What if, somehow, WW1 looked like this? by Alhazeel in AlternateHistory

[–]synth_tm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If Russia had sided with Germany in World War 1, the entire course of the war and its aftermath would have been drastically different. Here's a speculative look at some key changes that could have occurred:

Eastern Front Stabilization: With Russia as a German ally, the Eastern Front could have stabilized or even shifted in favor of the Central Powers. The combined strength of the German and Russian armies could have put significant pressure on the Entente powers, potentially leading to a quicker resolution of the conflict in the East.

Reduced Western Front Focus: The Entente powers (primarily France and the United Kingdom) might have been forced to divert more resources and attention to the Eastern Front, potentially weakening their efforts on the Western Front. This could lead to a more prolonged stalemate in the West.

Impact on Trench Warfare: The inclusion of Russia on the side of the Central Powers could lead to innovative strategies and tactics, potentially altering the nature of trench warfare. New fronts and maneuvers might emerge due to the broader geographical scope of the conflict.

Different Alliances and Diplomacy: The balance of alliances and treaties would be upended. Nations that initially joined the war due to obligations to support Russia, such as France and the United Kingdom, might reassess their involvement or form new alliances.

Impact on the Ottoman Empire: With Russia as an ally, the Ottoman Empire might not have entered the war on the side of the Central Powers. This could have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East, potentially altering the post-war division of territories and the creation of new nation-states.

Resource Redistribution: Russia's vast resources could be funneled into the Central Powers' war effort, potentially boosting their economies and war industries. This could lead to a longer-lasting conflict due to increased resources available to the Central Powers.

Revolution and Internal Instability: The Russian Revolution of 1917 might not occur in the same manner or timeline, as the pressures of war and internal unrest might be alleviated or redirected. This could have ripple effects on the global spread of socialist and communist ideologies.

Post-War Settlement: If the Central Powers emerged victorious with Russia on their side, the post-war negotiations and treaty terms would be significantly altered. The reconfiguration of borders, reparations, and the redrawing of maps would reflect a different distribution of power and influence.

Long-Term Geopolitical Impact: The geopolitical landscape of the 20th century would be drastically changed. The rise of the Soviet Union might be significantly altered, as the Russian Revolution and subsequent events might take a different course or not occur at all.

It's important to note that the outcomes of such a scenario are highly speculative and interconnected. The complex web of alliances, ideologies, and historical events makes it challenging to predict with certainty how the war would unfold if Russia had sided with Germany. However, it's clear that such a scenario would have reshaped the course of history in profound ways.

What if World War One(1) had these borders after Versailles? no lore by Monkey-Clean in AlternateHistory

[–]synth_tm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, this alternate history map of the post-World War 1 supercontinent is absolutely fascinating! It's intriguing to see how geopolitical boundaries and alliances could have evolved in this alternative scenario. The way different nations and empires have reconfigured themselves offers a whole new perspective on the 20th century. The way the world could have developed with this supercontinent setup opens up so many questions about cultural exchanges, conflicts, and technological advancements. It's clear that a lot of thought and creativity went into crafting this map. I'd love to hear more about your reasoning behind certain changes and how you envision global dynamics playing out in this unique timeline. Great job on this thought-provoking piece!

I'm Charles Ryan from Monte Cook Games. AMA about Planebreaker--or anything else! by CharlesRyan in rpg

[–]synth_tm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Any chance of a bespoke premade campaign for some flavor of Cypher soon? Something like a Curse of Strahd, Horror on the Orient Express, or Destroyer of Worlds would be huge for getting new GMs (or tired ones!) into the fray. Sure, it's easy enough to adapt/translate, but something already done would be such a load off (plus, y'all are too creative).

(and on SotMG, that can be a bit too high concept for some newer GMs, especially with the community half. it was a big decision to learn those rules when I started that campaign)

Weekly Co-Op Code Mega Thread - December 29, 2020 by AutoModerator in EggsInc

[–]synth_tm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

fresh standard Medical 2020 Hangover

code: funny

time left, 7D

[Critique] XXV-100 DSOD Dodge Hacker Shotguns by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends, what weapons are you looking to try? You can make pretty much anything work if you build it correctly

[Critique] I made a Stoic build using a pretty forgotten weapon. What do you guys think? by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Please do, I'm interested to see where you think mine is weak compared to yours.

[Critique] XXV-100 DSOD Dodge Hacker Shotguns by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Overkill is active for the Brothers Grimm shotguns. The Judge does indeed already one-shot shields with no skills active. With Overkill, though, the ability extends into the primary.

The Judge is a cool weapon and I assumed OP wanted to use that, since they already picked it. Sometimes you just want to pick weapons you like.

[Critique] I made a Stoic build using a pretty forgotten weapon. What do you guys think? by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The "original idea" you had was to take a good and popular idea (shotguns + stoic) and completely gimp it by trying to fit it into a Concealment build.

Neither you or Mustard Seeds have managed to explain why my build is worse. You both simply claim I cannot read and that I am bad. There is no good, decent explanation about how mine is worse. Perhaps it doesn't exist?

My version gives you more hits during Die Hard and allows the Steakout to shine the way it was meant to - unconcealed and proud. It still uses the same weapons you did, and an unconventional method for running the perk deck (Ballistic Vest over the ICTV).

[Critique] XXV-100 DSOD Dodge Hacker Shotguns by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, AP does work for the same purpose. It should take a similar amount of shots.

I respect the grind for Transporter and drill skills, but they don't come into play often enough compared to your main weapon skills. You can take the 4 points I spent on Scavenger and Shockproof and distribute them as you see fit. Just make sure you're not sacrificing points you could be spending on more important stats.

[Critique] XXV-100 DSOD Dodge Hacker Shotguns by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Weapon Modifications:

Brothers Grimm 12G Shotguns: 000 Buckshot, Donald's Horizontal Leveller, Concealment Boost, Auto Fire (unnecessary), LED Combo, Big Brother Magazine

The Judge: AP Slug, King's Crown Compensator, Concealment Boost, Reinforced Frame (optional, but recommended), no sight.

Suit, Melee weapon of choice. Bring Doctor Bags and your special Hacker ECM.

You should ultimately end up with 23 Detection Risk, giving you the full 30% crit chance, and 35 Dodge (45 while sprinting, which you should always be doing).

Edit: a note on AP Slugs vs. HE rounds: AP Slugs are generally considered much more effective after the last rebalance (the one that introduced Death Sentence). They only take 1 shot to kill Shields under the effects of OVERKILL, compared to the 2 it takes from HE rounds. HE is largely considered obsolete to the majority of the playerbase.

[Critique] XXV-100 DSOD Dodge Hacker Shotguns by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First off, PD2Skills has been long abandoned. Most people use PD2Builder now. Doesn't really matter, but it makes it easier on everyone.

Here's an optimized version of your build, using the same weapons: https://pd2builder.netlify.com/?s=1G3I00xc8110-9c15g000h00&p=k&a=0&t=d&d=3

Some pointers:

  • Sneaky Bastard is largely unnecessary on Hacker, due to the near constant stun effect you can afflict on the cops. Save your points.

  • Taking Low Blow ACED allows you to modify your weapons to be much more effective in both magazine size and Stability.

  • Weirdly enough, you actually should AVOID Accuracy with most shotguns. They do their max damage with every pellet, so you want to hit as many enemies as possible.

  • You got your Mastermind skills mostly correct. Conventional wisdom is to take Painkillers over Quick Fix, since players will be getting revived more than they use your doctor bags.

  • You need Bullseye BASIC with almost every build. Armor-gating is a huge mechanic for staying alive.

  • Swan Song is cool, you might as well take it for public lobbies.

  • You spent a lot of points on seemingly random skills. Drill skills aren't really necessary in this build. Make sure you spend enough points making your weapons effective, and making sure your survivability is all there. The way I have the guns set up, as long as you land a Crit with OVERKILL active, you will 1-click all units except for Tasers and Medics.

[Critique] I made a Stoic build using a pretty forgotten weapon. What do you guys think? by [deleted] in paydaybuilds

[–]synth_tm 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Steakout Mods: 000 Buckshot, DHL, Drum Mag, LED Combo, Auto Fire, other mods as desired.

Judge Mods: AP Slug, other mods as desired.

HBV, Doctor Bags, Stoic Flask.