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Sometimes I love how my players solve my problems for me.
I've been using the GM Handbook's "roll up a random plot" to create random hooks, and one of them was a bard who tells wild tales and "one of them is true". So of course I made up ten wild tales, and many of them are true. One of them is, "It is rumored that among the prisoners of the Dread Dungeons is a man who could bring lasting peace to Galt, but no one has been able to find the dungeons in years, and the guards will not let him escape."
The party decided to seek the Dread Dungeons, and learned that they're guarded by an ancient silver dragon who makes them complete a 10-day journal of proving both their moral and physical worth before she'll let them in. They met her and learned that she's been bound to the dungeon since she was a hatchling, and cannot leave until the dungeon is empty. The gnome swore to free her (because gnome), and she agreed to perform a service for them in return. All they had to do was find the prisoner, make sure he had served his time and could be released, and make sure all the other prisoners were properly dealt with (either freed or destroyed).
So I've been wracking my brain for weeks: Who is this savior? Why is he so important? How does he still exist?" I was thinking about outsiders, neutral undead, anything that could justify an eternity in the dungeons.
And of course one of the trials was to save a town full of gerbies, and someone said, "We should just put the gerbies and the dragon in charge of Galt!"
Prisoner? Check! She cannot leave because she is bound to the dungeon until no one is left.
Guards will not let her escape? Check. They won't sacrifice their own undead existence to free her.
So she's not a man. Galt can do worse than an ancient silver dragon with levels of paladin and a courtful of gerbies.
Problem solved!
Now... how long will it take the players to figure it out once they don't find anyone remotely worthy IN the dungeon?
EDIT: Nudity is not a problem I want my players to solve for me.
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Alas, I'm not building anything today in anticipation of the 1-3 inches of snow we're expecting tonight into tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately, Rocko, my winter assistant, sold his truck this spring for unexplained reasons so that means he actually has to ride with me, in my truck. Which is fine, except he's one of those people that talks a lot, but doesn't really have anything to say and talks in a monotone and likes to sprinkle in random questions to make sure you're still listening. So, not ideal!
On the plus side his identical twin brother will be joining us this year and we have their grandmother on our route this year, so at least they'll be motivated and the thing about twins is they bicker almost constantly so at least he'll finally have something interesting to say. Or it will be two drones droning at me for twelve hours and then I'll have to dig a couple of non specific holes behind the hog shed.
Either way it should be an interesting weekend!
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As opposed to Frosted Giant Wang Muffin, which somehow sounds worse...
Under the most agreeable of circumstances, Plain Giant Wang Muffins become Frosted Giant Wang Muffins.
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Just trying to endure the last workday of the week, while here and there finishing my castle dungeon for my on going "Dragon Prince" game, where one of my players plays ::gasp:: a dragon. Feeling a bit mean, they are headed into an undead infested castle, and among other perils, there are lots of inflict wounds glyph traps. Yeah, they are healing for their foes, which the most terrifying of them is a Dread Mohrg Ettin Fighter 7th (wields two large light flails and has WAY too many attacks on a full attack, cause ettin, and fighter), and pain for them. What can I say, I am a bad man. Than again, player dragon...nope, don't feel bad one bit.
Howdy there John, happy FRIDAY!!!
Hello, John! How are you?
So I don't know whether this is better or worse:
(1) This week IS finals week
(2) The teacher's syllabus, which we've been using all year for dates, is wrong and lists finals week as next week
(3) The college's academic calendar lists this week as "the last week of instruction" and December 21 as the "start of winter recess". So what the heck is next week supposed to be if there are no classes and it's not recess?
Basically it kills our chances to appeal because every student taking more than one class knew that this was finals week. Since Impus Major is only in one class, the syllabus was wrong, and the academic calendar is unclear, he's hosed.
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Maybe I have a flawed understanding of what you mean by "final" for the course but isn't that generally just an exam/test that covers the totality of the class itself that is taken in person?
If not forgive my ignorance, but shouldn't active participation in the class, doing the coursework, labs, and studying throughout the semester be sufficient prep for that? I feel like I must be missing something as I'm not really seeing how that being done a week earlier than anticipated is going to meaningfully impact their score unless there is a required presentation, term paper, or other materials that have to be turned in at that time.
The syllabus being incorrect in terms of the timing of it is certainly unprofessional and a bit of a problem, for sure, and it reflects on whoever created that document, I'm just not sure I understand how it can really harm their grade if the materials will/have been covered by the course already.
That is balls NH...complete balls...sorry man.
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I was home schooled and never went to college so I'm lost either way.
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This summer I pre-ordered a reprinting of Horror on the Orient Express for Call of Cthulhu 7th edition.
This week it was finally released.
I'm pretty excited.
NH: If they cannot reasonably accommodate a teacher's error they have no business being involved with education.
It's not rocket science.
If Impus has the necessary credits to graduate, is auditing the class an option at this point, to give the figurative middle finger to the lack-of-education that's been given?
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So, long story short:
(1) It's an online course where the instructor spends 90 minutes twice a week doing examples on the board.
(2) Impus Major has an attention deficit learning disability, so after class I have to go over the subject matter with him, but it means he's always about a week behind.
(3) The final covered the entire semester, and he did fine on everything except the stuff presented on during the last week of class... but that was 25% of the overall exam.
So he left 25% of the exam blank because he and I hadn't had a chance to go over it because we thought we had more time. Given 2 more days, he would have scored at least 15% higher on the test. Given the full week, make that 20%.
EDIT: And having been a calculus teacher for over a decade, no, it's not that simple. Most students need at least a week or two post-lecture to really start to understand something. There are very few students I've ever encountered where, "Here's the lecture on Tuesday, here's your exam on the topic on Thursday," would result in anything other than abject failure.
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At the sake of being snarky, teacher should get only 75% of their pay, given their lackluster performance.
Is there a place to provide teacher reviews? This one sounds like a menace to folks who want to learn everywhere.
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At the sake of being snarky, teacher should get only 75% of their pay, given their lackluster performance.Is there a place to provide teacher reviews? This one sounds like a menace to folks who want to learn everywhere.
The dean and the chair have acknowledged our complaint and the teacher's already at 34% on rateyourteacher.com.
I have no idea why Impus Major took his class in the first place, except he figured with my tutoring he'd be fine.
And he was... test scores of 74%, then 80%, then the instructor started randomizing test dates and his tests dropped into the 60s.
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At the sake of being snarky, teacher should get only 75% of their pay, given their lackluster performance.Is there a place to provide teacher reviews? This one sounds like a menace to folks who want to learn everywhere.
The dean and the chair have acknowledged our complaint and the teacher's already at 34% on rateyourteacher.com.
I have no idea why Impus Major took his class in the first place, except he figured with my tutoring he'd be fine.
And he was... test scores of 74%, then 80%, then the instructor started randomizing test dates and his tests dropped into the 60s.
This sort of professor behavior just pisses me right off. Once, when I was a younger and less jaded Beernorg, I wanted to be an English professor. I would never behave like this man. If you are a teacher, then you should be there to TEACH because you care about passing along knowledge, skills, and wisdom to your students. You should care about those students and how you affect their present, and future with everything you do. You should teach because you want to, and if you don't actually want to, you shouldn't. Playing petty games with students disgusts me, saddens me, and angers me all at one.
Sorry you got stuck with this jack wagon Impus Major, you and all of your fellow students deserve much better than this, pompous self important control freak who gets kicks out of screwing with young people and their futures.
I was home schooled and never went to college so I'm lost either way.
I was schooled and attended an institution of higher learning in Poland (and before significant reforms that took place within the last 15+ years) so I only have rather vague idea of what is happening either.
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I went to music college, and studied JAZZ, where so long as you could go bopsqadiddlydeebadabadopbeboodeebiddleybah reasonably convincingly, people left you alone. Mostly the staff could do it better than we could. Certainly better than I could.
I started my collegiate studies as a pre-med student.
BIO-101, day 1:
Classroom is full. Approx 105 students.
Professor walks in one minute after start time (fine, no issue here).
Prof: "Hello. I am Dr. [Redacted]. I am the head of the biology department and the head of the medical school advisory board that determines whether you get a recommendation to go to medical school. You are all freshman. I guarantee 70% of you are going to fail this class."
And he did so based on his grading system. It does not matter what your raw scores are, it matters what your scores are in relation to your classmates.
The top 10% of the class got an A. Next 10% got the B, and so on. The bottom 70% failed. You could have had a solid 86% grade for the class, but if 30% of the class had a higher grade than you, you failed. No discussion. No appeal.
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I started college with dreams of going into physical chemistry.
Yeah that didn't work.
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I started college with dreams of going into physical chemistry.
Yeah that didn't work.
I was going to be a chef.
Though my true passion had always been archeology and history.
Which it turns out has a lot of crossover with my current profession as I just have to ask myself every once in a while "how would the incans or ancient Egyptians build this" and then that's how I build it.
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I started college with dreams of going into physical chemistry.
Yeah that didn't work.
I was planning on having my PdD by 25 and being an English professor.
Then I took a gap year before starting grad school and other things happened. Ended up working in long-term care administration for seven years and then going into early childhood ed. Meanwhile my old roommate from college is currently living my old dream: she has three novels published, is working on her fourth, and teaches English full-time.I don't think I'd trade with her if I had the chance. I'm pretty happy with my job. I'm treated well and with respect by my colleagues, and it means that my children are in a good school. Honestly, the only part of her life I actually envy is the fact that she's a single mom. Okay, and the three published novels when I can't seem to actually finish one.
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This is the first Saturday since September that I don't have any ballet mom responsibilities. No Saturday rehearsals again until May. WW is off making crepes at the farmers market, Hermione is still asleep, and Val is tearing around the house and yard blowing a wooden train whistle, because he doesn't believe in other people resting or having peace and quiet.
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Novels, seems like they are easy to start, rather difficult to finish indeed...I may know something about that LoL.
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Novels, seems like they are easy to start, rather difficult to finish indeed...I may know something about that LoL.
I have started and thrown out many over the past 25 years. The one I was working on pre-pandemic is the only one I've actually loved working on. And I'm trying to get back into it. This means actually doing my research for a change, which is one of the reasons the others died. I hate talking to people.
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Speaking of things NobodysHome hates (and there are plenty): Overt ingratitude.
Last night was "JoJo Friday", where Impus Major brought several friends over so we could all watch the next 3 episodes of Season 6 together. Feeling generous, I ordered pizza for the crowd. Being me, I ordered a variety of pizzas to make everyone happy.
When the pizzas arrived, I opened the first one and it happened to be the pineapple and bacon pizza GothBard likes.
Impus Major's Friend: Eew! Pineapple!
NobodysHome: I ordered plenty of pizzas, and this is the only one with pineapple on it. Some people like pineapple on their pizzas.
IMF: You're disgusting!
At that point, I should have closed the boxes and informed him that HE would now have to get his own dinner, and everyone else could have the pizza I'd ordered. Unfortunately, he's had massive psychological and interpersonal issues with exactly this problem: As Impus Major puts it so well, "We keep trying to teach him that just because he thinks it doesn't make it OK for him to say it, but he keeps failing."
So I'll do the "good and proper" thing and have Impus Major talk to said friend about it. It avoids the confrontation that would have been a psychological blow to said friend, but it reminds him that keeping his opinions to himself is a vital life skill.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Speaking of things NobodysHome hates (and there are plenty): Overt ingratitude.
Last night was "JoJo Friday", where Impus Major brought several friends over so we could all watch the next 3 episodes of Season 6 together. Feeling generous, I ordered pizza for the crowd. Being me, I ordered a variety of pizzas to make everyone happy.
When the pizzas arrived, I opened the first one and it happened to be the pineapple and bacon pizza GothBard likes.
Sounds interesting!
Impus Major's Friend: Eew! Pineapple!
Eew! Impus Major's Friend!
NobodysHome: I ordered plenty of pizzas, and this is the only one with pineapple on it. Some people like pineapple on their pizzas.
IMF: You're disgusting!At that point, I should have closed the boxes and informed him that HE would now have to get his own dinner, and everyone else could have the pizza I'd ordered. Unfortunately, he's had massive psychological and interpersonal issues with exactly this problem: As Impus Major puts it so well, "We keep trying to teach him that just because he thinks it doesn't make it OK for him to say it, but he keeps failing."
So I'll do the "good and proper" thing and have Impus Major talk to said friend about it. It avoids the confrontation that would have been a psychological blow to said friend, but it reminds him that keeping his opinions to himself is a vital life skill.
Was that serious disgust in the first place, or was that merely a poorly aimed joke?
(I admit a bias here, I love pineapple, and I love Hawaii pizza, all the hate on it boggles my mind... WTF is wrong with those people?! meat, cheese, fruit... that is the perfect food combination...)
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With Drejk there, I find it odd that anyone wouldn't like pineapple on 'za, it is delicious. Hey more for those with good taste!
But knowing when to keep one's comments to themselves, totally an important life skill.
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There's the problem...done right it comes out as a joke. Done badly and you're offending your hosts. It's a fine line and most at that age don't have the skills to find that line yet.
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Was that serious disgust in the first place, or was that a just a poorly aimed joke?
I'm afraid it was serious disgust, and it isn't limited to foodstuffs. I won't go into details to respect his privacy, but he got so isolated and hated that as his parents put it, "If it wasn't for Impus Major I don't think he'd still be around."
Impus Major rocks.
(Yes. In addition to other interventions, Impus Major actually took it upon himself to hang out with the guy and interrupt him every time he said something inappropriate (pretty much EVERY social interaction) and start training him. Unfortunately, he's been away at school for a quarter and it seems that re-training is necessary.)
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(Yes. In addition to other interventions, Impus Major actually took it upon himself to hang out with the guy and interrupt him every time he said something inappropriate (pretty much EVERY social interaction) and start training him. Unfortunately, he's been away at school for a quarter and it seems that re-training is necessary.)
Impus Major: "It will behave properly or it will get the hose again"
NobodysHome: "I appreciate your dedication but I am not sure if that approach will work"
Impus Major's friend: "You're disgusting!"
GothBard: "I'll bring the hose."
*This account of events might have been fictionalized a bit for dramatic purposes.
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Was that serious disgust in the first place, or was that a just a poorly aimed joke?I'm afraid it was serious disgust, and it isn't limited to foodstuffs. I won't go into details to respect his privacy, but he got so isolated and hated that as his parents put it, "If it wasn't for Impus Major I don't think he'd still be around."
Impus Major rocks.
(Yes. In addition to other interventions, Impus Major actually took it upon himself to hang out with the guy and interrupt him every time he said something inappropriate (pretty much EVERY social interaction) and start training him. Unfortunately, he's been away at school for a quarter and it seems that re-training is necessary.)
Absolutely respect Impus Major for that.
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Now I wonder if it is the same friend you mentioned in the past to be on suicide watch in the context of issues with his parents?
Or does Impus Major attracts friends with issues like puppies?
Oh, man, that brings memories...
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I personally find pineapple on pizza an abomination, but it's my mother's favorite, so I am capable of eating it and liking it in her company.
Now, if you put broccoli on pizza? Spock you, you sick b*****d.
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Also, Impus Major is awesome and gets all the cookies.
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After 9 days off, I go back to work tonight. I do not look forward to it. Somehow it feels like it has simultaneously been no time at all, and yet also so very very long since I have been there.
I promise, no room parties tonight.
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I personally find pineapple on pizza an abomination,
it's my mother's favorite, so I am capable of eating it and liking it in her company.
Now, if you put broccoli on pizza? Spock you, you sick b*****d.
I dunno, I've had okay veggies pizzas before.
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Speaking of things NobodysHome hates (and there are plenty): Overt ingratitude.
Last night was "JoJo Friday", where Impus Major brought several friends over so we could all watch the next 3 episodes of Season 6 together. Feeling generous, I ordered pizza for the crowd. Being me, I ordered a variety of pizzas to make everyone happy.
When the pizzas arrived, I opened the first one and it happened to be the pineapple and bacon pizza GothBard likes.
Sounds interesting!
Impus Major's Friend: Eew! Pineapple!Eew! Impus Major's Friend!
NobodysHome: I ordered plenty of pizzas, and this is the only one with pineapple on it. Some people like pineapple on their pizzas.
IMF: You're disgusting!At that point, I should have closed the boxes and informed him that HE would now have to get his own dinner, and everyone else could have the pizza I'd ordered. Unfortunately, he's had massive psychological and interpersonal issues with exactly this problem: As Impus Major puts it so well, "We keep trying to teach him that just because he thinks it doesn't make it OK for him to say it, but he keeps failing."
So I'll do the "good and proper" thing and have Impus Major talk to said friend about it. It avoids the confrontation that would have been a psychological blow to said friend, but it reminds him that keeping his opinions to himself is a vital life skill.
Was that serious disgust in the first place, or was that merely a poorly aimed joke?
(I admit a bias here, I love pineapple, and I love Hawaii pizza, all the hate on it boggles my mind... WTF is wrong with those people?! meat, cheese, fruit... that is the perfect food combination...)
see, listen to the dragon.
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Sounds interesting!Speaking of things NobodysHome hates (and there are plenty): Overt ingratitude.
Last night was "JoJo Friday", where Impus Major brought several friends over so we could all watch the next 3 episodes of Season 6 together. Feeling generous, I ordered pizza for the crowd. Being me, I ordered a variety of pizzas to make everyone happy.
When the pizzas arrived, I opened the first one and it happened to be the pineapple and bacon pizza GothBard likes.
Unless both GothBard AND the pizza are missing, then it wasn't me, snow or no!
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Now I wonder if it is the same friend you mentioned in the past to be on suicide watch in the context of issues with his parents?
Or does Impus Major attracts friends with issues like puppies?
Oh, man, that brings memories...
Different friend. Yes, Impus Major may not be an academic superstar, but he's emotionally stable and supportive in spades. Everyone with issues flocks to Impus Major. He has a lot of... er... "interesting" friends who come over for support.
One of them even gave me a Father's Day card that read something along the lines, "Thank you for being the best father I know of! You raised Impus Major well, and I always feel welcome and safe at your house."
Considering she was considering suing her parents for independence at 16, I took it as a huge compliment.
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Was that serious disgust in the first place, or was that a just a poorly aimed joke?I'm afraid it was serious disgust, and it isn't limited to foodstuffs. I won't go into details to respect his privacy, but he got so isolated and hated that as his parents put it, "If it wasn't for Impus Major I don't think he'd still be around."
Impus Major rocks.
(Yes. In addition to other interventions, Impus Major actually took it upon himself to hang out with the guy and interrupt him every time he said something inappropriate (pretty much EVERY social interaction) and start training him. Unfortunately, he's been away at school for a quarter and it seems that re-training is necessary.)
Follow-up. Impus Major believes that said friend was trying to duplicate an "old mean-spirited meme" that's been floating around the internet for years. He's not 100% sure, because you never can be with the guy, but Impus Major'll have a talk with him.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Speaking of things NobodysHome hates (and there are plenty): Overt ingratitude.
Last night was "JoJo Friday", where Impus Major brought several friends over so we could all watch the next 3 episodes of Season 6 together. Feeling generous, I ordered pizza for the crowd. Being me, I ordered a variety of pizzas to make everyone happy.
When the pizzas arrived, I opened the first one and it happened to be the pineapple and bacon pizza GothBard likes.
Impus Major's Friend: Eew! Pineapple!
NobodysHome: I ordered plenty of pizzas, and this is the only one with pineapple on it. Some people like pineapple on their pizzas.
IMF: You're disgusting!At that point, I should have closed the boxes and informed him that HE would now have to get his own dinner, and everyone else could have the pizza I'd ordered. Unfortunately, he's had massive psychological and interpersonal issues with exactly this problem: As Impus Major puts it so well, "We keep trying to teach him that just because he thinks it doesn't make it OK for him to say it, but he keeps failing."
So I'll do the "good and proper" thing and have Impus Major talk to said friend about it. It avoids the confrontation that would have been a psychological blow to said friend, but it reminds him that keeping his opinions to himself is a vital life skill.
He sounds like my family. Most people have a filter in their brain that tells them not to say certain things, my family doesn't have that filter, or I got that filter.
They'll also huddle together and talk shit about someone when that person is only a few feet away.