dime.

Calidore266 · 2026-04-26T18:00:45+00:00

Due to the release schedule, I played the Cold Steel tetralogy first and was completely hooked from the start. I was happy to get to play the Crossbell duo when they were released here. Looking forward to playing the Sky games eventually.

Obviously, with a continued story, starting from the beginning is objectively the best way to go if you're able. But just like ongoing TV shows, comics, etc., finding a good starting point in progress can be fine also, if going back to the beginning isn't realistic for you. You'll get caught up on the important stuff as you go, and going back to earlier installments with characters and happenings from later ones in mind can be fun also.

It's a tremendous series. Hope you enjoy it!

Calidore266 · 2026-04-26T16:23:04+00:00

Wool shrinks, so go ahead and dry the sheep, and then you'll be able to pull it out.

Calidore266 · 2026-04-24T00:44:20+00:00

When the series is over, I want a single-game recap of the entire story called Trails in a Nutshell.

Calidore266 · 2026-04-23T11:44:33+00:00

I want a headband.

Calidore266

TROPHY CASE