Coordination of small muscles, particularly of the hands and fingers, with the eyes
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Ever rolled a 6 and thought your character was doomed? Think again. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew dives deep into the art of playing characters with low stats—and why it might just be the best decision you ever make at the table. From bumbling barbarians to clueless clerics and grumpy rogues who can't charm their way out of a paper bag, the hosts break down how weaknesses can drive unforgettable moments in storytelling and gameplay. We explore every major attribute—Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma—and how a “bad” roll can lead to brilliant roleplay. With examples pulled from pop culture, personal campaigns, and creative builds, this episode is a must-listen for players looking to level up their character depth. Whether you're new to TTRPGs or a veteran looking for inspiration, this episode will challenge the way you think about dump stats—and maybe even make you hope for a low roll next time. Links 2024 Player's Handbook (affiliate link) Rizz (short for Charisma) Key Takeaways: Weaknesses aren't a flaw—they're fuel for great storytelling. Dump stats offer unexpected roleplaying gold. Low Strength? You can still be the hero of the story. A clumsy, low-Dex character can shine with the right narrative. Constitution isn't just about HP—it affects how you play every scene. Intelligence can drive your character's logic, even when it's lacking. Low Wisdom can create characters who act before they think—with wild results. Charisma isn't about looks; it's about how your character moves through the world. Characters are defined by their challenges, not their stat bonuses. Every attribute is an opportunity for memorable moments—good or bad. Great roleplay comes from embracing the flaws, not ignoring them. Group dynamics matter—roleplaying low stats should uplift the table, not derail it. Collaboration with the DM can turn a dump stat into a story arc centerpiece. Relatable characters often come from a mix of strengths, flaws, and humanity. Examples like Rocket and Roy Kent show that depth doesn't require perfection. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Ever rolled a 6 and thought your character was doomed? Think again. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew dives deep into the art of playing characters with low stats—and why it might just be the best decision you ever make at the table. From bumbling barbarians to clueless clerics and grumpy rogues who can't charm their way out of a paper bag, the hosts break down how weaknesses can drive unforgettable moments in storytelling and gameplay. We explore every major attribute—Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma—and how a “bad” roll can lead to brilliant roleplay. With examples pulled from pop culture, personal campaigns, and creative builds, this episode is a must-listen for players looking to level up their character depth. Whether you're new to TTRPGs or a veteran looking for inspiration, this episode will challenge the way you think about dump stats—and maybe even make you hope for a low roll next time. Links 2024 Player's Handbook (affiliate link) Rizz (short for Charisma) Key Takeaways: Weaknesses aren't a flaw—they're fuel for great storytelling. Dump stats offer unexpected roleplaying gold. Low Strength? You can still be the hero of the story. A clumsy, low-Dex character can shine with the right narrative. Constitution isn't just about HP—it affects how you play every scene. Intelligence can drive your character's logic, even when it's lacking. Low Wisdom can create characters who act before they think—with wild results. Charisma isn't about looks; it's about how your character moves through the world. Characters are defined by their challenges, not their stat bonuses. Every attribute is an opportunity for memorable moments—good or bad. Great roleplay comes from embracing the flaws, not ignoring them. Group dynamics matter—roleplaying low stats should uplift the table, not derail it. Collaboration with the DM can turn a dump stat into a story arc centerpiece. Relatable characters often come from a mix of strengths, flaws, and humanity. Examples like Rocket and Roy Kent show that depth doesn't require perfection. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Featuring:Jimmy Lyons/"Premonitions"/Other Afternoons/1969Mary Lou Williams/"Corny Rhythm"/Jazz Pioneers Comp/1936Duke Jordan/"Dexterity"/East and West of Jazz/1962Oliver Nelson/"Ostinado"/Meet Oliver Nelson/1959Henry Red Allen/"Everybody Shout"/With Luis Nelson Vol 3/1930Richard Groove Holems/"Blues For Yna Yna"/Living Soul/1966Ma Rainey/"Honey, Where You Been So Long"/Broken Hearted Blues/1923Red Garland/"Solar"/Crossings/1978Tad Dameron/"Tiny's Blues"/Tad Dameron Band/1948Nat Adderley/"Ann Springs"/That's Nat/1955Jimmy Giuffre/"Clarinet"/Quiet Song/1976Ted Curson/"Kassim"/Tears For Dolphy/1964
The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
Google just released Gemini Robotics, a powerful new AI built for humanoid robots, taking robotics beyond simple tasks like opening doors to handling complex actions like folding origami or packing groceries without specific training. Companies like Figure AI, NVIDIA, and startups Unitree, Dexterity, and Apptronic are also pushing ahead. SPECIAL OFFERTo get your ready-to-go agent from https://www.lindy.ai/ email nlw@besuper.ai with the word "LINDY" in the titleBrought to you by:KPMG – Go to www.kpmg.us/ai to learn more about how KPMG can help you drive value with our AI solutions.Vanta - Simplify compliance - https://vanta.com/nlwThe Agent Readiness Audit from Superintelligent - Go to https://besuper.ai/ to request your company's agent readiness score.The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Subscribe to the newsletter: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Join our Discord: https://bit.ly/aibreakdown
Claire chatted to Kaspar Althoefer from Queen Mary University of London about soft robotic manipulators for healthcare and manufacturing. Kaspar Althoefer is Director of the Centre for Advanced Robotics at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). His research focuses on soft robotics, tactile perception, intelligent manipulation, and machine learning techniques for sensor signal interpretation. His research advancements have significant applications in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, rehabilitation, assistive technologies, and human-robot interactions within a range of scenarios, including manufacturing. Before joining QMUL, he was a Professor at King's College London, where he also earned his PhD. Join the Robot Talk community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ClaireAsher
The meeting between France's and America's presidents had a familiarly chummy feel. We ask whether Emmanuel Macron's charm offensive might have changed Donald Trump's mind on security matters. Norway's stocks of wild salmon are in trouble—owing in part to their farmed brethren (9:42). And how the Michelin Guide is trying to maintain its tastemaking primacy (17:20). Additional audio courtesy of @eatingwithtod.Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The meeting between France's and America's presidents had a familiarly chummy feel. We ask whether Emmanuel Macron's charm offensive might have changed Donald Trump's mind on security matters. Norway's stocks of wild salmon are in trouble—owing in part to their farmed brethren (9:42). And how the Michelin Guide is trying to maintain its tastemaking primacy (17:20). Additional audio courtesy of @eatingwithtod.Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
Adam and Daniel are back, and this week's podcast is a delightful mix of the mundane and the mildly tech-obsessed! Daniel regales us with his latest running triumphs (or maybe just survival stories, depending on the week), while Adam grapples with the existential question of whether $150 in groceries for two is a culinary extravagance or a budget-friendly miracle. They then dive headfirst into the world of AI assistants, debating their usefulness while simultaneously trying to figure out if Google Tasks can truly tame the chaos of recurring reminders. And, because no podcast is complete without a pop culture detour, they dissect the mind-bending Apple TV+ show "Severance."To top it all off, Adam's pure, unadulterated joy over a rare Arkansas snowfall is contagious, proving that even the most tech-savvy podcast hosts can still appreciate the simple pleasures in life. So, whether you're wondering if you're overspending on avocados or just need a good laugh about the weirdness of modern technology, Adam and Daniel's latest episode has you covered.Voice: 707-613-3284Email: Contact@MixMinusPodcast.com
Wir leben in der 4. industriellen Revolution. Unsere Welt verändert sich. Die Technik entwickelt sich exponentiell. Wir Menschen nicht mal annähernd. Bleib also nicht zurück und lerne mehr über Digital Dexterity. Darauf achten Personaler in 2025 besonders.
Let's explore resilient organisational cultures - my research and experience has identified ‘signalling channels' that people use to pick up clues, cues, signs, and signals to determine ‘the way we do things round here'. (our culure)These are 'leading performance indicators' that allow us to pick up through each of the channels if the organisational clues, cues, signs, and signals that we pick up are aligned and logical as opposed to misaligned, illogical or at cross purposes”?This can help us identify if we have a resilient culture or one that is 'self- defeating"..... In which case we can look at 'nudging' our culture "back on track" ......Reference:Intentional Revolutions - A Seven-Point Strategy for Transforming Organizations,MIT, Ed Nevis, Joan Lancourt , Helen VassaloISBN: 978-0-787-90240-7
Send us a textHerzlich Willkommen zur letzten Folge HAINS Talk in diesem Jahr. Zum Jahresabschluss gibts einen Überblick über die traditionelle Weihnachtsausgabe des British Medical Journals, mit Themen wie den Gesundheitsrisiken von Märchenprinzessinnen, der Geschicklichkeit unterschiedlicher Berufsgruppen im Krankenhaus oder Notfallmedizin von und mit Eisbären am Polarkreis. van Dijk SHB, Bui M, Eijkelboom AH. Living happily ever after? The hidden health risks of Disney princesses. BMJ. 2024;387:q2497. Published 2024 Dec 16. doi:10.1136/bmj.q2497Dayan R, Uliel B, Koplewitz G. Age against the machine-susceptibility of large language models to cognitive impairment: cross sectional analysis. BMJ. 2024;387:e081948. Published 2024 Dec 19. doi:10.1136/bmj-2024-081948Joseph T, Brown OI, Khalid S, et al. Dexterity assessment of hospital workers: prospective comparative study. BMJ. 2024;387:e081814. Published 2024 Dec 20. doi:10.1136/bmj-2024-081814Harring AKV, Idland S, Martinsen MM, Skjørland-Bolkesjø I, Jørgensen TM. How to transport a polar bear, and other idiosyncrasies in providing emergency medical services in the Arctic. BMJ. 2024;387:q2417. Published 2024 Dec 18. doi:10.1136/bmj.q2417Wir möchten uns ganz ausdrücklich bei allen Hörerinnen und Hörern bedanken, die uns in diesem Jahr aus 53 Ländern über 12000 mal gehört haben! Wir wünschen allen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest, geruhsame Feiertage und ein gesundes 2025! HAINS Talk macht Pause bis zum 7. Januar, danach sind wir wie gewohnt Dienstags um 09:00 "on air".
News items read by Laura Kennedy include: Satellite imaging pinpoints location of ancient Islamic battle (details) (details) Earliest known Maya salt production site uncovered in Belize (details) (details) Dexterity in australopithecines like Lucy may have developed far earlier than thought (details) (details) Ancient Greece's cultural rise started a century earlier than previously thought—new research (details) (details)
Bang bang. Oh, I think the back's a lot cooler in the front and the front's pretty cool. I like the front more I'm not even joking. She's just Contradict Well, you know, I see the world very differently because I'm an impressive thinker you are like I like this arm That's me. I don't think I can possibly rank these cups in any sort of universal way though. No, no I think based on the garment that makes sense the garmento then we're if it's like a really high quality one But it has a little hole but I'm gonna fix it with I'm gonna sew it and then better make it double It's what do they call it distressed this is a distressed garment hand-stitched hand-stitched Let's see, what's it called when it's from like a did you ever make a Build-A-Bear? Yeah, you know how you like get to put a little heart in them. Oh, yeah, that's kind of like, um if you were to If you were to stitch one of them you put like a little something in there Imagine if you had your hand in your pocket and you could feel like a little heart Hands down the worst one of these pants that actually made oh my god. I love those. I'm just kidding. Yeah, these are mid Yeah, let's not look like someone had a little period mistake Poppin they turned out sick. Yeah, that's turned out great. Did you is this the same one that you were wearing the Pop one or we oh, no, we're getting to a nevermind. Nevermind. Look at this. I answered my own question Like so these those are cool. These three pants. These two pants are all those. Those are all really good So like two out of three. Yeah, really. I mean and Someone will love the third look at that for like like I kind of crushed most let me see that one I Ain't nothing special Yeah, but like it's cute. It's fun. It's funny. I was actually wearing I'm like I feel like if it had like the spongebob flowers on it, it'd really bring it all together. Yeah, and yeah, it's I'm kind of using Just whatever whatever called stamps stamps. No, but uh Shroom prints the other one iron on patches. Oh as a way of Just covering that and also being like special. Yeah special like you Just you know, it's average but someone put a bow on it It's never fun when people like we're both we're both special. Yeah So it was Kenzie and are breaking our boundaries I'm just developing a method of like okay. How are you talking to show with your partner where it's like We need to develop the fully built characters of like, okay Yeah, we have a few ideas ideas cooking. Yeah, you take you take the lead because I'm like physically. I'm I'm popping it I'm giving it. Yeah, you are popping it. I'm I'm eating candy. Um Well, there's there's talks of maybe a documentary there's talks of maybe some Sketches skits. I don't know which comedy comedy. This comedy both the shorts turned out horribly Like not even really worth showing. I mean show Pop it and this third pair of shorts off it for me BAM BAM BAM I call it that side that side that side. Yeah, the funny if this is okay. I just didn't really have any blue shorts Me up. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and then I just blew you I don't really mind those Yeah, they're just mid they just need like I mean they're they're like basic bitch. Yeah, but like then they can let the top shine, you know That's a good point. I know like having the bomb. Oh, look at the back though. I like that that corner Yeah, this kind of matches a lot of the ones I was making later, which guys does either reinforce that like the temperature has a roll Or oh, so yeah, this beauty's nice this beauty is a beauty Yeah, so this is the vision pants No sneak peeks at what's next That's cool. Mm-hmm. That's cool over there. These pants rock. Yeah, we did a great job Whispers yeah bulbs and whispers. I know like a Framing or like a Like a way of talking like that almost looks 3d in a way. Mm-hmm coming over the way of like describing different places Kind of like clouds. Yeah, they have like six straddle cumulus. No, yeah Because like this one has a whole system has similar bulbs. Mm-hmm Is this just kind of the same as this just bulbs and splashes? No Yes, this has so much more personality. This looks so good on Though like that's where these pants like they look really cool as is. Yeah, but they look exquisite on Exquisite I can't wear cheap pants through the whole show. Mm-hmm Tiger doesn't like to be like, oh I'm getting a show from here Everyone can totally see him now. Oh, I like it with this shirt. Yes. Yeah Yeah, what can I say? Slay? I'm an intense. What else could you say gang gang? I mean gang gang Those ones looks really cool on as well. Yes, these ones will let the the tops pop top pop I mean, yeah, cuz a lot of I mean this top pops top pop Definitely. Yeah. No, it does and like that's what you want from your top. Yeah, it's to pop. Yeah, really anything you want it to pop But you don't want top and top and bottom can pop like this is a top that pops. It is a top that pops That's a cool top. The whole thing is like this is just a statement piece of this anyone looks so good They look so good on the bleach. Yeah, I like sometimes that they can't really see him. Mm-hmm There's a subtle like see ya. I can't even see ya Yeah, but then it's like if you got retroflectively splash Did you catch that you catch that leak leak leak reference? So, yeah The inside this has like some right here Mm-hmm. And so if I press right there, this doesn't have like it's like it seems like this would have been thin enough that My guess would be that the front and back would have been like much closer match. It's like that's really cool The specific thing that you just showed me Because it looked like something Nope, it's not what I thought. I thought it looked like maybe like a skeleton dancing, but it did not Oh nice back Cohesive, yeah, very cool. Very nebulous. The whole thing is I'm gonna register like when I was making this because you're filming We're talking. I have no idea how I tie this together Yeah, I'm just actually kind of standing In memoriam to story. Oh, I guess that means he's dead. That's not what I meant Thank you very much. I made the punch of myself didn't God, I mean, it's sick. I know it's really hard because I did I did get a lot of these easy gap ones to sell But now I'm like, whoa now that I got official easy Easy gap ones because I'm like a lot of minor just samples Scamples, so it's fun to have a couple there. I like the way they do this if you feel it It doesn't feel you felt it. No, but I can see oh, yeah. Yeah, it's like that's what it's that's what it should be That's what you need. I Need a easy a easy quality tag. Yeah. Yeah I believe in you. I think you can do it. I think a screen printing is the way. Yeah, I do too My black velour. I did put double X on triple X off God like that is just really divine divine. Yeah, I like that. I've got some really good phrasing for D Vine So if there's one This one's okay. I think it's kind of neat and special Yeah, nothing really special, but they're pretty cool here, but that's pretty cool. Like it looks almost like a solar flare Yes Interesting one right here. That one's kind of neat Yeah, and say I'm like if I didn't have any of these beaches and I just saw this I'd be that'd be I'd be so Stoked isn't it if this is like how one of my places turned out. I'd be like, holy shit. I'm doing this full-time I'm gonna be a millionaire. Oh my god. I'm gonna be a thousand or Yeah No, um, I mean this is this is kind of like the they play bagpipes like this is like The end of a bleach session for me. Oh like a funeral. Yeah. Yeah kind of it's more of like A celebration. It's like more of a new chapter really. Yeah selling Okay, got a little cocky and thought you could see how you could scale. Can you sell I don't want to sell I don't want to scale either though. You got to go out and work. I'm curious. So this is a really I Like this a lot more than the ones that were like I removed all of the red and is all pink. Really? Yeah, but this is just you know, it's a little underwhelming But like one or two screen prints. Oh, yeah, I know divine But I kind of like it kind of being simple. Mm-hmm. Jimple. I think I think one or two screen prints It's hard to beat that I mean like but like how much so how much more would it could it probably go for with a screen print? I don't know. This is about money for you. Yeah, it's what it's ever been about man I'm just trying to find the quickest way to make a buck. Totally. That's apparent The quicker I can get there Regardless of who I fucking hurt That's nice I Like this line, yeah, I've started just like folding clothes like like this Like I make these like folds this this sleeve. This is money. I Love the dark I like this one more. That's wild. Oh my god. I think I could do poles on these I think I'm curious house completely split. You should do poles. I mean that would be good. Yeah I was like, which ones you like more watch it be like Completely split completely split. Okay, just to get this side. You're trying to split the vote. I am Trying to do some splits and vote I'd love to see you do the splits I think you could you know Dexterity, you really put your mind to it And you're ass into it My mind it's about like my hamstrings are tight. No, it's your mind. It's your mind That's me. It's literally just your mind. You're gonna wrap your head around your feet to walk on the call like Well, I mean like, you know, oh like over time. Yeah, okay, obviously. Yeah, I'm not like you're down in the juice No, no that's my legs No, that's definitely in your legs. Would you describe this? This is basic basic trash. I mean trash it yeah Straight garb like some poor sucker will get it. Okay, I kind of like that looks like a little heart though Cute I do I do like hearts and that's kind of neat. I like the lines Mm-hmm. I started going way more line centric Yeah, like those like those really kind of solid lines like Cunning and create perfect like like symmetry which is like that's what makes the hearts. I like I like symmetry Feels right does feels good in my brain Yeah, like this one's chaos, but I'm like, I like there's still symmetry. Yeah, this one's really cool money That's a good shirt, too, I was one of my favorites, yeah Boom symmetry Yeah, this one's cool. Oh Backs a freak though. That's a cool Oh the backs a freak. Oh Looking looking That's a neat little shirt, I'm curious to see what it looks like on Fashion show fashion show fashion show at work Mm-hmm We'll treat for the audience. Oh my god, I mean it was a little cotton candy for me Google just bands make Cute It kind of reminds me of like Like someone in high school who listens to like angsty yes angsty as angsty of music as possible. Yeah, unfortunately Cute I like yeah this one I like I like Because those whites just pop out so much more just pop. Where's like this is the whites don't pop Oh, this is cute though. He's a cutie. He's a cutie. Oh, look at this This is a girl shirt this one's for the girls Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's kind of big Yeah, but it would be like an oversized. Yeah These make the best this one easy shirt that you have the it's the same cut it needs screen prints though for it to be maximum Amazing like new screen prints. I don't have yet. Yeah, I already have new screen It needs stars It needs girl shit I do like that Kind of not like I don't like his little eyes. I don't like that. I Hate that shirt. No, it's so funny That's what's dead to me You watched Wednesday. It's like you kind of like some level of that like ghoulish which I wanted to like it Yeah, I know I know I Art stylish, but you just didn't like the I didn't like I didn't like any of it. It was fucking It was horrible. It was a horrible show that everyone was like jerking off so hard And so I was like, maybe I just don't see it. Maybe it comes together and it didn't it fucking sucks Yeah, it was it was really bad. There's a couple shows in a row that you kind of like I was on a bad streak. I was in a bad place Bad place. I just like I Like the edges It's got its edges back framed. It's like a little frame. Yeah. Yeah, exactly Just look like you're out like yeah, that's pretty cool. Yeah, that was cool Well, why did this like bleach so much more? See this is all these were both gray Cut to you I've done the testing John all the testing I know exactly what I'm doing This one almost looks like okay Like someone's sitting cross-legged and then there's like fire Yeah, it's like his head's like right there yes, yeah, it's down to heat right there I'm seeing it upside down. So who knows? Can you see the face when I flip it? Stupid pimple No That is just a reflection of myself. I am the stupid. So yeah, where's the face? Well, now I see it differently. Oh, I totally see it right there right and then oh my god There's a deer head right there. Oh, there is that one. I totally saw. Oh My god, are you kidding? And then it has like two butterflies. I love it. Yeah actual George This is a Russia. This one's Russia White Russia. Oh It's okay. It would pass. It's okay. The back is not so bad that it ruins the front, correct I look like someone spilled a little drink on it or something And this interesting part is like sometimes if the bleach just barely hits a place It still doesn't it has the undercut like the color under it and it just looks like dirty Hmm, but it's not and that's what that's why I used to think that if I'd set the bleachers on opposite colors That it would stain through. Hmm when really it was just happened to be Because it was so odd. I'm like, why does this happen randomly? No Where do that term come from making headway Yeah, right This one's cool Yeah, this one's great. Yeah, this one's really cool and it kind of different way than any of my other ones have been. Mm-hmm Yeah, that one's neat Great back. Neat. Neat. Neat got a nice back to run Got a good backside This one is a little spooky vibes that's pretty like interesting like the popping Since I was going through photos, I'm trying to get those organized I saw the photo that you took for when we were watching the solar eclipse. Mm-hmm like way back, you know Mm-hmm, and it's interesting because your camera caught Like this little glimpse of light and it looks like an upside-down cross above my head. Yeah I remember that I kind of like it Kind of neat Christian Australian Christians, no this one I've reached a ton of I've made this one so cute. Look at the little stars If you look at all these pretty much all of these ones are like this same is they're so there's like army green Really? Yeah, and was army green this color? Yeah Weird. Yeah, but they all bleached into like three or four different colors really cool That's great. I wonder if they ever bleach it one color and they're like, yeah, and so then they died a darker color Yeah, I'd be curious to you. I know like maybe this was just leftover dye was my But they I mean it's high quality like I mean just the feeling of it. Yeah, it's a nice shirt soft I like to be nude for the least amount of shows possible, you know, I Try I don't I try and fail. Oh cute. I like the shoulders I really like the sides. Mm-hmm. I'm all for the side and then boom just a big This one has very much galaxy like and look you have you have little stars on your shoulders. So cute. Yeah, that's pretty cool I love me a good star. Yeah, I like a strong shoulder. I Didn't love this one first This looks like a tie-dye Sure busting out into tears way to deflate me tie-dye cross Another cutie for Kenzie cuties These keys have sold out tigers coliseum cotton of cotton has not sold a single piece. He seemed very Argumentative during the arbitration process every piece randomly go triples in price Kenzie on the other hand, she could not get rid of them fast enough. Yeah, do you want to see it? Yeah I'm gonna try it on that's high fidelity. I'm gonna give it a try. Yeah So you can get some data Kind of some shoulder. I love all of it actually. Yeah, it's really cool Honestly, I feel like it's such a specialty thing cuz it's like Small. Mm-hmm. You have you have one you're like the opposite of Deep up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they're all real sizes for real big People we're like tiny chicks tiny chicks with big tits Do they don't even their bras are like painting. Oh, really? I don't know tiny chicks with times Really women to be small small this one's like this is you of oh like Colors kind of there's no yellow in this. This is green and orange. That's yellow That's yellow Yeah, it could be more yellow. I stopped it at orange because I like orange more. I didn't stop it. I know I I did this I Immaculately picked the perfect time to flip. I said, hey, this is perfect freeze Yeah Hmm a little bit of a long time. I really like this V.A.I. about the road. Yeah. I love this little round thing. I'm gonna be in there and it's happy. It's having me., so a big picture. a big picture. a big picture. a big picture. a big picture. a big picture. I don't see this one make pahops though. I don't see this one make pahops though. I don't see this one make pahops though. I don't see this one make pahops though. Kind of like the um Kind of like the um I think you look good. I think you look good. I think you look good. Yeah, yeah. I think you look good. Yeah, yeah. You don't want to be on camera. That's okay. I mean you don't want to be. You don't want to be. You don't want to be. You put this one over it. I don't do green and orange. You don't do green and orange. I like green and orange a lot more than like You don't do green and orange. I like green and orange a lot more than like You don't do green and orange. I like green and orange a lot more than like Trash. I love this. Feel how soft it is. Dummy. Dummy soft. You know it's dummy soft. It is dummy soft. Thank you. It'd be a good pillowcase. Or like, you know what's the thing you put in a Trash can where the garbage goes? I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. This is why. Bandwagon jumper This is why. Bandwagon jumper Kenzie, you're mean. You just pick and pick and pick. The podcast is the only time I get Meenataker. Yeah. The rest of the time I'm like why ya ya? Except they do it. That one's Sick. Nice one. Try it. Flip it off, bitch. Flip it on, flip it on. Flip it on, flip it on. Hmm. Hmm. Which is a lot more messy in person. Like on a person. Really, really go like this To it. It's just very Off the lopsided. It's kind of just big. It's a double XL. I like it though. It covers my butt. Okay, now it looks pretty cool. Like that arm looks cool. To quote you. Right above your left hip looks great. Yeah. Stage left. Stage left. I feel like the shoulders are really like Like, yeah, they have very pointy shoulders. Yeah. This is one of the green Ones. This is black. It's funny. It has more of a green hue than the other green shirt did. Within that triangle? No. Oh, you mean other than the army green. Yeah. Yeah, the army greens are pretty much brown. You can see them right The bottom, the bottoms Of that messy, of that big star. Down, yep, those. Yeah. So those, those all turn into those. This one's great, but I don't It's not perfect for me because of the feel. It's a little, I kind of like some rougher. I feel like that would really soften up. Probably would. Honestly, so I liked it When it was flat. But this has really Surprised me. It's interesting this. It kind of looks like I like No, it's funny. It kind of looks like it's like going up that way though. I just want to see if like Does this look the same on me as it does on you? It's going to look way better on you. It really does look different on different people. Yeah. This one's great. Grip. Personal. Jersonal. That's my Jersonal file. I don't think I, I think Bang. Um, I think It looks pretty cool on you actually. Oh yeah, well it's crazy. Like, that's weird. Yeah. Not many of them do that. Yeah. So yeah, it doesn't mean to be like Like the shoulder's weird. I think it's meant for a really wide guy. Wide guy. Wide guy. Well that's you. You're a big guy. I'm a big man. This one, this one turned out great Just because of right here. This saved it. That's pretty cool. Yeah, put the vultures on. Put it on. She puts on. I just, I don't love the neck holes of them. My neck hole. My neck hole. I kinda like it. I like the feel of the sleeves. This is a nice shirt. It's a good shirt. I like the feel. Yeah. The real feel. The real feel. She's a balancing goddess. I'm trying to be wide. You are wide. I'm like a fucking line batter. You're not too wide though. That's this one. This one. Boom. Nice. And like boom. Just with that, we're pretty much done. I like when you put them away like a forklift. Me too, but these ones each gotta go to a very specific spot. This one's going up behind you. Oh. Beep beep. That's the rest of the show for like the next 20 minutes. Tiger and Kenzie pretending to be forklifts. Completely sober. Just forklifting. Forklifting. Just forking. Trying to make a living. Forklifting. This is gonna go in the cell pile. This guy. Is this the cell pile? Yeah, I saw it. If you know. If it all falls down. And it all falls down. She's looking a little wob. That's what it does. Wobbed? You have to beat the wob. Wob. Wob. Wob. It's the wob. Wob. Wob. That's a easy shirt, but I think I'll sell it. Bye. This is a easy shirt, but I think I'll sell it. Bye. This is the double layer Kenzie. I think I'll sell it. To the pile. Sergeant Pile. Is this the cell? Yeah, every single thing over there. Oh, really now? You can even put it on that really cool ass red shirt. Or hoodie. Getting a little tired here? Yeah, I'm sorry. Oh, this is the shirt that has the double. It's just a lumper. It's not a lover. It's a lumper. And then that you can park right back up there. I'm not sleepy, you're sleepy. I've always wanted to be a boss, you're sleepy. Looks like an eyeball. On the desk. I've never noticed it. You see how there's three holes? The majority of the time it's been covered up. I know how to do damage control. Wow, the back of this one looks great. That's who I talked to? He looks perfect. I do it with the back out, but it's okay. Again. Kenzie does it perfectly. Kenzie forgets the back and the front thing though. I'm so used to doing the front forward. I like hiding it. Because the back usually looks about the same. This is crazy looking. I think I do the front because I had graphic tees for a long time. And that's how I would distinguish. What shirt is this? Oh shit. Who is this, I say. I do have relationships with men. Is it my golden boy? No. Who is your golden boy? That's a good question. See, doesn't that look blue? Something could have been staining it. Who stained it? Not one of us. Who is the damager? The damager. Who? I'm folding here. You cut the clear right away. Look at that. God, you're good at what you do. That looks really nice. I don't know why that's so fucking funny. Yeah, so that one and this one are my favorites. And the one I'm wearing is okay. How is it? Okay. I'm going to take this tangy shirt off. Do the rest of the shawl. In the braless. Oh my god, I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy! So sleepy that I ate like two bites of that cotton candy. I'm like, okay. Donezo. Bye. But I'm really happy I documented these because I've done so many. I mean, god damn it. The amount of fucking footage that I didn't want to just be like, okay, that last one, yeah, I just skimped out on it. Because I'm going to be like, prove that you made them, man. Because you probably didn't. Where's the street cred in that? Where's the street cred? You probably just bought them. Boney. Okay, so we're living out my nightmare right now. Everyone's like, you didn't. You just, I bet you took it from someone else. From a smaller, if you loved it. Smaller, if someone was tiny. I stole it from a bitchy. Nice shirt. Thanks. It's a cool sweater, sweater, sweater, sweater, sweater. I like the green. Green boy. Alright, thanks everyone for tuning in. I don't know what I'm going to do with three different camera angles of all this. Please, god help me. Bye. Bye. Bye. Last word, bye. Can't keep doing this to me. I'm gonna freak. I'm gonna go bananas. Hidden. Didn't know the show was kept going. He freaked out. Not very well. He doesn't really do it that much. He doesn't have a lot of practice. Doesn't really know how to. He kind of just goes. I'm not happy. Fixed it. And then he goes. I'm not bleaching another god damn shirt until I'm happy. But I'm not happy until I bleach another shirt. That is the problem with life. Yup, yup. Alright, let's go watch some tv and pass out. Alright, cool. You'll stop the camera. Don't bang that thing. Don't clap that thing. Oh, wait. I'll clap it. I'll clap it, baby.
#44 Keep That Camera On, Deluxification=Good?, Dexterity Roll Play, and Lana Weber Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVr5MNf7Nt5oCXywsUh-ttA/join Looking to buy used and new games? Use my affiliate link with Noble Knight Games https://www.nobleknight.com/?awid=1459 Hungry is joined by Lana from Level Up Board Game Podcast to talk about recent plays and the best and worst Deluxe components. 0:00 - Intro Recent Plays 11:13.- From the Moon 16:13 - River of Gold 22:25 - Ring of Chaos 31:01 - River Valley Glassworks 35:59 - Botanicus 41:12 - Monasterium 45:29 - Lore 47:28 - Elder Scrolls 51:04 - Sponsor Bump 52:04 - Deluxifications that are worth it 1:33:27 - Lana's Gaming Words of Wisdom 1:35:19 - Bonus Clips Find Lana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navigatorlana?igsh=MWVzeWl6OXowZTB6aw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Check out the video version here: https://youtu.be/_zc-bot1430
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. Summary In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. We highlight the problems with the previous version of the Monk class, including resource limitations and lack of damage output. We then go on to discuss the improvements in the 2024 rules, such as the increase in the martial arts die, the ability to use Dexterity for save DCs, and the removal of the requirement to take the attack action for bonus action attacks. We also cover the new features like Monk's Focus, Deflect Attacks, and the changes to Stunning Strike. We're excited about the improvements made to the Monk class. We cover the changes to the Stunning Strike ability, the addition of force damage to the Empowered Strikes feature, and the improvements to the Way of Mercy and Way of Shadow subclasses. There are improvements to the Monk's saving throws but a lack of a level 20 feature. We warp up with the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. We talk about the new wording of the Shadow Arts feature and how it affects the Darkness spell. We discuss the changes to the Way of the Four Elements subclass, which has been greatly improved and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play. They share their thoughts on the Open Hand Monk subclass and its underwhelming features. The episode ends with a discussion on how to balance powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed versus player enjoyment. Links Player's Handbook (affiliate link) Content from RPGBOT.net 2024 DnD 5e Transition Guide 2024 DnD 5e Monk Class Guide 2024 DnD 5e Monk Subclasses Guide Previous RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes MONKS Levels 1 – 4 – Ascend to Greatness or Stumble in the Shadows – RPGBOT.Podcast S4E53 MONKS Levels 5 - 20 - Beyond the Flurry of Blows Takeaways The previous version of the Monk class had resource limitations and lacked damage output. The 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons have made significant improvements to the Monk class. The martial arts die has been increased, allowing for more damage. Dexterity can now be used for save DCs, making the Monk more versatile. Bonus action attacks no longer require the attack action, providing more flexibility in combat. New features like Monk's Focus and Deflect Attacks enhance the Monk's abilities. Stunning Strike has been modified, offering advantage on the next attack against the target. Overall, the hosts are excited about the improvements made to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. The Stunning Strike ability has been modified in the 2024 rules, with changes to the duration of the stun and the requirement for a melee weapon attack. The Empowered Strikes feature now allows Monks to deal force damage with their attacks, which bypasses common damage resistances. The Way of Mercy subclass remains largely unchanged, but the Way of Shadow subclass has undergone significant revisions, including the ability to see in magical darkness. Monks now have proficiency in all saving throws and can reroll any failed save with the Disciplined Survivor feature. The lack of a level 20 feature for Monks in the 2024 rules is seen as a disappointment. The wording of the Shadow Arts feature in the 2024 rules has caused confusion regarding the Darkness spell and its interaction with the Monk's abilities. The Way of the Four Elements subclass has been greatly improved in the 2024 rules and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play. The Open Hand Monk subclass is seen as the most underwhelming subclass in the 2024 rules. Balancing powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed with player enjoyment can be achieved by making combat turns faster and allowing players to still do something on their turn. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. Summary In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we break down the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons. We highlight the problems with the previous version of the Monk class, including resource limitations and lack of damage output. We then go on to discuss the improvements in the 2024 rules, such as the increase in the martial arts die, the ability to use Dexterity for save DCs, and the removal of the requirement to take the attack action for bonus action attacks. We also cover the new features like Monk's Focus, Deflect Attacks, and the changes to Stunning Strike. We're excited about the improvements made to the Monk class. We cover the changes to the Stunning Strike ability, the addition of force damage to the Empowered Strikes feature, and the improvements to the Way of Mercy and Way of Shadow subclasses. There are improvements to the Monk's saving throws but a lack of a level 20 feature. We warp up with the changes to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. We talk about the new wording of the Shadow Arts feature and how it affects the Darkness spell. We discuss the changes to the Way of the Four Elements subclass, which has been greatly improved and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play. They share their thoughts on the Open Hand Monk subclass and its underwhelming features. The episode ends with a discussion on how to balance powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed versus player enjoyment. Links Player's Handbook (affiliate link) Content from RPGBOT.net 2024 DnD 5e Transition Guide 2024 DnD 5e Monk Class Guide 2024 DnD 5e Monk Subclasses Guide Previous RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes MONKS Levels 1 – 4 – Ascend to Greatness or Stumble in the Shadows – RPGBOT.Podcast S4E53 MONKS Levels 5 - 20 - Beyond the Flurry of Blows Takeaways The previous version of the Monk class had resource limitations and lacked damage output. The 2024 rules of Dungeons and Dragons have made significant improvements to the Monk class. The martial arts die has been increased, allowing for more damage. Dexterity can now be used for save DCs, making the Monk more versatile. Bonus action attacks no longer require the attack action, providing more flexibility in combat. New features like Monk's Focus and Deflect Attacks enhance the Monk's abilities. Stunning Strike has been modified, offering advantage on the next attack against the target. Overall, the hosts are excited about the improvements made to the Monk class in the 2024 rules. The Stunning Strike ability has been modified in the 2024 rules, with changes to the duration of the stun and the requirement for a melee weapon attack. The Empowered Strikes feature now allows Monks to deal force damage with their attacks, which bypasses common damage resistances. The Way of Mercy subclass remains largely unchanged, but the Way of Shadow subclass has undergone significant revisions, including the ability to see in magical darkness. Monks now have proficiency in all saving throws and can reroll any failed save with the Disciplined Survivor feature. The lack of a level 20 feature for Monks in the 2024 rules is seen as a disappointment. The wording of the Shadow Arts feature in the 2024 rules has caused confusion regarding the Darkness spell and its interaction with the Monk's abilities. The Way of the Four Elements subclass has been greatly improved in the 2024 rules and is now considered one of the most fun subclasses to play. The Open Hand Monk subclass is seen as the most underwhelming subclass in the 2024 rules. Balancing powerful monster effects like Stun or Paralyzed with player enjoyment can be achieved by making combat turns faster and allowing players to still do something on their turn. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (Video)
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
The discovery of Lucy in 1974 gave insight into early hominin body form but lacked hand bones. Subsequent findings revealed Australopithecus afarensis hand morphology. New discoveries and research since then, including associated hand skeletons and archaeological evidence, have enhanced our understanding of hominin hand evolution and tool use. These advancements inform us about Lucy's tool-related abilities and dexterity, reshaping our interpretation of early human behavior. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39821]
I talk about the DEX stat. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radio-grognardks/support
In this episode, we explore the role of design thinking in AI and data analytics, highlighting the importance of creating human-centered solutions. Chris Willis, Chief Design Officer at Domo shares valuable insights from his career in media, design and technology, emphasizing the necessity of digital dexterity and continuous learning in our rapidly evolving digital landscape. The conversation also delves into the potential and challenges of AI, addressing the risks of over-reliance on convenient answers and underscoring the critical need for robust AI safety measures. Show Notes: [00:02:46] Chris's experience and background [00:03:51] Growing up in New Hampshire and creative upbringing [00:05:53] Discussion on design thinking and its importance in problem-solving. [00:09:42] How Domo started and the application of design thinking principles in the company. [00:13:39] The Anna Karenina principle of business [00:18:38] Different styles of AI language models and their implications. [00:19:25] Using AI tools like ChatGPT for ideation and as a search engine. [00:23:21] Predicting future AI trends [00:27:09] Mentors and their impact on Chris' career. [00:29:07] Two words to describe the future of work - "digital dexterity" Connect with Chris Willis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwillis/ Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy X: boazashkenazy Email: shift@simplyaugmented.ai
In Episode 116 the guys has been contemplating using a range of mechanics that are common to boardgames but unusual in minis games. Specifically this time, Mike has put a whole bunch of dexterity mechanics into his new game, Space Gits, about drunk ass orcs Shootin', Scootin' and putting the Boot in on each other, but also, balancing and sliding dice all over the place without their towers falling over. So they thought it would be a good time to talk dexterity mechanics in miniatures games. Check out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.com Check out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.games The Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uECh If you want to support the channel financially you can join Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergames If you want the number on Glenn's Patreon to go up one, you can join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss druids in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, covering topics such as race and ability scores, proficiencies, class features, spellcasting, and the role of druids as controllers in combat. We also break down the different Druid subclasses and their features and express our opinions on each subclass and provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses. We'll decide on our own subclass choices: Tyler chooses Circle of Spores, Ash chooses Circle of Stars, and Randall chooses Circle of the Moon. We talk about the different forms that Moon Druids can take and the spells they can use at different levels. We explore the benefits of several forms and spells, as well as the strategies and tactics that can be employed in combat. Our conversation concludes with a preview of the next episode, where they will cover levels 5 to 20 for the Druid class. TAKEAWAYS Druids in D&D 5th edition are versatile spellcasters with a focus on area control and summoning magic. Dexterity is crucial for druids due to their limited armor options. Druids excel at controlling the battlefield and manipulating the movement of creatures. Druids have a unique language called Druidic, which is similar to thieves' cant. The Circle of the Land subclass provides additional cantrips to compensate for the druid's lower number of starting cantrips. Druids have exclusive cantrips like Primal Savagery, which is a powerful melee attack option. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of Stars is a versatile subclass with strong spellcasting abilities and unique features. The Circle of Dreams is generally considered a weak subclass due to its limited healing capabilities. The Circle of the Shepherd is a good option for players who enjoy summoning and controlling creatures. The Circle of Wildfire offers a mix of healing and offensive abilities, as well as a companion creature. The Circle of the Land is a solid choice for players who want a straightforward druid experience. The Circle of the Stars is highly recommended for its versatility and powerful features. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. Moon Druids have a variety of forms to choose from, each with its own benefits and abilities. Spells like Heat Metal and Spike Growth are effective for damage and control in combat. Materials Referenced in This Episode Druid Handbook Druid Races Breakdown Druid Subclass Breakdown Druid Spells Breakdown RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Wild Shape If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss druids in Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, covering topics such as race and ability scores, proficiencies, class features, spellcasting, and the role of druids as controllers in combat. We also break down the different Druid subclasses and their features and express our opinions on each subclass and provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses. We'll decide on our own subclass choices: Tyler chooses Circle of Spores, Ash chooses Circle of Stars, and Randall chooses Circle of the Moon. We talk about the different forms that Moon Druids can take and the spells they can use at different levels. We explore the benefits of several forms and spells, as well as the strategies and tactics that can be employed in combat. Our conversation concludes with a preview of the next episode, where they will cover levels 5 to 20 for the Druid class. TAKEAWAYS Druids in D&D 5th edition are versatile spellcasters with a focus on area control and summoning magic. Dexterity is crucial for druids due to their limited armor options. Druids excel at controlling the battlefield and manipulating the movement of creatures. Druids have a unique language called Druidic, which is similar to thieves' cant. The Circle of the Land subclass provides additional cantrips to compensate for the druid's lower number of starting cantrips. Druids have exclusive cantrips like Primal Savagery, which is a powerful melee attack option. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of Stars is a versatile subclass with strong spellcasting abilities and unique features. The Circle of Dreams is generally considered a weak subclass due to its limited healing capabilities. The Circle of the Shepherd is a good option for players who enjoy summoning and controlling creatures. The Circle of Wildfire offers a mix of healing and offensive abilities, as well as a companion creature. The Circle of the Land is a solid choice for players who want a straightforward druid experience. The Circle of the Stars is highly recommended for its versatility and powerful features. The Circle of Spores is a complex subclass that requires careful optimization to be effective. The Circle of the Moon is a popular choice for new players and offers powerful wild shape abilities. Moon Druids have a variety of forms to choose from, each with its own benefits and abilities. Spells like Heat Metal and Spike Growth are effective for damage and control in combat. Materials Referenced in This Episode Druid Handbook Druid Races Breakdown Druid Subclass Breakdown Druid Spells Breakdown RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Wild Shape If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
A scorching outdoor encounter in the dog days of summer. by TheSleepingKing. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. You know the worst thing about the Midwest? August. Sure, there are other things. But after three straight weeks of 98 degrees and 90% humidity you don't really care that Kansas is a thing. You just want out – to escape the stifling grassland; preferably to a place where you don't need to swim through the steam to reach the next air-conditioned oasis. Where I work we need to maintain a minimum staffing level to fulfill our obligations. So vacation requests are handled on a first come first serve basis. First person to request time off gets first pick of available dates. Usually I get in early, guaranteeing myself at least one week that I want. But by the time I remembered to request this year, my only option for a summer break was the final week in August.Monday and Tuesday were a bust. Too hot to leave the house. I tried Monday morning, heading out to my favorite brunch spot for an omelet. But after burning my hand on the gear shift lever at 10:00 am I decided to pack it in. The weather app promised cooler temperatures mid-to-late-week, so I set about crafting a plan to salvage what was left of my vacation. There's a state park a few hours north, on the edge of a popular college town. I'd hiked there several times before. It was quiet, with a decent elevation and full tree canopy, and a 15-foot waterfall at the crux of the two longest trails. Temps in the mid-eighties were still warmer than I preferred. But after months of being stuck in a warehouse 10 hours a day, a little time outside seemed…necessary. I texted my friend Natalie, curious if she'd want to tag along. She was fun, outdoorsy, and never seemed too busy for an adventure. And sometimes, if we'd both had a few drinks, you might find her with her head in my lap, cock in her mouth and my fingers slowly circling her clit; agreeing this was a great way to spend an evening. But this time I struck out. I was on my own. I'd have to make the best of it. Every hotel in town was booked for Friday night (damn college football weekend), so I reserved a room for Wednesday and Thursday and headed out after lunch. Two hours and three Interstates later I pulled into a parking lot already half-filled with cars. I intended to drop my bag in the room and lap the short trail before dinner. That plan screeched to halt the moment I shut off the car. Cooler temperatures midweek my ass. It was 90 degrees at 4:15. The air saturated my clothes as I trudged across the pavement, and by the time I arrived at the check-in desk I knew I was done for the day. Cranking up the air in the room I decided to catch up on some streaming shows before heading across the parking lot to a local burger joint for a lite supper. But soon the sun disappeared behind a fortress of darkened clouds. The wind whipped up and the rain poured down in sheets, lashing the windows and transforming the parking lot into a rippling black pond. I watched for a while, checking the weather report to find nothing about precipitation. If Thursday was anything like this…. Eventually the rain stopped, and I headed out for dinner. It was cooler now – high 70s or so, and the squall had dried the air enough for the wind to wick away the water instead of steaming me in a sauna. I picked a seat in the corner of the restaurant patio and settled in for a meal. The dining room filled up quickly. Mostly locals – you could tell by the comfortable clothes and their rapport with the bartenders. But midway through my second beer, three young women rounded the corner from the waiting area, following the hostess to a four-top across the aisle from me beneath the center awning. And they were obviously based somewhere else. Two of them looked similar, (sisters maybe? cousins?) with straight blonde hair and big broad smiles. They dressed like they'd come straight from the yacht club: white shorts, striped navy tees and deck shoes; one with a denim jacket, the other in a hat. The third was taller with rectangular glasses, buoyant, gently curled auburn hair, and a short powder blue A-line summer dress accentuating the tone and length of her legs. She caught me looking as they stopped at their table. I turned away quickly, smiling to myself, disappointed, yet amused that I wasn't as discrete as I used to be. I took a full swig of beer and set the mug gently on the coaster before glancing back toward their table. The brunette had switched places with her friends, taking the seat on the far side of the circle, just about facing me. For a while I kept my eyes to myself. They ordered drinks and struck up a lively conversation. My burger and fries arrived, and I concentrated on securing the toppings so as not to make a fool of myself the first time I bit into it. But as I worked my way through the meal my attention began to wander. First to the parking lot. Then to the bar. And finally, to the beauty at the table twelve feet away. I stole glances between french fries and over the rim of my glass, careful to look away the moment before she turned her head or shifted her eyes toward me. Despite my best efforts she caught me once or twice. I flashed a smile, she did the same, we both looked away until the next time it happened. I was always drawn back. Her face was so bright, skin glowing in the warmth of the pendant lights. She shifted in her chair, slouching a little, stretching her legs to the edge of the aisle and crossing them at the ankles. Her dress rode high up her thighs, the shadow of the fabric and the table above shielding me from what lay beneath. I pretended I hadn't noticed, drawing out a sip of beer until she returned to her conversation. Inappropriate thoughts crept through my mind. I prodded them, trying to keep them at bay. She was at least ten – if not fifteen years younger. I was here to hike, not ogle women just barely out of college. The waiter stopped by my table, asking if I needed anything. I should have asked for the cheque. It would have been the smart thing to do. Instead, I asked for ice cream. It was still warm out, seemed reasonable. A few minutes later I spotted him heading my way, a tray with a tall bowl and several margaritas balanced on one hand. As he stopped to set the bowl in front of me, movement behind him caught my eye. I looked past to the ladies' table to catch the brunette uncross her ankles and ease her outside leg into the aisle, her knees drifting apart just far enough to show me smooth, plump pussy lips unencumbered by fabric or modesty. I froze, staring. Drinking it in. “Everything okay sir,” the waiter inquired, snapping me back to the moment. I tore my eyes away and looked up, then down at the ice cream, then up again, trying to reset my brain. “Yes,” I replied, “thank you. It looks…delicious.” I don't think I was talking about ice cream. And from the way his forehead wrinkled I think he knew that. I dipped the spoon in and took a bite. He nodded and moved past me to the table waiting on drinks. Staring at the bowl I tried to collect my thoughts. But all I could picture was the perfect pocket of pleasure framed between those gently tanned thighs. I lifted my head. Her legs remained splayed, treasure visible. Leaning back in her seat she lifted one foot, skimming her calf up over her shin until one knee rested over the other, closing the curtain on my view. Our gaze met. The corners of her mouth curled up and her eyebrows shrugged, and I felt the stir in my groin as I realized that perhaps…I was meant to see what I saw. I smiled a little. Then stopped. Her friends had turned to watch me, giggling into the hands covering their mouths. I scooped a spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into mine, staring at the table. Nothing like looking creepy in front of attractive women half your age. I decided to finish my dessert and keep my eyes to myself, get back to my room before embarrassing myself further. Before I could execute my plan, the women settled their tab and left. Through the glass I watched them skip across the parking lot toward the hotel, laughing with each other along the way. Something slipped from the brunette's swinging hand, and when she stooped to pick it up she looked back in my direction. I flinched, wanting to turn away. But I couldn't. She was mesmerizing. She flashed a smile, then ran to catch up with her friends. I waited until I was sure they were settled in their rooms before heading back to mine. I ambled into the bathroom and checked myself in the mirror. I was in good shape for 40 plus. Ten years ago I might have made a pass at them; bought them a round, slid over to their table, try to talk one into joining me in my room. Instead…I took a shower, cranked up the air conditioning, and went to bed. Thursday morning I grabbed some apples from the breakfast bar, threw on a tee shirt and cargo shorts and prepared to hit the trail. It was a little after 8:00, about 75 degrees. The weather app promised 85 by 2:00 pm, which gave me plenty of time to loop the long trails before the heat became oppressive. Armed with two frozen water bottles and the fruit in a small backpack I caught a ride share to the park and headed out. The forest was teaming with life. Birds of all feathers chattered in the trees while rabbits and squirrels and other small creatures darted about in the in the brush below. The canopy was lush and thick, filtering much of the early light and heavily shading the first few miles, making for a pleasant hike. But the trail was overgrown from nearly two years of under use. The deeper I forged into the trees the more difficult it became to stay on track. And the leaves that earlier shielded me from the sun now trapped its heat beneath them, turning a warm walk in a light breeze into a hot slog through a noisy sauna. I didn't remember the route as well as I thought, and before I knew it, I was lost. I took a seat on a fallen log and fished a bottle out of the backpack. The ice had melted but the water was still cool. After half the bottle I traded it for my phone and tried to figure out where the hell I was. Reception was spotty and the GPS couldn't decide between several locations. From the lay of the land and direction of my hike I decided to head northeast. At some point I would run into the river, which would lead me back to my trail. I finished the first bottle and resumed walking. The temperature continued to climb, humidity trapping sweat on my skin. The skitter of critters through the underbrush ceased and the bird songs faded into the heat. An eerie quiet settled in, tempered by the crunch of fallen twigs underfoot. My limbs felt dull and heavy and a thought repeated in my head. You should have stayed home. I was looking for a place to rest when I finally heard it. Running water. In spite of myself I picked up the pace, oblivious to the incline I'd been descending the past few minutes. Up ahead the canopy thinned, tree trunks spacing out along the edge of a clearing. Picking through the tall grass I emerged into the sunlight onto the smooth flat rocks forming the edge of the river. Marked with a boulder on the far bank was the entrance to the second trail. To my right, Lost River Falls. Fifteen feet up, the black shale outcropping curved into a gentle crescent. The lazy river curled over the edge in a soft, thin sheet, spilling into a shallow pool before funneling through a narrow channel to the river basin and snaking on downstream. Now high in the sky, the sun blazed the sparkling water white, casting a rainbow over the riverbank and a deep shadow on the vertical rock beneath the ledge. The gentle roar swelled in my ears. I intended to cross to the trail and head back, but it was so hot, and the mist in the air felt so enticing. I turned toward the falls, threading my way along the bank over the channel to the edge of the pool. On a rock nearby I set down my pack, flanking it with my boots moments later. Peeling of the sweat-soaked tee shirt I waded into the water. The pool was warmer than I expected, but much cooler than the air, instantly soothing my feet. I shuffled along the shale bottom until the water sloshed around my calves. Reaching out I pierced the curtain, splashing droplets over my face and chest. Drawing a deep breath, I closed my eyes and stepped into the falls. I stayed a minute, despite the chill, the water flushing the ick of the morning off my skin. It beat on my back and shoulders, leeching heat from my muscles and ache from my bones. I ducked under and out several times, like it was a rolling ocean wave on a Caribbean beach. Cleansed and refreshed, I returned to the rock. I rung out the shirt and laid it flat over the adjacent stone, then fished the second water bottle from the backpack. Bottle to my lips I soaked up the view. Vibrant green forest, shimmering white water, worn black rock winding through the landscape. I smiled to myself. Sure it was hot, but it beat the hell out of being stuck in the warehouse. The snap of a twig behind me drew my attention. Setting the bottle on the backpack I glanced over my shoulder and caught a figure crossing my periphery on the opposite bank. Shielding my eyes, I turned for a better look. And was not disappointed. At the far end of the crescent in a bright blue skort and a radiant white rash guard stood the brunette from the restaurant. She had clearly been hiking for some time. Her skin glistened with sweat, and the glossy fabric of her shirt clung to every curve of her torso. Her legs – long and lean – planted her firmly on the uneven ground. Her curls were tied back in a ponytail, exposing her face to the sun. I couldn't help but stare. She looked like a model in a Patagonia catalog. And it took only a moment before all I could think about was her in that blue dress, slouched in that chair, sipping her drink while showing me the world. The shriek of a hawk overhead broke my trance. I found her smiling at me, her head cocked to the side, eyebrows raised. Flustered, I acknowledged her presence and turned away. I needed to collect my shit and go; salvage whatever was left of my dignity. I stuffed the bottle back in the pack and shook out my shirt, hauling it on over my head. Soon it would weigh me down and I would need to take it off, but for now it was a cold towel on the back of my neck and that was just fine. Something disturbed the water behind me. Snapping up the backpack I turned to investigate. She stood before the falls, her back to me, gazing up at the gleaming ribbon spilling from above. The bands of a black sports bra crisscrossed her back, the rash guard scrunched in her fist was tossed casually into the grass on the far bank. Her hands disappeared in front of her, then reappeared above her head, taking the sports bra with them. Tipping her head back, she eased into the liquid curtain. The water sheared around her, cutting a sexy silhouette in the high noon sun. My cock stirred to life, craving the view from the other side of the falls. I knew I should get moving – I didn't want to be busted again. But something gripped me, held me in place, my imagination in overdrive. “Still just looking, huh.” I whipped my head back and forth searching for the source of the voice, before realizing it could only have one origin. I turned back. She had stepped back from the water, her fingers twisting round her ponytail, pulling out the band. With a flip of her wrists her curls burst out, slapping down over her back. She peered over her shoulder. A chill shot down my spine. Her eyes narrowed, the corners of mouth creasing up. She skimmed her hands along her sides and over her hips until her thumbs hooked in the waistband of her skort and the material bunched in her fists. She tugged them down slowly, a perfectly rounded bare ass rising like a sunrise over the fabric horizon. Watching me, she straightened up, skort slipping down her legs into the pool. “You know,” she said, tipping her head back, “it's better over here.” My dick strained against my shorts, drawn like a magnet to that little gap between the tops of her thighs and the base of her cheeks. She returned to the falls, disappearing under the water. The backpack slipped from my fingers, sluffing off the rock and into the grass. My head spinning, I waded toward her. She emerged from the cascade facing me. Rivulets of water streamed down her face. They trickled over her breasts; firm and high on her chest, dark nipples pointed upward, soliciting a touch. The streams continued down the flat of her belly, curling in at her hips and under her mound, before spiraling round her thighs and calves and melting into the pool. She poked two fingers under my chin and lifted it. “My eyes are up here.” “Sorry,” I replied, just a little nervous. “I'm easily distracted.” Her bright baby blues lingered on my face a moment before roaming down my body to the prominent bulge below my waist. Looking up, she smiled. “But not shy, I see.” She peeled off my shirt and threw it aside, then flattened her hands against my skin. They were soft, and cool from the water, a welcome disruption of the sizzling heat. I reached out, skimming my hands over the base of her ribs, then down to her waist and the curve of her hips. She leaned in, pressing them into mine, trapping my erection between us. A twinge shot through my core. I sighed. She had me. My attention wandered up to her breasts, cupping one sumptuous orb in each palm. Her head lolled, eyes fluttering, biting her bottom lip. I gave a gentle squeeze, dimpling the flesh and rolling my thumbs across her nipples. Her chest thrust forward, a groan escaping her throat. Leaning over I swirled my tongue over one before suckling it into my mouth. She shivered beneath me, drawing her breath between her teeth. I traded one for the other, back and forth, marveling at the tone and texture of the most perfect pair I'd ever laid lips on. She clutched at the back of my head, insisting I continue teasing her while clumsily fumbling with the clasp on my waistband. I kneaded her breasts in my palms, their mass resisting, plumping into the space between my fingers. I growled, invigorated by the memory of how pliable the body can be in its youth. Winning her battle with the clasp she stripped off my shorts and sprang my cock from its fabric prison. It jumped at the brush of her wrist and flexed in her grip as she tried to close her slender fingers around the shaft. The heat radiated out, warming her fist. She exhaled in my ear and followed up with a whisper barely audible above the falls. “Fuck me.” I plucked her nipple from my mouth and looked her in the eyes. “Here?” “Right here,” she confirmed, “right now.” I glanced around the clearing and into the woods. “Are you sure?” She snatched my hand from her breast and shoved it between her legs, curling my middle finger and dragging it through her slit. She was soaked, slick with her cream. “Right now,” she repeated. My hips swung forward with no input from my brain, prodding her belly with the tip of my dick. “What if someone sees us?” She hooked her arms around my neck. A devilish smirk creased her lips. There is nothing sexier than a woman who knows exactly what she wants. Well,“ she said softly, “then we should make sure they get a good show.” She pulled herself tight to my chest, transferring her weight to my shoulders. I braced myself as her legs left the water – first one, then the other – wrapping themselves around my waist. I held her buttocks tight in each hand, my penis pressed flat against her labia. Shifting my weight and dipping my hips I maneuvered the tip between those velvety lower lips and thrust myself into her pussy. She gasped – her mouth round, eyes bulging – as her canal expanded to accommodate the intruder. She fit like a glove two sizes too small, squeezing me tighter than I'd felt in years. Her gaze locked with mine she ground against me, acclimating to my girth with tiny strokes. Her shock turned slowly to lust. I lifted her ass and pulled it down on my dick, matching my thrusts to the undulation of her hips. Her juices seeped around me, oozing out over my balls. She lowered her head, moaning into my neck. Warm and clammy, our skin clung together, friction heating whatever slivers of space remained between us. Her writhing shuffled us toward the falls. The air was cooler here. It drew me closer. And before I knew it, we entered the deluge. I bristled at the cold, muscles contracting, pushing my cock deeper inside. She leaned away, gaining more leverage to rock her hips. The water forked around her tits, pooling in the crook of our bodies before spilling over into the river. I carried her through a little further, flattening her against the black rock wall. We hit with a thud and a grunt, her legs slipping from their position. I dipped down and hooked my arms under her thighs, lifting and throwing her calves up over my shoulders. With something to brace her now I pulled my cock back, teasing her with the glans before plunging back in to the hilt. “Ugh.” Her spine curled backward, stretching her abdomen and pointing her toes. Her squeals were like spurs in my sides, pumping my penis through that slippery steaming tunnel. She glared at me, jaw clenched, lip quivering each time I crashed inside. Her breathing grew ragged and short. “Wha…,” she stammered, “wha…what's your name?” Fuck. We hadn't even introduced ourselves. I leaned in hard, pinning her back to the rock and her knees to her shoulders. “Lucas,” I said. Clasping my face in her hands she smashed her lips into mine. “Fuck me Lucas,” she growled. “Make me cum.” A wave rippled through my groin, clenching everything below my waist. I held her tight as I could, racking her frame with the force of each thrust. Her grunts were like drumbeats, the driving rhythm to the symphony of our encounter. Her body coiled and shook and flexed, faster and stronger with each passing moment until suddenly, everything froze. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her mouth gaped in a silent scream. Her legs trembled and her body shuddered, and her pussy gripped my cock like a vice as she gushed around it. She clawed my back, the sting of her nails accentuating each contraction. I nuzzled my head into the crook of her neck, holding on, riding out the storm. Finally, I felt her chest heave, heard the breath rush past my ear. Her body began to relax, her limbs growing heavy in my arms and around my neck. Short, sweet whimpers disintegrated into a delirious giggle, sprinkled with curses once her lips could form the words. I eased off her chest and loosened my hold, allowing her legs to slip off my shoulders. Like jelly they tumbled over my arms and out of my grasp, her feet splashing in the water below. I pinched her waist and held her up while she regained her balance. She touched her twitching fingers to my cheeks, her thumbs clipping at my lips. She smiled. But said nothing. Her hands slipped down to my chest and gave a gentle push. I pulled away, springing my cock from her furnace into the open air. She eyed it hungrily, bobbing before her, coated in her cream and glistening in the sunlight. Her gaze fixed she rolled her body, flattening her palms and smushing her boobs against the rock wall. She wiggled her feet apart and dipped her back, pushing that bubble butt into my groin and trapping my erection between her cheeks. She humped against me, slathering my penis in a warm sloppy mixture of pre-cum, grool and sweat. The shivering thrill coursed through my shaft. My stomach flopped and my balls tightened, anxious to release their boiling burden. Prying her buttocks apart I leveled my dick and plunged it back into her pussy. She screamed into her shoulder, leaving teeth marks in her skin. She sagged at the knees, changing the shape of her channel and scrubbing new sensations into my glans. I clutched her hips in both hands, mesmerized by the curves of her ass, rippling with each collision. The urgency of our undulations increased, and it occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to enjoy this much longer. She threw herself back, impaling her sodden vagina on my cock. The squelching pricked my ears. Her whimpers and moans raised the hair on my arms. And soon my entire body buzzed with the current of an orgasm coiling to strike. I curled forward, laying my weight on her back. Skimming her belly I cupped her breasts, relishing the firmness in my fingers and tugging them down as I thrust up inside. With only moments before I'd lose control I pressed my lips against her ear. “What's your name,” I whispered. She gasped, her pussy constricting around my shaft. “Devon,” she panted, turning her head. Our eyes met. I held myself still inside her. “Suck my cock Devon,” I growled. “Make me cum.” She responded immediately, squirming out of my grasp and twisting around, sinking to her haunches. Her lips sealed around my dick, gliding up and down with ease, her tongue curling around the underside of the head and rod. My neck craned, jaw tight, muscles straining. I gathered fistfuls of her hair and scrunched it on the top of her head. The dam burst. And a summer's worth of hot, thick cum erupted into her mouth. The release roiled me to my core; my hips convulsing, penis throbbing. Rope after rope burst from my dick, each shot a miniature climax amplifying the whole. Her lips kept moving, up to my glans and down to the root, milking every drop she could. I could feel her throat working, trying to keep up. But there was too much to contain, and it spilled from the corners of her mouth and down her chin to her tits. I struggled to keep my balance. My head was spinning and my heart was pounding, and I didn't recognize the noises escaping my throat. I hoped the waterfall would cover them because I couldn't hold them in. I tried to pull away, but she dug her fingers into the meat of my ass, fixing me in place and draining my balls into her cheeks. Eventually the maelstrom subsided. The last remaining strands of cum oozed out over her tongue, pooling together for one final swallow. Dexterity returning to my fingers I raked hair out of her face and flipped it gently over her shoulders. She looked up at me, brazen and cool, clearly enjoying the fruits of her labor almost as much as I was. She slipped her lips off my cock with an audible pop. Watching me carefully she twisted her neck and worked her way down to the base of the shaft, slurping each testicle into her mouth. My dick skipped across her face, catching on her nose and leaving fine white threads in her dark manicured eyebrows. She continued for several minutes, working her lips and tongue, bathing my balls and polishing my penis with her saliva. It didn't take long before my erection was again as hard as it was when she'd freed it from my shorts. It ached in the heat of her mouth. Doubling over I took hold of her head and gently pulled away. She looked up at me. Pouted. I sighed, my lips breaking into a broad smile. She returned the gesture, adding a flip of her eyebrows. Releasing her I maneuvered past, slumping against the wall. I gathered myself, chest swelling with the rising mist. My head began to clear, my body relax, soothed by the colossal dopamine release that I only now discerned I was unfortunately too unfamiliar with. Devon straightened up beside me, unsteady on wobbly legs. She mimicked my pose and stretched her neck, delighting in the sunlight baking her face. Snaking a hand between her thighs she scooped out her cum with her middle finger and sensually tucked it into her mouth. She looked over, eyes lively, lips puckered around the digit. With her free hand she took hold of mine and backed away, dragging me with her under the falls. We showered together in the river, cooling our lust and rinsing away the evidence. We lingered in the water until we were cold before separating to recover our clothes. Five minutes and a few stolen glances later we met again at the trail marker on the far bank. We stood there together in awkward silence – strangely so, considering the intimacy of what we had done. Finally, I broke the ice. “It was umm…nice to meet you,” I offered, shifting the straps of the backpack over my shoulders. She looked away, smiling, picking at the hem of her skort. “Same,” she replied. I waited for more, but there was none. “I had a good time,” I added, unsure of why. She turned her head toward me. Nodded a little. “Not bad for an old guy.” “Oh wow,” I laughed, rubbing my palms in my eyes. She giggled next to me. Draping her arms around my neck she stretched up and kissed me on the lips. “What?” she protested. “I like old guys.” She unzipped the pocket in her skort and fished around inside. Withdrawing a key card, she pressed it into my palm. “Springhill,” she said. “Room 404. Come by around 10:00 – if you're interested.” I squeezed her hand in mine. “What about your friends,” I asked. She shrugged, bouncing her eyebrows. “Maybe they'll like you too.” by TheSleepingKing for Literotica. story audio, podcast, tryst, fling, spontaneous, stranger, anonymous, hike, park, vacation, kansas, waterfall, public, exhibitionist, seduction,
A scorching outdoor encounter in the dog days of summer. by TheSleepingKing. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. You know the worst thing about the Midwest? August. Sure, there are other things. But after three straight weeks of 98 degrees and 90% humidity you don't really care that Kansas is a thing. You just want out – to escape the stifling grassland; preferably to a place where you don't need to swim through the steam to reach the next air-conditioned oasis. Where I work we need to maintain a minimum staffing level to fulfill our obligations. So vacation requests are handled on a first come first serve basis. First person to request time off gets first pick of available dates. Usually I get in early, guaranteeing myself at least one week that I want. But by the time I remembered to request this year, my only option for a summer break was the final week in August.Monday and Tuesday were a bust. Too hot to leave the house. I tried Monday morning, heading out to my favorite brunch spot for an omelet. But after burning my hand on the gear shift lever at 10:00 am I decided to pack it in. The weather app promised cooler temperatures mid-to-late-week, so I set about crafting a plan to salvage what was left of my vacation. There's a state park a few hours north, on the edge of a popular college town. I'd hiked there several times before. It was quiet, with a decent elevation and full tree canopy, and a 15-foot waterfall at the crux of the two longest trails. Temps in the mid-eighties were still warmer than I preferred. But after months of being stuck in a warehouse 10 hours a day, a little time outside seemed…necessary. I texted my friend Natalie, curious if she'd want to tag along. She was fun, outdoorsy, and never seemed too busy for an adventure. And sometimes, if we'd both had a few drinks, you might find her with her head in my lap, cock in her mouth and my fingers slowly circling her clit; agreeing this was a great way to spend an evening. But this time I struck out. I was on my own. I'd have to make the best of it. Every hotel in town was booked for Friday night (damn college football weekend), so I reserved a room for Wednesday and Thursday and headed out after lunch. Two hours and three Interstates later I pulled into a parking lot already half-filled with cars. I intended to drop my bag in the room and lap the short trail before dinner. That plan screeched to halt the moment I shut off the car. Cooler temperatures midweek my ass. It was 90 degrees at 4:15. The air saturated my clothes as I trudged across the pavement, and by the time I arrived at the check-in desk I knew I was done for the day. Cranking up the air in the room I decided to catch up on some streaming shows before heading across the parking lot to a local burger joint for a lite supper. But soon the sun disappeared behind a fortress of darkened clouds. The wind whipped up and the rain poured down in sheets, lashing the windows and transforming the parking lot into a rippling black pond. I watched for a while, checking the weather report to find nothing about precipitation. If Thursday was anything like this…. Eventually the rain stopped, and I headed out for dinner. It was cooler now – high 70s or so, and the squall had dried the air enough for the wind to wick away the water instead of steaming me in a sauna. I picked a seat in the corner of the restaurant patio and settled in for a meal. The dining room filled up quickly. Mostly locals – you could tell by the comfortable clothes and their rapport with the bartenders. But midway through my second beer, three young women rounded the corner from the waiting area, following the hostess to a four-top across the aisle from me beneath the center awning. And they were obviously based somewhere else. Two of them looked similar, (sisters maybe? cousins?) with straight blonde hair and big broad smiles. They dressed like they'd come straight from the yacht club: white shorts, striped navy tees and deck shoes; one with a denim jacket, the other in a hat. The third was taller with rectangular glasses, buoyant, gently curled auburn hair, and a short powder blue A-line summer dress accentuating the tone and length of her legs. She caught me looking as they stopped at their table. I turned away quickly, smiling to myself, disappointed, yet amused that I wasn't as discrete as I used to be. I took a full swig of beer and set the mug gently on the coaster before glancing back toward their table. The brunette had switched places with her friends, taking the seat on the far side of the circle, just about facing me. For a while I kept my eyes to myself. They ordered drinks and struck up a lively conversation. My burger and fries arrived, and I concentrated on securing the toppings so as not to make a fool of myself the first time I bit into it. But as I worked my way through the meal my attention began to wander. First to the parking lot. Then to the bar. And finally, to the beauty at the table twelve feet away. I stole glances between french fries and over the rim of my glass, careful to look away the moment before she turned her head or shifted her eyes toward me. Despite my best efforts she caught me once or twice. I flashed a smile, she did the same, we both looked away until the next time it happened. I was always drawn back. Her face was so bright, skin glowing in the warmth of the pendant lights. She shifted in her chair, slouching a little, stretching her legs to the edge of the aisle and crossing them at the ankles. Her dress rode high up her thighs, the shadow of the fabric and the table above shielding me from what lay beneath. I pretended I hadn't noticed, drawing out a sip of beer until she returned to her conversation. Inappropriate thoughts crept through my mind. I prodded them, trying to keep them at bay. She was at least ten – if not fifteen years younger. I was here to hike, not ogle women just barely out of college. The waiter stopped by my table, asking if I needed anything. I should have asked for the cheque. It would have been the smart thing to do. Instead, I asked for ice cream. It was still warm out, seemed reasonable. A few minutes later I spotted him heading my way, a tray with a tall bowl and several margaritas balanced on one hand. As he stopped to set the bowl in front of me, movement behind him caught my eye. I looked past to the ladies' table to catch the brunette uncross her ankles and ease her outside leg into the aisle, her knees drifting apart just far enough to show me smooth, plump pussy lips unencumbered by fabric or modesty. I froze, staring. Drinking it in. “Everything okay sir,” the waiter inquired, snapping me back to the moment. I tore my eyes away and looked up, then down at the ice cream, then up again, trying to reset my brain. “Yes,” I replied, “thank you. It looks…delicious.” I don't think I was talking about ice cream. And from the way his forehead wrinkled I think he knew that. I dipped the spoon in and took a bite. He nodded and moved past me to the table waiting on drinks. Staring at the bowl I tried to collect my thoughts. But all I could picture was the perfect pocket of pleasure framed between those gently tanned thighs. I lifted my head. Her legs remained splayed, treasure visible. Leaning back in her seat she lifted one foot, skimming her calf up over her shin until one knee rested over the other, closing the curtain on my view. Our gaze met. The corners of her mouth curled up and her eyebrows shrugged, and I felt the stir in my groin as I realized that perhaps…I was meant to see what I saw. I smiled a little. Then stopped. Her friends had turned to watch me, giggling into the hands covering their mouths. I scooped a spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into mine, staring at the table. Nothing like looking creepy in front of attractive women half your age. I decided to finish my dessert and keep my eyes to myself, get back to my room before embarrassing myself further. Before I could execute my plan, the women settled their tab and left. Through the glass I watched them skip across the parking lot toward the hotel, laughing with each other along the way. Something slipped from the brunette's swinging hand, and when she stooped to pick it up she looked back in my direction. I flinched, wanting to turn away. But I couldn't. She was mesmerizing. She flashed a smile, then ran to catch up with her friends. I waited until I was sure they were settled in their rooms before heading back to mine. I ambled into the bathroom and checked myself in the mirror. I was in good shape for 40 plus. Ten years ago I might have made a pass at them; bought them a round, slid over to their table, try to talk one into joining me in my room. Instead…I took a shower, cranked up the air conditioning, and went to bed. Thursday morning I grabbed some apples from the breakfast bar, threw on a tee shirt and cargo shorts and prepared to hit the trail. It was a little after 8:00, about 75 degrees. The weather app promised 85 by 2:00 pm, which gave me plenty of time to loop the long trails before the heat became oppressive. Armed with two frozen water bottles and the fruit in a small backpack I caught a ride share to the park and headed out. The forest was teaming with life. Birds of all feathers chattered in the trees while rabbits and squirrels and other small creatures darted about in the in the brush below. The canopy was lush and thick, filtering much of the early light and heavily shading the first few miles, making for a pleasant hike. But the trail was overgrown from nearly two years of under use. The deeper I forged into the trees the more difficult it became to stay on track. And the leaves that earlier shielded me from the sun now trapped its heat beneath them, turning a warm walk in a light breeze into a hot slog through a noisy sauna. I didn't remember the route as well as I thought, and before I knew it, I was lost. I took a seat on a fallen log and fished a bottle out of the backpack. The ice had melted but the water was still cool. After half the bottle I traded it for my phone and tried to figure out where the hell I was. Reception was spotty and the GPS couldn't decide between several locations. From the lay of the land and direction of my hike I decided to head northeast. At some point I would run into the river, which would lead me back to my trail. I finished the first bottle and resumed walking. The temperature continued to climb, humidity trapping sweat on my skin. The skitter of critters through the underbrush ceased and the bird songs faded into the heat. An eerie quiet settled in, tempered by the crunch of fallen twigs underfoot. My limbs felt dull and heavy and a thought repeated in my head. You should have stayed home. I was looking for a place to rest when I finally heard it. Running water. In spite of myself I picked up the pace, oblivious to the incline I'd been descending the past few minutes. Up ahead the canopy thinned, tree trunks spacing out along the edge of a clearing. Picking through the tall grass I emerged into the sunlight onto the smooth flat rocks forming the edge of the river. Marked with a boulder on the far bank was the entrance to the second trail. To my right, Lost River Falls. Fifteen feet up, the black shale outcropping curved into a gentle crescent. The lazy river curled over the edge in a soft, thin sheet, spilling into a shallow pool before funneling through a narrow channel to the river basin and snaking on downstream. Now high in the sky, the sun blazed the sparkling water white, casting a rainbow over the riverbank and a deep shadow on the vertical rock beneath the ledge. The gentle roar swelled in my ears. I intended to cross to the trail and head back, but it was so hot, and the mist in the air felt so enticing. I turned toward the falls, threading my way along the bank over the channel to the edge of the pool. On a rock nearby I set down my pack, flanking it with my boots moments later. Peeling of the sweat-soaked tee shirt I waded into the water. The pool was warmer than I expected, but much cooler than the air, instantly soothing my feet. I shuffled along the shale bottom until the water sloshed around my calves. Reaching out I pierced the curtain, splashing droplets over my face and chest. Drawing a deep breath, I closed my eyes and stepped into the falls. I stayed a minute, despite the chill, the water flushing the ick of the morning off my skin. It beat on my back and shoulders, leeching heat from my muscles and ache from my bones. I ducked under and out several times, like it was a rolling ocean wave on a Caribbean beach. Cleansed and refreshed, I returned to the rock. I rung out the shirt and laid it flat over the adjacent stone, then fished the second water bottle from the backpack. Bottle to my lips I soaked up the view. Vibrant green forest, shimmering white water, worn black rock winding through the landscape. I smiled to myself. Sure it was hot, but it beat the hell out of being stuck in the warehouse. The snap of a twig behind me drew my attention. Setting the bottle on the backpack I glanced over my shoulder and caught a figure crossing my periphery on the opposite bank. Shielding my eyes, I turned for a better look. And was not disappointed. At the far end of the crescent in a bright blue skort and a radiant white rash guard stood the brunette from the restaurant. She had clearly been hiking for some time. Her skin glistened with sweat, and the glossy fabric of her shirt clung to every curve of her torso. Her legs – long and lean – planted her firmly on the uneven ground. Her curls were tied back in a ponytail, exposing her face to the sun. I couldn't help but stare. She looked like a model in a Patagonia catalog. And it took only a moment before all I could think about was her in that blue dress, slouched in that chair, sipping her drink while showing me the world. The shriek of a hawk overhead broke my trance. I found her smiling at me, her head cocked to the side, eyebrows raised. Flustered, I acknowledged her presence and turned away. I needed to collect my shit and go; salvage whatever was left of my dignity. I stuffed the bottle back in the pack and shook out my shirt, hauling it on over my head. Soon it would weigh me down and I would need to take it off, but for now it was a cold towel on the back of my neck and that was just fine. Something disturbed the water behind me. Snapping up the backpack I turned to investigate. She stood before the falls, her back to me, gazing up at the gleaming ribbon spilling from above. The bands of a black sports bra crisscrossed her back, the rash guard scrunched in her fist was tossed casually into the grass on the far bank. Her hands disappeared in front of her, then reappeared above her head, taking the sports bra with them. Tipping her head back, she eased into the liquid curtain. The water sheared around her, cutting a sexy silhouette in the high noon sun. My cock stirred to life, craving the view from the other side of the falls. I knew I should get moving – I didn't want to be busted again. But something gripped me, held me in place, my imagination in overdrive. “Still just looking, huh.” I whipped my head back and forth searching for the source of the voice, before realizing it could only have one origin. I turned back. She had stepped back from the water, her fingers twisting round her ponytail, pulling out the band. With a flip of her wrists her curls burst out, slapping down over her back. She peered over her shoulder. A chill shot down my spine. Her eyes narrowed, the corners of mouth creasing up. She skimmed her hands along her sides and over her hips until her thumbs hooked in the waistband of her skort and the material bunched in her fists. She tugged them down slowly, a perfectly rounded bare ass rising like a sunrise over the fabric horizon. Watching me, she straightened up, skort slipping down her legs into the pool. “You know,” she said, tipping her head back, “it's better over here.” My dick strained against my shorts, drawn like a magnet to that little gap between the tops of her thighs and the base of her cheeks. She returned to the falls, disappearing under the water. The backpack slipped from my fingers, sluffing off the rock and into the grass. My head spinning, I waded toward her. She emerged from the cascade facing me. Rivulets of water streamed down her face. They trickled over her breasts; firm and high on her chest, dark nipples pointed upward, soliciting a touch. The streams continued down the flat of her belly, curling in at her hips and under her mound, before spiraling round her thighs and calves and melting into the pool. She poked two fingers under my chin and lifted it. “My eyes are up here.” “Sorry,” I replied, just a little nervous. “I'm easily distracted.” Her bright baby blues lingered on my face a moment before roaming down my body to the prominent bulge below my waist. Looking up, she smiled. “But not shy, I see.” She peeled off my shirt and threw it aside, then flattened her hands against my skin. They were soft, and cool from the water, a welcome disruption of the sizzling heat. I reached out, skimming my hands over the base of her ribs, then down to her waist and the curve of her hips. She leaned in, pressing them into mine, trapping my erection between us. A twinge shot through my core. I sighed. She had me. My attention wandered up to her breasts, cupping one sumptuous orb in each palm. Her head lolled, eyes fluttering, biting her bottom lip. I gave a gentle squeeze, dimpling the flesh and rolling my thumbs across her nipples. Her chest thrust forward, a groan escaping her throat. Leaning over I swirled my tongue over one before suckling it into my mouth. She shivered beneath me, drawing her breath between her teeth. I traded one for the other, back and forth, marveling at the tone and texture of the most perfect pair I'd ever laid lips on. She clutched at the back of my head, insisting I continue teasing her while clumsily fumbling with the clasp on my waistband. I kneaded her breasts in my palms, their mass resisting, plumping into the space between my fingers. I growled, invigorated by the memory of how pliable the body can be in its youth. Winning her battle with the clasp she stripped off my shorts and sprang my cock from its fabric prison. It jumped at the brush of her wrist and flexed in her grip as she tried to close her slender fingers around the shaft. The heat radiated out, warming her fist. She exhaled in my ear and followed up with a whisper barely audible above the falls. “Fuck me.” I plucked her nipple from my mouth and looked her in the eyes. “Here?” “Right here,” she confirmed, “right now.” I glanced around the clearing and into the woods. “Are you sure?” She snatched my hand from her breast and shoved it between her legs, curling my middle finger and dragging it through her slit. She was soaked, slick with her cream. “Right now,” she repeated. My hips swung forward with no input from my brain, prodding her belly with the tip of my dick. “What if someone sees us?” She hooked her arms around my neck. A devilish smirk creased her lips. There is nothing sexier than a woman who knows exactly what she wants. Well,“ she said softly, “then we should make sure they get a good show.” She pulled herself tight to my chest, transferring her weight to my shoulders. I braced myself as her legs left the water – first one, then the other – wrapping themselves around my waist. I held her buttocks tight in each hand, my penis pressed flat against her labia. Shifting my weight and dipping my hips I maneuvered the tip between those velvety lower lips and thrust myself into her pussy. She gasped – her mouth round, eyes bulging – as her canal expanded to accommodate the intruder. She fit like a glove two sizes too small, squeezing me tighter than I'd felt in years. Her gaze locked with mine she ground against me, acclimating to my girth with tiny strokes. Her shock turned slowly to lust. I lifted her ass and pulled it down on my dick, matching my thrusts to the undulation of her hips. Her juices seeped around me, oozing out over my balls. She lowered her head, moaning into my neck. Warm and clammy, our skin clung together, friction heating whatever slivers of space remained between us. Her writhing shuffled us toward the falls. The air was cooler here. It drew me closer. And before I knew it, we entered the deluge. I bristled at the cold, muscles contracting, pushing my cock deeper inside. She leaned away, gaining more leverage to rock her hips. The water forked around her tits, pooling in the crook of our bodies before spilling over into the river. I carried her through a little further, flattening her against the black rock wall. We hit with a thud and a grunt, her legs slipping from their position. I dipped down and hooked my arms under her thighs, lifting and throwing her calves up over my shoulders. With something to brace her now I pulled my cock back, teasing her with the glans before plunging back in to the hilt. “Ugh.” Her spine curled backward, stretching her abdomen and pointing her toes. Her squeals were like spurs in my sides, pumping my penis through that slippery steaming tunnel. She glared at me, jaw clenched, lip quivering each time I crashed inside. Her breathing grew ragged and short. “Wha…,” she stammered, “wha…what's your name?” Fuck. We hadn't even introduced ourselves. I leaned in hard, pinning her back to the rock and her knees to her shoulders. “Lucas,” I said. Clasping my face in her hands she smashed her lips into mine. “Fuck me Lucas,” she growled. “Make me cum.” A wave rippled through my groin, clenching everything below my waist. I held her tight as I could, racking her frame with the force of each thrust. Her grunts were like drumbeats, the driving rhythm to the symphony of our encounter. Her body coiled and shook and flexed, faster and stronger with each passing moment until suddenly, everything froze. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her mouth gaped in a silent scream. Her legs trembled and her body shuddered, and her pussy gripped my cock like a vice as she gushed around it. She clawed my back, the sting of her nails accentuating each contraction. I nuzzled my head into the crook of her neck, holding on, riding out the storm. Finally, I felt her chest heave, heard the breath rush past my ear. Her body began to relax, her limbs growing heavy in my arms and around my neck. Short, sweet whimpers disintegrated into a delirious giggle, sprinkled with curses once her lips could form the words. I eased off her chest and loosened my hold, allowing her legs to slip off my shoulders. Like jelly they tumbled over my arms and out of my grasp, her feet splashing in the water below. I pinched her waist and held her up while she regained her balance. She touched her twitching fingers to my cheeks, her thumbs clipping at my lips. She smiled. But said nothing. Her hands slipped down to my chest and gave a gentle push. I pulled away, springing my cock from her furnace into the open air. She eyed it hungrily, bobbing before her, coated in her cream and glistening in the sunlight. Her gaze fixed she rolled her body, flattening her palms and smushing her boobs against the rock wall. She wiggled her feet apart and dipped her back, pushing that bubble butt into my groin and trapping my erection between her cheeks. She humped against me, slathering my penis in a warm sloppy mixture of pre-cum, grool and sweat. The shivering thrill coursed through my shaft. My stomach flopped and my balls tightened, anxious to release their boiling burden. Prying her buttocks apart I leveled my dick and plunged it back into her pussy. She screamed into her shoulder, leaving teeth marks in her skin. She sagged at the knees, changing the shape of her channel and scrubbing new sensations into my glans. I clutched her hips in both hands, mesmerized by the curves of her ass, rippling with each collision. The urgency of our undulations increased, and it occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to enjoy this much longer. She threw herself back, impaling her sodden vagina on my cock. The squelching pricked my ears. Her whimpers and moans raised the hair on my arms. And soon my entire body buzzed with the current of an orgasm coiling to strike. I curled forward, laying my weight on her back. Skimming her belly I cupped her breasts, relishing the firmness in my fingers and tugging them down as I thrust up inside. With only moments before I'd lose control I pressed my lips against her ear. “What's your name,” I whispered. She gasped, her pussy constricting around my shaft. “Devon,” she panted, turning her head. Our eyes met. I held myself still inside her. “Suck my cock Devon,” I growled. “Make me cum.” She responded immediately, squirming out of my grasp and twisting around, sinking to her haunches. Her lips sealed around my dick, gliding up and down with ease, her tongue curling around the underside of the head and rod. My neck craned, jaw tight, muscles straining. I gathered fistfuls of her hair and scrunched it on the top of her head. The dam burst. And a summer's worth of hot, thick cum erupted into her mouth. The release roiled me to my core; my hips convulsing, penis throbbing. Rope after rope burst from my dick, each shot a miniature climax amplifying the whole. Her lips kept moving, up to my glans and down to the root, milking every drop she could. I could feel her throat working, trying to keep up. But there was too much to contain, and it spilled from the corners of her mouth and down her chin to her tits. I struggled to keep my balance. My head was spinning and my heart was pounding, and I didn't recognize the noises escaping my throat. I hoped the waterfall would cover them because I couldn't hold them in. I tried to pull away, but she dug her fingers into the meat of my ass, fixing me in place and draining my balls into her cheeks. Eventually the maelstrom subsided. The last remaining strands of cum oozed out over her tongue, pooling together for one final swallow. Dexterity returning to my fingers I raked hair out of her face and flipped it gently over her shoulders. She looked up at me, brazen and cool, clearly enjoying the fruits of her labor almost as much as I was. She slipped her lips off my cock with an audible pop. Watching me carefully she twisted her neck and worked her way down to the base of the shaft, slurping each testicle into her mouth. My dick skipped across her face, catching on her nose and leaving fine white threads in her dark manicured eyebrows. She continued for several minutes, working her lips and tongue, bathing my balls and polishing my penis with her saliva. It didn't take long before my erection was again as hard as it was when she'd freed it from my shorts. It ached in the heat of her mouth. Doubling over I took hold of her head and gently pulled away. She looked up at me. Pouted. I sighed, my lips breaking into a broad smile. She returned the gesture, adding a flip of her eyebrows. Releasing her I maneuvered past, slumping against the wall. I gathered myself, chest swelling with the rising mist. My head began to clear, my body relax, soothed by the colossal dopamine release that I only now discerned I was unfortunately too unfamiliar with. Devon straightened up beside me, unsteady on wobbly legs. She mimicked my pose and stretched her neck, delighting in the sunlight baking her face. Snaking a hand between her thighs she scooped out her cum with her middle finger and sensually tucked it into her mouth. She looked over, eyes lively, lips puckered around the digit. With her free hand she took hold of mine and backed away, dragging me with her under the falls. We showered together in the river, cooling our lust and rinsing away the evidence. We lingered in the water until we were cold before separating to recover our clothes. Five minutes and a few stolen glances later we met again at the trail marker on the far bank. We stood there together in awkward silence – strangely so, considering the intimacy of what we had done. Finally, I broke the ice. “It was umm…nice to meet you,” I offered, shifting the straps of the backpack over my shoulders. She looked away, smiling, picking at the hem of her skort. “Same,” she replied. I waited for more, but there was none. “I had a good time,” I added, unsure of why. She turned her head toward me. Nodded a little. “Not bad for an old guy.” “Oh wow,” I laughed, rubbing my palms in my eyes. She giggled next to me. Draping her arms around my neck she stretched up and kissed me on the lips. “What?” she protested. “I like old guys.” She unzipped the pocket in her skort and fished around inside. Withdrawing a key card, she pressed it into my palm. “Springhill,” she said. “Room 404. Come by around 10:00 – if you're interested.” I squeezed her hand in mine. “What about your friends,” I asked. She shrugged, bouncing her eyebrows. “Maybe they'll like you too.” by TheSleepingKing for Literotica. story audio, podcast, tryst, fling, spontaneous, stranger, anonymous, hike, park, vacation, kansas, waterfall, public, exhibitionist, seduction,
In this first of a two-part episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss the Monk Class in Dungeons & Dragons, acknowledging the cultural issues with the class and the challenges it faces in terms of mechanics and gameplay. We explore ability scores, proficiencies, and features while highlighting Monks reliance on Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution. We talk about the Monk's unarmored defense, martial arts abilities, and the limitations of available weapons. The team expresses their opinions on the class and offer insights into the class' strengths and weaknesses, breaking down the different subclasses and their features. We cover the Ascendant Dragon, Open Hand, Shadow, Drunken Master, Four Elements, Long Death, Mercy, and Cobalt Soul subclasses and we dig into our frustrations with some design decisions for the Monk class. We'll provide insights into the various options available for Monks and offer recommendations for players, covering various features and abilities of the Monk, including Flurry of Blows, Stunning Strike, and Slow Fall; with our thoughts on the effectiveness and balance of these features. We provide insights and suggestions for optimizing the Monk class, such as multiclassing and choosing the right subclass, and discuss the importance of ability score improvements and the impact of race on the Monk's abilities. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
In this first of a two-part episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, we discuss the Monk Class in Dungeons & Dragons, acknowledging the cultural issues with the class and the challenges it faces in terms of mechanics and gameplay. We explore ability scores, proficiencies, and features while highlighting Monks reliance on Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution. We talk about the Monk's unarmored defense, martial arts abilities, and the limitations of available weapons. The team expresses their opinions on the class and offer insights into the class' strengths and weaknesses, breaking down the different subclasses and their features. We cover the Ascendant Dragon, Open Hand, Shadow, Drunken Master, Four Elements, Long Death, Mercy, and Cobalt Soul subclasses and we dig into our frustrations with some design decisions for the Monk class. We'll provide insights into the various options available for Monks and offer recommendations for players, covering various features and abilities of the Monk, including Flurry of Blows, Stunning Strike, and Slow Fall; with our thoughts on the effectiveness and balance of these features. We provide insights and suggestions for optimizing the Monk class, such as multiclassing and choosing the right subclass, and discuss the importance of ability score improvements and the impact of race on the Monk's abilities. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It's a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners. If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings. Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra Twitter: @RPGBOTDOTNET Facebook: rpgbotbotdotnet Bluesky:rpgbot.bsky.social Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games Twitter: @GravenAshes YouTube@ashravenmedia Randall James @JackAmateur Amateurjack.com Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati
Send us a Text Message.Welcome to The New Warehouse Podcast, where we delve into the evolving world of logistics and automation. Today, we're joined by Cary Vandenavond, the Chief Revenue Officer at Dexterity, a company at the forefront of integrating robotics within warehouse environments to enhance operational efficiency. Dexterity leverages innovative robotic arms and AI-driven software to tackle complex logistical tasks, from truck loading to mixed SKU pallet handling. Tune in to learn how their technologies, particularly their novel truck-loading solutions, address some of the toughest challenges in the industry.Check out Toyota's free to use platform right here at http://my.toyotaforklift.com/ Free floor tape and floor sign samples from Mighty Line! Get yours here.Follow us on LinkedIn here for more content.All Business. No Boundaries.Welcome to All Business. No Boundaries, a collection of supply chain stories by DHL...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.
It's (technically) the largest ban announcement in magic history! We're talking the, frankly, confusing B&R announcement and then digging into some standard results! Thanks as always to Wave Sunray for our music! If you'd like to support the podcast, check out our patreon at patreon.com/mtggrindcast. Subscribers get swag and bonus content! And whether you subscribe or not, you're invited to join our discord, where we're building a community of friendly people all looking to improve at the game we love. Check it out here: https://discord.gg/Uq8x2RHYRU
Have you ever made yourself wrong for being too emotional or sensitive at work? Maybe you've had a difficult conversation, faced a micro-aggression or frozen on the spot…In your mind you want to let things go but physically you find yourself unable to release the residual emotions that are there?Emotional dexterity is the capacity to effectively recognise, understand and manage a wider range of emotions both within yourself and in others.If you're feeling disconnected from your emotions or your body, or perhaps you're stuck in your head overthinking or in analysis paralysis, or even if you simply identify with being quite a sensitive person then emotional dexterity is a really important skill for you.The skill of emotional dexterity is a complex one that encompasses empathy, emotional intelligence and the capability to maintain composure and make thoughtful decisions amidst challenging circumstances.In this week's episode of The Aligned Achiever Podcast, I'm sharing all about emotional dexterity and why it's important for you, as an individual to develop and why I encourage organisations to foster environments where emotional intelligence and psychological safety are a given. I also share how you can start to build emotional dexterity to reap the benefits.For all the show notes come on over to: https://siobhanbarnes.com/107During the podcast I mentioned Magic Mind and how it's been helping me to boost my energy. If you're interested in giving it a try head on over to https://www.magicmind.com/siobhan to secure your special discount with the coupon code: SIOBHAN20.
In this episode join the guys as they discuss some hilarious foot related stories, Levi's recent drama class production at the school and then they view some hilarious wedding photos from Jerry & Peri's wedding! Please enjoy :)Support the showJoin our community and online discussion: discord.gg/christianinfluenceSupport us on Patreon: patreon.com/ChristianInfluenceFacebook: facebook.com/influenceofjesusTwitter: twitter.com/cigamesxyzInstagram: www.instagram.com/officialchristianinfluence/
In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary Words Related to the topicKinematics (noun): The study of motion, including the patterns and trajectories of objects, without considering the forces causing the motion. Example Sentences: Engineers use kinematics to design robots with precise and efficient movements.Understanding the kinematics of robotic arms is crucial for programming accurate tasks.The robot's kinematics allowed it to navigate tight spaces with agility.Haptic (adjective): Relating to the sense of touch, particularly in the context of technology that provides tactile feedback.Example Sentences: Haptic feedback in robotic surgery systems allows surgeons to feel resistance during delicate procedures.Virtual reality applications often incorporate haptic sensations to enhance the user experience.The robot's haptic sensors enabled it to distinguish between different textures.Algorithm (noun): A step-by-step procedure or set of rules designed to solve a specific problem or perform a particular task.Example Sentences: Robotic vacuum cleaners use algorithms to navigate and efficiently clean a given space.Programmers develop algorithms to control the movements of walking robots.Machine learning relies on sophisticated algorithms to enable robots to adapt and learn from their environment.Lidar (noun): Light Detection and Ranging; a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and generate precise, detailed maps.Example Sentences: Autonomous vehicles use lidar to create real-time 3D maps of their surroundings for navigation.In robotics, lidar sensors help robots avoid obstacles and navigate complex environments.The drone's lidar system allowed it to accurately measure distances during its surveying mission.Dexterity (noun): Skillful use of the hands or body, particularly in performing tasks that require fine motor skills. Example Sentences: Robotic hands with high dexterity can perform intricate tasks such as assembling small electronic components.The surgeon's robotic assistant demonstrated remarkable dexterity during the delicate surgery.Programming a robot for dexterity is crucial when it comes to tasks that demand precision and accuracy.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsRobotics is a field that brings together different technologies to make smart machines. These machines need to be good at delicate tasks, this is called dexterity. Robotic machines sometimes use lidar, a tech that measures distances using lasers, to understand their surroundings. Algorithms act as the robot's brain, guiding them in what to do step by step. Haptic feedback helps robots feel things, and kinematics makes sure they move just right. All of these things work together to make a robot, well, a robot. You see, robotics is about making machines that can do human-like tasks with skill, and these technologies are set in place so that we can see their environment, make sure they follow instructions, and are moving accurately.If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.dailyenglishvocabulary.com
Hello listeners! This is a short episode of firebreathing kittens where I am going to quickly describe the rules of the TTRPG Adventurous. You can find Adventurous that is spelled A-d-v-e-n-t-u-r-o-u-s by Dawnfist games on drivethrurpg.com. I will be going over the Core Mechanics Aiding other players How to roll for initiative Actions and Movement Attacking and Defending How to sneak Injuries and Death The Core Mechanic: In Adventurous the core mechanic is attributes which range from 1 to 5. Your primary attributes are: Strength: Physical strength, Dexterity: Nimbleness and agility, Willpower: Mental strength and composure, Knowledge: Accumulated Knowledge of the world, and Charisma: or your force of personality. When forced to attempt something risky, challenging, or dangerous you make a check based on an attribute and roll that number of dice. A single 5 or 6 is a weak success. More than one 5 or 6 is a strong success. No 5's or 6's rolled is a failure, although you receive 1 exp. For example: Mindy wants to try and hit a very menacing goose with a baseball bat so she makes a strength check, her strength is 4. Mindy rolls: 5, 6, 3 and 3. A strong success! We will explain damage later. This type of check is the core mechanic of the game. Rolling double 6's for some abilities grant special effects so keep that in mind and results in gaining 1 exp and the party gains momentum. Advantage and Disadvantage: Advantage and Disadvantage may apply due to environment, abilities, or perhaps the assistance of other players. Advantage grants you an extra 1d6 on a test to a max of 6d6, and disadvantage reduces your dicepool by 1d6 to a minimum of 1d6. Momentum is a binary party wide resource, the group simply has momentum or does not have momentum. It may be used to fuel certain abilities and may also be used to grant the reroll of a single die in a check. Influencing NPC's: You can influence NPC's by making a Charisma test, often this might be made easier by offering or negotiating with NPC's. Whether a weak success or strong success is required to influence an NPC is ultimately up to the GM. Aiding other players: There are a few ways to assist other players for example you can, encourage them to use any available momentum, assist them and grant them advantage, and finally in the unfortunate situation that they begin to bleed out you may make a Knowledge test and mark supply in order to stabilize them and save them from an untimely demise. Initiative: In Adventurous, turn order is determined by rolling initiative by making a Knowledge test. All PC's that succeed go before the opponent. Those who fail go after the opponent. Initiative is re-rolled at the beginning of each round. Actions and Movement: Each turn a creature gets to make a move and an action Examples of an action: attacking, using an ability, or drinking a potion. In Adventurous distance is measured in zones, the zones are: Close, Near, Far, and Distant in that order. A creature may move one band and make an action or move two bands and take no action on its turn An example: An angry goose wants to get in melee range with Mindy. It is Distant from her, so it will move twice. It moves from distant, to far, and ends its turn near her. It is unable to act because it moved twice. Attacking and Defending: Melee attacks are made with Strength tests, and ranged attacks use Dexterity tests. Damage for weapons and abilities is described such as W2/S4 this stands for Weak 2/Strong 4. When an attack is made: On a weak success the weak damage is inflicted on an opponent. On a strong Success the strong damage is inflicted. If it is a failure your character misses and nothing happens. When a Player is defending: Strength is used to defend against melee attacks, Dexterity is used to defend against ranged attacks, and will is used against magic attacks. If the defensive test is a weak success: the Player takes the enemies weak damage to its HP. On a strong success: The player avoids all damage On a Failure: The player takes the enemies strong damage to its HP. Armor in this game is a value from 1-3 that subtracts from the damage a creature receives. However damage can only be reduced to 1 HP, never to zero. Massive Damage: Certain situations such as a sneak attack might grant a player's attack Massive Damage. Massive Damage doubles the damage dice of the weapon attack so a W4/S8 damage sword would instead deal W8/S16 damage. Sneaking: In order to sneak a PC makes a Dexterity test. It is up to the GM to decide if a strong or weak success is needed to succeed in sneaking. Sneak Attacks: Attacking a creature from stealth that is not engaged in combat may inflict massive damage, this may only be done with a one handed weapon. Massive damage doubles the weak or strong damage of the weapon based on the result of the attack. Example: W4/S8 becomes W8/S16 Injuries and Death: When a PC is reduced to 0 HP it becomes wounded and rolls on the Injury chart using a 1d6: on a 1-2 the character dies a terrible death, 3-4 you are knocked unconscious for one hour and are bleeding out, 5-6 you are knocked down and are bleeding out. Bleeding out: A PC that is bleeding out must roll a 1d6 each turn, on a 5-6 they survive another turn. On a 1-4 they die immediately. Bleeding can be stopped through magical healing or by performing a knowledge test to stop the bleeding through first aid and mark supply. Alternatives to death: Adventurous does not really pull any punches when it comes to lethality in adventuring. The chances of dying seem pretty high if you drop to 0 hit points since you have about a 33% chance of rolling a 1-2 on the injury table and you need a 5-6 each turn that you are bleeding out to keep from dying. So its good to have this in mind and perhaps find away discuss this with your players before playing. Some people do not find character death to be a fun experience. Thank you for listening to my Rule summary for the RPG Adventurous by Dawnfist games! Check it out at Drivethrurpg.com!
Robotics and automation have transformed the manufacturing world, logistics, supply chains, and warehouses over the past few years. Thanks to the democratization of these tools, more companies are utilizing the kind of AI-powered robots that Dexterity specializes in. Michael Patrick Perry, Dexterity's VP of Marketing, returns to the show for a third time to explore the transformational changes in robotics. We chat about how Dexterity solves common challenges in warehouses plus how the company has successfully scaled over the past few years. Michael also explains how a software-first approach makes robotics a more flexible and dynamic solution to common warehouse challenges. He explores how the democratization of robotics has changed the industry, leading to rapid deployment in warehouses and where AI can help companies with everything from logistics to marketing. In this episode, find out: The transformational change in robotics Michael has noticed since he was last on the podcast How Dexterity has scaled and grown in the past few years Michael explains the full scale of Dexterity's robotics systems, starting from bread packing in warehouses Why Dexterity takes a software-first approach to robotics The transformation from single task-focused automation to full task automation How the democratization of robotics is expanding and what that means for companies that use it Michael explains how he's seen Dexterity develop into a brand name Dexterity's branding positioning as a seller of business outcomes, not just robotics and software deployment Marketing advice and tactics for other marketing leaders in the manufacturing space How AI is influencing the marketing space and how it can help marketers and leaders solve common problems How AI plays into Dexterity's solutions as a core piece of its stack What Michael is most excited about seeing in the future of Dexterity Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “It's less important to be out there in front of everybody. It's more important to be out in front of the right people.” “It's no longer the spray and pray, let's put out a message and just hope it works. It's really understanding your customer and creating a custom experience of your brand for them.” “We don't sell robots or software, we sell business outcomes.” Links & mentions: Michael's first appearance on Manufacturing Happy Hour: 55: Why “Spot” the Mobile Robot is Made for Manufacturing with Boston Dynamics' Michael Perry Michael's second time on the show: Leaders in Robotics, AMRs, and Logistics | Live from A3's 2021 Autonomous Mobile Robots and Logistics Conference Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Dexterity AI, a leader in robotic warehouse automation for manufacturing, logistics, retail and supply...
Welcome to Meeple2Meeple Episode 69 where Nick from @BoardGameReviewUK joins PJ and Gareth to talk all things Dexterity games...... Hear about all their favourite dexterity games, why PJ doesn't play them (it seems he does play more than letting on), lots of laughter and many innuendoes along the way! Dexterity games covered: Meeple Circus, OMSHANTI, Flick 'em up, Pitch Car Mini, Rhino Hero, Jungle Speed, Klask, Toss It, Cube Quest, Mockky, Rafter Five, Terror in Meeple City and a few more! ---- Meeple2Meeple - your regular boardgame fix via a podcast in only 30 minutes! IG: @Meeple2Meeple Meeple2Meeple on Podbean Linktree: Meeple2Meeple #boardgames #boardgamepodcast #meeple2meeple #boardgamecommunity #boardgamefriends #dexteritygames #boardgamereviewUK #boardgamelaughter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/meeple2meeple/message
Dean Wehrli interviews Stephanie McCarty, CMO of Taylor Morrison, exploring their innovative approach to sales and marketing in home building. Learn about their journey through mergers, the fusion of traditional and modern marketing, and the importance of understanding evolving consumer preferences. Gain insights into how Taylor Morrison is reshaping the industry by prioritizing brand identity, customer engagement, and digital transformation.
I'm excited to have Grant Karsas, VP of Digital Experience at Travis Credit Union, on the Banking Transformed podcast. Grant oversees the member-facing digital channels at Travis CU, one of the largest credit unions in California with nearly $5 billion in assets and more than 245,000 members. Grant shares insights into how Travis CU leverages modern technologies to deepen member relationships through personalized experiences, earning the credit union industry awards for excellence. We also discuss how a community-based credit union can compete successfully in a crowded market filled with major banks and new fintech entrants.
ATFAQ188 – Q1. Turn down TV Background Tracks, Q2. Emotional Regulation Apps, Q3. Mouse Options for Limited Dexterity, Q4. Google Extension for Staying focused Q5. Wildcard: Top 3 AT resources Panelists: Brian Norton, Josh Anderson The post ATFAQ188 – Q1. Turn down TV Background Tracks, Q2. Emotional Regulation Apps, Q3. Mouse Options for Limited Dexterity, Q4. Google Extension for Staying focused Q5. Wildcard: Top 3 AT resources first appeared on Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads.
Episode Notes:This week on Workforce 4.0, Ann Wyatt sits down with the VP of Marketing of Dexterity, Michael Perry. Join us for this conversation on breaking down how Michael's experience in the robotics industry has brought new perspectives on what happens when a little bit of technology is mixed with a little bit of creativity from our human workforce in manufacturing.In This Episode:-Michael gives his hot take on how automation is supplementing automation and freeing your human workforce for "more meaningful work" (~timestamp 11:16)-Michael gives us his powerful feedback on how companies interested in increasing automation within their facilities can successfully do so with their human workforce alongside cutting edge technology (~timestamp 20:30)-Michael gets candid on how the robotics industry is constantly evolving their design efforts in order to better accomodate the humans working alongside them, operating them and repairing them (~timestamp 27:43)More About Michael Perry:Michael works with companies, creators, and innovators across the world to deploy cutting-edge mobile robots. He is currently the VP of Marketing for Dexterity Robots and is a long time robotics enthusiast. To connect with Michael click here.More About Dexterity:Dexterity helps people thrive and grow by freeing them to do work that humans do best. For warehouse robotics, we focus on AI, machine learning, and platform-based robotic intelligence to make warehouses more productive, efficient, and safe. Learn more about Dexterity here.More About Workforce 4.0: Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as the increasing talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufacturing workforce can transition into these exciting new roles. Connect with your host, Ann Wyatt | Watch video recordings on YouTube | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts
Last time we spoke about the two pronged offensive against Wareo and the ongoing operation on Bougainville. Katagiri's men had lost the battle for sattelberg and were performing their long retreat to Madang, but the Australians were not going to let up. Wootten immediately ordered the capture of Wareo and soon the allies were right back on the Japanese heels. General Katagiri lacked manpower, supplies and even physical strength to fight the advancing Australians off. The Australian took Bonga, Horace, the Kalueng lakes, Nongora, the Christmas hills and Kuanko during the drive to Wareo. Katagiri could do little more than order his men to continue fleeing north. 455 Japanese were killed, while the Australians suffered 47 deaths and 332 wounded. On Bougainville, General Geiger expanded his perimeter and launched a bold and dangerous amphibious raid against Koiari. Luckily for the raiders, the Japanese were taken by surprise and the Americans were able to pull out before they were annihilated. This episode is The Landing at Arawe Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. The allies were edging ever closer to Rabaul as the Japanese were facing a long string of defeats in New Guinea and the Solomons. General Douglas MacArthur had elected to carry out two amphibious landings on western New Britain, in an effort to gain dominance over the Dampier strait. Codenamed Operation Dexterity, MacArthur was going to perform amphibious landings at Arawe and Cape Gloucester. Initially Operation Lazaretto called for an amphibious landing on southern New Britain 5km away from Gasmata in mid November. This would have been done to neutralize the Japanese base as Gasmata and protect the eastern flank for future operations, however the Japanese anticipated the attack and rapidly built up their forces there. The 7th fleet was not capable of hitting both Gasmata and Cape Gloucester simultaneously, so instead Admirals Carpender and Barbey formulated the plan to invade Arawa that was thought to not be as heavily defended. With Arawe in hand the allies could establish a PT boat base with the objective to “establishment light naval forces and to protect the southeastern flank of our forces in the impending seizure of the Gloucester Peninsula”. But Morton C. Mumma, who commanded the motor torpedo boats in the Southwest Pacific Area, would have none of Arawe. He already had all the bases he could use, and the Japanese barges used mostly the north coast of New Britain. Apparently Morton spent days “camping on 7th Fleet's doorstep to protest against setting up a PT base at Arawe”. Morton only left after he was assured by the Admirals that he need not have one if he did not want it. By November 22nd, MacArthur ditched Operation Lazaretto and created Operation Director. Operation Director was to land at Arawe was slated for December 15th, 11 days prior to the landings at Cape Gloucester. Operation Director would also act as a diversion for operation backhander. The operation would be performed by two squadrons of the 112th cavalry regiment combat team. This regiment had spent its time as a National Guard patrolling the Mexican border before they were shipped off to New Caledonia in July of 1942. They were assigned to General Patch's Americal division and were deployed as a horse mounted security force on New Caledonia. General Patch initially thought horse mounted cavalry could be used in jungle warfare, but the torrential and muddy pacific weather, quickly changed his mind. The regiment was sent to Goodenough island for training and was tossed into Operation Director quite at the last minute. The regiment had not yet seen combat and was converted to an infantry units in late may of 1943. The regiment consisted of two squadrons: the 1st Squadron of A, B and C Troops and 2nd Squadron of D, E and F Troops. For combat support there was the M2A1 howitzer-equipped 148th Field Artillery Battalion and the 59th Engineer Company. The other combat units of the Director Task Force were two batteries of the 470th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, most of the 236th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, A Company of the United States Marine Corps 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion and a detachment from the 26th Quartermaster War Dog Platoon. The 2nd Battalion of the 158th Infantry Regiment was held in reserve to reinforce the Director Task Force if required. Not only was the 112th regiment's attachment to the operation rushed, its planning was as well. The allies lacked good aerial photographs and the troops would only have 10 days to practice amphibious warfare at Goodenough Island. After this the regiment would be embarking aboard the LSD Crater Hall, the LSI HMAS Westralia and the two APD's Humphrey's and Sands departing on December 13th. A and B of the 1st squadron would also have additional missions, A would land at Umtingalu and B would land on Pilelo island. They were going to hit the beaches in rubber boats from the APD's while the main force would be hitting their beaches in LVT 10 Buffaloes and 29 Alligators. For those of you wondering, the Buffalo LVT were more heavily armed with 37mm, turrets from Stuart tanks and Howitzer Motor Carriages. The Alligator LVT were designed to operate in swampy areas and less armed. The LVT's would be hitting the western shore at a place called Cape Merkus. The original plan was devised by General Krueger's Alamo Force and called for the 7th marines to land east of the Tsurubu airdrome, the 2nd battalions, 1st marines west of it and the 503rd parachute battalion to land in a large patch of kunai grass southeast of it. The three units would work to converge on the airdrome. The plan was heavily criticized by General Kenney and Major General Rupertus. When they looked over the operational maps it seemed to them the planners had completely overlooked the mountains, swamps and jungle terrain. The marines were expected to drive though the jungle to link up with the paratroopers and that did not sit at all well with the air commanders. The Marines hated the plan because the converging of the 3 forces over the rough terrain, against a more than likely larger enemy would also see problems telling friend from foe. In early December General Kenney added his voice to their criticism on behalf of the air forces. Kenney argued the plan intended to use piecemeal paratroops instead of performing a mass drop, the piecemeal drops would require innumerable flights of troop carriers and these flights would require approaching enemy air reaction dangerously close. In conclusion he said "Commander, Allied Air Forces, does not desire to participate in the planned employment of paratroops for DEXTERITY." On December 14th, Colonel Edwin Pollock bluntly voiced his opposition of the plan to MacArthur who apparently walked out of the meeting quite pissed off. It is difficult to know why an invasion of the southern area was believed to be necessary. It is most likely because the Navy wanted a PT boat base at Gasmata to better operate against IJN barge traffic. However Captain Morton Mumma's declaration of not needing a base as long as Cape Gloucester was secured made the decision to hit Arawe final. Kenney also found the Lindenhafen plantation at Gasmata unsuitable for an airfield. To twist MacArthur's arm somewhat, an intelligence report indicated Arawa was only defended by 500 men of the 115th infantry of the IJA 51st division. MacArthur was much more worried over Operation Backhander so he agreed. The use of paratroopers for operation Backhander was eliminated and instead they would concentrate strength for a potentially decisive stroke rather than a dispersal of forces. The 1st marines wold land immediately behind the 7th marines to hit the airdrome. Furthermore the 2nd battalion, 1st marines would make a secondary landing on the western shore of New Britain in order to block the Japanese from reinforcing the airdrome and to cut off the retreat of its garrison. After all was said and done the planning had finalized just 11 days prior to the landing date, it was quite a last minute ordeal. Given Backhander was a success, MacArthur also sought to hit Saidor on the northeastern coast of New Guinea, hopefully by the start of the new year. This would cut off General Adachi's 18th army from retreating. Thus on December 10th, MacArthur ordered General Krueger to begin preparations for Operation Michaelmas with the 32nd division earmarked for this task. Over on the other side, General Imamura deployed General Sakai's 17th division in western New Britain with their command center being at Gavuvu. Units already in the region consisted of the Matsuda Detachment and the 2nd battalion, 228th regiment, both of whom would now be under Sakai's command. The original mission of General Matsuda's 65th mixed brigade had been maintaining the supply line to New Guinea. Thus his unit was quite topheavy with transportation personnel alongside an assortment of orphan units that had become separated from their parent units on New Guinea. Matsuda's HQ was near Kalingi, his 4th shipping detachment were located between Tsurubu and Natamo and his 65th engineer regiment was at Tsurubu. Matsuda concentrated the majority of his strength along the south and west coasts at placed like Cape Bushing, Aisega, Nigol, Arawe and Cape Merkus. At Tuluvu, the name the Japanese used for Cape Gloucester, the detachment had been relieved by Colonel Sumiya Koki's 53rd regiment in early november, successfully establishing defensive positions between Mount Talawe and Borgen Bay. Colonel Sumiya had prepared several small roadblocks to cover his eastward approaches while placing the bulk of his troops and weapons in and around two main strong points. The first point was the crescent shaped Borgen Bay around 1000 yards east of the airdrome. Over there he had an elaborate system of mutually supporting bunkers with mounting weapons up to 75mm guns, connected by a network of rifle trenches. The second point was in the broken foothills of Mount Talawe, dominating the flat grounds for several hundreds of yards to the south. Further south, Colonel Katayama Kenshiro's 141st regiment were defending Cape Bushing; Colonel Jiro Sato's the 51st reconnaissance regiment were defending Rooke Island; an understrength provisional company was defending Cape Merkus; and the 3rd battalion of the 141st were defending Nigol alongside a few orphan units of the 51st division. General Sakai dispatched Colonel Hirashima Shuhei's 54th regiment were sent to reinforce Gasmata and their 7th company was detached to garrison Talasea. In early December Major Komori Shinjiro's understrength 1st battalion, 81st regiment landed at Iboki. Sakai was concerned with the safety of the Cape Merkus Garrison, so he sent Komori's detachment to proceed to Arawe urgently. Komori's men would have to traverse an extremely difficult trail that saw them going through jungles, swamps, mountains and rivers over the entire width of the island. Back over with the allies, General Cunningham's convoy rendezvoused with Admiral Barbey's escorting force at Buna on December 14th. From there they would head for Arawe after dusk, also accompanied by Admiral Crutchley's supporting force. On that same day, Kenney's 5th air force performed bombing campaigns, dropping some 433 tons of bombs against Arawe. At 3:30am on the 15th Barbey's convoy reached the transport area and prepared their assault. To get the vulnerable rubber boats ashore, General Cunningham had to rely on the element of surprise rather than strength. So he chose to land under the cover of darkness with no forewarning. According to Barbey "Although it was considered that the moonlight might prevent surprise, the Landing Force Commander desired to attempt it without any preliminary bombardment." Unfortunately an American party of amphibious scouts had landed on that beach back on the 10th, causing the Japanese to suspect another landing would soon take place. There would be machine guns ready to hit the boys. At 5:05 Humphrey's launched 15 rubber boats for Pilelo island while Sands launched 15 others for Umtingalu. The landing at Pilelo went off without a hitch. Troop B landed and immediately attacked a Japanese radio station near the village of Paligmete. Troop A came under attack from a small group of Japanese hiding in some nearby caves. One american and 7 Japanese would die in the fighting. The landing at Umtingalu was another story entirely. The Japanese defenders unleashed heavy enfilading machine gun fire upon incoming rubber boats. 12 out of the 15 were punctured and sank quickly. Most of the men swam for their lives seaward and were rescued by small boats later on near House Fireman Beach. Around 12 men would die, 4 went missing and 17 were wounded. The submarine chaser SC-699 would manage to rescue 71 from the water while under fire. Between 6:10-6:25 allied destroyers bombarded the beach with 1800 5 inch shells and B-25 mitchells made a bombing pass around House Fireman Beach. The main landing force approached the area on amphibious tractors, facing slight opposition that they easily silenced using the rockets. The first wave consisted of 10 LVT-2 Buffalos that hit the beach in a chaotic fashion at 7:28am. The other waves of LVT-1 Alligators kept stalling and this caused the landing force to be strung out in columns for a couple of miles. Once ashore the cavalrymen stormed the Arawe peninsula's base. The two understrength Japanese companies there had little hope against them and withdrew northeast towards Didmop along the Pulie river. At 8:00am more troops aboard General Heavy's LCVP's and LCM's came over with the first echelon of supplies. This time however, Japanese aircraft had spotted the convoys coming to Arawe at around 4am. Admiral Kusaka dispatched a strike force of 8 Vals and 56 Zeros to try and break the landings. 16 P-38's intercepted the strike force, but many got through. Barbey's flagship Conyngham and the supplies ships managed to evade the bombs. By the end of the day, 1904 troops had been landed and a new base was being constructed. Over the next following days, naval convoys would bring over reinforcements to the Arawe area. The Japanese launched multiple attacks upon them resulting in the sinking of APc-21, and APc-12, Subchaser SC-743, minesweeper YMS-50 and 4 LVT's being damaged. Despite that minor damage, 6287 tons of supplies and 451 guns and vehicles were landed at Arawe within 3 weeks. A defensive perimeter was established behind the main line of resistance as General Cunninghumas men began sending patrols towards the Pulie and Itni Rivers to establish outposts. General Matsuda now realized he was facing a full blown invasion. He dispatched Major Tobuse Asayaki's 1st battalion, 141st regiment while awaiting further reinforcements from the Komori detachment. There were no trails connecting the Itni and Arawe regions, thus the men were forced to travel by landing craft from Cape Bushing over to Omoi point a few miles west of the Arawe landings. From there they would travel overland to join up with Major Komori. Yet that is it for the Arawe operation as we now need to travel over to Bougainville. The last time we were speaking about Bougainville the raid against Koiari had been quite a blunder. Meanwhile the amtracs were busy cutting trails through the jungles and swamps to help the general advance. A small unit from the 21st marines occupied Hill 600 back on November 27th. Then on December 3rd an intense artillery duel began as the Japanese unleashed 150mm guns upon the forward slopes of Hill 600, forcing the Americans to pull back. On December 5th the general advance kicked off. Colonel Robert Williams paratroopers occupied a line stretching from the crest of Hill 1000 going across a series of ridges and ravines towards the junction of the East-West trail and the Torokina river. Now this line would begin to expand 3000 yards over a ridge named Hellzapoppin Ridge. The marines named it after the musical, because of its extremely difficult terrain. The 3rd marines captured Hill 500 with zero opposition. The American supplies lines had been extended as well, now there was a growing supply dump called Evansville established in the rear of Hill 600 to provide supply to the final defensive line. December the 6th saw a severe earthquake hindering any advance. Commander of the 9th marines, Frazer West recalled “Being raised in Nevada I'd been through a lot of earthquakes so they were nothing new to me. We had one really severe earthquake on Bougainville. The big trees were just swaying around and we had built this fortification on this ridge, pillboxes, and such out of coconut logs and the roofs fell in on the pillboxes and some of the trenches caved in. The men got down and hugged to ground. It was impossible to stand up while it was going on. They were scared to death when these huge trees were breaking down around them. This went on it seemed for several minutes. The ground really rumbled and shook. It was the worst earthquake I'd ever been in.” On December 7th Williams led a patrol east towards a 300 yard long spur being defended by the 23rd regiment in well dug positions. William twice attempted seizing the spur and was wounded alongside 7 of his men who had to retire back to the marine lines. On the 9th, three other patrols hit the spur again, but were likewise driven off. During the late afternoon of the 9th the Japanese launched a counterattack against the marine position on Hill 1000. The paratroopers with the support of some 105mm and 75mm howitzers managed to repel the attack which cost them 12 deaths and 26 wounded. The next day, General Geiger decided to relieve Williams with the 1st battalion, 21st marines and the 1st battalion, 9th marines. At first the Marines tried to neutralize the Japanese with artillery fire, but the reverse slopes on places like Hill 1000 made it difficult for the guns to hit their positions. On the 13th Geiger requested aerial bombardments and received 3 dive bombers and 3 torpedo bombers who hit the targets causing, but also on a marine position killing 2 men and wounded 5. The next day 17 torpedo bombers hit the ridge and the following day another 18 torpedo bombers landed some direct hits on the Japanese positions. On the 18th, 11 torpedo bombers loaded with 100 lb bombs with delay fuses managed to pin the enemy down while 155mm howitzers cleared much of the dense vegetation covering the crest of their ridge. Immediately after the air strike, the Marines stormed the ridge from Hill 1000 in a double envelopment, finding little resistance by the dazed survivors. The artillery and aerial bombing had been so heavy, most of the Japanese company were forced to retreat, leaving 50 corpses over Hellzapoppin ridge. Hellzapoppin ridge cost the marines 12 dead and 23 wounded. Meanwhile on the 21st a patrol of the 21st marines encountered a few Japanese upon Hill 600A. One platoon ran into some heavy fire from the Japanese requiring Company I to perform a double envelopment, but they were likewise pinned down. On the 23rd, Company K, reinforced with a heavy machine gun platoon attempted a direct assault against Hill600A, but they were driven back. The marines poured more artillery fire upon Hill600A and tossed more attacks, but still they were driven off and with heavy casualties. Then on the morning of the 24th, scouts discovered the Japanese were inexplicably abandoning the position and had begun slipping away during the night. Hill600A was to be the last offensive by the Marines on Bougainville, the army boys were soon to take over. Geiger relinquished command to General Griswolds 14th corps on the 15 and now the Americal Division would be advancing up to relieve the 3rd marine division. The Army boys would be taking control of an inland perimeter extending 23,000 yards. Over 50,000 troops would be working to expand that perimeter. Yet that is all for Bougainville as we will now be covering some events in India and Burma. As a result of the August Quebec Conference codenamed Quadrant, the allies created the combined South East Asian Command. This new command would have Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as Supreme allied commander and General Joseph Stilwell as deputy supreme commander. They would hold overall strategic command of all air, sea and land operations for all the national contingents in the theater. Our old onion eating maniac friend Wingate had also returned from the Quebec Conference with the mission of expanding the strength of the Chindits. However Wingate refused to use Indian Army formations in his force, because he maintained that their training in long-range penetration would take longer and their maintenance by air would be difficult due to the varied dietary requirements of different Gurkha and Indian castes and religions. He couldn't get his way and was forced to accept the 111th brigade and two Gurkha battalions in the 77th brigade. Again this seems to be another point of evidence Wingate really did not like the Gurkha units. So Wingate now had the 77th Indian brigade, led by Brigadier Mike Calvert and the 111th Indian brigade led by Brigadier Joe Lentaigne. To increase the number of Chindits the 14th, 16th and 23rd British brigades were added, breaking up the experienced 70th british division much to the misery of General Slim. The 3rd west africa brigade was also snatched up from the 81st west africa division. Through the Quebec conference, Wingate also managed to obtain a “private” air force for the Chindits, designated 1st air commando group, consisting mostly of American aircraft. The new Chindit force became officially known as the 3rd Indian division, though it would be referred to as a special force or Chindit or Long Range Penetration group. The new recruits were tossed into the rigorous training of crossing rivers, demolitions and some bivouacking at Gwalior. Calvert and Fergusson had both been promoted to brigadier and took command of two brigades. Both men were responsible for a lot of the training program and the development of tactical planning while Wingate was promoted to Major-General. Inspired by Wingates onion force, the allied leaders during the Quebec conference decided to create an American deep penetration unit that would also harass the Japanese in Burma. On September 18th of 1943 a new American long range penetration force was announced to be created and it would be an all-volunteer unit. It received 960 jungle trained officers and men from the Caribbean defense command, 970 from the Army Ground Forces and 674 “battle tested” jungle troops from the South Pacific Command, those boys being veterans of Guadalcanal and the Solomons. General MacArthur handed over 274 Army combat experience volunteers from the Southwest Pacific command, veterans of New Guinea and Bougainville. These 3000 men were now the 5307th Composite Unit formed under the code named Galahad Project. The unit arrived to Bombay on October 31st where they were equipped and began training under the direction of Wingate at Deolali. Colonels Francis Brink and Charles Hunter trained the men from November to January of 1944. Then the 5307th moved to Deogarh where they received additional training in scouting, patrolling, stream crossing, weaponry, navigation, demolition, camouflaged, guerilla style warfare and the novel technique of airdrop supplying. In the meantime, Stillwell was in China, so the command of the operation fell to Brigadier General Haydon Boatner who was the commanding General of the Ledo Sector and the Chief of staff for the Chinese Army in India. Stilwell had been planning an offensive codenamed Albacore while the Ledo Road was being constructed. To exercise his command, Stilwell had his small staff of American officer advisers each grab a Chinese division. They kept in touch via radio teams who spoke both American and Mandarin. However these American officers did not have real authority of command, they were merely acting through the use of persuasion. Operation Albacore was an offensive aimed at protecting the Ledo Base and securing the Shingbwiyang area. General Sun Li-Jen's 38th division was given the task of capturing the line of Tarung Hka, then later to join with Lt General Liao Yaoxiangs 22nd division to hit the Jambu Bum ridge line. Afterwards they would proceed towards Myitkyina in December. Stilwell assumed the Japanese were not particularly strong north of Kamaing and would not be able to reinforce the Myitkyina-Paoshan area, but in fact the Japanese Burma Area Army had received a large amount of reinforcement in the area. Anxious to prevent any interference with their ongoing offensive, the Japanese Burma HQ had dispatched reinforcements all around the Burma permeer. In OCtober of 1943, the 56th division had eliminated a Chinese bridgehead over the Salween north of Teng-chung; in late September the 18th division set up positions in the Hukawng Valley; and some elements of the 56th division had taken up a position at Maingkwan. On October 24th, General Sun Li-Jen had the 112th regiment advance forward to shield the Ledo road builders, while the 2nd battalion advanced to Sharaw Ga and Ningbyen. Defending Sharaw Ga was the 5th company, 56th regiment with one platoon securing Ningbyen. The 1st battalion attacked Shingbwiyang before advancing upon Yupbang Ga. The 2nd battalion, 56th regiment stationed at Maingkwan upon receiving word of the allied offensive began moving towards Yupbang Ga. The 3rd battalion advanced from Hkalak Ha towards Ngajatzup in the northern edge of the Taro Plain. Due to supply difficulties, the 3rd battalion were making little progress. These Chinese forces were marching over portions of the trail that the defeated army and refugees had used in 1942 to flee Burma from the Japanese. The paths were a horrifying sight. Skeletons were found around every water hole. Groups of bones were found en masse. Dr. Gordon Seagrave, a Surgeon moving with troops, recalled seeing “hundreds and hundreds of skeletons”. The Chinese would encounter unexpected well-led and well entrenched resistance at all of their objectives. Defending Sharaw Ga was the 5th company, 56th regiment with one platoon securing Ningbyen. Two miles north of Sharaw Ga the Chinese ran into an outpost which they quickly dislodged. However when they attacked the village which lay between two hills, the Japanese fired down upon them from said hill causing 116 casualties. From november 1-3rd the Japanese inflicted 50 deaths upon the Chinese attackers receiving no casualties upon themselves. The 1st battalion had a similar experience at Yupang Ga. There they ran into a well entrenched and well led force who created roadblocks between Sharaw Ga and Ningbyen isolating them. Major Chen's 3rd battalion while trying to clear the Taro Plain was so hampered by logistics, by November 1st he had only arrived toNgajatzup on the extreme north edge of the plain. When notified Stilwell commented “Sorry performance. Arrived about November 1. Sent one company forward. Pulled it back again. Thereafter did nothing. Maj. Ch'en cowered in dug-out. Terrific waste of ammunition. Told Sun to have him move or I would shoot or court-martial Maj. Ch'en. Sun sent [name illegible] to investigate. Ch'en killed by British grenade in his dug-out on December 27. (Report was during Japanese attack. There was none).” The Japanese resistance ground the offensive to a halt as the Chinese forces were forced to dig in. At Yupbang Ga in particular the Japanese had cut off the Chinese from the river crossing and began encirclement maneuvers. The CHinese relying on air supply were powerless to cut their way out. In response to the Chinese offensive, Lieutenant-General Tanaka Shinichi shifted the main strength of his 18th division to the Shingbwiyang area hoping to assemble there by the 15th of December. As the Japanese presence grew in the areas so did the casualties upon the Chinese forces. The 112th regiment had one of its companies annihilated on the 2nd of november. Their regimental command post was overrun on the 3rd as their guards were digging in for the night. The regimental commander, Colonel Chen, and junior US liaison officer Major General Laughlin managed to escape, but chief liaison officer Lt Colonel Douglas Gilbert was captured by the enemy. A company of the 114th rushed to aid the situation, but were halted by the Japanese just before reaching Yupbang Ga. In late November the situation for the 112th began to improve when the 114th regiment reinforced them. However when they began attacking Yupbang Ga their artillery batteries were driven away by four Japanese machine gun positions. More attempts were made in december, but the Japanese were simply outperforming them. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The landings at Arawe was yet again another successful allied amphibious operation, but most assuredly it would soon be met with the typical Japanese counter attack. The Bougainville operation was now under new management, and the situation in Burma was starting to heat up again.
www.drumfactorydirect.com Guest host Tom Wendt revisits with modern jazz great Kenny Washington, Mike Dawson shares one of his daily technique builders, and much more!
Our first interview from Pennsylvania, Michelle advocates for people with learning challenges. She is someone who knows what it's like and has made it her mission to inspire and empower others as a Paraprofessional, Photographer, Blogger, and Advocate.SHOWNOTESMichelle's MissionFacebookInstagramSupport the show
Fresh from the Hill: Inside Stories of Noteworthy Cornellians
Ana Pinczuk headlines the second episode of the CLAA series and is the first Board of Trustees member interviewed. Ana is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Dexterity, Inc. and serves on the boards of Aptiv and SentinelOne. Throughout her career, Ana has worked for AT&T, Cisco Systems, Veritas Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Ana discusses her path to Cornell which started from her upbringing in Argentina as she and her family fled to the United States due to a coup d'etat in her native country. Ms. Pinczuk shares with the group how that experience and the impact it had on her family provided her with the needed grit and perspective to excel in Ithaca. Ana holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and she also holds degrees from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University. Read the episode transcript. Hosted by Joseph De Lost Santos MHA '19 Fresh from the Hill was created by Amanda Massa. The CLAA episodes were edited and recorded by Joseph De Los Santos, Freddy Terrazas Escamilla, and Kety Esquivel. Intro music, which that incorporates the sound of the coqui, a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, by Leonard Washington & Joseph De Los Santos. Closing music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, koa3@cornell.edu. Artwork by Chris Kelly. *The views expressed by Fresh from the Hill hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.
This is Dice Tower Now for the week of October 24, 2023. This week, Avalon Hill finds the spirit of Christmas, Elzra hits the battlefields, University does the time warp again, Devir Rocks Hard with a runaway, and Cora yells SPOON! TOP STORIES (2:50) Annabelle and the Sorcerer's Spoon, A Children's book in the Coraquest World Betrayal at House on the Hill getting a Yuletide expansion Dexterity title Battlefields from Elzra Wizards of the Coast to consolidate Magic: The Gathering boosters Magic the Gathering - Fallout Set Magical Athlete Reprint coming from CMYK Rocky Horror Picture Show Boardgame from University Games RoboRally Master Builder Expansion Funko releasing 6 I.P. based childrens games Rock Hard: 1977 from Jackie Fox Photo Tour: North America by Timashov Publishing 2 Player title Lost Lights from Daniel Board Game Circus Barton in Bloom by Dan Bate Cosca: Take Over the Mafia CROWDFUNDING (22:00) Hello Kitty: A Day at the Park Keyforge: Grim Reminders Obsession: New Characters and Coins expansion Taiki Shinzawa's Charms and Inflation Davy Jones Locker: Curse of the Ghost Ships The Shivers Triple Terror Expansion SPONSOR UPDATE (33:30) The luck-duck, run-amok, dice-chuck con THE HOTNESS (35:55) Dune: Imperium – Uprising Obsession Ark Nova Heat: Pedal to the Metal Voidfall Molly House Nucleum Sky Team Zoo Vadis The White Castle CONNECT: Follow our Twitter newsfeed: twitter.com/dicetowernow Dig in with Corey at DiceTowerDish.com.
You enter a dark cave. At the end of the shadowy tunnel sit three figures, hunched over and chattering. Their teeth gnash back and forth as they talk to each other in some garbled, hideous dialect. *Perception check successful* They are speaking with Australian accents, harsh and abrasive. You slowly approach, and realise that they are talking about video games. Specifically, they are talking about the new Red Dead Redemption releases, expensive Ninja Turtles outfits, and something called "Baldur's Gate 3". You draw your sword. *Dexterity check failed* The three figures dodge your attacks almost effortlessly. You realise that these monsters are the loathsome Podcaster beasts you have read about in tomes of old, but believed to have been long extinct after the TikTok wars. They dart back and forth, mocking you as you swing your blade. "The pen is actually mightier than the sword!", they taunt, as though their scribbled descriptions on the cave walls, summaries of what they had talked about that week, could be considered true writing. An insult to the art, you think, as you finally strike a blow on the largest one's head. "My only regret...is not playing more video games..." he stammers, his dying words fittingly pathetic. The other two skitter away, and you collect your spoils. A 64 gigabyte SD card, three microphones of different brands each, and a Zoom H6 recorder with the battery cover missing. Little do you realise, these objects are cursed. As you exit the cave and blink in the returning light, you speak for the first time the words which these enchanted objects have doomed you to repeat for the remainder of your earthly existence: "thanks for listening, and please subscribe to our Patreon."
Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis and Jeff Dutton of The Sloppy Boys and The Birthday Boys are here in person and we are getting to the bottom of words and phrases we can't stand. We're also talking about how Jeff cleans his feet before bed, dogs in the bed, how they all chose their bedrooms when they roomed together, water, the live show I attended, baths, robes, Manders and so much more. Plus a round of Just Me Or Everyone, HGFY and our adopt a dog segment. Products I Use/Recommend/Love: http://amazon.com/shop/alisonrosen Check us out on Patreon: http://patreon.com/alisonrosen Buy Alison's Book: Tropical Attire Encouraged (and Other Phrases That Scare Me) https://amzn.to/2JuOqcd You probably need to buy the HGFY ringtone! https://www.alisonrosen.com/store/