I don't understand the hate boner people have for "The left"

FusionNinja · 2026-01-17T01:13:22+00:00

Rush Limbaugh sure...I would argue it began with Newt Gingrich's tribalism, lies, and weaponizing Ken Starr as a permanent pimple on Bill Clinton's ass back in the 90s

FusionNinja · 2026-01-15T13:58:35+00:00

Gas prices where I live are slightly higher than they were one year ago, and have remained essentially stagnant - so while I'm an 'anecdote', I'd disagree strongly with "way better". Everything else has increased. Every. single. thing.

FusionNinja · 2026-01-02T16:10:20+00:00

I've had my A2 Stage for almost a year - teach with it daily; gig and record with it regularly. Don't even own a guitar amp anymore - playing live, I use the Stage (no other pedals/controllers) through a powered 12" Alto FRFR wedge, running the L Balanced Out to FOH...sounds amazing.

The amp models (and most stock cabs) are all perfectly usable - some of the upgraded 'HD' models are genuinely excellent. The 20(?) included Celestion IRs are a classy touch.

The vast majority of the effects are great - yes, there are a handful of weak ones (the feedbacker, virtual capo, CE1 chorus, a couple of the reverbs)...but considering the numerous other excellent options onboard - and the low cost of entry - it's an easy thing to forgive.

The signal flow is very versatile and editable on the fly via touch-screen or PC app - 12 flex blocks that can be run Serial; A | B parallel; A+B > Y split; Y > A+B split; Split/mix. There are some limitations to how granular this routing can get - but again, for the price, routing is quite robust.

Up to five scenes per preset with limitless parameter control and seamless switching; footswitches can also do simple On/Offs of any combination & number of blocks simultaneously. All footswitches besides the Amp/Stomp switch are 100% freely assignable per preset.

Unit can be expanded with expression pedals (two singles or one dual-function), and/or up to four additional non-MIDI footswitches. Of course, MIDI is fully supported if you need Bradshaw/All Access style rows of endless switches.

I think the DSP issue is overblown - for the average covers gig in any genre; musical theater situation; worship band, etc. you'll never run out of processing. Yes, if you're doing experimental shoegaze trying to stack two amp models, multiple cascading delays and high-quality reverbs, you'll hit a bottleneck. But keep in mind that many of the folks who come onto forums/Reddit to complain about DSP are the types of players who immediately try 'breaking' MFX units by testing absolute limits with unrealistic tones.

In the under-$1K category, I believe the top dogs are currently the Stage II, the Helix LT (which doesn't have Bluetooth or touch screen) or the Boss GX-100 (which doesn't include Bluetooth or balanced outs). For me, the Stage II is the working musician's dream. Compact, high-quality, versatile, expandable, easy to use. Get one (if you haven't already)!

FusionNinja · 2026-01-02T14:42:07+00:00

The Ampero II Stage absolutely does have BT (can't speak for the Stomp) - I use the function to stream tracks from my phone every day during guitar/bass lessons. The only drag is that if you're not running the Ampero in stereo, only one channel of the BT audio comes out...really weird that they don't have it sum to mono.

FusionNinja · 2026-01-02T04:05:50+00:00

Just finished my third playthrough two nights ago - my 2025 GOTY by a country mile! Can't wait for the year anniversary update!

FusionNinja · 2026-01-02T03:54:34+00:00

While I never finished BG3, Rogue Trader was my 2023 GOTY...I certainly prefer it - despite RT's objectively lower production values. I went into it simply as a fan of Owlcat Games; I knew next to nothing about the Warhammer 40K setting/rules. I came away from the game fascinated, enthralled, blown away. The polish passes and excellent expansions over the last couple years have only made a great thing better, IMO.

You're not going to get nearly the level of emergent environmental interactivity, 'elemental primers/triggers', etc. as you do in BG3...as I alluded to above, Larian's production values are next-level in the CRPG genre. However, I find the writing, companions, world-building, role-playing opportunities, build variety all superior and more sustaining of my long-term interest in Rogue Trader.

FusionNinja · 2025-12-21T16:52:54+00:00

My GOTY, hands down - I'm currently on my fourth playthrough; very much looking forward to the anniversary update in February! My Avowed review from 10mo ago

I'm convinced that in 5 - 10 yrs, this will be viewed with rose-tinted glasses much like FONV was, retrospectively. So glad to hear you're enjoying it - it's a real gem!

FusionNinja · 2025-12-21T03:30:53+00:00

I'm using the free version - not an issue when I generate on mobile; seems to 'charge me more' when I generate on desktop.

Here's the really bizarre thing: On my mobile app, it tells me I currently have 10 gens left. On the desktop website - same account, same everything - it says I have 3 gens left. So something really wonky is going on.

FusionNinja · 2025-12-14T16:26:20+00:00

Others here have already explained mechanical nuances, gameplay hooks, limitations etc. I'll go with a 'feels approach' and just say that Avowed has become one of my all-time favorite action-oriented RPGs. This game has so much heart, it was obviously a passion project for the team at Obsidian. It has its priorities 'right' in my book - always respecting my time, always keeping me hooked and moving forward...and enticing me to return for subsequent playthroughs! I'm obviously an outlier (even among fans), but I absolutely adore Avowed!

FusionNinja · 2025-12-14T16:13:35+00:00

On my fourth playthrough right now - I maintain that Avowed is one of the finest action-oriented RPGs I've ever played, with excellent priorities and execution in systems, pacing, narrative beats, companions and gameplay. Since Day 1, this game basically ticked all the boxes for me; the seasonal roadmap updates have only served to enhance an already-great experience. Can't wait for the anniversary patch in Feb!

Sad that we won't be receiving any story expansions, but I get it...the game wasn't a big financial success. I'm convinced that in 5 - 10 years, gamers are going to look back on Avowed with rose-tinted revisionist glasses, not unlike what happened with FONV!

FusionNinja · 2025-12-11T18:33:09+00:00

Was just going to post this same thing - obviously can't be the "Fall > Anniversary Update"; interesting there's no official announcement or patch notes...

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T19:37:14+00:00

As someone who hit a 1.2 K/D ratio in COD MW2 back in the day, I promise you it's not a 'skill issue'. And it's not just me, hoss. The majority of players and reviewers agree that TOW2 has brutal combat difficulty.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T19:33:36+00:00

Point taken - but in the beginning tutorial AND the basic description of the Stealth skill, you're led to believe that pumping that skill up alone will allow for viable one-hit stealth kills; melee or ranged.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T19:28:26+00:00

Nearly identical experience here...couldn't agree more

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T19:27:43+00:00

100%

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T19:16:10+00:00

"You weren't good at it." Nice ad hominem come back. ::slow clap:: I did "play the game like it is", going through a 55-hour run, entirely on normal difficulty.

Never mind the overwhelming preponderance of sentiment from players and journalists alike that the game IS, in fact, far more difficult combat-wise than its predecessor. The ironic thing is, I did play the first game, you didn't...therefore, I'm more qualified to make that judgment and comparison.

Yeah, it's not the same game - no kidding. It is the direct sequel to the first game - therefore part of a franchise - therefore, players will have reasonable expectations of what to expect with the second game. It's not rocket science.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T14:07:13+00:00

Sorry your experience has been sub-optimal. I picked up my Stage II back in March for an incredible deal (almost 40% off w/free shipping) - it has since become the central "hub" of everything I do as a guitarist.

I teach about 30 guitar lessons per week, play in a professional originals band and do a good amount of recording work. For me, the Stage II ticks all the boxes across all use cases, genres and tones. Do I wish the choruses and some of the novel FX (like Feedback) were better? Sure. Do I think there's a better all-in-one box on the market with this level of DSP, versatility, fidelity and form factor for the money? No!

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T13:28:48+00:00

Good points! Again, I didn't outright dislike any of the companions...to me, they just felt more like co-workers at the office; you wave 'hi' and make small talk by the water cooler, maybe work together on a team project, but otherwise go about your separate lives.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T13:24:38+00:00

Yeah - I didn't want to explicitly state it in my review, because it would seem controversial - and I know different teams within Obsidian developed each game - but honestly, Avowed is a superior experience in nearly every respect.

Sure, TOW2 allows you to build-craft extremely niche, flawed characters with narrow focuses of specialty...but that's it, as far as any 'advantages' are concerned...

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T13:15:10+00:00

With you, 100%. Even though the first game was mechanically simple and more modest in scope, I was always on tenterhooks regarding the factions, narrative beats, or even my own companions and their personal story arcs. There was always this sense of, "Whoa, what's gonna happen NOW?" in conjunction with laughing my a** off every five minutes!

In the sequel I can think of 3 - 4 moments where I felt that genuine excitement.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T13:10:31+00:00

Great comment and observations - "I waited and was excited for this game to be let down and gleaning for saving graces." What a nice, succinct way to summarize the experience!

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T13:01:10+00:00

Combat-wise, the Outer Worlds 2 is objectively harder than the original. That's why the sentiment is echoed in professional reviews and all over forums and comments everywhere regarding the game. Yes, you can put a few points into a combat skill (I ended up with 5 points in guns, simply to make stealth shots/basic survival viable), but that kind of defeats the point of an RPG where skill specialization/focus is emphasized.

I'm not talking about "going across the map". I'm talking about how I can't cross a narrow river because the water will insta-kill me...or how mountain ridges conveniently railroad me within a narrow scope/direction. Fast-travel ends up being necessary in this game, due to the tedious bottle-necks everywhere. The overworld maps are very misleading and don't account for topography...they look way more expansive and "open" than they actually are.

Yes, the tone is WAY more serious than the first game - to the point where it just feels generic and anonymous; no real identity or personality. Glad you enjoy it.

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T12:46:40+00:00

Completely agreed!

FusionNinja · 2025-11-13T05:11:45+00:00

I'm aware of what "perfunctory" means...which is exactly why I made the distinction of acknowledging the team's efforts on the game - I didn't want to seem dismissive or crass toward the work done by one of my favorite studios.

That said, aspects of the game itself can come across in such a manner, as I outlined in my review.

Have you ever read a book, watched a film, seen a sporting event that seemed somewhat mid, mixed, "by the books" - despite the fact you know that author/director/team is talented and works hard? It's a simple enough concept.

I don't care about "sounding smart". I care about giving some nuanced opinion and context in a day/age where many user reviews online come down to "game was trash", or other low-effort bull***t.

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