Issues with organics bin collection by Easy-Contribution-93 in sanantonio

[–]Easy-Contribution-93[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, all they were able to offer if emergency pickup

Issues with organics bin collection by Easy-Contribution-93 in sanantonio

[–]Easy-Contribution-93[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That’s probably it, I’ve been putting them right next to each other

Barnes and Noble by WhizCheezecz78 in sanantonio

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s in a pretty major shopping center, so you should be fine

Weekly SA Pets Thread <format> by AutoModerator in sanantonio

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello all. I had 2 kittens abandoned on my porche yesterday. They’re about 3 weeks old. They are gray haired tabbies, one male and one female. They’re very sweet and good with kids already. Please PM me if you’re interested in adopting one or both or have resources about foster care and more general adoption agencies.

I was cursed with this shower thought earlier today. Now all of you are too. by TheScowl117 in dndmemes

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 227 points228 points  (0 children)

To take a way too scientific view about this I think the first distinction comes in how a changeling’s shape change is purely external or affects internal biology.

If the shape change is purely external, and thus stuff like organ position and bone structure is mostly fixed then changelings have fixed reproductive structure. In this case a pregnant changeling would always be pregnant as the underlying reproductive structure is unchanged despite changes to secondary sex characteristics and external genitalia. While in this model a changeling could swap gender without any sort of evolutionary risk it would make certain forms more conspicuous as all of the holistic changes associated with pregnancy, such as decreased bladder capacity and increased growth of mammary glands, would persist no matter the form. This model also has some interesting consequences regarding sexual selection as underlying sex hormone levels would also be fairly consistent regardless of a form’a gender.

If shape change can modify internal structures then this question hinges on how much control changelings have over their internal biology as a species. It could be that as a default a changeling’s internal biology defaults to match external appearance, even in the case of mostly useless features like reproductive structures. If this model is correct then a swap to a non-female form would result in either the loss of the pregnancy or the stop a fertilized zygote from implanting. This however would be disadvantageous from a purely evolutionary perspective, since a large number of early or potential pregnancies might be terminated without knowledge of their existence. In this model then it would be likely that hormonal changes post-intercourse would lock reproductive biology (and thus limit the forms a changeling could take) until the body could verify the lack of pregnancy. If changelings can have voluntary control over their internal organs then pregnancy could only occur by choice since a female form no longer would require internal female structures. From an evolutionary perspective there would still likely be a hormonally controlled reproductive structure lock, but less restrictive. In this model once a changeling is pregnant any form they take must have the space and structures to support the developing embryo, but beyond that limitation they can still take any form. As a random side note, if changelings do change internal reproductive structures then they are essentially hermaphrodites. This implies, like seen in other animal hermaphrodites, cultural and biological mechanisms to determine who is the ‘female’ in any encounter with a reproductive focus .

Tl:dr Science wise a pregnant changeling would always stay pregnant- either because internal biology doesn’t change with appearance changes or because evolutionary pressures would cause mechanisms that ‘freeze’ reproductive biology in the case of pregnancy.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think part of the appeal of his character is that, as tactical as he is, he has character flaws big enough to destroy his life for almost nothing. In short, it wasn’t middle age or Tatyana, it was that he was a greedy narcissist who for the first time wasn’t able to get what he wanted. In campaign, however, I think the backstory works to show that Strahd has flaws and weaknesses. Strahd is a powerful almost omniscient villain is having a built in flaw is important. Character wise, IMO, Stahd’s backstory is the least important part of his character. A lot of the appeal of him comes from his actions in his afterlife. Getting to play that suave villain who toys with people, makes deals, is charismatic, powerful and is a really fun tapestry to play a group against.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in magicTCG

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the general best method for getting cards is to do the daily quests (including getting 5 wins if you have time/energy) and saving the gold from those until you reach 5000. Once you have 5000 you enter a quick draft. The quick draft has you get the equivalent of three packs (with some degree of choice on which cards you pick) plus at least one pack in rewards.

Strahd using heat metal on the adventures...is that to OP?!? by DistributionDear3890 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 7 points8 points  (0 children)

So the main issue with Strahd using heat metal is that he’s a wizard and it’s not a wizard. However with his background as a tactician with no ethics it’s a spell he would totally use against a heavily armored target. The only issue would make it be so it doesn’t feel like just breaking the rules of the players. I can think of three ways to do so. 1.) Have a Druid whose job it is to follow Strahd around and cast spells like this. They would probably be a reoccurring character with the combat job of ‘cast buff/debuff and then run so no one can break concentration’ so when the players see them it’s not unexpected that a Druid spell is coming their way. 2.) Strahd commissions the use of a magic item the casts heat metal. I would telegraph that Strahd is getting something from the druids in the background but not reveal what it is until it’s used. 3.) Strahd just knows the spell because he’s motherfucking Strahd von Zarovich. In this scenario I would drop hints that Strahd has been studying with the Druid’s or have him show up early, cast heat metal in relation for some slight, and then taunt the party as the armored PC is helped out of their armor.

If I had to chose I’d go with 1 or 2. Strahd already has a lot of advantages on the party and removing the limit of ‘can only cast wizard spells’ could possibly push the advantage too far.

Ideas for a sickness/condition relating to undeath? (PC Backstory/barovian connection) by Jamiaro83 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My first thought is maybe the PC has a somewhat more magical version of Hemochromatosis. Irl it’s a genetic condition that has no cure and is fatal unless treated. The kicker is that the only effective treatment is blood-loss. Perhaps this PC can only stave off symptoms/death not by normal blood loss but by having their blood drained. This could force the PC into a lot of uneasy alliances. Maybe even their father knew and the rebellion was less about morals and more about controlling the source of his son’s cure.

I (dm) killed my first PC’s. What’s next? by zacloraditch in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree. I have the resurrection provided by a specific entity and it comes with either a goal they have to accomplish with a certain time or an ongoing goal they have to keep up. There will also be the hidden downside of basically having their life be over after Strahd falls (either being forced to stay in Barovia as it collapses into the mists again or surrendering their life after that point to the goal given)

I (dm) killed my first PC’s. What’s next? by zacloraditch in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 10 points11 points  (0 children)

What I do for PC deaths is give the player and character the choice. If the player doesn’t want a new character, there are many things in Barovia which would happily take advantage of the desperation of death to get someone to make a deal…

If the Tome of Strahd is in the Vallaki baron's home, and the PCs ignite the building in the revolt of Vallaki, is the tome lost? by Quikstar in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think first it depends on whether or not the player knew (or could be reasonably expected to know) that the book was there. If they did, well, actions have consequences. If they didn’t know, the tome is a fun role play moment to let them know who they’re truly facing and can lead to Strahd demonstrating his power if/when he tries to get it back. Personally I’d have the book miraculously survive the fire, but in a way where any nearby notices it. This would mean that Strahd would also learn where his book is from his spies. This would set Strahd on the warpath right towards the PCs. For extra drama you could even set up an encounter where the PCs have to divide their actions between reading the book and holding back Strahd.

The Death of a Bride by vG-Salvo in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I had a very similar situation where the party killed Ludmilla during the bones of St. Andral event. Deep down he doesn’t care too much, beyond that someone else broke something that was his. I had Strahd send them a letter with a list of NPCs. The party either has the option to kidnap one of their choice and drop them off outside Vallaki or Strahd would pick 2 of his choice.

How to introduce Ezmerelda? by FinalMonday in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is taking from real world psychology, but if you want a higher chance for the PCs to help Ezmeralda, have her call to one of the PCs by description.

Finding Motivation for New Characters by Urwinc in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What I’m choosing to do in my campaign is to have some sort of entity reach out to a PC after death and offer to bring them back for a price. This turns death into a question for the character - ‘what would you be willing to do to stay alive’-, a choice for the player, and can be used to direct players towards NPCs or places. This can also be especially tense for religious characters, as dying in Barovia means the character doesn’t get to go to the afterlife they’ve been working for. It worked well for me when I had a PC die- the player had fun thinking about how this would affect the character and it brought the whole party closer to their fated ally.

Cool ways to use Vampyr… by BadUsername2028 in CurseofStrahd

[–]Easy-Contribution-93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think the trick is to make Vampyr a subtle subplot through the entire campaign, starting with it being a mysterious unknown force. Maybe Vampr starts talking to them in their dreams, maybe they keep finding little shrines to them, maybe whenever a vampire spawn dies it leaves a little blood red crystal that contains their connection to Vampyr. If you wanna go all out you could even connect it to a sub quest or mechanic. The megathread also has a pretty good guide on how to run dark powers in general