A MOST ROBUST MONDAY UPDATE

I've got a question you might actually be able to share some sage wisdom on...how do you shake the "I fucked up" feeling off when you make a big purchase, like even though you know it was a smart move and a good thing, how do get rid of that "shit, something changed and now I fucked up" feeling? Keep up the good fight as always.

Teyanis

What killed 40k for me was the introduction of the primaris marines, the even gooder good bois. Making all my old Tactical squads pretty much obsolete. I just didn't have the will or want to play or paint anymore and I had more money into stupid plastic than I really want to think about.

Well, I understand your reticence at getting involved with another MMO. My only way to reiterate the offer is to point out that City of Heroes: Homecoming isn't really like any other MMO out there in its weird "Re-Living" (not quite resurrected, but not really zombie, either) state. Since they can only legally get enough money to pay for upkeep (and its STRICTLY upkeep; the second anybody involved with CoH:HC is found to be making money from it, NCSoft has made it clear they're going to throw a fit, and so far CoH:HC has been solid on cutting off donation reception the second they get enough for the monthly upkeep), they can't do a lot of the moneymaking bullshit that other MMOs do, and most people are largely only playing it for fun. It's become an even purer example of what Tycho from Penny Arcade called it when NCSoft shut it down: "People watching at its finest." You only need to put in as much time as you feel like and you can focus on whatever you'd like to do. There's the base editor for supergroups, where some people have built SPACESHIPS. Some have built their own night clubs. Some have made whole city blocks. It doesn't cost anything to build bases anymore (no in-game currency AT ALL), and I've seen that ALONE spike peoples' enjoyment to levels I don't think any currently operating MMO can do. I've seen people hash out pop culture discussions in General chat and various channels. I've seen hundreds of people come together to accomplish a singular goal as old leaders dredged up skills they thought they'd never have to use again. I've explored and re-explored the setting's lore and locations and even now I find things I never noticed before. And CoH:HC's crew is even making NEW stuff for us to play with (hence it's weird "Re-Living" state I mentioned), so who knows where THAT will go. And sometimes I just crank the settings and cut loose with my characters' abilities, cackling like a madman as I ragdoll enemies all over the map. I have over a hundred characters because I love exploring the powerset combinations, and I'm getting as much enjoyment out of it as I can before the guillotine blade comes down again (as I understand that's the most likely scenario). While I hate to plug myself, and I'm sure you can find plenty of videos out there (especially some amazing stuff regarding ways people have manipulated the base editor mechanics), I've got videos discussing the game thus far (as well as some random musings thanks to my exposure to your content) right here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQFedt3YpfmHLaob_fdhRIg

Levi Whitney

Hello hiya hiya hiya! (Think Fozzy Bear) I love the fact that as you go through your trials and tribulations, you kept a gratitude for life and friends. You might be going, " WTF why did he say something like that to start off!" Well, with things being kind of sideways still for me (although not bad, but still), with personal life, I find it is much easier with good people around as friends. I get the para-social bit, but the time on the AUX discord has been a unexpected plus. With D&D friends and my own son able to play has helped through some challenging times. I know it's not just you... but you helped get this thing called BPL started and it evolved into something bigger. I thank you for that... Keep on keeping on... You be you and see ya around! Pistol6699!

Pistol6699

Keep up the good work Tex! So here’s how to pronounce my last name cause my user name is just my last name with CPT at the front. Fun fact about half the letters are silent and it’s pronounced closer to mon. And belive me I’m used to this so I’m not like mad or anything just was wondering if you were curious about it since every time you’ve read it I’ve felt that double take of “how the hell am I supposed to say this, is this a real name?”. If your interested I can tell you how I got this username as well, kind of a funny story. Anyways hope things are going well for you, your work has cheered me up greatly in the past and I imagine will continue to do so in the future!

CPTMAUGHAN

I recently finished A World Undone by GJ Meyer. I found it to be an excellent primer for the Great War but, I think because of the book's scope, was a bit light on details. Can you recommend any works that have a smaller focus? Also, your mention of Fletcher class destroyers reminded me (as most things do) of Taffy 3. If you're not familiar, Last Stand of the Tincan Sailors is an excellent book on the subject. The only thing more insane than the Johnston's charge was the Samuel B Roberts'!

Augy-WMEC906

If all you do is walk around and look at stuff while on vacation. I recommend someone to take him to D.C. and toss Tex into the Smithsonian for a week.

Michael Kimberling

Keep up the great work Tex. If you ever find yourself in central Illinois the first round is on me.

Road-Kill21

It'd be so damn funny if there was a failed attempt at an evil empire in a fiction work, and the reason they crumbled was because their leader couldn't find a suitable gimmick. We do not speak of Far Country! The Forbidden Texts!

Daniel S

Thank you Tex for the updoot, your words make my day better.

cone protect me

Toby the couch surfer

I've largely given up on trying to define myself with jobs or careers. Maybe I haven't found the right field, but it's just not what I want to tell people first when I introduce myself. THIS IS ME AM WAGE SLAVE. Rather talk about nerd shit or kayaking or almost anything else but work. Ok, so those bands that can do no wrong, who are they?

Korehammer