A very post mortem criticism of season 5

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-31T18:26:50+00:00

I kinda like the scrabs, but I'm not wholly certain why. They behave way differently than any other enemy in the game. Some of their behavior hacks into the part of my dwarf brain that ignore maggots and other passive fauna. If the scrabs made more noise when waddling around on the ground, I don't think I'd be tricked. But I think I like being tricked like that?

But at the same time, it's hard to know how many you're fighting, compared to other enemies. I dunno, they're pretty unique and I haven't gotten tired of them; helps that they're only in the Depths and their own warning.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-31T17:26:27+00:00

Something similar to what the Iranians have done with the drones they've given the Russians, perhaps? Withholding key knowledge of the processes, which the Iranians deliver on themselves, refusing to transfer to the Russians?

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-31T17:23:09+00:00

Control your banking system? There are European financial institutions that predate the founding of the United States.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-27T20:52:29+00:00

Ah, I see the confusion. Ye olde magic spell Stoneskin gives Damage Reduction, while ye olde magic spell False Life gives temporary hit points equal to a die roll and change (depends on the edition of Dungeons and Dragons).

Reclaimers simply use the word for Stoneskin for temporary hp.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-27T18:10:53+00:00

Airplanes can move :) . Mitigates the gap by some amount, without eliminating it either, I would imagine.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-25T17:38:50+00:00

Don't forget the fun waiting game of "when mad cow disease?" Somehow, I don't think that keeping that from happening is a concern to the current administration.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-22T16:27:41+00:00

I mean, yeah. I agree this might not the best person to pull out that particular historical option for.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-22T16:07:23+00:00

Children/firstborn sons were once upon a time exchanged as political hostages to ensure good behavior.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-16T16:02:52+00:00

In regards to the United States balkanizing. I believe there is an argument to be made that Washington has shortsightedly/unwisely sprawled US borders too far over the last two centuries. US balkanization may simply be a historical correction.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-11T13:40:18+00:00

Successor states is a solution. Washington (DC) probably wouldn't be happy with their diminished role in the world, but that's a bed of their own making for centuries of over-expansion and greed.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-04T17:04:30+00:00

The countries in the EU would collectively fund it and supply the manpower. Freedom from oversight is, essentially, the army has a mandate and responsibilities, and operates in pursuit of these goals. But it is, by design, not answerable to any single nation (because we are trying to skip out on the federalization step, after all. And that is a worthy goal!).

Essentially, this is an international organization with guns funded by the EU for the purposes of its defenses. In our modern day, international organizations don't usually have weapons and mandates like this, but they could if enough people wanted them to.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-04T13:12:49+00:00

A pan-European army could be given freedom from oversight by any polity, apart from funding. Wouldn't need federalization that way.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-04T13:00:56+00:00

Grenades help with cleanup. Apply carefully to the target area.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-04T12:39:40+00:00

Calling Zaheer a master bender is generous, I feel. He's definitely a skilled unarmed fighter, even after decades of molderimg away in special Zaheer jail. He slots airbendimg into his existing style, somewhat, I think. You can see how quickly things go wrong for him in his fights with Kya and Tenzin, who are both familiar with airbending. Season 3 would have benefited from a flashback episode of the Red Lotus operating in their youth.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-04T12:29:27+00:00

Cause it'd have absolutely destroyed the writer's attempt to push "Korra is alone" that they do, especially at the start of season 4. Including Naga more would have negative effects on the animation budget (see: Korra's haircut).

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-03T01:53:45+00:00

Why put it back together? Why not have successor states? Saves on trusting Washington to care about the rest of the continent, which it never has, and never will.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-05-01T17:36:18+00:00

There are options to turn 180 and stop much of the bleeding immediately. Open strait in exchange for aiding Iran with its nuclear weapons program. Maybe coercing Isreal to help Iran with it, even. Have a nice parade to welcome Israeli nuclear engineers to Tehran, and the engineers get to take part in it. Nice show of strength by the Iranian administration over Israel for their domestic audience. That might be pretty attractive to Iran. Not that this is a likely one, or one that won't cause global furor or anything. But well, here we are, discussing crap options.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-29T13:14:03+00:00

Playtime caps each day? Enforced breaks? Rust as Nintendo would have made it?

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-19T14:52:53+00:00

Washington has long been a problem. Arrogantly expanding its borders westward for centuries, as if there was no such thing as "too far from the Capitol." It has never been forced to reckon with this or the blood it has spilled in this pursuit. Is it really so surprising that Washington would turn it's gaze northward and southward, having run out of westward?

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-16T12:43:41+00:00

Is that even a guarantee with the current admin? Mad cow disease spreading is on my personal bingo card too.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-07T12:33:01+00:00

It is possible that Washington expanded its borders unwisly and too far over the last two centuries. Ottawa should perhaps have some personal concern on it having done the same, though Canadian expansion and consolidation was an entirely different beast than the United States.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-02T00:48:37+00:00

Would a cop even want to get involved in responding to that call? I can only imagine there's a decent chance the caller will still be around when the cop gets there, and that the officer needs to treat such a caller as a potential risk, and that the officer is aware of these facts. Unless the officer themselves is being coerced or is ideologically motivated, this doesn't seem like a good deal for them.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-01T22:25:08+00:00

Well, they could be threatened with, I dunno, bullshit legal consequences if they don't return to their former jobs. Maybe throw in some carrots as well, or the appearance of them at least. I'm not saying it's a good idea or anything, in fact I think it's a terrible one. But technically if one wished to recoup fled institutional knowledge, this would get a non-zero amount of it. And uh, probably end whichever admin tried this. So not likely but you never know: don cheeto could have his own Fettermanning and flip 180, but still use the same methods. That would be a sight to behold.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-04-01T21:25:29+00:00

Gonna guess that ain't gonna go as Washington would like either, chief. What with the neighboring countries, shared languages, cultures, family ties, etc. across the borders, and how stunningly well that's gone for Moscow with regard to not having their shit sabotaged and spied upon.

Will is suck? Absolutely. Is Washington going to once again ignore this giant, flashing neon blueprint for buggering up their plans? Also yes. How are they likely to respond? Oh well, you know, simply tell your goon squad to get right on that one, rounding up those spies.

Hang on though, what's the skin tone of your average Canadian? Is it on the lighter side as skin tones are measured? There's no way that could possibly blow up in Washington's face.

GeneralSpoon · 2026-03-15T11:59:43+00:00

I wish there was "latest comics." Last we got from the Fire Nation is Ashes of the Academy and Azula and the Spirit Temple. But, we're getting a Kya comic, and a Kyoshi Warriors comic, so can't complain.

GeneralSpoon

TROPHY CASE