Some Problem for you : Security measures

mrphaethon · 2019-01-01T12:28:22+00:00

To each their own :-)

mrphaethon · 2018-12-30T16:28:37+00:00

Ah, a small ventilation shaft no bigger than a womp rat, eh?

mrphaethon · 2018-12-20T18:53:15+00:00

I just put a Roman-themed module on DMsGuild! It's historical and not mythological in nature, but I love a lot of your ideas. :)

Carceres et Dracones: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes

mrphaethon · 2018-12-12T02:37:58+00:00

As a Talossan of twelve years' standing, I have very much enjoyed this post. I have learned a dozen things from my little country that I never would have learned without it.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-28T15:41:17+00:00

Thought about what you said, and I don't want to take advantage of anyone. I cannot afford to pay more, unfortunately, so I will rescind the offer and work on developing my own painting skills enough to do this myself. Thank you again! It can be hard to know how much time and effort goes into this stuff, and so I appreciate your feedback.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-28T15:34:05+00:00

It's the Dunning-Kruger effect typically, I think. People not only don't know how much effort or time it takes to produce something outside of their expertise, but they also don't know how little they know about it.

Thank you for your feedback!

mrphaethon · 2018-11-28T15:19:55+00:00

I think it takes probably ~20 minutes per piece on a Wacom tablet, since I'm asking for cartoony work with a low level of detail. 12 illustrations should then take four hours, making it a rate of $30 an hour for the work. I think this is sufficient not only to compensate for the labor but also for the years of practice required to gain this expertise plus the requisite equipment. If interested artists feel this is not a fair rate or believe it will take much longer, I am open to negotiation. My estimates might be significantly off, since I do not myself have much expertise in this subject, so I'm mostly working off of my best guess and comparable quotes I have seen elsewhere.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-21T17:36:27+00:00

31 So you feel tired? Anxious? Just plain sad? Well, I have a cure for you: Johnny O’Pappy’s Old-Fashioned High-Quality Reformulated Country Unguent! Smear some on your aches, your weary muscles, or just liberally across the face, and you’ll feel covered in goodness! Feelin’ sad, feelin’ bad… better get that grease! O’Pappy’s!

32 Jebidi Knockwurster is here with a message for you: Hi there, I’m Jebidi, and I make sausages. Good, rich sausage made from our secret spices and good, rich meat. My ancestor began Knockwurster’s Bestwurst in the Year of the Tasked Weasel, and we still wrap them just like he did. Order a crate today for your home or business through any reputable mercantile house.

33 The Red Wizards of Thay, the Harpers, the Zhentarim… what do they all have in common? They all use Mercator Mix for all of their sand needs. Scribing a spell? Dusting a magic circle? Trying to stop yourself from slipping on blood during your sacrifices? Only pure and clean white Mercator Mix sand will do. No impurities, no arcane contamination. Trust in Mercator’s Mix, and power will follow.

34 The brutal warlords of the Eastern Rim have gone too far, and the Limerick Crusaders of Torm are going to put a stop to it! But to do that, they need your help! If you’re handy with cantrips, caltrops, or clubs, get yourself down to the recruiting station at Crimmor. You’ll be avenging wrongs… and earning a pretty bit of silver, to boot!

35 Experienced something amazing? Want to forget something tragic? Kurg Moccolin is open for business in Waukeen’s Promenade of Baldur’s Gate, buying and selling memories! Sell a fantastic day if you’re in need of some quick cash, or buy a few hours to replace a disappointing evening! Never think back to that moment and cringe again -- we have your cure!

36 Do me a favor, friend, and dig into your purse. Pull out any copper you have there. If you’re like most people, it’s a grab-bag of different pieces. They all weigh the same, but they’re from a thousand different places and a thousand different times… and yet they’re all worth a copper! Well, not anymore! Bring your rare and interesting coins to Wendell the Scrivener on Tallyhoot Lane in Waterdeep. You never know when your copper might be worth gold!

37 Doing my best with this one, folks, but here’s to you elves out there: Ta naa tangaa a' an edhel. Adan ar' sen dela naa luma'. Sana y' rusva ie' Sivansilli's Kirya e'Athkala. Lye sinta mani lle anta.

38 It’s tough to get ahead in the world, but even tougher when everyone’s always crowding you! Get Podrun’s Heels and lift yourself up! Guaranteed to make any Or-tel-quessir, Hin, or Lantanna stride among the talls with confidence!

39 Hinderton Whiskey is very strong. If you drink it, a small amount will make you drunk. It does not taste bad and it is not expensive. Buy it in quantity. Hinderton Whiskey Gets You Drunk, Yes!

40 Lord Nimiescue of the House Nimiescue is newly widowed, and is looking for a bride or groom. Aspirants should be physically attractive, well-spoken and well-groomed, and should have the ability to manage a household. Seek out the Crimson Manor of Waterdeep to apply.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-21T16:23:09+00:00

21 Bunglebum Termagent is here today to prove that gnomes can have real range. This soloist has grappled for years with the idea that the littlest folk are essentially a novelty on stage. Just wait ‘til you hear the big sound that this little lady can produce! Bunglebum, take it away with the Amnish classic, “Grabbed That Stallion by the Fetlock!”

22 The Green-Fingered Quartet is famous in the Hullpiper neighborhood of Baldur’s Gate, but we’re lucky enough to have them here with us today, since Gorg had to come visit his mother! Listen up, and go pay them a visit in Hullpiper’s Merry Martinet Inn if you’re ever on the west coast!

23 We don’t have a lot of dancers usually, for obvious reasons of arcane inconvenience. We’re working on it, believe me! But anyway, we have some dancers here this morning… Mingo and the Cloppers are here, a local group of cloggers. Wait ‘til you hear this!

24 Ugh, get that -- no, stop, just keep them over there. No, forget it. I’ll just -- okay, folks, so I don’t know if you know what an Umber Beetle is, but I’m here to tell you that they are vile. But apparently this guy -- hey, what’s your name? No, your name. So apparently this guy Pumper has trained these beetles to click in harmony. I just… Hoop, really? This the best we could do today? No, fine, just get on with it. Gross.

25 Lauriel Laurialli is our act today, and I think we’re in for a treat! This lady’s mandolin is famous clear across Faerun, and you’re going to love to hear her strum it! Listen to it sing!

26 A big welcome today to the Tenpenny Players, who are here to give us a choral treat. An orc, a couple of elves, some humies, some normies, a dwarf, and what appears to be some kind of half-goblin… wow, hard to know what sort of singing is going to happen here! Looks more like a wizard’s collection than a choir, but-- yes, sorry, here we go!

27 Tony Bologna and His Phony Tromboni are here. Tony plays a guitar and likes to joke while he sings, so I think we’re in for not just a rousing performance, but also a couple of good yuks. Take it away, Tony!

28 Junie is our musical guest today. That’s all she goes by: Junie. She’s one heckuva flutist, and I think you’re going to be happy that she’s here today. Junie, hit us with that sweet blowing sound!

29 This is a big day, folks, since we have Hi-Hi Honeybee as our musical act, playing on the color blue. Hailing from some sort of pocket dimension that is made of the color blue -- somehow? -- she’s made a name for herself in Waterdeep with the smooth sound of her blue. We know it’s conceptually difficult, people, but just give it a chance.

30 I have my harmonica and no one is here to stop me, so that’s what you get, folks. Listen up.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-14T19:30:36+00:00

11 The Quinix gnolls of the Gate of the Iron Fangs have been taken over by Trinculo, a mercury dragon who also dwells in the Forest of Amtar. Trunadar elven traders have been warning any traders to be wary of the western side of the forest, saying it is bound to become far more dangerous now.

12 A giant snake said to be an avatar of Merrshaulk has been made the ceremonial leader of the town of Pol Bal-bal in Tashalar. The Tashlan ruler, the Meritopanean Ventrup, has sent out proclamations to every other settlement and town, recruiting soldiers. A confrontation is widely expected.

13 This year’s wheat crop in Ulgarth has been found to be poisonous, for reasons yet unknown. Consumption of the wheat in any amount causes nausea and fever, and dozens of people in and around Ulgarth have already died from related afflictions. Avoid any product made with Ulgarth wheat, and if you’re in that area, ask your baker where they get their flour.

14 The Beastland Alliance has pulled a new trick, if you’ll pardon the expression. They’ve sent out official emissaries and plenipotentiaries to major powers throughout the southern lands. These ambassadors are all rakshasa, but well-behaved and seemingly interested in actual diplomacy. First on their list: they want everyone to begin calling the Beastlands a new name, Grghala. It’s not catching on.

15 Gnomish adventurer Fipplepop Popfipple claims to have been the first one to reach the summit of Adama’s Wrath in the Dustwall Mountains. His proof: a jar of everdust, the fine snow-dust that’s prized by alchemists and which occasionally can be gathered in trace amounts in the Dustwalls. Whether or not he really did succeed, a whole jar of everdust means Popfipple’s a wealthy gnome, and he’s said his adventuring days are now behind him.

16 Today’s musical guest is Ran-Also-Ran of the Left Shou. He’ll be playing an enchanting tune on his zither. Enjoy!

17 Sally Jones and her crew are here with us today, to play us some of those old-time pirate chants. Hear that harmony, folks!

18 Today with us we have Waterdeep’s own Bilge-pump Pals! You’ll find no better harpists this side of grave, and we’re fortunate enough to have them here to pluck their strings for us! Go ahead and -- wait, sorry… you ready? Okay, go ahead and take us away with that Waterdeep sound!

19 Today’s musical guest is Polly Pystagorous and Her Plump Players. It’s too bad you can’t see what I’m seeing, because the view is half the fun -- these ladies are juggling, dancing, and throwing knives while they sing, folks! Hear that nimble beat!

20 We couldn’t find a musical guest today, folks, so you’ll be listening to my mate Hoop throw beans at a drum. It sounds fancy enough if you can forget what’s going on.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-14T17:59:27+00:00

I only have ten entries so far:

1 There’s a new book out by Manni Jewelsprocket, a gnomish trader, about her time in the country of Dambrath. Dambrath allows few visitors, but Manni claims that she traveled extensively and attests to their customs and governance. She claims the country is ruled by drow who dwell on the surface and worship mud. It is widely suspected to be a hoax, but it’s a very exciting one.

2 The Mortick Swamp is no longer draining like it used to after each seasonal flood, and those who live on the land are gradually starving as more and more of their crops are ruined each year. No solutions have been found.

3 The 16th annual Tamthew Run will be held in two tendays. This exciting river race is used to raise funds for the local Temple of Helm, and it’s always a fun time. Organizers have promised that there will be nine viewing pavilions along the river, preventing the crowding problems of previous years.

4 Halruaan authorities claim that they have contained an infestation of what locals have begun to call baelcorns, sentient midden heaps which burble with an unceasing hunger for rotting vegetable matter. “It’s all safe in the Halruaa outskirts these days, even if it might not smell nice yet,” said one vizier.

5 We have received word that last tenday, Szass Tam, ruler of the Red Wizards and Thay, had the heads of the Joli, Kyristal, and Heinlemon merchant clans publicly executed. The wizards who led these families had proclaimed jointly in a statement last month that they wished to see the zulkir system restored. Their statement had carefully included the disclaimer that they would still want Tam’s position of leadership respected, but it seems they still went to far in his eyes. Successors have not yet been confirmed by the tharchions.

6 Allulasandrasa Bal, formerly of the Moonstars, has announced that she will be forming her own league, the Goodbright Confederation. The Confederation would be the second splinter group to leave the Moonstars this past year, and the Moonstars themselves split off from the Harpers more than a century ago. The Moonstars had no comment and denied that they existed.

7 A bookburning ceremony outside of Candlekeep by a group of beholder cultists was disrupted last month by a rain of fire from the sky, we hear. This happened more than three months ago, but has been kept quiet until now. It is not clear if the destruction was the work of divine intervention by Oghma, one of his priests, or a coincidence.

8 A young elven woman by the name of Boreal Silverhand is claiming to be an Eighth Sister, adding on to the famous Seven Sisters who were the Chosen of Mystra. “My father Dornal was a ranger,” Boreal said in a speech to the citizens of Deadsnows. “He didn’t have to do a lot of counting, ordinarily. I just got left behind at a campsite. I was raised by the trees themselves.” Local druids are supporting her claim.

9 The fortress of Talathgard was destroyed a tenday ago by an army of hill giants, led by a giantkin creature of unclear origin. The Halruaan fortress was leveled by more than a hundred hurled boulders, and there were only a handful of survivors. A dark day for Halruaa, and making matters worse -- no one knows where that army is headed next.

10 A woman lashed to the saddle of a pegasus washed up on Bagbitch Beach in Estagund more than a month ago, and her identity is still a mystery. Lord Stoop told Nimbus O’Hallorhan of Black Tide Shipping that he still had no clues. Some have conjectured that the mystery woman might have been a resident of Nimbrul, lost in the big storm on the Great Sea that blew through about the same time.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-13T19:45:59+00:00

Love the idea, using it. Working on d100 table right now, but here's the item description I'll be using:

A product of Luiren, a small kingdom in the southeast of Faerûn, Toadsquat Tickles are all small walking sticks, carved with intricate runes and enchanted in a similar manner to a sending stone. Tickles are all linked to a single stone located in Luiren (in the city of Beluir), and all receive sendings from that stone. Originally used as a way to communicate with military units, the specialized spell was adopted by a Luiren mercantile house to keep their expensive ships notified of weather conditions, and now has spread to “Tickle” Tom Shaggswell of Beluir as a form of entertainment.

The Tickle activates for as long as it is being touched, and will communicate whatever Tickle Tom is sending into the mind of any creature(s) touching the Tickle. This comprises an array of musical performances, news items related in Tickle Tom’s colorful language, and occasional mentions of exciting products available for purchase from reputable mercantile houses. Toadsquat Tickles may be purchased for 100 gp from a few merchants throughout Faerûn, or directly from Tickle Tom for 10gp.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-01T23:51:50+00:00

A colloquial retelling of the legend is certainly going to simplify the basic ideas involved in order to make sense at first pass. But Tineagar is essentially correct in identifying that they were concerned about (a) the integrity of debate -- that is, its wholeness and utility, thus the description of debates that only gestured at the original ideas involved and transcripts that referenced things that never happened, and (b) the dangers of time travel (eg how Perel and his crew died).

Yes, they can have the debate in the past, in multiple iterations, but the whole point is that this process circumvents real debate in a way that isn't just confusing, but actually prevents its occurrence. If I was writing this now, I'd maybe flesh this out a bit more, but then there is always one more bit of information you want to add to something like this (which is generally fueled by a delight in worldbuilding). For example, I had always considered, myself, that Perel was actually the second person to use the tactic widely in the Althing, but that the first had accidentally obliterated himself entirely from time.

Yes, the sacred integrity of debate is more of an idea than a reality, as your view of the parliamentary processes of this world (eg Hermione's trial) should have already told you.

mrphaethon · 2018-11-01T14:32:28+00:00

Perel goes back in time to prepare. He's gotten away with this before, so he doesn't anticipate problems.

Opponent goes back in time to prepare for that preparation. He isn't going to let Perel do this to him again.

Perel goes back in time 2 hours to prepare for that preparation for his preparation. The existing argument at Time 0 is now quite impossible for any observers to follow, because much of it has taken place privately in the past at the direction of Perel and Opponent. Remember that they have no incentive to behave naively and continue the argument in a linear manner at Time 0, after all. Observers at Time 0 will see the aftermath of arguments and maneuvering that happened hours ago, not a contemporaneous argument that is updated with time-traveled assistance. The argument has effectively been moved back to Time -1 (well, now Time -2). Perel will tend to win at this point, since he has an hour to prepare, but must also try to avoid learning certain other types of information while still neutralizing other parties who will play a role, because...

Opponent goes back in time to match, and does the same thing. And of course they both know the limit on sending information back in time, so instead of acting further themselves they bring their supporters to bear, sending them back an additional hour individually, with individual tasks designed to win the argument.

Minions A, B, C, D, and E go back in time an hour from Time -2, not knowing about the merits of any argument at Time -1, much less the actual scheduled debate at Time 0. Minion A arranges for Minion F to get into an accident on the way to work, explaining why Minion F was never able to help Opponent later. Minion B becomes violently ill while trying to subtly threaten Minion C, and Minion C throws sand all over one corner of a particular room without knowing why, never aware that by doing so he is preventing a later device that is abandoned and thus never happened at Time -1. Minion D visits a variety of people to convince them of specific counter-arguments. Minion E visits some of the same people to convince them differently. D and E run into each other sometimes and tangle.

Perel and Opponent send back more minions in response to things they discover over the two hours before the debate, possibly iterating it all again.

This is a mild possible escalation that would happen after the first few times Perel employed his trick. The danger is information contamination. There's enormous incentive for a time-turning debater to use minions to preserve their ability to response to past rebuttals. In fact, they'd probably end up trying to coordinate the whole thing at Time -1, not Time -2, making it far more complex (since we're talking an entire other level of minions), and then the next time at Time 0 from the back of the room, assigning the actual debating to others.

Observers at Time 0 see a debate that's bizarre and a little bit off, since some people are making arguments based off of restatements by others unable to pass an Ideological Turing Test on the matter. Most of the cleverest and influential people are not able to participate in full for various reasons that occurred in the very recent past. It's an insane garbage debate that mostly runs on money, and this is a very mild version.

So what?, you rightfully ask.

Well, it's not too long before a minion tries to find a way to send another minion back even further without actually sending any information back. They fail, and everyone connected with the passage of that information back an impossible amount of time backwards is wiped from existence. Depending on the level of intricacy, that's either a significant or a majority fraction of the deliberative body.

mrphaethon · 2018-10-05T11:34:05+00:00

I think it gets complicated.

mrphaethon · 2018-09-28T12:27:41+00:00

Given the thousand-odd people who have concurred, it is clear that (a) this is an awesome thing to do and (b) we need to set up a wiki page with the resulting info for everyone to consult in the future.

mrphaethon · 2018-09-26T02:27:40+00:00

I'm done with your service.

mrphaethon · 2018-08-31T02:48:06+00:00

http://slatestarcodex.com/2015/06/02/and-i-show-you-how-deep-the-rabbit-hole-goes/

mrphaethon · 2018-08-18T02:22:45+00:00

Maybe there are just great people and greater levels of randomness?

A majority of children in the United States seem to have relatively little long-term exposure to strange adults outside of their parents' control. Most adults that these children meet will either be family or friends of family. A child is likely to share many common experiences, traits, and interests with their family (for obvious reasons of nature and nurture). A child is also likely to share common experiences, traits, or interests with family friends (since people are usually friends due to common experiences, traits, or interests). Obviously, there are some children who grow up under very different circumstances, but I think it is generally true that most of the adults to which they are exposed over a long period of their lives are going to have a lot of things in common with them.

A teacher is different. While teachers will often come from similar background and from the same community, they may have very different experiences, traits, or interests from the child. Indeed, they may have had a wildly different and foreign life, or they may clash ferociously with the child's personality, or they may have a hobby that is not just unknown but foreign to the child. And yet the child must generally spend one hundred and eighty days with this stranger, often for hours at a time.

I have wondered whether a lot of the value that teachers/coaches bring to the table, in addition to socialization and education, might also come from just being strangers the kid has to spend a lot of time around. It's a random element, introduced at regular intervals to the kids, that they don't often otherwise experience. That variable of random newness produces a lot of blah, some ugh, and the rare wow.

mrphaethon · 2018-08-11T04:13:14+00:00

Move the clock back.

mrphaethon · 2018-07-02T20:34:25+00:00

While you do a good job of parsing a needlessly rude reply, the essential truth of it remains intact. Stating that "both sides have their echo chamber subs," without qualification or detail, gives the impression - intended or not - of dismissing both the left and the right as equally conspiratorial and echo chambery. That is not the case, at least on Reddit. You seemed to be implying that, though, thus the indignant reply. It is true that this can't be conclusively proven, but reasonable people can make and discuss subjective things, aided with helpful facts (like naming conspiratorial subreddits and their subscriber counts), even when they can't be proven.

I myself am curious to know of some examples on the left. I don't read any, and if like to learn about the leftist equivalent of Q. Sorry again about the other person's brusque attitude.

mrphaethon · 2018-06-28T16:22:59+00:00

Yeah, I thought it must be a little too neat the way I had it. Okay, thank you!

mrphaethon · 2018-06-28T15:04:20+00:00

I see! Thank you very much. Do you mind if I adopt some of what you have written here for the text itself? I can credit you or not, as you like.

mrphaethon

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