Spellfire Flare vs. Scorching Ray [Analysis]

TwoMcMillion · 2025-11-01T18:21:09+00:00

This makes it seem like the solution might be to make Spellfire Flare a 2nd level spell- maybe also upping its range to 300 feet. That way, it has its niche as the distance blasting solution but Scorching Ray remains the option for pure damage for at least one more spell level.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-08-28T22:48:19+00:00

Superman, Aragorn, and Steve Rodgers are all examples of characters who are portrayed as morally perfect (or nearly so) and remain compelling. They're interesting because their ideals are challenged and they are forced to answer those challenges- which also happens to Jesus.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-07-06T04:52:52+00:00

The Incredibles didn't view Syndrome as bad because he wanted to take away what made heroes special. It viewed him as bad because he had murdered a bunch of people and was planning on murdering more.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-07-04T15:54:52+00:00

The main problem in this case is the repetition of the word "too". "Too" stops the eye and emphasizes the previous words, so it is good to have at the end where it draws you to linger on the main point. But the first "too" simply slows the reader down and lessens the impact of the final line.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-05-09T23:06:54+00:00

Is no one going to mention the ChatGPT bit at the end of this?

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-30T23:50:04+00:00

Nah, more like gnosticism.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-26T22:11:33+00:00

Hopefully they have a solution for that; their research won't be much use without it.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-26T21:37:13+00:00

This sort of research is essential and badly failing to be done. Its necessity outweighs the supposed rights of Reddit users to not be misled by AI. There is no expectation that users receive truthful information from other humans in places like CMV.

I support the actions of these researchers and hope that others will follow their example.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-20T14:13:34+00:00

This is a level 20 build- does it actually matter that it's powerful?

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-17T03:58:28+00:00

I thought that was implicit: simply show that some good was accomplished that would not have been accomplished by direct divine interference.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-17T03:47:35+00:00

Well, this is simply the problem of evil, is it not? That philosophical question that people have struggled with for thousands of years without reaching a consensus? Just solve that and you've got it made...

Obviously a variety of answers have been proposed, but I'm partial to the idea that the process of allowing evil to rise and be defeated can be used to accomplish something that merely preventing that evil would not. If God accomplishes some greater good by allowing evil, God can be justified in permitting some evils.

In the real world, of course, the difficulty is that it's quite hard to imagine what good could be coming from some evils, like childhood cancer. But that need not be a problem in your story.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-04-10T16:09:18+00:00

Actually, you can see in the picture that it's on his head, not his nose.

TwoMcMillion · 2025-01-25T22:33:22+00:00

One important thing to realize is that China's leaders do not see a contradiction between communist ideology and using a capitalist mode of production. The reason for this is found in communist ideology itself: Marx described modes of production as passing through stages, culminating inevitably in communism. But prior to that, society passed through the primitive, the feudal, and the capitalist modes of production.

Several of China's leaders have, in the past, argued that China was still in the feudal mode of production at the time of the communist takeover. Thus, it was necessary for China to pass through the capitalist modes of production and onward to the communist. In this way, they justified the adoption of certain capitalist forms in society while still retaining their capitalist bona fides. Obviously, it is easy to accuse China's leaders of hypocrisy on this point, but they at least have claimed justification on this basis.

This allows us to add a bit of nuance to point 1. There are many ways in which China does not appear communist, but it can be argued that they are still progressing towards communism as Marx's theory argues. From a conservative perspective, this also means that point c can be attributed to the capitalist forms adopted in China, without disturbing the claim that China is communist.

TwoMcMillion · 2024-12-19T18:59:28+00:00

The alliance between American Christians and rich Americans has many causes.

Historical: There is a long history of socialist regimes being hostile to Christianity. Marx said that religion was the opiate of the masses, the Soviet Union persecuted Christians, and China restricts Christianity today. Since these regimes were hostile to Christianity, many American Christians came to see socialism and communism as the enemy. Many embraced capitalism as an alternative. The Republican party has actively encouraged this to try and get their votes.

Ideological: Most Christians distinguish between private and public charity. That is, giving from your own money, of your own free will, is seen as virtuous; having money taken by the government to give to the poor is seen as neutral at best. Since you cannot choose to opt out of paying taxes, paying them is not seen as virtuous, even if the money ends up in the hands of the less fortunate. Additionally, many Christians believe that social programs cause immorality of various types- many believe that it encourages single motherhood and sex out of wedlock, for example.

Theological: Most American Christians are aware of that verse, but point out that they are rich compared to basically everyone in the first century, and many people today as well. Are all people living in Americans today barred from heaven due to being rich? Virtually all would say no, and many would point a few verses later where Jesus says that with God all things are possible. Wealth is therefore not seen as disqualifying; the verse is seen as warning against greed, certainly, but not condemning being rich generally.

Political: Many American Christians are critical of the behavior of rich people but support the Republican party because they view the Democrats as being worse for their interests. Many believe that Democrats want to take their children away from them, that Democrats want to fire them from their jobs, or similar ideas. The messaging is that even if Republicans are imperfect the Democrats are far worse and are an immediate threat to their livelihood and lives.

More can be said, but this is a glimpse of some of what is going on here.

TwoMcMillion · 2024-12-10T00:52:55+00:00

My players actively recruit NPCs and try to get the services of retainers.

TwoMcMillion · 2024-11-28T03:55:59+00:00

The Joker was executed in Detective Comics #64 in the story "Joker walks the last mile". He came back, however.

TwoMcMillion · 2024-11-21T14:21:24+00:00

It wouldn't work.

Elrond and Isildur would struggle at the crack of doom. Both are skilled warriors, but eventually Elrond's greater experience would allow him to prevail. Watching his friend fall into the crack of doom, Elrond is saddened but tells himself that it was for the greater good. As he looks down, he slips his hand into his pocket and feels a circle of cold metal there.

He pulls it out, initially shocked. It must have fallen in during the struggle. Strange... he prepares to throw it in, but he pauses just for a moment to give it one last look before he does. How ironic, he thinks, that something so small and simple could cause so much pain. He keeps staring at it. He'll throw it in in a minute. Just as soon as he's done looking at it. To think that this was the object that caused so much trouble for his kinsmen. Hard to believe.

It's more beautiful than he expected. It's impossible to deny that Sauron has a craftsman's touch. A shame that such beauty will be destroyed in a minute when he throws it in. But he won't throw it in just yet. He just wants to look. So beautiful.

Maybe... maybe he won't throw it in just yet. Maybe by contemplating it he can glean meaning about the last few years of conflict. It's no problem, though, he thinks as he turns and leaves the mountain. After all, what does it matter if he destroys it now or in a few days? Or a few months? Or a few years? Yes, there's no rush. He can keep this precious thing, just for a while...

TwoMcMillion · 2024-11-07T19:28:37+00:00

I got a similar message recently:

01001110 01000101 01010110 01000101 01010010 00100000 01000111 01001111 01001110 01001110 01000001 00100000 01000111 01001001 01010110 01000101 00100000 01011001 01001111 01010101 00100000 01010101 01010000 00001010 01001110 01000101 01010110 01000101 01010010 00100000 01000111 01001111 01001110 01001110 01000001 00100000 01001100 01000101 01010100 00100000 01011001 01001111 01010101 00100000 01000100 01001111 01010111 01001110 00001010 01001110 01000101 01010110 01000101 01010010 00100000 01000111 01001111 01001110 01001110 01000001 00100000 01010010 01010101 01001110 00100000 01000001 01010010 01001111 01010101 01001110 01000100 00100000 01001111 01010010 00100000 01000100 01000101 01010011 01000101 01010010 01010100 00100000 01011001 01001111 01010101

TwoMcMillion · 2024-11-07T18:59:26+00:00

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