u/ostseesound

I'm looking for a new shooter to really sink some time into.

I'm open to both FPS and TPS, and both singleplayer and multiplayer games. Realistic gameplay is preferred, but it's not a must — the most important thing is that the shooting actually feels good and the game is fun.

I'm mainly looking for a premium game that I can actually own and keep playing, rather than a F2P/live-service game that could eventually shut down and take the experience with it.

Things I like:

Great gunplay

Fast-paced action

Good progression / unlocks / customization are a plus

Multiplayer is fine, especially TDM-style modes with relatively short matches

Singleplayer campaigns are also welcome

Open-world shooters are a huge plus

Character creation/customization would be amazing, or female operators

I'm fine with older games if the community is still active

I've considered some Call of Duty games, especially Black Ops 7, but I've heard mixed things about the current player base. I'm also open to completely different franchises.

If you could only recommend ONE shooter that you think is genuinely worth getting into in 2026, what would it be?

I'm basically looking for that "one more round / one more mission" feeling. And I want to grind, Account Level or something.

I'm looking for a new shooter to really sink some time into.

I'm open to both FPS and TPS, and both singleplayer and multiplayer games. Realistic gameplay is preferred, but it's not a must — the most important thing is that the shooting actually feels good and the game is fun.

I'm mainly looking for a premium game that I can actually own and keep playing, rather than a F2P/live-service game that could eventually shut down and take the experience with it.

Things I like:

Great gunplay

Fast-paced action

Good progression / unlocks / customization are a plus

Multiplayer is fine, especially TDM-style modes with relatively short matches

Singleplayer campaigns are also welcome

Open-world shooters are a huge plus

Character creation/customization would be amazing, or female operators

I'm fine with older games if the community is still active

I've considered some Call of Duty games, especially Black Ops 7, but I've heard mixed things about the current player base. I'm also open to completely different franchises.

If you could only recommend ONE shooter that you think is genuinely worth getting into in 2026, what would it be?

I'm basically looking for that "one more round / one more mission" feeling. And I want to grind, Account Level or something.

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I’m getting a new mechanical keyboard in two days and I want to use tomorrow to install some games and properly test it.

I’m mainly looking for single-player FPS/shooters with lots of fast-paced action and movement — ideally games where I’m constantly using WASD, Shift, Ctrl, Space, weapon switching, abilities, etc.

I’d prefer story-driven/offline games rather than competitive multiplayer, because I want to test the keyboard without getting frustrated by constantly losing to other players. 😂

Bonus points for:

Character creation/customization

RPG elements/progression

Weapon customization

Fast movement/combat

Lots of shooting/action

I’m also open to other genres if they’re great for testing a keyboard.

What games would you recommend?

I’m getting a new mechanical keyboard in two days and I want to use tomorrow to install some games and properly test it.

I’m mainly looking for single-player FPS/shooters with lots of fast-paced action and movement — ideally games where I’m constantly using WASD, Shift, Ctrl, Space, weapon switching, abilities, etc.

I’d prefer story-driven/offline games rather than competitive multiplayer, because I want to test the keyboard without getting frustrated by constantly losing to other players. 😂

Bonus points for:

Character creation/customization

RPG elements/progression

Weapon customization

Fast movement/combat

Lots of shooting/action

I’m also open to other genres if they’re great for testing a keyboard.

What games would you recommend?

Hey everyone! I’m just starting to collect Pokémon cards and want to set up my collection properly from day one.

I’m specifically looking for a professional, mature, open-source, self-hosted solution that I can run permanently on my NAS.

My requirements:

- Fully self-hosted / no cloud dependency

- Open source & free, no ads

- Client-server/web-based, so my NAS holds the central database and I can access it from my phone, PC, etc.

- Good backup & restore functionality

- Ideally well-established and actively maintained for several years

- Pokémon TCG focused, including different languages/sets if possible

I’ve found some newer projects, but I’m hesitant about relying on something very young.

If you had to choose ONE solution as your “forever” Pokémon collection database, what would you self-host?

I’m not looking for a list of 20 apps — I’d really like to hear what you consider the top-notch, mature choice and why.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I recently got a 2017 MacBook Air (i5, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) and I’m currently running the latest officially supported version of macOS Monterey on it.

I’m deliberately staying on Monterey. I’ve already experimented with OpenCore Legacy Patcher and macOS Sequoia, and while Sequoia was usable, it made the Mac noticeably warmer and I heard the fan much more often. For my use case, I prefer the native OS because it stays cool, quiet, smooth and responsive.

I also don’t really need the newer macOS features, since this is my only Apple device.

So I’m looking for recommendations for third-party apps and utilities that still work on Monterey in 2026, preferably ones that are lightweight, well maintained, open source or have a stable/legacy version that will continue to work on Monterey.

I’m especially interested in things that can make Monterey feel more modern, clean and polished, for example:

- Desktop widgets

- Live or dynamic wallpapers

- A simulated "Dynamic Island" / notch-style interface

- Better desktop customization

- Modern-looking system utilities

- Menu bar utilities

- Useful quality-of-life improvements

- Anything that makes the Mac feel more modern without significantly increasing CPU/RAM usage

I’m not looking to replace Monterey or install another macOS version. I’d rather keep the native, stable Monterey installation and customize it around the OS.

Ideally, I’d love recommendations from people who are actually still using Monterey in 2026, rather than apps that technically supported Monterey years ago but no longer work properly today.

What are your favorite Monterey-compatible apps/utilities in 2026?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I recently got a 2017 MacBook Air (i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) and I'm really happy with it. Monterey runs perfectly smooth, and I mainly use it as a cozy little laptop for watching anime/videos, light web browsing, and relaxing.

However, I'd really like the newer macOS experience with things like live wallpapers and the large Lock Screen clock. That's why I'm considering using OpenCore Legacy Patcher.

I'm currently thinking about macOS Sequoia, but I'm not sure if that's still a good idea on this hardware. I also considered Tahoe, but I'm worried that Liquid Glass would be too demanding.

What macOS version would you recommend for the best balance between the newer features and smooth performance?

My priorities are:

- Smooth UI and video playback

- Fans staying quiet during idle/light use

- Reliable booting

- No constant tweaking or troubleshooting

- I'd really like to avoid boot issues after updates

I've used OCLP before on a 2011 MacBook Pro, including root patches, and unfortunately had quite a few boot problems. I definitely don't want to repeat that experience with this MacBook Air.

I'd especially appreciate feedback from people who actually use Sequoia (or another newer version) on a 2017 MacBook Air, rather than just theoretical recommendations.

Thanks!

I recently bought a Poco F7 as a dedicated gaming phone (Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage). My normal phone is just for everyday use — this one is purely for gaming.

The problem is: what are the games that actually justify owning a gaming phone?

I already have League of Legends: Wild Rift and Call of Duty: Mobile, because they are true mobile experiences. But a lot of other “big” mobile games are either PC/console ports or cross-platform games that I can already play on my PC or PlayStation.

I'm trying to build a curated mobile gaming library, not just install random lightweight games. I'm looking for high-quality AAA/mobile-exclusive games that feel like: “this is why I bought a gaming phone.”

What are your recommendations?

I recently bought a Poco F7 as a dedicated gaming phone (Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage). My normal phone is just for everyday use, this one is purely for gaming.

The problem is: what are the games that actually justify owning a gaming phone?

I already have League of Legends: Wild Rift and Call of Duty: Mobile, because they are true mobile experiences. But a lot of other “big” mobile games are either PC/console ports or cross-platform games that I can already play on my PC or PlayStation.

I'm trying to build a curated mobile gaming library, not just install random lightweight games. I'm looking for high-quality AAA/mobile-exclusive games that feel like: “this is why I bought a gaming phone.”

What are your recommendations?

I recently bought a Poco F7 as a dedicated gaming phone (Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage). My normal phone is just for everyday use, this one is purely for gaming.

The problem is: what are the games that actually justify owning a gaming phone?

I already have League of Legends: Wild Rift and Call of Duty: Mobile, because they are true mobile experiences. But a lot of other “big” mobile games are either PC/console ports or cross-platform games that I can already play on my PC or PlayStation.

I'm trying to build a curated mobile gaming library, not just install random lightweight games. I'm looking for high-quality AAA/mobile-exclusive games that feel like: “this is why I bought a gaming phone.”

What are your recommendations?

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a city-building (or sandbox) game where I can create my own modern Japanese town with a strong high school anime vibe.

I'm not looking for games like Persona or Lost Judgment (I already know those). My goal is to actually build the world myself.

What I'm looking for:

- Modern Japanese suburbs and neighborhoods

- Authentic Japanese schools (or good mods/assets)

- Residential streets with overhead power lines, convenience stores, parks, train stations, etc.

- A realistic atmosphere similar to what you'd see in anime or everyday life in Japan

A huge bonus would be if I could:

- Walk around the city I built in first- or third-person, or

- At least freely explore it with a spectator/free camera.

- Even better if buildings (especially schools) can be entered or viewed from the inside.

I'm already aware of Cities: Skylines (1 & 2), but I'm wondering if there are other games that might fit this idea even better.

Has anyone built something like this before, or can recommend a game that gets as close as possible?

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m curious what the community thinks about this.

About a year ago I was deciding between buying a real gaming phone (for example a RedMagic) or going with something like the POCO F7. I ended up choosing the POCO because I couldn’t really justify spending more money on a gaming phone when I could almost get a Steam Deck or ROG Ally for that price instead.

The POCO F7 seemed like a good compromise. Especially the back design (I got the limited edition) looked much closer to a gaming device than a normal smartphone, with the Snapdragon branding and the more aggressive design.

The performance is honestly amazing. This phone is not my main device – it’s a dedicated gaming phone only. I use it exclusively for mobile gaming.

And when I actually start a game, I immediately notice that this is not a normal phone:

- Genshin Impact runs at max settings with stable 60 FPS

- Wild Rift runs at 120 Hz

- COD Mobile and PUBG run smoothly without noticeable drops

The hardware is definitely there.

However, my only “problem” is the software experience. When I turn the phone on, it just feels like a regular smartphone. HyperOS looks like a normal everyday Android skin, and nothing really gives me that gaming device feeling.

I know this is a very minor issue, but since this is a dedicated gaming phone, I would love to make it feel more like one:

- cyberpunk/neon style

- gaming icons

- custom animations

- a more aggressive gaming UI

- something closer to what you get on RedMagic devices

So my question:

Are there any HyperOS themes, icon packs, launchers, or even custom ROMs that can transform the POCO F7 into something that feels more like a real gaming phone?

I’m not looking for better performance – the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is already incredible. I’m mainly looking for the gaming aesthetic and overall experience.

Would love to hear your suggestions!

Hey everyone,

I’m curious what the community thinks about this.

About a year ago I was deciding between buying a real gaming phone (for example a RedMagic) or going with something like the POCO F7. I ended up choosing the POCO because I couldn’t really justify spending more money on a gaming phone when I could almost get a Steam Deck or ROG Ally for that price instead.

The POCO F7 seemed like a good compromise. Especially the back design (I got the limited edition) looked much closer to a gaming device than a normal smartphone, with the Snapdragon branding and the more aggressive design.

The performance is honestly amazing. This phone is not my main device – it’s a dedicated gaming phone only. I use it exclusively for mobile gaming.

And when I actually start a game, I immediately notice that this is not a normal phone:

- Genshin Impact runs at max settings with stable 60 FPS

- Wild Rift runs at 120 Hz

- COD Mobile and PUBG run smoothly without noticeable drops

The hardware is definitely there.

However, my only “problem” is the software experience. When I turn the phone on, it just feels like a regular smartphone. HyperOS looks like a normal everyday Android skin, and nothing really gives me that gaming device feeling.

I know this is a very minor issue, but since this is a dedicated gaming phone, I would love to make it feel more like one:

- cyberpunk/neon style

- gaming icons

- custom animations

- a more aggressive gaming UI

- something closer to what you get on RedMagic devices

So my question:

Are there any HyperOS themes, icon packs, launchers, or even custom ROMs that can transform the POCO F7 into something that feels more like a real gaming phone?

I’m not looking for better performance – the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is already incredible. I’m mainly looking for the gaming aesthetic and overall experience.

Would love to hear your suggestions!

I've been looking for a strategy game over the last few days and I think I've narrowed it down to Anno 1800.

What I'm looking for is something that's relaxing rather than extremely difficult. I don't want a hardcore grand strategy game. I mainly want to build a beautiful city, manage resources and production chains, have some strategy elements, and most importantly an endless sandbox experience.

I considered Frostpunk, but from what I've read, even the endless mode eventually gets repetitive and isn't really the same kind of open-ended sandbox that Anno offers.

I also heard that the newest Anno game is more complex, so I figured Anno 1800 might be the better choice. Years ago (probably over 10 years ago), I played Anno 1701 and absolutely loved it, so 1800 feels like the natural next step.

My only dilemma is where to buy it. It's currently not on sale on Steam, but I found a much cheaper Ubisoft Connect key. Would you wait for a Steam sale, or just buy the Ubisoft Connect version now?

Or... should I skip Anno entirely? Is there another game that fits what I'm looking for even better?

I don't really want to end up buying 20 different strategy games—I just want one really good game that I can sink hundreds of hours into.

Thanks!

I've been looking for a strategy game over the last few days and I think I've narrowed it down to Anno 1800.

What I'm looking for is something that's relaxing rather than extremely difficult. I don't want a hardcore grand strategy game. I mainly want to build a beautiful city, manage resources and production chains, have some strategy elements, and most importantly an endless sandbox experience.

I considered Frostpunk, but from what I've read, even the endless mode eventually gets repetitive and isn't really the same kind of open-ended sandbox that Anno offers.

I also heard that the newest Anno game is more complex, so I figured Anno 1800 might be the better choice. Years ago (probably over 10 years ago), I played Anno 1701 and absolutely loved it, so 1800 feels like the natural next step.

My only dilemma is where to buy it. It's currently not on sale on Steam, but I found a much cheaper Ubisoft Connect key. Would you wait for a Steam sale, or just buy the Ubisoft Connect version now?

Or... should I skip Anno entirely? Is there another game that fits what I'm looking for even better?

I don't really want to end up buying 20 different strategy games—I just want one really good game that I can sink hundreds of hours into.

Thanks!

I've been looking for a strategy game over the last few days and I think I've narrowed it down to Anno 1800.

What I'm looking for is something that's relaxing rather than extremely difficult. I don't want a hardcore grand strategy game. I mainly want to build a beautiful city, manage resources and production chains, have some strategy elements, and most importantly an endless sandbox experience.

I considered Frostpunk, but from what I've read, even the endless mode eventually gets repetitive and isn't really the same kind of open-ended sandbox that Anno offers.

I also heard that the newest Anno game is more complex, so I figured Anno 1800 might be the better choice. Years ago (probably over 10 years ago), I played Anno 1701 and absolutely loved it, so 1800 feels like the natural next step.

My only dilemma is where to buy it. It's currently not on sale on Steam, but I found a much cheaper Ubisoft Connect key. Would you wait for a Steam sale, or just buy the Ubisoft Connect version now?

Or... should I skip Anno entirely? Is there another game that fits what I'm looking for even better?

I don't really want to end up buying 20 different strategy games—I just want one really good game that I can sink hundreds of hours into.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I have a strange issue with SillyTavern Vector Storage / Memory Extraction.

Everything was working fine until yesterday. I continued a chat with my main character, then deleted some messages because I didn't like the direction of the conversation. Later I decided to restore the previous version.

I restored the chat by taking the JSON file from the automatic backup folder, copying it back into the current chats folder, and renaming it exactly like the original chat file. The chat itself was restored correctly and works normally.

However, since restoring the JSON file, Memory Extraction no longer works for this specific character/chat.

The exact error from the log is:

"Extraction failed: Local Server (Ollama / KoboldCpp / llama.cpp / LM Studio) error (via proxy): Bad Request"

Things I already tried:

- Reinstalled SillyTavern plugins

- Reinstalled the memory extraction model

- Changed the extraction model

- Tested the model manually (works)

- Checked Vector Storage settings

- Verified that the backend/server is running correctly

The strange part:

- Memory extraction works with other characters

- The same extraction model works

- The same Vector Storage configuration works

- Only this one character/chat is affected

I suspect something in the restored chat JSON file may have caused a problem (message IDs, metadata, duplicate entries, vector storage references, etc.).

The chat itself loads normally and I can continue talking, but extraction always fails.

Is there a way to repair/rebuild the Vector Storage data for only this character without losing the conversation history?

I also noticed that before this issue I had a warning about duplicate memories:

"Duplicate memories - 4 duplicates found (22 total, 18 unique). This typically means that chunk boundaries are splitting memory blocks."

Could this be related?

Thanks!