Threshold Combat Testing - Breakdown and game design analysis of combat data on Threshold.
A deep dive into the results from hundreds of hours of combat testing on a current version of Threshold (Feb 2026) and a version from Jan 2025. The results are predictable and normal in the aggregate, but when you zoom into specifics, other issues reveal themselves which create a myriad of game design questions necessitating complicated decisions.
Since 1996, Threshold has been the internet's premier roleplay-required MUD - a living world where your choices shape epic narratives.
Play free at http://www.thresholdrpg.com
Join our Discord: http://discord.thresholdrpg.com
If you want to join but would like a mentor to help you figure things out, send us an email: threshold@frogdice.com
Real Friends Hold You Accountable - How Pearlman's Rocker Article Changed My Life.
If you want to be a good person who is constantly growing and improving, you need to surround yourself with people who challenge you and hold you accountable. This is especially important for choosing a life partner.
My wife nearly dumped me for my initial opinions on the Rocker story! But as I kept an open mind and came around, she saw that perhaps I had some potential. 🙂
Jeff Pearlman's article exposing the truth about baseball pitcher John Rocker was a foundational example of the importance of challenging your own opinions and keeping an open mind.
The events and many discussions inspired by Jeff's article were a huge part of my evolution from a conservative to far left progressive. It was a marking point in some significant transformations in the way I look at the world and how I judge appropriate behavior and opinions.
Please watch Jeff's video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwwGmgYyfCA
And check out his channel: Press Box Chronicles with Jeff Pearlman
https://www.youtube.com/@UCxV1cc2-nsUMxs16786Xs0w
Thank you Jeff! I really hope you see this.
My blog post about this topic/video:
https://profhartman.com/the-interview-that-changed-my-life-forever-jeff-perlmans-john-rocker-story/
What Happened to Edutainment? Educational software for kids? Kevin "Mr. Wonderful" O'Leary happened.
A booming and wonderful industry of educational software for kids once flourished and brought delight and joy to millions of children.
Then Kevin O'Leary (self-styled "Mr. Wonderful" of Shark Tank) bought up all the edutainment companies, gutted them, ran them into the ground, sold them for a bundle, and dipped.
The industry has never recovered. Who know what sort of incredible educational opportunities might exist if O'Leary had never destroyed it.
Riot: Stop the War Against Your Community - Let creativity thrive. Let people play with friends.
Professor Hartman April 28, 2026 2:18 am
Riot bizdev folks are at war with the community. Banning people for off-meta picks, bans or rank removals for people who play with friends, automated punishments that are insane, pros being banned for off meta picks they dominate with, and staff trolling and abusing users online. This needs to stop.
0:00 Please Stop the War Against Your Community
1:38 Who the hell am I to judge?
3:10 The Holy Meta
5:29 Creativity is Everything
6:54 Playing with Friends
8:45 Friends Grow the Game
10:00 The Empty Calories of Rank Obsession
13:03 The "Well Don't Play Ranked Then" Canard
13:48 Where Has This Gotten Us?
14:42 Solutions
15:54 My Final Plea: Listen to the Community ...