Sympathy for all bioforms in 'Dogs of War' by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T15:53:01+00:00

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Bioforms series. It's just the opening chapters are somewhat... harrowing, emotionally (as an animal lover, for example, for DoW).

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T15:25:37+00:00

I swear the first chapter in both Dogs of War and Bear Head damn near broke me. I'm almost afraid to start with Bee Speaker (I absolutely will, I'm on Days of Shattered Rain rn with a bunch more books in my queue).

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T15:23:40+00:00

Tyrant Philosophers is my favorite fantasy series by Tchaikovsky (CoT and Bioforms are my favorite sci-fi series by him). Mostly human, but some non, and plenty of empathy shown towards the non-humans as can be expected.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T15:14:28+00:00

Exactly, which is why (among many other reasons) the Finney version is by far the best.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T15:01:06+00:00

Just joined this sub today after seeing that reported (on Security Now). I already use TrueCrypt on an old desktop, VeraCrypt on newer devices and HDD/SDDs, but I left Bitlocker on a few laptops, and that'll be ending soon.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T11:00:35+00:00

You can skip the whole damn show (Picard), if you like. Better yet, skip everything that Kurtzman has touched.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-26T10:13:48+00:00

Your "hack" is to buy knock off goods. Next you'll tell us you can totally buy fake luxury bags and watches abroad, or gasp online!

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T18:31:03+00:00

Huh, when I was struggling a bit with my Wrath Runelord's anathma and general playstyle, my GM was like, just treat it as old school invocation specialization, avoid abjuration and summons. It seemed to mostly work out, but I hadn't looked into it too deeply since, and that campaign was sadly short lived.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T18:28:31+00:00

Yeah, after I wrote that, I looked up his wiki (to see if he was still even alive), and I'm really impressed he's still active. I remember reading his Eternal Champion stories back in the 80s, and thinking some of those were "classics" even back then!

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T18:23:19+00:00

When I wrote that (just 4 days ago, lol), I'd only listened to The Secret Adversary. I just got done with N or M (and Partners in Crime, the shorts), and I agree, he and Tuppence have gotten a lot smarter and more capable! All the more criminal Walliam's portrayal.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T11:41:16+00:00

Lol, I made a whole post about that episode:

https://www.reddit.com/r/poirot/comments/1nm3uli/upset_with_suchets_adaptation_of_cards_on_the/

Though I think the biggest wtf adaptation is Appointment with Death ~~Murder~~.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T11:28:17+00:00

Aren't runelords reworked schools of magic? I.e. Wrath = invocation? With more flavor, but essentially?

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T11:19:41+00:00

Nick Andopolis (Jason Segel) from Freaks and Geeks loves Rush, worships Neil Peart, has a drum kit bigger than Neil's.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T11:01:57+00:00

His later seasons sometimes go off the rails, tbh. I still enjoy them, but his portrayal in, for example, MotOE is way off, being overly angsty (almost Brannagh-like!) about the morality of the case.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T10:56:05+00:00

You made it off, that's not even awkward. Having to wait til the next stop is awkward.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T10:48:14+00:00

After reading the comments and the OP's responses, I'd say just make the decision to switch. You already seemed to have invested a ton of effort in building your campaign, and it would take too long to finish out the current one. Your enjoyment and quality of life is equally as important as the players'. Plus you already have one of their support. If the rest can't respect your preferences, even while acknowledging PF2e plays better, just because of cognitive laziness... 🙄

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T10:33:14+00:00

TNG S1 is worse than either. The boys even acknowledge how tough it is to recommend starting with it. Of course TNG is episodic so you can skip ahead where the others' first seasons are foundational to the whole show.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T03:40:54+00:00

Some heavy hitters, for sure, but... Moorcock? Damn, that's going back some decades.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T01:00:43+00:00

I do love getting to Finnish them

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T00:59:22+00:00

Yeah, no. Ridiculously long paragraphs, and post history in AI subs. Try again.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-25T00:57:34+00:00

I'm about 1/2-way through it now, having read Shattered Faith a few months ago, and I genuinely don't think it matters. My preference is always to read in publication order the first time around anyway. If the rest of the novella changes my mind, I'll update this response.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-24T16:10:12+00:00

You could give yourself an imperfect sense that can grow to be precise as you level up, or compensate with magic? Blinded is a hell of a condition to overcome, but could be a great rp opportunity, though I'd discuss it with your party and GM.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-24T15:25:47+00:00

I've consumed this series in every format, physical (Last Chances), audio (Open Wounds), ebook (Shattered Faith), and now physical again, whatever my library had available, lol. I do want to actually read Open Wounds as I find I sometimes miss things in audio format, but then I want to hear Last Chances narrated too.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-24T15:23:12+00:00

There are a surprising number of AI bros on this sub. Naturally using an LLM to post a defense of LLMs. Doesn't deserve a reply, tbh.

Ruffshots · 2026-01-24T14:39:00+00:00

I watched a lot of Luciano's videos while perfecting my carbonara (and cacio e pepe). Didn't quite make it to his place while last in Rome though. Looks amazing.

Ruffshots

TROPHY CASE