#safe spc

[simpliaxis]

What is the Salary of SPC Training in 2025? Complete Guide & Insights

Introduction :-

As Agile transformation continues to shape the future of enterprise delivery, the demand for SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs) has reached an all-time high. The SPC certification is not only a mark of expertise in scaling Agile practices but also a ticket to some of the most lucrative roles in the Agile ecosystem. If you’re considering SPC training in 2025, understanding the salary prospects is crucial for making an informed career decision. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of SPC  Training salaries, key influencing factors, and what you can expect globally.

What is an SPC and Why is the Role in Demand?

A SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) is a certified expert in implementing and coaching the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) across organizations. SPCs play a pivotal role in leading Agile transformations, training teams, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. As enterprises increasingly adopt SAFe to drive productivity and innovation, the need for skilled SPCs is growing worldwide.

SPC Salary in 2025: Global Overview

SPC salaries vary significantly based on experience, region, industry, and employer. Below is a detailed table summarizing average salary ranges for SPCs in key markets for 2025:

 L = Lakh (100,000 INR) All figures are annual gross salaries

Salary by Experience Level

Entry-Level SPCs: Typically earn the lower end of the range, with salaries starting at $100,000 in the US and ₹15 lakhs in India. These are professionals with basic experience in Agile and initial SAFe implementation exposure.

Mid-Level SPCs: With a few years of hands-on experience and a proven track record, mid-level SPCs can command salaries up to $200,000 in the US and ₹30 lakhs in India.

Senior-Level SPCs: Seasoned experts who have led major Agile transformations can earn $400,000+ in the US and over ₹40 lakhs in India. Top-paying companies and tech hubs offer even higher packages for exceptional talent.

Salary by Employer and Industry

SPC salaries are also influenced by the type of employer:

Tech Giants (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon): Offer salaries ranging from $140,000 to over $200,000 annually.

Financial Institutions & Global Corporations: Often pay above-average rates to attract SPCs with niche expertise.

Consulting Firms: May offer performance-based bonuses and higher compensation for those leading large transformation projects.

Key Factors Affecting SPC Salaries

Geographical Location: US, UK, Australia, and Canada offer the highest salaries due to high demand and cost of living.

Industry Demand: Tech, finance, and consulting sectors pay more than manufacturing or non-profit sectors.

Experience & Skills: Advanced SAFe knowledge, strong coaching abilities, and a history of successful transformations command premium salaries.

Company Size & Reputation: Large, global organizations typically offer higher compensation packages.

Tips to Maximize Your SPC Salary

Upskill Continuously: Stay updated with the latest SAFe versions and Agile trends.

Build a Strong Portfolio: Showcase successful Agile transformations and leadership experience.

Network Strategically: Engage in Agile communities and seek opportunities in high-paying regions and industries.

Conclusion

The SPC salary landscape in 2025 is robust, with certified professionals enjoying premium compensation across the globe. Whether you’re starting your journey or aiming for senior roles, SPC training offers a pathway to financial growth and career advancement. By choosing the right opportunities, continuously upskilling, and leveraging your expertise, you can unlock the full earning potential of an SPC in today’s Agile-driven world.

Ready to shape your Agile career? Now is the best time to invest in SPC training and certification for a rewarding future!

[scrumhelp1]

Implementing SAFe- In-Person, Aug 08 - Aug 11, 9am - 6pm, GMT.

Are you looking to take your Agile career to the next level?

Become a certified SAFe Practice Consultant and learn how to: * Apply the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to drive Agile scalability within organizations * Coach and train teams in Agile principles and practices * Lead and facilitate transformative Agile journeys

This four-day course is taught by expert instructors Amogh Joshi (SPCT Candidate) and Michael Casey (SAFe Fellow, SPCT).

Enroll today and take your first step towards becoming a certified SAFe Practice Consultant!

Click here to learn more and secure your spot.

[disturbedbeautywrites]

Photos from Facebook from a guy who teaches a storm class here in Oklahoma.

Wrapping up Twisters opening weekend with one more behind the scenes memory.

In April, 2023, we were approached by the Twisters production office about doing a storm spotter class for the cast and crew. As we talked about the class, I asked them if they wanted 1) a storm spotter class; 2) a weather class with info to help actors with their roles in the movie; or 3) a tornado safety class to help everyone new to Oklahoma in springtime. The answer was yes - we want all three.

On May 3rd, 2023, we hosted nine of the cast and nine crew members for the training. It didn't really have a name, but I've heard someone refer to it as Tornado Bootcamp or Tornadoes 101. We started around 8am and it lasted two hours.

I covered Oklahoma tornado culture to illustrate how big of a deal tornadoes are to the people who live here, covering everything from Saturday siren tests to IPAs named after weather terms to TV meteorologist drinking games and bingo cards to storm anxiety and PTSD. I talked about the Twister effect, which saw meteorology school enrollments double or triple in some cases after Twister came out. I did some basic storm spotter training and a little severe weather meteorology, and wrapped up with tornado safety (including a slide illustrating how it was not safe to shelter under a wooden bridge or by strapping yourself to a pipe using screen grabs from Twister.)

The class was very interactive. Daisy Edgar Jones and Glen Powell sat front row center and Daisy had her notebook and took notes the entire time. I got really good questions from the class and I could tell they were genuinely interested.

We followed up the class with an extended tour/visit to SPC and the WFO, with a lot more great questions and discussion. We ended the visit talking vehicles and technology with Sean Waugh. I think some of them would have stayed all day if they had been able to.

[stevespookington]

We are heading into severe weather season in the US soon (and by soon I mean tomorrow) (disclaimer, this is all general advice. pay attention to the official weather sources in your area for alerts and important information. I am not an expert, weather info is just a hobby for me.)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service (NWS) has (for now anyways) the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) which is a great source of information to stay weather aware.

The SPC puts out Convective Outlooks. These show where thunderstorms and severe weather have the potential to pop up. (With temperatures warming up, the movement of warm air leads to convection in the atmosphere which results in thunderstorms and sometimes severe weather. There is a good blog post going into more detail here)

Specifically, the outlooks are:

Day 1 Outlook (today and early tomorrow morning)

Day 2 Outlook (the next 24 hours following early tomorrow morning)

Day 3 Outlook (the next 24 hours)

Day 4-8 Outlook (the next days, but these are never too certain due to the way the models work)

These outlooks are timestamped with Zulu time aka Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). You can see how that compares to your local timezone here.

Today (3/13/25), the weather outlook is okay, just a slight risk of thunderstorms across the US. However, Friday (3/14/25) and Saturday (3/15/25) both have a widespread risk of severe weather including strong winds and tornadoes.

If you are in any of these colored regions, stay weather aware! Now, this doesn't mean you have to panic, but keep an eye on the weather reports in your area!

I tend to check the SPC in the morning so I know when I have to really be paying attention to the weather for the day/coming days.

Below is more info on the color coding which you can read more about here. (In addition here is a powerpoint from the NWS with more information "12 Things You Need to Know: Severe Weather Outlooks")

Tips on staying weather aware, it's important to have access to several weather sources.

Check the SPC for updates!

Find your closest NWS Forecast Office via zip code on weather.gov

Keep an eye on the local news and local weather reports

Consider getting a weather radio! (info here from NWS) This is good for if you lose power/internet as you can check the automated radio stations near you

Check the radar (I use the radarscope app) but you can check online with websites like radar.weather.gov or wunderground.com

Ryan Hall Y'all is a youtube channel that livestreams during most severe weather outbreaks

More weather info:

Severe Weather 101

How NOAA Satellites Help Us Stay Ahead of Severe Weather Season

How to Use and Interpret Doppler Weather Radar

TropicalTidbits - Info on hurricanes and other tropical weather

NWS - Emergency Supplies Kit Info

Weather Prediction Center - similar to SPC but more generalized

What to do During a Tornado (via NWS):

Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.

At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.

At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent.  If you have time, get to a safe building.

In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

NOAA and NWS are under threat from everything going on right now. (Hundreds of weather forecasters fired in latest wave of DOGE cuts.) They provide vital services and do very important research about our weather and climate. While 5calls.org does not currently have a template centered on NOAA/NWS, they have similar ones that you could reference, modify, and use. (I have modified one below that you might consider using.) (5calls.org also has other very important scripts that you might use for other issues.) Please consider calling your representatives and telling them how important weather information is to everybody and that they should be protecting it, not defunding it. Not only for severe weather, but for climate change research and more.

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I'm calling to demand that [REP/SEN NAME] oppose any legislation, or efforts by the executive branch to dismantle or abolish the National Weather Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The recent reduction in staff is unacceptable, and will put Americans' lives and property at risk to severe weather. Reduced warning capabilities will put lives at risk and could potentially make response and recovery more hazardous and more expensive. Thank you for your time and consideration. IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

While this is geared towards the US, a lot of this information can be applied via resources specific to your country. And finally, to quote Ryan Hall, Don't be Scared, Be Prepared.

[torchickentacos]

Hey, so this is a little out of my wheelhouse and not an area of expertise, so feel free to correct me on things in reblogs of this post. That said, everyone should start paying closer attention to weather and learning how to read radars, how to read SPC (Storm Prediction Center) outlooks and checking them daily, and how to look outside and make educated guesses on local weather with all the information available to you.

It's important to learn more about local (especially severe) weather patterns now more than ever. Last night (5/16/2025), extreme weather tore through a lot of places in the US, and according to a NY Times article linked here, a Kentucky weather station had no overnight forecaster due to government cuts. This was during a tornado outbreak with multiple fatalities in a state/region that does not get violent tornadoes often; therefore, during a situation in which quick, accurate, widespread information was incredibly important to provide and receive, and that didn't happen for a lot of people. It's good to find other sources of information right now, since govt cuts have a death toll.

As far as other sources go (feel free to add onto this), local weather channels may be hit-or-miss depending on your area, I can't personally vouch for every weather station in America, but it's worth knowing which channel it's on and trying to find time in your day to tune in every day, and tuning in during outbreaks. Getting a weather radio is also a great option, though not one that's immune from govt cuts (the broadcast is provided through the NOAA, I believe). Now, I'm not the type to shill for youtubers, but Ryan Hall and Max Velocity on Youtube both go on ad-free livestreams during severe weather events and they provide country-wide coverage, hopping from warning to warning across states as they pop up and develop. They both have stormchasers on the ground to watch and track these storms. They often provide warnings for people before the NWS (National Weather Service) officially issues them, and anecdotally, I've noticed more and more NWS-unwarned tornadoes. Given staffing and budget cuts as seen in Kentucky, it's not fully unexpected. I'd find other avenues of weather coverage that aren't government-official warnings right now. I wouldn't ditch government warnings entirely (Please don't, actually! They're still life-saving! Sign up for phone alerts and keep them on!), but I would use them alongside other avenues of information.

TL:DR, if you're the kind of person who gets their weather information from phone alerts only, I'd diversify that and add other ways to get information ahead of time (as well as during).

It's worth noting that a lot of the things I've mentioned (if not all of them), including SPC outlooks and the information that local meteorologists rely on, operate because of or in part due to government funding and employees. Which, as noted, may not be as quick or reliable as it has been in the past. This is why it's important to use a wide variety of sources in conjunction with each other. If one avenue of information is falling short, hopefully another can help make up for that. And if you are in an area prone to severe weather (even if not, it's good to know regardless), be sure to have an action plan in place for weather emergencies. Know how and where to shelter in the event of different types of severe weather. Learn which part of your house is the safest from tornadoes and wind damage (lowest level, no windows, put the most walls between you and outside, wear shoes). Just try to be more aware of local weather, because you may end up not getting an official broadcasted warning when you need one, and it'll be up to you to decide how to proceed in order to stay safe. Check outlooks, know when you're in the risk zones. Stay safe.

[a-deadly-serenade]

saw someone ask for more clarification on how to read the SPC's outlook maps, so here's a little guide :)

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is an agency a part of the National Weather Service (NWS), which in turn is a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Located in Norman, Oklahoma, the heart of the United States's research into severe weather, the SPC's main goal is to forecast the probability of severe weather happening across the country.

Their convective outlooks are these maps that you might see floating around online:

As you can note by the ledgers present in the bottom corners of these images, each color corresponds to a level of risk on the probability of severe weather occurring within a given area, numbered 1-5.

Light green (not labeled as Marginal or MRGL) = 0/5, chance for thunderstorms, some heavy rain, strong winds, and possibly some small hail.

Darker green (Marginal or MRGL) = 1/5, low, but present risk for severe thunderstorms, including hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

Yellow (Slight or SLGT) = 2/5, a more present risk for severe thunderstorms, including hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

Orange (Enhanced or ENH) = 3/5, a higher risk for severe thunderstorms, including hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.

Red (Moderate or MDT) = 4/5, more confidence for the risk of severe thunderstorms, including damaging hail, damaging winds, and possible strong tornadoes.

Pink (High/HIGH) = 5/5, very high probability for the risk of severe thunderstorms, including damaging hail, damaging winds, and possible strong, long-track tornadoes.

--> Helpful links!

SPC Outlook Map

SPC Official Twitter Account

NWS Official Twitter Account

These maps are used to help predict the probability of severe weather happening up to about 3 days in advance. Days 1-3 are their most accurate, however, it is important to note that weather is ever-changing, and even Day 1 outlooks, or the day of, can change throughout as more data comes in via weather models or even on-the-ground storm chasers.

At the bottom of every single outlook map, is a detailed mesoscale analysis done by a meteorologist at the NWS breaking down the schematics by location of the system moving through that day. As an example, this is the discussion for today, March 15, 2025:

These are all extremely helpful tools that are completely FREE to use! If you live in an area that is prone to severe weather, I would highly recommend you get into the habit of becoming more weather aware and familiarizing yourself with these maps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Below, I will break down a couple more tabs available for further analysis. These will be under the cut, as just a little extra for those who are especially curious ;)

The SPC additionally publishes the percent risk of these storms coming with damaging winds, damaging hail, and tornadoes. As an example, I will present and explain the risks associated with the storms happening today, March 15, 2025:

As you can see, all the parameters have been met in Alabama and Mississippi that warrant a level 5/5, or a High Risk that severe weather will occur within the pink-shaded area, with the risk descending as you go further North into the Ohio River Valley. Now, let's look at the probability of a tornado occurring within these areas:

As noted by the table at the bottom, there is a 30% chance of a tornado occurring within the pink-shaded area. Not only that, the entire stretch crossing all the way from Louisiana up to Tennesee, is marked by these black dots. These are hatches, and this indicates that the tornadoes that could occur, have a higher probability of being rated an EF2+. Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale, going from EF0-EF5:

You can also look at the probability of damaging winds:

And damaging hail:

[radiojamming]

Hey guys! We're looking at another severe weather outbreak tomorrow evening/night and it's shaping up to potentially get nasty. Like, bad enough that storm chasers I know are already either leaving for southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, or backing out entirely because they're worried about what's going to happen. Last time, the post I made got a little bit of traction, so I thought I'd go for it again on the off chance that it's helpful at all.

Here are the following regions currently set to be impacted, according to today's (5/24) outlook from the Storm Prediction Center:

MODERATE (MDT): Oklahoma City, OK; Tulsa, OK; Wichita, KS; Norman, OK; Lawton, OK

ENHANCED (ENH): Kansas City, MO; Overland Park, KS; Kansas City, KS; Topeka, KS; Olathe, KS

SLIGHT (SLGT): Lincoln, NE; Springfield, MO; Abilene, TX; St. Joseph, MO; Fayetteville, AR

MARGINAL (MRGL): Dallas, TX; Columbus, OH; Fort Worth, TX; Cleveland, OH; Omaha, NE

The SPC will update this forecast tomorrow (5/25) morning and will monitor it throughout the day and make changes if need be.

Here are my tips (as well as @fruitsmother's great advice!) from the outbreak two weeks ago.

Another great resource for right-to-the-minute weather updates is Ryan Hall, who will more than likely livestream tomorrow and is great about providing watches and warnings as they come in and giving advice about what to do. He also runs a 501(c)(3) non-profit The Y'All Squad that provides assistance and relief in areas hit by severe weather events.

Just to hit some key points for this forecast and reiterate the biggest pieces of advice:

These storms are forecasted to produce damaging winds, large hail, and potentially strong or violent tornadoes. These storms may hit during the night, meaning there will be low visibility. Do not just rely on sight to monitor the weather; rotation may occur right above you and not all tornadoes are immediately visible. Listen to NOAA weather radio, news stations, or any other resource you may have.

If the weather gets bad, go to a basement or the lowest level of a building. If the building doesn't have a basement, go to the most interior room (usually a bathroom or closet) with no windows. If in a bathroom, consider bringing in couch cushions, pillows, or a mattress to cover yourself in case of falling debris.

Stay away from windows, especially with the potential for high winds and hail. Do not open your windows (see: common tornado myths).

DO NOT GO OUTSIDE TO WATCH. Even if there isn't a tornado, flying debris and huge pieces of hail falling at incredible speeds are a real issue! If you've never gotten clocked in the head with an ice chunk, now is not the time to find out how it feels!

If you haven't already done so, now is the best time to consider your severe weather plan and set up your safe place. Some items you might want to have on hand are things like flashlights or lanterns, extra batteries, phone chargers, food, water, clothing, blankets, several days' worth of medicine if needed, and a first aid kit. If you have pets, it might be best to put pet carriers, extra food, water, leashes, or anything else you may need in this area as well.

Review some basic first aid skills and tips.

If you're on the road, do not go up under an overpass. This is very '90s advice and has been proven either ineffective or outright dangerous. Go into a ditch and try to get yourself as low as possible.

In the worst case scenario of a tornado or other destructive event (microbursts, derechos, etc.), be a help, not a hindrance! Don't clog roadways; allow emergency personnel to get where they need to go!

Just as well, this is not a day for amateur storm chasers. Chaser convergence has been a real problem this year and as we've learned (unfortunately) in the past, tornadoes don't always follow their usual rules, which can put even the most seasoned chaser in danger. This is going to be a great day to watch Pecos Hank or Skip Talbot videos while being as safe as possible.

I'll keep you guys updated as the models from the SPC change or if anything else comes up. Mostly, stay safe!

[localishweatherman]

Today (3/15/25) and tomorrow's (3/16/25) convective outlooks via the Storm Prediction Center

What to do During a Tornado (via NWS):

Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.

At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.

At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent.  If you have time, get to a safe building.

In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Tips on staying weather aware, it's important to have access to several weather sources.

Check the SPC for updates!

Find your closest NWS Forecast Office via zip code on weather.gov

Keep an eye on the local news and local weather reports

Consider getting a weather radio! (info here from NWS) This is good for if you lose power/internet as you can check the automated radio stations near you

Check the radar either via an app like radarscope or online with websites like radar.weather.gov or wunderground.com

Ryan Hall Y'all is a youtube channel that livestreams during most severe weather outbreaks

In addition, OK and TX have high weather risk today (3/15/25) via the SPC again from their fire weather outlook.

NWS Fire Weather Updates

Fire and Smoke Map: Airnow.gov

CDC: Preparing for Wildfires

Ready.gov: Prepare for Wildfires

Airnow.gov: Prepare for Wildfires

[simpliaxis]

10 Benefits of Implementing SAFe in Your Organization

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are under pressure to deliver value faster, adapt to changing markets, and foster innovation at scale. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) has emerged as a leading solution for enterprises seeking to scale Agile practices across multiple teams and departments. Implementing SAFe certification within your organization is more than just a badge of honor—it’s a strategic investment that delivers measurable business outcomes. Here are the top 10 benefits of adopting Implementing SAFe certification in your organization:

1. Alignment Across the Organization

SAFe certification ensures that every team, department, and leader operates with a shared understanding of goals, roles, and processes. This unified approach eliminates chaos and confusion, enabling everyone to work toward common business objectives and reducing miscommunication.

2. Improved Time-to-Market

By streamlining workflows and eliminating inefficiencies, SAFe enables organizations to deliver products and services to the market significantly faster. Certified teams leverage Program Increments (PIs) and Agile Release Trains (ARTs) to plan, execute, and release with speed and agility—often improving time-to-market by 30% to 75%.

3. Enhanced Collaboration and Communication

SAFe promotes cross-functional collaboration, breaking down silos and fostering teamwork across departments. Certified professionals are equipped to facilitate better communication, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned and informed throughout the project lifecycle.

4. Increased Productivity

Organizations implementing SAFe certification report productivity improvements ranging from 20% to 50%. By optimizing workflows and empowering teams to focus on high-priority tasks, SAFe helps organizations do more with less.

5. Superior Product Quality

Continuous integration, testing, and quality assurance are at the heart of SAFe. Certified teams are trained to catch defects early, reduce rework, and consistently deliver high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations.

6. Better Risk Management

SAFe’s structured approach to planning and execution allows organizations to identify and mitigate risks early. Enhanced transparency and real-time visibility into project progress help leaders make informed decisions and address issues proactively.

7. Higher Employee Engagement and Morale

SAFe empowers teams with autonomy and accountability, fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement. This not only boosts productivity but also enhances job satisfaction and employee retention.

8. Stronger Customer Focus

SAFe certification trains teams to prioritize customer needs and respond quickly to feedback. This customer-centric mindset leads to higher satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term business success.

9. Greater Return on Investment (ROI)

By reducing waste, improving efficiency, and accelerating delivery, SAFe delivers measurable ROI. Organizations see increased revenue, cost savings, and a decisive competitive edge as a direct result of SAFe implementation.

10. Future-Proofing the Organization

In a hyper-competitive, ever-changing market, agility is not optional. SAFe-certified organizations are better equipped to innovate, adapt to disruptions, and stay ahead of the competition by fostering a culture of learning and adaptability.

Conclusion

Implementing SAFe certification in your organization is a transformative step that drives alignment, accelerates delivery, and builds a resilient, customer-focused culture. The benefits are clear: higher productivity, better quality, improved morale, and a stronger bottom line. As more enterprises embrace Agile at scale, SAFe certification stands out as a proven path to sustainable business growth and long-term success.

[relleytrots]

Do you have any general advice on involving human touchstones? (And, as a bonus round, any advice on how to handle touchstones that live somewhere other than your chronicle's city? How to make them matter, still bring the drama, etc.)

So I've had to sit on this one for (checks notes) ten days, because - OK, Red, you found my secret weakness. I am terrible at maintaining a mortal focus in my games. I am, on this occasion, the person V5 was designed to course correct. That said, I have made some progress since I first picked up the V5 books. Here's how.

One Touchstone per Conviction is bullshit. Coming up with Convictions is already a challenge, and now you have to ideate a whole person for each one? In theory this makes you create multiple mortals and really make you think about the World your characters live in and their roots. In practice it seems to result in part-baked NPCs who are there because the book says they have to be and never get used. So, turning to Requiem where the mechanic originates, and to VtM: Redemption (my beloved) which presents it as a plot beat, we have one Touchstone for each character.

Touchstones are not just Touchstones. Again, I get what the V5 devs were trying to do here - incidental, fleeting, arms-length, parasocial, parasitical, one-sided relationships - but I don't think it quite lands in terms of wanting to use the characters and having a purpose for them. Touchstones are at their best, IMO, if they rise out of Merits or Flaws, if they're associated with an advantage or disadvantage the character has to use or deal with. One could argue that for Finlay in the Wild Roses game, their Enemy Lucas is their Touchstone. Their rivalry has defined Finlay's life since before their Embrace, and ensuring Lucas doesn't get to join them in undeath is a constant drive for their actions. Cali's Touchstone is Mr. Morecambe, his family solicitor, who's locked into his Disliked and Destitute Flaws: Cali's quick mouth and quicker fists have landed him with multiple assault charges over the years, and the wealthier side of his family only relate to him through a legal intermediary. One could similarly argue that for SPC Kieron, his Stalker Sarah is his Touchstone. Sarah is a journalist - a theatre critic - who's trashed Kieron in print multiple times but still turns out to every show he directs, and Kieron's boyfriend Callum has remarked that someone needs to Embrace that woman because she has the vampire attitude down already. Kieron's had an opportunity to kill her - on the edge of hunger frenzy, he cornered her in a phonebox and fed from her - but he didn't kill her because, a) that would be wrong and b) he recognises he needs his most vituperative critic to tell him what he's doing wrong. I think Touchstones work as an incentive to not buy off Flaws with XP. You need this person, for some reason. They remind you that you could be worse, and need to be better. For a positive, tied-to-Merits example: Sister Alzbeta in the Dark Ages game has Sister Ruth as her Touchstone. A mentor figure who comes as part of the community in her convent Haven. Likewise, Mariam has Mendel, the son of her recently-deceased-in-mysterious-circumstances rabbi, and she's desperate to keep him safe from whatever Cainite nonsense is swirling around him - but he's a smart guy, he knows things, and he's known Mariam since they were kids, and he's going to work this out. Tension. TENSION! Their Coterie Type is Questari so investigating and learning about the secrets that threaten their communities is part of their whole deal and that's another hook to hang Touchstone relationships off. Your link to Humanity, capital-H, is also your link to your Domain Merits - I can never remember which one's which, I think it's Lien, the one that measures how integrated into the domain you are - anyway, to your little-h humans as well.

As for Touchstones who are outside the chronicle's immediate remit, I probably wouldn't - unless the player had a really cool idea. If that's the case, I trust the player to make the Touchstone relevant because it's theirs, and the kind of player that does this is going to bring their idea up.

So let's talk about Frankie's Touchstones. Frankie's lesbian aunties back in Finland, who raised them, and Frankie's daughter, who they were looking after while Frankie was studying in the UK (and never came back). This damaged goth MILF with a Past (loathsome ex, recovering from addiction, but a daughter she adores from afar) revealed her backstory over a few in-between nights and moments in the first two "seasons" of the chronicle, and it became part of her bond with Alistair as Coterie Mawla because he's had to raise a child at arm's length too. Their talk about that came at either the end of S1 or during S2, I forget now, but it was heartrending, and it's a big part of why they trusted each other going into the revolutionary activities of S3.

That sort of loops us back around to what I was saying earlier, though. By the Rules As Written, Touchstones are not necessarily linked to anything else on the character sheet, but if they are, they will be much more relevant to the players, and will become more present in play through reference and repetition. At least, that's what I've figured out so far.

[ghostgirlvii]

Can I get some more information about Anisoara? Anything will do :3 I just re-read her sheet. And the company gives me scp vibes. And I love it so much * _ *so I would love to know more about them and Anisoara herself:3.

Omgomfomgomg i get to gush about my oc akdkskdk *cough* Ok play it cool

The Agency she work for (which is mostly referenced as such because I have no name for it atm) is in the first idea some sort of spy/secret ops company. They will do the dirty work their country doesn't want to get involve in. They have good paycheck, nice advantages, anything like regular work company. So you know seems like a nice place to work for. Till you dig deeper and found some dark secrets.

So far the idea I have with the serum, the one that was given to Anisoara when she was just a baby, is that is should work in the same line as the serum in Captain America. Make stronger, better soldiers. But obviously, it doesn't quite work well. In fact, Anisoara is so far the only test subject to still be alive/fully able body. Well if we forget the mutated arm, she is in a good health. I should really get a little more into her story, because I had some good betrayal ideas :3

A little random fact about Ani. Althought not used often, she got the callsign "Stag". It came after one mission, where she was badly injured, almost left for death. She can't recall much between the time she was clinging to life in the cold forest and when she came back to her sense in safe place. But she vaguely remember a stag guiding her, helping her. People think she was delirious but, maybe she was right 👀

I could see why it gives a little be spc vibes. I won't lie I'm sometime on tiny line to let it all go in that direction, but that would be sooo much work to checkout the whole spc idea (I know there's not real canon, a little be free for all, but I dared to check the wiki at some point and I needed five business day to recover from all the informations I read lol)

[fulokis]

Twisters thoughts

Okay first of all loved this more than the original.

I had seen people saying El Reno and figured that they were referring to the first scene in the movie with the rain wrapped tornado and three chasers dying. In fact it was not this and I gasped when the El Reno water tower was shown.

For those of you who are not weather nerds (I will assume most hence this bullet point) In 2013 the largest tornado ever recorded formed and went south of the town of El Reno Oklahoma, this is the only tornado to ever kill storm chasers directly 3 of them were professionals. The town of El Reno was extremely lucky that it didn’t get hit considering mobile radars measured wind speeds of upwards of 301 mph.

I’m torn on the overpass thing because that is in fact the worst place to be in a tornado and while yes three people died trying to hide under it, I still feel like the message conveyed may perpetuate the thought that it’s safe. And I do understand that if it’s the only thing that might save your life you’re going to do it

Found it clever that they named the radar trucks after other wizard of oz characters, I also enjoy that they did bring Dorothy back

The tornado wrangler dude seems very loosely based on Reed Timmer, to me at least

I enjoy the call out about the 10$ radar app, however the comment on that’s why everyone is there is wrong because all you have to do is look at the spc website to see where the potential risk is

They really missed an opportunity in not mentioning Doppler on Wheels especially because that’s where my mind went when they first mentioned the radars

I appreciate the emphasis about safety but man please someone cover your head, getting to a shelter is only going to help you so much and it won’t necessarily protect you from debris

The random mention of the Fujiwhara effect had me cackling

I would’ve rather the twins be a multi vortex rather than twins but I know it was a reference to the og movie so I’ll let it slide

I was very happy with the way they did the ‘tornado ratings’ in this one. Not only that but they explained what the rating means which is fantastic

I would’ve been perfectly happy without the tornado disrupting sub plot mainly because getting radar data as a triangulation is pretty cool an idea

I will say that until we fully understand tornados ‘disrupting’ one will not even be theoretical but I do appreciate how it wasn’t totally made up science, even if we were to do it the trick would be getting there at the right place and time

But hey tornado probes are a thing and have been used in tornados before and they hadn’t had a successful intercept until way after the first movie came out. They’re different in concept and appearance. Dorthy was based on TOTO which was not really successful. The ones today look like big orange cones.

So yeah that’s some coherent thoughts my brain is buzzing because I am a weather nerd and it was throwing big science words lefr and right and kept me engaged

[angria]

Damn, today was a day. A good day, but just a lot.

Had a surprise ICE drill at placement this morning (what we would do at the health center in the event ICE shows up for a patient). A told me later how impressed she was over how I took charge of the situation, blocking them (coworkers who were pretending) from entering the building (our office is on private property vs. at the front clinic so they legally need a signed warrant to enter). We joked how I jumped into action as a trauma response, but I said I feel protective. Once I go into that mode, I'm focused and will not let harm come to someone. But, it was definitely dysregulating, even knowing it was a drill.

Then had a good supervision after feeling bad from last week's meeting. Was able to talk it through with A about the internal dialogue that happened. Afterwards, she looked at me and said, "There is nothing you could ever do that would would disappoint me or change our relationship (other than driving into a crowd or something). We have a strong rapport and can work it together. I'm safe and will be here. I'm not going anywhere." I just started crying after she said that. And I handled the second RJ training much better than last week. Brought my playdoh and moved more so I wouldn't get dissociative and was able to stay present. So that made me feel better.

Last vestry meeting tonight (WOO) and W announced to the group that I'm the new admin at St. P's (hence why I'm stepping down from vestry). Everyone clapped and said this will be a good fit (apparently the current admin was let go?? I didn't realize she wasn't working out). I said I was telling spc tomorrow and they all wished me luck. Overall, a good last meeting.

And to round out the day....got my paper I was worried about back and did well on it! The prof even wrote, "Excellent job E. It was nice to read analysis that went beyond expectations and incorporated learning from your full studies. That's a mark of an excellent social worker!" Like holy shit?!? Was not anticipating that. Screenshot her comment so I can remember when I start cycling through the negative narrative of being incompetent and questioning who am I to be a social worker when I'm this fucked up. Like oh hey, I can actually do this....

[lazareneblessing]

3 and 8 for Nat, 7 for Malcolm!

THANK YOU SO MUCHHHH MWAH MWAH SMOOCH

3. What is their Ambition? How are they planning on achieving that goal?

kay so by the virtue of being a SPC, nat doesn't have a clear cut ambition always updated on their sheet. but currently what's at the forefront of their mind is finding and capturing gaspard, a tzimisce who sired their thinblood bestie zoë. and also did a bunch of other stuff. they've got long-standing beef. but pretty soon after we started our chronicle (shadows of berlin) nat tried killing him again and thought they succeeded but couldn't really confirm the death cuz they made a promise to keep one of the PCs on the scene (@deenomilk's zasha <3) safe as they interrogated him about some plot stuff. but alas it seems like gaspard somehow got rescued, and zoë is looking into different ways to become human again. the whole "kill your sire and you will get your mortality back" thing came up in her research. and nat kinda fucked her over by trying to murder him in secret in the first place so they want to make up for it by delievering him staked and ready to kill for her like a cat bringing a wounded rat as a thropy to its owner. sorry if this is a lot and makes barely any sense but if i were to go in deep about this whole plotline we would be here forever LOL . but im willing to share in a separate post maybe if anyones interested.

8. What annoys them the most about other vampires? How about specific clans or sects (specify)?

i think a major point of annoynance for nat when it comes to other vampires is when they behave like they're better than they are when it comes to moral matters. nat's doing pretty good humanity-wise at this point in our game, but a lot of it comes from the radical acceptance of who they are. which is. well, a parasitic monster. and they don't really shy away from it, or speaking of their past which includes giovanni shenenigans, sabbat shenenigans (war crimes) or just their general being a menace towards everyone shenenigans. so they don't like it when other cainites act all high and mighty and better than the others for whatever the reasons may be. excessive pride in one's perceived goodness irks them.

sect-wise, they find camarilla annoying for the reasons stated above pretty much, and also for their hypocrisy. like, are they all that better than the sabbat? nat has their doubts. they left the sabbat for very interpersonal reasons and also kinda blinded by rage, but when they were a part of it they didn't enjoy the lack of coherent and reasonable planning. didn't mind the bloodshed at all, just how wasteful it usually was.

and if we are speaking of specific clans... they disdain most of the main clan giovanni, which goes beyond typical annoyance LMAO. and then the tremere annoy them with their occult knowledge elitism and gatekeeping.

7. What are some of the most evil and fucked up things they've done? Was it a big deal for them?

ouhhhhhh so. important thing about malcolm is that he's a ghoul and he became a ghoul under some very specific circumstances and his brain was pretty much broken by his domitor via a mixture of dominate and the blood bond. like dude had all of his personhood pretty much taken away from him, and he was working for one of the giovanni running a very hands-on mafia operations. so as far as consciously making choices to do evil and fucked up things, nahhh he's clear. some questionable stuff maybe but there were lines he wasn't and/or isn't willing to cross as of now. but under his first domitor everything was on the table cuz he was like a shell of a person pretty much driven entirely by the domitor's orders. so he was doing a lot of typical mafia violence shit, beating people up for extortion/threatening/whatever purposes, killing whoever his domitor wanted disposed of (including malcolm's own boyfriend, rip), doing hit and runs with a death toll, committing arson, terrorism, running whole families over with his car. like there is a lot and he didn't remember most of it in the first place cuz he was getting his memories ereased, and what he did remember his brain repressed to protect itself. he feels Terrible about it, cause even though he didn't do those things out of his own free will, they still happened and theres no way he can make up for any of it. but he is slowly coming to terms with all of that although the guilt Will haunt him forever!

[vaasmommymilkers]

Come hither as I yell about my VtM SPCs (or at least the ones I’ve written the most of aka some of the important ones at the moment)

For context I’m setting my game in Las Vegas! I’ll write more about my colorful cast of spcs, but these are the ones I have definitely thought about more. More NPC talk will come very soon I promise cause I haven’t even brushed upon the Hecata presence in this damn city 🧍‍♂️

Also apologize for the spelling mistake, I’m very tried but very excited to talk about them.

Camarilla Court:

- Mackenzie Lewis - Ventrue: She’s a real estate agent who owns many properties in Vegas, including apartment buildings under Paradise Property Management. She gets what she wants and that comes at a price: buying already owned apartment buildings to displace 1000s onto the streets for her soon to be circulatory system. She’s the venture primogen.

- Mabel Griffith -???: An odd kindred that popped into Vegas out of nowhere, She looks to be 14 years old and suddenly it’s a problem for everyone on the council. Her being a huge masquerade breach, especially in Vegas, she’s reduced to Primogen duty for the Malkavians due to the last one mysteriously disappeared in the early 2010s. Mabel is there until a new contender replaces her. She’s ambitious and often lies about what her actual clan is, tho most of her council mates put her as caitiff (Note: she does have a clan but that’s for my players to find out 🌚)

- Squash - Nosferatu: He’s the Nosferatu primogen who got appointed by the sheriff, looks over The Tunnels. The Tunnels for those who aren’t aware, is a place where a lot of the homeless population resides. And a lot of Nos as well 🌚. Recently he’s been tasked with finding how why so many kindred and kine have been going missing in the Tunnels. It’s usually not a problem until a few locals got caught in the mist.

Anarchs:

- Pamala Fletcher - Brujah: served as a nurse in the Vietnam War and soon after embraced, she created Heartwood Refuge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to help the homeless and displaced kine and kindred alike. She has a heart of gold and temper overall. She’s one of the three couch barons of Vegas and her coterie mates deemed “The Leader”

- Shiloh Briggs - Banu Haquim: Security Consultant for the casinos, she’s also one of couch barons and apart of panala’s coterie, taking her holdings in Spring Valley due to it being closer for her job. She has a twin sister named Piper to whom Shiloh recently ghouled. Shiloh is reserved yet kind, though Shiloh is known for slipping away to discuss “other” means of business.

- Elijah Whitlock - Toreador: A recently new to the whole “baron” thing, Elijah was a former Cirque du Soleil performer. He disbanded from the camarilla due to “indifferences” from his sire, the toreador primogen, he’s taking this opportunity to rebrand himself and be his own person. His other barons tease him, but everyone is so happy to have Elijah in the group.

Other kindred and mortals:

- Jane “Lola” Santos - Caitiff: this firecracker of a grandma owns The Margrave Apartment Complex. She has been property manager since 1941 and has lived in Vegas since the 1910s and kept it running ever since. The people who live there call her Lola or Grandma cause she’s everyone’s grandma! She keeps kindred in need of homes and in return Santos keeps them busy with small tasks to keep the complex running. Lately Mackenzie and her goons have been threatening Santos with buying up the complex but Santos is a stubborn woman who won’t back down.

- Daphne “Birdie” Widdop - Malkavian: a DJ who floats from scene to scene looking for her next big hit. She’s gained the nicknamed by her only speaking in song lyrics if she’s under any sort of stress or excitement. But under her excitement is a woman who ran from violence. Too much violence for anyone to handle. And her only way of coping with the violence she had to endure is with music. (She was one of my favorite npcs to write. I need her to be safe and happy you don’t understand 🧍‍♂️)

- Piper Briggs - Mortal: Twin sister to Shiloh, Piper is a college student for journalism. She runs the college radio station (and yes I have made a playlist for what songs she plays!) As of recently, Piper is getting used to the whole “getting ghouled” business of sorts but she doesn’t mind it tho, it’s just more of an excuse to help her sister out and be more like her. Even if it’s to her detriment.

[ateohsixxxx]

Eerie did Tumblr eat my fat bird photo I sent you,,,, it was such a good bird :(

Also that scp/barbed wire sets got me thinking thoughts and having feelings,,,, does the scp-806 know of 049? And do they get along,,,,,

- 🦈

I, unfortunately, ate the fat birb picture :( but it’s back now!

All good questions, let me check the logs. There’s not a lot of information on SCP-806 that isn’t redacted, but this is what I found:

Addendum 806.49:█████████ Incident

After SCP-049’s ██████ ███ ██████ of Dr. Hamm (See instances of SPC-049-2) Dr Hanson became the attending researcher implementing stronger containment protocols for SCP-049 including addition of weekly test subjects for the enrichment of SCP-049.

During research on feeding patterns of SCP-806, Dr Hanson was able to record the first instance of vocal speech from SCP-806 when it refused the D-Class personnel drafted for feeding.

“ T a i n T e d ”

[Attached: 1 .wav file]

The incident during feeding on █████████ led Dr. Hanson to assign the D Class personel refused to be eaten by SCP-806 to SCP-049 as a test subject upon SCP-049’s request.

SCP-049 became increasingly agitated when presented with the subject, declaring them ill with ‘the Pestilence’. After preforming a crude posthumous mockery of surgery, SCP-049 declared the subject ‘cured’ and the reanimated corpse was notated as another instance of SCP-049-2.

Dr. Hanson notes an attempt at communication between the two entities would prove unwise, due to their conflicting ideaolgies, the high prey drive of SCP-806, and unpredictability of SCP-049. There are no containment procedures capable of rendering the interaction safe.

End Log