unclevlad

Oh the irony...
 
Streaming the baseball game.  Between innings.  Info ad...Israel's 11 hours by plane away, but social media gets there in seconds.  Jewish hate is up.  All hate is up.  Stop Jewish hate;  stop ALL the hate.  Pretty good, simple ad.
 
The irony is, of course, this is on a Fox broadcast.

In a freak, horrible, AWFUL accident...
 
https://apnews.com/article/hockey-player-dies-adam-johnson-accident-nottingham-098abfe508a908cdc64bdf1b6d4f4e4e
 
The absolute most horrible event I have ever, EVER seen was similar.  NHL, Richard Zednik, 2008.  Scrum in the corner.  A teammate's checking an opponent, slips down.  His leg whips up and across Zednik's neck.
 
You see him falling ...and a moment later...one...then 2...GOUTS of blood SPRAY onto the ice.  The cross-angle shot is absolutely HORRIFYING.
 
The Hamlin injury turned into something worse, but nowhere near as graphic.
 
But they both survived.
 
 

He was 80...which meant at the start of the show, he was 40, which I wouldn't have said.
 
Still makes me feel old to realize that show ran 40 years ago.........

For hardened, that is the 5E rule anyway, and there's no systemic logic to make any change.  And, AFAIK?  No one treated AP and Hardened any differently from the 5E handling, until you properly pointed out the textual issues.
 
This doesn't belong in the FAQ, tho;  IMO, it belongs in the errata.  Strike ALL the text that talks about "all or nothing" and write it properly...note that the text in 6E talks in parts about Defense Powers...individual powers, then later about Defenses, in ways that are both unnecessary and awkward.   5E comes close, there's just a matter of striking the parts that don't apply, since it talks about so many things.  I'd rather see it elevated as high as possible. 
 
This holds for both Hardened and Penetrating...because the interpretation in the FAQ is *so* at odds to what we were thinking.  Again...bring it ALL the way forward to the errata. 
 
 

Sequoia
full-size

NYT reports the body of the shooter has been found, at a recycling center where he used to work.  Initial report:  self-inflicted gunshot wounds.  Time of death not determined at this point, altho there's a press conference that may give more details.
 
The big point, of course, being that the ******** is dead.

Yeah, that's backstory for WHY you build the way you build.  
 
Duplication is one of those powers where the details are left up completely to the writers.
--construct-style (not as tough, not as durable;  NOT biological, no notion of "life" involved) vs. biological-style (which may or may not mean that when one dies, the number of duplicates is *permanently* reduced)
--All Clones are Created Equal vs. the duplicator may be a bit weaker with dupes out, or reating lots of clones, they're generally weaker than making just a few
--integrated mind (all dupes have a link to the main), full hive mind (all dupes can share fully with each other), or disconnected minds?
 
Hero starts from LSH's Triplicate Girl/Duo Damsel....biological, when one dies, it's gone.  (Well, OK, as much as any comic superhero death is permanent.)  I believe it was All Clones are Created Equal and no linked minds.  In most modern supers novels I've read, more commonly it's construct-style...but even then, whether the individuals have any kind of individual initiative is up for grabs.

Just saw this.  No, it saddens me beyond words, but the Maine shooting is NOT the most recent mass shooting event.
https://apnews.com/article/five-killed-sampson-county-north-carolina-17223deefaae3d1011721743a31120d5
 
Interesting chart here:
 
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/24/us/how-many-mass-shootings-2023-dg-xpn/index.html
 
 
 

For hardened, that is the 5E rule anyway, and there's no systemic logic to make any change.  And, AFAIK?  No one treated AP and Hardened any differently from the 5E handling, until you properly pointed out the textual issues.
 
This doesn't belong in the FAQ, tho;  IMO, it belongs in the errata.  Strike ALL the text that talks about "all or nothing" and write it properly...note that the text in 6E talks in parts about Defense Powers...individual powers, then later about Defenses, in ways that are both unnecessary and awkward.   5E comes close, there's just a matter of striking the parts that don't apply, since it talks about so many things.  I'd rather see it elevated as high as possible. 
 
This holds for both Hardened and Penetrating...because the interpretation in the FAQ is *so* at odds to what we were thinking.  Again...bring it ALL the way forward to the errata. 
 
 

So the House finally named a Speaker.
 
Unfortunately, it's Johnson.  Which means the hard right won.
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/mike-johnson-house-speaker.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5Uw.foCa.PsS8VYklud-3&smid=url-share

What LW is talking about starts here:
 
 
As he noted, it's the SAME language as Impen.  So, his extremely legit point...if this is the case, then does the Rules FAQ answer...see LL's post for the link...ALSO apply?
 
I started to write a response, but stopped...because the FAQ ruling, even if it was for Impen, made me question it.
 
This is the text in 5E, page 115:
 
 
Now:
a)  5E doesn't have Impen.  That's a 6E change.  Probably good;  allowing Hardened to apply to both, for just 1/4, is ludicrous.
b)  In our extensive recent discussion on AP, these were the interpretations I think all of us accepted.
c)  But the 6E FAQ *throws this out of the water* for Impen.  It's got a completely different basis.  It's not standard scaling, it's a yes/no, pass/fail comparison.
 
And the rules in 5E still have the terrible, ambiguous language.  We know:
--every defense class is different...PD, ED, Power, Mental, each Flash.  Completely separate.
--the 5E text clearly distinguishes normal and resistant within the class, so essentially 12 typical defense *classes*.
 
What is NOT clear:  in 5E, can I buy my Armor with Hardened, and my Force Field *without*?  IOW, does the "all or nothing" apply to a specific source of the power...or is it overall to the entire specific class?  The latter would say that if my Armor is hardened but my FF is not, then NOTHING is.  
 
And to add more fuel?  There is an OBVIOUS cut and paste error in 6E...it's in the errata.  The text for Impen says "an attack with Impen applies normally against a Hardened defense."  This is corrected in the errata...but it's cut and paste, and the FAQ even says it's wrong.  It doesn't work that way.  So...we must consider that the Hardened text was also not edited properly.  The all-or-nothing aspect made sense for Penetrating;  it makes NO sense for Hardened, where there's clean rules to handle the partial hardening.
 
So LW gets all the stuff you're saying there Duke......but he's pointing out that *as written in 6E*...it's seriously NOT CLEAR how things work.  Even taking into account the FAQ ruling on Impen...are we expected to ALSO use that for Hardened, as a yes/no, pass/fail?  I HOPE not.
 
 

The jump drive based ship Jehosephat!

A rare example of AI being used for Good
 
Scrolls were illegible for 2,000 years. A college student read one with AI.

Let me make one mild adjustment.
 
The book is 100% UNclear.

OK, well...thanks for the reference.
 
But that's a terrible interpretation.  It's setting up a HUGE transition from No Damage to Full Damage, or vice versa, based on a single point of damage or defense.
 
I suppose...it might not really matter.  That 4d6 KA penetrating is an 18 DC attack.  I *hope* that's doing something.  I don't feel like doing the math, but would you rather face:
a)  6d6 KA
b)  4 1/2d6 AP KA
c)  4d6 Penetrating KA
 
I'd still say that blowing off Penetrating generally is the safest approach, unless you really have points to spare.  Another option might be...if the GM allows Autofire, Penetrating killing attacks that *don't* require the +1 for "unusually efficient attacks"...then I might wanna have enough Impen to bounce those.  
 
 

No, you may not say "woof."  
 
You offend dogs with that comparison.  They're smarter and have better taste.
 
Individually...some are OK.  I'm fine with Chicago's, and Detroit's...individually.  I do agree with *many* of the comments, tho...some black and/or gray is fine, but there's far too much of it.  And most range from poor to terrible.  So...no, not woof.  More like that potato salad you stashed in the fridge...then forgot for a month....
 

That person was correct.  No one cares.  But, since when does that stop a talking head...especially pregame?  Got to stoke the Hype Engine, even if it's got less substance than cotton candy.

We had to say goodbye to our cat tonight.  We're all pretty wrecked.
 
2008 - October 22, 2023.  ❤️

And even led off the 9th getting the first 2 on, but couldn't punch it in.
 
Yeah, that was a big time gut punch...but not a surprise.  LeClerc isn't a closer.  57 appearances, only 9 save opportunities...and only 4 saves.  That's the *critical* flaw with the Rangers...their bullpen generally, and end of game specifically.  27th in saves, with only 30...the Rockies had more.  Fewer?  Royals, White Sox, and A's.......the other 3 teams with 100+ losses.  Lowest save percentage in *all* baseball...slightly lower than Colorado.  It looked like;  I was just eyeballing it but that looked right.
 
Will Smith's their most common closer, but he was ineffective in game 3 (3 batters, one out, allowed a walk and 2 run single) and game 4....1.1 innings but a 2 run dinger.  So he was also likely just not available in any case, after 2 straight days of work.  But that's the Texas problem.  It also means the game today was even more significant, because tomorrow is the travel day.

NOT SO FAST!!!!!!
 
In a *serious* pitching duel, D'backs walk off with a 2-1 win.  Marte's bases loaded single with 1 out seals it.
 
And a notable game for the rules changes.  With Kimbrel pitching, Gurriel takes the count deep and forces a walk.  Kimbrel is *terrible* in holding runners.  AWFUL.  Gurriel steals 2nd;  the throw bounced but he was on the bag before it bounced...2 feet in front of the bag.  Left handed hitter Pavin Smith slaps one up the middle, but to the first base side enough...Gurriel was gonna make 3rd no matter what, but the defense was playing a bit more tilted to first.  Long run, slide...no play at first.  1st and 3rd, none out.  Smith then steals 2nd with no play.  
 
Gabe Rivera slaps a ball to Turner at short, playing in.  He makes the *forced* play to the plate.  Smith botches the situation;  he goes *back* to 2nd.  WRONG.  Turner MUST go home or the game's over.  Perdomo works another walk, setting up Marte with the bases loaded.
 
WHACK!
 
Still a series.  D'backs didn't hit great...but their pitching locked Philly down.  1 run on only 3 hits.  And this was the kid, Pfaadt...5 2/3 innings, 2 hits, no walks, no runs, only faced 1 over the minimum.  Pulled so Schwarber wouldn't get a 3rd AB against him.  Hey, it worked.  I'm kinda thinking the D'backs may win one of the next two with offense, but I'm still leaning to Phillies in 6.  But it's no lock.  The D'backs are *pesky*.
 
 

I gotta figure most athletes are speed 2 or 3, max, and those only in sports like Hockey.  Speed 4+ is reserved for military types, combatants who learn how to react well and efficiently in combat.

I'm not sure many things you can get OTC, would have game-level effects.  VERY few OTC drugs should have that significant an effect on the body.  
 
Note, too...1d6 Aid END?  You get 10 END.  One time.  It's burned first, too.  It shouldn't happen immediately, either...I'm not trying to be pedantic about biological accuracy, but you do have to drink the stuff, and it has to be absorbed.

From NYT.  The story is about rising concern that this clown show is going to cost the Republicans the House in '24.
 
 

From NYT.  The story is about rising concern that this clown show is going to cost the Republicans the House in '24.