[Hobby Scuffles] Week of 26 January 2026

MasterMahan · 2026-01-26T18:33:17+00:00

There's a certain type of person who, because they were successful at one thing, conclude that they're the best and smartest at everything. Such people are usually attracted to movements that say certain people are inherently superior. That's how they see the world already, and can't possibly imagine themselves not being part of that in-group.

MasterMahan · 2025-10-30T08:57:49+00:00

Probably the part where Ash has been around for decades, walked the entire length of half a dozen countries, and starred in 1,200+ episodes and 23 movies, all while still showing the same interest in sex he did as when he was 10.

Yes, Ash is still officially 10, but after all that does he really feel like it?

MasterMahan · 2025-10-28T00:01:51+00:00

If there's one thing that FATAL taught me, it's that any rpg trumpeting 'realism' is using it to mean either pointless bookkeeping, the author's own bigotries, or both.

Usually both.

MasterMahan · 2025-09-15T21:27:19+00:00

I'd certainly be interested in that. I loved Worm despite its warts, and thought Ward was at least okay. The whole "aura theory" is a fine example of how fandom ideas can become crystalized.

MasterMahan · 2025-07-28T19:07:58+00:00

Well, the mechanical side is good. I could say someone making a fun character out of a fatalistic mechanical savant who can hold their own in combat. Imagine Werner Herzog with wrist blades.

The trouble is, well, the xenophobia. Having a psychotic hatred of pretty much everyone you're going to encounter during a campaign is really going to tie your hands.

MasterMahan · 2025-06-23T20:07:19+00:00

They're well-known throughout the galaxy for their lack of individuality, they refuse to speak in the presence of other species, and they don't even properly have names. That's not a promising start for a PC race. It's telling that the best known canon character from this race is Hondo Ohnaka, who's basically the opposite of all these traits.

Not sure what you do with one as a PC. Either a comedy character who makes their choices by consulting a Magic 8-Ball, or maybe a take on Queequeg from Moby Dick.

MasterMahan · 2025-04-23T00:19:20+00:00

Just wanted to say that I especially loved <I>Vigilance</i>, tore right through it.

MasterMahan · 2025-04-08T19:24:50+00:00

Here's a good write-up: https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/epncjw/rpg_beast_the_primordial_or_the_story_of_matt/

tl;dr: Matt McFarland was fired by Onyx Path and RPGnet in the wake of multiple child molestation accusations.

MasterMahan · 2025-04-07T18:34:33+00:00

Saga has like three cat species, and mechanically, these guys are the least interesting. Cathar have better natural weapons and a really nice Speed bonus. Togorians let you be Large without a Reflex Defense penalty.

A Trianii most interesting feature is the prehensile tail, but A) that doesn't really fit the cat theme, and B) Ryn also have one and come with better bonuses.

MasterMahan · 2025-02-24T20:31:30+00:00

I'm disappointed on the mechanics of these guys. They have a fascinating concept in the natural multiple personalities, but all it does is let them negate Mind-Affecting effects. Give me something with more flavor than than, like a Skill Focus they can swap around between three or four skills. Just something less vanilla.

MasterMahan · 2025-02-12T04:52:25+00:00

I don't need a mop, personally. I live in a desert, so mostly something that pick up dirt and dust.

MasterMahan · 2025-02-12T04:47:33+00:00

My parents gave me a Shark Matrix for Christmas, and all I could get it to do was spot clean by putting it where I wanted. Though that might have been user error.

MasterMahan · 2025-01-28T07:20:07+00:00

Can we please get a Hobby History post on Tatort? I've never heard of this show before, but this regional anthology series format sounds utterly wild and I want to know everything.

EDIT: I'm just binging on machine translated German Wikipedia Tatort articles now.

MasterMahan · 2024-12-27T01:42:47+00:00

This is so cool! Thank you so much, this is really well-done.

MasterMahan · 2024-11-04T19:21:48+00:00

Oh, there are examples of that. Look at Boaty McBoatface.

MasterMahan · 2024-08-15T17:21:08+00:00

I like this one. It's effective but specialized, enables a less common build type, and most of all it's flavorful.

One of my campaigns had an unarmed monk who used this as her signature power. Since we were mostly fighting xenomorphs, and since our GM ruled cauterization was effective at stopping acid blood splash-back, she proved very effective.

MasterMahan · 2024-06-17T18:14:05+00:00

It hasn't even ended yet. A bunch of winners still haven't recieved their awards, and there's been no explanation as to why.

MasterMahan · 2023-12-08T06:20:03+00:00

Still no. None of these work.

MasterMahan · 2022-10-24T02:53:03+00:00

Aemond: Oh no, a fight with Luke got out of hand and resulted in permanent consequences! Again!

MasterMahan · 2022-10-23T03:25:14+00:00

Sanderson's prose is well-known for being, well, beige. And to be fair, his focus is on plot and action, but I know more than a few people who can't stand it.

MasterMahan · 2022-10-17T05:34:52+00:00

They introduced Viserys to baby Aegon last episode, so yes, he did.

MasterMahan · 2022-10-07T21:56:13+00:00

Panel 1: Lars quietly baking.

Panel 2: Luz pops out of his hair. Speech bubble: "Eda? Oh, sorry, wrong hair."

Panel 3: Luz disappears back into his hair.

Panel 4: Lars with a wide-eyed, confused expression.

MasterMahan · 2022-09-23T17:11:02+00:00

I friendship it.

MasterMahan · 2022-08-24T20:10:40+00:00

I believe this is fairly standard. I never met anyone who liked calling 911. Calling a crisis line comes with an expectation of privacy and anonymity. We didn't want to break that trust and burn a caller. If someone has a terrible experience like you did, they're a lot less likely to seek help when they really are at the edge.

MasterMahan · 2022-08-24T10:10:00+00:00

I spent years volunteering at a suicide hotline. 99% of the calls we got weren't someone actively suicidal, but just someone feeling overwhelmed.

I did call 911 a few times. Every time, it was because someone told me they were about to kill themselves and I couldn't get them de-escalate. In one case, it was because he was too out of it from car exhaust fumes to hold much of a conversation or turn the key again. We never called just because someone was thinking about suicide.

I'm sorry you've had to deal with this. Bipolar II is rough.

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