#3E-Insight

[thydungeongal]

I think 5e’s glacial and ubiquitous combat is actually kind of clever in that the tension at the table comes not from wondering whether you’ll win or lose the fight, but rather from making each attack as weighty as possible. I think that’s why it ends up with the weirdly low stakes that it has but also makes sense of everyone wanting “special moves” and such. Individual attacks are the story beats, so they have to be flashy. Ironically, P2 is still better at this, but hey.

I think this kind of applies to 3e and 4e as well, but I think it's a valuable insight! Like, the added friction in each individual attack obviously means that combat is slower, but it's been offset with various abilities that allow each attack to feel meaty and more meaningful. It's an obvious tradeoff from the relatively low-friction combat of TSR D&D but it's not just slower for no reason, but the slower pace serves to accentuate each action (in older school games combat rounds can easily blend together once everyone settles into a rhythm because the combat is more concerned with the macro level than a zoomed in view of each action).

[thecartonizer]

Reblog this post with three ttrpgs you feel like are obscure or/and not nearly played enough/havent played yet, i will start:

1)risus the anything rpg

more of a system than a game but if could summarize it in a sentence it would be "funny simple stickfigure game" and it is! It uses mostly d6 die, but behind its simplicity lays tons of optional rules to Spice it up!, and (aside from the risus companion, which i highly recommend buying just for its gm insights and further optional rules alone) the best part is that its FREE

2) killsector

Killsector is a very big game feature wise, you and your friends play as gladiators in a arena filled with enemies and at the end, a final boss to fight against, the best part? Your character is highly custumizable, you start with usually 10 points worth of point buy functions scattered around the core book and its supplements, these can include your body type, weapons, mutations and all sorts of crazy stuff, letting you play as pretty much anything you mind can conjure up! The other best part? The core rulebook and it's supplements? FREEEEEEE

3)nobilis 3e

Probably the most obscure out of the list (and the only one i havent gotten around to playing a game of!) , if you ever read or watched sandman you will probably be familiar with it's premise: you and your friends play as anthromorphomorfic personifications of concepts,ideas and stuff! The end goal? Mostly to fuck around in other dimensions and earth, using your powers for mundane or weird stuff and overall having a great (or terrible) time!

[thehomelybrewster]

Ability Scores in 5e & Other RPGs

This little rant is inspired by a post by a blog named The Angry GM, titled "Your Ability Scores Suck" as well as a post titled "8 Abilities - 6, 3, or 4 Ability scores?" by DIY & dragons, because those two articles and my past few months of looking at various TTPRGs have led me to some insights into my own philosophy in how I like TTRPGs and how I feel about 5e's Ability Scores.

So let's look at how a couple of RPGs handle ability scores or their equivalents. Namely I'll look at D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, The Dark Eye (4th Edition Revised), CAIRN, and Pokémon. Yes, Pokémon is relevant to this. And it'll actually be the second game we'll discuss, but the first obviously has to be...

D&D 5th Edition

D&D famously has six ability scores: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. In most situations the exact ability score no longer is that important, however, since from 3e onwards d20-based checks have become the near-universal input you play D&D with. This means that instead the ability score modifier is key, which ranges from -4 to +5 for most player characters.

Now while these six scores might seem pretty equal, players have quickly figured out that certain ability scores are more desirable than others, unless you play specific classes.

Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom are for example the three most common saving throws. 109 out of the 361 spells in the Player's Handbook force a saving throw using one of these three ability scores, while Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma only have 24 spells. Thankfully every D&D class gives proficiency with two saving throws, one of the three major ones, and one of the lesser ones (and certain subclasses as well as the monk get more saving throw proficiencies, but that's besides the point).

Additionally, when it comes to skills, and thus out-of-combat usefulness, Strength only has one skill tied to it by default (Athletics), while Constitution has none. Charisma has four skills to its name, Dexterity three, and both Intelligence and Wisdom have five.

Now the DIY & dragons article mentions that there are effectively three axes you have to cover with your ability scores: physical vs mental, force vs grace, and attack vs defense. That leads to eight abilities total. In 5e, using what we know about the game, we can make some great deductions.

For one, Strength is almost exclusively concerned with physical force attack, while Constitution nearly exclusively covers physical force defense. Dexterity meanwhile fully covers physical grace attack, as well as physical grace defense, since it affects AC and is used for Stealth, as well covering evasion-type saving throws. Dexterity is incredibly powerful in 5e, arguably the most powerful ability score.

On the mental stat side, the lines are less clear. All three ability scores can be used for offence, though Intelligence, being the casting ability score of only wizards and the generally utility-based artificers is the least offensive of the three. Still, its association with wizards means it probably is best associated with force, because fireball. Charisma easily can be sorted into grace and is mostly offensive, and Wisdom straddles the line between force and grace, but is also both clearly offensive and defensive.

As you can see, Intelligence & Wisdom & Charisma are rather ill-defined, a point also made by the The Angry GM article, but mechanically Wisdom is universally useful, while Charisma is either super important (because you're playing either a Charisma caster or a face-type non-caster, such as a rogue), or can easily be sidelined/dumped. In fact a lot of tables seem to disregard or minimize Charisma when it comes to roleplay, my tables have definitely done that. Mostly because you don't want to have players not participating in roleplay encounters because they don't have at least a +2 in Charisma and several skill proficiencies in that area.

Speaking of proficiencies, for skills the maximum you can add is +6 or +12 if you have expertise, while with saving throws the maximum proficiency bonus is +6, so with saving throws in particular, a +5 for a saving throw from that relevant abilty score is a massive defensive boon, though it's often less relevant for skill checks.

This knowledge, as well as the known issues with Intelligence-based skill checks often being seen as gate-keeping plot relevant information, leads to the realization that Strength, Intelligence, and Charisma are the three most frequent "dump stats", with the latter two in particular often having implications in out-of-combat situations, while Strength is a "safe" choice for full spellcasters.

Now let's think about how other games handle this... Let's begin, as I threatened in the beginning, with...

Pokémon

Pokémon famously uses six so-called base stats for its collectible creatures: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Using the system described by DIY & dragons, Attack and Defense clearly map onto the physical, and Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense clearly onto the mental. There is no distinction made between grace and force. HP is a universally defensive stat, and Speed is both offensive and defensive.

Naturally, Pokémon doesn't involve dice rolls. These stats are used for formulas and comparisons. But you can already see that Pokémon, at least since Special got split into Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense starting in Gold & Silver, has a clear division of these stats, with it being clear what they do.

Now due to the mechanics and the goals of Pokémon, an individual character (read: the actual Pokémon) doesn't need to have balanced stats. Largely also because these stats only affect combat, the main mechanic of these games. Any out-of-combat activity present in Pokémon games in fact uses distinct stats, completely distinct from the base stats of the Pokémon. These can then be discarded/put into the background when that out-of-combat activity, such as Pokémon Contests, is removed from subsequent releases.

Now let's look at a D&D-related game that has a different approach to ability scores, because it provides a stepping stone to look at different RPGs...

Pathfinder 2nd Edition (Pre-2023 Revision)

Pathfinder, being a game spun out off the 3rd Edition of D&D, also uses the six ability scores that D&D uses: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.

Just like with 5e, Pathfinder associates certain skills with certain ability scores, and just like 5e, Strength and Constitution are connected to only one and no skills respectively.

Still, that's just part of the bigger picture. Pathfinder 2e, just like D&D 3e, doesn't use ability scores as saving throws. Rather it uses three distinct saving throws that are tied to ability scores. Those saving throws are Fortitude (Constitution), Reflex (Dexterity), and Will (Wisdom). These are, for the keen-eyed, the same ability scores that are the primary saving throws in 5e. This means that defenses are covered exclusively by these three ability scores, and of these Constitution remains purely defensive, while Dexterity and Wisdom also have offensive capabilities. Still, the offensive power of Dexterity is lowered because in general it cannot be used to increase your weapon damage, contrary to how 5e does it.

It should also be noted that both when it comes to skills and saving throws, the calculations for rolls are very different than in 5e! If you are proficient with a skill or saving throw, you add both a bonus equal to your degree of proficiency (from +2 to +8), as well as your character's level, to the roll, in addition to your ability score modifier. This leads to massive bonuses, especially since magical effects can be added to that, too. Of course Pathfinder uses a sliding scale to determine difficulty classes and has a degrees of success system, but with that knowledge, the -4 to +5 you add to your rolls will matter less than 5e's ability score modifiers do. In general, as long as the modifier is at least a +1, it's fine.

This has actually led to Wisdom being considered a dump stat for many Pathfinder players, and that especially applies when playing with one alternate rule that I want to highlight.

In the Gamemastery Guide, the Alternative Scores variant rule splits Dexterity into Dexterity and Agility, merges Strength and Constitution, and makes Charisma rather than Wisdom the relevant ability for Will saving throws. That variant rule acknowledges the power of Dexterity and the relative weaknesses of Strength and Constitution, but somehow strengthens Charisma further. I don't have any numbers or insight on how popular this alternate rule is, but given what I know about Pathfinder 2e character optimizers, I wouldn't adopt the change to Will saves if I were to run this variant rule myself.

Still, the knowledge of these three saving throws puts us nicely into the realm of indie RPGs, which have really run with this. So let's look at one as an example.

Cairn

This lovely little game written by Yochai Gal has been a well-supported indie darling and is currently in a playtest for a 2nd edition.

Cairn uses three ability scores: Strength, Dexterity, and Willpower. It also uses a d20 roll under system, contrary to 5e and Pathfinder. This means that you aim to roll below your ability score, rather than adding a number to a d20 roll and seeing if you can meet the difficulty class threshold.

They are also, in combat, mostly defensive. Strength in combat mostly concerns surviving blows. Dexterity is used to determine if you move before the enemies and for escaping combat. Both Strength and Dexterity can be used for saving throws against certain spells. In combat Willpower is necessary to cast spells without suffering penalties.

Offensively none of the three ability scores are that important. They don't add to damage, they aren't important for making attacks, or anything of the sorts. Spellcasting outside of dangerous situations usually doesn't involve die rolls either.

This makes the three ability scores very balanced, but it also gives them comparatively little meaning. They are your protection from harm. Including out of combat. But Cairn doesn't know skill checks whose failure state isn't "nothing happens". If player characters have no pressure, they succeed. Especially if they have useful equipment for it.

Using the DIY & dragons blog post as reference, Strength only represents physical force defense, Dexterity only represents physical grace defense, and Willpower represents mental grace and force defense.

So, let's look at a different roll-under system, one that might provide additional inspiration for game designers...

The Dark Eye (4th Edition, revised)

The German TTRPG The Dark Eye (Das Schwarze Auge) is old, almost as old as D&D, and in its design its often as an antithesis for D&D. It's incredibly math-y, has a generally less heroic (but also categorically "good") playstyle, and is a class-less (kinda), level-less system. To ensure I know what I'm talking about, I'll focus on the 4th edition, which has by now been superceded by its own 5th edition, because that's the one edition of it I actually played.

DSA (its German acronym which I will use for brevity's sake) uses eight attribute (!) scores:

Courage, Cleverness, Intuition, Charisma, Dexterity, Agility, Constitution, and Strength.

Each of these eight attribute scores affects the character directly. Heroes have base values (melee attack, ranged attack, parry, initiative) that are calculated by adding together set combinations of attribute scores and dividing the sum, most often by 5, to determine those base values. For brevity's sake, let's look at two of these base values: attack and parry. Attack is calculated with Courage + Agility + Strength, while parry is calculated using Intuition + Dexterity + Strength. Both use two "physical" attributes and one "mental" attribute.

Similar rules also apply to calculating how much your character can withstand, be it through their general vitality (which is equivalent to hit points), their endurance (mostly used as a resource for athletic feats), and their wound limit, all of which can be used to defeat characters. Even the amount of astral points, the spellcasting resource, is calculated using your attribute scores. Every attribute is used at least once when calculating these eight values, with only Cleverness, Charisma, and Dexterity being used only for one of these eight fundamental character traits, with Charisma being the least important, because it is only used to calculate astral energy points, which are irrelevant for characters that don't know spells.

Furthermore skill checks in DSA are made by rolling three attribute checks in a row and then using skill points to modify the results if necessary. Skills use either three distinct attribute scores (e.g. Cooking, which requires Cleverness & Intuition & Dexterity), or two attribute scores (with one being used twice, e.g. Perception requires one Cleverness check and two Intuition checks). Simple attribute checks where you use only one attribute are rare, with heavy lifting often being the key example for it. There are also loads of skills in DSA, with the character sheet per default having twenty four skills, with more being common on most characters.

As you can hopefully see, all eight ability scores are used very often and impact your character greatly. They are furthermore more clearly delineated than the D&D standard, however they also don't map onto the DIY & dragons parameters for ability scores, despite having eight of them!

Conclusion

What can we learn from this? Well, honestly, draw your own conclusions. The six ability scores of D&D and Pathfinder are not the "be-all and end-all", that's for sure. You really need to think about what your game wants to do.

Is it just combat-focused? Then all ability scores should matter in combat and to (roughly) the same degree!

Does your game consist of multiple gameplay elements? If yes, then they should all be accessible and fun for players even if their base stats are "bad" in one aspect, while still allowing for specialization of player characters.

Generally, there is no "one size fits all" solution, and this rant hasn't even gone into ambiguity between different terms, the implications of specific terms and associated thresholds, or the exact history of ability scores in D&D before 3rd Edition!

Anyway, I hope this was legible, fun and informative.

[mantis-lizbian]

you know what i hate most about 5e?

Hasbro has stripped everything from it but the Product. and here's what i mean. back in 3e, just about every book you purchased would, on the back, mention how it had an accompanying "web accessory" for free on the D&D website. these accessories would frequently be something like a 3 or 4 page mini-adventure or encounter using the content introduced in the book, or a little extra something cut for space or time. and it's not like there was a proof of purchase or unlock code you had to put in. all of these were freely available to anyone.

and if you went onto the site to find them, you'd find tons of other articles put out by the WotC staff in dozens of columns about things like how to build more engaing encounters, ways you can tweak monsters or classes for a change of pace or to suit a particular design need, insight on how the game was designed or interesting character builds to try out next time. there were even tools to keep track of the phases of the moons in Faerun and Eberron.

in 4e this was pretty much stopped but did sort of carry on in the now-online Dragon and Dungeon magazines. the fact it had a modest price tag was made up for by having more frequent, longer, and more in-depth articles.

early on, 5e had its Plane Shift articles which suggested some kind of continuation, but even before Strixhaven nailed that coffin shut, it had been a long time since they put anything other than their crowdsourced playtesting material, Unearthed Arcana.

there is nothing any more that isn't simply selling you books or being used to cut down on development costs to sell you those books. even the monetization of fan content is simply there so that WotC can get a cut of the pie.

[sp6ghetti]

hello, i'm quite sure i'm an ILI IN(T) since i relate to being irrational, dynamic, Ni base, Fe polr. but my friend thinks of the possibility of me being an LII IT(N), so i want you insight on this. the only thing i relate to in LII is Ti, i lack Ne and don't see the point in using it. could i be NiTi? how would it look like with creative Te?

another question, i'm an sp/so 5w4 594, sp5 is way too relatable and lately i've been trying to figure out my PY type but nothing makes sense for sp5. 3E and 4V is 100% relatable but 2F is questionable for sp5, and 1L is relatable, 2L too but i'm not that open to discussions and changing my opinions through them, if i want to reflect on an opinion and requestion it i just do it alone. 1F⁴ makes sense to me but i can't and will never relate to the general idea of 1F, i even look like a 4F with how neglectful of food and detached from reality i am to people but i see my physics as agressive and result. as an sp5, i can't grasp the second placement, i'm reluctant to sharing anything and irl i'm always away from people so i don't really discuss anything with them, online the only thing i discuss with my friends is my interests. could sp5 be typeless in PY?

Firstly, I am so sorry, but I just dont think I have enough information on you as a person to be able to determine this about you. Based purely on the information you've given me, I’m inclined to say ILI IN(T), purely because that is what you yourself have already familiarised yourself with. You could totally be NiTi, but that’s just not for me to tell you on a whim.

Lastly, maybe my knowledge is a bit outdated here, so do tell me what the arguments are for this, but I don't see why LFEV wouldn't be compatible with sp5? Even if it were, I don't think you should have to be doing crazy mental gymnastics to make your typology 100% compatible. Personally I tend to go by the rule of ‘can you explain this combination without making it sound like a completely different type’, and I'm very certain sp5 LFEV passes that test. You can obviously always opt out and be typeless in PY, but if this is the only reason as to why you would, I don't think you should worry about it too much :)

[makeshiftcoop]

Misfits - Core Tapes (or my first attempt at game blogging)

Disclaimer: I will update this text with some frequency, and it will be fixed here. I know it's a mess right now, sorry!

So, for a while, im kind of making a game.

Something that can mix my obsession growing up with comics and the newfound success of media that deals with powers and mutations and subverts the "Marvel Style".

So, Misfits is my Post-OSR-Resistance attempt to that. Inspired by stuff that i like from the OSR and Post-OSR corners of the ttrpg designsphere (like Bastionland, Mothership, Songbird 3e, Eco Mofos and Lost Bay), by things from Rowan, Rook and Decard and they Resistance games, and by a myriad of other influences on rules lite games like 24XX, Offworlders, Lumen and etc etc etc

I expect to post more about it here soon but, for now, those are the bones of Misfit. I have to shout it to the void before making other stuff. Hope someone enjoys it's initial vibe:

1. MISFITS MUGSHOTS (Character sheet):

Stats (1 point each and assign 5. No Stat can get to 6):

- Body (Physical experiences, agility, strength, throwing punches, jumping between buildings) 

- Vibe (Social experiences, charisma, etiquette, flirting, bluffing) 

- Weird (Unreal experiences, spirit, soul, sixth sense, your PWRZ, searching metaphysical insight, harming extracorporeal entities)

- Brains (Intellectual experiences, logical thinking, riddle solving, not falling for bullshit)

Moodboard: Pick a few and expand on it's vibe (coming soon, but it's basically a style section. it's important to look cool and pretty) 

Stuff: Important stuff to use or carry around. Things that cause harm have a stress die attached. Other stuff can be used contextually to gain an extra die, success on a action, clear stress, etc.

PWRZ: Cool powers. They usually have a stress (damage) tier, a flavor description and a mechanical effect. (Pick a passive PWR and one for each weird point) 

- Passive

- D4 

- D6

- D8

- D12 

- D20 

Quirk (Some different mechanics of the Mugshot):

2. ACTING

- When attempting an action with uncertain outcomes or where complications could be interesting, roll d6s with the most approriate stat (I think as ways of doing or feeling things).

- Always roll at least one dice. If in advantage or disadvantage add or subtract dice as seem fitting. If disadvantaged below zero, start to roll and pick the worst.

- Stats are meant to be flexible and open to creative problem solving.

- Misfits can throw a knife with their Body, their Brains or even with their Weird after using the knife for years, getting attached and naming it Poco.

- Stuff and people can have complex relations with Stats (seeing status as ways of feeling) that may allow creative interpretations.

- Nothing just fails. Something always happen in the world.

- If an action is too complex to be solved with a single roll or take space and time to develop it's a PLAN. A complexity will be defined in a CLOCK format between 4 and 12 segments, where the Misfit will be able to act to advance those segments until completion. Failing in actions related to the PLAN can start an opposite clock with consequences, expand it's segments or even collapse the entire PLAN with approriate (and possible disastrous) consequences (I see PLANS as a way of extending actions into sequences, helping to streamline the play and also raising the stakes. It's a way I enjoy to play especially solo)

3. DICE RESULTS:

1-3: A failure. But more than that, an outcome that didn't met the expectations. Some complications arrived, the competition was fiercer than it looked like, the stakes are now higher, the context changed. Stress can be suffered. 

4-5: A success with complications. A twist, new element or context can enter the situation as well.

6: Success. Clean success, the narrative moves forward as intended 

More than one 6: Critical success. More stress dealt, more favorable circumstances, sunshine and rainbows.

4. STRESS:

A track that goes to 10 that stores all the Misfit's misfortunes. Everytime you receive stress from any source unless your PWRZ (be it physical harm, a very embarassing interaction or mental overload from a paracausal entity) fill the track and roll a D10. If the result goes under the current stress value, the Misfit suffer a Strike. A concrete manifestation of consequences related to one of the stats. 4 Strikes and you are OUT. If the stress comes from your PWRZ you just fill the track withou rolling for strikes. Your PWRZ themselves can't take you out but they will make you frail.

5. HURTING THINGS (AND GETTING HURT) 

- The combat is dynamic, focused on player facing rolls. 

- The Misfits always go first, unless taken unprepared. 

- Enemies attacks come with results of Failures or Success with complications. 

- The turn goes on in Vibe order. Any action can be attempted. Failing actions in combat usually leaves the Freak exposed to being hurt. 

- Foes have particular behaviors as described on UNEASY THINGS (future zine with threats). When the resistence of a foe hits 0 it's dead. Most will not fight until that point. But some will.

6. THE EVERYDAY AND THE SANDBOX (It's in a new post!):

- What you do?

- Conspiracies and Happenings (to gain Fame)

- Spend FAME to create PLANS and make your Happenings, Factions and know more Faces

- PLANS: Complex actions that require time and multiple efforts (Flirting, Making Friends, Organizing a Party, Creating a Bowling Club, Investigating a Murder, etc)

- MESSY SCENES!: Complex moments with big stakes that deserve narrative spotlight. Like: A Chase, Fighting Big Things, Fucking, Karaoking, Dueling,

- The game can be played with as many complexities as wanted. Some PLANS and MESSY SCENES can be easily diluted to one rolling, simple combat or just roleplaying without dice. But i think those are nice procedures to Solo play and also for some types of Group Play, easing players into narrative control within their MESSY SCENES and framing clearly objectives with the PLANS

7. FAME (you guessed right, coming soon): 

- Solving Conspiracies and helping FACES out in Happenings grants FAME. 

- FAMOUS Misfits can really alter the Everyday, starting factions, throwing up legendary ragers, becoming marketable capers or even starting an revolution. 

8. CREDIT/GETTING STUFF

- Misfits always have enough to get by. Some start with a little more, as can be seen by their Mugshot or Moodboard.

- Credit is abstracted in 6 tiers that follow the PWRZ tiers and can be used to buy stuff, define "loot" and payments.

-Acquiring things that are into your credit tier is mundane and simple. Everything above your credit tier requires either some valuable stuff or you will be In Debt

- While In Debt you can't buy nothing above the misfit tier, and have to get some loot to sell, win some reward for a happening, or go to The Board and find some Job

-To change your Credit tier you don'thave to hoard riches, but get known. The only way to upgrade your credit tier is investing Fame.

TIERS: 1. Misfit/simple (resources with no die value. worthless in trading/selling) 2. Working class (D4) 3. Degree haver (D6) 4. Up and coming (D8) 5. Money mover (D12) 6. Filth rich (D20)

9. WRONGDOING - Every Misfit has already beem accused of some kind of wrongdoing. It can be true or it can be made up. Fact is, a Misfit can't really stay put and live a normal life cause they already have been stripped of the normality.

10. PATH - Also a future exploration here, but the idea is having another layer of personality and a goal beyond "live life, make friends, fight the system" for Misfits. My idea here is to eventually get to something like Beats from The Heart, turning Paths as ways of getting more powerful:

An exploratory list of Paths: - Hedonist - Communitary - Explorer - Revolutionary

[jcmarchi]

Akhilesh Tripathi, CEO of Digitate – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/akhilesh-tripathi-ceo-of-digitate-interview-series/

Akhilesh Tripathi, CEO of Digitate – Interview Series

Digitate CEO Akhilesh Tripathi joined the company in 2015 to launch its flagship product, ignio™. Under his leadership, ignio became one of the fastest-growing enterprise applications, with a global customer base spanning many industries and Fortune 500 companies. Previously, Akhilesh  served as the head of Canada for TCS (Tata Consultancy Service), where he grew the entity from a small, relatively unknown firm to a perennial top 10 service provider. His 25-year career with TCS has also included serving as Head of Enterprise Solutions and Technology Practices for TCS in North America.

Digitate uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to manage IT and business operations. Its product, ignio™, is a cognitive automation solution designed to help IT teams identify and address outages quickly. Ignio includes pre-built knowledge aimed at enabling faster adoption of AI compared to other solutions. It connects various business applications, processes, and infrastructure to support decision-making and perform actions autonomously.

What was your vision for Digitate when you first joined in 2015, and how has that vision evolved over time?

When I first joined Digitate in 2015, my vision was to push forward a new way of thinking that shifts enterprises from a people-first model to a technology-first approach. By leveraging AI and automation, we would allow machines to become the initial handlers of tasks while humans became the handles of exceptions.  Over time, this vision has evolved to encompass a broader goal: helping enterprises achieve what we call the “autonomous enterprise” journey. This involves leveraging unified observability, AI-driven insights, and closed-loop automation to ensure that our customers can manage their increasingly complex IT environments with minimal human intervention. Today, Digitate is all about empowering enterprises to not just react to problems but to proactively prevent them, ensuring operational resilience and continuous value creation.

How do you foresee the future of AI-driven enterprise solutions, particularly in the context of automation and autonomous operations?

The future of AI-driven enterprise solutions is incredibly promising. We’re on the brink of a transformative shift where AI doesn’t just assist with tasks but fundamentally changes how enterprises operate at a core level. We’re already seeing AI-driven solutions becoming even more integrated into every facet of business operations. The goal is for enterprises to use AI and automation not just for automating routine tasks, but for making real-time decisions, optimizing operations across diverse environments, and predicting and preventing issues before they arise.

This shift towards autonomy is particularly exciting. As AI continues to evolve, we’ll see more systems that can self-manage, self-heal, and even self-optimize without the need for constant human intervention. This is already at play in our closed-loop model, allowing teams to focus on more strategic tasks rather than being bogged down.

What are the key challenges you’ve faced in scaling Digitate globally, and how did you overcome them?

Digitate is pioneering a new category, and as we scale globally, it’s important to build interest in our vision of the autonomous enterprise and communicate the value we offer. Many people still think that data silos and automation are the status quo, but we believe they don’t have to be. To tackle this, I’ve instructed my team to focus on what I call the 3Es: excite, educate, and execute.

Education is crucial because we need businesses to be open to taking risks, and this often requires a leadership mindset that embraces new technology and innovative perspectives. After we have educated and inspired our audience, we must follow through during the implementation phase. It is essential that we keep our promises – our goal is to deliver on what we commit to.

What inspired the development of Digitate’s flagship product, ignio™, and what sets it apart in the market?

ignio™ was developed with a vision to revolutionize how businesses approach IT operations by embedding intelligence and automation at its core. The inspiration came from our deep understanding of the pain points that IT teams face daily: lengthy resolution times, fragmented visibility across systems, and the sheer volume of alerts that overwhelm human operators. We wanted to create a solution that could not only detect and resolve issues faster but also predict and prevent them from occurring in the first place. This led to the concept of an autonomous enterprise, where ignio™ acts as the digital brain, continuously learning from the environment, correlating data, and taking automated actions to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations.

What sets ignio™ apart in the market is its ability to combine unified observability, AI-driven insights, and closed-loop automation into a single platform. Unlike other solutions that focus on individual aspects of IT management, ignio™ offers an integrated approach that addresses the entire lifecycle of IT operations.

Can you share how Digitate is leveraging AI to enhance predictive analytics and proactive problem management in IT operations?

As the buzz around GenAI continues to captivate the tech industry, it’s easy for enterprises to get swept up in the excitement and rush into implementation. However, in this enthusiasm, there is a real risk of overlooking foundational principles and best practices, which can lead to significant challenges down the road.

To navigate this, we emphasize the importance of data readiness and governance. We know that AI, no matter how sophisticated, is only as good as the data it operates on. Our ignio™ platform, for example, leverages AI to enhance predictive analytics and proactive problem management in IT operations. However, these capabilities are only fully realized when they are supported by high-quality data and robust methodologies. This strategic focus allows us to harness the power of AI effectively, driving true digital transformation while minimizing risks associated with the hype cycle.

How does Digitate ensure that ignio™ stays ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving tech landscape?

At Digitate, we ensure that ignio™ remains at the forefront of the rapidly evolving tech landscape by continuously innovating and refining our platform to meet the dynamic needs of modern enterprises. We do this by leveraging a combination of advanced AI, machine learning, and a closed-loop automation approach to keep our systems ahead of the curve.

Our ignio™ AIOps platform is designed to tackle a wide range of problems enterprises face in IT and business operations across industries. “We use AI and automation to predict and solve issues before they impact key business KPIs, such as revenue assurance and customer satisfaction. Our proactive approach transforms IT from reactive to predictive, creating an environment where AI and ML systems solve errors automatically in real time, eliminating the need for tickets. With GenAI, we accelerate innovation and reduce manual effort in finding and solving issues, leading to faster time to value.”

In your opinion, what role will AI and automation play in shaping the future of digital operations across industries?

As we look towards the future of AI, we’re entering an era where human-AI collaboration is set to become more seamless and intuitive. The advancements in AI capabilities are leading us towards a new paradigm of augmented intelligence, where AI doesn’t just automate tasks but works alongside humans, enhancing our abilities through continuous learning and real-time insights. We’re particularly focused on how AI can mimic and adapt to human behaviors, making interactions more natural and conversational. This shift is crucial as it allows AI to fit more organically into daily workflows, whether it is through decision-making processes, predictive analytics, or even customer interactions.

However, with these advancements come significant challenges. For one, the opacity of AI systems, often referred to as “black boxes,” makes debugging and maintenance more complex than traditional software. This requires us to develop new skills and processes to ensure that AI systems are reliable and trustworthy. Change management is another critical area. As AI becomes more embedded in our operations, there is a natural resistance that can emerge, both from individuals accustomed to traditional workflows and from regulatory bodies concerned about the implications on employment and job roles. Addressing these concerns requires a thoughtful approach that balances innovation with empathy and strategic foresight. Cybersecurity and privacy risks are also escalating as AI systems become more pervasive. The more we rely on AI, the more attractive these systems become to malicious actors, including potential state-sponsored threats.

Despite these challenges, the potential for growth and innovation in AI-driven collaboration is immense. The market is ripe with opportunities, and businesses that invest in integrating AI with a focus on transparency, augmented intelligence, and seamless human interaction will be well-positioned to lead in this evolving landscape. At Digitate, we’re excited about the role our technology will play in shaping this future, driving both operational efficiency and transformative business outcomes.

How is Digitate addressing the growing demand for AI-driven solutions in sectors like retail, manufacturing, and financial services?

Digitate is addressing the growing demand for AI-driven solutions by developing industry-specific offerings that meet the unique needs of sectors like retail, manufacturing, and financial services. In retail, for example, ignio™ helps optimize supply chain operations and enhance customer experiences by predicting and preventing disruptions. In manufacturing, we enable smarter production processes through predictive maintenance and automated quality control. In financial services, our AI-driven insights support fraud detection, compliance, and risk management. By tailoring our solutions to the specific challenges of each industry, we help our customers drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.

What are the most significant industry trends you’re seeing right now, and how is Digitate adapting to them?

One of the most significant trends we’re observing in the AI industry is the rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly their evolving specialization and multimodal capabilities. These models are not just becoming more powerful in a general sense. They’re also increasingly tailored to specific industries and tasks, which opens up new possibilities for AI-driven solutions across various domains.

We’re closely following these developments, particularly the trend towards domain and industry specialization in LLMs. As companies look to maintain their competitive edge, they’re investing in LLMs that can understand and operate within the specific contexts of their industries. This means that LLMs are being customized to handle industry-specific jargon, concepts, and challenges with a level of precision that was previously unattainable. We see this as a crucial area for us to integrate into our own offerings, especially as we aim to provide more targeted, actionable insights for our clients across different sectors.

Commonsense reasoning and factual grounding are also critical areas where LLMs are making strides. As these models become better at understanding real-world contexts and maintaining factual accuracy, the reliability and usefulness of AI in enterprise settings will grow exponentially.

With over 20 years in the IT industry, what key leadership lessons have you learned, particularly in leading innovative tech companies?

In my 20 years in the IT industry, I’ve learned that having a clear purpose and a sense of curiosity is crucial for leading innovative tech companies. A strong purpose drives passion, creating an ongoing cycle of innovation. When innovation is fueled by a compelling purpose, it has greater staying power, enabling companies to overcome challenges and stay competitive in the long run. It’s important to note that each person’s purpose may differ, and as a leader, it’s vital to align an individual’s purpose with the overall organizational goals to maximize their potential.

Curiosity is equally important. The drive to learn, explore new ideas, and create something new is what pushes a company forward. The real magic happens when purpose and curiosity come together. This is where innovation and creativity thrive, allowing us to make breakthroughs and lead in the industry.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Digitate. 

[entomoblog]

Insectes : histoire en (des)équilibre (spectacle, Pyrénées-Orientales)

See on Scoop.it - Variétés entomologiques

Dans le cadre de la 3e édition du festival Bioviv’art qui aura pour thème les oiseaux et les insectes, la Nième Compagnie fait l’ouverture avec « Insectes : histoire en (dés)équilibre », le 26 juillet à 18 h 30.

  Insectes : histoire en (des)équilibre (spectacle, Pyrénées-Orientales) Date Le vendredi 26 juillet 2024

  https://www.biovivart.fr/

Bernadette Cassel's insight:

  Festival Bioviv'art 2024 du 26 au 28 juillet à Alénya (66200) - De www.biovivart.fr - 13 juin, 19:00

[ffiesinger]

Hiver 2024 : 3e hiver le plus chaud depuis 1900

See on Scoop.it - Club euro alpin: Economie tourisme montagne sports et loisirs

Alors que les mois de novembre 2023 et mars 2024 ont été particulièrement arrosés, les cumuls de neige en haute altitude sont actuellement « très excédentaires » selon Météo France dans les […]

Francis Fiesinger Pro's insight:

#neige #montagne #climat #altitude #meteofrance #actumontagne 

[testbank-zone]

Test Bank For Macroeconomics 3e By Karlan

Test Bank For Macroeconomics 3e By Karlan

Macroeconomics 3e by Karlan is a comprehensive textbook that explores the principles and theories of macroeconomics. It provides an in-depth examination of various macroeconomic concepts, including national income, unemployment, inflation, monetary policy, fiscal policy, economic growth, and international trade. With clear explanations and real-world examples, the book helps students understand the complexities of macroeconomic theory and its applications in today's global economy. It is designed to be accessible to students while offering rigorous analysis and insights into macroeconomic phenomena. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Economics and Life   Chapter 2: Specialization and Exchange   Chapter 3: Markets   Chapter 4:  Elasticity   Chapter 5: Efficiency   Chapter 6: Government Intervention   Chapter 7: Measuring GDP   Chapter 8: The Cost of Living   Chapter 9: Unemployment and the Labor Market   Chapter 10: Economic Growth   Chapter 11: Aggregate Expenditures   Chapter 12: Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply   Chapter 13: Fiscal Policy   Chapter 14: The Basics of Finance   Chapter 15:  Money and the Monetary System   Chapter 16:  Inflation   Chapter 17: Financial Crisis   Chapter 18: Open-Market Macroeconomics   Chapter 19:  Development Economics  

Test Bank For Macroeconomics 3e By Karlan

Read the full article

[deepaksivan708]

Top 10 Audit Firms in Muscat

When it comes to ensuring financial transparency and compliance, the role of audit firms becomes paramount. In the bustling business landscape of Muscat, several audit firms stand out for their commitment to excellence and unwavering dedication to providing top-notch services. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 audit firms in Muscat, with Excellence Audit & Accounting Services leading the pack.

#1 Excellence Audit & Accounting Services:

Setting the benchmark for accounting and audit services in Muscat, Excellence Audit & Accounting Services tops our list. Excellence Audit & Accounting Services, headquartered in Muscat, is a renowned audit and accounting firm committed to setting high standards in financial services. Founded on principles of excellence and trust, the firm delivers expert auditing, accounting, and advisory solutions tailored to the unique needs of businesses in Oman. Renowned for their meticulous approach, seasoned professionals, and cutting-edge technology, they provide comprehensive audit and accounting solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses. They are a member of 3E Accounting, a renowned global accounting network.

#2 Deloitte Oman:

A global giant in the audit and consulting industry, Deloitte Oman boasts a strong presence in Muscat. Their expert team combines international experience with local insights, offering a wide array of services, including assurance, tax, and advisory.

#3 PwC Oman:

PwC Oman is synonymous with quality and reliability. With a focus on building trust in society and solving complex business challenges, PwC delivers value to clients through its audit, tax, and advisory services.

#4 KPMG Oman:

Known for its commitment to quality and integrity, KPMG Oman is a key player in the Omani audit landscape. Their multidisciplinary approach covers audit, tax, and advisory services, providing holistic solutions for businesses.

#5 Ernst & Young (EY) Oman:

EY Oman is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the business world. With a focus on building a better working world, they offer a range of services, including audit, tax, and advisory.

#6 Grant Thornton Oman:

Grant Thornton stands out for its personalized approach to client service. Their dedicated professionals in Muscat deliver audit, tax, and advisory services, catering to the diverse needs of businesses.

#7 Mazars Oman:

Mazars Oman is recognized for its global reach and local expertise. The firm’s audit professionals in Muscat provide high-quality services, ensuring compliance and adding value to clients across various industries.

#8 Crowe Oman:

With a commitment to delivering exceptional client service, Crowe Oman focuses on audit, tax, advisory, and risk services. Their team in Muscat is known for its in-depth industry knowledge and proactive approach.

#9 Al Harthy & Company:

Established in Oman, Al Harthy & Company is a well-respected audit firm offering comprehensive auditing and assurance services. Their client-centric approach and industry-specific expertise set them apart.

#10 BDO Oman:

Closing our list is BDO Oman, a firm that combines global capabilities with local insights. Their professionals in Muscat deliver audit, tax, and advisory services, contributing to the success of businesses in the region.

Conclusion:

In the dynamic business environment of Muscat, these top 10 audit firms, led by Excellence Audit & Accounting Services, play a crucial role in ensuring financial integrity and fostering business growth. Choosing the right audit partner is essential, and these firms stand ready to meet the diverse needs of businesses in Oman.

[nklkhangnguyen88]

Coskewness: What It Means, How It Works

What Is Coskewness?

Coskewness is a statistical concept that describes the degree to which three random variables or data sets move together when they deviate from their respective means. It's an extension of skewness, which measures the asymmetry of a single variable's distribution.

In simpler terms, coskewness quantifies the asymmetry in the joint distribution of three variables. It provides information about how these variables tend to move in relation to each other when they are not at their typical or average values.

Mathematically, the coskewness of three variables X, Y, and Z is defined as:

Coskew(X,Y,Z)=E[(X−E[X])(Y−E[Y])(Z−E[Z])]σ(X)⋅σ(Y)⋅σ(Z))3\text{Coskew}(X, Y, Z) = \frac{E[(X - E[X])(Y - E[Y])(Z - E[Z])]}{\sigma(X) \cdot \sigma(Y) \cdot \sigma(Z))^3}Coskew(X,Y,Z)=σ(X)⋅σ(Y)⋅σ(Z))3E[(X−E[X])(Y−E[Y])(Z−E[Z])]​

Where:

E[X],E[Y],E[Z]E[X], E[Y], E[Z]E[X],E[Y],E[Z] are the expected values (means) of X, Y, and Z.

σ(X),σ(Y),σ(Z)\sigma(X), \sigma(Y), \sigma(Z)σ(X),σ(Y),σ(Z) are the standard deviations of X, Y, and Z.

A positive coskewness indicates that when X, Y, and Z deviate from their means, they tend to do so together in a positively skewed manner. Conversely, a negative coskewness indicates a tendency to deviate together in a negatively skewed manner.

Coskewness has applications in various fields, including finance and risk assessment. For example, in finance, it can be used to assess the risk associated with a portfolio of assets. A positive coskewness suggests that assets are more likely to experience positive returns together but might also experience larger losses together.

Overall, coskewness provides insights into how three variables are related in terms of their deviations from their respective means, which can be valuable for understanding joint behavior in different analytical contexts.

Understanding Coskewness

Coskewness is a statistical concept that helps us understand how three random variables or data sets move together when they deviate from their respective means. It's an extension of skewness, which measures the asymmetry of a single variable's distribution.

Here's a detailed explanation of coskewness:

Skewness Recap: Before diving into coskewness, let's quickly review skewness. Skewness measures the asymmetry of a single variable's distribution. A positively skewed distribution has a long right tail, indicating more data points on the left side and fewer on the right. A negatively skewed distribution is the opposite.

Extending to Coskewness: Coskewness extends this concept to the relationship between three variables. If you have three random variables, X, Y, and Z, coskewness measures how they deviate together from their respective means.

Mathematical Definition: The coskewness of X, Y, and Z is calculated using higher-order moments. It's defined as the expected value of the product of the deviations of X, Y, and Z from their respective means, divided by the product of their standard deviations cubed:Coskew(X,Y,Z)=E[(X−E[X])(Y−E[Y])(Z−E[Z])]σ(X)⋅σ(Y)⋅σ(Z))3\text{Coskew}(X, Y, Z) = \frac{E[(X - E[X])(Y - E[Y])(Z - E[Z])]}{\sigma(X) \cdot \sigma(Y) \cdot \sigma(Z))^3}Coskew(X,Y,Z)=σ(X)⋅σ(Y)⋅σ(Z))3E[(X−E[X])(Y−E[Y])(Z−E[Z])]​Where:

E[X],E[Y],E[Z]E[X], E[Y], E[Z]E[X],E[Y],E[Z] are the expected values (means) of X, Y, and Z.

σ(X),σ(Y),σ(Z)\sigma(X), \sigma(Y), \sigma(Z)σ(X),σ(Y),σ(Z) are the standard deviations of X, Y, and Z.

Interpretation: A positive coskewness indicates that when X, Y, and Z deviate from their means, they tend to do so together in a positively skewed manner. Conversely, a negative coskewness indicates a tendency to deviate together in a negatively skewed manner.

Practical Applications:

Finance: Coskewness is used in finance to assess the risk associated with a portfolio of assets. Positive coskewness suggests that assets are more likely to experience positive returns together, but might also experience larger losses together.

Risk Management: It's used in risk management models, especially those dealing with extreme events or tail risks. It helps in understanding how different assets or variables behave together under stress conditions.

Limitations:

Coskewness assumes a specific form for the joint distribution, and deviations from this assumption can lead to inaccurate results.

It's important to use coskewness in conjunction with other statistical measures for a comprehensive analysis.

In summary, coskewness provides insights into how three variables are related in terms of their deviations from their respective means. It's particularly relevant in finance and risk assessment for understanding the joint behavior of different assets or variables.

Read more: https://computertricks.net/coskewness-what-it-means-how-it-works/

[kerriskatheotstudent]

Standing on the edge of becoming an OT.

With hands shaking, a voice trembling and legs quaking – I stand at the edge. It was 19:32, on a mundane Monday evening, when I received the call. “Welcome to OT!” When has the intro to Taylor Swifts latest heartbreak single ever let me down? The greatest power one could hold, is the capacity to shift the dimensions of another’s life. Growing up, I had always dreamt of facilitating such power - to equip people with the ability to feel fulfilled within themselves, to truly make a difference. The granny’s said doctor, the grandfathers said engineer, the parents said accountant, but the humanitarian in me said occupational therapist.

Being an OT student is extremely daunting, but not as daunting as having to explain in layman’s terms what OT truly is. I cannot count the numerous day-old jokes about helping my family members find employment. Between having to formulate an understandable definition of OT to those around me, and handling a goniometer, I often found myself asking “do I even know what I’m doing here?”. “Am I qualified enough to do this?”

 “Reflection is a process which helps you gain insight into your professional practise by thinking analytically about any element of it.” (Health and Care Professions Council, 2021). As a third-year student, it is integral that I begin to reflect not just on the progress that I have made so far, but also on what aspects of my skillset require further refining, to ensure that I will be a competent professional.

“When a flower doesn't bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”. (“When a Flower Doesn’t Bloom, You Fix the Environment in Which It Grows, Not the Flower.,” 2021). I am no stranger to feeling stuck. Mental health has been a factor in affecting my performance – my state of mind has had a direct impact on my ability to execute tasks and fulfil responsibilities. As a student, a weakness that I consider needs to be worked on, is my ability to handle stress and anxiety. Reflecting on the way I tend to handle my stress; I acknowledge how it becomes crippling and impacts my quality of learning. And so, to ensure that I bloom, I remind myself to handle my weaknesses with grace, as “any personal development journey is a lifelong commitment, not a sprint or achievable task. It will weather bumps and roadblocks, but it can also thrive in other areas of your life”. (Miles, 2022).

A strength that I have learnt to capitalize on, is utilizing my personality in a therapeutic manner. As an extroverted and friendly individual, I find it almost natural to form good rapport with my clients. Through creating this relationship, client’s respond well to intervention and proposed sessions which ultimately results in better occupational performance.

Through reflecting and critically analysing my position toward becoming an OT, I begin to harness my strengths and improve my weaknesses, allowing me to be the best professional that I could possibly be. With hands shaking, a voice trembling and legs quaking – I stand at the edge, at the edge of becoming an OT.  

References

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” (2021, May 7). https://julieparkerpracticesuccess.com/when-a-flower-doesnt-bloom-you-fix-the-environment-in-which-it-grows-not-the-flower/#:~:text=%3E-

Health and Care Professions Council. (2021). What is Reflection? Www.hcpc-Uk.org; HCPC. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/meeting-our-standards/reflective-practice/what-is-reflection/

Miles, M. (2022, February 10). What Is Personal Development and Why Is It Important? Www.betterup.com. https://www.betterup.com/blog/personal-development

OTR/L, R. L. (2023, April 15). What Exactly Is Occupational Therapy? Myotspot.com. https://www.myotspot.com/what-is-occupational-therapy/