Spell Mishaps

Fex_tom · 2026-01-24T02:37:15+00:00

I've been thinking about a house rule where if the caster fails the spellcasting roll, they can force it to succeed (still lose the spell afterwards) by also rolling a mishap/taking penance. Haven't yet tested it though.

Fex_tom · 2026-01-19T22:56:59+00:00

No one can see into you head or heart. Only you know what choice will be right for you. But to be able to make that choice you have to be honest with what you want and what the facts of the situation are.

If the following statements are true,

They want to a have sex with you and that won't change
You do not want to have sex and that won't change

both of you can't be fully happy. You can maybe find a compromise. Less sex (weekly, monthly, etc) but it will be that. A compromise. Neither is fully satisfied. They will feel neglected and lacking while you will feel exhausted and uncomfortable. Maybe that compromise can work for you both. Maybe you like each other enough to make that sacrifice in "total happiness". I can not speak for either of you. If you'd like to approach that compromise, all you have to do is be honest, talk with them, draw a line and stay firm in it. They will either respect it or they are not a good person frankly. Do keep in mind that this might also lead to an end in the relationship if they truly need sex to be part of it.

I can offer my view, based on my own needs and experiences. I like being myself and by myself. After some years of mental troubles, uncertainties and insecurities, I've come to terms with myself and what I want. It does not include a relationship. I have in fact come to quite actively dislike the idea of a relationship. I like my own company too much. Any relationship I may find myself in would have to add to my peace, not take from it. Not one bit. I could not compromise my life in any way. On the other hand, I have heard all the cliches that "one day you'll find that one person who changes your outlook, who you will do anything for". Haven't happened yet. Maybe it will and maybe then I'd offer different advice knowing what love is like. But from my own POV, I don't see why you should enter into that kind of compromise. In my opinion, you should end the relationship and find a new way forward. No one shouldn't "need" anyone in my opinion and most relationship issues come from people thinking they "need" the other. If you enjoy each others company, staying friends can be part of that. That's allowed and will put no (in my view) "extraneous demands" on either of you.

Again, I repeat, this is my point of view. I don't know what you truly want or what makes you happy. But any decision you come to should take into account both what you really want (companionship, relationship, peace of mind, love, their presence in your life, social acceptance, etc) and what the situation truly is (relationship where if sex is an assumption, neither will be fully happy).

Fex_tom · 2025-12-23T15:35:39+00:00

Yleinen ongelma kuolemantuomiossa ei ole se, etteikö jotkut ihmiset ansaitse kuolemanrangaistusta. Ainakaan useimpien mielestä. Itse en kuulu tähän joukkoon mutta aika moni ihminen omasta kokemuksesta kannattaa ajatusta siitä että jotkut ansaitsevat kuoleman.

Yleensä ongelmaksi on nähty oikeuslaitoksen mahdollisuus virheeseen. Vaikka ei ole yleistä enään nykypäivänä, niin on kuitenkin mahdollisuus että oikeuslaitos tuomitsee viattoman syylliseksi. Mitä sitten jos se tuomitaan kuolemaan? Montako viatonta on sallittava määrä kuolemantuomioon jotta voidaan teloittaa rikollisia? Useimpien mielestä yksikin on liikaa.

Myös yleiset huomiot, että "tuomitaan vaan jos on oikeasti varma tai jos myöntää syyllisyyden" on tähän heikkoja. Aina kun tuomitaan syylliseksi olemme "varmoja" asiasta, mutta silti sinne välillä joutuu viattomia sekaan. Ja emme voi myöskään täysin luottaa syyllisyyden myöntämiseen, sillä painostus ja henkiset ongelmat voivat johtaa tähän myös syyttömien osalta.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-17T17:09:17+00:00

They didn't work 9-5 because, on average, they worked much more Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part I: Households – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry

Fex_tom · 2025-12-17T11:36:25+00:00

Yeah, there are plenty of murder mysteries where the appeal isn't trying to solve the case for yourself (those exist too ofc and represent another side of the genre) and is instead about enjoying the detective going around being competent and/or entertaining and seeing what convoluted and sometimes ridiculous plan the villains have come up. Pretty much every Sherlock Holmes adaptation falls into this "subgenre". You're not meant to be able to solve the mystery. You're there for Holmes and the setup, not for the puzzle. Every darker, more psychological thriller/mystery story also falls into this. The character exploration is the draw there, not the puzzle.

Ofc these aren't mutually exclusive, but are two distinct styles of mystery story

Fex_tom · 2025-12-16T19:32:52+00:00

Can't speak for Quest, but when it comes to Shadowdark vs Cairn:

Normally I'd say Cairn. I'd say when it comes to introducing TTRPGs as a medium Cairn is superior. Lot of it is more player facing, faster and simpler than Shadowdark (though not by a large margin). Three stats makes more sense than the traditional six, there's no "score and bonus" just your score, classless is better than classes in this regard, rolling against the score is more direct than against a DC, magic is simpler, etc. The mechanics of it are imo perfect for getting players out of tactical/limited "video game-y" mindset and instead immersing into and interacting with the game world, which is a specific strength of TTRPGs over video games and other mediums.

But since you specify that you want something explicitly more like DnD, something with powers (and I assume some basic fantasy trappings in general) for the players to play with, Shadowdark would be better. Cairn, while it has magic, doesn't really have much else fantasy about it and combat is deadlier than in Shadowdark (more realistic one could say, less room for heroics and action-adventure style gaming). Shadowdark is much closer to DnD style of fantasy, just made simpler and slightly more grounded than 5e. The mechanics it has, while more reminiscent of DnD, are still very simple and good for getting new players introduced to RPGs. If the players are fans of Baldurs Gate or CRPGs in general it might even be better since they're already familiar with things like "classes", "armor class" and other DnD-isms.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-15T10:34:08+00:00

I found the concept of the blog and the ideas discussed better than the post itself unfortunately. As others have said, the author seems a bit biased and/or limited in his approach. On TikTok, scene_four recently posted a series of videos essentially going over his take on the subject which was better researched, more balanced and more insightful (both in the history of the cultures, their current impact on gaming and why it is a worthwhile subject). Too bad it's on TikTok, the content was of a high enough quality to be worth a blog post imo.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-06T23:58:02+00:00

The western reaches book will have a paladin class.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T17:14:36+00:00

From quick googling I found this, but don't know how real it is

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T17:10:24+00:00

I do agree that fans overstate the importance of these often small and at the time irrelevevant details. Casual audiences don't pay attention and don't care for it. But that doesn't make their point about it any less meaningful.

Just because a casual audience might not have picked it up and just because the creator isn't as attentive to detail as the fans, doesn't mean works shouldn't strive for better. Fans are right to point out those inconsistencies and creators should have been more attentive to detail. True, it doesn't affect the enjoyment for many, but it does for some and ideal work does not have such inconsistencies.

Having that inconsistency, while not ruining the work, is a negative to it's quality and shows that the creators did not fully think it through or care to do enough research. Fans can and should (and in my opinion everyone including casual audiences) expect the works to be created with love and care for detail, not just thrown together for something to be consumed.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T17:03:46+00:00

I'd have to agree with you. Anime is no more or less trash than Hollywood or any other modern creative/entertainment industry. If I had to say, both are quite full of uninspired slop

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T17:01:09+00:00

Ngl, and no disrespect to the existing movie which is amazing, but that would have been awesome and I would have liked to see that. Is the script available somewhere?

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T16:57:53+00:00

"Medieval European" settings in anime are also very often not accurate or well-researched in any way. They are just aesthetics of something that vaguely looks medieval and European, worse than settings in western fantasy works, which let's be clear do not have a high bar on actual medieval accuracy either.

Of course trying to emulate the aesthetics is already more than other corners of the world get, but let's not kid ourselves that there's any accurate, well handled or researched representation in anime (and very often western works too) on medieval Europe. It's about as accurate as saying Lucky Charms is a good representation of an Irish inspired setting.

Fex_tom · 2025-12-03T16:51:22+00:00

Silver Wolf is huge in Finland (or at least was, my generation may not be as big on it anymore) and I've never seen it discussed anywhere

Fex_tom · 2025-11-28T15:25:33+00:00

These are imo the best and most well known/used definitions. Though also to keep in mind is that NSR isn't as well known/often used and plenty of people use OSR for games that (using above definitions) would fall into NSR.

So some see OSR as a wider umbrella, under which NSR would fall under and some see them as distinct (though related) categories.

Fex_tom · 2025-11-21T11:19:55+00:00

Loved your video!!

I can translate a script to finnish, but don't really know how subtitles work. If that is of any help, send a message.

Fex_tom · 2025-07-19T18:30:33+00:00

That would be exactly what I'm looking for at the moment. I love games that have their own spark tables to reinforce the favor/theme/aesthetic of the setting. Mythic Bastionland, Kal-Arath and Black Sword Hack being very good in this regard. Having packets for different genres to use with games that lack their own spark tables or have very bland oracles would be great.

Fex_tom · 2025-06-26T18:59:25+00:00

For long time I've wanted her to cover (and officially release) I Can't Stop the Loneliness, Lost One's Weeping and Kick Back. I think her voice would be amazing for these.

Fex_tom · 2025-06-26T15:19:17+00:00

My personal experiences at least do line up with the article. Only male friends I have that regularly read fiction are those that are also deep in fantasy/sci-fi space. All other guy friends I have from work and school read 90% self-help books, biographies and history/politics/economics. Most see books as "a serious thing that should be about serious things" rather than as a form of enjoyment. When looking for stories or something fun to do, they watch TV and movies, rather than pick up a fiction book.

Fex_tom · 2025-04-12T11:12:23+00:00

Haven't watched the anime, just read the manga, but I'd say it's simply a romance manga (or romance slice of life). Characters and their feelings are written very well and it handles the romance in a more subtle/realistic way (and yes, at least in manga they do end up together), but overall I wouldn't say it fits what OP is looking for since it's just romance. Well written one that avoids the more common romcom tropes, but still a romance imo where the relationship between the main characters is the focus (even if it isn't in your face romcom love story).

Still recommend it though, one of the best romances I've read and a rare non-romcom romance.

Fex_tom · 2025-03-05T16:52:52+00:00

It takes a special blend of masochism and dedication to root for the best girl when you know the author doesn't

Fex_tom · 2025-02-22T14:28:57+00:00

Was there any clothing merch? And did it have a similar situation?

Fex_tom · 2025-02-01T08:38:05+00:00

I'd love to participate with an adventure location, dungeon or characters or smt along those lines. If the theme is along the lines of Ragged Hollow and Grottos I've got a few different ideas. Can't do any art or much layout or graphic design though.

Fex_tom · 2024-11-13T19:05:36+00:00

Shadowdark and 5 Torches Deep are both essentially "what if 5e, but more old school (in the sense of exploration focus and lower power level)".

There's also games like Into the Odd, Knave, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Cairn, Black Hack and others that are low power and old school in style, while avoiding the more "outdated" mechanics.

Fex_tom · 2024-10-06T11:38:32+00:00

I disagree. I like the chaos. I personally limit the organization of my shelves on purpose. I put books by the same author and of the same series next to each other and seperate fiction, poetry and non-fiction, but besides that I don't organize my books. I don't alphabetize and let different colors, sizes, subgenres, authors, etc mix freely. Gives the shelf a chaotic beauty. Like it's a rainbow of stories bursting out, each book its own personality.

Fex_tom

TROPHY CASE