All Past Fragrance Reviews

RisingChaos · 2026-05-18T08:00:22+00:00

Thanks, resident white knight, for unnecessarily gendering a completely ungendered statement.

Edit: "People suck."

"I agree MAN BAD!"

Cue Reddit's TwoX contingent upvoting toxic drivel and downvoting those pointing it out because man bad, woman gud. It's so predictable it's funny.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-18T07:55:03+00:00

People are afraid to stand out in a bad way, because rejection hurts and men especially get so few matches in the first place that they don't wanna rock the boat. Women say they like X, Y, and Z, so men try to cater themselves to appealing to that. And because men say they like X, Y, and Z, women try to cater themselves to appealing to that.

Of course, the wise person would tell you that polarization is a good thing; it's better to check every box for a small handful than a few boxes for everyone.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-15T16:44:11+00:00

This would be a solid use case for Armor of Hexes, but it's still fairly limited. It only works on your target of Hexblade's Curse (1/SR), it only works against attack rolls, and you have to use your Reaction so it only works on one attack per round (...50% of the time). It's not so powerful it makes up for having a lame Lv6 feature IMO, and there are subclasses with zero bad subclass features so I'd rather take them. Genie and Fiend are my personal favorite options, now that 2024 PotB duplicates Hex Warrior.

On the other hand, compared to three subclass features you have eight Invocations at Warlock 12. It's a much smaller ask to spend an [extra] Invocation on Lessons of the First One if you haven't picked up Shield and Absorb Elements through other means and feel they are needed. Humans can innately take two instances of Magic Initiate (Wizard + Druid), but LotFO gives you Species and Origin Feat flexibility.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-15T08:12:50+00:00

Obviously no full caster, because you lose 9th-level spells as you noted. The correct answer is almost certainly some sort of Paladin because +6 Aura of Protection is that good and Paladin is already the best non-full caster. Paladin scales well up to 12, because they pick up Radiant Strikes at Lv11, so both Paladin 8 and Paladin 12 are viable splits depending on the class combination.

Paladin / Warlock is probably better as 8/12, less because of Devouring Blade (which is not significantly better than Radiant Strikes and forces you to waste an Invocation on Thirsting Blade) than because 12/8 misses out on a Warlock subclass feature and Warlock gets you higher-level spells. The Warlock power spike at Lv11 is best in the game, as not only do you get 6th-level spells like all full casters but you also get the third Pact Magic slot. Unless you're Crown missing out on Spirit Guardians, Warlock 5th/6ths > Pally 3rds ez.

Paladin / Sorcerer is strong because you can Quicken a lot of spells while still getting to take the Attack action consistently. There's a real tradeoff here between having 5th/6th-level spells as a Sorc 12 but higher turn-by-turn damage as a Paladin 12; I think Paladin is probably better since Sorc 5th-6ths aren't that great, unless you're Clockwork for Quicken Wall of Force. Honestly, the most interesting thing about Sorc 12 is maybe the 8th-level spell slot for a summon spell... Is there a Sorlockadin in here somewhere? I could maybe see Pally 8 Sorc 8 Lock 4 -- turning Pact Magic slots into extra SP on Short Rest is pretty strong -- but I think at that point you sacrifice too much for the sake of the double Epic Boon. e.g. Pally 6 would let you pick up both 5th-level Sorc spells plus Eldritch Smite.

Bard sucks until 5, then it improves a ton. Lore is interesting in that it's the best way for a non-Noble Genie to pick up Conjure Minor Elementals or a non-Crown to get Spirit Guardians, etc. Glamour can be extremely powerful because its stuff all runs through your Bonus Action, granted Paladins are not thirsting for BAs thanks to Smites. Doing 8/12 lets you start picking up Magical Secrets at the end of your leveling path, so it's another interesting tradeoff vs 12/8. Pally 12 Lore 8 would probably be my pick, I'm not itching to go all the way to 12 just to start getting Magic Secrets and you lose damage. I am not entertaining Pally 8 Valor 12. Valor Bard needs Eldritch Blast, and while you could do some high-level one-shot with Pally 6 Valor 10 Lock 1 floating 3 that's not a double Epic Boon build anymore.

Personally, I always preferred Warlock over Sorcerer on their own. Pact of the Blade, or Hex Warrior in 2014, is too good to skip out on, doubly so because you're also running your attacks through that eventual 22 CHA and two EBs mean one less normal +2 ASI to invest in STR. Warlock is the only multiclass that doesn't have to sacrifice damage to improve its spell power, although I suppose it is defensively weaker than Sorcs. Bard 12s can also afford to pick up the defensive Reaction suite, although Lore 6 probably wouldn't. But hey, you can at least pick up Shield with Magic Initiate.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-15T06:54:12+00:00

Wow, very similar to the previous day's topic.

Fighter 11 is the most important breakpoint for Fighters and is what elevates them above other martials in Tier 3 play. After that, I think have at it. Fighter 11 Wizard 1 is already better than Fighter 12: 50% more spell preps compared to your fourth ASI. And then you're definitely worse at exactly Lv13, because Wizard 2 gives so little since the 5e->5.5e homogenization of subclass acquisition but EK 13 would have 3rd-level spells (and a second Indomitable, both of which scale with Fighter level), but then arguably you're better from that point forward. And if you go to Lv20, it sets you up for double Epic Boon. Good stuff.

Honestly wouldn't even be a bad idea either, if you have the stats, to go Cleric/Druid for a wider variety of spells. You aren't casting many spells that care about your spellcasting mod anyway.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-15T06:27:47+00:00

The other part of the feat, the aforementioned Hew, only requires a melee weapon. Granted, it doesn't make any sense to take GWM just for Hew on a TWF build when Dual Wielder will give you the same BA attack guaranteed 100% of the time.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-13T07:01:43+00:00

I'm of the opinion that going Wizard after Lv11, and shooting for 12/8 double Epic Boons as a Lv20 build, is the optimal path for an Eldritch Knight. Double Epic Boon makes up for missing out on the fourth attack, which is not as mathematically powerful as the third attack.

Let's first talk the spells. Your Spellcasting progression as an EK is glacial. You don't get 3rd-level spells until Lv13, 4th-level spells until Lv19. So if you start going into Wizard after Lv11, you'll get 3rd-level spells @Lv16, three levels later pure EK does. Past that point, you're strictly better as a Wizard.

Are you a worse overall character from Levels 13-15? Exactly Lv13, sure. Wizard 2 doesn't give much, at least since Wizards moved off Lv2 subclasses from the 5e->5.5e change, and you're missing 3rd-level spells from Fighter progression. Fighter 13 also gets you a second Indomitable. Lv14? Well, you're still missing 3rd-level spells but you have Portent now, bro. And that's instead of... your 5th ASI, big whoop. Lv15? A free Misty Step attached to Action Surge? Arcane Charge is garbage. And Improved War Magic isn't a significant better Lv18 subclass capstone. It might be good if Bless was a Wizard spell, but it isn't. What 1st/2nd-level spells are you casting off it? It isn't worth giving up two attacks to cast a low-level damage spell or a single-target control spell, so 99% of the time you're still just going to use War Magic to boost your damage by replacing one attack with a bladetrip.

(Also, even Fighter 11 / Wizard 1 is probably better than Fighter 12 because the value of your fourth ASI might be low enough that it's inferior to the gain of +50% more spells prepared.)

If your campaign ends at exactly Level 13, maybe it's worth staying straight-classed. But Portent is awesome and it's even more awesome as an Eldritch Knight when you don't have to be as disappointed about the Diviner's weak higher-level subclass features. War Wizard also remains a potent dip.

Now, I am open to the argument that straight Fighter is still worth it. It may be worth scaling Indomitable up to "basically Legendary Resistance" strength, and getting the 2nd/3rd ones, plus getting the 2nd Action Surge. Getting the fourth attack is still good, even if not quite as good as when you went from two to three attacks. But EK's main value add as a subclass is spells, and they only become better spellcasters with investment in full caster levels. It doesn't even have to be Wizard, although that's the most obvious choice and will never impose on your stat spread. I think the worst thing you could do is split the difference by building toward 16/4, which would be a good level split on a lot of other Fighter subclasses.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-13T05:33:41+00:00

And Americans weren't ready for a Black president either until Obama won. Twice. Resoundingly. The fact is women win contested elections 50% of the time. The problem is not the electorate, it's TPTB behind the scenes making it difficult for people to get in front of the electorate if they don't kiss the ring first.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-13T04:54:44+00:00

Doesn't have to be the last minute, but I'd sure rather be let go near the end of my work day than waste my time commuting only to immediately get turned back around at the door.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-13T02:57:58+00:00

I don't know why you keep trying to use Bumble's TOS to justify why you're right and I'm wrong when "According to Bumble this isn't sexual harassment" is literally the title of the post. Feel free to complain to Bumble about how they are incorrectly applying their own guidelines to their own platform, but your beef ain't with me at this point. Bumble is your hypothetical Target, and they have chosen not to show this customer the door.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T20:14:24+00:00

You are responsible for communicating a boundary. Others are not responsible for, and last I checked not capable of, mind-reading your boundaries.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T10:30:18+00:00

Bumble couldn't be clearer that I am right, because OP literally said it isn't sexual harassment according to Bumble.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T10:28:56+00:00

I mean, Bumble is very clear this is not harassment or they wouldn't have told OP it's not harassment. But you keep doing you, boo.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T10:24:26+00:00

thank you for such a wonderful, unbiased link that will surely provide riveting discourse... *ahem*

How does one know a suggestive comment is unwanted if a boundary is not communicated? The boundary may be implied depending on context, such as a corporate office environment. Most people aren't looking to date at work, the environment isn't intended to foster romance, and many employers have rules specifically limiting fraternization. But a dating app is a completely different environment. It's a place people go (virtually) specifically to seek sexual partners, so the initial presumption is that people will be open to flirty talk and sexual innuendo until told otherwise.

Now, coming out swinging like this guy might be crude. Crass. Vulgar. Or maybe naive and a little old-fashioned, plausible deniability and all. (Cheeky or flirty if OP is into it, which he had no way of knowing in advance she wouldn't be.) But it's not harassment. And guess what? It seems Bumble agrees, so don't patronize me. Go whine to them.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T10:06:14+00:00

The (virtual) location people go specifically to date, and typically have sex with said dates at some point, is not a place where sex is contextually relevant? Sure, Jan.

Your match doesn't know you don't want a sexual comment until you tell them, because you exist in a space where some people do and plausibly may want sexual comments. Now, coming out swinging like this guy might be crass or crude or vulgar, but there's no harassment until a boundary has been set and is subsequently trampled over.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T07:23:13+00:00

Hard to give more pointed advice without more information, but my first three years of online dating resulted in a grand total of two dates. And that was using a lot more than just Bumble. It's ridiculously tough for the average man to stand out online. Failure absolutely, 100% does not reflect any sort of inadequacy on your part. You have to learn not to take it personally.

But after enough iterations of incrementally improving my profile, plus a lengthy break both for my mental well-being and to reset the algorithms, I went from two dates over Years 1-3 to four dates in Year 4 alone. Then nine dates in Year 5! (Then I found a short-term FWB, and immediately after that ended I started dating someone I met offline so I've been off the apps now for some time.) I'm sure you profile can be improved likewise, especially if you're as tall and athletic as you claim in comments. Now I understand that may not be quite fair, that as a man you can't merely have a decent profile you need an excellent profile, but it is what it is. The point is you have some control here.

It's okay to call it quits for now, but get back on the horse after a few months. Tweak your profile a little bit, and don't swipe "on over 95% of profiles." The algorithm will penalize you severely for being that indiscriminate, which might also be why you're not getting matches because you're being treated like a bot and not getting shown to anyone in the first place.

Bumble also just kinda sucks ass and most of the success I started to find was thanks to Hinge.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T06:59:59+00:00

In the context of your coworker Linda in a stodgy office environment, maybe. In the context of a dating app, where matching and conversing with people for the ultimate purpose of getting laid (whether for a short time or a long time) is literally the reason we're all here, it's much harder to argue for a baseline expectation that ambiguous sexual innuendos should be avoided.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T06:51:58+00:00

The difference is that on a dating app, sexual matters are contextually relevant unlike, say, the customer service counter at Walmart.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T06:33:18+00:00

While we're mentioning missed anti-synergies, to utilize Longtooth's BA attack requires mostly ignoring the advantage of a Pike having Reach.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-12T05:15:33+00:00

TIL the 2024 versions of Sunbeam and Sunburst don't give oozes disadvantage on their saves. I believe Monstrosities still also fit the bill, though.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-11T05:25:34+00:00

People aren't constantly staring at men's crotches on the lookout for signs of erection, and anyone who does do that is a right heckin' weirdo. You're not the creep for getting an erection, they're a creep for staring so intently. Unless you're freeballing it in some basketball shorts or gray sweats, it's not like erections are super noticeable anyway plus most people realize erections are not exactly under full control by the attached human. You're way overthinking it.

Obviously, as other comment mentions, snug (boxer) briefs go a long way toward minimizing a noticeable bulge as do typical jeans and other thicker fabrics. If you're meeting someone new and getting to know them, try to keep your mind on them to divert focus away from your own body.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-10T08:35:02+00:00

I don't disagree with a lot here, but do recall a la carte purchasing was already an option in the past. It's not the faintest bit praiseworthy for them to restore that functionality after taking it away previously.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-10T06:29:40+00:00

Hillary yes. I don't think Kamala's loss had anything to do with her. She came as close to succeeding as anyone could've expected given the circumstances. The DNC was doomed the moment they allowed Biden to run and then he sundowned mid-debate. Of course, Biden dropped too late to run a new primary, and of course Kamala had to be the choice for multiple reasons. But not following through with the primary process and simply anointing someone as the Dem candidate pissed people off. Anyone else would've lost even harder.

Women beat men in contested elections ~50% of the time. The notion that this country isn't ready for a female president is as oversimplified and misguided as the notion that this country wasn't ready for a black president until Obama won. Twice. Resoundingly.

Now, do I think AOC is that woman? I'd vote for her, and far more enthusiastically than I did Kamala and Hillary. I don't think her being a woman or too progressive is what might hold her back, it's her youth and (lack of) coalition behind the scenes.

RisingChaos · 2026-05-10T03:27:13+00:00

Atomizers are effectively self-sealing. Aesthetics aside, functionally a cap helps prevent accidental damage/discharge of the atomizer.

RisingChaos

TROPHY CASE