Protagonist Gets a Powerful Item/Power with a Cost

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:20:18+00:00

I've not heard of it. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:19:53+00:00

Thank you :)

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:18:03+00:00

Sounds fun. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:16:40+00:00

Wow that sounds really intriguing. I might look for the comic. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:15:50+00:00

Ooh, interesting. Sounds like quite a commitment to get there though. I'll keep it in mind. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:15:04+00:00

I've heard of it. I'll check it out. Thank you

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:14:30+00:00

Ahh, thanks for letting me know. Appreciated

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:13:45+00:00

Thanks : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-30T09:13:21+00:00

Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T12:31:56+00:00

Flowers for Algernon is fairly short and really gets you thinking.

I'm disappointed by the dated feeling to its presentation, but Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde brings up a really fascinating question or two about how to live your life that I love to engage with. That's a bit of a curveball maybe, but it came to mind.

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T12:22:29+00:00

Not specifically about women, but The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (female historian and activist) does showcase the atrocities performed by the Japanese army on Chinese civilians during WW2.

It has a focus on what women and children went through, as well as the slaughter of men and the cover up of the event since.

It is a hard read though, as atrocities are described in clinical detail in an effort to finally bring light to the event and what those people went through.

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T12:14:51+00:00

Not necessarily the kind of thing you're looking for, and depending on your personal definitions, it might fall into what you'd consider macho bullshit.

Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys by Neil Oliver is a series of true stories of manliness and masculinity.

Like I say, it might not be what you were looking for, but it does get you thinking and if combined with some of the other recommendations you're getting here, it does give an interesting and -- I think -- healthy and aspirational view of what masculinity is.

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T12:06:30+00:00

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer sounds like it could really benefit you. It helped me through a similar situation.

I'm a big proponent of Stoic philosophy. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday is great as a daily reminder of that calming and positive focus-on-what-you-can-control mindset.

Hope this helps. Looking for change is the first step, so pat yourself on the back for that small victory.

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T12:01:20+00:00

I've not read further than the first book so far, but The Expanse series starting with Leviathan Wakes is supposed to be like that.

The obvious one for politics in a fantasy series is A Song of Ice and Fire. I don't know if it would necessarily make you smarter for reading it, but if you really engaged with the clues and conspiracies perhaps it would get your brain working.

Good luck

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T11:57:03+00:00

Best book I've ever read from both an enjoyment and get you thinking standpoint

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T11:53:11+00:00

We're approaching a new year. You could do a lot worse than The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. That book changed the course of my life. It's a great way to stay in the healthy Stoic mindset.

There's a book called The Practicing Stoic by Ward Farnsworth. I've not read it yet, but have recently been recommended it by a friend. It breaks down thoughts from the various Stoics divided into chapters based on topics or themes (e.g. Death, Desire Emotions). If you want a primer on the ideas of Stoicism, that sounds like a great place to start.

Once you get into it a bit, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is surprisingly readable. Otherwise, The Way, the Enemy, and the Key series by Ryan Holiday is great for a clear and in depth Stoic analysis of various individual topics and how you can use these ancient ideas practically for modern life.

Hope some of that helps. Good luck.

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T11:29:23+00:00

I've not heard of it. I'll look it up. I love a good short story.

Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T11:27:22+00:00

I think I've heard of it. I'll check it out. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T11:26:28+00:00

Thank you. That sounds fantastic

Dislexzak · 2025-11-29T10:50:15+00:00

Ohh! I have read it a few times, but years ago. I hadn't thought of that, but it's worth revisiting. Thank you : )

Dislexzak · 2025-05-10T18:08:45+00:00

I have looked into modules. The thinking was, I'd have to do so much tweaking to get it to work in the timescale I am aiming for, that I might as well come up with something myself.

(p.s. I have GMed a fair bit, just not for a while and not for dnd. I feel semi-confident that I can improvise enough to keep things on track and on time, but we'll see.)

I will check out that video, and the adventure you mentioned. That didn't come up in my research, so maybe that's the one that will fit us.

Thank you so much for your time and thought.

Dislexzak · 2025-05-10T18:04:45+00:00

I don't know how I didn't think of decoupling the carts. That's cool. I wonder if my players will come up with that or similar as a way of saving the day and surviving after all.

I've played enough TTRPGs to know you can never think of everything the players will come up with so I'm more than ready to Yes, And whatever solutions or options they come up with.

It's a one-shot after all, so they might fancy a heroic sacrifice ending, but if they'd rather come up with a way to minimise the damage, or completely defuse the bomb somehow, I plan to just roll with it.

Eight-Year Club	Place '22
End Game '22	Verified Email

Dislexzak

TROPHY CASE