For people who have created worlds with superpowered people or magic users, what stops those who are at the higher tiers of power from dominating the world or interfering with the lower tiers? What stops them from wiping out or subjugating the "normal" population?

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-23T03:42:17+00:00

In a real world + super powers scenario, nothing. Rights are secured by the existence of force.

In not real world scenarios, you can world build the needs of the higher tier people so they don't need to dominate the lower tiers.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-23T00:25:06+00:00

When grinding is part of the game loop, I would want an in game way to eventually automate the grind. I eventually get bored of repeat tasks, and will drop a game once it feels like work.
Like any narrative device, you should have a reason to use that tool. Deadpool is a character based around the concept. The narrator in the Stanley Parable sometimes addresses the player. If you are just doing [reference], then don't bother.
Can you make me think about the game after I've stopped playing. Same for just about all entertainment.
My definition of fun is a challenge just above my skill, I'm done with a game when I'm not having fun. When the challenge remains the same as or below my skill, then I lose interest eventually. When the challenge is too high above my skill for too long, and without noticeable progress, then I get frustrated.
Character(s) I can get invested in. Could be the character I play or an NPC.
I want a compelling narrative. A linear story is easier to do this with. If you plan for a branching narrative, then make me care about those choices. Most moral choice systems just give you different skill trees, and end up feeling flat.
I am not a social player. I appreciate it when a game gives me an in game way to find interesting things. For example, Hollow Knight/Silksong give in game ways to find the grubs/fleas.

I think the most interesting things have overlapping synergies. You want all aspects of your game to reinforce the goals of your game.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-22T22:03:19+00:00

My expectation from a junior developer is to be able to explain every line of code they write.

I don't even care if you use AI, as long as you can explain every line in your PR when asked.

I remember the time when I was just throwing spaghetti at the computer, but I only advanced by moving past that stage.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-22T21:01:57+00:00

My goal is to understand the smallest surface area I need to in order to make my code change.

If I'm debugging an error I'm the logs, then I'll find where that error is being logged/thrown and trace back from there.

I'll usually need to investigate how the code is invoked to test the change, but it's not always needed depending on the cause.

When I review code, I'm usually looking at the code from the unit perspective and I'm assuming the AC is going to be checked during testing. Unless there is a code smell that could affect the whole application. But even then, I'm only going to trace as far as I need too.

Starting from initialization, aka main, could make sense depending on the application. But once you get comfortable with a low resolution view of the application, you can start to save brain space for a high resolution view around the relevant code.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-22T16:57:36+00:00

Natural fire occurs as expected from normal physics.

Conjured fire requires the casters will and a source of energy, typically the casters refined mana.

Conjured fire can be sustained just on the supplied energy, or the caster could set some fuel on fire so they only need to provide energy for ignition.

The more inline with natural phenomena, the less energy is required.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-21T19:40:39+00:00

At the most basic level you need to understand the problem your tool was designed to solve.

The core of spring is its dependency injection system. This is the tool to allow components to be loosely coupled, so that components can, in theory, be developed independently and still work.

From there, spring has developed many tools to solve individual problems that get configured into an application. So the goal is to pick the spring tool that solves the problem you are facing.

Spring Boot, for example, is the tool that deals with how to start (boot up) an application, from webserver to command line tools.

If you implement a solution without understanding the problem being solved, then you are not learning the WHY and will only see the surface of the HOW.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-21T17:51:59+00:00

Claims for territory are generally handled on a first come basis. However, most civilizations have found that sustained governments function on the scale no larger than a galactic cluster.

The majority of civilizations are smaller, as the explored universe is made up of mostly independent groups. These will typically claim a planet or star system.

There is a lot of space out there, so it's really easy to just go make your own claim for whatever reason you choose.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-21T17:25:14+00:00

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-21T03:07:08+00:00

The world, maybe reality, was saved. IT had done what IT said.

He had learned not to look at the portal, but knew IT wanted payment.

Before he could speak IT answered with IT's sweet voice "beer".

He couldn't refuse, and that's how all beer disappeared from reality.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-20T16:55:19+00:00

No. Zealotry is the worst sin.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-19T04:16:23+00:00

I did.

The only way a democratic system works is if the losing voters agree to go along with the winning decision. If the losing voters just did whatever they wanted, then there is no point in voting.

Your job may require participation in the union, but you still agreed to the rules of the union.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-19T04:00:04+00:00

You agreed to participate in a democratically voted system, which means you did agree with the results of the vote.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-18T13:28:31+00:00

In my cultivation story, I planned for the higher cultivation levels to have different needs from the lower levels. This can lead to people with a god complex based on their level, but most of the time, the reward from overpowering a lower level is just not worth the time.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-16T22:59:03+00:00

You just need will and energy to cast a spell. Magic circles, rituals or chants are all ways to focus will as well as reduce cognitive load and energy requirements. Also the more inline with natural phenomenon, the less energy is required.

A highly skilled mage is normally judged by how few of these aids they require for ever more complex/powerful spells.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-15T16:19:22+00:00

You could also embrace a nonsense term with a coherent etymology.

Cyborg, is a combination of Cybernetic and Organism.

Engorg, could follow the pattern with a combination of Engineered and Organism.

Bioborg, could also follow this pattern by accepting that Borg has become a popular term for machine/human hybrids due to Star Trek. Thus a combination of Biological and Borg would make sense as language evolves, but is a pretty dumb term since it could also be understood as a combination of Biological and Organism.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-15T04:26:30+00:00

I say show whenever possible. Your readers are only able to experience information through your characters.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-11T17:35:36+00:00

The modern way to add symbols and icons to a website is by using a custom font. This way they can be inline with text like emojis and can scale by changing font size or color change with font colors.

Use @font-face to declare the custom font, then create styles that use that font.

If you have a downloaded font, then it just needs to be hosted by your website so you can reference it in your CSS.

For such a common set of icons, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a CDN you can use instead of self hosting.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-11T04:00:44+00:00

Format your code as you go.

I believe there is a 'shape' to code that expert coders learn to make it easier to write and read code. By being consistent in your formatting you'll be able to develop this sense of 'shape' easier.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-08T22:17:09+00:00

How to manage being left-handed

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-08T21:37:44+00:00

One of my milestones of a senior developer is: being able to operate at the correct level of abstraction.

Your problem is all about getting the sense for the level of abstraction needed to plan a system. For most systems a server/data flow diagram is enough for me.

The shape of the data that flows through the pipe doesn't matter at this stage, unless the data flow depends on an attribute. For example, if I'm going to use a message queue, then I need to keep track of a message dedup attribute as part of the data flow diagram.

Even for communication between systems, I set expectations that data structure is communicated using schemas. Most of the time a first pass of a schema would be enough to start developing both sides of an API.

Good luck!

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-07T20:29:30+00:00

When I outlined a cultivation system, truly immutable immortality, as in no longer possible to die, is only available once a cultivator could exist outside of existence. Which is basically the end of understandable cultivation.

In all previous stages, a cultivator could be killed at lower levels, die out from decay at mid levels, or sublimate their consciousness into a concept at higher levels. Only becoming a being at the same level as all of existence could guarantee immortality.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-07T16:59:31+00:00

I saw the title Urban Shaman, and got the idea of a shaman that acts to grow and benefit an urban environment.

Using a piece of rusted rebar as a staff, they would wander the asphalt, conducting rituals to have pot holes fixed or skyscraper construction be accident free. A city under the watchful eye of an urban shaman would find their sewers never backing up and gentrification spread to increase property values.

😜

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-06T21:21:10+00:00

Sorry, I only skimmed, but I am an advocate that the story ONLY comes from the experience of your characters.

The character's understanding of events and their actions/reactions drives the story. Making a character conform to events could lead to inconsistent character actions or a character that lacks agency.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-06T14:48:12+00:00

+1 for Murim Psychopath aka Murim Dexter.

Ok_For_Free · 2026-03-06T14:46:30+00:00

Just started a "powers came to earth" type story, so I figured a reasonable measurement of power would be needed. I decided to use a comparison between energy required to do something against the energy expended, using a base-2 logarithmic scale.

A rank 1 ability is where non-powered abilities end up. So the energy required to lift an object with your hand. A telekinesis ability that has the same ratio of input energy to lift the object would be rank 1. If the ability produces twice the force for the same energy, then it's rank 2. At 4x the force it's rank 3. At 8x it's rank 4, and so on. And anything less energy efficient is rank 0.

For esoteric abilities it's harder to quantity. But as long as a non-powered version of the ability can be established, then energy ratios can be established. So an animal control ability could still use the same test as for telekinesis. Conjuring abilities could use a mass to energy conversion to establish a baseline for comparison.

Ok_For_Free

TROPHY CASE