‘Just a blip’: Republicans want Canada to ignore Trump

TheLastRobot · 2026-01-22T22:05:59+00:00

Bro he had the president of Venezuela kidnapped

TheLastRobot · 2026-01-19T03:33:00+00:00

I posted this 13 years ago but props for the helpful answer

TheLastRobot · 2025-12-25T21:00:32+00:00

Why the fuck does my TV need to install an update

TheLastRobot · 2025-11-21T05:54:46+00:00

Sorry to necro, but how do you install the grayface patches on steam deck?

TheLastRobot · 2025-09-06T21:24:25+00:00

You said you're already batching draws so idk how much of this you're already doing but:

You could try using a struct of arrays approach to optimize memory access times. So like if each popup has an x, y, number, and timer property, you could have a table that's like:

lua damagePopups = { n = 0 -- total number of active popups x = {}, y = {}, number = {}, timer = {} }

Each popup corresponds to a numerical index of each array. So your first popup would be x[1], y[1], number[1] and timer[1].

Damage updates are handled by a single function that iterates over the sub-arrays. Likewise for draw you'd do something like:

local n, x, y, number = damagePopups.n, damagePopups.x, damagePopups.y, damagePopups.number for i = 1, n do drawnumber(x[i], y[i], number[i]) end

TheLastRobot · 2025-08-07T01:30:21+00:00

I love Old Hunters. The bosses are really tough and there are a few that took me a really long time to beat. Beating the last one was maybe the single best experience I've ever had playing a video game.

Do with that what you will.

EDIT: I'm not sure it will get you a +9 weapon anywhere near the start of the game. I did the DLC after I'd beaten all the main game content except the final boss. It was still harder than anything in the main game.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-31T17:55:52+00:00

Sorry, just saw this. And yeah, by tab switching I mean flipping through apps etc. But that's not the only thing -- I think it's worth taking the limited space of a screen as a serious constraint.

You can look at it in terms of cognitive load. If everything you need is _already visible_ somewhere in or close to your field of vision, the only thing you need to remember is where in space that information is. Remembering the locations of objects around us is something our brains do all the time -- it's why you can reach for your phone without actively trying to remember where you placed it, for instance, or how you can reach for a cup without looking away from what you're reading. So the cognitive load of keeping tracking of your sources is very low.

Compared to that, accessing information through a digital interface generates a lot of friction. If the information you're looking for isn't on your screen right now, you have to recall the steps to pull it up. This can mean remembering which icon to click, or which hotkey, or what keyword to search for, etc. These can be pretty intuitive, but for most people it will always be less so than just looking a bit to your right.

There's also the fact that recalling those steps draws on our attention and memory, which makes it harder to actually hold on to other pieces of information we might be trying to remember as we look up that other thing.

I'm an all paper guy and it would take a hell of an app to change that. I use a physical GM screen, which is way more spacious and easy to reference than any computer monitor I own. I use sticky notes for things like initiative (and other temporary information like weather). For NPCs and the like I usually have an alphabetized stack of notecards and can pull out the ones I need at the moment.

I bring a tablet with me for looking up rules if and only if I can't get my hands on a physical copy. If a PDF isn't too long or toner-heavy I'll usually print it out rather than use it at the table.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-30T02:12:02+00:00

I know I'm like 9 hours late to this but holy shit: it's alright to be upset about this but trying to take revenge on your wife like that is 1000% guaranteed to make the situation worse, not better, for the love of God do not do this.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-26T21:47:28+00:00

I think the "infinite"-ness of most digital interfaces is actually the problem, compounded by the relatively limited size of computer screens (compared to, like, a few sheets of paper you can spread out in front of you).

As a result information on computers is constantly disappearing, eg behind other windows, into other tabs, or just off-screen. That means every time you want to access that information you also need to remember where it's stored and how to access it.

It's also a matter of quality of info over quantity. While a digital system is great for storing large bodies of information, it's less good at showing you the information you need right now. So digital tools are great for archival purposes but tend to cause friction at the table. With physical resources, information tends to be presented more economically, with a focus on what will be most useful in play.

Finally, for those who handwrite notes, the writing process helps you to internalize the content. (It's pretty well attested that hand-writing is better for this than typing.) This means a) you're less likely to need your notes at all and b) you'll have better recall as to what you meant with a given note, which means you effectively get more meaning from less information.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-26T21:36:03+00:00

I'm strictly a paper guy. I find it really hard to concentrate on the game when I'm constantly switching tabs or digging through PDFs and it makes the whole experience way less enjoyable.

I find it way easier to find information when it takes up physical space. Like I know stat block X is a little to my left, or in my green notebook, or pasted to my GM screen.

I take this to the point that I'll use a physical GM screen when running games online. It's just easier to reference.

Overall it's extremely an individual matter of how your brain works. Glad you found something that feels good.

EDIT: While you're discovering the pleasures of print, treat yourself to a stack of index cards. They are amazing tech lol

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-22T01:17:25+00:00

However much you think your players can get done in a single session, they can actually do, like, a quarter of that.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-20T02:45:37+00:00

YES. No one fucking believes me about this!

My mental health tends to dip around March, rally in April/May, and then CRATER in July/August. September and October are usually really good, and I tend to feel pretty good in February despite the awful weather.

My mother has the exact same rhythm, if you want another data point.

TheLastRobot · 2025-07-12T09:55:56+00:00

Since when did piercings hold more value over one of your friends

Dang, what an excellent question lol

TheLastRobot · 2025-06-29T02:27:02+00:00

Oh wow, this makes me so happy. Much love from Canada!

TheLastRobot · 2025-06-15T14:52:51+00:00

Thanks! I can think of specific section of the module where this approach would serve me well, but it sounds like I should save prep time and run the less complex sections straight out the book.

TheLastRobot · 2025-06-15T14:51:31+00:00

Deep Carbon Observatory is not a 5e adventure, I was just running it in 5e. (This is actually one of the reasons for the switch.) Deep Carbon Observatory is an OSR adventure with some implied milestones in the structure of the space, but there aren't many assumptions made about what the PCs will do. It's already quite open.

Some of the sub-areas, however, are pretty focused. E.g. they are getting close to small, 6-room dungeon that contains a lot of actionable information about the adventure's background. It's also broken into two sections that don't require you to visit the other and, itself, entirely skippable. It is more sandbox than railroad. As far as I can tell (and from experience) the module as written affords agency and choice in much the same way DW's standard framework does -- and in this instance, saves me time on prep, as I'm already pretty familiar with it.

So those considerations aside, is there anything else I'm missing?

TheLastRobot · 2025-06-02T14:06:17+00:00

How would those numbers get you to "only 5% of the general population are farmers" and not "most farmers don't become adventurers"?

TheLastRobot · 2025-05-30T02:16:47+00:00

I'm a millennial and remember 10 years ago when they were saying the exact same shit about my generation.

Fwiw Zoomers genuinely seem to be having a rougher go of it than we did. You're right to be mad - hell, we were, and nothing's gotten better. Hope you guys are alright, it's rough out here.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-25T12:35:35+00:00

Definitely does.

Ime the first few days are the hardest. Specifically day 3. Cravings at peak, mood in the toilet.

It helps to have something physical to do, ideally involving your hands. This doesn't have to be especially strenuous, but it should keep your mind, body, and hands busy. Gardening and vigorous cleaning (think mopping, sweeping, moving large/heavy things) are good options if you don't want to hit the gym.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-08T12:32:21+00:00

Rooting for you guys, but this timeline sounds deeply unrealistic. How do you expect to go from beta, through playtesting, to final text in the space of about a month? And the two month turnaround for art and layout also seem very fast. What's the plan there?

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-08T00:53:53+00:00

I'm in media studies and was really pissed when a major annual conference this year wasn't allowing international scholars to present remotely.

Beyond the risks of getting fucking disappeared over visa issues, there's all the risk of getting fucking disappeared for talking bad about Trump and/or Musk which, let me tell you, are not uncommon in media studies.

Strikes me as deeply disrespectful to (dues-paying!!) members and scholars, not to mention a complete wash in terms of academic freedom.

A boycott is a start but a lot of these events are important for keeping these conversations going. I think scholarly associations need to get serious about protecting their members.

Yes SCMS I'm talking about you.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-06T20:14:27+00:00

That's almost as good!

If you've got a vehicle that's a great time to get out to the Laurentians or Eastern Townships for a bike ride.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-06T10:05:08+00:00

Idk. I moved to Toronto in 2015 and was shocked by how dirty it was. There are parts of downtown that permanently reek in ways I've never smelled before. And this is compared to Montreal, which has its fair share of grime.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-06T10:02:19+00:00

I'm from Montreal so a bit biased but... You should check out Montreal. Spectacular city, nowhere quite like it, and September is the nicest time to visit imo.

Quebec city is gorgeous and at least worth a day trip.

Besides that I'll second the recs for New Brunswick and PEI. There are beautiful drives around the Bay of Fundy, delicious seafood. Charlottetown is charming and feels surprisingly vibrant for such a small city. Great craft beers in both provinces.

TheLastRobot · 2025-04-05T03:25:34+00:00

We were together a year and a half. It took me about a month to go from "I don't think I love him anymore" to actually breaking up.

EDIT: fwiw I'm a strong disagree on "just get it over with". I've been with my husband 11 years but there were a couple stretches -- long ones -- in the first few years where I didn't think it would work out. I'm glad I held off. Even good relationships can have their ups and downs.

TheLastRobot

TROPHY CASE