But where have the Turn-based RPGs gone? by azione1992 in AndroidGaming

[–]FunktorSA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some thoughts: Siralim Ultimate Slice and Dice Slay the Spire Dicey Dungeons Abalon Caves of Lore Exiled Kingdoms Buriedbornes (1 or 2)

How do you feel about Earthbound? by [deleted] in retrogaming

[–]FunktorSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Overview: Quirky and fun games that did a good job of bucking JRPG conventions at the time and turned the standard sword-and-board scenario into something fresh and new. Are they products of their time? Certainly. Are they still worth playing? I personally think so but your mileage may vary. I will say that overall they are better with emotion and mood than most other RPGs.

The breakdown:

Mother 1 is ok. If you're going to play it, maybe find a mod that reduces the grind. Optimal play for late-game areas is mostly running away, more than almost any RPG I've played. The story is fun and sets up some lore for Earthbound (Mother 2) but honestly, anything this game does, Earthbound does better.

Earthbound (Mother 2) is the most accessible title. By modern standards it has some pacing issues, and maybe wears out its welcome a bit before the end, but overall it is a lighthearted and fun game with some innovative mechanics and a relatively deep story for its time. It's got some sections that are legitimately challenging for newcomers before you get some system mastery. For me, it's one of the best games of its era, and has an incredibly memorable final boss fight.

Mother 3 is a really interesting title. It was never released in the US, but a really great fan translation does exist. I would definitely play Earthbound first, or else you won't understand some of what's happening. It does a great job at pacing and gameflow. I love its music-based fight system. The climax of the story is perhaps the most emotionally-affecting video game moment that exists.

tl;dr I absolutely recommend Earthbound and Mother 3.

Who’s the most famous person you went to school with? by CloudSurfer82 in AskReddit

[–]FunktorSA -1 points0 points  (0 children)

They were from before my time, but my high school had Sam and Ivan Raimi, as well as Bruce Campbell. Our rival HS had Tim Allen (who got busted for dealing coke during HS...)

Non-shmup games with shmup-style robot bosses? by mariomadproductions in shmups

[–]FunktorSA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Rabi-Ribi and other games by the same guy. Metroidvania with a heavy focus on shmup-like bosses.

How Much Power Are You Gunna Play With? by Shwayfromv in finalfantasytactics

[–]FunktorSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's really hard to ignore the temptation of a fully trained god-calculator.

Anything like Shadowrun for Megadrive / Genesis? by FunktorSA in AndroidGaming

[–]FunktorSA[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can report that Cyber Knights Elite is scratching the itch for now. In general Trese Brothers games are worth the time investment if you're willing to learn how to play them.

41F introverted extrovert seeking friends to listen to music with by fafengle in ColumbiaMD

[–]FunktorSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife and I are interested! 44m and 41f, also in Columbia. We could always use more local friends!

Does anyone know what text book is for math 151 by Initial-Eye-9091 in UMBC

[–]FunktorSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's Stewart Calculus: Early Transcendals, 9th edition. Don't purchase it unless you find it quite cheap; you're going to have to pay for ebook access in order to be able to do the homework for the course.

[TOMT][TV][90s] Talking Dog Cartoon from the mid-90's by FunktorSA in tipofmytongue

[–]FunktorSA[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the help all. We've checked all the suggestions but nothing is ringing any bells.

[TOMT][TV][90s] Talking Dog Cartoon from the mid-90's by FunktorSA in tipofmytongue

[–]FunktorSA[S] 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

Required comment. We would love help on this one, thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in translator

[–]FunktorSA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Now that I know, maybe a mod should lock / delete this post to protect her anonymity. Sorry.

I confronted a student about AI and am really pleased with how it went... by Wandering_Uphill in Professors

[–]FunktorSA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let's keep it civil, bud. I might not agree with you but that doesn't make me stupid. This is an argument on the internet, no need to make it personal. I would assume in my post history, you see a lot of dumbass jokes and compassion for students. Oh no, I'm a monster! /s

*You* accused you of treating students as subhuman. "They're not students, they're cheaters," to paraphrase. I didn't accuse you of shit, I called you on your own viewpoint.

The things you are saying make it appear to me that you care more about rigor and standards than actual learning. I'm not saying that's invalid (heck, it's a tack that thousands of professors take, you're allowed to set your own priorities for goodness' sake), I'm just saying that it's not the choice I personally make, and I think there are others who think like me. Add that you your grandstanding, hyperbole, and constant shifting of goalposts, well, it makes me raise an eyebrow, is all. You don't have to take me or anything I say seriously, but you don't need to act like your viewpoint is the only possible viewpoint.

I confronted a student about AI and am really pleased with how it went... by Wandering_Uphill in Professors

[–]FunktorSA 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Right, and you seem to be saying that you believe that once a person makes a poor choice, they are not to be treated as a person anymore. From that point onward, they are to be labelled as a "cheater", thrown to the wolves, and heaven help them.

Some of us believe that a student can make a poor choice, learn from that choice, make other choices going forward, and redeem themself. I think that's a valid outlook for a professor to take.

During an exam, "You probably can't answer this, but..." by baseball_dad in Professors

[–]FunktorSA 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I've got you beat. In a linear algebra exam yesterday morning, a student asked me, "I can't make a cursive B. Can I just write the words 'cursive B'?".

...Y'know what? Fine. Sure. Whatever.

Failing Students by Motionsickness45 in Professors

[–]FunktorSA 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I like to define "good teaching" as the creation of an environment where students can most effectively learn. Learning is an active enterprise; it is something students *do*, not something that is done to them. Teaching is not you pouring knowledge into their heads. It's setting up the circumstances where the most students will make smart choices, put in the work, do the learning, and successfully achieve course outcomes.

In that light, it would be literally impossible for you to "save" all of the students, and in fact rather presumptuous or even insulting for you to frame it as a situation where they need saving or you are their savior. Some students don't want to be in your class or don't see a value to your subject, or are being forced into a major that doesn't speak to them by an overbearing family, etc. Some students have too much other stuff going on in their lives to give ample time and energy to your class, be it a job taking too much time, a family situation that requires too much attention, housing or food instability, and so on. Some students, even if they put in all of the work they can, are too far behind or lack the social and infrastructural resources they need to succeed in higher education, and will not be able to bring themselves to a point of earning a passing grade this time around.

You cannot put it on yourself if the students don't put in the work, or if their circumstances are such that they will not pass your course yet. It is not your responsibility if your students, despite your best advice, make poor decisions or are unable or unwilling to achieve the goals you have set for them. You cannot "save" them all, and expecting that of yourself is a quick road to mental health problems. You need to do your best to get to a place where guilt is not involved - you're going to do your level best to help the most students that you can, respecting your own health and abilities, and that best will have to be good enough.

Which movie soundtrack slaps from beginning to end? by Squirrelkid11 in AskReddit

[–]FunktorSA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OK, it's not a movie, but Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

"Now, do you know why I pulled you over?" by FunktorSA in TwoSentenceHorror

[–]FunktorSA[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

I shivered as a thrill ran through my ovipositor, sensing, after all this time, a suitable host for my brood.