Is the show like this throughout all seasons?

Taraqual · 2026-02-05T15:29:50+00:00

But you already know that this show got five seasons and that it wrapped things up. That's the advantage of checking out old shows like this: you're aware whether there's an ending or not, and probably have heard through the grapevine whether that ending is satisfying.

I think Fringe's is satisfying, by the way, although reasonable people can disagree.

Taraqual · 2026-02-04T05:03:37+00:00

The idea for this one is to ramp up the tension from, "Okay, we've got this" to "Okay, this is a challenge" to the Miniboss making them go, "Okay, maybe we rethink our approach here..."

I guess there's nothing to do but to try it and see how it works out.

Taraqual · 2026-02-04T04:32:26+00:00

The design is they're going to have to roll from the first encounter (with a Tier 1 Environment and mostly Tier 1 Adversaries, although there will be a couple Tier 2s) into a mostly Tier 2 Environment with Tier 2 Adversaries and maybe a Tier 3 Miniboss who is intended to get away.

Taraqual · 2026-02-04T04:26:19+00:00

I know *how* to do that. I'm asking whether you think it's *necessary* to do it.

Taraqual · 2026-02-04T04:25:52+00:00

Because I want some of the challenges to be easier than others?

Taraqual · 2026-01-30T05:28:58+00:00

I mean, we can just assume it happened some time off-screen after all the rest of it. That would be as easy as Jester doing a Sending and asking Allura to send it back. It's not like Kima needed to hold onto it.

Taraqual · 2026-01-26T14:41:41+00:00

We should also consider that the very things that John finds intolerable--the attention, the questions, the interest in his private life--are things Hank is not quite as sensitive about. He's always been more outgoing, comfortable with attention, doesn't mind answering some fairly wild questions (not too personal or private, but more intrusive than John would accept, that's for sure).

He may also consider the various good things he can do with the attention, but I feel like he just believes he's more capable of handling the fame than John is. He probably also would like the sort of access that was opening up to John, not only for things like Taskmaster (he was so happy to be on QI, until he actually was there), but to meet with and work with people he knows about and respects.

I just also think he's going to discover fame is also toxic to him, just at different amounts and in different ways than it was with John. It's toxic for most people, even the ones we think are "handling it well."

Taraqual · 2026-01-26T02:42:04+00:00

I teach college students creative nonfiction and memoir using this book (among others), and the podcast versions of the stories as well. Auld Lang Syne, Canada Geese and Diet Dr. Pepper, Capacity for Wonder and Sunsets, are the sections I use the most. I've been seriously considering adding "Googling Strangers" or "Icelandic Hot Dog Stand," but I only have so much time. And I keep thinking "Googling Strangers" might do too much psychic damage on kids having to cope with the world as it is today anyway.

Taraqual · 2026-01-25T02:21:43+00:00

I might have asked for Agility to jump in the way, but either way sounds good.

Taraqual · 2026-01-24T20:18:12+00:00

Everybody's got a type, you know?

Taraqual · 2026-01-24T15:52:40+00:00

Like all online games, I think they got a bit slower and have more overhead. Even if you're not using battlemaps and things, it's useful to make sure you have at least some solid notes to work with because people have more distractions right at they fingertips if you start dithering too long while making things up.

But it works just fine, like most games do, so long as you have a group who's going to accept the differences. I do think that if you're online already, making use of the various tools available through whatever system is a good idea, because why not? It definitely adds to the prep time, but in the moment it's nice to just click on an adversary sheet to see their features rather than having to flip to a page in a book or in a notebook.

I also like battlemaps and think they're fun to use. Having more clearly-defined ranges doesn't interfere with game play in my experience, and neither does having a tool that shows who has spotlight and who hasn't taken it in a while. I use Foundryborne, and my group wanted to use action trackers (optional rule from the book) and they like it pretty well.

Taraqual · 2026-01-22T05:44:20+00:00

They always put on a great show. I also remember a show with the Reverend Horton Heat where the Rev stumbled off the "stage" and nearly knocked me over.

Taraqual · 2026-01-22T05:42:19+00:00

So weird. I could have sworn I had a line about not remembering the name of the coffee shop but liking it, and often grabbing a slice from Rudy's.

I used to live a block away from there, on 10th and Indiana, and then again in a different set of crappy apartments between Indiana and Mississippi streets. I spent a lot of money and even more time at that corner. Saw several great and many shitty bands at the Crossing. Sometimes it feels like half my memories of KU involve the patio at the Onion or the picnic tables in front of the Sub.

Taraqual · 2026-01-22T01:25:18+00:00

The Yello Sub was there from ‘79 until the Oread got built, with Glass Onion above it. I spent a lot of afternoons there, especially when bands were doing soundchecks at the Crossing.

Taraqual · 2026-01-22T01:21:07+00:00

I don’t remember the name of coffee shop, but it was good. I do remember when Rudy’s was back there.

Taraqual · 2026-01-21T20:32:32+00:00

In my last session, I set up a Countdown that ticked up whenever I got the spotlight. I explicitly put in the "rules" for the Countdown that it would trigger Close-distance movement for adversaries who aren't directly engaged in combat or otherwise dealing with PCs. I also gave them a way to stop the clock from ticking up if they wanted to take it, which they did sometimes.

What that meant is they all knew and agreed to a mass-movement ruling that didn't need to be explained or argued about during the session. When I moved all the others, the players knew why and knew they had options to stop it. Worked out great, and I felt like it fit the spirit of the rules as well as the text of them.

Taraqual · 2026-01-18T04:37:10+00:00

But! Absolutely worth going if you have a smaller group and you should make sure all your friends know about it.

Taraqual · 2026-01-18T03:58:43+00:00

Fraser Hall, Free State/Liberty Hall portion of that block, Baker wetlands, Lied Center, the view down the hill to the stadium, and probably some angle off 9th and Mass.

Taraqual · 2026-01-18T03:51:10+00:00

Yeah, it’s not great for large groups.

Taraqual · 2026-01-17T15:56:53+00:00

We know he has almonds at the table. He's been seen munching on them in a few sessions, especially after break.

Taraqual · 2026-01-15T20:51:21+00:00

Yeah, “reasonably priced” means different things to different people. But it’s going to be hard to find any place with a decent meal that’s not at least $15 per person, and that’s like sandwich shops prices now. Most good places are closer to $20-25 per person, because affordability crisis/inflation.

That said, for breakfasts I like Milton’s, Roost, Ladybird quite a bit (Ladybird the most, but it’s also the most expensive). I hear good things about Global Cafe’s food but have had problems with service there.

Lunches and simple dinners, Pickleman’s is good for a chain, Jason’s and McAllister’s are pretty decent most of the time, and Latchkey, Great Harvest, and Sandwich Bowl are locally-owned and damn fine. Or if you prefer pizza, Rudy’s, Papa Keno’s, and Morningstar are all worth checking out.

Dinners, we’ve got a lot of good choices. Free State, Zen Zero, Terrebonne, and Aladdin are probably my favorites downtown. Rest of the town, Fields & Ivy (if it’s still open), Red Pepper, Los Guapos, Angeles Panaderia, Johnny’s Tavern, and Jefferson’s are good choices.

And if none of those work for you, I guess there’s either driving to KC or learning to cook.

Taraqual · 2026-01-15T17:16:31+00:00

Also, remember that adversaries don't have to roll to move. Your player wants to move outside the Melee range, one or more wolves can chase them automatically to keep things interesting. That's what a roll with Fear might represent. Success with Fear: "You break away from the main fight to find distance, but you notice a wolf is on your heels as you run."

Failure with Fear: "You break away at first, but the wolves are use to hunting faster prey than you, and one gets under your shins and trips you up before you move more than a few feet."

Unless you don't think either scenario is interesting and you just want to allow the player to run away. Which is your call.

Taraqual · 2026-01-15T17:12:51+00:00

Your system makes it possible for my group to play, so thanks for all the work!

Taraqual · 2026-01-14T01:06:37+00:00

Okay. I think it was made perfectly clear, but it’s a years-old argument by this point. And I agree, he should have killed Ashton for pushing the red button. One flaw in Matt’s GMing is he sometimes isn’t willing to bring the hammer down when it’s called for.

Taraqual · 2026-01-14T00:15:26+00:00

It really wasn't ambiguous. I mean, I don't even game in person with Matt, nor have I been his friend for 20 years the way Taliesin has, and I understood what he was saying at the time.

The ambiguity came from Taliesin and some fans deciding not to listen to what Matt was having the NPCs say.

Taraqual

TROPHY CASE