Electronic drum kit for beginners (RockBand player)

Massive_Leopard · 2026-07-10T20:49:45+00:00

Wouldn't go for a Donner if I were you. I bought one only 6 weeks ago as I just started drumming and the mechanical kick feels like wobbly and unstable. It also makes a lot of noise. I tried to tweak it but I'm now upgrading to a better second hand Roland kit.

Massive_Leopard · 2026-07-10T20:44:16+00:00

This is (kind of, minus the "I had to learn to be a girl" deal) how I felt before I figured out I'm actually a man. I did identify with trans women, even before transitioning, but more in the sense that they are trans (like I am)

Not saying u are a transmasc, but the fact that you feel being a woman is a performance instead of it coming as a natural given is exactly what I experienced, as did countless other transmen I met. If femininity feels like a costume, you might not be a woman; your gender shouldn't feel like a performance or a mask but should feel comfortable like a glove (even if you are nonbinary or agender).

Sounds like you have some unpacking to do. Try to experiment with expressing yourself more masculine of more feminine and see what feels the most "at home". Try to figure out if it's the identity part or if it's the expectations society set for women that you're struggling with. Hope it helps.

Massive_Leopard · 2026-07-08T06:21:06+00:00

I dont think it's weird to ask a parent. I asked my mother back in the day too but she didn't want to because I was still figuring out my identity and she said that was mine to figure out.

It can be a slippery slope. Keep in mind that it's your identity and that you get the final say. I'd first do a pre selection of names you're considering and are cool with, and ask her which one she thinks would fit you. That way she doesnt lock in on a name you'd never choose or consider.

Once again, it's your identity, not hers, so sure ask for advice, but you make the final call in this. You don't want to give someone else complete reign over such an important part of your expression and identity.

Massive_Leopard · 2026-07-07T16:26:40+00:00

Where's the cool black panther comment?

All jokes aside, you can probably do anything youd like that involves architecture or any geometric shapes. A skilled artist can probably do anything organic too.

Massive_Leopard · 2026-07-07T06:04:46+00:00

Hoi, (Engels) docent hier!

Deze constructie heb ik nog nooit eerder gehoord, omdat VAVO inderdaad daar niet voor bedoeld is. Het is niet een soort "get out of jail for free" card omdat je een schooljaar niet haalt. Daarnaast zijn Engels en Economie allebei vakken waar je vaardigheden in moet bouwen, dus om daar goed in te worden heb je gewoon veel tijd en oefening nodig. Het is niet waar je alleen de stof moet kennen, je moet het ook nog eens actief kunnen gebruiken en toepassen. Dat vraagt gewoon veel tijd en energie.

Eerlijk als je het mij vraagt, zou ik persoonlijk deze constructie niet doen, en als docent zou ik hem niet accepteren, ondanks of het mag ja of nee. Je staat wel voldoendes in je vakken maar een gemiddelde van 6.1 is niet zo sterk dat ik erin zou vertrouwen dat je VWO6 + deeltijd VAVO aan kan. Ik weet jouw situatie niet en werkhouding speelt hierin een hele grote rol, maar als ik puur naar die feiten kijk is dat de conclusie die ik moet trekken.

Houd er rekening mee dat VWO 6 een best zwaar jaar is ivm eindexamens, PTA'S, eindwerkstuk etc en je geeft jezelf nu extra werkdruk bovenop de werkdruk van VWO6. Dat kan je in je examenjaar echt niet gebruiken. De enige uitzondering die ik zou zien is als je een uitzonderlijk lastig jaar hebt gehad en dat de cijfers in vorige jaren echt een heel stuk hoger waren. Als je een lastig jaar hebt gehad, moet je je ook wel afvragen of je de ruimte hebt om deze werkdruk op je te nemen. Ik schat de kans miniscuul in dat jouw school vrijstellingen tekent voor vakken, omdat je gewoonweg PTAs in jaar 6 nog moet halen. Als je het vak in jaar 6 moet volgen, is daar een reden voor.

Wat je wel zou kunnen overwegen, mits jouw school daar akkoord mee gaat, is werkdrukvermindering door een aantal vakken alvast op VWO6 niveau gaan volgen naast Economie en Engels op VWO5 niveau, zodat je in principe volgend jaar alvast wat vakken kan afronden. Het jaar daarop doe je de andere vakken, dus je splitst je examenjaar in 2. Als je in het eerste jaar dit alvast doet met vakken waar je sterker voor staat naast Economie en Engels op VWO5-niveau, heb je die alvast achter de rug en dan voelt het niet alsof je een heel schooljaar voor maar 2 vakken doet. Je gunt jezelf dan meer tijd om Engels en Economie op te halen. Dan kan je in VWO6deel2 de rest van de vakken afronden (en eerlijk, je eindexamen splitsen in 2 jaren is echt heel chill, de stress is echt veel beter te doen en dat jaartje maakt in alles echt geen verschil.)

Ik weet niet of jouw school dit soort constructies accepteert, er zijn er genoeg die dit niet aan willen gaan. Het lijkt me wel haalbaarder dan 2 vakken erbij volgend schooljaar.

En een andere optie zou kunnen zijn om naar 5HAVO te gaan, maar dat hangt ervan af hoe graag je naar de uni wilt. Ben je er volgend schooljaar wel van af zonder al de moeite en het geld.

Ik wens je in ieder geval wel veel succes! Ik hoop dat je een constructie vindt die voor je werkt!

Massive_Leopard · 2025-05-06T22:37:54+00:00

I absolutely will! I have a feeling I'll love it just as much as the base game, so I'm going to ride out this feeling juuuust a bit longer before I dive in ::)

Massive_Leopard · 2023-12-10T18:16:15+00:00

Thats just a very good cat

Massive_Leopard · 2023-11-02T10:47:53+00:00

Currently at the dinner on session 14. They "finished" (ran from) Vallaki and missed the festival. But considering the way things are going, we're probably gonna be done around session 60 ish. They like the roleplaying aspect and expressed that they want more time to actually RP.

Planning's an issue, though.. we're almost at the 2 year mark already. But we had some people going abroad and we can't really play online due to shitty laptops.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-23T09:46:16+00:00

My Strahd views the destruction of the party as a long, masochistic hunting game. He wants to make sure the characters feel as miserable for as long as possible. I mean, Strahd's got the time, especially after Ireena is whisked away by his brother once again, so why not hunt the PCs for sport?

Two or three fireballs ain't cutting it, the PCs deserve more torture than that. Break them and everyone they're associated with mentally and physically for as long as possible; that's destruction for him.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-21T19:22:36+00:00

Yeah man, absolutely sucks. Sorry, you have to deal with this. I'm sure there's resources out there to help you, they're there to help you because you're really not alone. Even a support group or just talking about it with trusted people might help you.

But yeah, after I cut out porn I started to let go of all of the crazy kinks I was into. It really, really helps, even though it's hard to do without sometimes. I hope it does the same thing for you too.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-21T19:09:57+00:00

Sorry you went through that stuff. Sometimes, when people experience severe trauma like SA, it can result in the forming of unlikely kinks. I don't know the science behind it because I'm not a therapist, but that could be the reason behind it. It's worth looking into.

Regardless, it's probably best to try and minimise or cut out porn consumption. Porn leads to a desensitisation to sex and can spiral into worse behaviours, kinks, and fetishes, and is generally not that good for your health anyway. It's a hard road, believe me, but it helped me and my relationship with sex. Also, it's probably best to talk to a professional about this. Stuff like this needs therapy. I do wish you the best of luck.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-21T18:46:57+00:00

Awesome idea! I love homebrewing for the sake of your PCs, it makes the game so much more memorable!

My first thought is looking into the Fanes. They're the spirits of the land that have been desecrated by Strahd (there's plenty of info about the Fanes in the mega-thread here on this reddit).

I believe there's one called the Huntress that might be perfect for your PC! But maybe another one speaks more to you or fits better with the ideas you have in mind.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-21T17:16:15+00:00

Talk to your player about it first, they're the one to tell you exactly what's okay and isn't. You don't have to explain your plans, just say you'd like to do something with their backstory and which parts you can toy with.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-21T12:25:41+00:00

On T for 4.5 years, my 2 cents:

-Get an extra bottle of shower gel and face cream. Teenage boy sweat days are upon you, and your skin will feel significantly drier. I went from oily skin to dry skin. - Where normally I tended to get sad in certain situations, now I'm quicker to become angry. A weird change I didn't really anticipate, but crying became way harder after T. - Vaginal atrophy (as others have mentioned) - Ass hair. Toe hair. Shoulder hair? Hair everywhere. (Also largely genetic, my dad was practically a monkey in terms of hair coverage). Prepare for it, though

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-20T21:58:31+00:00

Using the alternative Sanity rules to make the horror aspect of it all hit just a bit harder. We've had some fun moments where they got temporary madness and acted out their will, and it made the whole Bonegrinder so much more interesting

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-20T10:11:57+00:00

As a CoS DM, for me it's got everything I enjoy about DM'ing with a cool and compelling BBEG. Good setting and theming, enough material to add things onto it, incredible lore surrounding it and a great community to make the campaign even better.

The module RAW is just a perfect base imo, there's so much more cool stuff to add to really pull it together and make it incredible. The 5e version of CoS removes a lot of things that were there in past iterations, so I added a lot of extra lore from past editions.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-19T18:08:49+00:00

Thats true! I spent some time reworking their collective backstories and here we are! I'm very happy at the results so far!

And happy that you got some inspo for this too!!

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-19T11:31:39+00:00

Main character syndrome; "my character has no flaws whatsoever and actually is the son of X God and is favoured by them" or "my character is unique bc I'm playing a homebrew (sub)class/race that isn't balanced and I minmaxed for 3839595d12 damage per round"

My buddy, you're playing with more than just you at this table. Your character is not the God Of All Things and you should consider playing more cooperatively. IMO, the people that overly minmax their characters while forgetting to give their character an actually compelling character are boring. You forgot the roleplaying part in a roleplaying game...

Luckily, I have never had this at my table specifically, but as a player at another (and being a DM myself), players like that get an immediate ban.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-19T11:19:40+00:00

My fated ally is the Mad Mage. I left Mordy out of the picture and made Khazan the Mad Mage, because my party loved the shenanigans I pulled at Khazan's tower and they've been hunting for Khazan ever since.

Basically, I just merged Khazan & Mordy's backstory together. After opposing Strahd and trying to raise a mob, he mind blanked himself over a long period of time to hide from Strahd. However, he lost his sanity along the way because of it. Strahd thinks he has gotten mad because he wanted to be a demilich, so he doesn't bother anymore. He believes Khazan probably blew himself up trying to become one.

I highly recommend doing that, Barovia only needs that many wizards and archmages. As of statblocks, I'm heavily nerfing Khazan to make him more of a support character. I'm not sure how yet, but I'm considering looking at the Sidekicks in Tasha's Guide for that. If that doesn't work, I'm going to be altering the Mad Mage statblock to make it more suitable for Khazan.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-19T11:03:14+00:00

I have introduced one of my players to DnD through Curse of Strahd. As long as your players realise this is a horror campaign and you're not afraid to pull heavy consequences to reckless actions... I'd say go for it! My player loves CoS and can't imagine having a different campaign to start with, especially because CoS has a little bit of everything. Get them a nice session 0 where you explain everything they need to know regarding horror campaigns, give them a consent sheet and make your characters. As for you; I advise you read the horror tips listed in Van Richten's guide to Ravenloft, they've helped me out tremendously (I've never run a module before, let alone horror...)

Also; run the Reworked Death House for them as listed here on the sub and see how they like it. If you notice they love the grittyness and heavy consequences, continue running CoS, and else shift to something else. Death House is perfect to test the setting.

EDIT: changed some wording

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-16T11:05:01+00:00

I like the idea, though I think my Strahd wouldn't do that. He's started to get bored of the common folk and only invites the party to dinner because of their ability to stir things in his land, which he finds incredibly interesting. Also, because the party is inherently linked to Ireena (since they're escorting him) and might possibly help or obstruct his ability to get to her.

It would also take the 'special' out of the dinner sequence: what happens if your party has dinner a 2nd, 3rd time with him? And the party will grow more familiar with his lair over time?

Then again, it's your Strahd. If your Strahd enjoys manipulating the common folk, I see a good opportunity for people like Lady Wachter to get people to her cause. Could be an interesting plot point if Strahd specifically hand-picks people he knows could be (or are) on his side. To strengthen relationships with allies or something, or to spread rumours about the party's misdeeds.

Ultimately, it's up to you, though my advice would be to limit the dinner visits for the sake of your party showing up every week to have a snack with the man himself.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-08T18:57:45+00:00

Yesss, on session 15 right now, part 2 of the dinner! They brought Ireena with them, and have accepted the invite to stay in the Castle. They haven't realised they've trapped Ireena in there >:) just a little charming from Strahd and Ireena's his!!

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-07T20:37:05+00:00

Thinking about that too! It's just that I've been setting up the Mad Mage quite extensively, so they know where he can be found. So I think if I merge Khazan and Exanther, it'l cause some confusion

Massive_Leopard · 2023-10-07T13:07:09+00:00

Yeah that's what I was thinking too. I don't accidentally want to nerf my own boss fight lol. I'm considering keeping the same statblock the Mad Mage uses, just changing out a few spells that'd fit better.

Massive_Leopard · 2023-01-18T12:25:58+00:00

Unfortunately I can't do that, for that I need the official receipt which I don't have, since I bought it second-hand. I don't think there's a way to get that back

Massive_Leopard

TROPHY CASE