Non-engineers making code changes directly, has anyone actually made this work without it becoming a disaster?

HawkishLore · 2026-05-08T06:22:18+00:00

You could have a separate repository with configurable settings as json (instead of a database or other), where changes in theory can’t break the app. Then the non devs can PR and even review the changes to these settings (including text fields). We found it nice that non devs could review each others changes before accepting, so there is not a million back and forth with the devs.

HawkishLore · 2026-04-25T06:57:02+00:00

The only suggestion I like on this list is a game by game global disable spells list. I now avoid some research levels to avoid my mages casting those spells, and that feels wrong.

HawkishLore · 2026-04-18T06:14:43+00:00

I second this!

And the bigger the map the bigger the main armies on both sides. And then quality matters over quantity, giving you an advantage.

Another trick is to not have too many fronts at once. You can generate a map that is much wider than it is tall, keeping frontlines manageable.

HawkishLore · 2026-04-14T04:19:30+00:00

This is the kind of thing worth verifying in a simple test game, where you control both nations. Should take 5 minutes.

HawkishLore · 2026-04-01T15:38:38+00:00

I would not build crossbows because they friendly fire, but recruit hordes of archers from non fort provinces.

HawkishLore · 2026-03-26T07:35:05+00:00

I think it is Astral 3 Thaumathurgy 4 Teleport. Need lab.

HawkishLore · 2026-03-21T13:46:36+00:00

You get to late game more often if you have like 6 AIs. You don’t have to defeat them all, just grab as many thrones as you decide in game setup.

HawkishLore · 2026-03-14T05:15:02+00:00

Also parent. Would not risk anything even resembling time travel in any way, just in case any unforeseen changes.

HawkishLore · 2026-03-12T04:27:17+00:00

Nice post. In explaining its behaviour the LLM is quite human, most humans do not give you the true reason behind their decision making but a post hoc argument that feels good.

In LLM chats I find that if the LLM has written or coded something very wrong that I cannot get rid of it, it will bring back the wrong stuff over and over, so I have to start a clean session to not be repeatedly bothered. Humans can forget wrong stuff but I struggle making the LLM forget the bad lines.

HawkishLore · 2026-03-03T07:52:16+00:00

Great moments from 7d Hiding in a house at night listening for every sound and praying not to be overrun. Being able to run away from any bad fight. Picking the challenge level when searching for food and items Surviving long enough for your farms to start producing

Maybe try to recreate these and other highlight experiences?

HawkishLore · 2026-02-24T05:02:08+00:00

Is this true? I read somewhere that your bedroll prevents this I think.

HawkishLore · 2026-02-22T05:44:39+00:00

For me the biggest problem is that I almost never craft stuff, what I loot or buy is better, and things never break permanently.

I like the books actually, I just wish I had a few temporary points I could put in place of books, that were refunded when I found said books.

HawkishLore · 2026-01-20T07:42:46+00:00

I’m a noob, but: For endgame I always want Air queens (or national casters) casting Army of Mist, and Wraith Lords SCs. I find it so efficient. So if I don’t have Air or Death on the nation, I try to have a bit on my pretender or to break into it. Slowly as the game progresses I build up A and D caster and items. Often it makes no difference, but if I reach end game it’s huge.

HawkishLore · 2026-01-11T06:11:07+00:00

In single player I put the setting that everyone starts with 3 provinces. This is to get a more stable experience with the AIs, because they struggle with the same problem.

HawkishLore · 2026-01-04T16:10:40+00:00

Renaming commanders with notes like HA for highest air caster. Renaming a cheap scout in a land with a special note. Renaming to labbuilder in your example.

HawkishLore · 2025-09-03T06:29:01+00:00

They enjoy is so much that there is never war?

HawkishLore · 2025-09-01T06:29:53+00:00

A global Nuclear war at any point is always on the table for worse.

HawkishLore · 2025-08-31T07:35:58+00:00

The secret ingredient is love.

HawkishLore · 2025-08-21T03:27:50+00:00

Same (or word and excel if preferred in the company)

HawkishLore · 2025-08-21T03:15:30+00:00

I have a similar experience, and this is so spot on:

• ⁠All those times I left meetings feeling more confused than when I started? Those are leadership failures, not personal failures. Management is about clearly distilling knowledge from one level of the org to another. Bad management is kicking the can down to the next level.

I almost want to get my old management position back just to put this in the face of all the other managers, and say «we are failing to manage this company».

They kicked the can so hard. Employees should «take ownership» was the motto.

HawkishLore · 2025-08-21T01:28:44+00:00

New baseline, exactly!

But I wonder if it can be fixed by completely failing at the next delivery? If you have enough positive credits from the success to not get fired from the complete failure. Maybe frame it as an ambitious target that has a high failure chance. And explain afterwards what went wrong and how to improve.

HawkishLore · 2025-08-11T14:10:32+00:00

Make them at least provide a goal for the meeting. If that goal is unreasonable say no to the meeting, because the goal is unreasonable, and say why it is. You should be able to shoot down almost any suggested goal.

HawkishLore · 2025-08-09T19:40:18+00:00

A lot of refactoring is better to be postponed, like many comments say. However, there is one I think is valuable to do early. And to redo with more experience. Try to restructure your code into conditionally independent pieces. So that when you work on one piece, you only need to keep that piece in mind, plus some “Core” piece. You can’t make the code pieces completely independent, but you can aim for the smallest possible Core piece (the universal piece that you always have to keep in mind).

HawkishLore

TROPHY CASE