I’m more comfortable using an AI generated image than the image of a real person who didn’t in any way agree to be used in that way. Same with AI generated ‘art’ (gosh what a stupid term) rather than something just sniped off the internet, give I’ve never, and probably never would, pay someone to create a personal piece just for a PB for random RP.

It’s always been some level of moral iffy to me, and the introduction of AI is just a different kind of moral iffy.

Is using AI in some way supporting the theft of intellectual and artistic output from millions of people? Sure, in a distant way. But then I also have a smart phone, and a computer (that I’m writing on right now) and sneakers. I occasionally buy an avocado. There’s plenty of ramifications there, too, except it’s not involving the ‘creative’ types we rpers might see ourselves in (or ourselves are).

I’ve used plenty of real people in PBs in the past, so even if I always found it slightly iffy, that didn’t stop me either.

There’s also the question of is it theft if nothing was ever lost?

When companies use AI to cheap out on hiring artists, there’s a tangible loss in the equation. The artists’ output was stolen to create a system that then squeezes the artists out of their livelyhood. I’m fully on board with that being shitty on so many levels. The same with ‘AI prompt Artists’ who are taking actual money out of the pockets of other people.

But I don’t see it being the same when it comes to giving millions of stupid uncreative idiots the ability to bring the stuff that’s in their head, into a tangible vision through the ‘magic’ of writing some prompts until you’re halfway satisfied. That’s just a different way of popularizing creative expression, and I think that’s a good thing ultimately. Because that stuff wouldn’t exist without the generative AI assistance.

Sure, one might claim all that AI slop shouldn’t exist, because it’s derivative and stupid and crass and whatever descriptor you might want to use, but if someone made it and was happy with it, then I think that’s a net good.

But I might be wrong. It’s clearly killing the internet. So there’s that.

Anyway, random thoughts.
/end rambling train.

I’ve always despised writing descs. That said I’d rather slap on a half sentence and call it a day, than use AI.

Unless a game demanded I write more. At that point, I could be tempted.

@Kestrel I thought the first season was fantastic.

I don’t see there being any issue with WotC taking a cut for what is their IP. The 50K and 750K tresholds are also pretty generous as far as I can tell. The part that’s actually bullshit and a real concern is the perpetual licence they’re giving themselves. If that hadn’t been part of it, I’d have called the outrage a nothing burger.

@Wizz said in Anime:

this deeply fucking unsettling fictional wiki article

I love it, also hate it.

I thought the recent episode was great… up until the very end. Without spoilers, it just felt out of place and done purely for spectacle. Great spectacle, to be sure, but it also took me out of the moment and made me shake my head and go: ‘This doesn’t make sense’.

Anyway, looking forward to the season finale!

I didn’t really like it that much.

I don’t think it was a catastrophe (like some of the anti-hype claimed) so much as a disappointment. Visually it was great. Some of the acting pretty good, some not so good, but I suspect the latter had as much to do with lackluster direction/writing as the actors themselves. The plot, character work, writing and pacing was definitively subpar, though.

I actually stopped watching after the third episode, but got roped back into watching the rest as well.

@Arkandel said in The Rings of Power - Discussion:

My god, fuck off. Really, that’s a line in the sand now? Warfare logistics?

I mean… I really like warfare logistics to make sense.

Edit: Corrected to attribute quote to the right person.

@BloodAngel Seen up until 24/7 so far. I like it so far. I don’t know if I love it, but I definetly like it.

I’ve researched how to launder money pretty deeply, including company registration and accounting laws in various locations around the world. I built up an organizational chart of the various companies, and how the money flow worked, all for a part of my character’s life that never actually came up in play.

Oh yeah, lots of bombs, chemicals, weapons, and murder and mayhem related stuff, too. But y’know. Everybody researches that for rp, right?

@GF said in Recipes!:

Question: does a fried egg work on a BLT or does the L kinda ruin it? I mean, I’m gonna try anyway because I bought a whole head of L so there’s no reason not to spare a leaf for an experiment sandwich but I’m just asking.

It totally works!

Also I’m with @Tez : Over easy. Not sunny-side, not hard! That perfect over easy is how it’s supposed to be done!

Norwegian (Scandi) Pancakes.

Simple as hell, but I couldn’t be bothered to do more today.

3dl of flour
5dl of milk
1/2tbs of salt
5 eggs
Some butter (or equivalent, but real butter makes all the difference).

Mix flour/salt, whisk together with half the milk to prevent clots, then whisk in the second half of the milk. Whisk in the eggs. Allow to rest for 30min/1h.

Get a nice big pan, medium heat, and put some butter on it. Pour a ladel of mix in. You want it thin. When it starts to bubble properly (turn golden on the downside), flip and do the other side, which only takes a minute at most. Fold in half, set aside in something that’ll keep it warm. Keep fryin’ the bastards up.

Now its quite common to just have the pancakes with a sprinkle of sugar or a bit of jam. But I prefer mine savory, so it feels like a proper dinner.

Use some kind of meat (or veggie substitute), whatever sauce, some onions or what’s left in the fridge, fry it all up. I really like bacon myself. Anyway, put it on the pancake and roll it up. Eat it like a tortilla. (Edit: Sorta, they’re pretty thin and come apart easily, so best is to spread whatever filling you want in a layer over the whole thing, then roll 'em up so it ends up layered.)

@BloodAngel I haven’t gotten around to it yet, but it’s on my to-watch list soon as I have some time to spare. Good to hear positive things, tho’.

@Kestrel said in Bannings:

Hopefully someone starts posturing soon, because comparing the activity levels on both boards, it’s clearly a truly necessary component for a healthy, thriving community.

I don’t think MSB has the critical mass of engaged users necessary to function as an active board long term. You need enough people posting to make checking regular updates a thing, so that they’re in turn likely to make a post and continue the cycle. With the majority of active users having moved on to BMD, I think it’s going to be a death spiral into irrelevance. All but a handful of diehards are going to migrate here to post whatever strikes their fancy, or to just read what the community’s up to.

Unless of course the mysterious Silent Majority who totally would’ve loved hanging out on MSB if it weren’t for those people being all toxic and thank goodness they’re gone, actually show up now to make tons of new civilized content. Great debates. Lots of engagement!

I mean, it could happen?

Appreciate the feedback. I have a friend who mentioned giving it a try, and I’ve been somewhat on the fence. I figured I’d solicit some outside perspectives.

@Jennkryst I was considering a pure mortal. I’ve had fun in the past on wod games being an easy pawn for supernatural others’ shenannigans when I’ve not felt like pushing for rank/intrigue myself. Though that’s only really worthwhile if the game encourages delegating, and there’s a point to using mortals. I saw it had an influence system, which normally does encourage that kind of play, but only if it’s useful.

@mietze said in Liberation MUSH:

If you don’t rely on staff for fun and you can chill when people are being in general obnoxious (not towards you personally) then I would recommend grabbing some folks and maybe giving it a try. I know you, so I know you’ve seen worse than anything you’re going to find there lol.

Coolio!

@Polk Noted! Life does have a tendency to kick one’s hobby ambitions in the teeth.

I just wanted to hear if anyone has any experience with it. What’s the game like, what can you expect, what shouldn’t you expect? Do you think it’s worth putting some time in to make a character?

Helpful advice appreciated!

Right now I’m playing mostly Surviving Mars, which is not the best basebuilder game in the world. But I find it relaxing. It also reinforces my belief that I don’t wanna live on Mars.

I’m also playing Star Traders: Frontiers. It’s a pretty good game. You fly around, trade, fight, do missions, and try not to die. At anything but the lowest difficulties, the last part is a real big ask.

Whales pass through the sound between my island and the mainland. I barely caught one on film from my terrace. Checked it afterwards, so pleased with myself, and it’s basically a black blotch briefly breaking the water.

Made it into a lil gif

@sao It’s the opposite with me. My grandma’s leg of lamb is to die for, and I remember every big family gathering it was what she’d make. Those memories meant lamb is my favorite meat.

A leg of lamb with salt, pepper and rosemary, in a pan in the oven with some water at the bottom. She’d slow roast that thing for 4-5 hours, turning it every 30 min and ‘watering’ it with the increasingly greasy and flavored water. She’d start real low on temperature, then incrase it every time she’d water the lamb. Halfway through she’d sliced up carrots, and drop them in the pan water to slow cook with the lamb. God those carrot slices became infused with all kinds fantastic flavors.

In the end, the lamb just falls off the bone, so tender and delicious.

Since then I’ve just been a fan of all kinds of lamb. Though I’m from Western Norway. Not a lot of beef here, traditionally, just tons and tons of sheep. So it became traditionally the standard meat.

@sao Mine was always an outdoor cat, I inherited him. Never got another once he passed. If I did, it’d have to be some indoor cats, though.

For me it’s time and a willingness to commit on an extended timescale. I’ve written up game ideas in the past, with pages and pages of theme and system documentation. But anytime I’ve gotten close to pulling the trigger and bringing in others to make it a reality, I’ve paused to ask myself if I’m seriously going to follow through.

And the answer’s always been either: no, or I don’t know.

I’m happy to waste my own time worldbuildings, but not so much other people’s time.