• 2 Posts
  • 20 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
cake
Cake day: August 6th, 2023

help-circle
  • I do, I try to do as much creation as I can to exercise those skills, but having some prepared adventures to steal things from makes it a lot easier. Like going to the gym with a professionally made program before learning to write your own programming. And I don't want stuff so pre-prepared that I don't ever learn to make my own stuff - I'm not so much just running the pre-made stuff as I am dissecting it, trying to understand it, and taking what I like to plug into my game.

    When I have prompt or encounter ideas I write them down in a notebook and flesh them out later, but a lot of the time when I sit down to prep it's hard to think of things out of thin air. I'm getting a lot better at creating new things and integrating things the more we play.

    So yeah, any resources on how to better design stuff is very welcome too. I have watched a lot of the Matthew Colville running the game videos that have helped a lot (especially the "Prep Can Be Literally Easy and Actually Fun" video)

    Something like Storycaster looks interesting. I have heard of some other story prompt / plot cards (Fabula and Narata) and I might look into those too... That kind of thing is exactly what I'm looking for. Something that can help me generate ideas to flesh out into encounters or side quests that I can keep in my GM notes and stick in different locations so when the players decide to go into the mountains instead of the forests I have a general idea of what might be there...


  • This is awesome and I will definitely save this for reference as there are a few 2d6 systems I want to try out, but Hero Kids is even more basic than a 2d6 system, at least as far as I understand them.

    Your stat pools are basically just the number of d6 you get to roll, and you just take the higher number. Every successful hit deals 1 damage (health pools are between 1-4, 1 being like a weak minion or a spider egg or something, 4 being a leveled up hero or a boss). So higher stat just means you are basically rolling with more advantage, more chances to get a higher number, but you always only use the highest dice.

    So a hero with 3 melee attack would roll 3 d6 and take the highest number, and that is their attack roll. If they are attacking a creature with 1 defense, the GM would roll 1 d6 - if the attackers highest dice is equal to or higher than the defenders dice, the attack hits and the target takes 1 damage. Otherwise nothing happens.

    I think the best way to convert something like 5e stat blocks into this would be to just say - is this monster supposed to be easy, medium, or hard - and then just copy a stat block from a hero kids monster that is similar to what you want. There is a pretty good monster compendium for hero kids so for a lot of creatures I can just use those directly.

    I'm less concerned about copying stat blocks directly than I am about just having good narrative / story content, like NPCs and locations. Having never read any other RPG content besides Hero Kids (and perusing a D&D Players handbook a bit) I don't know how much of the adventures are story content that works everywhere vs just "This place has monsters with these stat blocks" that is D&D specific or requires conversion.

    I didn't realize that DnD Beyond had free adventures, so I will definitely check that out, and that will probably give me the information I need on whether or not I'd like to spend money on other 5e adventures.



  • A lot of these are things everyone does sometimes. If it's something that is happening multiple times a week, or multiple times a day, then it might be worth taking to your Dr and filing out the test.

    Full time student + full time work is a LOT to handle, even without ADHD.



  • Audiobooks are fantastic for me while riding a bike or walking on a treadmill - something to physically do and something to mentally do.

    I can't just sit and listen to them though.

    EDIT: Oh and repetitive tasks - I got back into audiobooks when I started making chainmail again. Which reminds me... I haven't finished that thing I started a year ago...





  • Didn't have any luck setting the model - I read through those doc pages you linked and a lot of it is over my head but I think I was able to learn a few things.

    At this point - I am not seeing any of the errors mentioned anywhere - I only see HDMI audio as the only card and that is displaying no errors (this laptop doesn't have an HDMI port, only thunderbolt, and I don't have a cable or adapter to even test if that audio is working on an external monitor) I'm not sure if Linux is incorrectly reading the internal sound card as the HDMI output, if it's all on the same card and the internal output is not being read, or if the internal sound card is just totally not working (hardware issue) - To my knowledge there was no issue with audio on Mac OSX but this laptop hasn't been used in a while.

    I really appreciate your time and if you want to continue helping I will put more info below, but I also understand if you don't want to think about it anymore 😄

    I didn't see any of the errors mentioned on those pages when checking dmesg (assuming that is where they would be) - I read through all the errors, nothing related to sound that I could tell, and used grep to pull out the messages containing references to snd or audio, etc:

    [   10.711044] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:03.0: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
    [   12.579602] input: HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm=3 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0/input14
    [   12.605430] input: HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm=7 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0/input15
    [   12.605925] input: HDA Intel HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm=8 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0/input16
    

    If you want I can put the whole dmesg here but it is a lot of text.

    I also ran lsmod |grep 'snd' after the changes and the result is exactly the same before any changes and after each change:

    snd_hda_codec_hdmi     94208  1
    snd_hda_intel          61440  1
    snd_intel_dspcfg       36864  1 snd_hda_intel
    snd_intel_sdw_acpi     20480  1 snd_intel_dspcfg
    snd_hda_codec         204800  2 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
    snd_hda_core          135168  3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
    snd_hwdep              20480  1 snd_hda_codec
    snd_pcm               192512  4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_core
    snd_seq_midi           20480  0
    snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
    snd_rawmidi            53248  1 snd_seq_midi
    snd_seq                94208  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
    snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
    snd_timer              49152  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
    snd                   135168  11 snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
    soundcore              16384  1 snd
    

    And here is the most recent pacmd list-cards output:

    1 card(s) available.
        index: 0
    	name: 
    	driver: 
    	owner module: 7
    	properties:
    		alsa.card = "0"
    		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI"
    		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI at 0xb0a10000 irq 73"
    		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
    		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:03.0"
    		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0"
    		device.bus = "pci"
    		device.vendor.id = "8086"
    		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
    		device.product.id = "0a0c"
    		device.product.name = "Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller"
    		device.form_factor = "internal"
    		device.string = "0"
    		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
    		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
    		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
    	profiles:
    		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5900, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available: no)
    		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available: no)
    		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
    	active profile: 
    	ports:
    		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
    			properties:
    				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
    			properties:
    				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
    			properties:
    				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    

    Here are some screenshots of pavucontrol and alsamixer: https://imgur.com/a/W4mURaW

    Also FWIW here is the alsa-base.conf:

    # autoloader aliases
    install sound-slot-0 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-0
    install sound-slot-1 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-1
    install sound-slot-2 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-2
    install sound-slot-3 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-3
    install sound-slot-4 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-4
    install sound-slot-5 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-5
    install sound-slot-6 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-6
    install sound-slot-7 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-7
    
    # Cause optional modules to be loaded above generic modules
    install snd /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-ioctl32 ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }
    #
    # Workaround at bug #499695 (reverted in Ubuntu see LP #319505)
    install snd-pcm /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-pcm $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-pcm-oss ; : ; }
    install snd-mixer /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-mixer $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-mixer-oss ; : ; }
    install snd-seq /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-seq $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-oss ; : ; }
    #
    install snd-rawmidi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-rawmidi $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; : ; }
    # Cause optional modules to be loaded above sound card driver modules
    install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-emu10k1-synth ; }
    install snd-via82xx /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-via82xx $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }
    
    # Load saa7134-alsa instead of saa7134 (which gets dragged in by it anyway)
    install saa7134 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install saa7134 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist saa7134-alsa ; : ; }
    # Prevent abnormal drivers from grabbing index 0
    options bt87x index=-2
    options cx88_alsa index=-2
    options saa7134-alsa index=-2
    options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
    options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
    options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
    options snd-usb-audio index=-2
    options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
    options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
    options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
    options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
    # Ubuntu #62691, enable MPU for snd-cmipci
    options snd-cmipci mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
    # Keep snd-pcsp from being loaded as first soundcard
    options snd-pcsp index=-2
    # Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
    options snd-usb-audio index=-2
    # Troubleshooting
    options snd-hda-intel model=mba6
    


  • Thank you! I will try that out and read through those pages. I never had sound through speakers or headphones.

    I also changed to regular Debian desktop to see if that would fix the issue per the post about someone getting the same model working on plain Debian with no audio issues, but the behavior is the same. The post was a few years old so I'm guessing it's a version difference.

    I will reply back with those outputs when I have a chance to try this. Currently the laptop is kind of unwieldy to use as I accidentally broke the teackpad (or track pad cable) while replacing the keyboard so I'm waiting on parts. External inputs work I just need to clear space to set it up for troubleshooting


  • I was able to get alsamixer to show the HDMI audio output by adding options snd-hda-intel model=generic to the alsa-base.conf file, but that is all it can see, and that doesn't utilize the speakers on the laptop.

    pacmd list-cards gives this - it looks like it is only the HDMI audio

    1 card(s) available.
        index: 0
    	name: 
    	driver: 
    	owner module: 22
    	properties:
    		alsa.card = "0"
    		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI"
    		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI at 0xb0a10000 irq 74"
    		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
    		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:03.0"
    		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0"
    		device.bus = "pci"
    		device.vendor.id = "8086"
    		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
    		device.product.id = "0a0c"
    		device.product.name = "Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller"
    		device.form_factor = "internal"
    		device.string = "0"
    		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
    		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
    		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
    	profiles:
    		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5900, available: unknown)
    		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
    	active profile: 
    	sinks:
    		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_03.0.hdmi-stereo/#1: Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (HDMI)
    	sources:
    		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_03.0.hdmi-stereo.monitor/#1: Monitor of Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (HDMI)
    	ports:
    		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
    			properties:
    				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    
    




  • Yeah that's what I'm talking about.

    I have habits that I don't have to think about and then one day they're just gone and I have to start over. Usually it happens by having a sudden realization that the thing I did for months without thinking about it has not been done for several weeks. Then to rebuild that habit I have to start over again.



  • Dumb question but wouldn't the game using your preferred pronouns actually add to the immersion?

    Yes. His rant about immersion makes no sense. Also ranting about "current day" over and over again as if California invented gendered pronouns in 2020 and they wouldn't exist in the future?

    It seems to me that he is so caught up in the culture war news cycle that he is unable to understand that these things exist outside of that and his brain is unable to process the word "pronouns" without thinking of Steven Crowder. Like some kind of twisted pavlovian response.


  • Same here. I was hopeful that covid would get people to at least be more conscious about not going places when sick, wearing masks when they are not feeling well, etc. But where I am at, people go to work, church, recreational activities, etc. with the flu and covid, even with positive test results knowing that they are contagious. I don't understand it and it hasn't gotten better.

    As far as cyberpunk... I still want a full face respirator with a clear face shield (so people can see your lips when you talk), an integrated HUD (for navigation, air quality monitoring, and browsing lemmy), and some LEDs for night time illumination (and aesthetics)



  • Good article. I have worked as a dev for over 10 years and have seen a LOT of really complicated spaghetti code that was only maintained by individuals in silos. Some used to joke about "job security" but I would rather my life not be a living nightmare unable to take vacation without keeping my work phone on me at all times because I'm the single person that knows how to fix a mission critical system. I've been there. It sucks for new people but it also sucks for the keepers of the tribal knowledge. It's exhausting.

    Training, documenting, refactoring and replacing to eliminate that is good for everyone. If you are a good dev you won't have to keep tribal knowledge to stay employed.