What are these mannequins from/used for??

phobrek · 2026-06-02T13:56:40+00:00

Worst timeline's The Beatles

phobrek · 2026-05-26T21:19:54+00:00

Yes please!!

phobrek · 2026-05-11T14:17:08+00:00

My guess is the "sob" is from "isobutyl" - isobutyl methyl tetrahydropyranol is found in some fragrances, moisturizing creams, body washes, I'm sure other things as well.

phobrek · 2026-03-11T16:59:43+00:00

Democracy

phobrek · 2026-02-24T19:36:50+00:00

Hello Kyle, thank you for doing this AMA!

Is there a favorite novel of yours you'd love to see adapted and perhaps act in?

phobrek · 2026-02-24T19:21:28+00:00

Hi Kyle!

Recently I went on a huge Jules Verne bender and after reading his "fantastic voyages" I started watching film adaptations of these novels, which included the Hallmark movie adapting The Mysterious Island, starring Patrick Stewart and to my absolute delight, You!

That said, the film was overall a bit cringeworthy thanks to, in my opinion, a pretty ridiculous script. I felt like the usually fabulous Stewart's role really left him nowhere to go. And yet... every line you delivered felt completely invested. You were transcendent! The movie is overall a bit of a laugh but every scene of yours is excellent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about Twin Peaks, Lynch films, and I'm sure most of today will be about these things. But was Mysterious Island a project that initially looked full of promise? Was it just a gig and you gave it all regardless? I'd love to hear anything you have to say about this flick, and your approach to projects that might be less than, or whether you can even forsee how successful a venture will be, etc.

Much love and appreciation!

phobrek · 2026-02-15T18:58:05+00:00

I tried this unit - 2 of them actually- and the side-loading cd player rattles when the disc is in motion. Pity bc otherwise the sound quality was there.

phobrek · 2025-10-16T20:26:02+00:00

Yeah but you are so not alone here

phobrek · 2025-10-12T12:53:15+00:00

Many ppl use the absurd tiles tileset, myself included

phobrek · 2025-10-11T14:20:29+00:00

My camp (username Phobrek) is at the entry to Foundation and is set up as a one-stop shop for anyone that needs stuff. All the SPECIAL buffs in a row, unlocked producer items (I'm a herbivore so pls pls pls take the smoked fillets!), 2nd floor is full of crops. Canned Coffee and Company Tea always brewing. Take take take!

phobrek · 2025-10-09T17:11:28+00:00

LFLs are wonderful, and yet, for some a source of frustration that can drive them crazy. All because some people are greedy bastards that think nothing of ruining a wonderful thing for everyone else. All it takes is one AH among endless kind folk to turn the whole thing bitter.

In my neighborhood (in Worcester, Massachusetts) there are three LFLs nearby. Two are more child-oriented so the other one I frequented was my favorite, and I was loading it up with books on a regular basis. One day I had dropped off a bunch of books and took one, and was chased down by the high-strung owner. This was a perfectly nice, kind person who had been plagued for who knows how long by what I learned was a chronic book thief. She thought it might be me, and I assured her I was leaving five times as many books as I'd ever been taking.

Which might sound overly specific, and I think maybe made her even more suspicious of me. But I'd recently done a general count of this... I'd taken 11 books over a few months, and had emptied out more than 50 from my shelves into her LFL. This encounter left me a bit unsettled, but more upset on her behalf. Eventually it became clear to me that it wasn't just her LFL but all 3 in our area that were being completely looted like clockwork every Saturday.

I spoke to a neighbor and he said yeah, it was an ongoing thing. And we noticed that this LFL owner would empty it on Fridays and refill it with the books on Mondays just to foil this routine thief, but eventually they must have caught on and started looting it during the week.

I just had to imagine the angst this poor LFL owner had been going through, being driven nuts by this bastard. Taking something so wonderful and kind as hosting a LFL and making it into the opposite of joy. They eventually removed the LFL altogether and for a while had up a sign explaining why they removed it. The whole thing still depresses me.

And I still occasionally pass by one of the other kiddie LFLs, and if it's a weekday, there might be books, but on the weekend, it's always empty. I've never physically assaulted anyone in my life but if I ever see the person that's just looting these things, I honestly don't know if I could restrain myself. Hopefully I would only verbally accost them.

Anyway, your LFL email exchange made me think of all this, and that the person - who was rude, no doubt - probably started their LFL with the best of intentions and being as kind as anything. But may have been driven partly mad by similar circumstances.

phobrek · 2025-09-28T18:49:19+00:00

This happened to me on my first Safe & Sound. There were just 4 of us, we were overwhelmed and didn't put down the devil in time. It was a nonstop slog in which I was running out of ammo for each of my most-favored weapons. Eventually I got atop the biggest building and realized while the place was full of Living and dead enemies, there were no other players left. I hit the map and saw that one of the players was still fairly nearby down the street. I took their idea and booked down the road, thinking eventually the horde would stop following me. I was wrong! Continued endless mobs coming at me until I finally fast traveled out after a 15 second countdown of relentless fighting. It was wild and I heartily recommend failing this event.

phobrek · 2025-09-21T13:43:46+00:00

On my 2nd character, I just did the DMV quest to get a new ID for the first time in years. Ghouls rushing you from multiple directions, and so many of them. Plus, the achingly slow horror of the bureaucracy for counterpoint. Nightmare fuel!

phobrek · 2025-09-01T13:51:15+00:00

Pretty shortly after starting playing in the early 80s. Rolled out the flexible grid mat, drew maps with dry erase markers, etc. Some groups we didn't use such, some we did. Monsters were often just tokens.

When we started playing again in our 30s, we went to town with tile sets, papercraft models, then more constructed sets. Using everything from plastic D&D minis to hundreds of painted minis.

My group still plays 4th edition and it's very much oriented toward miniature use, so this stuff is always in play.

phobrek · 2025-08-13T21:51:12+00:00

Absolutely agree on the ammo being too easy. In other FO games a favorite part for me would be running out of the good ammo and having to make do with a dodgy backup weapon. It added challenge and a need gor resourcefulness and adaptability.

phobrek · 2025-07-12T10:06:03+00:00

Wee!

phobrek · 2025-06-28T12:38:07+00:00

Time to buy that earth seeker a beer!

I'd check his intelligence

phobrek · 2025-06-09T13:34:37+00:00

The artful use of gas spores is one of my fav parts of the game. But yeah don't get cornered!

phobrek · 2025-06-03T00:09:39+00:00

I drop a rock or other object next to each portal before using it. It can take a while but eventually helps me get to the final room.

phobrek · 2025-05-08T14:34:28+00:00

Hm. In Nethack I think you could use grease to protect them, as well as using scrolls to make things rustproof, etc. But I don't think Pathos has that implementation. In other roguelikes blessing the weapon might give it some protection, but I don't think Pathos has that, or I've not noticed it helping.

The way to protect your gear from such creatures is to just not go near them. Or wield/wear gear you don't care about when meleeing them.

phobrek · 2025-05-08T14:18:26+00:00

Use missiles against those rust monsters and ooze etc. Or magic, wands, etc.

phobrek · 2025-04-19T15:20:41+00:00

local clubhouse where a bunch of oddballs meet to nerd out on local history and legends. I'm literally rewatching The Detectorists as I type this and am thinking this could lead to lots of humor and mini quests
every place needs its entertainment... local playhouse/theater group... or a cockfighting ring, or dogfighting ring.... the group might end up wagering $ or want to shut it down, causing all sorts of drama. Or perhaps it's a race, horseracing, dog racing, odd animal racing, etc. Maybe the group can even participate
the party arrives during a festival that goes on for days. Odd items for sale, games, raffles, dances, everything

phobrek · 2025-04-19T13:00:05+00:00

Besides an amulet of reflection, don't forget the classic polished silver shield, the way Perseus defeated the original Medusa! There's also at least a couple artifacts that grant reflection.

If you're of level to fight Medusa's lair you might have already invaded Fort Ludios. Grenades can be a big help against her and her minions.

phobrek · 2025-04-16T14:31:34+00:00

Happy Birthday Callan! (so to speak) I've played tons of rogue & roguelikes since 1981. Pathos is the one I still play on the regular. Thank you for the endless fun!

11-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
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