I had previously performed a firmware update, and doing so borked Fluid. So I went and did a factory reset on my K1 Max. After rebooting and recalibrating, it said there was another firmware update available. So I downloaded that, re calibrated the printer, re enabled root/ssh, and proceeded to use the helper script to go through and install what I had before. Everything went fine until I got to OctoEverywhere. This is not the first time I've had issues getting it to install. I tried using the helper script as well as downloading the install manually. Tried deleting all files in the OctoEverywhere folder and tried again, no matter what I get some weird message " Could not build wheels for pillow, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects"
This is an error I've never seen before.
Below is what I HOPE is the output that may shine some light on what is going wrong. This is a fresh reset machine, up to date firmware, so I don't understand the problem.
​
Running in K1 and K1 Max OS mode
Checking required system packages are installed...
Downloading http://bin.entware.net/mipselsf-k3.4/Packages.gz
Updated list of available packages in /opt/vaopkg-lists/entware
Package python3 (3.11.7-1) installed in root is up to date.
Package python3-pip (23.3.1-1) installed in root is up to date.
WARNING: Running pip as the 'root' user can result in broken permissions and con flicting behaviour with the system package manager. It is recommended to use a v irtual environment instead: https://pip.pypa.io/warnings/venv
System package install complete.
Checking Python Virtual Environment For OctoEverywhere...
No virtual environment found, creating one now.
created virtual environment CPython3.11.7.final.0-32 in 4380ms
creator CPython3Posix(dest=/usdata/octoeverywhere-env, clear=False, no_vcs_i gnore=False, global=True)
seeder FromAppData(download=False, pip=bundle, setuptools=bundle, wheel=bundle , via=copy, app_data_dir=/usdata/.local/share/virtualenv)
added seed packages: pip==24.0, setuptools==69.5.1, wheel==0.43.0
activators BashActivator,CShellActivator,FishActivator,NushellActivator,PowerS hellActivator,PythonActivator
Updating PIP if needed... (this can take a few seconds or so)
Requirement already satisfied: pip in /usdata/octoeverywhere-env/lib/python3.11/site-packages (24.0)
Installing or updating required python libs...
error: subprocess-exited-with-error
​
× Building wheel for pillow (pyproject.toml) did not run successfully.
│ exit code: 1
╰─> [216 lines of output]
running bdist_wheel
running build
running build_py
creating build
creating build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311
creating build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GifImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_version.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/BmpImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageCms.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PcfFontFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageColor.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PaletteFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageEnhance.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/features.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/__main__.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_typing.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PcxImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ContainerIO.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/TarIO.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/DcxImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageDraw.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/IcnsImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageTk.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PyAccess.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/__init__.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GimpGradientFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PdfParser.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/FpxImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_binary.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PngImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageGrab.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/MicImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/XbmImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/CurImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageWin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/MspImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PSDraw.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GdImageFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/DdsImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/QoiImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/BufrStubImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/EpsImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/WalImageFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/IptcImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/FitsImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PsdImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/TgaImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImagePath.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/WmfImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ExifTags.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/McIdasImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/JpegImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/XpmImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageMath.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/FontFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/SgiImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/WebPImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_deprecate.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImagePalette.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageFilter.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageFont.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/TiffTags.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/Jpeg2KImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PixarImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/SpiderImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageMorph.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageShow.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/SunImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GimpPaletteFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_tkinter_finder.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImtImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageSequence.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GribStubImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/MpoImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/FliImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_util.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PdfImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/JpegPresets.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/GbrImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageStat.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/MpegImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/Hdf5StubImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PalmImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageQt.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/report.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageOps.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageChops.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/FtexImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PcdImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageDraw2.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/BlpImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/Image.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageTransform.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/XVThumbImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/PpmImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/ImageMode.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/BdfFontFile.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/IcoImagePlugin.py -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
running egg_info
writing src/pillow.egg-info/PKG-INFO
writing dependency_links to src/pillow.egg-info/dependency_links.txt
writing requirements to src/pillow.egg-info/requires.txt
writing top-level names to src/pillow.egg-info/top_level.txt
reading manifest file 'src/pillow.egg-info/SOURCES.txt'
reading manifest template 'MANIFEST.in'
warning: no files found matching '*.c'
warning: no files found matching '*.h'
warning: no files found matching '*.sh'
warning: no files found matching '*.txt'
warning: no files found matching '.flake8'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.appveyor.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.clang-format'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.coveragerc'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.editorconfig'
warning: no previously-included files found matching '.readthedocs.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching 'codecov.yml'
warning: no previously-included files found matching 'renovate.json'
warning: no previously-included files matching '.git*' found anywhere in distribution
warning: no previously-included files matching '*.so' found anywhere in distribution
no previously-included directories found matching '.ci'
no previously-included directories found matching 'wheels'
adding license file 'LICENSE'
writing manifest file 'src/pillow.egg-info/SOURCES.txt'
copying src/PIL/_imaging.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_imagingcms.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_imagingft.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_imagingmath.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_imagingmorph.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/_webp.pyi -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
copying src/PIL/py.typed -> build/lib.linux-mips-cpython-311/PIL
running build_ext
​
​
The headers or library files could not be found for zlib,
a required dependency when compiling Pillow from source.
​
Please see the install instructions at:
https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html
​
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 1009, in
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/__init__.py", line 104, in setup
return distutils.core.setup(**attrs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/core.py", line 184, in setup
return run_commands(dist)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/core.py", line 200, in run_commands
dist.run_commands()
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/dist.py", line 969, in run_commands
self.run_command(cmd)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/dist.py", line 967, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/dist.py", line 988, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/normal/lib/python3.11/site-packages/wheel/bdist_wheel.py", line 368, in run
self.run_command("build")
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/cmd.py", line 316, in run_command
self.distribution.run_command(command)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/dist.py", line 967, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/dist.py", line 988, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/command/build.py", line 132, in run
self.run_command(cmd_name)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/cmd.py", line 316, in run_command
self.distribution.run_command(command)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/dist.py", line 967, in run_command
super().run_command(command)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/dist.py", line 988, in run_command
cmd_obj.run()
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/command/build_ext.py", line 91, in run
_build_ext.run(self)
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/_distutils/command/build_ext.py", line 359, in run
self.build_extensions()
File "", line 826, in build_extensions
RequiredDependencyException: zlib
​
During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
​
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usdata/octoeverywhere-env/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pip/_vendopyproject_hooks/_in_process/_in_process.py", line 353, in
main()
File "/usdata/octoeverywhere-env/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pip/_vendopyproject_hooks/_in_process/_in_process.py", line 335, in main
json_out['return_val'] = hook(**hook_input['kwargs'])
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/octoeverywhere-env/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pip/_vendopyproject_hooks/_in_process/_in_process.py", line 251, in build_wheel
return _build_backend().build_wheel(wheel_directory, config_settings,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-install-93ffv0sl/pillow_dcffede559724c7d9c0af468515912d6/_custom_build/backend.py", line 26, in build_wheel
return super().build_wheel(wheel_directory, config_settings, metadata_directory)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/build_meta.py", line 410, in build_wheel
return self._build_with_temp_dir(
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/build_meta.py", line 395, in _build_with_temp_dir
self.run_setup()
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-install-93ffv0sl/pillow_dcffede559724c7d9c0af468515912d6/_custom_build/backend.py", line 20, in run_setup
return super().run_setup(setup_script)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/usdata/opt/tmp/pip-build-env-2zqzr5ol/overlay/lib/python3.11/site-packages/setuptools/build_meta.py", line 311, in run_setup
exec(code, locals())
File "", line 1025, in
RequiredDependencyException:
​
The headers or library files could not be found for zlib,
a required dependency when compiling Pillow from source.
​
Please see the install instructions at:
https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html
​
​
root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#]
root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#] note: This error originates from a subprocess, and is likely not a problem with pip.
-sh: note:: not found
root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#] ERROR: Failed building wheel for pillow
-sh: ERROR:: not found
root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#] ERROR: Could not build wheels for pillow, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects
-sh: ERROR:: not found
root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#] root@K1Max-AABB /usdata/octoeverywhere [#]

Picture it, Italy 2001, back when freedom roamed throughout the land and Hasan was planning on getting on a plane.
While I was at a bunga bunga party at Berlusconi's house, that is where I met him. he was dresed like Princess Leia in leather and chains, trapped at the feet of Berlusconi himself. Looking directly into his eyes I could see the calm and terror living in the nightmare of his mind.
In the distance I could see through the rubber gimp mask, a very horny and young AustinShow, trying to convince that he was indeed a top.
While walking away from the scene I could see several Italian men abusing him by teaching him how to use his tongue with a cumquat.

I've finished og trilogy 2 times as renegade soldier and less renegade soldier, in both playthroughs Tali was my favourite companion and love interest.
My reasons were:
Soldier because only he could use assault rifles in ME1 and I hate spending the whole game with a pistol. Also only soldier can use heavy armor. Combined with all of soldier's skills you become a literal juggernaut with hp melting gun. No need for cc or right damage type, just shoot. Stuff like lock picking can be done by Tali. Also another reason I choose soldier because of Tali, she covers all the support stuff. As other companion I usually took liara or caiden.
In ME2 where damage types were more prevalent, soldier had different ammo types for every kind of enemy and could deal with every situation. He wasn't as tanky as previous iteration or as sentinel, but still the most versatile damage dealer in my opinion, which again makes Tali a preferable companion.
In ME3 they expanded power combos and compared to other classes soldier became boring as hell. Only thing that soldier has is increased weight limit and exploding shot. Also now everyone can use any weapon type.
I chose renegade path because in ME1 paragon is too idealistic and soft, unlike renegade options which are pragmatic and cold blooded. In ME2 Renegade was a fun chaose option with a pinch of jerkiness. In ME3 renegade options were straight up psychotic and evil.
Now back to the topic.
I've bought legendary edition this morning and spent whole day choosing between different classes and outlined some of my options and I need help choosing. If you don't want to read this wall of text just move to bottom line.
Here are some bullet points:
I'll play as male Shepard with same class through trilogy.
I want be a paragon but also want to do these renegade choices: killing a certain terrorist at asteroid instead of saving hostages, killing space bugs, not curing a genophage. Also I hate the council and usually left them to die, but it's optional.
Only paragon choice I like to do is making peace between geths and quarians. Also I don't want to lose any companions.
My prefered ending is a red one, but honestly endings don't really matter, they're just a cop out.
Now back to classes
Soldier - already explained it above, my favourite class, but I've done it twice and want to try something new. Pass.
Engineer - the ultimate support class in 1, underwhelming in 2, and completely chaotic in 3. Quite mixed feelings about this one. In ME1 only viable weapon is pistol and unlike biotics he can't make use of increased damage against ragdolled enemies, which sucks. Can only wear light armor but it's mitigated by increased shields and first aid/medicine combo. I don't like that most of his skills have mediocre damage at best, but I like how you can mess with opponents with said skills. As I said it's pretty much a support class which can be boring for many people including me. ME2 iteration got more offensive powers and cc ones got more interesting, only skill I don't like is combat drone. There is no armor types but still engineer is squishiest as ever in this game, no increased shields, first aid or barriers. Also weapon choice is very restricted untill mid game. In ME3 because of enhanced power combo system engineer became the chaotic god of destruction, sounds very fun but I don't like when I can't see most of my screen because of explosions. Also not a fen of "pet" skills like turret and drone, and weapon choice is restricted again unless you want to use your skills every hour instead of every few seconds. Interesting but I'll pass, too much things going for engineer and it makes me dizzy. Maybe later but not for this playthrough.
Adept - not a fan of mage classes, but ability to ragdoll enemies sounds fun and biotics in ME3 have the best visuals out of all skills. Adept suffers from same problems as engineer, but unlike engineer there are ways to negate said problems. For example in ME1 there's no need to upgrade pistol skills because you can kill enemies with only biotics and if you can't then you can use any weapon to shoot at then while they're ragdolled to get 4x damage bonus. In ME2 adepts are weakest class damage wise, especially at higher difficulties, but unlike engineer adept can use biotic barrier for increased survivability. Only saving grace is biotic combo, but it gets pretty boring using the same combo again and again. In ME3 on other hand adept is amazing even by visuals alone. More power combos and enemies less resistant to biotics, plus more weapon choices make adept quite fun class to play. Maybe, if I can stomach ME2 adept.
Infiltrator - very relieble, basically a soldier that is scaled more towards damage than defence and also adds some cc. Many people like this class for a reason but I'm not a fan of sniping. Pass.
Vanguard - amazing in 1 and 3 but underwhelming in 2. At it's core vanguard is high risk high fun class, very mobile and tanky. Same situation as in adept's case but ME2 is more tolerable because of shotgun/charge/incendiary ammo combo. Maybe.
Sentinel - A true tank class, starting with first game and getting better with every next game. In ME1 despite not having any weapon specialisation legendary edition adds ability to use any weapon, which is coupled with biotic skills can deal massive damage. Increased shield with biotic barrier and medicine makes you unkillable. In ME2 and ME3 sentinel gets THE DRIP. Also sentinel can deal every damage type and create some amazing power combos in ME3. Only weakness is longer cooldowns compared to adept and engineer, but unlike them sentinel has better weight limit in ME3.
Out of six classes I want to choose:
1) sentinel
2) adept
3) vanguard
Now when long and boring part is over here are questions.
First one "can I still have enough renegade level for: no genophage cure, killing space bugs and killing asteroid terrorist. And still have at least 75% or more paragon level?".
And second one "out of 3 mentioned above classes which you recommend to play as through whole trilogy?".
My main concern is how gimped biotics are in ME2, and unlike sentinel and vanguard who can use normal weapons, adept would be really painful to play.
In order from most to least desirable class for every game:
ME1: vanguard > sentinel > adept
ME2: sentinel > vanguard > adept
ME3: adept > sentinel > vanguard
Vanguard = 3 + 2 + 1 = 6
Adept = 1 + 1 + 3 = 5
Sentinel = 2 + 3 + 2 = 7
Mathematically sentinel is most desirable class by me.
Ok, I kinda answered second question on my own, but I still like to read your opinion about which of those 3 classes is better in whole trilogy. Or you can just ignore this post, it works too.

There's a lot of good information for this scattered throughout the comments on dozens of individual posts. I thought it'd be nice to have a dedicated thread for it, and if the mods think it's a good idea, we can sticky it.
In any event, my own insights are below, and I'll happily update it to add other people's contributions to the body if we get a sticky.

• There are three distinct phases to a blurtra run. Survival, Setup, and Maintenance. I'll split my post into sections accordingly.

GENERAL TIPS
Item Quality is God. There is no problem so bad that it can't be solved by having better equipment.
Hero.keyword and allitem.thing are also God. Don't let these rarities pass you by.
Assess equipment allotment per fight, not per hero. It's OK to take a toy away from somebody who uses it well, if you're giving it to somebody who needs it to be effective against that basilisk.
Use Custom mode! If you aren't 100% sure how some effect will interact, go find out. Don't guess and don't miss out on something because of uncertainty.
It doesn't matter how fragile you are if you never get hit. Once your build really comes online, the monsters will probably never roll another die.
If you're using the Force array, get a red or blue hero asap. You won't get any mana/spell curses until you do so, and they will be very low impact on your party so you want them in the mix.
Never quit. No matter how bad things look, see the fight through. You might surprise yourself with a clever workaround, or you might just luck out and roll exactly what you need to finish the loop and pick up a blessing that eases your rough position.
Flighty should be a blessing. Instead of having to clear the front row before you can kill those annoying snipers, you just have to tag them. If this pops up, grab it.
SURVIVAL
Your first 100-160 fights or so are best approached individually. This is where most of your runs will probably fail, and you should keep your focus on short term benefits. Which curse hurts your current team the least? Which blessing will help the most in this loop?
The conventional wisdom is "never gamble" and it is sound advice. But during this phase of your run if you genuinely think both curses are likely to tank you, I actually endorse the random button. You don't have a lot of time invested right now, so this the time to risk it all.
Perceptive and Versatile are both amazing long term investments and are never a bad choice, but the odds are good you have something better to pick from for this loop.
Damaged monsters, reduced monster hp, Hunt, and most monster.spirit blessings are some of the best ways to make your runs more comfortable.
Think carefully on Boss Smash or anything that improves your spells. If they make things easier for you now, great, but you should fully expect to lose the benefits of both eventually.
Additional heroes are always great to have, but I tend to shy away from L1 heroes or the Coffin at this point in the game. T3 and especially T4+ heroes can be major clinchers, and a large party deprives you of those opportunities.
Watch out for Heavy or Slippery dice. They may seem like a small sacrifice now, but they'll be a major albatross when you have a large party later on.
SETUP
This phase might end at fight 300 or stretch all the way to 666.
At this stage you've hopefully got enough power that very few fights are stressful, and you've managed to string together a good group of blessings that synergize, so you've got a particular direction to push for when you choose modifiers. You still need to think about your choices, and you always check what's on the field for your next fight before you lock in your equipment choices and start rolling.
No more gambling. This includes items! Even a level 30+ random item could be a mashup that includes some cursed item that ruins a hero. If there's nothing attractive, take something useless rather than a risk. That goes double for curses. You've come to far to let it all get ruined by spider soul or single kill or an infinite spawning loop. Accept that you'll have some nasty setbacks. You should be able to work around them.
You have two main goals now: double down on your primary strength, and look for ways to shore up your weaknesses.
Stacking up Bone Math is a popular strategy for good reason, and it makes it easy to flood the field with enemies who end up doing you more good than harm.
If you've taken Cataclysm, maybe you're focused on death immunity, shields, poison immunity and other survival tricks.
If you've been saddled with several cursed blanks, this might be where you shrug them all off by taking Reliable.
By this point you've also likely identified one or two bosses that still pose a major threat to you. Maybe it's Hexia, maybe it's Inevitable--who am I kidding? It's definitely Inevitable. At any rate, here is where you can focus on finding the silver bullet for that boss so you can stop worrying.
Perceptive and Versatile are HUGE here. One single blessing of those can negate an entire loop worth of curses or more, and if you can keep them at a high value, you will always be able to pick the exact tool you need during the rewards phase.
The most common priorities in this phase are making the monsters more fragile (reduce their starting HP, and find every possible opportunity to dish out more damage) and coping with blanks and other low value sides. A larger party and a full armory will help a lot, particularly i.hats. Otherwise you'll eventually get a bad run of luck in the early levels of a loop and die ignobly.
MAINTENANCE
You've almost made it! You've crossed every real hurdle and all that's left is to not make a dumb mistake and lose it all. You've rendered entire categories of curses irrelevant, and in the vast majority of cases are winning every fight before the monsters get a chance to act. You probably have a small army of heroes so you can designate one or two as party gimps who wear all your cursed items while everyone else does the work, and you have so much permanent gear that you no longer care what anybody's basic dice look like.
Stay focused. You've earned your place on the leader board but you still need to cross the finish line, and one distracted decision can take it away from you. There are countless cautionary tales on this sub from players who took an ill-fated curse gamble, or went into a final boss fight without their titan bane. One poor bugger took a bones-on-death generated curse that didn't exclude bones. My own worst loss was caused by taking a poorly chosen blessing that ruined a build that was otherwise a sure thing.
Take breaks, play when you feel like it and don't just slog through or you just might make a nasty misstep.
Above all, have fun and come tell us your stories. We love to hear it, win or lose.

Hey everyone,
Sorry for the delay in posting. I'll been busy during my freetime working on a masterpiece. My day to day life is filled with monotony. Everyday is a repeat of the previous. Wake up, coffee, put on my diaper, tan khakis, sit down at the cubicle, slave away while the rest of the office is unsuspecting of my true identity.
Lately I have been thinking about ways to add a little extra flavor to my day to day. Some days ill hang around the office water cooler around lunch hoping a coworker walks over to make conversation.its usually "jim". I feel like a spider waiting for its next victim to walk into the web. Que eye contact, wait for "jim" to go on talking about his amazing kids and wife for a few minutes before inviting me over to bar be que and hangout with his wife and kids. It's the same conversation most of the time. About halfway through I'll drop my load and release moans a little bit and smile ear to ear. Jim's to thick and out of touch to even realize what I'm cooking up.
Sometimes I'll spend lunch out in the office courtyard daydreaming about weekend plans of conjure. I get a little giddy about it. Feels like little butterflies flying around in my stomach. Just thinking about dropping my load in public.
Recently, I concocted up a masterpiece during my daydreaming sessions. I noticed across our office building was a casino. It was simple. Sit down at the slot machine, hit the jackpot, and drop the load when the on lookers swarm my chair to see my winnings.
The plan was in place, It was just a matter of executing.
This past friday, the clock hits 5pm, i clock out, shake my supervisors hand, and thank him and wish him a good weekend. He tells me the same.
Weekend hits. Gametime. I put on my diaper and tan khakis and roll up to the casino. I sit down and order a coffee, and start loading pennies into the slot machine. A few hours pass, and no jackpot. Now, I knew it was going to be random chance, but I wanted it to be the perfect load. A few more hours pass and still no jackpot. I decide to try again the next day hoping fortune would be in my favor.
The next morning rolls around, and I sit back down in the same seat as last. It still felt warm. Maybe, it was from me yesterday ;). I notice a gentlemen sitting in the machine to my right, as he was previously there the day prior. A few hours go past without jackpot. I decide to take a break, and walk over to the man. I introduece myself, and offer to pay for his next spin. He obliges. And thanks me, and introduces himself back.
I go back to my seat, warmer than ever, drop my load, and spin away for a few more hours. No jackpot. I struggle to walk back to my car this time due to the load in diaper, but make it back after slowly gimping back.
The weekend ends, and I go back to my office job. Spending more and more days daydreaming of the jackpot load, and less time with Jim at the water cooler.
Another weekend, another chance. I sit down at the same seat, spin away endlessly nervously waiting for the jackpot. I begin to start recognizing more of the same people that I have been seeing over the past weekend. I guess you could call them regulars. Anyway, i always introduce myself during my playtime breaks and give them a free spin. I know these relationships will be crucial when it comes down to a crowd of spectators during the jackpot moment.
Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night pass. No jackpot. Monday through Friday at work still spent daydreaming of the jackpot load and talking with Jim on occasion.
I invite Jim to come out with me this Friday night to the casino after work. I offer to buy him some pulls at the slots. He obliges.
As I walked through the casino doors onto the floor with Jim the air felt different. My mind was more clear. I got goosebumps, and knew that tonight I was going to hit the jackpot.
Jim and I sit down at the slot machines, and start pulling away. Jim looks at me and says "would you want to come over to barbecue tomorrow night? I just picked up some wild hog snout and hoofs to smoke. They are really tasty. A real treat for you and the boys." I slowly nod and moan back to jim. Keeping my load barley contained in my khakis. Hovering on the rim, just peeking out. A feeling that truly puts me over the edge. I pull the machine to keep spinning. Watching the symbols align one after another.. gold coin.. gold coin.. gold coin..
Lights, sirens, noises, screen flashing starts to blare out from my machine. I won the jackpot. Jim rushes up from his chair, and so do the other regulars. They start to swarm my machine. The sound of coins waterfalling and cascading.. ding.. ding.. ding..
It's time.
I stand up, on the brink and rim of destruction fresh from my conversation with Jim seconds earlier. Clench my buttcheecks, and unload all at once. I rip ass loudly and uncontrollably, while jim or the regulars look on in sheer awe and amazement. Climaxing all at once.
Everything goes in slow motion. I uncontrollably begin to moan and groan, My knees are weak. Im stumbling from one person to the other, handing out high fives while they praise me.
My load it's too much.. as I high five jim. My eyesight begins to fade. I fall to my knees clenching my buttchecks in both hands as I blackout.
I wake up to jim hovering over me. My pants covered in my load. I begin to hardly let out, " I.. ugh.. jim.. what.. what happened?" Jim concerningly hugs me and says, "you won! You won the jackpot! We were all celebrating with you high fiving, you fainted... and had an accident."
I knew in this moment my masterpiece was complete. The perfect climax, and perfect execution of my load. Jim never suspected a thing. I felt like I just pulled the heist of a lifetime off. I walked away a true winner.
Jim still asks me to come over and barbeque. Sometimes he laughingly jokes about the "accident" and how lucky I was to hit the jackpot. I sit in office courtyard as I write this daydreaming of my next adventure.
Until next time

I say it into the mirror, brows furrowed and mouth pulled into a tight smile.
“I am happy.” My fingers clutch the edge of the bathroom sink, and a muscle twitches near my eye. Something tugs at the corner of my mind. A thought, maybe. It’s tempting me to peek at it, begging me to acknowledge it and push it out into the light of day, but I can't.
I won't.
My mother calls me from the kitchen. “Are you ready for school?”
“Yes,” I call back. “I am.”
I take another few moments to stare at myself. I burn the image of how happy I am into my memory, just in case I start to forget.
It’s a big day, after all.
The car chokes and sputters as it makes its way to school. I’m in tenth grade and I have no idea what I want to do with my life, but I know that’s okay. It’s normal. Nobody does.
Except for Maggie Taller, and Suhky Raj, and David Cho, and Adam Wallace. They’re going to be doctors and engineers and carpenters and drug dealers. They’re going to be happy.
We pull into the school parking lot. The van spits out a plume of smoke the size of Jupiter. Once the pollution clears, I open the door and look out over a sea of faces. Some of them are staring back at me. Some of them are snickering. One of them is Maggie Taller, and she’s waving—all red curls and dimples, so I wave back. My stomach does a frontflip.
“Have a good day,” my mother says. I look her way, and her face lights up with an expression that resembles a smile, but it’s not. There’s not enough play in her cheeks. She forgets to engage her eyes.
“I will,” I reply. I use the same smile that I practiced earlier. It’s much better. When I look back to the steps, Maggie is gone, and my stomach settles.
I lurch out of the car. “Honey…” my mother says. She reaches a hand toward me but stops short, almost as if she's worried I might snap at her or bite it off. She stares at me. "Things will get better for us, you know."
I close the door. The car leaves, backfiring as my mother runs the stop sign and nearly collides with an oncoming pick-up truck. It’s okay, though. Nobody is hurt.
I am happy.
The mutters follow me to my first-period English class. The voices are hushed, but loud enough that I can hear them. It’s intentional. It’s by design.
“... walks like a goof.”
“... saw him staring at Maggie’s ass.”
“... smells like a dead animal.”
“... we’ll get him after school.”
I listen to Mr. Yu discuss the significance of metaphor in literature. He spends the hour comparing Animal Farm to Twilight, and demanding why we waste our time reading the latter. He says it’s dumbing us down. He says it’s a problem. I’ve never read Twilight, but I smile and nod all the same.
He asks me to define the word ‘metaphor,’ and I do my best, but I get the answer wrong. Somebody laughs. Why wasn’t I listening earlier, I wonder. What’s wrong with me?
“... what a dumbass.”
I am happy.
At lunch, I get a table to myself. It’s good because it means I have personal space to come up with ten different metaphors for Mr. Yu.
The cafeteria is loud. Too loud. I try to focus on my paper and pen, and I scratch down my favorite metaphor to get started: It’s raining cats and dogs. I look at it and smile. It makes me think of my sister before the horror took her.
I wonder if it will take my mother too.
The other examples don’t come easily for me. My eyes scan the definition of 'metaphor' over and over, but my mind draws a blank. I can’t think. I can’t focus. I wonder where Maggie is sitting today.
A folded piece of paper lands on the table in front of me. I look up to see where it came from– to see who dropped it, but I can’t tell. There are too many people moving around, too many faces swimming, and too many voices drowning my concentration.
I unfold it.
There’s something written on the inside, hastily-scribbled and messy. It says, “YOUR DEAD,” in pencil-gray. A stickman is lying beneath the words, surrounded by three other stickmen. They’re stepping on him. Kicking him. Red pen strokes paint the page haphazardly, trailing from the crying man on the ground. I look closer. The other stickmen are smiling. They’re happy.
Something pulls at the edge of my thoughts. I ignore it.
The bell rings, and school is over. I gather my things and pull my backpack up and over my shoulder. It’s heavy and awkward. It takes me three tries to get it right.
Today is a big day.
I make my way from the school grounds, over the hill that leads to the forest path that runs along the little creek. I make my way home. My arms are tired by the time I get over the hill, but that’s okay. It just means I’m getting stronger. All the work I’ve been doing in the forest is going to pay off.
Voices follow me. I recognize some of them.
“... pervert is gonna get what’s coming to him.”
"... believe it when I see it."
"... heard Maggie moaning about wanting what's inside of him."
"... fuck you."
The forest is full of people. There are joggers and people walking dogs. A homeless man asks me if I have any change, and I say that I’m sorry, but I don’t. He tries to spit on me but misses.
“... a liar. Gimps like you make bank off disability checks.”
My arms get sore by the time I’m halfway through the forest. I take the same shortcut I usually do, the one that runs by the creek, and there are fewer joggers and dog-walkers. I get nervous, but the babbling sound of the water helps me relax. Today is a big day.
“... I’ll kill him. Watch me.”
“... yeah, right. He’ll be fucking Maggie before you ever get the balls to.”
“... we’ve only been dating two weeks. I’ll fuck her.”
“... not before him.”
Footsteps approach from behind. It sounds like three people and one more in the distance. I don’t see them, but I know them. I know their smiles. I know they’re happy.
A fist connects with the back of my head, and I fall forward, losing control of my crutches. My face smashes against the pavement and my vision swims as pain explodes across my cheek. I taste something in my mouth. Blood. I try to push myself up but my legs aren't cooperating. They're hardly moving. They're useless.
“Crippled fuck!” a voice shouts. It’s Adam Wallace. He's working himself up. “You thought I'd let you get away with staring holes into my girlfriend’s ass?"
I try to say something, but a foot steps on my backpack, and I’m pressed to the ground. The wind’s knocked out of me. I can’t breathe. Shoes connect with my face, one after the other. There’s laughter in the air. A sneaker finds my nose and there’s a crunching sound, and suddenly I can’t stop screaming as warm fluid spills down my face, cascading over my lips. I sputter and whimper. My eyes well up.
“... somebody will see us.”
Hands grab my limp legs. I’m being dragged backward, off of the cement path, and deeper into the forest. I call out, and somebody stuffs a ball of cloth into my mouth. It reeks. It tastes like sweat and filth.
“... bet you wish that was Maggie’s panties, you perverted shitstain.”
I close my eyes. I try to smile. I am happy. I am happy. Tears slip down my cheeks, and something tugs at the edge of my thoughts. I ignore it. I have to.
It takes ten minutes to get to where we’re going. The skin on my elbows is split and torn, caught on too many rocks and roots. They let my limp legs drop with a dull thud. I’m hyperventilating. It’s hard to breathe with the jockstrap in my mouth and a broken nose. There’s death in the air.
I’m rolled onto my back, and I feel my backpack shift against my spine. It’s uncomfortable, but not half as uncomfortable as Adam Wallace wrapping his hands around my neck and strangling me.
“... he’s actually doing it.”
“... I thought he was just fucking around.”
The trees above me fade with the air in my lungs. I gasp and sputter, but there’s no air to breathe and I’m not strong enough to pry his hands from my throat. He leans in close, his lips pressed to my ear. “You think I'm gonna let you cuck me?” he asks, and his voice is dipped in cyanide. “I warned you to stay the hell away from her.”
“... taking too long.”
“... use this.”
I hear the sound of a switchblade opening. The hands around my neck let go, and I take in a lungful of air. My heart hammers in my chest. I try to move, instinctively, and crawl away, but somebody grabs me by my backpack and drags me back.
“... there’s something in there.”
“... open it.”
Four arms wrestle the backpack off of me, and I groan in agony as somebody presses my broken nose into the dirt. I protest but it’s muffled by soil. Nobody hears it. Nobody cares. I hear my knapsack’s zipper being undone, and my pain is washed away and replaced with terror. My body seizes. I forget to breathe.
The moment lasts a lifetime. I know their words before they ever speak them.
What the fuck?
I hear the sound of a backpack hitting the forest floor, and things spilling out of it. I hear gagging. Retching. I hear footsteps stumbling backward. Soon, their shock will be replaced with anger. Rage. Something tears at my mind. It’s crashing against it. Demanding it’s time in the light and roaring at me to stop being such a coward and do something about this. I slam my eyes shut. I can’t. I won’t.
I am happy.
“... filled with dead animals.”
“... he’s a fucking psychopath!”
Hands grip the front of my t-shirt and pull me up from the ground. They’re shouting about the dead squirrel and the dead rat and the dead bird in my bag. A fist connects with my face. Blood hits the ground. Another fist. More blood.
“... what kinda freak collects dead animals?”
“... I'm gonna hurl.”
I open my mouth, and I don’t care anymore. The words come out like a broken dam. It feels good. It feels overdue. “Offerings,” I sputter. “They’re offerings.”
“... he’s lost it.”
“... offerings for what?”
I smile, and my teeth are slick with my own blood. “Offerings to cure me.”
Adam Wallace raises the switchblade, pressing the cold steel against my throat. I close my eyes. Something riots inside of me, throbbing against my skull. I push it back. Death is in the air. Rough hands grip my hair, and I wince as they lurch my head roughly to the side. Adam’s voice is beside me. It's up against my ear. “Offerings, huh? You think you’re some kinda fuckin’ witch, Hermione Granger?”
“No,” I say.
Something shifts in the trees behind Adam and his friends, and a figure steps out from the brush. I recognize them. They've been following us since we left the school.
Suhky recognizes them too. He tries to step in front of Adam and me, to block us from view. Words fall out of his mouth. He's giving them an explanation, maybe. A reason things aren't as bad they seem. He's interrupted by a horrible, wet-sounding jab. Then another. There’s a series of four slick rips, like a pen tearing through paper, or a knife cutting into skin. A gasp.
“... Jesus, Maggie!”
Adam clambers off of me.
“... what’s wrong with you?”
“... she fucking killed him, Adam!"
Suhky falls to the ground. I close my eyes. I am happy. Warm piss soaks the dirt beneath me, and my limbs tremor with anxiety. I am happy.
There’s the sound of panicked feet, but it’s going in the wrong direction. It’s running away from me. The person’s muttering and whimpering, and I think it sounds like Adam Wallace but I can’t be sure.
Somebody else is struggling now. Two voices dance together on my left, just past my vision. A boy and a girl. It's David Cho and Maggie. They’re grunting a symphony of dying breaths. I hear dirt shift and leaves crack beneath stirring footsteps, and the smack of limbs grasping limbs.
There’s another wet jab, and a body drops. David asks, why? Another slick rip. The knife's tearing into him over and over, and he keeps asking why. Why are you doing this? Why me, Maggie? I hear his skin split twice more, and the questions stop.
A girl steps into view, standing above me. Her hair is a wild red, and her face is speckled crimson, just like the knife in her hand. She reaches down, and I think she might help me up, but instead, she starts placing the dead animals back into my bag, one by one.
“You forgot the rabbit,” she says, and her voice is colder than winter. Her eyes appraise me but they're missing something. They're empty. “That demon will kill you, you know. Just like it killed your sister, and just like it'll kill your mother, too. You’re running out of time."
"I know," I say.
“Then give it to me.”
"I'm trying to."
She pouts her lips. Folds her arms. A doll hangs from her neck, and it's dressed in pins and needles and it looks like me. "I told you three offerings, didn't I?" She looks around. "I count two and a bag of roadkill."
Adam.
I have to roll over so I don’t choke on the blood spilling into my throat from my broken nose. “I can’t,” I cough. “I can’t catch him on crutches.”
“Then don’t,” she says with a sneer.
Something tugs at my mind. I close my eyes. I clench my fists. I want to scream and lose control, but I can’t because if that happens, then I’m not happy anymore. People I love will die. They always do. “Can’t you get him?”
“He’s too fast. Besides, the spell is specific. The final offering dies by your hand, or the demon can’t change hosts. Your nightmare doesn't end." Her mouth splits into a wide smile. "You don't have to kill him alone, though."
I stare at her, and I don’t have any words to fight back. She kneels next to me and runs a hand through my tangle of hair, gripping it painfully. She’s smiling, but she’s not. There’s not enough play in her cheeks. She forgets to engage her eyes.
"... now or never."
"... I can't."
"... sure you can."
I whimper as the knife plunges into me, again and again. There’s a ripping sound, followed by another, and another. I clench my eyes. I ball my fists. I am happy. I am happy.
The knife sinks into me once more, and this time Maggie fishes it around my stomach. It twists, and I scream. I thrash and roar. Something escapes. It pulls itself over my bones, wraps itself around my mind, and extinguishes my thoughts before whispering madness into my ears.
I am not happy.
And neither is it.

I've been using gimp on & off for various needs for about the last decade. So if this is a feature I'm missing i apologize. It came from looking at a post from this week (and various years of minor frustrations) about how to recreate a glass sharding effect. almost like the viewport was broken and the tiles of the image were spread out. I imagined trying to break the image through various, jagged lasso tool selections. and was like oh im going to have to duplicate -> invert select, delete -> change layer -> invert -> delete. and then toggle visibility to see if i missed a step. it would be cool to break the layer between the selection boundaries, i think.

[Vast Listen, head curator of the “Heretic Collection” here! Today, while our “Heroes” and Maxwell are doing their thing, and currently it’s just boring travel, I thought we would take a look at the goings-on of the rest of the world.]

Heretics Dell
Bear, looking dapper in his new straw fishing hat, was looking out at the ever-expanding lake, while gesticulating at his fishing partner. He was currently retelling a story about some kids getting “lost” in the woods so he could rescue them. He almost hadn’t since they had gotten trapped in a ditch by a very annoyed skunk.
Then his fishing partner, an “old” man wearing a coffee-stained robe, pulled a big pike from the lake, and they started discussing the bait and new-fangled “fishing-reel” he had gotten in the little “mom and pop” bait and tackle store in town.

Pando
In a very large park bordered by a larger city sits a stand of trees. A very large stand of trees. In the very center of the stand; surrounded by old trunks, some of whom were more rot than wood; stands a single tree. A tree than has outlived all but one of its grandchildren.
The tree’s leaves were out, shaking happily in the wind, as a little girl played in the branches. As she danced from branch to branch, she talked to a chickadee.
“Do you think father will ever come to visit?”
“Chirp”
“He’s visited my granddaughter several times; but she says that he has never really talked to her.”
“Chirp chirp.”
“True.” She cocked her head. “I know he’s a busy man, I just wish he would come visit. Just once would be fine.”
On the ground, the only park ranger that could make her way to the tree stared up the hundred-foot trunk and shook her head at the child’s antics. “Heretic’s balls, I wish that kid would climb down.”

Gilip, Capital city of Demonia;

In the chamber of the high-council, twelve people sat around a large table; a table that maintained fourteen seats, even though one seat was, until not long ago, never used. Some had horns, others had tusks, some long claws, and some were plain human. They all sat shoulder to shoulder, and talked.
“We need to fill General Garblex’s* seat.” The Communications Director said.
“Indeed, we do.” One of the other councilors said. “But who can fill the great generals’ hooves?”
“Why don’t we elevate that boy?” One woman asked, clicking her cold iron shod hoof on the tile floor. “The cousin of your underling that…he who should not be named... is so fond of?”
“Well, the boy has merit, and He did say the boy was adequate…” Another said.
“I call for a vote.” The director of people resources said from under her light-proof coat. “All in favor of the cousin taking up General Garblex’s seat, raise your hands?”
Hands were raised, and so, a poor young man was thrust into another uncomfortable situation due to his cousin’s “friend”.

The Celestial Realm

Esmerelda, goddess of wisdom was wandering through the hall of wisdom looking for someone. A particular Brother of the order who was never where he was supposed to be. She finally gave up, and walked to the front door; not the front door that led to one of the various temples on the world, but the Front door, the one that lead to the celestial world.
As she stepped out into the sundrenched air, Narrissa, the goddess of Tranquility approached. “Esmeralda! Just who I wanted to see!”
“What can I do for you.” Frost dripped with each word as Esmerelda locked eyes with the other goddess.
“I actually…need your help?”
Esmerelda’s jaw almost fell off. “You? You need MY help?”
“Yes. As much as it pains me to admit, I need to find a way to speedily heal a soul.” Narissa replied.
Esmerelda squinted at Narissa, “What are you going to do with it after it’s been healed?”
“Rip it to shreds again. Over and over and over…”
Esmerelda laughed. “That sounds about right. Follow me.”

…Meanwhile, in a nearby barn…
Ghondish grunted, then let out a bleat of annoyance. “Stupid idiots. Morons. Nincompoops.” He kicked a table, nearly collapsing the thing.
“Summon heroes untethered to a task.
“Stick me with the job of punishing you.
“Then that…that thing shows up in my home.
“Now I have to find a way to break the Geass so you can come back!
“And we had just been selected to beta-test the new Humans and Highrises^TM system!
“I am sooo going to hurt your characters for this!

The Abyss

The unnamed horror of the Abyss sat on its throne, listening to the petitioners as they raised one plea or another. Finally; after a number of pesky questions that were almost always answered with “Are you stupid? Go do ‘X’!”; it let out a might sigh, “I’m tired of all your stupidity. Does anyone have anything that Actually need my attention?”
No one spoke for a while, until near the back of the line, a minor demon spoke. “Your lordship? If I may?”
“Yes Zander?”
“Um… Do you remember that one device? The one that brought people here from the heroes’ world?” Zander asked.
“Yes. What of it?”
Zander coughed, “Well, it looks like someone turned it on. On the other side, I mean.”
“And?”
Zander bit his reptilian lip, “Well, I mean, that means there is still some sort of connection, right?”
“AND?”
“W-well, your…your highness,” Zander stammered and stuttered, “S-someone could have nefarious intentions with it. Like making a new one? Or worse yet, making a Game with it?”
The whole assemblage gasped at the horror they had just heard.
“An-and they m.m.might even use…” Zander choked on his tongue, “MightevenuseMicro-transactions!”
Half the hall of demons fainted.

Dis, Capital of Dis

John, son of John sat on his throne. Being the king of a country was a pain. Being a Lich was a pain. Being both at the same time was the worst kind of pain. He sat all day listening to complaints, and he stood at a tall desk all night doing paperwork. Today, he was re-reading his notes for the “state of the state” address he needed to deliver in a few hours. I hope something interesting comes up so I can miss the address. And as all things wished for, the worst possible thing happened.
A courier, one Mr. Smartt, ran into the great hall. “Your Highness! I bring grave tidings!”
“How grave?” Jonh asked, hope leaking into his voice.
“No, my lord, Grave. As in Graves in the Graveyard, Grave.” Mr. Smartt replied.
“Oh.” John slumped back onto the throne, not realizing that he had risen. “Go ahead. And no gallows humor from you today.”
“Yes, my lord.” Mr. Smartt said. “The Grave news is that a band of heroes has appeared on the continental shore, and is killing off the undead!”
“Oh. OH! That is excellent news!” John perked up. “Send them a thousand gold coins to help them on their quest!”
“My lord?” Mr. Smartt stopped dead.
“You heard me.” John tried to smile, but stopped after remembering that he couldn’t anymore. “Send them money to help them on their quest.”
Mr. Smartt blinked, “But…Sire…You’re undead too?”
“Bah. Don’t care.” John said. “Now don’t Hang around. Take them the money!”

* General Garblex
Commander of the armies of Demonia. First mentioned in book one, “33 The Not-Immortal Blacksmith Chapter 10 – Demonia”. Most recently, he sacrificed himself to raise the shield around Gilip, the Capital city of Demonia, during the demon invasion.
Original - First - Previous - Next
*-*-*
Been a bad week. Didn't have a MRI on my neck done. Didn't get to go to a gun show with my kid because of homework not being done on their part. And have found that without a lot of help, I will never be able to ride a motorcycle.
Surprisingly, of the three, the motorcycle is the worst news. I've wanted to ride ever since I saw Evil Knievel on TV as a kid. Now, either the pegs are to far back for my knees, OR the bike is to big for me to comfortably ride, or I can't get my gimp leg over the bike. I'm depressed about it. At least things might change after physical therapy?
That's about it for this weeks news!
Still broke, have conventions coming up, please give what you can.
ALSO Help those people down in the tornado belt! They can use the money too!!!
Shakes donation box:
Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/vastlisten1457
Patreon https://www.patreon.com/VastListen1457
Ps. GunCon still has some tickets, if you are interested in going. It is in Iowa, so maybe not??
Pps. I will be retiring the Ghondish shirts and such at the end of June. Just an FYI.
Ppps. The movie Abigail was a fun flick. Not Oscar worthy, but still fun.

So, for anyone who recognises my username, I have posted on this subreddit before. And the last time I posted, roughly 2 months ago now- I ended my relationship with him the same day. It was extremely hard to stand my ground as I just couldn’t bring myself to go full no contact. And after a month apart, I got sucked back in on false promises of change and patience and him saying he had properly reflected.
So, I agreed to try again at that point. And I have spent the past 3/4 weeks trying to convince myself that he is trying, but I am here to say that was not the case. I’m hoping that anyone else who reads this and is in a situation where they are considering trying again with their abuser can hopefully have some insight.
For context, while out with my friends (who have been there with me through the whole 8 months I was with this man) celebrating my 19th birthday. And after ending it earlier in the day, he wouldn’t leave me alone. He first tried to gaslight me in saying it was all in my head, that I’m just mentally ill. But then, when that didn’t work, he said his mum was in the hospital following a car crash. My friend who has been in a longer term relationship that was also abusive did not trust this, and I didn’t either, so they called the hospital and sure enough, there was no record of his mum there. I did not tell him I was aware of this however, until about 2am when he would not stop calling and texting me, just not leaving alone. And at this point, my friends were all livid. So when he called again, I picked up and they called him a gimp. Following this he proceeded to argue and it became a heated back and forth where he decided call me a “overweight tattood slut”. At this point, all of my friends and I passed my phone around each sending him voice notes angry and telling him exactly how it is. He had always tried to claim my friends had been lying to me and getting in my head about the abuse, or that I was lying about them agreeing that it was and that I was delusional. So we chose to give him exactly what he deserved and set him straight. And I feel guilty about it now, when I think about how he was when things were good, but he did deserve it and clearly needed the wake up call.
The abuse didn’t stop. It just changed to be in a different way. And it breaks my heart but this is the reality. When they say they have reflected it is either a lie, or because they THINK they have. But in actuality they cannot fathom the damage they have done, and do not fully understand what they have done wrong. They will still place blame on you for reactive abuse, for being closed off, for your actions based on them being abusive- like they will not ever have that breakthrough because they are hurting too much to see past it and take that personal accountability.
And I didn’t understand this in anything I had read before. I think people had said it, there’s posts on here describing the same thing- but it doesn’t seem to actually make sense until you experience it for yourself.
However, the moral of the story is that abusers will not change, because they can’t. They simply can’t. Their minds do not work like ours, and they do not understand through their own pain what they have done or are doing wrong. They can only conceive you being in the wrong.
So, please- if you are in the same situation, and you have ended it, please know that you are so strong, and that you didn’t deserve any of what they have done to you. The harsh reality is that you deserve so much better, but this time you had bad luck and got someone who cannot love, but only attach and traumatise. So if you have left, stay strong and remind yourself that even if they think they can change, they are not thinking it in the same way as you, and they never will.

I've heard the best strategy is to pick your weapons early so you can save up nuclei/weapon materials/etc. for them. So before I select Coco as my guaranteed SSR box, I'm leaning towards Tian Lang: main DPS, Yanuo: sub DPS, Coco: Heals. I don't see a lot of information on two-resonance teams or using Yanuo to buff a Volt mDPS so hopefully I'm not gimping myself completely here- so I have a few questions... Note: this will be mainly F2P w/ some dolphin tendencies.

1. What are my actual chances of getting Tian and/or any copies of Tian? I want to breakdance with a thunderspear, but I know he's on the Standard Banner now. I know the gold nuclei are more abundant but is there any way to guarantee him (really crossing my fingers to get him to at least A1 at some point) or am I just completely at the mercy of the RNG gods?
2. Speaking of being at someone else's mercy, since Yanuo's banner ends today what's the typical rerun wait time?
3. How much of a damage loss is it picking Tian as my main versus something more meta like straight up triple Frost or triple Volt at this point in the game? Most guides are only about when he was released.
4. I'm still learning about matrices but so far it seems in this setup Yanuo's 4pc would be great on Tian, Tian's 4pc would be great on Yanuo, and Coco can just rock her own 4pc. Is it possible to get Tian's and Yanuo's set in the game through Dungeons/Bosses? If anyone has any other suggestions for this comp that would be great as well!

—
When I woke up the next day I felt much better, but I slept longer than usual. I quickly took a shower, made myself something to eat, and chatted with my friends for an hour before work.
I took a few minutes to check what was posted on the xenophile thread from yesterday. The viper kept answering questions for an hour after I left, and one stood out to me.
There was no picture with the post, but the text was: "How was adjusting to civilian life for you?"
She posted a picture of a cartoon viper looking sad, with the text: "It was difficult, even after completing the rehabilitation program and getting approval from the city government, few humans trust us. Even those of us that serve Xcom and in other governments as combat units, who prove their loyalty time and time again are only permitted to out of necessity. I feel most would prefer it if we were all just kept in prison. I'm not saying that isn't for a good reason, but it makes it hard to live a normal-ish life. Not that most of us are into the idea of living a normal life, but I have faith that the next generation will adjust better than we did.
TLDR: the government helps us along, but most people aren't ready to forgive us. We manage as everyone else does.
As weird as this thread is, (lol, no offense) it makes me happy to know that some humans actually like us."
It was interesting to see how self-aware she was. As much as I liked vipers, there was a good reason most people didn't. It was the same reason they didn't like any aliens: Advent. The wounds from that were still fresh and they would take time to heal. I couldn't spend more time pondering this because I had to leave for work. As I left and turned the key to lock the door, I remembered to grab my sunglasses and darted back inside to grab them.
The walk to work was like yesterday, chilly, low traffic. I was greeted by Mark when I went inside McDougalls.
He was on a footstool, pouring the ice cream mix into the shake machine from a big plastic bag, and turned to look when I came in. "Hello Vincent, how did you sleep?" He looked way more tired than I felt.
"I slept fine, bout as good as I usually do. How are you doing?"
He smiled and shrugged. "Oh you know, living the dream." The bag he was pouring became empty, so he stepped down and closed the top of the shake machine. "Sorry I wasn't here last night to introduce you to the crew, but Ash told me you were great and learned a new job quickly."
I rarely got praise for anything, so that felt kinda nice. "Yea, I'm quick on my feet."
He nodded. "Keep up the good work."
"I do what I can. So, - what were you doing last night, anyway? If you don't mind me askin."
There was mild surprise in his eyes when I asked and he looked away. "I had some personal business to take care of." He looked back at me. "Nothing too exciting."
Ash walked out of the kitchen and over to the computer to clock back in. "I'm back from my break."
Mark looked happy to move on from our conversation. "Perfect timing Ash, Vincent just came in. I'm going to do some work in my office, if it gets busy for you guys out here, let me know and I'll help."
Ash gestured to him with a finger gun. "You got it."
With that, Mark went into his office and I took my spot at the fry station. Tay was cooking stuff on the grill, and I could hear Carlos washing dishes in the back.
It was almost completely dead when I came in and then at the drop of a hat 18 people showed up at once. In my time working here that's what it was always like. Rarely did two or three people trickle in here or there. It was always either no one or the whole fuckin neighborhood; like everyone was deciding to get eats all at the same time. Bullshit is what it was, but the busy times always went fast, and then we were back to doing nothing. Tay wasn't much for conversation, she communicated through grunts and groans whenever she could get away with it. It was different than when she was training me, but I guess since she didn't need to talk to me anymore she decided to be silent.
The first words I heard out of her that night were. "I'm going on my break, Ash."
He did a peace sign gesture with his hand and said. "Alright, enjoy it, but not too much."
She grunted in response and slithered out the back door.
McDougalls was empty at this point, so I crouched down and took some time to wipe up the fry station.
Ash saw me doing that and looked confused. "What are you doing?"
I shrugged. "Uh, you know, cleaning up."
He chuckled. "No, dude, no. You're trying to look busy. You're on night shift now, you don't gotta do that shit. I'm not gonna snitch and neither would Tay."
I stood up, and as I did, my knees creaked. "No shit? That's cool."
"He gestured to the empty room. One of the benefits of being on nights: low supervision."
We made small talk for a bit, and I decided to ask Ash about Tay since he's been a total bro and she wasn't present at the moment. "So, what do you know about Tay?"
He looked at me weird. "Tay? Like, what do you mean?"
I lowered my voice. "I mean, you know, about stuff she's done. You know, like, bad stuff."
He shrugged what I said off. "Oh that, yeah those guys on day shift like to gossip a lot."
That was surprising. "Wait, so they were lying?"
"Yes, - well, uh. I don't know, dude, what'd they tell you about?" He thought for a moment. "Let me guess, they told you she does drugs and is involved with certain people."
What? "I— actually I haven't heard that. She does drugs?"
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh, uh, no she doesn't. Not unless you count weed. She smokes weed, and cigarettes, but not anything dangerous, like meth."
I raised an eyebrow. "Weed huh, could be worse. If it's just that, why do you look so nervous."
He put his hands up. "Look dude, there's plenty of rumors, I am not trying to add to them." He sighed. "So, what did you hear then?"
"That she was a guard at an Advent blacksite."
"Oh, that. Yeah, I've heard that too."
"Yea, so, is it true?"
He shrugged. "Honestly, I don't have a clue, dude. She doesn't talk about her personal life at all, big surprise, much less about her past. Though I'll say, even if she was a blacksite guard, you don't have to worry. Believe me, if she was going to kill someone she would've done it a long time ago. You thought she was mad yesterday, tsk, that just scratches the surface of what I've seen out of her. Think about it this way, she does anything off-color to catch the attention of the authorities, they're gonna throw her right back into a detention center."
"Look, I don't wanna sound like an asshole, but I can't say she's got much to lose. Workin here ain't exactly a primo position."
He raised his eyebrows. "Dude, don't worry so much. She doesn't hate you any more than anyone else. She distributes her anger evenly."
"Why is she so angry all the time?"
He scoffed at my question. "Why don't you ask her yourself, dude. I just work with her, I don't know anything about her."
"Fuck it, maybe I will."
"Be careful, start asking her questions like that and she might single you out. But whatever, I don't like talking about her behind her back. Let's get back to my Rebuilding Civilization game."
"Ok."
"So, there I was minding my own business and then the Nigerians declared war on me for no reason. They send siege equipment over, with no supporting troops, and I destroy it, then I take one of their cities in retaliation, and suddenly I'm the bad guy. I swear the AI all conspire against you in single player…"
Tay came back from her break and we kept working. Mark left before a quarter of my shift was over and said goodbye to us. It wasn't long after he left that customers poured in. We dealt with it as best as we could and got people their food. After that rush died down, I saw something I never expected to see: Ray, Dan, and Josh walking into Mcdougalls. Josh was the shortest, with a wide head. He had on black-rimmed glasses and a baseball cap with a leaf pattern on it covering up his short dark brown hair. Ray, the one flanking right, was taller than the other two, and thinner, but he had surprisingly broad shoulders. His head was taller and had a ginger-colored thick mane of unkempt hair on top of it. Dan, the one in the middle, was closer to my height, trimmed brown hair sat orderly on his round head, and his thin pointy nose sliced the air as he looked between Ray Josh and I. Dan. They were all wearing sweaters and shit-eating grins.
My energy had been on a downturn, but their appearance perked me right up. "Holy shit guys, what the hell are you doing here?"
Ray walked right up to the counter and leaned on it with his elbows, completely ignoring Ash. "Well, we were in the neighborhood, figured we'd come over and get a bite."
Dan spoke next. "Personally I'm just here to say hi, but I might as well get some food."
Josh spoke last. "I saw these two guys walking around town, so I just followed them here."
I laughed. "Let me be the first to welcome you to our humble eatery." I bowed. "Welcome to McDougalls!"
All the noise we were making attracted the attention of Tay from the kitchen, but she only observed silently. Ash spoke next. "So these are your friends, I take it?"
Ray switched his attention to him. "Yeah, we are V-I-P-Sss, and we expect to be treated as such! With the full courtesy of an employee discount."
I rolled my eyes and prepared to turn him down, but Ash responded before I did. "Sure, you guys ordering separately, or all together?"
Ray looked shocked. "Damn Vince, your coworker is way cooler than you. We'll have to come here more often.
"Sure, again, just make sure to come when it's not busy," Ash said.
I nodded in agreement. "Yea, we can't shoot the shit if there's people around."
Josh was looking around while Ray ordered. "Nice place you got here, so you're the fry cook, Vince?"
"Sure am, vro."
"If you fuck up my fries, I'm gonna give you shit until the end of time."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Once Ray finished ordering, he waited off to the side while Dan and Josh ordered. I saw him staring at Tay the whole time, I could almost see the gears inside his head turning as he thought of what to say to her. I mouthed the words "do not" to him, but he ignored me. I knew it was a fool's errand deterring him. Once he got a stupid idea in his mind he couldn't help but follow through with it and I was dreading what he was going to say.
After Dan and Josh finished ordering, Ray adjusted his position and leaned on the wall. He looked at me and said, "Hey Vince, I didn't know you worked with any hot babes: who's that performing sweet magic on the grill?"
I glanced at Tay, silently hoping she didn't hear anything he said. She was frozen in place, the pupils of her blue eyes were thin slits, and she was staring daggers at Ray. I looked at Ray and made a throat-cutting gesture to tell him to stop, but he kept going.
"Come on man, you gotta tell me. Or maybe she could come over and introduce herself."
Ash looked mortified, maybe he had seen something similar happen before and he knew exactly what was about to happen. Either way, what had been set in motion could not be stopped, and everyone besides Tay and Ray was along for the ride. Dan and Josh seemed oblivious to what was about to occur.
Ray continued his foolish endeavor. "Hey, you, in the kitchen, don't be shy. Come over and say hi. I want to meet all of Vince's coworkers."
Tay furrowed her brow and set down the spatula violently with a clang. She slowly slithered up to the front counter.
Ray's grin somehow got even wider. "So, what's yoouuur name?"
She pointed at her nametag with a claw and tapped on it twice.
"Tay, that's a cool name." She said nothing. "Not much of a talker, huh, I can respect that. I can do enough talking for three people. So, what do you like to do?"
She stared angrily at him but did not respond. Poor Ray, he never did know when to quit. "You're so quiet. You know, some people are scared of vipers, not me, I think they are really kinda, sexy." Upon hearing the word sexy she dug her claws into the front counter. Up to this point he seemed as oblivious as Josh and Dan, but now he was beginning to realize the error of his way. "Uh, y-you don't have to be scared of me." That sentence petered out at the end when he noticed how hard she was gripping the counter.
Tay spoke quietly at first and gradually ramped up her volume to a yell "Scared - of you? As pathetic as you are? You should be scared of me, you sniveling - cunt smudge." She leaned her serpentine head forward over the counter and sized up Ray. "You're a disgusting creep! If you keep talking to me, I'm going to bite you. And, while you con-vulse on the ground, slowly dying as my venom burns through your veins, causing the worst pain imaginable, I'm going to flay the skin from your body with my claws. No one here could stop me from killing you, - you greasy soulless ginger degenerate, so shut - the fuck up, ok?" Ray had slowly leaned back away from her during her tirade and was practically falling over. Shit, I don't know how much I can relax around her after hearing all that.
Ray was speechless and looked like how I did when she went off at me by the dumpster. He swallowed audibly and nodded.
Tay lunged her head forward and smirked when Ray flinched. She seemed satisfied and slithered back to the kitchen.
Ray smoothed his hair out and took a few breaths. He looked between Josh, Dan, and me, and said, "I think I'm in love."
When Tay started preparing sandwiches. I followed her out of earshot of my friends. "Hey, Tay. Don't you dare spit venom in their food. I'm sorry Ray is a dumbass, but he'd probably like it if you did."
She looked at me with fiery eyes to try and intimidate me. I stood my ground and watched her as she made the sandwiches. After she made the first one, she relented. "Your friend is a real jackass, you know that?"
"Yea, look, he didn't mean nothing by it: he pulls stunts like this all the time. And, he wasn't you know, being ironic to make you feel bad, I know he likes vipers."
"I don't care whether he meant it or not! Eugh!" She rubbed her head and sighed. "You get the fuck away from me too, and let me work. I'm not gonna poison them."
I raised my hands non-threateningly. "That's all I wanted to hear." I backed off and made my friends' fries.
Once their order was ready, Ash let me take my break and hang out with them. We all gave Ray shit for being a complete idiot, but he maintained that it was a victory. He hit on a viper and lived to tell the tale, and this gavone had the chutzpah to call me out after he almost fainted, said that at least he had the balls to say something to her. And I had to admit he was kinda right, guy did the very thing I'd thought about doing: walking up to a viper and trying my luck. Not with Tay of course, nah, I'd try it with a friendlier viper. But, besides that, we had a good time together, none of them got poisoned, and, once my break was up, they said goodbye and went home. Ray was a total legend for that, an idiot, but a legend nonetheless.
After that, it was back to work, hours, and hours of work. The drive-thru filled up and we emptied it a few times. When a few hours were left in my shift, the drive-thru filled up completely, so I kicked my fry-making into high gear. I was making so many fries that the fry dispenser ran dry, and Tay didn't have time to fill it. She told me where to go in the freezer to get more. I found the fry bags where she said and filled the dispenser, a big clump of ice fell out of the bag into the hopper, but I ignored it, there were many more orders to fill.
On the last few orders, I shoved the baskets into the dispenser and that big chunk of ice landed squarely on top of the fries in one of the baskets. In my tired stupor, I forgot all about those safety videos and assumed it was going to melt.
Tay happened to glance over as I was setting the basket into the fryer. She yelled "STOP!" as I put them in the fryer, but it was too late. The grease sizzled and popped, splattering boiling oil all over my right hand.
The pain wasn't immediate, for a split second, I felt something hit my hand, then as soon as I looked at it I felt immense searing pain. "Ma - rone! Fuck!" I backed away from the fryer into the counter, clutching my hand. Watching as it turned red and blisters began to form.
The grease in the fryer had started to foam up and was almost reaching the top of it. Tay slithered over immediately and pulled the basket out of the fryer.
Ash looked over from the drive-thru window. "Is everything ok?"
I responded. "No it's fucking not, I got burned by the fucking bullshit fryer!"
Tay observed my outburst quietly. After I finished, she reached out two of her hands gently. "Can I see it?" Her voice was so soft, without thinking, I complied with her request. She put her hand under my palm to spread it out, so she could look over the back of my hand. I winced as she did.
Her eyes softened and I saw something in them I never would've expected to see: sympathy. "I'm sorry." She looked over at Ash. "Get the burn cream and gauze out of the first aid kit, the orders can wait a moment!" He ran out of view. She looked back at me. "Follow me to the sink, we need to run it under cool water." She led me by the hand to the sink and put my hand under, low pressure, cold water. It hurt at first, but then it started to feel better. "Keep your hand here until I get back. We have to finish these orders and get these assholes out of here." She left and Ash set gauze and burn cream by the sink.
After a minute or two Carlos walked in through the back door from his break and saw me with my hand in the sink. "You alright man?"
I shook my head. "No, grease burn."
"Shit, are they working on orders right now?" He pointed to the kitchen.
"Yea, trying to clear the drive-thru."
He nodded. "I'll go help them." He ran off to help Tay and Ash.
As I stood there with my hand in the sink I thought about my life choices that led me to this moment, and I also thought about Tay. What the hell was that? I had somehow seen her at her most violent and her most gentle today. After about six minutes under the sink, my hand wasn't hurting as much anymore, and I saw Tay round the corner.
Gone was the look of sympathy and softness from her blue eyes, she looked upset now. "We cleared out the rest of those orders. Let me see it again."
I gave her my hand and she took it gently, like last time. "You are soo-oooo fucking lucky, you understand that? Thin skin like yours isn't resistant to hot grease, retard. Do you have any idea how much you could've hurt yourself? Did you even pay attention to the safety videos?" Now I felt like a child she was scolding.
"I wasn't trying to burn myself. It was an accident, I'm tired and I forgot about the ice—"
She cut me off. "I know." She sighed. "You have to be more careful and not put giant chunks of ice in the grease. I told you that the fryer could scar you for life."
"I know, I know."
"Clearly you need a reminder. Now I'm going to apply this burn cream and dress your wound, hold still."
She caressed my hand as she gently rubbed on the burn cream with her finger; the cooling sensation of the burn cream gave me instant relief. You wouldn't get this out of me if you tortured me for three weeks, but I was kinda enjoying this attention, and I realized partway through that I was holding her hand as she held it steady. At that point, I tried very hard to maintain my composure. If I was blushing, she paid no mind to it. After she finished with the cream she carefully wrapped the gauze around my hand.
When she finished she looked me in the eyes. "Do not pop those blisters. if it hurts, take some pain medication and put a cool wet towel on it, understand?"
At this point, I was a hot mess, with the burn, and someone giving me some one-on-one attention, all I could say was. "Thank you."
Her face was stoic. "You can repay me by never burning yourself again, dipshit."
"Y-yea, I'll be more careful. Are there any orders?"
She shook her head. "Oh no, you're going home early tonight, dipshit. Your lame, gimp ass is only gonna get in our way, and you'll get your burn wound infected. Go home and if it's not mostly healed by tomorrow, call in. Ash and I will vouch for you with Mark."
As much as going home sounded appealing, I didn't want to leave them hanging. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, we'll be fine. Go home and take care of your burn."
"Ok." I walked past her towards the front of the kitchen. She followed me until we reached the grill, staying there as I walked to the front. I turned around to look at her again. I got the urge to say something to her, to let her know how much I valued that moment of kindness, but I couldn't think of any words to express that. She looked at me with a neutral expression for a moment and turned her attention to cooking more burgers.
Ash and Carlos both looked at me as I walked over to the computer. "Are you gonna be ok, dude?" Ash asked.
"Yea, Tay said I should go home."
He nodded. "You should. Don't worry, Tay and I will explain things to Mark."
And that was that. I clocked out and walked home. My hand still hurt like hell, but without Tay's help, it would be worse. As I took off my work clothes and laid down in bed I thought about how well she treated my burn. It was almost like she had done that before, or had training with it. I looked at my hand: the gauze was wrapped perfectly, or as perfectly as I would expect. I wasn't a doctor or 'nuthin. That sparked my imagination: it really made me wonder what she did when Advent was in control. My thoughts were filled with possibilities as I drifted off to sleep.
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This time, much less of a blog post, and a lonely image I am looking to get a vibe check on.
Click Here (Imgur Link)
Obvious caveat here is that its crummy looking. Full disclosure, my only working computer can barely run paint, nevermind keep up with Gimp without crashing, so woops. Also the reason why I'm still using graphics from someone else rather than doing up my own.

Anyway, for those that recognize it, this is based on the Tactical Grid from Hollows (and where the shapes came from), but expanded to allow for any kind of Combat scenario, as well as still supporting a similar kind of Boss Fight to what Hollows does.
The idea in normal use (eg non-boss fights), the Grid acts as a sort of hybrid Position and Zone System. Each Position on the Grid represents an arbitrary Zone (can be anything from a couple feet to entire fields), but also represents relative Positioning. The Support areas are where you go to either flee, or to plink, but they're only accessible through the center positions. (Though I'm thinking once I can do my own graphic and can see how it looks that Support might instead just wrap around the grid)
The idea behind the Churn is that it represents where all the combatants are most likely converge. In other words, its the center of whatever area we're calling the battlefield. In boss fights, the Boss is the Churn, and they don't move, the Grid does.
The two sets of Tags are my addition to support verticality. So it doesn't necessarily mean there's always open sky or deep sea in every fight, but it does represent relative elevation. A fight in a building could have all six. Tags are things you, as a character, can take to mark certain things like Cover or having the high ground, and in this case, your Elevation, and with Elevation you can do things like Vertical Assaults, where you can deliberately force your enemies to take your own Fall Damage (unless they can React, in which case you'll get hurt too)
And thats basically it. The idea here is tactical combat that fits on a single sheet of Letter, and has the capability to support typical Combat (including Warfare scaled battles), Boss Fights, Castle Sieges, and even dynamic Chase sequences.
Works absurdly well in testing, and the image presents the latest version of it. While I haven't had the chance to try, I'm actually pretty confident you could use the same rules alongside a more conventional terrain set (or even just a themed, printed map) pretty easily, which would be especially nice given the embedded wargame players could opt into.

Naturally, much context is missing, but I also know this sub gets really pissed off if I just launch into explaining things unprovoked, so feel free to ask questions and I'll answer them directly. 😃

[Please excuse my poor English]
[The cause of the problem has been identified]

• This is a problem caused by a difference between the latest update of gimp(flatpak) and the version of ibus. A temporary solution can be found at the link below.

https://www.reddit.com/linux4noobs/comments/1cbs7ek/comment/l10muc2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Since yesterday, a problem has suddenly occurred where non-English input is not possible on the ibus input device.
I've searched through various documents and tried the solutions suggested, but I haven't been able to solve it yet, so I'm asking this question to see if anyone has had a similar experience and to get some hints on how to solve the problem.
[My system environment]

OS: linux mint 21.3 cinnamon
kerner: 6.50-28
GPU driver: NVIDIA 550.67

[Problem phenomenon]
Since yesterday, non-English keyboard input on the ibus input device suddenly does not work only on flatkpak Gimp. [In my case, Korean]
There are no problems at all in all apps and environments (that I use) except Gimp.
[Environment before the problem occurred]

1. Before entering Korean in Gimp yesterday, I had not entered Korean for about 3 to 4 days.
   1. I was able to type Korean clearly 3-4 days ago.
2. As I remember, the nvidia driver was updated within 3 to 4 days.
   1. In addition, it seems that several things related to the flatpak app have been updated.
3. However, nowhere else have problems occurred with Korean input using the ibus input device.
4. Input is not possible only in GIMP (flatpak)
   1. Flatpak's other apps work well with Korean input.

[message in terminal]
gimp-2.10:2): Gtk-WARNING **: 16:09:25.500: /app/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: undefined symbol: ibus_input_context_set_post_process_key_event
(gimp-2.10:2): Gtk-WARNING **: 16:09:25.500: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

• The above message is displayed repeatedly 18 times.

​
I know that it has to be a mod, I really don't know which, if anyone could help that would be lovely
#Mod_Priority,#Mod_Status,#Mod_Name
"0000","+","DLC: Wasteland Workshop"
"0001","+","DLC: Vault-Tec Workshop"
"0002","+","DLC: Ultra High Resolution Texture Pack"
"0003","+","DLC: Nuka-World"
"0004","+","DLC: Far Harbor"
"0005","+","DLC: Contraptions Workshop"
"0006","+","DLC: Automatron"
"0007","+","Performance and Stability_separator"
"0008","+","Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch"
"0009","+","Addres Library"
"0010","+","Baka ScrapHeap"
"0011","+","Cell Reset Container Workaround"
"0012","+","High FPS Physics Fix"
"0013","+","Fog Remover II ESL (Main) v2.2 Installer"
"0014","+","Insignificant Object Remover"
"0015","+","Mod Configuration Menu 1.39"
"0016","+","Achievements"
"0017","+","GCBugFix Release 0.1"
"0018","+","ENB Helper for Fallout 4"
"0019","+","NAC X - ENB"
"0020","+","ConsoleUtilF4"
"0021","+","Appearance + Animation_separator"
"0022","+","Rusty Face Fix - Latest Version"
"0023","+","LooksMenu"
"0024","+","ZeX - ZaZ Extended Skeleton"
"0025","+","BodySlide and Outfit Studio -"
"0026","+","Caliente's Beautiful Bodies Enhancer -CBBE-"
"0027","+","MTM OCBP - OCBPC Physics and Collision Preset"
"0028","+","Valkyr Face Texture Fair Skin for HD Textures DLC"
"0029","+","Advanced Animation Framework"
"0030","+","Immersive Animation Framework"
"0031","+","BodyTalk"
"0032","+","Atomic Lust"
"0033","+","Raid My Heart"
"0034","+","Motoko Hair"
"0035","+","Ponytail Hairstyles by Azar - BA2"
"0036","+","The Eyes of Beauty Fallout Kaleidoscope Edition - All-in-One"
"0037","+","HD Smile by SkylaSkyrim"
"0038","+","THBrows 2.0"
"0039","+","Eye Liner Masks"
"0040","+","deLuxe Mask"
"0041","+","keke-bu Magnolia"
"0042","+","Commonwealth Cuts 2.5.1"
"0043","+","Lots More Male Hairstyles v. 1.21 - Fix"
"0044","+","Loving Cait"
"0045","+","Loving Curie 1.0.3b"
"0046","+","Loving Piper"
"0047","+","Valentine REBORN - HD Retexture - V2 - Blue Eyes"
"0048","+","Synth Eyes HD - Blue"
"0049","+","D.E.C.A.Y 2.2"
"0050","+","DECAY Redux"
"0051","+","CPAO"
"0052","+","CPAO - Palette Tweak"
"0053","+","Concealed Armor"
"0054","+","Textures_separator"
"0055","+","Textures - Ultra 4K Version (BA2 Format)"
"0056","+","FlaconOil's HD ReTexture Project - Performance Pack"
"0057","+","Rebuilt Croup Manor"
"0058","+","Retextured Water - by Ben Ephla"
"0059","+","Total Trash Removal"
"0060","+","Gloomy Glass"
"0061","+","FO4 Particle Patch v1-2 Main"
"0062","+","UI_separator"
"0063","+","HUDFramework 1.0f"
"0064","+","FallUI - HUD"
"0065","+","FallUI - Inventory"
"0066","+","FallUI - Map"
"0067","+","FallUI - Icon Library"
"0068","+","FallUI - Workbench"
"0069","+","Fallout 3 layout for FallUI - HUD"
"0070","+","There It Is - Satellite Maps For Collectors"
"0071","+","XNFRain's Power Armor Icon HD Retextures - Orange"
"0072","+","XNFRain's Power Armor Interface HD Retextures - Orange"
"0073","+","Power Armor HUD - paHUD"
"0074","+","Quality Of Life_separator"
"0075","+","FIS - The NEW FallUI Item Sorter"
"0076","+","Leveled Item Framework (LIF)"
"0077","+","Extended Dialogue Interface 1.3.6"
"0078","+","Weightless Survival"
"0079","+","Well Rested and Lover's Embrace 24 Hour"
"0080","+","12.7mm"
"0081","+",".45 Auto Pistol hitman47101 anims"
"0082","+",".45 Auto Pistol 4k Textures"
"0083","+","Hunting Revolver and Ranger Sequoia (Far Harbor version)"
"0084","+","NCR Ranger Combat Armor"
"0085","+","Service Rifle"
"0086","+","Modern Weapon Replacer - Service Rifle Redux - FOMOD Installer"
"0087","+","WM Chinese Assault Rifle - Standalone 1.4 (BA2)"
"0088","+","BPAO"
"0089","+","Automatron Patch"
"0090","+","Power Armor Materials AND Paints (PAMAP)"
"0091","+","BPAO - PAMAP 2.0 Automatron Compatibility Patch"
"0092","+","BPAO - PAMAP 2.0 Patch"
"0093","+","PowerArmorAirdrop"
"0094","+","Stronger Brotherhood ALL in ONE"
"0095","+","FGEP Definitive Edition"
"0096","+","Puzzle Skipper 9000 GTX Bat File"
"0097","+","Armor and Weapon Keywords Community Resource (AWKCR)"
"0098","+","Super Mutant Redux 2.0"
"0099","+","4estGimp - SuperMutantRedux No AWKCR"
"0100","+","Raider Overhaul One"
"0101","+","Longer Power Lines 3x"
"0102","+","Orphans of the Commonwealth"
"0103","+","Killable Children 1.2.7.1 - All Dlc"
"0104","+","Raider Children"
"0105","+","2.1.0 CBBE BODY AND BODYSLIDES 2K TEXTURES"
"0106","+","Better Settlers"
"0107","+","BetterCompanions"
"0108","+","Better Companions - MCM Settings Menu"
"0109","+","Better Wait Menu - Full"
"0110","+","Binary Speech Checks V.4 (Normal Edition)"
"0111","+","Classic Holstered Weapons"
"0112","+","Classic V.A.T.S"
"0113","+","See-Through-Scopes"
"0114","+","Bullet Counted Reload - v.2.00"
"0115","+","Tactical Reload Framework"
"0116","+","Tactical Reload Vanilla Weapons"
"0117","+","Tactical Reload DLC Weapons"
"0118","+","See Through Scopes Patch"
"0119","+","WD_CR_Anims"
"0120","+","BCR plus TR - Lever Action Rifle"
"0121","+","Right-handed Lever Action Replacer"
"0122","+","New Lever Cycle Animation"
"0123","+","BCR-RightHandedLeverActionReplacer"
"0124","+","Winchester Pack - Vanilla Ammo 2.0"
"0125","+","Right-Handed Far Harbor Lever Action Replacer BCR"
"0126","+","Right-handed Lever Action Reload Animations Replacer"
"0127","+","Nuka-World AK Replacer"
"0128","+","See-Through Scopes for Right-handed AK"
"0129","+","WD_10mm_Anims_New_Sounds"
"0130","+","WD_Hunting_Rifle_1.2"
"0131","+","WD_SMG_V4_Replacer"
"0132","+","Tactical Reload Patch Repository"
"0133","+","No Negative Affinity and No Affinity Cooldown"
"0134","+","More armor slots - All Dlc 1 Esp"
"0135","+","krdp 1.10"
"0136","+","No DLC vanilla radiants"
"0137","+","Infinite Fusion Core"
"0138","+","ILER - Animation Edition (AAF)"
"0139","+","llamaCompanionHeather"
"0140","+","Heather Clothing Bodyslide Files"
"0141","+","NoraSpouse ver 1.2"
"0142","+","Far Harbor Support"
"0143","+","Proto Vault Suit"
"0144","+","SilentProtagonistF4SE"
"0145","+","RED - Roleplayer's Expanded Dialogue"
"0146","+","Hotfix for 2.8"
"0147","+","Everyone's Best Friend"
"0148","+","Scrap Everything"
"0149","+","Place (Fallout4 1.10.163 - latest release)"
"0150","+","Automatron invisible mesh fix"
"0151","+","Building Placement Fix"
"0152","+","GrayGardenIdle Fix"
"0153","+","Enhanced Lights and FX"
"0154","+","Old Guns Reset Patch"
"0155","+","Vault 88 CtD fix - Ultimate Edition"
"0156","+","True Storms Wasteland Edition v1.4"
"0157","+","Nuka World Add-On (with TS Far Harbor Compatibility)"
"0158","+","Darker Nights 1.11p6"
"0159","+","Darker Nights No Fog Glow for Far Harbor"
"0160","+","Sim Settlements"
"0161","+","FOV Slider and Player Height"

I know that it has to be a mod, I really don't know which, if anyone could help that would be lovely
#Mod_Priority,#Mod_Status,#Mod_Name
"0000","+","DLC: Wasteland Workshop"
"0001","+","DLC: Vault-Tec Workshop"
"0002","+","DLC: Ultra High Resolution Texture Pack"
"0003","+","DLC: Nuka-World"
"0004","+","DLC: Far Harbor"
"0005","+","DLC: Contraptions Workshop"
"0006","+","DLC: Automatron"
"0007","+","Performance and Stability_separator"
"0008","+","Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch"
"0009","+","Addres Library"
"0010","+","Baka ScrapHeap"
"0011","+","Cell Reset Container Workaround"
"0012","+","High FPS Physics Fix"
"0013","+","Fog Remover II ESL (Main) v2.2 Installer"
"0014","+","Insignificant Object Remover"
"0015","+","Mod Configuration Menu 1.39"
"0016","+","Achievements"
"0017","+","GCBugFix Release 0.1"
"0018","+","ENB Helper for Fallout 4"
"0019","+","NAC X - ENB"
"0020","+","ConsoleUtilF4"
"0021","+","Appearance + Animation_separator"
"0022","+","Rusty Face Fix - Latest Version"
"0023","+","LooksMenu"
"0024","+","ZeX - ZaZ Extended Skeleton"
"0025","+","BodySlide and Outfit Studio -"
"0026","+","Caliente's Beautiful Bodies Enhancer -CBBE-"
"0027","+","MTM OCBP - OCBPC Physics and Collision Preset"
"0028","+","Valkyr Face Texture Fair Skin for HD Textures DLC"
"0029","+","Advanced Animation Framework"
"0030","+","Immersive Animation Framework"
"0031","+","BodyTalk"
"0032","+","Atomic Lust"
"0033","+","Raid My Heart"
"0034","+","Motoko Hair"
"0035","+","Ponytail Hairstyles by Azar - BA2"
"0036","+","The Eyes of Beauty Fallout Kaleidoscope Edition - All-in-One"
"0037","+","HD Smile by SkylaSkyrim"
"0038","+","THBrows 2.0"
"0039","+","Eye Liner Masks"
"0040","+","deLuxe Mask"
"0041","+","keke-bu Magnolia"
"0042","+","Commonwealth Cuts 2.5.1"
"0043","+","Lots More Male Hairstyles v. 1.21 - Fix"
"0044","+","Loving Cait"
"0045","+","Loving Curie 1.0.3b"
"0046","+","Loving Piper"
"0047","+","Valentine REBORN - HD Retexture - V2 - Blue Eyes"
"0048","+","Synth Eyes HD - Blue"
"0049","+","D.E.C.A.Y 2.2"
"0050","+","DECAY Redux"
"0051","+","CPAO"
"0052","+","CPAO - Palette Tweak"
"0053","+","Concealed Armor"
"0054","+","Textures_separator"
"0055","+","Textures - Ultra 4K Version (BA2 Format)"
"0056","+","FlaconOil's HD ReTexture Project - Performance Pack"
"0057","+","Rebuilt Croup Manor"
"0058","+","Retextured Water - by Ben Ephla"
"0059","+","Total Trash Removal"
"0060","+","Gloomy Glass"
"0061","+","FO4 Particle Patch v1-2 Main"
"0062","+","UI_separator"
"0063","+","HUDFramework 1.0f"
"0064","+","FallUI - HUD"
"0065","+","FallUI - Inventory"
"0066","+","FallUI - Map"
"0067","+","FallUI - Icon Library"
"0068","+","FallUI - Workbench"
"0069","+","Fallout 3 layout for FallUI - HUD"
"0070","+","There It Is - Satellite Maps For Collectors"
"0071","+","XNFRain's Power Armor Icon HD Retextures - Orange"
"0072","+","XNFRain's Power Armor Interface HD Retextures - Orange"
"0073","+","Power Armor HUD - paHUD"
"0074","+","Quality Of Life_separator"
"0075","+","FIS - The NEW FallUI Item Sorter"
"0076","+","Leveled Item Framework (LIF)"
"0077","+","Extended Dialogue Interface 1.3.6"
"0078","+","Weightless Survival"
"0079","+","Well Rested and Lover's Embrace 24 Hour"
"0080","+","12.7mm"
"0081","+",".45 Auto Pistol hitman47101 anims"
"0082","+",".45 Auto Pistol 4k Textures"
"0083","+","Hunting Revolver and Ranger Sequoia (Far Harbor version)"
"0084","+","NCR Ranger Combat Armor"
"0085","+","Service Rifle"
"0086","+","Modern Weapon Replacer - Service Rifle Redux - FOMOD Installer"
"0087","+","WM Chinese Assault Rifle - Standalone 1.4 (BA2)"
"0088","+","BPAO"
"0089","+","Automatron Patch"
"0090","+","Power Armor Materials AND Paints (PAMAP)"
"0091","+","BPAO - PAMAP 2.0 Automatron Compatibility Patch"
"0092","+","BPAO - PAMAP 2.0 Patch"
"0093","+","PowerArmorAirdrop"
"0094","+","Stronger Brotherhood ALL in ONE"
"0095","+","FGEP Definitive Edition"
"0096","+","Puzzle Skipper 9000 GTX Bat File"
"0097","+","Armor and Weapon Keywords Community Resource (AWKCR)"
"0098","+","Super Mutant Redux 2.0"
"0099","+","4estGimp - SuperMutantRedux No AWKCR"
"0100","+","Raider Overhaul One"
"0101","+","Longer Power Lines 3x"
"0102","+","Orphans of the Commonwealth"
"0103","+","Killable Children 1.2.7.1 - All Dlc"
"0104","+","Raider Children"
"0105","+","2.1.0 CBBE BODY AND BODYSLIDES 2K TEXTURES"
"0106","+","Better Settlers"
"0107","+","BetterCompanions"
"0108","+","Better Companions - MCM Settings Menu"
"0109","+","Better Wait Menu - Full"
"0110","+","Binary Speech Checks V.4 (Normal Edition)"
"0111","+","Classic Holstered Weapons"
"0112","+","Classic V.A.T.S"
"0113","+","See-Through-Scopes"
"0114","+","Bullet Counted Reload - v.2.00"
"0115","+","Tactical Reload Framework"
"0116","+","Tactical Reload Vanilla Weapons"
"0117","+","Tactical Reload DLC Weapons"
"0118","+","See Through Scopes Patch"
"0119","+","WD_CR_Anims"
"0120","+","BCR plus TR - Lever Action Rifle"
"0121","+","Right-handed Lever Action Replacer"
"0122","+","New Lever Cycle Animation"
"0123","+","BCR-RightHandedLeverActionReplacer"
"0124","+","Winchester Pack - Vanilla Ammo 2.0"
"0125","+","Right-Handed Far Harbor Lever Action Replacer BCR"
"0126","+","Right-handed Lever Action Reload Animations Replacer"
"0127","+","Nuka-World AK Replacer"
"0128","+","See-Through Scopes for Right-handed AK"
"0129","+","WD_10mm_Anims_New_Sounds"
"0130","+","WD_Hunting_Rifle_1.2"
"0131","+","WD_SMG_V4_Replacer"
"0132","+","Tactical Reload Patch Repository"
"0133","+","No Negative Affinity and No Affinity Cooldown"
"0134","+","More armor slots - All Dlc 1 Esp"
"0135","+","krdp 1.10"
"0136","+","No DLC vanilla radiants"
"0137","+","Infinite Fusion Core"
"0138","+","ILER - Animation Edition (AAF)"
"0139","+","llamaCompanionHeather"
"0140","+","Heather Clothing Bodyslide Files"
"0141","+","NoraSpouse ver 1.2"
"0142","+","Far Harbor Support"
"0143","+","Proto Vault Suit"
"0144","+","SilentProtagonistF4SE"
"0145","+","RED - Roleplayer's Expanded Dialogue"
"0146","+","Hotfix for 2.8"
"0147","+","Everyone's Best Friend"
"0148","+","Scrap Everything"
"0149","+","Place (Fallout4 1.10.163 - latest release)"
"0150","+","Automatron invisible mesh fix"
"0151","+","Building Placement Fix"
"0152","+","GrayGardenIdle Fix"
"0153","+","Enhanced Lights and FX"
"0154","+","Old Guns Reset Patch"
"0155","+","Vault 88 CtD fix - Ultimate Edition"
"0156","+","True Storms Wasteland Edition v1.4"
"0157","+","Nuka World Add-On (with TS Far Harbor Compatibility)"
"0158","+","Darker Nights 1.11p6"
"0159","+","Darker Nights No Fog Glow for Far Harbor"
"0160","+","Sim Settlements"
"0161","+","FOV Slider and Player Height"
​

I find it funny. All web browsers supports 8-bit indexed color PNG images. GIMP can save 8-bit indexed color PNG images just fine. Windows Explorer displays them just fine as well. For artists and end users working with 8-bit indexed color images, the PNG format is great.
However, for about ten years I have been looking for a C library that can write such images, and not. a. single. one. exist.
The closest solutions provides APIs that still expects the coder to be an expert in the PNG format. See, all that an API needed was, let's say, a function called void Write8bitPNG (char *filename, unsigned char *pixels, unsigned int width, unsigned int height, unsigned char *rgbpalette). Those are exactly the parameters I use in my WritePCX function.
However, the available solutions sends the coder through a rabbit hole of chunks, tRNS and other stuff through a convoluted series of steps that requires the coder to know exactly how the library works under the hood. Take a look at this StackOverflow thread for a prime example, the only answer in it is a nightmare fuel; chunks, offsets, target array, and a whole bunch of other stuff that essentially requires the reader to learn the whole PNG architecture from inside out. That thread was created 12 years ago, and things still haven't improved.
Reading and writing truecolor PNGs, on the other hand, can be easily done because there are sane APIs for it. But they're pointless for people working with 8-bit indexed color images.

This is more of a personal post and personal story. Middle school, being 13 or 14; I was introduced to different cards games outside of Pokemon like Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic The Gathering by my chums and classmates who wanted to look for another player. Growing up in a Christian household, only game I was allowed to have under my parents roof was Pokemon as the Yu-Gi-Oh show did an episode about trapping peoples souls in cards and Magic The Gathering had Devil Worshipping cards; the latter of which I found insane when I had a chance to see some of those cards for myself to make my own decision about the game as a whole which my mother never did or approach it to try any game herself.
Though I was playing games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and MTG with what cards I was loaned or had bought already before the soul-stealing cartoon; a thing that annoyed me as a kid was lack of access to mechanics because I didn't have a card I needed or my deck wasn't optimized to play a 'role' in a game. For the OG Yu-Gi-Oh players, this would be cards like Polymerization, which was needed to play those over-powered fusion monsters or ritual cards you had to dig through several packs for. Pokemon, it was about getting the best Pokemon and Optimizing your deck to run that pokemon like Charizard or Mewtwo or Mew. I have no horse in Magic the Gathering to relate that experience as, again, I was introduced and taught how to play when I was a preteen so I can't personally speak on that behalf.
So; I did what any other kid with no money, method of transportation and overbearing mother would do, I made my own card game with the tools available to me which was the internet, art programs like Adobe's Macromaedia Fireworks and Gimp, Lackey CCG which was and still is free to use to play card games over the internet and time between the days I was grounded for getting into trouble and days I would have off asking strangers off the internet for help along with what few friends I had.
And trust me when I say the game we have now is vastly different than the original; but my concepts for this whole thing are still baked in along with any hardships, heart breaking moments where I needed to come to terms with to change things and keep the game going on my own terms. Some folks have reccomended rule changes, most of them are implemented, another reccomended a mechanic I took in a new direction that drives how it plays. I've had to get help even as an Adult and some I paid for and tips and help I've gained from other's as either a words of caution or advice I either needed to take to heart or help re-evaluate where to take the game itself.
I started making this game out of preteen angst and being in a difficult position. Now I'm making it in hopes someone else enjoys it the same way I did making it and with the way most entertainment is going as of this writing, I hope at least provides some escapism than to be treated as something else. I hope you enjoy what I've put together and if one person enjoys the game, that's enough for me to keep going until I can't due to financial reasons or I am unable to perform any of these duties any further.

This guide was created to assist beginners who have limited knowledge about the .BSA format. It aims to help new modders enjoy a smoother experience without having to spend hours researching and understanding how BSA formats function in Fallout: New Vegas with tips.
Compatible Fallout Modding game versions!
Epic game Store - Fallout New Vegas Steam game Store - Fallout New Vegas GOG - Fallout New Vegas (PC Disc) - Fallout New Vegas
Instructions & information
When creating a new BSA file, you can modify the Fallout.ini file to include extra BSA files for loading. However, you’ll need to make these changes through Mod Organizer 2 (MO2). MO2 provides a Fallout.ini editor that allows you to adjust file locations for loading the BSA. Remember to use this tool to avoid file reverts. Also, always start Fallout new Vegas using the Mod Organizer 2. It’s best to keep this in mind as a personal note. If you’re looking for an easier modding experience, consider using Vortex, which integrates well with the Fallout local PC database. [aka], the Fallout new Vegas game saved folder data location).
If you encounter a missing Fallout.ini file, consider using Vortex. This tool can help resolve the issue by creating a custom Fallout.ini (Fallout-custom.ini) that allows you to continue on the modding process without too much hassle.
Understanding edits have consequences if done wrong.
To understand how folders are placed within the BSA, use a (BSA and BSA2) file viewer. This ensures that the game can locate images without encountering missing objects during gameplay. For example, the “Fallout-Texture.bsa” has two folders before reaching the main folder list (Check each .bsa file that you are going to edit yourself, to limit any type of mishap). It’s advisable to maintain the original layout unless you’re experienced enough for advanced modding. (One Example) would require an artist to create files inside an .nif editor and making 3D rendering then setting each image location file in the .nif 3D render window, for the environment to come alive to present and display as they envisioned without everything just being transparent running into things you can not see.
Unpacking & repackaging.bsa
Example tool software like FOMM, is a tool are very good at .bsa extracting and repacking for the new .bsa to be used inside fallout new Vegas.
When repacking the .bsa file, ensure that the text remains unchanged, and the folder structure remains consistent. Avoid renaming files; for instance, if you have a folder now named ‘fallout - textures,’ it’s written wrong so refrain from altering its name, as it would deviate from the original name structure.

1. Fallout - Textures
2. textures
3. Please avoid restructuring the file format with renames, as doing so may disrupt its position within the other BSA files. As it could prevent the .DDS file from being read at all due to changes in the texture file mapping within the other .bsa folders as they depend on the file name locations.
4. Repackage the folders back into the .BSA format without making changes to the file name at all and remove or delete old .BSA…

Mod Management Helpful Tip.
When downloading mods into let’s say Vortex, best to manually download then install them for less of a hustle into the file location directory. This way you do not end up hitting the mod manager download limitations as fast on Vortex.
Useful tool list for mod starters
% Add-ons 1. New Vegas Script Extender (xNVSE) https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/67883 2. Epic Game Patcher https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/81281 3. Vortex Archive Invalidation ————- 4. Geck Extender https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/64888 5. Loot https://www.afkmods.com/index.php?/topic/5042-relz-loot-order-optimsation-tool/ 6. GECK Sound Converter https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/73649
% Edit Game Tools 1. Geck NVE https://geckwiki.com/index.php/Garden_of_Eden_Creation_Kit 2. FNVEdit https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/34703 3. BAE https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/78/
% Software 1. NVIDA Texture Tool Exporter https://developer.nvidia.com/texture-tools-exporter 2. NifSkope http://www.niftools.org 3. Gimp graphic editor https://www.gimp.org 4. Gimp DDS plug-in for direct draw surface. https://code.google.com/archive/p/gimp-dds/downloads
% Mod manager 1. Vortex https://www.nexusmods.com/about/vortex/ 2. Mod Organizers[2] https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6194
% BSA Creating 1. FOMM https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/54991/ 2. FNV BSA Decompressior (This doesn’t work for me). https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/65854 3. BSArch BSA BA2 Batch Extractor and Packer for MO2 https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/69145

As we watch AfO go up to bat yet again against our heroes, I'm casting my mind back to quite a while ago.
Back to the Gunga fight, where he was up against Endeavour and Hawks. Around, what, like 20 chapters of just him ago? And so we get to the title of this post...
Imagine if AfO just lost to Endeavour. Was burnt to cinders by the number one hero. Didn't pull out a reverse quirk bullet that wasn't really built up and had to be explained away in a post hoc flashback. What would you think of that?
This isn't even a gimped death, either. One of the things I was most keen on, reading the beginning of the war arc, was seeing the somewhat unexpected, but narratively potent matchup of Endeavour VS AfO. Endeavour is a major character, and his history of competing with All Might and trying to earn his place at the top even after "earning" it through All Might retiring means him beating AfO would be meaningful. It makes sense plot wise, because the rewind bullet was not set in stone, and he would be the best possible character to beat him character wise, with his only competition thoroughly tied up on the other side of the country.
And, if you do that... poof, you've got more than one volume spare to do anything you want. Show Mineta plucking his fucking nosehair if you want, there's no end to the possibilities. Fill in the skipped bits of the Deku VS Shiggy fight. Hell, just take the weeks you'd be writing those chapters off, to improve the general writing quality through planning, and to stop brainmatter leaking out your ear.

What the hell does p2w with $0 mean? If you saw my post yesterday, so many comments were thrown my way that "to call this game anything other than p2w is delusional." Well, I'm winning in this game with $0 invested so I view the game as f2p. This is a delusional opinion that I hold so I will update my view as p2w with $0.
The target of this guide is to help newer players and to prove to them that you can be successful in Conflict of Nations despite the gold usage and I see so much bad advice. I will stress that this guide will not get you wins by default. You will not be a new player copying this and go out and get your first solo win. I got to this stage after years of experience (off and on, not many years straight) and learning the mechanics and player tendencies. I can predict what most players will do in scenarios and that gives me a big edge. I have taken more losses than I can count and with each loss I did not run to Reddit to shit on the game to whine p2w on every thread. With each loss, I contemplated how I lost and updated my strategy to the point that I got here.
Take your losses. There is so much to learn in a loss. You don't learn much in a win. Get value out of losing. Additionally, if you walk into a game and win win win, that's not fun. When you spend months losing and growing and get your first win, it's massive! That is what some of us love challenges for.
I will be ignoring replies from commentors who are here to say *you tell me you're bringing that so I'm bringing this because I know it all* and *obviously your opponents must suck.* I encourage you to ignore them too. I'll engage with anyone here in good spirit and wanting to know more. There is so much nuance and variables that I cannot possibly cover every aspect and detail of what goes on in a game. If you want to know about specific situations and things that I overlook today, feel free to ask.
I have not been on a winning spree for long at all. This is a new stage of my experience in the game. I am fresh off of a 4 win streak completely solo as China, Brazil, Russia and United States in that order. I previously won 2 solos with India, and a solo with Pakistan. Generally, I do not start games with the Big 5 except India. They are harder to begin and intended for experienced players. I actually prefer 6-city countries but the Big 5 was a challenge I set for myself. I expected each one to take 1 to 3 attempts but to my own surprise, I went back to back for 4 games straight. I'm sharing with you today how and why I use what I use and do what I do.
When my neighbors are fighting each other, I pay attention to their losses in the newsfeed and attack the winner and conquer them both. This applies in all stages of the game. This is war.
What do I use?
My entire strategy centers around 4 main units: Mobile Infantry, SAMs, Strike Fighters (strikers), and Destroyers.
*No, Driadek, that's too simple, I've been told to make all these intricate stacks and blah blah blah*. Forget that.
I'll give you an example in the navy. I decide that I want max Destroyers, level 6. You decide that you like cruisers the best because they're the strongest, but they need to be defended by destroyers because attack subs exist, and everyone loves frigates for their anti-air so make those too.
By the time I get my destroyers to level 6, you'll have had time to get each of your 3 units to level 2. My destroyers now have 100 meters of attack range. The best you have is your cruisers at 75 meters range. I will entirely wipe your navy without taking a hitpoint of damage.
We can sit here all day and talk about strategies with a variety of troops that sound absolutely OP on paper. No one will beat what you've drawn out. It is the most unstoppable force of a navy that an imagination can create. Then you enter a game and attempt to apply it and it gets absolutely mollywhomped.
What sounds good on paper more often than not is disappointing when applied in the actual game.
After these 4 unit types have their numbers up and their researches where I want them, I can experiment with whatever I want. Bombers are fun. Stealth strike fighters are a lot of fun. Bring in some tanks or artillery. I already have the core group that is going to carry me to a quick win so anything I invest in and produce now is only furthering that and making it more interesting.
Starting the Game
I don't care where it is. You decide for yourself. My first goal for expansion is to clear out all of my neighbors, and then their neighbors. Anyone who has territory within striker range of my Homeland needs to be conquered by me. Diplomacy will play a big part. Several players will message me asking me to join their coalition and asking for peace. I am never being hostile with anyone unprovoked and I'm never directly declining them of anything. Often someone from a full coalition will ask me to join and I'll respond "you look a little full" and I'll beat around the bush never committing to join. It is strategic when solo to have a positive and upbeat attitude and friendly reputation with the folk who actually make an attempt to engage with me. The guys who say "hi" I respond with a waving hand emoji and pay no mind to. In my Russia solo, I happened to befriend France, who joined the coalition who later jumped me and his refusal to fight me because of the relationship I made with him definitely played a factor in securing the win. I'm always letting them know that I'm just having fun and I don't care what happens because that's the truth and I want there to be a psychology aspect of reducing my threat to them whether I plan on attacking or not.
I am immediately planning my cities out. My capital will eventually need to move away from the coast if it's near. That may not be an option. That capital has an air base on it already so that's committed to be one of my main air bases for now. My second air base needs to be away from the coast if possible as well. Both of those cities need an arms industry and level 2 air base immediately. Waste no time. If you started this game at night, get the air base going to level 2 first while you sleep. If you have more than 2.5 hours before bed, do the arms industries first. Always thinking about efficiency.
Immediately start the research for mobile infantry and strike fighters. I play WW3 Apocalypse a lot so I can start it day 1 but regular WW3 starts at day 2 or 3. As soon as the air base cities are ready for producing, we are mass producing strikers nonstop for at least 4 full stacks. We also need a hospital on one of the air base cities. If there's only 1 city out of naval range, that's your main air base city with a hospital and capital.
Pick at least 1 coastal city to produce destroyers in. There will be a second eventually but strikers will be taking up most of our components and electronics in the early game so there isn't a rush to research destroyers and upgrade your naval base right off the bat.
It's common for countries to have 2 supplies cities so I usually only take the arms industry to level 1. Fuel is almost always level 1. The rare city will be upgraded to level 5 every game. Electronics and component cities will be between level 3 and 5 depending on how fast I get the ball rolling.
Mobile infantry, SAM, and Ground Game
The infantry is going to level 6 but it's not top priority to rush. Go to level 2 quickly for the speed boost but don't lock up a research slot too long. We have other priorities. SAM can be the last one unlocked and not urgent at all unless you have someone nearby using strikers. Early on, people don't have many airfields so it's very easy to disable their air force with your own. I'll talk more about air force vs air force later.
In the first few game days, we are most vulnerable. It is completely up to you if you want to be aggressive or defensive in this time. The infantry of the stack defending a city gets a 25% defense buff, so our infantry would rather be defending than attacking. If you want to attack, stack your damn troops up. The attackers in a 2v2 will lose every time. You have to overcome the defensive boost and then some. You want to smash the troops if you're attacking with ground troops.
In the US game I posted, I chose aggressive. I stacked most of my starter troops up at Portland and Chicago to get ready to invade Canada and went to bed. I woke up in the morning and as though he was waiting for me to come online, his invasion began. He immediately took DC and New York from me. My capital was gone. At least now I know his cities are undefended so I sent my troops to his cities. My Portland stack passed his stack and I had to rush all but 2 of them back to Portland to get the defensive advantage and keep Portland. That's the only time the Rush feature should be used, or to capture a city moments before a new day for morale purposes. I took all of his cities and successfully defended the small stacks he sent at my cities by land by patiently waiting on my cities for him to eventually get to me, allowing him to conquer along the way. That doesn't hurt, I'll get it back. I eventually took out the troops that got on my cities, which included a capital and level 2 air base which sucked but I licked my wounds and went on to win. Don't quit when the going gets tough.
In my Brazil game, I had to defend myself from a quick invasion from Argentina and Bolivia for not accepting their coalition invite. It was a very hairy several hours waiting for my first striker and then my second while some ground defenses took place and lost several provinces. Colombia and Cuba both joined in as time went on but eventually I successfully defended as more strikers finished and I gradually conquered them all.
Anyway, after I get a few strikers, infantry are completely shelved as a battle unit until they're level 6. These are mostly here to conquer territory and defend burning cities from insurgencies. At level 6 they can finally damage without taking damage, mostly. If your opponent has level 6 as well, then you're going to firstly rely on your air force to deal with them. Perhaps they're offline and you can hit and run. A hit and run is when you move your troops back as soon as they get within range of the enemy. When your infantry begins to bombard, there's a lag period only a few seconds long. Within that period, move your infantry away from the enemy and your infantry will bombard and the enemy won't bombard back. This works with naval bombarding too. It's not always consistent. Sometimes the enemy hits back. Perhaps the enemy infantry is stacked with anti-air so you cannot use strike fighters and the enemy is active and won't let you hit and run. I would stack up 10 infantry and go do my best. If I take some losses then so be it. It had to be done.
SAMs are for after the high priority researches are done. I take them to level 4 to be airlifted and I mostly use them to defend the airfield that I'm using strikers from and predictable areas that enemies would send their air force to. SAMs are rarely a deciding factor whether I win or lose but they are so comforting to have with my invasion and defense that they are a staple in my games.
Strikers and Air Force
As I said before when starting the game, I will be mass producing strikers immediately. Getting my first stack is more important than anything else. With my first stack, I'm no longer vulnerable. It's entirely possible I'm already in conflict and defending myself with my starter fighter and 1 to 3 strikers. The good news in the beginning is that the fighter takes defensive damage from attacks away from the strikers so it takes a while for a death. I'm avoiding striker deaths by constantly knowing how far a stack is away from a death and sending them Home to the hospital. When I get up to 4 stacks of strikers, I'll often have 2 stacks attacking and 2 stacks healing and relentlessly swapping them out. I do not like striker deaths.
I'm not rushing their research either. At level 3 they're getting the job done. Upgrading to 4 raises their cost. Eventually I want level 5 for the extended range, and when I've slowed down producing them after 4 stacks and some reserves in case of death, they can be taken all the way to level 7.
By this point, I can already be defending and attacking in multiple wars. My territory is now large and I can sustain wars on multiple fronts. My air force is killing faster than my infantry can move and hold cities to 34%. This gives plenty of healing time. I can be tactically retreating my infantry all the while when they encounter enemies and wait for my air force to kill them and move forward again.
Sooner or later, your enemy will be using strikers, or fighters, or a combination of both. I'm already paying attention in the news to what he's using. I will scour his territory for every air base and airfield he's using and his allies' as well. I can use intel while making my preparations. I put 3 sabotage agents on the ones I want to and wait for the day to roll over. This is a deliberate act of war so be ready to go. Later in the game my destroyers will be ready to take out coastal air bases. But I want the enemy to have 1 air base to use his air force from. I will be looking at his army bases to determine if he might have SAMs.
In a blitz invasion, I full send 2 stacks of strikers at his air bases as test strikes. I'm hoping he has some aircraft grounded and crossing my fingers he doesn't hurt them too bad. Usually I get a slap back from a stack of infantry. My other 2 stacks of fighters are waiting for enemy aircraft. If anything retaliates against my strikers while they refuel, my waiting stacks will retaliate against them. If there's no enemy retaliation, my waiting strikers either hit the targets again or hit new targets and cycle until all troops are dead. Sometime a stack or 2 may need to go straight to the hospital. I hate losing strikers. Take out high priority targets including all air bases and infrastructure that could be producing troops. Many a time have I cleared a city and send a troop to conquer it and an enemy unit spawned in that time. If I have nothing pressing to do with my air force, I hit some infrastructure.
If I'm being attacked with an air force, there's often some infantry being left hung out to dry. That sucks so I immediately retreat them to safety and get my strikers in position. I want my strikers off to the side and patiently wait for his attack again. When he attacks, I want it timed out to hit the air base he's going to refuel at right after he gets there. Enemy aircraft is always the very top priority and the most effective way to deal with them is when they're refueling. Doing anything to destroy air bases anywhere in his territory if he still has any air force is frustrating to him and will take the wind out of his sails.
I never ever leave my strikers sitting on an air base anywhere in range of enemy territory. If I'm ferried to that air base, I need to be on patrol. If I'm offline to sleep or work or whatever is going on, my air force needs to be safely away from enemy range. Be at home healing or be on patrol.
Naval
I got downvoted for this yesterday. I only use destroyers. The reason for this is my 2 most recent naval losses. In the first loss of the 2, I was India with cruisers and got my butt whooped by a guy who knew I had cruisers and at his own admittance, dedicated subs and a sub officer purely to fight my cruisers. When you're a large solo player, others pay a lot of attention to you. In my most recent loss I was Sweden and I took all of the countries who touch the bay there for naval dominance defending my homeland. I had 2 stacks of destroyers and a stack of attack subs defending the entrance to the bay but they were all in separate areas, in shallow waters, so over an hour away from each other. An enemy sent a full stack of max destroyers immediately followed by 4 partial stacks. I lost the first stack of destroyers, then the other 2 stacks. What I learned was to overkill destroyers.
So I rush this research. I don't rush destroyers immediately in the game, as I previously said, but when I am ready for destroyers, I'm all in. I view destroyers as gimp before level 6. I need 100 meter range. With that, most naval battles will be a lopsided bombardment in my favor. Straight to level 6. They are still cheaper than a level 1 cruiser. Mass production. You cannot have too many. The more the merrier. They cost 100 to 130 components a day each in upkeep but if I'm on a good pace conquering territory with my air force and infantry, then production should outpace upkeep and I'll still see my daily production rise.
I keep my destroyers right next to each other. They all have 100m range and they are ready to respond. You might be thinking that it then means some of my cities are undefended. Yup. It's more important to me that my navy doesn't take a significant loss. I'll rebuild the city. I'll retreat my troops away from it. Hell, I may lose the city to infantry before my air force can get there. I can rebuild the city. If an enemy takes out my navy then he's free to control my coastal cities and ruin my game. Keeping my navy together and dominant and alive is top priority.
Once an enemy navy has been wrecked, then the destroyers are free to bombard ground troops and cities and any air bases they can reach.
In these games, I did not run into an enemy who matched my strategy but with cruisers instead. I have dominated a lonely cruiser stack many times. Players don't expect me to have 4 stacks of destroyers right next to each other. It's not common. Think of a time in a game that you had such a navy that you could have stopped 4 stacks of max destroyers on top of each other. I bet you never did. My enemies don't either.
My answer to *destroyer or cruiser* is 100% destroyer. Mass produce them and be smarter than a cruiser user.
What about air defense? I don't need them to be anti-air. I have SAMs and strikers to deal with that. A stack of max destroyers defends itself for 20 fixed wing damage, can defeat a nuclear cruise missile, and has a lot of health. If their air force is actually being a threat to your destroyers, move the destroyers away.
When I face a golder I don't treat them any different. I'm just as aggressive and tactical as a non-golder. Golders are low-skill and I've been asked *what about a skilled player using gold?* I'm not sure they exist. In order to get skilled, you have to play and lose a lot of games. I think it's paradoxical that with skill comes an independence from gold. If you're smart enough to get skilled, you're smart enough to realize what a waste of money gold is in a game that is played for free.
1,000 VP and Up
I'm now in my end game. People are paying a lot of attention to me. I'm the top player in VP, usually by a few hundred and I'm picking up the pace. Everyone has asked me to join with them. I am going to attack or defend against a coalition inevitably. I'm praying that the 2 largest coalitions fight each other. I will patiently wait for it too. If they do engage each other, then I'm going to invade someone in the stronger coalition, hopefully the top VP player. There's no reason to be timid. If we lose here, we will learn from the loss. We treat this like any other invasion. While they're distracted in their war, I show no mercy. They're going to message me too. Ask why it wasn't anyone else. I don't respond at this point. I'm all in for the win.
I have extra troop types now. I usually make mobile radar but I have never felt like I won a game because I had radar. I can experiment with whatever I want to assist in this end game.
I've been attacked by countries that I thought were inactive for several days but got talked by someone into attacking me. Or every time I take out one person in a coalition, they kick him out and add a new one and I immediately switch my attention to him to disable his air force. This can be a very hectic and chaotic time. Sometimes, most of the map is afraid to engage me and I'm left to just expand into random victims and sometimes the map teams up to take me out. I have gotten lucky. There were some instances where I'm thinking, "jees, if you would have done this that or the other then I would be out for the count right now."
I've had my cities nuked. I don't care at this stage. A little secret is that all you have to do is build a level 5 army base and that will convince most players that your cities have TDS on them. They may still nuke anyway. Produce TDS if you want. I sometimes do. I mostly don't. My production is so high and I already have so many troops that I've carefully kept alive, a nuke on a city is nothing. I hunt down what launched the nuke and kill it because it's usually a ballistic sub.
I do not nuke. Hell no. My favorite game mode is Apocalypse with free nukes and I refuse to use nukes. Firstly, they're easily defended and count as a death stat if so. Miss me with that. More importantly, if they hit their target, they jack my citizen kill count up and reduce my morale causing undefended cities to smoke. Stupid. No nukes. Missiles are pointless and they tie up research. No thanks.
When I get to around 1400-1500, I'm ready to lock in a quick win. The most vp that I have ever finished with was over 2,600vp. It was set up beautifully though. I defeated the 2nd largest country and barely missed the vp cutoff on a new day. I had a very early insurgency and knew they wouldn't spawn again. I sent every troop to each and every province and city they could completely unchallenged through the whole Romania and Greece and Saudi and Egypt areas racking up points very fast while dude was begging me to let him keep his gold. I remember he had spent gold earlier. If you find yourself in a position getting close to the win and have destroyed most of the enemy's forces, you may be in position to blitz some cities and lock in the win before any last ditch efforts to ruin your solo arise.