#Obsidian’s #JoshSawyer says it’s a mistake for #RPGs to abandon their crunchy, complex systems, the kind that attract so-called "sweaty" players, in favor of a "one size fits all" approach. And he’s right. You can still include easier #difficulty options without flattening the experience for everyone else.

Not every game needs to be for everyone. Some of us want deep builds, hard choices, and meaningful stats. Sacrificing depth for broad appeal just waters down what makes RPGs special.

Let players opt into the complexity. Don’t erase it.

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/game-development/obsidian-director-josh-sawyer-says-its-a-mistake-for-rpgs-to-sacrifice-crunchy-sweaty-boy-systems-in-favour-of-a-one-size-fits-all-game-since-easier-difficulties-arent-too-hard-to-make/

Oh no, I have a summons for jury service ! I'm panicking about the logistics of how I can possibly manage this. I've described all the difficulties and asked for an exemption but I understand that it's unlikely to be granted.

I have an elderly dog that wakes me up multiple times in the night. To be sure to arrive by nine I would have to leave at 7:45, possibly earlier depending on the walk from the car park. Though my daughter will watch my dog during the day I would need to get up, have breakfast, feed the dog and walk her before leaving so the latest I could get up would be 6. If I've been woken three times the night before I probably would not be able to stay awake though the court session. If I did stay awake I would be unsafe driving back. (Public transport would mean getting a 6:30 bus from a stop about 15 minutes walk away).

Also, as I have prosopagnosia (face blindness) I would probably be a hindrance in any case where visual identification matters, fit example CCTV evidence. I can see a situation where I could not make a judgement beyond reasonable doubt even if all the other jurors can.

Why didn't this happen in the decades when I lived close to a court‽

Good morning, friends.

2 May 2025

A couple of days ago, my wife noticed that Ben's lymph nodes beneath his jaw were swollen. I took him to the veterinarian yesterday and, unfortunately, didn’t receive good news. There’s no definitive diagnosis yet—the vet sent samples to a pathologist, and I should hear something today. Ben is 16, and I fear the inevitable may be approaching. Still, he remains his calm, steady self. I think of him as a gentle giant, despite his small size. It takes a lot to ruffle him, except for my other dog, Charlie, who—every so often—manages to find that one nerve to step on. The dynamic at home is what I cherish most, and I struggle with the thought of change.

"A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad." — Robert Wagner

THE POWER OF WILL: NATURE’S RESILIENCE IN PHOTOGRAPHY

https://tomirovira.art/2024/09/26/the-power-of-will-natures-resilience-in-photography-202408131254118rt1pub/

Shadow of the Erdtree has ground me into dust, which is why I recommend it - Enlarge (credit: Bandai)

Elden Ring was my first leap into Fro... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=2031994 #shadowoftheerdtree #fromsoftware #difficulty #souls-like #darksouls #eldenring #gaming #dlc