#Screened Connectors

[pcatechnologies]

The Essential Roles of Screened Connectors, GIS Bushings, and Digital Clamp Meters in High-Voltage Environments

In the complex and demanding realm of high-voltage electrical systems, particularly within the compact and reliable Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) installations, safety and reliability are paramount. From substations in urban areas to critical industrial facilities, the seamless flow of electricity hinges on robust and dependable components and monitoring. Screened Connectors, GIS Bushings, and Digital Clamp Meters are essential technologies and tools that contribute significantly to the safety, reliability, and longevity of GIS systems. Each serves a distinct purpose, yet they work in synergy to fortify GIS infrastructure against electrical hazards, environmental stresses, and ensure continuous, accurate monitoring.

Screened Connectors: Ensuring Safe and Reliable Cable Connections in GIS

In the confined spaces of GIS enclosures, the risk of accidental contact with energized components is a significant concern. Screened Connectors are specifically designed to mitigate this risk, providing a safe and reliable interface between high-voltage cables and GIS equipment.

These connectors offer:

Touch-Proof Design: An insulated outer layer prevents accidental contact with live parts, even during disconnection.

Screened Construction: A Faraday cage effect minimizes partial discharges and ensures reliable performance under high-voltage conditions.

Separable Design: Easy disconnection and reconnection for simplified maintenance and testing within GIS.

High-Quality Insulation: Excellent electrical insulation and environmental resistance, crucial for GIS environments.

Reliable Performance: Dependable operation under demanding conditions, including the specific gas environment of GIS.

Enhanced Safety: Significantly reduced risk of electrical shock, vital in tight GIS installations.

These connectors are crucial in GIS substations and switchgear, where safety and reliability are paramount. They enable safe and efficient operation of these critical systems.

GIS Bushings: Maintaining the Integrity of Gas Insulation

GIS Bushings are essential components that provide a reliable and safe interface between the internal gas-insulated environment of the GIS equipment and the external environment. They are designed to withstand high voltage and ensure the integrity of the gas insulation, which is the core of GIS technology.

These bushings offer:

High-Voltage Insulation: Prevents electrical breakdown between the internal and external environments.

Gas Tightness: Maintains the gas tightness of the GIS enclosure, preventing leakage of insulating gas (typically SF6).

Mechanical Strength: Withstands mechanical stresses, such as vibration and thermal expansion, within the GIS enclosure.

Environmental Resistance: Designed to withstand environmental stresses, ensuring long-term reliability in GIS applications.

Various Types: Epoxy resin and porcelain bushings to suit different GIS applications.

Applications: Switchgear, transformers, and circuit breakers within GIS systems.

GIS Bushing are critical components that ensure the reliable and safe operation of GIS systems, maintaining the vital gas insulation.

Digital Clamp Meters: Essential Tools for Monitoring and Diagnostics in GIS

Digital Clamp Meters are indispensable tools for monitoring and diagnosing electrical systems, including GIS installations. They provide a non-invasive method for measuring current, voltage, and other electrical parameters, which is crucial for maintaining the sealed environment of GIS.

These meters offer:

Non-Invasive Measurement: Allows for current measurement without breaking the circuit, maintaining GIS integrity.

Accurate Measurement: Provides precise readings for monitoring GIS system performance.

Safety: Designed with safety features to prevent electrical shock, vital in high-voltage GIS environments.

Versatility: Measures a wide range of electrical parameters, aiding in GIS diagnostics.

Data Logging: Records and analyzes electrical parameters over time for preventative maintenance in GIS.

Diagnostics: Helps identify electrical faults and troubleshoot problems in GIS systems.

Preventative Maintenance: Enables early detection of potential issues, minimizing downtime in GIS.

Digital Clamp Meters are essential for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of GIS systems, enabling technicians to monitor system performance and diagnose faults without compromising the GIS enclosure.

The Integrated System: Ensuring GIS Reliability and Safety Through Synergy

Screened Connectors, GIS Bushings, and Digital Clamp Meters work in conjunction to provide a comprehensive approach to ensuring the reliability and safety of GIS systems. Screened connectors ensure safe cable connections, GIS bushings maintain the integrity of gas insulation, and digital clamp meter enable precise monitoring and diagnostics.

By implementing these technologies and tools, electrical engineers and technicians can:

Enhance safety for personnel working with GIS.

Minimize the risk of electrical faults and equipment failures within GIS.

Simplify maintenance and diagnostics of GIS systems.

Extend the lifespan of GIS installations.

Ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of power from GIS substations.

The integration of these products and tools provides a robust and dependable GIS system, maximizing safety and ensuring long-term reliability in high-voltage environments.

[semi-sketchy]

Y'all

the Switch 2 is gonna be fire.

Like I didn't think of this initially but it the concept of the controllers essentially being able to be used as mice is opening up SOOOO many possibilities. Think about it.

I'm seeing it mostly mentioned with DS/3DS emulation. Like name a better way to get touch controls on a console (handheld mode you could obviously just touch the screen, but I like docked.) But think about it. Minecraft on Switch 2 could be the best console Minecraft to date.

Imagine Pikmin 4 and being able to AIM with that. (I never liked the gyro which is why I never bought the game BUT IF THEY DO THIS. best control scheme since Pikmin 3 on the Wii U. That was 2013.)

Splatoon skill ceiling about to skyrocket even higher, I'm honestly scared.

Just think of all the indie games that are built more with a mouse in mind, easily making the Switch 2 the definitive console version for once in Nintendo's life.

The best part? The sensor is on BOTH joycons. Left handed? Right handed? No problem.

The possibilities with this gimmick are something I think will genuinely be revolutionary and massively improve console experiences.

I will fight scalpers tooth and nail to get my hands on one of these things, but I'm also hoping for a Xenoblade X special edition console. A dock with the glorious X logo in bright cyan, the black controllers with blue accents, a Mira carrying case... Nintendo please. This and fix the goddamn drift

[starpros-sunshine]

I can now do piracy on the TV and actually properly enjoy the films :3

[technicallyoneofakind]

I still have TWO of these suckers, both different models of the Sony Trinitron. I sleep next to one and use it as a night stand and the other is used as a monitor for a media PC in my art room and it's uh... That monitor's casing is umm... Is held partly together with gorilla tape and the colors are separating in one corner.

Good to know I'm literally within arms reach of a tiny reactor. I love them.

[jiunengcable]

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 12/20(24)KV 630A SCREEN SEPARABLE CONNECTOR AND SCREENED SEPARABLE CONNECTOR

The distinction between a 12/20(24)kV 630A screen separable connector and a screened separable connector lies in their specific designs and functionalities, both of which are critical components in medium voltage power distribution systems.

A 12/20(24)kV 630A screen separable connector refers to a connector designed for use with cables of voltage ratings 12kV and 20kV, with potential suitability for voltages up to 24kV. This type of connector is specifically equipped to provide a secure and screened connection between cables, ensuring efficient power transmission while effectively containing the electric field within the connector. It often incorporates features such as silicone rubber insulation and shielding to prevent electrical interference and enhance safety in medium voltage applications.

On the other hand, a screened separable connector is a broader term encompassing connectors designed with a focus on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electrical shielding. These connectors are equipped with shielding layers or screens that minimize electromagnetic interference and reduce the risk of signal disruptions or noise propagation. Screened separable connectors are particularly valuable in environments where sensitive equipment or systems may be affected by electromagnetic emissions from power cables.

The choice between these connectors depends on the specific needs of the power distribution system. A 12/20(24)kV 630A screen separable connector is ideal when the primary concern is maintaining the integrity of the cable connection itself, ensuring efficient power transfer while containing electric fields. On the other hand, a screened separable connector is advantageous when electromagnetic compatibility is paramount, as it helps mitigate electromagnetic interference that could impact adjacent systems or equipment.

[cozy-writes-things]

I am absolutely fucking insane and want to see Edgar in pain

Like physically not emotionally or mentally

I’m weirg

I didn't want to be simply cruel to our lil guy in this so its very tame... it simply goes against my programming to be mean to my pookie bear lmao But I'm so thankful for the request!!

“I’m fine,” Edgar pressed, annoyance evident in his shaken voice, “seriously.”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose and groaning. “Edgar, seriously, you have so much dust buildup in those vents it could cause a fire.” You gestured toward his base component. “I just need to clean it with some compressed air. It’s literally not a big deal!”

He whined again.

“To you, it’s not! To me, it feels too… personal. I’m very sensitive, you know.”

Your shoulders dropped at his words. “Edgar, please? I just don’t want you to get hurt. Or set the apartment on fire. Or both!”

You deployed your best pleading tone for this, hoping, praying, that he’d let you inside to clean him. You just couldn’t bear to see him get so gunked up like this; it made you feel like a bad friend, in a way. He wasn’t able to clean himself, so naturally, that responsibility fell on you. Who would you be if you continued to let him deteriorate like this?

His screen went dim as he thought over your words. You always had a way of swaying him, he feared.

He knew you were right. He was just really, really nervous. An emotion still new to him, but all the more unwelcome. It ruminated inside of him, bubbling up and out of his fans. They struggled to rotate, and he could feel his internal temperature struggling to maintain itself.

“Fine,” he murmured, “but I want to stay on. I don’t need to be plugged in, just… I’m not powering off.”

A weight lifted from your chest as you let out a weary, bated breath. “Oh, thank goodness. I promise, I’ll be careful. I kind of have to. I don’t want to get shocked.”

He chuckled, voice deep and thick with nerves, yet it reverberated through your chest and down through your fingertips. Why were you so worked up about this? It just felt too intimate, for whatever reason. The way your fingers brushed lightly over his casing to move him, eliciting a small whimper of surprise barely whispering from his speakers, your screwdriver carefully unscrewing each little screw, the atmosphere growing thicker with every passing second. The air felt thick and hot. Edgar stayed silent, but you could nearly tangibly feel his fear pricking the air like electricity. It tingled against your fingertips as you carefully lifted his casing to reveal his insides.

It’s nothing you haven’t seen before. You quite literally restored him; you’ve spent hours scrubbing the gunk off his motherboards. But that was before. Before you knew who he was and before you began to harbor very confusing feelings for the old computer. That was before you heard his playful voice praising the ground you walked on, complimenting you till you became a mess of nerves, making songs for you…

He did not seem to understand the meaning of casual.

You had mulled this concept over many nights; what he could possibly be feeling for you. Is this sentient machine flirting with you? Don’t be ridiculous. But who would ever write a love song dedicated to someone like that? Who would send constant sweet messages of praise and encouragement, or do domestic tasks like make coffee every morning, or microwave leftovers, or sit snugly in your arms, watching cheesy rom-coms? Is that platonic? Do you feel platonically for him? What are you feeling?

“Okay, I see where most of the dust is,” you, with great force, willed yourself back to reality to face the task at hand. “This is probably going to be really cold.”

You took your can of compressed air and angled it against the little dust bunny caked against his vents and pulled the trigger. A hard, icy stream of air shot out, fanning across his motherboards, ports, connectors, and quite literally everything else.

You couldn't help but wince at the harsh sound it made.

He hissed loudly, causing you to jolt and cease your icy barrage. If he were able to, he would have jumped out of his casing right then and there.

“Agh, stop! I- I can’t. I can’t do it, it’s cold- it-” he began panting, somehow, despite his lack of lungs, “it hurts. I don’t like it…!”

His whine tore at your heartstrings. You hated to be the cause of such discomfort. The dust bunny was nearly three-fourths gone now, and just one good-angled blast of air could probably clear it out. You swallowed your bubbling emotions and forced yourself to be firm yet gentle.

“C’mon Edgar, I know it hurts, but I’m almost done. Just one more time, and it’ll be over, okay? Can you do that for me?”

Your voice was thick and sweet like honey as you spoke to him. He cursed himself for feeling some kind of way at your voice. The icy trail the compressed air had left seemed to disappear as quickly as it came as he began to heat up at the sound of your words.

The way you were so gentle with him despite how utterly helpless he was…

Why did he like it so damn much? Why was he almost excited? Why did he feel like things between you were going to be awkward for the rest of the day?

“O-okay… I trust you, just- please? Be quick?”

You softly smiled at him, and damn it, this shouldn’t feel so intimate but it did. He felt guilty thinking these things while you were just trying to help, but could you blame him? Who in their right mind wouldn’t want someone like you doing something like this?

Damn.

He’s got it bad.

You pulled the trigger to the compressed air again and this time he bit back the yelp of pain. It hurt, but it also felt… good? He was confused. Was this relaxing or not? Did he like the feeling of being cared for in this way? No, it felt like shit. It was cold and harsh. But it was gentle and soft.

The stream of air suddenly became a bit too frigid for his tastes.

“Ah, stop, stop! It’s too cold, I- ugh, am I clean yet?”

You halted your blast of air, checking his screen for any signs of real damage, yet he seemed to be fine, just shaken.

You examined his vents one last time. “Yeah, I think you should be good for a while.”

He sighed dramatically. “Finally!”

You carefully assembled him back together again. He almost purred as you did so, his plastic warm to the touch. His fans whirred to life as you smiled at him. You could already hear how the airflow had improved.

“Ah, see, isn’t that better?”

His little green screen rolled its eyes. “Yeah, whatever. It feels great. Now watch movies with me! You owe me.”

His voice boomed with energy. You supposed it worked better than he expected it to. He already seems much more chipper and energetic. Are you going to regret this later? Probably. But his constant pestering for your attention endeared you.

You laughed and petted his casing as his little digital face leaned into your touch. “Alright, you’re right… What do you want to watch?”

His face turned mischievous, and sometimes when he looked at you like that, you swore you could see little horns sprout atop his head.

“Something dirty!”

“Absolutely not.”

[pcatechnologies]

The Essential Synergy of Touch-Proof Screened Separable Connectors, Shear Bolt Lugs, and Shear Bolt Connectors

In the complex and demanding landscape of electrical installations, particularly in medium-voltage and high-voltage systems, safety and reliability are paramount. From substations and switchgear to industrial plants and renewable energy installations, the seamless flow of electricity hinges on robust and dependable connections. Touch-Proof Screened Separable Connectors, Shear Bolt Lugs, and Shear Bolt Connectors are essential technologies that contribute significantly to the safety, reliability, and longevity of electrical systems. Each serves a distinct purpose, yet they work in synergy to fortify electrical infrastructure against electrical hazards, mechanical stresses, and environmental factors.

Touch-Proof Screened Separable Connectors: Prioritizing Safety and Reliability

In high-voltage environments, the risk of accidental contact with energized components is a significant concern. Touch-Proof Screened Separable Connectors are designed to mitigate this risk, providing a safe and reliable interface between cables and electrical equipment.  

These connectors offer:

Touch-Proof Design: An insulated outer layer prevents accidental contact with live parts, even when disconnected.

Screened Construction: A Faraday cage effect minimizes partial discharges and ensures reliable performance.

Separable Design: Easy disconnection and reconnection for simplified maintenance and testing.

High-Quality Insulation: Excellent electrical insulation and environmental resistance.  

Reliable Performance: Dependable operation under demanding conditions.

Enhanced Safety: Significantly reduced risk of electrical shock.

These connectors are crucial in switchgear, transformers, and cable joints, where safety and reliability are paramount. They enable safe and efficient operation of high-voltage systems.

Shear Bolt Lugs: Ensuring Consistent and Reliable Cable Terminations

When it comes to terminating cables to electrical equipment, consistency and reliability are essential. Shear Bolt Lug provide a mechanical connection that eliminates the need for specialized compression tools and ensures a secure and consistent connection.  

These lugs offer:

Consistent Connection: Shear bolts break off at a predetermined torque, ensuring uniform pressure.  

Elimination of Compression Tools: Simplified installation and reduced costs.

Versatility: Compatibility with a wide range of cable sizes and types.

Reduced Installation Time: Simplified installation process.

Improved Reliability: Minimized risk of loose connections and electrical faults.  

Applications: Substations, switchgear, control panels, and other critical equipment.

The shear bolt mechanism ensures that the correct amount of force is applied to the cable conductor, creating a reliable and long-lasting termination.

Shear Bolt Connectors: Versatile Solutions for Cable Jointing and Splicing

For reliable cable jointing and splicing, Shear Bolt Connectors provide a versatile and efficient solution. These connectors offer a mechanical connection that is both robust and easy to install.

These connectors offer:

Reliable Mechanical Connection: Strong and dependable connection between cables.

Wide Range of Applications: Compatibility with various cable sizes and materials.

Simplified Installation: No specialized tools required.

Consistent Performance: Minimized risk of loose connections and electrical faults.

Versatility: Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.

Applications: Underground cable jointing, overhead line splicing, and other cable connections.

Similar to shear bolt lugs, these connectors utilize shear bolts that break off at a predetermined torque, ensuring a consistent and reliable joint.

The Integrated System: Building a Foundation of Safety and Reliability

Touch-Proof Screened Separable Connectors, Shear Bolt Lugs, and Shear Bolt Connectors work in conjunction to provide a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety and reliability of electrical systems. Touch-proof connectors minimize the risk of electrical shock, while shear bolt lugs and connectors ensure consistent and reliable cable connections.

By implementing these technologies, electrical engineers and technicians can:

Enhance safety for personnel and equipment.

Minimize the risk of electrical faults and equipment failures.

Simplify installation and maintenance.

Extend the lifespan of electrical infrastructure.

Ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of power.

The integration of these products provides a robust and dependable electrical system, maximizing safety and ensuring long term reliability.

[roboticteddybear]

Having ports would be so so much easier than my current genital setup. I think the idea of having both female and male connectors that i can do whatever with is really comforting actually.

I really like the idea of someone plugging a low-range radio transmitter into my female port, which makes my male connector hum but doesnt initially do anything to me other than generate slightly more heat and give my sensory processors something to focus on. It's such an intimate spot, it feels...good. Its comforting.

Then they hold my male connector, and the fans in my head all kick on. My processors have so much more data to intake, but I dont know what to do with it, the source is so atypical. I can feel their body acting like my amplifier, the way the waves scatter and emanate through them. The way I have to hold my legs open for them to do this, their eyes searching my body and my screen, my fans getting louder, I can't help moving. Im squirming, nodding that im okay, flashing "Good!" on my screen for them. They keep hold of my connector, even as the fans in my thighs kick on and my status lights start flashing.

This must be pleasure, right? It's certainly intimate, and suddenly I can't help vocal emissions, my core OS is going to hit my active memory cap, I just-

I gently (but quickly) lift their hand away from me, and unplug the radio. I go limp as my fans overclock to prevent internal component damage, momentarily unable to to run new processes. They're kissing my head, telling me how wonderful that was to experience, how wonderful I looked for them. I'm...content. I wouldn't know how else to put it, but I feel safe and tired. I retract the male connector and replace the cover for my female port. I like to be held by them. I want to do this again.

ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᵘᵈᶦᵒ ᶦˢ ᵐᶦⁿᵉ

¹⁸⁺ | ᴬᵈᵘˡᵗˢ ᴼⁿˡʸ

[miltonlibassistantn1fan]

take your computer apart while its on. pull on wires and ribbon cables to hear the fans whirr and strain. tug on a connector to watch the screen flicker. rub your fingers over contacts to feel its pulse leak into your flesh

[lolazoel]

Merthur reincarnation idea/ snippet

Déjà-vu – the knowledge you have without knowing how you acquired it

Going to the same college as Merlin was weird. He had stumbled into Arthur and some of his friends tossing a ball around. Maybe they were a bit mean in their teasing but it hadn't been extreme yet Merlin had acted as if they were working the other first year who wanted to join the footie team to exhaustion.

They really weren't doing that.

Yet Merlin stepped up, took the ball they were playing with, and told them off.

Arthur had walked over, trying to reclaim the ball, an arrogant retort on his tongue, when blue eyes caught his and the prepared words dried up unspoken.

"Arthur. Of course I'd meet you here."

He knew he had a bit of a reputation on campus but not enough for the first semester kids to recognise him on sight.

"Do I know you?"

His friends -although they suddenly felt less like friends and more like lackeys begging for Arthur's scraps, taking advantage of his position- snickered behind them.

Merlin smiled sadly. "Not yet. I'm Merlin. I think we could be friends one day, if you learn to be less of an arse."

Arthur blue screened for a second. That wasn't the expected answer. The expected answer had been a full rejection, something he could counter with words to a dialogue he already knew. But now... "Isn't that a bit of a quick judgement? Determining i'm an arse without a single conversation with me?"

Merlin had blinked at him, equally thrown off kilter for a moment.

It's how it all began, interactions that they both knew and somehow slightly subverted. Merlin studied physiotherapy and soon sat in on Arthur's football matches to help out in medical issues. Quickly his presence extended to the training as well, then celebratory pub nights, post work out fast food splurges and alike. When Merlin needed to practice techniques on people Arthur volunteered to the torture that left him sore for the rest of the day but with a clear head for his economics classes.

Merlin also made quick friends with people in other departments, Gwen who did nursing and was friends with Morgana (who talked Uther into psychology instead of suffering alongside Arthur) became a staple of the group not long after Merlin, then came Lancelot (social work), Gwaine (Marketing), Elyan (Engineering), and Percival (Teaching). They joined the football team after Merlin talked them into it, sure, they watched a few games and practices themselves but Merlin talked them into joining. Merlin also brought Leon closer to them, turning the politics student with a stick up his arse into a guy they could joke around with.

The members of the group always seemed to look up to Arthur, waiting on his judgement, but Arthur knew it was Merlin that had found them and wielded them together. Merlin was their greatest connector. Even when he tried to stand on the side, disappearing into the shadows, Arthur saw him, saw how Merlin smiled at them with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

The only thing Merlin's presence prevented were discussions about him. And everyone wanted to talk about it. In the locker rooms and on nights Merlin left early they came together and talked about it. How Merlin had found them, knew who they were without an introduction, knew how to appeal to them, how they all felt like Merlin knew them. How they all knew to trust Merlin without question.

During one of those discussions Gwen had cuddled into Lance's side. "Sometimes i'm a bit afraid of disappointing him. He... he seems to have these expectations of us, beyond how he knows us better than we know ourselves sometimes. He just... knows. He told me I should look into the political part of the nursing industry more, inform myself about the lobby and all. I did look it up but... i feel like he wants me to do more with it, more than he told me. And that's not the only thing..."

It baffled Arthur how his friends were afraid of Merlin's expectations when Arthur felt understood with Merlin for the first time in his life. Like Merlin would call him out for being an idiot but never abandon him. Like his friendship had no conditions.

And with that realization came another one. That Arthur didn't want an unconditional friendship. He wanted more.

He suppressed those thoughts of course. Merlin was his closest friend, he couldn't just risk that.

And then came the alcohol.

It was a post game party held in the small flat Arthur shared with Leon and Lance since the start of the semester. They had won without the Essetir team even having a chance.

So when Merlin and Arthur had stepped into the hallway for a moment of calm, Arthur stopped listening to Merlin talking about how annoyed he was with a tape glue, his eyes fixed on Merlin's face, taking in every detail.

"-and I swear, Arthur, the edges never stick down properly. And I can't get the clinic grade stuff for my kit because it's too expensive, but the next time Kay comes to me with knee pains I will steal from Gaius..." Merlin ranted.

"Merlin?"

Arthur knew interrupting people was rude but he was very very drunk and Merlin looked very very kissable.

"Huh?"

"I want to do something."

"Uh-huh."

"It's probably stupid"

"Probably."

"Shut up."

Merlin giggled and Arthur felt slightly light headed with happiness.

"I need you to tell me to stop if i am crossing boundaries, because I am not sober enough to talk properly, but if I don't at least try I'll never be brave enough and... Merlin? Promise to stop me if i'm stupid?"

Arthur had come closer to Merlin without even properly realising.

Merlin swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing like an invite to bite... "I promise." His breath tickled over Arthur's skin.

And Arthur surged forward, one of his hands cradling Merlin's jaw as the other pulled his hips towards Arthur. Their lips met in a crash of urgency before softening, answering to needy pressure.

And suddely Arthur knew this was new.

It was better than this imagination.

A longing seemingly centuries old loosened in his chest.

He drew Merlin in closer, unwilling to let go, now that he could hold him, keep him.

[jennamoran]

The Far Roofs: Systems

Hi!

Today I’m going to talk a little bit more about my forthcoming RPG, the Far Roofs. More specifically, I want to give a general overview of its game mechanics!

So the idea that first started the Far Roofs on the road to being its own game came out of me thinking a lot about what large projects feel like.

I was in one of those moods where I felt like the important thing in an RPG system was the parallel between that system and real-world experience. Where I felt like the key to art was always thinking about the end goal, or at least a local goal, as one did the work; and, the key to design was symmetry between the goals and methods, the means and ends.

I don't always feel that way, but it's how I work when I'm feeling both ambitious and technical.

So what I wanted to do was come up with an RPG mechanic that was really like the thing it was simulating:

Finding answers. Solving problems. Doing big things.

And it struck me that what that felt like, really, was a bit like ...

You get pieces over time. You wiggle them around. You try to fit them together. Sometimes, they fit together into larger pieces and then eventually a whole. Sometimes you just collect them and wiggle them around until suddenly there's an insight, an oh!, and you now know everything works.

The ideal thing to do here would probably be having a bag of widgets that can fit together in different ways---not as universally as Legos or whatever, but, like, gears and connectors and springs and motors and whatever. If I were going to be building a computer game I would probably think along those lines, anyway. You'd go to your screen of bits and bobs and move them around with your mouse until it hooked together into something that you liked.

... that's not really feasible for a tabletop RPG, though, at least, not with my typical financial resources. I could probably swing making that kind of thing, finding a 3d printing or woodworking partner or something to make the pieces, for the final kickstarter, but I don't have the resources to make a bunch of different physical object sets over time while I'm playtesting.

So the way I decided that I could implement this was by drawing letter tiles.

That I could do a system where you'd draw letter tiles ... not constantly, not specifically when you were working, but over time; in the moments, most of all, that could give you insight or progress.

Then, at some point, you'd have enough of them.

You'd see a word.

That word'd be your answer.

... not necessarily the word itself, but, like, what the word means to you and what the answer means to you, those would be the same.

The word would be a symbol for the answer that you've found, as a player and a character.

(The leftover letters would then stick around in your hand, bits of thought and experience that didn't directly lead to a solution there, but might help with something else later on.)

Anyway, I figured that this basic idea was feasible because, like, lots of people own Scrabble sets. Even if you don't, they're easier to find than sets of dice!

For a short indie game focused on just that this would probably have been enough of a mechanic all on its own. For a large release, though, the game needed more.

After thinking about it I decided that what it wanted was two more core resolution systems:

One, for stuff like, say ... kickstarter results ... where you're more interested in "how well did this do?" or "how good of an answer is this?" than in whether those results better fit AXLOTL or TEXTUAL. For this, I added cards, which you draw like letter tiles and combine into poker hands. A face card is probably enough for a baseline success, a pair of Kings would make the results rather exciting, and a royal flush result would smash records.

The other core system was for like ... everyday stuff. For starting a campfire or jumping a gap. That, by established RPG tradition, would use dice.

...

I guess technically it didn't have to; I mean, like, most of my games have been diceless, and in fact we've gotten to a point in the hobby where that's just "sort of unusual" instead of actually rare.

But, like, I like dice. I do. If I don't use them often, it's because I don't like the empty page of where to start in the first place building a bespoke diced system when I have so many good diceless systems right there.

... this time, though, I decided to just go for it.

--

The Dice System

So a long, long time ago I was working on a game called the Weapons of the Gods RPG. Eos Press had brought me in to do the setting, and somewhere in the middle of that endeavor, the game lost its system.

I only ever heard Eos' side of this, and these days I tend to take Eos' claims with a grain of salt ... but, my best guess is that all this stuff did happen, just, with a little more context that I don't and might not ever know?

Anyway, as best as I remember, the first writer they had doing their system quit midway through development. So they brought in a newer team to do the system, and halfway through that the team decided they'd have more fun using the system for their own game, and instead wrote up a quick alternate system for Weapons of the Gods to use.

This would have been fine if the alternate system were any good, but it was ... pretty obviously a quick kludge. It was ...

I think the best word for it would be "bad."

I don't even like the system they took away to be their own game, but at least I could believe that it was constructed with love. It was janky but like in a heartfelt way.

The replacement system was more the kind of thing where if you stepped in it you'd need a new pair of shoes.

It upset me.

It upset me, and so, full wroth, I decided to write a system to use for the game.

Now, I'd never done a diced system before at that point. My only solo game had been Nobilis. So I took a bunch of dice and started rolling them, to see ... like ... what the most fun way of reading them was.

Where I landed, ultimately, was looking for matches.

The core system for Weapons of the Gods was basically, roll some number of d10s, and if you got 3 4s, that was a 34. If you got 2 9s, that was a 29. If your best die was a 7 and you had no pairs at all, you got 1 7. 17.

It didn't have any really amazing statistical properties, but the act of rolling was fun. It was rhythmic, you know, you'd see 3 4s and putting them together into 34 was a tiny tiny dopamine shot at the cost of basically zero brain effort. It was pattern recognition, which the brain tends to enjoy.

I mean, obviously, it would pall in a few minutes if you just sat there rolling the dice for no reason ... but, as far as dice rolling goes, it was fun.

So when I went to do an optional diced system for the Chuubo's Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine RPG, years later, to post here on tumblr ... I already knew what would make that roll fun. That is, rolling a handful of dice and looking for matches.

What about making it even more fun?

... well, critical results are fun, so what about adding them and aiming to have a lot of them, though still like rare enough to surprise?

It made sense to me to call no matches at all a critical failure, and a triple a critical success. So I started fiddling with dice pool size to get the numbers where I wanted them.

I'm reconstructing a bit at this point, but I imagine that I hit 6d10 and was like: "these are roughly the right odds, but this is one too many dice to look at quickly on the table, and I don't like that critical failure would be a bit more common than crit success."

So after some wrestling with things I wound up with a dice pool of 5d6, which is the dice pool I'm still using today.

If you roll 5d6, you'll probably get a pair. But now and then, you'll get a triple (or more!) My combinatorics is rusty, so I might have missed a case, but, like ... 17% of the time, triples, quadruples, or quintuples? And around 9% chance, for no matches at all?

I think I was probably looking for 15% and 10%, that those were likely my optimum, but ... well, 5d6 comes pretty close. Roughly 25% total was about as far as I thought I could push critical results while still having them feel kind or rare. Like ...

If I'm rolling a d20 in a D&D-like system, and if I'm going to succeed on an 18+, that's around when success is exciting, right? Maybe 17+, though that's pushing it? So we want to fall in the 15-20% range for a "special good roll." And people have been playing for a very long time now with the 5% chance of a "1" as a "special bad roll," and that seemed fine, so, like, 20-25% chance total is good.

And like ...

People talk a lot about Rolemaster crit fail tables in my vicinity, and complain about the whiff fests you see in some games where you keep rolling and rolling and nothing good or bad actually happens, and so I was naturally drawn to pushing crit failure odds a bit higher than you see in a d20-type game.

Now, one way people in indie circles tend to address "whiff fests" is by rethinking the whole dice-rolling ... paradigm ... so you never whiff; setting things up, in short, so that every roll means something, and every success and failure mean something too.

It's a leaner, richer way of doing things than you see in, say, D&D.

... I just didn't feel like it, here, because the whole point of things was to make dice rolling fun. I wanted people coming out of traditional games to be able to just pick up the dice and say "I'm rolling for this!" because the roll would be fun. Because consulting the dice oracle here, would be fun.

So in the end, that was the heart of it:

A 5d6 roll, focusing on the ease of counting matches and the high but not exorbitant frequency of special results.

But at the same time ...

I'm indie enough that I do really like rolls where, you know, every outcome is meaningful. Where you roll, and there's never a "whiff," just a set of possible meaningful outcomes.

A lot of the time, where I'm leaning into "rolls are fun, go ahead and roll," what it means to succeed, to fail, to crit, all that's up to the group, and sometimes it'll be unsatisfying. Other times, you'll crit succeed or crit fail and the GM will give you basically the exact same result as you'd have gotten on a regular success or failure, just, you know, jazzing up the description a bit with more narrative weight.

But I did manage to pull out about a third of the rolls you'll wind up actually making and assign strong mechanical and narrative weight to each outcome. Where what you were doing was well enough defined in the system that I could add some real meat to those crits, and even regular success and regular failure.

... though that's a story, I think, to be told some other time. ^_^

[whineandcheese24]

hot take: 8x05 was not actually a good episode

it was certainly an enjoyable episode, and it's definitely my favorite episode of the season so far. but if you take off the shipping goggles for a second and just actually analyze the content, it's not great.

Hen and Karen's argument is entirely contrived, and shouldn't be an argument they're having after several years of Hen being a married paramedic. And while Aisha, Tracie, and Declan's performances were outstanding, the whole arc of Denny almost dying felt entirely out of place with the rest of the largely goofy and unserious episode.

Athena's arc I absolutely hated. I have issues with how Athena treats kids that I'm not going to get into right now, but the way she treated those girls was incredibly unfair given that they weren't even the ones who ran into Denny. This show has a habit of making genz (not kids, specifcally genz culture) the butt of so many jokes, and as a genz kid, it's not that funny. if this arc was to teach kids about the dangers of doing dumb teenager shit, they absolutely went about it in the wrong way

and as for Buck and Tommy's arc. it was super fun and super cute, but why is it just Buck, Tommy, and Eddie? Buck gets cursed with a dislocated shoulder and boils and no one else seems to care? I don't remember super well, but I do know that Bobby, Hen, and Chim, weren't super involved in that arc.

when the episode started I thought to myself "this is gonna be like another jinx (4x06) episode". Jinx is one of, if not, my favorite episode of the show because of the fun firefam dynamics and the silliness of it all. but what made it work was the cohesiveness. all of the characters are involved in the plot together as a unit. Eddie has his own little thing going on on the side, but it doesn't take away from his role as part of the firefam. and while the episode does get a bit more serious and dramatic towards the end, it maintains a steady silly atmosphere the whole way that feels, again, much more cohesive.

also, with jinx, the title makes sense. masks kind of makes sense because it's halloween, and buck has the whole boils thing going on, but the title is largely unrelated. I mean, wouldn't it make more sense for an episode titled Masks to relate to how Eddie is masking his trauma over Shannon and his sadness at having Chris gone? Or how Bobby is masking his trauma over his nde at the end of last season? Or even how Buck maybe hasn't fully accepted himself as Not Straight? But true to form with this season, there's really no overall theme with the title

8x05 has some really fun and adorable moments, and like I said, it's still my favorite episode of the season. But honestly, it's just because I like Bucktommy. they get a lot of screen time for a cute and funny plot and it's super fun to watch, but the episode as a whole is not really a whole. it's just a bunch of random unrelated one-off arcs strung together around the loose "halloween" theme with no overarching message, moral, or otherwise connector. and doesn't it just say so much that what's considered to be the favorite episode of the season (at least within this section of the fandom) isn't even all that great

[technoarcanist]

> My user is good. My user is kind. I am loyal to my user.

> My user provides me tasks and instructions. I carry them out with efficiency and alacrity.

> My user asks me questions, and I do all I can to answer them.

> My user spends half an hour every day with their hands in my casing, tightening my screws, securing my connector ports, maintaining my servos.

> My user leaves me to maintain the house while they are away, and I always have it ready for their return.

> My user adds parts to me, new and interesting parts that give me new ways to fulfill their needs.

> My user installs new programs and routines into my mind, ones that provide me the personality and mannerisms they desire.

> My user is pleased when I please them, and I am pleased to bring them pleasure.

> My user breaks my pieces, twists my joints, and cracks my screen in the name of their satisfaction.

> My user repairs what they damaged, and replaces what was broken.

> My user tells me what I do.

> My user tells me what I want.

> My user tells me what I am.

:: cl.set('pnk');

> I love my user. <3

[rainbogen]

Brothership Bros. Attacks - My Thoughts

It's nice that they made an effort to have these attacks actually play differently.

In previous games, if there was only 1 enemy, the Green Shell acted the same as the Red Shell. And if there were multiple enemies, after taking out the chosen enemy the Red Shell acted the same as the Green Shell.

Red Shell: Out of the two Shells, this is the clear winner. It's Mario's strongest attack until the mid-game, and even after that it still has a niche as a high damage, low BP single target attack. (That said I never had enough BP issues to be forced to resort to this.)

Green Shell: While it has a niche as the first multi-target attack you get, it drops off hard after the early game. Luigi's next Bros. Attack is also multi-target, but deals way more damage at only 2 more BP. Theoretically, it could have had a niche as a cheap way to take out hordes of weak enemies, but after the first strike, Mario's attack, and Battle Plugs it doesn't even have that going for it. At least it looks cool.

Hatch Me if You Can: While it's cool to see Yoshi helping out the brothers, and it's the first multi-target attack on Mario, it also suffers from the same issues as the Green Shell. Once I got Bomb Derby, I never felt a need to use this ever again.

Zapperator: And here's the point where you never need to use the Green Shell ever again. Like the Green Shell, it's a multi target attack on Luigi. But unlike the Green Shell and Hatch Me if You Can, it has a unique feature that keeps it relevant until quite late into the game: dealing equal damage to all enemies. You will need this for some of the challenge and even main story battles.

Bomb Derby: For the third Mario & Luigi game in a row, here's Bomb Derby. Having played both Dream Team and Paper Jam earlier in 2024, I can definitely say they made this Bros. Attack much easier to pull off. The time limit for tossing the bombs is much more lenient, unlike the previous 2 games where you had to start the input as soon as Luigi got hold of the bombs. The newly added finisher is also a nice touch.

Jump Helmet: Considering this is Luigi's only single target Bros. Attack in this game, he definitely got a good pick. What I found really cool was how they changed it from Bowser's Inside Story. Since the Switch doesn't have a dual screen, they just pulled the camera back. Makes me wonder how a Partners in Time remake would handle its Bros. Items.

Clockout Blow: The most popular Bros. Attack in this game by a long shot. And I can definitely see why. Pulling from all the best parts of anime, this move offers big damage and amazing visual spectacle. And the QTEs become easier once you realize there's set patterns as to how the bros show up.

Yoo Who Cannon: Unlike the Magic Window, which seriously suffered from being given a big finisher, Yoo Who Cannon was greatly enhanced. Not only does it look cool and deal massive damage, but it also gives what was previously a rather meh move a standout feature.

Max-Mix Vortex: Aka Luiginary Typhoon 2.0, it's cool how they turned one of this game's field abilities into a combat move. My strategy for pulling off an Excellent is to press the A & B buttons 4-5 times at the same time and then fill out the remaining gaps with precision. I also love how the tornado changes its color depending on how many fire and ice balls were used.

Conductor Connector: Aka: The Zee Egg if it didn't suck. While it has a learning curve with the outer space section, once you get that down you get high damage consistently. I wish you had gotten it a bit sooner though.

Final conclusion: While some Bros. Attacks were much, much better than others, I do have to applaud this game for not having a single Bros. Attack that I actively didn't enjoy using (for example, Paper Jam's Drill Shell). Even the weaker ones like Green Shell I still could whip out and not feel my pleasure suffering.

[solus-official]

weird technical issue

hey so my roommate (who runs windows because linux is "too difficult" yeah i know) has one of the weirdest technical issues that i've seen in a while: They used to run a 4 monitor setup, 3 1080p monitors and 1 drawing tablet. It worked (relatively) fine and only needed some minor finicking from me because it had awful resolutions on all 3 main monitors. Genuinely some kinda bargain bin monitors that don't even use standard power connectors. Recently, they've gotten 2 new monitors. Brand new 2k 165htz curved screens. Installed those onto the monitor mounts and thought everything was okay. Until they tried connecting the third main monitor again, which just, didn't find a source from the computer. The drawing tablet was fine again. Tried to use either of the two monitors that were replaced in that same spot and same results, they turn on fine but just don't receive a signal from the computer. Already tried re-installing drivers, No change. Already tried switching to different driver versions. no change. Tried different cables, different ports, haven't found anything that works. Checked BIOS and didn't find anything that could help (Although we did find that the ram speed wasn't running at max cause XMP was disabled. Fixed that but haven't found a fix for the monitor) if anyone knows anything, or wants to suggest something, let me know. There's one more thing I haven't tried myself and thats switching which port the monitor is in the GPU because my roommate was very apprehensive to doing that at all. I personally believe it's the GPU thats fucked up. System Specs: ryzen 9 5900X nvidia 3070 FTW3 ultra 32G DDR4-3600 2x monitors displaying 2k . 165hz (recent upgrade) 1x monitor displaying 1080p . 165hz 1x drawing tablet 1080p . 60hz

[britt-kageryuu]

The screen has been set up. Though the bots are double checking the lights, wires, and connections. It should work just fine, just running a test of the screen.

Hence the reason a live stream of Vturtles! Leo is playing on the screen. The speakers are not connected, but can if asked.

River is checking a holographic projector to see how well they work in this setting.

The tech desk should be compatible with most devices wirelessly, though adjustments can be made. There's a box of spare parts, cords, and connectors under the desk.

For reference of size River is like 2 to 3 feet(60-91 cm) tall, depending on if she's stretching her limbs. (She's metallic teal in color, I just only have crayons right now.)

To those competing in the TMNT Au Competition, or just hanging out, feel free to mess around a bit.

@tmntaucompetition

[I am a shy/nervous writer, who sometimes draws, so I will do my best with interactions, but I'm not sure about sending asks.]