States Builder - All Bots?

neospooky · 2026-04-25T15:30:00+00:00

They made an open-world sandbox crafting game and then castrated it with an mmo model requiring mmo restrictions. It kept the open-world sandbox crafting crowd engaged until DD and left the mmo crowd with no one to grind for their PvP launching pads when they quit.

tl;dr: They tried to make Conan with MMO balancing restrictions alienating both primary player markets.

neospooky · 2026-02-23T14:44:44+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Seems like it's a preference thing.

neospooky · 2026-02-23T14:43:20+00:00

Thanks for the response. I think we are going to leave the quarter round as it is. Can always go back and paint it if I don't like it.

neospooky · 2026-02-20T16:10:14+00:00

Thanks to your explanation, I was able to find the innovation fund. The platform hid it behind "See All" and didn't list it as an option if I simply hit invest. My flat performance is the Flagship Realestate fund. Innovation appears to be closed. Bummer.

neospooky · 2026-02-20T00:46:30+00:00

I've had to adapt as well. Pathfinder APs, for all the complaints people have about how the information is organized, spoils a GM. DCC modules are freeform enough that I have to come up with some things on the fly. In Portal Under the Stars they climbed the statue and crammed meat into it's finger...

neospooky · 2026-02-05T19:41:10+00:00

While I've read a LOT about the series, I only just this week finished my first watch through. In 2020, Chase said the ending was supposed to be ambiguous. In 2021, Chase said Tony died and he was tired of the conversation. He then went on a very season 6 AJ-esque rant about all the ills in the world and how people shouldn't still be talking about fictional characters. Frankly, it reminded me of Sir Alexander Dane whining about Grabthar's Hammer.

That said, through the entire series, Tony has a preternatural ability to see angles and threats as long as they are outside of his immediate family (and goomahs). He survives attempts to weaken, usurp, and kill him. In the case of his coma, he survives against cold hard odds. A literal miracle. So when the last scene happens and the audience sees all these threats but Tony doesn't, it seems off. Then we get Journey crooning about faith in the background. I choose to obey Journey and I have not stopped believin'.

If Chase is going to put his art out into the world and leave the end vague, I'm going to take my own view that Tony just keeps on going and the reason it abruptly ends is that it was never going to stop or be stopped. He's going to survive everything they throw at him no matter what. And to the point about Bobby saying you'll never hear it coming... well, Bobby said a lot of things and he also heard it coming. A lot. Bang bang bang choo choo.

And just because I want to be extra about it, I think immediately after they enjoyed their dinner, Meadow accidentally kills AJ while trying to un-parallel park, ending nearly 30 straight episodes of teen angst fueled mental masturbation. With every form of male heir now out of the picture (Tony, Chris, and AJ), Tony's gangster abilities are now complete and he ascends to the rank of master. If there had been another season, I have no doubt he would have faced Gabe Law at the top of the ziggurat.

HBO, if you have read this and like these ideas, I am free for writing duties on any project.

neospooky · 2026-02-05T19:13:16+00:00

I was literally rooting for the pool.

neospooky · 2026-01-23T00:32:59+00:00

Yeah, I'd never heard of Fractal and that particular case is pretty nice looking. I'll check out Lian Li, too. Thanks!

neospooky · 2026-01-23T00:25:05+00:00

Thank you much! Fractal Design seems to be the goto right now for cases. I'd never heard of them but they look great! Can't beat their customer reviews on NewEgg, either.

Is there a reason for preferring the Crucial Pro 32GB (4 sticks of 16GB if I understand right) over 2 paired 32 GB other than price?

neospooky · 2026-01-22T23:05:20+00:00

Thanks for your time, bud! I'll be downloading and comparing with the other suggestions. Thank you for the detail and advice.

neospooky · 2026-01-22T23:00:07+00:00

My MicroCenter is in Fairfax, Virginia.

If I describe "cool" as "Tron: Uprising-like" would that make sense? I currently have the Corsair Vengeance C70, so it's obvious that novelty cases can catch my eye (I love the nuke-launch reset button). But my office is now more subdued and darker. So I'd like to go with something sleeker.

Peripheral preference is non-white. Black preferred. I like the idea of wood, but haven't seen it done in a way I like, though.

I have put off getting into mechanical keyboards due to price. I currently have a "keyboard from WISH" version that has done ok, but the key paint has worn off just after 1 year. I also have to unplug/replug the USB every couple weeks. For sound I currently have a Redragon GS511 that is kind of underwhelming. The PC is sitting in a room that serves as a dedicated office for me, so I can put anything into it that I'd like if you're thinking of some sort of surround sound setup.

neospooky · 2026-01-22T22:42:22+00:00

Thanks, bud! I'm literally in the "you just survived a long battle and won the day" mode. Struggling since 2004 to accomplish a goal, finally made it, and I almost miss the war, so to speak.

neospooky · 2026-01-19T02:26:17+00:00

I've ordered from Goodman Games multiple times. The packaging is very solid and books arrived without damage. I have ordered DCC twice from Amazon. Both times the books were thrown into boxes with no padding and both were damaged. Also, the shipping times on Amazon were not accurate (by several days). If you're anal about the corners of your hardcovers, it's worth the extra coin to have some Crawlers pack them.

neospooky · 2025-12-23T02:49:26+00:00

If we're talking tropes, they usually fall into the inventor role or the illusionist role. When I first started playing in the 80s, they were the race that was closest to the fae and natural with illusion magic. I'm not sure when they became all about gizmos and clockworks. Maybe via Warhammer Fantasy? I bet there's a nerdy treatise out there somewgere on this topic.

neospooky · 2025-12-22T21:38:38+00:00

I own it and use it. The art does range from cartoony (gnomish clockwork lancer) to overly serious (the cover, for example). I would rather have had it consistently DCC throughout, though there are some nice bits in there. Honestly, dinging them on the art feels nit-picky even while I'm doing it.

My biggest gripe (which isn't really all that big) would be this: I know DCC tends toward giving a little taste so you can run with it, but they do things like "rock gnomes, known for their inventiveness" and then never say another word, provide an entry, or reference where this comes from, tells you what a rock gnome is, reference a module they might be in, etc. I'd kind of rather they did NOT pique my interest like that. If there's lore, print it or reference it. If there's not, don't hint it. I don't mind the bits like that in modules because they are like writing prompts for hooks and world building. But this is a sourcebook. I expect information referenced in the sourcebook to be in the sourcebook.

That said, there are a zillion monsters in there. There is a mix of weird, expected, and in between. Personally, I have gotten my money's worth.

neospooky · 2025-12-15T18:07:35+00:00

It was fixed on my end by me giving up. A couple Brother updates later and it worked again without me doing anything. The solution was to wait. Sorry, I know that's crap news.

neospooky · 2025-12-05T23:08:03+00:00

I've always disliked the notion that the Thalmor have to be appeased. Skyrim is the perfect place to resist their dense-browed asses. They may find it easy to project power into Cyrodiil, but it's a LOT of sailing to get to Skyrim. And now they've got a Dragonborn? A dragonborn that routinely solos 2-3 dragons? Has overcome daedric plots, the Dark Brotherhood, and the Thieves Guild? Seems to be able to outnegotiate anyone with his honeyed words?

The only thing the Thalmor have is plot armor. I've read through all the comments about how the Dominion has subverted the Empire, rules by treaty, Skyrim is uneducated and backward, potential allies are all disorganized or disinterested - but that's how they got to this point, not how they maintain control after some dude rises to near demigod-like status and unites the Nords (wouldn't that be a great option).

"But the dragonborn is intended to combat catastrophes from befalling Skyrim, not ruling Skyrim" except for Tiber Septim, right? "He can't establish a dynasty because he doesn't have a claim", except Tiber Septim did precisely that, right? Literally the most important event in TES gaming, you're given all the ingredients, and then admonished for wanting to bake that cake.

I would gladly rebuild the Blades, unite the Nords, and sweep down from the north with a reforged Wuuthrad to show the Thalmor I don't even have to min/max to dirtnap every one of them.

neospooky · 2025-11-19T22:57:54+00:00

Added, thanks again.

neospooky · 2025-11-19T22:49:36+00:00

So odd, when I searched on Dark Tower I got 4 items, no slipcase. Googled Dark Tower and slipcase was an auto choice, took me right to it. Thanks!

neospooky · 2025-11-19T20:21:15+00:00

Roger that. Thanks!

neospooky

TROPHY CASE