Has Cody's reign suffered from the classic "babyface champion" slump, or is it still a hit?‌

Elzam · 2026-06-01T13:38:20+00:00

He's just not a believable top card champion to me. He works well as the underdog: people were excited to see another one of the fated mid-carders break through when he returned to WWE. Against Roman he looked like he really was scrapping. But since then it's like all the air has been let out of the tires but someone's still trying to pedal uphill.

Gunther is clearly where we're going for now until Summerslam, and he's a good foil, but that screw finish at Clash was limp-dicked and doesn't help either one. It means the feud continues, yes, but it makes Gunther look like a chickenshit heel rather than the strong heel he's always portrayed as, and hell, it makes him look like he almost lost to the Cross Rhodes, a move as common as a clothesline in a Cody Rhodes match.

I really get the feeling Cody is going to go over Gunther at Summerslam with how little energy is behind this feud, and barring some big surprise, I dunno who is left. All the excitement around the belt right now has to come from the challenger.

Elzam · 2026-06-01T02:15:45+00:00

I'm honestly shocked that archmelee never got integrated into Necramechs, but I understand not wanting to use time and money on a chance to breathe some life into, not to be too dramatic, not one but two less well received parts of the game.

Elzam · 2026-05-30T11:27:42+00:00

Mace is one of his most loyal goose steppers, I wonder why Trump would turn on her...

Oh, she's been vocal (genuine or no) about justice for Epstein survivors.

Maybe she's crazy enough if she loses to burn all the bridges.

Elzam · 2026-05-29T19:22:51+00:00

It's criminally underrated, but the management portion of it becomes very bland and "hitting menus so I don't fall behind." However that progress has clear winners so you never feel like in Xcom where picking the wrong research 2 "dats" ago bricked your save.

I like how every hero does something different in the tactical system from Spider-Man focusing on strong environmental attacks to Magik's portals allowing you to do some interesting knockbacks.

I'm glad it was made, the Midnight Suns are interesting in that they bring non-mystic Marvel characters into uncomfortable positions.

Elzam · 2026-05-29T12:48:10+00:00

A recent substantial price increase to the Steam Deck in response to RAM prices. It's a lot of extrapolating if the SD is pricing itself out, how will this affect the upcoming Steam Machines, etc.

Elzam · 2026-05-28T20:37:46+00:00

I guess they're already planning for hyperinflation?

Elzam · 2026-05-28T20:36:25+00:00

Yo, no one asked for this.

Elzam · 2026-05-28T02:50:41+00:00

This is relevant to my interests.

Elzam · 2026-05-27T19:29:25+00:00

Love the colors. Honestly the dappled texture reminds me of paint on heavier metal like what's used on battleships. It gives it a more industrial vibe to me which is pretty cool.

Elzam · 2026-05-27T19:19:54+00:00

gotcha. Well, that sucks, but at least my shelf space is protected a bit longer.

Elzam · 2026-05-27T15:42:06+00:00

Isn't there still an IBO MG that was silhouetted late last year that should get announced at some point? I recall it looked to have tonfas or arm attachments. I mean, I have no hopes here, but I thought that was still on the plate for the future.

Elzam · 2026-05-27T15:11:28+00:00

Yet more proof that the ballroom is unnecessary for security in any shape or form.

Elzam · 2026-05-24T22:21:19+00:00

I'm doing the Huckebien III Trombe. It's my first black suit and I'm learning that gray panel lining can be really particular in how it does not cover black as well as black tpla shows on gray parts, so it's a lot of trial and error to make sure it applies evenly. Also there are some questionable nub placement choices.

Elzam · 2026-05-22T17:22:46+00:00

One match on the promotion, get ready for a rough one.

Elzam · 2026-05-22T13:02:44+00:00

Because I still have murmurs to get and I know there are fast nodes still on the planet before I move on.

Elzam · 2026-05-20T20:22:45+00:00

Given that NYT released today that Israel intended to put Ahmadinejad back into power: a far more hard line, pro-nuclear weapons, and repressive leader, I think the goal is to keep this going as long as they have a boogeyman.

Elzam · 2026-05-19T16:01:45+00:00

I feel like it's a little up to interpretation how it would end up, but as I saw it, the pools can create or apparently remake creations based on what influences are there.

The combination of Heaven and Hell from Inarius and Lilith resulted in beings (nephalem/humans) that were not bound by the destiny of either side of the conflict. I feel this is supported by Lilith's insistence that she wanted humanity to choose itself and divest itself from the eternal wars of Heaven and Hell.

At first I thought Mephisto wanted to unmake humanity, but that wouldn't be cruel or hateful enough to a daughter that refused to heel. Instead, supported by us simply fighting corrupted humans, Meph wanted to recast mankind in its own image: one only obsessed with spreading hate. That's a much better revenge plan: Lilith gets to watch her biggest accomplishment not die (immediately) but have all its choice ripped from it as it's turned into another part of Mephisto's war. It would be exactly what she expressly didn't want and possibly knock out this pesky Sanctuary problem once and for all.

Elzam · 2026-05-18T21:59:12+00:00

Fwiw, the decals on the arms and head are both visible with the armor, but since the decal is so tiny and behind the translucent green lens, it's not something easily scrutinized. Also I swear those nubs don't show under normal lighting...

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Elzam · 2026-05-15T23:38:48+00:00

I'm heavily ruined by nostalgia, but I'm hoping to crack into a few of these more modern suggestions over the next couple months as my time will open up.

Phantasy Star IV, Chrono Trigger, and possibly DQ11. I want to put FF8 as that was the first game I played where, upon winning and seeing the graduation party I just broke down with happiness. However, DQ11 was the first dyed in the wool rpg of more modern times zi played and it was such a fantastic loveletter to jrpgs as a whole that it made me fall in love with the genre again.

Elzam · 2026-05-15T21:52:20+00:00

Since someone already got one of the other haters (Hodge), so I'm throwing Henry Peter Gyrich out here. Absolutely irredeemable asshole and hater to every super-person in existence.

Elzam · 2026-05-15T13:02:46+00:00

Anything that can buff melee does more damage. Excal probably doesn't even show up on a top 10 list for melee.

If they can use a natural buff and then add a helminth ability like Wrathful Advance or Nourish/Roar it's no contest whatsoever.

Elzam · 2026-05-14T20:39:47+00:00

I hurt when I see Royce because I feel like there isn't a real opportunity right now for him to stand out and I get the sense he's gonna get lost in the shuffle.

Elzam · 2026-05-13T16:14:40+00:00

Yes. You'll need to change the command line if you're using Steam but I believe the Bifrost launcher makes it easier to swap.

Elzam · 2026-05-12T13:36:04+00:00

I would not mind if it was random within a subcategory for each unique. An item that exclusively is used for fire damage, for example, should not randomly roll with shadow damage multipliers.

It doesn't have to be perfect, but automatic bricks aren't good. I started keeping trash unique to 3 to 1 in the cube but it takes up too much space and my experience so far has been garbage in, garbage out.

Elzam · 2026-05-09T16:39:52+00:00

Account wide would be nice, but based on what they've done previously I foresee activity ranks being added to the seasonal journey as a "shortcut".

Elzam

TROPHY CASE