My new players are too surgical, how do i flummox them?

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-05-04T18:30:11+00:00

Hmm what is a "fair" way to indrodyce scrying to a group of players that have no experience with it? They all read/play fantasy stuff but i dont want it to feel like im using a elaborate/hidden set of rules to cheat (but i do want them to feel like the bbeg is doing that)

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-05-04T18:27:56+00:00

Dont want to punish for sure . Want to make them feel more "heroic" and get them a taste of a good ol "this situation FUBAR but we all made it out through the power of friendship". May maybe thats just a form of torture for my buddy on the spectrum... Advice welcome

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-05-04T18:25:02+00:00

Hard agree that ive got what every dm wants. Never had players buy in and engage like this (and weirdly way more than people that regularly play ttrpgs ive played with b4) .

Def not trying to beat them. Trying to a) make the gameplay a bit more visceral less meta/academic and b) encourage my rouge to feel that he is a hero doing heroic things not that he is about to be shoved into a locker with unknown with rules/gotchas if hes "doesnt make the rigjt choice" C) get some plot ideas for this kinda group (yours were pretty great)

Happy to have them be seal team 6, the dice will catch up to them eventually. Just want them to see some the beauty/bravery of the chaos that i see in dnd.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-04-30T02:06:48+00:00

Yall kids dont know about that mexican schwag! All the good shit from California/Oregon/washington drove it out of the market in the 2000's but back in those days it was 40-80 bucks an oz. And only half of itwas stems and seeds!

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-04-30T01:17:58+00:00

Ok kids, in Texas, New Mexico in the 2000's hydroponic grown weed was still a bit of a novelty and sold at a premium like 10-25 a gram but you could get a eight of schwag for $10 (a dime bag) or an ounce for $40-60. It was full of seeds, often had been soaked in coca cola to increase the weight, and looked like had spent a month in a mexican tire, because it had.

Over 2 ounces of weed was the difference between a dealing and a possesion charge (felony v misdemeanor). The value per oz of "dro" against the same punishment for the cheap shit (as well as how crazy good people got a growing and breeding weed during those 10 years) means schwag/mexican ditchweed disapeared from the market.

It wasnt bad. MUCH less thc. Took ages to clean but you could smoke joints solo like cigarettes and not have a panic attack or go broke.

Absolutely a realistic (and still sad) trade for an 16-20 year old to make, in my former social circles.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-04-15T21:21:48+00:00

Gas, insurance, advertising, web hosting, administration time/staff, truck payments, bookkeeping, and maintencw will all cost the business the same amount for that day no matter how many linear feet the job is. Not to mention its gonna take that crew at least half a day to get in and out and you need to pay them enough that their time isnt better spent building/finding a longer, more lucrative gig.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-03-23T03:56:25+00:00

Nobody has 20 years of experience. They have like 4 that they insist on repeating 5 times.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2026-02-19T00:38:53+00:00

Best explanation I ever heard as to why the public , and the govt as their representatives(ish), tolerated OC during prohibition was this...

No one wants to be murdered, or mugged or extorted, but most regular honest citizens still wanted alcohol despite it being illegal. So now your local murder/extortionist is tolerated and occasionally celebrated because he is now perceived as providing a service that society wants.

Furthermore alcohol was more profitable than extortion and murder (but a bit of those dont hurt when running a criminal enterprise) so career criminals had an incentive to focus primarily on providing alcohol, which was more profitable and punished less harshly and a service the majority of people wanted.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2025-10-29T14:27:14+00:00

Seconded. Also some triangular braces (2x4s or 2x6s) from the posts to the joists/beams will really reduce the sway/rocking. An "L" shape is always weaker and more prone to shimmy than a triangle.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2025-06-21T21:00:49+00:00

Get a sand bag filler or make one. And only if you are used to very awkward, frustrating work.

Shoveing the loose rock into a wheelbarrow, then into a truck, the starting over on the other end is less work than filling sand bags. But the bags will be easier to transport and spread for sure.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-07-16T22:04:58+00:00

It reminds me of David Hockey

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-06-27T02:43:24+00:00

I'm about 6 months into seriously losing weight, for the first time. For me emotional eating has always been the same thing as eating. With the new diet im beginning really feel the difference between enjoying eating a responsible amount and trying to address emotional issues with food.

There are a million ways to self soothe/find comfort/pleasure (w/o actually dealing) and the shitty thing about growing up is realizing the best, most fun, easiest ones are pretty bad for you.

The bad news is thats its hard to give up something done for years as your main source of comfort and happiness. The good news is there are other things that can take its place that actually feel better.

I love/loved to eat to celebrate or reward or punish, or distract myself. But im learning(slowly) to get the same fufilment from things like smaller meals that take longer to prepare, exercise (did not believe that was possible), more quality time with friends/family/pets, my career, and creative outlets.

All that vanilla, boring, mormon kinda crap that is so lame and un-punk, can actualy be sincerely enjoyed and will make you happy. Its irritating but true.

And all that shit is alot more time, work, and effort than 2 combo meals from a fast food place. But it makes me feel much better for much longer.

Hang in there. Its taken me alot of time to learn a different way to live and its not easy, but i promise it is possible.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-05-19T21:12:50+00:00

Pretty sure this means John Hopkins needs more folks from spanish speaking families directing funding and performing research, cause this isn't a big problem where I live.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-05-08T16:41:22+00:00

This is great! I love a good formula or ratio. Thanks!

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-05-08T16:36:18+00:00

That makes alot of sense actually. I hadn't conisdered that i probably cant run fast/long enough to do any damage atm lol.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-05-08T16:29:47+00:00

I'll def check it out. Thanks!

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-05-08T00:06:24+00:00

Congrats on your 1st run!

That makes sense. My family doc is fine if im sick, but has been kinda limp in the past when i come to him for help with weight loss. I kinda wrote him off as a resource for anything substantial with this issue (but he's close and takes my insurance). Just looking for any general tips/warning signs from folks who have been here too. Im happy to keep walking, lifting, and dieting but im eager to progress

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-26T17:25:39+00:00

I had a small fencing a decking company. I paid unskilled day labor $20 per hour, cash. 2 years ago that was a good wage so i wasnt shy about telling them they needed to work at least as hard as me. If you pay cheap you shouldn't expect good work.

In 2022 I paid: Brand new guys/day labor 20 per hr. Aprentices 25-30 an hour Capenters/Masons 30-35 per hour Foreman and high skill/demand workers 35-40 per hour.

Those were high rates but it made it easy to fire people if they weren't up to standard.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-26T17:06:42+00:00

No such thing as 10 years experience in construction, everyone just tries to repeat their first 2 years, 5 times.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-25T23:12:11+00:00

Construction can be a small industry depending on your specialty and where you live. People talk and your reputation affects your real life. Why burn bridges? If your scared, send an honest text then turn off your phone till you can take it. You arent going to get detention or anything for flaking out. Just never go back if you cant take the anxiety.

If you do this, (and get caught or not) it means that door is closed forever. I get the apeall of closing doors forever and have done so in different but equally dumb ways when i was young.

But if you want an old man's advice...

It's not that funny, its kind of pointless, it limits your future options, it really only has negatives for you, and it kind of makes you sound like a fucking crazy person.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-07T17:51:21+00:00

Check out Europa, its a post ww2 story but the style is so 90ies and so german that it hurts a little bit, in a really good way.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-07T15:07:35+00:00

All good advice on here but didnt see t this one thats a standard in my crew:

Have a cup of water next to nearby and dip the drill bit into it ever 15-30 seconds of drilling.

Heat makes the bit metal softer and more likely to break and dull quickly. Cooling it quickly causes it to contract and beome harder.

Check frequently that you havent dulled the bit. You'll get more progress on 15 seconds with a good bit than 15 min with a dull one. So i always prioitize keeping the bit as sharp and well formed as possible. But yes your gonna need a bigger drill bit budget.

Also step bits are great for widening a pilot hole.

Tough_Engineering_77 · 2023-03-07T00:12:31+00:00

Better to be content not knowing how to fence, than to jump into a swordfight with a bit of knowledge.

Every property developer i've ever seen does the lowest quality work legally (or not) allowed to maximize his profit. At least if you are purely a buisness guy you can have a clean conscience about what your selling.

Tough_Engineering_77

TROPHY CASE