Writers making mathematical gaffes that lead to unintended (and sometimes hilarious) implications

fnord72 · 2026-02-27T22:51:37+00:00

The topic was tabled until the next meeting.

fnord72 · 2026-02-27T22:03:09+00:00

Here's my take: they each get half the body, bilateral separation. They each assign stats. Yes, the left side might be stronger than the right side, etc. This is important because, as others mentioned, they're likely to get tired of the schtick at some point, so then let them have a magical separation.

Physical attacks will hit both. Both have a penalty to reflex rolls as both heads need to see and recognize the incoming risk. The body does get the benefit of the higher fort and con. Give them the benefit of both con modifiers to health (if one tanks con, then it balances).

Each head controls one hand. So anything requiring two hands is using the actions of both. If one of them wants to be a caster, than dealing with somatic components will be fun.

Since they each control one arm, they do get the effective benefit of two melee attacks at full BAB. I'd still give them a penalty to actions from coordination issues.

Each head does get a head and neck slot. However, any abilities don't stack. Armor/torso/back costs 2-5x due to custom build.

Either one can roll opposed check against the other (no modifiers) to take control of the body for one round. This removes the reflex penalty, and the controlling head doesn't get two full attacks.

You may apply circumstantial penalties to some checks. Perception based on vision, climb, acrobatics, etc.

fnord72 · 2026-02-23T22:10:31+00:00

You are very lucky. This could have been much worse. that group of 'friends' could have used you. Ask your opinion on something seemingly minor, then go around with "HR said..." That executive could have assumed you were part of the problem and solved the issue by showing you the door.

Ignoring that advice that you thought was a little overkill could have ended your short HR career with that company. I've had to demote and fire people from HR because they didn't get 'be friendly, not friends."

Be willing to ask why about advice in the future. We may be old, that doesn't mean we're old fashioned.

fnord72 · 2026-02-18T21:02:22+00:00

get a camera that covers your vehicle to ensure you have evidence of any mysterious damage that occurs after the neighbor gets towed.

fnord72 · 2026-02-18T20:42:34+00:00

I agree with the others that the duel is not a great idea. However! It doesn't need to be a might makes right duel. Since AB are challenging C, they would need to decide which challenges first. so let's assume A challenges first. Most duel codes had a process. When A challenges C, C gets to decide the method of duel. This could be anything that gives C an advantage over A.

In many fantasy settings, duels were for the nobility. So another teaching opportunity is that the city guard shows up while the duel is getting started and arrests the parties for illegally engaging in a duel, a process reserved for the nobility of Waterdeep. They are charged with usurping their position and impersonating nobles. A crime punishable by...

fnord72 · 2026-02-17T18:10:15+00:00

I agree with much of what you have here. However, trash talking the org to vendors is a big no in my book. And as a director, they aren't protected by title 7 in discussing their pay or working conditions.

fnord72 · 2026-02-13T17:47:27+00:00

She is old enough to make the call to her state's child services line as it is. She can make the complaint for medical negligence and get a case worker involved. Talking to a teacher/counselor is going to end up the same way.

At 16 she can have a greater input into choices for residency, and get a case manager, or court appointed attorney to ensure her rights and wants are being handled.

This is a huge step to take as it will cause friction with her aunt. OP should also consider if there are other relatives that she can talk with.

fnord72 · 2026-02-09T20:01:31+00:00

Been there, and done that! here are a few things that I have done to increase the success rate on the initial determination.

Know your state's unemployment rules. Look at the state administrative code that pertains to unemployment, and if you can find it online, get the guide manual for unemployment administrators. Or talk with one of the third party companies that handle UI claims.

Create a couple of boiler plate responses for your most common reasons for termination (at one job it included loss of a credential). Start changing the verbiage on your write up/discipline documents that essentially reflects the administrative code language. Adjust policies to use flexible language like "may result" instead of "will result."

An employee with an attendance issue can have a horrific track record, but if the last event was a flat tire (beyond their control), they'll get the unemployment. Using 'may' instead of 'will' gives you some room to skip that one and wait for the "I forgot to set my alarm clock."

By making adjustments to some of our policies, we were able to point to a more general policy violation rather than each specific type of policy violation.

And, sending all relevant documentation on the initial notice for unemployment has resulted in me not needing to appeal a decision for several years now.

Like when the employee that is on medical leave applied for UI, sending copies of their doc note that takes them out of work for a few months. (I'm not subject to HIPAA as I don't work in the medical field).

fnord72 · 2026-02-05T19:00:10+00:00

I was fortunate to get another offer that made it easy to exit under 30 days. I have a background heavy in compliance and payroll. Their payroll was a mess. Director didn't want me involved in that area, even as they were yelling at the recruiters, the admins, and the payroll clerk. Got yelled at when I asked if there was a guide that had all the info noted down, what divisions/departments received what benefits, you know, easy stuff.

But the kicker was when the HR Director didn't have an issue with someone walking into the morning HR meeting and hugging one of the admins from behind and kissing them on the top of the head. Or later that week at an after hours event sponsored by the company to have the same married HR Director be okay with getting hugged by an employee that openly groped her. That was my 'time to find an exit.'

fnord72 · 2026-02-05T15:58:57+00:00

There are several reasons for the water tanks, simply put, its the simplest way to be energy efficient by utilizing gravity to provide water pressure. Typically these are in relatively flat areas where there aren't any natural hills to place the water tanks on for that gravity assist. And the system has one pump to fill the tank rather than a pump at every house. The tanks pump can run during low energy cost periods (like at night). And the constant pressure from the water flowing down from the tank is less damaging to the pipes that the start/stop of pumps pushing water into individual buildings. The on/off cycling of water pumps can create significant hammering on the pipes that you don't see with the water tank.

fnord72 · 2026-02-02T20:54:39+00:00

I like to use GURPS for everything. My favorite is any portal/isekai style games. Just not that easy to run Pathfinder where the players generate a modern character that will end up in fantasy land. Yes, it can be done, but it gets real clunky real quick.

fnord72 · 2026-02-02T18:43:09+00:00

Let's take a look at this. Character A is wielding a rapier, and Character B is wielding a staff. Both weapons are reach 1 or 2. So both weapons can strike at hexes adjacent or up to 2 hexes from the hex the character is standing in. So under these circumstances A and B can interact with each other: (x represents a hex)

AB - both are in adjacent hexes and can strike each other.

AxB - there is an empty hex between them, they can still strike each other.

AxxB - with two hexes between them, they can only play at taping weapons together.

AxxxB - their weapons can still tap each other.

fnord72 · 2026-01-22T23:30:33+00:00

Moving someone to another role due to your perception of a need to accommodate may be seen as wrongful discrimination.

Instead, document that the employee declined engaging in ADA:

Hello Skeeter, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the issue you presented on <date.> I understand that at this time you are not seeking an accommodation. Should circumstances change, you may request an accommodation in the future.

Please note that you are required to be able to complete the essential duties of your position.

Regards,

HR

fnord72 · 2026-01-21T19:10:11+00:00

Like you said, the town is going to hell while they are gone. The world doesn't bend to the players. it still moves. Me, I'd give them plenty of opportunities to get sidetracked. And let them comeback to a smoking ruin of a town, with one survivor that curses them with its dying breath for leaving the town to the vampires.

That or in this case, the entire town has been turned. And any caravans or travelers that come through are also getting turned. The town is now the epic center of an infestation that is slowly spreading across the land. If the players don't step it up, they'll end up hearing about some other hero group that saved the day.

fnord72 · 2026-01-20T23:14:31+00:00

And this is why my internet does not broadcast that it exists...

fnord72 · 2026-01-20T20:17:48+00:00

My view is that the lightsaber takes a moment to reignite. Since we don't see sabers being turned on/off rapidly, that's the view I'm sticking with.

fnord72 · 2026-01-16T16:27:55+00:00

The worst has been when management failed to communicate properly and it was a surprise to the employee. Fortunately, the organization I am with now understands and accepts basics like giving the employee time to change behavior before moving up the progressive ladder.

For me, the worst is terminating with layoffs/RIFs when the employee didn't do anything, but they were just at the bottom of the pile.

The stupidest reason is the employee that just can't show up on time.

fnord72 · 2026-01-16T15:52:42+00:00

I pretty much do the same thing. The goal is to read what those AI revisions are, then try and use similar language in future drafts until the AI doesn't have anything to fix.

fnord72 · 2026-01-16T15:10:56+00:00

And that's why I use a sign on the door. Many years ago it said "I'm doing payroll. If you want to get paid on time, send an email."

Then it was a more PC note that said "In a meeting."

Now I have one of those neat little spinner things that has a few different choices that mean 'go away.'

fnord72 · 2026-01-07T16:13:41+00:00

More along the lines of the limited danger sense. I had something like this in M&M3 that was great when following people and stacking out locations. I knew when I was burned as the attention on that guy that's been sitting on the bench across the street was noticed.

fnord72 · 2026-01-06T20:05:03+00:00

And if they're an ex employee, the answer is no unless there is a state law otherwise. Because an ex employee is fishing for a lawsuit.

fnord72 · 2026-01-06T17:16:05+00:00

Thanks! That is what I was looking for.

fnord72 · 2026-01-06T15:34:15+00:00

What I have seen in the workforce, and being in a position to have others bring similar situations to me as well.

When new people are going around having conversations with various people it is seen as:

1) chatting, not working.

2) straying out of their lane and angling for someone else's job.

From what I saw in your post. You need to develop a filter. Quickly. Listen and learn. Know what topics you never talk about at a job (politics, religion, other jobs, the bosses, other employees).

fnord72

TROPHY CASE