Ask the Mormon

[ArcticFox]

Only a problem when there's a lot of detail. Otherwise that's when I get to use the bigger brushes

[Chozon1]

I have problems with getting consistent color coating. And there's just so much surface area...

Why is there no pizza?

[ArcticFox]

There is no pizza because the world is a terrifying, dark, unholy place.

And when there's pizza again, all is right.

[Deepfreeze32]

Let me first preface this with a note: If you ever find yourself in Portland, check out the store Guardian Games. While I've never been to gaming stores on the East Coast, Guardian Games is hands down the best one I've ever been to. I think you'd like it.

On to the question!


Ever used the Java tool VisualVM? At my new job, we use it to track JVM Memory usage, and it seems good...if I could just get it to work. lol

Also, thoughts on IntelliJ?

[Chozon1]

Any advice for working up the courage to visit the local gaming club?

It's about time I start actually playing Warmachine, I feel. I've put in enough hours of painting that want to actually see my army fight. XD

[ArcticFox]

Let me first preface this with a note: If you ever find yourself in Portland, check out the store Guardian Games. While I've never been to gaming stores on the East Coast, Guardian Games is hands down the best one I've ever been to. I think you'd like it.

Duly noted!

Ever used the Java tool VisualVM? At my new job, we use it to track JVM Memory usage, and it seems good...if I could just get it to work. lol

Also, thoughts on IntelliJ?

I haven't used them, but I'm seeing a need to soon. Our application project is nearing it's feature complete state and we're going to start performance tuning it. Also, My game club server seems to be having a lot of trouble keeping memory free when I start up the Minecraft server so that tool will help me there.

Any advice for working up the courage to visit the local gaming club?

It's about time I start actually playing Warmachine, I feel. I've put in enough hours of painting that want to actually see my army fight. XD

Most local gaming stores have a few tables where you can sit and paint. That's a good way to spend time in the environment, strike up some conversations, and get a feel for things. Invariably some friendly Warmahordes player will notice you and start chatting.

If they don't have that, just put your army in the car and go to the store and just hang out, watching a few games. Leave the army in the car at first but be ready to go grab it if someone offers you a game.

I know it's intimidating, especially when you hear people talking about the game and tossing around terms you're not familiar with, and it feels like no matter who you play your'e going to get stomped and badly. I feel that way too, but the trick is to accept, going in, that you're going to get stomped a lot at first while you learn the game, get used to the rules, figure out how your army works best. There are always friendly people who will coach you as you play, offering suggestions and reminders as you go. War gamers love new players, because it's how the hobby grows. They'll want you to enjoy the game.

That said, there's always the occasional egomaniac who stomps on newbies in order to feel superior. Try to avoid them, but if you find yourself across the table from one, just take your beating like a man and make a note to avoid that player in the future.

[Chozon1]

I find it hard to strike up conversations with people, I 'spose. My sister got all the outgoing genes. I need to follow your advice though, as I really want to start playing as opposed to just painting. XD

Seen the new colossals?

[ArcticFox]

No I heard some new ones were out but I haven't seen them yet. I dunno about Colossals... They don't seem to be as durable as they'd need to be to justify their points... but then again, I haven't played one on the table so I could be completely wrong.

[Deepfreeze32]

NullPointerExceptions that appear intermittently and don't seem to come from your code?

[ArcticFox]

Whenever I've had that problem it has turned out that either:

It WAS coming from my code, but not immediately obvious how or

There was a thread/process timing problem where a thread or process was looking for a resource before it was available. For example, going to work with a file I was creating in code that hadn't yet been created because of the relative slowness of disk I/O.

[Deepfreeze32]

So in our case, it might be like the latter.

This is part of Java 8's AWT package. We have an automation framework that does UI stuff really fast, and I'm wondering if we were going too fast for the UI system.


Preferred build system?

[ArcticFox]

It's certainly possible. Maybe a few strategically placed thread pauses might help at least diagnose it.

[Chozon1]

No I heard some new ones were out but I haven't seen them yet. I dunno about Colossals... They don't seem to be as durable as they'd need to be to justify their points... but then again, I haven't played one on the table so I could be completely wrong.

They seem to get wasted, more often than not. At least from what I've seen in BatReps. I can't decide if it's because they're weak, or because they become the main target...I have a Stormwall though, so here's hoping. XD

Talk radio, or not talk radio?

[ArcticFox]

Talk radio is great if you find your blood pressure is a bit too low and really want to spike it.

The closest thing I listen to now is wargame podcasts

[Deepfreeze32]

Spoilered because spoilers, but is this scene not the single most out-of-left-field cliffhanger in Battlestar Galactica?

I was genuinely shocked.

Spoiler: