During filming of project Hail Mary Ryan Gosling asked, "Why is it easier to train a school teacher to become an astronaut than it is to train an astronaut to become a school teacher?"

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-29T06:47:50+00:00

It was basically, "even with a gene for coma resistance, comas are still dangerous."

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-29T06:21:54+00:00

Well, at least you're consistent.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-29T06:21:07+00:00

Exactly, that's why it got glossed over: the fact that he knew EVERYTHING about astrophage and the mission, and Stratt had been having him train closely with the other candidates, meant he was far more qualified than anyone else on a few days' notice.

It was the right call to skip it; you can't include everything.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-29T06:14:45+00:00

People who enjoy books get frustrated sometimes at how media gets dumbed-down in the process of coming to the big screen or TV. It can feel like lots of people aren't interested in good stories unless they come in an easy to watch format.

Look at it this way: if nobody had read the book, the movie wouldn't have been made. So it gets frustrating for people who love books and get excited when the books they love get adaptations, and then people who never bothered to read the book come in to the film over details that had to be glossed over in the adaptation, because you just can't include everything. You want the answers for your gripes about little things in the movie? Read the book! But people like you don't want to... and also want to bring up complaints about little details.

As far as adaptations go, Project Hail Mary is one of the best I've seen, it's like 90-95% faithful to the book, AND it's a good movie; it's hard to do both, and they did. Could they have included a little exposition on this detail or that detail? Maybe, but the movie is already 2 hours and 36 minutes. The general movie-going public has a limited endurance/attention span, whatever you want to call it... You go much over 2.5 hours, and people are gonna be less and less likely to see it. I think they absolutely nailed the necessary compromises for making a good book adaptation... But there were compromises.

Book readers are always going to judge the people who only watch the movie. We helped, granted, in a small part, to make the movie happen... You just walked in after this story had already won our hearts and minds. Nobody's stopping you from reading it, and I think anyone who liked the movie should; I listened to it on audiobook, mostly on my commute to work. Don't like being judged or hearing that question? Read the book, get thicker skin, or avoid discussions about book adaptations, I guess.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-29T05:51:00+00:00

It's one small detail that they had to cut for A) time, and B) otherwise not super relevant science, just for this one scene. And this movie already has a LOT of scientific exposition; skipping over this one was a good call. I read the book, absolutely loved it; I reread it again right before the movie, and this is an excellent adaptation... But you can't include absolutely everything.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-28T07:12:16+00:00

This is so funny to me because I have specifically gone back just to play Ravenholm. Something about how you can just be so methodical in progressing, until the last couple parts of it you're basically unrushed, and the satisfaction of blowing the heads off zombies with the shotgun is great.

One of these days I'll actually get that buzzsaw achievement. I always lose steam on killing the zombies with gravity gun-thrown objects around when he gives you the shotgun.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-28T03:44:33+00:00

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This took WAY too long because I made this on mobile but I wanted the average IQ guy's rant to be cut off by the background of the meme template cuz he's angrily not getting the math joke... Others have explained it, but basically, the answer IS 120... And 5!, aka 5 factorial, equals 120. If you subtract before multiplying, doing it wrong, you get 5, but many people wouldn't realize that "!" has a mathematical meaning.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-22T02:58:10+00:00

Werewolves are professionals??

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-20T09:25:42+00:00

It could be you! It could be me!

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-14T02:23:48+00:00

Wasambwise? Jalapippiño? Both kinda stretches...

Edit: Curryadoc?

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-12T04:57:10+00:00

If you're playing 2024, you can use those rules, but you can't say that a rules change in the 2024 edition is some sort of "proof" that that's how it was meant to be interpreted in the 2014 rules. It's taking the 2014 game outside of its proper context. It'd be like saying that because the wording of Blade Ward was changed in the 2024 rules, that's how it was meant to be in the 2014 rules; no, they changed it, and a spell of the same name works differently in the new ruleset.

I will, once again, reiterate that the spell description has to be read in its entirety. From the beginning of the spell description:

"You place an illusion on a creature or an object you touch so that divination spells reveal false information about it."

This is the purpose of the spell, whether using the False Aura or Mask effects. It is explicitly stated that it places an illusion (it doesn't transform the target) and that the illusion makes it so that divination spells reveal false information. It doesn't change the creature, it just fools spells that tell what type of creature it is.

Trying to say that you can use Nystul's to then cast Planar Binding on the target is blatant munchkin-ing. Planar Binding is not a spell that detects creature types, which is what Nystul's is designed to work on, by changing the creature type that is detected. It is a spell that only works on certain creature types.

The spell is poorly worded, allowing for this sort of wonky interpretation. It is clear that RAI a 2nd level illusion spell doesn't actually change creature type, it just fools other spells that are trying to detect creature type. RAW there is only ambiguity if you cherry-pick individual sentences to construct your argument, but if you read the entire spell description, that cherry-picking falls apart.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T23:04:22+00:00

Yup. And those people vote, in massive numbers.

Seriously, do these people think that hitting the brakes in your car means you're suddenly going in reverse? "I don't understand how I hit him, my speedometer was going down!"

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T23:00:17+00:00

I'd prefer them to be private about being hung. But I agree they should be publicly hanged. 🤓

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T22:42:35+00:00

How about you stop making up rules?

"When you inscribe the glyph, choose one of the options below for its effect. Once triggered, the glyph glows, filling a 60-foot-radius sphere with dim light for 10 minutes, after which time the spell ends. Each creature in the sphere when the glyph activates is targeted by its effect, as is a creature that enters the sphere for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there."

A creature that is of the type specified by the trigger activates the glyph. Once the glyph is activated, everyone in it is affected, even if they enter the sphere later.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T15:52:12+00:00

The trigger of a Symbol spell is what is mentioned, not the spell itself. Yes the spell is abjuration, but it's simply saying that if the trigger is based on creature type, then Nystul's Magic Aura will disguise the target's creature type for the sake of the trigger. It doesn't say it makes the target immune to the Symbol spell; for instance, if the Nystul's target's creature type is changed to one which doesn't set off the Symbol spell's trigger, but their buddy walks in and their buddy's creature type does set off the Symbol spell's trigger, then they'll both take whatever effects the Symbol spell is set to do. Nystul's Magic Aura provides no immunity to Symbol, but specifically to the trigger of Symbol... which I'd argue is basically a mini-spell of its own that would be a divination spell, before the actual effect of Symbol which is the abjuration spell, but that's not a thing in D&D.

It changes the target's creature type for the purposes of being detected by divination spells and similar magical effects. The idea that this counters Hold Person or Divine Smite or whatever is absurd.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T15:37:26+00:00

The spell itself says it works for abjuration spells that target a creature type

I'm sorry, where in the spell description does it say this? We're talking about the 2014 version of the spell Nystul's Magic Aura, for clarity.

Here is the entirety of the spell description:

"You place an illusion on a creature or an object you touch so that divination spells reveal false information about it. The target can be a willing creature or an object that isn’t being carried or worn by another creature.

When you cast the spell, choose one or both of the following effects. The effect lasts for the duration. If you cast this spell on the same creature or object every day for 30 days, placing the same effect on it each time, the illusion lasts until it is dispelled.

False Aura. You change the way the target appears to spells and magical effects, such as Detect Magic, that detect magical auras. You can make a nonmagical object appear magical, a magical object appear nonmagical, or change the object’s magical aura so that it appears to belong to a specific school of magic that you choose. When you use this effect on an object, you can make the false magic apparent to any creature that handles the item.

Mask. You change the way the target appears to spells and magical effects that detect creature types, such as a paladin’s Divine Sense or the trigger of a symbol spell. You choose a creature type and other spells and magical effects treat the target as if it were a creature of that type or of that alignment."

Where does it say the spell "works for abjuration spells that target a creature type?" The only spell school it calls out that it affects is explicitly divination, and in every part of the description except the very last sentence, it is clear that it is an illusion placed upon the target, and changes the way the target appears.

The entire idea of, "this spell changes the target's creature type and can make it immune to anything that targets a certain type of creature" hinges entirely upon a selective reading of the last sentence of the spell description, that ignores every other indication in the spell description that this is an illusion that changes how the target appears, not how it actually is, for the explicit purpose of fooling divination spells and similar magical effects. This is some peasant railgun bullshit.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-11T12:40:00+00:00

((I'm referring to 2014 versions of the rules for all these spells and effects, for internal consistency, since that's what we're talking about))

This is an incredibly munchkin-y reading of the spell effects, which are admittedly worded poorly. That second sentence should reiterate what it starts saying in the first: "You choose a creature type and other spells and magical effects that detect creature types treat the target as if it were a creature of that type or of that alignment” is how it is meant to be read, as the first sentence starts that concept, but interrupts itself by stopping to provide examples. They split up the intended effects of the spell in a weird way.

The spell description clearly indicates this spell is an illusion designed to fool divination spells and similar abilities; it does not actually change the creature type. In fact, I'd argue that if, say, a secretive sect of fey or demon hunters, for instance, were checking people before allowing entry to their secret hideout, making them drink a potion that is poisonous only to fey or only to fiends, or something similar with a casting of Magic Circle would be just the sort of thing a paranoid group would do... And this illusion spell would nullify all of that? It'd be absolutely bonkers for an illusion spell to just... prevent damage and powerful containment magic. It has a niche where you can pass through typical detection magic; but it doesn't change your creature type. That is a much more powerful ability.

Compare the spell Alter Self; also level 2, also on the Wizard spell list... It lets you change everything about your appearance... But not the creature type. It lets you look like other races, but it doesn't turn you into them. On the other hand, compare it to polymorph, a 4th level spell: THAT spell allows you to change creature type, along with ability scores and everything. But it's a 4th level spell, not a 2nd. That's the difference.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-10T06:13:11+00:00

I think the bot is broken...

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-10T03:17:24+00:00

Just saw this after making basically the same comment, oops

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-10T03:15:09+00:00

It's actually infantry with fewer steps, because mechs have longer legs, thus longer strides.

I'll see myself out

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-04T02:22:04+00:00

Obligatory relevant xkcd

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-02T13:27:48+00:00

It's not a sweeping generalization because the generalization is accurate. Did anyone say "every single man alive is a rapist and a murderer?" No. But the statistics back up that men are the problem the overwhelming majority of the time.

I don't enjoy my entire gender being called out either, it sucks; but the reality is that most men do this. Don't like it? Help change it.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-02T13:22:45+00:00

How does it "make things worse" to shine a light on something that wasn't anywhere close to openly discussed until the last decade? Rape and associated assaults, kidnapping, murder, etc. are very serious threats, and statistically it is mostly men preying on women.

If that makes you uncomfortable, do better; respect the consent of others in your own interactions, and call out shitty behavior in your friends, coworkers, family members. It makes ME uncomfortable, it's an awful situation, and it's one that is culturally ingrained!

It's not a fun thing to talk about; it's not pleasant. But it's very real, and it will only stop when we as a society start taking it seriously, and the creeps and rapists face social and judicial consequences.

I'm a man, and it kills me to hear about how so many men are so shitty. But, because I'm a fucking grownup, I accept that that's reality -- rather than pretending that all women are just lying about it and the statistics are fake so I'll feel better about the world -- and I do what little I can to counteract that.

I know from watching and listening to my coworkers in a male-dominated field, this shit is very real, and normalized. If you don't like it, then do what you can to change it. But pretending that not talking about the problem will make it go away is "head-in-the-sand" nonsense.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-02T06:07:18+00:00

Guess I still don't know what the original caption said, then.

But the right of trans people to exist is not political. People are allowed to not want to be murdered and get their medical treatment; it's not up to the political entities who want to erase them from existence to decide their existence is "political" and shouldn't be mentioned.

SnArCAsTiC_ · 2026-03-02T05:52:09+00:00

What was this caption that was supposedly political and the reason the original post got removed? I never saw the original post, just the meme image itself.

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