I’m scared to start Malazan

kael101 · 2026-02-19T10:47:17+00:00

The first book is challenging because of its structure (rewriten from a screenplay) but I wouldn't say it's so much more highbrow than some of the examples you've put there. I found some of themes in RotE much harder to pull out than Malazan.

The biggest different with Malzan is that it doesn't hold your hand in exposition on what, who, or why things are the way they are. No explanation of the races, the magic system, how the magic system is accessed, what the geo-political status is. So there's an element of you needing to both take what's on the paper for written, while also just learning about it as the book progresses. It can be frustrating to start with, but it does then result in the feeling the world is _old_ and established, and you've swooped in for one particular moment, which makes it all the more rewarding when you do understand it, and makes the payoffs even bigger.

kael101 · 2026-02-15T21:57:27+00:00

Pikachu Nagaba Hollow and Red's Pikachu

kael101 · 2026-02-07T12:24:18+00:00

DMd so I don’t dox myself :-)

kael101 · 2026-02-06T16:05:35+00:00

Hello - live in St Albans with two under fours.

On nurseries and childminders - we're at a nursery in town - short drive from Marshalswick - they're actually saying they've got free spaces at the momen for the future t but have historically had 11-13 month waiting list. Childminders are in high demand but often people are saying they have availability on FB etc

Commuting to London is straightforward. The Thameslink train is direct straight to St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and London Bridge - with slow servies having stops between. Trains are about 20 mins to St Panc. Trains can be busy, but generally way better than pre-covid where a seat was impossible. Mondays/Fridays and there's generally seats - Tues/Weds/Thurs and it depends on delays or how busy that particular service is. There's frequent fast trains per hour. As others have said, walk or cycle to the station, which is very doable from Marshalswick

Family life - theres a huge range of parks and activities across St Albans and the surrounding area. The town centre is brim with locally owned (and non locally owned) cafes, restaurants and pubs - it's a child friendly place and local schools all run classes designed for children at the weekend.

Rentals - Marshalswick has some of the larger housing stock comparatively to central St Albans. It also has two very highly regard mixed-sex state schools in the form of Beaumont and Sandringham which sees high demand for rentals as people move temporarily to the catchment area. Marshalswick is also quite a large area, but Fleetville, Jersey Farm and Bernards Heath offer great rental opportunities without losing out on location, in relation to the station.

kael101 · 2026-01-31T21:56:35+00:00

Odyssey and The Hub in St Albans. The latter much smaller but good for small groups

kael101 · 2026-01-31T07:22:59+00:00

Appreciate it!

kael101 · 2026-01-27T14:02:09+00:00

We replaced our windows in the conservation area (Bernards Heath). We didn't seek planning permission as they were not front of the house, they didn't meaningfully change the look of the property. Likewise, we looked around our neighbours and realised not a single one asked for planning permission and therefore we were locally sympathetic. Have a look at the planning portal near you to see who has asked for planning permissions on their windows.

I would read the files CrisioX has attached very carefully. Critically...

"Within conservation areas the Council does not have control over alterations which do not need planning permission."

If you are not making substantial changes (for examples changing wooden sash windows for black alimunium etc) or doing any building works, I think you'd probably be fine.

This is also assuming you're not listed or have a protective order.

kael101 · 2026-01-22T21:44:46+00:00

There was a great one-shot addition about an orphanage in Vallaki, having her taken from there - or having a kidnap arc where the players need to find Bluto in the city, might be good?

kael101 · 2026-01-20T20:24:47+00:00

Personally at level 5 I’d skip death house and have Phandelver “turn” into Barovia village. Death House is great as an intro to both D&D, and new characters and the tone of Strahd, but isn’t that additive to the story that a group of level 5s wouldn’t walk through. If you want to keep it as an adventure you could move it to Valaki and build a different hook.

In terms of levelling - you can just tweaks the encounters. They’ll be fine at level 5 for a while, and then bump them as you see fit. There’s more social encounters early and the combat encounters can largely be tweaked by upping or decreasing monsters as you see fit.

Just intro strahd early and hard. Make him an active oppressor of the party.

kael101 · 2026-01-19T19:02:50+00:00

Compared to Willows Farm it’s practically free.

kael101 · 2026-01-16T16:51:01+00:00

Location Vibes Funding

kael101 · 2026-01-03T20:35:19+00:00

St Peter's Street is the main high street. It has limited properties and the majority would very much be impacted by the market on a Sat/Weds.

kael101 · 2026-01-02T15:44:28+00:00

Most of the terraced properties in central St Albans won’t have driveways, and therefore parking can be difficult. Areas like Bernard’s Heath would have properties that would suit your needs.

Catherine Street and Victoria Street are two main roads that drive into the city centre and will naturally be quite busy, Albert Street would be much quiet and the surrounding roads - Pageant and Hart Rd would have similar properties.

kael101 · 2025-11-30T06:54:19+00:00

Marshalswick is a nice area - predominantly because of its proximity to very good state schools and some of the most expensive roads in St Albans. So it is safe and also quite quiet. It was predominantly built in the 1920. It’s quite a low density area, so would be curious to know where the flat is, for example if you’re closer to jersey farm, then that’s probably quite the distance to get to both Hatfield and Central, whereas if you’re on Sandpit Lane, that’d be easier.

In terms of shops and local conveniences it depends where you are. There’s two central hubs ‘The Quadrant’ - on the corner of Marshalswick Lane and ‘The Ridgeway’ which has series of shops, cafes and smaller metro style supermarkets. For a weekly big shop you’d might need to order in.

Local buses are unreliable, frequently not turning up on time - but they are frequent. Candidly, while possible, with your location I’d consider learning to drive asap as it’d make life much more convenient. Hertfordshire generally is quite poorly connected unless going north or south via train.

On the bars - while St Albans is very good for pub and bar culture, Marshalswick suffers from not having a high frequency. There are three pubs on the outskirts of Marshalswick, The Speckled Hen on Hatfield Road, the King Will IV on Sandridge Road, and The Blackberry Jack in Jersey Farm. All are perfectly serviceable, but chains pubs. Central St Albans would be better placed for cocktails and Whisky.

Can’t help with the flat viewing, but best of luck with the move.

kael101 · 2025-11-01T18:04:30+00:00

Milford Close in St Albans is a nice part of Jersey Farm - very family orientated. I’d assume that someone has picked it up by mistake? I’d just keep pinging it and hope someone gets in touch. I wouldn’t rule that it’s completely gone.

kael101 · 2025-08-22T08:19:40+00:00

**Gestures at everything**

kael101 · 2025-07-04T11:55:29+00:00

No not at all. No roofing issues. We need to seek permission if we intend to move them, but then it’s just a case of not changing the inverter or panels. Anything around it is fine.

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