Does Not Obey the Laws of Physics

Ok, I know this like matters to exactly zero people, but I just have to say that after reading a lot of how people interpret words on forums, my conclusion is that while Druidcraft is still slightly weaker utility-wise compared to the other two RP cantrips (Prestidigitation and Thaumaturgy) , it is also being even more shafted by people who can't read.

One of Druidcraft's biggest advantages over Prestidigitation is that it is written with subtle spell casting. Unlike Prestidigitation, which is labeled with a default verbal component (which in D&D rules lawyering means audible chanting), the first sentence of Druidcraft's description is "Whispering to the spirits of nature". Combine that with 30ft range (instead of the 10ft range of Prestidigitation), that means Druidcraft's Sensory Effect can be cast from distance in secret without the target realizing the effect came from a spell.

In other words, while a Druid can make the woods whisper terrible things into your ear without you being able to figure it out, a Wizard has to be basically within reach to try those things. Therefore, in terms of pulling off tricks like "create a stinky smell to distract the guards" can be pulled off with Druidcraft, but will require a lot more set up using Prestidigitation.

Still doesn't make up for the fact that Bloom and Weather Sensor sub-effects have low RP and utility value compared to Clean or Soil and Minor Creation and Minor Sensation. Again, Prestidigitation getting six effects compared to Druidcraft's four makes Prestidigitation the better RP cantrip. But Druidcraft really could be significantly better if the D&D crowd remembered Druidcraft's built-in subtle spell casting.

I maintain that Druidcraft's Weather Sensor should be changed into generating a localized (aka one square or 5x5x5ft sized) harmless weather effect, like tiny rain cloud that waters the plant or a tiny sun to function as a hand warmer, etc. And Bloom needs to do more to plants than just make a bud open. If making shelter with a cantrip is considered too useful, then at the very least it needs to be able to boost plant vitality, like revive a (non-magical) dead tree temporarily (an hour seems reasonable) or make ivy crawl up a wall and cover a window (then withering away after an hour). Personally I think using Druidcraft to make plants grow in a 5x5x5ft plot to create difficult terrain really isn't overpowered given Mold Earth (a cantrip) can do the same just about everywhere (without needing plants available).

And for all the people worried about Plant Growth being outshine, given that Plant Growth has no time limit and is permanent, I'd say uh...no.

Mochia, a new modern mobile browser friendly version of Neopets.

I have a butterfly cat and I already love it.

I basically played it for one day and already I'm like "Yeeeeees." Great for when you just want to go brainless for a little while. Haven't really explored how much feeding is necessary in terms of the pet stuff yet, but the connect 5 game was decently fun.

Basically, if you remember Neopets from the 90s/00s, this is exactly that. But like more limited in terms of pets available. I had a hard time picking between faerie red panda and butterfly cat, but I went with butterfly cat in the end.

Anyway.

*slinks away*

Edit to add:

Since there really isn't a decent wiki for the game, here are my general thoughts so far after trying my hand at all the game types. Organized by region.

( This game is way more generous than Neopets when it comes to currency. )

Conclusion

Some stuff to keep in mind:

1. There is a cap on the amount of money (or MP as it's called) awarded on each game. Seems to be roughly somewhere between 4k and 5k.

2. Single payout caps out at 1500, so unless trying to unlock an associated avatar, no reason to keep pushing the high score beyond max payout per game.

3. While all games are playable on touch screen (aka phone or tablet), not all games play nice with mouse+keyboard; in fact, some games are out right terrible using m+kb, such as Loose Lambs & Beach Bounce, due to multi-tapping being a significantly better strategy than single clicking.

4. Total game-based payout (across all maps) is around 35k per day. Fastest for me is running Loose Lambs, Stellera, and Spikey Spirits, because I can get get max pay out on each of those games pretty quickly. Then I fill the remainder with Spelunker, Enspell, Brick Break, Shrumble, Snarf as I try to go for high score on those games.

5. Of the stationary puzzles, I've figured out how to complete them relatively fast on hard except Blocksmith. I've taken to doing Blocksmith on medium due to being terrible at block puzzles.

Earning 50k per day is definitely doable. Also definitely play the stock market game. Trade is limited to only 100 shares, so you're unlikely to loose that much. There's a graph tracking the rise and fall. The spike and crash is pretty regular and predictable (unlike real stock market).

(OK, technically a slight exaggeration, it's more like 1800 years.)

So, recently, the Buddhist temple Shaolin (少林寺) got into some trouble with society in general. The head abbot (主持) was arrested for corruption. A monk at the temple reported the head honcho back in 2016 and finally he's been arrested on corruption charges.

Aaanyhoo, point is, the new head started cleaning house and the temples of other Buddhist sects (Shaolin is only one of many sects of Buddhists in China) are starting to freak out that they might get dragged into the mess and have been holding emergency meetings.

Meanwhile, the Daoist temples continue as usual, because they've been paying taxes. Yes, 2000 years later and the Daoists still pay taxes while the Buddhists are tax exempt.

In other words, the trend of government crack down on Buddhist Temples continues while Daoists stay in the ruling classes' good graces by paying into the system, as they have been doing for 2000 years. Some things never changed. 🤣

Ok, you know what? I'm usually of the "let's be nuanced about this subject" type if person, but at this point, western media's hypocrisy and bullshit on the issue of Israel committing genocide is wearing down my nuance.

If you're going to condone genocide, don't act fucking surprised when others retaliate by promoting genocide against you. And don't give me this "but it's morally wrong" argument because we are so far past that now.

IDGAF about your feelings and safety when you're supporting a fucking genocide that's wiping out babies. Yes, there is in fact a hierarchical ladder for who gets my sympathy and it's not Israeli Zionists. STFU.

As much as I love Studio Ghibli material and worlds, I'm not very happy at seeing Obojima being officially collected on D&D Beyond. Mostly because the book is written by a bunch of white guys who seem to think watching some Ghibli movies means they can capture the nostalgic nature of Studio Ghibli's creation and fail to realize the magic of Studio Ghibli isn't something that can be reproduced through emulation. It's not the "vibe" that makes a Studio Ghibli film what it is, it's the themes, thoughts, personal experiences that Takahata and Miyazaki brings to the story that makes the works stand out.

Fundamentally, Studio Ghibli works center around personal growth and contrasting the mystical with the mundane. Magic is both whimsical and terrible in the Ghibli worlds, yes, even in a work like Kiki's Delivery, because magic is the domain of childhood. Because the purpose of magic in Ghibli works is to be a metaphor for childhood wonder. This is in direct opposition of what magic stands for in D&D, which is a tool to be used rather than a majesty of nature to be wondered at. The way magic is handled narratively is fundamentally in opposition of each other. So unless the system reduces access to magic as you level up (which it doesn't), this project is just a ... really shitty imitation.

In other news: It's been really hot and I'm melting. Plus, I've been going through some really shitty cramps for about a week now.