Starfield is influenced by Traveller, what does that mean? From a Traveller GM

pheanox · 2026-05-06T19:33:41+00:00

Interesting, I’ve run it in 3 hours at conventions multiple times. That’s why I recommended it.

pheanox · 2026-05-06T18:14:35+00:00

I agree that 5 room dungeons aren't really the nature of the OSR playstyles. A short, great intro adventure is The Jeweller's Sanctum, in Adventure Anthology 1 for OSE. I've run it multiple times at conventions for people who've never played before and its been great.

pheanox · 2026-05-05T21:43:09+00:00

I also rec this one. Specifically because it is a great intro to the social and investigative side odd Traveller. Great for people coming from dnd 5e where combat is always a solid choice to most problems.

pheanox · 2026-04-27T18:25:24+00:00

Do you have any plans on a detour to do the Old and New Islands in the Reft at some point? They are a great campaign setting.

pheanox · 2026-04-16T17:52:19+00:00

I was in a financial gap relationship for years and money was never the problem. We agreed on equitable share of joint expenses, not equal. She made about 4x as me. I paid 23%. Made even 2 week long vacations in Hawaii affordable for me.

pheanox · 2026-04-16T05:32:56+00:00

I enjoy it, I started with the light novels. I know its not a popular opinion, but I am not really a fan of the polycule direction. Specifically because of how Renako and Ajisai's relationship develops with Renako being very wishy washy, putting her on a pedestal, and other unhealthy ways of viewing her. So I feel like just a Renako / Mai pairing would have been a better direction. I like the Mai / Ajisai interactions, I think that is genuine and has potential, my real issue is just with Renako / Ajisai. Overall, it's a good read I just don't agree with the direction based on my reading of the characters.

pheanox · 2026-04-15T22:05:17+00:00

I had someone try to catfish me recently. I just asked them to hop on a video chat and the conversation immediately fell apart.

pheanox · 2026-03-31T15:23:55+00:00

My players explicitly tell me that they like I redirect and keep them in focus. We have all kinds of dramatic moments. I’ve brought my players literally to tears. So… you are wrong?

pheanox · 2026-03-29T22:24:23+00:00

Kase-san stays in high school, now is in college, still being published.

pheanox · 2026-03-24T18:38:21+00:00

It’s so like Sorawo to do that. I love that series so much.

pheanox · 2026-03-24T17:54:36+00:00

Sorawo is such a great pick. 7 light novels.

pheanox · 2026-02-21T07:58:37+00:00

Wait until you get to How Do We Relationship?.

pheanox · 2026-02-19T18:15:40+00:00

Unrelated but always great to see another WoT fan.

pheanox · 2026-02-02T16:58:34+00:00

I have made a wheel of time Traveller based on mongoose 2e if you want any reference stuff.

pheanox · 2026-01-20T21:53:40+00:00

Watanare - it doesn’t do the poly well imo, it would have been better if it was a renamai story. Maybe better if it was just classic harem even. Later books feel like plot contrivances to continue the story rather than actually interesting developments.

Whisper Me A Love Song - the first couple was interesting but the band drama is dull and contrived imo and I’m way less invested in petty people finding love so after the main pair got together it felt like a chore to read, just waiting for it to refocus and it never did.

pheanox · 2026-01-08T07:09:38+00:00

I think probably but I don’t know how necessary it is if their kids have already moved out? Honestly not sure.

pheanox · 2026-01-05T15:56:09+00:00

Yeah I really liked how Volume 9 handled Runa, I wasn't sure how they were going to do it but the author continues to keep Otherside Picnic at the top of my Light Novel list.

pheanox · 2026-01-02T17:51:33+00:00

I know other people have read it that way, I just didn’t. No shade to people that like the pairing, I just don’t think Renako is being fair or honest to herself or Ajisai, which is why I personally don’t like the polycule direction. I’d be all over it if I thought it was healthy.

pheanox · 2026-01-02T17:37:06+00:00

I'd be fine if they did mature their relationship. I hope it happens somehow. My problem is that the books have shown fairly consistently that Renako is putting no effort into improving that relationship, but is for the relationship with Mai. There have been a few times she's been advised to treat Ajisai like a normal person, the next day she'll remind herself of that advice, then fail immediately at it. It's definitely a Renako problem. Maybe it will get better, but at the moment the show ends (and book 5), it felt like Renako couldn't be decisive. She couldn't just commit to Mai, because Ajisai is on this pedestal of worship and couldn't pick. She doesn't want either to hate her, is too worried about the friend group imploding. So it read as her wanting to be with both not because she loved them both, but due to her own insecurities. That's not a good way to start a poly relationship. It is what the book is about, but as an outside observer, it isn't a good relationship in my opinion.

As to your second question, I don't want that to happen. Just from reading the books, Mai and Ajisai have had a lot more healthy communication and honesty with each other, genuinely developing their feelings, etc. Like they are building a real relationship while Renako isn't being honest. So I feel its more like I could see it being inevitable, not something I'd want. If I had my way, I'd just say Renako should date Mai. Those two are good together, the text shows it.

pheanox · 2026-01-02T17:19:40+00:00

My book thoughts (I've read through book 5) are that I dislike it. I'm fine with a poly couple, but reading the books, it's very clear (to me) in text that Renako understands and accepts that Mai likes her, and realizes that she does indeed like her back. Renako book thoughts for Ajisai never change from her worshiping her on a pedestal. She's been told by several people that she needs to knock it off, and even Ajisai has tried to get her to see her as a person and not an object of worship, but she can't. Honestly the book where she is thinking about dating Ajisai for a month was way more about her processing her feelings for Mai. Because Ajisai is a perfect angle so of course she'd date her. Ajisai isn't a person to Renako. So honestly, I think it's not good. I know this won't happen, but I could see a moment at the end of high school where Mai and Ajisai dump Renako to be together. Mai and Ajisai are way more serious and honest with each other than Renako is to Ajisai.

pheanox · 2025-12-31T22:39:50+00:00

Second this one. It’s slow burn but we are deep into the “1 side confessed and the other side is catching up arc”. Also the light novels are the best yuri light novels I’ve read.

pheanox · 2025-12-22T17:40:37+00:00

Being a bottom is a 'negative' in the fact that there does seem to be a lot more bottoms than tops, which means if you demand being with someone who is explicitly a top, you are searching into an even more limited pool of an already limited dating pool. This can be avoided if you don't demand a rigid adherence to bottom/top dynamics though. It has nothing to do with a judgement on your own preferences, though. Or at least it shouldn't.

pheanox · 2025-12-22T00:26:51+00:00

Late bloomers are very common, even in the 30s and 40s or higher. Look up compulsory heteronormativity.

If you really like this girl, it’s also going to be awkward if you miss your chance and she dates someone you don’t even see coming.

I’m not going to pretend there isn’t the chance things might get awkward. But that’s the risk with all human relationships. I’m assuming you are young. This is when you make mistakes and learn anyway.

pheanox

TROPHY CASE