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Jeff Wilder

@jeffwilder.bsky.social

75 followers 72 following 300 posts

Happily retired super-nerd. Born in Louisville, then to Lexington, back to Louisville, then to Richmond, back to Lexington, BA in English from UK, started JD, off to San Francisco, finished JD, brief stint in Los Gatos, and finally to Daly City. Whew.

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · Apr 16

A long time ago, I invented an IC/OOC gambling game that's very simple and fast. We've been playing it for 15 years.

(1) Settle on a stake.

(2) Both players roll 2d20.

(3) Compare the higher rolls and the lower rolls, and whomever wins each comparison wins a stake.

#pathfinder2e #ttrpg

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 18h

Once again, unable to join y'all due to Twitch login weirdness. Look forward to the VOD!

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 3d

I honestly don't mind the language. If my friends and I are any example at all, real people say "fuck." (A fuckin' lot.)

My objection is that from him it is so obviously performative and child-like. It's cringe. Everything he said and does is vicariously embarrassing.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 3d

None of my players have ever played 2E before, AND I've limited them to Remaster options, AND I'm using the extra encounter budget for a fifth player ... and they've done just fine through almost-6th level. The only death has been a familiar, though one PC has been at Dying 3 three times!

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 4d

The old Temple of Elemental Evil, as modded and expanded by Circle of Eight, is a fantastic turn-based RPG.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 4d

That is pretty weird. Sorcerers were incredibly weak in 3E and 3.5, so I just never noticed. Pathfinder 1E gave them Eschew Materials, so all they have to worry about are expensive components.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 4d

I remember the first day -- literally -- that I learned of KISS. I was running for the school bus and I fell in a puddle. (That's why I remember t day.) I was in 1st grade.

Never really cared for them.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 6d

Out of curiosity, what is your functional definition of "paladin"?

It easy in PF (1E and 2E) to be a spiritual warrior for the gods and concepts aligning with Lawful ethics and Neutral morals. What's stopping you?

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 7d

That's a good point, but when you're dealing with that certain type of player, you're going to have issues with flavor text whether it's separate from rules text or integrated.

Maybe I'm feeling extra-spicy-misanthropic today, but my opinion is to not write around the "needs" of those players.

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 7d

You just need to tweak them for the ass-washing genre you and your table prefers!

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 7d

Speaking as a long-time poker player, the probabilities of successfully casting for the huckster in Deadlands 1E are absolutely busted, to the point of unplayability as written. (Other than that, loved the game, and it's still on my shelf.)

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 7d

Top Secret.

"Wait. I can be a super-spy?"

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 8d

Twenty-three months of up-time.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 8d

Ooh, Ostrander's Grim Jack. I just bought the collected volumes of Grant's Whisper. I didn't read every First book, but I read those two.

(Weirdly, literally two minutes ago I mentioned American Flagg to my buddy because we're watching Peacemaker.)

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 8d

As someone who regularly teaches newbies how to play PF1E (AKA, D&D3.75), I'll say that the rules aren't that difficult for people to learn. The sheer number of options -- e.g., literally thousands of feats and class customizations -- is what causes even veteran RPers to go a little *tharn*.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 10d

Her nickname is Amtrak.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 11d

In my Seven Dooms game, the primary healer is a cleric of Abadar), but 80-plus percent of the healing he does every adventuring day is via Medicine, Battle Medicine, and Risky Surgery. Coming from Pathfinder 1E, it was such an unexpected paradigm.

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 11d

I always assumed it meant something like a "fitness to continue to serve commission." Weirdly, though I concentrated pretty heavily on constitutional law in law school, I don't remember ever discussing that phrase in any of my classes.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 12d

ATP is my favorite Gibson novel, if one discounts the sheer "WTF-am-I-reading?"ness of Neuromancer. There's something about the build up to the ending of ATP that's inevitable and mind-blowing at the same time.

And now we're watching Idoru fucking happen in real time! ATP next?

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 12d

Almost Giger-esque.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 12d

I was never into Twitter. For me, Bluesky was the last nudge I needed to leave Facebook.

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 12d

Same.

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Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 13d

Ooooh, urine *that* kinda game.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 13d

I get the overpowered argument, but, Jesus, it's just such a stupid spell.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 13d

Some of my players really, really love the lore of my home-brew, and some of them couldn't care less. One of them is borderline obsessive. Makes it fun to dole out the clues.

Jeff Wilder @jeffwilder.bsky.social · 13d

It's such a weird thing, because "50 percent chance to lose each fight" is just about the fastest way possible to end an action RPG campaign.