Mantergeistmann
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User ID: 323
Mantergeistmann
1d ago
I know a boomer or two who has empty houses that he doesn't even rent out because he doesn't want to bother.
Pretty much everyone I know personally who has rented out in the past would never rent out again. They'd much rather pay taxes on an empty house than deal with the potential for another tenant from Hell, and they've all dealt with at least one. And these were not people renting out cheap shacks, either.
Mantergeistmann
1d ago
It's also an old pre-battle rallying speech technique. "Yes, they're strong, and it's okay to be afraid, but if you do your part and hang in there, we'll beat them because we're stronger".
Mantergeistmann
1d ago
Israel-Gaza aren't waging war
Is this you saying that Hamas doesn't represent Gaza, that without statehood Gaza can't be considered a political entity capable of international relationships such as existing in a state of war, that it's only a wider aspect of Israel's war against Iran due to Hamas being a proxy (unlikely, given that you state Israel-Iran is not a war), or that the war is so one-sided that it hardly counts despite Hamas's best efforts to put up a fight?
Mantergeistmann
6d ago
Aside from overloading on strike damage and synergies just for them, I wound up being very conservative with my early turns - If they didn't get unstunned by the first few attacks, I'd just buff or pass turn with my remaining icons, then let loose in the second round. Made it slightly less frustrating than having to sit through their bullshit before I could hammer that rewind button.
If it's any consolation, you should be near the very end of the dungeon, if I recall. Just that last miniboss, then the boss (who isn't who you might expect, to avoid spoilering others reading this - the game teases an additional boss fight afterwards, with a save point and everything, but it's just a conversation, so no need to burn through recovery items).
Mantergeistmann
7d ago
When you say "Final Dungeon", I assume you mean Skybound Avatar? Yeah, that one was a bit tough, with no good enemies to mage-MP grind on, but it's also slightly shorter than I expected. ...And I just now remembered those teleporting liches. Man, fuck those guys, but I guess it wouldn't be a proper Atlus game without them and the legged fish.
Mantergeistmann
7d ago
33 hours, roughly halfway through? Dragon Temple, I'd guess? That one can be a bit of a slog - probably my least favorite portion of the game - but hoo boy do you have some plot and characters coming up! As well as some solid challenges, but aside from one specific fight, the game is good about giving you the tools to overcome its bullshit, which I rather enjoy.
But even outside the main plot, a lot of the Rank 8 bonds are just fantastic, and I really do enjoy the gameplay. Enough thinking, enough action mixed in with the turn-based, and I actually find the grinding reasonably enjoyable. I really like every single party member, which is fantastic, and while you can customize them, you're also incentivized lategame to keep them in their original roles somewhat.
A good portion of the reason behind my replay is admittedly that I'm very close to 100% achievements, but I wouldn't bother if I didn't love the game. I find myself re-looking forward to scenes, dialogue, and even some boss fights.
TL;DR: Louis is a top tier villain, Fantasy is real, Esperanto-esque chanting is a bop, and Peerless Stonecleaver (or Wanton Destruction, I don’t judge) goes brrrrrr.
Also, the manga is being released and translated. It changes a few things around, and can be a bit odd in the pacing, but it's pretty fantastic. Worth reading, and it won't spoil anything for where you are (the manga is just reaching Martira, the first town along the way to Brilehaven after you get the gauntlet runner -- I say because I myself always forget Martira's name).
Mantergeistmann
8d ago
I'm (still) playing Anno 1800, in between finishing FFVII rebirth, my NG+ of Metaphor: ReFantazio, and returning to low-level LotRO. My biggest takeaway is that the newer LoTRO writers are far, far worse than the original dev team.
Mantergeistmann
8d ago
Principled opposition to neutrality in the socioecopolitical conflict between the United States and Russia?
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
The Sting is one where I never spoil it for people, but despite being made of twists, I never tire of rewatching it.
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
I told them "classical" and they didn't know what that meant.
I don't actually know how I'd define classical without mentioning names, and time periods. What makes a piece of "classical" music just that? I know it when I hear it, but I can't define Beethoven vs. Modern Piano piece in a way that's actually a legitimate definition.
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
I was knowingly putting a toe over the line to make a point
Yes, my response should have very much been taken as a tongue-in-cheek nod to that. But tone is not always the same when read as when written, as we all know.
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
We know Americans had issues establishing air superiority over Yemen.
They sent one CSG and per US doctrine, spent a lot of time trying to shoot arrows (and sometimes even the bows!) while not so much the archers themselves. I'm not saying they didn't do things in a dumb way, or that they needed more will to win, but losing a few Reaper drones isn't really "having issues establishing air superiority", without even being pedantic over "superiority/supremacy".
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
Tolkien was a World War 1 veteran which helped to shape his writing
Tolkien also was very well-read, both in history and fiction.
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
To say nothing of the Super Mario Bros. movie
Not to be confused with the old movie, with the dinosaur evolution timeline dimension, which I actually quite enjoyed. Not because it was good cinema, Christ no. But I had a blast!
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
A Bug’s Life
I mean, it's Seven Samurai, but bugs. Well animated for the time, decent humour and voices, and also (and possibly more importantly at the time!) better than the coincidentally competing AntZ. The writing wasn't anything groundbreaking, but it was solid, and I'll happily rewatch it.
Mantergeistmann
9d ago
They do this because they're superstitious idiots. They're also poo-poo heads.
Here I am, fervent anti-anti-semite like yourself, yet still tempted to report you for a personal attack because per the rules of this place which I strongly believe in, how you say a thing matters far more than if I agree with what you say. I say as a meta-comment on your meta-personal-attack, rather than reporting you (as I am generally against report call-outs: after all, stating that I've reported someone does nothing but attempt to build consensus, and worse, is passive-aggressive about it).
Clearly you should go back and rephrase your insults to be a bit more vague and non-directed - the silence between the notes, as it were, instead of the subtext being the text. Then I can upvote and recommend it for AAQC, and feel morally superior about how well you've verbally pwned those people I disagree with and scored a Point For Our Side.
Mantergeistmann
12d ago
I am once again going to plug the late, great Shamus Young's post on Story Collapse.
Mantergeistmann
12d ago
Occam's Razor says that the same USN that's had multiple destroyer and carrier collisions in the past, including with merchant ships, including lethal ones, might also have another one, rather than a massive conspiracy that requires the entire crew of both ships (and any potential nearby observers) to be in on it.
Mantergeistmann
12d ago
The USS Truman suffered extensive damage due to a freak collision with a civilian merchant ship just days after its Red Sea deployment. It also lost a fighter a few days after that because... because it just fell off the ship ok??
For the first one, I haven't heard anything about the damage being extensive. And what I saw of it was much more in line with a collision than a missile hit. Also the part where the emergency repairs took only a few weeks, which is goddamn lightning where the USN is concerned these days.
As far as the fighter falling off, they straight up admitted it was during evasive maneuvers, which given the speed at which those hunks of metal can move and turn, is incredibly plausible (also the pilot recovery with zero issues). I also still credit the Houthis with "shooting down" that fighter, given that it was their action which led to its loss.
Mantergeistmann
13d ago
Most of the complaints I see have nothing to do with dogs or vets, but are instead about the impact to birds.
Mantergeistmann
20d ago
Yes, my understanding is that detergent a) never goes bad, and b) everyone needs. It's a very safe sale to make.
Mantergeistmann
21d ago
Wasn't there that one Texas judge all the conservatives kept shopping to?
Mantergeistmann
25d ago
Because it's easier for a right-handed man to button his own shirt, and easier for a woman's right-handed maid to button hers, is the story I heard.
Mantergeistmann
26d ago
Also, as I understand it, the government of Ukraine doesn't make it a deliberate tactic to hope their own population gets killed so they can get PR wins which bring international pressure on their behalf.
I remember stopping by Trader Joe's during the mid-morning on a day off... completely different demographic from the weekend/evening crowd.
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