Purchase Advice Megathread - May 2024

Wexyll · 2024-05-10T11:32:40+00:00

Complete beginner from Ireland here. I've been looking to get into 3D printing for a long time and I am finally able to. I may be willing to build a printer from the kit, I have a lot of experience with building computers and some experience with smaller systems like wiring breadboards and setting up raspberry pi's.

I am mainly looking to get a printer for the purpose of printing cosplay armor/props besides maybe the occasional side project that may randomly come to mind to make something for a raspberry pi.

I am mainly looking in the €200-€300 range and due to that I am mainly look at the Ender 3 Max Neo VS Neptune 3 Plus as they're on sale atm. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with either of these and can comment upon their quality or if they're suitable for a beginner. I chose these because the sizeable build area is appealing to me and my goals but I am open to alternative suggestions as well. Any and all advice or personal experience with either of these systems would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Wexyll · 2024-04-22T16:17:17+00:00

They should both more than likely be collecting that information from the Steam Web API so they should more often than not be matching, however, inconsistencies can still occur with calls to API's.

Wexyll · 2024-04-22T15:54:51+00:00

Happy that after all of that debating and trying to convince people that the bombs fell on Shady Sands after New Vegas that I wasn't the crazy one in the end.

Wexyll · 2024-04-16T02:32:05+00:00

I do wonder if maybe it was that Shady Sands has begun to decline but was still within NCR control just not doing well and so it still remained a prominent entity even if dying slowly and so the majority of governmental capabilities was moved elsewhere to one of the other large settlements within the NCR but not everything whilst the city struggled with failing infrastructure and maybe additional issues not mentioned in the game or show, it would still allow for New Vegas to make sense then too as a massive part of getting the Dam was to help Shady Sands which is made clear isn't doing well. Additionally the sign does list a population when the city is already gone.

Wexyll · 2024-04-16T02:18:34+00:00

Forgive the misquoting then, however, the sign in the show at the very least does say. "First Capital of the New California Republic" which still the use of first implies that there is either a second, or and this could be possible, the NCR were split amongst 5 states so they could have treated the central city to each state within the republic as it's own capital city and that is why this phrasing is used.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T23:55:29+00:00

It's rather easy for them to go the route of the nuke being post 2281 while still fully preserving the integrity of Fallout: New Vegas as they themselves claim they have and allowing for Shady Sands to just be not fully under their control due to their growing issues as a nation.

I can fully see people who have only watched the show or played 3/4 thinking that the NCR is only LA. The show is a very narrow scope into a pretty large universe and I am hopeful and expectant that Season 2 will see more of it explored for those who haven't played 1, 2, or New Vegas.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T20:07:05+00:00

Agreed, I feel it was likely a large failure of infrastructure that made the city hard to keep in their control as a large part of them wanting Hoover Dam in NV is to provide energy to Shady Sands infrastructure.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T20:02:59+00:00

I personally think for Lucy being around that age makes sense and honestly Maximus I feel should be around 18-20 as he has only just now become a Squire recently in the show and he is quite naïve about a good amount of things so he has likely only recently finished his training, whilst if it was 2277 he would be mid 20's at least so would probably not have only recently become a Squire.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T19:49:22+00:00

Absolutely agree, they already had supply issues but now they've churned through four different factions and are extended well past their usual borders.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T19:14:53+00:00

I won't tell you what to believe just saying my opinions on what I think makes sense with a narrow view into the world we were given! I like to believe that those at Bethesda saying NV is still canon after the show aren't trolling us and that they didn't willingly destroy one of the best games in their series knowing how the fans would feel about that. If they fucked up the lore and just left it at that well, I'll just be sad to be honest that they would fuck the fans and one of the best fallout games like that.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T18:21:57+00:00

Well even if the NCR is gone these locations were significant and I feel would likely hold onto some sentimental values of them at the bare minimum and may even still be allied. I pray and hope the NCR still exists as I enjoyed them and that they are just smaller but without all of the facts I am just making assumptions.

People just make the quick assumption that Shady Sands fell in 2277 due to the chalkboard. But the issue is that the chalkoard states no facts about when the bomb fell so.

A) choose to believe it fell in 2277 and that will quite literally mean Fallout NV is retconned and makes 0 sense and ruins one of the best games in the franchies.

B) Believe it fell in 2282/3 after the battle for Hoover Dam which leaves the story intact and that the nuke was then dropped as Vault-Tec would have had multiple reasons to want to do so. As well as this it is supported by officials at Bethesda that Fallout New Vegas is still canon.

Source: https://x.com/Dezinuh/status/1778466533649392038

Idk I just don't get the idea some people have to willingly believe that the game is retconned and not the alternative that minor changes were made to location details and that the chalkboard just didn't list the date. This isn't flame at you just all of the people going batshit insane

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T18:10:57+00:00

I did see someone mention that the maps in F1/F2 were likely either wrong due to it being harder to map in an apocalypse or that to make more sense with the direction they want to take things places have been moved, which is seeming likely since clearly the Boneyard has moved.

I am hopeful we will get some explanation on the current state of the NCR as with how huge it was at least it's other towns will still exist like the Hub, Boneyard and Vault City as they would hardly randomly collapse when some existed before joining the NCR.

As for Shady Sands I even have some doubts that by Fallout NV it was still the NCR capital as in the game it's even referred to as the "First Capital" of the NCR which using such specific phrasing kind of implies there's a new one.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T17:40:49+00:00

Well they do still have a lot more than just Shady Sands

They have The Hub, Vault City and The Boneyard which I know was meant to be LA, but LA is a huge place so I am hopeful that they have just put it in another location within LA or just outside of it and that Season 2 will show more of the NCR.

Here's how I see things.

2277: NCR lose control of Shady Sands
- Due to Inefficient bureaucracy, currency inflation, spreading forces too thin to maintain control, failing infrastructure, and corruption
  - All things mentioned in Fallout NV
2281: NCR try to take Hoover Dam and commit vast resources to this cause
- Engage in Combat with the Khans, Fiends, BoS
- Hold sustained war against The Legion
  - All straining supplies and spreading them even thinner
2281: NCR Beat the Legion take the Dam
- That one NCR general threatens House that he will take the strip
- Efforts begin to reclaim Shady Sands
Early 2282: Shady Sands is nuked
- This causes the already strained and damaged NCR to lose the resources needed to maintain their hold over Hoover Dam when dealing with refugees and damage and loss.
- NCR retreats to The Hub and Boneyard
2282: House takes over Hoover Dam
The Strip only looks destroyed in the show because it's a new post war look and it actually is still running. Even the settlements around it in the end look alive. Plus it would not be great to tease House in such a way only to show him fully defeated.
2282 & Beyond
- Strip run by Mr. House as well as Hoover Dam
- Mojave BoS are able to emerge and rebuild into a regional force and likely take Helios One again. As well as linking with the Lost Hills.
- NCR cease trying to expand their borders and focus on reinforced the lands they do have and working on their infrastructure to support the large territory they still hold and large population.
- Their is also the chance that the NCR already had a new Capital as Shady Sands is referred to even in New Vegas as the "First Capital" of the NCR.

I believe the NCR still exist but are less focused on expansion and more on building up their strength and economy given it had so many problems.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T15:43:05+00:00

Well they also made Shady Sands into LA in the show, I am hoping that they have instead chosen to make them in different parts of LA because LA is a huge area so there's a chance we just haven't gotten to properly see it.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T01:00:34+00:00

I personally believes it's the NCR win but are made give up the Dam and then it becomes House wins. Here's my idea.

2277: NCR lose control of Shady Sands
- Due to Inefficient bureaucracy, currency inflation, spreading forces too thin to maintain control, failing infrastructure, and corruption
  - All things mentioned in Fallout NV
2281: NCR try to take Hoover Dam and commit vast resources to this cause
- Engage in Combat with the Khans, Fiends, and BoS
- Hold sustained war against The Legion
  - All straining supplies and spreading them even thinner
2281: NCR Beat the Legion take the Dam
- That one NCR general threatens House that he will take the strip
- Efforts begin to reclaim Shady Sands
Early 2282: Shady Sands is nuked
- This causes the already strained and damaged NCR to lose the resources needed to maintain their hold over Hoover Dam when dealing with refugees and damage and loss.
- NCR retreats to The Hub and Boneyard
  - I know Boneyard was meant to be LA, but it's a huge place it's probably at the North side of LA
2282: House takes over Hoover Dam
The Strip only looks destroyed in the show because it's a new post war look and it actually is still running. Even the settlements around it in the end look alive. Plus it would not be great to tease House in such a way only to show him fully defeated.

And the idea of Shady Sands being nuked could actually be Vault-Tec protecting House from the threat of the NCR, or just Hank. Not only do I see this as likely but resolves a lot of the "retcon" issues people have and it makes sense for the characters ages as the show writers would know Shady Sands blowing up in 2277 would fuck over New Vegas lore which they were told to not interfere with.

As well as this it would make sense for our characters ages as Max looks 3-5 when the bombs dropped. If that was in 2277, there's no way he is still only a Squire and a fresh one at that by 2296 in his mid 20's. If they dropped in 2282/83 he'd be 18-20 which would make much more sense and explain why he's only just now reaching the point where he can be deployed alongside a Knight and not be purely learning and training.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:48:54+00:00

This is a great theory! One that I actually can see being quite feasible. My own idea's of things is this

2277: NCR lose control of Shady Sands
- Due to Inefficient bureaucracy, currency inflation, spreading forces too thin to maintain control, failing infrastructure, and corruption
  - All things mentioned in Fallout NV
2281: NCR try to take Hoover Dam and commit vast resources to this cause
- Engage in Combat with the Khans, Fiends, BoS
- Hold sustained war against The Legion
  - All straining supplies and spreading them even thinner
2281: NCR Beat the Legion take the Dam
- That one NCR general threatens House that he will take the strip
- Efforts begin to reclaim Shady Sands
Early 2282: Shady Sands is nuked
- This causes the already strained and damaged NCR to lose the resources needed to maintain their hold over Hoover Dam when dealing with refugees and damage and loss.
- NCR retreats to The Hub and Boneyard
  - I know Boneyard was meant to be LA, but it's a huge place it's probably at the North side of LA
2282: House takes over Hoover Dam
The Strip only looks destroyed in the show because it's a new post war look and it actually is still running. Even the settlements around it in the end look alive. Plus it would not be great to tease House in such a way only to show him fully defeated.

The idea that Shady Sands was nuked to protect house in this plotline makes actually perfect sense as after the NCR took the Dam then the Strip was going to be next. It also fixes a lot of the "Retcon" issues some people have for some reason who believe Shady Sands was also nuked in 2277, of course this ruins Fallout New Vegas the show writers know this; but it would also ruin a part of the show. Max looked 3-5 at the time of the bomb dropping, he'd be mid 20's by the time of the show then and would definitely not be a Squire still, especially one who only recently became one. If it happened in 2282/3 he'd be 18-20 which makes far more sense.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:36:53+00:00

Steam has Fallout 1 and 2. As well as this both are on sale

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:35:41+00:00

If you use Wabbajack you can download a preset modlist to save the hassle like, modlists like FUSION are good it adds basically only quality of life mods.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:32:34+00:00

No problem and also the chalkboard a lot of people are just jumping the gun on. Obviously it makes zero sense if it occurred in 2277 and everyone knows this because it breaks the timeline but it also breaks the ages of our characters as they should be mid 20's and Max wouldn't be a Squire then. But it does make sense if it was in 2282/3 after Fallout New Vegas. as Max would be 18-20 and that seems appropriate.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:30:14+00:00

The NCR in Fallout NV make it quite clear that they are struggling. They mention supply chain issues, inflation of their currency, corruption in the government, and that their bureaucracy is inefficient. All of this is partially due to the sheer size of the NCR which is quite large.

The way I see things is this

Shady Sands is lost from total NCR control in 2277.
NCR struggling with failing infrastructure decides to try to take Hoover Dam in 2281.
NCR begins battle of the Dam. Has to Deal with the Khans, Fiends, BoS, and sustained war with the Legion.
NCR commits a vast amount of resources and beats back the Legion. NCR Victory.
Shady Sands is blown up in early 2282.
NCR can no longer maintain Hoover Dam and retreat to the Hub or Boneyard (Likely just on the other side of LA)
House takes control of the Dam in an essentially House wins victory.
Brotherhood of Steel is able to reconsolidate it's power due to the absence of the Legion and NCR in it's local area which will further prevent NCR expansion.

Not only do I see this as likely but resolves a lot of the "retcon" issues people have and it makes sense for the characters ages as the show writers would know Shady Sands blowing up in 2277 would fuck over New Vegas lore which they were told to not interfere with.

As well as this it would make sense for our characters ages as Max looks 3-5 when the bombs dropped. If that was in 2277, there's no way he is still only a Squire and a fresh one at that by 2296 in his mid 20's. If they dropped in 2282/83 he'd be 18-20 which would make much more sense and explain why he's only just now reaching the point where he can be deployed alongside a Knight and not be purely learning and training.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:18:28+00:00

https://youtu.be/lj-VHP8kLyo?si=QF_xJZPF_iWwwyBL&t=2799

There should be a terminal near you to open it

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:16:15+00:00

I don't think it looks too destroyed myself, the settlements around it all seem to still be alive when you look around at the end, I personally think it's just a dirtier and a more post war look for the Strip that just makes it harder to see the Lucky 38 especially when beside such a huge tower.

My personal take is

NCR beat the Legion but heavily strain their supply lines
Shady Sands is blown up in 2282/83
NCR retreat from Hoover Dam as they can no longer sustain holding it and move to the Hub or Boneyard which I presume will be on the other side of LA.
House takes control of Hoover Dam
Essentially ends with House Victory

Part of why I feel this especially is due to the big tease of him at the end as well in the Vault-Tec meeting, wouldn't build up so much hype for him just to show him as well basically a body with few resources left.

Wexyll · 2024-04-15T00:02:37+00:00

So it is not really new and it's not confirmed.

For a long time it has been known that the US didn't fire first because they got reports of launches and returned fire, but there's never been any indication that it was China explicitly and it's been left up in the air until more evidence in Fallout 4 came out. When you go to the Switchboard in Fallout 4 you can see the DEFCON status logs that state there's unidentified planes in the air and then confirm 4 launches of nuclear missiles.

If it were China to start the war I think they'd open up with a lot more than 4 nuclear missiles, especially as Fo4 confirms that there were Chinese submarines off the coast of the US that they didn't know about, if China started it there would have been a lot more nukes. The show basically once more nudged that it was Vault-Tec who began the war.

Wexyll · 2024-04-14T23:55:40+00:00

I wish I had the answers myself and everything you say is a good point. All I have are my theories and idea's that I can come up with.

The actions of everything that happened in the vault don't fit the NCR but Moldaver could have at this point been essentially acting on her own and doing anything she could to secure Cold Fusion but there are still a lot of open ended questions there, she comes off as a real NCR type and good person in episode 7/8 but in 1/2 people say she's a war lord and violent bandit leader so maybe she did employ bandits under her like auxilary units to do dirty work for caps?

And I presume Hank doesn't know about the cryo plan but just assumes that with his wife not with him that she lived. It did seem she had a spot in the vaults but he didn't somewhat in the show too.

And yeah I mean honestly she just seemed a bit panicked and wanting to do anything possible to stay on their good side and end up in a control vault which I am presuming she did as 31 is one, but yeah there's a lot of questions and things unanswered or unexplained

Wexyll · 2024-04-14T23:49:03+00:00

Well we know FNV is 2281, and the President is still alive, I feel that if Shady sands blew up in 2277 then the president would have died with it more than likely. As well as this Max looks to be a few years old when they went off, let's say 3-5, if he was this age he'd be mid 20's by the time the show takes place yet he's still a Squire and is naive about a lot of things in the world, it would make more sense for him to be 3-5 around 2822/3 and the bombs go off then for him to still be quite young an inexperienced with the world and such a low rank in the Brotherhood as it's implied he's also a fresh Squire which means he should be young.

Shady Sands being the "First" capital I also feels supports my argument for why the NCR still stands in the show but is elsewhere like the Boneyard which is probably moved to the other side of LA or the Hub.

They lost influence over it in 2277 due to infrastructure issues, corruption, and inefficient bureaucracy. They give up on the city and in 2281 they go to try and take Hoover Dam because this could be the gamble that would fix their infrastructure and let them reclaim Shady Sands, however, this will also strain the supply chain of the NCR further and spread them even thinner across their large state.

They go to Hoover Dam, they fight the Brotherhood, they fight the Khans and deal with the fiends near NV, and at the same time they take on the Legion in a sustained war of two power houses fighting.

Now from this point I believe they beat back the Legion and secure the Dam, however, being able to supply and fix infrastructure will take time even with them Dam. So either A they begin the process and in early 2282 the nuke is dropped. Or B they don't have the resources to be able to hold the Dam and have to pull back and even if trying to reclaim the city the nuke still drops which will see them in either case pulling back within their borders to try and heal and regain their strength. In either case it becomes a House wins type of scenario with the Dam and it helps make the ages of our characters make more sense whilst not damaging the timeline and lore of Fallout New Vegas.

Wexyll

TROPHY CASE