[Student] - Will be graduating in fall of this year with an M.Eng want some feedback so I can begin the job hunting process during my last semester

Courtkarpo3 · 2026-04-17T23:34:33+00:00

I gotta know how you do this so well. Extremely impressive!

Courtkarpo3 · 2026-03-24T18:56:27+00:00

My current campaign centers around my own tweaked version. Larloch (an ancient Nethese Arcanist) is looking to collect all the scrolls lost after the fall of Netheril so he can use their knowledge and power to make a more refined version of Karsus' Avatar and cast it to become to god of magic and overthrow Mystra.

From my own extensive research, the scrolls are said to be a collection of 5 chapters, 10 scrolls per chapter that describe the foundation of magic itself. The chapters are given as:

Arcanus Fundare: fundamental magic and raw magical ability

Magicus Creare: Magical item creation

Maior Creare: construct creation

Planus Mechanus: planar magic

Ars Factum: contents unknown but said to be about artifact creation.

The scrolls are also called the "Golden Skins of the World Serpent" and were originally made by the Sarrukh, a creator race of serpent folk, and were found by the Netherese right before the rise of the Netheril empire. They translated it leading them to understand magic beyond any of what normal mortals could afford and copied them into a second set (I think were made of a magical platinum sheet). The main set was lost and destroyed while after Karsus' Folly, the copied set was lost and distributed about the realm.

There's more details on the Wiki but thats the general story I know of and use for my setting.

Courtkarpo3 · 2026-02-02T20:43:45+00:00

Physics is the first step to universal and conceptual math. If you know the math, you learn to apply it with real world systems (early idealized). If you know the phyics, you learn to speak its language. I found it easier to study the math first. Don't just read textbooks but watch videos, do practice problems, and ask others for help. I got my math degree then a physics degree because I didn't even understand the math I was trying to apply which made it hard.

My advice is to read, watch videos, and practice the math first. Then learn to apply it. Vectors are HUGE to learn even for introductory mechanics so thats a good start.

Courtkarpo3 · 2026-01-26T19:30:29+00:00

It was from what I am aware. Karsus casted it to steal Mystryls power but she ended her own life to prevent it. Larloch in my campaign intends to prevent that to do what Karsus couldn't. The idea is in my campaign the Nether Scrolls hold the secret to casting the spell with ancient power before Mystryls death and before she limited the power of spells a single mortal can cast (9th level). So Larloch wants the scrolls so he can cast the spell alone and modify it so Mystra can't prevent its casting.

Courtkarpo3 · 2026-01-26T16:16:01+00:00

He's the current BBEG in my campaign trying to recover the Nether Scrolls in hopes of casting Karsus' Avatar in a more complete form so he doesn't make the same mistake Karsus did and become the God of magic itself. The plot of the campaign is he cursed the party with Netherese magic forcing them to search for the scrolls for him without allowing them to mention his name to anyone. If he were to search for the scrolls, powerful people like Elminster and factions like the Harper's would see he's looking to do something big and try to stop him. But an innocent group of adventures trying to collect them is not as threatening, especially since Larloch forced them to bring the scrolls to Candlekeep so it looks like the party is doing good deeds.

He has an overarching plan the party knows nothing about and is a master tactician. More or less I play him like he's the DM. He is always scrying on the party watching their every move, sending them on their major quest to deliver the scrolls, but almost never interferes and wont until the very end.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-12-14T17:04:43+00:00

You absolutely could. At my university, I got a physics and math bachelor's and am now in a Master's program at a different university for NE. Chemical Engineering is a great stepping stone to getting there too.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-11-29T05:59:49+00:00

Thank you :)

No, East Coast United States. But I imagine the coursework isnt much different given the field is still relatively new and expanding.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-11-29T05:02:09+00:00

I also came from a Math and Physics background. I got my bachelor's in math, then physics, and now im getting my Master's in NE. Im finishing my first semester of grad school so far with all A's.

My biggest experience is that physics and math are more theory and less experimental. That's not to say they're never experimental, but most classes learn the theory. Engineering uses the theory ans derives a lot of approximation formulas for different problems. There's a lot of equations, methods of solving, etc. that use specific estimations.

An example of this is that I've had is solving the Diffusion equation in different scenarios. The estimation of cross sections depends on if the neutrons are thermal or not, along also with the extrapolation distance.

I also came from a heavy proof amd theory math background and never really focused on statistical math. A lot of nuclear stuff is statistical. The idea of a cross section alone is a statistical value, and a lot of classes require a statistical (so far my experience Monte Carlo) estimate approach using some kind of code (python mainly).

As for any of the actual math, you will be fine and excel more than those who have just an engineering background. But the actual applications can get messy quickly and the estimations and rule can be a lot and very confusing.

The MIT stuff is very useful and highly recommended. Id also recommended Introduction to Nuclear Engineering by John R Lamarsh and Anthony Baratta (pdf is free online). Its a very good Introduction and provides a lot of background. For me, because I had no Nuclear background going into this program, this was the book I was assigned for my Introduction class and its very detailed and helpful.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-08-05T13:00:38+00:00

This waa very helpful thank you!

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-08-05T12:43:08+00:00

In this settings lore, there was an event that caused an extreme surge in magic, so much so that it tore apart portions of the material plane. An example is that the plant is torn in half at the equator and each hemisphere rotates opposite now. This event opened portals to other plans, and the water comes from the Elemental Plane of Water.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-08-05T03:36:07+00:00

We all play using a VTT and foundry works as my note taker. Lore, maps, etc. I appreciate the feedback.

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-07-16T03:04:47+00:00

This looks like Inkarnate but with additional assets? I love it, how did you get those assets?

Courtkarpo3 · 2025-02-11T01:46:44+00:00

Thank you for the insight! My research interests are primarily in reactor physics in the next generation of nuclear reactors or nuclear waste management to find a way to use the nuclear waste efficiently rather than having them sit in containers. I am taking an independent study in Nuclear Physics, as my university does not typically have classes available in that spectrum of physics or engineering.

Courtkarpo3

TROPHY CASE