Hey guys looking for a new game since im pretty bored of everything iv played and was hoping for some suggestions!
Im looking for something thats sort of looter, RPG style. I like when you can build, customize and loot up your character.
Previous games iv been a big fan of are things like Diablo, The division, Destiny, Monster hunter.
Doesnt need to be exactly that but i was hoping for something in that realm.
Thanks in advance!

please stop requesting cc from creators who have their stuff in early access and release them to the public in a decent amount of time! a lot of these creators have their stuff in early access in a short amount of time like 6 weeks or less. if you want it in that time frame then you need to support that creator just like everyone else does. it’s a slap in the face to those creators and their supporters. i do understand creators who paywall their stuff for a year or more are absolutely ridiculous and def do deserve having their stuff released. and if you don’t know when the public release is, look it up. the date is ALWAYS available. if you don’t know if the creator is reliable about their dates, feel free to ask. simstrouble, ebonix, joliebean? all reliable. there are hella more but these are the most recent requests i’ve seen on here.

Guys, this post is a bit long but I'm really confused. I'm constantly in a dilemma and can't decide. My request from you is that you do not spare your valuable comments. I need everyone's opinion. First of all, I am currently using a 4070 Ti / 12700F system. I use a Zowie 360 ​​Hertz TN panel as a monitor and play competitive games. I will upgrade this system, but I don't know how to proceed. As option 1, I have this in mind. I can sell the current monitor and buy ASUS's 540 Hertz TN panel monitor and continue playing competitive games, but I don't know if this option makes sense. Because I don't know how much change there will be when switching from 360 Hertz to 540. As a second option, I can buy a 4K OLED monitor with Dual mode (4K 240 Hertz / 1080p 480 Hertz) and play both story and competitive games, but most people say that competitive games cannot be played on a 32 inch monitor. Actually, they are right. I play tryhard FPS games. It's a mystery how I can play on a 32 inch size. That's why this option is not attractive either. So both options are actually problematic. As for the computer, my budget is enough to update my system with a 4090 + 7800x3D or 5090 + new generation Ryzen processor, but there were people who said that if I got into the 4K OLED business, I would have to change the graphics card every 2 years. Because every time a new game is released, the graphics card I am currently using will have difficulty working at 4K. And frankly, I'm not rich enough to upgrade my system every 2 years. What do you think I should do in this situation? I'm seriously stuck. I want to upgrade my system but I don't know which way to choose. If you have read this far, thank you very much and I welcome your comments. My English is very bad. I'm doing a translation. I'm sorry

hey, first of all thank you for reading my post. I'm looking for a game that's something like Genshin Impacg, but different.
what exactly I'm looking for: I would like to have the function with the support, Main Dps, Healer, Shielder and the different weapon types, the building with the talents and artifacts + shield (as a kind of weapon), an open world game that doesn't restrict you, where every answer in a quest it ends differently, something like SAO.
It would be really nice if it were free and you could play it on mobile devices and computers. If you think that a game is like the one described above but costs or is only available for computers, just write it down.
I thank you in advance! 🙏🏼

I am looking to build my first PC and feeling lost every time I see some "Razorknife GPXU 2930 drive coil 2.0" being compared to a "Razorknife GPXU 2930 drive coil 2.0 II". I am pretty savvy with a computer once it's not parts, but I would appreciate some patient help in getting started on this endeavor.
My budget is between $1400-$1800 but I would like that budget ideally to include any additional costs such as peripherals, shipping, or whatever computer glue I will need.
My main needs ordered by importance are:

1. Adobe Suite- I will be editing short, but quality, videos between 2-10 minutes long in Premier Pro, large RAW images in Lightroom, designing graphics with >30 layers in Photoshop, and working extremely huge and extremely tiny SVGs in Illustrator. I have never worked in After Effects or Substance because my laptop sucks, but I may check them out if I can.
2. AI- As AI becomes more commonplace, and efficient, I want to make sure that I am able to make use of its capabilities. I often find myself using it to generate textures or troubleshoot code. I'm not sure what technical burden this puts on hardware, if any, but I figure it was worth mentioning.
3. App Development- At some point I would like to work on developing a few ideas I have. The apps themselves would be fairly simple mobile applications, but this is more of aa hobby than anything.
4. Gaming- This is my lowest priority, but I do play some popular games (Apex, Rocket League, Helldivers, Rust, etc.). I'm not a gamer though; I don't stream or use mods, and am not interested in 420 fps. I have a PS5, so it isn't a dealbreaker, but if a few extra $$$ would make me never buy a console again, it's worth it.

Some things that I don't know if they matter but I will say them anyways are:

• If all goes well, I would likely upgrade keep making my workflow more efficient.
• I know nothing about which OS is better. I am migrating from Apple so I have no opinions.
• I use one monitor, but I might run two because I usually use my iPad to play music/video while I work.
• I also use my iPad for digital drawing but may opt for a Wacom-type Tablet.
• If aesthetics cost extra, I don't care that much, but something all black would be cool.

Thank you for the help!

I don't post much and I HATE admitting I need help but I dont know where else to turn. My electricity has been off for 1 1/2 weeks. It's stupid because I can afford the bill. BUT it was put on autoplay AND electronic billing. And then figured all was fine. Except it wasn't. Something somewhere went wrong and autopay didn't go through. And now the electric company wants it all up front to turn it back on and I don't have that much. And I haven't eaten in two days because I'm broke from making sure everyone else has food that doesn't have to be cooked because that's what Mom does, even if the kids are older.
I have applied everywhere I can think of to no avail. The local American Legion post turned me down for help and I can't get the local DAV office to return my phone calls. I've applied through social services too. And other organizations say because it's already off they can't help.
I'm at my wits end. My mental health is suffering but I play it off at home because I just get it thrown back that so is everyone else’s.
I'm almost ready to call it quits and just walk away from everyone and everything and…i don't know what.
Any ideas? That I haven't tried?
Thank you.

Hi, I'm looking for a way to load and cue media on multiple tablet/phone screens over WiFi, on-set as props for a TV drama series.
The tablets/phones might need to play a video on a remote cue, or play a slideshow that slide advances on a tap of the device to imitate the actors typing a text message or interacting with a fake app. I'd like to be able to remotely reset the slideshow to any slide at any time, so go to slide 57 for instance and then play from there. Ideally you can also lock the device so tapping doesn't affect the screen at all if needed.
We'd like to be able to update the content over WiFi to the tablets/phones, loading new videos/slideshows onto them and cueing them when needed from a host machine. Mixture of Android and potentially Apple iPhone/iPad.
I'd rather something that is playing media locally on the tablet/phone device rather than streams as there could be lots of devices. And then the tapping interaction is important, the screen needs to be lockable with the content fullscreen so it appears native, and then also the ability to tap to slide advance as well so the actors can fake interact with it.
I've found Scenica for iOS which does some of this, you can send media to devices over wifi and cue them remotely to play, and it does screen locking. But it doesn't also do tap to slide advance and is also quite expensive.
I've been on set before with another company who did have it for Android, tap to screen advance, that could be remotely reset and remotely updated with new media or remotely cue'd for video.
Is there a software package that will let me do this, a host machine cue software and then an app that runs on each tablet/phone that plays the media, native fullscreen, on request?

Dear Random Acts of Cards Community,
I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to this wonderful community in the hopes of seeking some kindness and support during a challenging time for my wife and me.
Recently, we were both involved in a traumatic accident, and while we are on the path to recovery, the emotional scars run deep. My wife, in particular, has been struggling to find her smile again amidst the lingering effects of the trauma. We are doing everything we can to support each other, including seeking therapy, but I believe that small acts of kindness from strangers can also play a significant role in the healing process.
That's why I am turning to you, the members of this community, with a humble request. Would you be willing to send funny and cute cards of kindness to my wife? I believe that receiving uplifting messages from strangers could bring some much-needed joy and comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughtful gestures could make a world of difference in helping her regain her optimism and resilience.
I am committed to doing everything in my power to see the wonderful smile return completely to my wife's face, and I believe that your support can help us achieve that goal. Your cards have the power to brighten her darkest days and remind her that she is not alone in her journey towards healing.
If you are able to send a card or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Your kindness and generosity will be forever appreciated, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this request.
With heartfelt gratitude,
u/illbetheillest

While walking around I saw some billboards with rent listings and they are insanely cheap. Like from 30k to 80k. I understand that location plays a big role and I have no clue where the good areas are but online I find similar prices for renting. Is there something I am missing? Are people just desperate to get vacancies filled? Are these really shit houses? Are there other costs I am not aware of?

TL;DR Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!
Our Chairman and these Regarded APES have come here to make this tweasured agweement in front of their family and fwiends, pwomising their commitment in this holy and magnificent pwace, today and each day fowawd.
We would not be here today without wuv. Wuv, twoo wuv between these two. Twoo wuv will follow you forevah, so tweasure your wuv, Mr. Chairman with your Highly Regarded Apes, always.
My wife of 21yrs, who is pursuing her doctorate in Psychology to enhance her Marriage and Family counseling practice, has always been a supportive listener, especially throughout this saga. We watched together the events in 2021 unfold in real-time and in a recent discussion concerning market manipulations and the media's role in it all she interjected with unexpected psychological insights. What felt like a gentle change in the subject matter led to an unexpected and insightful conversation about narcissists, divorcing a narcissist, and the tactics of navigating them in your personal and professional lives.
Miracle Max: “'To blave.' And as we all know, 'to blave' means 'to bluff.' So, you're probably playing cards and he cheated…”
Did you know that there are divorce attorneys who specialize in dealing with cases involving narcissistic spouses? These attorneys are typically well-versed in high-conflict divorce scenarios and understand the psychological dynamics that can arise when one party exhibits narcissistic behaviors. They focus on strategies to manage manipulation, gaslighting, and other tactics that a narcissistic spouse might use to control or prolong legal proceedings.
Specialized attorneys in this area offer guidance on how to maintain clear and documented communication, set firm boundaries, and protect oneself legally and emotionally. Their expertise is particularly valuable in helping clients navigate the complexities of custody battles, financial disputes, and other contentious issues where a narcissistic spouse may attempt to use legal strategies to their advantage.
During our conversation my highly regarded ape-ette, outlined a total of 7 “Acts” in the Narcissist’s playbook.”

1. Denial
2. Minimization
3. Deflection
4. Rationalization
5. Displacement
6. Generalization
7. Victim Blaming

If you have ever had dealings with a Narcissist you know all to well these acts are rarely played in any kind of orderly fashion. Infact, their “playbill” is so well known that a short poem was created by Dyana Craig called “The Narcissist's Prayer”:

1. That didn't happen.
2. And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
3. And if it was, that's not a big deal.
4. And if it is, that's not my fault.
5. And if it was, I didn't mean it.
6. And if I did, you deserved it.

For the purposes of this post and to fully wrap our heads around the manipulative actions by those in the media, the financial system, in government, or our personal lives, we expanded upon the above as follows:

1. "That did not occur."
2. "And if it did, it was not that severe."
3. "And if it was, it is not a significant matter."
4. "And if it is, it is not my fault."
5. "And if it was, I did not intend it."
6. "And if I did, there were extenuating circumstances."
7. "And if there weren't, you provoked me into it."
8. "And if you didn't, others would have reacted the same way."
9. "And if they wouldn’t, the real issue is being blown out of proportion."
10. "And if it isn't, everyone makes mistakes."
11. "And if they don’t, I am under a lot of stress."
12. "And if I did, you deserved it."

These 12 narcissistic acts can be grouped into these stages that reflect a progression in the way responsibility, blame, and reality are manipulated by the media.
Stage 1: Denial

• "That did not occur." - Absolute refusal to acknowledge the reality of the event.

Stage 2: Minimization

• "And if it did, it was not that severe."
• "And if it was, it is not a significant matter." - These steps serve to downplay the severity and importance of the event, suggesting it is unworthy of concern or reaction.

Stage 3: Deflection

• "And if it is, it is not my fault."
• "And if it was, I did not intend it." - Shifts focus from the act itself to the intention behind it or external factors, deflecting responsibility away from the self.

Stage 4: Rationalization

• "And if I did, there were extenuating circumstances."
• "And if there weren't, you provoked me into it."
• "And if you didn't, others would have reacted the same way." - Attempts to provide reasons or excuses for the behavior that justify it or align it with normal responses.

Stage 5: Displacement

• "And if they wouldn’t, the real issue is being blown out of proportion." - This step attempts to shift the discussion from the actions to the reactions of others, suggesting an overreaction.

Stage 6: Generalization

• "And if it isn't, everyone makes mistakes."
• "And if they don’t, I am under a lot of stress." - These steps attempt to dilute personal responsibility by invoking common human faults or personal stress, suggesting that any errors are part of broader, understandable human conditions.

Stage 7: Victim Blaming

• "And if I did, you deserved it." - The final step, which shifts all remaining blame to the victim, positioning them as deserving of the actions or consequences.

These stages reflect a progression from outright denial to subtle and overt forms of manipulation, ending with a complete inversion of blame. Each stage is designed to protect the narcissist’s self-image and deflect any responsibility for their actions onto others or external circumstances.
For those of use that have been around since the beginning and has endured all of the above reminds me of one of my favorite parts in the Princess Bride:
Westley: Aha! Your pig fiance is too late! A few more steps and we'll be safe in the fire swamp. Buttercup: We'll never survive. Westley: Nonsense! You're only saying that because no one ever has. Westley: It's not that bad...Well I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here but the trees are actually quite lovely.
We begin unwinding all financial and manipulative aspects of the now very dead relationship that once existed. We document everything and those weary and nervous and we pick back up with…
Buttercup: We'll never succeed. We may as well die here. Westley: No, no. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurt - no problem. There's a popping sound preceding each; we can avoid that. Two, the lightning sand, which you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too…
We navigate the shills, the media pundits, and hedge fund market making Mayo loving thunts, aka the R.O.U.S’s. Through it all, we arrive at the events of the day! Our mascot triumphantly returns and now the Media is pulling a Prince Humperdink as if we are going to fall for it.
Buttercup: We did it! Westley: Now, was that so terrible? Humperdink: Surrender! Westley: You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well then, I accept. Humperdink: I give you full marks for bravery. Don't make yourself a fool. Westley: Ah, but how will you capture us? We know the secrets of the fire swamp. We can live there happily for some time, so whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit.
Navigating and enduring the demise of your first narcissist relationship is, in my opinion, the fire swamp. Reading all the DD ( • )( • ) and easily recognizing all of manipulations and cheating tactics being used and not reacting to them is what makes apes say “We can live there happily for some time, so whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit.”
Last but not least… our current marriage to our chairman, is bliss compared to our prior sham marriage where belief in a free and fair once existed. Remember, narcissists are married to the devil for time and all eternity!
I share this so that further discussion can continue and help everyone understand the kinds of people we are up against. They will never change, they will never care, and if they are fined or even found guilty of a crime, they will always and forever be the victim.

I'm sorry what the fu*k is this BS I keep reading
One DOES NOT need to possess the qualities they look for in their future partner, who the fuc* are YOU to gatekeep what men should and shouldn't do ? This is like saying, oh you're not 6 feet tall, you shouldn't want to be with a guy who's 6 feet , or you shouldn't get married to a businessman if you're not a businesswomen yourself. Only low iq morons say that so please don't be one.... What men do is NONE of your concern let the women decide for themselves what they want/ don't want..You're not the one going to marry another man so why are you crying?
If you want to marry a women who's sucked on another(possibly multiple) man's dick you are free to do so, but why tf are you forcing your opinion on others and dictate terms on what MEN should and shouldn't be doing? It makes ZERO sense to be moral policing here NGL especially since NONE of this affects YOU.
It's a free-market, people decide for themselves who they want and fate decides what they can get....so literally no-one gonna stop you from getting what you want but the question isn't what you WANT, but the question is what you can get?

I play a forgotten realms campaign and my wizard recently died. I need to build a new level 5 character and I've been told that an arcane spellcaster is needed but I'm sick of wizards because my group levels very slowly and a low level wizard seems very underpowered to me. My current party composition is the following:

• Swashbuckler Ratfolk (Tank) -Rogue 2 Fighter 3 Half-orc (2nd melee)
• Druid dwarf (he speaks to birds or whatever)
• Life oracle gnome (healer)

I was focused on crowd control and summoning but I also used to provide buffs like haste. Lately I became less effective in combat because I didn't damage at all and the vast majority of my spells couldn't be used because of high enemies' saving throws.
Now I want to deal some damage and be useful even at level 5. So I had figured out two builds I like.
1st: Tiefling Kensai Bladebound Magus I could reach almost 30 AC with buffs and I'd deal very high damage. The lack of spell slots wouldn't matter so much because I could buffs me and my blade for all the fight and I could easily bypass every damage reduction. I could also cover every knowledge skill check as my previous character used to do.
2nd: Kitsune Sorcerer I'd cast mostly scorching rays and hideous laughter. The latter should have a high DC thanks to fey bloodline and racial bonuses.
What do you think could be more useful to my group? Which of them could be stronger at level 5? I really don't like being squishy

Me and my 2 siblings worked for the family business for 8-12 years, with our narcissistic mom as our boss. We ended up in the family company because back then, the business was growing and mom had health issues and needed help. So we stepped in as the “good children” we were.
We ran that business like clockwork. Operations, creatives, and finance. Our mom barely did anything, but she still acted like a martyr for “providing for us”. We were paid a measly salary, because to Mom we were set to “inherit the business” and all those funds one day.
Mom: “this business is yours, Everything in this account is yours. This is all done for you. Being employed and making someone else richer is bad. It’s better to be in business.”
REALITY
Mom barely worked 3 days a month, but she martyred herself for “providing for the family” even if my siblings and I ran the show and brought in the sales. we could never access business funds, let alone spend it (she would though, for luxury bags!) we didn’t have health benefits. Our salary was entry level, even LITERALLY ZERO for 12 months during the pandemic. We had business owner responsibilities with none of the perks.
The implicit exchange was, we work for the family business and put in our effort. In exchange we get to live at home and not spend on rent, utilities. We do all the house labor, physical and mental. Cooking cleaning administrative. Mom lays in bed all day and shops online. While she acts like the breadwinner whom we are all indebted to.
Mom had a narcissistic meltdown 2 years ago after my golden child sibling told her that she needed some space (they were very codependent & enmeshed). She acted like a victim the whole time. In the span of 2 years, my 2 siblings quit. I was the last frontier. I FINALLY DID IT.
Mom pretended to be happy-ish for me. Said she never expected us to work for the family business forever (that’s a lie.) then the next day complained about all the work that had to be done. Shamed me for wanting to be a mere “employee” at some other company. Said that she doesn’t have the patience and is too old to train new hires. (She’s only 56.) I told her that if she didn’t want to manage people, that’s not a running a business but being self-employed ;)

Warning: mention of pregnancy loss and death of family members by gun violence
I, 31 female, have been together with my husband, 37 male, for 10 years and married for almost 9. We have two beautiful children, a 4 yr old son and a 2 yr old daughter and he has two other children with two other women that he doesn’t get to see and pays child support for. Before my son we had 12 losses, one of which I hemorrhaged from and then I ending up almost hemorrhaging to death after our son was born. We also had one more miscarriage after our daughter was born and I’ve since decided to not try for anymore even though this breaks my heart a little because I always wanted a bigger family.
I recently lost my mother and 10 year old niece in August after they were unalived by a family friend who also unalived himself. Less than two months later, my sister tragically passed in a car accident. To say that broke me is truly an understatement. For months all I could do was cry everyday and feel excruciating pain. My mom and sister were extremely close. We messaged and called every day, multiple times a day even though we all live within a 10 mile radius. They were there for me through everything life had to spit at us. We already have lost every female on my dad’s side of the family. My sister and I were all that was left besides our own daughters. The future feels daunting knowing that there may very well be decades with them not here with me.
It’s been many months now and I feel like I am finally starting to feel happiness and I’m just doing my best to spend as much time with my kids and remaining niece and nephew. My oldest niece is my partner in crime especially now that we are in the no mom and no sister club. She’s only in her early teens and she had also been shot but thankfully survived.
On to the issue. My husband has honestly never really put in any effort for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. Usually my birthday I don’t give a crap for but it’s only because in the past I’ve been disappointed because no one ever did anything for it. And I’m talking about just like a card and cake. Nothing serious. I really have dirt floor standards to be frank because I just have learned throughout life not to expect anything. That said I am the person who no matter what kind of financial situation I am in will find a way to show love and appreciation no matter the budget. I’ll make you hand made cards, I’ll personally call you on your birthday or special holidays, and I’ll make cake or cupcakes from scratch. If I have a budget I’ll plan dinner and some time to spend out. I just love making people feel happy and special. I was just raised that way.
So of course I find and marry the one person who honestly could kind of care less. I don’t think he has ever gotten or done anything for my birthday, not for Christmas. I remember he got me something for Mothers Day a few years ago…AFTER I had said something. My mom and sister on the other hand always made sure I got a card and we all had a Mothers Day dinner where we would cook and just enjoy time with our kids and ourselves.
This is my first Mothers Day without them and tomorrow and my sisters birthday without her. I had already verbally mentioned how hard it was going to be and my husband fully knew that it was going to be a hard day for me. My friends even sent him ideas for me, like just cleaning up the house and waking up to make breakfast for me. Things he’s honestly never done ever, but hey those are free things anyone could do to make someone feel special. All he said to my best friend was “lol I don’t have any money.” She got pissed. She ended up buying me flowers, a wind chime, some NA beer (I’m sober), and spent extra time with me because she knew I needed my support people on Mother’s Day. My dad also came out in support and got me more NA beer, bought me lunch, and we picked up my oldest niece and I got to spend a ton of time with her. My husband? Slept in until 10:30am. Didn’t do anything all day. I was up at 6 am with the kids and made breakfast after I realized he was still sleeping because ya know, kids can’t starve and I’m not going to wait 4 hours to have breakfast myself.
The thing is, this is just the tip of the iceberg. He can’t stay employed and oftentimes will switch jobs to avoid paying child support. Sure he’s present for the kids now, but when the going gets tough he pretty much stops putting in effort. I bet if I lived even 20 minutes away from him he wouldn’t see the kids often. He has never ever done much around the house despite me working MULTIPLE jobs at times (at one point I was working 3 and going to school). I work full time for a Fortune 500 company and he can’t even schedule a damn doctors appointment for himself. Any time I try to bring things up he’s dismissive or just denies things. And now he’s also getting more angry and aggressive because child support is being taken out again and he ended up swatting our son so hard our son doubled over…in front of my whole family! This along with Mothers Day has got me just thinking I need to divorce him. He can’t hit our kids like that period. All our son did was throw a damn smore at him! And I have multiple witnesses including my niece, grandfather, brother and SIL. I want to protect our kids. I feel like after that happened if I stay with him I am essentially condoning his behavior. I absolutely confronted him about it and he says he feels bad and should never have done it but he felt justified in that moment. I can’t trust someone like that. And it’s not the first time he’s swatted at our son but this was certainly the worst. So I am ready to leave just for that but then our son would have to be with him unsupervised.
If I am overreacting I want to know. He says I am and constantly says I am. I just need some clarity and maybe just support because if I do this, this is something that once the ball is rolling you can’t really stop it. I’m just afraid…but I think I’m more afraid of what will happen if I stay.

These idiots won't let me ask normal questions like "why do free to play games cost 25 cents" this is againwt 2 rules🤨? Wtf!? Just please can someone tell me a good Reddit to questions I can't find a answer too? (Btw I use reddit often to find stuff because I have trouble finding what I look for on Google)

The Steel Squadron is recruiting!
The Steel Squadron is recruiting! We are a new community dedicated to role-playing as members of the Brotherhood of Steel, a faction focused on preserving technology and restoring order in the post-apocalyptic world. As a Brotherhood MilSim community, we engage in Military Simulation (MilSim) activities, which often involve immersive role-playing, tactical gameplay, and coordinated teamwork.
Joining the Steel Squadron means becoming part of a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for immersive role-playing and cooperative gameplay within the Fallout universe. It's an opportunity to experience the wasteland in a new and exciting way, working together with fellow members to make a difference in the world of Appalachia.
We have many roles and higher ranking positions that need to be filled so joining the steel squadron in its early phase will guarantee easy promotions and benefits.
—Requirements— XBOX, Discord Required, Mic Required, Any level, 16+.
Message me if interested!

Recently Gates of Hell released the American faction and did a full overhaul of the German faction, leading to a pair of interesting factions with an incredible variety of historically authentic uniforms. You could zoom in on any of the squads and see the diverse uniforms depicted right down to the insignia on their caps and the regiments on their patches. Shermanator’s interview of Chase/Trudel (the lead animator & 3D human artist) gave me faith in the developer’s passion for the history and the game. This made me quite excited, because we have yet to see a British Commonwealth faction but there is some heavy implication that we can expect one in the future.
I wanted to make this thread, because I wanted to express my desire to see elements in the game that would make the Commonwealth faction a wealth of interesting units, uniforms and nationalities, particularly via the doctrines system that exists within the game. The intention is to throw in representatives across all the major nations of the British Commonwealth as well as some of the Allied armies-in-exile that came under British command. I also want to highlight some of the vehicles that are rarely mentioned in other games due to their obscure theatre or role. For the record, I'm not telling the devs what to do - I'm just making some example doctrines that I came up with as an example of the variety of units I'd love to see and making their inclusion plausible. Mostly to get the community talking.
I won’t talk about early war, partially because ‘Early war’ in Gates of Hell is largely post-Dunkirk, but also because I feel like what I am asking is still quite a lot just for one faction across two eras. I also I won’t be mentioning the more obvious or general units like Stuarts, Crusaders, Cromwells, Grants etc, as I expect them to be added nonetheless. It’s the vaguer aspects of the Commonwealth I wanted to talk about; the weird, wonderful and the diverse.
Mid War Doctrines
I think the mid-war should be largely inspired by the North African Campaigns, centred largely on the 8th Army and utilising the huge variety of cultures that fought within it. Extra bits can be added from the Italian campaign where the faction is lacking, and the Italian campaign can also be represented in the ‘Temperate’ skin for the mid-war faction. There are a lot of inspirations one can draw to create a variety of options for the Commonwealth player and each doctrine should draw from their unique aspects.
All-Round: Inspired by the Desert Rats, the 2nd Battle of El Alamein and Operation Crusader this one balances the various aspects of the other doctrines while keeping it unique. I’d like to see the Infantry include British Desert Rats Infantry, 2nd New Zealand Infantry, & 1st South African Infantry. I’d also like to see South African Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars (multiple variants) as an early-battle option, plenty of the more common tanks and maybe the Bishop as a slow but mobile artillery piece. As a special call-in, we could probably include the Free French Legionaries as a powerful assault unit, just to really complete the variety in this division.
Defensive: Inspired by the Siege of Tobruk, this doctrine should primarily represent the Australians. Variations of the Australian 9th Division troops as infantry alongside minor British elements with a heavy emphasis on field engineers, emplacements and field guns. Defensive doctrine could also include RAF Regiment infantry, RAF 20mm Oerlikon guns, RAF Rolls Royces, India Pattern Carriers (from the Indian 18th Division), air strikes and, as a special unit, they could even have captured Italian tanks from the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment! As a defensive doctrine, they should also have access to the best mid-war field guns, including the rare (but historical) ’Pheasant’ 17/25 Pounder Field Gun.
Offensive: Inspired by the Battle of Tunisia and Operation Torch, I think this one should show off the might of the UK’s heavier vehicles in the latter stages of the African campaign, particularly the Churchill III, Sherman III, the Priest 105mm and the Stuart Command Tank, alongside the more standard British tank options. As for infantry options, we can include Indian troops of the 4th Infantry Division (India), Gurkhas, and a motorised unit of 22nd Guards Infantry. I would also add the British Commandos in this division - partly because they were involved in Operation Torch, but also because they had an iconic impact on the mid-war (outside of Africa) that it would be a pity not to add them.
Irregular: This one would be quite unique in mid-war as it is effectively the light vehicle special forces doctrine. Although some standard British units would form the basis of the army, they would have access to a variety of assets representing the Long Range Desert Group; Chevrolet trucks with mounted Vickers MGs, Boys AT rifles, twin 303 Brownings or even Bofors and captured 20mm Breda guns! ‘Bamtam’ jeeps with twin Vickers Ks or 303 Brownings. The transport and logistics would be different too, using the Marmon-Herrington 6-ton Heavy Truck or the White 1064 10-ton. Other unique special call-ins would include an LRDG WACO Recon plane and the SAS (armed with the Lewes bomb). The downside to this doctrine, however, is that imagine it to be much lighter on armoured support, relying mostly on towed guns for its heavy firepower.
Other Units: I’ve tried to use inspirations from specific parts of the war to get a rounded but also diverse array of units, but there are loads of obscure units across the mid-war that I’d love to see; the Priest 105mm SPG, the AEC Deacon Gun Carrier, the Daimler Dingo, the Humber Light Reconnaissance, and so on.
That is as much as I want to say on mid-war without labouring the point. I’m sure there’s interesting things I’ve missed accidentally, and I’m afraid there’s some I have missed on purpose. For example, I considered the Australian Matilda Hedgehog, but it turned out to be late war and never used. I also considered the Greek and the Czech Division, but I think I’ve already stretched it too far as regards voice acting alone without adding units that, as distinguished their service might be, are just too obscure without adding anything extra - appearance or gameplay. That said, my hat would go off to the devs if they achieved that.
Late War Doctrines
Here we get to represent the Commonwealth units from Operation Overlord up until Operation Varsity.
All-Round: The quintessential British doctrine, combining bog-standard infantry with hardy tanks and a decent array of equipment. Partially based on Gold Beach, but also Operation Varsity/Plunder towards the end of the war, I would personally give them 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry, RAF Regiment Gunners, RAF Humber Light AC, Churchill AVRE, the Cruiser Mk. VIII Challenger and the Comet. Maybe give them some 6th Airlanding troops and 1st Canadian Parachute Infantry as a reference to the Normandy paratroopers if we feel they need more skilled infantry.
Offensive: The Canadian Doctrine - mostly inspired by the First Canadian Army in Normandy with elements of their experiences later on (including the Battle of the Schelt and Operation Veritable) with the doctrine largely focused on armoured assault infantry. They’ll look quite unique compared to the British because their uniforms were greener and they were the first to use the British-designed Mk.III helmet at D-Day. Troops of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as standard, supported by assault infantry. Eventually, armoured infantry can spawn in Buffalos (used at the Battle of the Schelt) and, as a special call-in, Ram Kangaroo APCs (sporting an armoured MG turret). The Otter armoured car would be an early call-in, with M4A1 Sherman Grizzly tanks as well as Ram IIs available in the standard tank tab. Some unique but limited special call-ins would include the Skink AA tank (of which 2 saw historical combat in Normandy) as well as a skilled sniper wielding the Ross rifle.
Defensive: Just as the US Defensive doctrine features the 101st Airborne (no doubt inspired by the Battle of Bastogne), the British Defensive doctrine can feature the British Airborne - particularly based on the defense of Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands as part of Market Garden. Infantry units can include the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry, 1st Airborne Paratroopers, 1st Airlanding Infantry, Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and 1st (Polish) Independent Paratroopers (who are distinctive with their grey berets). Armoured units can include the Tetrarch and the M22 Locust. To suit their defensive doctrine, they should get some decent guns and I’m thinking the airborne jeep-towed 20mm Polsten Gun, airborne 17th Pounder as well as (in a departure from the Parachute theme) the BL 7.2-inch howitzer. The Patchett sub-machine gun could make an appearance here too.
Irregular: Based on Sword Beach, Commandos and the 79th Armoured Division, with the more unusual units in the British arsenal. Probably with 3rd Infantry Division Infantry as standard, this unit could have access to No.41 (Royal Marine) Commandos, Fusilier Marines Commandos (based on No.4 Commando’s assault on Ouestreham), the Centaur Mk.IV QF 95mm, the Sherman DD, the Churchill Crocodile and Royal Engineer Assault Teams deployed in the cute Terrapin 4-ton Amphibious. If we want to be really wacky, we could even add the M3 Grant CDL (an unarmed searchlight tank) for armoured spotting, similar to the 150cm Flakscheinwerfer searchlight.
Other Units: Further unique units that would fit in any one (or multiple) of these divisions (based on balance) include the Land Mattress Rocket Launcher, the Loyd Carrier, the Universal Carrier WASP (flamethrower), the Sexton SPG, Sherman Firefly, the Archer TD, Achilles TD, the Priest Kangaroo, the Morris C8, Staghound and so on. There are SO many strange and obscure British vehicles that don’t often see the light of day, but would be perfect for Gates of Hell.
Post-release Doctrines -
More of a final thought than anything else, but if/when the Japanese get added into the game, I’d love to see a fifth doctrine to represent the British 14th Army to match the Japanese. A doctrine that is mostly comprised of Indian infantry and Indian tanks, with representation from the East/West African Divisions, Gurkhas and the British 2nd or 36th Infantry Divisions. Special call-ins could include the Chindits (using Thompsons and the Jungle Carbine) and paratroopers of the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade. If we’re feeling generous enough to allow the doctrine to encompass the Pacific Islands as well, we could also include an Australian squad armed with the Owen SMG, South Pacific Scouts, the Matida Frog (flamethrower) and the Matilda QF 3-Inch.
Conclusion: I apologise for such a long read. But I hope we see how a bit of ambition could really help the Commonwealth stand out and be worthy of the variety seen in the other factions since their overhaul. While the Germans have Spanish soldiers in their ranks, the Commonwealth can see the UK, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, and France (and technically Nepal) all get some recognition. While the German Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe stand out on the field, the Commonwealth might get the distinctive blue battledress of the RAF Regiment, or the long white tunics of the Foreign Legion. We would see such a variety of hats including pith helmets, berets, kepis, dastars, keffiyehs and slouch hats. Some units, like the LRDG vehicles, might even stand out as unique from any of the nations already in the game. It’s a lot of colourful uniforms, a lot of voices and a lot of strange and wonderful machines.
However, it does come with its downsides. Firstly, Africa and Europe are such dramatically different theatres that their version of mid & late war are incredibly different to one another. So much so that the depth of variety might make the faction too big, making it a lot of effort for the art department (especially with uniforms changing for the map’s climate. Imagine making skins for temperate, desert AND snow). The second issue is whether France is getting its own faction in future iterations of the game (the French flag appears in the loading screen during Axis vs Allies games). The final (and probably biggest) issue is voice acting. I’m no expert on games development, but I gather that getting enough voice actors for a faction is hard enough as it is without having to accurately represent 9 countries at once. I would love to hear the developer’s thoughts on the matter - whether such a project is within the game’s scope and if they have the ambition to take it this far.
Do let me all know what you think as well.