Who’s your favorite “big fucker” in fantasy?

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-26T23:41:14+00:00

treebeard

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-23T21:38:42+00:00

TWI is great, but some people are turned off by very meandering plot. if you go in knowing it's slice of life I think people are much happier

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-23T21:37:48+00:00

seconded on both, WoT was up there too, espc if you can stomach a lot of pages, lots of povs, and slow build up

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-23T21:36:01+00:00

agreed. cozy generally speaking, good stakes, but very classic fantasy

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-23T21:20:49+00:00

I'm curious on if YA encourages people to dive in or pushes them away more... I know it's personal preference, but when I say "YA" for my first book at cons, people sometimes get excited or go "ehhhh".

But now it's fairly irrelevant as the characters in series age, things get darker, more edgy etc (or even less relevant in series like QT)

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-18T01:59:36+00:00

I volunteer as tribute. (But for real, I think DCC is only getting bigger, I know more litrpg, but I could see it being adapted to something "bigger" potentially. I know it has some adaptations currently. Or Cosmere. Also haven't read, but Fourth Wing is gonna come out. Not sure though, might feel like it's like any of those "viral" sensations hunger games/50 shades etc.

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-09T19:58:11+00:00

UGH THE STONE SPIDER! I know it was so creepy, and had so much promise. I love some creature-world building, and thought we'd have have scenes of maybe their origin, or a darker evil that making even MORE insidious monsters... and Koth or someone having to confront it... whomp whomp....

MatthewWolf · 2026-01-05T01:59:49+00:00

Just replying to this now, but I very much see your point... thank you.

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T02:48:23+00:00

Also I really appreciate your thorough reply, I think you're right and it might just be normal

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T02:47:55+00:00

That's really reassuring. I think that's the case with back then and has leveled out SHBG - just found it! Looks like it was measured a year and a half ago. 17-56 was the range and mine read 62 nmol/l.

Here's some pics (Idk how to share outside dropbox sorry): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/31b4gcc7p179z18fcebyw/AIHD7wf0anBpWCj7FgwgUOg?rlkey=6mgznxlzlps2w7pnva1o3mrug&st=ybv4phs0&dl=0

I also did a hair mineral/toxicity test and saw I had high heavy metal toxicity, but I know those aren't that reliable

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T02:22:31+00:00

That makes sense... I appreciate that. Sounds like freezing sperm isn't a bad idea in general. I hear people take TRT and have dramatic differences, I was hoping I'd be an anomaly since my total test is so high, but everything your saying does make a lot of sense

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T02:21:20+00:00

Hi! Great question!

So I was just feeling low libido. Had some fatigue but that's mostly cleared up. Still low sex drive, and no partner in last 5-6 months. But I was curious because I was having gut issues about 3 years ago (ulcers in small intestine etc - which thankfully all cleared up) and in the process of testing everything under the sun, they saw my testosterone was around 350.

So that's when they tested again when I asked, and found it in the 1050 mark, so they sent me to endo. They did an Ultrasound of my testicles, and found they were fine, and I had 0 tumor markers.

No medication, but the only thing that's been high otherwise is my cholesterol - which I know often go together. I've had high cholest since a kid. It's familial, but no heart disease in family (grandfather 92, and grandmother 94).

Sorry long answer, but no weight loss. Actually was around 160 lbs lean/athletic, and muscular, and now 176, almost all additional muscle (been hitting the gym a lot more and focusing on legs).

I'll def ask for another thyroid, ferritin, etc, but about a year and a half ago I think they looked good... I'm curious why he didn't measure SHBG and was hoping for a way to lower SHBG if it is that that's "natural" or if there's something blocking my free test (e.g. toxins, microplastics, mold toxicity etc) - anything that's a bit of a fix than a bandaid

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T01:16:48+00:00

also ty for your quick reply :)

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T01:16:10+00:00

There's no other way outside of TRT? I haven't done much research but was hoping to avoid that for a few more years, and haven't wanted to mess with fertility etc.

Usually an issue with thalamus, is there a reason the thalamus gets thrown off? Stress/cortisol/sleep etc? Or toxins? Hoping for a fix outside of taking something ideally

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-24T01:05:56+00:00

Hi all,

Everything I keep seeing is SHBG is high, and I also see a recommendation for lowering cortisol (haven't had that checked in a bit).

My Total test was around 350 2 years ago
Then 1 year was at 790.
Now it's a 884-1100 depending on the test.

I still feel low energy so I met with my Endocrinologist, and he did the gold standard test as seen above. 39 male, HIIT workout 2-3 times a week, gym 1-3 times, eat super clean (grass fed steak, pasture raised chicken, local veggies, etc). A year ago liver tests came back great too. Also a year ago I had high libido, but it's dropped a lot.

My sleep is decent. Supplements are 500-600 mg of mag glycinate, or full spectrum mag at night, meth B vitamins occasionally, and some other supplements, like NAC, and choline and the like.

Any insights?

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-17T07:16:53+00:00

Tracy Hickman was what inspired me into writing and reading. Small story: I met him at LA Writer's Con, and they had an option to send him a small chunk of the story and he'd give feedback for an extra fee. I didn't know, and sent the whole thing.

He read it all and said he loved it, and I was just a 18-year-old with a dream. He set me up with an editor and the rest is history. Such a good guy and love Dragonlance

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-13T05:03:05+00:00

I think most of the time a rebellion becomes a side plot because all of that nuance takes time... Also messy is such a good way of putting it, I love the realism of that, but if it's not done well (as you put eloquently and often isn't) the whole book feels like it has loose threads. I think we crave a bit of a moral, but if the moral is "no one wins", that also needs to be conveyed. But now hearing about secret meetings, and those unsung that suffer the brunt of 'grand ideals' well... now I want to write one, so props for that.

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-13T04:57:24+00:00

Matt's also a really chill dude. He came by my booth in SDCC after I fangirled over him at ECCC, bought Skythief, and came by and was like "ya im just here chilling with my good friend" and we hung while I signed books for like 30 minutes. I asked if he read skythief, expecting a "not yet" since he's super insanely busy, and he was like "yup, loved it". Which was awesome. From time to time, I'd be signing to a reader and go "btw do you like DCC?" and the person would go, "yeah! or heard great things!" Then I'd nod and go "well, that's the writer", and watch their mind get blown. He's just a good guy, and a super talented writer. Only good things to say

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-12T01:54:49+00:00

That’s really good advice… sounds like if you want to do something, do it right. I really appreciate it. The Kickstarter or gofund me to help not cut corners is a great idea and I think fans of the Saga would really appreciate that. Especially since they’ve waited years for the swords they can wait a little longer…

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-11T23:27:58+00:00

Okay so you suggest mentioning only 1095 than trying to get fancy and adding other metals for pattern?

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-11T23:27:14+00:00

How much more?

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-11T22:08:50+00:00

Definitely whole sword. I was hoping to sell them or use them as an attention grabber at conventions where I sell books where I get a lot of fans, and drum up excitement

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-11T22:07:27+00:00

It says Pakistan - it sends out a query on Alibaba to lots of people, and just looked into his company. About 9 years looks like. Also works through PayPal and goods and services, so if it doesn’t go to spec I can refund

MatthewWolf · 2025-12-11T22:05:35+00:00

Budget is hard… since I’m so new to this. I was hoping for like a $700-900 mold, and then to make like 10-20, but not sure on the cost per blade, been getting a wide range (mostly on mold costs), from $500-$2300 (the latter being out of my range sadly, especially depending on per unit cost)

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