@BESW yep, they even had huge supply depos of food for runners and the millitary and such

learned that from a book just last year

part of why i feel that's important is if i want to be able to pull from various sources from my storytelling, i first have to at least have mental imagery that i can take seriously, instead of something that's reduced & over-simplified and noncomplex. i can think of a complex, burgeoning, sprawling ancient Rome or Greece or China or Japan, I should be able to have a similar map in my head for ancient South America.

@Miniman hey, if you have a minute at any point, do you think you want to write a dissenting opinion on the "Is D&D Beyond official" meta post? I know you had some thoughts on the matter and thus far there has only been one side of the argument presented.

I may just try to write one myself if nobody else writes one.

@Rubiksmoose I mean, if you really want a dissenting opinion, mine is that it's not a meta question :P

that was on my mind too, it's mainsite-worthy too.

"Are we okay with references to D&D Beyond in answers" is about our site, but "is D&D Beyond an official rules source" isn't really anything to do with us.

@Miniman @doppelgreener oh! I hadn't even considered that possibility

"is this official" is a matter-of-fact industry question which is mainsite; "do we treat it as official or not" is a question of site policy which is for meta.

very good point.

Should I create a new question on the mainsite then?

yes, that might be pretty good

Yeesh.

@doppelgreener I suppose I should have known that given the fact that there are other "is this official" or "where do I find this official thing" type questions on the main site

So anyone that frequents gaming.se would have to know about the user "Frank".

@doppelgreener you are not alone, I have usually had a very vague idea of what the difference is between one South American place was like and another myself

both historically and currently

He's.... abrupt. Very little time for anything. But he's good. He knows the rules, he knows what's good and what isn't and he pays attention to detail.

Unfortunately, anyone that doesn't know him, always treats him badly.

@Ben well, it sounds like people might be insulted by what they interpret as his attitude

it may be only a mistaken interpretation, but just off of that description alone, someone who doesn't know him could easily make that mistake I would think

Yeah. I mean, at face value, it can be interpreted as "attitude", but he doesn't say anything that isn't worth saying

It's not that he doesn't have a "filter", he just has no tact. Haha. Everything he has to say is constructive.

@trogdor I mean, I'm pretty sure I sometimes strike people the same way.

@Miniman I can see that. On the plus side though, you're probably a little more... understanding?

@Ben I try to be, at least. Also, a lot of what I say is definitely not constructive :P

Hahaha

@Miniman I think I have come off that way a few times myself

though I don't know if I have done so more often in chats like this or more often in meatspace

I do think I give off different impressions between the two forms of communication though

@doppelgreener It's also easy to forget that North American natives weren't all identical to the Plains cultures.

Well, personally I have "personas" based on who I'm talking to, how I'm talking to them, what I'm doing, etc. For example, when I talk to my father; in person, it's relaxed, over the phone, I speak loudly, over text, it's exempt of detail - just short and sweet.

And I talk to different people using different tones as well.

@Ben I think everyone does that to some extent.

Most likely

yeah

@BESW yeah -- people often forget about the West Coast and Eastern tribe-groups

also, for myself at least, the way I communicate to people has changed drastically over the years

really early on I only spoke to people in emergency, or otherwise a little begrudgingly

@Miniman People who don't use situational code-switching are generally considered to have a social development issue. Just--a lot of people have internalized it completely and don't get a chance to step outside ourselves and see situational code-switching as a process

@trogdor I seem to have gone in the opposite direction haha

I think most of us in this chat had a period of adjustment in learning how to code-switch to be even nicer here.

@Ben lol

well, I have my parents to thank for helping me work on that

and my siblings for being lab rats for social interaction :P

@BESW Definitely - but I also meant changing more than just how we talk, changing how we behave, even our personalities, depending on the situation.

and after learning at least that it was disconcerting for other people involved in conversation with me, for me to be belligerent about having attention focused on me, I had more internal motivation to improve on that

@Miniman Ah. I think I'd see those as pretty similar.

Different facets of the same phenomenon.

@Miniman Apparently I do that to such an extent that my father believed that I am never "myself", I am always "pretending" based on the situation

(Doot doo de-do-doo.)

@Ben lol, honestly I feel like pretending isn't the right word

if it were it wouldn't be so automatic

@BESW That sort of links in to what @Ben just mentioned - how we talk and act is an enormous part of our "selves".

@trogdor I once met someone who felt that when someone is drunk, you meet the "real" person because their inhibitions are gone.

@BESW I've heard that theory, too.

...I responded that I consider my inhibitions an integral part of my identity, and losing them would be stripping away part of myself.

I mean, by that theory, my mum's "real" self is asleep, and my sister's is vomiting.

...some days I feel like that's an apt metaphor for my inner monologue.

Someone who forgets what they were talking about 5 minutes ago, and just keeps going until they reach the point where they think they have made a "mind-blown" type revelation

When really all I was rambling about was the nutritional benefits of carrots

@BESW how silly

@BESW exactly the biggest reason I don't want to drink

I would prefer to have my full wherewithal available for most choices I make

and unfortunately I can't just hit a switch on my back that turns choices off while inebriated XD

[Cut to 5am the next day, when you need to be at work in 3 hours and have no clue where you are]

@trogdor I can't say it's true for everyone, but I've never experienced any loss of inhibition from drinking. Just a bit of muzziness.

@Miniman You're not doing it right XD

@Miniman you might not have been as irresponsible about it as some other people though

(I'm not saying "you should drink!" or anything like that, just that the effects people talk about are fairly exaggerated in my opinion)

I personally know/knew people who literally did act differently, did stupid stuff they never would have done otherwise

one person even got himself into a car accident with a telephone pole

he was not injured badly at all

@trogdor I mean, I've never just kept drinking to see what would happen, no.

but his car and the pole both weren't ever the same again

@Miniman lol

My sister had one example of that actually. Normally she just gets giggly, maybe a bit emotional. Then one night she had some homebrew, and she was a whole other person. got in several fights and ran away.

also, I am nowhere near an expert, but I believe people have different tolerance levels

@trogdor But honestly, the fact that I didn't kinda proves that at least some of what people say about it is exaggerated.

@Miniman I don't think it just immediately hits you like that

but some people lose the ability to keep track of their personal limit if they let themselves keep going too long

and I am just not interested in letting that even get close to possibility

@trogdor Me. Everytime.

also, I have actually tasted several alcoholic drinks and such, and every time the taste repulsed me anyway

I get to that point, as soon as I tip over, I just keep going until something makes me stop.

I have heard it is an acquired taste, but I don't see the point of acquiring it

@Ben lol

that brings up another point

I respond badly to social pressure

if it isn't calibrated exactly right I will literally do the opposite of what people are trying to get me to do

maybe badly isn't the right way to put it, but wtv

my point is, if the only argument is "everybody does it" that simply isn't good enough for me

XD

@Ben no joke, this is very similar to how I see it

at least as an outside observer

Lol. I do see some benefit to it though: It's cheap

Similar to being a lightweight. You spend less on alcohol

hey there @ACuriousMind

@Ben well I can't in good conscience site that as any big reason for not drinking

@trogdor See, this is exactly how I felt about it.

I have spent maybe less on soda than most spend on alcohol but not by a necessarily significant amount

though recently maybe 80% less than before XD

But a friend introduced me to some drinks that are actually nice, and I've found it very convenient to have something to drink when social occasions call for it.

@trogdor I think the exact same thing about coffee

@Miniman ok, but so far I have found none

including ones I thought might be more appealing

@Rubiksmoose so do I

I have had it a few times and just don't like it

On the other hand: it's a really good way to stop yourself from getting drunk. You won't want to drink, but it's socially "polite" to at least have one. Boom

except the cold brew stuff @BESW makes

that seems to render it pretty nice

@trogdor kindred spirits (so to speak). It smells pretty good, but just tastes nasty.

@trogdor Fair enough! Sorry, I know it sounds like I'm trying to pressure you into drinking. Not my intention, I promise.

@Rubiksmoose yep indeed

@Miniman no it doesn't really, and besides, to be fair, I have not tried all the ones that I think might taste better

Margaritas with the right mixer in them would probably appeal to me

I just thought the honey,... wine,... thing would taste better

or Sake

@trogdor Me too - weirdly, I like a lot of coffee-flavoured stuff, like coffee chocolate and coffee cake, but the actual drink is just not for me.

but no, didn't like those

@Miniman not a huge fan of coffee OR anything proposing to be coffee flavored

XD

@trogdor If you're ever feeling experimental, rum, ginger beer, and lime juice is the one that made me change my entire philosophy on alcohol XD

@Miniman that honestly sounds like it would work for me yeah

@trogdor I only ever like coffee in the morning. It helps wake me up. The downside is that now I have built a dependency on it

@Miniman As someone who knows almost nothing about alcohol but has been making drinks for Troggy for years... yes, that sounds about right.

@Ben yeah @BESW was actually explaining to me why/that it works better right after you wake up anyway

I had not known that before

Fair enough...

I do like these small fudge things that have some Irish rum or something in them

just tried them the first time last week

I wouldn't eat more than one of them at a time though

I don't like them thaaat much

they still taste like fudge but have this extra thing that,... I am more or less ambivalent about

@trogdor The only other thing I drink is alcoholic ginger beers, but they vary from "basically just beer" to "actually maybe even better than regular ginger beer".

I think I still like normal fudge better

@Miniman fair enough on that point

(You can probably guess, if you didn't know already, that I'm pretty passionate about ginger beer.)

I have found it varies drastically

Actually I was talking to an uber driver recently (or, more appropriately, been talked at lol) about zymurgy - the art of brewing acohol

he sent me an email about it

root and ginger beers and sodas and stuff all have different things in them that I like more or less than others

@Ben My sister gave me a homebrew kit for Christmas, and I gave it a go. The results were pretty terrible.

Haha.

I'm choosing to blame the insane climate for being totally unsuitable for brewing.

If you want I can send you the document this guy sent me.

Apparently there are tricks to the trade, such as using wood chips to help it all ferment better

@Ben now I can't stop thinking this drivers only life goal is to spread the word about home brewing to everyone they ever pick up XD

Nah, I'll stick to being a consumer, I think.

@trogdor Haha probably. He was pretty passionate about it

@Miniman In all honesty, my Brother in law had a go at it too. Did ok. Then he left his batch with me when he moved out... I let it sit for a few more months, then decided to give it a go. It did not go well.

I blacked out and woke up 2 mins later thinking I'd gone mad

wow

If ever you needed a reason not to drink: there you go

I did not need extra reasons

But I will take it anyway.

one thing is, I already know I enjoy partaking of liquid refreshment too much

I drink a little too much soda and juices and such

if I included alcohol in that mix I would have to be even more on guard about it

a little wouldn't be a huge issue, but I reach for more instinctively already

lol

Fun fact... when googling for "enguarde" pictures, the majority is the swordfish from the DKC series

@Ben you are right, how odd

Ok... who's a creative writer?

I need help coming up with a blurb for "the DM" for out Tales of Ron facebook page (one of the players drew art for each PC, and one for the DM)

I posted the PC's with blurbs, which were easy enough, cos their backstories were already written

I sometimes pretend to be a creative writer.

That's still a step in the right direction haha

I was thinking of going in the "master of all" direction

hey there @Miniman

@Ben lulz :P

err hey there @MikeQ

@Shalvenay Hey Shalv

Hey @Shalvenay, I have my character sheet ready for tomorrow. I'll drop a link in the side room chat?

@MikeQ sure thing

Ugh... sportball defeat =(

And Nate Silver told me before the game I had a 62% chance of being happy tonight =(

I would ask who you rooted for, but I know some people will want not to be spoiled on it

I mean, most of them will probably have watched it but some didn't have a chance yet if they are working XD

@trogdor Well, if they're the type that would watch it time-shifted and try to avoid spoilers, then my second message spoiled it =\

true

if they know which side he said it about

I don't care, mind you

I mean, I care enough to want to know who won, but not enough that knowing that would be a spoiler

It turns out I live ~10 mi. closer to one of the teams' stadiums (stadia? Stadii?) than the other. This came up when someone at the party I attended hadn't picked a team to cheer for and set off wild speculation as to which we were actually closer to.

lol

not my team XD

And which is closer by drive-time totally depends on traffic on the 'pike. Mass 'pike or Jersey Turnpike, depending on which half of the Schrodinger's football fan you're watching.

@trogdor Lions, oof. That's a tough beat.

@nitsua60 first team with a perfect record snicker

@trogdor same here actually. I actually don't care much for sports, but when I do it's those rare cases the lions are winning.

lol

My "team" is the Broncos. And I haven't watched a game in.... 3 years?

Lol

heh

Actually, my Team doesn't have a name.

well RPG chat is probably not the best place to round up football fans

XD

But it consists of a Human raised by dwarves, an Elf Barbarian Ranger, and a sneaky Half-Elf Warlock :D

there are only three people in chat?

that explains so much

:P

Hahaha

Those are the PCs in (one of) my regular games.

@trogdor Wow, stereotyping much? I'll have you know I am personally a fan of football.

Also, we should specify what people mean by "Football"

American vs AFL vs NRL vs Aussie Rules vs "Soccer"

It's good for the economy, it gives people exercise, it's partially responsible for the creation of large flat areas covered with grass that are available for public use...the benefits are endless.

I'm a huge fan.

hey there @SoraTamashii

@Miniman lol, I didn't say we wouldn't find any

just, not the most optimal space for it

XP

Ok... Half elves. How do they age? In the 5e PHB it says they reach Adulthood at 20 years, and live to about 180. To me, that says they age at the same rate (perhaps slightly slower) as humans, but just live longer

So, maybe a 50 year old half-elf might look like a 40 year old human.

@Ben Not quite - humans are listed as reaching adulthood in their late teens.

So half elves mature slightly slower.

Yeah. There is a difference, and that would become more apparent later in life

You know, you really do inspire subliminal desires @Miniman

I've had the urge to play Golden Sun again recently

lol

I still need to try it sometime

@Ben Glad to hear it! (Not least because that was a mildly worrying statement on its own.)

lol

yeah by itself that would have been extremely weird

Goal achieved XD

@Ben Me too - any day in which I inspire someone to try something I love is a good day.

(It still counts if you've tried it before.)

@Ben Embarrassment get!

XD

Heh, that reminds me - my sister was looking for a way to put a new spin on a Morrowind playthrough. I suggested she try unarmed and unarmoured.

Ha... yup. That'd do it

Cut to many hours into the game, looking at the wiki page on the Unarmoured skill...

> Due to a bug, provides no damage reduction unless you are wearing at least one piece of armour.

As a matter of fact, I believe that's how they do it in the WR speedrun XD

@Miniman wait wat? XD

what is the point?

well,... bug I guess

but still, so silly

@Ben I'm not sure that's really an accurate description. It's more like they use the Gamebreaking Bug skill combined with the Ludicrously Good At It skill.

That run is just...ridonkulous.

@Miniman That is more accurate. Yes haha

I mean, I love watching speedruns. But that one...it's like, you don't really see any gameplay. Just a ludicrously fast succession of area transitions followed by the ending cutscene.

Actually they do the same thing in Fallout 4. Though it is a bug, not a feature.

I admire the skill of the runners, but it's just not that entertaining to watch as far as I'm concerned.

Have you heard of "Rogue Legacy"?

I've heard of it.

It's not a bad game. I enjoy it. But that's a really good one to watch.

I'm going to use a phrase I think we both dislike - "Dark Souls-esque"

@Ben I'll have to look it up. Glitchless runs of 2D platformers are definitely my favourite variety of speedrun to watch.

In so far as it is a very unforgiving game, and every time you die, you have to start over.

@Miniman in that case I highly suggest looking it up :)

@Ben I mean, I'm not a fan of the phrase. But when I want to describe Cuphead to someone, it's really difficult to do it without drawing on Dark Souls for comparisons.

lol

personally, I don't like most speedruns I see too much