2 years ago I needed a really cheap prepaid phone to carry with me, not wanting some expensive thing. Back in December I had to replace it when the screen got a burnt-in spot. And honestly I can't stand these things... just for starters-

• Poor signal quality in many places. Unable to get a connection despite 2 bars or more of service detected. Frequently unable to make calls if the phone is on "too long"(of which can vary from days to hours) as it will automatically end a call without attempting to make it, forcing a restart.
• Lengthy start-up time with the phone being sluggish for up to 10 minutes after it technically finishes a reboot.
• Poor battery life. The A03S is actually worse in this regard(I'd say it's a downgrade in most aspects). The most basic of apps drains it quickly. Lots of "slow charging" errors with the cord that came with it.
• No built-in QR code scanning ability I can find anywhere. It's not in the camera function. I had to download a separate app.
• Constant stealthy updates with no notice. Eventually this will render some apps non-functional without my say. Lots of things I search for in app stores won't work with this phone.
• Bluetooth is laggy. This may not be a big deal with some things, but a game controller has too much input lag to be useful. I had to get a wired controller for any reliable controls.
• The on-screen keyboard is horrible, frequently pushing keys next to the ones I touched. Typing anything is a slow hassle. Auto-correct can handle SOME of this but was more trouble in other ways.
• Somehow the screen constantly registers taps on things my fingers were nowhere near. Merely setting the thing down can somehow activate an app if the screen wasn't touched. I don't get how it is that sensitive. I generally turn the screen off now if I am not actively using it, though some touches can reactivate it(I have seen it go off at night, possibly from small insects landing on it)

The only reasons I went with the A03S as a new phone was because it was dirt cheap & I somehow expected the newer model to be better. I also figured it would make it easier to copy data over- which wans't much of a problem, until I found a lot of personal files from some apps did not copy.
If I need a replacement I will be going with a different brand, likely a different company. I don't expect a LOT from a cheapo prepaid phone, but I expected better functionality than this.

Background: Very anxious about this so any advice is much appreciated. My girlfriend (28F) and I (28M) met a few months ago and made things official 3 weeks ago. We both were apprehensive and cautious about a relationship in the first few months, as we both have been cheated on and had toxic ex partners, but the honeymoon phase has been fully blooming and we are crazy about each other, she’s been so good to me. We became exclusive way earlier on before being official, as we didn’t want to sleep with multiple people, just test the waters with each other. Note that she has been the most understanding and least toxic person I’ve been with at this point in my life after being in 4 relationships in my past, and I’ve had to be the one to leave all of my past SO’s, hence being so cautious. She doesn’t have much social media, and is extremely down to earth.
One red flag was when we first started dating, I saw she was exchanging messages with some smiley emojis (enthusiastic, but not flirtatious) with a guy she never mentioned to me. She said he was an old college acquaintance who moved out of state and would share photography work with her. I said it would make me feel weird if she was messaging a guy all day long with smiley faces, she agreed and decided it was best to just stop messaging him altogether. (Felt unusual to have someone actually do that for us without being defensive). Note that I made sure she was comfortable with doing that for me, she actually suggested it not me.
Fast forward to now: Last night we were on the couch together and she was showing me something on her phone, then a snapchat pops up from a friend. When she exited the snapchat, I caught a glimpse of an unopened chat from some guy I’ve never heard of, sent 3 hours prior, and it showed the silenced notification symbol next to his name only. I was immediately horrified as I’ve gone through this experience before (ex’s hiding cheating behavior on snapchat).
So I asked “so something I just saw really triggered me, why are notifications disabled for a guy you never mentioned?”. She immediately said he was some weird guy she worked with in the past at a grocery store when she lived in a different city, and that he would bother her so she turned off notifications. I asked if she did that so that it wouldn’t pop up in front of me, and she admitted that was part of the reason and she doesn’t want people to disturb us when together who she doesn’t care about but tends to reach out, but that she is bad at telling people to leave her alone or “being mean to people”. (Seemingly a red flag but I’ll digress).
Now is the part that really bothered me. I said “well what did he say?” She says she’s been ignoring his snaps so he doesn’t see she’s opened any so he’d eventually stop reaching out, but then went to remove him as a friend without opening the chat before I got another word in. Now I cannot help but feel like she was hiding something and didn’t want me to see - and I’m unsure how to move forward from this. I said that not opening the chat came off as really suspicious, and how showing me the chat would have resolved everything. She said she didn’t even know the guys snapchat name to re-add him because he was that irrelevant, and that she deleted the guy there and then to show me how much she didn’t care about them and wanted me to feel secure.
I must add that she was not defensive in the slightest bit. I have had ex’s in the past get defensive, and blame toxic behavior on me, and it was so clear that they were hiding something. She profusely apologized and said she felt terrible it made me so anxious, and understood why it would come off as suspicious. She showed me other people in her messages that she had notifications off for, stating that’s something she does to ignore people that continue to reach out but that bothers her, such as an old therapist that would reach out often after she moved cities. She said she felt so stupid for not deleting that person earlier, and started crying 20-30min later as she does cry often and struggles with feelings of thinking she’s a bad friend or person in general, which she’s told me much about before.
She has been overwhelmingly transparent from the start of our relationship, and said today that she’s going to make sure to be better at deleting people or telling people to leave her alone if they come off too strong, and because of that it’s difficult to paint this as a major red flag but I’m still conflicted. Because of my trauma, I could not believe a word she was saying in the moment, all I could think and believe was the worst case scenario.
She sent me this text today: “I don’t want to jeopardize anything with you ever. I’m really sorry. It’s not going to be a recurring thing, I promise. You mean so much to me - I only want attention from you and only want to give my attention to you. I’m sorry you’re feeling anxious about it - you’re allowed to. I hope I can show you that everything I just said is the truth and how I say I feel about you is the truth. I’ll do better and I’m sorry again.”
So I’m thinking I’ll have to try my best to move forward from this and trying to trust her wholeheartedly, regardless of the suspicious nature of what happened. What does Reddit think about this?
tl;dr: Girlfriend had notifications disabled for a guy on Snapchat, proceeded to delete him as a friend without opening the chat

People don't get it. They get frustrated when you try and explain the hold this relationship has on you. It's so obvious to them! "Just leave. Who cares what they think? You don't owe them anything." I HAD to attach to abusive people for my survival. I was literally conditioned from birth to accept abuse as normal. And yes, I'm an adult now, and sure, I can now see how it was all abuse. But that doesn't change how bonded I feel to these people. They are in my brain; I scan my entire world through their eyes. Healing work feels like ripping poisonous needles out of my body. It's not easy, it's fucked up, and it hurts like hell to know that someone you sacrificed your very humanity for to make them happy literally doesn't care if you live or die.
I wish there was a physical sign of abuse, like a bright orange symbol that pops up on anyone's forehead that proves to the world that their suffering is real. The abuse we all suffered is pernicious and eats away at our souls while being plausibly deniable. I hope you all are doing okay today, because I am not.

This past Dynamite just opened the path to our Cope-Cage reunion, just in time for a big tag match at All In. How?

• There's no way that Luchasaurus Killswitch and Nick Wayne aren't doubting Cage's fatherly authority by now. Not when they've taken so much brutal hits from Copeland for little discernible gain, like those Con-chair-tos, and those Impalers that they took at the I Quit match.
• We're probably going to have full-on Dark Adam Copeland by Double or Nothing. His descent will only be accelerated once he gets through Brody King (and maybe Kyle O'Reilly too), and of course Malakai is going to keep leading him down this path of madness. Whether he leaves DoN as TNT Champion or not, he won't be the same guy.

So, here's how I think it could go down:

• Copeland continues his descent into darkness up until Double or Nothing. With every defense of the title, he gets more worn down and closer to losing, and has to resort to more underhanded tactics to escape every time. An inadvertent low blow one week, a roll-up with tights the next, and so on.
• Fractures in the Patriarchy continue to grow as Swerve-Cage approaches. Cage continues to leave Wayne and Killswitch to dry at the hands of Swerve and the Mogul Embassy. He also slips up more and more in his promos, exposing himself as looking out not for his prodigal son nor his big dinosaur, but himself. Maybe add a bit of heat by making Cage sound desperate, considering he's already lost a big world title feud before.
• The TNT Title match opens Double or Nothing. I would personally mark the end of Cope's journey with clean, definitive defeat at the hands of Malakai. It's about time that we belt Malakai up (and who says no to House Rules TNT Title matches?) and Cope's a big enough star that he won't be dimmed by a loss. Without his title or his dignity as an upstanding babyface, Cope has nothing left.
• In the main event, Swerve and Cage are both on the ropes, but, a la Wardlow at Revolution 2022, Killswitch and Nick Wayne (as well as Shayna Wayne, who's likely looking out for her son more than anything) "forget" or "mess up" the interference that they were supposed to run for Cage. Swerve gets up, lands a House Call and Big Pressure, and retains to close the show. Cage, distraught at losing his "family" and another shot at the World Title, takes a few weeks off TV.
• For at least three weeks after that, Copeland tries to rebuild by reinstating the Cope Open and going against younger guys... but either wins all the matches by dirty means with beatdowns after the bell, or (and I think this is more interesting) actually loses a bunch of those matches. It's clear that he's a shadow of who he used to be pre-Dynasty misting. At this point, he becomes a target of The Elite... specifically the Bucks, and Jack Perry.
• For the weeks after that (likely going past Forbidden Door), the Bucks and Perry target Copeland as a symbol of what AEW needs to move away from: aging guys from "the other place" looking to collect one last payday before transitioning to a life of podcasts and grifting. They could even point out how he somehow keeps getting TV slots despite the losing streak he's on.
• Finally, after one particularly brutal beatdown that sees Copeland locked in the Snare Trap with Spike in his mouth, who makes the save to beat up Perry but... his former "father figure," Christian Cage.
• Cope and Christian reunite one last time to challenge the Bucks for the Tag Titles at Wembley. Personally, I'd have them win, and go on one last run as a tag team together.

It probably won't go this way, but if it did, I would enjoy it very much.

This is gonna be a short and not all-over-the-place post.. I hope.
So I was scrolling through my feed, and up came the Beat v Man thing. To give a rundown, it's a metaphorical thought experiment as regards to women's safety: Would you rather choose to be alone in the woods with a bear or a man? Of course, in classic internet fashion, eyebrows were raised, keyboards were thumb-hammered, vitriol was spewed.
Yunno, I wanted to troll with the post and say the true answer is: Bear... then lie down on my bed awaitin laughter-inducing comments.
But i felt like making it a serious discussion... I guess. First off, I'm a guy. Second, the most rational answer to that question is: anxious drum roll🥁
Bear.
Now calm down, it's not what you think, the correct answer is Bear, but probably not where your mind is going.
So why did I choose the Bear? It's simple: Suppose I see a bear in my property, I could easily hide around, or manipulate its instincts, but suppose I see a man.. what dafq do I do? I can't know why the man is in my fuckin house!! And that's the point.
The fundamental difference between humans and animals is that whilst animals are instinct-driven and predictable, Humans are the exact opposite. It is the high-tier self-awareness of humans that makes them the worse option in this situation.
But wait.. notice that I dropped "man" here, and used "human" instead... the question is phrased in a particular way, for instance, if I ask you: Which thing would you prefer to see unexpectedly in your property? A Bear v a woman. My answer is still going to be the woman. But if that's the case, then what went wrong with the question? Why were you triggered?
I remembered a particular post where someone complained that "man up" is unempathetic and not useful, to which I explained:

It's actually useful—
When you have a challenge in front of you, do you give in, or try to surmount it?
Of course you overcome.
What you really have an issue with is the genderedness of the term, lemme explain.
Suppose we had a world war, and people are told to keep their heads up, little to no one would see an issue with that idea, infact, it seems to me that people would most likely be doing that.
The will to live is so core to humanity that to "keep your head up" is the ideal course of existence.
But things get iffy when we start getting specific, like ..yunno, directing things at a particular group. Think about this:
People oughta stop being murderers.
Muslims oughta stop being murderers.
The second statement obviously raises more brows than the first.
So yeah, "manning up" is a variation of a more basic survival principle, And if you overlook the genderedness, it makes perfect sense.

The moment I saw the "Man v Bear" meme, my mind went there. Of course it makes sense that you'd choose a bear over a human —the very essence of humans makes them more dangerous than anything. A human can methodically plan how to rape you( just like my uncl- lol), A human recognize you, A human can attach concepts to you, such as "His laps is meaty and shimmering like pork” licks lips ... and the human doesn't even have to be hungry. At least if a bear wants to eat you, it acts upon appetite or hunger, but if a human desires to eat you, they elevates that desire beyond mere instinctual faculties
It is the unpredictability and beyond-instinctness of humans that makes them more dangerous than animals (call this statement X)
So what exactly is wrong with the meme?— We have a general truth: X, then a specific scenario: women's safety. The issue is that the meme manipulates a general truth into a specific scenario.. This I believe, is the crux of so many political discussions.
I remember a friend and I discussed the "women take advantage of nice guys" thing we arrived at a conclusion that reminded me of this:
Yes women manipulate nice guys, that's true, however: 1. It is human nature to take advantage of opportunities. 2. Being nice is an opportunity. 3. It is human nature to take advantage of niceness.
This is a general truth, e.g the unassertive worker gets fucked over by the boss (when he picks soap). therefore if you insert "woman", that's still true.
Question however is, why would you want to do that? Do you want to prove some kind of point?
Political discourse isn't just a set of isolated objective propositions(pun intended?), it's a tulmult of opinions, biases, motives. Is it just another dishonest method of discourse? and possibly living?? Or perhaps it is... human nature to.. exploit general truths into specific motives.
I believe the exploitation of general truths into specific motives is the root of all problems in political discourse.

I liked the idea of a dystopian 1962, but instead shifted the scenario from "Axis Won World War II" to "Nobody won World War II" so I could play with the anarchy tropes. Set in Canada, in a world where Eurasia from Portugal to Vladivostok is an anarchic hell hole, so many historical personages all end up immigrating there because the USA backslides democratically.
Main characters are two Communist Party operatives who are trying to run a school for refugee children in the middle of fighting a shadow war against both fascists and Stalinists in the shadow of a possible American invasion, on the day of the Canadian nuclear test.
Plan is to use this story as the launchpad of a series where the political intrigue slowly becomes front and center.
https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/who-s-afraid-of-ulrike-meinhof
Burn it to the ground, give me feedback, whatever lol. I'm especially looking for additional ways to characterize Tosia and Ulrike using their backgrounds (especially Ulrike's ideological tendencies), as well as advice on how to make the Social Communist Party more coherent as a leftist alternative to a ComIntern compliant Communist Party.

Tell me how to Fix my game's player's code. If you fic it, you get to be in the credits of my game.
Now with that setup: You'll know that if you've seen any of my posts here this past week, my character's code is Kinda F***ed. What began as getting crushed by slope objects has devolved into more issues like not being able to jump onto Semi Solid platforms and vanishing when I crawl into a corner of a wall. And I cannot stress this enough: I want to be TOLD how to fix this. No Implied code, just pure, unfiltered fact. This is the bribery I'm willing to resort to because of how desperate I am. Please help me here.
Now here's the code: Godspeed to anyone who wants to try
Create event
//Custom functions for Player
function setOnGround(_val = true)
{
if _val == true
{
onGround = true;
hangTimer = hangFrames;
} else {
onGround = false;
myFloorPlat = noone;
hangTimer = 0;
}
}
function semiSolidCheck(_x, _y)
{
//Create a return variable
var _rtrn = noone;
//we must not be moving upwards and then we must check for a normal collision
if yspd >= 0 && place_meeting( _x, _y, TileSemiSolidTerrain )
{
//create a DS list to store all colliding instances of TileSemiSolidTerrain
var _list = ds_list_create();
var _listSize = instance_place_list( _x, _y, TileSemiSolidTerrain, _list, false );
//Loop through the colliding instances and only return one if it's top is below the player
for( var i = 0; i < _listSize; i++ )
{
var _listInst = _list[ i];
if floor(bbox_bottom) <= ceil( _listInst.bbox_top - _listInst.yspd )
{
//Return the id of a semisolid platform
_rtrn = _listInst;
//Exit the loop early
i = _listSize;
}
}
//destroy ds list to free memory
ds_list_destroy(_list);
}
//Return our variable
return _rtrn;
}
depth = -30;
​
Step event
//Control setup
controlsSetup()
//Sprites
maskSpr = sPlayerIdle;
idleSpr = sPlayerIdle;
walkSpr = sPlayerWalk;
jumpSpr = sPlayerJump;
fallSpr = sPlayerFall;
crouchSpr = sPlayerCrouch;
crawlSpr = sPlayerCrawl;
//Moving
face = 1;
moveDir = 0;
moveSpd = 4.5;
xspd = 0;
yspd = 0;
//states
crouching = false;
//Jumping
grav = 0.5;
termVel = 7;
onGround = true;
jumpMax = 1;
jumpCount = 0;
jumpHoldTimer = 0;
//jump values for each successive jump
jumpHoldFrames[0] = 1;
jspd[0] = -9.7;
jumpHoldFrames[1] = 1;
jspd[1] = -9.7;
//Hang Time
hangFrames = 3;
hangTimer = 0;
//Hang Buffer Time
hangJumpFrames = 5;
hangJumpTimer = 0;
//moving Platforms
myFloorPlat = noone;
earlyMovePlatXspd = false;
downSlopeSemiSolid = noone;
moveplatXspd = 0;
moveplatMaxYspd = termVel;
Step event
//Get inputs
getControls()
//Get out of moving Platforms that have positioned themselves into the player in the begin step
#region
var _rightWall = noone;
var _leftWall = noone;
var _bottomWall = noone;
var _topWall = noone;
var _list = ds_list_create();
var _listSize = instance_place_list( x, y, TileMovingTerrain, _list, false );
//loop through all colliding movePlats
for( var i = 0; i < _listSize; i++ )
{
var _listInst = _list[ i];
// find closest walls in each direction
//right walls
if _listInst.bbox_left - _listInst.xspd >= bbox_right-1
{
if !instance_exists(_rightWall) _listInst.bbox_left < _rightWall.bbox_left
{
_rightWall = _listInst;
}
}
//left walls
if _listInst.bbox_right - _listInst.xspd <= bbox_left+1
{
if !instance_exists(_leftWall) _listInst.bbox_right > _leftWall.bbox_right
{
_leftWall = _listInst;
}
}
//floor
if _listInst.bbox_top - _listInst.yspd >= bbox_bottom-1
{
if !_bottomWall _listInst.bbox_top < _bottomWall.bbox_top
{
_bottomWall = _listInst;
}
}
//ceiling
if _listInst.bbox_bottom - _listInst.yspd <= bbox_top+1
{
if !_topWall _listInst.bbox_bottom > _topWall.bbox_bottom
{
_topWall = _listInst;
}
}
}
//destroy the ds list to free memory
ds_list_destroy(_list);
//get out of the walls
//right wall
if instance_exists(_rightWall)
{
var _rightDist = bbox_right - x;
x = _rightWall.bbox_left - _rightDist;
}
//left wall
if instance_exists(_leftWall)
{
var _leftDist = bbox_left + x;
x = _leftWall.bbox_right - _leftDist;
}
//floor
if instance_exists(_bottomWall)
{
var _bottomDist = bbox_bottom - y;
y = _bottomWall.bbox_top + _bottomDist;
}
//ceiling (includes collision for polish and crouching features)
if instance_exists(_topWall)
{
var _upDist = y - bbox_top;
var _targetY = _topWall.bbox_bottom - _upDist;
//check if there isn't a wall in the way
if !place_meeting( x, _targetY, TileTerrain )
{
y = _targetY;
}
}
#endregion
//don't get left behind on a moving platform
earlyMovePlatXspd = false;
if instance_exists ( myFloorPlat ) && myFloorPlat.xspd != 0 && !place_meeting( x, y + moveplatMaxYspd+1, myFloorPlat )
{
//go ahead and put ourselves back onto the platform if there is no wall in the way
if !place_meeting( x + myFloorPlat.xspd, y, TileTerrain )
{
x += myFloorPlat.xspd;
earlyMovePlatXspd = true;
}
}
//crouching
//transition to crouch
//manual
if downKey && instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
{
crouching = true;
}
//forced / automatic
if onGround && place_meeting(x, y, TileTerrain)
{
crouching = true;
}
//change collision mask
if crouching { mask_index = crouchSpr; };
//Transition out of crouching
//Manual
if crouching && !downKey
{
//Check if I can uncrouch
mask_index = idleSpr;
//uncrouch if no Solid wall in the way
if !place_meeting(x, y, TileTerrain)
{
crouching = false;
}
//Go back to crouching if we cant uncrouch
else
{
mask_index = crouchSpr;
}
}
//X movement
//Direction
moveDir = rightKey - leftKey;
//get my face
if moveDir != 0 { face = moveDir; };
//Get xspd
xspd = moveDir * moveSpd;
//X collision
var _subPixel = 1;
if place_meeting( x + xspd, y, TileTerrain )
{
//check if there is a slope to go up
if !place_meeting( x + xspd, y - abs(xspd)-7.5, TileTerrain )
{
while place_meeting( x + xspd, y, TileTerrain ) { y -= _subPixel; };
}
else
//Check for ceiling slope, otherwise, regular collision
{
//Ceiling Slopes
if !place_meeting( x + xspd, y + abs(xspd)+7.5, TileTerrain)
{
while place_meeting( x + xspd, y, TileTerrain) { y += _subPixel; };
}
//Normal collision
else
{
//stop at wall
var _pixelCheck = _subPixel * sign(xspd);
while !place_meeting( x + _pixelCheck, y, TileTerrain ){ x += _pixelCheck; }
//Set xspd to zero to collide
xspd = 0;
}
}
}
//Go Down Slopes
downSlopeSemiSolid = noone;
if yspd >= 0 && !place_meeting( x = xspd, y + 1, TileTerrain ) && place_meeting( x + xspd, y + abs(xspd)+1, TileTerrain )
{
//Check for a semisolid in the way
downSlopeSemiSolid = checkForSemiSolidPlatform( x + xspd, y + abs(xspd)+1, TileTerrain );
//precisely move down slope if there isn't a semisolid in the way
if !instance_exists(downSlopeSemiSolid)
{
while !place_meeting( x + xspd, y + _subPixel, TileTerrain ) {y += _subPixel; };
}
}
//Y movement
//Gravity
if hangTimer > 0
{
//Count the timer down
hangTimer--;
} else {
//apply gravity to the player
yspd += grav;
//no longer on the ground
setOnGround(false);
}
//reset jump variables
if onGround
{
jumpCount = 0;
hangJumpTimer = hangJumpFrames;
} else {
//if the player is in the air, make sure they can't do an extra jump
hangJumpTimer--;
if jumpCount == 0 && hangJumpTimer <= 0 { jumpCount = 1; };
}
//initiate the Jump
if jumpKeyBuffered && jumpCount < jumpMax
{
//Reset the buffer
jumpKeyBuffered = false;
jumpKeyBufferTimer = 0;
//increase number of performed jumps
jumpCount++;
// set the jump hold timer
jumpHoldTimer = jumpHoldFrames[jumpCount-1];
//tell ourselves we're no longer on the ground
setOnGround(false);
hangJumpTimer = 0;
}
//cut off the jump by releasing the jump button
if !jumpKey
{
jumpHoldTimer = 0;
}
//jump based on holding the button
if jumpHoldTimer > 0
{
//constantsly set yspd to jspd
yspd = jspd[jumpCount-1];
//count down the timer
jumpHoldTimer--;
}
//Y collision and movement
//cap falling speed
if yspd > termVel { yspd = termVel };
// Upwards collison (with Ceiling Slopes)
if yspd < 0 && place_meeting( x, y + yspd, TileTerrain )
{
//jump into Sloped ceilings
var _slopeSlide = false;
//slide up left slope
if moveDir == 0 && !place_meeting( x - abs(yspd)-1, y + yspd, TileTerrain )
{
while place_meeting( x, y+yspd, TileTerrain ) { x -= 1; };
_slopeSlide = true;
}
//slide up right slope
if moveDir == 0 && !place_meeting( x - abs(yspd)-1, y + yspd, TileTerrain )
{
while place_meeting( x, y + yspd, TileTerrain ) { x += 1; };
_slopeSlide = true;
}
//Normal Y collision
if !_slopeSlide
{
//stop at wall
var _pixelCheck = _subPixel * sign(yspd);
while !place_meeting( x, y + _pixelCheck, TileTerrain )
{
y += _pixelCheck;
}
//Bonk code
//if yspd < 0 { jumpHoldTimer = 0; };
//Set yspd to 0 to collide
yspd = 0;
}
}
//Downwards collision
//Check for solid and semisolid platforms under me
var _clampYspd = max( 0, yspd );
var _list = ds_list_create(); //Create a DS list to store all of the objects we run into
var _array = array_create(0);
array_push( _array, TileTerrain, TileSemiSolidTerrain );
//do the actual check and add objects to list
var _listSize = instance_place_list( x, y+1 + _clampYspd + moveplatMaxYspd, _array, _list, false );
//loop through the colliding instances and only return one if it's top is below the player
for( var _i = 0; _i < _listSize; _i++ )
{
// Get an instance of TileTerrain or TileSemiSolidTerrain from the list
var _listInst = _list[ _i];
//Avoid magnetism
//if //(_listInst != forgetSemiSolid
if ( _listInst.yspd <= yspd instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
&& ( _listInst.yspd > 0 place_meeting( x, y+1 + _clampYspd, _listInst) ) )
// ( _listInst == _semiSolid )
{
//Return a Solid wall or any Semisolid Walls below the player
if _listInst.object_index == TileTerrain
object_is_ancestor( _listInst.object_index, TileTerrain )
floor ( bbox_bottom ) <= ceil( _listInst.bbox_top - _listInst.yspd )
{
//Return the "highest" wall object
if !instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
_listInst.bbox_top + _listInst.yspd <= myFloorPlat.bbox_top + myFloorPlat.yspd
_listInst.bbox_top + _listInst.yspd <= bbox_bottom
{
myFloorPlat = _listInst;
}
}
}
}
//Destroy the DS list to avoid a memory leak
ds_list_destroy(_list);
//Downslope semisolid for making sure we don't miss semisolids while going down slopes
if instance_exists(downSlopeSemiSolid) { myFloorPlat = downSlopeSemiSolid };
//one last check to make sure the platform is actually below us
if instance_exists(myFloorPlat) && !place_meeting( x, y + moveplatMaxYspd, myFloorPlat)
{
myFloorPlat = noone;
}
//Land on the ground platform if there is one
if instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
{
//stop at wall
while !place_meeting( x, y + _subPixel, myFloorPlat ) && !place_meeting( x, y, TileTerrain ) { y += _subPixel; };
//make sure we don't end up below the top of a semisolid
{
while place_meeting( x, y, myFloorPlat ) { y -= _subPixel; };
}
//Floor the Y variable
y = floor(y);
//Set yspd to 0 to collide
yspd = 0;
setOnGround(true);
}
//move
x += xspd;
if !place_meeting( x, y + yspd, TileTerrain ) { y += yspd; };
y += yspd;
//Final moving platform collisions and movement
//X - moveplatxspd and collison
//Get the moveplatxspd
moveplatXspd = 0;
if instance_exists(myFloorPlat) { moveplatXspd =myFloorPlat.xspd; };
//Move with moveplatxspd
if !earlyMovePlatXspd
{
if place_meeting( x + moveplatXspd, y, TileTerrain )
{
//stop at wall
var _subPixel = .5;
var _pixelCheck = _subPixel * sign(moveplatXspd);
while !place_meeting( x + _pixelCheck, y, TileTerrain )
{
x += _pixelCheck;
}
}
}
// Y - Snap myself to myFloorPlat if it's moving vertically (un floor y variable)
if instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
&& (myFloorPlat.yspd != 0
myFloorPlat.object_index == TileMovingTerrain
object_is_ancestor(myFloorPlat.object_index, TileMovingTerrain)
myFloorPlat.object_index == TileSemiSolidMoveTerrain
object_is_ancestor(myFloorPlat.object_index, TileSemiSolidMoveTerrain) )
{
//Snap to the top of the floor platform
if !place_meeting( x, myFloorPlat.bbox_top, TileTerrain )
&& myFloorPlat.bbox_top >= bbox_bottom-moveplatMaxYspd
{
y = myFloorPlat.bbox_top;
}
/*/going up into a wall while on a semisolid platform
if myFloorPlat.yspd < 0 && place_meeting(x, y + myFloorPlat.yspd, TileTerrain)
{
//get pushed down through the semisolid floor platform
if myFloorPlat.object_index == TileSemiSolidTerrain object_is_ancestor( myFloorPlat.object_index, TileSemiSolidTerrain )
{
//get pushed down throughh the semisolid
while place_meeting( x, y+myFloorPlat.yspd, TileTerrain ) { y += _subPixel; };
//If we got pushed into a solid wall while going downwards, push ourselves back out
while place_meeting( x, y, TileTerrain ) { y -= _subPixel; };
y = round(y);
}
//Cancel the myFloorPlat variable
setOnGround(false);
}/*/
}
//Get pushed down through a semisolid by a moving Solid platform
if instance_exists(myFloorPlat)
&& ( myFloorPlat.object_index == TileSemiSolidTerrain object_is_ancestor(myFloorPlat.object_index, TileSemiSolidTerrain) )
&& place_meeting( x, y, TileTerrain )
{
//If I'm already stuck in a wall at this point, try and move me down to get below a semisolid
//If I'm still stuck afterwards, that just means I've been properly "crushed"
//Also, don't check too far, we don't want to warp below walls
var _maxPushDist = 10; //fastest move downwards
var _pushedDist = 0;
var _startY = y;
while place_meeting( x, y, TileTerrain) && _pushedDist <= _maxPushDist
{
y++;
_pushedDist++;
}
//forget my floorplat
myFloorPlat = false;
//if I'm still in a wall at this point, take me back to start
if _pushedDist > _maxPushDist { y = _startY; };
}
//check for crushing
if place_meeting( x, y, TileTerrain )
{
image_blend = c_blue;
}
//Mach Running
//Sprite Control
//Walking
if xspd > 0 { sprite_index = walkSpr; };
if xspd < 0 { sprite_index = walkSpr; };
//Not moving
if xspd == 0 { sprite_index = idleSpr; };
//In the air
if !onGround { sprite_index = jumpSpr; };
//Falling
if !onGround && yspd == termVel { sprite_index = fallSpr; };
//Crouching
if crouching { sprite_index = crouchSpr; };
//crawling
if xspd !=0 && crouching { sprite_index = crawlSpr; };
//set the collision mask
mask_index = idleSpr;
if crouching { mask_index = crouchSpr; };
​
Draw event
draw_sprite_ext( sprite_index, image_index, x, y, image_xscale*face, image_yscale, image_angle, image_blend, image_alpha );
​
Functions
function controlsSetup()
{
bufferTime = 3;
jumpKeyBuffered = 0;
jumpKeyBufferTimer = 0;
}
function getControls()
{
//Direction inputs
rightKey = keyboard_check(ord("D"));
rightKey = clamp( rightKey, 0, 3 );
leftKey = keyboard_check(ord("A"));
leftKey = clamp( leftKey, 0, 3 );
downKey = keyboard_check(ord("S"));
//Action inputs
jumpKeyPressed = keyboard_check_pressed( vk_space );
jumpKeyPressed = clamp( jumpKeyPressed, 0, 1 );
jumpKey = keyboard_check( vk_space );
jumpKey = clamp( jumpKey, 0, 1 );
//Jump key buffering
if jumpKeyPressed
{
jumpKeyBufferTimer = bufferTime;
}
if jumpKeyBufferTimer > 0
{
jumpKeyBuffered = 1;
jumpKeyBufferTimer--;
} else {
jumpKeyBuffered = 0;
}
}
function semiSolidCheck(_x, _y)
{
//Create a return variable
var _rtrn = noone;
//we must not be moving upwards and then we must check for a normal collision
if yspd >= 0 && place_meeting( _x, _y, TileSemiSolidTerrain )
{
//create a DS list to store all colliding instances of TileSemiSolidTerrain
var _list = ds_list_create();
var _listSize = instance_place_list( _x, _y, TileSemiSolidTerrain, _list, false );
//Loop through the colliding instances and only return one if it's top is below the player
for( var i = 0; i < _listSize; i++ )
{
var _listInst = _list[ i];
if floor(bbox_bottom) <= ceil( _listInst.bbox_top - _listInst.yspd )
{
//Return the id of a semisolid platform
_rtrn = _listInst;
//Exit the loop early
i = _listSize;
}
}
//destroy ds list to free memory
ds_list_destroy(_list);
}
//Return our variable
return _rtrn;
}

Some albums have grown on me, and others I really liked upon first listen but didn't end up sticking with me. I think I may have been overly harsh with the Nirvana album, which I have revisted since then. And while I thought happy monday's was awesome the first time I heard them, I feel almost no desire to listen to them now.
Worst to best
Oar - Alexender spence- 1
Can't help but feel this album made the list due to the mentally unstable- genius romanticism. But this isn't Brian Wilson making Smile.
There are moments that album show's some potential, but it is so half-assed in it's production and performance that it makes it very difficult to listen to.
I don't enjoy listening to someone having a mental breakdown, it's just sad
Cheap Thrills Big Brother & The Holding Company 2
Average sounding blues/rock band with a singer who stands out.
Listening to a song or 2 with can be enjoyable given the sheer power of Janis Joplin, but can't make up for songwriting and instrumentation which doesn't sound particularly good.
Listened to about half the album, before I got tired of it.
Cross Justice 2
Found this grating to listen to, was disappointed because I expected more from this album
The Bones Of What You Believe CHVRCHES 2
Catchy, well done pop.
The voice sounds so neutral, that it doesn't express any emotion at all to me, the music has it moments but tires fast as it doesn't swing. Ultimately it's well done but sounds sterile to me.
Dare! The Human League 2
Not offensive but not memorable, which I think is among the worst things an album can be. Other albums might be harder to listen to, but have interesting moments that stick with me.
Bat Out Of Hell Meat Loaf 2
I respect the ambition to create this, but don't enjoy listening to it
2. Rem Automatic For The People R.E.M. 2
While I really like some of REM's songs, I found to chord progressions to be relatively uninteresting, and the album doesn't have the attitude or transcendent performance to make up for it.
I have to admit though, that I don't think I gave it a deep listen, and that my opinion might change if I do
Siamese Dream The Smashing Pumpkins 2
Instantly recognizable as a band. They found their space in the scene and I understand their popularity. The songwriting is alright, and the band also sounds tight.But I just can't tune into their music, stylistically the production sounds too crisp. Corrigan's voice is grating and the songs don't stick with me. I appreciate the fact that the lyrical themes are dark, in a way that seems genuine. But it's easier to relate to that if you dig the music (which I experience when I listen to Alice in Chains)
The Colour Of Spring Talk Talk 3
Interesting elements, but couldn't really get into it
A Little Deeper Ms. Dynamite 3
Decent album, first artist I hadn't heard of at all from the generator. When I heard "Dy-Na-Mi-Tee" I thought I might be in for a banger of an album. But it turned out to be the best song on the album.Very of it's era, both in it's production/performance and lyrical themes.There are occasionally pretty original arrangements and Ms.Dynamite is a very good singer, I can understand why it resonated at the time it was released but can also understand why it isn't viewed as a classic album all these years.
The Village Green Preservation Society The Kinks 3
Global reviews
Good melodies and guitar-work, with at times clever lyrics.
Also interesting that each song is a character study.However this nostalgia for all things traditionally english (which I and most people can't relate to at all) , and it clearly taking place in it's time gives it character but also dates it.(The Beatles have kind of similar themes in songs like Penny Lane, but the visuals / story-telling and central themes are so good that it makes it universal and timeless)
To me the album is imaginative and upbeat but simply sounds kind of dated, and doesn't transcend in such a way that I feel really compelled to revisit it again beyond a couple songs.Would give it 3.5 stars as I thought it was pretty good, but not amazing
Hotel California Eagles 3
While the Eagles are one of the best selling bands of all time, it's notable that they aren't really loved by the younger generations. Certainly not at all the way Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin or of course The Beatles are
They do almost everything very well; they all are very strong instrumentalists, the harmonies are on point, they have good musical chemistry and occasionally can churn out a strong lyric. Morever if the rest of the album was as strong as the first two songs the album would merit a really high rating, but the album decreases in quality (mostly songwritingwise) after that. And exposes the fact that The Eagles can be cheesy and boring at times. Still "New kid in town" and particularly Hotel California are fantastic songs fully deserving of being classics. Try and love is alright as well.
25 Home Is Where The Music Is Hugh Masekela 3
I appreciate his influence in South Africa as a jazz pioneer, but I didn't find the album particularly inspiring. The playing is solid and grooves, and there are high moments but I don't have the feeling that this is something I have to revisit
From Elvis In Memphis Elvis Presley 3
By 1969, Elvis had lost a lot of his cultural relevancy. With the Beatles and psychedelia taking over.Just as Sinatra wasn't welcoming to Elvis, when Elvis became huge. Elvis put down the Beatles (remarking to Nixon that they were a bad influence)His move to las vegas where his act was once too risqué is an indication that he was no longer the cool rebel but rather a symbol of times past.Still Elvis, rather than change stylistically to keep with the times sticks with what he knows .Vocally he sounds fantastic and the backing band sounds great too.The album does drag a little bit though, and doesn't seem to acknowledge the incredibly interesting changes happening at the time in popular music. At times it swings but at others it sounds dated. The guitar's bass and drums sound earthy and great but the string arrangements sound cheesy.Rather than listening to the whole album, I might re-visit specific songs.
Daydream Nation Sonic Youth 3
I admit I went into this with a bias against Sonic Youth.
They seemed to me to be the definition of style over substance, and they seemed like they viewed themselves as the coolest people ever. (See their interview with Nardwuar) Already in the first song I could hear that they were pretty innovative, as they sound like a 90s band despite the fact the album was made in the 80s. I could hear how the instrumentation(particularly the guitars) influenced great bands and albums (Loveless, The Bends) I would say they sound like an assortment of important 90s bands, but in reality I guess many 90s bands sound like them. Despite that, listening to the album confirmed some of my prejudices; the spoken word sections are meaningless and pretentious. The social critiques (lyrically) sound really basic and the album is excessively long. Still there are really interesting moments musically, particularly in the instrumental sections. The music sounds raw and at the same time very clear and layered. It sounds DIY but sophisticated and even when it's noisy and wild they create an interesting atmosphere.
3.5/5 because while it's innovative and interesting, it has it's drawbacks and to my ear's doesn't have that much replay value.
MTV Unplugged In New York Nirvana 3
Was expecting more from this, based on the couple songs I had heard in the past.Part of the appeal of Nirvana is the fact that they combine really catchy almost pop-ish melodies with explosive instrumentation that has a genuine edge. Kurt Cobain can sing the living hell out of a song, and his voice has a yearning, an anger and delicateness which puts all of Nirvana's elements together.The issue I have with the unplugged, is that a lot of songs don't hold up as well in the acoustic format. Songs like "Come as you Are" "I'm on a plain" lose of all their thrill factor and don't hold up well enough as compositions to excel in that context. Others though, like "All Apologies and Something in the way" lend themselves better to an acoustic format. The stand out of the show is Leadbelly's "Where do you sleep at night" where Kurt Cobain delivers an incredibly heart-felt vocal.The album attained a legendary status, in part because seeing the top grunge icons of the day (especially one so punky) playing acoustic with a really beautiful setting was no doubt really interesting at the time, and Kurt Cobain's pre-mature death gives seeing such an intimate performance an added dimension.If you take out Nirvana's status as grunge legends and all the mystique that exists around them, what you have is a band with an exceptional singer that doesn't sound it's best in an acoustic format.
8 Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches Happy Mondays 4
Very funky and original.Well performed and produced, even though its at times deeply layered you can hear every element clearly and it's never overloaded.The lyrics are fun and catchy too.Particularly excellent guitar playing and bass playing. Lastly, making good happy music isn't easy, and they really pull it off so there's that too
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs Marty Robbins 4
Global reviews
Very good storyteller, the songs are basically like short stories.And the music is really enjoyable to listen too also
Third Portishead 4
A very hard album to rate.Full of dissonant chord changes and melodies, hypnotic arrangements/loops. The singer captures isolation and trauma almost uncomfortably well.
The lack of emotional diversity (it almost all sounds isolated/alienated to me) hurts the replay value of it, this is an album to listen to when in a specific mood. I also think it's a very good album to listen to in small doses. There's a ton of interesting ideas and arrangements and they certainly accomplish what it is they seemed to be going for (capturing said isolation)
3.5 stars for the many fresh interesting ideas, I don't feel good giving the album 3 stars (seems to low for such a well executed album) but 4 seems excessive given that I didn't enjoy listening to the whole album much.
Going to give it 4
Do check out individual songs though
Machine head, Nylon Smile, We Carry on
Surrealistic Pillow Jefferson Airplane 4
Somewhat inconsistent album, and sometimes to hippy-ish.
But the standout tracks are really amazing.
I love the poetry of Today and particularly of Comin Back to Me, just beautiful songwriting.
As well as the power of Grace Slick and catchiness of Somebody to Love.
Interesting production choices too, what an insane amount of reverb on the drums. Sounds like someone is playing far in the distance.
The band plays well, has two very good singers (who compliment each other perfectly) and the songwriting is at times amazing. That trascends any weaknessess the album may have
Joan Armatrading Joan Armatrading 4
Really good songwriting, which in my mind is one of the most valuable and hardest things to find in music.
Younger Than Yesterday The Byrds 4
A rare example of an album who's second half is much stronger than the first.
The Byrds are at their best when they go introspective and personal. Everybody's Been Burned is beautiful and mysterious song with a lyric that reflects on the nature of love. Crosby's odd phrasing works perfectly in the song making it sound like he has deeply meditated both emotionally/spiritually on whether it is worth it to become vulnerable in the face of love with inevitable brevity and pain that certainly comes with it. Mind Gardens is also a fantastic song with with reflects on coping mechanisms in a very fresh and different way. The song builds perfectly along with the lyric, holding you the whole time.
There are times where the Byrds can sound just pleasant and not particularly interesting or deep, but Crosby's compositions elevate the album and give it a different dimension. It's a shame the album consists mostly of other writer's compositions. Most of the album is a 3, but because it has a couple incredible songs I'm going to round up to 4
Best songs: (in order)
Everybody's been burned
Mind Gardens
My Back Pages
Renaissance Fair
Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan 4
Bob Dylan goes electric, with a fantastic backing band (The Band)
What's interesting about Bob Dylan (from a lyrical perspective) is how the lyrics seem at once polished while simultaneously seeming like a total stream of consciousness. The lyrics sound good, the story-telling is amazing (and at many times funny) and yet something about his delivery and perhaps his willingness of veer off course narratively (though he always finds his way back) make it seems fresh.It's an interesting contrast with Leonard Cohen, who's lyrics sound totally perfect and thought-out. Dylan instead comes across as kind of wild and unpredictable (Cohen can be unpredictable too in his words, but everything seems pre-meditated) While with Dylan it's like fuck it, "the sun's not yellow it's chicken!"
The first song is a masterpiece, just incredible story-telling. Every line is piercing, and often clever and devastating. You feel mixed about the once-rich main character who was fucked over by a diplomat with a siamese cat, yet was oblivious to inequality and suffering when they were well off.
Tombstone blues is fantastic too, so fun and stimulating.
Musically the album has it's high points but is less interesting than it's lyrics with some songs in my opinion being almost a little boring. The Band sounds better playing their own songs.
However the high points are awesome, so I think 4 stars make sense. 5 stars lyrically, 3 stars musically.
Vol. 4 Black Sabbath 4
Black Sabbath are one of the central pioneers in the metal genre, while
Beatle song's such as Helter Skelter or I want you or Jimi Hendrix's Manic depression were also very heavy it's Black Sabbath that puts the whole package together. The low end heavy and at times dissonant riffs, the iconic imagery, the often times dark lyrical themes. What sets Sabbath apart though from other metal icons is their versatility, the drummer's funkiness, the authentic vulnerability of Ozzy's lyrics on songs like changes. The riffage of Tony Iommi sometimes leading the way to beautiful almost celtic sounding ballads. This is pure metal, darkness explored in a way that is meaningful and real. Not the cartoonish "edgy-ness" of later bands, nor the dick-measuring contest of who can shred faster or play louder. Heavy, funky and at times beautiful
4.5 stars
Ellington at Newport Duke Ellington 5
The band sounds so crisp, sharp and sexy. So full of life, big band music at it's best
42 The Dark Side Of The Moon Pink Floyd 5
Pink Floyd's greatest album.
I also gave Exodus by Bob Marley a 5—
And didn’t review Sade- Diamond life but really liked it too.

"When you’re dealing with the menopause, or perimenopause, it’s useful, I think, if you’ve “done some drugs” in your life. I know this runs counter to what is still, societally, our conception of the menopause – something that happened in 1962 to Ena Sharples, which she referenced only by mouthing “troubles down below” to Minnie Caldwell – but, as the acid house generation now begins its own voyage into ovarian cessation, I feel we are better equipped to deal with it, simply because of all the drugs we took.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a while. The last time I got spliffed up on some hash or weed, or dropped a wobbly egg (I think these are the terminologies; it’s been a long time), it was 1997 and still acceptable to wear bootcut jeans. But I can still remember what a comedown was like. The day after doing Ecstasy, when you can feel the drugs leaving your body, hour by hour, and the list of things that you felt inclined to do last night – dance, talk, laugh, jump off a wall because it was funny, kiss and hug people, shout, “I LOVE YOU!” at strangers, because, in that moment, you really do – gradually gets smaller and smaller, until you want to do none of those things any more.
Men’s midlife crises involve a motorbike, a tattoo or remarrying. Women get PhDs
Now, all you want to do is curl up in a ball and concentrate on feeling terrible. You enter a phase of regret. Your synapses, having been bathed previously in lovely, warm, syrupy rushes of serotonin, have now run out of serotonin and all that’s left is cortisol and adrenaline. You might feel a bit angry. You definitely feel woeful. Why is everything so awful now? Have you wasted your entire weekend? Christ, everything feels so effortful. Why must there be a bad bit? Why does the world look so bleak? Everyone loved you when you were a happy, dancing lady. But no one wants to go near the sad, crying woman now. She keeps talking about how doomed the planet is. She’s no fun any more.
And, as with the payback for two days of Rhubarb & Custards, so with the payback for fertility. As I have realised with my ongoing reproductive shutdown, the main thing that’s happening is: you’re not on drugs any more. Since the age of 13, when my ovaries cranked into action, I have been regularly bathed in oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. You can wikipedia what these hormones/drugs do – and their functions are many, varied and amazing – but now my body is essentially running out of them, I can tell you what their primary effect is. They make you a bit stoned and lovely. That’s my scientific analysis. The hormones of a fertile woman just make you… nicer. All those gendered clichés about women – that we’re kinder, gentler, more patient, more encouraging, more self-sacrificing – that’s because we’re kind of high on nature’s sexy Valium. We’re all a little bit off our actual tits. We’re pleasant company. You like hanging out with us.
When you are of childbearing age, it’s sensible that your hormones make you generally forgiving because small children are, quite regularly, terrible people, and keeping Mummy just a little bit tipsy and philosophical on shots of warm oestrogen prevents many, many children from being told, “Go to your room and don’t come out again until you’re 18.” And, as with dealing with the constant low-level ass-hattery of small children, so with being able to deal with the constant low-level ass-hattery of bad bosses, thoughtless partners, needy friends and society itself.
Ah, everyone’s trying their best, you will think, as your ovaries pump out those feel-good hormones. I’m sure things will get better, in time. I’ll just calmly fold up and put away all these tiny socks and booties and put on a pie, and by the time I’ve finished, I’m sure the world will be smashing.
However, as your perimenopause gathers pace, you experience what I can only describe as increasing sobriety. The hormones disappear and you don’t feel drunk any more. A fertile woman’s life is Friday night, 8pm. A peri or menopausal woman’s life feels like Sunday morning, 11am.
Suddenly, the poor behaviour of other adults comes sharply into focus, as you deal with your hormonal hangover. You don’t have any “lady forgiveness” left in the tank. You don’t continue to presume that things will “just get better, in time” because you’re now in your forties, or fifties, and can see they haven’t. You’ve changed, massively. Your body’s turning into an entirely new thing, but the things that felt unjust when you were 17 are still here at 45 and you start to realise the monolithic things you’re up against. The pay gap. The career slip involved in having children. The second shift. Emotional labour. Sandwich caring. The gender imbalance in politics and business.
You’re still trying to feel proud of your decision to spend your years keeping the house nice, supporting others, baking and cleaning and feeding and smoothing over difficult situations, but you’re starting to realise there’s no medal for all of this. No one was keeping count. You can’t cash in any aspect of those thousands of hours in exchange for social status, increased job prospects, shares or early retirement – the things the men in your peer group are starting to enjoy.
Like someone in the midst of a regretful and anxious hangover, you start to ask yourself: have I made a fool of myself? Have I wasted my time? While I was drunk, did I… did I make a mistake? Would I have led the life I did if I’d been… clean? You start to feel fearful that you have made unwise decisions. And scared people get angry. Menopausal women, now suddenly sober, get angry.
Of course, this is the cliché of the suddenly furious menopausal battleaxe, that somehow the menopause has “made her angry”.
No. It’s that the menopause has stopped her being so blithe and forgiving. It’s uncovered her actual personality and thoughts, underneath all the hormones. This is a very important distinction.
It’s almost like being a teenager, but in your late forties
Female anger (and rage) is fascinating. Because it is largely absent in young women, it’s presumed that it’s unfemale, something women will never do. If an older woman gets angry, people often react as if there’s something temporarily wrong with her – “Calm down, dear”; “Someone’s having a moment”; “Is the HRT wearing off?” – rather than realising the truth, that this is who she is now. Older women, as the months and years go on and their hormones dwindle ever more, settle in to their newfound anger and realise it will be a permanent part of who they are now.
Men, of course, not having been bathed in oestrogen, have had their anger all their lives and so are used to it. For a menopausal woman, though, it’s a new experience. At first, we struggle to deal with it. It’s almost like being a teenager, but in your late forties. You are suddenly dealing with massive waves of negative emotion on a scale you’ve never experienced before and you can be a little ungracious as you learn to handle it. For those around you, it’s disconcerting to find a previously placid woman suddenly raging about shit she was fine with two years ago and demanding change. These can be years of great upheaval in nuclear families: teenage children whispering, “Mum’s turned into a total bitch,” husbands distressed by their wives suddenly shouting about equality and feminism and “everything being different from now on”.
You don’t want to run a household any more. You don’t want to be endlessly encouraging, loving and kind. Who, when sober, does? You meet up with your coven of similarly menopausal friends, all of you stoking each other’s fires of outrage and talking about how you will spend the next 30 years of your life, not in service to others any more, not doing the invisible work that is taken for granted. You are, as you head slowly towards your pension, rebelling.
Yes, you are having a midlife crisis. Yes, all of this is underpinned by a growing awareness of mortality, of being more than halfway to the grave.
If I finished this column here, it might end on a slightly discordant note. Without context, it looks, just a little, like middle-aged women regretting their previous 20 or 30 years and wanting to start again. But what we have to remember is that men have midlife crises too – and what do they do, around this age? What do we observe as normal for men? Well, their midlife crisis is either to relive their adolescence again – the motorbike, the tattoo – or to have their thirties and forties again by remarrying a younger, still oestrogen-drunk woman, having a second family and posting things on Instagram like, “It’s sweeter the second time around.” Men don’t have a distinct, separate third act. Largely unchanging in their hormonal set-up from birth to grave, they tend either to repeat the first or second act again.
Women, however, unable to repeat their second act because their fertility has ended, have to work out a new third act. Physically and emotionally, we are something else and so our third acts tend to see the formation of entirely new lives. We get into hillwalking. We found charities. We start meditating. We garden. We get PhDs. We learn to tango. We start our own businesses. We get involved in campaigning. We buy a lot of wind chimes and put them up in the garden, despite the fact the neighbours hate them.
What we do, in fact, looks a lot like what people who’ve successfully completed rehab do.
Please don’t get me wrong. We feel protective and loving towards all those young women out there who are still high on oestrogen. There is no looking down on them, because we were, inescapably, them and, in time, they will be, inescapably, us. But this third act – angry when we need to be, sober, new – feels like there’s no comedown at the end of it.
In fact, if it were possible, I’d sell it to you, outside clubs, for £20 a pop."

HTTP Request Name: EnvoiEmailTest Server Name or IP: exemple.com Method: POST Path: /api/envoiEmail Body Data: { "email": "utilisateur%40exemple.com", "password": "motdepasse123" } Content-Type: application/json 

HTTP Request Name: TestMotDePasseInvalide Server Name or IP: exemple.com Method: POST Path: /api/authentification Body Data: { "username": "test%40exemple.com", "password": "incorrect" } Content-Type: application/json 

So I'm in Bye Bye Birdie for the first time. There are SO many references that I feel like I had to do research to figure out. I can't believe how much I miss of the references and context. The only place I found these compiled was this text-based personal website last dated 16 years ago, and even then it's only a few (though really key ones!) and some of them don't show up in my 2024 copy - I wonder if they were pared down. Regardless, figured I'd make a context and reference list based on the copy I have!
I can't fit it all in one post, I exceed the text limit, so we'll start with Act 1 with general context stuff and the second post will be Act 2 only :)

Context

How Dated Was the Musical When Released?
Bye Bye Birdie is famously a direct reference to Elvis Presley getting drafted in 1957 and the stir it caused. But note the musical was written and published in 1958, and went on Broadway in 1960. It's like if a musical went on Broadway this year (2024) about a blonde-haired pop star named Tay-lee Quick (instead of Taylor Swift) who performed a world tour, but didn't initially book any dates in Canada, causing a massive outcry, leading to several Canadian officials and the president "Justice Troodoo" to beg her to stop there and... something else silly happens involving her, then she gets punched by a jealous girlfriend, and silliness ensues.
That is how on-the-nose this musical really is. There are many references to what would have been VERY modern events in this musical. For that reason, I'll try to give some equivalences of how the references in the musical would sound if it was written today.
Elvis' Perception in America
This extensive Wikipedia article does a great job of saying in many words that Elvis was insanely influential and deeply controversial. 1956 was a major year of stardom for Elvis -
Phone Calls
Phones are obviously a huge part of this musical! Wanted to combine all the phone references here.
Kim's Phone Number: Kim's number is, according to Rosie in Act 1, Scene 1, "Capitol 7 - 8820". In the 50s, the previous system which used 6-digit phone numbers started to be replaced by one that used an "exchange prefix" and 5 digits after. (Source) (Source) At the time, phone numbers that didn't connect to anyone were given out for shows like I Love Lucy, so that may be what happened here as well, though I don't know.
One Phone Line to Share: Kim's mother asks her to get off the phone early in the play so she can take a phone call. For a long time before cell phones, each home had a "home number" and you couldn't use it at the same time. This is why Kim's mother is asking her to finish up her call so she can call someone and eventually get a phone call as well.
Picking Kim's Number: Rosie uses a rolodex she randomly flips through to pick Kim - which would have been very standard in the 1950s.
The Operator Trying to Get Through: Calls were pushed through using real people, usually women, plugging lines into a "switchboard" to connect them manually. So when Kim's mom says the operator has been trying to get through for nearly three quarters of an hour, she's been trying to not get a busy signal when manually connecting the lines for 45 minutes! That's dedication!
Mr. MacAfee Frustrated with Long Distance Calls: Cost of international calls at this time was per-minute - so calls to New York, Chicago, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Hong Kong would have cost a pretty penny - over $100 for the first 3 minutes in a similar estimation! It sounds like Conrad and Albert didn't really offer to cover this cost, so you can see why Mr. MacAfee is so cross.
Getting Pinned/Going Steady
"Going steady" referred to, in short, being exclusive with someone. "As Time reported in 1957, "Boys and girls who go steady dance together exclusively (cutting in is frowned upon), sip their sodas, absorb their double features and spin their platters in each other's company or not at all. Steady-going girls indicate their unavailability in various ways, [like] the old-fashioned fraternity pins." (Source) It's mentioned in other sources that this could also be school pins, or rings. Something to show your commitment. One of the heads of my production described it like a "promise ring". It's definitely a firmer promise and commitment then just going out with someone, but not quite an engagement.
However, why, if this is such a sweet gesture of romantic love and commitment, would everyone be freaking out about it, and Kim's parents potentially not reacting well to "getting pinned" or "going steady"? (Kim has a line where she exclaims to her mother that she thinks her dad took the announcement "awfully well"). Truth be told, going steady in high school was actually highly discouraged by adults and especially church at the time. This article/Reddit thread sheds some light. I'll copy the first comment here by u/Gfrisse1. "It was felt that going steady would encourage the relationship to develop into one of physical intimacy, something parents wished to avoid. On the other hand, dating a wider, more diverse number of individuals would give them the experience of being exposed to a greater number of character and personality types, thereby helping to hone their mate-selection skills for later on. In the meantime, the short-term relationships were not expected to get much beyond the first- or second-date stage of intimacy. (One-night-stands, or casual hook-ups were not as common-place as they are today.)"
Cigarettes/Age
There are many references to smoking, cigarettes, and how old you should be in this play. It's complicated, but just know that in the 1950s, EVERYONE smoked. Everywhere. In the early 1950s, though, the first studies were coming out with the link to lung cancer, and tobacco companies used every trick in the book to try to squash that. It's genuinely fascinating (and terrifying) how much money and strategy was poured into this misinformation campaign. Read about it here. Anyway, what this means is in the late 1950s, it's not like most were giving up smoking, but because tobacco companies had started more explicitly advertising to minors, several states were in debate about the smoking age. It varied from 21 to 16, but just know that Kim was not considered old enough to be doing it. (Source.)) However, MANY minors did. Think of it like underaged drinking today as the best analogy. There's some specific cigarette references that will pop up in specific scenes, but just know that's the standard.
Patriotism
Fresh(ish) off of the victory of World War II, which was filled with MASSIVE pushes for increased American patriotism (to the degree that Disney even got in on it!), love for the USA was very culturally acceptable and a way to show you were a good person! It was easy to rally around (especially if you ignored the growing civil rights movement of Black people trying to achieve equality, which many white people at the time were very happy to do until they could no longer ignore it - obviously, not touched on in this musical, but significant. Several racist references have been either removed or are requested to be removed by current versions.) But that's why we hear so many classic American anthems in this play!

References by Order of Appearance (Act 1)

Almaelou Music Corporation

This is the end of Almaelou Music Corporation!

Almaelou may very well be a parody of Aldon Music, which would fit due to its major success being in the late 50s, and it's influence in music written for teen girls at the time.
Arpege

Rosie: A five-dollar raise in 1954 and a bottle of Arpege last Christmas.

Arpege is a perfume that was released in 1927 and remained the best-selling perfume of well-loved fashion line Levine for decades. (Source) Albert is quoting a commercial tagline tied to the perfume that was very well-known at the time. It continued to be used in commercials for many years. (Commercial example). It was possible to see 1/2 oz bottles at the time (Source), but Albert gave her a laughably small amount at 1/16 of an ounce. You can still buy this perfume today!
A five-dollar raise in 1954. Secretaries in metropolitan areas could earn around $75 a week. (Source) A five-dollar raise bringing that to $80 a week would, ironically, be about a 1/16 increase in earnings. Also, Rosie is pointing out in an earlier line she has put in 90 hour weeks and hasn't gotten a raise in four years.
Modern example:

Rosie: My last raise was four years ago and you got me that jewelry from Kay Jewelers once
Albert: "Every Kiss Begins with Kay", Rosie. Rosie: Not when that "Kay" is a .25 karat discontinued friendship ring!

Music Business Bum Vs. English Teacher
This is related to the prestige of being an English teacher who is helping people learn a scholarly subject vs. the "seedy" music industry.
Ugga Bugga Boo

"When you wrote Conrad's last hit 'Ugga Bugga Boo' then I knew this was it/You were thru with English forever."

Ugga Bugga Boo is a real song released 1947. It's a comedy song, written by voice acting legend and radio host Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and many others) for his comedy radio show. I do wonder if Elvis had a song in this vein, as the Jetsons did a similar parody with an Elvis expy a few years later, but I couldn't find one.
Geoffrey ChauceWilliam Morris

"It was goodbye, Geoffrey ChauceHello, William Morris"

Geoffrey Chaucer is considered one of the greatest English writers, specifically poets, of all time. Born in the 1400s.
As for William Morris, this could be two references, possibly combining.
William Morris Agency was an incredibly famous music talent agency that would have likely been known by some audience members in the 1950s. They've represented tons of major talent. This is what I believe is the most likely reference given the song context.
However William Morris was a man also considered a legendary poet during his life, born in the 1830s. However, he also made wallpapers and textiles. After his passing, he became infinitely more famous in the public eye for his wallpaper designs than he did for his poetry. This is could be a dig at that Alfred could be great in the English world, but like Morris, his legacy will be for something "silly" instead. (Important to note that his works, both art and poetry, had great impact - and this may just be a coincidence reference, I don't know)
Bliss! Kiss! That rhymes! I wonder if anyone's ever used it before?
Many people had and have, this is a joke of him being unaware of current trends. Dean Martin had a #1 song in 1955 with this very rhyme for instance that audiences may have remembered at the time.
Dentifrice

Albert: Oh one last kiss; it gives so much bliss... what is your dentifrice! No, that's too clinical...

Basically, toothpaste. Which is, kind of, related to kissing? It could actually be a paste or powder for cleaning the teeth, though in the 50s it wouldn't have been the default way to refer to what you used it seems from my research, like in this commercial. May be a way to show off that Albert really does have an excellent English teacher level vocabulary!
A modern example may be "do you use fluoride? No, that's too clinical..."
"What's the story? Morning glory?"
This is most likely a reference to the song "What's Your Story, Morning Glory?" by jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald released in 1958, another topical reference. It's very possible Helen, the teen who says this line, would be aware of the song because Ella Fitzgerald in 1956 had released her "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book" album, her attempt to pull in a non-jazz audience. (Source on Ella's Discography)
"What's the tale, nightingale" is most likely an original line to match the "Morning glory" one, same with the hummingbird line.
"Go to a fancy night club and stay out after ten!"
A nightclub was different from what we think of today. Think tables and chairs, late night musical performances (not the NSFW kind), and in some of the most famous like the Copacabana night club, rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. And drinking, of course! Source on Nightclub Definition
18 in World War II

Mr. MacAfee: I am not an old man! I was 18 in World War II.

This is one that may get a bit better with time. WWII ended in 1945, but the play is in 1958 at the earliest. It's better to demonstrate with a modern example written for 2024. "I am not an old man! I was 18 when Facebook first launched." Not quite the same impact as WWII, but the timeline is similar. Essentially this is not a flex and just shows he definitely is old to a teenager.
No Smoking 'Till You're 14

Albert: Remember the Conrad Birdie Creed dear. No smoking till you're fourteen.

As mentioned in my blurb above, 14 was too young to smoke. A modern version may say "No drinking 'till you're 16" or something. Similar to the line "and stay out of the bar!" later on.
"Go down to Track 12"

Albert: Why don't you girls go down to Track 12 and I'll talk to her.

This is one of the many train tracks that must have run through this station. This station is located in New York, so it would make sense for there to be at least 12.
Wear your rubbers

"Keep your money in your inside pocket. Wear your rubbers. And eat a hot lunch..."

While "rubber" as slang for a condom definitely did exist in the 1950s, I believe it's far more likely Mae is referring to overshoes due to the context, though to be fair, I can't find a source to this being "official slang" besides casual mention in posts like these. Something tells me Mae is not randomly mentioning condoms lol.
A Plain G.I.

Albert: Proud to be a plain G.I.!

Mentioning this because it's faded away from current use and surged in usage most recently at WWII, this is just referring to being a soldier. (Source) Hence, G.I. Joe, if you're old enough to remember that.
Appealing for the Draft

Albert: And that's why he volunteered for...

Men were drafted to join the US armed forces until 1973. (Source)
Jerries

Albert: "Say Mr. Peterson," he cried eagerly, "Do you suppose I can get assigned to the front-line trenches? That way I'll be sure to get one of those dirty jerries..."

"Jerries" is slang for German soldiers and was most popular during WWII. The joke here is that WWII is over at this point - the enemies Conrad would be facing at this time would be the Vietnamese, not the Germans. When Rosie tries to correct him, he just says "whoever's dirty this time!".
2024 equivalent: "Conrad said 'Is there any way I could be placed on Seal Team 6? That way I'll be sure to get that Osama Bin Laden for sure!'" "Albert!" "...Or whoever the terrorist is this time!"
Rosie + Albert's "Origin Stories" for Conrad
Just a few references from Rosie's and Albert's stories in "Healthy Normal American Boy" that may be interesting.
Old Virginie - This may be known as a historical fact for people in Virginia, but Carry Me Back to Old Virginny was popular enough in the state of Virginia that it was the state song starting in 1940. In 1940, the version that became the state song had "Virginia" instead of "Virginny", but people watching the musical would definitely be familiar with the original version as this play was only 20 years later.
Indo-China - An eastern territory that got independence from France claim in 1954, and comprised Cambodia, Laos, and parts of Vietnam. Audiences would have been very aware of what Indochina was - according to Wikipedia, "The events of [Indochina getting independence in 1954 through the Geneva Convention and the political tensions of that between S/N Vietnam and other countries] marked the beginnings of serious United States involvement in Vietnam and the ensuing Vietnam War." (Source) Remember, that's the current war during the events of the play!
Dirty Hong Kong moon - We had a complicated relationship with Hong Kong in the 1950s-60s. Read more here. Though I'm not sure if this is meant to be a mis-insult like when Albert said "dirty Jerries".
A wire to New York

Another Reporter: I'll make sure we've got a wire to New York.

This is almost certainly setting up a telegraph communication to New York, which was still happening (though declining in popularity) by 1960. (Source)
I mean I really feel that girl

Conrad: When I sing about a tree/I really feel that tree!/When I sing about a girl,/I really feel that girl,/I mean I really feel sincere!

This isn't necessarily specific to the 50s or 60s but I think this joke gets missed because it seems so tame today. A huge part of Elvis' appeal was his explicit sex appeal at the time (in the form of - gasp! - hip thrusts!) so he's slipping in accidentally a reference to "feeling up" a girl%20for%20sexual%20pleasure) here. Yeah, that slang started in the 1930s!
Mr. MacAfee's Speech
Just know that this is a lot of great historical references, nothing specific to 1950 - 60.
Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan was the nationwide sensation that lead The Ed Sullivan Show, a TV program considered one of the most iconic of all time in US television history. You have to understand just how influential and huge the Ed Sullivan Show was at this time. It's genuinely difficult to think of an equivalent in 2024 - today, people get entertainment from tons of sources on the internet, TV, etc. but in 1960 there were THREE television channels. That was it. THREE. To be fair, there were many, many more radio stations that could deliver information and entertainment, but by 1960 it was a TV nation - as the Library of Congress says, "In 1950 only 9 percent of American households had a television set, but by 1960 the figure had reached 90 percent." The Ed Sullivan Show was well watched and well loved by all of the United States. (And Albert saying that they would appear on Sunday at 8:05 was right, as that's when it aired in real life!)
One reason Ed Sullivan is specifically picked is the absolute bombshell of a privilege to be a normal family on this show beamed in practically every household in the United States. But another is Elvis' relationship with the show. When Elvis finally appeared on the show in 1956, it set a record of the most-viewed TV program ever in the US. In fact, it still holds the record TODAY of having the highest share of TV viewers in all of television history in the US. No other TV program has ever had a higher percentage of people tune in vs. other stations. (I mean, that's helped by the fact that there were only 3 choices, but still!) So yeah - this was a cultural phenomenon that was easy to reference in this show!
Margo out of Shangri-La

Mrs. Peterson: She looks like Margo when they took her out of Shangri-La.

Going to take this one right from that personal website I referenced above!

In the 1937 [movie] "Lost Horizon)" [...] a group of travelers are stuck in a utopia called Shangri-La, somewhere in the Himalayas. One of the residents of Shangri-La is Maria, played by Margo), a Mexican dancer and actress. When the travelers finally escape, Maria insists on going with them. But outside the realm of Shangri-La, her youthful beauty can no longer be maintained and she reverts to her true age, causing her to die and her appearance to transform to the hideously withered, wrinkled features of someone who has lived way beyond a normal life span.

You can watch the movie free with ads here, if you're curious! Also, according to the synopsis, Maria never actually escapes Shangri-La. She just dies and "reverts to her true age". AKA looks very very very decrepit. I'm guessing this is more of an easy thing to misremember and better shorthand, though. See the face at 2 hr 3 minutes in abouts!
Suwannee River

Gloria: Mae, can you hum Suwannee River?

While this is a nice convenient copyright-free tune, it would definitely have been publicly known at the time. It had been sung at least partially by Bing Crosby, on the Honeymooners, etc. in recent years before the musical premiered. Unsure if this is what they were going for, but the original lyrics are racist - no wonder it was Mae's "favorite selection".
Ruby Keeler

(Stage direction) Gloria tap dances as Mrs. Peterson hums gaily. Sort of Ruby Keeler-ish steps with a lot of feet-slapping.

Ruby was a well known actress and dancer in the 1920s-30s (and then later after a break). Here's some footage of her dancing! Interestingly, in her early career she was cast in a musical called Bye, Bye, Bonnie. In a newspaper article review, it seems the plot wasn't very similar to Bye Bye Birdie, though it did involve someone going to jail. (Source)
The Touch System

Mrs. Peterson: I'll find you a typewriter (Exits) Albert: [TO GLORIA] Do you use the touch system? Gloria: Whenever possible.

Albert is just referring to the touch system of typing - basically, not looking at the keyboard while you type. Still relevant today, though not with typewriters, which were standard until the 1980s, so that fits here. Of course, Gloria is of course referring to, uh, something a bit more sensual. (Read: She wants to touch him and not like a friend.)
Kodak Ad

Sullivan: So remember: your surest way to the best in color slides is to insist on the new Kodak! And now, the young man you've all been waiting to see.

Just like media today, the Ed Sullivan Show certainly included ads. This included ad deals where Ed himself would promote a product, kind of like YouTubers do with "This video is sponsored by...". And, as you can guess, one of those products was Kodak cameras and camera related products. Kodak was still a huge brand at the time (there were not cell phone cameras as competition, so it was way more likely your home owned a camera or two), Kodak absolutely was sponsoring the Ed Sullivan show and had been for a few years (Source). Here's an example from the time period. What you may miss about this ad in the musical is that it's not actually advertising a camera! Cameras at the time required physical film be loaded into them, and wouldn't you know it, Kodak released a new high-speed color film in 1959! (I think this may be a coincidence, as Kodak had been selling color film for quite a bit before this) Yet another reference that's right on the nose of the current times (of the time)!
Wear it in good health

Albert: Who let that kid in here? Rosie: I did Albert. Albert: Rosie! Rosie: It's a sort of farewell present to you and Miss Rasputin. Wear it in good health.

Not invented in the 50s by any means, but this phrase really isn't used as much today I think. There's not really a deeper meaning here besides sarcasm that I can find - it's just wishing someone well. Obviously, the sarcasm is dripping here lol.
Dinah Shore

STAGE DIRECTION: ...as Mr. MacAfee throws a tremendous Dinah Shore kiss to the audience.

Dinah Shore was an actress and entertainer that had been popular for years at that point. Super interesting career if you want to give it a read. This is referencing her famous "Dinah Shore kiss" that she would give at the end of her show broadcasts and was a huge part of her brand. Here's an example!
Stay tuned for Part 2! :)

Finding Your Way in Appalachia: The Definitive Fallout 76 Quest Order Guide
Welcome fellow Vault Dwellers, this is a tweaked and added upon version of u/SuperPippo5111’s(https://www.reddit.com/useSuperPippo5111/) Finding Your Way in Appalachia: The Definitive Fallout 76 Quest Order Guide he made a while ago. I'm planning to update this guide when I can/feel like and, hopefully, eventually include every quest that's currently part of the game and added in future. If you have any complaints or something that I should add to the guide, please comment down below.
Steam Guide Version here (Steam gets updated first) : https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3237199626
Some general advice for new players:

• Whenever you enter an area it's possible that different repeatable events or daily challenges trigger. Feel free to do them if you like. They will give XP, loot, and usually points for the scoreboard.
• If you want to level up quicker try to increase your intelligence as much as possible (each point of intelligence gives +2.072% XP). Joining a casual team grants up to +4 intelligence. There's also a perk under charisma called "Inspirational" that can give you +15% XP at rank 3.
• Here you can plan your build and experiment with different card combinations. In this guide, I won't give you any premade build. You can experiment with your build in the beginning as it is possible to completely respec as soon as you reach level 20. There are many guides on Reddit and YT for builds if you're looking for one. I highly recommend AngryTurtle.
• If you level up, you can take perks from a different category than the stat you just upgraded (f. ex. I can upgrade my endurance but still take a perk from perception)
• If you dislike the Power Armor HUD, you can turn it off in the settings menu
• In the pause menu you can find daily and weekly challenges which grant points for your season pass level. Don't stress too much about those when you're just starting out and do them only if they don't require you to go out of your way too much. Later it will become easier to clear those challenges efficiently.
• If your screen gets too crowded with quests, then you can turn off the ones that are not important by going to the data tab in your pip-boy and unselecting the quests.
• Here is a post by with some more useful tips and another one by .

Disclaimer: This is just a recommended quest order for full immersion and is not focused on getting you to the endgame as fast as possible. Keep in mind that the optimal quest order in Fallout 76 can vary depending on the player's preferences and objectives. There is no one "correct" quest order, as some players prefer to complete the main storyline first, while others prefer to explore the world and complete side quests along the way. This is just my take on it. Also, you don't need to always stick with the quest order strictly. If you see an event on the map or other activities you'd like to participate in then by all means do whatever you like. You can always come back to the quests at a later stage.
Sometimes in notes I will mention that there is a unique gear tied to a quest, note that the level of the unique gear will vary with the current level of the player character at the time of quest completion. Because this is the only chance a unique gear can be obtained, it may be desirable to defer completing this quest until reaching level 50.
When you see an (S) or next to a quest this will mean that this quest is a side quest aka this doesn't need to be done right now it can be done whenever you feel like doing it as it shouldn't affect the main story in any way I have however put them in places I find as natural stopping points for these quests like when you’d naturally stumble upon them for example.
Key
Bullet Points • - These are representative of major task changes if an entry does not have one chances are it's because the task is in the general vicinity of your location and you can do them then and there.
(1/X) - Quest Stages, These are representative of the current stage of the quest you are on and can be found at the end of each line if applicable. I will add exact details later on.
(Optional) - Optional quest that you don’t need to do but are worth doing for extra rewards or story.
(S) - Side quests have nothing to do with the main story for the most part but offer good rewards
(A) - Ally quests Two allies, Sofia Daguerre and Beckett, offer unique questlines and an overarching story, at the end of which they can be romanced if one decides to pursue that option. This provides the player with a temporary XP boost, Lover's Embrace, upon sleeping in a bed with the romanced ally nearby. The other three allies (the raider punk, settler forager, and settler wanderer) only offer radiant quests.
(D) - Daily quests, offer the same quest every from when you did it the last time, can offer unique rewards
(E) - Expeditions, Expeditions is a PvE game mode of repeatable missions in Fallout 76. The mode takes players to explore and travel outside of Appalachia, and encounter NPCs and enemies along the way.
(R) - Repeatable Quests, These quests can be played as frequently as desired.
CHAPTER 1: THE FOREST

1. The Responders I

• Reclamation Day
• (Optional) Eject the Overseer's Log - Vault 76 from the terminal in her office before leaving the vault.
• Check out the newcomers outside of Vault 76
• Wayward Souls
• (Optional) Check out the isolated cabin on your way down to the Wayward
• Hunter for Hire (1/3)
• Tip: Place your camp close by Wayward and the Overseer's Camp and don't forget to pick up the Overseer's Log - C.A.M.P
• before heading to the "Relay Tower EM-B1-27" complete "First Contact" first and head to Flatwoods
• First Contact
• Pick up the Overseer's Log - Flatwoods
• Craft a Weapon (First Contact)
• Craft a piece of Armor (First Contact)
• Thirst Things First
• Second Helpings
• (Optional) Event: Fertile Soil
• Info: may not activate if you're on a public server as it has a 2-hour cooldown
• Pick up and listen to the Overseer's journal, entry 1 from inside the Vault-Tec Agricultural Research Center (Personal Matters) (S)
• (Optional) Find all the Survivor Story Holotapes in Flatwoods
• Hunter for Hire (2/3)
• Head to "Relay Tower EM-B1-27" and finish the quest

1. The Free Radicals

• Hunter for Hire (3/3)
• head back to Vault 76 and from there complete the rest of the quest
• (Optional) Find Jangles at "Tyler County Fairgrounds" once you get there
• (Optional) Claim Workshop at Tyler County Dirt Track
• Info: This is the only claim workshop I will list as there are 16 that you will naturally come across, but it is worth at least claiming them each once as there is a challenge to claim all 16 workshops for 80 Atoms.

1. Find Duchess' people

• Strength in Numbers (1/2)
• (Optional) Mine coal in Gauley Mine
• Head to Sutton to find the Overseer's journal, entry 2 (Personal Matters) (S)
• From Sutton follow the road to Summersville
• (Optional) Find jukeboxes to bring the music back to Summersville
• Strength in Numbers (2/2)

1. Crane's Treasure

• The Elusive Crane
• The New Arrivals (1/4)
• For now, just listen to the broadcast. We will come back to this quest at a later stage.

1. The Responders II

• Final Departure
• Note: Unique Weapon Somerset Special
• The highway up north will lead you to Morgantown Airport
• (Optional) Explore Morgantown Trainyard on the way and find the responder supply crates
• Find the Overseer's Log - Morgantown inside the Morgantown Airport
• Register for advanced Responder Training (Tentative Plans)
• Tentative Plans (S)
• Tip: You can move your Camp close by to build a Generator
• Note: Unique Armour Silver Lining
• Safe for Work (S)
• (Optional) Event: Collision Course
• Event takes place at the east landing zone of the Morgantown Airport

1. Morgantown

• Head south to Morgantown
• Find the Overseer's journal, entry 3 inside Morgantown Highschool (Personal Matters) (S)
• Find the Overseer's journal, entry 4 inside Vault-Tec University (Personal Matters) (S)
• Find the "Party Poster" either at the train station or on walls around the exterior of Vault-Tec University and attend the fraternity party
• Wasted on Nukashine (S)
• Info: You will need one Nuka-Cola Quantum for this quest which you might not have at this point. The quest will mark a Nuka-Cola Quantum location on the map but it will be pretty far away. You can either fast travel there by using other players' camps or nearby events or postpone this quest until we will go to this area later.
• Completing the quest will unlock the following repeatable daily quests which will unlock different recipes for beverages whenever you complete them. Although there's no need to do them at this point.
• Tipsy Taste-Test (D)
• Wasted on Alcohol (D)

CHAPTER 2: THE TOXIC VALLEY

1. The Mayor

• Tune into WGRF Grafton Radio (Bureau of Tourism)
• Head to Grafton and find the Overseer's Log - Grafton
• Speak to the Grafton mayor
• Go to Clarksburg and head to the Clarksburg Shooting Club
• Bureau of Tourism (S) (1/4)
• From there take the road northwest to "Wavy Willard's Water Park"
• Bureau of Tourism (S) (2/4)
• Contact Miss Annie
• Cold Case (S) (1/2)
• Note: Unique Weapon Perfect Storm
• you have to fast travel a bit back and forth for this quest.
• when you're sent to Grafton Dam you can put this quest on hold until a bit later.
• Head to "Black Bear Lodge"
• Bureau of Tourism (S) (3/4)
• Go back to Clarksburg and take the highway east

1. Pioneer Scouts

• Go to Camp Lewis
• The Order of the Tadpole (S)
• Info: This quest sends you to many different locations in Appalachia. Isn't necessary to complete this quest to advance the main story and even impractical at this time.
• You can finish this quest as you see fit. One of them is easily doable at this point as it is close by.
• Finishing the questline will unlock the large backpack
• Talk to Pioneer Scout Leader Pompy at the Kiddie Corner Cabins

1. Solving the Puzzle

• Go to Grafton Dam (south of Pioneer Scout Camp)
• Cold Case (S) (2/2)
• Go to "Prickett's Fort"
• Bureau of Tourism (S) (4/4)
• Note: Unique Armour Trail Warden
• Info: By now you should have run into some prison marshal Mr Handys in the toxic valley area especially around the Eastern Regional Penitentiary area if you have looted the Arrest Warrant holotapes off their body's this will begin the quest Falsely Accused.
• Falsely Accused (S)
• Note: Unique Weapon Civil Unrest
• Visit the Shelters Claim Center
• Home Expansion (S)

CHAPTER 3: THE ASH HEAP

1. Inoculation

• Travel to Sutton to talk to the Overseer
• The New Arrivals (2/4)
• After stage 2 which requires you complete An Ounce of Prevention we will be leaving this quest a while after that even as it operates under the assumption that you have met a character from later on (Rose) and this can take a while so do not worry, we will be coming back to it.
• Take the highway south and head to Charleston
• (Optional) At "Cows Spots Creamery" you can find a note on the corpse of Amy Kerry which is needed for a later quest.
• When you arrived at Charleston explore "Hornwright Industrial HQ" (The Motherlode)
• The Motherlode (S)
• An Ounce of Prevention

1. The Fire Breathers

• Go to the Charleston Firestation and collect Overseer's Log - Firehouse
• Into the Fire
• Note: Unique Weapon Anti-Scorched training pistol
• (Optional) Search Big Bend Tunnel for Survivors
• (Optional) Visit the Purveyor at "The Rusty Pick". It's not recommended to buy any weapons or armour.

1. Personal Matters

• Go to Rollins Labor Camp
• Narrow Escape (A)
• Info: This is the start of a pretty long questline revolving around an NPC, it sends you all across Appalachia, so we put this on hold after completing Narrow Escape for now until we advance towards the endgame as you will have travelled to all regions.
• You can have Allies in your camp by placing their associated item. When talking to Beckett at your camp for instance he will give you the next part of his quest.
• Head to Welch
• (Optional) Event: Battle Bot
• Find Overseer's journal, entry 5 (Personal Matters) (S)
• (Optional) Find Duchess's stash
• Go to Mount Blair
• (Optional) Claim Workshop at Mount Bair
• Learn how to activate the giant extractor
• Earth Mover (S)
• Info: Completing this quest requires a lot of materials and 30 minutes of defending a workshop. It's probably not worth doing at this point as you will need all the materials you can get for the next quests. I still included it here for the sake of completion. It's up to you.
• Find Overseer's journal, entry 6 (Personal Matters) (S)
• Complete Personal Matters (S)
• What Slept Beneath (S)
• (Optional) Event: Seismic Activity

1. Garrahan Mining

• Head to Garrahan Mining Headquarters
• Interact with the "Garrahan Mining Excavator Poster" if you haven't already to start the quest (Miner Miracles)
• Discover Garrahan Mining's Innovation (Miner Miracles)
• Miner Miracles (S)
• You will very likely not have enough Black Titanium and Nuclear Material. Black Titanium can be obtained by scrapping Miner Suit Scrap dropped by Mole Miners, and Nuclear Material by scraping the red Volatile Materials Boxes that are laying around in many locations around the Ash Heap. Here is a list of good locations for finding both:
• The Rusty Pick (Rooftop)
• Hornwright Air Purifier Site #01
• Belching Betty
• The Burning Mine
• Mount Blair Trainyard
• Mount Blair
• Welch
• All those locations are marked on the map guide in yellow. You can also find a Power Armor Chassis in some of them if you still need one.
• If you don't feel like looking for materials, you can postpone this quest and complete it at a later stage as it is not necessary for advancing the main story.
• (Optional) Event: Breach and Clear

1. Wild Appalachia

• Lying Lowe (S)
• Baa Baa Black Sheep (S)
• Note: Unique “Weapon” Pearly Peepers
• The Lowe-Down (S)
• Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (S)
• Note: Unique Weapon The Fixer
• Use an assaultron recall keycard at the cabin terminal (Event: Encryptid)
• (Optional) Event: Encryptid

CHAPTER 4: THE SAVAGE DIVIDE

1. Order of Mysteries

• Info: This questline is completely independent of the rest of the story and can be completed by itself whenever you would like to. I'm putting it here for the sake of completion and because it happens to be on the way to our next destination.
• Go to "Riverside Manor"
• Tip: If you haven't found the body of a young woman in a random encounter yet you can check this page and find one at those given locations.
• Into the Mystery (S)
• Initiate of Mysteries (S)
• Note: Unique Gear Veil of Secrets , Garb of Mysteries
• Novice of Mysteries (S) (1/2)
• Info: The following three quests can be completed along the way as we continue. Just activate each of them at the terminal, listen to the holotapes, search Cryptos for information, and hide them using your Pip-Boy for now.
• Chasing Shadows (S) (1/3)
• Forging a Legend (S) (1/3)
• You can already get the Swing-Analyzer from the Fabricator
• Prototypical Problems (S) (1/3)
• Note: Unique Gear Blade of Bastet, Voice of Set

1. The Whitespring Resort

• Overseer's log - Mountainside
• Go to "Whitespring Resort"
• Forging a Legend (S) (2/3)
• Obtain the sword, attach the "Swing Analyzer", and kill 6 different creatures.
• Tip: Keep this sword in one of your quick-slots and just kill enemies with it as you discover a new area with different enemies. The sword just needs to deal the killing blow.
• (Optional) Kill unruly golfer feral ghouls at Whitespring
• (Optional) Collect and hold Whitespring holotapes
• Responders Reborn
• Tip: If you're unlucky you will get sent to Cranberry Bog in this quest as it's a random location. In that case, you can either decline and change the server to get a different location, fast travel nearby "Watoga Emergency Services" using someone's camp or finish the quest at a later stage.
• Info: Completing this quest unlocks Expeditions that are not necessarily meant to be completed at your current level so you can skip on those for now except if you really want to see the new locations I have suggested below a place/time where each expedition could make sense this is at stage 26 and 28 but these can really be done at any time. Despite the difficulty, there is no timer on those missions so you can take your time exploring.
• Go to "Whitespring Station”

1. Rose

• Tune into Top of the World Radio Signal
• Go to "Top of the World"
• Collect Overseer's Log - Top of the World
• The Missing Link (1/3)
• Signal Strength
• Flavors of Mayhem
• Note: Unique Weapon Black Diamond
• Key to the Past
• The Missing Link (2/3)
• Retrieve the Uplink

1. The Mistress of Mystery

• Now you can finish up the remaining quest from the Order of Mysteries questline
• Chasing Shadows (S) (2/3)
• Obtain a HalluciGen gas canister from Garrahan Mining Headquarters if not already in possession.
• Tip: You can also complete "Miner Miracles" here if you didn't do so yet.
• Forging a Legend (S) (2/3)
• Kill 6 different creatures if you didn't already
• Prototypical Problems (S) (2/3)
• Novice of Mysteries (S) (2/2)
• Return to "Riverside Manor" and craft all three weapons using the Fabricator
• Chasing Shadows (S) (3/3)
• Forging a Legend (S) (3/3)
• Prototypical Problems (S) (3/3)
• Seeker of Mysteries (S)
• The Mistress of Mystery (S)
• Note: Unique Apparel Eye of Ra

1. Wastelanders

• The New Arrivals (3/4)
• At this point the quest splits off into needing to meet the leaders of the settlers and raiders hence why we waited this long as meeting rose would make sense as the overseer suggests you talk to her to help with meeting the raiders. You can do these next two quests in what order you want
• Here to Stay
• Strange Bedfellows
• The New Arrivals (4/4)
• Overseer, Overseen
• With Overseer, Overseen completed you will now have to side with either the settlers or raiders which will lock you out of rewards from the other side, make sure you want to walk the side you choose as there is no going back from this after reach a certain point, the lockout quests are called Siding with Foundation or Crater respectively
• It is suggested to do all possible faction quests without locking yourself out from the other route by passing Siding With... on either side to get yourself maximum rewards such as the Chinese stealth armor) with the settler's side of quests.
• It’s at this point that I suggest you leave this questline for now and continue the main story till the end after Event: Scorched Earth or at the very least till we get to Chapter 6 as in my mind you’d want to deal with the impending 2nd apocalypse before that could befall anyone at anytime than well anything else. At which point we will pick the quest line back up.

CHAPTER 5: THE MIRE

1. The Free States

• The Missing Link (3/3)
• Early Warnings
• Note: Unique Armour Stand Fast
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Free States
• An Organic Solution (S)
• Note: Unique Weapon Daisycutter
• Reassembly Required
• Coming to Fruition
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Charleston
• Crash Landing (A)
• Info: This is the start of a pretty long questline revolving around an NPC, it sends you all across Appalachia, so we put this on hold after completing Crash Landing for now until we advance towards the endgame as you will have travelled to all regions.
• Investigate Harpers Ferry (Tracking Unknowns)
• Investigate the gate terminal (Tracking Unknowns)
• Tracking Unknowns (S)
• Note: Unique Gear Pyrolyzer , Prototype hazmat suit
• Outside of Harpers Ferry two locations can be found the burrows north and/or south, head inside and a dead brotherhood member can be found nearby, grab the Burrows Mission Brief holotape to start the Waste Management quest.
• Waste Management (S)
• Note: Unique Weapon The Gutter (Craftable)
• (Optional) Kill a Wendigo while wearing a clown costume

CHAPTER 6: THE CRANBERRY BOG

1. Brotherhood of Steel

• Defiance Has Fallen
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Camp Venture
• Forbidden Knowledge) (R)
• You most likely would have picked up some Technical Data if you have been looting as you have gone along, this quest has the use for that and can give you some nice rewards.
• Recruitment Blues (1/2)
• When you can’t progress because you need “basic training” you will need to start the Back to Basic quest to continue
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Allegheny
• Start your training at Camp McClintock
• Back to Basic
• Pick up the Overseer's log - McClintock
• Recruitment Blues (2/2)
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Fort Defiance
• Belly of the Beast
• Investigate Watoga (Mayor for a Day)
• Reach the Mayor's Office (Mayor for a Day)
• Mayor for a Day (S)
• Note: Unique Weapon All Rise
• Note: Completion of this quest will allow the player character to move more freely through the town of Watoga without being attacked by the robots.
• (Optional) Clear out Watoga Civic Center
• (Optional) Investigate the Emergency Services Building
• (Optional) Clear out Watoga Emergency Services
• Breaking Radio Silence (S)
• Welcome to the Neighbourhood
• Info: This will begin the steel dawn questline this can be completed at its own pace as it is a self-contained story, but I will suggest waiting till after completing the main story I will put it where I believe is good but as mentioned it is self-contained.

1. Enclave

• Uncle Sam
• Bunker Buster
• One of Us
• Note: Unique Weapon Bunker Buster)
• Officer on Deck
• Note: Unique Armour Last Bastion
• I Am Become Death
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Site Alpha, Bravo or Charlie
• Info: Alpha, Bravo and Charlie all have unique logs I have just put them all as one for brevity's sake
• Pick up the Overseer's log - Nuke launch
• Death from Above! (S)
• Event: Scorched Earth

Hit the 40000 Limit
PART 2 : https://www.reddit.com/fo76/comments/1cii3pd/finding_your_way_in_appalachia_the_definitive/

TL;DR I'm in the process of working on a Fallout game/setting using the Mythras ruleset. In this post I will present my ideas so far and include a bit of my design thoughts and processes. This will be presented through headings, ranging from Skills, Careers and Perks. Feel free to critique and discuss ideas!
About me: My Mythras experience is not vast, but still adequate - I've also played BRP-engine games like CoC, Delta Green and Runequest for +5 years.
I do have access and have read Mythras Firearms as well as the Mythras Imperative. Me and my group(s) will also be playing using Foundry VTT, so some extra bookkeeping will be automated, mostly meaning that I am not super afraid of extra "bookkeeping mechanics".
My experience of the actual Fallout the Roleplaying Game by Modiphius has been of general disappointment, though it got some bits that I like. I'll use some wording and ideas from Modiphius' game when designing my own Fallout setting using the Mythras ruleset.
What am I looking for?
Help, tips and suggestions on the various mechanics of Mythras within the Fallout universe. In general, I would like to stay true to both Mythras and Fallout, though one would probably need to dismiss one in certain design situations.
Looking at the chapters/headings of this post, feel free to only comment on aspects you find interesting. There is no need to force yourself to read the whole post.
Why Mythras and Fallout?

• Skill-based
• Combat-focus
• Great system for cultures and cults/brotherhoods that fit well into Fallout's factions

Character Creation

Characteristics
It'd be great to have S.P.E.C.I.A.L.S but for simplicity we will stay with the Mythras or BRP base characteristics: Strength (STR), Constitution (CON), Size (SIZ), Dexterity (DEX), Intelligence (INT), Power (POW), Charisma (CHA).
Fallout otherwise have Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Agility and Luck. Five out of these seven have more or less a direct counterpart. Fallout's Luck and Perception will be partly covered by POW. Perception moves to become a skill.
Species/Origin
One needs not to be confined to just humans; I figure Ghoul and Super Mutant would be the go-to alternatives here aside from human. Additional alternatives would be Synths (3rd generation) or other robots like Mister Handy.

• Is it boring to just give bonuses and penalties to characteristics? Like +4 CON & -2 CHA to Ghouls, and +3 CON, +3 STR, +4 SIZ, -4 CHA, -4 INT to Super Mutants.
• This could also include some sort of ability, trait or bonus perk; like "Necrotic Post-human" or "Forced Revolution" per Modiphius' Fallout. Basically giving a bonus to Radiation resistance, prolonged lifespan, etc.

Pulp
How much of the Pulp Heroic character rules would you use? As of now, I only have double the Healing Rate, but might have to include other aspects also to make the game a bit less deadly.
The addition of perks will make characters more powerful. However, there is no magic that characters could benefit from. I would imagine characters will also benefit greatly from consumables and equipment in general.

Skills

While Fallout uses a smaller set of skills than Mythras and most percentile-based games, I think a mix would suit well. We don't want skill bloat, with too many skills overlapping or too many skills ending up being either useless or extremely situational. At the same time, having enough skills to let players feel like they can specialize and be the only one that covers certain skills is also a relevant approach.
I also would like to incentive the allocation of skill points into more niche skills such as Culture, Lore, Art, and Craft. This could be done by separating the pools of Professional and Standard skill points more during character creation.
In Fallout 4 skills were entirely replaced by perks. The Fallout 3 skill list includes: Barter, Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Explosives, Lockpicking, Medicine, Melee Weapons, Repair, Science, Small Guns, Sneak, Speech, Unarmed. New Vegas added a Survival skill. New Vegas also merged Big Guns and Small Guns into a Guns skill, with the design intention that there weren't any early game Big Guns to use. Big Guns would include Flamers, Miniguns, Missile Launchers.
Combat Styles are therefore something I would like your suggestions on. Should I handle Combat Styles more like traditional weapon types like in Call of Cthulhu, i.e., have Combat Style (Shotgun), Combat Style (Guns), Combat Style (Rifles), Combat Style (Swords), Combat Style (Blunt Weapons), etc.?
Right now I am working with the idea of having 5 Combat Styles + Unarmed. Them being Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Explosives, Melee Weapons, and Small Guns. Is Small Guns to broad (making use of all sorts of pistols, shotguns and rifles)? Is Explosives a redundant skill? Especially so that you would need Athletics to throw an explosive. Perhaps have Explosives as just a professional skill, used to disarm mines, craft and handle explosives, and general knowledge about explosives.
As of now, this is the skill-list, with standard skills listed as (S) and professional skills listed as (P), somewhat arbitrarily:

• Acrobatics (P)
• Art (P)
• Administer (P)
• Animal Handling (P)
• Athletics (S)
• Barter (P)
• Barter (P)
• Brawn (S)
• Combat Styles: Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Explosives, Melee Weapons, Small Guns, Unarmed
• Craft (P)
• Culture (P) - ***Merged with customs. "***Useful for knowing social codes, rites, rituals, taboos for a particular society. Culture relates to societies that the character has either grown up in, or ones that is foreign to the character’s own. Each Culture skill must be given a particular faction, nation or society to which it applies."
• Decieve (S)
• Disguise (P)
• Endurance (S)
• Evade (S)
• Insight (S)
• Intimidate (S)
• Investigate (S) - To make Perception less impactful. " Useful for investigating a crime scene, finding information in a book or library, spotting secret compartments and inconspicuous clues, and recognizing symbols. Search for clues and make deductions based on the clues. Remembering relevant information from previous investigations. Find a piece of information, such as a certain book, newspaper, or reference in a library, archive or collection of documents, assuming the item is there. Researching by reading books or other documents may take several hours. If the player tells the GM what they do, how they do so, and what ability they use, they should automatically succeed if there is a clue hidden to be found if their Investigate skill is high enough. A failure on the roll can mean that a clue is found, but it leads to other unanswered questions or complications. An extreme success could mean additional context."
• Lockpicking (P)
• Lore (P) - "This skill represents a character’s expert understanding of a subject that falls outside the normal bounds of human knowledge, standard sciences and classic subjects. It can include the history of a particular town, or a specific social class, but should stray away from subjects that are covered by other skills such as Culture. Lore specializations can be more general, of which successful skill rolls will generate more generalized knowledge. Specializations of Lore can be specific and unusual versions of existing skills such as Occult and Survival; 2100s Lore, Brotherhood of Steel Lore, New Vegas Lore, Moon Landing Lore, Fiend Lore. Specific Lore specializations will generate much more accurate and specific information regarding that subject."
• Medicine (P) - Merged with First Aid as I believe consumables such as Medpaks and Stimpaks will be used frequently.
• Perception (S) - "Entails how well you use your five senses. Observation and perception of threats and dangers. Discover ambushes, dangerous obstacles, or even notice visually strange things about people on a high success. Could be used to listen and detect scents too."
• Persuade (S)
• Pilot (P)
• Repair (P)
• Science (P) - This skill determines the chance to successfully hack computers. It could also include general scholarly knowledge of scientific subjects.
• Sleight of Hand (P) - The go-to 'thievery' skill.
• Stealth (S)
• Streetwise (P)
• Survival (S) - Like Medicine and Science, Survival might cover a bit too much for a single skill. "Proficiency at cooking, making poisons, and crafting "natural" equipment and consumables. Also yields increased benefits from food. Knowledge of this skill provides the expertise required to survive in extreme environments. Inherent is the knowledge of hunting, building shelters, hazards (such as the avoidance of poisonous plants), etc., according to the given environment. A character can follow a person, carriage, or animal over earth and through plants/leaves. Factors such as time passed since the tracks were made, rain, and the type of ground covered may affect the difficulty level. The go-to hunting skill. This skill could also be used to traverse the wilds or set simple traps. In neighboring, yet unfamiliar locations or biomes, Survival should be made one or more grades harder."
• Swim (S) - Perhaps redundant. Maybe just use Athletics, Endurance or something else instead?
• Willpower (S)

Culture

There are a number of cultures, but five basic types: Urban, Wasteland, Militant, Criminal, Nomadic. Any other name suggestions for these?
It could be relevant to try and differentiate Cultures with Cults/Brotherhood. Would "Vault Dweller" or "Brother of Steel" be more of a Culture or Cult/Brotherhood?
Urban
Urban would be the 'Civilized' one.
Culture/Lore: NCR, the Enclave, New Reno, Vault City, Shady Sands, etc.
Standard Skills: Insight, Persuade, Willpower; and four of the following: Brawn, Deceive, Endurance, Evade, Investigate, Perception.
Combat Style: Any.
Professional Skills: Art (any), Barter, Craft (any), Lore (any), Science, Streetwise.
Cultural Passions

• Nominal democracy – de facto fascism
• American exceptionalism
• The American Dream
• Rule of Law
• Freedom

Wasteland
Wasteland would be the more rural or tribal survivor.
Culture/Lore: Boomers, Children of Atom, Children of the Cathedral, Megaton, etc.
Standard Skills: Evade, Nature, Persuade, and four of the following: Athletics, Brawn, Deceive, Endurance, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Stealth, Survival.
Combat Style: Any.
Professional Skills: Animal Handling, Administer, Art (any), Barter, Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Repair, Streetwise.
Cultural Passions

• Never trust outsiders
• Unify all people under a single banner
• Eliminate the unfaithful from the world
• Ensure the safety of the tribe

Militant
Militant could include Caesar's Legion as well as the Brotherhood of Steel.
Culture/Lore: Brotherhood of Steel, Caesar's Legion, etc.
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Endurance, Evade, and three of the following: Deceive, Insight, Intimidate, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Combat Style: Any.
Professional Skills: Art (any), Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Pilot (any), Repair, Streetwise.
Cultural Passions

• Preserve advanced technology
• Ensure the long term stability of the faction
• Stand firm to your ideals
• Hate an enemy faction/culture

Criminal
I'm thinking raiders here mostly. This kind of overlaps a bit with most other cultures.
Culture/Lore: Fiends, Jackals, Khans, etc.
Standard Skills: Athletics, Evade, Nature, and four of the following: Barter, Brawn, Deceive, Endurance, Insight, Intimidate, Perception, Stealth, Survival.
Combat Style: Any.
Professional Skills: Art (any), Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Lockpicking, Repair, Streetwise.
Cultural Passions

• Make someone pay
• Hurt people
• “Omerta”
• Keep your friends close
• Chase the big bucks

Nomadic
This would be the more 'lone survivor' culture, or nomads traveling in small bands.
Culture/Lore: Commonwealth, Mojave, etc.
Standard Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Evade, Survival, and four of the following: Brawn, Deceive, Insight, Nature, Perception, Willpower.
Combat Style: Any.
Professional Skills: Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Art (any), Barter, Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine.
Cultural Passions

• Always keep moving
• Don’t stand out
• Loyalty to the clan, faction, leader
• Love (friend, sibling, romantic lover)
• See new places

Fame & Infamy (Reputation)

One major and great aspect of the Fallout games is the reputation you can gain from various factions.
"Fame is positive and Infamy is negative. Both types of reputation are tracked separately, the combination of which determines one's reputation with any given faction. The benefits and drawbacks of any given reputation depend on the group itself. The characters may receive discounts with merchants, provoke attacks from hired thugs, or simply be treated differently.
Points are accumulated by various means. Completing quests, helping people, and generally making oneself useful will result in accumulating positive reputation points. Negative reputation can be earned by things such as killing members of a group, being caught stealing, lying, being rude or treating people poorly, betraying the faction or completing quests for the opposite side."

Careers

With this list of careers I would like to cover most (if not all) professions in the wastelands. Is there a career you think is missing or should be renamed? Is there a career who should have their skills switched around?
Agent (Assassin, Detective, Informer, Spy)
Standard Skills: Combat Style (Small Guns or Melee Weapons), Deceive, Evade, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Stealth.
Professional Skills: Acrobatics, Culture (any), Lore (any), Disguise, Sleight of Hand, Streetwise.
Bounty Hunter (Assassin, Mercenary, Soldier of Fortune)
Standard Skills: Brawn, Combat Style (any two), Evade, Perception, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Barter, Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Streetwise.
Cook (Apothecary, Bartender, Barkeep)
Standard Skills: Combat Style (Unarmed), Endurance, Evade, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Survival.
Professional Skills: Survival; and any of the following: Art (any), Craft (any), Medicine, Sleight of Hand.
Courier (Messenger)
Couriers sometimes travel very long distances to reach their targets. You can be sure that travels are always dangerous.
Standard Skills: Combat Style (any), Endurance, Evade, Investigate, Perception, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Barter, Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Repair, Science, Sleight of Hand.
Crafter (Builder, Artificer, Artisan, Handy-man)
Standard Skills: Brawn, Endurance, Insight, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Craft (any); and up to two of the following: Barter, Science, Sleight of Hand, Repair.
Cultist (Guru, Hermit, Priest)
Standard Skills: Combat Style (any), Endurance, Insight, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Lore (any); and up to two of the following: Art (any), Craft (any), Science, Repair.
Doctor (Physician)
Standard Skills: Endurance, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Medicine; and up to two of the following: Craft (any), Science, .
Entertainer (Acrobat, Dancer, Musician, Poet, Singer)
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Deceive, Evade, Insight, Persuade, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Art (any); and up to two of the following: Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Barter, Culture (any), Lore (any), Sleight of Hand.
Farmer (Gardener, Herder, Hillbilly)
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Combat Style (any), Endurance, Perception, Survival.
Professional Skills: Art (any), Animal Handling, Craft (any), Culture (any).
Hermit (Nomad, Radio Host, Wanderer)
Standard Skills: Athletics, Combat Style (any), Endurance, Evade, Perception, Stealth, Survival.
Professional Skills: Survival; and up to two of the following: Barter, Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Repair.
Hunter (Forester, Poacher, Ranger, Scout, Trapper)
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Combat Style (any two), Investigate, Perception, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Survival; and up to two of the following: Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Repair.
Merchant (Broker, Caravan Merchant, Money Lender, Smuggler, Storekeeper, Trader, Vendor)
Merchants are the primary source of items and equipment in the wastelands, aside from scavenging or looting from dead enemies. Merchants usually specialize in a certain area such as weapons and ammunition, food, armor, and clothing. Some merchants, such as scavengers or traveling merchants, carry a wide variety of items. Merchants operate out of either fixed stores or are part of traveling caravans.
Standard Skills: Combat Style (any), Deceive, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Persuade, Survival.
Professional Skills: Barter; and up to two of the following: Art (any), Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Repair, Streetwise.
Official (Dean, Minister, Overseer, Steward, Tax Collector)
Officials are appointed or elected to an office, charged with some administrative duty.
Standard Skills: Combat Style (ranged weapon alternative), Deceive, Insight, Investigate, Perception, Persuade, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Administer, Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any).
Officer (Deputy, Sergeant, Sheriff)
Officers have a leading role in military or pseudo-military outfits. They can be police, military, criminal – self-proclaimed or appointed.
Standard Skills: Athletics, Combat Style (any two), Intimidate, Perception, Persuade, Survival.
Professional Skills: Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Streetwise.
Politician (Advisor, Conspirator, Courtier, Delegate, Diplomat, Sycophant)
Politicians serve as rulers, advisors and policy makers for settlements, factions and governments.
Standard Skills: Deceive, Evade, Insight, Intimidate, Perception, Persuade, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Administer, Barter, Culture (any), Lore (any), Streetwise.
Scavenger (Rover, Survivor, Trader)
Scavengers scour the ruins of the Great War looking for valuables to use or sell.
Standard Skills: Combat Style (any), Endurance, Evade, Investigate, Perception, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Barter; and up to two of the following: Culture (any), Lore (any), Repair, Streetwise.
Scientist (Engineer, Programmer, Scribe, Technician)
Standard Skills: Insight, Investigate, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Science; and up to two of the following: Lore (any), Medicine, Repair.
Servant (Captive, Slave)
Standard Skills: Endurance, Evade, Insight, Perception, Persuade, Survival, Willpower.
Professional Skills: Animal Handling, Art (any), Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Repair.
Soldier (Knight, Mercenary, Ranger, Trooper)
Standard Skills: Brawn, Combat Style (any two), Evade, Endurance, Perception, Survival.
Professional Skills: Culture (any), Lore (any), Medicine, Pilot (any), Repair.
Thug (Bodyguard, Boxer, Henchman, Mobster, Raider)
Thugs often work for a criminal operation. Sometimes they work independently as thieves, pickpockets and muggers, always looking for a victim.
Standard Skills: Brawn, Combat Style (any two), Endurance, Intimidate, Perception, Survival.
Professional Skills: Animal Handling, Craft (any), Culture (any), Lore (any), Repair, Streetwise.
Thief (Bandit, Burglar, Pickpocket, Swindler)
Standard Skills: Brawn, Combat Style (any), Deceive, Evade, Investigate, Perception, Survival.
Professional Skills: Lockpicking, Lore (any), Sleight of Hand, Streetwise.
Vault Dweller (Barber, Clinical Test Subject, Crematorium Operator, Fry Cook, Hairdresser, Jukebox Technician, Laundry Cannon Operator, Little League Coach, Marriage Counselor, Masseuse, Pip-Boy Programmer, Pedicurist, Shift Supervisor, Tattoo Artist, Vault Chaplain, Vault Loyalty Inspector)
Standard Skills: Combat Style (any); one of Deceive, Intimidate and Persuade; one of Evade or Endurance;one of Investigate or Perception; one of Stealth, Survival
Professional Skills: Art (any), Craft (any), Culture (any), Lockpicking, Lore (any), Medicine, Repair, Science, Sleight of Hand.

Perks

I've added a number of Perks trying to mostly be faithful to the original perks of the games. Characters can choose a single perk during character creation, than perhaps every other progression process.
Below is a selection of perks. Consider aspects such as balance and wording.

Perk	Rank	Requirement	Description
Action Boy/Girl	1	None	You gain one additional Action Point during the first round of combat.
↘️	2	DEX or INT 14	Instead of above, you gain one additional Action Point permanently.
Adamantium Skeleton	1	CON 13, non-robot	Your skeleton has been infused with indestructible metal. All your limbs Hit Locations receive +2 natural armor.
↘️	2	CON 15	When taking a Serious Wound to a limb, you roll Endurance twice versus the attack, taking the better result.
↘️	3	CON 17	All your limbs Hit Locations receive +4 natural armor (instead of +2).
Center Mass	1	DEX 14	Fire straight! When you make a ranged attack, you may choose to strike the target’s abdomen or chest location. Decide before you shoot. You do not need the ‘Choose Location’ Special Effect, but you may only do this once per Combat Round.
Educated	1	INT 12	As you learn, you grow. You gain one additional Experience roll during progression.
Gun Fu	1	DEX 13	You've learned to apply ancient martial arts to gunplay! When you succeed at a ranged attack with a gun, you may use that same level of success on a second target during the following turn but the same round. You cannot use any Special Effects on the second attack.
↘️	2	DEX 14	As above and increase the damage to the second target by +2.
↘️	3	DEX 15	When you succeed at a ranged attack with a gun, you may use that same level of success on a second and third target during the following turns but the same round. You cannot use any Special Effects on these attacks. Increase the damage to the second and third targets by +4 (instead of 2).
Inspirational	1	CHA 12	Because you lead by example, you and all your allies may reroll one Experience roll each during progression.
↘️	2	CHA 13	Your allies cannot harm you with attacks and can’t be harmed by your attacks.
↘️	3	CHA 14	You may spend 1 Luck Point to have an ally reroll an Endurance or Willpower roll.
Intense Training	1	80 % in at least one skill	Increase one of your characteristics by 1 point.
Light Footed	1	DEX 12	While sneaking, you never trigger mines or floor-based traps.
↘️	2	DEX 14, POW 12	You roll Stealth at decreased difficulty.
Mister Sandman	1	DEX 14	You are an agent of death. Your silenced weapons do an additional +1D4 in damage against surprised foes.
↘️	2	DEX 15	Your silenced weapons do an additional +1D6 (instead of +1D4) in damage against surprised foes.
Night Person	1	None	You are a creature of the night! Reduce any difficulty increase due to nightly darkness by one.
↘️	2	None	You gain +2 INT and POW during the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
↘️	3	None	You gain +3 INT and POW (instead of +2) during the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Pain Train	1	STR 15, CON 12	Choo Choo! All aboard! While wearing Power Armor and taking the Charge action, all enemies in your path have to roll an Endurance or Evade roll. On a failure, they take 1D4 damage + damage modifier and are staggered for one round. Robots and enemies with a combined SIZ+STR above 35 are immune to the stagger.
↘️	2	STR 16	The Endurance or Evade roll is made at one degree higher difficulty. The damage is increased to 1D6 (instead of 1D4).
↘️	3	STR 17	The damage is increased to 1D10 (instead of 1D6). On a failure, they are also knocked prone. Only enemies with a combined SIZ+STR above 45 are immune to the stagger.
Paralyzing Palm	1	Unarmed 70 %	Your unarmed attacks gain the ‘Paralysing’ weapon trait.
Quick Hands	1	DEX 15	In combat, there's no time to hesitate. The Load time for guns is 1 lower.
Shotgun Surgeon	1	Small Guns 50 %	And I started blasting. As a critical Special Effect, your shotgun shot can gain the ‘Armor Piercing’ trait.
↘️	2	Small Guns 75 %	When you take the ‘Maximize Damage’ Special Effect, the opponent also has to roll Endurance or become staggered for a round.
↘️	3	Small Guns 90 %	On a critical success, your shotgun shot automatically gains the ‘Bonus Limb Damage’ weapon trait.
Steady Aim	1	STR 12, DEX 11	Stay on target! Hip fire accuracy is improved when firing any ranged weapon. Whenever you spend a Luck point to alter your ranged attacks, you automatically gain the ‘Maximize Damage’ Special Effect.
Terrifying Presence	1	SIZ 12, STR 10, CHA 12	You may take two actions to make an opposed Intimidation roll against an opponent’s Willpower. On a success, the opponent flees in fear. They must move away from you during this round of combat.
↘️	2	One of SIZ, STR or CHA at least 15	When you roll Intimidation, you may reroll once.

Weaponry

I've always seen weapon descriptions from Mythras to be a bit lacking (or rather confusing for newcomers) when it comes to weapon traits and Special Effects. For instance, most bladed melee weapons in Mythras are listed to have either the Bleed or Impale Special Effects (or both), making one assume that they are restricted from other Special Effects.
I don't have a solution to this, though, and I wouldn't want to list every single Special Effect for every single weapon. Either way, below are some selected Weapon tables without any Special Effects listed.
All costs is in bottle caps and straight from New Vegas. At a glance, some weapons seem very overpriced or under-priced, but there are factors such as ammo scarcity and other properties that come into effect.
One Handed Weapons

Weapon	Damage	Size	Reach	ENC	AP/HP	Traits	Cost
Bowie Knife	1D8+1	M	S	1	6/10		1000
Cattle Prod	1D4	S	S	1	10/10	Fatigue Damage	450
Cleaver	1D3	S	S	1	5/4		20
Chopper	1D4+1	S	S	1	5/6		800
Combat Knife	1D6	S	S	1	5/8		500
Hatchet	1D6	S	S	1	4/6		75
Knife	1D3	S	S	-	5/4		20
Lead Pipe	1D8	S	S	2	6/8		75
Machete	1D6+1	M	M	1	6/10		50
Police Baton	1D6+1	M	M	1	6/12		70
Ripper	1D10	M	M	1	6/12		1200
Rolling Pin	1D3	S	S	1	3/3		10
Shishkebab	1D10	M	M	5	6/12	Immolate (1D3)	2500
Tire Iron	1D4+1	S	S	1	4/6		40
War Club	1D8	S	S	1	4/8		75

Small Guns (Pistols)

Weapon	Damage	Range	Firing Rate	ENC	Ammo	Load	Cost
.357 Magnum Revolver	1D6	50/100/200	1	1	6	3	110
.44 Magnum Revolver	1D10	50/100/200	1	1	6	3	2500
.35 Auto Pistol	1D8	50/100/200	1	1	7	3	1750
5.56mm Pistol	1D6+1	50/100/200	1	1	5	3	1200
12.7mm pistol	1D12	50/100/200	1	1	7	3	400
Hunting Revolver	1D8+1	50/100/200	1	1	5	3	3500
M&A 9mm Pistol	1D8	50/100/200	1	1	13	3	1750
N99 10mm pistol	1D8	50/100/200	1	1	12	3	750
Ranger Sequoia	1D8+2	50/100/200	1	1	5	3	1200
Police Pistol	1D6+1	50/100/200	1	1	6	3	1000
Silenced .22 Pistol	1D6+1	50/100/200	1	1	16	3	80

Other Stuff

Creating Cults/Brotherhoods from scratch is something I haven't had time to do thus far.
I've created a radiation mechanic that works like this: Eating and drinking most food items or entering an irradiated zone gives the player radiation poisoning, or ‘RADs’. Characteristics drop at certain thresholds, and radiation poisoning kills the character at 100 rads.
There are five thresholds (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 rads).

Rads	Level	Effect
0-19	No Effect	-
20-39	Minor Radiation Poisoning	-1 CON
40-59	Advanced Radiation Poisoning	-2 CON, -1 DEX
60-79	Critical Radiation Poisoning	-3 CON, -2 DEX, -1 STR
80-99	Deadly Radiation Poisoning	-3 CON, -2 DEX, -2 STR
100+	Fatal Radiation Poisoning	Death

Rad exposure is usually limited; only very rarely will zones be so irradiated that venturing into them results in a quick death. One needs to stand in +1 rad water for a significant time and more generally it is possible to move through radioactive water dozens of times before reaching the 20 rad threshold.
When exposed to radiation, per the GM:s decree a roll of Endurance should be made. The difficulty grade depends on the level of radiation. How often these rolls are made are up to the GM but in the table below there is an estimated period of which a new roll should be made.

Level of Radiation	Period	Difficulty	Effect (Critical, Success, Failure, Fumble)
Minor Radiation	Every hour of exposure	Easy	0, 0, 1, 3
Major Radiation	Every hour of exposure	Standard	0, 1, 1D10, 10
Critical Radiation	Every 20 minutes of exposure	Standard	0, 2, 1D10+1, 11
Deadly Radiation	Every 10 minutes of exposure	Hard	0, 3, 1D10+2, 12
Fatal Radiation	Every minute of exposure	Formidable	0, 6, 1D10+5, 15

Adding to this are ways to lower your radiation poisoning (paying a doctor, using RadAway, etc.), and having your Radiation Resistance improved through clothing, armor or chems.
I have more tables on this and that but reddit formatting is killing me.
TL;DR I'm in the process of working on a Fallout game/setting using the Mythras ruleset. In this post I will present my ideas so far and include a bit of my design thoughts and processes. This will be presented through headings, ranging from Skills, Careers and Perks. Feel free to critique and discuss ideas!
Edits: Formatting, added Characteristics summary.

I’m not sure how to accurately explain this, but i’m hoping you guys will get it. one of my BIGGEST pet peeves with straight guys/dating is that it seems so many straight guys don’t even care who they’re asking out, as long as she looks good. for example, if i met a stranger who was extremely sexy and was my type, i would still want to get to know his personality before sleeping with/dating him, doesn’t matter if he was the sexiest man i’ve laid eyes on. because i know that in a long-term relationship, being hot isn’t gonna make up for being incompatible.
straight men clearly don’t do this. especially the desperate ones. they are SO willing to just date any girl who is attractive without considering if she could be a weirdo. they see some girl in school or public and become obsessed and won’t leave her alone, without even knowing anything about her personality. it’s like, they aren’t thinking about having a human life partner, just a status symbol. i know this isn’t all of them, but enough where it’s like a societal problem.
Edit: i am not talking about approaching some random at the club and saying hey, i think you’re cute, let’s talk. that’s obviously okay because there was no way for y’all to know each other beforehand.
Edit 2; what i mainly mean is that i would def become friends with someone before asking them out so i can make sure he’s not a misogynist or violent.

So I'm not a tech reviewer, hardly even a simulation player - I own no special planes in DCS, don't have MS Flight Sim of any version. But I still fly - my Youtube Channel can attest to that. My game of choice is Arma 3, a combined arms milsim with a very basic flight system, so when I started shopping for a HOTAS setup, I didn't need the best of the best - just something accessible, with plenty of inputs and a few key details, while being flexible enough to handle both helicopters and airplanes (and hovercraft, and spacecraft... Arma 3 players know what I'm talking about).
A few years back now, I finally splurged on my first setup, grabbing a throttle from another user on this very subreddit. It paired well with my ancient ST290 flight stick from literal decades ago, but I wanted something fresh and new, and a quick search turned me on to an unusual offering.
Enter the VelocityOne FlightStick from - of all manufactuers - Turtle Beach. I knew them as an overpriced headphones developer, so seeing that they had a line of flight accessories was a surprise. I was lured in by the sheer amount of content offered, and the whispers of a full HOTAS setup coming down the pipes, so I bought in.
Enter Image One: The hybrid setup. A VelocityOne stick paired with a CH Pro Throttle, capped with a Logitech MOMO driving rig for foot pedals, an Aula H510 mouse for programmable buttons comma plenty of, and my phone haphazardly strapped to my head for brain cancer 5g covid activation headtracking using FreePIE and OpenTrack. If my desk setup doesn't tell the whole story, let this reinforce my statement: I'm not a pro, just an enthusiast.

The VelocityOne Flightstick

The VelocityOne turned out to be an almost perfect stick for what I needed; with 12 base buttons, two levers with detent inputs at the top and bottom, a hat switch and thumb stick alongside two more face buttons and a mousewheel/trimwheel, the VelocityOne provided more than enough inputs for what I needed. Its USB-C port means that there's no weak points to wear down - if you need, you can slap any cable in, and it's good to go.
The stick itself was responsive, with a strong spring - but therein lies one of the more common complaints. The build is light, with a nearly full plastic base and a wide but thin profile. Rolling didn't cause too many issues, but hard dives and climbs could cause the base to lift (in part because I'm too cheap to spring for a proper base, but basement wood is free). This never got me into huge trouble, but was always a conscious problem whenever a hard maneuver was required. Every time I had to make a sharp turn, I had to manually add extra pressure to keep the thing down.
Still, I considered this stick to be a great addition to my build. The benefits far outpaced the issues, even though the Gimmick kinda fell through... the Gimmick...
We'll get to the Gimmicks in a bit.

The FlightDeck

Anyways, time passed, and I kept my ears open. There was still that rumored HOTAS from Turtle Beach to keep in mind. And one fine winter day, I got a random newsfeed recommendation: The FlightDeck. Turns out, it was being reviewed and known about for around a month or so leading up to it's release. $400 was steep, but ordering it through the site netted me a little discount, and I had some coworkers and friends who I know now I can never trust to go drinking with, at least without calling the ER in advance.
So I bought in, and a few days later got my hands on my first complete HOTAS setup - Image Two.
The first thing I noticed was that the build was SOLID. A lot more metal went into this design with a much more developed baseplate, meaning the stick and throttle are far more stable. Which is good, since the throttle comes out the box very stiff, and the spring for the stick is still very strong. It maintains the FlightStick's USB-C port, a touch of modularity that I appreciate greatly.
There's little direct comparison between this beast and the FlightStick. Fewer base buttons, but more toggles and knobs; the FlightStick features five buttons plus four on the front in same layout as the XBox setup but without the stigma of platform design, two momentary and one toggle two-position switches (with the toggle between the two momentary and no visual difference between them), a lever with detent inputs, and a three position rotary knob.
On the stick itself, you're given so many inputs that JoyToKey can't even map them all. A pinky lever with a button at the full pull, a thumb hat and mid-stick button, a mousewheel, two top hats and a thumb stick round out far too many axises to keep track of for just one finger. They even included... the Gimmick.
I swear, we'll get to the Gimmicks soon.

The FlightThrottle

The other half of this build is a separate USB-C connected device - which on one hand, is a bit of a shame, it's be nice if it tied into the stick before going to the PC. But given the sheer amount of control required, and that it's not taking up any more USB ports than my older design, means I can't complain. It's more than heavy enough that even with the stiff motion of the controller, it hardly shifts.
And what controls! Three knobs with button function, one a double knob-nipple setup, and a lever with input-detents means the base alone has a lot of input options. There's even a big lit up FIRE button, though it's a bit unusual given it's location and intent, it's a nice eject button if needed.
The thumb-side of the throttle features a two position toggle switch, three buttons, a hat, a thumb stick, and a wheel input. The toggle is a bit unfortunately placed, it's a bit of a bear to pull back, but it's appreciated.
Finally, the front face features a four-way hat, a second wheel with a button underneath which may be hard to reach without beeeeg fingers, and two momentary toggles.
Summed up, thats twenty-odd direct inputs with four axes, three knobs, and a trimwheel. If you need to control something, you can plant it on here.
And then there's the big screen at the wrist of the device, that houses

The Gimmicks

Image Three holds the big jank itself, and the culmination of Turtle Beach's design philosophy for it's flight peripherals so far: The Gimmick.
The FlightStick featured a touch pad, meant for easy mouse control. It sounded like an excellent idea, you don't need to take your hand off the stick, just a quick brush of the finger for final finesse of an aim or access to a menu!
But I have big fingers, and the sensitivity of this input was never quite right. I had originally thought it was a nubbin, like laptops of yesteryear, but it turned out to be a square half-centimeter of plastic tucked between all the other controls. I ended up tying the thumb stick into mouse input using JoyToKey, and having far more luck with it. If anything, I wound up hating the little touchpad.
Turtle Beach would learn from their mistake, however! on the FlightDeck's FlightStick, the touch pad was replaced with a solid circle about an inch across, with a dedicated switch on the side to disable the mouse input altogether! Which shall remain fully locked in the Off position. The sensitivity is still just not worth it at all. At the least, it's an additional button.
But the biggest issue is the Touch Screen. The FlightDeck's FlightThrottle big addition was a touch screen input, touted for being programmable. And in a sense, it is! On top of on-device configuration menus, you get up to three screens of 13 buttons, which you can label and change the function of - temporary, toggle, scrolling, even different designs between them.
But the control is just that shallow. The inputs are locked. The first button on the first screen is Q. It will only ever input Q. Sure, with all three screens, you get more or less a second keyboard you can stumble through, but that's it - single keypresses tied to the keyboard spread. No Alt, no Ctrl, no Shift. No rebinding what input does what keypress. The design philosophy seems to be that you are expected to rebind your game's controls around your peripheral, instead of the peripheral around the game's controls. By the time I keyed out everything for Arma 3, I was left with only 11 useable buttons - out of 36. And I still have to switch between two screens to access them!
You can indeed tie your smartphone into the device, another heavily touted feature! But this just projects this same touch screen to your phone. So unless you have rebound your controls around single key inputs, this is still wildly useless, double so for me since I use my phone for head tracking.
I mentioned this in a tech support email to Turtle Beach, when I was having trouble figuring out the calibration of the thumb stick. Turns out, it's part of the Hangar One software though buried deep inside. The response to this huge oversight that hamstrings a key selling point for their hardware was 'Oh, cool, we'll pass this along'.

Conclusions

Turtle Beach's peripherals are a mixed bag. I enjoy them, they're solid builds with good aesthetics and plenty of inputs for anywhere from casual to hardcore simulation.
But they're banking hard on those gimmicks. Touch pads, touch screens, modular inputs, app tie ins... and they're always falling just short. Touch pads with useless sensitivity, touch screens that require you to rethink how you want to play the entire game, and inputs that are sorely needed and beautifully placed, but mechanically can't deliver.
I don't regret either of these purchases, ultimately - they hit that perfect spot for what I need. But shy of a big update somewhere down the line giving the user more utility out of the Gimmick, they feel like unnecessary addons that promised too much and delivered too little.

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

• Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US:
  under $1000
  
• Are you open to refurbs/used?
  

No, would prefer new

• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?

Decent battery life is fine, build quality is most important

• How important is weight and thinness to you?

bulky is an important factor for me, I need it heavy

• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

My last laptop was an 11" so the bigger would be better for me, 15" and bigger would be fine

• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

I don't game at all but I plan to in future so anything that doesn't make my laptop sutter

• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

60 fps at least

• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

mainly just looking for something with a lot of ram OR at least 16 gbs base that i can upgrade to 32 or even 64 later on if needed, also backlit keyboard is key, Display and build quality is a huge factor for me it needs to look breathtaking and feel heavy

• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

Backlit keyboard and plenty of ports are key factors in making my decision, I plan on breaking into my IT career with this laptop so something with decent battery life and speed would suffice for me but the screen and build quality is a huge factor in this process, it needs to be heavy and look breathtaking. I also don't game so that doesn't matter, also I plan on general use with it stuff like web browsing streaming and downloading movies/Tv shows . I'm very noobish on laptop/computers in general so please any advice helps! any advice on specs, storage and how to upgrade would be greatly appreciated!

https://preview.redd.it/m2zwvgi7u0yc1.png?width=302&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5bcfd062678b104c67b502ddd265db7549e0908
I just watched Cure for the first time and the film is deliberately open-ended and raises more questions than it answers, but I am still trying to work out the significance of so many scenes. I'd love to hear your takes on it. Obviously, there are massive spoilers ahead if you haven't seen the film.

1. What was with all the animals in cages? I know that the poor crucified monkey was somehow involved in the ritual, but why? Was an animal sacrifice somehow necessary to make the hypnotic suggestion work? Why?
   
2. What was with the cross symbolism? Why a cross? Does a cross have a significant meaning in Japan that I'm unaware of?
   
3. What was that weird black stuff in the water in the bathtub? The black water kept showing up. Was this supposed to be some sort of symbolism for evil or something? With water representing purity and black water representing our deepest, hidden desires?
   
4. Who killed Takabe's wife? Was it one of the nurses? Was it Mamiya who programmed the killer, or are we meant to infer that it was Takabe himself who hypnotised someone to kill her?
   
5. What does "cure" even mean? Is it meant to be the "cure" for disconnection from one's own deepest desires? Earlier in the film, Sakuma states that no one can be hypnotised to do anything that goes against their own morals. So, are we to believe that in being hypnotised, the subject then is "cured" enough to be free to act out their darkest desires?
   
6. Who was the original hypnotist from the old film taken from the university's archive? I wasn't sure who that was meant to be, and there was an air of mystery about it.
   
7. What was with the phonograph? Was the phonograph recording meant to somehow unlock some hidden talent in your brain to make you a master mesmerist? How?
   

I have more questions, but I know that's already a lot of questions, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

18+ for smut themes.
Hey there! I’m Septimus (M) And it’s nice to meet you!
Today I’m coming forward with the desire to RP as an OC in OC x OC or OC x CC harem based prompts.(I’m greedy, I know but what’s RP without wish fulfilment?)
For my replies I only write in first person and the length of my replies vary from a few sentences to a few solid paragraphs depending on how much is going on in a scene. I figured I’d put a fair warning here that if you reply with low detail, I won’t be rping with you. I’m not looking for a few words as a response. While that might be your thing, that's fine and power to you! It’s just not mine.
I’m someone who likes a nice balance of build-up and story to go along with the smut. I’m not the biggest fan of constant sex, or sex that starts within one or two replies. I also like cute dates and moments, and love to type out action driven moments. Of course this isn’t exactly applicable to every starter.
What I look for in a partner:
Third Person responses (Unless you're playing an OC among the harem)
Don’t take control of my character at any point. Self explanatory but if you write that he does something or has a reaction to something I didn’t write myself I’m not going to be rping with you. You usually get one chance with this and little to no warnings.
Active: I don't wanna be waiting a week for a single reply with no warning. I understand if you're busy outside of RP but please let me know so I'm not just waiting around and twiddling my thumbs. If I go a few days up to a week without hearing from you at all I'm going to assume you're no longer interested. This is once the RP has started. I hear nothing from you I will simply assume you aren’t interested unless you state otherwise. This is just me making sure my friends list isn’t cluttered and I’m not being ghosted. :)
Communicative: It kinda links in with the other but if you're not feeling the RP or you're busy. I'm not gonna get mad or anything I'm an understanding person! Also we don’t both need to be online to RP I generally go off the idea that we both reply whenever we’re able to and the other will get to it once we’re up for it/online.
Please for the love of god don’t spam me every 5 mins. Sending “Hellos?” “?”, ask me if I’m busy, or send a message, delete it and then resend it if I don’t reply right away. It comes across as extremely pushy. I’m not ignoring you if I don’t reply, I’m probably busy. And if I come back to a bunch of spam or keep hearing the notification noise while I’m trying to do something else, it annoys me. As it would anyone I’m sure. Spamming me is a quick way to get blocked. You get one chance with this and no warnings. Sending a bunch of ideas/thoughts about the RP is fine though.
Detailed responses: Anything just around a paragraph (4+ sentences though it depends on the RP AND my response.) is enough, but more is always very much appreciated.
I don’t do group RPS and I don’t play as female characters.
Now to get into the meat and potatoes, I’ll post my kinks and limits. There’s a lot there and not all of them will be applicable to the starters. Aside from Harems. Those are compulsory.

Kinks:
Harems – (Which doesn’t mean playing a bunch of characters at once. If you prefer to play 1 character per scene that’s fine, though the minimum amount of overall characters I’ll take in a harem/RP would be 4 though more is heavily preferred! This kink is currently compulsory for all my rps)
Outercourse (Which is stuff like titjobs, thigh jobs, grinding, hot dogging, that kinda thing), Risky/public spaces. (Places you can get caught but don’t. Toilet stalls, changing booths, that kinda thing), Facials, Freckles (Face and body), Big, nicely shaped bums (Especially if they jiggle… just an overall fan of the jiggle if I’m honest), Creampies, Cum on tits/body, big cumshots, thigh high socks, showewater sex (places like pools, showers, hot tubs that kinda things, and a Mutual desire for sex. I also don’t mind pubic hair as long as it’s not overly bushy, trimmed stuff is nice and preferred! :) I’m also into the rougher stuff. Things like Anal, rough sex. Choking, Spanking all that as well!
Limits:
Pregnacy, which also includes lactation (Hard limit, sorry), Vomit, Piss, Blood, toilet stuff, knife/gunplay, noncon, Gangbangs (reverse gangbangs with females is fine), non hetero pairings, Rimming/pegging, cartoonishly large proportions, NTR, (There could be more that I haven’t thought of, if you’re unsure feel free to ask)
There could be more that I might be into, that hasn’t been listed so feel free to ask about it and we can work something out. And without further ado let’s head straight into it.

I’ve made an easy access list for you to read through to see if anything piques your interest before you have to scroll through this abundant list.
Of course, due to reddit’s character limits I’ll just be posting a few of the starters below, so you can get a handle on my writing, any other ideas you might be interested in feel free to shoot me a PM and I can send those to you!

Anime/Fandom/Game Ideas:
Idea 1: My Harem (Hero) Academia.
Idea 2: One Piece.
Idea 3: Jujutsu Kaisen.
Idea 4: Fire Force.
Idea 5: Demon Slayer.
Idea 6: Attack on Titan.
Idea 7: Fairy Tail.
Idea 8: Naruto.
Idea 9: Bleach.
Idea 10: Fullmetal Alchemist
Idea 11: Chainsaw Man.
Idea 12: Sword Art Online.
Idea 13: Tokyo Ghoul.
Idea 14: Black Clover.
Idea 15: Darling in the Franxx.
Idea 16: Pokemon.
Idea 17: Avatar the Last Airbender.
Idea 18: DC Titans.
Idea 19: Spiderman.
Idea 20: Persona (Girls from 3, 4 and 5.)
Idea 21: Final Fantasy. (7/14)
Idea 22: Baldur's Gate 3.
Idea 23: World of Warcraft.
Idea 24: The Witcher 3.
Idea 25: League of Legends.
Idea 26: Cyberpunk 2077.
Idea 27: Apex Legends.
Idea 28: Overwatch.
Idea 29: Mass Effect
Idea 30: Harry Potter.
OC Ideas:
Idea 31: Scifi Space Crew. (Can be used for Mass Effect)
Idea 32: Bladebreaker. (Can also be used for Xenoblade 2)
Idea 33: Fantasy Harem Adventure.
Idea 34: Tokyo Demon Hunters.
Idea 35: Fallout/Nuclear Apocalypse.
Idea 36: Zombie Apocalypse.
Idea 37: Only man of the town.

Idea 1: My Harem (Hero) Academia.
(So for this one, my character will be a transfer into class 1-A. From Shiketsu. His power is that of Persuasion. With the power he’s able to convince someone to do something as if it’s their own free will. That being said he’s rather hesitant to use it on other people and due to the stigma around his quirk he’s been seen as an outcast and a freak and has been constantly harassed due to the nature of his quirk.)
(The idea I have for this RP is that the girls of class 1-A will help him come out of his shell and accept that his quirk isn’t the villainous thing that other people have led him on to be. This is more of a “Love Route” though I suppose a more selfish route is also available! Also if you wanted to branch out to internships with heroes like Mirko and Mt Lady that’s available too! It’s currently set after the training camp arc and will continue from there.)
Starter: It was a day which started like most others in Class 1-A. The students got ready in the dorms and headed to class to chat among themselves while they waited for Aizawa to enter. However, unlike most days there seemed to be an extra desk placed in the room. The seat caused some confusion which didn’t last long as the first bell rang and Aizawa entered the room.
“Morning everyone.” He stated in his mainly bored and sleepy tone which seemed to sound like he was stifling a yawn. “Today we’ve got a new student transferring in from another school. He’s from Shiketsu, some of you may recognize the name since it’s got the same level of prestige as U.A. but regardless, make sure he feels welcome.” He said, pointing a sweeping stare at everyone and finally resting on the problem student of the U.A class Bakugo.
With that he fell silent and I felt it was my cue to enter. Swallowing a little at the nerves I steeled them quickly and entered. Nervously my blue eyes sweep over some of the familiar faces in the room. Many of the students had standout performances in the UA sports festival and as well in the news reports about the villain attack on the training camp.
I had a lot to live up to if I wanted to join these legends in training but regardless, I was determined to do just that. Breathing a little and shifting my auburn hair from my eyes I smiled the best I could. “My name is Schwarzer, Chris Schwarzer. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I say bowing to the class.
Satisfied with the introduction, Aizawa nodded to the spare seat in the room. Taking that as an order I nodded back and headed over to my seat sitting down and getting my books out. Curiously I turned to the seat next to me noticing one of the girls in the class and gave her a slight smile as Aizawa began his lesson.

Idea 2: One Piece.
(I’m not so sure how I want to approach this one, however I’ll jump in and give it a go. Much like the MHA starter this character will have the power of Persuasion. Having eaten the Persua-Persua fruit. I’m thinking for now either he makes a crew with characters from the story, or he joins the Straw Hats and goes on adventures with them. (Obviously this doesn’t have to be canon and completely made up as we go.) Either way I’m super keen on this since I love One Piece to death. I also have a list of potential crewmates I can send!)
Starter: Adventure! Freedom, Treasure and Booze! These were all the things a pirate needed in life. And exactly what every pirate set out to obtain. Two years after the events at Marineford where Strawhat Luffy himself took on the government with an army behind him, and the Whitebeard Pirates at his side in order to rescue his brother… And two years since I felt inspired enough in his absence to set forth on my own.
I gathered up a strong crew and made a name for myself. My alias, Silver Tongue Schwarzer, is a nice title which rolled off the tongue. I had no issues amassing a sizable bounty at 90 million berries. While it wasn’t as grand as other pirates, the world government saw enough of a threat in my power to provide a bounty that large. Of course, had my powers been widely known it’d have rocketed higher.
So then why was I now sitting at a bar on the Sabaody Archipelago, alone and staring into the amber liquid of booze in a mug? It was simple. Mutiny. Those whom I had trusted most among my crew turned on a dime and after reaching the Archipelago they threw me overboard and turned around. To where I didn’t know and quite frankly after their betrayal I didn’t care.
“Damn them. Damn them all.” I muttered under my breath cursing as I downed the rest of my contents. “Another!” I called out to the barkeep who approached to fill my mug.
“You’re looking a little rough there, are you sure you need another?” The bartender asked as he took the mug from me.
“I don’t have anything else to do. I don’t even know what else to do with myself.” I responded grumpily. “Just fill it up.” I demanded.
“Right.” The bartender responded as he filled it with more of the alcoholic amber liquid and slid It in front of me.

Idea 9: Bleach
(So a new human soul reaper makes it into the soul society. His power isn’t great to begin with simply being enough to take out the average hollow. And with the resurgence of the hollow threat the Soul Society has offered to give him a substitute badge to take out those hollows deemed too small for the soul society to handle. Maybe he’s paired up with someone or someone like Orihime steps in to help him grow.)
Starter: Another boring day at university followed by a night of boring patrols. With all the big hollows being taken care of by “Full-fledged” Soul reapers it didn’t leave me with much opportunity to train against bigger enemies.
At least that’s what I thought originally. A few blocks from me there was a rift which opened up and the pure spiritual pressure that came from the hollow that stepped out of it was enough to make me feel as though gravity itself was pushing against me.
It was hard to breathe and even harder to stand as my hand clutched my blade in my left hand tightly. I shook my head as I heard the loud roar of the large breast and could even see its towering form from my position.
It was nothing close to a menos, but it was enough to tower over a three-story building for sure. “Damn.” I hissed to myself as I knew there were no soul reapers around at this stage. With a threat this big I was sure they’d come, but until then it was up to me to buy some time and make sure no humans or souls were consumed.
Pushing myself forward I reached the park that the Hollow had appeared in. Thankfully the park was deserted at this time of night.
When he saw me, the hollow let out a low growl. “You don’t smell like much, but you’ll do as a snack.” The hollow commented as it charged forward.
“Just evade, buy time.” I commented to myself as I began to leap around the battlefield looking a bit like and feeling like an idiot.
The hollow toyed with me a little while enjoying the chase before it seemed to get bored. Just when I was thinking I was fast enough to keep avoiding it the creature’s mouth opened and its forked tongue shot out at me with faster speed than I was anticipating. I raised my blade to defend myself but it was a feeble attempt and I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

Idea 20: Persona (Girls from 3, 4 and 5).
(So basically this is just gonna be a fairly interesting idea. My character along with the girls of persona 3, 4 and 5 get stranded in this strange dimension where they have to fight their way out to make it back to their own worlds.)
Starter: It all happened so fast. One minute I was in a team meeting with my group discussing what we should use our newfound powers for next. And the next second, I blinked and I was in some kind of strange room.
One by one more people were added into this room. Some of which were dressed in some elaborate costumes. And I frowned as I looked at each one of them, all of which I didn’t recognize at all and judging by their looks they didn’t recognize me. Although before we managed to introduce ourselves a booming voice broke the silence.
“Welcome all!” The clearly male voice commented. “To the room of my design.” He added on. “I’m sure you’re all confused. And no doubt you’ll want to return back to your homes. However, to do so you’ll need to enter my labyrinth. “Make it to the end and you’ll all return home.” The voice explained.
“Of course, this maze isn’t without its dangers. Enemies, much like you encounter on a regular basis will roam these halls. As well as beasts of my own design far stronger than those… Fear not though for every checkpoint you reach this room will become more furnished with amenities. For now, you simply have beds to rest on.” He said as there was an audible click and the dark room was suddenly lit up. Sure, enough there were rows of beds all lined up one for each person to sleep on.
“When you’re ready to test yourself, step through this door and enter the first level of the labyrinth.” He declared as a large door appeared and opened up in front of them.
For a while nobody said anything, probably all too stunned to even process the information.
“So, I’m guessing we’re all persona users given what he just said.” I spoke up. “I guess we should probably start with names and strengths, right?” I questioned the group. “I’m Chris Schwarzer.” I say. “My persona, Seraph focuses on ranged combat.” I explained.

Idea 21: Final Fantasy VII. (Others Can be done! :))
(So this one will be set in the world of Final Fantasy VII, however if you’re looking to do others, I’m more than happy to do so! I’m familiar with them all. Mainly 7 and 14 But this one will be focused on FF VII, since Jessie, Yuffie, Tifa and Aerith are best girls! If you wanted to mix this up with FF 14 and have them transported to Eorzea we can make something up!)
Starter: Midgar. Easy place to find work given you were capable enough. There were a lot of monsters prowling the highways between sectors and a lot of people willing to pay mercenaries to get the job done.
“Hiyah!” I called out as I cleaved my blade through the neck of a monster severing its head from the rest of its body and slaying it instantly. It was a tough fight but I overcame it. I panted a little as my muscles relaxed and I slid my blade back into its sheath. The job I was on was simple, kill the beast and return its head to a barkeep in sector 5. I scooped the beast’s head up into a burlap sack and hoisted it over my shoulder before I headed back to the bar.
By this point I was a rather well-known mercenary. Jobs exterminating monsters were easy to come by and easy enough to complete. Plus, the payout paid for my room and for most of my meals. As I entered the bar I headed up to the counter and placed the bloody burlap sack on the counter. “Got it done.” I say to the barkeep.
The older man, his hair and beard white with age frowned a little and looked at the bag. The blood splatter on the counter… which he had just cleaned was enough to let him know that I was serious and he placed the sack full of gil on the counter.
“Thanks.” I say as I picked up the purse. It was lighter than I expected, but even if it was short I wasn’t about to start an argument. In return to my manners, I got a short grunt back.
“Don’tcha forget about disposin of that thing, I ain’t want it.” He said waving his hand dismissively towards the bag.
“Right, I’ll get on that.” I say as I grabbed the sack.
“An there was a woman lookin for you.” He stated. “Said she’d be waitin for you in buildin next to the orphanage.” He stated.
“Right, thanks.” I said to the man and headed out, disposing quickly of the severed head in the sack before I headed up to the building in question. I frowned as I peered inside. My eyes looking around for any sign of someone out of place. It did seem a little crowded in the building after all. I was about to announce myself when I felt a hand tap my shoulder and turned to see who it was.

Those are by no means all of the starters and given the size limits of post limits I figured I’d narrow it down to some of the ones I like the most! Feel free to ask me about any of the others! Thanks so much for reading this and I hope to hear from some of you soon! :)