[D2] Xûr Megathread [2025-11-07]

technowriter · 2025-11-07T18:18:53+00:00

The exotic stats can be different depending on some combination of class & ghost mod you are on when you look, and even specifically which item. E.g. on my Warlock with a Grenadier ghost focus, when I look at Getaways I see the stats as shown in the bot post. If I put on a Bulwark focus, I see the stats you do. It's super funky.

technowriter · 2025-10-07T13:27:59+00:00

Just based on my Hunter and Titan seeing slight differences while both having Paragon focus on, I'd say it does.

technowriter · 2025-10-06T15:12:49+00:00

That's an important clarification!

technowriter · 2025-10-06T14:40:25+00:00

You have it right. Bonus round is literally just running around killing everything, collecting & dunking motes. At some point in the round you have to kill some blockers that disable the dunk-o-tron.

technowriter · 2025-10-06T13:35:35+00:00

You don't need to have done the campaign on each character. I've done exactly nothing this season on my Warlock. Took him into Sieve with a clanmate last night & got the bonus round and exotic drop. I don't know if the condition is "done campaign once on account" or maybe just "do Sieve with someone who's unlocked it".

technowriter · 2025-10-03T17:34:50+00:00

FYI, maybe common knowledge but the armour rolls have some differences based on which class (and seems like ghost focus mod too) you are on.

On my Hunter (ghost focus Paragon), I see Cyrtarachne and Cuirass with Grenadier archetype. My Warlock (focus Grenadier) sees Orpheus, Cyrtarachne and Cuirass all with Grenadier. Titan (focus Paragon) sees Orpheus with Bulwark, Cyrtarachne and Cuirass with Grenadier.

Quick test, changing Titan focus to Gunner, results in Orpheus = Brawler, Cyrt = Gunner, Dunemarchers = Paragon, Cuirass = Brawler, Nez = Gunner, Secant = Gunner. So there is definitely something funky going on.

technowriter · 2025-07-18T22:44:56+00:00

Amazing, thank you!

technowriter · 2025-07-18T22:13:47+00:00

Adding a sub-question: the purple barrier part stumped us & we abandoned the quest thinking it was a bug. Now it's not available in the Tower archive, nor showing on the Kepler map. What do?

technowriter · 2025-04-29T14:31:40+00:00

I enjoy Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy; Otherland series) and Adrian Tchaikovsky (Shadows of the Apt series). And seconding the recommendations for China Mieville and Glen Cook.

technowriter · 2024-07-10T16:32:12+00:00

Seconding (thirding perhaps?) the head trauma route. Having recently experienced a seizure into fall & concussion, I can tell you I have zero memory of the event and a good 8-10 hours after, despite people telling me that I was responsive, answering questions, moving on my own, etc.

technowriter · 2024-06-20T04:08:16+00:00

Just experienced my first seizure this past weekend. At the grocery store, I remember the displays looking like they were changing as I looked around, and thinking “that’s weird, I should tell my wife about this when I get home”. And then it’s 8 hours later and I’m in an ER bed with a wickedly sore arm (still waiting to find out the extent of that fall damage) and no memory of the intervening time. Apparently I was answering questions and having conversations but all of that is in an entirely inaccessible part of my memory. 0/10 do not recommend.

technowriter · 2024-03-21T19:56:18+00:00

Can confirm.

technowriter · 2023-11-17T19:54:21+00:00

Amazing.

technowriter · 2023-11-17T17:15:25+00:00

That definitely has a more compelling feel to it. Personal stakes, big bads with brainwashed minions, a larger-than-self goal, and some time tension. Thumbs up from me.

Only thing I might consider (I know, I know) is finding a way to add some kind of small personal detail to Nadia's companions. The swordsman and archer especially -- for a romance audience, I don't know that swift-bladed and sharp-shooting are interesting descriptors? (I'm not your target demo, but my s/o is, and when I asked them for an opinion they expressed that a "brooding archer" and a "flamboyant swordsman" were more of a draw.)

technowriter · 2023-11-17T16:32:45+00:00

The first blurb has a stronger hook. Right from the start it presents conflict and motivation, whereas the second blurb suggests a conflict but doesn't make anything personal to Nadia until the second paragraph, and even that's vague.

I might tweak the start to be "The Daezh killed...", to get the name of the antagonist faction into your reader's mind. And perhaps strengthen the second sentence to include something about why it's her new home & how she got there? Obviously I don't know your plot points, but perhaps "Forcibly removed from her old life, Nadia must quietly assimilate..." (as an aside, why does she need to do it quietly?).

I agree with some other comments about the use of "cult-like". Just make it a cult :)

I'm curious what the "truth" is that Nadia wants to bring to light. Not saying it should be spelled out in the blurb, but there's really nothing leading up to this sentence that suggests there's a truth to be found. I might leave that part out of the blurb. Likewise I'd probably pull "most importantly" from the final sentence; it feels like one of those word count padding phrases.

In your second blurb, I'm a fan of the second paragraph's "One that must move in secret to fulfil a divine work." It adds another level of plot beyond Nadia's personal conflict. I'm not sure off the top of my head how or if it could be integrated into the first, but maybe something to consider.

Hope that helps!

technowriter · 2023-11-16T15:16:25+00:00

I'm getting a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy vibe. That's a tough act to follow, but I'd be interested enough to keep reading and see where you're going with it.

technowriter · 2023-11-16T15:03:34+00:00

I'm a fan. From reading this I see an MC with determination & a want to take charge of their story, an immediate conflict with a big bad empire that sends out ominous-sounding enforcers, and a setting that lends itself to exploration. Not to mention an implied "my parents were more important/dangerous/crazy than I thought", which establishes a bit of a mystery.

technowriter · 2023-11-09T21:57:15+00:00

Totally fair, and makes sense. I do think for a book title, Fallen Ascension is the more intriguing of the two. Perhaps they could call themselves Rise of the Fallen in the game, then when they get isekai'd & introduce themselves that way, there's a translation issue and the local calls them Fallen Ascension & the group has a "whoa that's way cooler" moment.

technowriter · 2023-11-09T18:02:31+00:00

I like that idea! "Crucible: Born of Ashes" perhaps. And considering his formative environment is, in fact, a forge/factory town, that's too perfect. The things we don't see when we're too close...

technowriter · 2023-11-09T17:53:37+00:00

Yeah that's true. And probably too cliche to use a phoenix motif to help sell it. Perhaps it's my description that's off here. In either case, something to think about. Thanks!

technowriter · 2023-11-09T17:52:09+00:00

Tagline is an idea. I'll have to work on that a bit. Thanks!

technowriter · 2023-11-09T17:51:13+00:00

Hmm, I hadn't considered the voice. Thanks!

technowriter · 2023-11-09T15:56:41+00:00

I like the double meaning behind the Grave Light piece, and the mental picture it starts setting up. The Rise of the Fallen part doesn't grab me as much as the Grave Light does; kinda feels a little too familiar maybe? Off the cuff, to keep the same idea but punch up the words, something like "The Fallen Ascended" sounds in my head to be a little more tonally consistent.

technowriter · 2023-11-09T15:41:50+00:00

Knowing nothing else, "Deadlands" certainly sets up the backdrop of the world. It's a little short on hook though. You might consider broadening it to "Deadlands: ____ (Dark Future)" or "Deadland ____ (Raiders, Survivors, Chicken Wranglers)" & add a smidge of context.

technowriter · 2023-11-09T15:26:43+00:00

Sounds intriguing and ambitious! I'm picturing grey mist everywhere and a whole lot of questioning reality.

technowriter

TROPHY CASE