Etchings

FFXIV's latest expansion is out. This is what I think of it.

Another survival / exploration / crafting game - any good? Yes!

Note: this is about the "hacker" role in TTRPGs, not "hacking" the game itself.

The idea of playing a hacker in a cyberpunk dystopia has captured my interest ever since I was introduced to TTRPGs that weren't just Dungeons and Dragons. Specifically, I've played hacker-types in Shadowrun 4 and 5 and Interface Zero 1.0, and read over the rules for hacking in Shadowrun 6, Shadowrun: Anarchy, and Cities Without Number.

I've written an interactive website with Astro; here are my thoughts.

I've been working with Astro lately, and it took me a while to figure out how to implement an OAuth 2 client. Hopefully I can make it faster for you.

Comparing the features, gameplay, mechanics, etc. in Starfield against other space games I've played.

Some notes about otherworldly entities:

• Ghosts are, as expected, remnants of dead humans. Native to the material world and tied to Death magic.
• Spirits are beings of things, from houses and trees to emotions and events (not people themselves). Native to the Shadow and tied to Spirit magic. Have to pass through the Gauntlet to get the material world.
• Goetia are beings of thought. Native to the Astral Realms and tied to Mind magic.
• Ephemeral entities are those 3 entities: ghosts, spirits, and goetia. Naturally, they cannot interact with the material world nor are aware of beings of the other types. They can enter the material world be being summoned or they fight their way in. Twilight is a state of being for them: invisible and intangible - not manifested. Manifesting means they take physical shape in the material world; they can do this through magic or some other conditions.
• Supernal entities are different - Fae, Demons, Shades, Beasts, Angels. These beings are from their respective Supernal World. They don't go into the material world nor Twilight unless summoned (or some weird stuff happens).
• When viewing the world from the Twilight, it's like you're in a dream or through a sort of shimmering veil. Like if you maxed out bloom on your screen. Entities and things in Twilight that are of the same ephemera can "physically" interact, like ghosts with other ghosts.
• "Rank" determines ephemeral and Supernal entity strength. Over 5 is nuts.
• Ephemeral entities subsist on Essence. They must spent 1 per day to remain active in the material world, and once per hour when existing outside a suitable condition.
• Supernal entities subsist on Mana. They do not need to spend it to remain in the material world.
• Ghosts, goetia, and Supernal entities naturally refill their pools when in their home realms. Spirits do not. Ephemeral entities regain 1 point per day in the material world be being close to an appropriate condition.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Mage the Awakening 2nd Edition both have a snowballing problem. Starting small, effects can be continually layered on top of each other until the game is broken.

Let's go through the Time Arcanum in Mage the Awakening, second edition.

Let's go through the Fate Arcanum in Mage the Awakening, second edition.