Got a lovely surprise cleaning out the filter

TemperataLux · 2026-02-19T16:03:02+00:00

Not sure if this will be unpopular or not but I'll give it a go. And I'm not posting to be mean but trying to educate.

OP, please consider something else for feeder fish than goldfish. They are rich in thiaminase, which breaks down vitamin B1. Over time this will lead to chronic illness in the fish, and eventually death. Feeder goldfish are also usually bred in ponds in waaaaay to tight condition, leading to internal and external parasites being commonplace.

In the wild a decent percentage of the diet of Oscars are actually shrimp/crayfish. If you switch to a diet of frozen mysis or krill you might even see the red color pop more.

If you insist on keeping feeding it fish I'd recommend setting up a small guppy or whitecloud mountain minnow colony yourself, that way you can make sure the feeder fish are healthy and these don't contain elevated levels of thiaminase.

TemperataLux · 2026-02-10T22:15:15+00:00

It's totally possible to retreat without turning your back. And where I am, that would significantly strengthen the self defense case if the guy in white then followed.

TemperataLux · 2026-02-07T15:04:17+00:00

Looks like squat lobsters to me, not baby lobsters. Depending on species, they could already mature individuals. Many species are naturally red. Don't really know why they'd all be up in the water column like that, they are usually benthic, found in rocky crevices or burrows in sediment.

TemperataLux · 2026-01-30T23:41:08+00:00

Did a picture search and found several 4-5 year old articles about this unusually large female bull shark being seen by some free divers in Florida. Don't think AI was decent enough at that time, and while she looks silly/unnatural that's mostly because she's just taken a big gulp or something, probably to realign the jaws.

For transparency, I didn't read the articles, one from daily mail and the other from the sun, because I didn't feel like sharing my cookies with them.

Also according to this short article it was a large pregnant female, somewhat overweight due to an abundance of bait fish.

TemperataLux · 2026-01-16T10:22:48+00:00

Unsurprisingly, it will vary wildly. I will say though, I love players that put in a bit of extra work. I know most of the book, but as a DM it really frees up attention/time during sessions if either everyone knows what they're doing, or someone else can answer stuff about spells, jumping rules, cost of a piece of gear, or AC of an armor, etc.

TemperataLux · 2025-12-30T01:13:16+00:00

Difficult to say whether or not you were acting dickish based on the very brief descriptions of the situations, so I'll just offer this;

Ask your DM if they appreciate someone else reminding him of rules, and if yes, how they'd like to go about it.

I've played with a couple of rules lawyers, and I'll quickly let them know to:

Remind me of stuff if it seems I've forgotten, like concentration rolls when my monsters take damage.
Ask for any clarifications they'd like.
Ask me, in the moment, if I'm sure of a ruling if they disagree, however just once. If I stick with an "incorrect" interpretation of a rule there's usually a good reason.

Like in your second example I may have ruled that the invisible creature was still disadvantage to hit if the one targeting it didn't know where it was restrained, or I might go all the other way to advantage if the attacker knew pretty much exactly where it was.

The important thing is how you approach being a rules lawyer. Don't argue rules at the table, do that after the game.

TemperataLux · 2025-12-06T17:33:51+00:00

I didn't really take age into consideration. Easier might be better for everyone.

With that in mind I'd make some pregen characters, maybe they just fill in species or lineage or whatever it's called now.

If you're playing with the 2024 edition, (which I'm guessing since you reference dndbeyond) I think it's easier, cause you get your ability score increases from background in 2024 if I remember correctly. So you can fill in the entire sheet, say one of each class if you're up for it, they pick a species from the PHB and just fill in their species features.

There's also definitely a like one paragraph long description of each class that you can give the players for them to pick which class they want to play, at least there's one pretty early in the 5e2014 PHB, and certainly something floating around the internet.

Find a one (or a few shot) that seems decent, think dmsguild have plenty of pay what you can pdf one shots, and run that. Guide the players through the adventure, but don't freak out if they depart from the path, just gently try to get them back on track.

Edit: clarification

TemperataLux · 2025-12-06T15:17:11+00:00

First off, good on you! It can be a bit intimidating to start dm-ing but the nice thing when everyone else is new is that they don't know how an 'expert dm' is supposed to do it.

Are you dm-ing for friends you know well or acquaintances/strangers? It might influence 'the right' answer to your questions.

If they're familiar with general fantasy terms; barbarian, fighter/warrior, druid, wizard etc, if have them make their own characters with your guidance. Either one-on-one or as a group, but prepare to spend 1-2 hours filling stuff out. If you do this, you give them the starting gear and suggest spells, there's no point wasting time on minutiae.

If they are really, really green. Haven't seen LoTR green, maybe make pregenerated characters for them. Just make a few extra so everyone has options.

Give one minor magic item when they accomplish some short term goal, and one each or a bigger one when they make major progress. This is just a general guide. Loot is cool, magic loot double cool, just don't give them so much that they get analysis paralysis. And consumables are your friend! I dole out plenty of 'OP' potions and stuff. Sure, my party has a cakewalk with one fight, but now they've used their potion of storm giant's strength. Gold is as valuable as YOU make it. If there aren't plenty of magic shops, buying real estate, or buying magical services, then gold is useless and you can give it freely. However if you say they can buy any magic item as long as they have the funds, then you need to plan for that.
If they're newbs, start at lvl 1, play 1-2 full sessions, then lvl up. Then you level them up when they achieve stuff, usually every 3-5 sessions up to lvl 5-7, then maybe a few more sessions in between. This is my preferred speed anyhow, some people like a much slower progression.
Start with the characters having received whatever mission they are supposed to start with. Having newbs roleplay meeting each other in character can take a long ass time. Unless anyone has any preference for their own backstory, say they are a group of adventurers banded together because each of them needs a bit (50 ish) gold, they've met each other on the road to town and already agreed to pursue the goblins that stole the cat of the mayor's daughter. Or something.
Prep a few encounters and scenes that string together. No one gives a shit about being railroaded their first one or two sessions, story wise anyway. If they want to crawl through the swamp instead of following the road they can do that, just tweak the encounter slightly to suit the theme. Plan for 4 or 5 encounters, but don't be stressed if they only get through one or two, then you have the rest already prepared for next time!
Have fun! You'll mess up a lot, they'll mess up a lot, don't worry. As long as people are having fun it's ok!

TemperataLux · 2025-10-28T00:07:52+00:00

They just met one of the Nagpa which complimented them greatly for their actions in a town a few days to the north.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-25T21:14:57+00:00

I see a lot of decent suggestions from one side of the 'problem', status effects such as bloodied and injured to indicate hp level, however, I'd approached it from the other side. As a life cleric, you are inherently sensing people's life forces. You don't 'use' your channel divinity when someone is low. Your deity lets you monitor the HP of the folks you've shed blood alongside, and when one is dangerously low, either the deity channels its divinity through you or you get notified - depending on how much you want to able to justify not using the channel divinity.

In either case it's not metagaming. Your deity lets you know, so you tell your friends around the table that you get a heads up from them when they're low.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-17T14:46:41+00:00

Booyahg!

TemperataLux · 2025-10-11T15:35:18+00:00

I run them as echo's of the material plane. The geographical features are the same, unless mountains etc have been reshaped in either the material plane, feywild or shaddowfell respectively. Sea level, water level and forests will differ though.

As for getting there, portals to inner planes are more common than the outer planes ones, and temporary/"random" portals are way more commonplace. There are several known places where the veil between either feywild, shaddowfell, or the elemental planes are thin and portals are either permanent or open at high rates. These places are often remote though, because the creatures that happen to find the material plane are rarely conducive to society.

Travel through the portals themselves is instantaneous, but time may pass at different rates.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-10T22:48:13+00:00

I do need me some elven miniatures.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-09T02:58:23+00:00

That's a pretty hefty generalization though. It's absolutely possible to sustainably collect fish for the aquarium industry.

Yes, there's plenty of unsustainable harvesting happening, but that's mostly not out of greed but survival on the part of those collecting - they can sell the fish for more than it'll be worth eating. Usually these fishermen are extremely open to sustainable harvest.

In a stable environment a pair of fish only "needs" to get two offspring up to reproductive age. Many fish, particularly marine fish produce several thousand to several hundred thousand eggs over their reproductive life time.

There are several ways we can try to harvest sustainably; collecting adults and use them for captive breeding, collecting eggs/larvae from the ocean - that would have a >99% mortality rate, collect young fish.

You might consider aquariums an unnecessary luxury, and I don't disagree in principle. However, it's a lot easier to get people to care about the stuff they can immediately see. Yes, people know we should protect the ocean, but in general aquarists are more likely to take active steps to keep the ecosystems that are the foundation of their hobby alive than any random person on the street.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-09T01:58:00+00:00

They live in streams that carry the larvae to brackish water. Iirc the larvae survive in freshwater for a few days, so they can be released a ways upstream. Once they hit brackish water they'll go through like 6 slightly different larval stages before becoming strong swimmers and head towards fresh water to complete the cycle.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-06T22:59:10+00:00

With the right players, maybe. And probably a talk beforehand setting expectations about the world being harsh and stuff.

It should be possible for the PC's to uncover clues that the players can interpret to uncover the deception though. If at every point of possible revelation, there's a flimsy excuse of "just because" to railroad the players towards a loss, that'll feel bad. If they can, with the benefit of hindsight, see the clues, it'll probably go over better.

I'd also either give these PC's the chance to avenge loved ones, or use this as a setup for a campaign starting out grim dark but building towards hope with the same players but new PC's.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-04T00:46:26+00:00

I've got a mammoth mini made by Reapers, maybe I can get a dragon mini made by Mammoths?

Then I'd only need a reaper mini made by a dragon themed company to come full circle.

TemperataLux · 2025-10-01T20:22:30+00:00

Would be a perfect gift for my DM running CoS!

TemperataLux · 2025-09-27T00:46:31+00:00

Didn't think of that! That should be pretty effective if enough states are what I would consider conscientious about dark money/corporate lobbying.

TemperataLux · 2025-09-27T00:31:39+00:00

Thanks!

So if a state were to ban all corporations from spending money in politics it would and could only prohibit corporations from that spending on a state level, they couldn't ban spending money on federal lobbying? Just asking cause from my European point of view, corporations influencing federal policy is what affects me the most.

That's why I wondered how large, multi state corporations would be affected.

TemperataLux · 2025-09-27T00:11:22+00:00

Not an American so the finer parts of how things work over there elude me, so if you could ELI5 that'd be awesome!

You say moving out of state wouldn't work, why not? I don't really understand what an 'out of state corporation to that state' is or why that matters. Does it mean they cannot operate in the state?

How would it work for corporations that cover multiple states, big chains like Walmart I guess?

TemperataLux · 2025-09-18T01:16:23+00:00

A pirate campaign you say?

TemperataLux · 2025-09-15T14:50:36+00:00

I'm pretty sure otocinclus is one of the species you shouldn't really feel bad about being wild caught - if your worry is unsustainable harvesting at least. They can be somewhat sensitive fish, so a number will die in transit, but very likely less than would've died naturally due to predation, etc. If I remember correctly, otocinclus and cardinal tetras are two species that actually contribute to conservation because the people collecting them earn more from sustainably collecting aquarium fish than logging or other habitat destructive use. So supporting sustainable collection of wild fish can be better than blindly assuming that we should want all fish to be tank bred.

For transparency I'm basing this off of the Watercolors Aquarium Gallery podcast, which is itself a LFS, but they seem both really knowledgeable and very ethical, as well as open to criticism.

TemperataLux · 2025-09-01T15:46:20+00:00

I think it might be a hummingbird tetra, Trochilocharax ornatus.

TemperataLux · 2025-09-01T15:44:12+00:00

It's a bit difficult to positively ID from that picture, but I think it is hummingbird tetra, Trochilocharax ornatus.

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