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PaperclipPerfector  5d ago (text post)   2336 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for August 22, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Gaming subthread.

Been playing Helldivers 2 with some old friends. Lots of fun. I recall some mottizens complaining about it being a bad shooter, which is a sentiment I'm amibvalent about, or about it being a grenade-lobbing simulator, which isn't entirely incorrect, but ultimately I think the game just contains lots of mechanics to recommend itself.

  • You can generally make do with common-sense tactics and a little experience; finely honed twitch reflexes or esoteric game-specific knowledge aren't required.
  • The theme of "squishy humans attaining superiority through firepower" occupies a sweet spot in between power fantasy and challenge.
  • The game makes do with very little hand-holding. You can get killed by the smallest enemy when you don't pay attention. You can teamkill and there are no guardrails against it.
  • The game is exceptionally well-crafted, full of lovingly-implemented detail, little nods to realism and in-depth mechanics other games would simply elide.
  • There's no woke in the writing. The game's campy lore and plot can be played straight or seen as parody however you like; much like w40k but without the need to fit into a tabletop figurine merchanidse form-factor.
  • The game can be approached easily enough by my challenge-averse friends, and once they get into the groove I can slowly ratchet up the difficulty on them.
  • A level 1 player can be just about as effective as a level 150 player, give or take some very minor bonuses and, of course, experience. All the equipment that goes into loadouts is side-grades, and there is zero grind required to be able to contribute to a team. All the grind does is unlock more equipment variety.
  • Speaking of equipment variety, each and every item in the arsenal is useful. Some are more specialized than others, some are perhaps too niche or slightly underpowered, some are perhaps a little overpowered, but there is overall a good sense of balance in everything.
  • There are always multiple ways to solve a given problem, but my problem-solving-averse friends ("I already do that for work and don't need it in my free time!") can just pick the one they're most used to while I get to improvise and experiment.
  • You can play a mission or three in the evening and still go to bed well on time. It doesn't take a massive investment of time to play.

Helldivers 2 earned a ton of awards, and I'd say it well deserves them. It really is an unusually well-made game.

If any Mottizens want to go on a dive together (and our time zones aren't too incompatible. German time here, I usually play between 21:00 and 23:00), let me know.

I think the only person who dislikes the gameplay of HD2 is Cjet, or at least I think he was the person who says it's a grenade chucking sim. He prefers the Starship Troopers game, which is a highly confusing stance! I got my money's worth out of HD2 even though I only played sporadically of late. I also got my money's worth out of ST, if only because he gifted me a copy haha.

I'd love to join in, assuming there's room!

I still feel bad about Cjet gifting me a copy of Factorio: Space Age and me never making it to the multipalyer sessions. Based mottizen, too generous for his own good.

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