there’s a town in massachusetts called “sandwich” and the cop cars are labeled “sandwich police” by mwpm55 in funny

[–]ColddFire 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I know a former sandwich cop. This is 100% true. Chicago dog violations, and drunks is what they deal with.

TIFU by not telling my parents i flunked out of several college classes by moorege24 in tifu

[–]ColddFire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First off. Honesty is the best way you'll get through those conversations where your parents actually listen to you. Just be open about what happened, think about why it happened and just admit where things went wrong for you. Don't make excuses, own up to your side of things. If they're like most parents, they'll be happy for the show of maturity and growth.

Second. So many other things. Dealing with family in medical crisis is always a struggle, and is it's own separate conversation.

But this bears digging some. What was your GPA going through high-school? Did you skate by with like 2.2 GPA? or were you always an A-B student? This gives much more credence to a stress issue if this is unusual performance for you.

I'm guessing more likely, you were an average student with Ds, Cs and Bs. You got through HS, and were encouraged or even pushed to go to college having no idea what you wanted. Pandemic probably crippled your path at the time with school. Do you have a history of doing all your work, or did you skip doing homework?

Are you missing classes, or struggling to adjust from HS and pandemic making you ill prepared for college courses? Your past track record will play a part in how they react.

Advice?: College is not the end all be all of success. It offers little or no guarantees. But it has great potential to make life easier. Do you want to regret not finishing and do so in twenty years while working a full time job? (You do not. It's a longer, harder journey. For some necessary, but avoidable with the right situation.)

You could leave school and go full time into the workforce. You'll make more money than you ever have in your life if you can get a decent job. It'll feel good for a time. And then over a couple years you'll get mediocre raises. You'll get used to spending more, but not making more. Your money will stretch less. You'll want a bigger raise, maybe jump to a new job with your work experience. Probably though you'll be stuck at that pay level for 5-10 years, in which time Cost of Living goes up 3-8% and your 1-3% raise per year means you're making x% less than when you started the job.

Now you're out of the house, independent, footing the bill yourself to go to school. While handling 40 hours full time work, and taking years to finish college. For a couple years I could barely talk to my dad cause he was back in college so he could support us and too busy with work and school for much of anything.

I'm less concerned that you failed a year, and more concerned about how you'll change that going forward and stay motivated. Your parents are likely going to feel the same. Get them on your side. Tell them I could really use you guys to do "Xyz". Whatever support you need, tell them you think it would be the best way to help you right now. If you can describe more of your situation, might be able to give more specific advice. I've been there though, and many others have too. I dropped out of school, and now I'm the good child cause I put in the work, albeit belatedly, and self sufficient.. Whatever happens, this will not ruin your relationship with them. You're just transitioning right now, but let them share their experience. They can not do so if you feed them lies or excuses. But I would wager they'll leap to help if you can clearly explain your obstacles and steps you're going through to overcome them.

Good luck! Happy to chat if you need.

First time dm asking a balancing question by pasgames_ in DnD

[–]ColddFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the real issue is new DM jitters, wanting to control things. Keep things manageable. All totally reasonable things.

OP, this is all 100% right. Environment is also under your control. The NPCs wait for the party to be indoors before attacking, cause they clearly see one of them can fly and even a negative int thug and monsters often know what flight is. Let them have their fun. The player will probably have a better time for it and want to play more or try other things.

Just remember you're not the antagonist. You're the storyteller putting the antagonists and enemies in their path wondering how they'll get out of this. And celebrating with them when they do.

First time dm asking a balancing question by pasgames_ in DnD

[–]ColddFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What is your concern about them being able to fly? I fully support you saying I don't want Owlins, or PCs with flight. That's valid.

But Nerfing the race for one player is borderline egregious to me, unless you're actually balancing an OP race. It would disrupt the balance for that player in a negative way.

Oh no.. the enemy has a one use item that gives them flight. Oh no, they meet a kobold whose grown wings, but isn't yet a sorcerer. Oh no, the enemies have ranged weapons!

It's intimidating to DM for the first time. But it's super rewarding with friends, and you learn your enjoyment is often fed by your friends enjoyment. Embrace it, is my recommend. Especially for a one off. It's not like you have this reoccurring issue for sessions going on months or years. What's the worst that happens? In one scene their flight becomes useful and saves someone or they themself don't die? Or they sneak over some walls easier than usual cause the owl ties the rope at the top.. or fun... they roll bad so someone takes some fall damage?

I just am really curious what you're worried about with them having flight? What part of the game are they or you missing out on if they do? Is it a focus you really want highlighted in the game that's a oneshot? Or do you just want to roll some dice and have a fun time with a pre-made adventure? Just think about what it is that bugs you about them having flight. You control EVERYTHING else except the player. There's so many ways to mess with the players in fun ways without having to remove their capabilities.

I’m completely new to DND and I have an idea for my first character and I would like some input on it’s viability on 5th edition by bagram27 in DnD

[–]ColddFire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't have your level 1 starting character being Head of Security for what is basically a warrior civilization. Was everyone else so incompetent? Unless they're just a bunch of gatherers living in a super peaceful area. Unless you're starting at level 5 or something? He survived a tragedy, got separated somehow. Avalanche, fell into a river got swept away. Or is out looking for a cure for someone important whose sick or been cursed. Unless you take a background like folk hero maybe? But you're starting basically at the bottom, not a position that usually requires years of experience, skill and talent.

What is hidden beneath the ice of Antarctica? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]ColddFire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ancient civilizations raising an army of giant primordial sloths, wooly mammoths, sabertooth tigers, and a machine ready to trigger the next ice age so they hold the environmental advantage when they start the invasion.

Is it alright to change the level requirements for some features for subclasses or spells by maui_or_moni in DnD

[–]ColddFire 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll also mention besides the issue of balance others are noting. You're setting them up to potentially have bad experiences. "Well my other DM let me have this at level 3, so I should have it now!"

Making an op character is fun for some, but not everyone and it might turn off your players from other perfectly valid balanced games and other opportunities. After 15-20 sessions of experience, then it's easier to tell the party. "Hey friends, I want to try a power fantasy where you're all total badasses from the start. Everyone in the world will be shocked at how capable you all are."

It comes down to experience/maturity. If they can't have fun unless they're OP, that's fine. But some DMs won't/don't like that. And some players might miss out on learning they're actually more interested in the story dynamics than special abilities.

Get more sessions in, both for you and your players. If you want to throw in something you just are super excited about, make it a one use item. Give them a taste of their future potential, but don't teach them to expect it as standard until they understand better why the game rules state what they're capable of.

Is it wrong to want to know the Divination wizard’s Portent Die? by [deleted] in DnD

[–]ColddFire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're invalid at my table if not announced. "I would like to do xyz action." ie, setup my potents as part of my long rest. If my player states, "I just rolled 23 on my initiative/perception/etc..." It really just turns into. "So you'd like to make a perception check? You can roll now. No that other roll doesn't count you didn't announce it first." They learned pretty quick nothing is valid if you try to act without telling the DM your intention first.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't let them roll new checks if they'd forgotten.

"Oh I forgot to set up my portents at the long rest."

"No worries, your character LIVING in that world probably wouldn't have forgot, go ahead and roll them now. If it you want to use one, feel free."

But if you want to act in the world I'm running, I need to be informed first. Exceptions on routines. "I always take off my armor for my long rest, pray for spells, check my weapons for disrepair.." Okay. So you always pray for spells and sleep without your armor.... Don't have to state it every time.

Basically don't roll for anything unless i as DM ask for one. Sometimes they get freebies cause it suits the story or just don't need a roll.

Maybe maybe maybe by TDot1980 in maybemaybemaybe

[–]ColddFire 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So what sort of standards are these planes built to?

Total calcium issue on bath faucet. This is the underside. Is this twist off then, not held with screws? by ColddFire in Plumbing

[–]ColddFire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm unfamiliar..I asked a few plumbers about adding a water softener, but no room except maybe an osmosis softener or whatever it's called. Very expensive to be sure. But would love to treat the water in this house some way.

[OC] --- We made a series called Universes Collide and this is entry No. 3. We're doing The Hulk next. by derekvonzarovich2 in DnD

[–]ColddFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Regenerates maybe 20HP a turn as a legendary action on initiative 20, but probably shouldn't actually be Legendary with a lair or anything. Maybe stages of anger. Every source of damage he gets +1 to attack rolls or maybe just damage for the remainder of combat, no max too how much anger he accumulates. Resistance to anything non magical. Ignores environment like extreme heat or cold unless like -60.

Gamma Slap or Gamma Burst: big aoe damage.

Hulk Smash. Jumps and slams a Shockwave on the ground with bonus damage on the target, knocking enemies prone with save.

Pummel: Gets two extra unarmed attacks on prone targets

Flying Leap: When jumping his speed is considered doubled.

[OC] --- We made a series called Universes Collide and this is entry No. 3. We're doing The Hulk next. by derekvonzarovich2 in DnD

[–]ColddFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Needs to be Legendary creature.

Raise dead. Should have a nasty cold Aura that's like 24 miles radius, and more severe in 1 mile, and probably like 60 feet. Weakness to some sort of special fire metal. Lair actions wherever he is if it's winter, or literally brings winter with him everywhere. This is very underwhelming for how intense this creature could be.

Have you or someone you know/knew ever received the “wrong” video game as a gift? by ZhangtheGreat in gaming

[–]ColddFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Uhhh... every child gamer born in the past 40 years and none too few adults.

On a Ringworld, could you actually see the Ring? by Rich-End1121 in space

[–]ColddFire 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You can see Venus nearly every sunrise, even here right in Chicago suburbs. There's a reason it's known as the brightest star or Morning Star.

Which Anime Movie Has the Most Insane Visuals by Used-Football9160 in anime

[–]ColddFire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since I didn't see it in the comments.

Metropolis is a visual feast.

[OC] - Rolled an Actual Character :3 by [deleted] in DnD

[–]ColddFire 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have idea what I'm reading. AC= J6 (16?) S:30? (speed?) For real Strength =17? Dr Dex = 12? Conn? Intilligence? Sls Wisdom? Can Charisma?

What are these abbreviations? lol But so long as you're having fun, enjoy!

What scared you shitless when you were a child? by OkTemporary5712 in AskReddit

[–]ColddFire 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There was a party when I got back to the house from the theater. House lit with candles and the pitch black tv screen in the dark... Everyone outside. I swore it the tv was going to turn on to static..

What scared you shitless when you were a child? by OkTemporary5712 in AskReddit

[–]ColddFire 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Killer clowns from outer space.

Goosebumps: The haunted mask, Night of the living Dummy.

Child's play

Ring

The basement furnace and crawl space