The Last Potato Salad at the Outdoor BBQ- Thoughts on Spoilers

[MarkB]

The one I remember from back in my Usenet days was about the Firefly movie, Serenity, and it was by a regular member of the group who really didn't believe he'd spoiled anything.

Spoiler

He posted that the first main-cast death in the movie was tragic, but the second was shocking and came out of nowhere. He didn't consider this a spoiler, as he hadn't said who died or when.

And I've seen a few examples of the more deliberately trollish ones in Youtube comments. One in particular stands out - about a day after Star Wars The Force Awakens came out, someone posted a comment on a sci-fi related video that

Spoiler

it made him feel the same way he did when Han Solo was killed by his son Ben.

Carefully hand-crafted, I must admit.

 

[ilgatto]

(...) And because spoilers, and spoiler alerts, are fundamentally an issue of etiquette for both the speaker and the audience, there is no obviously correct answer in terms of what is, and isn't, appropriate. (...)

Q.E.D.

Spoiler: Spoiler Alert

 

[Milieu]

In addition, there is some research that suggests that while people believe that spoilers are bad, enjoyment is actually increased when you know what is coming (because of cognitive dissonance, or something science-y like that).

Single studies certainly should be taken with a grain of salt, but a related anecdote: my grandmother used to read books by reading the first few chapters, then skipping ahead to see how it ends. If she liked the ending, she would go back and read the middle.

Note to self- apparently, I am the only person with an abiding interest in the Great Meow Wars.

There are dozens of us! Dozens!

Just to give a little more explanation of meow posts: one of the Harvard students in the group that started the attack on the Beavis and Butthead group had initials CAT, so he would sometimes make posts randomly replacing words with "meow" like Henrietta Pussycat from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The Beavis and Butthead fans retaliated by spamming similar messages to make fun of him. Other people joined the bandwagon and it became a meme (although we didn't really call them that back then). Whereas nowadays most memes become dated after a week or two, memes back then had a longer shelf life. This one lasted around 2 years before finally dieing down.

 

[Mad_Jack]

There are good versions without mayo and eggs

Yes, they're called home fries...

 

[DrunkonDuty]

I hate that tv shows show me what's coming next week, or even after the break. Surprise is important to my enjoyment...

I used to cut teasers for a soap opera. And there's an art to doing it well. Knowing to cut before the spoil is pretty much key (Obvious, I know.) Ideally you want to build up a sense of "will it or won't it?" as you build the teaser.

Spoilers more broadly... I'm conflicted. Well, not conflicted. It's big case of it depends. Sometimes the drama depends on knowing what's coming. Sometimes by not knowing.

And then there's the re-watch, which I'll opine is different again. I think a test for being too reliant on twists is the level of re-watchability. Citizen Kane, very re-watchable. Sixth Sense, less so.

But I've side trackmyself. What I actually wanted to say about re-watching is that knowing what's coming can be a very different kind of fun.

Frank'n'Furter: Wait! I can explain.
Audience: It'd better be good, Frank. You got shot last time.

 

[Black Dougal]

Potato salad is bad. That is all.

Potato Salad with Raisins​

Medium aberration, Neutral Bad
The Potato Salad with Raisins is an inexplicable monstrosity born from culinary hubris. A revolting blend of poorly cooked potatoes, too much mayonnaise, and the audacity of raisins, this creature exudes an aura of discomfort and regret. Its mere presence offends all who behold it, and its touch leaves behind a sticky, unwanted residue.

---

Armor Class: 12 (natural armor, slick coating)
Hit Points: 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed: 20 ft.

---

STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA
14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 18 (+4) | 6 (-2) | 8 (-1) | 1 (-100)

---

Damage Resistances: Cold, Psychic
Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 9
Languages: Understands Common but communicates only through unsettling squelching sounds
Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)

---

Traits​

Aura of Awkwardness. Creatures within 10 feet of the Potato Salad with Raisins must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw at the start of their turn or have disadvantage on Charisma-based ability checks and saving throws until the start of their next turn.
Sticky Coating. Any creature that grapples or is grappled by the Potato Salad with Raisins must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or have its speed reduced to 0 until the start of its next turn.
Unsettling Texture. The Potato Salad with Raisins has advantage on ability checks made to escape grapples due to its slimy consistency.

---

Actions​

Raisin Volley. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (3d8) bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Potato Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 16 (3d10) bludgeoning damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
Splatter of Regret (Recharge 5–6). The Potato Salad with Raisins explodes in a burst of mayonnaise and sticky raisins. Each creature within a 15-foot radius must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage and is coated in a sticky film, reducing its speed by 10 feet for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and avoids the coating.

---

Flavor​

The Potato Salad with Raisins isn’t just a monster—it’s a crime against taste buds. It is often summoned accidentally during failed culinary rituals or by a chaotic spirit of bad potluck decisions. Its motives are unclear, but its presence almost universally inspires loathing and dismay. Adventurers who defeat it often find themselves inexplicably craving a decent meal afterward, if only to forget the horror.

 

[MGibster]

Single studies certainly should be taken with a grain of salt, but a related anecdote: my grandmother used to read books by reading the first few chapters, then skipping ahead to see how it ends. If she liked the ending, she would go back and read the middle.

This is how I got through graduate school.

Regarding spoilers in the past. Take a gander at this trailer for Soylent Green. If you didn't know what the secret of Soylent Green was before you saw the trailer you ought to know after you watch it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Potato Salad with Raisins​

Medium aberration, Neutral Bad
The Potato Salad with Raisins is an inexplicable monstrosity born from culinary hubris. A revolting blend of poorly cooked potatoes, too much mayonnaise, and the audacity of raisins, this creature exudes an aura of discomfort and regret. Its mere presence offends all who behold it, and its touch leaves behind a sticky, unwanted residue.

---

Armor Class: 12 (natural armor, slick coating)
Hit Points: 85 (10d8 + 40)
Speed: 20 ft.

---

STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA
14 (+2) | 10 (+0) | 18 (+4) | 6 (-2) | 8 (-1) | 1 (-100)

---

Damage Resistances: Cold, Psychic
Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 9
Languages: Understands Common but communicates only through unsettling squelching sounds
Challenge: 4 (1,100 XP)

---

Traits​

Aura of Awkwardness. Creatures within 10 feet of the Potato Salad with Raisins must succeed on a DC 13 Charisma saving throw at the start of their turn or have disadvantage on Charisma-based ability checks and saving throws until the start of their next turn.
Sticky Coating. Any creature that grapples or is grappled by the Potato Salad with Raisins must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or have its speed reduced to 0 until the start of its next turn.
Unsettling Texture. The Potato Salad with Raisins has advantage on ability checks made to escape grapples due to its slimy consistency.

---

Actions​

Raisin Volley. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30 ft., one target.
Hit: 14 (3d8) bludgeoning damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.
Potato Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 16 (3d10) bludgeoning damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone.
Splatter of Regret (Recharge 5–6). The Potato Salad with Raisins explodes in a burst of mayonnaise and sticky raisins. Each creature within a 15-foot radius must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage and is coated in a sticky film, reducing its speed by 10 feet for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage and avoids the coating.

---

Flavor​

The Potato Salad with Raisins isn’t just a monster—it’s a crime against taste buds. It is often summoned accidentally during failed culinary rituals or by a chaotic spirit of bad potluck decisions. Its motives are unclear, but its presence almost universally inspires loathing and dismay. Adventurers who defeat it often find themselves inexplicably craving a decent meal afterward, if only to forget the horror.

 

[Umbran]

Yes, they're called home fries...

No. German potato salad. Often served warm, but is in no way "fries".

 

[Umbran]

Deliberate disinformation is a bannable offense on this site, sir.

Yes, but at least one of the mods likes potato salad in many of its forms, so...