Gonna piggy back on your comment to agree with OP. I get such joy from reading Becky Chambers!

Right?! So excited for season Two and so excited that we’ll get to see a proper (planned) ending to the series instead of a slow fading away before cancellation.

Thank you for this! Lots of people online have pushed forward the idea that Google search results are not as useful as before. This was the first article that I’ve read that did a good job of quantifying what that actually means and providing context as to why it is happening.

Thanks for this! I had no idea about the history of the game.

Damn. I had forgotten what actual journalism looks like. There was actual work done here to investigate and acquire facts. I’ve been reading “articles” that are just paraphrased PR statements for so long. This was a breath of fresh air.

That sounds incredibly difficult. From some of your other comments, it seems like you’re being really transparent with partners about your own challenges. That’s impressive.

You are worthy of being loved, regardless of whether or not someone is actually showing you that love. Things can and will change all throughout your life. There’s good reason to have hope. Take care.

Wandersong is a game about happiness that made me really happy while I was playing it. Not all the way through; there are parts that are sad too. But I’m thinking of replaying it because it made me feel really happy when I played it the first time.

I’ve been enjoying my Fairphone 4 a lot since getting it last year. This camera update really improved the experience of taking photos.

Yes! For most genres of games, I’ve noped out of some games but completed others. It wasn’t until you mentioned it that I realized I’ve never completed a Zachtronic game. I absolutely adore what Witness was doing, but I haven’t finished it. I should go back to it.

I read those when I was younger and re-read them recently. They are surprisingly good considering they were written by game developers.

Loved this game! Got completely consumed by it.

If I had been the one to decide what features this sequel should have, I never would have considered including a playable New Jerusalem or having NPC companions or any of the new stuff. And if you had asked me what I thought about those features before the game came out, I would have said it sounds like they don’t understand what people liked about the first game.

But this game surprised me in numerous ways and I honestly loved every hour of my playthrough.

This is fascinating and I would have never heard about it without you. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this article!

I don’t think the author was trying to say that these spices are harvested in the fall and enjoyed in the winter. In fact, I think they are clearly saying the opposite.

Just as cranberries’ fall harvest makes them a natural choice for Thanksgiving, I thought that perhaps the seasonality of spice harvest had something to do with their use during the winter months. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

And

Take ginger…The plants can be harvested at any time of year if they are mature and haven’t been exposed to cold or wind.

Or, if they are trying to make that point, they are doing so in a way that includes contradictory details.

Thanks! It’s a really interesting topic and I was excited to learn more. But I’m not sure the writer offered much to support their explanation for why these tropical spices are so closely associated with winter time in the north.

For example, I was underwhelmed by the “cinnamon is an antidiabetic, so it’ll help process all those sugary treats you’re eating over the holidays” fact. Does that really explain why cinnamon is associated with this season from a historical perspective? I can’t say for sure that past generations weren’t adding cinnamon to holiday foods because they knew it was an antidiabetic. But I’m going to continue doubting it until I see something persuasive.

Gonna jump in to agree that Moon+ Reader seems to be the most commonly used. And for good reason: it’s very customizable and it does a great job presenting text in an easy to consume way.

OP, I’m sure you’ve already tried it, but consider giving it another go. You can make it do nearly all the things on your list.

I love seeing recommendations for Wandersong. It’s a completely different type of adventure game with a unique, and lovely, plot.

Great read! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing this interview and article. It was a really interesting read. I feel like I understand a lot more about how the game came to be now that I’ve read it

One game I played a few years ago had a really neat rule that I’ve used in a lot of other games and contexts.

The game came with a 1 minute sand timer that didn’t have to be used to play the game. But the rules said “If any player feels like the turn is taking too long, they can turn over this timer. This is a signal to the current player that they should wrap things up”. I can’t recall which game it was. Codename, I think? I’m sure someone here will let us know.

I’ve used that rule in a lot of different places. If you have a healthy relationship with your co-workers, it makes for a really useful tool for keeping meetings rolling. We occasionally mime turning over the same timer to each other to say “I respect what you’re saying, please continue, but also let’s get this back on track”.

I’ve also ported it to many boardgames. In my circle of players, turning over an imaginary sand timer is a way of politely saying “we like playing with you, but we’re feeling bored so please make a turn”.

Maybe something like that can work for your group? It requires some communication up front to ensure that people know the spirit of what’s being communicated.

Edit: re-reading this, I’m not sure I conveyed what I was suggesting well. Cosmic Encounters has a 1 minute timer you’re supposed to use. I’m suggesting making that timer optional. Let people barter until someone at the table feels like enough time has passed, then flip the timer as a polite way of saying “please wrap it up”.