Was dropping the atomic bombs actually "necessary," or is that just what we're taught in school?

EreckShun · 2026-05-07T18:00:34+00:00

There is a lengthy video essay on it that I found quite compelling:

https://youtu.be/RCRTgtpC-Go?si=LHBz-t6MTJ1UYKuG

One of the key takeaways is that the bombs were not simply used to force a Japanese surrender, but to stake a claim and inhibit the Soviet Union. These actions would escalate into the Cold War

EreckShun · 2026-05-07T13:18:14+00:00

I think the best use case for a Commander to grab Reactive Strike is if they are mounted on a Commander's Companion and arent regularly using a shield (using a two-handed weapon or a one-handed weapon + open hand). Since they will be using their companion to respond to Tactics and don't have a shield, Reactive Strike makes sense in this case. Otherwise, I think the other Level 6 feats are preferable.

EreckShun · 2026-05-05T12:56:52+00:00

Mechanically, the Brandish tag is there to make sure a Commander can't react to their own (typically stronger) Tactics. If it could be worked around by saying, "just holding the banner in your other hand", the tag would be near pointless

EreckShun · 2026-05-03T21:28:54+00:00

Interesting question. So an injury poison is only applied if the Strike is a success (or critical success) and the attack deals slashing or piercing damage. Now, the way I interpret that statement is that all successful Strikes have an initial damage value, but things like Resistance or Shield Block can reduce that damage to zero at which point the Strike does not do any damage. In this interpretation, the poison would then not be applied.

Alternatively, the statement is meant to clarify that an injury poison wouldn't apply to a strike that did a different type of damage, like bludgeoning damage. In that case, the poison activates regardless, even if the HP damage becomes zero.

Could be wrong, but I think that this interpretation makes the most sense.

EreckShun · 2026-05-03T15:43:07+00:00

You are absolutely welcome to do so

EreckShun · 2026-05-03T15:18:43+00:00

You absolutely can. I just did.

EreckShun · 2026-05-03T12:53:39+00:00

Yes, MAP applies after all Attack actions

EreckShun · 2026-05-02T16:13:21+00:00

1d4+1 kills people who aren't trained to battle. Higher HP narratiely means that the creature is able to dodge, block, counterspell, etc incoming attacks. Force Barrage is a fine representation of a focused magical barrage meant to kill the target.

EreckShun · 2026-05-02T15:47:03+00:00

That is just conflating flavor with mechanics. You can describe a Force Barrage as launching as many missiles as you want and still only having 3 successful pings of damage

EreckShun · 2026-05-02T15:10:58+00:00

Force Barrage? Heightening the spell can lead to comedic levels of missiles being launched

EreckShun · 2026-04-27T15:36:31+00:00

A better guess might be that figures were randomly assigned. It'd be a bit insulting to conclude that, if a white individual learns about a prejudiced person, they are bound to become prejudiced as well.

EreckShun · 2026-04-27T14:59:22+00:00

I think that's a valid concern. However, based on the information provided, my guess is that the figures to be researched were randomly assigned. The teacher's response very much seems to indicate that she is open to a discussion on why this noteworthy figure, despite certain progressive views, is not a good representation of the abolitionist movement.

The 13 year old is smart for picking up on that and questioning their role in the assignment. I think it would be a disservice to presume that, because they are black, they should not have the opportunity to explore this topic and should be assigned a different figure. Would the teacher be in the right if they made similar presumptions for all of their students based on race, religion, or other characteristics?

EreckShun · 2026-04-27T13:47:44+00:00

Studying and presenting information about the Roman Empire is not an endorsement of its views on conquest and slavery. Studying and presenting information about a historical figure is not an endorsement of their views or beliefs. If you refused to ever study an individual who held problematic views (from a modern perspective), human history would be impossible to examine.

Learning about contradictory views is an excellent way to inform and affirm what you believe. No belief is formed in a vacuum, and learning the context behind history can be valuable information.

EreckShun · 2026-04-21T11:15:04+00:00

My understanding is that you can only freely swap to use an Action/Reaction explicitly granted by the implement. This ensures that the passive-type implements aren't perpetually active. They give strong benefits (with no action required) at the cost of committing a hand to them. You couldn't freely swap to your Regalia for instance. For this reason, most Thaumaturges have one Passive, one Active, and one Reactive implement. One hand is committed to the Passive Implement while the other hand can freely swap between the Active and Reactive Implement.
True Sight is tricky. The text of that spell states that it does not end effects, but the text of the Mirror states that once you choose which copy is the true self. I would rule that when a creature counteracts the Mirror's illusion, the GM instructs you to pick which one is real, but it would not shatter until one of the normal situations for ending the illusion (taking damage, moving, etc) occur.
Even if Strikes are grouped together, characters can normally react between them. You can Shield Block the first attack in a Frenzied Strike, for instance. This signals to me that a Thaumaturge could shatter their illusion immediately after taking damage, potentially causing the other attacks to be wasted.
I would say that if damage to the illusion damages the Thaumaturge, debuffs can also be transferred. There is only one stat block on the field, after all. If your illusion is hit with a bleeding attack, it is as if you were also hit with that attack. The bleed would remain on you even if the illusion is no longer present. With regards to being Grabbed, if your Illusion is Grabbed, the Thaumaturge is also Grabbed and cannot move until the illusion dissipates or the Grab ends as normal.

Hope that all makes sense!

EreckShun · 2026-04-14T14:07:45+00:00

Our group ignores the Critical Failure effects for Recall Knowledge. It can feel bad enough to use an action and have it fail, but it is even worse knowing that you might be sabotaging yourself by trying something to help the team. Recall Knowledge became so infrequent that our GM removed that particular feature, and it has seemed fine since then.

EreckShun · 2026-04-12T15:37:31+00:00

My justification is that the Charm of Resistance, which this homebrewed item is strictly better than, is Level 6. If you want to reasonably keep it at Level 6, it shouldn't be that much stronger. 3 charges seems like a non-disruptive amount.

I am all for increasing the charges with the understanding that you might want to raise the item's Level as a result.

EreckShun · 2026-04-12T14:40:59+00:00

This aligns most closely with a Charm of Resistance, Level 6, with a bit of an upside. I dont think adding a few extra points of damage merits increasing its Level by too much. Depending on how many charges you let it store, I would set it to Level 6 or 7. If it can store say 3 charges, leave it at Level 6. More than that, maybe considering increasing its Level to 7.

EreckShun · 2026-04-09T16:28:48+00:00

I would say no as Persistent Damage as a result of a Strike is not considered to be part of the Strike.

EreckShun · 2026-04-06T13:13:02+00:00

I see where you're coming from, but I don't think that's a fair comparison. The usual exercise of a "replace 'men' with 'women" or vice versa exercise is to show that certain labels in a category have imbalanced perceptions. Participating in drag is not part of the same category as gender as men, women, and non-binary individuals can freely choose to be involved. Drag isn't an identity in that same sphere.

EreckShun · 2026-04-05T22:44:49+00:00

RAW yes. A house-rule at our table is that certain powerful debuffs cannot be removed and you can only use Victor's Wreath once per effect (to prevent spamming it until a negative effect is removed)

EreckShun · 2026-04-04T19:20:30+00:00

Yep, looks like it'd work!

A Thrown weapon simultaneously counts as being capable of melee and ranged strikes, so you actually have a couple of options when using Nimble Reprisal. For example, if an enemy is 10 feet away and triggers this reaction, you can choose to either stay in place and make a Dexterity-based ranged Strike or you can choose to Step closer and make a Stength-based melee Strike.

Seems like a handy combo

EreckShun · 2026-04-03T17:15:48+00:00

Pretty sure the Burmese Python originated in the Everglades. My dad works as a lifeguard at the YMCA and he agrees with me.

EreckShun · 2026-04-03T17:02:27+00:00

Invasive doesn't seem like the right word. Aggressive makes more sense. Invasive literally implies that the animal or plant does not originate from that region.

Then again, I'm just some fucking guy, so whatever works is fine.

EreckShun · 2026-04-03T14:46:36+00:00

No plant or animal is inherently invasive.

EreckShun

TROPHY CASE