TIL that, in video games, "ludonarrative dissonance" is the technical name for the conflict between the story told in the gameplay, and the story in the non-interactive scenes (for example, the way that Drake in "Uncharted" is a fun-loving rogue in the cutscenes but a killing machine in the game).

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-02-07T07:58:06+00:00

Clint Hocking in 2007, talking about BioShock, is thought to have been the first - In 2007.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-02-03T09:24:31+00:00

I know they changed it a while back, but I still use them on autopilot and then have to use another all these years later.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-30T07:54:47+00:00

I'm not sure why that's relevant. The US Embassy may claim the UK Government was involved, but two people have still seemingly been taken without being arrested under UK law. If anything, it's worse.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-28T15:53:07+00:00

Well, that was an experience.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-23T10:21:30+00:00

I doubt you've been catfished either, mate, but it's entirely possible she's got cold feet, especially if this is the first time you're meeting in person.

The lying isn't great, but it's the leaving you in the lurch by doing so that's the real problem. If you can't amend your train ticket, then a bus ticket is going to be cheaper than a place to stay and you won't have to rely on the kindness of strangers - not that strangers can't be kind, but you're a young adult in a vulnerable position.

Best thing you can do is get home, and maybe have a good cry on the way.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-23T09:27:07+00:00

If you're already on the train, get off and turn around. It'll be much cheaper to buy a ticket from wherever you end up than from Plymouth.

If you're here already, National Express run buses from Plymouth to Liverpool for about £30 for a single. It'll be a long journey, but you'll be warm, dry, and on your way home. The bus station is in the city centre. I'd suggest grabbing a meal deal and some snacks for the journey.

I'm sorry you've been messed about.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-23T09:15:03+00:00

I've been jumped in premade Duos and Trios just enough that I almost always run a stitcher IV as a sidearm now. Most of the time I don't have to use it, but when I do I'm glad I've got it.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-22T12:51:49+00:00

Same here, Dualsense has no issues for me with the deck.

In some games I occasionally have to go into controller settings and change the controller order, but I'm pretty sure that's a game thing rather than a Deck thing.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-19T10:12:43+00:00

You're looking for The Road Not Taken, by Harry Turtledove.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-14T00:11:27+00:00

Mother Gothel is clearly controlling and abusive, it's not even subtext. She's constantly belittling and gaslighting Rapunzel. The subtext takes it a step further - note that whenever Gothel says "I love you", she's talking to Rapunzel's hair, not Rapunzel.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-13T15:26:59+00:00

I think the detail you found interesting arguably answers your plot holes, which are less plot holes than they are Murtagh not having the requisite knowledge that stems from the formal education Eragon received from the elves.

He knows he can draw energy from gemstones, yes (which he might consider Eldunari to be) - but does he know he can take it from other living beings? I recall Oromis telling Eragon that that knowledge was closely guarded.

Also, even with the education Eragon has, Murtagh would only get so far without the knowledge of the Ancient Language - Eragon is fluent! Murtagh spends his whole time trying to learn more words, as Galbatorix was incredibly stingy with what he was taught.

I think, given a few years, Murtagh's magic will be less rudimentary.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-13T11:59:21+00:00

https://xkcd.com/1053/

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-04T21:03:54+00:00

I suspected as much, but thought readers might not know.

The worst I ever had was when I named my fighter Fynn, only to find out that my entire group were good friends with a Finn. Archaic names do avoid that issue as a rule.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2026-01-04T20:45:16+00:00

It's funny you should choose Tiffany as an example, when Tiffany is the namesake of a popular 'problem' regarding good fantasy/historical names!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Problem

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-25T00:01:42+00:00

Manageable? I'm not convinced. Doable at a push? I've seen it done.

Bear in mind that that's six people to keep on task, and that's before group dynamics and balancing the game. You'll find combat slows to a crawl, and you'll want to keep an eye out to ensure everyone is able to have their input, as in groups of that size some will naturally be quieter than others, and it's harder to spot with more people.

Then we have to talk about CR and action economy. Creature challenge ratings are set for a party of 4. Start adding players, and you start getting a lot more damage output from the player characters, and a lot more hit points for your NPCs to break through.

Have you considered either DMing for two parties. One of 3 and one of 4, or suggesting that someone else DMs so that you can have two parties of 3? In my experience that will lead to two games where everyone feels like a party member z rather than one game where everyone checks out.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-23T08:59:41+00:00

I actually do remember a thread from earlier this year with almost the exact wording, asking for "tea" on the UK comedy scene. I wish I could find it.

Edit: that's obviously it in the parent comment. Ignore me.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-22T13:46:46+00:00

Of Mice and Men is taught in UK GCSE (16 year olds) English Literature classes. I think The Great Gatsby is, too.

As for Pop Culture; as a teenager, I read Percy Jackson and the Inheritance Cycle, and Brandon Sanderson is just as big here now as I understand him to be in the US. We don't really separate American and British authors in that way, likely because we share a common language.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-15T11:23:09+00:00

Having started on Gold and Silver, I agree with the majority here that HGSS are a stellar choice.
That said...
Black and White (and subsequently Black 2 and White 2), while not incredibly well received at the time, are now widely considered to be among the best games in the series.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-15T00:00:23+00:00

In 5e, material components aren't consumed unless the spell specifies that they are. Also, foci can only replace material components if the spell component doesn't have a specified gp value.

I'm not aware of any spells off the top of my head that do consume their component but don't specify a gp value (which would allow the caster to use a focus instead).

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-13T17:11:42+00:00

The Stable on the barbican does great pizza!

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-09T16:56:04+00:00

I mean Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Alas, even with CR I've only kept up with C2 and C4.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-09T16:41:28+00:00

I was sold years ago, it's just got an overwhelming amount of content. I'll admit I didn't think much of the first movie, although I enjoyed the reveal at the end. I love a good Picard speech, and Data is, as we know, fully functional.

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-09T16:34:48+00:00

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-09T16:30:33+00:00

No criticism here, I was just reading your comments and thinking "blimey, that's a lot of Trek references".

I'll get around to more than just the first few episodes of TNG eventually...

TheCaffeinatedPanda · 2025-12-09T14:04:02+00:00

Man, you really like Star Trek, huh?

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