Alchemist
@alchemist64.bsky.social
A black geek who likes anime, manga/manhwa/manhua, video games, visual novels, reading, occasionally writing. He/Him.
Reposted by Alchemist
Reposted by Alchemist
I do not need you to do the transparently autistic heroine in the cancel culture game man, there's only so much I can laugh
December 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I do not need you to do the transparently autistic heroine in the cancel culture game man, there's only so much I can laugh
Reposted by Alchemist
Levine trying to do a neurodivergent heroine in Judas nononono
December 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Levine trying to do a neurodivergent heroine in Judas nononono
Reposted by Alchemist
Another science rant, this time about speculative bio instead of military technology:
So much of the talk about likely colors of alien plants is defined by physicists talking about spectra in the abstract while not engaging with the underlying biochemistry of photosynthesis, and therefore wrong
So much of the talk about likely colors of alien plants is defined by physicists talking about spectra in the abstract while not engaging with the underlying biochemistry of photosynthesis, and therefore wrong
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Another science rant, this time about speculative bio instead of military technology:
So much of the talk about likely colors of alien plants is defined by physicists talking about spectra in the abstract while not engaging with the underlying biochemistry of photosynthesis, and therefore wrong
So much of the talk about likely colors of alien plants is defined by physicists talking about spectra in the abstract while not engaging with the underlying biochemistry of photosynthesis, and therefore wrong
Reposted by Alchemist
We're getting close to the endgame of art being as financially distanced from the people that make it as possible. A company that started mailing DVDs to you a few years ago is going to buy one of the most prolific, successful, and longest-standing shapers of American art. In cash.
Netflix’s new bid to buy Warner Bros is a mostly cash offer.
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We're getting close to the endgame of art being as financially distanced from the people that make it as possible. A company that started mailing DVDs to you a few years ago is going to buy one of the most prolific, successful, and longest-standing shapers of American art. In cash.
Reposted by Alchemist
Netflix’s new bid to buy Warner Bros is a mostly cash offer.
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
December 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Netflix’s new bid to buy Warner Bros is a mostly cash offer.
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
Oh ffs
Netflix’s new bid to buy Warner Bros is a mostly cash offer.
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
The company is arranging a mega-loan to be able to buy WB
(Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...)
December 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Oh ffs
Reposted by Alchemist
nothing better in video games than when reviews of a big game drop and a bunch of way too online gamer guys are like WE WON or ITS OVER as if the metacritic score means literally anything
December 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM
nothing better in video games than when reviews of a big game drop and a bunch of way too online gamer guys are like WE WON or ITS OVER as if the metacritic score means literally anything
Reposted by Alchemist
But for the majority of people I've played with, the biggest stumbling block to playing TTRPGs is difficulty related to learning games by reading the rules. You show them a mathematical formula or a gameplay phase diagram and they shut down -- for things they understand via demonstration no problem.
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
But for the majority of people I've played with, the biggest stumbling block to playing TTRPGs is difficulty related to learning games by reading the rules. You show them a mathematical formula or a gameplay phase diagram and they shut down -- for things they understand via demonstration no problem.
Reposted by Alchemist
The audience for Pathfinder is, near-exclusively, people who were already familiar with an older version of D&D and then, over time, just dedicated long-term Pathfinder players. This is a model I respect but it also kind of self-selects for people who already have the right aptitudes for the game.
December 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The audience for Pathfinder is, near-exclusively, people who were already familiar with an older version of D&D and then, over time, just dedicated long-term Pathfinder players. This is a model I respect but it also kind of self-selects for people who already have the right aptitudes for the game.
Reposted by Alchemist
Audience is everything. I've spent an inordinate amount of time teaching TTRPGs and board games to people who don't normally like those hobbies but were either REALLY enthusiastic about the idea and came to me because I was the nearest expert, or, admittedly, sometimes because they were humoring me.
I’ve taught a lot of games, and one of the easiest to teach was Pathfinder 2e and one of the hardest to teach was Masks.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
December 2, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Audience is everything. I've spent an inordinate amount of time teaching TTRPGs and board games to people who don't normally like those hobbies but were either REALLY enthusiastic about the idea and came to me because I was the nearest expert, or, admittedly, sometimes because they were humoring me.
Reposted by Alchemist
i'd explain the 'fighting for people who hate you' aspect by pointing to the jewish people who fought for nazi germany, & the promotion is explained by how the IDF will make you a major if you can put your trousers on the right way around in fewer than three tries
A Muslim Israeli Arab woman, Ella Waweya, has just been promoted to the rank of major in the IDF.
Now, how do we explain that to people who have never set foot in Israel yet insist on calling it an apartheid state?
Mazal tov, Ella!
Now, how do we explain that to people who have never set foot in Israel yet insist on calling it an apartheid state?
Mazal tov, Ella!
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
i'd explain the 'fighting for people who hate you' aspect by pointing to the jewish people who fought for nazi germany, & the promotion is explained by how the IDF will make you a major if you can put your trousers on the right way around in fewer than three tries
Reposted by Alchemist
In many ways this is the widest ban on trans healthcare yet. In some states Catholic Church-run healthcare systems are over 40% of all healthcare.
This ban also applies to the many doctors, urgent cares and specialists in the church's sprawling networks. And they're buying up/taking over more.
This ban also applies to the many doctors, urgent cares and specialists in the church's sprawling networks. And they're buying up/taking over more.
U.S. Catholic bishops recently banned trans care throughout the church's sprawling healthcare systems.
@davidforbes.bsky.social delves into how this fits the institution's long history of hatred and abuse, a direction that has not changed despite its recent p.r. shifts.
It's time to fight back...
@davidforbes.bsky.social delves into how this fits the institution's long history of hatred and abuse, a direction that has not changed despite its recent p.r. shifts.
It's time to fight back...
U.S. Catholic Bishops Launch Attack on Trans Healthcare; It’s Time To Fight Back
While headlines were giving the Catholic church hierarchy plaudits for symbolic gestures in support of immigrants and a papal lunch with trans people, American bishops passed a major ban on trans heal...
transnews.network
December 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In many ways this is the widest ban on trans healthcare yet. In some states Catholic Church-run healthcare systems are over 40% of all healthcare.
This ban also applies to the many doctors, urgent cares and specialists in the church's sprawling networks. And they're buying up/taking over more.
This ban also applies to the many doctors, urgent cares and specialists in the church's sprawling networks. And they're buying up/taking over more.
A thousand times this
But also I loathe “rules light” as a term because it tells me nothing useful
The same term is used to mean “a very few, extremely precise rules deployed very strictly for immense effect” and “idk man it’s improv-driven consensus loosey-goose pure roleplaying magic, it’s so cool”.
The same term is used to mean “a very few, extremely precise rules deployed very strictly for immense effect” and “idk man it’s improv-driven consensus loosey-goose pure roleplaying magic, it’s so cool”.
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A thousand times this
Reposted by Alchemist
You have heard of "anime song that sounds like Linkin Park", now get ready for "eroge song that sounds like Bump of Chicken"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS22...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS22...
星団歩行
YouTube video by Amnesia! - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
You have heard of "anime song that sounds like Linkin Park", now get ready for "eroge song that sounds like Bump of Chicken"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS22...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS22...
Reposted by Alchemist
Also yeah, a lot of games people call rules light I would call rules incomplete. Your game doesn't need fall damage rules most of the time, but I do expect stealth mechanics in games where sneaking around and hiding are important. Not including those rules makes the game "lighter" but at what cost
December 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Also yeah, a lot of games people call rules light I would call rules incomplete. Your game doesn't need fall damage rules most of the time, but I do expect stealth mechanics in games where sneaking around and hiding are important. Not including those rules makes the game "lighter" but at what cost
Reposted by Alchemist
spotify wrapped has been a net negative for society because why is my fucking banking app giving me a notification to watch a highlight reel of my transactions this year
December 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
spotify wrapped has been a net negative for society because why is my fucking banking app giving me a notification to watch a highlight reel of my transactions this year
Reposted by Alchemist
Is Traveller rules light? When I talk about it, I describe it as such. But *is it really*? You can only figure this out by knowing what games I consider rules heavy and then guessing why I think they're heavy, which is rarely as simple as simple page count.
December 2, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Is Traveller rules light? When I talk about it, I describe it as such. But *is it really*? You can only figure this out by knowing what games I consider rules heavy and then guessing why I think they're heavy, which is rarely as simple as simple page count.
Reposted by Alchemist
5E gets called rules light which is when I realized the phrase doesn't mean anything outside of very specific conversations where participants are familiar with everyone else's preferences. In some circles, GURPS Lite is rules light, which is a laughable statement in other circles
But also I loathe “rules light” as a term because it tells me nothing useful
The same term is used to mean “a very few, extremely precise rules deployed very strictly for immense effect” and “idk man it’s improv-driven consensus loosey-goose pure roleplaying magic, it’s so cool”.
The same term is used to mean “a very few, extremely precise rules deployed very strictly for immense effect” and “idk man it’s improv-driven consensus loosey-goose pure roleplaying magic, it’s so cool”.
December 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
5E gets called rules light which is when I realized the phrase doesn't mean anything outside of very specific conversations where participants are familiar with everyone else's preferences. In some circles, GURPS Lite is rules light, which is a laughable statement in other circles
Reposted by Alchemist
I’ve taught a lot of games, and one of the easiest to teach was Pathfinder 2e and one of the hardest to teach was Masks.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
December 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I’ve taught a lot of games, and one of the easiest to teach was Pathfinder 2e and one of the hardest to teach was Masks.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
This isn’t an indicator of quality necessarily, but more that I think people make a mistake when they assume math = complexity and lack-of-math = intuitive.
Reposted by Alchemist
I don’t have a thesis here, I’m just venting frustration from a recurring conversation combined with a horrid migraine, so you get a blast of grumbly nomenclature thoughts.
December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I don’t have a thesis here, I’m just venting frustration from a recurring conversation combined with a horrid migraine, so you get a blast of grumbly nomenclature thoughts.
Reposted by Alchemist
Another thing which sours me on the term “rules-light” is the way its usefulness as a descriptor is overshadowed by the social battleground it draws; there’s baggage on multiple sides of the frame, and invoking it prompts people to pick a side in a fight no one understands. It’s a mess.
December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Another thing which sours me on the term “rules-light” is the way its usefulness as a descriptor is overshadowed by the social battleground it draws; there’s baggage on multiple sides of the frame, and invoking it prompts people to pick a side in a fight no one understands. It’s a mess.
Reposted by Alchemist
Then there’s games like apocalypse world. Is it rules light because everything is resolved with 2d6 (modified) then check against move outcome? Or is it rules heavy because you have so many premade moves and frameworks, AND bespoke moves as needed? Or are those light too because it’s a conversation?
December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Then there’s games like apocalypse world. Is it rules light because everything is resolved with 2d6 (modified) then check against move outcome? Or is it rules heavy because you have so many premade moves and frameworks, AND bespoke moves as needed? Or are those light too because it’s a conversation?
Reposted by Alchemist
The bait is me cheekily going “shadowrun is a rules light game” btw - I’ve taught enough people to play that I can say with confidence “its reputation is way overblown; the core is pretty simple and it’s mainly organization and presentation which is intimidating”, I can get folks rolling in minutes.
December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
The bait is me cheekily going “shadowrun is a rules light game” btw - I’ve taught enough people to play that I can say with confidence “its reputation is way overblown; the core is pretty simple and it’s mainly organization and presentation which is intimidating”, I can get folks rolling in minutes.
Reposted by Alchemist
It also begs the question of where the rule weighting is. At what point is something “rules-heavy”? I could make a reasonably compelling argument that Shadowrun is rules-light but modifier-heavy! I WON’T because that would be facetious bait, but I COULD.
December 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
It also begs the question of where the rule weighting is. At what point is something “rules-heavy”? I could make a reasonably compelling argument that Shadowrun is rules-light but modifier-heavy! I WON’T because that would be facetious bait, but I COULD.