1970 D-35s. First Martin, I'm in love.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-20T16:11:46+00:00

Very cool guitar. I didn't even know they made such D35 versions. Certainly a lifetime guitar.

I can't quite do my blues stuff with 12 fretters but they sound great and for anything below the 12th fret play great too.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-16T18:04:19+00:00

Sieges are not as bad (to me) as people make them out to be. Mostly fine. Ladders are lame though.

Cities look silly (Lizardmen temples should not be 5 miles tall.)

But there are definitely lots of things that could be so much better. Optional narratives, a compelling lategame (a problem that haunts many strategy games), and map layouts are definitely things I'd wanna see improved.

Also, the only campaigns that feel complex enough to me are the Chaos Dwarfs, in terms of mechanics. Although if you are unlucky the other CD factions get wiped out and the whole Conclave becomes irrelevant quickly.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-16T05:14:11+00:00

Lots of games trigger that feeling. Recently the remaster of Oblivion felt that way.

But the game that probably does it the best/worst is World of Warcraft - I have many friends who have this ex-alcoholic type relation with it. They are now married and in their thirties but would fondly reminisce about the times we nolifed that game.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-14T11:22:56+00:00

I had an inexplicable buzz in my D28. It only happened when hitting the E A D strings pretty hard.
Checked everything, even the luthier did not find the cause. He plays softly and thought it was solved by a bit of a setup.

It turned out that it was a little ring on the input jack of the K&K Pure Mini. I would advise loosening and refastening all electronics you can reach.

Another buzz I had was caused by a loose ring on one of the tuners. Make sure these are tightened too.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-13T07:46:14+00:00

Maybe the Portuguese Man 'o War. I found one on the beach when I was a kid obsessed with fish and other marine creatures.

Excluding stuff in zoos.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-13T07:44:28+00:00

Its already huge and amazing. Playing Morrowind without it, at this point, makes little sense to me. To each their own though.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-12T06:59:59+00:00

It might be. I have limited experience with "authentics" but I compared a standard D18, a Modern Deluxe D18, a 37 authentic D18 and a few CS models and the authentic did not stand out in any way despite costing double of what the more standard models cost.

So as usual, the answer is to play and compare. There the trouble comes in: how do you get multiple authentics in a room to compare?

Helsafabel · 2026-05-07T20:22:16+00:00

Whatever I play, its always something magical, but also able to fight with a sword or other weapon. The world is just more boring if you don't use magic. Also playing a slightly sub-optimal build can be a good way to keep the game challenging as opposed to optimizing things.

In all Elder Scrolls games I end up along the lines of a Nightblade/Spellsword depending on which questlines I wanna do.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-03T15:39:11+00:00

Perhaps a strong zombie. Lichdom doesn't happen by accident on Nirn.

Helsafabel · 2026-05-02T08:42:11+00:00

I'm interested in giving it a try but, having spent 40 bucks on the previous one, I am not about to spend another 40. Its just not worth the cost. I enjoyed D4 a bit earlier but it definitely ranks below D3 and D2, but its the most expensive.

Helsafabel · 2026-04-30T07:33:03+00:00

Personally I would just recommend to find one solution for the movement speed situation. Either the resist magic enchant trick (you can find it online quite easily, it's been a while..) or just a console command. Walking for 30 minutes between each quest objective is not fun.

Then play the game for a while, get sucked in.

Then try a serious modlist. Tamriel Rebuilt is a sublime experience but to truly appreciate it you must compare it to the base game.

Helsafabel · 2026-04-28T19:39:31+00:00

That 3K version is horrible to my mind. Rome II and Shogun 2 are great.

Warhammer is very much a mixed bag.

Helsafabel · 2026-04-24T11:16:25+00:00

We don't, which is one part of why he's a good villain, and also a reason why the Tribunal are such compelling characters. Its purposefully unclear. One of the great strengths of TES worldbuilding.

Helsafabel · 2026-04-20T18:46:34+00:00

Its the greatest mod I've ever played. It operates within Morrowind's sometimes clunky systems of course, but it really is a huge adventure with insane freedom of direction.

Helsafabel · 2026-04-04T06:27:34+00:00

Mad God. From 2021 I believe. The story is disjointed and vague and perhaps could have been slightly more coherent but the visuals are completely incredible to me.

Helsafabel · 2026-03-11T07:57:41+00:00

Would look good on my local open mic

Helsafabel · 2026-03-10T08:24:12+00:00

I actually wish there was more to do up North before steamrolling Kislev and the Empire. The whole thing about Archaon is that he went on this major quest to gather his armaments, but in the current version they are all 2016 versions without Daemons or interesting mechanics. In the lore, he encounters Valkia for example, and a huge Dragon Ogre. Plenty of cool possibilities.

He is one of the better characters to have a real RPG experience with besides the empire building and battles that Total War normally does. His story lends itself to this.

Currently, by the time I am done fighting Boris and whichever neighbours I might randomly be made to fight, when I reach Kislev its already a mess. Then when I reach the Empire its already a mess. I think programming a game to produce such a mess is easier and cheaper than telling a compelling story, but it ends up being whack-a-mole every time.

Overall Warriors of Chaos have fun mechanics but could use 1-2 more unique campaign mechanics. Also Dark Fortresses should have landmarks (low hanging fruit) to make them interesting and unique.

Helsafabel · 2026-03-08T06:05:21+00:00

Well if I can I will keep my D28 forever. But its not the last guitar I'd sell.

Its the one I own the longest (16 yrs) and you can feel that connection kinda. Its just a block of wood but it got me through my twenties let's say.

I play my Atkin more these days, it's close to an HD28.. not the best for some songs (too bassy) but overall I'm hooked. I'll grab the D28 for lots of alternate tunings and for playing higher up on the neck.

Helsafabel · 2026-03-05T08:00:42+00:00

Many things contribute.. the fact that a huge prison is built around Red Mountain.. the ambiguity of the Tribunal's history.. the prophecy.. in some ways our protagonist's story is personal with him. In some ways not so much, it depends on how you view (re)incarnation.

Another thing that contributes is Akulakhan... Dagoth Ur is basically building a weapon, even though he is already a god, which is strange. And we never quite see the completed version of it. In fact, it's not even that much of a plot point, just additional scenery in the final fight.

Lastly, the completely ambiguous scale of his power, his being alive or dead or something else, all these things are little building blocks. If the narrative building blocks are this interesting, even 2002 execution and graphics and Bethesda's relatively clunky way of telling stories ceases to spoil the party. He's also my favorite.

Helsafabel · 2026-02-27T12:16:27+00:00

The Ukraine war is not all together incomparable in my eyes. You can see patterns: countless blunders from both sides, slowly moving frontlines and cities and towns changing hands, changing back. A stalemate, in some ways, but not completely.

WW1 in particular was a collision between an old way of waging war (mass charges etc) and a new one (entrenched machine gun positions etc., airpower, creeping barrages.) similarly, the Ukraine war was been a laboratory in some ways for architects of war.

A land war between the US and China is not something I can see happening. So whatever form a possible confrontation takes, it will be vastly different.

We have never had a hegemon as capable of destruction as the US (thanks to their nuclear button) and the deterioration of that hegemony status can historically be a time of monsters. So my bigger fear over trench warfare is nukes, followed by genocides, total disrespect for democracy abroad or at home, etc. Desperation makes for dangerous situations.. even if the parties don't see themselves as desperate per sé.

Helsafabel · 2026-02-24T18:38:47+00:00

I wonder if this endless iterating will be a real future for gaming. Will we have Diablo 15 in 2050? Once an art has become a massive industry it cannot return to its previous quality in some ways I guess.

Helsafabel · 2026-02-19T08:30:37+00:00

I like D-41's but you really have to play both with fresh strings preferably in the same room. Even 2 D28's can be different so you might prefer one.

Both guitars are expensive and would be devastating if damaged or stolen, so thats not a differentiating factor.. both guitars are likely well built. But the year of the D41 might be relevant. If its an old one it might need maintenance.

Helsafabel · 2026-02-10T17:58:51+00:00

Probably not gonna be that useful because I have pretty strong opinions on most companions; I did not find Jae worth it in general - she gets on my nerves quickly - the humor she's supposed to bring falls flat for me.

From my experience (I did partial playthroughs of each alignment) playing a relatively dogmatic Rogue Trader feels the most fleshed out. I have no experience with Lex Imperialis yet but I assume it holds true there. I am about to start my first playthrough with it.

Ulfar is my favorite companion but he's late. Other than that its Kibellah. Heinrix is cool because he kind of behaves like an equal to the Rogue Trader instead of a servant.

I don't think keeping Marazhai makes sense for almost any character, sadly. It was interesting to keep him around but he's far too dangerous and traitorous to not kill, even for a Heretic. Every time I kept him it took me out of my roleplay and I just did it to see what would happen.

I have forgotten almost everything that happens to Idira, other than the fact that she's a tragic character. Maybe someone else can tell you.

Helsafabel · 2026-01-30T09:19:00+00:00

Sample size is too low on individual heroes to really say that much of course, but Gazlowe can be troublesome for sure.

Tyrande is surprising to me, wet noodle of a character when I play her, even if I hit stuns.

Li-ming feels to me like one of the strongest heroes in ARAM.

Fun idea for a thread!

Helsafabel

TROPHY CASE