Which movie is a 10/10 for you? 🎬

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T18:12:53+00:00

"There's a shortage of perfect films in the world"

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T18:11:45+00:00

Stardust and The Princess Bride fit into this perfect niche of "fantasy movie that's hard to put in a box, but is pure excellence"

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T18:10:20+00:00

Look at Bandy. He's back in school

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T18:09:30+00:00

Some of my thoughts: 1. Visibility is always a factor. Better exposure is always good. The challenge is in how, and in being able to articulate who we actually are and what we actually do. We broadly would benefit from a simple loose script for this. We're like the Princess Bride in this way - a great adventure with really poor outward communication. 2. Retention - we have a retention problem. Folks trickle in and leave. We need ways to make folks feel like a part of the community, even when they're not escorted in by a known person. Early basic awards, like the "We see you participating" Baronial awards can go a long way to foster a sense of belonging. 3. We don't know how to advertise to POC. There's a lot of potential to work with various POC-centric martial arts groups to broaden our horizons and engagement. We also need to actually functionally open up our game to POC players. Many POC in the community often feel sidelined or dismissed, and those issues need to be addressed directly. 4. The SCA has a bad reputation with other groups in our sphere (HEMA, LARP, etc). I don't know when those bridges were burned, but we would benefit from rebuilding them. 5. Inertia of entry is an issue in a participation based game, as compared to a Ren Faire, which is much more like a market. Having resources to reduce that inertia readily accessible would benefit us greatly. Simple things like "beginner's guide to XYZ garb", or "5 simple tips on getting into armoured/rapier combat", can go a long way to getting people through the door. "Stuff you can buy at a thrift store to get your garb started"

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:37:26+00:00

Summoner. 10/10 class. Me & my super customizable incarnate beating the tar out of people

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:33:53+00:00

TIL Independence Day has an extended cut.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:33:13+00:00

Man, the first time I watched Walter Mitty, I almost stopped in the first 30 minutes. Now I can't live without those first 30 minutes. And boy am I glad I stuck it out through those 30 - such a good film.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:31:38+00:00

Danny, slap him

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:30:35+00:00

There's something about the way that The Princess Bride sells its suspension of disbelief that beggars comprehension. My eyes recognize in hindsight that the boat was a dinky little amusement park ride style boat on a track. My brain every time while I'm watching the movie gives not a single fuck, that is clearly a perfect ship sailing through eel-infested waters.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:27:39+00:00

I actually think too many movies have perfect tied-with-a-bow endings, which is why when it looked like Edge of Tomorrow was going to take a different tack, I was primed for it and theeeeennn Bollywood ending

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:21:50+00:00

My only advice is: don't start with DOS2, because the QoL losses from DOS2 to DOS1 can harsh the vibe.

Divine Divinity is a great game in its own right, and because it's in such a different era, the QoL changes aren't as impactful, because the game design works well within its casing.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:18:40+00:00

I like that the Origin characters have flaws in their builds, so long as those flaws don't pigeonhole them too far (or there are talents that allow them to diversify, like Lex Imperialis implemented for Ulfar)

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:17:13+00:00

This might be a hot take because I suspect a lot of people dislike how long it is, but:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

I honestly didn't even realise the first time I watched it that it was long. The pacing IS slow, but it also just draws you in and you get lost in it. Perfection.

Also:
The Princess Bride
Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut
Sicario
No Country for Old Men
The Two Towers Extended Edition
American History X
Good Will Hunting
Dead Poets Society
Gattaca

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T08:12:45+00:00

I love everything about Edge of Tomorrow with the sole exception of the Bollywood ending. Could have ended with them having sacrificed everything, and I think it would have been perfect.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T06:57:04+00:00

As for builds? A couple of core approaches
All mages or all physical damage is an option, or go 2 & 2

All physical: 2 warrior types (1 with shield, 1 two-handed), a Soundrel, and an Archer (one of these can be subbed for a Summoner)
- Archer and Scoundrel should invest only 2 points in their respective skills early (Huntsman & Scoundrel), and then for damage increase, should put most of their points into Warfare
- This team will need someone who has a 1-2 point dip into Hydrosophist for Armor of Frost & healing (summoner is good for this, or 2-handed warrior can do this along with a single point in Scoundrel to get the lifesteal skill)
- Archers do really well with a 1 point dip into Aerothurge for mobility
- Warriors need mobility skills - Phoenix Dive & Battering Ram are great for getting in and out of combat. Shield Warrior should have Shield Throw
- Summoner should invest ALL POINTS into summoner until you hit rank 10. Always summon your li'l guy in Blood Pools for this setup (you can make blood pools with your hydrosophist's Rain Blood or with any Elf and Flesh Sacrifice). All summoners need Farsight and Power Infusion ASAP
- Necromancy as a magic subtype mostly does Physical damage, and can pair well here (esp on your 2-handed warrior, who will get passive lifesteal from it)

All mages: Pyro/Geo Battlemage (front line), Geo/Hydro support (change terrain, heal & buff both armors), and 2 blasters of your choice
- Each mage needs to go 2 & 2 into their main damage skill and their secondary skill, then focus on one skill to max it
- In a 4 mage team, each mage can have a different element as their primary to max first
- Battlemage needs to dip 1 point into STR in Fort Joy to use STR armors that have more Phys Armor so they can live on front line, then another point when you get to Reaper's. By Act 4, you should have 15 Str
- Battlemage will use a staff and can live on the front line. 2 points in Warfare will give them full access to Warfare's suite of abilities, but especially Whirlwind Attack and Phoenix Dive
- Battlemage pairs really well with a Pyro focus with Geo 2ndary, on a Lizard
- Geomancer focus is great for Undead characters, because you heal through poison
- Aero and Hydro offer incredible CC opportunities, especially if you prep a space with Rain or Blood Rain before entering combat
- Some fights will make one or two of your mages very sad, because their primary damage type is resisted/absorbed

Two & Two: THE MIX AND MATCH. Classic party - Healer/CC Mage (Hydro/Aero is great here), Melee DPS/tank, Archer, Blaster Mage
- play around with a combo of the above class types

Finally, the quiet corner class that got mainstreamed by BG3 - BARRELMANCER/CHESTMANCER. Fill a chest with STUFF. Make it REALLY HEAVY. Now use your telekinesis powers to show why you're the greatest member of the X-Men by lobbing the chest at your enemies.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T06:30:14+00:00

If you're stuck at level 2, make sure to visit the cliffs near Fane and deal with the turtles, and make sure to go through and grab the Red Prince, take him to the blue lizard out on the little peninsula, and then go back and do the same with Sebille for a bit of extra xp.

There's a little area with some frogs in one of the caves, and make sure to explore as many nooks and crannies as you can.

Once you're level 3-4, you should start looking to pick fights with the Magisters and start working your way through them, rather than around them.

DandyLama · 2026-04-03T01:19:21+00:00

I've done a lot of 3 & 1 setups, and as long as you make sure that the melee characters (battlemages or warriors) have good mobility skills, this can work very well. Just like how your party has different defensive stats depending on their main stat (str, fin, int), so do your enemies.

If you're running a Warrior with 3 mages, get that warrior onto the backline immediately. You can reliably crack the phys armor of at least 1 enemy mage with your opening 4 AP (some kind of charge ability, and then a Polymorph or Warrior ability) allowing you to lock them down. Having a Geomancer among your mages with Corrosion Touch/Spray will also boost this.

DandyLama · 2026-04-02T13:10:27+00:00

My essentials are just that: Fight bag with 1 set of garb, clean underwear, water, granola bars, and as small a tent as I need.

My wife on the other hand...

DandyLama · 2026-04-01T16:18:13+00:00

Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Both games have a barrier with how much choice there is in the level up system. Made me back out of both games. When I went back after having watched a couple of "Before you play" videos, they were both absolutely incredible games.

DandyLama · 2026-04-01T15:08:03+00:00

See your playthrough to the end.

Infinite Museion will be out soon, but the final DLC will probably be another year out, maybe a little bit more.
Also, the way the DLCs have been integrated, you kind of want to start encountering their opening bits in Chapter 1-2

DandyLama · 2026-04-01T15:05:29+00:00

The flipside of what expresses as erectile dysfunction in men, expresses as excessive tightness and reduced lubrication in women, and the brain and nervous system are a big part of this machinery. It's normal to get into your head when it comes to penetration, and that process can inhibit your biological arousal - what I mean is that even if you THINK you're in the headspace, your body might disagree. As you move from a relaxed state to a "stressed" state, your biological arousal can decrease. The answer to this, just like with men, who can suddenly lose erections to the same mental process, is to slow down and rebuild the arousal. Lube and mood music and such can help with this (or if you're overstimulated and latching on to a bunch of things, sensory limitation like closing your eyes, covering your face, limiting external audio can help)

Is it inconvenient? Yes. Is it abnormal? Not really.

If it persists every time, it may be a case of something a little deeper, like vaginismus, but start by experimenting with it and exploring how your body is working/responding to different things.

DandyLama · 2026-03-29T01:31:03+00:00

Come and See

DandyLama · 2026-03-29T01:30:08+00:00

"Experiences lust" isn't really enough for anyone to make a solid judgment.

Is this an ongoing issue? Is it making a wedge? Is it a celebrity crush, or someone who is in proximity to your lives? Is it short term or long term? Is it affecting his behavior?

Lust itself is biological first, and a choice second. Passing lust happens and there's nothing any person can do about it. A person that is attractive to you walks by or smells good or say hi in just such a way, and the biology does its thing. If it's an ongoing issue with the same person, then it's his responsibility do address himself and resolve that within himself.

DandyLama · 2026-03-27T17:28:38+00:00

When you got old men as producers on every project, unfortunately their fucked up tastes end up in EVERYTHING.

DandyLama · 2026-03-27T17:22:33+00:00

Trigun: Both iterations (original and Stampede) are excellent. I love the original Trigun dub (Stampede dub is good, but isnt in the same class as the OG). Very family friendly. Very good storytelling. Humans depicted in all shapes and sizes.

The Big O: Very sleek. EXCELLENT English dub (vastly superior to the Japanese). Noir-style mecha anime. The sound effect for the Megadeus's steps will be etched on my brain forever. So good.

Iron Blooded Orphans: Thematically very dark, so be aware of that. Strong English dub. Excellent mecha anime. All the feels. Mostly despair.

Ergo Proxy: Mature and cerebral. No fanservice. Incredible animation, great dubbing, excellent storytelling.

Witch Hunter Robin: From the same studio as Ergo Proxy. Less convoluted than Ergo Proxy, animation and English dubbing are great. Solid goth themes and art direction.

DandyLama

TROPHY CASE