#(note to self: i THINK from a merc article i found that this was at the paris motor show that was from

[umlewis]

"Lewis Hamilton presented the new Smart Forfour in Germany 2014" - january 9, 2024 📷 @.jerryandrephotography / instagram

[amirsirwrites]

Mercs with a friend who struggles with BPD 💜

Hey! Sorry for the wait. Thank you for linking me those articles! I hope that the headcanons are alright, I just wrote with the knowledge I got from them. You are free to request a re-write from me. :)

Side note : BPD - Borderline Personality Disorder

Requested by @oofers-o0f

Mercs and GN!reader

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Scout : 

He tries his very best to be gentle with you. Even though he loves teasing and bothering people, he doesn't do it to you too because he knows how much things like that can affect you. If you ever lash out at him accidentally because you’re feeling stressed or angry, don’t worry, because he won’t take it to heart. He knows that it’s hard for you to control your emotions sometimes so he’ll never blame you or push you away. When you’re feeling down, Scout will be right there with you, hugging you until you calm down. If you have a tendency of doing dangerous activities such as gambling or self-harm, Scout will check in with you periodically to ensure you’re safe. 

Soldier : 

He very quickly realised that his usual loud tone of voice stresses you out, so whenever you’re around him, he’ll switch to a softer and more calming voice. After he found out that you have a negative image of yourself, he started a habit of complimenting you whenever he can, “You look very nice today, Y/n.” Noticing that you get anxious and sad when he leaves your side, he sticks with you whenever he can. He likes hanging out with you anyway so it’s no big deal for him. He is protective of you, very protective. Someone said something that upset you? Yeah, they’re going to be scampering away in a matter of seconds with a black eye and possibly a few broken fingers. 

Pyro : 

They are just as attached to you as you are to them. Their room is like a safe haven for you - full of cute and soft stuffed toys, sweets, colouring books, markers, big warm blankets and of course, Pyro themself. They make you feel so loved all the time with their cuddles and little doodles and flowers they give to you as gifts. If they ever catch you in the act of doing anything dangerous, they’re immediately dragging you off to the nearest safe place, be it their room or just any quiet little area, so that they cheer you up with hugs and soothing pets. Like I mentioned earlier, they give you little doodles sometimes. These doodles are often of you with lots of flowers and hearts around you with little compliments at the bottom, ‘You are amazing!’ They think you’re great and don’t want you to feel bad about yourself. 

Demoman : 

You're the only thing that sobers him up immediately, even when he's so drunk that he can barely walk straight. It's surprising how motherly he acts with you. If you’re having a really bad day, he'll cook up something nice for the both of you, listen to you and comfort you in the form of both words and hugs. He doesn't like you talking bad about yourself. "Ay, laddie.. don't say those kinds of things. They're not true." Like Scout, he won't be hurt if you lash out at him unintentionally. He is a very empathetic person, so when you're sad or hurt, he is as well. He cares a lot about you and will never be pushed away from you. 

Heavy : 

He doesn’t mind that you’re attached to him, having some company is nice. Your time together is often spent in a calm silence, reading books while soothing instrumental music plays in the back. To be honest, he doesn't know much about disorders like BPD, but he knows what upsets you and when you're upset and that's enough for him to know to take care of you. When you're going through a really tough time, he'll write some poems, sit with you, and read them to you. He also doesn't mind reading your favourite books to you until you calm down. If you want some hugs, feel free to ask him, he's always ready to help you out however he can. 

Engineer : 

Since he's very well-read, he already knows about BPD, so he always checks if you're feeling alright. He really enjoys your company and encourages you to come by and hang out with him at his workshop. If you're going into town, he'll ask to tag along with you. He knows that impulse buying can be a struggle for you sometimes, so if you allow it, he'll come with you to ensure that you don't do it. Feeling down? Engie will be right with you, holding you in a big warm embrace. He always reminds you that if you ever want to talk to someone, he'll lend a listening ear.. and more hugs. 

Medic : 

Well, being a doctor, he's very knowledgeable about BPD and other disorders. If you want, he's more than happy to be your (unlicensed) therapist and give you advice on how to calm yourself down when you're overwhelmed by your feelings. He doesn't mind if you want to stick around with him, he's just a bit worried that you might be uncomfortable due to all the blood and organs he works with. He made you a little 'comfort corner' as he calls it in his lab for you. It's got pillows, blankets, your favourite books and a small radio. If you're being hard on yourself, he'll write and give you a 10 page essay on how wonderful you are so that you can read it again if you're feeling down. 

Sniper : 

You and him both love nature and quiet. Whenever you can, you two will drive out to a nearby forest and sit outside his van on foldable chairs with drinks, just enjoying the view. He doesn't always know how to help you with BPD, but he knows that you enjoy your little quiet outings with him so that's what he does. If you're going through a rough time, he'll give you a very uncharacteristic hug and say to you, "Mate. I'm here for you, alright? I'll listen to you and help you however I can." He always bottles up his emotions and he knows how much it hurts to do that, so he really doesn’t want you to do the same. He’ll give you all the support you need that he never got. Even though he’s very much not the type of person that likes hugs and whatnot, if getting one makes you feel better, then alright. 

Spy : 

He helps you however he can. Most of the time though, he buys you things to boost your mood such as your favourite food, little trinkets he thinks you’ll like and anything else you’ve shown interest in. He doesn’t really understand why you’re attached to him, he doesn’t think he’s much fun to be around, but sure, whatever makes you happy is alright to him. (He’s actually happy that you like being around him.) If you’re upset, he’ll approach you with your favourite drink and a glass of wine and sit down with you. Talking is optional, he hopes that during that time, you’ll open up to him and vent your frustrations so you’ll feel calmer. He always reminds you that if there’s anything he can do to support you, just tell him and he’ll do it.

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[thecoroutfitters]

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

As a follow-on to yesterday’s post on the coming Hurricane season in North America, and as a lesson from an article in the news today about two hikers assaulted along the Appalachian Trail by a man with a machete, one killed, I am again posting about EDC items and essential safety equipment.

I had written before that I hiked the John Muir Trail, a popular portion of the larger Pacific Crest Trail, from Whitney Portal to Tuolumne Meadows (Northern Yosemite National Park) back when California was a well managed and profitable red state governed by reasonable laws. I open-carried the entire trip for the purpose of putting animals of less than four-legs on notice that I was not a smart choice as a victim. I had no problems even when I went and bought supplies and ate lunch in a restaurant in Red’s Meadows, the normal resupply point for hikers on that trail. The reality of the saying “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

(One last “travel note” – add staying at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley to your bucket list. I stayed one snowy February in one of their cabins in the woods and it is one of the most amazing places on earth, a short walk to multiple water falls, the meandering Merced River and Mirror Lake, well into the silting process that turns lakes to meadows over time. A true winter wonderland. Great any time of the year, you have to book a year in advance.

Arm yourself with survival gear whenever you venture deep into the woods – not just to make your life easier but because it could possibly save your life. Think of it as the “insurance” you need to stay safe outdoors. For instance, carrying enough supplies will ensure that you are fed and hydrated. Still, you need more than food to survive in the wilderness so consider the following carefully:

A Whistle

You need to find a way to alert your entourage when in distress – and that’s when a whistle becomes a necessity. When choosing one, go for a referee type model. Choose an eardrum-bursting unit whose sound can travel for miles.

Select a bright colored option for excellent visibility and quick retrieval if it falls on the trail and you need it in the dark. The design has to be on point too – that way you can use the whistle both in wet and dry conditions.

Knife

You don’t have to carry a large survival knife. Sure, it will help you cut stubborn twigs and branches, but you’re better off with a wood carving knife. Even then, ensure that your choice is robust, complete with laminated blades. On top of that, it has to be super sharp to make cutting easy.

Of course, a rubberized handle will offer a stable grip whenever you need to strike. Also, check to see if the knife has an integrated fire starter. They come with all sorts of gadgets integrated now, like a compass. Good as a backup but the knife itself is the single most important piece of survival gear you will carry, so don’t go low end here, your life may depend on it.  

A Military-Grade Watch

Aren’t military watches for the armed forces? Sure, but that doesn’t mean you can wear them too. These are rugged, stand up to hard wearing, making them a perfect choice for the rigors of the wild. Some models, such as the top picks on NanaDC are solar powered, enabling you to use them without running out of juice.

Pick a watch that has low temperature resistance and a sturdy casing. Further, ensure that the model has an integrated compass, a barometer, and an altimeter to help you with the navigation. DON’T do what so many of us do every day, depend on our cell phones as watches (or the watches slaved off your cell phone.) Batteries and networks die, their doing show shouldn’t cause you a similar fate. 

Survival Rations

Not everyone has the time to cook in the wilderness. Okay, you can put up a fire and roast some meat, but at times, this may be a luxury your can afford, like having an injured companion you have to get to medical care, or not wanting to print your location due to threats to your safety. It is, therefore, essential that you carry some rations to replenish your body whenever you need a quick bite.

You can go for something like shortbread cookies or an energy bar. The only thing that you need to pay attention to here is the calorie content. Stick to rations that offer not less than 400 calories with a generous dose of minerals and vitamins. 

A Signal Mirror

A real one. Don’t depend on your shiny cell phone case, your bright smile after repeated “whitening” treatments to your teeth – self done or done by a professional, or the luster of any of the equipment you have been dragging through the mud for a few days. A signaling mirror can generate a ray of light up to a distance of ten miles. It produces a beam of light that can draw the curiosity of distant aircraft, vehicles, watercraft, or search party members – if you want to be found.

When choosing one, make sure that is has a sighting lens and is easy to use. And the beauty of it is that you don’t have to burn through your wallet to get a good model.

Waterproof Matches

This one is a no-brainer, right? It sure is. Apart from the wind, water is the also a significant cause match failure (maybe more our clumsiness than the physical match) . But, both the elements are no match (no pun intended) for waterproof matches. That way, you can start a fire at your campsite even when the weather is extreme. Carry at least two boxes (depending on the length of your trip, of course). Yes, to fire starters as well, as long as you have starter fuel (dryer lint, saw dust, magnesium filings, etc.) Also note that while an interior pocket under layers of outerwear will keep rain and wind away, perspiration is just as big a problem as the other natural elements.

Waxy Fire Cubes

These will provide fire whenever you don’t have wood or twigs to burn. Most cubes are lightweight and incredibly easy to ignite. Be sure to check how long a cube glows before spending your money. Anything worth your attention should last for at least 10 minutes, burning at a temperature of 1,300 ° F.

A Personal Weapon

Local (town, county, parish, city, state, BLM, ATF, National Parks Service, Game Management authorities and federal wildlife management area and on and on) are a nightmare of counter-cross regulations that are purposely made impossible to fathom by government entities at all levels. I have written before that driving once from Los Angeles to San Francisco, taking a shot gun as a gift for a friend for his 30th birthday party, most likely made me break no less that 25 local laws across the trip that I could have been arrested for, a new gun, wrapped in its shipping case, with not a compatible shell in site. An 8 hour drive.

When you step off the paved road for a wilderness adventure, you are a willing victim and a fool in my opinion if you are not armed with a personal weapon that you not only know inside out but you are well practiced with and proficient in its intended use. 

Hindsight is 100% but clearly, in the situation above, the moment you see someone with a drawn weapon it is time to do “the great reveal” and bring yours from its hiding place where it can be used to save your life or the lives of the less prepared.  Carry insurance, only draw with the intent to bring the situation to a stop with extreme prejudice, and expect that once you draw you have crossed a line of no return, other than giving yourself an edge to end the situation alive.

I want to note that the people, from end to end that manage and monitor the Appalachian Trail are true environmentalists and individualists who do an amazing job day after day, telling it like it is without political correctness. Kudos!  

Final Thoughts

Your survival is paramount when you’re outdoors, whether it is for a long road trip or a backpacking adventure. You should, therefore, equip your emergency kit with all the necessities that will come in handy during an emergency.

These aren’t the only things you need to consider. Others include water disinfecting tablets, a stove and a headlamp.  Of course, you will need an emergency blanket, poncho, ground pad. or wearable sleeping bag to shelter you from the wind and rain at night.  Make sure that your backpack is big enough to accommodate the items.

Be sure to check out The Prepper Journal Store and follow The Prepper Journal on Facebook!

The post Pieces of Gear That’ll Save Your Life appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

[notpreparedblog]

Path of Diablo: Part I

Path of Diablo is one of many fan-made modifications of Diablo II that has been created over the years. While other mods such as Median XL and Eastern Sun make rather sweeping changes across the board, Path of Diablo’s focus is to increase build diversity and replayability with as little changes to the original game as possible.

Just from initial research before downloading the mod, I noticed that you can corrupt items, giving them new properties, there is a larger inventory which includes a space specifically for charm activation and skill trees have been more focused towards Path of Diablo’s mission of increasing build variety.

Upon booting up your game, the first thing you’ll likely notice is the expanded inventory. Instead of the paltry 40 inventory slots from original Diablo II, you are given 90 to work with. Your stash is also greatly expanded from 48 slots to 100 for less mule action.

One interesting aspect of the Path of Diablo inventory system is the addition of the charm inventory. If you look at the inventory picture above, you’ll notice the bottom four rows have more of a slate stone finish as well as a gold border. These 40 slots are where you will be adding your charms so that you receive their bonuses.

You may think this greatly dissolves your given inventory space, but after going through Diablo II with multiple grand, large and small charms every character, it still feels like a luxury. There’s also the added bonus of not having level requirements associated with charms. As long as you throw it into the charm inventory, it’s activated. This can greatly speed up new characters as you compile charms.

The Path of Diablo UI also comes equipped with a new settings menu towards the bottom left of the screen. The settings menu offers various options to the player, but most notably included is a loot filter. Here, you can opt to include new information to dropped items. Want to know how many sockets an item has before picking it up? Always had issues discerning rune drops from regular, useless drops? Those issues and more are fixed in Path of Diablo.

For my first playthrough, I choose to create a wind Druid. I have a personal attachment to the wind Druid going back to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. It was my first character in the expansion and did rather terribly. Back then, I didn’t know what I was doing. Instead of focusing on maxing out a few skills, I spread my skill points around each of the three skill trees, crippling my build once I got later into Nightmare.

Despite the initial struggles, I went on to create four or five different Druids that cleared Hell difficulty. My favorite of which, was a Werewolf Druid that used a ‘ZodEth’ socketed ethereal Cruel Cryptic Axe of something or another. There were better options out there at the time, but mine was self-found and unique to me. Without top-tier gear, melee builds were tough at times to justify continuing, a problem for me that Path of Diablo works to fix, which I’ll likely get into at some point in this series.

Getting into my wind Druid for Path of Diablo, the skills you’re aiming for are later on in your skill tree. Hurricane is a level 30 skill and wouldn’t be maxed until level 50, and tornado is a tier below at level 24. To offset not having any gear at all, and the first 30-40 levels, I jumped in as a summoner.

I was surprised right off the bat at how powerful ravens now are. Instead of having a high mana cost and low damage, you're gifted with ravens that have higher damage, added cold damage and splash damage overall that hits multiple enemies per attack. The downside here is that instead of being able to survive twelve hits before disappearing, they now only dole out three hits per raven. This becomes a real struggle for a large part of normal.

While the mana cost is also reduced for summoning a raven in Path of Diablo, 1.2 mana vs. 6 mana at level one, I was still chugging mana potions at ridiculous rates. Three hits isn't very many, and as you increase your raven skill level, you gain a larger flock of ravens that require constant renewal. I usually don't focus too much on leveling energy for most builds, but if I went through this process again, I would throw some points in there to help out.

The second downside to ravens early on, is the cast time. I would wager that a good 20% of my play time through normal was me standing in place to re-cast ravens. Without having any faster cast rate to meet those vital breakpoints, it's brutal. Adding insult to injury, I wasn't getting lucky finding the runes required for Stealth to net me 25% FCR nor was I finding those 10% FCR rings that I usually relied on with casters. It reminded me of Diablo III's Necromancer situation with skeletal mages and how you have to keep re-summoning them. It becomes much more enjoyable and sustainable once you get a bit better gear, but it was rough for me at the start.

Ravens aside, another major change from Diablo II is being able to have multiple sages and vines summoned at the same time. It does a good job of reminding you that you're a summoner and should have an army trudging through Sanctuary alongside you. Using ravens primarily, I didn't have many issues getting through normal difficulty. Andariel posed little challenge along with the rest of Act I. Duriel was, well, Duriel and did his usual Duriel thing and Mephisto put up little resistance as well.

I didn't start to feel the raven pain until fighting Diablo in Chaos Sanctuary. One lightning breath took down my merc, wolves, sages and vines in one swoop which left me in a constant cycle of frantically casting ravens and chugging potions while attempting to get a sage up for more than a few seconds at a time. Due to my FCR issues, I would have to stand in harms way for long periods of time, seemingly waiting for lightning breath to hit me in the face.

Once Diablo was dispatched, I moved on to Act V. I always enjoyed Harrogath. I felt they had the best combination of characters, quests and setting in the game. I particularly remember those Bloody Foothills runs and trying to beat the players to the center of the map at Dac Farren, or struggling to get past Hell Ancients so you can move on to Baal runs.

Needless to say, the struggles from Diablo continued on throughout Act V, in particular Moon Lords and their kin made it a point to tear through my hoard of minions at will. Oddly enough, the Ancients didn't give me much to worry about before heading into the Worldstone Chamber. I got lucky on the first few floors and didn't roll Death Lords into the enemy pool, but hit them right before going through the gauntlet at Baal's doorstep.

The Minions of Destruction just had too high of a health pool for me, so I pulled them out of the room and jumped in to fight Baal. He was the biggest time sink of the run, despite me never really being in danger. I found myself getting him to be on one side of a wall with me on the other, casting ravens in the distance so that they could dive bomb him a few times before disappearing. I went through an inventory screen full of mana potions before he fell.

I don't remember finding any set or unique items of note throughout my normal run. However, I did finally create my Stealth armor before going in to fight Baal, grabbed a 10% FCR ring and found a ring that gave me +77 mana which reduced my potion chugging significantly.

So far, I'm enjoying Path of Diablo. I harbor a lot of nostalgia for Diablo II and Lord of Destruction in general, which Path of Diablo does tap into. Like their description states, they wanted to make the least amount of changes to the original game as possible, while increasing build options and replayability. With my experience thus far, they've succeeded. The changes they've made, such as having an easier time distinguishing drops with the loot filter to the inventory and stash size, don't change what Diablo II is in my opinion. They are quality of life changes that are beneficial to the player and their experience.

I'll be back at some point to discuss how things are going through Nightmare difficulty, as well as tap into other features of Path of Diablo that I haven't gotten a chance to dive into yet such as corrupting items. I'm not sure when I will switch over to elemental, but we'll get there.

If you want to check out Path of Diablo yourself, head here.

Check out a pretty active Reddit community here.

Check out more gaming articles, reviews and more at;

I Wasn’t Prepared For This