Heres my idea for an open world crime based action adventure game:
I want a modern open world game with modern graphics, modern physics, driving and combat mechanics, the whole 9 yards, but it takes place in New Orleans LA in the Early 2000’s, the game would have hundreds and hundreds of licensed cars, licensed songs ALL period correct and as many licensed brands as i can get in the game to make the setting more resemble real life, we’ve seen so many fantasy brands and fake cities and companies based off real life companies and i want to change that, i want all electronics of the era to be 100% accessible and usable in the game, everything from Motorola Razr’s, PDA’s, Laptops and The Internet in FULL early 2000’s style, Alpine and Sony X-Plod Car Headunits etc
Im going to say this now: there would be ZERO references or mentions of Hurricane Katrina in this game, the timeline would be 2002 to Summer 2005 before Katrina, Katrina wouldn’t be mentioned as it wouldn’t exist
The story is about a young transgender woman in her 20’s who lives in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, she drives a beat up 80’s-Early 90’s Pontiac at the start of the game and lives with her sister, at the beginning of the game nobody respects her, misgenders her and deadnames her, the idea is to hit the nail on the head with how trans people are treated on a daily basis, she progresses through the underground hustling ranks of New Orleans after being offered a job and proves to be someone who will go to great lengths to get the job done, everything from street racing in a scene that fully captures Early 2000’s tuner culture, winning cars in pinkslip races, shootouts from deals gone bad in nightclubs, encounters with corrupt police officers etc, at the end of the game shes a wealthy kingpin in the city and has earned the respect of mostly everyone and everyone speaks highly of her, i also want to slip in alot of little references to games and franchises i love like Earthbound, Clock Tower, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Bad Boys, Need For Speed etc and make the user interface and menus feel like its from the Early 2000’s but also pay homage and respect to New Orleans Mardi Gras and jazz culture and for the world to be crammed full of life with NPC’s, animals, weather, random events, random encounters and interactions and basically how it would be in real life
The map i want to be the most accurate virtual recreation of New Orleans ever done just circa 2002-2005, i want as many enterable interiors in the game as possible, i want to include everything from Jazzland Theme Park, the Bayou areas, Lake Pontchatrain, East New Orleans, The SuperDome, the then New Orleans Arena next door, Shopping Malls, Car Dealerships for each brand in the game, Upper class Neighborhoods, Trailer Parks, Nightclubs, Strip Clubs, Bars and of course the French quarter and Canal Street
I also want to take customization to a whole new level, give a Sims like ability to customize, furnish and build your home and character however you like, and of course the Early 2000’s fashion will be in full swing here, i want the most in-depth car customization of any game ever, its the early 2000’s after all, i want body kits, bumpers, hoods, wings, headlights and tail lights, the ability to customize the headunit in your car, put subwoofers in the trunk, rims, spinners, donks, lambo doors, underglow and of course in depth performance upgrades, i basically want to make the customization in Need For Speed Underground 2 look like a mobile game
And the car list, i want to have over 600 fully licensed cars in the game minimum and be fully customizable down to every single part, since the plot of the game starts in 2002 and ends in 2005, i want NOTHING newer than 2006 in the game
Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2 and Chrysler 300C are a must, but i also want to have the 99-04 Mustang, both V6 and GT, Ferrari 360 Modena, Spider and Challenge Stradale, Ferrari 550, Lamborghini Murcièlago and Gallardo, but also include more common lesser loved cars like the Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Pontiac Grand Am, Geo Metro, Dodge Neon, Chrysler Concorde, Chevy Celebrity, Ford Taurus etc, and of course i’ll have bikes, boats, planes, helicopters and all other types of vehicles
Yeah its a GTA/Saints Row type game, but i want to raise the bar, push boundaries and do something different thats never been done before

The City of Mountain View will have its next council meeting tomorrow (May 14, 2024). It begins at 5:45pm with a closed session. This meeting is in person at City Hall (500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041), but you can also join the meeting online on zoom or by dialing (669) 900-9128 and entering Webinar ID: 843 5126 7142. Regular session begins at 6:30pm with two presentations (Teen Week and Affordable Housing Month) and the consent calendar.
View agenda here
Consent calendar items do not anticipate much discussion and can be passed with a single motion. The agenda items on the consent calendar are:
4.1: Approve Minutes 4.2: Senate Bill 1, Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017-Project List 4.3: City Council Policy D-9, Council Appointee Communications and Performance Evaluation Process 4.4: City Buildings Workplace Study (City Attorney’s Office Phase), Project 21-50-Various Actions 4.5: Renewal of Downtown Parking Maintenance and Operation Assessment District for Fiscal Year 2024-25 4.6: Mountain View Transportation Management Association-Community Shuttle Agreement 4.7: Public Works Department Landfill Operations-On-Call Engineering Services Contract 4.8: Public Art for Evelyn Park, Project 21-60 4.9: Public Art for Villa-Chiquita Park, Project 21-61 4.10: El Monte Corridor Improvements, Design and Construction, Project 21-38 - Professional Services Agreement 4.11: Safe Routes to School Program-Professional Services Agreement 4.12: Biodiversity Strategy, Project 23-37-Various Actions 4.13: Community Workforce Agreement 4.14: Water and Sanitary Sewer Main Replacement Crossing U.S. 101, Project 16-61-Various Actions 4.15: Public Works Department Capital Outlay Operating Budget-Appropriations 4.16: Increase Appropriations in the Fire Department for Reimbursement of Mutual-Aid Support
Item 5 is open public comment where people can speak on any topic not on the agenda. It is usually limited to less than 3 minutes per person. Please note that we anticipate a large turnout relating to police enforcement on RVs.
After that item, we have a couple of items that anticipates more discussion.
6.1: Lot 12 Affordable Housing Development - Supplemental City Funding and Project Modifications As part of a Request for Proposals (RFP) process on May 19, 2020, the council selected the team of Related Affordable and Alta Housing to develop Lot 12 into a 100% affordable housing project. The project includes 120 units, with a mix of affordable units for households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, including 20 rapid rehousing units. The Developer faced a $36 million funding gap due to high construction costs and insufficient state funding. To address this gap, they proposed securing tax credits and bond financing, modifying project plans to reduce costs, adjusting unit income levels, and adding units for intellectually and developmentally disabled persons to qualify for additional County funding. Additionally, to defer more of the cost, staff is recommending council approve a temporary street closure on Bryant Street during construction and a city contribution of $5 million.
6.2: Potential Revenue Measure for 2024 General Election Ballot The Council is considering a revenue measure for the November 2024 ballot to improve infrastructure, fund affordable housing, and mitigate climate change. The Revenue Measure Ad Hoc Sub-Committee recommended a property transfer tax initiative based on polling results showing initial support above 60%. This tax would apply to property sales over $5 million, raising approximately $9.5 million annually for the City.
6.3: AB 481 Military Equipment Annual Report and Policy Adoption As part of police reform efforts, AB 481 aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and oversight regarding the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment by state or local government officials. Law enforcement agencies are required to prepare an annual military equipment report and hold at least one community-engagement meeting for public discussion. The bill also mandates that local agencies must review and renew the ordinance and report at a regular meeting of the City Council.
If you have any questions or comments about the upcoming meeting, please email me at emily.ramos@mountainview.gov. You can also email the entire council at city.council@mountainview.gov.

Round 1, Pick 26 - Graham Barton, C, Duke:
NFL: The Buccaneers fortify the offensive line with an experienced player who offers position flexibility. His elite presence on the interior should help elevate the run game and keep Baker Mayfield upright.
CBS Sports: A. This is a great pick. They have major issues at center and a question at left guard and he can play both. I love this pick. Barton will move inside from tackle, but he can play there in a pinch too.
ESPN: The Bucs got their top pick of an interior offensive lineman in Barton, who can immediately step in to fill the void left by center Ryan Jensen's retirement. While all but four of Barton's offensive snaps over the last three seasons have come at left tackle -- where he allowed just one sack in 2023 and two in 2022 -- he played 446 snaps at center as a freshman, which is his most natural fit and what caught the Bucs' eye. He plays with a great base, a good anchor and a "nasty temperament" that the Bucs' front office covets.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Likes his coffee hot and water cold which is actually reasonable.
Round 2, Pick 57 - Chris Braswell, DE, Alabama:
NFL: It's not often that a player with two college starts lands inside the top 60 picks, but Braswell did emerge last season as a jack of all trades for the Crimson Tide. At the very least, he could be a terrific special-teamer, but the Bucs likely hope to develop Braswell's pass-rush arsenal and squeeze even more out of his terrific athletic profile.
CBS Sports: A+. Had early RD2 grade on this outside rusher. Length, methodical pass-rush moves, deceptive power. Very productive generating pressure at Alabama. Sets a sturdy edge. A need in the post Shaq Barrett era.
ESPN: While the Bucs did sign Randy Gregory in free agency, he'll likely wind up being more of a rotational player opposite second-year edge YaYa Diaby. What they've needed is a replacement for Shaquil Barrett, who departed for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Braswell's three forced fumbles in 2023 were tied for the most in the SEC, while his 42 pressures were the third most in the SEC. His eight sacks were tied for the fifth most in the SEC after having 2.5 sacks from 2020 to 2022. He also had 53 coverage snaps in 2023, which Todd Bowles does ask of his edge rushers. Braswell played 41 games with Crimson Tide but only made two starts, both of which came last season.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He only likes the yellow part of the gummy worm.
Round 3, Pick 89 - Tykee Smith, S, Georgia:
NFL: Smith has a Mike Edwards-like projection, so it's easy to see why the Bucs took Smith here, in the same range they drafted Edwards in 2019. Although Smith is undersized and not an elite athlete, he has the nose for the ball and enough special-teams value to be a contributor in Year 1.
CBS Sports: B-. Slot defender / safety hybrid closer to slot CB size but doesn’t have those quicks. Surprisingly powerful hitter at his size and plays with a lot of conviction when tracking the football. Super-smart in coverage. Reads QB’s in a flash which helps him play faster than his timed speed.
ESPN: The Bucs see Smith as a nickel, and he played 80% of snaps in the slot with Bowles keeping a close watch on the UGA program, where his son, Troy, plays. They started undrafted free agent rookie Christian Izien last year and signed Tavierre Thomas in free agency, but their secondary as a whole needs more takeaways, which is where Smith comes in. His four interceptions in 2023 were tied for the third most in the SEC. He was also one of three FBS players with four or more interceptions and two or more sacks in 2023 alongside Michigan's Mike Sainristil and UNLV's Cameron Oliver.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Ribs. This man loves ribs. Cannot get enough ribs!
Round 3, Pick 92 - Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington:
NFL: A smooth-moving slot or outside receiver, McMillan returned from injury to help the Huskies make it all the way to the national title game. He has big mitts, good hands and more juice than he's sometimes given credit for. This is a really nice weapon to add to the Bucs' WR room.
CBS Sports: B+. Crafty, complete wideout with a trademark trait. Runs quality routes. Adequate separation. Not a burner. Not slow. Tracks it with good concentrations. Not a huge YAC type nor someone who thrives when leaping for the football in traffic. Robert Woods type with a bit more juice.
ESPN: The Bucs declined No. 3 wide receiver Russell Gage's option this year, and he was released. Mike Evans will also be 31 and Chris Godwin enters the third and final year of his contract, worth $20 million per year. McMillan can line up inside or outside but 33 of his 45 receptions came out of the slot in 2023, and he caught six passes out of the backfield. He's also a master of the post route. His six touchdown catches on post routes since 2022 are tied for the most in the FBS, while his 253 receiving yards on post route concepts since 2022 are the 10th most in the FBS.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Still willing to try and get the band back together.
Round 4, Pick 125 - Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon:
NFL: Bucky to the Bucs keeps the run on Ducks going. He's not terribly fast but can get up to max speed quickly and might end up as a decent complement to Rachaad White, even if they do similar things well.
CBS Sports: A. Bad testing figures - - despite reasonable speed - - but one of the most elusive, hard-to-corral RBs over the last few drafts. Smaller stature. Decent contact balance too. Weapon in the receiving game, and of course, out in space. Fun addition.
ESPN: The Bucs have had the league's worst rushing attack over the last two seasons (82.9 yards per game) and wanted to bolster competition. Irving is 5-9 and 192 pounds and ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the NFL combine -- 14th among 20 running backs. While his testing was not great, the tape shows production. He topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his two seasons at Oregon, including 1,180 with 11 touchdowns in 2023. He broke or evaded an FBS-high 144 tackles since 2022, and he had 896 rushing yards between the tackles in 2023, averaging 7.1 yards per rush. His 56 receptions last season led all FBS running backs.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He once ate an 8 layer peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Round 6, Pick 220 - Elijah Klein, OG, UTEP:
NFL: With 55 college starts and good length, Klein has a chance to make it in Tampa. He's stiff and might be an inside-only blocker, however.
CBS Sports: C. Smooth operator at guard. Quality run-blocking abilities. Opens the gate too soon in pass pro and not ultra experienced there. Not many true sets in college.
ESPN: The Bucs didn't re-sign Matt Feiler or Aaron Stinnie, who both started at left guard last season. Along with Cody Mauch, they finished with a combined 70.2% run blocking win rate among guards -- 16th in the league last year. None of them finished in the top 50 in pass block win rate either. The Bucs did sign free agent Sua Opeta from the Philadelphia Eagles, and Klein will compete with those two. Klein allowed 1.3% pressures at UTEP and in 45 games, he allowed four sacks with a 1.6% blown run block rate. In 2023, he allowed one sack all season.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Always wondered how Raymans hands worked if he doesn’t have arms.
Round 7, Pick 246 - Devin Culp, TE, Washington:
NFL: Culp shocked a few people when he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, but his 230-pound frame figures to limit his role quite a bit. Even so, Culp improved each college season and has some unrealized potential as an H-back.
CBS Sports: B+. Smaller, speedster H-back TE type. Was very underutilized at Washington but flashed when given the opportunity. Made some impressive snags in traffic. Not much YAC-wise but can run away from second-level defenders if given space.
ESPN: The Bucs' 502 combined yards from tight ends last year was third worst, and they needed to bolster competition at the position. At 6-3 and 231 pounds, Culp ran a 4.47s 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, which was the fastest among tight ends this year. But he'll need to improve as an in-line blocker, which is where his size is a concern. He's also had some drops with six (8.8% drop rate) in 28 games.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Has soft hands… both ON and OFF the field.

Seeing everyone reliving the sundering has made me nostalgic and regretful.
Some life/health events forced me to bow out of TBC classic after phase one. I hoped I would be able to come back because that second chance to experience the original world and raids was really a treat for me.
By the time things improved WotLK was already wrapping up so there was no one to clear the rest of Outlands or Northrend with.
I could level up now solo to try and catch up to play end game Cata, but it's just not the same without getting to experience it all, am I alone in thinking that?

Homeworld 3 is on track to becoming my least favorite HW game. Is it terrible? No. Is it great? Also no. Is it *good*? Eeeh... also no, not really. But it's also not bad. It's very mid.
Homeworld 3 *definitely* does not have the original’s gripping story or sense of mystery and player freedom.
It also does not have Cataclysm’s incredibly rewarding rags-to-riches feeling.
It also also does not have Homeworld 2’s polished gameplay.
And it also does not have Desert’s of Kharak fresh new take on the genre and franchise.
It’s okay. That’s about it.
Visuals and UI
It's stunningly beautiful, like every HW game. Space is gorgeous, filled with visual spectacle and lovingly detailed ships and environments (though frankly, space battles in this game are visually far less impressive than any previous installment). I'm not a sound guy so I have very little to say except that for my money the sound design is actually more impressive than the graphics. Everything from explosions to weapon effects to the background chatter sounds lovely.
UI is clunky as hell, I'm about six hours in and I'm still not friends with the camera and I can never orient myself quickly. Ships often feel like they're not responding to orders – I might be wrong, but I find myself going back to double-check that I definitely ordered those corvettes to guard that frigate etc. It feels much more micro-managey than previous installments.
Gameplay
Lots of features introduced in HW2 are gone: Fighters and corvettes no longer belong to squads, you’re back to each fighter being an individual unit. Modules are gone – you don’t build certain types of sensors or research modules or cloaks or fire control modules etc. I’ve not played around with carriers much yet but it seems they also come out of the construction bay completely finished, without any additions you can make, unlike in HW2 where you could specialize them. If there is an equivalent to the Research Module from HW1 or any other way to affect research speed or to give you more options the game hasn't introduced it yet (I'm on mission 8).
The number of units in the game also seems a little disappointing. I've unlocked three types of fighters, four types of frigates and at least one capital ship but only one type of corvette? Leads me to believe there only is one type, which would be very disappointing.
Minor detail but the ship design is for the most part really dull, too. Even quite closely zoomed in it's hard to distinguish one ship from another - their silhouettes just blend together.
In short, HW3 has less choices you can make and much more to keep you constantly busy.
The game takes a lot of liberties with player agency: They've opted to remove the option to let you decide when you’re done with one level and proceed to the next. Unlike previous games (at least unlike HW1 and Cata) once you complete the last mission objective you enter a cutscene and the level ends. No time to gather resources or replace casualties taken.
One of the missions also takes a break for the Mothership to be repaired off-screen and when you are put back into control the game gives you a bunch of mine-laying corvettes, defense turrets and a carrier - units you've not researched, not built and that the game decided you should have for the next mission. The mission after that provides you with a small fleet of ships to conduct a raid – you have no hand in selecting these ships, they’re not taken from your own fleet, they’re just magicked into existence because the game decided you needed them for the story. I've been told there's a custom difficulty setting that changes this - why in the hell you make that setting the default is beyond me.
Disappointing for a game series that used to let you build your own fleet more or less uninstructed and make it work (or not) on your own terms.
In 1998 this gameplay was fine (although better executed) and in 2003 the sequel gave it a much-needed polish that honestly holds up OK to this day, imo. But HW3 has regressed back to what HW1 did in ’98 and then stripped off some of the polish so beware this plays like a very dated game.
Story
The story is a bit messy - though this isn't entirely its fault. HW2 already made a mess of the story of this world. The motivation for you being in control of *another* mothership and once again being given a mighty starting host of a Resource Collector and five scouts despite the Hiigarans by now being major galactic player is no more or less ham-fisted than it was in HW2. HW2 was the game who leaned fully into mysticism and Chosen One prophecies and muddled up the genre, can't really blame HW3 for not course-correcting.
However the game is *way* too in love with exposition dumping. One mission involves navigating the Mothership through an asteroid field and am not kidding when I say that playing through the mission only took marginally longer than the cutscene once I reached the end. It was five minutes if not more. The cutscenes are gorgeous and the voice acting great, but they end up becoming more distracting than rewarding. They also do not go at all for the classic Homeworld look, nor do they attempt for a twist on them like Deserts of Kharak; they’re just pre-rendered full-on cutscenes with people carrying out full conversations to advance the plot.
Honestly I half-expected for there to be a dialogue wheel after a while. The plot is fairly unsurprising so far. Everything is just very predictable and uninspired.
The story focuses on Imogen S'Jet, a descendant of Karan S'Jet. I didn't mind this switch in narrative to follow single individuals so clearly in Deserts of Kharak because that game felt so different overall (in a good way, I very much enjoyed DoK); a prequel not set in space exploring Kushan society rather than Hiigaran society like Cata did. But in a full-blown 'proper' Homeworld game I much prefer the inner workings of the ships to be a little more mysterious and up to the imagination, and for the story to follow the epic tale of *a people*, not of *persons*.
Conclusion
I backed this game on Fig years ago and I’m glad I did – if I’d paid €59 for it now and gotten it in the state it’s in I’d have felt cheated. I can’t comment on the Multiplayer or the War Mode – I only really play HW for the Singleplayer Campaigns.
Fans of Homeworld *might* enjoy it if they go in with low expectations. New players will probably find this game enjoyable enough, if a little basic and clunky to play. Neither should pay €59 for it, though.
Presentation - stunning. Gameplay – disappointing. Story - meh. 6/10

Hello all, For context: My PC is in a weird state, as it's quite old and I've been barely upgrading it in the past years due to financial priorities. But the time has come for me to finally make my pc more balanced, and get rid of the stuttering, input lags and 1% lows that really can make a difference in high ranks competitive games. Example of games I play regularly: CS2, Apex Legends, Valorant, Battlefield 2042. I'm top 1-3% in all the games including ranks that I mentionned. I really value smoothness, and want a smooth 144fps experience on all those games. I don't care about playing in ultra settings as I prioritize visibility in games. [Which most of the time require low-medium settings] Maybe good to mention, but I am currently always below 100fps on BF2042, which I find frustrating and noticeable, with big frame drops when things get very heated.
Here are my current specs:
Motherboard: Asus TUF Z390M-pro gaming GPU: RTX 3060 12GB CPU: i7 9700k RAM: 2x8gb 2133MhZ OS: Windows 10
One big issue that surely plays a big part in my current performance problems is the ssd on which my OS has been installed. My SSD only has 120gb. Don't ask me why the hell I have that, SSD's were expensive at the time and my brother gave it and installed it for me when I was too young to know that there is a difference between ssd and hdd. Nowadays, with all the drivers, the OS and its updates, and with the bare minimum of softwares installed and all game saves moved out, I struggle to even have 4gb of free storage left on that disk... Of course, since then, I got new ssd's with several tb's on which all my games and software not requiring my OS drive are installed. And don't worry, I already plan to move my OS to a NVMe gen3 SSD, which I will receive 2 days after this post.
However, I know that even in the days when I still had +40gb left in my os drive storage, I still experienced stuttering to a similar level, so I'm quite pessimistic on the improvement this will bring. Except for Battlefield, I don't think the games mentioned really need a lot of performance, so I assume that my GPU and CPU are good enough and not bottlenecking, and are not the cause.
I think that the only culprit left, after storage, is my RAM. Although 16gb is enough, 2133mhz seems very low compared to today's standards. That's where I am uncertain of what to do. Could my performance issues be originating from my RAM speed ? Should I invest into new RAM sticks ? I have seen benchmarks for 2x8gb 3600mhz cl16's, and I am getting pretty convinced, but I am worried of spending money on it just to still face stuttering afterwards... but I have seen that a fast RAM can make a big difference for 1%lows, so I'm hesitant.
And the reason why I post is this, I need some advice: would a RAM upgrade improve my performance stability noticeable ? If yes, what RAM speed and timings would you recommend for maximum stability and performance with my current specs ? My understanding is that cl16 3200mhz/3600mhz would be what to aim for. Is that correct ?
Is a CPU upgrade to consider?
TLDR: I play competitive games and experience performance stability issues. I will soon upgrade the ssd on which my os is installed, which was very bad, but I'm worried that I will still have performance issues. I don't trust my RAM speed to be enough, and need advice on what would be the best speed and timing for stability with my specs, and if that would make a big impact on my stability.
Thank you!

Hi! I’m looking for 1-2 people to play Cata with. I’m looking for very low levels or we can just make new characters. Looking for people who can play pretty regularly and are interested in making friends :) Message me if interested

Hello again everybody!
Before we get started on today's post the current voting for Carbink currently has Abstaining votes with a bit of a lead over the next highest amount of votes (which is C tier). There is still time to vote however, if you haven't voted on that one yet you can find a link to the post in the comments on the post linked below or by sorting the SubReddit by the Tiering/Voting tag!
Unless something changes however it looks like Carbink will likely go back on to the radar list for a future vote. Like with all previous votes I'll continue to check the numbers and if anything changes I'll update it on tomorrow's post.
(Please note that this voting/tiering is centered around Classic mode as after a certain point in Endless only about 5 Pokemon and 2 abilities are truly viable.)
So current tiers are:
S tier - Garganacl, Cloyster, Skeledirge, Gholdengo, Tinkaton
A tier - Gyarados/Mega, VenusauMega/Dyna, Aegislash, Corviknight/Dyna, Excadrill, GardevoiMega, Toxapex
B tier - Kanto-Persian/Dynamax Kanto-Meowth, Weavile, Starmie, Rhyperior, Quagsire, Mamoswine
C tier - Linoone
F tier - Dustox
With that being said let's get to today's vote!
Today is day 27 of tier voting and today we'll be talking about the funky rock 'n' roll lizard from Generation 8 that was the signature Pokemon of the gym leader who was part of a band and said no words during his solo lol. Toxtricity is fairly popular and well-known for its signature ability which synergizes very well with its moveset. Toxtricity has an interesting and unique typing that only it and its pre-evolution have claim to. While it does have a 4x weakness to Ground both of its types are strong types offensively and give it immunity to 2 status conditions which means it certainly can find ways to fit onto a team. It has a pretty solid stat spread in its base form and it also has the benefit of most of its strongest moves being spread moves making it a strong choice for double battles. This game gives it several gifts including a very good passive to go along with one of its strongest moves, as well as some really good egg moves that synergize with its signature ability even further and a super good stat spread for its Dynamax form.
(Please note that Pokemon with Mega/Dynamax evolutions will be tiered as one Pokemon and not tiered separately for their Mega/Dynamax form. Different variants such as Alolan Persian vs. Kanto Persian will be tiered separately however.)
(Also here is the post with rules for voting/tiering posts and a little more explanation about them in general: https://www.reddit.com/pokerogue/s/0LNZhPPzR9 Links to past votes can all be found here as well in comments added to the OP with each new vote)
And here is a quick reminder of what each tier generally means:
S tier: Top tier, can make or break your entire run, essentially the cream of the crop
A tier: really strong but not quite top tier, maybe slightly outclassed or has a slight weakness holding it back
B tier: solid choices that can make it to your endgame team, might be reliant on team composition to truly function well or might just be outclassed as well
C tier: usually early-mid game Mons, ones you don't really want to take to end game if you can avoid it, usually pretty decently glaring weakness but something redeeming enough to keep from F tier
F tier: no reason to use in end game unless you're doing it for a meme/joke
Abstain/No Opinion: this will be a voting option mostly just in case someone accidentally votes and then can't remove their vote (I've noticed that happens on Reddit sometimes) or for Pokemon people haven't unlocked/used to their full potential yet. If Abstaining votes outvote each individual tier then the Pokemon will be tabled for the time being and another vote will open up for it later (can mostly see this happening with Legendaries).
(Data in parentheses is for the Dynamax form)
[Also worth noting Toxtricity base form has 2 different forms it evolves into based on its nature. The only difference between these forms is its secondary ability and one of the moves it learns by level-up though, so I will put these brackets around the 2 moves and abilities. Both forms have the same Dynamax form]
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Toxtricity (Dynamax)
Type: Electric/Poison
Mega: No
Dynamax: Yes
Starter cost {Toxel}: 3
Possible Egg moves: Nasty Plot, Baneful Bunker, Sparkling Aria, Torch Song
Abilities: Punk Rock or [Plus or Minus]
Hidden Ability: Technician
Passive Ability: Galvanize - Turns this Pokemon's Normal-type attacks into Electric-type attacks and boosts the power of Electric type attacks by 20%
Evolution: Toxel evolves into either Amped form or Low-Key form Toxtricity at level 30 depending on its nature. Toxtricity can Dynamax with Dynamax bracelet and Max Mushrooms
Base stats:
HP - 75 (95)
Attack - 98 (118)
Defense - 70 (80)
Sp. Attack - 114 (144)
Sp. Defense - 70 (80)
Speed - 75 (85)
Learnset by level up: Acid, Acid Spray, Belch, Flail, Growl, Leer, Noble Roar, Nuzzle, Tearful Look, Thunder Shock, Charge, Shock Wave, Scary Face, Taunt, Screech, Swagger, Discharge, Poison Jab, Overdrive, Boomburst, Spark, [Shift Gear or Magnetic Flux]
Notable TMs: Protect, Metal Sound, Thief, Trailblaze, Charge Beam, Facade, Swift, Hex, Snarl, Stored Power, Venoshock, Volt Switch, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Brick Break, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Rest, Sleep Talk, Drain Punch, Thunder Wave, Toxic Spikes, Eerie Impulse, Gunk Shot, Hyper Voice, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge, Sludge Bomb, Thunder, Power-Up Punch, Screech, Sludge Wave, Throat Chop
*
Tomorrow's vote: GengaMega GengaDynamax Gengar!
Pokemon on the radar for voting very soon: Aggron/Mega, Comfey, Crobat, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, Delphox, Roserade, Vileplume, Minior, Hitmonchan, Bibarel, Whimsicott, Chandelure, Archaludon/Dynamax Duraludon, Alakazam/Mega, Infernape, Flamigo, Volcarona, Alolan-Decidueye, Barbaracle, Butterfree/Dyna, Beedrill/Mega, Mawile/Mega, Drednaw/Dyna, Annihilape, Cramorant, Aerodactyl/Mega, Glimmora, Heatran, Tapu Koko, Dialga/Primal, Galarian-Zapdos, Regieleki, Regidrago, Zacian, Zamazenta, Rayquaza/Mega, Latias/Mega, Latios/Mega, Ho-Oh, Volcanion, Cinccino, Snorlax/Dyna, Wishiwashi
(Other requests will be added to this list and this list is not necessarily in order)
Happy voting!
View Poll

Explore the depths of dark fantasy writing with our all-inclusive guide on enhancing your themes and drawing readers in with symbolism. Discover key strategies, delve into the background of dark fantasy literature, and let your imagination run wild with an enjoyable writing assignment. Regardless of your level of experience as a writer or your level of interest, this guide will assist you in creating dark fantasy stories that are memorable and impactful.
Writing in the dark fantasy genre is a journey into the depths of the human psyche, where symbolism and imagery rule supreme, and it goes beyond simple stories of magic and monsters. We'll look at how to use symbolism to enhance your themes, draw in readers, and craft worlds of dark fantasy that will stick with you in this extensive guide.

Understanding Symbolism in Dark Fantasy Writing

Let's examine the history and development of symbolism in dark fantasy literature before delving into its specific applications. Gothic literature is the source of dark fantasy literature; early works such as Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" established the themes of terror, mystery, and the paranormal. Dark fantasy has evolved over time as authors like H.P. Lovecraft, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker have explored themes of power, corruption, and the human psyche.

The Power of Symbolism in Dark Fantasy Writing

A powerful tool in the dark fantasy writer's toolbox, symbolism enables you to give your works a deeper resonance and meaning. You can add layers of intricacy and depth that captivate readers and hold their interest throughout by employing symbols and imagery to symbolise abstract ideas, feelings, and themes.

Essential Techniques for Using Symbolism in Dark Fantasy Writing

Let's now examine some crucial methods for enhancing themes in your dark fantasy writing with symbolism:
Pick Your Symbols Wisely: Whether it's a menacing raven perched atop a gravestone, a mysterious amulet with dark powers, or a sinister castle shrouded in mist, pick symbols that speak to your themes and characters.
Establish Symbolic Motifs: To reaffirm themes and provide a feeling of coherence and unity, incorporate reoccurring symbols and motifs into your narrative. Including symbolic elements in your story can enhance its depth and richness. Some examples of such elements are the moon, which denotes mystery and transformation, or a colour like red, which stands for blood and passion.
Employ Symbolic Imagery: To evoke mood and atmosphere, use rich descriptive language to paint vivid pictures with your words. Use imagery to draw readers into the dark fantasy world you've created, whether you're describing a haunted forest shrouded in shadows or a dilapidated mansion full of secrets.
Investigate Archetypes and Myths: Use mythological motifs and archetypal characters as inspiration to give your narrative enduring themes and universal lessons. Using these classic themes, such as the hero's journey, the underworld's descent, or the conflict between light and darkness, can give your dark fantasy story more depth and resonance.

Fun Writing Exercise: Unleash Your Imagination

Select a Theme: Choose a theme or idea that you wish to explore in your dark fantasy story to begin with. Select a theme that appeals to you and piques your interest, such as the nature of power, the duality of human nature, or the quest for salvation.
Determine Your Symbols: The next step is to make a list of images and symbols that are connected to the theme you have selected. These could be places with symbolic meaning, animals, colours, or even objects. For example, you could use symbols like a decaying city, a black rose, or a serpent if you're examining the theme of corruption.
Create Your Story: After deciding on a theme and symbols, begin creating your story by incorporating these components into it to give it depth and resonance. Employ evocative language to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and allow your symbols to direct the course of your story and the character development.
After writing your story, consider how the symbolism you employed enriched your themes and make any necessary revisions. Seek chances to hone your imagery or add more nuance to your symbolism in order to produce a more compelling and meaningful reading experience. And don't be scared to edit and polish your narrative until the power of symbolism shines through!

Famous Writers and Works in Dark Fantasy Literature

Dark fantasy literature boasts a rich history and a wealth of influential writers and works. From classic tales of Gothic horror to modern masterpieces of dark fantasy, here are a few notable examples:
The Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft: Lovecraft is recognised as one of the pioneers of contemporary horror literature, and the dark fantasy subgenre has been greatly impacted by his Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft's stories, replete with cosmic horror.), ancient gods, and secret knowledge, tackle existential dread and humanity's smallness in the face of cosmic forces that are beyond our comprehension.
Neil Gaiman's "The Sandman": This graphic novel series is a masterwork of dark fantasy that masterfully combines dream sequences, mythology, and folklore. With its sophisticated storyline, nuanced characters, and rich, vivid imagery, "The Sandman" has won both praise from critics and a devoted readership, solidifying Gaiman's place as one of the leading authors of contemporary dark fantasy literature.
George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire": George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" is a sprawling saga of political intrigue, war, and magic set in the fictional continent of Westeros. With its morally ambiguous characters, intricate plot twists, and gritty, realistic world-building, "A Song of Ice and Fire" has redefined the boundaries of the dark fantasy genre and inspired a cultural phenomenon with its adaptation into the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones".

Embrace the Power of Symbolism

To sum up, symbolism is a powerful tool that can enhance your themes, draw readers in, and help you write darker fantasy fiction to new heights. You can write dark fantasy stories that stick in the reader's mind long after the last page is turned by carefully selecting your symbols, coming up with symbolic motifs, employing vivid imagery, and taking inspiration from myths and archetypes.
So embrace the power of symbolism, let your imagination run wild, and set out on an amazing adventure into the shadowy depths of fantasy literature. Your readers are just waiting to be enthralled with the wonders of your writing!

Elevating Your Writing Experience

With pen and paper in hand, set off on your dark adventure, reflect on the deep experience that the GC Luxury Quill Set provides. Each stroke of the quill seems like a fall into the depths of darkness, capturing the essence of your darkest fantasies with unmatched precision thanks to its superb craftsmanship and timeless elegance.
The GC Luxury Quill Set transforms writing into an art form, drawing you into the intricate web of your own invention whether you're creating suspenseful dialogue or narrative twists. It becomes an extension of your will, channelling the raw emotion and atmosphere necessary to creating a genuinely unforgettable dark fantasy tale thanks to its ergonomic form and fluid ink flow.

My Own Dark Fantasy Realm

Hi there, fellow fans of dark fantasy! Thanks to your unflinching support, our blog—which is packed with tales and inspirations of dark fantasy—is making waves on TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube. Even more thrilling is the fact that we're creating a captivating Trading Card Game to further engross you in Twilight Citadel's eerie mysteries. Explore the depths of the shadows with our website, where you can get eerie yet lovely phone wallpapers and posters. Furthermore, we've got you covered with free resources like desktop wallpapers and profile pictures to make sure your gadgets are brimming with eerie fantasy atmosphere. Come along with us on this surreal adventure, where fears come true and shadows dance. Are you prepared to welcome the gloom?

Willing to ship smaller items at purchasers expense. All items, unless specified otherwise, are used and have been tested to ensure they are in working condition. For more information, please refer to the 'notes' section.
 
Prices are not firm. Make me reasonable offers.
 

Item	Notes	Price	Images
3600X with Stock Cooler	Original Packaging, Never Overclocked. Upgraded to 5700X	$80	1,2,3
5700X	Original Packaging, Never Overclocked. Upgraded to 5700X3D	$150	1,2
Corsair H100i V2	Refurbished - Original Packaging	$20	1,2
Phanteks P400		$30	1,2
Deepcool Matrexx 50 ADD-RGB 4F		$30	1,2,3
Rosewill RSV-L4500	15 x Internal HDD Bays	$100 Pending	1,2,3
	8 x Cooling Fan Included
	E-ATX / ATX supports
Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer	Trianglelab 2021 v3 3D TOUCH bed level sensor installed	$40	1,2,3
	Works but will need some minor TLC. Cable on the 3D Touch bed level sensor was damaged and will need repairing.
Dell D3100 USB 3.0 Ultra HD/4K Triple Display Docking Station	All accessories in box. Original Packaging	$30	1,2
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)	i5-5257U	$100 OBO	1,2
	8GB
	No SSD
	Apple 60W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter Included
	Only Powers on when plugged in
Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (A1433)	Will include this for free with the purchase of the MBP above	$10	1
3x Raspberry Pi - Model B - 512M	One new in box, one new in packaging, one lightly used	$10 each	1
AmazonBasics USB to Gigabit Adapter		$10	1
2x unbranded USB-C to HDMI Adapters		$5 each or 1 free with any other item purchase	1

 
All sales are final, sold as is.

So my computer is a home-built PC that works really well *except* sometimes it crashes during gaming. Seems to be game specific and no amount of tweaking settings on said games has ever seemed to help. It doesn't crash instantly and the game seemingly runs fine until a crash(Game freezes and then closes) occurs about 30 minutes - an hour in on average, and depending on the game much sooner or not at all. I want to know what I should do next to figure out the problem. A few Examples: Helldivers 2 runs quite well for a few full missions but crashes mid-mission usually at some point, my friends don't seem to have this issue when playing along with me. Subnautica seems to run for 15-30 minutes before crashing Final Fantasy 7 Remake *never* crashes Lethal Company coin toss on whether or not it crashes randomly. etc. Some older games on steam crash frequently it seems Elden Ring crashes if I play it a long time but that might be normal Some games crash faster than others and some don't crash at all. It's mind-boggling. I've been through game supports and all sorts of fixes and even replaced a few parts in my PC, specifically the RAM. I don't know what I should do next to diagnose it or try and figure out these crashes. I've done windows repair stuff, and other things. I don't want to buy anymore computer parts before I figure out what the actual problem is. I also did a scan with malwarebytes and malware wasn't the problem. Here's my PC specs OS: windows 10 Mother Board: MPG B550 GAMING PLUS (MS-7C56) CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-core processor, 3600 Mhz RAM: 32 GB Corsair VENGEANCE 3600 Mhz RAM PART NUMBER: CMK32GX4M2D3600C18 A4XOT40559RLPI GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 PSU: 750 watts CX-750M Model: 75 - 00201D The event viewer usually brings up a 0xc0000005 error code on these crashes. Pretty much all of said crash logs look like this: Example crash log: Log Name: Application Source: Application Error Date: 5/6/2024 12:49:18 AM Event ID: 1000 Task Category: (100) Level: Error Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: Jenga Description: Faulting application name: Subnautica.exe, version: 2019.4.36.870, time stamp: 0x6271351f Faulting module name: UnityPlayer.dll, version: 2019.4.36.870, time stamp: 0x62713573 Exception code: 0xc0000005 Fault offset: 0x0000000000804918 Faulting process id: 0x49cc Faulting application start time: 0x01da9f7ee1c27503 Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\Subnautica.exe Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\UnityPlayer.dll Report Id: 859db790-6d1b-4dc7-8189-b570266de33c Faulting package full name: Faulting package-relative application ID: Event Xml: 1000 0 2 100 0 0x80000000000000 72877 Application Jenga Subnautica.exe 2019.4.36.870 6271351f UnityPlayer.dll 2019.4.36.870 62713573 c0000005 0000000000804918 49cc 01da9f7ee1c27503 C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\Subnautica.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\UnityPlayer.dll 859db790-6d1b-4dc7-8189-b570266de33c

TL;DR, We are witnessing the formation of a content mediocrity curve that occurs when many options are forced to exist around the same level of power. The system needs to be more integrated with other features so that weapons can be balanced without adjusting their direct level of power. A good way to do this would be tying weapon power to cooldown rate.
 
Horizontal balancing is a good philosophy when aiming for wide array of viable options, but runs into issues when having too few balancing levers. Too many options are forced to exist around the same level of power, as all primary weapons are directly competing for the same spot and role with no external cost or benefit to other systems.
The way Mass Effect 3 approached this issue was with weapon weight. Stronger weapons tended to weigh more and increased your cooldown times. Weaker weapons tended to weigh less, decreasing cooldowns. Helldivers 2 could benefit greatly with an implementation of a similar system. Bringing more powerful, complex weapons eats into your mission budget, making it take longer to get approval for each stratagem use. Bringing weaker options, or even opting to bring two cheap, surplus sidearms, would make stratagem approval faster, reducing your cooldowns.
 
How this could function:

(Note: values shown are for example purposes only. Proper balancing is to be left to the certified balance experts)

 

• Players can equip any two weapons in their primary and secondary slots.
   
  
• Each weapon has a "budget allocation" value.
   
  
• Sidearms no longer have their own slot, but all have a budget allocation of 0 to 10.
   
  
• Base cooldowns are applied at a budget allocation of 100.
   
  
• Every 10 points under 100 increases the rate of stratagem regeneration by 20%. At 0, this would give the Railcannon Strike a cooldown of 70 seconds, down from 210.
   
  
• Every 10 points over 100 decreases the rate of stratagem regeneration by 5%. At 200, the Railcannon Strike would have a cooldown of 420 seconds, up from 210.
   
  

Example budget allocation values:

(examples are multiples of 10 for the purpose of simplicity, actual numbers could have any value)

• 0: Peacemaker
  
• 10: Grenade Pistol
  
• 20: Scythe
  
• 30: Breaker Spray and Pray
  
• 40: Liberator
  
• 50: Sickle
  
• 60: Breaker
  
• 70: Pre-nerf Slugger
  
• 80: Dominator
  
• 90: Scorcher
  
• 100: Pre-nerf Eruptor
   
  

A system like this would greatly increase the room for balancing guns. An overperforming weapon wouldn't need to have its direct power nerfed, as it could be indirectly nerfed by increasing its budget cost. Likewise, an underperforming weapon like the Scythe wouldn't need to be buffed, possibly causing powercreep and stepping on the toes of other weapon, when it could instead be a cheap backup weapon for when you want a little more oomph than what a sidearm offers. This would also offer people the option to intentionally take weak weapons in exchange for a greatly increased rate of stratagem availability.
 
Addressing possible issues:

Wouldn't this be a significant buff to player power?

Yes. That's naturally going to occur when making a more complex system. The solution would be to adjust the difficulty around this. Ultimately the goal should be for a balanced game with more interesting loadout decisions.

Couldn't one player just bring good weapons for other players who bring pistols, intentionally respawning multiple piles of weapons?

Sure, but that costs lives and something similar already exists with support weapons and backpacks. There are other ways around this as well, such as making it so you can only carry spare ammo for weapons you bring. Sure, you could pick someone's Eruptor up off the ground, but you'd only have what's left in the magazine to shoot.
 
Helldivers 2 is an amazing game that is going to be choked out by the deluge of mediocre content we will get unless something changes. There's room in the design space for overpowered primary weapons that carry appropriate costs for running them. Arrowhead needs to see this iceberg they are slowly approaching and shift course.

The server runs on a 3.3.5a client limited to Burning Crusade content it has 5x xp + 20% for pvp enabled, hosted in central Europe semi-blizzlike, cross faction due to population
Transmogs collection system similar to modern wow with no real money pay functions!
donation shop is limited to race changes/cosmetics
Auto ability learning, auto placed in bag free mount at level 30!, Dual Spec, 3x loot drop and much more :)
We are a small community, probably around 10-30 player, we raid Karzahan on saturdays
There is an end game shop in Shattrath out of convenience that gives raid consumables/enchants for free so i would advice not to invest time in enchanting, gemcrafting or alchemy!
endless.gg

#WTI #3h #Commodities───────────
Ensemble model * Overview: The synthetic investment attractiveness indicator equals -34 (out of +/-100). The model ensemble predicts the market is more likely to be bearish in the nearest future.
Optimal past * Optimal past: The optimal lookback period for modelling is currently 564 candles. The market is currently bullish, appreciating by 10.0% during the latest phase.
Elliot Waves * Elliot Waves: The market's trend has changed and currently goes down.

• Elliot Waves Settings: Elliot Waves were updated. The current wavelength is 13.

Price Bound Modelling * HAR model at confidence level 95.0%: the HAR model forecasts volatility of 0.4176% in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.16 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.62 or above 79.7.

• BRW VaR at confidence level 95.0%: in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.18 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.36 or above 79.92.
  
• Historical simulation at confidence level 95.0%: in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.19 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.39 or above 79.93.
  
• Multifractal range at confidence level 95.0%: in the next 256 candles, the price will fluctuate around 78.57 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 67.12 or above 92.92.
  
• Fibonacci with seven retracements: the price is likely to rebound downward from the nearest Fibonacci resistance of 79.56 at the level of 50.0%. The nearest Fibonacci support is 77.61 at the level of 38.2%.
  
• Fibonacci with five retracements: the price is likely to rebound downward from the nearest Fibonacci resistance of 79.56 at the level of 50.0%. The nearest Fibonacci support is 77.61 at the level of 38.2%.
  
• Fibonacci with four retracements: the price is likely to rebound upward from the nearest Fibonacci support of 77.61 at the level of 38.2%. The nearest Fibonacci resistance is 81.52 at the level of 61.8%.
  
• MVaR bounds at confidence level 95.0%: in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.13 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.51 or above 79.91.
  

Forecast * MA model at confidence level 95.0%: the MA model forecasts a return of -0.0292% in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.15 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.09 or above 80.21.

• AR model at confidence level 95.0%: the AR model forecasts a return of -0.0292% in the next candle, the price will fluctuate around 79.15 and with 95.0% probability will not go below 78.39 or above 79.9.

Stability Indicators * Generalised extreme value: According to the indicator, the market is stable

• Power law: According to the indicator, the stability of the market is uncertain
  
• Student degrees of freedom: According to the indicator, the stability of the market is uncertain
  
• Tukey lambda: According to the indicator, the stability of the market is uncertain
  

Seasonality test * Seasonality test: According to the generalised seasonality test, there are no seasonal effects on the market.
Distribution analysis * Best-fit distribution: Best-fit distribution has changed, and now it is Power
───────────
Not investment advice.
#WTI #3h #trading #Distribution analysis

I have a HP Omen 16 laptop with these specs...
i5 13420h 16gb DDR5 ram RTX 4050
Currently I run like a 100 mods with Rudy ENB and consistently get 60 FPS so I've been thinking about levelling up and getting more mods.
I know I can't go crazy like Ultima or anything but realistically how many can I run without buring my laptop?
Also any modlist for me?

The difficulty curve of BG3 is pretty funny, imo. You can breeze through 80-90% of encounters with basically no effort, enough to get comfortable and say, "eh, what's the worst that can happen?" and select the 'attack' option, only to suddenly find your entire party disarmed and fleeing for 2 rounds against 5 level 5 marshals that output roughly 14 squillion damage per turn (plus extra because all of the other Gith do psyonic damage as a result of enslavement but I just don't for some reason) and utterly annihilate your punk ass. Or when they land a hold and have a paladin around...shudder..."74 HP and 16 con? Have you even met Radiant Smite criticals? Dont worry, they definitely will also kill you outright and pevent you from being helped, too, so don't stress." Most things are like so many mosquitos buzzing around horse poo. Then every once in a while, the horse comes along wearing a very convincing mosquito mask only to throw it off grandly the moment you're way in over your head. Probably pretty true to life, honestly.

So short about me - played from late Vanilla through WoD. Quit around there due to the expansion being...not so great, and also doing the military thing and not having time. Came back for the back half of Legion, and while I enjoyed it a lot (it was the expansion I'd been waiting for since 2.4!!), I felt like I really didn't have time with underways and all that. I felt the story pretty resolved, too, and many of my friends had left in WoD anyway, so I left the game then.
...fast forward around 6-7 years (oh god...it HAS been that long...), and I'm considering dipping a toe back into it. I play FFXIV, and while I do enjoy it, the healing leaves...something to be desired, and some friends have been talking about getting into WoW again, so I thought I might do some research.
I see tons of threads about APM that talk about DPSers and Tanks, but not Healers. I get part of that is that Healers are going to react to situations, party mistakes, etc, but it'd still be nice to get a distinction between them.
.
What I'd like to know overall, if you guys could help me out:
1) What are the HEALER APM ranges? (It's fine to mention DPS and Tanks so I can think about off-specs, but I'd like to know HEALER ones.)
2) What are the healers looking like in terms of abilities/keybinds? (Low APM but tons of abilities can still be pretty crazy. How much keyboard will I need on the different healer specs?)
3) Which seem easiest-to-hardest to play (for the whole "getting used to the game again" thing)? (This is the one question I see some answers with searching, which seem to agree that Resto Shamy and Holy Priest are PROBABLY the easiest, though opinions vary on which is medium and hardest, and if HPriest and RSham do fit easiest due to many abilities...)
.
I'm looking for something more relaxed to get back into the swing of things with. I am a lot older and probably a bit slower, and more than a bit rusty. I've always KIND of liked slower and more methodical things anyway, but I find as I push 4 decades, it's nice having something comfy like that that lets me think a little more and is less about twitch reaction fingers. I've long since come to terms with the fact I won't be beating 13 year old no-scope BS play 18 hours a day CoD players much anymore, lol. And I'm okay with that. : )
But I've always loved healing and am excited to try it out again in a game where healers actually...uh...heal. (Again, I like my other game, but I've always felt that WoW nailed healing well, something a lot of games seem to have a problem with for some reason...and am excited to try flexing that again.)
Right now, I'm thinking I'll make a new character and trial out a bit, then once I've got my legs back under me, sub up, pick up my old character that comes closest to the healer I'd like (or is outright), and game on. Though apparently a level squish happened (I'm fine with that, but I can't help but feel it odd my characters' levels are that low now, lol), and you can do expansions in any order now for leveling however you want? Which sounds neat, but is going to throw off my old patterns. RIP crater Linkin quest and Hellfire at 58. :D
But hey, I'm up for some excitement. : )
.
Thank you guys for any help you can offer in all this!

Guys all talking about rolling for good weapons? I'm a bit confused. Do you mean trading for legendary mods? If so, how are you all getting so many legendary weapons and armor to redeem? I get like 1 or 2 cheap pieces a day. Currently level 80.

It is a man, old and scraggy. He wears a jacket that lays over the red plaid button shirt and blue jeans. He wears an old baseball cap and a pair of glasses. He yelled something to Dad, holding his hands up like he was pleading, although we couldn’t hear it over the truck engine. They talked, but we couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Hey, what are they saying”, I asked, while petting Matt’s hair, calming him. The old man then put his hands down and came close to Dad in a cautious way. They seem to start having some kind of conversation.
“I don’t really know, hopefully, something good”, Mom answered. They talked for a little while, with daylight beginning to disappear, giving us a sense of dread, and making me more worried about what weird creature was going to show up. Eventually, the old man turned and pointed toward what I think is the northeast. They then shook hands and walked back to their respective vehicles. “What’s going on”, Mom asked as Dad got into the truck.
“Well, our new friend here invited us to dinner at his farm”, Dad replied.
“Does he have supplies?”
“Well, he says has supplies for us to make the journey.”
“Should we even trust him? We just met h-”
“Relax, he’s just an old man, living alone at his farm, feeding his cows. What could go wrong”, Dad countered. The old man then entered the truck that was running and drove slowly, expecting us to follow him.
“Alrighty then, but we have to be cautious”, Mom said, with her suspicions of the old man. We then followed the old truck along the dark, frozen road. It just feels like something is going to show up along the road, but nothing happened. Matt did eventually stop crying, but he is still upset about the Joe escape thing.
“Where are we going”, Matt lamented, with the prior series of events in mind.
“I guess somebody is offering us dinner”, I answered.
“Why can’t we just go home?”
“It’s only going to be a stop, like a hotel. After that, we go to our new home, I guess”, I said, taking another look at Matt and cradling to comfort him. “It’s going to be okay.” I stared out into the darkness. I looked to the sky from the window and I faintly saw something in the clear, dark sky, lit up by the waning moon. They were brilliant, green auroras that defy the bright moon, dancing across the sky like ribbons in the wind. The truck eventually took a right-hand turn into another road, with us following suit. I can see a bright, orange light emerging from a patch of tree. When we passed by, it seemed it was a house, at a farm, burning in a massive flame.
“I guess those people aren’t so, uh, lucky”, Dad said, taking a quick look at it before looking at the road. Passing by, we went on and continued to follow the old man’s truck. We passed onto another intersection until he turned into a driveway to what I believe to be his farm. Going into the driveway, I can see an old house, along with a dilapidated farm further away, barely visible by the headlights. The old man parked by the house, where there were a few other trucks there. We parked alongside the truck and we got out into the cold, near-silent night.
“Welcome to sanctuary, where all are welcome”, the old man bellowed. This is the first time I’ve heard his voice. Matt was the last to get out of the truck, slowly and clumsily climbing out of the truck.
“What’s your name”, my Mom politely asked the old man.
“Oh, I guess your husband didn’t tell ya. My name is Steven, but you can call me Steve”, the old man said, with some crackling in his voice. “I am very proud to host a dinner for you and your family”, he continued. “What’s your name, ma’am?”
“Oh, my name is Janice”, Mom replied, quite pleased at his politeness.
“Hello, Janice, and what are their names”, Steven asked, pointing to me and Matt.
“That’s my daughter Kate and my son Matt”, Dad said to Mom.
“Oh, what wonderful names for a couple of beautiful children you have”, Steve grinned. “Come, it is dangerous out here.” We followed him to the house, which looked like it had seen better days. He entered through the double-set door, the first a solid door and a screen door behind. Entering the house, it smelled like what you’d expect, old man. Looking onto the floor is made of glossy wood and walls with cracks, likely caused by the earthquake. It is dark in there, lit by candlelight from many candles, yet it’s fairly warm here. I don’t know why we went into the house, but Dad was right, Steve is just a lonely, old man. Matter of fact, there seems to be nothing wrong here, other than the cracks in the walls. “Sorry, the power went out. Had to resort to the candles. I knew my wife would come in handy”, Steve explained as he took his coat off. “Oh, supper will be ready right away. Had to use the fireplace to cook. Also, can you take your boots off?” We took our boots and set them aside. We went into what seemed to be a living room, with dusty old-style furniture.
“So, where do we sit”, Mom asked.
“Oh, well, follow me”, Steve commanded, leading us to the dining room, with a long, wooden table and six wooden chairs, along with their corresponding old-fashioned plates, glasses and cutlery, lit up in the candlelight. We noticed that everything on the table was covered in a thin veil of dust. “My apologies, the recent shocks dropped a bit of dust on the table”, he explained as he noticed us looking at the plates and moved into another room nearby. “Take your seats if you like.” We all settled onto the chairs, and blew off our plates of the dust settled there.
“When will we eat”, Matt impatiently said.
“Once Steve comes out with the food”, Mom answered. Matt sat there with a tired look on his face. Dad seemed to be in a better mood than before and it looked like he wanted to start a conversation.
“Hey, should we talk about something”, Dad asked. I then see Steve with a bowl and a silver plate.
“Here we go, may not be much, but at least it’ll fulfil the soul”, Steve said, smiling when he served us mashed potatoes and meatloaf. “So, shall we pray?” That came unexpectedly, as we are not too religious, but we were in his house and gave us shelter and food.
“Sure, we can do that”, Mom said and we all bowed our heads and put our hands together. Steve cleared his throat
“Thank you, Lord, for this good food to feed the soul in these hard times. I shall pray, in the name of the Lord and Jesus Christ, that these hard times shall be over, so we can get on with our lives. Amen.” We raised our heads and grabbed whatever food there was onto our plates. “Oh, there’s no gravy, so we have to deal with bare potaters and meatloaf.”
“Oh, not to worry. Thank you for the food”, Dad thanked Steve. We began to eat the food once we got it sorted.
“So, what brings you here”, Steve asked.
“Well, there is an evacuation order in effect for this area, so we had to go to Regina”, Dad explained, with Steve taking in every word. “So, we came from Strasbourg, we tried going south towards Regina, but we hit an obstacle in the way and we had to take another route, leading us here.”
“And we encountered a few odd things along the way”, Mom added.
“Huh, interesting. What do you guys think is going on”, Steve inquired.
“By the things we saw, we have no idea. Dinosaurs, devil dogs, hell pigs, the whole deal. I shouldn’t forget the earthquake. They told us a pipeline leak caused by the earthquake”, Dad clarified to Steve.
“Hmm… is that so”, Steve wondered. “Wonder what I think is happening? The Rapture is happening. Do you know how the Bible tells us of the end times? Good people sent to be with God and his kingdom, the rest here to suffer the Hell unleashed by Satan.” By this point, he was beginning to rant, but we couldn't stop it as we all began to feel tired and powerless. “So, the Devil will send his demons in the form of these illusions so that they can torment the sinners. It is happening, it is-” Steve manically continued as I drew towards blackness and his voice becoming less coherent. My vision is now all black.
I saw those same lights, but more rapidly than before. I then emerged onto the same clear sky, but something felt different. I can smell something in the air. I can smell what seems to be chemicals in the air. Looking down, I was terrified. Dark, grey rock in the shape of ropes and folds, similar to those I saw of lava flows on a volcano in pictures. This went on as far as the eye could see. I can see no tree this time, just the cooled lava everywhere. I then walked, feeling every bump and crag. I thought I walked forever until I heard a rumbling sound and woke up.
I am in total darkness. It is cold and it smells like cow manure. I tried to move my hand, but it seemed to be bonded behind my back by a rope. I tried to move my feet, but they were also bound by rope to the legs I tried to speak, only to realise my mouth was agape by a cloth in my mouth. I heard shuffling nearby but I could not see. It was then shone in light when Steve entered the door, holding a candle, revealing all of us in the same situation. I then can see what we are in. We are in that same wooden dilapidated barn we saw earlier and seems to be more damaged than the house, wood creaking can be heard.
“These sedatives are more effective than I thought. Maybe I should use them more often”, Steve smoothly explained, like he’s some kind of agent and began pacing. “Wonder why you are here? Well, I wondered the same thing to myself, why didn’t God take me to his heaven? When I first heard of the government telling us of those evacuation plans, I thought it was that, a leaking pipe. I began to notice things I couldn’t believe myself, at least at first. Earthquakes, weird creatures showing up, people disappearing, the whole spiel. I connected the dots. The Rapture is happening, for sure, but why me? Why was I the one left here on this Earth”, Steve calmly ranted, pacing around the barn, but it seemed to sound crazier and angrier the more he paced. “I thought I had lost my way. I’ve been unfaithful to God and his son. But, I realised that God always has a plan and he left me on this Earth to serve a purpose. I wondered what my purpose was until I had a moment.” He then stopped in place and calmed down. He turned to look at Mom with accusing yet crazed eyes.
“I’m supposed to keep the sinners here in line, to earn a place in God’s kingdom, or suffer in Hell. I know you are a sweet woman, Janice, but your treachery with Satan is over and I am going to do what’s right.” Mom then looked at all of us, with assuring eyes like that of an innocent yet caring mother we all know knew. I began crying and trying to speak through the cloth, but I was helpless to watch by. “Forgive me, Father, for what I am going to do.” He then pulled a knife from his pocket and plunged it into Mom’s neck with no mercy. I looked away once he did that, trembling, with tears pouring out and my vision glazed and I fell limp. I could see my brother tearing up, but he did not look away. I can hear Dad behind me, with his screams of agony and anger covered by the cloth. It felt like I was in slow motion, taking in every moment.
I then heard the chair, screeching as Steve dragged the chair containing Mom’s lifeless body towards the door, leaving behind a trail of blood. I couldn’t bear to see my mother like this. I shut my eyes very hard and hoped it would go away. The door then shut, leaving us alone with a candle, fearing what would come next. I stared at the candle, seeing it dance in the flames like a woman dancing in the darkness. Is this how it’ll end, I thought. End up dying to this sick man? My Mom was killed in front of me. I sobbed with that thought, then I began to think about the inevitable death of me. I hope there’s something after I die. Maybe I’ll see Mom again.
It was silent for a while, nearly no sound other than our moans. Dad seems to be fidgeting at the back of his chair, rocking it slowly. Looking past him, I shuddered at the glistening pool of blood, where Mom was last alive, could be my fate. I then see Dad release his arms from the back of the chair and remove the cloth from his mouth. He silently stood up and bent down to untie his legs from the chair legs. He then went to me and removed my cloth.
“H-h-how did you do that”, I silently wept, fearing that Steve would show up at the door and kill us all.
“My binding is loose. The old man probably took a liking to me”, Dad whispered. “I should remove your binds.” He untied them, releasing me, doing the same for Matt. “Now, we need to be quiet.” We then walked, quietly, along the painfully creaking wood in the near dark, following the blood trail, glistening in the candlelight. We cringed and dreaded each sound we made and watched the door in case it began to creak open. A few silent steps later, we made it to the door and we slowly opened it so as not to make any noise. What was revealed to us is nothing new, other than the blood trail continuing in the snow directing towards the back of the barn. “Okay, Kate, Matt, you guys run to the truck.”
“What about you”, I sobbed.
“Don’t worry about me”, Dad responded, giving me his keys and forcing them into my hand. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, leave. Don’t look back, take care of your brother, okay? I love you, no matter what happens.” He then kissed me on the head and ran to follow the blood trail. We quickly walked towards the black truck, stranded there for maybe hours. Getting closer, freedom is getting closer. When we got to a fair distance to the truck, I heard footsteps behind me and, the next thing I knew, I was knocked over to the ground into the hard snow on my face. A hand turned me over to give me a glimpse of a crazed Steve, his eyes wilder than before.
“Oh, yes, trying to escape”, he bragged. I looked at him, frozen in fear, like a deer in headlights and he caressed my face with his bloodied blade. “You do have a pretty face, but I’m afraid you are just one of Satan's creations, made to pull me to lust.” He then raised his knife in the air when a familiar side emerged, out of the blue.
Joe came and bit him in the arm that was holding the knife. Steve screamed in agony the moment he realised what happened. He shook Joe off and stood up to stand his ground. I stood up as Joe hissed and walked around the crazed being he wounded, not in fear but in aggressiveness. “Is this one of your pets, demon”, Steve screamed as Joe came in for another attack, but Steve countered that with a slash to the snout. Joe then ran away, whining, into the darkness. This sequence of events gave me the chance to enter the truck on the driver’s side. I had some trouble starting it, besides this is my first time driving a truck.
Steve menacelily walked towards the when Dad came barreling and tackled him to the ground. Dad was on top when he went limp. I finally put the keys in the engine turned it on and backed out, with memory serving me the instructions on such a vehicle. Steve pushed Dad’s body and stood up, but by that time, we left the farm.
“Turn back, we have to get Dad”, Matt cried, but I was very emotional, accepting what happened. I felt that, without my parents, I feel… useless.
“Dad’s dead”, I screamed at Matt and he began gagging uncontrollably in tears. I began to feel sorry for him. “Sorry, I, I don’t know.”
“It’s okay”, Matt sniffled. “I guess Mom and Dad are dead anyways.” It was silence for a few more minutes, tears welling in our eyes.
“Hey, our parents are in a better place”, I said, trying to make the situation positive.
“But we are stuck here, without them? Don’t we deserve to go to a better place?”
“Don’t say that”, I huffed and I paused for a bit. “I know we are in the, uh, right place now. Let me tell you something, once we get to Regina, I will take care of you, no matter what life throws at us.”
“What about Joe”, Matt asked.
“He’ll be fine. He probably found his girlfriend already.”
“Hey, don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“I, uh, I don’t have one. That I know of”, I spoke, bringing me back to Sam, remembering that she’s the only friend that I ever knew, and I left her. Without her, I felt alone, no one would ever relate. I began to tear up. “I don’t have any friends. I am alone,” I sobbed.
“What do you mean? I’m your brother!” I looked at Matt, and smiled, happy that he acknowledged that we were in this together.
“Thank you”, I thanked him. I slowly stopped on the road, just to hug Matt hard, crying my eyes out. We then heard what sounded like an elephant in front of us. We looked up to see a walking snow-covered brown fur wall with four pillar-like legs in front of us. Its curved tusks gleaned in the light and the eyes reflected in the light. The furry trunk waved around like a searching snake from a tree. We both knew what it was.
“Hey, look at that, a woolly mammoth”, Matt said, excitement running through him. At this point, we weren’t surprised.
“Yep, that is a woolly mammoth”, I added. The mammoth turned to us on the road, seemingly confused about where it was. It looked at our truck and seemed to growl, like an elephant. We are starting to realise this thing is becoming aggressive.
“Uh, should we move”, Matt asked. I remembered hearing something about standing your ground in case of an encounter with an elephant. I hoped it would work for a bigger, furrier version of one.
“No, we have to stand our ground.”
“But, it’ll attack u-”
“Trust me!” I then honked my horn and it backed up. It then rushed, then stopped, a mock charge. Eventually, it moved out of the road, disappearing into the darkness. We sighed in relief.
“That was close”, Matt sighed. I then continued to drive in the night, headlights leading the way. The road is bumpy, as noticed by every ditch and peak we hit, but surprisingly, Matt was fast asleep. I began to get comfortable driving and used to the road by that point. It was silent for a while until we hit a smaller intersection. That is when the truck shut down, completely and stopped. I tried the gas many times but with no effect. There is no light, nothing. It is near-darkness here, shone only by the moonlight.
“Shit”, I yelled, desperate to turn the truck on without much success. Matt woke up, confused.
“What happened”, he yawned.
“The truck turned itself off. I can’t get it back on”, I fretted and at that moment, Matt was just as panicked as I am.
“Why?”
“I-I don’t know. One moment, we were driving, another it just-”, I quavered, when I heard something rustle in the distance. We stood still, hoping whatever it was didn’t find us. I looked around, hoping to see something in the moonlight. I then see a long, walking animal. It looked like some sort of alligator at first, except for a dinosaur-like head. Once I strained my eyes to the darkness, my fear levels rose as I could see it walk on its hind limbs, with its forelimbs dangling nearly touching the ground.
It was wandering around on the road when I heard a near-crocodilian growl at Matt’s side of the truck. Another of those creatures appeared, seemingly looking into the window like a hungry bear, giving us a chance to see its scaly head. Its exposed alligator teeth gleaned in the light like knives, but more terrifying was the eye. Its serpentine pupil shone brilliantly in the light like eyes in the dark. It then ducked down, gave a hiss, and moved towards the other one. A few more showed up and formed a group.
“What should we do”, Matt asked. “Should we stay?” I looked around, hoping for another way to escape them without them noticing. I further strained my eyes and mentally mapped out the area. There is a cemetery on my right-hand side, a grain bin storage yard on my left and a series of trailers on the other side of the highway, which is ahead of us, from the storage area. There, I see a series of white, storage buildings, something we can go to and wait it out inside.
“Okay, so slowly open the door”, I instructed Matt. The click of the doors opening cringed us. We looked at the group, but there was no response from them. We then, as slowly as we could, opened the door and stepped out. Still no response. Matt then quietly ran to the other side, towards me. “Okay, we are going into the storage yard and go to the other entrance”, I said, pointing to the other right-hand corner. I wanted to get as far away from these things as possible before making a safe crossing. “Then, we cross the highway on the other side, run into the buildings and stay there for the night. Are you ready?”
“I guess”, he whispered, looking at me in fearful doubt.
“We are going to do this”, I whispered back. We then silently ran over, having to rely on our night-adapted eyes, to the corner, walking past the bins. We made it and nothing behind us so far. “We’re good so far.” We then crossed the road and noticed nothing. We noticed a tanker truck, leaking some sort of fluid across the road. I easily recognized it as fuel, based on its distinctive, sickly smell. I wouldn’t be worried about it if it weren’t for a collapsed light pole that is somehow still flickering with electricity near the area where the fuel would be flowing. We quickly avoided the fluid when I froze to see the group of the walking alligators, running towards us. “Run!” Matt tried to run, but one of those things appeared and clamped its jaws at the back of his neck. He yelped in pain and it took him down to the ground. “Matt”, I yelled, helplessly watching as the creature tore into him.
Matt reached out his arm before the others came to him, then a flash of fire came. At this point, I knew what happened, but I couldn’t even think before it exploded. It blew me towards the building, far away. I was knocked out for a few seconds before I regained consciousness, groaning in pain on the ice. I noticed something especially painful just below my chest. I reached towards the area with my hand. I pressed on it, more painful than ever and raised my hand, only to see blood, brightened by the fire. I realised I was wounded, maybe by shrapnel made by the explosion.
I looked toward where the truck was and all I saw was a blaze. Those things weren’t there, at least. I also noticed something else, too, there’s no Matt. I tried to look around for something, some sort of sign of my brother within the fire, but I saw none. I then wept, realising I had failed. I have failed to keep him safe. I have failed to give him a better life. I failed him as a sister. I could’ve done better. The thoughts poured in as tears glazed my eyes. At that moment, I failed to look around me.
I noticed a dark thing beside the blaze. I thought it was Matt, preparing to greet him back, even though I knew he couldn’t survive the explosion. The image became clearer and clearer as I noticed it was one of the walking crocs that, glazed by the fire, was coming towards me.
“Just kill me”, I screamed, preparing to painfully die to meet my maker. The creature was about to attack me when something large, silent as the wind, came charging and clamped down its massive jaws, filled with conical teeth on the hapless creature and raised it. The crocodile struggled before going limp with a crunch within its strong jaws. The big, dark and scaly monster that it is towered over me and is as long as a bus, possibly longer. Its large legs are a contradiction to its small arms that hide beneath its scarred, bulky body.
It turned to look at me with an oddly bird-like expression, revealing in the firelight numerous scars from battles I could never know and looked at me with its beady bird-like eyes, breathing out wisps from its nostrils like a dragon in the cool air. I recognized it as a creature I know too well, a T. Rex. I breathed heavily and sickly, looking at the thing, nearly expecting me to drop the body and go after me. Instead, it simply walked away, carrying its bloody prize with it, and steadily retreated into the darkness.
I then lay down in agonizing exhaustion on my back, thinking of the next step of action like I'm on a suicide mission I would never come back from. I looked in the direction of the graveyard and had one thought. I guess I am dying. a graveyard will do. I struggled to stand up, noticing my blood-soaked clothes and felt a broken left leg. I grasped my wound, limping step by step and enduring the sharp pain while shaking in the cold. Every step I took, I remembered all the memories, good or bad, that I had with my parents. My brother. My friends. My family. I eventually reached the cemetery and slouched at a tree.
“Guess I’m joining you, guys”, I said, speaking to the snow-covered gravestones, only to hear something. A familiar sound of chirping emerged and, lit by the blaze, it was a sight I can hope for. “Joe, what are you doing here”, I depressingly cheered as Joe went to me and curled up in my lap as if he were a cat. I noticed the new-found scar he had on his little snout, but I paid no mind as I petted him. “I guess you came back. Thank you so much for what you did”, I thanked him, not expecting such a loyal creature would be with me, comforting me, to the end, like what my mother used to do when I was a newborn. I heard another noise, this time a deep rumble.
I thought it was another earthquake coming, but it got louder the closer it got to me, becoming more animalistic only felt small vibrations I barely felt. Joe stayed put, oddly enough, as T. Rex, different from the first one, came. It walked towards us until it stopped short of us. It began to produce a low-pitched, bird-like purring, attracting Joe. I realised something, that this T. Rex is Joe’s parent. He joined the rest like him, whom they showed up and all chirped around.
The grown Rex then brought its snout closer to me, not to kill me, but to look at me. It did not reveal its teeth and was still purring. I put my hand out and its nose came close to it. It rubbed it against my hand and started to pet its cold, scaly skin as it breathed through its nose and put it on my chest. I rested my head on it before it pulled away. It gave out a hiss, but I knew it wasn’t that of a threat, but more of a thank you for bringing its small, sometimes immature, child home.
That gave me relief, as it felt like I at least did something for once. They walked away, along with Joe, towards the darkness amongst the gravestones in the cemetery. I glimpsed one last desperate look at Joe before walking beside his parent. I looked up at the sky and I could see all the stars, twinkling, and the dancing green auroras. I began to feel limp and felt the cold embrace of death coming over me, tears pouring out of my eyes. The sky then grew brighter and brighter, the stars faded into the light and I could see my family welcoming me to a new home. It then slowly went black, darker than a cave.
You would think this is the end of me. It wasn’t, or else I wouldn’t be writing this right now. I eventually woke up in a hospital in Regina. I was told I was rescued by a team that transported me while I was in a coma. The doctors said I was very lucky to be alive, as the shrapnel narrowly avoided my vital organs. After that, I was adopted into a new family, but I was only with them for a couple of years before finding a new job and moving out.
As for Sam, I don’t know what happened to her. I would like to think she is safe, somewhere else. As for my family, I think of them all the time. I was in a depressive period right after that. Eventually, over the years, I accepted that they were gone and went to a better place. For Joe, I would like to think he is all grown up, like his parents, and becoming the king of the jungle. I hope we meet again.
As for the evacuated area, it wasn’t some pipeline rupture that caused an evaluation, but an anomaly, with the exact reason not known. There are excuses for the claims of weird stuff going on in there, from disease to chemicals, to eventually a previously unknown geological event, but I saw through it all.
You may ask how, it's because I've been there. Take it or leave it, this is the story I have. As the decade came by, cover-ups were made to hide it, even walls were put around it. Since the incident, the exclusion zone grew from a mere 80 kilometers in diameter to 460 kilometers in diameter, emptying entire cities of the likes of Regina and Saskatoon. I had to move to North Battleford, by the recommendation from the same government covering it up, making me think that time will tell before the floodgates of truth open.
The anomaly didn’t have a name initially, however, over the years, everyone agreed on one name in particular: The Saskatchewan Anomaly.

I'm looking to buy a new laptop for coding, gaming, editing, and media consumption, and I need your input on choosing between the Acer Helios Neo 16 and the HP Victus 16. Below are the specs and prices for each:
Acer Helios Neo 16: - Display: 16" 1920x1200 165Hz IPS, 16:10 aspect ratio - Processor: Intel Core i5-13500HX - Storage: 512GB NVMe Gen4 SSD - Memory: 8GB+8GB DDR5 RAM - GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4050 with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM - Price: $ 1,200 - Freebies: Predator gaming chair, Predator backpack, gaming keyboard and mouse, MS Office H&S 2021, 2-year warranty
HP Victus 16: - Display: 16.1" 1920x1080 144Hz IPS-level FHD - Processor: Intel Core i5-13500HX - Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD - Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM - GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 with 6GB VRAM - Price: $ 1,230 - Freebies: Slingbag, MS Office H&S, gaming keyboard and mouse, 2-year warranty
I need a laptop that can handle coding, gaming, editing, and media consumption. Which one do you think offers better value for the price considering these needs? Any experiences or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

It was tolerable till G-rank. More painful than usual, but tolerable. But in G-rank every fucking monster is just off meds to the point iceborne barioth doesn't even compare. Fucking Safijiva tier. And all of them lock you in status effects. Had to grind like 10 chammys to get armor to fight kush and teo, with teo nuking 80% of my HP with a fucking backhop.
THIS GAME HAS NO ARMOR STONES. I'M TIRED OF GRINDING FUCKING ARMOR SPHERES EVERY TIME I CRAFT NEW GEAR.
and palicos are literally worse than they were in FU too. Somehow for some fucking reason. And you can't even get G-tier equipment for them.
All of that only to reach gogmazios who casually oneshots me with double wing slam or unavoidable spinning moves because he's too fast to consistently stay at crotch and too big to outspace them. And i'm running evade extender. And what the fuck are those lingering explosions after tar beams? What is that supposed to be?
After playing 3 i've hoped they've learned their fucking lessons on how to make good game, but brachydios with his garbage moveset and ability to deal damage twice per attack was clearly a red flag. It's back to get1/FU levels of shit design for no reason again. Somehow the main team has no clue how to make fun games and team portable has to make all the good stuff.
Except even in FU solo you don't do so little fucking damage every hunt takes 30-40 minutes.
Am i missing something? Am i supposed to be grinding guild quests to get those sweet sweet new tier of armor spheres? Is that tier of guild quests even available before i kill gog? Cause i have no fucking idea and there's ZERO info on the internet about that specific question.

So, as far as I can tell, one of the edition changes was universalizing and harmonizing wealth and costs across all campaign worlds. Tech level appears to make some difference for more advanced versions of the same item (TL 5 frame backpack vs. TL 8 one). I think Ultra-Tech also uses some tech level upgrade costs as well. But basically, a canteen costs the same whether you're in 2024 or 1804 because the cost represents an abstract value detached from historical/real-world prices and inflation/deflation. Am I correct so far?
This works well enough so long as there is a listed 4th ed. GURPS Bucks price for any given equipment. But if you want to assign a GURPS $ value to something that's not in the books, that gets tricky.
I'm not going to address converting contemporary, real world prices into GURPS Bucks, since that is its own subject probably.
What I'm looking at right now is taking prices for items from 3rd ed. world books (particularly historical books, though the process should be the same for other settings) and converting them into GURPS $.
So, Old West 2nd edition for GURPS 3rd ed: There's a price list for goods that aren't in High-Tech 4th, or Low-tech 4th, or Basic Set. Stuff like a guitar, or breakfast at a diner. Some of these you can Google, and it seems like the Old West book got it right for the most part (25 American cents for breakfast in the 1870s). So we have good, reliable, balanced prices.
How I'm trying to approach conversion so far: I'm thinking take Old West standard wealth ($200) and compare it to standard TL 5 wealth from 4th ed. Basic Set ($5000) to come up with a price multipliedivisor (x25).
This seems to work with the price of breakfast. Basic Set says a breakfast should be 1% of cost of living. If we assume Social Status 0, that gives us $600 cost of living, or 6 GURPS Bucks for breakfast. The price of 25 cents from Old West conflicts with this. However, if we apply the divisor I got from the Standard Wealth comparison (/25), 6 GURPS Bucks becomes 24 Old West cents. Not bad, so far.
The same process seems to convert prices into each others' general ballparks or neighborhoods, whichever figure of speech you prefer. A TL 5 canteen from High-Tech costs 10 GURPS Bucks. Divided by 25, that gets us 40 Old West cents. Looking at the Old West book, that is pretty close to the listed price of 50 cents.
Sometimes the conversion is more off. Basic TL 5 boots from High-Tech are 80 GURPS Bucks. Divided by 25 that's $3.20. Old West book lists boots as $5.00. So it's almost correct, but not quite.
Is there a better way to go about doing this? I was thinking of basing the multipliedivisor off of Basic Set cost of living vs. world book cost of living instead.