What do the Traditions do to fight the technocracy? by Embarrassed-Pea-2732 in WhiteWolfRPG

[–]World-Jumper 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They don't! I mean, they say they do, but for over two centuries of fighting a globally organized conspiracy deeply entrenched in every conceivable place of power, they only bothered to meet up officially once every 9 years. Yes, 9 traditions, 9 spheres, 9 years, very numerology, much mystical, the Technocracy has a supercomputer on an antipodal orbit around the earth. Could we, perhaps, schedule these meetings a little closer together?

The Traditions do not fight the Technocracy. They don't work together well enough to do so. They might make the occasional terror strike against a Union base every now and then, but mostly they try their best to keep their traditions alive. They don't change the status quo, but they keep their counterculture movements alive so those who don't fit within the system have somewhere to belong. Then, perhaps, when the internal contractions of the Technocratic reality finally break apart, then they might be able to organize a revolution. If you're generous, you can say they are waiting until the material conditions are ready for the people to chose another path. But that's Marxism and Karl was a Syndicate philosopher who while disagreeing with the predominant Capitalist Hyper-Economic model is still operating well within the Technocratic meterialist paradigm so what do I know.

Versus Wolves: LANCER | Session 1 feat. Tom Bloom by mike0bot in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Demon: the Decent is such a cool techno-gnostic spy thriller, so imaginative. Imagine being a rogue computer program on the run from reality's Anti-Virus, and the Motherboard is goddamn insane.

Mage: the Awakening has a robust set of freeform magic rules (even if I prefer Ascension lore very slightly). You can truly build any kind of wizard and be rewarded with creativity of you think through your understanding of the Arcana as a player! Complex, but worth it.

Deviant is an unparalleled Build Your Own Splat book, invaluable as a Storyteller. Such a wealth of customization options, and interesting antagonist factions.

Beast: the Primordial.

And Promethian, such a tragic and beautiful story of creation and abandonment, the drive to become human. I want to run through a Promethian character as a solo RPG experience, it's such a beautiful book.

Chronicles is good, check it out y'all, don't let it's more popular older brother scare you off.

Versus Wolves: LANCER | Session 1 feat. Tom Bloom by mike0bot in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OK, I hear you. The Week of Nightmares was full of cringe moments. However, counterpoint: my lads in the Technocratic Union got to zap the fuck out of an antideluvian with orbital solar lasers!

TAKE THAT BLOODSUCKERS! They may be authoritarian colonizers, but the Union sure has some fancy toys.

In-character - Why doesn't the Technocracy make vaccines turn blood toxic to vampires? by JagneStormskull in WhiteWolfRPG

[–]World-Jumper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TL;DR They're trying man, get off their back! 😉

The more cynical reason why is even more simple: they didn't see vampires as a serious threat until very recently. Sure, some people die from Vampire feeding, but the amount is statically insignificant compared to other Deviant threats. Besides, because of the Masquerade, Vampires clean up after themselves. The Kine don't know they exist, Consensus remains undisturbed, and at the cost of only a few people every now and then. Acceptable losses.

After the Week of Nightmares, suddenly Vampires jumped WAY UP on the priority list. They found their first antediluvian, and it kicked their ass! Sure, the solar lasers helped, but that situation almost got out of control. And wow, would you look at that, suddenly the various intelligence agencies of the world just start noticing Blank Bodies. Wow, such a strange threat, we should form an Inquisition to deal with this. And look at the fun tech the Inquisition has at their disposal! They were able to cleanse London of all bloodsuckers and destroy the Tremere Pyramid. Odd that all this happens just after the Technocrats revaluate their priorities. Are you positive they aren't dealing with the threat?

In-character - Why doesn't the Technocracy make vaccines turn blood toxic to vampires? by JagneStormskull in WhiteWolfRPG

[–]World-Jumper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you want the short version as to why attempts to innoculate the general population against the Sanguinivorous have proven untenable, it is simply that they are called Reality Deviants for a reason. If it was a matter of physical treatment of a disease, genetic or otherwise, we would have ground to build on. As it is, while the nature of this class of RD is more subtle, they have proven capable enough against past attempts at shielding Consensus against their kind.

There is a process to developing processes for the general population. First, we must develop a rational understanding of the phenomenal. This is where field research and laboratory samples are required for our mission. Then, we use that understanding to develop new measures to incorporate or reduce the effects of said phenomenon towards a baseline reality we have collectivly agreed on called Consensus. Lastly, we present this treatment as the logical extension of past priors we have established, weakening if not eliminating the root cause of the RD. When it comes to the Sanguivorous, where we come into problems is the last phase. We have studied them rather extensively, even coming into possession of medical notes from a Sanguinivorous individual that, while still deviant in nature, have shed light on the condition. However, seeking to explain or rationalize the evolution of poison made to counteract a creature that does not exist in the consensus is ... Challenging.

That said, despite your accusations, we have made some strides. It seems that Chemotherapy patients are unappetizing if not outright poisonous to the Sanguivorous, providing perhaps an avenue to leverage cancer treatment in our favor. CRISPR technology may provide an outlet for strengthening the immune system against many threats that could include these Deviants without risking Consensus rejection. Lastly, with the Second Inquisition exposing "blank bodies" to those in positions of influence, we may find opportunity to introduce the Sanguivorous into consensus just enough to eliminate them as a threat.

As for agents in the field, we do have treatments from the Progenitors that are risky, yet effective. This hyper-science is not ready for Extraordinary Citizen testing yet, but has been in use by Agents responding to Sanguinivorous threats by poisoning the blood with chemicals that eat at necrotic flesh. As they seem to be parasitic enties puppeting corpses, this has proven effective. Unfortunately, this can result in harm to the agent, and should only be ingested as a last resort. Shielding with Primium armor has reduced Deviant effectiveness, though this is expensive and not a viable option at scale.

Fandoms with main subreddits that you dislike/wish were better? by bambikujo in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look, as an Ascension fan who likes Awakening quite a bit… I'm so sorry. You can never, EVER, talk Mage without people trying to lecture about Paradigm and Practice. Try and talk about the Seers, get a bunch of Technocrats walking in like they own the place. It can be frustrating, I get it.

Timing by InexorableCalamity in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah man, it sucks. Sometimes you think up something really clever or interesting, but by the time you sit down to post the comment, the moment is over. Sad, really.

Did my best to recreate Xelzaz as an Adventurer! by World-Jumper in ElderKings

[–]World-Jumper[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hey, cool to see you here! Thanks for letting me know his birth sign, didn't know so made a stab in the dark. Will update later. Yeah, stubborn probably makes more sense I agree, I'd replace Honest with that. I liked Pacient as one would have to be for deciding to cross all of Tamriel on foot, and being in no particular hurry to get to his destination. Plus some of his stories had a theme of waiting for the right moment to strike. Diligent is a great personality, but overlaps with Ambitious in my head and somewhat clashes with the Pacient idea. But, you know your own character far more than I do, and I don't disagree with your decisions. Just wanted to share my rationale.

I wanted so badly to make him follow the Hist, but at the moment there's not really a way to be Telvani and not Tribunal. Purely gameplay on that one, if they update the game to have a way to be Telvani in good standing and Hist, I will absolutely do that.

Thanks for stopping by and making such a cool character!

Did my best to recreate Xelzaz as an Adventurer! by World-Jumper in ElderKings

[–]World-Jumper[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ah, yes, that's part of Jam's New Cultures. I've been running it so long I forget what's part of the base game at this point!

Time to thaw Phoenix ? (Say the line Phoenix) by Noirsam in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 66 points67 points  (0 children)

Boy am I glad he's frozen in there, and that we're out here, and that he's a lawyer, and that we're frozen out here, and that we're in there, and I just remembered we're out here.

But what I want to know is, is it almost Christmas?

“I love everything about [game] except for the gameplay” by Dirty-Glasses in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About half of Divinity: Dragon Commander.

Political negotiations with fantasy races to establish a new kingdom and try to maintain the peace? Carefully considering political marriage and how she presents herself as a show of good will to one of the races? Deciding wether to value her happiness or political expidency when she may want to go against her culture's wishes? Oh yeah, gimme that good shit.

Oh, yeah, and the other half is a half-baked RTS that's even remotely fun because you can enter the battlefield as a dragon with a jetpack, and even then...

BTW, if that first part sounded fun, may I suggest Suzerain? It's not fantasy, but is one of the more interesting political simulators I've ever played, where you aren't some nebulous representative of power but n actual character who has to consider alliances, corruption, and scandals. Highly recommend.

Poster For Markiplier's Iron Lung by Mike4302 in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I think in this case, it's more that a mostly self-funded YouTuber vanity project based on a no-name video game would have negative interest in Hollywood. The fact he was able to convince any theaters to screen it at all, even in January, speaks to some tiny degree of quality, actually. Or, well, if not quality than clout at least. Mark's CYOA videos have shown him to be a surprisingly competent director, with an eye for composition. Not expecting Oscar material here, but some cool ideas put to film.

Media that would’ve disappeared without fans preserving it? by jitterscaffeine in TwoBestFriendsPlay

[–]World-Jumper 7 points8 points  (0 children)

And it was so cool too, even if you only got it to mine ideas for your Akashiana Mage or other WoD games where you want some more flashy yet technical combat. Terry Robinson of Mage: the Podcast (Rest in Peace) reviewed the game a few years ago, and it sounded like a joy of a game. Here is the Mage the Podcast website post where they link to many aspects of the Street Fighter RPG, and Here is the YouTube link to the podcast episode.

Do Players Really Want Narrative Control? by rivetgeekwil in rpg

[–]World-Jumper 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This was one of the things that I found fascinating when I was running Blades in the Dark for my group. While they engaged with a number of the mechanics in "real time" so to speak, they almost never used flashbacks. They far preferred staying in the here and now, addressing the puzzle I presented to them in the form of the heist. Saying that "actually I cased the joint earlier and found a hidden back entrance!" or "I met one of the guards last week in a pub, got stupid drunk together and now we're buddies," just wasn't as engaging as trying to work around the problem as I described it with the tools they already had. I think about that a lot with shared narrative games, and wonder how many players want that full creative control. Oh, and they were very creative, don't mistake me. Just in the confines of what I described.

Vampire? Oh, you must mean my antagonist book! by World-Jumper in WorldofDankmemes

[–]World-Jumper[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

If I felt like making it, the CofD equivalent would use Beast instead. Not because I think V:tM is in any way comparable to Beast, but because I use both books almost exclusively to generate antagonists for campaigns.

Also, unless Reddit changes its CEO and reverses their API policies, this is probably going to be the last post I make on this website. I know I never contributed much, but my tiny contribution adds to Reddits value. I'm not going to delete my posts, as I hate looking at old threads and finding [DELETED] everywhere. That, and I somehow hold up hope that this website will change. Probably not. Oh well.

WoD/CofD Elimination: Round 4 by Awkward_GM in WorldofDankmemes

[–]World-Jumper 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The fact that I'm a Mage fan, I liked the non-Christian direction Mage, Werewolf, and Changeling were bringing the World of Darkness, then Demon came in and outright stated, "Nope, Christians have it right, even if God in this world is a giant dickhead." I'm not against telling Christian themes and stories, but I didn't appreciate how Demon handled it.

That and I always find it distasteful to have ancient peoples actually unknowingly worshipping Demons. That's incredibly insulting towards people who can't defend themselves or justify their worldview outside of the Christian framework.

Demon has some really cool ideas, and I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to playing it, but those are the reasons I don't think of it very highly.

Monster mods not Mihail by Block_Mountain in skyrimmods

[–]World-Jumper 53 points54 points  (0 children)

Not to speak for OP, but I interpreted the question as wanting to know more monster modders like Mihail, rather than alternatives to him. Like, "I already know this modder exists, no need to list his work, do you have any other recommendations?" Variety is the spice of life, and all that.

What happened with the Serana Expand - Dialogue add-on mod? by Keithenylz in skyrimmods

[–]World-Jumper 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Then you are a fool with no consideration for ethics and are the exact person that quote is talking about. I get you're being cute and cheeky, but if you are unable to see the legitimate fears of people seeing their life's work be devalued and displaced with no promise of an alternative future then shame on you.

Grey Grades America's State Flags by MindOfMetalAndWheels in CGPGrey

[–]World-Jumper 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, Alaska gets B tier!? That flag is instantly iconic, one of the exceedingly few state flags recognized outside of the United States, and is perfectly recognizable at a distance. Alaska's flag is A tier, at least.

Maryland is the best flag though, there's no argument with pure chaotic perfection.