Recent content by The Firebird

It was my statement that was at question, and I'm willing to chalk it up to a miscommunication or a regional difference in the use of language. Maybe @Morrus is using it in a way more common in England? Certainly the statement "Only a person can imply something" does not match my understanding...

I agree with you based on the traditional definitions of 'actor' and 'author' but I think this discussion is revealing a real weakness of these definitions. By describing what my character sees, I am authoring new fiction in a way that describing only my character's actions does not. That is...

It's worth noting, the converse of this is that there is an appeal to rejecting the supernatural. It says we can really understand things, that all we have to do is apply our reason or to trust the right people and we will be able to understand. Coupled with this is not much appreciation for the...

I've heard that objection a lot in my life. I've also heard people say the same thing about football (they call it 'handegg'), soccer, basketball, sports in general ('sportsball'). Ian Malcolm calls sports "grown men swatting little balls while the rest of the world pays to applaud". From this...

I agree! I think this is what has poisoned the well, so to speak, on scientific inquiry into UFOs. It is hard to research a topic in earnest when so much of what is out there is just a more recent manifestation of these older phenomena.

Fair enough. Sorry for my mistake.

Yes...you said "There's a reason there's no proof of this stuff" and then told the Randi story...I read you as making that implication. Did I misread you?

The "millennium prize" refers to a set of mathematical problems with large monetary rewards for solving. They are very difficult to prove. Most remain unsolved. This doesn't imply they can't be proven. Similalarly, the failure to claim Randi's prize doesn't imply that all supernatural claims...

There are also major incentives for the millennium prizes. The question isn't whether anyone has tried. But what talented people are likely to investigate. See how Loeb has been labeled a crank, for instance. Then imagine a young scientist investigating aliens. It's a career ender.

There have been direct statements to this effect. The reporting in the last decade, starting in 2017 or so, revealed there were programs whose existence was secretive, in part to avoid public debate. Some of the videos have been released but there is likely more. A number of high ranking...

I think @pemerton's idea is that a "hit" on a roll could mean a hit with a weapon, but could also be read as a near miss that depletes the PCs energy/luck/etc. And therefore reduces hp without making contact.

Giving what game away? This is exactly the reason for dislike I've seen offered; that giving players control in this way amplifies the player/PC distinction. Interesting. Given the highest level description of how d&d functions I think this may be compatible. But, is there a single example of...

I'm not a Sanderson guy, and I agree that it hasn't had a lot of impact. I've heard almost nothing since the KS. I'm glad to hear it seems like a good ruleset though. Maybe with time?

It is satisfying to mischaracterize someone and decide they are foolish. It isn't the first time you've done it this thread. That's enough for me.

I don't think this is true. We don't, afaik, have anything from Visa/MC here. Itch is not quoting any statements that were sent. They are providing their own interpretation of what Visa/MC are requiring of them. It is reasonable to think they are reading that restrictively. Great, that was the...