I want an application on my server (Ubuntu VPS on DigitalOcean) to know a secret key for various purposes. I am confused about the infinite regress of schemes that involve putting the secret key anywhere in particular (in an environment variable, in a config/env file, in the database, in a cloud secret manager). With all of those, if someone gains access to my server, it seems like they can get at the key in the same way my application gets at the key. I have only a tenuous understanding or users and roles, and perhaps those are the answer, but still it seems like for any process by which my application starts at boot time and gains access to the keys, and an intruder can follow that same path. It also makes sense to me that the host provider could make certain environment variables magically available to a certain process only (so then someone would need to log in to my DO account, but if they could do that they could wreak all sorts of havoc). But I wasn't able to understand if DO offers that.
In any case, please let me know your feelings about the following (surely unoriginal) scheme: My understanding is that the working memory (both code and data) of my server process is fairly hard to hack without sudo. And let's assume my source code in gitlab is secure. Suppose I have a .env file on my server that contains several key value pairs. My scheme is to read two or more of these values, with innocuous sounding key names like "deployment-date", "version-number" things like that. In the code, it would, say, munge a few of these values (say xor'ing them together), and then get a hash of that value, which would be my secret key. Assuming my code is compiled/obfuscated, it seems like without seeing my source code it would be hard to discover that the key was computed in that way, especially if, say, I read the values in one initialization function and computed the hash in another initialization function.
If I used this scheme, for example, to encode/data that I sent to the database and retrieved from the database, it seems like I could rest easier that if someone did find a way to get into my server, they would have a hard time decoding the data.

Hey everyone! I am looking for one more player to join a group I am putting together with some friends for a new campaign. I am looking for a fun, friendly player with an interest in roleplaying. The playtime would be every other Wednesday at 6 PM CST for roughly 4 hours, and we will be starting in June!
It is a 5e homebrew campaign set in a dark, high-fantasy world full of mystery, monsters, and tragedy with a focus on roleplay (quick synopsis below). Players will be starting at level 4. I can’t stress enough that if you prefer heavy combat and constant dungeon crawling, this is not the game for you. The campaign will still have combat, but the ratio is somewhere around 65% RP to 35% combat. I ask that all players write a backstory and elements of everyone’s backstories will find their way into the campaign itself. Because there is a roleplay focus, I ask that players make an effort to roleplay their characters, but we are all laid back, joke around, and break character, and we don’t expect everyone to be on all the time.
I have three other players and you will be the fourth and final of our group. Our ages range from late 20s to late 30s, so ideally I would like to find a player that is close to our age group. We use Discord for voice and Foundry VTT for our tabletop.
I have been playing various TTRPGs for about 14 years and I have been DMing 5e for about 6. I am friendly and laidback, and I do my best to be fair, open, and flexible, so if have something you want to suggest or need to talk about, I’m always open to listen.
Lastly, I am looking for a player that will be respectful of the other people at the table. This is an LGBTQ+ friendly group, and everyone is welcome. The group does not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia or other forms of bigotry and attacks on others will not be tolerated. Just be nice and a decent human being, and there shouldn’t be any issues.
Synopsis: Zul’Tara is a complex realm filled with magic, mystery, and untold secrets. Centuries ago the world was enveloped in a magical shroud known as “The Veil” that filtered the sun's light and cast the land into shadow. Its appearance triggered multiple catastrophes and forever altered Zul’tara and its inhabitants. Monster attacks have become more frequent, things that once only roamed at night move throughout the day, friendships and allegiances have shifted, and wars are regularly waged.
People are trying to live ordinary lives despite all the destruction and chaos. Recently a small town has begun to experience attacks with increased frequency from creatures that are stronger than they are used to. People are afraid to go out beyond the town’s walls, resources are dwindling, and they are taking on more casualties with each subsequent attack. At this rate, the town and its people could be wiped off the map. They have sent out a desperate plea to anyone willing to protect the town and eliminate the problem once and for all. Are you up to the challenge?
If you are interested in joining our game, please fill out the application here: https://forms.gle/K5T7cUKR1NWN3zuF9
As long as the application is open you can still apply, and I will update the thread once I’ve found someone!
Thanks!

Six Senses Kanuhura – Family Summer Offer

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Andrew Larder

Six Senses Kanuhura Island, Maldives – Family Summer Offer

SUMMER FAMILY OFFER Book by Extension: June 30, 2024 Travel period: April 6 to September 30, 2024 Exclusive family offer for children aged 0-11 years: • Complimentary accommodation and Full-board meal plan when sharing villa with two (2) paying adults. • Complimentary return seaplane transfer, following our contracted maximum villa occupancy with number of children. Please take note of the following important terms and conditions: • Offer is valid for minimum of 4 nights stay. • Offer is valid for Worldwide market. • Children can select dishes from designated kids’ menu of each F&B outlet. • The “Children eat free” offer does not extend into in-villa dining, destination dining and dining at Drift restaurant. • Offer is available strictly for new bookings only and valid for all villa categories, except Beach Villa. • Offer is combinable with all valid contracted and/or tactical offers. • Above offer is subject to stop sales with two-business days advance notice. • Above offer is not applicable to groups, conferences, or meetings of five (5) villas or more travelling together, nor industry/travel agency rates. • All other Terms & Conditions as per the main contract agreement. The following complimentary inclusions apply to all bookings: • Standard fruit basket on arrival. • Personalized bicycle tags and take away the initials on the bicycle. • Unlimited wireless internet. • Complimentary access to spa with use of sauna and steam room (recommended to book 30 minutes in advance) plus fitness center. • Complimentary usage of kayak and stand-up paddleboard at Water Sports Beach. • Complimentary weekly scheduled Sustainability tour with highlights on organic farm planting/ hydroponics and Earth Lab projects. • Complimentary daily ice cream from Scoops. • 24-hour Guest Experience Maker (GEM) butler service for your entire stay.

A tropical beach haven; the reinvention of a Maldivian island icon

An iconic Maldivian island, reborn. This laid-back retreat is known for being home to the finest beaches in the Maldives. Encompassing three private islands, Six Senses Kanuhura resort is a short seaplane ride from Malé International Airport or speedboat transfer from the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll. With 91 spacious beach, family, and overwater pool villas, the lagoon is at your feet, where the vibrant reef protects our resident turtles and marine life. Adventures abound in this paradise found with food, fun, family moments and new friends when you seek connection, and peaceful seclusion when you seek an island escape.

9 Experiences

Six Senses Kanuhura
Jump (or splash) into immersive Maldives experiences Explore the Maldives’ vibrant reefs while snorkeling or dive into the deep blue, discover the secrets of growing veggies in our garden or orchids in the nursery, dine on our sandy shores, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment or take a walk on the island’s beaches for your morning workout. And if you don’t want to do anything: just sit back, chill on the sunbeds and enjoy the ocean view.
Castaway Picnic at Masleggihuraa Escape the world on a deserted island, yours for the day.
Maldives Sunset Dolphin Dhoni Cruise Sunset sips and dolphins.
Ocean Watersports in the Maldives Splash, paddle or play in the turquoise waters of the lagoon.
Scuba Diving in the Maldives Lhaviyani atoll Whether you are a diving newbie or a certified diver, we have you covered.
Traditional Maldives Islands Fishing Master the art of handline fishing, Maldivian style.
Maldives Sustainability Tour Join us on a tour behind the scenes finishing with a highlight: the rare and wild beauty of locally grown orchids.
Sunken Table Dining Experience A unique dining experience on the beach.
Lunch at Drift Castaway lunch on a deserted tropical island.
Orchid Gardeners Spend some time among colorful orchids.

Little Turtles of Kanuhura

Little feet leave big footprints in our hearts and we would like to make sure that our little VIP guests have a memorable time in the Maldives at our family-friendly resort. Grow With Six Senses Children’s Club offers an array of activities suitable for children of all ages, which include crafts, beach and pool games, treasure hunts, children’s yoga and many more fun, creative and educational games.

Six Senses Kanuhura Reservations

Contact me to book a stay at any Six Senses Resort, worldwide:
Andrew Larder, FORA Travel Advisor

Help Spread The Word!

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• More

Customize buttons

Like this:

Related

Six Senses Con Dao 2024 offer

May 18, 2024
In "Travel"

Six Senses Krabey Offers

May 18, 2024
In "Travel"

Six Senses Rome – Roma Italia – Discounts

March 30, 2024
In "Travel"
TravelMaldives Six Senses, Sis Senses Family Offer, Six Senses, Six Senses Deal, Six Senses Kanuhura, Six Senses Kanuhura Booking, Six Senses Kanuhura Family Summer Offer, Six Senses Kanuhura Island, Six Senses Kanuhura Reservations, Six Senses Maldives, Six Senses ResortSix Senses Kanuhura – Family Summer Offer

Rapid technological development and global big tech have contributed to the widening of the gap between rich and developing countries. Social media networks, fintech, and the internet as a whole have become powerful tools for collecting and using personal and business data. It is no secret that big tech has been collecting, using, and trading personal data without people’s consent solidifying the competitive advantage.Rapid technological development and global big tech have contributed to the widening of the gap between rich and developing countries. Social media networks, fintech, and the internet as a whole have become powerful tools for collecting and using personal and business data. It is no secret that big tech has been collecting, using, and trading personal data without people’s consent solidifying the competitive advantage.

Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends.
The data collected has been used to target users with ads and commercial messages for profit. As a result, these digital technologies have been fueling Digital Colonialism, where the rich are fortifying their financial dominance. This phenomenon provides large technological companies from the West a tool for controlling emerging markets and extracting profits and has caused the stagnation of underdeveloped nations.
Unarguably, big tech has an influence over the policies that govern how they do business. In other words, they use their power and influence to set the business standards and rules however it suits their interests. Consequently, technology giants often venture into other industries that were initially dominated by state and local organizations. Often it is the case that governmental and local private organizations cannot compete with large-scale technological companies due to the sheer volume of their resources (Coleman, 2019).
Large, monopolistic companies use their limitless resources to dominate underdeveloped markets. A good example is Uber, which has been running local taxi services out of business wherever they set their operations, like in South Africa. Furthermore, the advertisement and marketing sectors have seen this in action too, as Facebook and Google have brought local media in developing countries on the verge of extinction (Kwet, 2019).

What is Technology Sovereignty?

Technology sovereignty is a country’s ability to develop and implement technology crucial for its technological independence and welfare. It also includes alternative ways of acquiring technology, such as provisioning it from other nations without causing dependence or violating the country’s freedom (Crespi et al., 2021). For a nation to achieve technology independence, it must be able to avoid unilateral dependency, as we see in the case of developing countries where large-scale technology corporations entirely control the infrastructure. In essence, technology sovereignty is reached through independent technological and scientific development, or by adopting external technological solutions but without developing a dependent relationship with the external partner.
Often, the term “technology sovereignty” is used interchangeably with data sovereignty and information sovereignty, in which case the focus is on the country’s ability to provide the IT infrastructure and technology to fulfill the nations hosting interests, needs, and policies (Coleman, 2019). However, no single nation can be entirely self-reliant when it comes to IT, and technology sovereignty goes beyond technological autonomy that allows the adoption of new technology without dependence (Crespi et al., 2021).

Technology Sovereignty and Innovation Sovereignty

Technology sovereignty and innovation sovereignty are directly related, with the former serving as a bridge to the latter. To achieve short and long-term economic goals, innovation sovereignty involves developing technologies at the local level (Crespi et al., 2021). Both technology and innovation sovereignty are reached by generating relevant scientific and technological knowledge. It is important to note that scientific and technological knowledge does not have any real impact on the economy if there are no resources and prerequisites, such as a regulatory framework and infrastructure, for its application (Edler et al., 2021).
Innovation sovereignty serves to guarantee that the technologies employed in a society do not lead to dependence on monopolistic foreign companies. As a product of technology sovereignty, innovation sovereignty ensures that a country can satisfy its long-term technological requirements with local experts.What is Technology Sovereignty? Technology sovereignty is a country’s ability to develop and implement technology crucial for its technological independence and welfare. It also includes alternative ways of acquiring technology, such as provisioning it from other nations without causing dependence or violating the country’s freedom (Crespi et al., 2021). For a nation to achieve technology independence, it must be able to avoid unilateral dependency, as we see in the case of developing countries where large-scale technology corporations entirely control the infrastructure. In essence, technology sovereignty is reached through independent technological and scientific development, or by adopting external technological solutions but without developing a dependent relationship with the external partner. Often, the term “technology sovereignty” is used interchangeably with data sovereignty and information sovereignty, in which case the focus is on the country’s ability to provide the IT infrastructure and technology to fulfill the nations hosting interests, needs, and policies (Coleman, 2019). However, no single nation can be entirely self-reliant when it comes to IT, and technology sovereignty goes beyond technological autonomy that allows the adoption of new technology without dependence (Crespi et al., 2021). Technology Sovereignty and Innovation Sovereignty Technology sovereignty and innovation sovereignty are directly related, with the former serving as a bridge to the latter. To achieve short and long-term economic goals, innovation sovereignty involves developing technologies at the local level (Crespi et al., 2021). Both technology and innovation sovereignty are reached by generating relevant scientific and technological knowledge. It is important to note that scientific and technological knowledge does not have any real impact on the economy if there are no resources and prerequisites, such as a regulatory framework and infrastructure, for its application (Edler et al., 2021). Innovation sovereignty serves to guarantee that the technologies employed in a society do not lead to dependence on monopolistic foreign companies. As a product of technology sovereignty, innovation sovereignty ensures that a country can satisfy its long-term technological requirements with local experts.

Technology Sovereignty and Economic Sovereignty

Adequate infrastructure and the ability to innovate create a favorable environment in which technology sovereignty may lead to economic sovereignty. Economic sovereignty refers to the ability of a country or a country bloc to benefit from independent ventures and partnerships with similar entities without being dependent on any of them (Crespi et al., 2021). Technology sovereignty helps establish innovation independence and eventually results in economic sovereignty, which stems from the need to provide free access to important resources, financing, critical technologies, and data (Edler et al., 2021). Technology sovereignty aims to help the domestic industry by enhancing innovation locally, which makes it intrinsically nationalistic (or regional) in nature. By stimulating innovation, technology sovereignty becomes necessary for achieving development priorities.

How Can Developing Nations Attain Technology Sovereignty

Essential technologies for technology sovereignty are defined using theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Correctly understanding the most critical aspects of technology sovereignty as they relate to technology requires expertise in analysis and relevant procedures (Edler et al., 2020). The initial stage in this process is deciding on the essential skills and knowledge to obtain. This stage is followed by researching the impact of the selected technology on society and the economy and, finally, providing the technology to the local community.
Technological alternatives help strengthen technological independence. Determining the economic viability of a particular alternative helps define its role as an alternative. (Edler et al., 2021). It is, nevertheless, critical to guarantee that technological options are accessible and can be built in developing nations. Technology sovereignty requires creating young talents and obtaining the necessary resources. To produce appropriate technologies in today’s volatile environment, developing nations need to acquire science and technology know-how by utilizing complex R&I instruments and creating knowledge carrier groups (Edler et al., 2020). They can achieve this by simplifying and reforming the curriculum at the relevant institutions of higher education (BCSD, 2020). For instance, the curriculums should be designed to promote research in agriculture tech and data analytics. University education and training must have clear strategies to eliminate knowledge gaps that slow down alternative technology innovation in developing nations.
Nonetheless, the resources and infrastructure necessary for alternative technologies to become a reality are almost always an unsurmountable obstacle for emerging economies. This is often due to the sheer scope of the research that needs to be performed and the need for more equipment and raw materials to develop and test new technologies (Edler et al., 2020). Consequently, to tackle these obstacles, countries and their educational institutions need to choose a narrower field to focus on. Research collaboration and information exchange regarding essential knowledge helps access the necessary technology and prevents unilateral dependencies.
Emerging nations must foster a technology culture and support scientific and technical knowledge throughout the educational system. Children must be allowed to interact with digital technology and develop capabilities while they are very young. For example, using the relevant technology to enable internet access for children in school and at home is a strategy that will improve the quality of learning (BCSD, 2020). To achieve this goal, teachers, researchers, local and state governments, and other stakeholders need to show intent to work together. The path of attaining technology sovereignty for emerging nations starts with understanding the importance of the right approach to technology.Technology Sovereignty and Economic Sovereignty Adequate infrastructure and the ability to innovate create a favorable environment in which technology sovereignty may lead to economic sovereignty. Economic sovereignty refers to the ability of a country or a country bloc to benefit from independent ventures and partnerships with similar entities without being dependent on any of them (Crespi et al., 2021). Technology sovereignty helps establish innovation independence and eventually results in economic sovereignty, which stems from the need to provide free access to important resources, financing, critical technologies, and data (Edler et al., 2021). Technology sovereignty aims to help the domestic industry by enhancing innovation locally, which makes it intrinsically nationalistic (or regional) in nature. By stimulating innovation, technology sovereignty becomes necessary for achieving development priorities. How Can Developing Nations Attain Technology Sovereignty Essential technologies for technology sovereignty are defined using theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Correctly understanding the most critical aspects of technology sovereignty as they relate to technology requires expertise in analysis and relevant procedures (Edler et al., 2020). The initial stage in this process is deciding on the essential skills and knowledge to obtain. This stage is followed by researching the impact of the selected technology on society and the economy and, finally, providing the technology to the local community. Technological alternatives help strengthen technological independence. Determining the economic viability of a particular alternative helps define its role as an alternative. (Edler et al., 2021). It is, nevertheless, critical to guarantee that technological options are accessible and can be built in developing nations. Technology sovereignty requires creating young talents and obtaining the necessary resources. To produce appropriate technologies in today’s volatile environment, developing nations need to acquire science and technology know-how by utilizing complex R&I instruments and creating knowledge carrier groups (Edler et al., 2020). They can achieve this by simplifying and reforming the curriculum at the relevant institutions of higher education (BCSD, 2020). For instance, the curriculums should be designed to promote research in agriculture tech and data analytics. University education and training must have clear strategies to eliminate knowledge gaps that slow down alternative technology innovation in developing nations. Nonetheless, the resources and infrastructure necessary for alternative technologies to become a reality are almost always an unsurmountable obstacle for emerging economies. This is often due to the sheer scope of the research that needs to be performed and the need for more equipment and raw materials to develop and test new technologies (Edler et al., 2020). Consequently, to tackle these obstacles, countries and their educational institutions need to choose a narrower field to focus on. Research collaboration and information exchange regarding essential knowledge helps access the necessary technology and prevents unilateral dependencies. Emerging nations must foster a technology culture and support scientific and technical knowledge throughout the educational system. Children must be allowed to interact with digital technology and develop capabilities while they are very young. For example, using the relevant technology to enable internet access for children in school and at home is a strategy that will improve the quality of learning (BCSD, 2020). To achieve this goal, teachers, researchers, local and state governments, and other stakeholders need to show intent to work together. The path of attaining technology sovereignty for emerging nations starts with understanding the importance of the right approach to technology.

References

Coleman, D. (2019). Digital colonialism: The 21st century scramble for Africa through the extraction and control of user data and the limitations of data protection laws. Mich. J. Race & L., 24, 417. https://doi.org/10.36643/mjrl.24.2.digital
Crespi, F., Caravella, S., Menghini, M., & Salvatori, C. (2021). European Technological Sovereignty: An emerging framework for policy strategy. Intereconomics, 56(6), 348-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10272-021-1013-6
Kwet, M. (2019, March 13). Digital Colonialism is Threatening the Global South. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2019/3/13/digital-colonialism-is-threatening-the-global-south
Edler, J. Blind, K. Frietsch, R. Kimpeler, S. Kroll, H. Lerch, C. Reiss, T. Roth, F. Schubert, T. Schuler, J. & Walz, R. (2020). Technology Sovereignty – From Demand to Concept. Fraunhofer ISI Discussion Papers-Innovation Systems and Policy Analysis.
Edler, J., Blind, K., Kroll, H., & Schubert, T. (2021). Technology sovereignty as an emerging frame for innovation policy: Defining rationales, ends and means (No. 70). Fraunhofer ISI Discussion Papers-Innovation Systems and Policy Analysis.
Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development (BCSD). (2020). The Digital Transformation of Education: Connecting Schools Empowering Learners. International Telecommunication Union.
Authors

Paul Lalovich

Organizational Effectiveness and Strategy Execution Practice

Tesha Teshanovich

Organizational Effectiveness and Strategy Execution Practice

Before anyone thinks this is weird, I teach fashion design. I was teaching my students how to take their own measurements. I teach 90% young ladies so on the women’s measurement sheet I put a little rant about how off the American view of bra’s and how they fit is. I told them they were welcome to take a measuring tape and use the calculator at home as long as they bring my measuring tape back. I got a few snickers just at the word bra but I did have a few students they next day come in and tell me how the did the calculator and they were like a 26DD and they were wearing an A cup. Some even had their mothers or sisters doing it, and of course getting a very different size then what they are currently wearing. I did make them all promise to stay out of Victoria secret lol, atleast for a bra fitting.
That calculator is changing lives one properly fitted bra at a time!!

You might think dread is perhaps too strong of a word to use for such a simple thing. If I knew a stronger word, I would use it, trust me.
To give a brief summary:

• The manager is coming back after a longer time of absence to the team they lead before
  
• 3 members of the team (myself included) had to seek professional psychiatric help to deal with anxiety, stress, panic attacks and all the other shit we were put through because of the manager. One teammate had to take extended leave to deal with the mental health issues caused by the manager.
  
• 2 devs left the company specifically naming the manager as a reason why are they leaving
  
• We had "secret" mandatory overtime "which every team is doing" which turned out to be bullshit and against company policies
  
• We were always kept in the dark and in minimum communication with the higher-ups. We figured out after the manager left for the leave that most of the info we were getting from the manager were straight-up lies (deadlines, pressure from higher-ups, work priorities, salaries, expectations etc.)
  
• Constant carrot-stick, hot/cold approach to everything. Example: Got a great performance review - to be told few weeks later I didn't do any qualitywork for the last 6 months and I will be probably be put on PIP
  
• Constantly shafted on everything - promotions, raise, opportunities, team activities, training and education, even company access for Udemy - because we earn good money (no, we don't) and we can afford courses ourselves.
  

I could seriously go on and on about how awful this manager is, but it would turn into a mini novel of me just venting and ranting about this shit of a human being. Like seriously, pages and pages of the things this manager has put us through.
All that said, that same manager is coming back to the lead our team in about a month. As the most experienced dev on the team, I want to do as much as I can to protect my team and myself from the shitstorm that is coming our way.
I can't really go to the higher-ups since the manager is protected thanks to nepotism and connections in our local office (corp with thousands employees and dozens of offices throughout the world)
I guess my best option would be to change teams or quit the company, but I really enjoy the work we're doing and I worked really hard to create a strong team in the past year, which went from delivering things at snails pace to completing 3 major milestones in our part of the application during the manager's absence.
I already made this too long. Do any of you guys have tips, strategies, resources or experience on how to deal with managers from hell?

What are your thoughts and expectations, and which models do you hope to see on the runway again?

Hi, the past few days I had to think about about the Guardian, some of the issues the class has as it is right now, and how I would go about fixing them. I had a lot of (What I think to be) cool ideas and now want to share them across a few posts on this sub. This post is one of those. I will first write down the ideas I had as rules, and then later add some comments explaining my thoughts and reasoning behind those ideas.
Disclaimer: This is not me saying that this is what the Guardian SHOULD BE. I also don't claim that these changes would even necessarily be for the better. My goals with these posts is not to dictate how to make the Guardian properly. My goals with these posts is discussing potential issues with the Class (many of which have already been pointed out, some of which I haven't seen discussed much), talking about potential ways of fixing them and discussing game design in general, but primarily, my goal with this is just to share and discuss some cool ideas I had because I love homebrewing :). And how knows, maybe a Paizo designer stumbles across one of these and takes some inspiration, but that would already be far more than I would hope to accomplish.
Here is a list of all parts:
Reworking The Guardian Part 1: The Taunt Mechanic
Reworking The Guardian Part 3: Class Mechanics & Subclasses
This will probably the longest post. Here I go into the primary class options my homebrew Guardians would be able to choose from. At the end I discuss some feat ideas I had, some of which should replace feats I turned into class features. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Keyword Intercept:

Some abilities refer to this. These are the rules for intercepting

Intercept You attempt to redirect an effect away from an ally to yourself. Generally, only targeted effects can be intercepted. Attempt a check using your Class DC - 10 + your armors item bonus against the enemies relevant DC or 10 + the enemies relevant modifier. -Critical Success: As success, but you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the relevant defense. -Success: You are in time. The effect targets you instead of your ally. You can still choose to split the damage like with the failure condition. -Failure: You are barley too late. If the effect causes damage, your ally takes half and you can take the other half. You an your ally only apply half your usual resistances against that damage. -Critical Failure: You fail to Intercept

Defensive Strategy

While all Guardians are specialists of protecting their allies, the way they go about doing so differs from Guardian to Guardian. Choose 2 of the following abilities. You Subclass will grant you a third one.

Tackle Ally ⟳ Trigger: An willing ally you are adjacent is about to be subject to a hostile effect. Effect: Before the effect resolves, you push the ally 5 feet away from you and enter their space yourself. This is forced movement. If their is not enough space for either, this ability fails. If the triggering effect was targeted, you also try to Intercept it. If the triggering effect was an area effect and the ally is now outside the area, they aren't affected.
Command Attention ◆ or ◆◆ (mental) Duration: Until the end of your next turn. Area: 15-foot or 30-foot emanation. Effect: All enemies in the area are taunted 1. The area depends on the actions spend.
Danger Sense Whenever you are in the presence of a hidden threat (Such as a potential ambush, traps, hidden weapons ect.) the GM secretly rolls a Perception check against a relevant DC (Usually the Stealth DC of the creature/object). On a success you spot the danger, on a critical success you or an ally of yours gains a +1 circumstance bonus on the relevant defensive stat for the purpose of the first check made to resist the spotted threat.
Hampering Sweeps ◆ Like the feat, but enemies can attempt a Reflex save against your class DC. -Success: They get away -Failure: They can't get away -Critical Failure: They can't get away and can't take move actions for the rest of their turn.
Taunting Strike ◆ (flourish) You Strike an enemy. If you hit they are taunted 1 (Taunted 2 on a critical).
Challenge ◆ (mental) Range: 60 feet Duration: 1 round. Effect: The enemy has to attempt a Will save against your Class DC. -Critical Success: They are unaffected. -Success: They are taunted 1. -Failure: They are up to taunted 2 (Your choice). -Critical Failure: They are up to taunted 2 for up to 2 rounds (Your choice).
Blanket Defense ◆◆ Like the feat.
Body Block ◆◆ Area: 5-foot emanation. Duration: Sustained up to 3 rounds. Effect: Whenever the line-of-effect of a ranged, targeted strike/ability/spell intersect the area, you can attempt to Intercept it. If the effect is a burst, line or cone and you are between an affected ally and the areas origin, you can attempt the same check as the one when you would Intercept, but it has the following effects: -Critical Success: As success but you get a +1 circumstance bonus to the relevant defense instead. -Success: Only you are affected and you take a -1 circumstance penalty to the relevant defense. -Failure: Both you and the ally are affected as normal.
Covering Statue You always provide Standard Cover instead of Lesser Cover to allies and allies can Take Cover behind you to upgrade this to Greater Cover.
Guard Ally ◆ Targets: An ally adjacent to you. Duration: Until the end of your next turn. Effect: As long as you are still adjacent to the target, you can Intercept all targeted effects the ally is subject to. If the ally moves, you can Stride up to your speed as a reaction, but you have to Stride towards the allies current position.
Guardian Lore You gain "Guardian Lore". You can use "Guardian Lore" to Recall Knowledge about offensive statistics and abilities and about ways of mitigating them. Your proficiency in Guardian Lore increases to expert at 3rd level, to master at 7th level and to legendary at 15th level.

Feat Ideas

Taunting Strength --- Feat 2 When you succeed at an Athletics check against an enemy, they have to make a Will save against your class DC. On a failure they are taunted 1 for 1 round (Taunted 2 on a critical failure). If you Athletics check was a critical success, they decrease their degree of success by one step.
Slowing Strike ◆ (flourish) --- Feat 6 Make a Strike against an enemy. If you hit, they need to make a Fortitude save against your Class DC. If your hit was a critical hit, they decrease their degree of success by 1 step. -Critical Success: They are unaffected. -Success: They take a -5 foot status penalty to their speed for 1 round. -Failure: They take a -15 foot status penalty to their speed for 1 round. -Critical Failure: They are Immobilized for 1 round.
Ground Stomp ◆◆ --- Feat 8 You stomp the ground so hard that it becomes uneven and difficult to walk through. The ground in a 10 foot emanation becomes difficult terrain. All creatures in the area must attempt a Reflex save against your Class DC. On a failure they loose 10 feet of their next Stride action. On a critical failure they also fall prone.
Don't Run! --- Feat 10 When an enemy is taunted by you, moving away from you is difficult terrain.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Comments

I want to start by saying, that while there was a lot of though behind some of these, other more just proof of concepts, and I realize that these options are probably not balanced yet.
There are a few things I tried to accomplish with these changes

1. I think that the Guardian is thematically closer to an Archetype than a Class. Its about protection in two very specific and niche ways. I think, that while for archetypes to have a very specific/limited scope/theme, classes need to be more open ended, or if they are specific in theme (Like the Thaumaturge) they need to have a very strong theme. And even those very specific classes (Thaumaturge, Psychic, Gunslinger) usually have a lot of choices and different ways of being played/build. I think this is something the Guardian still lacks. I come back to this in my post about Class Mechanics & Subclasses, but I tried to expand the theme from "Very specific video game-esk semi-tank" to being about "Protection in various different ways".
2. I wanted to provide players with interesting choices and make it so that different Guardians can actually be very different.
3. I tried to balance some broken options.
4. I turned some Feats that I think are very fitting for the class into general class options that you can take at level 1.
5. I wanted these abilities to fulfill the "tank" fantasy better. Gameplay of tanks generally centers around positioning and space-control. So I added some abilities that allow you to engage with that aspect of strategy.

Now lets discuss specific options

• Intercept
  • I find it weird how, in the original guardian, this has very impactful ability and "absolute" ability had no check associated with it, while the ability that is just a debuff has. I feel like it should be the other way around. So I added a check. In return, I made it for more applicable. Now you can not only use it to block damage, but you can even use it to "tank" debuffing effects for your allies, widening the scope of what you can protect your allies from.
• Tackle Ally
  • This is basically the "replacement" for the original "Intercept" class feature, so what I wrote for "Intercept" also applies here. Additionally, I think the ability to control your allies positioning and, for example, push them outside of the range of an attack to protect them from follow-ups or out of a spells area opens a new dimension of strategy.
• Command Attention
  • I feel like a Tank class needs an option that allows it to take aggro from multiple smaller creatures around it at once. This ability also plays a lot with your positioning. I also think that it makes sense for this to be automatic. This avoids a lot of weirdness in regards to who you want to fail and who don't you want to fail and makes the ability both more consistently useful and simple.
• Danger Sense / Guardian Lore
  • I want to start by saying that I got the idea for these options from the Rules Lawyer Playtest stream, where they discussed the Guardian at the end. One of his players said how he wants the Guardian to also have protection themed exploration abilities, and I couldn't agree more. I think a "Protection" class should also have options for indirect protection. Both in reality and in fantasy, "protecting" not only includes physically putting yourself between the attacker and your protectee (Usually you needing to do that means that something went wrong), proper protection primarily means seeing potential dangers coming and knowing how to avoid or deal with them. These two options play into that aspect of protection.
• Hampering Sweeps/Blanket Defense
  • I think these feats are just so thematic, cool and fitting for the class that they should be primary class features. Hampering Sweeps also needs a small nerf of course because, no, I don't think a lv 1 Guardian should be able to literally bind a god if that god had no teleportation spells prepared xd. In regard to Blanket Defense, spending a whole turn on this, I think, feels bad, and I think that the ability is also balanced if it only causes two actions.
• Body Block
  • This is meant to be the classic Reinhard/Braum shield esk ability, where you can literally use a shield, or in this case your body, to intercept range attacks against your allies. This also makes positioning really important.
• Taunting Strike
  • This is supposed to be a cool option if you want to mix some offense into your Guardian.
• Covering Statue
  • Together with Taunting Strike this allows you to have an extremely action efficient Guardian, if you wanted to. You could then use those actions for something more action-intensive. This could open up a lot of cool build ideas.
• Slowing Strike
  • This is meant to provide the Guardian with another option to control the battlefield and indirectly protect their allies. This also particularly adds some cool ranged Guardian support I'd imagine.
• Ground Stomp
  • I am honestly not sure right now since it has been some time since I read through every single feat, but I feel like the Guardian currently lacks some sort of soft Aoe CC. This should provide this.
• Don't Run!
  • I feel like this is just a typical tank-space control ability that synergizes well with other class options. I think this opens up a lot of tactical possibilities for the class.

Hi all! That time again, need some helps affording things and stuffs. I got some old-ass games for y'all (and some not-so-old-ass games too)! If you're interested, please place your interest below in the comments before messaging me for offers ^-^
April 2024
Victoria 3 The Callisto Protocol HUMANKIND Definitive Edition Fashion Police Squad Terraformers Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga Coromon The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
March 2024
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin – Ultimate Edition Nioh 2 - The Complete Edition Saints Row Citizen Sleeper Black Skylands Soulstice Afterimage Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter
February 2024
Beacon Pines There is No Light: Enhanced Edition Children of Silentown Oaken Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder
January 2024
Aragami 2 OTXO Roguebook The Red Lantern Hell Pie Twin Mirror
December 2023
Midnight Fight Express Nobody Saves the World The Gunk The Pale Beyond Last Call BBS From Space
November 2023
Hardspace: Shipbreaker Friends vs Friends Prodeus The Legend of Tianding SCP: Secret Files Souldiers
October 2023
Rebel Inc: Escalation Spirit of the Island Lords and Villeins A Juggler's Tale Mr. Prepper
September 2023
Deceive Inc. The Forgotten City Aces & Adventures Patch Quest Foretales Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus Autonauts vs PirateBots
August 2023
Road 96 Trek to Yomi Arcade Paradise SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator Tin Can Hot Brass
July 2023
Yakuza 4 Remastered Roadwarden Kraken Academy!! Merchant of the Skies Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate
Jan 2022
Rebel Cops Farmer's Dynasty Between the Stars Retrowave Midnight Protocol
June 2023
Curse of the Dead Gods Honey I Joined a Cult Eternal Threads GRIME Turbo Golf Racing Meeple Station
May 2023
Bendy and the Dark Revival Windjammers 2 Builder Simulator Behind the Frame The Invisible Hand
April 2023
Life Is Strange 2 Founder's Fortune
March 2023
Edge of Eternity Hero's Hour Rogue Lords Demon Turf Golden Light Monster Crown
February 2023
Thronebreaker Othercide Shady Part of Me Scourgebringer Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel Five Dates
January 2023
Encased Olliolli World - Rad Edition Grow: Song of the Evertree Conan Chop Chop Hokko Life The Serpent Rogue
December 2022
First Class Trouble Toem Where The Water Tastes Like Wine Super Magbot
November 2022
Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice Roboquest Eldest Souls Unmetal Raji: An Ancient Epic Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
October 2022
Monster Train First Class Disciples: Liberation Maid of Sker Epic Chef Railroad Corporation
September 2022
The Dungeon of Nahelbeuk Forgive Me Father Crown Trick Industria
June 2022
Phoenix Point Call of the Sea Gamedec Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
May 2022
Spellcaster University If Found... Genesis Noir Embr
April 2022
Killsquad Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos Suzerian Chicken Police Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
March 2022
Red Solstice 2: Survivors Nebuchadnezzar Evan's Remains
Feb 2022
Black Book Per Aspera Before We Leave Paradise Lost Everhood Calico

If you have a game list, comment/link it down below and I can take a look at it.
My REP Page
112 Operator
8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure
911 Operator
A New Beginning - Final Cut
A Plague Tale: Innocence
AER Memories of Old
Adom
Aegis Defenders
Age of Wonders III
Ageless
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
All You Can Eat
As Far as the Eye
Atomicrops
Automachef
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Bad North: Jotunn Edition
Banners of Ruin
Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
Batman: Arkham Origins
Bee Simulator
Beyond the Wire
Black Book
Black Future '88
Black Skylands
Bloodstained
Book of Demons
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3: Directors Cut
Boreal Blade
Broken Age
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Bravery Pack
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Fear Not Pack
Carto
Cepheus Protocol
Children of Morta
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (Origin)
Corridor Z
Crowntakers
Crying Suns
Curse of the Dead Gods
Cyber Hook
Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft - The Eldritch Box DLC
Darkest Dungeon Shieldbreaker DLC
Deadly Days
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
Deep Rock Galactic
Desolate
DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
Dirt 5
Dirt Rally
Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
Disjunction (GOG Launcher)
Draw Slasher
Drawful 2
Due Process
ENCODYA (GOG)
EarthNight
Eastside Hockey Manager
Effie
Elderborn
Electrician Simulator
Endless Space 2
Endless Space® - Collection
Endzone - A World Apart
FALLOUT 76 (Steam Key)
FRAMED Collection
FRIENDS VS FRIENDS
Fling to the Finish
For The King
Fort Triumph
Frostpunk: The Rifts DLC
Fun with Ragdolls
Fury Unleashed
GARAGE: Bad Trip
GOLDEN LIGHT
GRIME
GameGuru
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Going Under
Gold Rush! Classic
Golf With Your Friends - OST
Gonner
Gunscape
Guts and Glory
HERO'S HOUR
HIJAC (Honey I Joined a Cult)
Hammerting
Heaven's Vault
Hedon Bloodrite
Hero Siege Complete
Hiveswap Friendsim
House Flipper
If Found....
Ikenfell
Iris and the Giant
JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION 2
John Wick Hex
Juno: New Origins
Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
Katana Zero
Kerbal Space Program
Kill It With Fire
Killsquad
Kingdom Classic
Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Treasures of The Past
Kingdom Two Crowns
Knights of Pen and Paper 2
Lacuna - A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Last Oasis
Legend of Keepers
Lovecraft's Untold Stories
MORTAL KOMBAT XL
Mad Max
Man of Medan
Maneater
Max Payne 3 (GOG Launcher)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star
Mobius Front '83
Moon Hunters
Narita Boy
Neon Abyss
Newt One
Nex Machina
Nimbatus The Space Drone Constructor
No Time to Explain Remastered
Not For Broadcast
Not Tonight
Nowhere Prophet
OTHERCIDE
Orbital Racer
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
Out of Space
Outward - Soundtrack
Overcooked! 2 - Too Many Cooks
Overlord II
PGA TOUR 2K21
Panzer Paladin
Paradise Killer
Partisans 1941
Path of Giants
Paw Paw Paw
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Pesterquest
Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack
Planet of the Eyes
Plunge
Police Stories
Popup Dungeon
Project Wingman
Project Winter
Quantum Break
Radio Commander
Railway Empire
Realpolitiks
Regular Human Basketball
Remnants of Naezith
Ring of Pain
Rise of Industry
Roarr! Jurassic Edition
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Rustler
Ryse: Son of Rome
Röki
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
SUPERHOT
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
SYSTEM SHOCK: ENHANCED EDITION
Saints Row
Secret Neighbor
Shing!
Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
Simple Rockets 2
Skullgirls 2nd Encore
Snowtopia
StarCrossed
Starbound
Still There
Streets of Fury EX
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Supraland
Swag & Sorcery
Sword Legacy Omen
Syberia 3
THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES
TOHU
Tabletop Playground
Terraformers
Textorcist
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
The Ascent
The Ball
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
The Surge 2
The Survivalists
This War of Mine
Timelie
Tools Up!
Tooth and Tail
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
Train Station Renovation
Tribes of Midgard
Turbo Golf Racing
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Vertiginous Golf
Victoria 3
Voidigo
WARSAW
WRATH: Aeon of Ruin
WWE 2K Battlegrounds (EU Key)
Wargroove
We Need to Go Deeper
Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest
West of Dead
When Ski Lifts Goes Wrong
Wingspan
Worms Rumble
Worms Rumble - Legends Pack DLC
X-Morph: Defense + European Assault, Survival of the Fittest, and Last Bastion DLC
XCOM® 2: Reinforcement Pack
XCOM® 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
Yakuza 3
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Yes, Your Grace
Yoku's Island Express
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
[Want]
Game Offers
Paypal
Midnight Fight Express
Nobody Saves the World
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Chaotic Great Edition
The Outer Worlds Spacer's Choice Edition
Yakuza 4 Remastered
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Trepang2
The Knight Witch
Axiom 1 and 2
Abalon
Mythforce
Siralim Ultimate
Monster Hunter Rise
The Colonist
Littlewood
Immortal Life
Floppy Knights
Book of Hours
Astrea

If you have a game list, comment/link it down below and I can take a look at it.
My REP Page
112 Operator
8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure
911 Operator
A New Beginning - Final Cut
A Plague Tale: Innocence
AER Memories of Old
Adom
Aegis Defenders
Age of Wonders III
Ageless
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
All You Can Eat
As Far as the Eye
Atomicrops
Automachef
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Bad North: Jotunn Edition
Banners of Ruin
Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
Batman: Arkham Origins
Bee Simulator
Beyond the Wire
Black Book
Black Future '88
Black Skylands
Bloodstained
Book of Demons
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3: Directors Cut
Boreal Blade
Broken Age
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Bravery Pack
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Fear Not Pack
Carto
Cepheus Protocol
Children of Morta
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (Origin)
Corridor Z
Crowntakers
Crying Suns
Curse of the Dead Gods
Cyber Hook
Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft - The Eldritch Box DLC
Darkest Dungeon Shieldbreaker DLC
Deadly Days
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
Deep Rock Galactic
Desolate
DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
Dirt 5
Dirt Rally
Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
Disjunction (GOG Launcher)
Draw Slasher
Drawful 2
Due Process
ENCODYA (GOG)
EarthNight
Eastside Hockey Manager
Effie
Elderborn
Electrician Simulator
Endless Space 2
Endless Space® - Collection
Endzone - A World Apart
FALLOUT 76 (Steam Key)
FRAMED Collection
FRIENDS VS FRIENDS
Fling to the Finish
For The King
Fort Triumph
Frostpunk: The Rifts DLC
Fun with Ragdolls
Fury Unleashed
GARAGE: Bad Trip
GOLDEN LIGHT
GRIME
GameGuru
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Going Under
Gold Rush! Classic
Golf With Your Friends - OST
Gonner
Gunscape
Guts and Glory
HERO'S HOUR
HIJAC (Honey I Joined a Cult)
Hammerting
Heaven's Vault
Hedon Bloodrite
Hero Siege Complete
Hiveswap Friendsim
House Flipper
If Found....
Ikenfell
Iris and the Giant
JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION 2
John Wick Hex
Juno: New Origins
Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
Katana Zero
Kerbal Space Program
Kill It With Fire
Killsquad
Kingdom Classic
Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Treasures of The Past
Kingdom Two Crowns
Knights of Pen and Paper 2
Lacuna - A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Last Oasis
Legend of Keepers
Lovecraft's Untold Stories
MORTAL KOMBAT XL
Mad Max
Man of Medan
Maneater
Max Payne 3 (GOG Launcher)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star
Mobius Front '83
Moon Hunters
Narita Boy
Neon Abyss
Newt One
Nex Machina
Nimbatus The Space Drone Constructor
No Time to Explain Remastered
Not For Broadcast
Not Tonight
Nowhere Prophet
OTHERCIDE
Orbital Racer
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
Out of Space
Outward - Soundtrack
Overcooked! 2 - Too Many Cooks
Overlord II
PGA TOUR 2K21
Panzer Paladin
Paradise Killer
Partisans 1941
Path of Giants
Paw Paw Paw
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Pesterquest
Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack
Planet of the Eyes
Plunge
Police Stories
Popup Dungeon
Project Wingman
Project Winter
Quantum Break
Radio Commander
Railway Empire
Realpolitiks
Regular Human Basketball
Remnants of Naezith
Ring of Pain
Rise of Industry
Roarr! Jurassic Edition
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Rustler
Ryse: Son of Rome
Röki
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
SUPERHOT
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
SYSTEM SHOCK: ENHANCED EDITION
Saints Row
Secret Neighbor
Shing!
Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
Simple Rockets 2
Skullgirls 2nd Encore
Snowtopia
StarCrossed
Starbound
Still There
Streets of Fury EX
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Supraland
Swag & Sorcery
Sword Legacy Omen
Syberia 3
THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES
TOHU
Tabletop Playground
Terraformers
Textorcist
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
The Ascent
The Ball
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
The Surge 2
The Survivalists
This War of Mine
Timelie
Tools Up!
Tooth and Tail
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
Train Station Renovation
Tribes of Midgard
Turbo Golf Racing
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Vertiginous Golf
Victoria 3
Voidigo
WARSAW
WRATH: Aeon of Ruin
WWE 2K Battlegrounds (EU Key)
Wargroove
We Need to Go Deeper
Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest
West of Dead
When Ski Lifts Goes Wrong
Wingspan
Worms Rumble
Worms Rumble - Legends Pack DLC
X-Morph: Defense + European Assault, Survival of the Fittest, and Last Bastion DLC
XCOM® 2: Reinforcement Pack
XCOM® 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
Yakuza 3
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Yes, Your Grace
Yoku's Island Express
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
[Want]
Game Offers
Paypal
Midnight Fight Express
Nobody Saves the World
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Chaotic Great Edition
The Outer Worlds Spacer's Choice Edition
Yakuza 4 Remastered
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Trepang2
The Knight Witch
Axiom 1 and 2
Abalon
Mythforce
Siralim Ultimate
Monster Hunter Rise
The Colonist
Littlewood
Immortal Life
Floppy Knights
Book of Hours
Astrea

If you have a game list, comment/link it down below and I can take a look at it.
My REP Page
112 Operator
8Doors: Arum's Afterlife Adventure
911 Operator
A New Beginning - Final Cut
A Plague Tale: Innocence
AER Memories of Old
Adom
Aegis Defenders
Age of Wonders III
Ageless
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
All You Can Eat
As Far as the Eye
Atomicrops
Automachef
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Bad North: Jotunn Edition
Banners of Ruin
Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
Batman: Arkham Origins
Bee Simulator
Beyond the Wire
Black Book
Black Future '88
Black Skylands
Bloodstained
Book of Demons
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3: Directors Cut
Boreal Blade
Broken Age
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Bravery Pack
Call of Duty®: WWII - Call of Duty Endowment Fear Not Pack
Carto
Cepheus Protocol
Children of Morta
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (Origin)
Corridor Z
Crowntakers
Crying Suns
Curse of the Dead Gods
Cyber Hook
Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft - The Eldritch Box DLC
Darkest Dungeon Shieldbreaker DLC
Deadly Days
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
Deep Rock Galactic
Desolate
DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
Dirt 5
Dirt Rally
Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
Disjunction (GOG Launcher)
Draw Slasher
Drawful 2
Due Process
ENCODYA (GOG)
EarthNight
Eastside Hockey Manager
Effie
Elderborn
Electrician Simulator
Endless Space 2
Endless Space® - Collection
Endzone - A World Apart
FALLOUT 76 (Steam Key)
FRAMED Collection
FRIENDS VS FRIENDS
Fling to the Finish
For The King
Fort Triumph
Frostpunk: The Rifts DLC
Fun with Ragdolls
Fury Unleashed
GARAGE: Bad Trip
GOLDEN LIGHT
GRIME
GameGuru
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Going Under
Gold Rush! Classic
Golf With Your Friends - OST
Gonner
Gunscape
Guts and Glory
HERO'S HOUR
HIJAC (Honey I Joined a Cult)
Hammerting
Heaven's Vault
Hedon Bloodrite
Hero Siege Complete
Hiveswap Friendsim
House Flipper
If Found....
Ikenfell
Iris and the Giant
JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION 2
John Wick Hex
Juno: New Origins
Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
Katana Zero
Kerbal Space Program
Kill It With Fire
Killsquad
Kingdom Classic
Kingdom Come: Deliverance – Treasures of The Past
Kingdom Two Crowns
Knights of Pen and Paper 2
Lacuna - A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Last Oasis
Legend of Keepers
Lovecraft's Untold Stories
MORTAL KOMBAT XL
Mad Max
Man of Medan
Maneater
Max Payne 3 (GOG Launcher)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star
Mobius Front '83
Moon Hunters
Narita Boy
Neon Abyss
Newt One
Nex Machina
Nimbatus The Space Drone Constructor
No Time to Explain Remastered
Not For Broadcast
Not Tonight
Nowhere Prophet
OTHERCIDE
Orbital Racer
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
Out of Reach: Treasure Royale
Out of Space
Outward - Soundtrack
Overcooked! 2 - Too Many Cooks
Overlord II
PGA TOUR 2K21
Panzer Paladin
Paradise Killer
Partisans 1941
Path of Giants
Paw Paw Paw
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Pesterquest
Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack
Planet of the Eyes
Plunge
Police Stories
Popup Dungeon
Project Wingman
Project Winter
Quantum Break
Radio Commander
Railway Empire
Realpolitiks
Regular Human Basketball
Remnants of Naezith
Ring of Pain
Rise of Industry
Roarr! Jurassic Edition
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Rustler
Ryse: Son of Rome
Röki
S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
SUPERHOT
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
SYSTEM SHOCK: ENHANCED EDITION
Saints Row
Secret Neighbor
Shing!
Siege Survival: Gloria Victis
Simple Rockets 2
Skullgirls 2nd Encore
Snowtopia
StarCrossed
Starbound
Still There
Streets of Fury EX
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Supraland
Swag & Sorcery
Sword Legacy Omen
Syberia 3
THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES
TOHU
Tabletop Playground
Terraformers
Textorcist
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
The Ascent
The Ball
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
The Surge 2
The Survivalists
This War of Mine
Timelie
Tools Up!
Tooth and Tail
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
Train Station Renovation
Tribes of Midgard
Turbo Golf Racing
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
Vertiginous Golf
Victoria 3
Voidigo
WARSAW
WRATH: Aeon of Ruin
WWE 2K Battlegrounds (EU Key)
Wargroove
We Need to Go Deeper
Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest
West of Dead
When Ski Lifts Goes Wrong
Wingspan
Worms Rumble
Worms Rumble - Legends Pack DLC
X-Morph: Defense + European Assault, Survival of the Fittest, and Last Bastion DLC
XCOM® 2: Reinforcement Pack
XCOM® 2: Resistance Warrior Pack
Yakuza 3
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Yes, Your Grace
Yoku's Island Express
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
[Want]
Game Offers
Paypal
Midnight Fight Express
Nobody Saves the World
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Chaotic Great Edition
The Outer Worlds Spacer's Choice Edition
Yakuza 4 Remastered
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Trepang2
The Knight Witch
Axiom 1 and 2
Abalon
Mythforce
Siralim Ultimate
Monster Hunter Rise
The Colonist
Littlewood
Immortal Life
Floppy Knights
Book of Hours
Astrea

I would like to get some lingerie for my wife, or at least a gift card to a lingerie store. All I see around here is Victoria Secret. I’ve been reading up on lingerie trying to educate myself on it and it seems like from the reviews of VS on lingerieaddiction is that it’s cheaply made. Any suggestions?

TL;DR Please keep a work journal. Use it to record your small “wins” at work. Use it to build your resume for when you need a raise, a promotion, or a new job.

What do Firefighters Do All Day?

When I was a kid, I loved Richard Scarry picture books. He drew human-like animals who lived in “Busytown” and who worked in typical places: bank, firehouse, bakery, and so on. Richard Scarry explained to young readers what firefighters did all day: they rescued cats from tall trees. When the baker burned a batch of pies, the firefighters came and put out the burning pies. The firefighters had a big truck full of hoses, and they spent a lot of time fussing over the truck, too.
https://preview.redd.it/fpn6eflbl81d1.jpg?width=700&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f51b4cafb6766ad0b1a2baea4ec7357f9d58a85e
Children are not born knowing what a banker does, what a baker does, what a firefighter does. It’s both useful and lovely to explain basic job functions to children so they can understand how their town functions.
A lot of people, including job seekers on this subreddit, seem to think resumes are Richard Scarry books. People spend their resumes explaining what a baker does all day:

• rolled out dough for pies and bagels each morning
• sold doughnuts and muffins to customers; returned correct change
• turned off ovens and swept kitchen clean every night

WHAT? That’s only a resume if you were terrible at your job. I’m serious; if I saw those three bullet points on a baker’s resume, I would assume the baker in question had just been fired.

The Point of Resume Bullet Points

Imagine you’ve been a professional baker for two years. You’ve applied for a new job. You’ve made it through the dumb website questionnaires, the redundant forms. You made it past the algorithm or the robot that rejects half the applicants right away. You’ve got your resume in front of me, the person who can decide to interview you, the person who can decide to hire you.
And you’re using this time to tell me what a baker does?
Your resume is not a place to educate children about your core job functions. Your resume is a place to persuade a manager that you are good at your job! If I’m hiring a baker, chances are good-to-excellent that I already know what a baker does all day. I want to know if you are a good baker!

• reduced morning biscuit prep time by switching to corn oil; saved 18 minutes per day
• caramel doughnut recipe won 2nd place in Busytown’s Bake-Off 2021
• increased earnings 8% by moving tip jar to front of counter

Those are accomplishments. They show that you were good at your job. They show that you make improvements. They show that you measure things: How long was it taking you to make biscuits before? What did you change? How long did it take you to make biscuits after that change? Was the change your idea, or something your boss told you to try?
Now, maybe the tip jar example bothers you. Maybe that’s not about being a good baker, it’s more about being a greedy, self-interested employee. Guess what? As a hiring manager, I don’t care! I’m so impressed that you made a change and measured the impact of that change that I give you full points for that tip jar bullet point. Even if my bakery doesn’t use tip jars. Even if I’m hiring for a pastry chef position at a hotel, a role that doesn’t get tipped income. It’s the drive to measure, the habit of making small improvements at work, that’s what impresses me.

Lost Progress: My Doughnut Years

I worked at a doughnut shop right after college, years ago. It was not a happy time for me; I had a fancy degree, so I had expected to be doing more interesting things with my life than frosting doughnuts and pouring coffee for customers. But I’m a driven person. I improve things everywhere I go. I remember I impressed my boss one day when I came in with colorful printed signs I had made on my home ink-jet printer: “Chocolate Sprinkles,” “Raspberry Jelly,” “Lemon Creme.” We had been using hand-printed signs, Sharpie on cardboard, and these were a big improvement.
Our regular customers noticed the signs. I probably bragged about them or fished for compliments. That’s something 22-year-old me would have done. For sure the shop owner liked them. I remember the glossy paper I used made them easier to wipe clean, so we didn’t have to re-write the labels every few days.
I didn’t write any of this down in a journal. It all happened years ago; I barely remember it. But I should have been keeping a journal. If I had, then my resume would have featured bullet points such as:

• simplified regular ordering process by creating new signs …or
• standardized inventory display with colorful, uniform signage …or
• took initiative to re-do store signage; received 23 compliments from regular customers …or
• “Did you make those signs? They look amazing!” -Actual customer, responding to the labels I created on my home printer for the doughnut display area

Maybe some of those bullet points hit harder than others; I was young and it was a dumb job. But see how those bullet points say much more about what kind of baker I am than
“• rolled out dough for pies and bagels each morning” ?

How, When, and What to Journal at Work

If you have an amazing memory for tiny details, then maybe you don’t need to keep a journal. But most people should. Every month, or at least every quarter, sit down for twenty minutes and write down something that demonstrates you are good, skilled, dedicated, resourceful, whatever:

1. “Neela Roberts, a regular client, said last month ‘Dave, whenever you process my invoice, I know it’s going to be correct, I don’t even have to check!’ That made me feel good.”
2. “I caught a pricing typo on the quote sheet Business Development was preparing to send over to Acme Industrials. Maybe someone else would have caught it, but wow those Acme people are pushy about little details like that; I probably saved us $500, who knows?”
3. “I’m glad I persuaded Marla to upgrade the A/V system in the conference room. We always used to have clients ask us ‘what? say that again?’ in our conference calls. Since we installed the new mics and speakers, I can’t remember that happening.”
4. “Chris over in Receiving bought me a beer after work today, said he wanted to thank me for recommending Dale for the new loader position. Glad to hear Dale is working out so well over there.”

It's easy, in the glow of a big win at work, to think "I'll always remember this accomplishment. I'll always remember how I helped the team, the way this project came together, the nice things the boss said about our hard work. This is a memory I'll treasure."
And then Monday rolls around, and you're back to rolling out dough for the morning bagels. Unless you are a professional athlete, most days at work are not wins. Most days at work are not noteworthy. And the ho-hum of the every day can overwhelm your big and small accomplishments unless you make time to write them down regularly.

Why to Journal at Work

Even if you love your job, even if you are 10 years into a 20-year role with a guaranteed pension, a place you never intend to leave, you should still be doing this.
First, I don’t believe any job is guaranteed in this life.
Second, a list of improvements and accomplishments will help you get promotions and raises at your current job. Think of how much you’ll have to say at your annual review when you’ve been taking monthly notes on your significant contributions! It will help you defend yourself if you ever face cutbacks at work due to downturns and budget problems.
Third, journaling and measuring will make you a better worker! My whole mentality at work changed when i started measuring stuff. “Hey, I think we should reorganize the mailing room, because I think the workflow in there is just nuts. But you know what? Let’s note down how many packages we ship out each morning for the next three mornings, just to get a baseline. Then, when we make the changes I have in mind, we can see if things actually improve. Three more days with the old system won’t kill us, and it will let me measure my impact.”
Your work journal needs to be in a paper book or in a computer file you will retain access to even if you change jobs. We’ve all heard horror stories about layoffs at Zenith Techno where workers got an automated email at 5AM and lost all access to company files. Your work journal needs to be your property. Your career is more important than any one job!
If you work for the CIA or for a urologist, you might need to take some basic care to respect the privacy of clients and your employer. Maybe use fake names of patients. Don't put the secret recipe to your boss's famous caramel doughnuts on a server where doughnut hackers can get to it. But keep a journal! Do it!
Otherwise, this is all you’ve got to say for yourself at the end of the day:
“• turned off ovens and swept kitchen clean every night”

I am a daily/long term buyer looking for the following gift cards:
Amazon(US, DE, UK, CA)**, Apple/iTunes, eBay, Gyft, eGifter, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes, Prepaid Visa/Mastercard**, GameStop, Steam, PSN, Razor Gold, Giant Eagle, Nike, Newegg, Sheetz, Staples, Dollar General, CVS, Starbucks, DoorDash, Uber, Grubhub, and more!
**I am looking for frequent and/or bulk Amazon gift card sellers.
**Prepaids include tremendous, prepaiddigitalsolutions, myprepaidcenter, and many more.
---
The above list is not all inclusive, if you have another gift card you wish to trade, feel free to send me a message.
I am currently NOT buying: Disney, Google Play, Nintendo, Dominos, McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Texas Roadhouse, Forever21, American Eagle, Victoria's Secret, Chewy, Top Golf, Anything airline/theater related, or any type of subscription gift cards.
---
Most rates are 70-79%, but my rates will fluctuate depending on the retailer, payment method, personal need, and the total amount/denominations. Please do not contact me asking for rates above 80%. I will attempt to beat other offers.
I can pay via Crypto(typically USDT, USDC, BTC, sometimes LTC), PayPal, CashApp, and Zelle. I can trade Amazon gift cards for other gift cards.

It's me. The annoying new fan again 🤣🤌🏼
Okay so I've been thinking about this lately. Since I recently started to read the books, having watched the show first, I thought I would automatically see the same actors in my mind. But I was surprised about how much this wasn't the case.
I know that imagination works in different ways. Some people can see everything like a movie, while people on the other side of the spectrum have aphantasia and cannot see images in their brain.
I have a vivid imagination but I don't always "control it". For example I do see Sam as Jamie while reading, but Claire changes often. Specially after Jamie says on their wedding night that she has "wide hips" (she gets offended lol) it gave me the image of Claire maybe being a little more "big" on the hips and legs area Since Cait is/was a Victoria Secret model with thin long legs, after that description in the book, my brain started projecting a slightly different image of Claire. Ofc I still see Cait in my mind, but it does change.
Dougal and Colum I see them completely different from their actors now. Claire describes them in the books as looking very similar to Jamie (well technically Jamie looks like them, but you get my point) how all the Mackenzie men have the "same bone structure" and she talks about how attractive they both are. I see them more as looking like season 6 Jamie/Sam.
I've only read the first book so far but this will continue to happen and I will for sure share it here when the time comes 😆😏
Share your thoughts about this with me!

For years now, the Compact had espoused the tenants of liberty and democracy, championing a republican form of governance. However, the Compact had begun to fundamentally change as paranoia had set in. At face value the Compact remained a champion of freedom, those very freedoms had begun to corode. While the trinity of government checks and balances, the Intertsate Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive, still functioned normally, other agencies working in the background had worked on the basis of paranoia to achieve order and prosperity, often abandoning the tenants the Compact was founded on in the process.
While the average worker, the farmer, the miner, and the roughnecks, enjoyed unparalleled rights, benefits, and growth not seen since prior to the 1947 Federal Schism, a secret pogrom had been launched behind closed doors against the upper-class elite, a class of society deemed the most likely and most capable of threatening the government's power. Fueled by memories of the Corporate Wars of the early 1950s, the government gradually and quietly launched their attack on the upper-class, assailing their assets and property through deftly masked legislation that slowly but definitively chipped away at their powerbase until they were paralyzed.
From the tax reform of the 1950s to the breaking up of the Grange, the Cattle Counts and Magnates watched as the government tore away their iron grip on the working class and economic structure of the West with the steel hammer of legislation. The killing blow would come in the form of collectivization and nationalization following the Compact's divorce from DC, the government no longer being bound by Federal oversight and quickly moving to finish nationalization efforts taken in the 1950s following the Bakken War and Copper King Rebellion. The Compact now saw an economy where the government owned majority shares, if not outright owning the corporations, in much of the strategic industries such as oil and mining. The infamous military-industrial complex was not spared either, with the eccentric Defense Ordiance Subcommission assuming totality in military developments and production, doing away with the age-old races between private institutions such as Lockheed and Boeing. All the while, the vast majority of voters, the blue-collar workers, cheered these changes not realizing that the dismantling of the Cattle Counts and their counterparts merely traded one master for another, the idea of their new master, the government, being able to be controlled through democratic process easing the minds of all but the most crusty.
However, the changes did not come only in the anti-elite legislation. Over a decade of challenging and fighting against the boogey man that is the "MacArthurite" ideology, an ideology of warlordism that had expanded well past its original description of MacArthur's government itself, had led the Compact down an increasingly dark path. Extremely isolated and constantly surrounded by enemies, the Compact had afforded the military a generally long-leash to operate on, the State Defense Commission, founded to over see defense planning and production, capable of challenging the government trinity should it so please. In its crusade against MacArthurism, the Compact had turned a blind eye to the seeds of the very ideology it raged against being planted within itself by itself.
Now, after almost a decade, DOSC had become a boogeyman in and of itself, assuming command of more and more of the defense sector as its influence and prestige grew. DOSC encapsualted the perfect description of a runaway military agencies, however the agency had been smart in its actions. At its surface, DOSC was generally beloved, its work helping not only the military, a noble tasking in the minds of many in the West, but too the common man, the agency's research often having civilian applications. Using its mask of nobility, DOSC had become like a mycelium network, its tendrils expanding well beyond its original purpose of research and development. It was from this power, influence over not only R&D but too planning, production, security, and intelligence, DOSC had been able to influence the political processes of the Compact.
DOSC had no right to meddle in political affairs but the government's lack of oversight in order to foster rapid technological and defense growth, while objectively very successful, had created a monster in the shadows, and the monster thrived in and enjoyed the shadows, content to remain in the background while having a finger in every pie in the bakery window. Nothing militarily was approved without first crossing DOSC's desk and in turn, DOSC had eyes in every civilian government agencies and even a strong surveillance on the private sector, constantly monitoring for security breaches or potential recruits for its expansive think-tanks.
It could not be denied that the Compact had begun with noble intentions, sporting one of the highest levels of freedom and democracy on the continent upon its creation. However, it had now firm backslid, bringing a tear to Benjamin Franklin's eye as it traded liberty for security in an ever uncertain world.