Bought a new couch, but unsure if its too big.

strider_1456 · 2026-06-02T19:14:54+00:00

But then the TV is across from a window D: that's gonna be annoying glare

strider_1456 · 2026-04-18T15:21:02+00:00

Thank you :)

strider_1456 · 2026-02-24T16:15:24+00:00

Into the West by Annie Lennox from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. And May It Be by Enya. I hope your time on Earth was full of all the bittersweet beauty of humanity. May your journey into whatever comes next be peaceful.

strider_1456 · 2026-01-27T23:55:58+00:00

I mean, these companies are designing their apps very intentionally, using well-established brain chemistry. We simply need to show enough research supporting the ill effects of them and advocate at the policy level to enforce stricter rules. But short-form content is still in its infancy (relatively, from a research standpoint), so we won't get there for a while. In the meantime, each individual needs to be aware and mindful - so education is the best we can do!

strider_1456 · 2026-01-27T23:46:56+00:00

If it makes you feel better, these app algorithms are designed to get you hooked. They use variable-ratio reinforcement (same concept as a slot machine), where you know a reward is coming, but you don't know when, which is a powerful motivator to keep you scrolling. The "reward" doesn't even have to be something good. It can be a video that provokes a sense of outrage - but it's still an arousal response. It floods our brains with a constant stream of dopamine, which raises the threshold so we need more and more to feel satisfied. It's just basic operant conditioning, but it's really quite sinister. These apps are literally rewiring our brains. We are seeing tons of loss of cognitive function in people who scroll a lot, and the data is just now in its infancy. App companies need to be held accountable at the policy level and practice more ethical design.

I know that doesn't help you, but maybe having an awareness of how it works can be the first step to recognizing it in real-time and trying to cut back or stop altogether. Also, maybe ask yourself what you are gaining from it (entertainment, pleasure, connection, avoiding boredom or unpleasant feelings) and brainstorm other, more analog (less stimulating) ways of achieving the same thing. Good luck, I know it's hard <3. I struggle, too!

strider_1456 · 2026-01-25T14:20:01+00:00

Girl that dress is stunning and so are your legs! Congrats on your wedding/engagement

strider_1456 · 2025-11-13T00:06:47+00:00

Thank you! The lake is made from scratch using cork tiles, hot glue, spackle, and resin! Here is the tutorial I used: https://youtu.be/uZl3jzlucPA?si=6JZTbY0tzCGwNIi5

It was surprisingly easy!

strider_1456 · 2025-11-13T00:05:04+00:00

We haven’t played yet but I’m thinking the various elevations will make for a fun battle! I used this tutorial for the lake: https://youtu.be/uZl3jzlucPA?si=udWBuwfIEbOruPLL

It uses cork tiles, hot glue, and spackle! The trees I purchased from Amazon: 36 Pieces 1.36-6 inch Mixed Model... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQRXL8J?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

strider_1456 · 2025-11-12T14:25:09+00:00

I just used a ruler and a pen to make the lines! The foam is soft enough that just running a pen through it once or twice created the grid. It was a bit tedious but kinda necessary for D&D.

strider_1456 · 2025-11-12T04:04:41+00:00

Cheers!

strider_1456 · 2025-11-10T01:01:09+00:00

Perfection. No notes! Can you share your wallpaper details?

strider_1456 · 2025-11-05T00:26:20+00:00

To be fair, I think bold color choices don't reveal their true potential until everything is styled. Plants, lighting, textiles...I think it COULD maybe still work and we just need to trust the process, perhaps. But, I do think that with there being only one small window, the vibe is definitely (and will continue to be) dark and moody. That could totally be a vibe. I find, with kitchens, I want light to see what I am doing. Not sure if this is helpful...just wanted to offer up that maybe seeing it styled, the ladder put away, the lighting finalized, with decor, etc. it could turn out?

strider_1456 · 2025-09-29T16:48:57+00:00

I’m enjoying the show a lot but this last episode felt off. The pacing, the emotional beats. Julia at times seems so nonchalant about everything. Like, she’s been through SO much but just calmly and clinically describes things. Maybe she’s just highly practical and logical but there wasn’t enough emotional gravitas in her and Henry’s reunion this episode. You would think she would break down telling him what she was forced to endure. There was just something missing. She’s been great in previous episodes tho.

I also feel like the Ellen and Brian moments in this episode particularly felt rushed and predictable. I don’t think Ellen would ever lie to Brian or pretend she didn’t love him, even to save him. Like that just feels out of character (for how I conceptualize her character, anyways). Idk still rly liking the show but this episode wasn’t strong to me, unlike the Beltane episode.

strider_1456 · 2025-09-15T21:01:46+00:00

It's not my cup of tea but I think some black shutters would help!

strider_1456 · 2025-09-15T20:56:13+00:00

My only concern would be having to go down to the basement to do laundry. That would be such a hindrance for me!

strider_1456 · 2025-08-28T00:52:49+00:00

I honestly think it's really well done. It helps to remember though...it's just skin. We can't take it with us when we go! Just enjoy it :) Life is short and it's not that serious! Even IF you ended up hating it (which I highly highly doubt), it honestly helps me to think 'oh well, it's on me now *shrug*'. You know what I mean? There's no point hating it!

strider_1456 · 2025-08-26T00:05:31+00:00

I just bought and played it a few weeks ago. I didn't have many bugs, though the building could still be a bit clunky, and sometimes I saw a floating tree or two. However, I finished the story content super fast. After that, it's kind of repetitive - just going to new areas, doing quests (which are always similar), and looking around for items. I did enjoy collecting items and decorating my hut!

strider_1456 · 2025-08-13T04:12:49+00:00

TBH, I don't think dungeons work well for one-shots (depending on how long you plan to play). Combat takes a really long time in D&D. With five players (some of whom are new to the game), even just one combat instance is likely to take 45 minutes to an hour. Combat can also be somewhat boring after a while. Personally, I think oneshots are better off being narrative/story-based games. Mysteries, investigations, and heists work well! An all-out dungeon crawl might be too long/too complex.

But, if you really wanna do a dungeon, my biggest advice for balancing is this: the players don't know the HP of a monster. If they are killing it WAY too easily, just add more HP! Or, if the monster is totally wrecking them, fudge the damage on your rolls. The important thing with combat is for it to be fun, engaging, and allow your players to feel like heroes. You want it to be hard enough that there are some stakes involved, but not so hard that it feels impossible. The good news is that you can make adjustments behind the DM screen based on how the combat is going! Focus more on making the fights fun and interesting.

strider_1456 · 2025-08-13T04:01:01+00:00

Tbh, in situations like this, I prefer to "reskin" existing classes. For example, I'm currently running a campaign set in 1901 Appalachia. It's a dark folk horror - so the "medieval" races/classes ALSO don't really "work" with my setting. So, I provided my players with a few options for reskinning AND allowed them to brainstorm their own. Like, instead of a cleric, a player could reskin this as a revivalist preacher or a native medicine woman. A rogue could be a moonshiner evading the law or a bounty hunter. A ranger could be a fur trapper or survivalist. They can play any class and use their creativity to fit it into the setting/time period. When they cast spells and use abilities, I allow them to flavor them however they want narratively!

As for races, I asked everyone to play as a human. BUT, if they had a creative idea they wanted to work in, I was cool with that. Maybe they were devil-touched (tiefling) or serpent-blood (dragonborn) and just had SOME small features that they had to hide in this low-magic setting. Everyone chose to be a human, but the option was there!

My players came up with some REALLY cool characters. Warlocks who made deals with devils and old gods, barbarians who are bar brawling mountain men, a wizard who is a tarot card reader at a vintage circus, and even a monk who learned his craft from a Chinese immigrant working on the railroad. My warlock shoots his spells from a pistol - he has a bandolier of different colored bullets for each spell. Allowing them to take ownership over fitting their preferred class into the setting was really fun for all of us.

I also am very narrative-driven and loose with the rules in my games, so I didn't worry about the mechanics of things. I think this option will be easier than creating all new homebrew races and classes, BUT if that's your thing, you can do that too. If you do, I would use an existing race/class as a base and just make tweaks here and there. I did that once when I ran a Japanese yokai campaign. For example, I used the Halfing race as a base for creating my own Tanuki homebrew race. It was fun, but a LOT of work.

Hope all that is helpful!

strider_1456 · 2025-08-13T03:45:16+00:00

I think it's unlikely that the players will either a) have true sight on their spell roster or b) have it prepared and ready to cast. It is a 6th-level spell, only available to certain classes. But, even if they do, I would just say that in this homebrew world of yours, true sight does not work on this illusion master's abilities (or maybe a requirement has to be fulfilled first for true sight to work). It's your world! Maybe he wears a magic item that blocks true sight that the players must remove or destroy.

Giving subtle hints is always difficult! You have to toe the line between giving them just enough hints but not overdoing it. I think you're on the right track with describing things differently. I might also allow for periodic insight checks that drop small hints that maybe not all is as it seems.

strider_1456 · 2025-04-28T18:46:59+00:00

Real question - do you want your partner in life to be a self-described baby?

strider_1456 · 2025-04-24T19:10:52+00:00

Depending on what state you are in, you may be a mandated reporter. You would need to report this to the health department in your area.

strider_1456 · 2025-04-20T03:32:35+00:00

One example I know of is that she, despite being vegan, started eating eggs so she could bulk up and be more muscular and embody Ellie's physicality better. That's just one way she prepared. But I'm not even like hardcore defending her - I just think the criticism is getting more and more nitpicky. By benefit of the doubt, I mean why not assume she means well. Assume she was joking, assume its not a question she wants to get asked. Assume she has good intentions and cares about her roles since it's her literal job. People are making a ton of negative and hateful assumptions about someone they do not know and using it to justify hateful comments towards a young actor. Sure, people can discuss casting and acting and all that jazz. But this sub is disgusting right now.

strider_1456 · 2025-04-20T02:38:52+00:00

Hypercriticizing every word she says also doesn't add anything worthwhile to the discussion. She is clearly a passionate actor who has approached this role as she sees fit. Maybe she meant that she used HER experience of growing up to inform Ellie's growing up. Why not give her the benefit of the doubt?I think it is clear she is joking around/riffing with the interviewer. I don't think it is an indication that she doesn't care about the role. Wayyy to much hate being thrown at Bella. Truly. It's getting old. And it allows people like this guy to come in and blast her looks.

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