Potatomache

So... Each instance has a copy of all the other instances' content? I thought they just had access to each other's content but not a copy?

If they each have a copy then how would refederation work? I assume they just sync back together. So if instance A has a post with several comment threads on it from other instances, and B defederates, then it gets a copy of the post. If the original author on A decides to delete their post, then their post stays on B's instance, but if B refederates, does their copy of that post repopulate or does it sync up to be deleted?

Because only a few people have a truly symmetrical face. Your hair acts as a sort of frame and so a middle part can end up emphasizing the imbalances that exist and thus make you look more lopsided. There are also additional considerations to a beautiful face. Symmetry is one, proportion is the other. You can have a very symmetrical face but if your features are smaller or larger in relation to it as a whole, then that can ding off a few points on the "beauty" meter.

That's why asymmetrical hairstyles can work so much better. It can shape your face in accordance to its symmetry and proportion and thus make it appear more balanced.

The combat's a little clunkier and needs a more tactical approach (especially on higher difficulties), but once you get used to it, it can get pretty addictive. It's the only game in the series where you can get to the nitty gritty details of the AI on the companions: where you can specify which health percentage they should heal at, which enemy to prioritize, or when they should do x if y happens.

Story-wise, the game is solid. You can really tell that they took great care in mapping out all the different choices you can make, and how those meaningfully branch out into different story lines. The companions are beautifully written and have reactions that ring true to their characterization.

Personally, I thought DA:I was a big game that felt empty. It had the combat polish and the beautiful vistas, but not the depth of story and character that I hoped for.

So if you can tolerate the clumsy gameplay, and a slow start, I definitely recommend DA:O.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 has a pretty robust magic system. The chaining status effects are fun and there are multiple ways a player can turn a fight into their advantage.

Agreed. I think the closest one would be Garrus actually, but even then, there was a gap.

One thing I will say about DA:O that I think they did better than ME, was how some romantic interests would take initiative towards the player, which I found surprising and caught me off guard. It helped build the illusion that the characters were their own person, and thus the relationship between player character and them was more genuine.

I like romance in video games when they're well done. Mass Effect had some hit or misses but I like the potential it showed in this aspect. I wish they treated all the potential love interest with the same care and attention they did Liara though (I went for Thane and his romance path in ME3 was... meh). I think OG Bioware did a pretty decent job with romance. Dragon Age: Origins was also fantastic in this regard.

I have yet to scratch that romance itch with other games. I've tried it with Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Pathfinder: Kingmaker. They don't quite land as deeply. I'm hoping the newest Baldur's Gate will have an interesting romance aspect.

Chrono Trigger's pretty good! The soundtrack is equally phenomenal. :D I never got to finish it because I got stuck, but I hope to return to it someday.

I find J-RPGs have a unique sense of optimism and whimsy. Then again, maybe that's just me being biased.

Ooh! Nostalgia time!

I have very vivid memories of Sonic, Pac-Man 2, Moto Racer 97, Contra, Final Fight 2 & 3, Knights of the Round, Earthworm Jim, Spyro, Phantasy Star IV, and Mega-Man. I don't remember a lick of storyline but when I close my eyes, they're there.

As for games that have a more emotional tether, that would be things like Legend of Mana, Chrono Cross, and Threads of Fate. All of which helped build my love for fantasy. I was enamored by the art style and gameplay of LoM, the fact that you could mix and match different skills and discover new ones was like a drug, add in a crafting and pet system and I was stuck. I have a deep love for the soundtrack of Chrono Cross, the combat system also challenged my stupid child brain. Threads of Fate was more of a casual playthrough, but I remember going back to it over and over again, because I kept losing my saves.

I also have games that were more communal: sometimes played with cousins and siblings or with me as the riveted audience. Things like Bomber-man, Tetris, Puyo-Puyo 2, Worms, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy 7-9, Valkyrie Profile, Prince of Persia and Grandia. I have stories for all of those but this is already getting too long. 😅

I don't really have a style. I will date the entry following a [yy/mm/dd] format, but the contents are whatever.

Sometimes it'll be a long vent about something that happened. Other times it will be me going over something that happened long ago. I'll even address it to an imaginary friend every now and then, just so that it feels like I'm telling a story instead. I have lists too, usually about the media I've consumed and want to remember.

That's tricky because lower back pain can be due to many things.

If it's related to muscle tenseness, have you tried stretching? Dynamic side stretches first to warm the area up, then more sustained holds. I find a combination of side stretches, sustained cobra pose, child's pose, some squats and that hamstring stretch one does while lying down can help.

I think our surroundings would be much cleaner. We'd have less flyers, billboards, tarps, etc. We would live in a quieter world filled with less distraction.

As much as I hate it however, I agree that it's a necessary evil, but maybe it could be executed more responsibly. I personally prefer "buy it for life" discussions, or product reviews by experts, or those gradings according to sustainability. So maybe in a non-capitalist society, adverts would be more informative than just, "look at this shiny thing, don't you want it?"

Asexuality is a broad term that can refer to many things. Some people are genuinely sex-repulsed, some are completely indifferent, some can only experience sexual attraction when there's an established emotional bond, etc. All of these fit under the umbrella of asexuality.

You fit if you so choose to. It sounds to me that you have a high libido but no sexual "attraction" to people. There may be a more specific term under the ace spectrum, but the labels are really just there to help you find community.