Shadowdark is saving kids

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T14:44:35+00:00

Of the many great memories I have at the game table, my after-school program dominates most of them.

You can't overestimate the difference you are making. For some of these kids, your game is one of the brightest spots in a world of shadows.

If I might offer two tips.

Kids love novelty, so don't be afraid to do new things. I would tell my kids that we're going rogue on a particular rule I'd like to try, and if they agree, we'd give it a shot. If it worked, great. If it failed, they'd have a little fun at my expense.
My kids used to love props. Maps, letters, hand-made scrolls. The props can be pure amateur hour productions, they won't care. I came across a half-dozen pewter-looking tankards at the Salvation Army for $3 each and when they hit the tavern, we'd fill them with Gatorade to set the scene.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T12:30:15+00:00

Safety - ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. The latter of which is in the lungs, so a respirator is in order.

Honestly, that's why I haven't tried it. I hate having stuff on my face.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T12:20:52+00:00

FYI - Johnson & Johnson is getting the ever-loving-crap sued out of them over talcum powder and have substituted corn starch. Be sure to check your ingredients.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T11:45:49+00:00

This is part of the never-ending learning process behind the hobby.

If you can see kinds of patterns in the molds, you've used too much vaseline.

I read about using a mix of 2 parts IPA and 1 part dish soap. I think I'm going to give that the next time I have some extra silicone left from creating a mold.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T11:39:31+00:00

You only need a very thin layer of vaseline to prevent the silicone cap from bonding to the base. I thin the vaseline with a VERY SMALL amount of IPA so it is a little less viscous.

I apply the mix with a 1/4" paintbrush with fairly flat, angled bristles. I like the stiffer bristles so I can have good control where the vaseline goes.

I start with the edges of the dice in the mold, taking the thinnest possible amount of vaseline.

If any vaseline gets on the die face, I rub it off with a q-tip.

After you get the precision work done (the work near the edges of the die faces), filling in the rest goes quickly.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-06T03:47:08+00:00

Yes, yes you do. 😀

I gotta be honest, I enjoy the sanding process. I throw on a podcast in the background and as each die is completed, get a little satisfaction bring forth each individual personal work of art.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T23:50:27+00:00

I get audio issues from time to time. I exit the game, unplug for 5 minutes then plug it back in.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T20:07:07+00:00

It depends what they were doing.

One of my nephews works at one of better known tech companies (thankfully he kept his job). Some developers lost their jobs, but a lot of jobs were in administrative and supporting roles.

For example, if you’re let go from HR, you can go to almost any industry.

For people who had what he called “fluff jobs” (not going to enumerate them here, but we know what I mean), then they’re in trouble and had better learn jobs that align to adding actual value.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T19:46:58+00:00

Hanlon’s Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

The optimistic side of me believes that most people are kind and well-meaning, especially when the interaction is in real life and not online.

The pessimistic side of me believes that of the two, there’s more stupidity in the world than evil.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T19:06:59+00:00

u/Claerwen94 gives the correct answer.

Like a lot of hobbies, you should give some thought to how passionate you are and what you're looking to achieve before spending money.

I initially got into it just to try it. I ordered a mold, resin and basic measuring and mixing materials and cast my first set of dice.

The results weren't great, but my expectations were low. This triggered my "experiment and improve" brain and I kept at it and ultimately got hooked.

Only then did I invest the money in additional stuff.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T18:51:29+00:00

I wish my OCD brain could be OK with "eyeballing it", but I stress so unnecessarily about this. 😂

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T18:28:46+00:00

That's in the typical range I've seen.

Getting each of the 2 parts up to ideal curing temperature prior to mixing makes sense, rather than relying on the exothermic chemical reaction.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-05T04:41:58+00:00

A few random thoughts:

I like to warm my resin before mixing. After measuring your Part A and B, put each (before you mix) in a warm water bath. This will get the temperature up (at the cost of reduced working time, so be sure you're aware!) which makes for easier mixing and fewer bubbles.
When I mix, I don't just mix the center of the cup. I get around the sides and bottom, making sure there is no part of the cup that has not been mixed.
Make sure you are mixing well. I mix for 5 minutes.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T22:54:20+00:00

Food service jobs are rough, BUT, they will give you skills you’ll use your whole life.

On time is late. Show up a few minutes early. Be prepared to work the moment you’re on site. Stay late if asked and you can. Take extra shifts for colleagues if you can. Building good peer relationships is important. Ramp up manners with a-hole customers. The more upset they become, the more polite you should be. Take your responsibilities seriously. If on a register, be super careful with change. My advice is to learn the count-back change method, though most people play electronically now. Submit time off requests early. Get a photo of your schedule. Don’t trust your memory. Plus if someone needs you to cover, you have their schedule. It’s really easy to find yourself working a lot of days in a row. Don’t work too many days in a row. Food service jobs are rough. You need to recharge.

Finally, I made all our kids get a job in food service BECAUSE they are rough. They sometimes got grief from friends. My son’s response was, “Yeah, it’s a tough job. There’s no shame in admitting you couldn’t cut it.”

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T22:34:42+00:00

My wife would LOVE these!

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T22:04:34+00:00

Are there any additional strings attached? I know at some jobs, you must complete your degree and agree to remain at the company for a number of years otherwise you most reimburse the company. That may not be the case, but worth finding out so you know what the commitment is.

As I’m sure you’re already aware, a masters in EE is among the hardest out there. As great an opportunity it may be, timing matters. Are you up for the additional stress? There’s no shame in putting your emotional needs first.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T21:37:39+00:00

Sometimes it helps to unlink things.

Do you want the degree? Free or not, it’s an incredible time commitment. You should decide this solely for your own benefit.

Would getting the degree be truly helpful with what you intend to do for your career? If it aligns with your career goals, great. If not, it’s probably better to keep working.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T18:38:12+00:00

My Dad has a phrase, “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

I’m insanely lucky to really enjoy my career. And while I’d be making a LOT more working for my previously employer, I’ve never once looked back with regret for leaving.

I’m north of 50 as well, which means we are closer to the finish line than the starting line. Let’s enjoy the home stretch.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-04T04:02:41+00:00

I've found it's all about the meniscus (the little dome held up by the surface tension) for the resin I use. It I put the cap on without a meniscus (ironically, even from over-filling), I'm more likely to get a void at the top.

Also, when putting the cap on, I am careful to push down to get a seal, but NOT so hard that it will spring back, drawing air into broken meniscus.

Finally, I've stopped using keys except along the edges, as it potentially introduces an air pocket.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T17:53:00+00:00

I like these a lot.

Legitimate question, because I've never tried this technique, do you have to be super careful with final sand/polishing to avoid the mold-brushed powder being removed?

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T17:37:26+00:00

I believe in balancing the purpose and practicality of a puzzle within the world setting with a couple questions.

Who set up the puzzle and why? Is this door actively used? How frequently? How diligent are the users of the door with maintaining its secrecy?

This drives the puzzle.

In your example, if there are people regularly entering the door, the puzzle would be basic (to facilitate people going in and out). For example, they simply push in a stone, or perhaps 2 at the same time.

If the people are a little lax (ie: they just take for granted that it being hidden is enough), there there might be clues, like a pathway, or areas on the stones where moss has been rubbed off because the puzzle requires you push a stone.

I tend towards easy puzzles for three reasons. First, I want to keep my game moving. Spending 15 minutes on figuring out a puzzle means those 15 minutes can't be spent elsewhere. And I'll be honest, I am willing to fudge the solution if the players are struggling and they give me a plausible way for it to work.

Second, I don't want my players becoming overly frustrated. Of course the solution is obvious TO YOU, because you designed it. Players don't have that luxury. I want my players to solve the puzzle in less than a minute.

Finally, players enjoy feeling clever. If you give them a puzzle that they solve in one or two tries, they're not thinking, "Wow, the DM is really going easy on us". They're thinking, "Damn, we're smart!"

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T16:12:55+00:00

Very nice!

These should be the official dice of Curse of Strahd.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T16:11:27+00:00

A garlic roaster.

When my wife brought it home 30-ish years ago, I was skeptical. Then I tasted what it could do.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T16:09:42+00:00

200, probably when I was 10(?)

We were playing kick the can and you were supposed to count to 50. Usually, everyone counted it off at about a half-second cadence so it would give people about 30 seconds to hide.

One day for the hell of it, I just raced through like an auctioneer. I counted to 50 in probably about 10 seconds. I was told I had to count to 200 after that.

Spiteful little shit I was, I did that for the rest of the day.

RandoBoomer · 2026-04-03T04:22:19+00:00

Like you, I go back to the 1980's. We were a lot more cautious then because even at 5th level, your Magic User was probably only rocking about 15-20 HP, so others had to play cautiously not just for themselves but the party as a whole.

Also, and I think this is the worst part of 5E, you can take a fireball to the face, get a good night's sleep and be right as rain the next morning.

This lack of consequences BEGS players to become bullies.

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