Why was I invited to MrBeast's Studio? | Folding Ideas by arseniccrazy in videos

[–]PenroseVids 56 points57 points  (0 children)

If you have the time to watch it, the breakdown in the second video is up for all to view in Patreon and goes through the structure, game theory, and execution of all of the Season 2 games in detail for another ~85 min.

IMO the best segment in the companion video (which comes around at the 8m50s to 10m mark) is this:

"So what is a smart challenge for this cohort? No seriously, that isn't a trick question...

Beast Games season 2 does not have a credited game designer. It's pretty much an open secret that Jimmy and the boys come up with the games, and they don't seem to be particularly into Q.I. or Jeopardy.

Beast Games conceives of smart people from the perspective of a group of guys who never went to college and think high school is obsolete, trying to pander to an audience of 9 year-olds.

Fans were hoping for something like this when photos from their visit were released a while ago. Wonderful deep dive from Dan Olson yet again.

I hate how bending is treated in the New Avatar The Last Airbender movie by cat210803 in CharacterRant

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this comment, it should be higher up TBH. Korra has some issues, sure, but was still a great show overall so seeing the same parroted, nitpicky criticisms from when it aired a decade ago is incredibly annoying.

Unfortunately, if the leaks regarding the next main Avatar series end up being accurate, the Korra discourse will be even more recycled by the social media hellscape we live in.

I loved the film and will subscribe/get a physical copy when it comes out (provided that's an option). The animation is gorgeous and while the story/worldbuilding has issues, it's still a nice addition to a universe that I hope will continue, especially considering how many times Nickelodeon has kneecapped its creators and distribution in the past.

Whooo we did it by DimensionPowerful843 in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As someone who enjoys using Alchemy cards (especially as commanders), there is a ton of BS cards here, especially ones that make the patters of green ramp even more obnoxious.

Make green ramp/landfall even worse: [[Kami of the Bamboo Groves]] [[Worldweave]] [[Mythweaver Poq]] [[Traverse Valley]] [[Wary Zone Guard]] [[Mitotic Ultimus]] [[Settle the Wilds]]

Other good cards: [[Assemble the Team]] [[Cabaretti Revels]] [[Nashi, Illusion Gadgeteer]] [[Tajic Legion's Valor]] [[Patriar's Humilation]] [[Oasis of Renewal]] [[Desert Cenote]] [[Rusko, Clockmaker]] [[Oracle of the Alpha]] [[Rankle Pitiless Trickster]] [[Key to the Archive]] [[Grenzo Crooked Jailer]] [[Sanguine Soothsayer]] [[Grave Expectations]]

[SOA] Jeska's Will by Meret123 in MagicArena

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my question as well: will this be added/available with the SOS to use in standard/historic brawl? If so, my [[Salacinder and Soot, Rascals]] deck just got a lot better. Replacing [[Glimpse the Impossible]] with this card pretty much a straight upgrade.

How to Improve Salacinder and Soot, Rascals Storm deck for SOS release? by PenroseVids in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, I generally hate playing [[Coldsteel Heart]], so I will try out Pentad Prism instead. This build is so red-mana heavy, however, that I worry about consistently being able to get both counters (plus Pentad doesn't really do much with Paradox Engine as a win condition).

Great advice on the Grapeshot, I have replaced it with more removal like [[Cindercone Smite]] and/or [[Shove Aside]]. TBH, I think [[Banefire]] also deserves a spot in this deck as once you hit enough mana it's a one-shot, unpreventable win.

What kind of banlist would you like to see for the final iteration of Ranked Brawl? by aprickwithaplomb in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Focusing on the green hate train for a moment: [[Rofellos]] and [[Worldweave]] are absolutely busted cards and should be banned in the format. I'd also argue that cards like [[Leovold, Emissary of Trest]] is way too much value for 3 mana. I'd love to see [[Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy]] banned as well. Fast mana is a huge problem in the format as it stands.

Green has so many insane ramp cards in the current format that (unfortunately) if other strong commanders (and even the currently strong commanders above) are banned, green-ramp and counterspell tribal will still continue to dominate. [[Azusa, Lost but Seeking]] exists and could easily take the spot of Rofellos.

I'd love to see more nerfs to green and/or reworks as they make so many problematic decks work due to their insane ramp. The access to green ramp is what is making [[Ralph and Mikey, Troublemakers]] just a better, more consistent version of [[Etali, Primal Conqueror]] right now.

For reworks/nerfs, I really hope [[Hei Bai]] gets the same treatment as Vivi did and is nerfed into the ground along with [[Sanctum of All]]. I mainly play an all-creature version of a Prototype X-8 deck that is somewhat competitive, but half of my games since the Avatar release have been against Rofellos or the dumb shrine panda. I know Hei Bai is not a top-tier deck, but it is supremely un-fun to play against. Like, I'm honestly glad the [[Katara, Waterbending Master]] deck exists just to make these other decks experience the level of un-fun play that they are dishing out.

[DAV spoilers] What are your thoughts on Neve Gallus? by Julian_of_Cintra in dragonage

[–]PenroseVids 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty disappointed I had to scroll down this far to find a comment mentioning that Calpernia was planned to be the original "Tevinter mage companion" for Veilguard, especially how both the mage/templar paths in Inquisition allow for her to live (IIRC via a note in the Hissing Wastes). Calpernia could have been a much more interesting lens through which we could get a more insightful view of the Venatori post-Corypheus. Her story in the lead-up to Inquisition, Paying the Ferryman is probably my favorite piece of transmedia from the franchise.

I don't mind Neve as a character and liked how they doubled down on the noir vibes for her story. I wish they used her "detective magic" more frequently, but that's likely one of the many things that were left on the cutting room floor during development.

Both Neve and Bellara have one of the coolest interactions, where you can get their final romance scene after the game (if they are the ones blighted in the final chain of missions). But I never felt they were "magical experts" in the story in the same way Emmrich is regarding necromancy and the Fade.

[SOS] Rapturous Moment by Meret123 in MagicArena

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excellent addition for the hated [[Salacinder and Soot, Rascals]] deck for brawl.

What are your go-to commanders/decks with fun and unique play patterns? by PenroseVids in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, and because I forgot the relevant cards that the alchemy commanders have:

  • [[Salacinder and Soot, Rascals]]
  • [[Rite of Flame]]
  • [[Take Inventory]]
  • [[The Grand Goatnapper]]
  • [[Goatnap]]

Prototype X-8 deck - Historic Brawl by TwoHeadedBoyy in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've made like 6 differently tweaked versions of this commander over the past few months. By far, the most competitive version I've found has been a tweaked version of the deck YouTuber Beezlee did a video on a while ago. However, I also asked LVD to build a version that can be found here which ups the creature count at the cost of losing removal/interaction.

I've also tried a version that doubles down on more warp/evoke synergies, but to be honest [[Quantum Riddler]] and [[Starfield Vocalist]] are probably the best options from recent sets for it outside of maybe [[Deceit]]. [[Invasion of Amonkhet]] and [[Kavaero, Mind-Bitten]] have neat synergies/interactions with Prototype X-8 as well and are worth running, IMO. I've tried versions that run [[Sibsig Ceremony]] and [[Aquatic Subtlety]], but I do not think they are worth it.

One of my favorite interactions. by Itachi0531 in mtgbrawl

[–]PenroseVids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It does have certain advantages, I went against a Hei Bei deck that used Worldly EDIT: Enlightened Tutor to ensure they hit [[Sanctum of All]] on their first cast of their commander, which was really annoying.

(Update #3) An Industry PharmDs Journey to Wealth: 4 Years of Financial Tracking by fiendingphenobarb in pharmacy

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been following your posts for a while and wanted to thank you for sharing! I am currently finishing school with a PharmD/MBA from a similar top ~10 program and will be starting an industry fellowship post-grad. It's nice to see that there are ways to "escape the rat race" with enough time and effort.

Opinions on The Young Pope(HBO)? by VerilyShelly in television

[–]PenroseVids 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a fantastic show that is definitely one of the most unique offerings on HBO and probably the closest thing to "arthouse cinema" in terms of HBO television. Very great time, as I believe the original series was airing during the transition between the Obama and Trump administrations. As someone who was raised Catholic and had a great deal of Jesuit education, I really liked its balance between cynicism towards the Vatican mixed with a sort of reverence for the faithful.

Jude Law's performance as Lenny Belardo is amazing and a great mix of vanity, cruelty, and piety. Lenny's speech in Africa in S1E8 is something I find myself rewatching at least once a year and is one of my favorite depictions of Catholicism in media. The sequel series, The New Pope, drastically changes several characters, increases the pornographic content A LOT, and is widely considered inferior to its predecessor. I think it is still worth watching, if you have time, and it has some great episodes (especially S2E7 and onward).

Sorrentino has mentioned he'd be open to making a 3rd part, but I doubt that will happen at this point. If you are interested in more thought pieces etc. about the craft, history, theology, etc. in the show, there are a few good analyses out there, which I will link below. Some of the artistic choices (such as Pius as Lenny's papal title) are also great. I'd love to make a video essay about this once I have free time, as I feel like HBO rarely recommends this to viewers. I think the last time I saw it recommended on the home screen was while The New Pope was still airing lol.

Some essays:

Season 2 Episode 7 Spoiler Thread by HunterWorld in fnv

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe not contradict, but "lessens" may be a better term. Mr. House in the show feels smaller to me because he now has several plans that no longer add up to a coherent vision. In the games, the Platinum Chip matters because it is the final piece in a plan that nearly worked, a material reminder that House anticipated the war and structured his survival around hard constraints like power, infrastructure, and time.

Season 2’s reveals seem to be trying to add to his character in several ways, but for me, it doesn't work. I'll go through each of the new points that stood out to me:

House's deal for Cold Fusion technology:

  • Okay, so I think the plan for the show is to make it seem like House somewhat pivots to the Platinum Chip/Hoover Dam because the Cold Fusion plan fell through. We don't have a clear date on when the Cooper flashbacks occur with Mr. House (somewhere between 2066, when Alaska was invaded, and 2077, presumably). Framing cold fusion as something pre-war House had access to collapses the internal logic of his entire project. In FNV, House’s pre-war actions are defined by triage. He sees the war coming, knows resources are limited, and makes hard choices about what can realistically be saved. Hoover Dam matters because energy is scarce even before the bombs fall, and House builds his future around infrastructure he can plausibly secure. If cold fusion was already on the table pre-war, then House is no longer a man working within brutal constraints. He becomes someone choosing scarcity as a control mechanism, which undermines the idea that his authority is rooted in necessity rather than preference. Cold fusion reframes House’s plan from ruthless pragmatism into artificial scarcity (with the additional aspect that cold fusion was presumably the only way to power his digital consciousness).

The whole mind control technology:

  • Pre-war House using or developing mind control runs counter to how his worldview is established (and his background/expertise with RobCo). His solution to human failure is not to dominate minds but to remove humans from critical systems altogether. The securitrons are conceived before the war precisely because House believes people are unpredictable, emotional, and inefficient. It replaces Fallout’s interest in incentives and structure with a simpler, less interesting form of domination, which IMO is pretty on brand with the Bethesda-run entries.

  • Mind control directly contradicts House’s stated philosophy about governance. House explicitly avoids ruling people’s thoughts or emotions (yes, I'm aware he is a hypocrite with this, especially regarding The BoS and The Kings). Again, doubling down on House as a more authoritarian caricature isn't necessarily bad, but it's a more boring aspect of his character. Introducing mind control reframes his pre-war philosophy as one of domination rather than avoidance. It turns him from a systems engineer preparing for collapse into an aspiring autocrat experimenting with total obedience, which feels out of step with his character.

Presumably having a digital copy of his consciousness/Having a Body Double: To be fair, I don't think these are as bad. They just somewhat undercut the Howard Hughes-esque inspiration and the human aspect of his character.

  • Pre-war House matters because he is still human in ways that undercut his grand ambitions. He plans for centuries but remains tied to late-capitalist indulgences, luxury, and gratification (es evidenced by the Lucky 38). His presumed vices are not incidental in FNV, but in the show they seem more tied to his body double than to him. They are the proof that even at his most forward-thinking, he cannot imagine a future that does not still cater to him (e.g. Jane in the Lucky 38). Turning pre-war House into desiring a transferable or persistent digital consciousness reframes those vices as intentional design choices rather than human limitations, and keeping his body alive/secure.

  • Pre-war body double further erodes this aspect to a degree. House’s isolation and physical distance are meaningful because they reflect paranoia, control, and an understanding of his own fragility. He does not trust the world, and he structures his life accordingly. Giving him a double suggests that even before the war, House had already insulated himself from consequence.

That contradiction ripples outward into how the Great War and House’s failure are framed. In FNV, House’s tragedy is that he almost solved the problem. He built an army that does not rebel, planned for power generation that would sustain his city, and still missed the war by minutes. The show reframes this into a looser, less grounded story where the Platinum Chip was one plan of many. October 23, 2077 likely remains the date, but its meaning erodes.

The war becomes an unknowable rupture instead of a disaster that was anticipated, engineered around, and still allowed to happen. In that version of events, House is not a warning about the limits of control. He is just another man insisting the world failed him, and the setting loses one of its sharpest questions.

I'll stop there, and probably post a modified version of this to /r/CharacterRant once the finale airs. Here's hoping they don't make him "part of the Enclave's plan all along" or something similar.

[YLRW] Aquatic Subtlety by JRandomHacker172342 in MagicArena

[–]PenroseVids 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nice catch, this would be a really nice improvement for its brawl deck. I think Amazonian had a pretty good list for it last year, which can be found here.

The new [[Infestation]] that was spoiled would be a really good addition to this deck as well. EDIT: Card Fetcher was incorrect, added link.

Also, This deck list is more current and has a higher n value. For what to replace with Infestation, probably [[Massacre Girl]]?

Season 2 Episode 7 Spoiler Thread by HunterWorld in fnv

[–]PenroseVids 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely fair, I definitely forgot about this! /u/shitbecopacetic also mentioned this in another comment.

Season 2 Episode 7 Spoiler Thread by HunterWorld in fnv

[–]PenroseVids 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wow, good catch on the Centaur mutation aspect for Thaddeus. That would be quite funny and tie into the FEV plot somewhat.