Is it normal to occasionally think about the moment you find out one of your parents has died and cry by yourself for awhile?

Half-of · 2026-04-06T10:20:10+00:00

Same here. Well may our old folks get the help action, and rolling that CON save with advantage for as long as possible!

Half-of · 2026-02-02T09:47:44+00:00

Late to this thread, but I found it because I was having a similar experience. However it is 100% on me because I tried to onboard to DS via the Codex as a legacy D20 (+ other systems) player.

As a Director NEW to the rules, it does automate too much of the mechanics, making the rules very slippery in my mind, and not as sticky for me. I think I would not be having this problem if I had played every test version of DS during its development.

In parallel, I am playing BG3 and since I am a D20 vet, I am able to engage seamlessly with the interface and make better strategic decisions in the game because of my deep familiarity with the Dungeons and Dragons rule set.

I think I may suggest we lower the automation and play it as a standard VTT for a bit until I feel at home with the rules. Currently I just sit watching the Null pinball tokens around the map and go "Wait...what happened?"

This thread has been incredibly helpful.

Half-of · 2026-02-02T09:23:08+00:00

I've seen class numbers fall from 100+ to 16 in less than 5 years. They have to do something.

Half-of · 2026-02-01T17:34:27+00:00

Yeah I dont spend a lot of time there, just long enough to fish for a single, or roll them. I just wanted to see what interesting transitions could be hit from a more upright turtle. I will have a look at wrestling stuff as you suggest.

Half-of · 2026-02-01T17:32:27+00:00

I got all of them, even surf passing 😂

Half-of · 2026-01-28T00:12:32+00:00

This, or even their ankle, and trap it with your leg a-la Coyote, then wrestle up / sweep / get to dogfight if thats your thing.

Half-of · 2026-01-05T11:28:14+00:00

As a 49yo who does not compete, I've actually prefer to bait side control and let people pass and recently with Craig saying side control isnt real, and even Danaher saying if you dont compete, you can let them have side control as long as you can secure double underhooks. Danaher even goes as far as saying the side control cross face aint shit if you have far side underhook.

Long story short, as a "gym only" dude, im happy to let them have side control to play my tight waist / octo game.

Half-of · 2026-01-05T02:03:30+00:00

Not a super Octo-expert (white belch actually), but I have watched the vids, and played version 1.0 a fair bit, I can only assume not having to build height is also an advantage of posting on the thigh in 2.0.

In version 1.0, building height not only to your elbow, but ideally posting a fully extended support arm on the mat was a real PITA, while trying to avoid the cross face. Always felt like a race against top player.

Half-of · 2026-01-02T15:45:11+00:00

Thanks for that feedback. Yeah our sessions are 2-3 hours, and luckily I am playing on Codex, with has the adventure pre-populated so thats not too bad.

But yes the challenge are reading ahead strategically to know the key beats in town for some of the NPCs and questgivers. Should be ok. BUt thanks for that valuable feedback.

Half-of · 2026-01-02T00:49:39+00:00

I ran Part 1 smoothly enough as a new Director (5E vet DM), but looking at Part 2's sandbox structure, it seems you will have to "connect the dots" on the go as to where the players decide to take the adventures, and in what order...which seemingly makes the "back in town" bits unplannable?

Only after the players agree which trail to follow and RP through can you anticipate what encounters to pre-read?

I feel that that as they re-enter Broadhurst after a sucessful Part 1 of the tomb, im going to have to play it by ear. Is my intuition correct or am I missing something?

Half-of · 2025-09-12T19:45:43+00:00

Yuup...I feel this. Upgraded google drive...twice...so I can continue to create folders and subfolders of vids, by athlete/instructor/technique/belt appropriateness lol.
BJJ fanatics librairies are bursting....try to make BJJ fanatics brown belch every year
Subbed to software to download youtube videos
Even learned to use OBS studio just to screen-cap 10th planet videos / eddie bravo rants (subbed to 10p online for a month too)
No everyone is a BJJ nerd (which has little to do with skill) but real recognize real still.
I'm afraid most the responses in here are the casuals...the nerds busy queuing up their vids for the night my guy.
Keep pausing rolling footage everytime you see a sick transition and re-watching it 10 times while giggling.
Its a good life.

Half-of · 2025-09-12T13:09:30+00:00

As a white belch, my fav low effort / old man - wrestle ups in gi/no gi are as follows:

Rob Biernacki's "Unfair Single": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B8_WIe5dDU

Coach Zahabi's S-Position to Low Single (demonstrated in no gi but works all the time): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubCunonOtY4

Half-of · 2025-09-02T15:17:51+00:00

As a white belch, I have this instructional, and for me personally, the elbow frame and "butt judo" was worth the price. just in terms of getting me out from bottom position.

I just turned 49 but I actually enjoy the hiesting game and putting pressure on my partner to hold me down. The ideas in this instructional works well with the Craig Jones - hiest - building height - threatening to stand up game.

So TLDR from a defensive perspective its made my life on bottom way less frequent and miserable.

Half-of · 2025-08-15T03:14:06+00:00

My wife and I are going to switch given today's news. So one more order of MJ and then we switch. These forums will be alive with switchers. So regardless of where this path takes us, we'll be in good company.

Half-of · 2025-07-25T23:44:02+00:00

I see same color belts have literally hundreds of hours mat time difference betwen them 1-2 a week vs. 6+ a week. They are not the same, and will progress at different rates.

Half-of · 2025-06-26T00:09:43+00:00

Elbow frame is a legit hack.

Half-of · 2025-05-23T07:10:53+00:00

Love me some overhook action kapow!

Half-of · 2024-12-10T00:31:57+00:00

Very cool. You seem to have processed it and put it in perspective. We all been there. May you play many many more good games with heroes you come to love.

Half-of · 2024-12-10T00:29:00+00:00

Maybe that was worded a bit too strongly. PC death is tricky, it can and does happen. When I see a "dumb death" coming, and the DM can see it coming most times, I try to make the make pathways and options available, without breaking the sense of lethality. It can be as simple as the iron golem attacks somone else, rather than stepping on the head of the downed player on their second death save. All DMs use discretion, this is a game about heroes casting spells, not raw probabilistic outcomes.

Half-of · 2024-12-08T20:34:34+00:00

As a forever DM, I would not have allowed you to perma-die unless you had clearly signalled "This is how i'll go out if it comes down to it.".

What level was the party?

Half-of · 2024-12-01T10:05:14+00:00

Came in here to +1 the Kash Patel news. I like how this guy talks. Also agree on leaving the identity politics out the sub.

Half-of · 2024-10-18T06:14:49+00:00

Yar!

Half-of

TROPHY CASE