#also aabria if you see this. i love your storytelling and the way you do things

[velvet-vexations]

I find your reading of Kipperlily really interesting and valuable (even when I don't agree). But I think it's not accurate to suggest that Brennan is setting up something more complex and nuanced with her and it hits on something that's very frustrating for me with the Dimension 20 fandom. I love Brennan. I think he's a great storyteller with very interesting ideas and a generally empathetic attitude toward his characters. But he gets all of the credit for D20s storytelling successes, whether he deserves it or not, and none of the blame for its failings, even when he deserves it. And I think suggesting that he's trying to do something awesome with Kipperlily that the IH are ignoring or not picking up is massively overly generous to him and massively unfair to them. He built her to trigger the reactions he's getting from them, and he set up the jealousy reveal to make them angrier at her. I think there's a chance that he could end up leaning into something more sympathetic because of her age at the end (although the idea that D20 doesn't treat minors as villains is one fandom has been batting around for a while that I really don't understand: Biz Glitterdew? Anyone?). But I think suggesting that Brennan is trying to do anything other than make her hateable is way off-base. That doesn't mean your reading of the character or situation is wrong. Sometimes the best stories aren't what the writers intended. But it feels frustrating to me to see him once again credited him with something he's not actually doing. And the rest of the IH getting criticism for something he's equally a part of (Especially when he was the player dodging nuance left and right when Aabria tried to do something actually interesting with the "villains" of Burrow's End)

I understand your point. I think a lot of the collaborative storytelling in TTRPGs like this is what the players choose to follow up on, though, and players aren't like, necessarily wrong for not missing or ignoring some things. Brennan signaling that Kipperlilly's story can be engaged via empathy isn't much difference than saying a dragon can be fought or you can answer it's riddle. It's like, you can do the gunfight if you want to or you can sneak in the back but on a grand scale that can only be done in a TTRPG.

I said he's "desperately" trying to signal it to the players because I'm a little bothered about the intensity of Ally and Siobhan's reactions to KLCK and the way it feels like none of them are even hearing it, but ultimately there's very little I think any of his players could do that he wouldn't try his best to work with and I agree he does not necessarily consider this absolutely essential.

The only time I can think of him seeming to have actually had an emotionally rough time with was the climax of Mice & Murder. I normally really dislike pouring over every frame of every microexpression like that because it's usually in the service of "everyone at the table is constantly seething at Ally" conspiracy theories, but I blame BLeeM much more for that going down as it did than Rekha and he doubtlessly did too with none of his potential frustration actually being aimed at her. Other than that, it's his nature to roll with where the players want to take their characters, so I don't think he's like, banging his head against the wall trying to make the IHs understand she's sympathetic or that it's the only possible solution to anything, it's just a part of what he's constructed.

I'll say though about things he's also doing, I also don't like that his presentation of KLCK digging up Euegenia was threatening to destroy her grave and not like, digging up her corpse in order to "find the rogue teacher". So he does seem to think of her as more actively sinister than I do, at least in her current state of mind which is not necessarily the end of the discussion.

Also, about the villains in Freshman Year, that was a very, very long time ago and everything was a lot rougher and so even was Brennan as a person back then. I don't think it's farfetched at all that he's gotten even more empathetic and dedicated to praxis than he used to be and is less willing to have a bunch of underage villains get slaughtered like any other enemy and go to Actual Hell for their sins.

#dimension 20 #kipperlilly copperkettle

[irisbaggins]

This will contain spoilers, everyone!

(Edit: this was a preliminary attempt to think about timeline, so whilst I will let this stand, I'm not as happy with it as I'd like. This post discusses the one massive thing I overlooked, and is something I'm more confident in. So, regard this as like, an idea about mutation and magic, and not an actual analysis. It's an idea, a concept. Not proper analysis. Although, the idea of mutation and magic extending their lives has much potential. Just...this is not a Take Take, just an exploration)

On the topic of a timeline with Burrow's End, I think is a lot of interesting readings to approach it with. Due to this all being collaborative, timelines can be tricky to navigate, but also fun. Kenji's death is a little tricky, but Geoffrey and Tula's makes sense (at least to me). One of the ways in which it can, with regards to the kids, is the idea that they're slowly evolving to have longer lifespans. Specifically, in regards to Tula and Viola, they would be probably around the mid-life point, yet they act more like 30-40 instead of 50+. This, then, can be used to understand that their lives are slowly extending, where their life phases hit at different times than previous generations.

This is actually sort-of touched upon, with Tula's remark about "Old Big Walmer". In normal stoat terms, he would be much older than Tula, but as Aabria remarks, they're only a few litters apart, and they're not really that far apart in age. This little throw-away gag can, in fact, be the key to solve a little of the age puzzle. Had they been normal, un-evolved stoats, Walmer would've been much older than Tula. But, as they're slowly evolving and becoming much more like humans, they're also getting longer lives. What before may have felt like a decade in difference between two stoats several litters apart, now become less than half of that, maybe. Tula uses terms she grew up with, both to attempt to throw off her mother's attempts at meddling, and as a way to express her own distaste at the idea. Yet, they're not that far apart, she's only expressing ideas that she's heard from other, older stoats.

With this concept, therefore, I think that's what's going on with Lila and Jaysohn. The time of year they're in is slightly debatable, as we never got the actual month, but from Tula's knowledge, it was closer to winter at the start of the story. I suspect, if we're going to stretch the concept a little further (and depending on where the story takes place), we can say they're in the middle of Autumn, perhaps September-October if we're stretching it. Tula alludes to Geoffrey dying in Winter, either early or middle the season. In a rough estimation, if we're taking Aabria's narration of "knowing their dad only half their life" literally, the kids would be around 20 months, double that of normal stoat maturity. However, if we keep the idea of their lifespan being extended, that would extend the time between milestones as well. This could keep the kids still as kids, whilst also keeping to a somewhat coherent timeline.

It would also make sense why none of the others note this weird lack of maturity or age in the kids, because they themselves haven't noticed the change either. They're also having their lifetime extended, which makes it natural for them to not react all that much to such a change. The fact Lila and Jaysohn grew up so slow doesn't really matter, does it, when everything else is thrown into chaos with the death of Geoffrey and who's supposed to lead the Warren. Sure, the kids are being toddlers for way longer than previous generations, but that's just because Tula's fussing over them! (It could also be a symptom of Tula's magic leaking into her kids, extending their lives without anybody noticing. Food for thought)

It can also just be a trait with Ava's bloodline, stemming from the fact that we know she was born outside of the Red Warren, possibly having been exposed to different radiation. We don't know if the others came with Ava and her family, of came and joined them over time. It can also be from when Ava was hit with further radiation the day Kenji disappeared, and that has leaked into her family as well. They are, after all, not normal stoats, and there is so much radiation and magic going on within these stoats that it could be anything affecting them.

I suspect it's evolution and magic causing this trickery in age, meaning that they're all living for much longer than any natural stoat. They're evolving, becoming stronger, smarter. Of course they'll live longer.

It also implies that Ava might not be as old as she appears, but she has decided to be an old lady in her 60-70s, and she will make everyone believe she is closer to 100 just so they will underestimate her. Or let her get away with shenanigans. Nobody can call her out, after all, she's one of the oldest of them.

It does, however, mean for ten or more months, Tula has been a living undead. Half of her kids' life she has been something else. Viola saw Tula change, and thought it was only loss and motherhood that did that. But instead, it was Tula's own death that changed her whole worldview. Everything else affected it, yes, but her death was what tired her out as much as it did. She never got that peace, not that rest, that she longed for. She couldn't, not with her duty. Of course she feels like a fraud by giving Viola advice; hers cannot be compared to someone who's still alive.

It's just interesting to think about, how what may seem confusing at first, makes a little more sense when you take magic and radiation into consideration. Also how horrifying it must be to realise you age differently than your peers due to something in you making you different. Something making you more.

#text_loke #meta from loke #Burrow's End #Burrow's End Spoilers #Dimension 20 #i saw someone say something about a confusing timeline. and so i had to try to figure it out #PLEASE if you have thoughts about this feel free to add them! i love reading different takes! #but as someone from the sw fandom and specifically tcw. i find this timeline much less confusing #especially so when much of it makes a lot more sense when considering These Are Not Normal Stoats #they're Silly Little Guys #also. this is a collaborative effort. it's not one person's fault for the timeline. it is ✨ everybody ✨ #but yeah. i'm sticking with mutation and magic as my explainations :) #Burrows End #Burrows End Spoilers #also aabria if you see this. i love your storytelling and the way you do things #like. it has sparked my whole brain

[adamsmasher]

Okay it's after 1am and I've had a lot of wine so obviously it's time for a late night wall-of-text post, but this time it's less likely to piss off your weird uncle or whatever because once again, I gotta talk about the best $4.99 a month I've ever spent.

Please, if you haven't yet, I'm begging you to look into all of the incredible content available on the Dropout.tv streaming service (formerly known as College Humor) . Not only did Whose Line Is It Anyway's Wayne Brady say that the Dropout crew are the only ones doing improv comedy on the same level as Whose Line, but they were also one of the only studios/streaming services allowed to work during the writers' strike because their contracts went above and beyond industry standards. (And, from my own observations, Dropout LOVES hiring queer, trans/nonbinary, and BIPOC performers + crew. Obviously I don't know much about the industry, but they seem like one of the most inclusive companies in Hollywood.)

"Alex, thanks for the recommendation! What shows do they have that you think I'll like?" Oh, you're asking me to gush about my favorite tv shows? Don't mind if I do!!!

Are you D&D curious, but took one look at actual play shows like Critical Role and thought "6 hours an episode? and there's like 750 episodes or whatever? oh baby not my adhd ass..." Don't worry, me too (sorry CR I love you I promise). But Dropout has a show called "Dimension 20" where comedians play Dungeons and Dragons with emotional, immersive storytelling, gut-busting laughs, and spectacular set design that makes you forget it's a fully improvised series controlled by the roll of the dice. They even did a miniseries perfect for D&D beginners called "Dungeons and Drag Queens" where absolute novices and Drag Race royalty Jujubee, Monet X Change, Alaska Thunderfuck, and Bob the Drag Queen embark on an adventure full of mystery, intrigue, and stupidity. I mean, Alaska plays a muscle-bound, axe-wielding, caveman-grunting Orc named Princess, what more could you want? Plus, the primary game master Brennan Lee Mulligan is so easy on the eyes. Oh, you're not into dorky ginger dudes? How about Aabria Iyengar, a 6 foot tall goddess who's equally as nerdy as Brennan but loves basketball. that's right, if nothing else, there's eye candy for every person in every season.

"Oh, why aren't there any good game shows on TV?" you wonder, wishing that the Game Show Network could come up with something that isn't a lame remake of a free-to-play phone game. Well how about Game Changer, "the only game show where the game changes every show (except for [...] Game of Games, Taskmaster, and a few others that have come to light AFTER [Game Changer first aired]. That's right, [the] players have no idea what game it is they're about to play. The only way to learn is by playing, the only way to win is by learning, and the only way to begin is by beginning." And yes, I did sit there and watch the beginning of an episode to make sure I was accurately quoting Game Changer host (and Dropout CEO) Sam Reich's description of his flaghship game show that has THREE separate spin-offs. (for context, he only mentions the other shows that copied his in the one episode I pulled up to get an accurate quote. could you imagine how uncomfortable it would be if he said that every episode? hah!)

Are you more of a traditional Whose Line fan? Look no further than Game Changer spin-off Make Some Noise, where contestants act out "improvisational prompts that [they have] never seen before, isn't that right contestants?" ("We won't know if we've seen them before or not until we see them!" Brennan insists every time he's on...)

You like musicals but wish they were less... ya know, scripted? Check out "Play It By Ear", a fully improvised musical! (you may be familiar with its primary cast members Jess McKenna and Zach Reino from the podcast that inspired it all, "Off Book: the Improvised Musical Podcast with Zach and Jess")

Or maybe you're more into trivia, cuz you're a total nerd like me (and every single performer that's ever appeared on dropout.tv). How about "Umm, Actually" where contestants are given an incorrect statement and have to buzz in to correct it - but you have to say "Umm, Actually" first!

Straight up, you can't go wrong on Dropout. Please, check it out. They're nearly doubling the amount of original shows they have in 2024, and no other streaming service is doing it like them. If I haven't convinced you yet, get the 7 day trial and give em a chance. There's no referral code I can give you that gives me some sort of kickback or whatever, I genuinely wrote what looks like a thousand word essay about Dropout at 1am just because I love them so much.

#dropout.tv #umm actually #dimension 20 #make some noise #game changer #brennan lee mulligan #aabria iyengar #for a late night wine-fueled rant on a broken keyboard i think this went well #actually i feel so guilty about my CR dig because i loved Exandria Calamity so much so please dont yell at me #also google said quiddie is exactly 6 feet i hope i did her justice

[unsleepingtales]

Wooo I’ve got my laptop back and I’m ready to rumble! Also this episode is under two hours which means I might actually finish it tonight! Onwards to Burrow’s End Episode 7 :)

Stoat facts!

I love the anti-surveillance makeup. It’s such a good statement. Aabria your mind is so powerful.

Ooh ok Siobhan’s Jaysohn-dirt has been replaced by blue streaks. Fun.

Also Jasper’s lightning bolt has become much more stylized! I love analyzing the makeup and I love how much the makeup team are so on board with themes

What a fun way to Start an episode. I am immediately stressed.

SIOBHAN’S SHIRT SAYS BORN TO LOVE MY AUNT <3

The concept of GM inspiration is so fluid I love it. Every GM treats it differently but the idea of it is just. I love what you’re trying to do so here’s a bit of help.

Erika Ishii pulling some shit right out the gate I love you

Oh that image of her claws shattering is so painful

Hello?????

What the fuck man

Aabria what do you mean an arena. Why are you calling it that.

WHAT

Oh my god okay. Okay okay okay.

(They are FRIENDS. Aabria and Erika are FRIENDS and they are STORYTELLERS and they are GOOD AT IT.)

I’m fine I’m so fine and I have a regular amount of emotions about storytellers working together and being close and knowing each other’s storytelling styles so deeply that whatever they need to do is fine

Ooh we get to see what divine sense looks like without Lila’s help!

It is so deeply satisfying and correct that they are prioritizing this. Nothing else in this strange room matters until family is taken care of.

Ooooh Lila re-spec! No longer an arcane trickster, now with two levels of wizard!

Oh that is HORRIFYING

THAT ONE HAS A GAS MASK?? AND A POPE HAT?????

Ick ick ick ick ick

They’re so big oh my god

Poor Sybil :(

Hhhhhhhhhhhhh

Diversity win I suppose

A level five arcane trickster could already cast things but yeah I get that being a wizard is exciting ok

(I am unreasonably loyal to the rogue class sorry I respect your choices Izzy)

Okay well now I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about but sure cast fog cloud go off

Why do the stoats have a pope. Why.

BRO-

Oh dear god.

They’re gonna die.

Jesus Christ those minis are horrifying

Yeah no I am Crushed that Sybil is gone.

Hmm. Concerning.

Oh my god oh my god

I am so physically uncomfortable right now actually

Like it’s fine I’m fine but AAAAA???

You just got 47 points of damage but it’s not your fight?????

Fucking excuse me

Hi, Aabria? My beloved mutual Aabria Iyengar? Politely and with all the love in my heart. What the Actual Fuck.

Ooh Secrets. That’s fun.

Oh thank god. I’m gonna cry. Yes I’m stressed about Ava and whatever the secret was that Aabria had to go around the gm screen for but yay Sybil.

BITCH WHAT

BABE HOW DID YOU DO THAT

Oh I cannot wait for adventuring party tomorrow to find out what the fuck was going on back there

Oh my god did Erika put more blue sparkly eyeshadow on while they were out of the dome. Because that’s fucking iconic holy shit.

Yo what.

OOF

Oh the wolf’s gonna go? Is the wolf gonna go Aabria? Are we sure? The wolf could just go to brunch. It could just get bellinis.

I so deeply relate to Izzy’s visible stress. This is also how I behave when I’m stressed in combat.

Also the math thing. That too.

Oh that’s Disgusting

The wolf is made of acid 😭

WHAT

Fucking excuse me. What the actual fuck.

What is with with these children and simultaneous nat 1s

Mage Slayer 👀

I love it when they use things that I then get to deep dive research

HELLO?

Oh my fucking god.

Some feats are OP and some are real fucking specific

Oh we love a channel divinity moment here

I am so tense

HELLO????????????

THE WOLF OF THESEUS????

AABRIA. AABRIA.

Yeah no gas mask stoat freaks me the fuck out.

THIS DOESN’T FEEL LIKE MY PROBLEM 💀💀💀

We’re cheering for mediocrity at this point. Yeah.

What does that mean. Help me.

Oh yeah Thorn take control of the wolf?? Was that the hint??

What a fucking horrifying creature

23 AC??? Holy shit

The editing is going to make me lose my mind

Oh jesus

YES LAY ON HANDS???

That’s so cool

I love how willing Aabria is to roll with their shenanigans

Babe your kid has two hit points??

This is so deeply troubling.

Oh dear god

“The radical change that can happen when you are kind in the face of doom can change the battlefield.”

Them <3

Ok thank you

I jump normally 🤬 I’m normal 👹

NECROTIC??? Ava deals necrotic now??

Hellish rebuke?? What’s their patron?? Is this a homebrew stoat thing allowing them to use a warlock spell as a non warlock or are they a warlock and if they are a warlock what is their patron is it the blue I need to know please

Oh my GOD

What is this bit I love it

Thank you Siobhan <3

Oh Tula takes control of the wolf?? Sick.

What the fuck man

Oh noooooo

Rashawn the person cast vicious mockery

The rules lawyers are rules lawyering

That is funny and that did happen

Jesus Christ

What a powerful way of saying that

HELL YEAH

Aaaaaaaaaaaa

Damn

Oh shiiiiiiiiit

OH SHIT

I love Dungeons and Dragons guys. I really love this game.

She???

Concerning. Hm.

Would curing a disease work or just fully kill her

What the fuck. What the actual fuck Aabria and Brennan and oh my god I’m gonna lose my goddamn mind

Oh my god jesus FUCKING christ I’m gonna lose it I have lost it I’m not gonna SLEEP tonight and that’s a PROBLEM

Anyway. Great episode gang. Nice job. Can’t wait for the talkback. To discuss. Whatever the fuck that was.

#verbal component #reactions #burrow's end #burrow’s end

[nagdabbit]

[Being nosy about your tags] I feel the same way about CR but watch Calamity. It's shot and structured different from D20 that made it hard for me to focus sometimes, but I found playing at 1.5 speed (something I otherwise never do) during combat sequences helped me stick around and boy. If you've ever wanted to see Brennan use his powers for absolute emotional devastation (and get real psychosexual with a paladin), there's some amazing storytelling in Calamity. Also Lou and Aabria oh my god.

ooooooo 1.5 speed is SMART!

"get real psychosexual with a paladin" is the single greatest selling point for calamity i have ever heard, do you know how much i love paladins and fucking with paladins and playing paladins and paladins being hurt emotionally sort of just in general. i am absolutely gonna have to actually sit down and watch now. ive seen enough out of context clips to know im going to be emotionally obliterated, and knowing brennan it's gonna be so much more painful than im even imagining. im legitimately more excited about watching now!

speaking of aabria and lou, are you a podcast person and ARE YOU GONNA LISTEN TO WORLDS BEYOND NUMBER? i forgot when it launched and i haven't listened to the first episode yet, but letting brennan and aabria and lou and erika ishii go ham on their own podcast is just dhshahshfjfkem

and if you are a podcast person, are you a comedy person, because if so you should listen to the adventure zone's spiritbreakers one shot from a while back because aabria is amazing and i love her

#asks! #the only thing i consume more of than wrestling is ttrpg related nonsense