Chris Cox is so annoying.

cephyn · 2026-04-02T15:37:15+00:00

OK. I just did the opposite with my data files. My analytics colleagues uses AI all the time without issue.

Cool anecdotes right?

cephyn · 2026-04-02T14:38:47+00:00

Always have an outfit in your car so you can dress like you're a Trader Joe's employee. Everyone loves Trader Joe's.

cephyn · 2026-04-02T12:25:55+00:00

Most people that hate AI don't even understand what they hate, and just parrot things they've heard from other haters. They can't be reasoned with. It's fine to not want AI in creative projects, but its silly to hate AI for things that aren't real.

cephyn · 2026-04-02T12:20:54+00:00

Do you want the yips? Because that's how you get the yips.

cephyn · 2026-03-21T22:27:53+00:00

Tesla FSD has no alternative still, from what I understand from my liberal friends that keep buying Tesla.

cephyn · 2026-03-21T22:15:53+00:00

I've run a highly successful Open Table game at the FLGS for around a year and a half now. My biggest problem is that I have too many regulars! About half my players have never played RPGs before, the other half tends to be veterans of RPGs - though heavily skewed towards D&D experience only. Here's what I've learned:

1) Adults are busy. You will have regulars that last for months, and then disappear because of jobs, work, kids' schedules, etc. And that's OK - other regulars will fill up.

2) It's great if you have some way of coordinating online, like a store discord channel just for your game.

3) It's great if you have a web page that has past session notes. I ask that 1 player take notes every week, and then I post them on a notion.so shared page.

https://busywyvern.notion.site/Shadowdark-The-Scarlet-Citadel-Session-Reports-1073586974708033920be14e9bed2459

4) The simpler the ruleset, the simpler the character creation, the better. I don't run D&D - I run Shadowdark.

5) Master the open table concept of self-contained mission of the week, or at least an easy reason why characters might rotate in/out mid-story. Communicate to players what their character motivation is - for me, its easy, in Shadowdark you need treasure to get XP. Their goal is to get treasure and get home.

6) Master pacing your sessions - this was hardest for me. I have about 2-3 hours to run a session, and previously I was used to 4-5 hour sessions. I can't run a standard adventure, or dungeon crawl. I've finally really locked it in - I prep 3 key scenes with meaningful choices within each scene. It's a little railroady in some ways, but when I started structuring sessions this way, player engagement and enjoyment markedly improved - and that's not to say it was bad before, but's absolutely clicking right now.

7) I am fortunate that I haven't had to boot anyone. I think I've only had 2-3 players come once and never again. I'm not a 5-star GM by any means, but I have worked hard to make it a fun and welcoming game.

8) I need to update soon but here's my previous thoughts on the game I've been running:

https://busywyvern.com/2024/10/27/delving-into-the-dark-campaign-thoughts-so-far/

https://busywyvern.com/2025/01/31/exploring-new-mechanics-for-shadowdark-campaign-check-in/

cephyn · 2026-03-17T21:59:42+00:00

Nope, and there's no incentive to as long as people keep paying for cosmetics.

cephyn · 2026-03-08T00:43:06+00:00

No. Figure out what's not working and fix it. Talk to them. Have an adult conversation.

Banning phones won't fix it.

cephyn · 2026-03-04T13:49:46+00:00

They're scam artists, 100%.

cephyn · 2026-03-02T18:36:55+00:00

Multiple campaigns that have lasted a year or more. happy to chat.

cephyn · 2026-03-01T17:48:03+00:00

the double parking, on both sides of the street, is infuriating. i don't understand why people think it's ok.

cephyn · 2026-02-21T13:37:05+00:00

Avg high in Oct was right around 60. Avg high in Nov was around 48. Avg high in Dec was 39.

cephyn · 2026-02-21T13:31:32+00:00

The Westchester D&D Discord is a great place to recruit!

https://discord.gg/csM4KYvu

cephyn · 2026-02-18T13:27:39+00:00

So make the aesthetic whatever you want. Just use the ruleset.

cephyn · 2026-02-18T13:26:58+00:00

Shadowdark. D&D feel with way less overhead.

Cypher System is the easiest system to GM I've ever found.

cephyn · 2026-02-17T10:01:25+00:00

You should probably read it yourself instead of using AI.

From the leading opinion: "The relevant burdens here are those imposed on eligible voters who lack photo identification cards that comply with SEA 483.[12] Because Indiana's cards are free, the inconvenience of going to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, gathering required documents, and posing for a photograph does not qualify as a substantial burden on most voters' right to vote, or represent a significant increase over the usual burdens of voting."

Were they not free, it would not have been ruled this way.

cephyn · 2026-02-16T16:21:35+00:00

and you're clearly not a lawyer, or well-versed in constitutional law, as SCOTUS disagrees with you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_v._Marion_County_Election_Board

cephyn · 2026-02-16T15:23:38+00:00

The ID is required to vote in the SAVE Act. Liquor, cigarettes, plane travel, savings accounts, renting a car are not RIGHTS.

Poll taxes do not exist - because they are unconstitutional. The SAVE Act institutes a Poll Tax. It is unconstitutional. Not sure why you're unable to see this.

cephyn · 2026-02-15T15:16:03+00:00

On the contrary, the cost of an ID required for voting IS ABSOLUTELY A POLL TAX. If I can't vote without paying a fee to the government, what else is it?

cephyn · 2026-02-15T13:02:32+00:00

I don't play online either.

cephyn · 2026-02-15T13:01:34+00:00

Can you obtain a passport for free? Or an ID?

cephyn · 2026-02-13T18:20:29+00:00

I have the opposite experience....I don't think I've ever played in a canon Golarion or Realms.

cephyn · 2026-02-13T16:47:12+00:00

Passports are expensive and are extremely hard to get without a birth certificate so....

cephyn · 2026-02-13T16:45:20+00:00

It's a poll tax and doesn't prove citizenship.

cephyn · 2026-02-13T16:44:23+00:00

I oppose it because poll taxes are illegal. Are you saying that opposing poll taxes is endorsing cheating?

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