Topics created by Ezra

@Mariano I started with Mistborn too! I keep wanting to get into the Stormlight Archives but they are just so massive that I feel like I never have the time to just read for large blocks of time like I want to lol.

@Ezra
I was always the dumper, never the dumpee. I've heard "no thanks" plenty of times, and I've been on dates that had no chemistry, but i never was dumped from a long-term relationship. HOWEVER! I did get suckered into a pseudo-science health cult a month ago and two days before my first appointment it was canceled and refunded because the doctor couldn't hold up under the tiniest bit of skepticism from my intake form.

I gotta say it didn't feel good, and I didn't have a chance to defend myself. I now know it is quackery because if the doctor believed in his results, he would just laugh and say " In my defense, we get that all the time. but come on in and I'll show you real results". Even knowing this, it still stings even after dodging the bullet of paying for false goods. i haven't exercised or eaten well in 2 weeks because of it, and i learned rejection has a lot of power over me, especially rejection that alters my plans and future goals.

I hope there is a metaphor in there for you somewhere. Maybe if something is worth fighting for it doesn't hurt so much to look at it under the microscope because you know any flaws noticed are worth the risk and assessment and skepticism, but if it's all a facade then it crumbles under the tiniest bit of pressure. So while it hurts now, i hope you'll see the bullet you dodged. And if you are the bullet that was dodged, i hope you have the insight to take the aftermath and turn ashes into diamonds; to be a better bullet in cupid's quiver.

@TableTopProphet

"Watch it, buddy"

""Oh.. geez, I'm so sorry"

The corn crab rolled across the ground, caught in the discarded refuse that littered the Egoplex. Odd wrappers and sticky candy magnetized to its surface, until it stopped under its doubled size. Its owner turned with a growl, his hangry expression turning to outright fury.

"You're gonna pay for that"

The orge looked as though he could have done without that corn crab and probably the six or seven others he had undoubtedly consumed. Charlie took a step back, bumping into several passersby, and tripping on her haste to put distance between them. Suddenly, she was staring at the ceiling, neon lights bouncing off the dome ceiling. This was why she avoided people. This was why she stayed home. Stayed safe. A hand came into view. Zeke, she thought, was always there to bail her out. Her heart settled and the panic began to subside, black disappearing at the edge of her vision.

"Hey, are you okay"

"Uh"

A star ablaze upon a golden shield, behind it a field of obsidian tentacles. The crest drew her eye as she stood, towering over her rescuer. A Knight. The shortest knight she had ever seen, his chestnut hair curling just below her line of sight. He had turned his attention toward her aggressor. He was so casual in his approach. His arms wide in greeting with a disarming smile and one arm casually draped across the pommel of his
ki saber. A Knight of Charming.

@Alexander-Salkin Yesssssss SH2 was my immediate thought! Particularly the first encounter with Pyramid Head - the static getting louder and louder as you glimpse him in the hallway, then watching him between the slats of the closet door - I’ve played SH2 hundreds of times and it still makes me nervous thinking about it in VR.

I know it was pretty panned when it first dropped but I think SH4 would be great in VR as well, considering how much of it involves picking up little details in that one room and catching things through the peephole in the door.

@SwampCreature Only you K lol

@Alexander-Salkin
ooooooo the petrified forest is definitely on my to-do list!

Oooh, I've been meaning to answer this one!

I've had a lot of perfect birthdays since mine is in the height of summer. I went to Mackinac Island in Michigan for one, to an aquarium, zoo, and Mammoth Caves in Kentucky for one, I spent two of them at Yellowstone National Park when I worked there, I had a party up north camping a few years ago, and I've had countless parties with my friends at home. Last year was incredible, I had a Leo-themed birthday (lol), and all of my friends came, several brought their dogs, and they (the humans) brought me the most thoughtful presents. We had a homemade cake, played in the pool, and watched Jurassic Park on a projector.

Either have a party with friends or go with one or two friends on an adventure to somewhere I love or somewhere new.

Ooh, what about renting an island for a week and bringing all of my friends to hang out, drink pina coladas, go snorkeling, and relax in the sunshine. I know that's super basic, but I think that would be so fun, and I love the ocean. I also like the idea of a haunted mansion that @SwampCreature said, OR renting a castle in Ireland and having a LARP with friends. Maybe that would be my actual one, I have always wanted to visit Ireland, and I know I would love it.

@Ezra I am part of the reason for society to be like this 😂 I find that my peak productivity is from 7am to lunchtime. It feels amazing to have finished something really productive at noon and there's still most of the day left, so it's a great positive feedback loop.

Airbending, especially if it includes being able to harness storms. I've always felt an affinity for wind and thunderstorms. I love how many people in this thread chose Airbending, I didn't think it would be so popular!

@mianngu I didn't even know there was one lol this is pretty exciting! I often wondered what kind of bender I would ultimately be....

I think there’s definitely a market for it, though it’s not for everybody. Obviously there’s romance in RPG video games (you and I share an affinity for FFIX which has one of my favorite canon romances ever) but in TTRPGs it will ultimately come down to what players are comfortable with. I reckon as long as everyone is communicative about their comfort levels and boundaries, it can absolutely be done and be fun! I know it’s been done on real-play TTRPG podcasts too - I’m only personally familiar with The Adventure Zone where it was executed very well, but I think there were romances on Critical Role as well.

@mianngu I still want to learn more about the FATE system and guest star!

@K-O Same... games always get my real money when it comes to playing with appearance, and having some kind of pet or mount. I feel I should write some in lol.

@Ezra
well said. and again... i use this in my stories too. I've just played a lot of tables where the DM wants us to be emotionally tormented by the struggles of conflicts my character may have trouble relating to by design.
i think personal development of player characters hits home more for me. be it an insect hack and slash, or a complex motive campaign, i kind of just want to focus on my own bonds/flaws/ideas, and the story lies in the conflict of the party learning that they may be different, but they all want the same thing. When I'm forced to learn a lesson from outside influences, i get turned off. my life and the people in it are complex enough... and I'm pretty empathic, even in real world drama, i can almost always see the justification of both sides of a coin. sometimes i just want roll dice and bask in the glory of victory over my enemies, and it doesn't matter if i am the oppressor or the oppressed. I want to explore the character, not explore myself; the separation of art and artist, performer and performance. does that make sense?

If I'm ever stuck I mumble vowels in different character voices for a scene I've written which that character could potentially be in... If something sounds rhythmic enough I'll piece together consonants around them until I get something that fits the tone of the world and run with that!