JCPhoenix

That's exactly why I got a UPS! The electric lines to my building are overhead instead of underground, so sometimes weather makes things flicker.

And I'm using ESXi 6.5 still. There were free licenses available, but I think for the CyberPower UPS software that I'm using, it requires a non-free license. Luckily, there are license keys floating around the Internet.

A friend and I did consider buying a proper license (I have access to non-profit pricing), but with Broadcom's recent pricing changes and massive increases for VMWare products, that's probably not an option anymore. I think VMWare also pulled the free personal-use licenses, as well. I may eventually transition to Promox (which I do have on another server) or something else. Broadcom really did a number on VMWare =/

On the work front, I absolutely had no motivation to do anything on Thursday or Friday. Like I just sat in my chair all at home, sitting on social media/news/games. I really try not to play games during the workday, but I was just completely sapped of all motivation. Idk what the deal was with that. Not like the first half of last week was a hard work, either. At least, I was able to find some motivation and work on some things today.

I finally bought a UPS for my homelab server. Only 3-4yrs after first getting the server and like 6mo since a momentary voltage sag from the wall/mains power caused the server to shutdown unexpected and corrupt one of my VMs (at least, that's what I think happened). And this UPS even interfaces with ESXi to automatically -- and ideally, gracefully -- shutdown in case of a loss of power. I think I'll test that this weekend.

Also did and filed my taxes yesterday (Sunday). At like 5am. Because what else is there to do at 5am on a Sunday, other than taxes? 🤷🏽‍♂️

Lil Wayne is a goddamn genius. That whole song, honestly.

I'm a pretty hardcore FF fan who bought FF16 Day 1. I enjoyed it enough. Enough that I finished it, when I've only finished two other entries: FF6 and FF10. Neither here nor there, but I usually get pretty close to finishing the games....but then take a break, for like years. Yeah, I have a problem.

Anyway, it's not like 16 was my favorite FF ever. Nor the worst; just middle of the pack.

I don't play a lot of active battle games; I like FFs and other JRPGs for the traditional turn-based combat, which 16 did not have. But I also get that that's a niche market these days and consumer tastes change. I actually like that SE has been experimenting with different combat systems over the years in FFs.

Either way, the fighting system was easy enough for a bad like me to enjoy. But I will also say that the game still felt overly simplistic. A lot of big fights had "cutscene fights," where you had QTEs; simple QTEs where you literally just have to mash X or something.

The accessories/equipment system was super simplified down to weapon and 3 accessories. Of course you should upgrade your weapon, so there's no customization there. And most of the accessories were worthless, IMO. There were only a few that really stood out so I used those for most of my run.

Even learning the various summons and their powers was basic. Like it seemed like the system was in place to allow people to choose their own combat style, but that also largely meant that once you settled on a style, there was no reason change unless a stronger summon/power for that style came up. I never felt forced to learn and use a specific summon for a certain fights or anything.

In a way, because SE tried to cater to both the JRPG crowd and the non-JRPG crowd, they ended up with a somewhat mediocre game, that disappointed both groups. Again, FF16's not a bad game, but it's not great. Like you said, it's just "meh."

Huh, I don't think I've ever taken ephedrine. Is it stronger than the pseudo version? Sudafed (or generics) usually works just fine for me, since I use it for stopping a runny nose.

Anyone who's ever taken phenylephrine knows this. Especially we allergy sufferers. It's worthless.

I've always gone to the counter (in the US) to get actual pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).

Flying out to visit my parents and brother this evening, so that's pretty good.

What's not very good is that my Mom got caught COVID for the first time last week. Then my brother says that he's tested positive, though he's not feeling anything. So yeah, I'm flying into the hot zone apparently. And as far as I know, I've never gotten COVID. That new booster that just got approved by the FDA can't come soon enough.

Either way, it'll be good to have the whole family together for about a week.

I picked up Starfield on Friday. I'm not very far into it after 12hrs. Been doing side quests and such around New Atlantis and exploring. So far, it's fun enough. This is the first Bethesda game I've played since Fallout 3 (which I didn't finish). So I've kinda come into this mostly blind, which I think is a good thing. It reminds me a bit of Deus Ex: HR/MD, probably because of all sidequest and explo that I'm doing.

Also restarted Triangle Strategy last week or so, after putting it down for a year or two. Had it for the Switch, but then picked it up for the Steam Deck. Been taking my time with that as well.

In FFXIV, I'm in the post-Shadowbringers DLC content. I've taken a bit of a break from the MSQ to get the Nier-themed alliance raids, along with the "Eden" full-party raids. I've so far only opened two of the three Nier alliance raids, and god are they difficult. But that difficulty means they're tons of fun. I think I've got the first one down pretty well, though I've yet to complete it without dying at least twice due to not paying attention to boss telegraphs. The second one is gonna take me a bit more to get through without dying left and right. Prioritizing these over the "Eden" full-party raids at the moment. Did get my MCH to 90 during all the raiding, which means I now my second Lvl 90 class, the first being RDM. Think I might try a healer class next, just not sure which one.

What does "Print Support App" mean? Please don't tell me it's like that garbage HP Smart stuff.

So many of those old adventure games were hilarious. The Monkey Island series, Day of the Tentacle, Leisure Suit Larry, Space Quest. But I was also a kid back then (probably shouldn't have been playing Leisure Suit Larry...). I wonder if they'd still hold up for me today.

I think I've tried a couple times solo, but never really put serious effort into it. So I'd play for like 30min then just quit. I think the bad experience with my friends made me just avoid it. Realistically, it just happened to be Factorio that we were playing that time; it could've been any game. And it has happened in other games. The one friend who was the worst offender, I rarely play games with anymore. It's silly, I know.

However, one day, when I'm bored and looking at my Steam library, I will make the attempt again. I feel like I should, but I just don't know when that might happen. The picking Factorio part; I'm frequently bored staring at my Steam library!

Gloria Victis. It's an MMO with factional PVP warfare that uses directional combat (like Mordhau). I'll admit, I'm not a fan of these games, but I gave it a try since a friend of mine was interested in it. And I do like MMOs for the story content and to see what players can do with and within the world.

It was horribly boring. The main draw of the game is its PVP, but they definitely tried to also cater to the PVE playerbase, but the quests and story were generic and forgettable. I never even got to try the PVP, which I think my friend said was just OK anyway. I stopped playing after like a week. Apparently, the game is shutting down end of October, after releasing back in February 2023.

Another is the first Watch Dogs. I had played and completed Watch Dogs 2 and really liked it a lot. So thought to try the first one. I knew it was a very different mood and style from WD2, but thought it'd be OK. I can deal with moody and edgy. But it just wasn't at all fun or interesting. I think I played for a couple hours and then uninstalled.