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DShomshak

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  1. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from ChukG in Those Detectors   
    I deal with questions of mutant detection technology by having it not exist. Even the existence of "mutant power genes" was debated in science until some aliens who are really good at genetics confirmed their existence (and would you mind if we enslaved you so we can exploit them? We promise you'll still get a higher standard of living, so rationally it's a good deal...) Mutant power genes still require slow, finicky lab tests to identify. Very often, saying someone has "mutant powers" really means, "We don't know why they have powers."
     
    But then, I also don't do the whole "anti-mutant prejudice" thing in my campaign, either. Most people think being a mutant is the ultimate in dumb luck. (Not so much for the occasional defective mutants, such as the guy who gets super-strong muscles but not super-strong bones, or the pyrokinetic who isn't immune to fire. But there are now treatments for Obstructed Mutation Syndrome, from biotech captured from the aforementioned aliens.)
     
    I don't feel obligated to copy Marvel in everything.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  2. Like
    DShomshak reacted to Pariah in Funny Pics II: The Revenge   
  3. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Christopher R Taylor in Those Detectors   
    The "magic wand" mutant detector exists for story reasons to cover gaps in the "anti-mutant prejudice" theme. If you're going to have giant robots hunting mutants, they need some way of telling who's a mutant. It would, after all, be politically awkward if they attacked people known to have powers for socially acceptable reasons, or people who just look a little odd. And mutants probably won't politely sit still for a DNA test. So to have that scene where the Sentinel robots tear open the shopping mall to get at the X-Men while they're in civvies, you need to give the robots mutant detection.
     
    Or y'know, one could postulate that a lot of people with powers who *aren't* mutants suffer prejudice because people think they are. Because prejudice is irrational and bigots don't demand precise definition and testing of the people they fear and hate. Marvel did at least one scene of such "false positive" bigotry back when I still read Marvel, but on the whole ordinary people seemed to have quite good "mutant detector sense" innately. Like gaydar, but accurate. <eyeroll>
     
    As I have said before, repeatedly, perhaps even tiresomely, I am not a fan of that particular storyline. At least not as Marvel did it back in the '80s and '90s, and I haven't looked since.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  4. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from rravenwood in Those Detectors   
    I deal with questions of mutant detection technology by having it not exist. Even the existence of "mutant power genes" was debated in science until some aliens who are really good at genetics confirmed their existence (and would you mind if we enslaved you so we can exploit them? We promise you'll still get a higher standard of living, so rationally it's a good deal...) Mutant power genes still require slow, finicky lab tests to identify. Very often, saying someone has "mutant powers" really means, "We don't know why they have powers."
     
    But then, I also don't do the whole "anti-mutant prejudice" thing in my campaign, either. Most people think being a mutant is the ultimate in dumb luck. (Not so much for the occasional defective mutants, such as the guy who gets super-strong muscles but not super-strong bones, or the pyrokinetic who isn't immune to fire. But there are now treatments for Obstructed Mutation Syndrome, from biotech captured from the aforementioned aliens.)
     
    I don't feel obligated to copy Marvel in everything.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  5. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from wcw43921 in Those Detectors   
    I deal with questions of mutant detection technology by having it not exist. Even the existence of "mutant power genes" was debated in science until some aliens who are really good at genetics confirmed their existence (and would you mind if we enslaved you so we can exploit them? We promise you'll still get a higher standard of living, so rationally it's a good deal...) Mutant power genes still require slow, finicky lab tests to identify. Very often, saying someone has "mutant powers" really means, "We don't know why they have powers."
     
    But then, I also don't do the whole "anti-mutant prejudice" thing in my campaign, either. Most people think being a mutant is the ultimate in dumb luck. (Not so much for the occasional defective mutants, such as the guy who gets super-strong muscles but not super-strong bones, or the pyrokinetic who isn't immune to fire. But there are now treatments for Obstructed Mutation Syndrome, from biotech captured from the aforementioned aliens.)
     
    I don't feel obligated to copy Marvel in everything.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  6. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Christopher R Taylor in Those Detectors   
    I deal with questions of mutant detection technology by having it not exist. Even the existence of "mutant power genes" was debated in science until some aliens who are really good at genetics confirmed their existence (and would you mind if we enslaved you so we can exploit them? We promise you'll still get a higher standard of living, so rationally it's a good deal...) Mutant power genes still require slow, finicky lab tests to identify. Very often, saying someone has "mutant powers" really means, "We don't know why they have powers."
     
    But then, I also don't do the whole "anti-mutant prejudice" thing in my campaign, either. Most people think being a mutant is the ultimate in dumb luck. (Not so much for the occasional defective mutants, such as the guy who gets super-strong muscles but not super-strong bones, or the pyrokinetic who isn't immune to fire. But there are now treatments for Obstructed Mutation Syndrome, from biotech captured from the aforementioned aliens.)
     
    I don't feel obligated to copy Marvel in everything.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  7. Like
    DShomshak reacted to mattingly in Funny Pics II: The Revenge   
  8. Thanks
    DShomshak reacted to unclevlad in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    More-original source for Dean's last...
    https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2024/03/20/tennessee-senate-passes-bill-banning-chemtrails-what-to-know/73027586007/
     
    What scares me is, it's plausible to read this as a separate tactic by Christian nationalists.  Attack science to promote the authority of faith.  They don't *have* to believe it, they may darn well know it's idiotic...so what?  It got through the Tennessee Senate.  That means it's not just wild-eyed conspiracy nuts, to me.
  9. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from TrickstaPriest in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    Anyway, pfft, it's only the Constitution. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments explicitly ban slavery and guarantee civil and voting rights, and yet Jim Crow was the law of the land -- or at least large sections of it -- for decades. Like all laws, the Constitution has only as much power as the people charged with implementing it choose to grant.
     
    (Plus there's the old argument that Constitutional phrases that seem to demand religious neutrality only mean neutrality among Christian denominations. Also, early in the Republic's history states established specific denominations, on the grounds the Constitution spoke only to the Federal government. Two views the SCOTUS have never endorsed, but hey, a sufficiently radical and zealous SCOTUS could throw out 200+ years of precedent.)
     
    In other news, I am not sure this bit of wackiness from Tennessee is going anywhere, or is even real. Considering other Republican lunacy, though, a state bill to ban imaginary "chemtrails" does not seem implausible. At least there'll be no problem enforcing it.
     
    Tennessee is trying to ban 'chemtrails' from planes based on a wild conspiracy theory (msn.com)
     
    Dean Shomshak
  10. Thanks
    DShomshak reacted to Lord Liaden in Funny Pics II: The Revenge   
    Check with the government in your state to make sure that's legal. In many states, and provinces in my country, introducing unsecured human remains including ashes into the environment is barred by law. You don't want to potentially cause your kin problems after you're gone.
  11. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Old Man in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    Two other points from the above article I'd like to comment upon:
    Well, of course not. For comparison, God also commanded, "Thou shalt not kill" -- then promptly commanded the Israelites to exterminate entire cities in their conquest of Canaan. The commandments of morality are for within the sectarian tribe. They do not apply to the infidel.
     
    Conservatives don't use a standard definition of Critical Race Theory, either; it seems to be anything that might make conservative white people uncomfortable. So, hey, turnabout is fair play. This isn't an academic debate; it's raw political conflict against people who speak openly about jailing or even murdering their opponents. I'm not going to worry much about hairsplitting definitions.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  12. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Pariah in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    Two other points from the above article I'd like to comment upon:
    Well, of course not. For comparison, God also commanded, "Thou shalt not kill" -- then promptly commanded the Israelites to exterminate entire cities in their conquest of Canaan. The commandments of morality are for within the sectarian tribe. They do not apply to the infidel.
     
    Conservatives don't use a standard definition of Critical Race Theory, either; it seems to be anything that might make conservative white people uncomfortable. So, hey, turnabout is fair play. This isn't an academic debate; it's raw political conflict against people who speak openly about jailing or even murdering their opponents. I'm not going to worry much about hairsplitting definitions.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  13. Thanks
    DShomshak reacted to Cygnia in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    It’s a Good Time to Start Worrying About Christian Nationalism
     
  14. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Christopher R Taylor in The Enemies books   
    Classic Enemies showed how Enemies books should be written. The addition of Plot Seeds in Conquerors, Killers and Crooks was the most useful innovation in format since then -- and for writers as well as GMs. Coming up with three stories for every group and character forces one to think harder about how characters can be used in play. That makes characters more useful to GMs, so the product gives better value for money.
     
    Dean Shomshak
  15. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from tkdguy in More space news!   
    A rare recurring nova may be preparing to blast again:
     
    Explosive star event will create once-in-a-lifetime sight in the sky. Here’s how to see it (msn.com)
     
    Dean Shomshak
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  17. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from wcw43921 in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    This weekend's episode of On the Media discussed the bill to ban TikTok: why it's ridiculous, and how it could backfire. More relevant to my interests, though, was the second segment on the surge in book ban attempts and how Moms for Liberty fits into a long history of attacks on public education. In brief, some conservatives hate public education on first principles, because it's public and therefore socialistic. Other conservatives simply want to control it as a tool of social engineering, to instill the particular forms of patriotism and piety they believe in. (As usual, conservatives accuse liberals of doing what they want to do -- just not in the direction they approve of.) Either way, the goal is to foster suspicion of public education so that it may eventually be abolished. And polls show it's working, at least for the suspicion part.
     
    https://www.npr.org/podcasts/452538775/on-the-media
     
    Dean Shomshak
  18. Like
    DShomshak reacted to Ternaugh in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    While this is a bit of crankiness, given the subject matter, I'm putting it here.
     
    I had to drop off a package at the local post office, and I noticed a little stand on the sidewalk, with a big sign saying, "Defend Trump". I was going to ignore them, but as I was getting back into my car, one of them waved me over. Probably not his best idea. After I asked why are we defending a billionaire, his response was, "well, they're trying to take it away."
    To which I responded, "Good. He deserves it." I then gave him a short rundown of how he stiffed a company I worked for ("I don't know the details of that"). So, then I explained to him about how Trump Tower was built using undocumented workers. I finished by saying that he is dangerous, should never be near the presidency again, and that he should be locked up. I then wished them a good day, and left. As I was getting back in my car, the gentleman I had been talking to looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
     
     
     
  19. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Lord Liaden in Progenitor Idea (or Someone Talk Some Sense Back into Me)   
    I'm sure the outlined plot can work, and probably work well. The only advice I'd offer, based on my experience and the other (and better) GMs in my group, is: Don't overplan. Develop the characters, locations, Bases, and other resources you think you'll need, but keep the actual storylines loose so the players can change them through the PCs' actions.
     
    Possibly have DEMON, Nimue, or other Big Bad attempting some other villainous plot that the PCs can thwart, but the villains accidentally set something bigger in motion that leads to the Progenitor-related endgame. It's as much a surprising plot twist to the bad guys as to the heroes.
     
    Players often miss the plot cues you dangle in front of them, especially when you think you've made them especially obvious. If the players won't proactively follow the leads you've given, or can't decide which villain to pursue first, prep a few villainous plans for the PCs to react to, and hope you can tie them in later.
     
    Dean Shomshak
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  21. Haha
    DShomshak reacted to mattingly in Funny Pics II: The Revenge   
    Meal before Zod!
     

  22. Like
    DShomshak reacted to tkdguy in Real Locations that should be fantasy   
    https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/37916
  23. Like
    DShomshak reacted to Old Man in Funny Pics II: The Revenge   
  24. Like
    DShomshak reacted to L. Marcus in Extra! Extra! Read All About It!   
    Hey dudes.
  25. Like
    DShomshak got a reaction from Hermit in Political Discussion Thread (With Rules)   
    Indeed, Biden didn't actually say, "You want a piece of the old man? Come at me, punks," but that's sort of the impression I got. And past time.
     
    Dean Shomshak
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