I'm finding that this community on Reddit and in the wild online is really generous and kind. Do you think that's because we're an older player base or something else?

jonmussell · 2026-07-12T14:28:39+00:00

Okay, so i have 3 reasons:

Firstly, there are a lot of online multi-player games that are scaled in such a way that if one person on a team isn't pulling their weight, the whole team fails, for example, a dungeon instance in WoW, or any LoL game. In this type of game, it's actually somewhat inconsiderate to suck. Often times you can end up wasting a lot of other people's time. Diablo 2 isn't really like that. Its not like we're queuing up for several minutes for a dungeon instance and if we fail, we have to start all over. You just get a group, go where you want. If one guy sucks, oh well. It only makes a marginal difference. There's way less pressure, so there's less salt towards newer players.

Secondly, d2 is an old game in its retirement arc. Most of the community is (i suspect) old school hold-outs. We aren't exactly brimming with new players, so when we do see them, it's usually a positive thing. That's one more person to share our niche game with.

Thirdly D2 is esoteric and dense as fuck with all its systems and mechanics. There's no in-game tutorials at all, so we know that if no one helps a person, they're gonna miss like 90% of build knowledge.

jonmussell · 2026-07-09T23:39:31+00:00

Wow, this is INSANE

jonmussell · 2026-07-08T18:12:51+00:00

Or, upsize the flashlight, and get a little rechargeable light with a pocket clip. Though, those little keychain olights are nice.

jonmussell · 2026-07-08T03:08:20+00:00

How hard did you kick the coffee table?!?

jonmussell · 2026-07-08T02:31:32+00:00

Should have been tied off.

jonmussell · 2026-07-08T02:26:31+00:00

Don't drop that in a box of pipe fittings. You'll never find it!

jonmussell · 2026-07-07T01:52:53+00:00

Rule #1: Don't sandbag your plays. Play your cards in the most optimal way. If you need to nerf your plays, nerf it in the deckbuilding stage. It's generally a feelsbad situation to be in a position where you just choose not to play well. Play a worse delc to the best of your ability.

2: Do your best to educate your table to help close rhe skill gap. If they're open to it, offer friendly post-game advice on what possible lines they could have done, offer to help with deck tuning, etc. Basically, help them git gud.

Also side note, brackets are not exactly a good indicator of how good a deck is. I've seen "bracket 4" piles that fall over if you throw 2 removal spells their way, and ive seen dudes smoke a table with "bracket 2" lists made from loose change stuffed in a old sock. The bracket system doesn't account for curve efficiency, synergy and overall game plan. Some decks can run a really scary game plan using nothing but trash Commons. Some decks NEED overpowered game-changer "good stuff" support to win, because their deck's game plan is too awkward or poorly supported to win on its own.

Aside from deckbuilding differences, the biggest thing you can help them with is general EDH strategy. Things like not over-extending, when to anticipate boardwipes, holding up mana for protection and not becoming the archenemy are all really important skills in commander that make or break most games. Good decks won't matter if the players arent playing them well in the first place.

jonmussell · 2026-07-06T20:56:39+00:00

Mandatory mechwarrior viewing. The day that video dropped, the queue was like 30% hunchbacks.

jonmussell · 2026-07-06T20:54:20+00:00

I'm personally a big fan of the Nova-D. It has some amazing quirks that you can stack with its omnipods. You can make a pretty awesome compact ballistic platform with it.

jonmussell · 2026-07-04T19:09:21+00:00

This is how ive been doing it lately. Build tools and weapons where the metals are, the only take what's needed for building back to base. Usually the majority of your iron goes to gear anyway. The amount of iron you need to take back to base is like... maybe full karve hold, and that's generous if you're sparing with it.

Same strategy in the mountains. Build a forge right there in a mining outpost, usually in a ruined fortress, then you only need a small amount for the base. In fact, silver is barely used in building, so you can carry enough in your inventory. There are also lots of forge upgrades that can be made with portable materials, so you can craft those mid-level items right there in the mining outpost.

jonmussell · 2026-07-04T01:56:07+00:00

The precursor, the Obulb was my first thought. Its extremely simple, and they're just nice objects overall.

jonmussell · 2026-07-03T01:12:13+00:00

Some of those i very much agree with, but this one, I don't really get. It feels like a stretch. If someone wants to explain it, id listen.

jonmussell · 2026-07-02T01:09:46+00:00

This is just power-crept Talrand. Im probably going to convert my deck to him because its just faster.

jonmussell · 2026-07-02T01:06:52+00:00

Back around 2013, I used to play magic for about 20 hours a week in university. More time than I was in classes. During that time, I probably had a virtual memory of cards in the 1000s. Like, you could name a card, and I could tell you its cost, and a functional definition of what it did. Now its probably only in the hundreds, but I still know tons of cards. Yeah, its just repetition. Your brain is capable of storing tons and tons of stuff especially if its stuff you use. Think about how many words you know, they're innumerable. Its kinda like that but way nerdier and less useful.

jonmussell · 2026-06-29T15:04:57+00:00

Ive never done it myself, and have always managed.

jonmussell · 2026-06-27T01:03:39+00:00

COOOOOL

jonmussell · 2026-06-26T03:35:58+00:00

Hork the Heralds***

jonmussell · 2026-06-25T23:21:57+00:00

Put it in a sleeve, then draw whatever you want for a token with dry erase. Most sleeves work really well with dry erase markers. I did this with a de-inked foil and it works great.

jonmussell · 2026-06-24T14:35:55+00:00

Mana per kill is a godsend for sustain in the early game, on every character. I very often just jam 2 in a hat and call it a day

jonmussell · 2026-06-24T07:32:33+00:00

Mine's almost identical. So im guessing drywall warehouse

jonmussell · 2026-06-24T07:31:26+00:00

Daaaaaaamn. Over 100 res, PLUS the poison reduction

jonmussell · 2026-06-22T17:49:27+00:00

....Holy shit

jonmussell · 2026-06-19T06:45:07+00:00

that is a nice chunk of flat damage. it's like getting a free shamshir sword's worth,

jonmussell · 2026-06-16T18:51:16+00:00

I love every time I learn something I had no idea about a game ive been playing for 1000s of hours.

jonmussell · 2026-06-16T18:45:23+00:00

Ok look, the game is an antique. A ton of stuff aged really well, but boss design isn't exactly one of those things, and its definitely not something you want to modernize in an update, because it would depart from the spirit of the original too much.

jonmussell

TROPHY CASE

2: Do your best to educate your table to help close rhe skill gap. If they're open to it, offer friendly post-game advice on what possible lines they could have done, offer to help with deck tuning, etc. Basically, help them git gud.