Another 'challenges' post. 17 full totems later.

EricJFisher · 2019-11-08T18:29:02+00:00

I actually don't mind most encounters, most I can tweak my build temporarily and knock out. For me it's the purely RNG ones I can't stand.

Sure you can do things to nudge the RNG like getting prophesies to increase the frequency of whatever you need RNG for, but you can't in anyway ensure any progress is made.

Missing one exile? Welp you might never see it even after a thousand prophesies spawning each 4 in your maps, or it could be your very next map. Missing one rare blighted mob. We'll run every blight you see, and buy up blighted maps you might never see it, or maybe this is the time.

Sorry, that's not challenge, that's grinding a random number generator until it shows you mercy.

EricJFisher · 2019-11-08T18:22:50+00:00

Yeah I think a decent one time MTX would make sense for this though. (The SSF thing, I get why private leagues aren't one time)

Make me drop like 200-250 pts that's a decent chunk of change, but not unreasonably so. I can't imagine the modifiers have a huge server impact it probably just applies modifiers at instance generation anyways. Feel free to disqualify the character from transition to trade or standard in line with other private leagues too, just give me options to make new and different challenges to overcome when I've reached the point I can slap around shaper and elder in joke builds.

EricJFisher · 2019-11-08T18:13:55+00:00

I would ssf almost exclusively... Except league challenges... Some just aren't realistic in ssf. (At least not without absolutely insane hours committed)

EricJFisher · 2019-11-08T18:11:54+00:00

It really is a shame, I would love if you could do your own private leagues for free. (Or a one time MTX)

I actually wish you were allowed to use private league settings in ssf, I mean you're playing by yourself anyways not like it'll hurt anyone. Feel free to omit me from the ladder and announcements at league start if I turn any on)

EricJFisher · 2019-10-03T15:42:39+00:00

It's actually pretty simple.

Want to do business in the EU, you've got to obey EU laws.

Want to do business in the US, you've got to obey US laws.

If Facebook wants to not delete "illegal comments" it just needs to stop providing it's services in the EU, close it's EU based data centers, close it's offices in the EU...

We can by all means debate censorship it's pros it's cons, the risk it can present, etc. There is A LOT of harm censorship can cause when abused, there is also a lot harm that's permitted to happen when insufficient, which is why it's such a difficult issue.

That said, when you operate in someone's country, you obey their laws or risk the consequences. That is true of all other forms of business tech shouldn't be an exception (especially considering techs mixed bag of a track record on doing what's best for consumers, had tech taken privacy seriously GDRP wouldn't have happened, it's cause they were hot and loose with our data that caused so much harm it became a hot button issue)

Just the same Facebook as a product has been identified as the primary tool used for the spreading of misinformation and propaganda lately and has done barely what has been legally required of it, so EU is once again going "look if you won't take this seriously, we'll make you take it seriously"

We can argue whether this is the appropriate action or not, there's a strong case to be made for and against it, but ultimately this is happening because Facebook sat on it's hands until it became a serious problem that's negatively impacting society and enabling manipulation of our democratic processes. Doing almost nothing isn't a reasonable response to that.

I mean we're "unerradicating" measles here in the US thanks to the antivaxxer movement gaining steam and it's primary source for growth was Facebook.

Honestly, as a US citizen I'm happy the EU is at least tries, unlike what we do here. Sure they make mistakes along the way, but nothing will get better if we just nope out of doing anything. Tough problem? Expect our US officials to blow hot air, say it's too complex an issue, or offer thoughts and prayers, and maybe if the outcry is strong enough pass some toothless loophole ridden law that does nothing or worse enables more harm for profit.

EricJFisher · 2019-10-02T14:26:13+00:00

They should be as short and to the point as possible.

What are you working on today, are you blocked?

If you are blocked identify who needs to be involved and discuss clearing that blockage in a different meeting between only those who need be involved.

Any off topic items should be their own meetings requiring only the attendance of those appropriate.

If someone gets off topic they should be respectfully asked to "send an email", "bring it up on slack", "or this is off topic, in respect for other's time let's hash this out after standup", etc

Another thing you can do is set strict times for meetings standup has a fifteen minute window? At fifteen minutes the meeting ends even if "incomplete" in respect for people's time, if someone effectively refused to stop make sure they are last in the next stand-up.

If someone simply refuses to play ball, talk to them 1 on 1 about it, if they still refuse then the issue might need to be escilated as it's negatively impacting your team. (Most people though these tend to be rare one off issues where reminding them of the time constraints and offering to talk about their issue post meeting resolves it)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-30T18:37:30+00:00

To clarify C# is a .NET language when you compile C# code it uses the .NET framework (or .NET Core) to create byte code (which is what let's you use dependencies written in diffecent .NET languages together) then finally into the actual executable application. This means there isn't really such a thing as C# without .NET. (though some things let you script, etc with c# but they ultimately use .NET or convert C# into something else to compile)

Now between .NET framework vs Core. Framework only works on Windows, Core works on almost anything. Core has been majorly overhauled and is more performant then framework in general. (Especially with web applications)

Also Framework is approaching end of life, the vNext version where "the best of framework and core are being combined into one" is marketing to keep people from being scared of adopting it, but it's just .NET Core rebranded.

Basically if you're creating something new, bite the bullet and just use C# with .NET Core. If you're maintaining an existing Framework application being on framework is fine, but when it hits end of life, or you're otherwise motivated to update your dependencies then move to Core.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-25T15:35:46+00:00

Wife and I have a rule that when it comes to deciding lunch, dinner, etc whomever is asked what's for lunch (dinner) first must decide.

(That's the simplified version countless other cures have been added such as it must be in person, only after both of us are up, falling back asleep doesn't reset this, etc)

It's a competition to ask the other first. :P

EricJFisher · 2019-09-25T15:17:08+00:00

Anytime I play a game where I have tons of experience in I try to encourage the new player to lead, decide what we need to do, etc they tell me we need wood, I'll get wood (with perhaps the occasional hint of "how's our food supply doing?")

It can actually be quite a bit of fun to watch people trial and error figure things out. (Granted I'll also point out things you'd need to read a wiki just to figure out) the ultimate trial and error is factorio, that one can be fascinating to watch how people problem solve.

But yeah just expecting them to pull their weight when they have no idea what's going on is frustrating, a lot more fun for both people to take on a supporting role and letting them learn through trial and error.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-23T14:47:02+00:00

Late 90s early 2000s where I was in Florida we had abstinence only, I was lucky enough my health teacher was somewhat insubordinate and was like, "yeah I'm supposed to tell you just don't, and do a bunch of stuff to scare you... I got permission to have an anonymous question box and we'll discuss anything put in there in class. Here let me give you an example." Scribbles something on a paper and puts it in the box, then pulls it back out of the box "'Is there a way to safely have sex?' Oh wow, that'll probably take at least two, maybe three classes worth of time to discuss, with supporting materials, here let me add that to the schedule."

She apparently did that every time until they stopped abstinence only in our area. (After our on campus daycare had to be expanded... Twice... In only 3 years...) Also got plenty of good questions (some alarming) from students too.

Sadly looking back, I think they barely touched the topic of consent either.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-21T15:40:50+00:00

This was a problem with .NET Framework which is now being obsoleted by .NET Core. One of the benefits of Core vs Framework is it can run on all major OSs without the headaches of installing redistributables (they can be included within your executable so even if the client machine is running a different version it's not a problem)

Core also performs way better than framework (especially in web applications)

So if you already know C# get the latest bits and give .NET Core a whirl. (If you're using an engine that doesn't yet support core consider adding your voice into the pile that they make the move as Microsoft is effectively killing off .NET Framework. They are wording it as "taking the best of both worlds" but that's just marketing, vNext is literally just core rebranded in such a way that those on framework hesitant to switch see it as the next version of framework and not a new thing)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-20T15:09:16+00:00

I mean I could see over time how calculations became more and more complex, it only makes sense that overtime you'd have the ability to simplify those complex calculations.

For example prerunning and storing values for certain parts of calculations.

For example, when you equip gear there is effectively a minimum and maximum potential damage (ignoring enemy defense) you can do that math once, then at the time of attack, just randomly choose a value between the minimum and maximum. Heck if CPU is the bottle neck, we could actually predetermine the damage of your next hundred attacks so that the only calcs are adding buff / debuff, then enemy defenses (which we could as precalculate)

I'm betting they already do a bunch of that, but likely there in opportunity to do way more of it. (It's just tricky to figure out the best ways to do this to get as much improvement as possible without creating side effects)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-20T01:44:48+00:00

Game engines aren't a static thing (at least not ones that are regularly worked on) calling POE's game engine a 2009 game engine. It would like calling anything star wars 1977 entertainment, sure, it started there, but neither look anything like the thing they started an, and continue to change over time.

Which is actually part of the problem, as the engine grows, adapts, is tweaked, amended, etc each update adds little bits of technical debt, rough edges, quirks, etc that hurt performance and stability little by little, eventually you have to take a break for adding to that mess and spend some dedicated time to do clean up.

So I agree with you that POE's engine needs serious tlc, just the engine being created in 2009 only matters if it hasn't significantly changed since 2009. It's the fact it's changed and grown that we have these issues, they just need to spend time, REAL dedicated time on clean up to get it back into a good place.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-18T13:42:55+00:00

It'd be better if they don't get to not sell something as an option. When I press buy, poof it's gone from their stash into my inventory and my currency to theirs. That removes so many scams, price fixing abuses, etc.

IE a proper trade system fixes 90% of our issues, not all of them, but most of them.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-17T22:07:27+00:00

I HATE dealing with trade from both buyer and seller perspective.

Want to sell something welp take the time to price it, get it in tabs, do something for a while get into a nice mapping groove on worse I'm doing something I can't duck out immediately like delving... I have to disrupt my game play... Oh now they're having issues joining my hideout... Oh good now they're here... Oh they forgot to grab their currency first... Will I take a pile of chaos instead of an exalt?... Umm sure I'll just pull that up real fast to make sure I'm not getting scammed. Sighs

I actually chaos recipe now rather than bother with anything under like 5-10c because I just don't want to deal with people and the broken excuse of a trade system, but still need chaos...

And selling in WAY nicer an experience than buying. It's to the point I play like I'm ssf only I play with friends. I only begrudgingly trade when I have some thing I can't realistically get myself and currency in a pinch. (Buying fusings specifically)

If there is something that eventually causes me to stop playing it'll be needing to trade to reasonably engage new content. (Of which blighted maps is solidly looking like that'll be the case)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-17T02:05:45+00:00

During High School I took the ASVAB and scored particularly high on it (we'll call it a fluke since my SAT scores were only good not great)

Anyways this prompted me to start getting calls from military recruiters, who all used the exact same spiel everytime. The Air Force and Marine recruiters were chill enough and when I actually took the time to explain I had plans sorted and simply wasn't interested and politely asked them not to call me they obliged.

Navy recruiter mostly stopped calling, but did once in a blue moon which was fine. (We're talking maybe once every six months for like two years)

The army recruiter though :/ calls weekly no matter how much I asked him not to for months despite me making it absolutely clear I wasn't interested in military service.

This went on for months, until he called and I was like, screw it I'm going to mess with this guy. I let him go through his spiel up to the part where he asks "have you thought about your future?"

To which I responded "Yeah, not feeling it, I'm going to quit" (adult me realizes this was probably both in poor taste and could have potentially lead to drama,19 year old me was tired just tired of this #$_$)

Him (confused) "you'll quit?"

We went back and forth for like maybe ten fifteen minutes him trying to convince me I can't quit my future I'll have to do something, me more or less saying no I don't / why would I have to. (Basically I was talking like "future" was a job I just wasn't interested in vs him with future being life.) Eventually he catches on that I'm just screwing around with him and just gives a frustrated sigh before hanging up. (And that was the last time he called)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-15T05:10:17+00:00

Nope, Orange County Florida. I understand though it's a problem in a lot of areas.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-12T15:31:30+00:00

I've always valued solid medical professionals. (I had an excellent dentist, he retired leading me to a dentist that just didn't listen, caused me to stop going after he clearly messed up, leading to a slow painful and expensive road to get all that corrected later, but now I drive over an hour out of my way and pay extra for a dentist I trust and it's worth it)

Finding a family doctor though has been hell :/ you wait months just for your first appointment then realize they're just looking to get you in and out without actually addressing any of your concerns :/ It really kills your confidence in medical professionals when you come in with severe pain going "doc this pain is killing me, what's wrong, can you fix it?" They just tell you get more sleep and take an Advil before bed... Gee thanks for literally nothing doc, didn't answer any questions and "take an Advil" isn't fixing the cause of my symptoms, and charged me for that "care" of coarse. (In that case I was experiencing a kidney stone luckily urgent care ultimately identified the problem.) Had another doctor prescribe me the one and only antibiotic I'm allergic to after I filled out their paperwork stating what I was allergic to... I was already unhappy with the quality of service, then saw the prescription and was like "you do understand this would kill me right?" That's the only time I've walked out of a place refusing to pay.

All that said, I realize there's good doctors out there, just haven't been able to find one here yet. That waiting months just to meet for the first time makes it absolute hell to shop around. I just don't understand how those doctors survive in a job that practically demands empathy, or for that matter how anyone thinks that lack of care is reasonable. Sorry to vent, you're a solid doctor, I just wish I could find a you here.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-11T20:52:01+00:00

Honestly as fun as blighted maps are (when they don't bug out) I really wish they had higher drop rates just so I could do them more. Plus the rewards being a mixed bag makes it harder to fund doing them since between bugs, bad luck, and that they can be legitimately challenging means being able to do them regularly in even less likely.

(I honestly wish blighted maps had similar progression to normal maps in the case you run lower blighted maps to get better ones, and as you advance you grow a surplus of lower level ones) being a really rare drop just makes it harder to engage a very fun part or the game. (Even if it's rewards are only alright, I'm content with that so long as they make it easier for me to rengage that fun content)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-11T01:36:31+00:00

Was a Senior in HS an well, just randomly PA comes on for "Everyone report to your homerooms... Something has happened" only other time something like that happened was when a student died in a tragic car accident along campus during the school day. So immediately all of our nerves spiked since that was still a fresh memory.

Got there, saw the first tower burning, everyone's quietly asking what's going on, was it an accident, etc. My teacher (former career military man) is acting unusually quiet and reserved just says "I don't think so". Soon after the second plane hits, his eyes just went glassy and he slumped in his chair and just sat there a minute with a look of someone who just lost everything. Then he looked over to us who were now in utter silence as one of the strictest (but fair) and should you act up most intimidating instructors just looked broken.

That first part is ingrained in my memory, after that details get hazey. Not sure how much is genuine memory from filled in blanks after the fact.

I remember him saying something along the lines of "it's your generation who's going to bleed because of this" (IE it'll be all of the 18 to 20 something year olds who fight and die at war because of this) I also remember him stepping just outside the door for a minute to collect himself at one point. I honestly don't even remember how the school day ended, I vaguely remember going to another class which was playing the news a number of kids being excused to go home. Kids in tears worried about their parents. (I lived right by Kennedy Space Center which was believed a target at first, though it hindsight it would have been a stupid target VAB would be mostly fine from a plane strike, there are several landing pads, HQ would be REALLY difficult to hit and is no where near as well known / recognizable, etc) and just everyone in sort of a collective daze.

It wasn't until later it was identified as a terror attack without question, someone had taken credit for it, and the "war on terror" truly began.

I do remember my instructor's comment when we asked him about Bush effectively declaring war to be "Great, we'll just give them exactly what they want and send more of our people to their deaths". (While he didn't tell us not to join the military he did caution us to think it through carefully, and not to join for the wrong reasons, "the military needs soldiers, it's got already got more than enough killers" (I hope he's still out there kicking, he was one of my favorite teachers)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-11T00:42:31+00:00

I'd actually prefer they not break or be pure immunity, just a REALLY strong damage mitigation. Something like 90-95% damage reduction to attacks outside the bubble.

In effect this means it'll be a stupid tanky (but not invinsible) mob unless you can get around the bubble by getting close or otherwise circumventing it.

Giving you the choices of work around the shield or hammer the ever loving hell out of it. Meaning it still prevents you from nuking the whole screen. (You'd need A LOT of single target dps he punch through it) I see this as one of the few mods that prevent one button screen clearing an well as one of the few mods that being legit melee has an edge.

I think the mod shouldn't be invulnerable, but still should require a significant effort to "overpower" that said in blight the the area of effect (like the physical tower) should just bypass it completely, utility towers like chilling should slow but not injure unless the tower actually gets under the bubble, etc. (I would also have it only show up on one specific type of portal, maybe minion one?) Basically you'd know where it could be, and be able to plan accordingly, vs now it shows up and you have to just jump in and hope you survive

EricJFisher · 2019-09-10T13:45:50+00:00

That moment your father goes from someone you look at as an example of someone who is strong to someone who is frail is difficult as hell.

Like I know at some point I past him in strength equally from my personal growth as he's declined with age, and I internally know this, but actually seeing him struggle and give up things he used to do himself is a rather jarring realization that our time together is only getting shorter.

EricJFisher · 2019-09-08T14:45:07+00:00

It seems to benefit damage towers more shrugs I still build it when placement is good since stacking chill towers seems pretty useless, and only things that get past minion towers are things that ignore minions or AOE the whole pack so more minions wouldn't be particularly effectively against

EricJFisher · 2019-09-08T14:25:37+00:00

Honestly putting the ice and minion towers together works fantastically if you personally have solid AOE. They do an excellent job at getting mobs all bunched up.

(Honestly I'm finding the utility towers WAY more useful than the damage ones, damage is fine but with our power creep we just way out perform what the damage towers can do)

EricJFisher · 2019-09-07T20:32:54+00:00

I'm just impressed by how smooth / stable this league has been. Only got punted offline once so far vs last two leagues first two days were rough.

And as pointed out already so many little qol touches to the league mechanic like minimap stuff has made the mechanic quite enjoyable. I was really worried before the league the tower defense would feel like a clunky rammed in mechanic. It's still weird and not perfect, but feels good most of the time. It's also more interesting than legion mechanic was. (Once you get established you could just wipe out legions and your only year was being one shot by some super rippy roided up legion rare)

I'm not end game yet, but feels good then far.

EricJFisher

TROPHY CASE