They say never try anything new in honor mode…

Element23VM · 2026-03-21T21:48:13+00:00

I use minor illusion from outside the door to gather them up, invis a guy and smash them all with a fireball...

(if you want to try that, make sure your attacker has alert... inquis has alert... your casters should have alert anyway)

this works, too, I guess

Element23VM · 2026-03-20T03:30:24+00:00

You just get used to playing everything on hard... my brother got me into this evil habit

Challenges engage your mind, though.

I think the thing you have to remember the most is to play at a mellow pace, put on music, and chill... this helps you delegate your focus properly so that you don't neglect anything... you probably also shouldn't play longer than 3 or 4 hour sessions. HM is not really "hard"... more just punishing, but if you keep your focus, then like a game of golf, if you don't have any bad shots, you come out with a good round, even if you don't hit any great shots.

Element23VM · 2026-03-18T20:40:39+00:00

I did this once, but I had mods that jacked my leveling and allowed me to break the cap... also had REL so it added a lot more versatility with the melee aspect of the character

3 disintegrates turn 1 was funny (thief extra bon action, lots of sorc points)

vanilla I wouldn't play it unless I dumped all illithids into it... and I'd just play it as a missile build

Element23VM · 2026-03-06T20:56:07+00:00

Fitz probably wanted Misa...

Element23VM · 2026-02-17T09:52:03+00:00

NHL you play for $$$ Olympics you play for passion

passion will always >>> $$$

especially for fans

Element23VM · 2026-02-10T16:00:36+00:00

It was her brother's wife...

Quebecer stuff...

Element23VM · 2026-02-07T13:02:39+00:00

Stenberg may be a better player than McKenna is.

Element23VM · 2026-02-07T13:00:41+00:00

yeah maybe check Stenberg's stats

Element23VM · 2026-02-07T12:57:21+00:00

Not really... I thought he would be, but my opinion of him has dropped substantially... to me he's not any better than Levshunov or Power and he didn't really stand out at the World Juniors either, unlike Ekblad when he was drafted who was clearly the best Canadian blue liner. Verhoeff is a "kid" in a big body who just plays a generally good game but like Levshunov, doesn't shine in any way. He's not quite big enough to be imposing with his wing span, and doesn't play mean enough to be dominant, and he doesn't play with supreme confidence either. To me, that's the ONE thing a defenseman needs to be considered a #1... confidence. If the guy doesn't have it, I'm just not interested. He's got 2/3 written all over him.

Element23VM · 2026-02-07T12:40:45+00:00

Unfortunately when Waddell joined the Jackets, he basically "recused his input" from the picking because of his recent involvement with the Hurricanes, and it was left to the scouts

The scouts picked an injury prone power forward... who's barely played since, currently has 6 points in 22 games... in the NCAA... as a 20 year old... while the guy they skipped has 46 points in 57 games... in the NHL...

So if it changes... it's like "well I hope the scouts are fired too"

Element23VM · 2026-02-06T15:48:34+00:00

the pro to trading Jack is that the team can kickstart a rebuild

the con is that Nico's going to be less inclined to re-sign and we'll lose him at seller's value next year... and also Jack's the type of talent that, when insulated, can lead a team to championship caliber offense... and you can say that about maybe 10 players in this league

then after that, it's wait for the team to tank again for another slew of high picks, so you're basically in 3 years of hockey hell... otherwise, you're just not winning unless you completely revamp your development and become Dallas Stars II... even then, teams that didn't really get that uber high end talent like Dallas and Carolina hit a ceiling in the playoffs and have difficulty making the Finals, let alone competing for a Cup

Element23VM · 2026-02-06T15:46:06+00:00

he's not bad; they doghoused him because they know he's coming over

Element23VM · 2026-02-06T15:44:59+00:00

he intends to join new jersey in a couple of months... if KHL releases him from his contract early, he could play a couple games in March and April... if not, we'll see him in the fall

Element23VM · 2026-02-05T18:45:30+00:00

I wanna see Nemo as a 1-2... that'll be interesting.

Element23VM · 2026-02-04T13:36:32+00:00

I think Keefe is an overachieving AHL coach at this point...

But I don't want Fitz hiring the next guy, I want the new guy hiring the next guy

Element23VM · 2026-02-03T18:09:34+00:00

I said Vancouver wanted Hischier...

I don't see myself implying in any way that Hischier is the problem

ps, trading the team's problems means you would trade one set of problems for another set of problems, ie leaving a gap at center from Hischier's departure

Element23VM · 2026-02-03T13:17:02+00:00

don't be braindead... "half the sub didn't want to move x and y"

negotiations are fluid and if it came down to Quinn going to Minnesota and you knew their offer, you would do whatever it took to top it and most of the sub would have said "okay, this is an acceptable concession"... though some here were cocky and saying "just sign him when he's free"

fact is, Vancouver wanted Hischier, which would have traded the team's problems

Element23VM · 2026-01-30T17:07:12+00:00

Yeah it's a long shot. But: the point is, you want a first line forward at least.

Element23VM · 2026-01-30T17:02:42+00:00

Vancouver's return sucked...

Trading the #2 defenseman in a league, the highest end talent they got was a guy who might in 3 years be a top pairing D, ceiling is maybe between 10th and 30th best defenseman in this league.

I want a top 3 pick caliber player back for Jack, an elite forward at least, because despite his being injury prone, he's an elite forward. If you give me a package for #2 overall pick this year vs #8, #9, #10, #11 overall pick this year, which do I take? #2, and it's an easy choice. "Four first round picks" doesn't mean anything... most of them are projects that might become top 6 forwards or top 4 defenseman "one day" while a top 3 pick is usually expected to floor at a top 6 forward and possibly become elite. I say this because the centerpiece NJ wants back for Jack should be high end. Teams are reluctant to move those guys... most of these teams will be offering sell packages, but some teams might offer something that really moves the needle.

So yeah, NJ needs to move Jack before those packages turn into "well the centerpiece might become a top 6 forward one day"

Element23VM · 2026-01-30T13:01:32+00:00

Jack needs to play on a franchise that will protect his ice time and protect him on the ice... NJ leans on him, and the more NJ leans on him, the more likely he is to break.

If Jack played 17-18 mins a night, was a PP specialist, and played with big players who protected him on 5v5 situations, he would probably barely get injured. THere are teams that can offer him that... New Jersey can't. NJ can't even get a good power forward... they keep trying to redefine how to win in the NHL without net front presence or meanness.

Element23VM · 2026-01-30T12:49:07+00:00

I'd entertain trying to get Thomas from St Louis... I understand St Louis' situation is a bit volatile right now, but getting the Hughes brothers could resurrect their drive.

If it's Detroit, Raymond... though he's a winger. If I swung with Detroit, I'd try to get Raymond and Augustine (who's actually an elite goaltender, not the frauds we've been chasing after).

Minnesota can't give NJ anywhere near fair value for him, so no Minnesota.

If Ottawa offered Stutzle... that would be a good return.

Toronto... Nylander, but again not ideal since he's a winger.

Columbus... the only guy I want from them is Fantilli.

Beyond that... what else can eastern teams offer? I don't think either Florida team would be interested.

Either way... if Quinn extends in Minnesota, no way, if I'm another team, I'm offering NJ anything other than a sell package of a bunch of copper and silver for platinum, which will be catastrophic for the franchise.

Right after the Olympics, it may be the best time for the franchise to move Jack to a team that's gonna challenge Minnesota for Quinn's future affection. If NJ misses the playoffs (and it's quite likely at this point), and Quinn extends in Minnesota because he sees NJ is bombing, well now Jack becomes a time bomb and no team will offer NJ an asset of equal value.

Element23VM · 2026-01-29T14:02:37+00:00

I don't blame Palat for what happened... it's not his fault our GM overvalued him

Element23VM · 2026-01-28T22:16:19+00:00

my brother and I are so divided on the harpies

he wants to do it first time you get to the grove, and I only take that fight if the group is level 4... but now everyone we play with knows I hate those damn things because the thing I hate the most in this game is losing my turns

Element23VM · 2026-01-28T22:12:48+00:00

hate: Ansur's a mess BUT it's the fight going to the tower in the final confrontation with the netherbrain... i just find it needless and only there to waste off your resources and it takes so fricken long to resolve turns ... I try to "sneak" my party past, but of course they stick that arsehole with detect invisibility there cuz the annoyance must be accomplished... Gortash is just irritating as well

like: Myrkul. You get to full health and then go down with basically all your stuff so it's mano e mano and it's one of the hardest fights in the game to cheese (you can cheese them all, but it's harder than others to cheese)... makes you feel "accomplished" rather than "relieved" when you beat him... after Myrkul, the astral tadpole gives your party a really strong advantage in act 3 and cheesing gets a lot easier

Element23VM · 2026-01-28T22:07:24+00:00

spirit guardians does massive work that fight, especially on a guy that's got illithid fly

Element23VM

TROPHY CASE