iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 1h

The start is especially rough. It's just straight up 4 chapters of explaining rules, and a UI tutorial for a game I'm not playing. I didn't quite see what everyone was gushing over.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Its one of the things I didn't like about Graveyard Keeper, which I otherwise loved. I constantly felt like I needed to look up how to get certain ingredients, or how to make certain things.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I fully do not remember that. I remember Agent 48 in the same suit and red tie that 47 was wearing. Am I crazy?

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I literally read the entirety of The Lord of the Rings as a bedtime story to my son when he was an infant. It was an excuse for me to get some reading in, and that way I could continue to read for as long as it took for him to fall asleep.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Magical has a cool magic building system

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Watership Down sure taught me that not all animated movies are for kids...

static.klipy.com

Watership Down Rabbit

ALT: Watership Down Rabbit

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Not enough games congratulate you for completing them any more.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Yeah but if you ask him he's a stone cold, Bourne style, professional master assassin.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I like A. Slightly rounder eyes and mouth is cute.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I actually really like that state label, I've always just output to the log but that's a great idea. I'm sure that probably common but I never thought of it and I'm mad at myself lol.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

That's because Deus Ex is the best game ever made

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Man, the Lebedev interaction on the plane is still crazy to me. So many different dialogue interactions depending on whether you: Kill him as ordered Refuse and leave the room meaning Anna will kill him Kill Anna to stop her killing him Kill them both

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I generally hate the DnD style "Roll to attack" + "Roll for damage" system. Hitting a 22 to hit and then rolling a 1 on your damage roll always feels terrible. Not a huge fan of the Kids on Bikes system, but I do like how damage done is based on how much you beat the target by.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I do t think I've ever heard it, or of her. But I am Australian so maybe it's a US thing?

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Reminds me of doing digital painting. Just adding a top layer of some subtle colour, especially over the joins between separate layers, really helps blend the whole thing together. Unifies the image.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I remember playing the original game while at uni studying game design. The biggest topic of conversation amongst all the design nerds was 'Holy shit, why does your ammunition weight so much?'.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rest assured, an internet stranger approves of your list.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I don't remember a stealth game since that has included 'ambient noise' as an actual, measurable gameplay mechanic. A full UI element that told you if you could run safely without being heard or not.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Oh shit! I forgot about Chaos Theory! I'm not sure what I would replace though. Maybe Dishonored as I already loved Immersive Sims from Deus Ex by the time it arrived. Maybe Baldur's Gate as I actually appreciate the writing more as an adult than as a kid and I still have Planescape.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I do wonder if it's mainly the first few failures that set you up to think 'Oh, failing in this game can still be fun'. Cause later on I feel like failing does become more 'you didn't do it', but you accept that because occasionally the failures are the best bit.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Having a failed roll still result in something happening is one of the hardest things about DMing a tabletop IMO. Rolling a 7 on a persuasion check, especially in a computer game, usually just means you fail to persuade them and nothing happens. Which is boring and may prompt a reload.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

That's rough. The one I don't like is when the chance information is just wrong. SW Zero Company had a launch bug (apparently fixed now) where you could miss 100% chance shots. Essentially it was just rounding up on the UI, while the chance might actually be 98%. So I was just lied to...

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I liked the visual, but the actual path the puck took seemed fairly random. It didn't seem to actually bounce naturally so it felt a bit like it was faking the visual.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

To be fair, I feel the same about people who are excited because it's Friday... Oh good, it's 'almost' a day off? That's not a day off...

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I dunno, I sort of feel the same way in these cases. A 95% chance to succeed always feels certain, and a DC2 on a D20 always feels certain. I'm personally affronted if either of those fail... The really bad ones are the occasional fail on a 100% chance in SW Zero Company.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This is a good list. Have some internet stranger points.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Now is the the 'Wow that looks really good, I'm proud of design of this place' or 'Wow I managed to get some many resources flowing through here at maximum efficiency'? Cause both are cool, but can be very different.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A bunch could also be here, but I think these are the most impactful games for me.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I think mine has to be the more subtle effect of Gandalf and Bilbo sitting at a table sharing a meal. All captured in camera using forced perspective.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This is a good list. I'd seen someone else's list with Dishonored on it the other day and it started a craving. Downloaded it today and finished it in almost a single play session with a break for dinner lol. Absolutely love the setting.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I honestly loved the combat, but I'm also a big turned based fan who has played a lot if DnD based computer games and tabletop. What did you not get about the combat if you dont mind me asking?

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I just redownloaded Dishonored today... and then finished it in an afternoon. The setting and vibes are immaculate.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Finally I see Deus Ex AND Dishonored somewhere.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Sure, I'll give it a go. What are you looking for feedback wise? Like 'yeah the vibes are cool' or a full recorded playthrough with narration?

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

You seem so genuinely kind and happy to chat with people. It's so refreshing.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I love starting runs on the 'naked brutality' mode, where you start with 1 colonist who has absolutely nothing. The raw survival is fun. The issue is the game absolutely loves throwing a 'you got scratched by a rabbit and it got infected, so I guess it's time to die slowly in bed' at you.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This is the first one of these I've seen that's close to what I would pick...

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I don't think anyone is upset about a slightly larger damage increase than advertised. Rounding down becomes dangerous. If you're doing 357 damage and want to add a 10% damage buff, that should go to 392.7 but we'll probably round it to 393. Sure the margin is smaller but it's the same principle.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

You can do buffs that way and just round up, so 10% extra on 35 grants +4 instead of +3.5. You can always run into edge cases where a % buff is going to result in a float, even with large numbers. But also it allows you to be more discreet. You can have a buff that adds +3 to your damage instead.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I haven't heard of Uplink, looks cool.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Things like damage numbers I find can also be reduced. You dont need a character with 7,885 health who takes a hit for 3,525 damge for it to feel impactful. You can just have 79 health and take 35 damage, the effect is the same and the maths is simpler.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I played Nethack instead of Rogue, but I have to admit I couldn't play the ASCII version. I got a version that used sprites instead, though that may have just been a mod or something from memory.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Progression through the story as well. At multiple points it tells you 'OK, you need to build up your skills and gain a decent reputation. Go and do other stuff until you're ready to proceed.' So it doesn't feel like you're ignoring the main story to do side quests, it's all part of the one story.

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Duct Tape Jake @ducttapejake.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

If it helps, I am far more excited to hear you're on board.

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