Everyone in that story is basically an asshole.
They're all somewhat sympathetic. But yeah, the Sith suck, but so do the Jedi. This was also kind of emphasized in the Acolyte. But even before that, yeah, if you look at the prequels the Jedi were kind of dicks.
I think what you and @mossyfeathers@MossyFeathers@pawb.social are picking up on is that youth-coded descriptors are often terms of endearment. They're often used flirtatiously and towards people of whom you feel protective.
Conversely, adult names imply responsibility. Is it a problem to describe men in a way that implies responsibility and women in a way that implies protectiveness? Not necessarily.
I just think this stuff is linguistically interesting. I think it's more grammatically typical to use equivalent terms to create parallel construction when comparing the sexes. Again, no judgment is intended.
This is another article covering the collection and recycling process:
https://www.404media.co/the-redbox-removal-team/
I also see outlines of interesting game missions inspired by this. Particularly decommissioning satellites on decaying orbits that are full of dangerous materials that need removed, but are guarded by automated defenses! That'd make a great dungeon crawl.
The Redbox operating system has been dumped, and people are repurposing the massive DVD kiosks they've saved from the scrap heap.
I think this is a glimpse of both our present and near future. Companies failing without an end-of-life plan, and hackers swooping in. It's fascinating. I wonder what it might tell us about more extreme examples, like major power and fuel infrastructure.
@jacobcoffin@writing.exchange President deer
Alright.
I just like words and linguistics. No one needs to be the bad guy here.
I think it's interesting that you are comparing "men" and "girls" as opposed to either boys and girls or men and women.
No judgement. Just thought that was interesting.
This got a chuckle outta me.
But it do be true that Big Old runs the world.
A conspiracy among whom?
Who were the folks in a dark room saying, 'Listen boys: we're here to uphold outdated gender norms. But to work, it's all gotta be hush-hush, capiche?'
Alaska’s predominantly Native regions delivered huge margins against repealing the state’s new elections system, despite facing continued logistical challenges to voting.
These aren't the kind of election results that lead in the news, but Alaskan natives recognizing the importance of a rule that obstructs the two major parties from gatekeeping voters abilities to express choices that don't align with party line issues is exactly the kind of change in politics that might save us.
If the right story is there, I can see it.
I don't think it would work to try and shoehorn her into the next Avengers movie, but if a script calls for her, I think she'll be great in that kind of context.
I like the sound of that.
I don't bother to put too much faith in individual movement leaders, but I do appreciate ones who seem to have foresight and a commitment to some purpose beyond their own career. She seems like she's doing good work.
I totally agree.
Frankly, Mozilla should be embarrassed to have released this statement.
It's basically 'Please don't harm our competitor for corruptly bribing rivals! We like those bribes very much!'
I don't love it. Like.... Yikes.
But it's not my country so whatchgonnado, you know?
I would second this. I've definitely spent a lot of time with this question.
For my setting, I try to lean into realism. So the first thing we have to ask is what "hacking" means in these situations. Hacking shouldn't be magic.
First, hacking typically looks like using a system in the way it was intended by someone who wasn't intended to use it or in some other modified way. So to break into a CCTV system, ask how proper users would use it, and then how to bypass that.
Second, the more advanced technology gets, the more advanced security gets. Think about what it would take to hack into a CCTV system today. You'd likely need to steal a password to use the actual software or snoop the raw data signal of a camera and then decode it. In the future, this isn't going to be less secure.
So if you wanted to hack into CCTV camera, players should not be able to roll and then see anything anywhere. They should need to find some physical connection and/or find some way to obtain credentials to a remote access system. This could be by forging biometrics of someone with access, tricking someone with access to logging in for them, or finding leaked access credentials online. And all of these should have limitations: how long they can be logged in; what they can do without triggering detection; how long it takes to call files; etc.
These same principles apply to a social media search. It wouldn't really make sense for everyone's data to be readily available to anyone with basic hacking proficiency in some kind of easy database. Assume online privacy moves forward at the same pace or greater than privacy invasion. You can't just type "HACK!" and see someone's real-world location. You could probably find a publicly listed address or maybe find a license plate reading with a time and place. But you're going to have to still do a lot of the conventional investigation work to find someone: figure out where they work, hang out, shop, etc. and look for a point where they slipped up, either in biospace or online.
First, I agree with all of the above: within existing lore it seems obvious that the transporter wouldn't be able to transport the one ring for several reasons having to do with magic.
But also, this is just a reminder that I think the transporters in Star Trek are so narratively uninteresting. I like Trek, but pretty much in spite of the tech writing. The degree of magic in their technology just does nothing for me. I wish we had more fiction that was like a cross between Star Trek and The Expanse.
Carbon tariffs is an interesting idea. It would be a fascinating but positive silver lining.
We started a new campaign!
A few of us just started a new campaign! We might have room for one or two more people if anyone has been looking for an opportunity to join in a game of Fully Automated!
I'm not the GM, fyi, so participating is contingent on the preferences of our GM. But I'm excited to finally be trying this game as a player!
Big oof
Am I crazy for assuming that they're in "go for broke" mode, and everyone else assumes this too?
Yeah, that was my thought.
I think it's clear that Biden and the west is banking on collapsing the country economically, which I totally understand as a reasonable idea. But I think that it fails to account for the incredibly unpredictable and negative consequences of collapsing a state. And that's before considering that it's a nuclear state.
I'm giving a talk on open source robotics today at 1 PM Pacific!
I volunteered to present a talk on Robot Operating System (ROS) to the Open Automation Club. Details can be found here: https://www.autobio.blog/robot-operating-system-with-andy-gross/
If you want to join, this is the link (although I added the word "POTATO" to prevent bots from doing anything weird. Remove the word POTATO to access the meeting).
https://us06web.zoomPOTATO.us/j/85686205319?pwd=QUuCxqbbfYb3xhjf8X3Nqrn9VGVxHy.1
Examining Octavia Butler's unpublished Parable of the Sower sequels
I gotta say that I feel weird reading this examination of Octavia Butler's notes.
I'm reading Parable of the Talents right now, and I had to stop. It's gotten too fucking dark. It's about the fascist takeover of America by Christian Nationalists, and a major character just died, and there is sexual exploitation of children... I really like Butler and Parable of the Sower, but this just got so dark I decided to read the summary and find out if I wanted to read more, and I don't think I can read this, at least not right now.
Reading about the unpublished sequels feels even worse. It seems like Butler had a head full of so much darkness and cynicism, and her published works were just the processed output after she managed to find the least brutal version of her thoughts. These books were her at her most hopeful! YIKES.
I like her and these books, but I just had to vent about some of this.
An interesting short: "HYPERVOLTAIC CHRONICLES" by THE LINE ANIMATION
Project: Hypervoltaic Chronicles Client: The Line Animation Music & Sound Design: Box of Toys Audio BACKGROUND / Hypervoltaic Chronicles" is a client-funded…
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/14202920
> There was a post on Reddit that praised the ubiquitous "Dear Alice" commercial, and inevitably a comment criticizing praise for a commercial. This led to me to wonder more about who it was that made this famous solarpunk advertisement. The answer is an animation studio called The Line. I went looking at some of their other work, and came across this interesting demo short for what appears to be a proof of concept or pilot for a solarpunky animated monster hunting series. > > I don't love the heavy use of guns. But setting that aside, I think the art is interesting. I'm fascinated to see what people are doing with the artistic and conceptual toolset solarpunk offers, and I think this is a use case that I wouldn't mind seeing more of. > > Unfortunately, this demo is as far as the project went. But I'm happy to see that the folks at The Line appear to have some broader interest in solarpunk, and I hope they keep putting it into practice in unique ways.
An interesting short: "HYPERVOLTAIC CHRONICLES" by THE LINE ANIMATION
Project: Hypervoltaic Chronicles Client: The Line Animation Music & Sound Design: Box of Toys Audio BACKGROUND / Hypervoltaic Chronicles" is a client-funded…
There was a post on Reddit that praised the ubiquitous "Dear Alice" commercial, and inevitably a comment criticizing praise for a commercial. This led to me to wonder more about who it was that made this famous solarpunk advertisement. The answer is an animation studio called The Line. I went looking at some of their other work, and came across this interesting demo short for what appears to be a proof of concept or pilot for a solarpunky animated monster hunting series.
I don't love the heavy use of guns. But setting that aside, I think the art is interesting. I'm fascinated to see what people are doing with the artistic and conceptual toolset solarpunk offers, and I think this is a use case that I wouldn't mind seeing more of.
Unfortunately, this demo is as far as the project went. But I'm happy to see that the folks at The Line appear to have some broader interest in solarpunk, and I hope they keep putting it into practice in unique ways.
Solarpunk Presents just released an episode on Fully Automated!
Attached: 1 image What a treat we have this week! @solarpunkpresents@climatejustice.social had on one of our developers to discuss Fully Automated, #solarpunk #worldbuilding, and #rpg s in general! Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsrCIYMyaHU https:/...
Full disclosure: I'm the one in the interview. But still, I think this was a great episode! I really appreciated the questions Ariel asked and where the conversation went. There's so much I wish we could've covered, but considering the limitations of time, I have no regrets.
Share thoughts. I think there are other podcasts that would be a good fit to discuss this game. If so, though I'd encourage other devs of the game to consider going on. I think the diversity of perspectives would be cool to hear.
New adventure idea: Rock-a-by Baby!
I had this idea for an adventure. I wanted to post it here so I don't forget it, and also to share it in case anyone else wants to use parts of this.
~
Players investigate a fatal industrial accident in a mining project by a fault line management agency. They discover that the deceased had uncovered a conspiracy: the agency has been slowly infiltrated at multiple levels by members of the suicide cult NostroCramo. This group believes that the world is a simulation, and seeks to crash the simulation to liberate themselves and anyone else who is trapped in it, and they've become convinced that triggering a massive earthquake will do it.
To do so, they've infiltrated the Seismic Management Division of the Pacifican Department of Geology, which is responsible for conducting deep subterranean operations to execute small controlled releases of energy along fault lines. Their plan has been to use the agency's resources to do the exact opposite purpose: instead of modeling out the safest way to release energy, they've been setting up an energy release meant to trigger the biggest possible release along the entire San Andreas fault line ever: the first magnitude 10+ quake.
The players have to investigate the death, discover that the accident was really a murder, uncover the conspiracy, then make their way through mine shafts to disable the charges. They must work their way all the way to the location of the largest charge in a bunker sitting 7 km down within the earth's crust. They can initially be trying to move undetected to avoid motivating the cultists to trigger the charges early, and then later be racing them down to the last and deepest one.
(I'm calling it "Rock-a-bye Baby" for now, although I'm pretty sure I can do better than that. Feel free to suggest cooler names.)
We now have videos! An introduction AND actual play videos!
Fully Automated! is an open source tabletop RPG set in a solarpunk future! This channel is for hosting videos related to the game.
I created a brief introductory video explaining the premise of the game, another describing the premade characters, and four actual play videos to show folks what the game looks like in practice!
I've uploaded these to YouTube and of course PeerTube as well!
https://video.everythingbagel.me/c/fully_automated/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@FullyAutomatedRPG-nz1wh
I don't plan on making any more content at the moment, but I'm glad to have a few videos that I think might help people who want to know more get a clearer picture on what this is. And if we happen to make more video content in the future, we now have somewhere to put it!
We're now listed on RPGGeek.com!
An open world solarpunk adventure RPG styled after classic multiplayer pen-and-paper tabletop role playing games. This game is the product of an independent open-source collective. Details on the project can be found on their website: https://fullyautomatedrpg.com. ~~~ Get ready for adventures in...
RPGGeek.com is a website for rating and discussing role playing games. We now have a product listing there. If anyone is registered to the site, consider going on and leaving a rating or review!
I just read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and I can't believe it took me until now to read it.
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/13156086
> Parable of the Sower is such a good book. > >First, it's interesting that it starts right about now. The book starts in mid-2024, and even mentions that its an election year. That was a fascinating experience to read a scifi book in the moment in time in which it is set. It still feels like it takes place about 20 years in the future. It was written 31 years ago, so politically things have seemed to move as many steps forward as backward. It seems like a lot of things have not gotten better and worse than when Butler wrote it, so in some sense I feel like I'm looking at it as a near future in the same way as when it was written a generation ago. I guess I'm glad things didn't go as badly as in the story, but it's rough that the looming threat from 30 years ago feels the same distance away now as then. > >Second, it's painful to read. Although the events described in the book haven't happened in the book's setting -- California -- the social collapse and migrations described have happened in Honduras, Gaza, Yemen, and certainly others I'm not aware of. It was really hard to read that and know that it was already real somewhere. > >Third, as a solarpunk novel -- and really as general fiction -- it feels like it should be part of a high school curriculum. It's really well written and an engrossing read. Since publishing Fully Automated, I often relate solarpunk stories to that game. What might I have added to the game if I'd read this before? How well does it naturally fit? One thing that struck me is that her emerging in-world faith -- Earthseed -- reminds me quite a bit of elements of Seekerism, a new faith tradition in Fully Automated. I wish I'd known and included direct references to Earthseed, but it's nice when the game has alignment with great works that I wasn't directly familiar with. > > Has anyone else read this? What do you folks think?
I just read Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" and I can't believe it took me until now to read it.
Parable of the Sower is such a good book.
First, it's interesting that it starts right about now. The book starts in mid-2024, and even mentions that its an election year. That was a fascinating experience to read a scifi book in the moment in time in which it is set. It still feels like it takes place about 20 years in the future. It was written 31 years ago, so politically things have seemed to move as many steps forward as backward. It seems like a lot of things have not gotten better and worse than when Butler wrote it, so in some sense I feel like I'm looking at it as a near future in the same way as when it was written a generation ago. I guess I'm glad things didn't go as badly as in the story, but it's rough that the looming threat from 30 years ago feels the same distance away now as then.
Second, it's painful to read. Although the events described in the book haven't happened in the book's setting -- California -- the social collapse and migrations described have happened in Honduras, Gaza, Yemen, and certainly others I'm not aware of. It was really hard to read that and know that it was already real somewhere.
Third, as a solarpunk novel -- and really as general fiction -- it feels like it should be part of a high school curriculum. It's really well written and an engrossing read. Since publishing Fully Automated, I often relate solarpunk stories to that game. What might I have added to the game if I'd read this before? How well does it naturally fit? One thing that struck me is that her emerging in-world faith -- Earthseed -- reminds me quite a bit of elements of Seekerism, a new faith tradition in Fully Automated. I wish I'd known and included direct references to Earthseed, but it's nice when the game has alignment with great works that I wasn't directly familiar with.
Has anyone else read this? What do you folks think?
Campaign 1: Regulation; The Soundtrack!
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/13067768
> I finally got around to making a playlist of the music used to score the starter campaign, Fully Automated: Regulation! > > I think it's a collection of real bangers. I hope that for people who haven't played these stories, this might give an enticing taste of what to expect. And for people who might've played, perhaps it takes you back to some memorable moments. > > Demonstration of Power > > - The stakeout: “This DJ” by Warren G > - Fight scene!: “Dare to be Stupid”, covered by The Cybertronic Spree > - Roll credits: “Fine”, by Lemon Demon > > Psychonautica > > - Opening Sparing match: “Champion” by Buju Banton > - Entering neurospace: “Just dropped in” by Kenny Roger > - The mindscape: “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C.” by André 3000 > - Dance battle: “Do the Damn Thing” by Rupee > - The Bathhouse: “Ants to You, Gods to Who?” by André 3000 > - Android assault: “Robot Rock” by Daft Punk > - Synthesizing the cure: “The Oligo Separation Verse” and “Analytical Gangster” by True Speak > - Roll credits: “Pony” by Deluxe > > Piece of Mind > > - Surf Intro: “Cecilia Ann” by The Pixies > - Fighting back: “Headshot” by she > - Starting the investigation: “No Time for Dreaming” by Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band > - Sneaking around: “The Sensual Woman” by The Herbaliser > - Piecing things together: “Cause for Alarm” by The Heavy > - Research montage, pt.1: “Metrocenter 84” by Sunset Neon. > - Research montage, pt.2: “You Rock Me” by she > - Making a plan: “Drag and Drop” by the Soul Motivator > - Showtime: “Swing Break” by the McMash Clan, feat. Kate Mullins > - Showdown: “Mastermind” by Deltron 3030 and Dan the Automater > - Showdown, cont’d: “Don’t Get In My Way” by Zach Hemsey > - Roll credits: “UNLVD” by Socalled > > Olives Fair in Love and War > > - Vampire fight: “Dark Entities” cover by Daniel Guerra Caballero > - Roll credits: “Birdhouse in your Soul” by They Might Be Giants
Campaign 1: Regulation; The Soundtrack!
I finally got around to making a playlist of the music used to score the starter campaign, Fully Automated: Regulation!
I think it's a collection of real bangers. I hope that for people who haven't played these stories, this might give an enticing taste of what to expect. And for people who might've played, perhaps it takes you back to some memorable moments.
Demonstration of Power
- The stakeout: “This DJ” by Warren G
- Fight scene!: “Dare to be Stupid”, covered by The Cybertronic Spree
- Roll credits: “Fine”, by Lemon Demon
Psychonautica
- Opening Sparing match: “Champion” by Buju Banton
- Entering neurospace: “Just dropped in” by Kenny Roger
- The mindscape: “Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C.” by André 3000
- Dance battle: “Do the Damn Thing” by Rupee
- The Bathhouse: “Ants to You, Gods to Who?” by André 3000
- Android assault: “Robot Rock” by Daft Punk
- Synthesizing the cure: “The Oligo Separation Verse” and “Analytical Gangster” by True Speak
- Roll credits: “Pony” by Deluxe
Piece of Mind
- Surf Intro: “Cecilia Ann” by The Pixies
- Fighting back: “Headshot” by she
- Starting the investigation: “No Time for Dreaming” by Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band
- Sneaking around: “The Sensual Woman” by The Herbaliser
- Piecing things together: “Cause for Alarm” by The Heavy
- Research montage, pt.1: “Metrocenter 84” by Sunset Neon.
- Research montage, pt.2: “You Rock Me” by she
- Making a plan: “Drag and Drop” by the Soul Motivator
- Showtime: “Swing Break” by the McMash Clan, feat. Kate Mullins
- Showdown: “Mastermind” by Deltron 3030 and Dan the Automater
- Showdown, cont’d: “Don’t Get In My Way” by Zach Hemsey
- Roll credits: “UNLVD” by Socalled
Olives Fair in Love and War
- Vampire fight: “Dark Entities” cover by Daniel Guerra Caballero
- Roll credits: “Birdhouse in your Soul” by They Might Be Giants
I love this artist's work (Joan_de_art). This vision of a city really captures how i picture Los Angeles in Fully Automated.
cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/12656646
> Created by /u/joan_de_art on Reddit.