Leiracal
@leiracal.bsky.social
Overtly loquacious bardic artificer and towering trixic techie transfemme, offering shameless geekery, industry-pro-to-indie-amateur game development, and the joy of audacious nonconformity.
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I think of myself as a storyteller, but I don't have the words for the gratitude I have today to everyone who's helped so far. I'm actually getting a opportunity to focus on the path forward instead of panicking about the check I have to cut Monday. I intend to make the most of this chance.
As a software producer with programming experience and nearly a decade in project management, I'd *love* to be shocked that the final solution here is "call an LLM to resolve every text field to an enum," but I've known too many developers who broke core systems to "fix" trivial personal annoyances.
To me, nowadays at least, the presence of a dropdown list instead of freeform input is almost always a sure sign of programmer laziness or incompetence. The worst offender is a dropdown that lists all years between 1800 and 2025 as potential birthdays.
1/7
1/7
December 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
As a software producer with programming experience and nearly a decade in project management, I'd *love* to be shocked that the final solution here is "call an LLM to resolve every text field to an enum," but I've known too many developers who broke core systems to "fix" trivial personal annoyances.
Reposted by Leiracal
I fear that I will die without accomplishing anything.
What I need to remember is I don't have to, say, publish a book to accomplish something. I accomplish a little something every time I make you think or even laugh.
What I need to remember is I don't have to, say, publish a book to accomplish something. I accomplish a little something every time I make you think or even laugh.
December 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I fear that I will die without accomplishing anything.
What I need to remember is I don't have to, say, publish a book to accomplish something. I accomplish a little something every time I make you think or even laugh.
What I need to remember is I don't have to, say, publish a book to accomplish something. I accomplish a little something every time I make you think or even laugh.
Reposted by Leiracal
Will I be able to follow the plot of Metroid Prime Beyond if I haven't played Metroid Prime Bed and Metroid Prime Bath?
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Will I be able to follow the plot of Metroid Prime Beyond if I haven't played Metroid Prime Bed and Metroid Prime Bath?
I had a meltdown at work yesterday - a combination of post-finals burnout and autistic outrage - and I cannot overstate how much it meant to have a lead that knew exactly what was happening, and that I needed external permission to take a break and relieve myself of responsibility for everything.
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I had a meltdown at work yesterday - a combination of post-finals burnout and autistic outrage - and I cannot overstate how much it meant to have a lead that knew exactly what was happening, and that I needed external permission to take a break and relieve myself of responsibility for everything.
By the time I left X, I had an absolutely pristine, perfect record of eliciting this response every single time I asked transphobes the question:
What evidence, presented to your satisfaction, would change your mind?
They couldn't scream "NOTHING! I *CANNOT* BE WRONG ABOUT THIS!!" loud enough.
What evidence, presented to your satisfaction, would change your mind?
They couldn't scream "NOTHING! I *CANNOT* BE WRONG ABOUT THIS!!" loud enough.
A few years ago, Bill Nye the science guy debated creationist Ken Ham about evolution. The last question was "what would change your mind?"
Bill Nye said "Evidence."
Ken Ham said "Nothing can possibly change my mind about this."
I think about that a lot.
Bill Nye said "Evidence."
Ken Ham said "Nothing can possibly change my mind about this."
I think about that a lot.
December 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
By the time I left X, I had an absolutely pristine, perfect record of eliciting this response every single time I asked transphobes the question:
What evidence, presented to your satisfaction, would change your mind?
They couldn't scream "NOTHING! I *CANNOT* BE WRONG ABOUT THIS!!" loud enough.
What evidence, presented to your satisfaction, would change your mind?
They couldn't scream "NOTHING! I *CANNOT* BE WRONG ABOUT THIS!!" loud enough.
My whole life, my imperfections and differences weren't just weaponized; they were used to define me.
Now I understand that I don't need to be perfect.
But I'm less sure of who I am when I'm not constantly proving myself.
That's terrifying.
And liberating.
And unstable.
And the start of healing.
Now I understand that I don't need to be perfect.
But I'm less sure of who I am when I'm not constantly proving myself.
That's terrifying.
And liberating.
And unstable.
And the start of healing.
December 5, 2025 at 4:42 AM
My whole life, my imperfections and differences weren't just weaponized; they were used to define me.
Now I understand that I don't need to be perfect.
But I'm less sure of who I am when I'm not constantly proving myself.
That's terrifying.
And liberating.
And unstable.
And the start of healing.
Now I understand that I don't need to be perfect.
But I'm less sure of who I am when I'm not constantly proving myself.
That's terrifying.
And liberating.
And unstable.
And the start of healing.
Reposted by Leiracal
Welp, this has blown up. So, what the heck; if you're curious about my approach to plot twists, this is my book.
This year I wrote a novel, titled Sheam.
It's in (sort of) three parts, which I like to describe as:
1. Hang on, am I a woman?
2. Hold up, am I worthy of love? Gay love?
3. Wait a sec, can my polycule overthrow the government?
It's done and you can read it here:
www.scribblehub.com/series/15742...
It's in (sort of) three parts, which I like to describe as:
1. Hang on, am I a woman?
2. Hold up, am I worthy of love? Gay love?
3. Wait a sec, can my polycule overthrow the government?
It's done and you can read it here:
www.scribblehub.com/series/15742...
December 4, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Welp, this has blown up. So, what the heck; if you're curious about my approach to plot twists, this is my book.
Well, of course my final check-in introduced a bug in the console log that was fixed in five minutes' work and a single line edit.... *after* my slighly borked and awkward presentation, of course.
But I'm still proud of the work.
But I'm still proud of the work.
I turn in my final project for my programming degree tomorrow.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
December 4, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Well, of course my final check-in introduced a bug in the console log that was fixed in five minutes' work and a single line edit.... *after* my slighly borked and awkward presentation, of course.
But I'm still proud of the work.
But I'm still proud of the work.
Reposted by Leiracal
Power and Varia Suit Samus (Metroid Prime) ✨
December 3, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Power and Varia Suit Samus (Metroid Prime) ✨
I turn in my final project for my programming degree tomorrow.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
December 3, 2025 at 5:25 AM
I turn in my final project for my programming degree tomorrow.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
I got ambitious. My proposed scope was overkill for the program, which just required some sort of MVC app.
I can't say I got everything done that I intended, but it works.
And in the end, knowing I'll ace this, I focused on the vibes.
I've been struggling with a sixth-grader who doesn't want to use external sources (or his opinion, even on genuine opinion essays) but then complains he can't write X points in a paragraph, because he can summarize all the textbook's points in a single sentence and won't just copy it all down.
Fun fact, when studying with your son for his World History test, he may ask you to stop adding information not on the study guide to prevent confusion for the test.
Repeatedly.
Politely.
But insistently.
Repeatedly.
Politely.
But insistently.
December 3, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I've been struggling with a sixth-grader who doesn't want to use external sources (or his opinion, even on genuine opinion essays) but then complains he can't write X points in a paragraph, because he can summarize all the textbook's points in a single sentence and won't just copy it all down.
Aegislash is similarly borked in ZA, because that stupidly long transition animation out of the King's Shield stance does *not* do it any favors in real-time combat.
GameFreak didn't have abilities in Legends Arceus but they still made sure to code in Slow Start for Regigigas to make sure it's turbo ass even on a game with no PVP purely for the love of the game.
Gotta respect the commitment to the bit tbh
Gotta respect the commitment to the bit tbh
December 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Aegislash is similarly borked in ZA, because that stupidly long transition animation out of the King's Shield stance does *not* do it any favors in real-time combat.
Reposted by Leiracal
This is a timely reminder to be nice to retail employees, even if you think you are too important to do that.
In the 2000s, I worked at a bookstore, but by the time this story takes place, I was mostly in the cafe. If things got busy, they'd pull me out to work on the other side of the store...
In the 2000s, I worked at a bookstore, but by the time this story takes place, I was mostly in the cafe. If things got busy, they'd pull me out to work on the other side of the store...
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
This is a timely reminder to be nice to retail employees, even if you think you are too important to do that.
In the 2000s, I worked at a bookstore, but by the time this story takes place, I was mostly in the cafe. If things got busy, they'd pull me out to work on the other side of the store...
In the 2000s, I worked at a bookstore, but by the time this story takes place, I was mostly in the cafe. If things got busy, they'd pull me out to work on the other side of the store...
Mid-forties as well; quite a few of us in the QRs.
In my case, it's never coming. She had never truly yearned for me to be happy, or to be able to comfort my fears. My suffering just enabled her true goal: to feel superior to me.
I eventually found out I had married someone just like her.
In my case, it's never coming. She had never truly yearned for me to be happy, or to be able to comfort my fears. My suffering just enabled her true goal: to feel superior to me.
I eventually found out I had married someone just like her.
December 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Mid-forties as well; quite a few of us in the QRs.
In my case, it's never coming. She had never truly yearned for me to be happy, or to be able to comfort my fears. My suffering just enabled her true goal: to feel superior to me.
I eventually found out I had married someone just like her.
In my case, it's never coming. She had never truly yearned for me to be happy, or to be able to comfort my fears. My suffering just enabled her true goal: to feel superior to me.
I eventually found out I had married someone just like her.
Reposted by Leiracal
Well, that's neat. Apparently Mario Wonder has a few design elements specifically to work around Invisibility softlocks, e.g. when the game expects enemies to react to you so you can manipulate them into destroying barriers to progress.
Rimea's custom Invisibility level is also amazingly designed.
Rimea's custom Invisibility level is also amazingly designed.
How Mario Wonder Prevents Invisibility Softlocks
YouTube video by Rimea
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Well, that's neat. Apparently Mario Wonder has a few design elements specifically to work around Invisibility softlocks, e.g. when the game expects enemies to react to you so you can manipulate them into destroying barriers to progress.
Rimea's custom Invisibility level is also amazingly designed.
Rimea's custom Invisibility level is also amazingly designed.
Reposted by Leiracal
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 AM
i know WHY this is but that just makes it even more of a kick in the pants lmao
Me, this weekend, staring at a Pokemon battle engine where I've effectively saved a Pokemon's current HP to its Dex entry:
"Is it possible to declare bankruptcy on technical debt?"
"Is it possible to declare bankruptcy on technical debt?"
I'm probably going to regret selecting "vertical slice of a web-based Pokemon roguelike" as my final project for my programming degree, because even the slimmest version of that is far beyond the project requirements.
But at least I won't be slogging through it like the rest of the course workload.
But at least I won't be slogging through it like the rest of the course workload.
December 1, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Me, this weekend, staring at a Pokemon battle engine where I've effectively saved a Pokemon's current HP to its Dex entry:
"Is it possible to declare bankruptcy on technical debt?"
"Is it possible to declare bankruptcy on technical debt?"
October 1st Leira: sure, I can program a text-based Pokemon combat engine in six weeks... while also writing the backend for a tournament management website, churning out a few basic apps, working a physically demanding full-time job, raising kids, and handling a nasty divorce.
November 30th Leira:
November 30th Leira:
December 1, 2025 at 1:19 AM
October 1st Leira: sure, I can program a text-based Pokemon combat engine in six weeks... while also writing the backend for a tournament management website, churning out a few basic apps, working a physically demanding full-time job, raising kids, and handling a nasty divorce.
November 30th Leira:
November 30th Leira:
Reposted by Leiracal
Today’s GM blathering:
When bringing new people into the hobby in general or a specific game, try to avoid saying that they “don’t need to know the rules to play.” Instead go with “you don’t need to know the rules to start. I can help you learn them.” It helps avoid future heartache. Trust me.
When bringing new people into the hobby in general or a specific game, try to avoid saying that they “don’t need to know the rules to play.” Instead go with “you don’t need to know the rules to start. I can help you learn them.” It helps avoid future heartache. Trust me.
November 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Today’s GM blathering:
When bringing new people into the hobby in general or a specific game, try to avoid saying that they “don’t need to know the rules to play.” Instead go with “you don’t need to know the rules to start. I can help you learn them.” It helps avoid future heartache. Trust me.
When bringing new people into the hobby in general or a specific game, try to avoid saying that they “don’t need to know the rules to play.” Instead go with “you don’t need to know the rules to start. I can help you learn them.” It helps avoid future heartache. Trust me.
Reposted by Leiracal
I think one of the hardest things about being a parent for me, emotionally, is to realise how parents are supposed to love and look after their children, and how I didn't have that.
Also, how kids don't appreciate that love at this point in time, just as I didn't realise I was lacking it.
Also, how kids don't appreciate that love at this point in time, just as I didn't realise I was lacking it.
November 28, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I think one of the hardest things about being a parent for me, emotionally, is to realise how parents are supposed to love and look after their children, and how I didn't have that.
Also, how kids don't appreciate that love at this point in time, just as I didn't realise I was lacking it.
Also, how kids don't appreciate that love at this point in time, just as I didn't realise I was lacking it.
Reposted by Leiracal
Reposted by Leiracal
I've tried almost a dozen anxiety medications over the last five years and literally nothing has had even remotely the same positive impact (and with fewer side effects) as simply keeping my E levels high.
HRT really is a miracle drug because the change in my partner's mental health these past few months has been astounding.
So much less self-hatred, she's happier, she makes her bed and takes care of her space more, and she just seems more herself in a way I didn't know was possible.
So much less self-hatred, she's happier, she makes her bed and takes care of her space more, and she just seems more herself in a way I didn't know was possible.
November 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I've tried almost a dozen anxiety medications over the last five years and literally nothing has had even remotely the same positive impact (and with fewer side effects) as simply keeping my E levels high.
The feeling I had while I let the kids peruse the toy section was an extremely sarcastic "gee, thanks for briefly setting prices back to where they were at the start of the year."
with all disrespect to the brands, 30% off is really not all that exciting in this economy
November 29, 2025 at 4:47 AM
The feeling I had while I let the kids peruse the toy section was an extremely sarcastic "gee, thanks for briefly setting prices back to where they were at the start of the year."