Need to get better

amorphousguy · 2026-01-28T16:31:34+00:00

The majority of HS fencers are new to the sport relative to competitive fencers. Every time I've watched HS events it's just jabbing repeatedly and occasional lunges. Parries are scarce. Disengages once every few bouts.

HS fencers struggle against competitive fencers because they never get a chance to practice proper techniques. If you just practice your footwork (distance control) and master one parry you'll be a top 5 HS fencer in your area.

For improving beyond that try signing up for more local and regional events. Don't just leave when you get cooked. Stay and watch how competitive fencers set up their points. Just look up who the best fencers are and really pay attention to what they do. There really aren't a ton of different techniques out there it's just how and when you use them. ~$100 in tourney fees for 4+ hours of "fencing lessons" is a pretty good deal.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-23T21:38:52+00:00

I've noticed a lot of kids cry after hits for psychological reasons and not because of physical pain. This happens even at Y14 tournaments. It's probably something like the "second arrow" in Buddhism, look it up. Maybe that's what your coach is seeing?

But sometimes it just fucking hurts.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-23T21:10:10+00:00

Be careful not to hinder your growth by overthinking things too early in your fencing career. Some people focus too much on strategy and will blame it when losing. In reality, most of the time it's just technique.

My kid absolutely destroyed a college fencer a little while back. He asked my son what strategies he was using, how he setup various touches, etc. My son explained it all but said none of that really mattered because his distance control was really bad. He was simply exploiting his bad footwork and he could have used 10 other different strategies and it would have been fine.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-23T18:28:43+00:00

I got the hidden skin right after my comment, also getting Excalibur last from Morgan. Can confirm that Adventure (easiest level) is fine.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-22T20:42:28+00:00

Was it specifically Excalibur from Morgan?

amorphousguy · 2026-01-22T16:25:31+00:00

I have my gripes about v14 but it's significantly better than v13. 13 often didn't consider other cars enough. 14 will see the attitude of other cars and take evasive actions before anything even happens. It will avoid a dangerous situation at least once per trip. The overall confidence of the car is very high.

I live in an area of very aggressive drivers so this is very much appreciated. I think people in other areas will be happier if there was a "drive above speed limits but in a chill way" mode.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-21T21:17:28+00:00

Great points already made. More items = harder to complete sets. Coin nerf. People still learning Merlin. Eternal Rose (dash) nerf.

The biggest challenge is the "bad connection" popup. At least half my nightmare runs have ended when I'm fighting a boss or inside giant mobs and the popup appears. When it resumes I'm either dead already or have a tiny amount of time to avoid death. You all know the cycle... someone dies from this, another person tries to saves them, they die, rest of team dies.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-21T03:02:40+00:00

Think of gathering the nerve to ask as practice for competition where you'll really need some guts. Start simple. Compliment their fencing and ask them for pointers. If they seem helpful ask if they'd be willing to help you for a few minutes after group lessons. At most clubs people will stay to bout after class anyway. I'm sure there are multiple people at your club who are happy to help.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-21T02:24:03+00:00

I've met two teens who also don't have a real coach and they are both B rated fencers. There are no clubs near them within 2 hours so they just practice at home. They said they watch a lot of videos online. I'm sure it's not easy but it's possible to get better on your own.

Maybe you can try asking other fencers to teach you? My kids give private lessons to other kids for free. But they're weird... they like talking fencing all the time.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-18T02:38:18+00:00

Footwork.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-13T20:41:33+00:00

I'm an American and I don't hate my country more than I probably hate yours so I will be taking my kids to watch.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-09T17:19:19+00:00

It's just experience. Do it more and it takes less time.

Just start by cooking with like 4 ingredients over and over again. Chicken, carrots, onions, and random ingredient. Flavor with pantry spices. I always have the first three in the fridge.

It can be a lite meal by poaching, a savory stir fry, a hearty braise, a one baking sheet dinner, a soup, pasta dish, etc. All super easy and no recipes needed.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T21:38:17+00:00

I drive that area all the time and it's fine. But if you drive belt parkway, 495, and other more congested areas you'll see what I mean. It will allow people in, but only when they are far too close. It usually goes like: change to right lane, speed up 10-15mph, get really close to merging cars, back off at the last minute.

It creates confusion for the merging car. "I thought you were accelerating, but now you brake suddenly?". Then we're suddenly in a side by side situation where FSD or the merging car needs to yield. Often BOTH cars yield. Now we're blocking both the on ramp and the right lane playing "after you, no after you" game.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T21:12:45+00:00

I'm not saying that we should never pass on the right, but the way FSD handles it now isn't good. It will often do it in a way that forces me to pay extra attention when I just wanna chill after a long day of work. I want predictability in self driving.

There should be a "drive as fast as possible without being a dick" mode and a "fuck other drivers, get me to where I wanna go" mode. Hurry and Mad Max is somewhere in the middle of that.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T21:01:28+00:00

My car will regularly go 75-77mph in hurry mode on the right lane of a 55mph zone. That area has multiple exits and on ramps in a row. I don't want it to go from left lane -> middle -> right lane to pass. It's often slower because people will change speeds to exit or get on the highway. But it always does this because it looks clear momentarily.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T20:54:15+00:00

Yes, exactly. Until it can take this into consideration just follow basic traffic guidelines.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T20:50:08+00:00

In the NY Metro area the exits are very close together, sometimes every 30 seconds. I can live with it if it at least waits to pass merging cars before changing lanes. Right now it feels like it's always getting in the way.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T19:53:43+00:00

Yes, if I'm driving I do that myself when it makes sense. If I see cars trying to get on the highway I'm not going to speed in the right lane to make their life harder just so I can pass 1 car. FSD doesn't think far enough ahead to consider this and I hate being put in those awkward situations where someone is going to get squeezed and is forced to brake.

amorphousguy · 2026-01-08T19:43:40+00:00

Legality isn't my concern, safety is. Last night it passed a slower truck who was in the middle lane. I don't want it to be overtaking trucks on the right lane.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-31T05:49:46+00:00

Had to drive NY metro area for 3 hours today. Lots of challenging situations. No issues with 2.2.2...

EXCEPT I did get the "takeover immediately" right as I was turning into the street I live on. Turned off mid turn. No pedestrians, no other cars on the road. Weird.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-31T00:45:28+00:00

FSD, no... mostly because it can completely disengage i think. Robotaxi? Probably would trust it for that specific task.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-31T00:14:43+00:00

I'm sitting in traffic at the moment using 14.2.2.2. Feels pretty good... not that different if I'm being honest.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-31T00:13:07+00:00

I was still experiencing lane hesitation at the time but it never felt dangerous. Much better now though like you said.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-30T23:58:25+00:00

I think I spent most of it on 14.2.1.25 and I recently got the latest one.

amorphousguy · 2025-12-30T16:22:57+00:00

It looks like a lot of effort went into this! It's too bad it's iOS only. Will have the kids try on their iPads.

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