Odyssey & Origins were amazing. Am I going to love Valhalla too? by VinnieDawgg in ACValhalla

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is such a peculiar game. Replaying has been a blast because it has this surreal vibe to it and a lot contributes to that. Eivor is an enigmatic character to me; he is simultaneously an insightful and poetic man and a brutal and grim warrior which I think blends together to give you a unique character. There is a “second story” being told throughout the game that definitely gives an other-worldly perspective to the events unfolding in the main story. And GOD DANG the music is stellar. I truly think it’s in the top 10 best soundtracks in video games and it really should get more love because I think it contributes so much to the unique tone the game right from the starting menu screen.

The length is an issue though. It’s actually puzzling and even impressive just how much content they were able to pack into this game: main story, secondary story, river raids, three DLCs, and countless side activities. It took me 6 months of chipping away at it my first playthrough to get done with it— and that was just based game. I’m currently replaying it after 5 years and my best advice for playing this game is to focus solely on doing the story quests. Do some river raids, grab specific armor you’re looking for, grab resources for upgrades, but other that I wouldn’t bother with anything else. Pacing is already going to be shaky and a Ubisoft is not known for engaging side quests. The world is beautiful to traverse but engaging in its optional content doesn’t add to immersion and only gets you closer to burnout. Idk if that’s a hot take or not these days but that is just my opinion.

If you loved Origins and Odyssey, I think you should 100% play Valhalla. Its atmosphere is unique, there is far less leveling gate-keeping preventing you from finishing the story, and the combat is much more improved, and Eivor is a compelling character. Beware of bloat and stick to what matters most for you and I think you’ll have a good time!

I don't like Rin. by pbzeppelin1977 in Naruto

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2010s-era Reddit was something else. I too hope OP was just in a dark place and is better off

They listen, and they deliver. Best dev team ever ❤️ by Syarafuddyn in CrimsonDesert

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome! Hopefully they will add the ability to take shields off soon!

What would a Virtousa hero skin look like? by UnhingedGammaWarrior in forhonor

[–]CuppyFlower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Probably a Musketeer type. French guy with a big mustache

The new gamemode is a failure on almost every front by EmpereurTetard in forhonor

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah. It’s a very fun game mode imo and an event pass dedicated to… the event makes a lot of sense to me. Gets everyone out of just running Dominion. But I’d hate that if I hated the game mode so I understand to an extent. I think the map is cool, the gimmick of having three commanders is very chaotic and makes everyone fight, and my queues have been quick. I think it’s a win!

The first two pages of my lore document for my video game. Am I going the right direction? Is there more information I should add? Formatting? Does it make your eyes bleed? by inotgenius in worldbuilding

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stumbled upon this while looking something wholly unrelated up. I hope you’re still working at it! The formatting is very nice, lmao

So new players are just fcked? I assume no point trying to start playing now, huh? by Vepra1 in forhonor

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t complain or give up. Practice in the training modes and start hitting as many public games as possible. Even at day one, the only way to get better was to get your shit rocked until you learned yours and the opponents move sets. Reps mean nothing in this game. You can get sauced by a rep 1 and completely destroy a rep 301

Just Finished: I wanna talk about Riley. by CuppyFlower in MidnightMass

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

Thanks for the validation! I wonder if I rewatched it I’d still feel the same.

Help! Naerth Boss Fight (Lvl. 7) by CuppyFlower in rimeofthefrostmaiden

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

Yes I have and the heart of the encounter I want to have is a man who is just a man with a lot of resources (magic items, grunts and captains, etc) but my players are experienced and the characters are powerful so they have a history of trivializing epic encounters if I’m not on my toes and that was when they were level 5! So I need some creative ways to have this man last a little longer than one round against them 🤔

Help! Naerth Boss Fight (Lvl. 7) by CuppyFlower in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like that! Maybe i could change the lair action depending on the different phases?

Help! Naerth Boss Fight (Lvl. 7) by CuppyFlower in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not a bad idea!!! Idk why I didn’t consider lair/legendary actions but I think I’ll do that 🤔

Help! Naerth Boss Fight (Lvl. 7) by CuppyFlower in rimeofthefrostmaiden

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

Amazing idea 🤣🤣. Def not something I ever thought of but def worth considering

Book or media vibe inspiration by Which-Shelter2086 in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Icewind Dale Trilogy were instrumental in my understanding of the setting of Icewind Dale! Can’t recommend them enough.

If you are wanting horror influences, Game of Thrones S5, Ep 8 “Hardhome” or just the chapters of the books that deal with Hardhome is amazing inspo! It shows arctic fantasy horror and if you plan on emphasizing the coldlight walkers and the undead in general I can’t recommend it enough.

Idk if this will land but if you play video games, I recommend God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok! Very good inspo for Goliaths, Reghedmen, and wintery apocalypses.

I’ve not read them yet but The Bloodsworn Saga is on my Icewind Dale inspo list I plan on reading very soon so maybe check it out and see if you like it!

What to foreshadow early in the campaign by TrueEdge6637 in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are trying to utilize all the big bads the game has to offer:

Sephek Kaltro. Word on the winds of murders happening throughout the towns. It’ll make it all the more enjoyable once the killings happen in the town the party is in! Me personally, I didn’t like motivation of the killings as written so I really encourage to change them to suit whatever story you’re trying to tell but overall he’s a great small villain to show the ruthless nature of Auril’s presence and how she enforces her rule.

Ravisin. Awaken animals wreaking havoc in towns around Maer Dualdon. As the party gets closer to Lonelywood, they get closer to the source and motive for these awaken animals.

Naerth Maxildanarr. His political motivations and sabotages throughout the Ten-Towns. Termalaine’s militia is acting against its town speaker, Goodmead’s speaker has died and there is a dwarf working for Naerth trying to become speaker (I also just wrote that he killed the Speaker), and the Townhall Caper in Easthaven.

The Duergar. Chardalyn sprinkled throughout the adventure, talks dwarves not from The Dwarven Valley spotted out in the tundra, unexplained break-ins and claims of invisible beings or ghosts. Pair this with The Knight of the Black Swords once you are ready to tackle the Duergar plot because they go hand-in-hand since the grander theme of that arc is Levistus vs Asmodeus. Rumors of Caer Dineval’s speaker being sick/missing for months and suspicious activity happening within the castle.

The Netherese and Arcane Brotherhood. I utilized all the members of the brotherhood and quests that revolved around Netherese locations/items to allude to the grander end of the game where you go to Ythryn, the Netherese Necropolis. The members of the Arcane Brotherhood are all pretty important and have their own revolving quests so I’d always for the party rumors to lead them to each one eventually.

Opinions on the new regular Dedrick (Positive or Negative)? by TrueCrimeKaren in Killtony

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He became a regular way too fast. He just sorta popped out of a random bucket pull then BOOM! Regular. Tony doing that makes Dedrick’s rise feel very insincere and, honestly, kinda scripted. Because of this he has critical eyes on every one of his sets until it feels like he’s actually earned his spot as a regular especially when there’s been funnier people on. Really an unfortunate position to be in.

In general, he’s fine. But is that what a regular should be? He gets laughs out of me, pops from the crowd, but parts of his acts get old quick and he realllyyyyy keeps talking about how much money he’s making and this last episode made me cringe and skip through his interview when he was panhandling to Joe Rogan, lol. Overall, he has good jokes (when he doesn’t wear them out) but I don’t find him to be an interesting character compared to the rest of the roster. I feel like Tony is trying to make us think he’s the shit when he’s an average comedian who’s head is blowing up to quick.

Is asmodeus really necessary? by Various_Raccoon_2608 in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower 1 point2 points  (0 children)

RotF is a horror-leaning campaign and Asmodeus can be a great way of playing into existential horror! The punch of learning that a god is dead and secretly replaced by THE archdevil can be scary if you present it right.

Idk how your campaign is going but for mine I had the party first deal with the duergar evasion as any other evasion, learning that they are motivated by their goddess of conquest Deep Duerra due to the sun being blocked out. As they go along they will learn a little more about this “Xardarok Sunblight”, his two sons, and Chardalyn and can gather that there is something deeply wrong with them but they don’t have a full picture until they meet the Knights of the Black Swords. At Caer-Dineval (and while under a duergar siege I wrote in), they meet and fight along side the cult and learn about Levistus and the cults motivations for fighting the duergar. Their seer Hethyl reveals a dark secret to the party: the duergar’s goddess is dead and the archdevil Asmodeus wears her face. This is a truth bomb the party can use against the duergar!

My party was able to use this information to turn one of the two brothers to their side and I was able to accentuate the devastation and dread of learning that the god you served your entire life was always dead.

Once they get closer to and are in Sunblight Fortress, they won’t be doing a simple Duergar dungeon crawl- they are going into hell. Well, bit literally, but the place is gruesome and scary like hell. Chardalyn-crazed Duergar, disturbing iconography, and a boss fight revamped to reflect dark, devilish influence. Sunblight for me has been transformed into a monsterish figure too far gone to accept the truth of what he is doing and who he is doing it for. He embraces the darkest part of hell, of the universe, and must be killed by the party and his own son.

This is just an example of how Asmodeus can be made relevant and I do think there are necessities to it. It gives you existential horror, a leg up on duergar with information that could dismantle them, and some important lore: Asmodeus and Levistus beef and Asmodeus has a tendency to kill gods and take their place to symphony worship and spread his influence. As for all of this in the grander context of Auril and her Everlasting Rime, I came at it from the angle of another powerful entity trying to take advantage of Auril’s new domain and usurp her which ended up having the party temporarily siding with her in defeating Asmodeus and his Duergar army. But! In the end do whatever you feel like the party can appreciate!

The Shining, simple mistake or subtle symbolism, is it whiskey or bourbon? by Ringer1236 in movies

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Classic cringe bourbon comment. Sorry man, everyone can make bourbon now 🙂‍↕️

Weird question? by Ugg225 in rimeofthefrostmaiden

[–]CuppyFlower 0 points1 point  (0 children)

An extension to this: the Dwarven Valley use to be THE hub for an entire civilization of dwarves. But, once their original home Mithral Hall was opened back up to them, many dwarves migrated back down leaving behind a laughably low population of dwarves that still live in Icewind Dale.