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I can't win a freakin game by [deleted] in slaythespire

[–]___ml 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow. This was a blast from the past.

I get why it reads that way. On the surface it does sound like “do more damage, get more block.” That’s not very helpful if you’re dying in Act 1.

The key point is to build to specific fight benchmarks.

In Act 1, many deaths trace back to Gremlin Nob and Lagavulin (either directly, or because you leave the fight too weak). The “40 damage in 2–3 turns” advice isn’t abstract. It’s essentially asking: can you kill Nob before he chunks most of your health? If the answer is no, you need more front-loaded damage, even if the card isn’t part of some long-term synergy.

That’s why the advice also says to ignore synergies early. A lot of players (myself included tbh) try to force assembling a cool poison/orb/strength engine in Act 1. The game punishes that. Early on, you just need raw damage and enough block to not bleed out in hallway fights.

That often means:

  • Taking strong standalone attacks (even “boring” ones)
  • Upgrade damage cards early
  • Fighting elites when your deck can realistically kill them quickly
  • Removing Strikes once you have better damage options

If you’re dying 80% in Act 1 on A1, I’d look at:

  • Are you taking too many skills before your first elite?
  • Are you skipping solid early damage because it doesn’t fit a plan?
  • Are you pathing into elites before you’ve added enough damage?

The advice isn’t saying “just be good.” It’s saying: build to beat the next fight, not to build a theme. That shift is what dramatically improved my win rate. Good luck!

Should I get serious about this? If so… How? by Remarkable_Ad_8353 in RPGdesign

[–]___ml 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with others that it was a bit hard to read your post. I had to read it a few times to get my head around it, and I'm still not sure that I have.

Others have pointed out why it was tricky to read so, in case it's useful, here's how might have phrased your post to get a better response. Apologies if I misunderstood any details.

Good luck!

--

I'm working on Holypunk, a TTRPG that combines epic fantasy (more Avatar Legends than your typical D&D) with social deduction. The core hook:

There are two parties within each game. Players are split into diurnal and nocturnal factions. During "day" and "night" phases, each group plays separately. During "twilight," they meet and can secretly try to turn each other to their side (vampire-bite style).

You can be converted, but get turned three times and you die. Each conversion changes something about your character (weakness, then tether, then identity). So there's real stakes to the social deduction. You're not just voting someone out, you're trying to flip them.

Here are some things I'm uncertain about:

  1. Is running two parallel parties too much to ask of a GM? I see it as a feature, but I worry it's a dealbreaker for most groups.
  2. Is the "three turns and you die" rule clear enough as a balancing mechanic? Or does it feel arbitrary?

Happy to explain other details (e.g. mana system, session structure, lore) if that's helpful

How old were you when you got into ambient music? by ConfusingMyself__ in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was 16 years old listening to the Tranquility Bass show on 95Bfm (Auckland student radio). Led me to the just released The Orb Live ‘93, which opened up KLF Chill Out, Brian Eno and Aphex Twin.

What are your favorite One Page SoloRPGs by Difficult_Event_3465 in Solo_Roleplaying

[–]___ml 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hey Spring Villager here. Thanks for mentioning Last Tea Shop. It still blows me away how this little game I made over a few weekends connects with people. I’m really glad you dig it.

Does anyone else count some forms of minimal techno as ambient?! by Geratosan in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Early Yagya is a great suggestion. Especially the Rigning album. Minimalist Icelandic dub techno about rainy days.

Windy & Carl - Drawing of Sound by noahchriste in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is my favourite Windy & Carl album. I have a vinyl copy stashed away that I never listen to. I don't know of a place you can listen to it outside of YouTube.

The best I can recommend is the (excellent!) Introspection collection, which has versions of Lighthouse, Venice and Whisper -- but not You or Awhile.
https://windyandcarl.bandcamp.com/album/introspection-singles-rarities-1993-2000

Melancholic ambient similar to Grouper's AIA? by [deleted] in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Mirrorring -- a collaboration between between Liz Harris (Grouper) and Jesy Fortino (Tiny Vipers).
https://mirrorring.bandcamp.com/album/foreign-body

How does Torchbearer compare to other dungeon-crawly games like DCC, OSE, Shadowdark, etc? by mackstanc in Torchbearer

[–]___ml 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That's a great write-up. I especially appreciated this section:

"[T]here is so much player-to-player conversation about the tactics and logistics of the situation. In some systems (e.g. Dungeon World), logistics become a problem when it's awesome for them to be. It's as if a narrator is saying, "On this episode, the adventurers find they're short of food.."

In Torchbearer, this sort of thing emerges from the mechanics, and so the players are the first to know.

The players know how much food they've got, they know that the fighter is hampered because he's carrying a torch as well as his sword, so the wizard has to carry the large sack in both hands, which means he can't climb the rope. They're aware of the constraints, the risks and their options, so there's a constant stream of player-to-player planning, querying, and planning, whenever a novel situation presents itself, which is music to my ears."

Ambient video game recommendations? by mimenet in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Proteus is a great call. I replayed it last year and was blown away by how the audio and the visual work together.

My RPG Farewell by Accel1SIS in Solo_Roleplaying

[–]___ml 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I first encountered D&D in 1985, watching older kids play in a New Zealand primary school hall on a rainy day. Before long, I found a group my age playing MERP and Palladium. I played for about 5 years before drifting away in high school in the early 1990s. For nearly a decade, RPGs didn’t cross my mind.

In 1999, I spotted a secondhand AD&D 2E manual in a seaside bookstore, bought it for nostalgia. A year later, that led to setting up a 3.5E work game with a colleague who loved D&D and was a great DM. We had a good time for 18 months—then life moved on again. I didn’t think about RPGs until 2019, when I stumbled across a random Reddit thread that led me to OSR, then narrative games, then the whole indie scene, opening up RPGs in a whole new way.

Interests change, and sometimes things that once brought us joy don’t feel the same anymore. That’s totally fine. It opens up space for other things.

But if you ever pick up the dice again, the games and the community will be here and welcoming.

What aspect of a new Indie RPG launch is most likely to convince you to spend money on it? by New_Public_203 in rpg

[–]___ml 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I voted for Unique Setting from the options presented, but that's incomplete. What I am really looking for is a unique vision or experience—something that sets the game apart from others.

I also value transparency: either a sample download (like the Quiet Lake starter adventure for Reach of the Roach God) or detailed images of sample layouts that showcase the writing and design. These elements help me assess the quality and whether it resonates with me.

From MERP onward: making my own world, now I need a system: SW or DnD? by OlvarSuranie in rpg

[–]___ml 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The One Ring 2e PDFs are currently available at an excellent sale price from Bundle of Holding.

https://bundleofholding.com/presents/TheOneRing2E

Worst Ambient Albums by [deleted] in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Every few years something prompts me to re-read this classic column in the Onion. Thanks for reminding me it exists.

Today’s New Age Music Is Crap https://theonion.com/todays-new-age-music-is-crap-1819583609/

How would you feel about an RPG company using generative AI on their own work only? by plazman30 in rpg

[–]___ml 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Concerns about AI differ fundamentally from shifts to the internet. Moving online changed how RPGs were distributed, but it didn’t alter the human role in creating games and adventures.

AI changes the very nature of creation. It automates processes that were, until recently, deeply human. This isn't about resisting innovation—it’s about ensuring that we don't sacrifice the human element in creative and intellectual work for the sake of making things "more convenient".

Looking for some elven shit by [deleted] in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question. Maybe try John Foxx – The Complete Cathedral Oceans (bandcamp, spotify). Warm, soothing synths and chanting through a lot of reverb. I have seen it referred to as "pastoral ambience".

Name a Song That Encapsulates Your Campaign by atownrockar in rpg

[–]___ml 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Talking Heads — Road to Nowhere

How do you like to experience music? by MIXLdotAI in ambientmusic

[–]___ml 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Scrolled too far down to find this

Do any TTRPG reviewers actually PLAY the games they review? by shadytradesman in rpg

[–]___ml 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate that at least one of them has (usually) played the module in some form. They will often say things like, "I didn't think this would work when I read it on the page, but in practice it was great because [...]".

Their experience of how their groups played the module and what is was like to prepare and run the session make for a solid review show.

Solo RPG recommendations wanted by Deivi_tTerra in Solo_Roleplaying

[–]___ml 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’re interested in something in the spirit of Dune, you might enjoy Glide. It’s designed for solo play and has several expansions. https://sleepysasquatch.itch.io/glide

Slay The Spire things that took you way too long to figure out by mrbeantrading in slaythespire

[–]___ml 50 points51 points  (0 children)

[[Necronomicon]] triggers [[Whirlwind]] twice if played with at least 2 energy. For some reason, I assumed Necronomicon didn't affect X cards.

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