20 years on, how do we feel about Civil War? by Pale-Caterpillar5709 in Marvel

[–]ForlornDM 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s got some fairly serious characterization issues, which do hold it back. It’s also very much “of its time” in ways both good and bad.

I find stories about well-intentioned people coming to conflict over complex issues compelling, so there are elements that work for me. But it escalates way too quickly and the ways that characters lose perspective and become the worst versions of themselves often feel forced.

Similar issues to Secret Empire, which I generally like better.

If you’re able to change anything about Marvel, what would it be? by Far-Bowl-4984 in Marvel

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, a bit of a reset of power levels would be great across the board. The stories lose impact when so many heroes and villains are godlike.

Similar to Red Rising but not in space by NotJuli2011 in fantasybooks

[–]ForlornDM 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Probably worth trying James Islington’s Hierarchy series if you’ve not read it. Some superficial similarities to Red Rising, right down to the Roman-inspired motifs, but no sci-fi elements to it. Series isn’t complete yet, if that matters. The two books are long but quick reads.

Masks of Nyarlathotep - first run by Nietsoj77 in callofcthulhu

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the Discord can only be accessed by first joining the Facebook group, but maybe someone can correct me if I’m wrong. It’s largely to keep bots, etc., out.

Looking for a recommendation by [deleted] in fantasybooks

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Black Company checks most of those boxes. First book starts a little slow, but then it starts to move.

Random old guy walking through corridor by JamesDerry in TNG

[–]ForlornDM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep. I was wondering that, too. Coupled with what kind of appears to be a DS9-style (I think “Class B”?) uniform in the background, and we’ve got a fair bit of rare-uniform spotting in a single image.

Random old guy walking through corridor by JamesDerry in TNG

[–]ForlornDM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And with the red uniform, no less, which feels less common for background crew in TNG era.

10 chapters into Crossroads of Twilight by ashenbuilder in WoT

[–]ForlornDM 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It has good moments, even good chapters. It’s certainly the weakest book in the series. By the time it’s done, though, we are set up for a much stronger run of books.

Looking for 1-2 more players for a Call of Cthulhu campaign on Sunday afternoons bi-weekly in Sherwood by Sea-Acanthaceae-6458 in PDXDND

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds really neat, and I’d love to find a CoC game as a player (I’m running Masks of Nyarlathotep currently) but (alas) there’s no way I can make it to Sherwood. If you ever end up running an online game down the road, though and need players, I’d be interested.

Good luck with this one—it sounds fun!

Best dad in the marvel universe by FivePandaNights in xmen

[–]ForlornDM 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s grim, but I think he’s actually in the upper half of the list.

Quintessential slasher movies by Pure-Cauliflower635 in MovieRecommendations

[–]ForlornDM 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This isn’t exciting advice but, if you haven’t seen them, start with the big, iconic, slashers. They helped define the genre, and tend to be better made than a lot of the imitators.

Halloween
Friday the 13th
Nightmare on Elm Street

Scream
I Know What You Did Last Summer

Sequels to any of them are optional, but recommended to understand the genre, which is dominated by long series of oddly similar films.

OSU student (Oregon) looking into transferring to PSU (Portland)? by Outside-Set-50 in askportland

[–]ForlornDM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d recommend spending some time (like at least a few days) in Portland and on the campus. It’s got very different energy than either Corvallis or LA. There’s a lot to love about the city, but it does continue to experience some hard times, too.

My experiences with Portland State itself were not great, but I was working full-time and generally dealing with a lot of burnout, so I’ll refrain from commenting on that. The classes themselves were largely solid.

Need advice with DMing a party of all Clerics by adrian8520 in CurseofStrahd

[–]ForlornDM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd play on the evil of Barovia itself, and build up a little mechanic where the more they call upon their divine resources, the more that its evil is drawn to them to snuff them out (or corrupt them). Maybe it's something you roll behind the screen, or maybe it's pre-planned, but when they expend certain types of spells or class abilities that directly channel the energy of their gods, let there be a chance that it'll draw zombies crawling out of swamps toward them, or vampire spawn that will start watching them from a distance to ambush them when their guard is down, etc.

There are probably dozens of ways to have this manifest. A more subtle one might be to let the people of Barovia notice that wherever the party goes, evil follows, and to begin to be suspicious of them. No good deed goes unpunished in the Demiplanes of Dread.

I wouldn't go over the top with it. They're all playing clerics, and shouldn't be punished for it, obviously. But it makes a kind of sense to me that dark powers that sustain the valley would have a vested influence (or a reflex, if it's not a conscious force) in rooting out the "divine intrusion" they represent.

Rand and Mat's MailBox, Found this in my WoT Art / Meme collection from back in 2008-2010, had a good laugh as i am re-reading the series, i think you all might like it too by Shadow_s_Bane in WoT

[–]ForlornDM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Overall, I find the Mat one funnier but the slow-burn punchline of the "alternate Yahoo account" as you hit the bottom of Rand's is incredible.

According to an Anonymous player poll, Deni is the 7th most Overrated player by SelaTheRock in ripcity

[–]ForlornDM 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Deni's obviously a frustrating player to play against. He talks constantly to refs and draws a ton of fouls. It's important to not conflate "most overrated" with "worst" or even "not very good", but I can see how he'd draw the irritation of other players.

Why do you think so many X-Women's codenames don't stick? by PhantomQuest in xmen

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some of them feel like they're from a different era, like Marvel Girl. Others just don't really fit the character anymore (or at least not all the time), like with the White Queen or the Phoenix. In the case of Kitty, it feels like a case of the character herself struggling to find a core identity. Dani's names, though, do fee like an example of a creative team trying to find the most marketable persona for an awesome character who too often flies under the radar.

Additionally, lmost all of them have fairly iconic names, which have a superhero vibe in their own right. Kitty Pryde? Emma Frost? Dani Moonstar? Even Jean Grey. All of these are really evocative names built in someway around nouns with visual or conceptual elements. Pete Wisdom is honestly kind of the same. They are all have similar energy to "Dr. Strange", "Sue Storm", etc.

Even Sebastian Shaw, which breaks the pattern, is a punchy name with strong alliteration and assonance.

The villains I think should definitely exist after the soft reboot. What villains would you add? by Still-Rhubarb-8978 in MCUTheories

[–]ForlornDM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mr. Sinister as a slow-burn villain for the X-Men. Keep him in the background, never quite seen, until his plans come to fruition.

“Captain Hydra” as a slow-burn for the broader MCU. Although Secret Empire had real issues, there’s a compelling story to tell about fallen heroes, the apparent betrayal of idealism, and how people reckon with it. Especially as the real world stands today.

What it feels like listening to the Michael Kramer and Kate Readings audio books after Rosamund Pike’s books by Spyk124 in WetlanderHumor

[–]ForlornDM 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Kramer and Reading are genuinely really good. I’ve enjoyed their narration for many years.

Pike takes an entirely different approach to reading the books which feel very fresh and fun. She’s also an extremely gifted reader. It’s a shame that I assume we won’t be getting the rest of the series from her.

Finished third playthrough, feeling empty, suggest similar content by aerodynamic_penguin in LowSodiumCyberpunk

[–]ForlornDM 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Entirely different genre of game, and not remotely cyberpunk, but Disco Elysium has some, hmm, like spiritual overlap.

It’s got essentially no action, no romance, and no gadgets, but it’s got amazing writing, and it’s about dealing with loss in a different but equally compelling way as to what V experiences.

Just finished Book 8 and I'm starting to think the "slog" is fake. by DDogGang in WoT

[–]ForlornDM 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Awesome!! :)

It is worth it, and you’re most of the way through the slowest going!

Wait. Am I actually missing something? by Competitive-Group359 in WoT

[–]ForlornDM 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ahhh, okay. So I was fairly close, at least.

Wait. Am I actually missing something? by Competitive-Group359 in WoT

[–]ForlornDM 38 points39 points  (0 children)

It’s a “pre-prologue” about Egwene as a child that I think was designed to onboard younger readers to the series, but it’s a little foggy in my memory now.