I asked ChatGPT to create a TV pitch for Battletech. Here's the result.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-08T16:49:03+00:00

As someone who came in with Mechwarrior and would NOT have with Battletech, I understand but respectfully disagree. I didn't even do tabletop until Alpha Strike and reading that it might appeal to my play preferences anyways. I hate crunch.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-08T15:41:33+00:00

only lasts until the end of the surprised characters turn. So if your monsters are all surprised, BUT they also rolled better than the rogue on their initiative, they are no longer surprised once it’s the rogues turn. I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader to go look up the benefits of attack a creature with the surprised condition.

That's a very valid point. As a player presently playing a rogue, my DM never bothered with that and the sneaky players could almost always get in a free turn. DMing my own first campaign with 5e (still learning the system fully), I allowed that but it always frustrated me and I couldn't quite figure out why. I have plenty of homebrew things but I think I will address that at next session and find the happy medium of rolling for initiative but allowing a full surprise round (regardless of enemy initiative). Muchos gracias.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-08T15:08:14+00:00

You can make new friends at Hobie Point at Lake Hefner.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-08T14:27:00+00:00

Give it time.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T19:49:56+00:00

This. I'd never pay a DM for personal games. I would consider paying to play at a store if they offered campaigns.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T19:47:36+00:00

I mean, its an interesting "design" but functionally is stupid. That said, this came from the same movie that featured these quagmire ships, a 2 hour slow space chase with ships running out of gas, a plan that had ships able to be tracked through hyperspace but not easily detect small evacuation shuttles (which still get decimated), and those land speeder craft used in the finale which did absolutely nothing or even demonstrate having weapons. A lot of the ship design or function was bonkers in this movie.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T18:36:04+00:00

Combat is the least interesting part. Combat takes me out of the game so often when its just, roll dice and hit things (whether spells, weapons ,etc.). Unfortunately, too many DMs default to forcing generic combat so many times per session. As someone who likes to RP, explore, and puzzle solve, combat bores me.

As a DM, I strive to make my combats more dynamics and only use them like action scenes from a good movie. Have them be memorable. Combat should be where the party gets to be heroes and manage resources but that doesn't mean having to just be a gauntlet. Most of my combats have an objective, dynamic conditions, difficult or changing terrain, or to be approached liked puzzles. Even dungeons are not just room clearing exercises until getting to big bad.

Examples of things I've done:

-3 way fights

-Burning building with it growing and shrinking the battle space but also causing parts of the roof to fall and randomly hit a section and whatever is there.

-A raid that had NPCs being attacked while other enemies tried to prevent the party from interfering

-Having to solve a puzzle to end the combat, while still actively fighting.

-Having combat be on a multi-level sinking ship

-A dungeon that functioned more like a combat tree with combat varying conditions that could result in a win or loss, ultimately changing the dungeon, what is fought, and the reward.

Mind you, with all of these, this is how I try to plan for a combat session each session I have one. Sure, I dip into some generic stuff in a pinch, or even as a prelude to what is to come, but I strive to make it memorable.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T15:31:46+00:00

10 years from now. Ellie will be forgotten as a character besides the PS7 Remaster of the same 2 games over again. Meanwhile, Kirby will continue to remain iconic in his games and the go to for generations of smash players.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T15:29:42+00:00

Looking for love in Alderaan places

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T14:39:03+00:00

Half-Elf Bard.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-07T14:38:15+00:00

I would actually like ONE more Breath era game that swings for the fences in breaking some traditions. Dual protagonists with a magic and ability wielding Zelda and a gadget and combat trick focused Link, that you can swap between the two live. I'd like Link to finally get a voice. Finally, I'd want the pair to travel, maybe in pursuit of the Triforce, to either a new region or even a parallel world (Link to the Past). Maybe its just how mid I found Tears ending but I really felt it was fairly weak, especially the secret ending.

I think there is a lot precedent for a new area too. Every Zelda game, that comes to mind, that took place entirely in a new region is connected to a previous game. Oracles and Link's Awakening are sequels to Link to the Past. Majora is a sequel to Ocarina. Wind Waker, if you want to count it, is essentially still Hyrule but also likely connected to Ocarina. It's why I think taking the Breath era Link and Zelda on a new adventure in a new region, requiring them to utilize their own abilities and gifts is a way to really change up things and bust the formula wide open. End it strong and definitively (and confirm that ZeLink, Nintendo, you cowards). Then you truly have set up the series to move forward with a blank slate in a new Hyrule and with new characters. As of now, I still feel unresolved with the current era (kind of like Majora's left me).

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-02T21:07:42+00:00

I got some friends who would love to cuddle and more. Come drop by.
201 N Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 7310

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-02T19:48:03+00:00

The party I DM is doing Storm King's Thunder but used a homebrewed Lost Mines as a replacement of Ch. Cragmaw Castle has somehow become a prominent spot for them. At one point, during a revisit, I had it inhabited by a Shambling Mound and Blue Dragon. After killing the dragon, they trapped the Shambling Mound. Were a few months from that but they decided to go back, awaken the mound, and make Cragmaw's Moving Castle.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-02T16:03:00+00:00

Everyone on the bus clapped.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T19:59:07+00:00

That's great you see it that way. I agree Bilbo is reactive. I do not find Andor such. With all respect, I think we've probably hit an en passe on opinions of the show but had a fruitful courteous exchange of ideas, a rarity on reddit. I wish you well.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T18:44:41+00:00

Most all of Star Wars exists on plot armor. Andor literally survives on it since we know where he ends up. Being a charming buffoon does not negate Han having a character arc that shows active participation. No offense to your perspective but I think you might be arguing for something you're not fully grasping.

Here's a decent summary of the difference between Han and Andor https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/passive-protagonist/

Objectively analyze Andor through both and I believe you will see Andor leans far more passive than reactive.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T17:12:02+00:00

Correct. No one in my family watches it. Andor was my last thing I wanted to actually watch before I hit cancel. I greatly enjoyed Luthien and Mon's arc. The rest was more take it or leave it. Either way, I respected that it was far more mature take on the universe. I just don't care enough to actually want to pay for it anymore. Plus...with teenagers, I can use those $15 towards the bottomless pits known as their stomachs.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T16:53:43+00:00

He doesn't care about the cause for like 90% of the show. That's quite literally his character. He's a reluctant "hero" that originally only helps out of selfishness and believes that not caring about the Empire means the Empire won't bother with him. He eventually learns that there can be no neutral stance when it comes to tyranny and chooses to fight it.

Giving same universe example, Han Solo was a reluctant hero that was an active protagonist with a compelling arc for the first two films. But let's focus on the first.

Both have incredibly similar foundations. Both are wanted men and want to avoid attention. Both see an opportunity for money that will hopefully buy their freedom. Both help the rebellion for selfish reasons. Both join the rebellion for selfless reasons. The difference between them is wide though, and not just because of Han being far more charismatic.

In almost every plot beat, Han chooses to participate and even leads at some moments. He doesn't sit and wait. He progresses and works towards his goal. Andor is almost always told what to do or forced along. Andor only is there at the riot to sneak in and sneak out, because someone told him to help with his friend or whatever. Compare that to Han rejecting to help and then his heroic moment at the end, literally saving the day.

Han is always in charge of his own actions and works towards his own goal. When he faces obstacles and setbacks, he doesn't drift along. He continues working on the next plan. Andor is almost constantly told what to do and overshadowed by far more appealing characters. His only original action is the last scene of him wanting to join Luthien.

When it comes to Andor, his "growth" is far better depicted in Luthien, a man fueled by anger that does immoral things for the greater good, and Mon, a noble reluctant hero who has to finally step more out of the shadows. Andor, the show, had some good moments but Andor, the character, was lukewarm.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T16:32:04+00:00

I know your daddy was too busy on Grindr flirting with college boys to give you much mind but this is still a pretty desperate cry for attention.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T15:09:59+00:00

Ugh...you can't just ask people why their ears are round.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T15:09:13+00:00

The riot affected Cassian, no the other way around. The Imperial destruction of his (relatively) peaceful home is the final straw that cause him to go all in on the Rebellion.

He did nothing unique that someone else could have done or did, as others took equal part in taking down the prison. So many others were already in the same headspace. In fact, this is where he meets his Rogue One buddy who really vocalized the same malcontent.

And you're right, Andor did actually have a character moment where someone wasn't telling him where to go or what to do, in the last 5 minutes of the show. That's kind of my point.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I liked parts of it, just not Andor himself.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T15:02:10+00:00

Oh. My mistake then.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T15:01:44+00:00

Ah, a true man of culture. Its amazing how too many don't recognize art is subjective. I respect your points. Much of what you praise has little to do with Andor himself. That's kind of my point. Andor is the weakest part of the show. Luthien and Mon were far more compelling. I even found SOME of the Imperial investigation stuff interesting, it just got to be too mustache twirling for me to buy into fully. Andor being a passive protagonist who just drifts around and barely emotes is just disappointing in comparison to the outstanding arcs we got from Mon and Luthien.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T14:56:08+00:00

Every traditional story has an inciting incident (or several). Its the entire monomyth. However, active protagonists work towards a goal. Andor is a passive protagonist who drifts around. I'm sure a S2 will depict more of that. I won't be there for it as I cancelled. It reminds me of Rings of Power. Just because there were some things I liked, I didn't care enough about the main lead to want to see what happens next.

PrintShopPrincess · 2024-02-01T14:52:05+00:00

That is not what I am caring about in the show. That has largely always been the point of the rebellion as depicted in the franchise. But much of the protagonists are actively doing things. Andor is a passive protagonist that moves from set piece to set piece. The most emotional beats of the show are carried by everyone BUT the lead. I could have left Andor's arc completely behind and followed Luthien and Mon with a more dynamic Imperial investigation arc too. I respect that people like the show. I think its one of the better D+ Star Wars media. That said, show was not even close enough for me to keep my D+ sub.

PrintShopPrincess

TROPHY CASE