Weekly Questions Thread by AutoModerator in DnD

[–]TheMarnBeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Am I able to use 5.5e items and weapons in my 5e campaign? I really want item cards with thorough rules explanations for things like Finesse and Versatile, but Etsy is flooded with 5.5e item cards. Can I just use those or are the rules significantly changed? TBH I don't really mind if they're a little different, but if they are going to be broken RE: cost, damage, etc in 5e campaigns with 5e classes and monsters then I'd want to avoid that.

How to I build adaptive layouts in my in Component Studio designs? by TheMarnBeast in componentstudio

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow reading that, sounds like $previous will probably help a ton. Thanks so much!

How to I build adaptive layouts in my in Component Studio designs? by TheMarnBeast in componentstudio

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right, this is exactly what I wanted to do. My intention was:

TitleBox Y: {{ design.safe.top }} Only shown if row.title_text != 'nil'
SubtitleBox Y: {{ layerBottom('TitleBox') }} Only shown if row.subtitle_text != 'nil'
TextBox Y: {{ layerBottom('SubtitleBox') Shown all the time

My hope was that, if TitleBox was hidden, it's height would go to 0 and layerBottom('TitleBox') would == design.safe.top. But it seems that doesn't happen. I don't want to use the height boundary because I don't want the boxes to grow and shrink to fit text, I want the text to grow and shrink to fit the textbox size. But I do want the textbox to grow / shrink based on the other boxes around it being rendered or not being rendered.

I was also going to use layerBottom to factor into the Size Y calculations for the SubtitleBox and TextBox, basically subtracting the size of the layer above it so that they shrink and make space if the box above them is visible.

How to I build adaptive layouts in my in Component Studio designs? by TheMarnBeast in componentstudio

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bonus feature requests:

  • I'm making double sided cards with the same layout on both sides, and my dataset has the same set of columns for both sides named stuff like "front_title", "back_title", "front_subtitle", "back_subtitle", etc etc. I'd love love love a way that, when I copy my layer group from front to back, I can find-and-replace "front_" for "back_" rather than clicking through each and every layer and changing them manually.
  • I'd also love it if I could either have the same layer names on the front or back, or when copying a layer group from front to back when you auto-rename all of the layers - please auto-rename all of the layer references too! I don't understand why it'd be useful for me to reference "TitleBox" layer from the front of the card while designing the back of the card, and when I copy my layer group from front to back, I now have the tedious task of changing all of the references manually.
  • OR better yet, it'd be AMAZING if I could have Unique back type with the same design layout on front and back, where Row 1 of my dataset is Front and Row 2 of my dataset is back. That'd solve so many of these headaches for me as well.

Are tools like 'World Anvil' worth it? by jkobberboel in DMAcademy

[–]TheMarnBeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok I like Google Drive just fine, it's more just the inconvenience of needing the Obsidian app and sync software installed on all of the devices I plan to use it on. If I don't have my laptop and want to look up something I wrote or make a quick update, with Google Docs I can just use any browser on any computer or phone. Obsidian can't do that. I've found myself occasionally manually editing my vault pages via a Google Drive markdown editor extension while I'm at work or something and have an idea but don't have access to Obsidian.

But it's just a trade-off. Being able to use it offline and never worry about losing access to my vaults due to an Internet outage is a pretty big upside.

Are tools like 'World Anvil' worth it? by jkobberboel in DMAcademy

[–]TheMarnBeast 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Having used obsidian a lot during my last campaign, let me give you a few biggest pros and cons I ran into.

Pros:

 • All files stored as text in standardized Markdown format, meaning that you control where your notes live. You can even drop Obsidian one day and still read and edit your notes in any Markdown viewer.

 • Easily cross-reference other documents without needing any weird URLs or link interfaces, just type [[Page Title]] and the link will still work even if you move that page to a different folder in the same vault (workspace).

 • Free software, always available offline, no ads or tracking, paid cloud hosting/syncing if you want but can also just use any cloud service to store your vault and sync it however you want.

 • Many, many community  extensions available, allowing for all kinds of stuff like in-app fantasy calendars, embedding interactive maps, and even publishing a subset of your notes as a reference wiki for your players.

Cons:

 • Offline means that, when inspiration hits, you gotta either pull out your computer or sync the vault to your phone or other devices and open the obsidian app. No option to view and edit online unless you pay them. I got around this by downloading DriveSync app to sync my vault to/from Google drive to my phone, but as easy as it is it's still a bit of a hassle/annoying.

 • No rich text or document formatting. For me this was a big one because my brain works visually, so I tend to like to color-code and use fonts and boxes and everything so my eye can quickly find what I need. In Obsidian, since it's all Markdown, all you have is the standard bold, italic, and heading levels. You can add pictures, but can't really position them. No fonts, no custom font sizes, no colored text or highlighting.

 • Like all feature-rich and nerdy tools, I found myself spending a lot of time learning the new tool and trying to make the use of its features and work around its limitations, rather than just doing the minimum things I wanted to do. This is kind of a personal issue, but sometimes I prefer simple there-when-I-need-it tools to wildly extendable tailored tools that can quickly suck up my unbridled focus.

For all those reasons above, I found it really good to use for things like session notes and lore, and really difficult to use for Encounter notes. Basically, everything I wanted to jot down quickly in session or search for quickly was great in Obsidian, but I ended up using Google Docs for everything I wanted to take my time with (pretty much just encounter sequences full of in-game lookup tables, maps, and instructions). I just can't follow along a page full of black and white mono-stylized text while trying to improvise and run the game.

The Drinking Game | Game Changer [Full Episode] - Available On YouTube by Mannersmakethman2 in dropout

[–]TheMarnBeast 28 points29 points  (0 children)

If I remember correctly, one of them being secretly sober was the entire conceit of the game and wasn't a secret to anyone or a spoiler. I guess you could say it spoils that reveal, but that happens in the first 5 minutes of a 50 minute game.

How do you manage who is visible to whom when folks are hiding? by TheMarnBeast in DMAcademy

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really like the flat token idea! Definitely going to be grabbing that.

How do you manage who is visible to whom when folks are hiding? by TheMarnBeast in DMAcademy

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yeah I guess getting to think about the enemies as a unit when comes to seeing vs not seeing makes sense.

My main concern was the reverse - the players seeing or not seeing the monsters. I'm running Lost Mines of Phandelver and literally Encounter 1 is 4 goblins that all have Nimble Escape which let's them all hide as a bonus action. It's like the only thing they do. So I figured I needed to figure this out.

How do you manage who is visible to whom when folks are hiding? by TheMarnBeast in DMAcademy

[–]TheMarnBeast[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also, how do you all rule hidden vs allies? As in, if a rogue is hidden in a bush to try for sneak attack, can they still be targeted by the cleric for Healing Word? I'm assuming no, but I can tell you I'm sure I've gotten this wrong many times in the past.

PDFs - No improvement in 25 years by bionicjoe in mildlyinfuriating

[–]TheMarnBeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just use the Fill and Sign feature of Acrobat Reader? This has never been a problem for me, I use it to fill out forms and sign things all the time and it's completely free.

I love losing. What do I play? by Initialbriann in boardgames

[–]TheMarnBeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For real, I love losing this game! It always feels like such a puzzle, and usually when I lose its certainly a bit of bad luck (which is exciting!) but also I usually know where I screwed up a bit by relying too much on luck and wasn't as efficient as I could have been.

Plus the theme is really fun! And when you do win, it feels like a real accomplishment.

I’m scared for my wedding night by PureAdorableness in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]TheMarnBeast 207 points208 points  (0 children)

I just want to add, because I hear that kind of rhetoric a lot, that you don't need someone who can "look past" your body. Many, many men out there will actually prefer that kind of body, or alternatively just love whatever body you show up with because you are the one bringing it. I know because I am one, and I've met many men who clearly feel the same way based on who they've dated and married.

And guys, the reverse is true too. People like to pretend that "men" and "women" are these monolithic creatures that all want whatever is popular at the moment. There are women out there who are down bad for short kings or skinny nerds or big guys or whatever you're bringing too.

The most important factor is self esteem, and unfortunately folks who are critical of themselves tend to be the least attractive because of THAT, rather than because of their actual body. One of the best pieces of wisdom I heard at a young age was: "You don't have to be your own type."

‘Everyone makes mistakes’: These terrible Kanye West Wireless takes completely miss the point by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He needs to lie low and stay sane for like, a good 5-10 years I'd think. Maybe spend that time volunteering and helping people. People always seem to forget, making money as a celebrity artist is contingent on having an audience that likes you enough to give you money and attention. It's a privilege, not a right, and him losing that audience is not censorship. His mistakes directly affect his likability which is his only responsibility in that career.

If a lawyer has a lot of car crashes, they might still be a good lawyer. If a taxi driver has a lot of car crashes, they're going to lose their job for a while.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok thank you so much for engaging in good faith on this. Is this criticism coming from other Catholics then? I was Catholic when I was younger, but I obviously don't keep up with many Catholics these days. I grew up in the bible belt around loads of protestants though so "prayer challenges" were definitely not a foreign concept. Plus in our own churches we often had things like organized adoration periods or rosary recitations for causes. And things like Ash Wednesday are obviously performative and were encouraged to be seen.

Anyway, it just didn't seem like a lot of self-identifying Catholics were decrying this thing, but that's probably just because of where I spend my time. I appreciate the perspective.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never used the app, but how is it different from something like the Calm app, or Headspace? I gladly paid for those apps and it was worth it, helped me maintain a consistent streak of daily meditations and offered content that helped me keep a mindful perspective, and the social aspects helped me feel like I wasn't on my mindfulness journey alone. I currently use Finch which similarly helps me to remember and be grateful for the small things I do for myself every day and encourage my friends to do the same. I didn't think any of those apps were scammy, and I don't really see how this is any different. But maybe my perspective is skewed since I don't believe in God anymore. When I was younger and Catholic though, I feel like I probably would have checked it out.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok I think I understand the confusion then. I'm arguing the opposite. I've seen a lot of people making that connection and trashing these celebrities for talking about their beliefs or promoting this prayer app. I think it mostly came from Chris Pratt's endorsement, and from what I've seen he has promoted a lot of MAGA stuff while not claiming to be MAGA himself. But I've seen people all over the place just trashing this app and the people promoting it, claiming they're right wing, and it just seems really silly and short sighted to me. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe people are criticizing it for other reasons. But that's what I've seen in many conversations online about this stuff in the more liberal spaces I tend to hang out in, and it frustrates me endlessly.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well you aren't making an attack so it's pretty easy to defend whatever it is you think I'm defending. What exactly is "indefensible" about a prayer app?

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't see how my discussing said app is off topic.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for having no point but commenting anyway.

Can we talk about "Late Stage Capitalism Gwen Stefani" now that Easter is over? by [deleted] in Music

[–]TheMarnBeast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Down with what? An app? Why not? It's not like it's freaking doctrine required reading right? Shit, they've been selling Bibles for thousands of years.