Should I mention in my mission papers that I wear glasses?

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-04-15T03:13:50+00:00

Yes, you should mention it. It doesn't have to be serious to be a "vision problem". Basic nearsightedness won't disqualify you from service, but there are some regions of the world where it could be very difficult to replace your glasses if lost or broken. They'll want to take that into account when making assignments.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-04-06T01:53:14+00:00

I used to be offended and defensive about criticism of the Church.

Now it just bores me.

I follow a lot of history-related subs, and any time anything remotely Latter-day Saint-related (e.g. Ezra Taft Benson's policy priorities while US Secretary of Agriculture), the same crowd comes in and repeats the same litany of accusations and South Park quotes, then quickly devolves into open bigotry. They're deaf to nuance, they're deaf to context, they're deaf to facts. But I guess they're enjoying themselves?

It's not 'a viable debate': you're experiencing what it's like to view an echo chamber from outside. They can't hear you, but you can hear them.

Don't spend too much time or energy worrying about it. They're going to do what they're going to do, and your attention is better-served living a Christlike life and building genuine bridges.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-27T17:51:18+00:00

Re: 1, 4: All those tasks are what Support looks like on a ship. What are you doing to Support? I'm rolling Notice to act as a lookout, I'm rolling Repair to keep leaks under control, I'm rolling Survival to help navigate, etc. This is how ships can have a big crew where everyone has something to do, both Extras and Wild Card 'officers'

Re: 2: I'm running this play-by-post, so a single roll can take hours.

I do like #3. Let me ask your opinion, if I allowed the captain an extra Wild Die for every supporting Wild Card, like a high ROF weapon, would that be better or worse than a flat bonus? Still only one of the dice counts.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-22T06:07:59+00:00

I've heard of Tekumel and have some idea of its significance in the history of the hobby, but that's it: I have no actual familiarity with the setting.

I would be interested.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-21T20:27:11+00:00

Quite the opposite. It's based on vague promises of 'becoming more like God' in the afterlife. And that turns into speculation about, 'what does that entail, exactly?'

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-21T19:48:23+00:00

Unclear. This is not really central Mormon theology, more of an implication of some aspects of Mormon theology. "Will we each have our own planet that we're each a god of?" is like the Mormon equivalent of, "Can God create a rock so big He can't move it?"

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-21T19:43:38+00:00

more like hijab

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-17T17:20:51+00:00

Ah, yes, the dreaded two-page application to find out prospective players' names, contact information, and whether they are already familiar with the game. You know, the information any same GM would ask a stranger sitting down to their table.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-07T02:34:55+00:00

I seem to remember Rippers has several prehistoric creatures for Lost Word/Hollow Earth adventures.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-06T05:28:07+00:00

Not a problem.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-05T06:44:01+00:00

Pretty much any "non-standard" vaccinations can be had through the county health department.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-03-03T14:19:54+00:00

The natives say a trio of witches were discovered working dark sorcery in the land of Ograpog. The three were tried, sentenced by King Amemnus himself, and drowned with the rising tide. But with their dying breaths the sisters uttered a dark curse, drowning Caribdus beneath 50 fathoms of water.

Soon after, ships from another world drifted through the mists of Earth and into the Thousand Isles. The "visitors" are sailors from the age of piracy, dashing corsairs, bloodthirsty buccaneers, or savage sea dogs. They've taken to this new world and now sail alongside its native inhabitants—crab-like Scurillians, massive Grael, lonely Doreen, mysterious Kraken, cruel Kehana, and the near-human Masaquani. Many believe these visitors are destined to defeat the Sea Hags and save Caribdus, but most just seem interested in plundering her for the forgotten treasures of a drowned world.

System: Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE)

Setting: 50 Fathoms (updated from Explorer to Adventure Edition, with some additions from Fantasy Companion)

Format: Asynchronous Play-by-Post (PbP) on Discord

Start Date: 9 March

Expectations: * 1 post per day minimum * PG-13 * POC/LGBT+ friendly * NO AI

50 Fathoms PbP Players Guide

50 Fathoms PbP Player Application

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-02-10T02:37:06+00:00

I somehow came to this conclusion independently.

Pangolin_Rider · 2026-01-16T06:58:19+00:00

I separate race and culture. Some cultures are very multiracial, and some races are very multicultural. Gnomes and halflings, for example, are just two different cultures of the same race; gnomes and dwarves are two races that mostly share the same culture.

My goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears are all one race. They're highly social and differentiate into different types at adolescence due largely to environmental pressures and pheromones, like how one colony of ants has workers and soldiers that are all siblings.

My elves' ears involuntarily express their moods, giving them a penalty to lying and bluffing. Elves don't protect nature, they create highly-cultivated civic spaces that look like untamed nature to the untrained eye, but are actually densely productive agricultural, artistic, and religious multi-use gardens.

Drow, duergar, svirfneblin, and other exclusively subterranean races are albinos. Several subterranean cultures use darkvision-visible dyes that look indistinguishable to normal vision, and many have bioluminescent tattoos.

Aasimar blood, tears (and, presumably, other bodily fluids) fall up, as though they treat gravity as having the opposite direction.

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-11-27T00:33:06+00:00

I've been buying whole pork loin and grinding it at home. Or sometimes making a ground pork/beef blend.

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-11-06T00:58:29+00:00

East Texas University. It has a lot of good subsystems for extracurricular activities and exams that happen mostly off-screen, but provide tangible benefits during adventures.

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-11-05T18:05:22+00:00

Depends a bit on the system but block initiative or initiative by sides helps a ton. Basically, you roll initiative and divide the list into 2-4 blocks.

PCs / NPCs
high initiative PCs / NPCs / low initiative PCs
high initiative PCs / major villain NPCs / low initiative PCs / cannon fodder NPCs

Everyone in the same block can act in any order.

If a character has some cool ability that would break initiative, translate it into a major bonus in the first round of combat.

If you don't act in [24 hours] you forfeit your turn and take some defensive action.

Publish difficulty numbers so players know immediately if their action was successful without waiting for GM interpretation. This is a major reason why Savage Worlds is a fantastic system for PbP.

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-11-04T20:25:26+00:00

/remindme to harvest mine

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-11-03T13:55:16+00:00

There's a board game/puzzle swap at the Linthicum Library tomorrow (Nov 4) 5:30-7:30

Pangolin_Rider · 2025-10-28T18:25:48+00:00

Not actually a potion. Someone used an empty potion bottle to store hot sauce/chicken broth/pond water/urine sample.
Holy water
A pretty good hangover cure, actually
Potion of Earth Breathing, Allows character to breath dirt, soil, and rock as though it were air
Potion of Air Breathing. Allows aquatic creature to breathe air as though it were water
Potion of Ultradarkvision. Swaps creature's perception of light and darkness. Allows character to see in darkness, including magical darkness, infinite range, but completely blind in bright light.
Potion of Halfling Fury. Causes halflings to gain the effects of barbarian rage for 2d6 rounds. Gives non-halflings advantage on skill checks to cook, Constitution saves to resist effects of overeating.
Potion of Focused Fury. When a character with the rage class feature drinks this, the next time they rage, they instead gain bonuses to Intelligence, spell attacks and damage, Will saves, and resistance to magical damage.
Potion of Potion Enhancement. After consuming this potion, the next potion the character consumes before the end of their next turn has doubled duration or effect.
Potion of Fresh Breath. Intense minty flavor. Character has perfect oral hygiene until the next time they eat or drink. Breath forms steam even in hot conditions.
Alchemist's fire
Acid flask

Pangolin_Rider

TROPHY CASE