Pattern Ghost

IMO, requiring such a high ratio of character build points come from Disadvantages diluted their impact. When I first read Champions, I thought, "Wow, this game has some role playing hooks built right into the system!" When I first built a character, I thought, "How am I going to cram in X number of Disadvantages on this sheet and keep the character in concept?" If you only have meaningful disadvantages, then you don't need as many to define a character, and that side of the character sheet starts looking more diverse among characters in the group. It also makes life easier for the GM.

If the players are buying it, LS for the stasis and Mind Link for the ability of the operator to enter the sleeper's dreams, with the appropriate limitations.
 
If it's a thing installed on a vehicle that the GM didn't have the players pay for, simply handwave the build and narritively describe how it works. It's good to keep in mind that not everything that you can build with points has to be built out. The points balancing is more to keep the player characters relatively in line with each other. I typically just give the players their bases and vehicles for free, so they don't have to carve out the points from their character sheets.
 
It sounds like the second case is true, since it's a SF game and most genres outside of supers suggest that players don't pay points for equipment. So, handwave is the best build option, IMO.
 
You may now burn me at the stake for my heresy. 🔥

IMO, requiring such a high ratio of character build points come from Disadvantages diluted their impact. When I first read Champions, I thought, "Wow, this game has some role playing hooks built right into the system!" When I first built a character, I thought, "How am I going to cram in X number of Disadvantages on this sheet and keep the character in concept?" If you only have meaningful disadvantages, then you don't need as many to define a character, and that side of the character sheet starts looking more diverse among characters in the group. It also makes life easier for the GM.

That's how I read it as well, its not just streamlining, it is simply logical.
 
And there is a corollary to this rule: if you have a skill, even if you fail, you do better than people who don't have it.  Say you have acrobatics; I screwed this up once in a game, and the player never attempted an acrobatics roll again.  He wanted to flip out a window to avoid a bad guy with a gun.  I had him try the roll, fail, and he ended up draped over the window sill.  OK it was funny but... I failed as a GM.  He should have gotten through the window, but landed on his face, or kicked out part of the window frame in the process, something like that.

MyPillow is auctioning equipment after a sales slump. Mike Lindell blames "cancel culture."

Which one?

I just tried generating some examples "in the style of" with ChatGPT 3.5. The results were pretty laughable, and all clearly recognizable as ChatGTP's own style, which I suspect is imposed by its safety constraints. It's pretty bad at style mimicry, unless it's something like Dr. Seuss, where it can pick up some obvious things.
 
At least so far.
 
Edit: To comment on the actual lawsuit: It's not illegal to ape someone's style. AI may eventually be able to do so, but it's not currently illegal. They're poking the wrong branch of government to get the protections they want. They need new law, because existing law doesn't really cover their concern.

The Georgia grand jury investigating 2020 election interference recommended charges against 39 prominent individuals. DA Fani Willis is going ahead on 19 of them, for now.
 
A panel of three federal judges again struck down Alabama's jury-rigged electoral map for 2024, and has appointed a special master to draw up a new map. Their previous decision was upheld by the SCOTUS.
 
It's premature to give up on the American system.

Actually, I found coming across this video on this thread to be something of a relief, even an actual balm to my soul.

SPOOON!!!!
 

I'll summarize:
 
Gay Ukrainian Super Soldier Program.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Is the current propaganda being broadcast on Russian TV.
 
 

Early reviews for Blue Beetle indicate that it sucks less than most DC films. 

I'm way ahead of them on this.

In Ohio tonight...
 
After disparaging these mid-August elections as too expensive, for too little...Ohio Republicans forced a single-issue election today.  On the ballot was a change to Ohio law that would change how voters could force an amendment to the Ohio constitution.  Currently, all it takes is a majority.  The proposed change would make it 60%.
 
The overwhelming belief is, this was being tried now to make it harder to pass an amendment protecting abortion rights in November.  
 
It crashed and burned.  WIth over 60% of the ballots in, it's 57-43 to reject the change, according to a live count from a local TV station.  
 
https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-rights-constitutional-amendment-special-election-227cde039f8d51723612878525164f1a
 
 

Left my job today after 8 Years and 6 Months of public service. 4 fires, a mass shooter incident at the VA home, global pandemic response and so many Suicide/DTS/DTO incidents I literally lost count. Some of the best humans I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside, and the privilege of leading. 
 
Crazy transition. In 10 days I start my new gig (very similar to the previous one but different County). Really looking forward to the many new things I have to learn about the communities I’ll be serving, and the local priorities. Going to use the time to get my head on straight and study the community health assessment and other state/local reporting so I’m ready to go from Day 1. Very excited. 

So, Congress had a "hearing" about the UFO allegations. Summary of the testimony: I have some big claims, but I can't talk about them in public. Here's a little debunking on the situation:
 
 

And not based on Flashpoint.

I remember my return trip to the West Coast, back in 1995. Stopped at a Tuscon McDonald's. It was 114 that day. I got a soft serve ice cream cone, and was happy that they gave me a huge serving, at least eight inches over the cone. I walked back to my car with it, and it had evaporated down to a two inch nubbins before I finished crossing the parking lot. Not melted. Not a drop of ice cream on my hand. Just . . . gone.
 
Here's an interesting article on the heat wave and global warming from the only accurate meteorologist we have in my area (WA), Cliff Stamp:
 
https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2023/07/is-global-warming-causing-massive.html

Aziza stirred from her meditation. Echoes of her siblings' stirring powers reverberated through her Hall of Mirrors.  Something was afoot. So much divine intent could only mean one thing . . . a world was being birthed! Aziza focused her attention toward a dusty little corner of the cosmos . . .Masque, Rancor, Crax . . . Crax? . . . Nagus Sterling, Nadiya, Oeneus, Ceass, Alitheon, Strangecharm. Big sibling Etterskell! What a motley crew to undertake such a thing. Someone would have to ensure everyone properly reflected on their decisions . . .
 
Aziza, Goddess of Reflection
 

I'm going to have to bow out of this one. Sorry, all. I came down sick a couple weeks ago, passed to the wife the week after that, and now she's passed it back to me again, apparently. Too much brain fog to give a good effort here.

Ads for Sea Monkeys?
 

It doesn't help that comics have forgotten what makes comic books work.

The foreman said: "By the Bastard! How are we supposed to move these rocks? This monument won't build itself!"
 
The devotee of Oeneus looked up from his reverie, and said: "Rollers. We put them on rollers."

And that is how Oeneus became the god of Sex, Drugs and Rolling Rocks...
---
Interference: Fitz's monuments are built using rollers.
 
It's too petty to justify this as a Secondary Domain, unless DT declares otherwise.
 
I originally intended to use this joke much later in the draft, as the end of a Shaggy Dog story. 

Gift to the Sentient Races: Philosophy.

Possibly after careful . . . reflection.