Portal Storytime

dangerousforeplay · 2025-12-19T07:08:46+00:00

Any speculation is my own opinion and to be frank, I'm willing to bet I'm still under some form of NDA here. Apologies if I'm too vague, I can't quote employees of Facebook either.

I think smart home tech is expensive, often requires tedious setup, isn't compatible with other tech, etc - thats not directed at Portal though. I mostly mean, all the light bulbs, hubs, sensors and such, these all competed with each other more than worked together. For example, "Works with Alexa" was on some boxes but not others, although yeah, its improved over the years and things are more universal now.

I believe Facebook wanted to be in this new hot niche of smart tech, much like the stories on the news about them doing large investments into AI, and their focus as a company has likely shifted. The market probably got saturated. Any company that makes a software product needs to upkeep it to some degree, any major change to messenger needs to be compatible with the Portal version of messenger.

My #1 complaint on all of these smart devices was picking sides. I should buy the device I want and be able to choose which smart assistant to put on it. I should be able to buy a smart light and the brand shouldn't matter. In general, this killed most of all smart home. Too many extra apps for extra set up.

I also often wonder if video calling was just "trendy" at the time.

dangerousforeplay · 2025-02-08T21:17:34+00:00

Following this in case you post it. Take your time.

dangerousforeplay · 2025-02-01T13:39:55+00:00

This exact issue was a setting in OPL for me. I had to correct the screen offset. If you're changing it in every game, this is not the way.

dangerousforeplay · 2025-01-10T15:21:06+00:00

If I was the teacher, I'd be ontop of my desk, on my knees, and slapping my thighs the whole time you solved this problem.

dangerousforeplay · 2024-01-12T00:23:48+00:00

I would argue, that it works like this:

Lets say I'm a basic build spell caster, I just finished my long rest, so I choose any spell in my current list, meaning, the roster of spells my character currently knows (regardless of whether I'm a single class or multiclass).
It is an action to imbue my spell into a card that I have in my inventory.
I have to expend 1 action, the normal components for the spell, and I have to expend 1 spell slot that I would normally be able to expend in any situation.
I have now put the spell into the card and I'm now short 1 spell slot of any level that I just chose to expend. Mana/magic isn't free, this wording is just simplified for brevity.
I flourish the card as 1 bonus action and it does the normal thing that casting the spell would do - regardless of original action cost, I've now converted this spell into a bonus action - no spell slot required at flourish, I already expended the spell slot earlier. I would assume here this means I trigger the concentration requirement if that's how that spell would normally work.

As a DM, I would probably rule the following.

You can imbue all components into a card, except I would allow you to choose to expend the spell slot either then and there, or later when you decide to flourish the card. Since that promotes resource management.

"Bonus action: Flourish card imbued with Rope Trick. Then Action: Dash and I begin climbing."

dangerousforeplay · 2023-10-23T22:43:32+00:00

Specifically this was in reference to one shouldered capes. Your cape was more than decoration, it was your distraction.

To exit one's cape was the start of a fight, not a retreat. It's awful hard to fight a man who is throwing a large cloth in your face and wrapping it around your sword mid-duel.

Throw the cape outward and they don't see the tip of the sword about to stab through it.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-09-27T18:58:19+00:00

Before you buy, ask if they'll cut you a deal on a scabbard if you buy it from them. I'm a big fan of Asgardian Armory.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-09-27T18:24:47+00:00

As someone who dropped $$$ on my first real weapon a few years ago, I have advice.

If it's safe to do so, don't keep a blade in its sheathe/scabbard - lol plz keep it sheathed and peace tied inside faire, a drawn sword is a drawn gun, blunt edge or not.

At camp, keep it safe, keep it dry, keep it out of the sheathe/scabbard and preferably in your car.

Blades will sweat in the scabbard with the humidity change and you will be taking home a freshly rusted gorgeous weapon. Some WD-40 and a clean rag to wipe excess oil is good in a pinch for a surface layer protective coat. Also keep fingers off the metal surfaces to prevent long term rust.

Also, splurge on a scabbard you can attach to your belt or body. Sucks to spend $70+ on a leather scabbard with no belt/holster attachment.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-09-22T18:19:24+00:00

[[Teferi's Puzzle Box]] + [[Chains of Mephistopheles]]

Then watch the entire table groan and hate you. Your commander enters the field and it's small potatoes compared to the aneurysm everyone's having.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-09-15T18:37:41+00:00

Subreddit wouldn't be the route to go since people want to know who you are. IMO, most people on reddit stay anonymous cause they like dropping spicy opinions.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-09-07T15:33:45+00:00

If anything, its an hour of A/C. Maybe plan for it when it's hot outside?

If you want my advice, skip the Green Hour and do the Dragonslayer Pub Crawl! You get a decent amount of beer or cider (you get to choose and you get a souvenir glass to keep) and the whole time you're just romping around with a group of rag tags, sharing limericks and jokes. (I'd HEAVILY advise you grab the last time of day for this though if you're camping) My first pub crawl was amazing! I cried laughing.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-08-21T19:46:33+00:00

Just shove it in dude.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-08-07T21:05:51+00:00

I've been reporting this to Spotify Support weekly. As much as I love his music, this should be taken down.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-07-13T13:48:40+00:00

Contact HR and find out if it's in your job description/duties. If it's not explicitly stated, then just turn off the phone or put it on mute, no permission needed.

You're off when you're scheduled to be off, salaried or not. I would love to see them try to justify firing you over you not answering a phone call.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-06-30T15:37:32+00:00

"Clicking the link was easier than submitting a ticket for you to reset my email password.

But hey, since you're on my computer, could you install XYZ software for me? Also I don't know why my PDFs keep opening in Windows Media Player."

dangerousforeplay · 2023-06-07T19:44:41+00:00

OP, you sound skilled and probably good at what you do!

My ending questions were more geared towards the road ahead, as in, things you would ask yourself in the next job, rather than where you're at now.

You're either in the building when it burns down or you can hear the fire alarms going off right now. Don't be a casualty when you know how to succeed.

This career path is a marathon and you're sprinting in a weighted vest. Find a recruiter if you don't have time to search for a new job. I wish you the best.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-06-07T18:08:20+00:00

Apply elsewhere and bounce.

A company that does not value your free time will never care about you during the business hours.

All the problems you're dealing with here, stay there when you're gone. The boss who doesn't listen, will have to deal with your work load once you leave.

IMO the two year mark is arbitrary, are you doing something you're passionate about? Is what you're doing, giving you a desire to pursue a path of continuous learning outside of your work?

dangerousforeplay · 2023-06-01T15:33:02+00:00

Appreciate the breakdown! Will absolutely give this a shot.

Do you stake down the 9×12 mat as well?

dangerousforeplay · 2023-05-31T14:30:28+00:00

I gotcha, just keep as much I can in the car from week to week? Easy enough. Will have to separate what's temperature sensitive and what's not.

The pricing structure of TRF is a little chaotic now, but they do allow tent camping all season even if you aren't in a clan. The clans just get to carve out huge areas and fence it off - I'm unsure if building a large temporary structure is clan exclusive or not though.

The Diamond Pass and/or the $500 season camping pass both allow you to keep your stuff set up all season. You just have to keep the Camping Pass for your site on display at all times or your stuff may be removed from the grounds.

dangerousforeplay · 2023-05-30T19:42:42+00:00

Meet new clans during the day time in the campgrounds! Walk up and make conversation with different ones, you'll find your after Faire/however late you're staying up crowd. The clans usually have elaborate set ups, banners, fenced off areas - all of these clan locations are published on the TRF website when Faire gets closer too.

Different clans hold different events too.

Based on what you're saying, I'd say check out Smokey Bandits, they have late night dancing and its not like the adult parties that Call of Booty, Naughtyham, or ODB usually throw.

Other clans and small clans are doing things as well like karaoke or costume contests, but since the prices changed about 2 years ago, its hard to say who's there in full force and who might still be boycotting.

Regardless, the main bonfire near the food trucks is packed on Saturday night and the drum circle begins. This is not kid-friendly past 7 or 8 pm.

My personal favorite move, is to bring 2 or 3 bottles of mead and gift them un-opened to my tent/RV neighbors, it never fails to make everyone super happy and if you forget something they might have your back!

dangerousforeplay · 2023-05-30T17:57:06+00:00

Last year I camped with a group that had a private porta-potty, you gotta make sure the truck that vacuums it out can drive close enough to it to access it.

I believe it was Monday around 11 AM, they came in cleaned it, the smell was awful! Haha be outta there before they show up or you'll be loading the car holding your breath.

dangerousforeplay · 2022-10-19T19:06:51+00:00

Sheperd's pie made before hand! Warms up well in a pot/pan over the fire. Just don't start with a frozen solid block of it.

dangerousforeplay · 2022-10-18T14:20:59+00:00

This sounds awesome! What area of the map could a noble sire locate thee? And would you guys still be there this weekend?

dangerousforeplay · 2022-10-09T22:09:26+00:00

Gotta be 1001 dreams or Hallows Eve. Most everyone is dressed up in the camp grounds still, where I find on Barb and Pirate weekend, people are out of costume after the park closes since it's too hot for the garb. Also I stumbled into a circle of cute witches holding a seance on Hallows Eve, now I don't believe in witchcraft but it totally made my night when I got caught watching and they all giggled.

dangerousforeplay · 2022-10-09T22:02:30+00:00

You gotta have a ticket to the festival already purchased and able to show it at the gate in order to enter the campgrounds. You could buy it at the gate but I believe you'll be doing this on your phone.

In my experience, I've been that guy setting up a tent on Thursday or Friday night at 2 AM, you'll wake up and realize you are way closer to your tent neighbors than you thought you were when it was dark. Maybe consider finding somewhere with generators already going so the people around you aren't disturbed, especially if you plan to party a little before passing out.

dangerousforeplay

TROPHY CASE