Oy, Newbies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Oy, Newbies [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rechan
08-21-07, 12:53 PM This isn't so much a "Help" as it is just an amusingly frustrated exchange. When what a player wants doesn't translate so easily.

I am putting together a game online, and a friend has never really Played D&D, but is familiar with it. As I'm discussing the options, and I bring up psionics, he's like "Yeah!" I, being willing to go along with it, ask him what he'd like.

"I want to be like Mewtwo. You know, picking things up with my mind and hitting people with it, and messing with their mind."

"Okay, you're going to have to specialize a little bit more. You can't do both very well - you can do One, and then be okay at another." I break down the different disciplines and what they're good at.

"I want to be a kineticist. Pick stuff up and hit people with it." He describes what his character is LIKE and what he LOOKS like, but he's sticking to the "frail guy who can crush people with his mind."

We move to stats. I give him the point buy info. He comes back to me with a char with a decently high Str. "So, what're you going to use that for? Are you going to get into melee?" "No, I'm going to hit people with my mind." "... but strength doesn't influence that." "Okay, but I need strength for unarmed combat, right?" "Yeah but when did that come in?" "Well, I need strength this high to get the psi-fist feat..." I explain to him that the psi-fist feat is useful for people in melee a lot, but given that he'd be swinging a +3 to hit, and he'd have to get into melee to do it, he'd be like a wizard trying to suckerpunch a guy - if that's what he wants, that's fine, but it's not going to be useful. He says "Okay, move the STR score into Con then."

Next is feats. "Um. Just, what feats are good for helping me hit people with my mind?" Seeing as we're third level, and Metapsionic feats aren't that usable until he hits 5th at LEAST. None of the Force powers are Rays or Touch attacks, so power specialization doesn't fit (and isn't viable until level 4 anyhow). So none of them aply. I say, "None of them, really." "... okay, let's just go to powers."

We're starting at level 3. I look at the power list. Out of the entire list, five are "telekinetic" based - Far Hand, Control Object, Concussive Blast, Inertia Armor, Force Screen. The rest of the Kinetic powers are ENERGY based (I.e. Firestarter). I tell him this. I also tell him, since the power he WANTS is telekinetic thrust and just is not high enough, I'm willing to re-design some of the powers to better resemble Force powers (Taking the energy subtype off an energy power and say it's a Force cone instead of an energy cone).

"Um. Okay. I'll take some of the energy powers I guess."

At that point, we did skills, then he had to go, but I'm just rubbing my face awaiting the inevitable discussion on feats.
Salla
08-21-07, 01:04 PM Hmm. Time to geek. Try this, maybe ...

Remind him that, like in Pokemon, D&D characters have levels; you don't get access to the really kickass stuff like Psychic until later levels. He has to work with powers like Confusion (Mind Thrust) and Disable (er, Disable) and work his way up to the big guns. He has to train, gain experience, and level up before he can start throwing buildings at people.

Maybe?

(I certainly wouldn't complain about Inertial Armor and Concussion, myself.)
Rechan
08-21-07, 01:10 PM Hmm. Time to geek. Try this, maybe ...

Remind him that, like in Pokemon, D&D characters have levels; you don't get access to the really kickass stuff like Psychic until later levels. He has to work with powers like Confusion (Mind Thrust) and Disable (er, Disable) and work his way up to the big guns. He has to train, gain experience, and level up before he can start throwing buildings at people.

Oh sure. That goes without saying.

My problem comes from not having a lot to offer for his CONCEPT. There's just so few powers and feats that fit into "This specific thematic niche". He's so geared towards his thematic niche that he's not looking at a lot beyond that. So offering Feats that assist is not that great.

Sort've like "I want to be a FIGHTER who uses his fist (not a monk), so ... I'll take Unarmed Strike, and uh, weapon focus (Unarmed Strike) and specializatioN (unarmed Strike) and... do 1d3+2. Um." ;)
AntiDjinn
08-21-07, 01:11 PM Let him build and play his character and let him learn what works and what doesn't. You can give advice, but you can't really teach someone D&D; you can only provide the game so he can learn the ropes. His next character will be more functional, and the one after that even better. And his initial, non-optimized psion may remain his favorite to roleplay.
Salla
08-21-07, 01:19 PM Oh sure. That goes without saying.

My problem comes from not having a lot to offer for his CONCEPT. There's just so few powers and feats that fit into "This specific thematic niche". He's so geared towards his thematic niche that he's not looking at a lot beyond that. So offering Feats that assist is not that great.

Sort've like "I want to be a FIGHTER who uses his fist (not a monk), so ... I'll take Unarmed Strike, and uh, weapon focus (Unarmed Strike) and specializatioN (unarmed Strike) and... do 1d3+2. Um." ;)

Ah, okay, I misunderstood the issue. I thought he was just wanting a higher power level. :)
Tempest Stormwind
08-21-07, 01:49 PM Cheap solution: Make him a wilder instead.

Fewer powers known = easier to build around a specific theme.

(Also, I should point out that there are a few more force-based or telekinetic-based effects in Untapped Potential, including Psychokinetic Fists, which will literally let him punch someone from across the room. It'd be more useful for him than Psionic Fist, although it still won't be as useful as, say, Speed of Thought. It was written for psionic monks.

That said, he might also enjoy UTP's Psychic Substitution and On Fire feats. The former transforms energy powers into mind-affecting powers, so Energy Cone can crush people's minds. The latter causes him to erupt in psychokinetic flames when he does something particularly awesome, which represents a surge of psionic power within him and benefits his body and mind (it also lets him start fires with his mind without spending power points, but hey.))
Rechan
08-21-07, 01:57 PM Tempest Stormwind, where is Untapped Potential? That sounds really frickin' sweet.
Khadmus
08-21-07, 02:05 PM It's a 3rd-party book that some psionics fanboys made in their spare time. It's from Dreamscarred Press.
I hear it's several times better than Complete Psionic (although it would be hard not to do that).
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=7768&
Bacris
08-21-07, 02:08 PM Since Tempest likely didn't have his copy handy, here's Psychokinetic Fists :)

PSYCHOKINETIC FISTS [Psionic]
You can punch people from across the room -- useful during debates.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Charisma 13.
Benefit: You must expend your psionic focus to use this feat. When you do, you may use one of the two following options.
1. As a standard action which provokes attacks of opportunity, you may make a single unarmed strike against any target within medium range (100 ft plus 10 ft per character level). You must have line of sight and line of effect to this target. This unarmed strike uses your Charisma modifier in place of your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls, and deals force damage (treat it as a power with the force descriptor that ignores power resistance) instead of bludgeoning damage.
2. As a swift action, your unarmed strikes or natural weapons extend their reach by 5 ft until the beginning of your next turn as they generate psychokinetic fields. Tiny creatures gain 5-foot reach, Small and Medium characters gain 10-foot reach, Large gain reach 15 feet, and so on. The close proximity of the target means the damage is unchanged.
Since both options are a psychokinetic effect, not a normal unarmed strike, you are not affected by spells, powers, or abilities that effect you as a natural consequence of coming into contact with their effects, such as the On Fire UT feat or the rending rift UT power, although such abilities that activate because you struck at all, such as energy retort, still activate as normal.
InkBlot
08-21-07, 04:11 PM Perhaps these two first level kineticist powers I wrote can help (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=872202). Tactile telekinesis was written with Mewtwo (Super Smash Bro's Melee version) in mind.

Tactile Telekinesis
Psychokinesis [force]
Level: Kineticist 1
Display: Visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One creature or object at a time
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Power Resistance: Yes

A subtle telekinetic field extends from your touch, enveloping your target. Each round you can release your target, touch another one, or reestablish contact with a previous target. This power does not end if there is no valid target, only if the duration ends or your concentration ceases.

While targeting an object, you can use your key ability (Int for Psions, Cha for Wilders, or Wis for Psychic Warriors) in place of your Strength to determine your lifting and carrying capacity. If you spend at least 5 rounds concentrating on an unattended object, you can attempt to break or burst it as if making a Strength check, except that you apply your key ability modifier to the check instead of your Strength modifier.

While targeting a creature, you can perform one bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip attempt each round. Resolve these attempts as normal, except that they don’t provoke attacks of opportunity, you use your manifester level in place of your base attack bonus (for disarm and grapple attempts), you use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier, and a failed attempt doesn’t allow a reactive attempt by the target (such as normally allowed on disarm or trip attempts).

Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, this power grants a +1 bonus on Strength checks and on your checks involving bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip attempts.

Subconscious Telekinesis
Psychokinesis [force]
Level: Kineticist 1
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Display: Visual
Range: 20 ft.
Area: 20 ft. radius, centered on you.
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 1

You subconsciously maintain telekinetic control within the area. You can perform minor tasks with a minimum of effort. You can lift up to 20 pounds of weight, move an object up to 20 feet each round, and use skills which require a check of DC 10 or less. Generally, you can manipulate things as if with two hands.

You can subconsciously perform repetitive tasks (such as sweeping the floor or carrying a pile of books) without using any of your actions, but otherwise you must use a move action to direct this power. Due to the nature of the subconscious mind, you can not use this power to perform tasks which require concentration or an attack roll.

Also take a look at the power hammer. It would be very easy to make it a PK power (in fact, for a while I kept thinking it was). Also keep in mind that Strength is important for anyone who wants to make touch attacks (unless you take Weapon Finesse), and that buffing up with force screen, inertial armor, and concealing amorpha can do tons to help anybody survive melee.
forsaken1111
08-21-07, 06:51 PM You could always let him play a Telekineticist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12148561&postcount=5).
Rechan
08-21-07, 07:52 PM You could always let him play a Telekineticist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12148561&postcount=5).

That's a nice little class. It looks a little like it was inspired by the Warlock's handling of the EB.

Sadly, the Psion character is the party's blaster. The party has a warlock, a telekineticist would be redundant, a little.
forsaken1111
08-21-07, 07:54 PM That's a nice little class. It looks a little like it was inspired by the Warlock's handling of the EB.

Sadly, the Psion character is the party's blaster. The party has a warlock, a telekineticist would be redundant, a little.

That class isn't a blaster? Thats almost all it does. :P
Rechan
08-21-07, 07:59 PM That class isn't a blaster? Thats almost all it does. :P

No. It does a single ranged attack for d6 of damage to a single opponent. Would you prefer I said "Crowd Control"? Area of Effecter? Stand-in for Evoker?
forsaken1111
08-21-07, 08:01 PM No. It does a single ranged attack for d6 of damage to a single opponent. Would you prefer I said "Crowd Control"? Area of Effecter? Stand-in for Evoker?

Hm, well I suppose it does start off a bit slow but it quickly becomes a fairly badass blaster. I didn't know you were looking for crowd control or AoE. : )
MindFlayerZoidberg
08-22-07, 01:20 AM "and messing with their mind."
"frail guy who can crush people with his mind."

This part seems to be a lot easier to fulfill. Of course, he could have fun with Mind Thrust and other Mind Affecting powers. What might peek his interest down the road is Cranial Deluge at 9th level. Say that if he focuses on this aspect of the character that one day he will be able to make people's head explode with his mind, and fulfill the promise that River made to Jane when she said "Remember, I can kill you with my brain." :D
forsaken1111
08-22-07, 02:11 AM Quietus is a prestige class from Hyperconscious which focuses on Mind Thrust, gaining benefits and dealing damage even if the save is made. Its focused around 'eradicating the noisy thoughts of others".
Rechan
08-22-07, 10:55 AM I showed him the Telekineticist class and he liked it. Although he wants Int to control the powers, not Cha, because "My guy is not going to be very charismatic, he's going to be booky smart."

Thoughts?
Rechan
08-22-07, 01:57 PM After extensive review of that class, I'm gunna have to say "No". It started out well, but the mechanics are quickly broken.
forsaken1111
08-22-07, 07:00 PM After extensive review of that class, I'm gunna have to say "No". It started out well, but the mechanics are quickly broken.

So work with him and fix what you think is broken...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rechan 08-21-07, 12:53 PM	This isn't so much a "Help" as it is just an amusingly frustrated exchange. When what a player wants doesn't translate so easily. I am putting together a game online, and a friend has never really Played D&D, but is familiar with it. As I'm discussing the options, and I bring up psionics, he's like "Yeah!" I, being willing to go along with it, ask him what he'd like. "I want to be like Mewtwo. You know, picking things up with my mind and hitting people with it, and messing with their mind." "Okay, you're going to have to specialize a little bit more. You can't do both very well - you can do One, and then be okay at another." I break down the different disciplines and what they're good at. "I want to be a kineticist. Pick stuff up and hit people with it." He describes what his character is LIKE and what he LOOKS like, but he's sticking to the "frail guy who can crush people with his mind." We move to stats. I give him the point buy info. He comes back to me with a char with a decently high Str. "So, what're you going to use that for? Are you going to get into melee?" "No, I'm going to hit people with my mind." "... but strength doesn't influence that." "Okay, but I need strength for unarmed combat, right?" "Yeah but when did that come in?" "Well, I need strength this high to get the psi-fist feat..." I explain to him that the psi-fist feat is useful for people in melee a lot, but given that he'd be swinging a +3 to hit, and he'd have to get into melee to do it, he'd be like a wizard trying to suckerpunch a guy - if that's what he wants, that's fine, but it's not going to be useful. He says "Okay, move the STR score into Con then." Next is feats. "Um. Just, what feats are good for helping me hit people with my mind?" Seeing as we're third level, and Metapsionic feats aren't that usable until he hits 5th at LEAST. None of the Force powers are Rays or Touch attacks, so power specialization doesn't fit (and isn't viable until level 4 anyhow). So none of them aply. I say, "None of them, really." "... okay, let's just go to powers." We're starting at level 3. I look at the power list. Out of the entire list, five are "telekinetic" based - Far Hand, Control Object, Concussive Blast, Inertia Armor, Force Screen. The rest of the Kinetic powers are ENERGY based (I.e. Firestarter). I tell him this. I also tell him, since the power he WANTS is telekinetic thrust and just is not high enough, I'm willing to re-design some of the powers to better resemble Force powers (Taking the energy subtype off an energy power and say it's a Force cone instead of an energy cone). "Um. Okay. I'll take some of the energy powers I guess." At that point, we did skills, then he had to go, but I'm just rubbing my face awaiting the inevitable discussion on feats.
Salla 08-21-07, 01:04 PM	Hmm. Time to geek. Try this, maybe ... Remind him that, like in Pokemon, D&D characters have levels; you don't get access to the really kickass stuff like Psychic until later levels. He has to work with powers like Confusion (Mind Thrust) and Disable (er, Disable) and work his way up to the big guns. He has to train, gain experience, and level up before he can start throwing buildings at people. Maybe? (I certainly wouldn't complain about Inertial Armor and Concussion, myself.)
Rechan 08-21-07, 01:10 PM	Hmm. Time to geek. Try this, maybe ... Remind him that, like in Pokemon, D&D characters have levels; you don't get access to the really kickass stuff like Psychic until later levels. He has to work with powers like Confusion (Mind Thrust) and Disable (er, Disable) and work his way up to the big guns. He has to train, gain experience, and level up before he can start throwing buildings at people. Oh sure. That goes without saying. My problem comes from not having a lot to offer for his CONCEPT. There's just so few powers and feats that fit into "This specific thematic niche". He's so geared towards his thematic niche that he's not looking at a lot beyond that. So offering Feats that assist is not that great. Sort've like "I want to be a FIGHTER who uses his fist (not a monk), so ... I'll take Unarmed Strike, and uh, weapon focus (Unarmed Strike) and specializatioN (unarmed Strike) and... do 1d3+2. Um." ;)
AntiDjinn 08-21-07, 01:11 PM	Let him build and play his character and let him learn what works and what doesn't. You can give advice, but you can't really teach someone D&D; you can only provide the game so he can learn the ropes. His next character will be more functional, and the one after that even better. And his initial, non-optimized psion may remain his favorite to roleplay.
Salla 08-21-07, 01:19 PM	Oh sure. That goes without saying. My problem comes from not having a lot to offer for his CONCEPT. There's just so few powers and feats that fit into "This specific thematic niche". He's so geared towards his thematic niche that he's not looking at a lot beyond that. So offering Feats that assist is not that great. Sort've like "I want to be a FIGHTER who uses his fist (not a monk), so ... I'll take Unarmed Strike, and uh, weapon focus (Unarmed Strike) and specializatioN (unarmed Strike) and... do 1d3+2. Um." ;) Ah, okay, I misunderstood the issue. I thought he was just wanting a higher power level. :)
Tempest Stormwind 08-21-07, 01:49 PM	Cheap solution: Make him a wilder instead. Fewer powers known = easier to build around a specific theme. (Also, I should point out that there are a few more force-based or telekinetic-based effects in Untapped Potential, including Psychokinetic Fists, which will literally let him punch someone from across the room. It'd be more useful for him than Psionic Fist, although it still won't be as useful as, say, Speed of Thought. It was written for psionic monks. That said, he might also enjoy UTP's Psychic Substitution and On Fire feats. The former transforms energy powers into mind-affecting powers, so Energy Cone can crush people's minds. The latter causes him to erupt in psychokinetic flames when he does something particularly awesome, which represents a surge of psionic power within him and benefits his body and mind (it also lets him start fires with his mind without spending power points, but hey.))
Rechan 08-21-07, 01:57 PM	Tempest Stormwind, where is Untapped Potential? That sounds really frickin' sweet.
Khadmus 08-21-07, 02:05 PM	It's a 3rd-party book that some psionics fanboys made in their spare time. It's from Dreamscarred Press. I hear it's several times better than Complete Psionic (although it would be hard not to do that). http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=7768&
Bacris 08-21-07, 02:08 PM	Since Tempest likely didn't have his copy handy, here's Psychokinetic Fists :) PSYCHOKINETIC FISTS [Psionic] You can punch people from across the room -- useful during debates. Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Charisma 13. Benefit: You must expend your psionic focus to use this feat. When you do, you may use one of the two following options. 1. As a standard action which provokes attacks of opportunity, you may make a single unarmed strike against any target within medium range (100 ft plus 10 ft per character level). You must have line of sight and line of effect to this target. This unarmed strike uses your Charisma modifier in place of your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls, and deals force damage (treat it as a power with the force descriptor that ignores power resistance) instead of bludgeoning damage. 2. As a swift action, your unarmed strikes or natural weapons extend their reach by 5 ft until the beginning of your next turn as they generate psychokinetic fields. Tiny creatures gain 5-foot reach, Small and Medium characters gain 10-foot reach, Large gain reach 15 feet, and so on. The close proximity of the target means the damage is unchanged. Since both options are a psychokinetic effect, not a normal unarmed strike, you are not affected by spells, powers, or abilities that effect you as a natural consequence of coming into contact with their effects, such as the On Fire UT feat or the rending rift UT power, although such abilities that activate because you struck at all, such as energy retort, still activate as normal.
InkBlot 08-21-07, 04:11 PM	Perhaps these two first level kineticist powers I wrote can help (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=872202). Tactile telekinesis was written with Mewtwo (Super Smash Bro's Melee version) in mind. Tactile Telekinesis Psychokinesis [force] Level: Kineticist 1 Display: Visual Manifesting Time: 1 standard action Range: Touch Target: One creature or object at a time Duration: Concentration, up to 1 round/level Saving Throw: None Power Resistance: Yes A subtle telekinetic field extends from your touch, enveloping your target. Each round you can release your target, touch another one, or reestablish contact with a previous target. This power does not end if there is no valid target, only if the duration ends or your concentration ceases. While targeting an object, you can use your key ability (Int for Psions, Cha for Wilders, or Wis for Psychic Warriors) in place of your Strength to determine your lifting and carrying capacity. If you spend at least 5 rounds concentrating on an unattended object, you can attempt to break or burst it as if making a Strength check, except that you apply your key ability modifier to the check instead of your Strength modifier. While targeting a creature, you can perform one bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip attempt each round. Resolve these attempts as normal, except that they don’t provoke attacks of opportunity, you use your manifester level in place of your base attack bonus (for disarm and grapple attempts), you use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Strength modifier or Dexterity modifier, and a failed attempt doesn’t allow a reactive attempt by the target (such as normally allowed on disarm or trip attempts). Augment: For every 2 additional power points you spend, this power grants a +1 bonus on Strength checks and on your checks involving bull rush, disarm, grapple, or trip attempts. Subconscious Telekinesis Psychokinesis [force] Level: Kineticist 1 Manifesting Time: 1 standard action Display: Visual Range: 20 ft. Area: 20 ft. radius, centered on you. Duration: 1 hour/level (D) Saving Throw: None Power Resistance: Yes Power Points: 1 You subconsciously maintain telekinetic control within the area. You can perform minor tasks with a minimum of effort. You can lift up to 20 pounds of weight, move an object up to 20 feet each round, and use skills which require a check of DC 10 or less. Generally, you can manipulate things as if with two hands. You can subconsciously perform repetitive tasks (such as sweeping the floor or carrying a pile of books) without using any of your actions, but otherwise you must use a move action to direct this power. Due to the nature of the subconscious mind, you can not use this power to perform tasks which require concentration or an attack roll. Also take a look at the power hammer. It would be very easy to make it a PK power (in fact, for a while I kept thinking it was). Also keep in mind that Strength is important for anyone who wants to make touch attacks (unless you take Weapon Finesse), and that buffing up with force screen, inertial armor, and concealing amorpha can do tons to help anybody survive melee.
forsaken1111 08-21-07, 06:51 PM	You could always let him play a Telekineticist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12148561&postcount=5).
Rechan 08-21-07, 07:52 PM	You could always let him play a Telekineticist (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=12148561&postcount=5). That's a nice little class. It looks a little like it was inspired by the Warlock's handling of the EB. Sadly, the Psion character is the party's blaster. The party has a warlock, a telekineticist would be redundant, a little.
forsaken1111 08-21-07, 07:54 PM	That's a nice little class. It looks a little like it was inspired by the Warlock's handling of the EB. Sadly, the Psion character is the party's blaster. The party has a warlock, a telekineticist would be redundant, a little. That class isn't a blaster? Thats almost all it does. :P
Rechan 08-21-07, 07:59 PM	That class isn't a blaster? Thats almost all it does. :P No. It does a single ranged attack for d6 of damage to a single opponent. Would you prefer I said "Crowd Control"? Area of Effecter? Stand-in for Evoker?
forsaken1111 08-21-07, 08:01 PM	No. It does a single ranged attack for d6 of damage to a single opponent. Would you prefer I said "Crowd Control"? Area of Effecter? Stand-in for Evoker? Hm, well I suppose it does start off a bit slow but it quickly becomes a fairly badass blaster. I didn't know you were looking for crowd control or AoE. : )
MindFlayerZoidberg 08-22-07, 01:20 AM	"and messing with their mind." "frail guy who can crush people with his mind." This part seems to be a lot easier to fulfill. Of course, he could have fun with Mind Thrust and other Mind Affecting powers. What might peek his interest down the road is Cranial Deluge at 9th level. Say that if he focuses on this aspect of the character that one day he will be able to make people's head explode with his mind, and fulfill the promise that River made to Jane when she said "Remember, I can kill you with my brain." :D
forsaken1111 08-22-07, 02:11 AM	Quietus is a prestige class from Hyperconscious which focuses on Mind Thrust, gaining benefits and dealing damage even if the save is made. Its focused around 'eradicating the noisy thoughts of others".
Rechan 08-22-07, 10:55 AM	I showed him the Telekineticist class and he liked it. Although he wants Int to control the powers, not Cha, because "My guy is not going to be very charismatic, he's going to be booky smart." Thoughts?
Rechan 08-22-07, 01:57 PM	After extensive review of that class, I'm gunna have to say "No". It started out well, but the mechanics are quickly broken.
forsaken1111 08-22-07, 07:00 PM	After extensive review of that class, I'm gunna have to say "No". It started out well, but the mechanics are quickly broken. So work with him and fix what you think is broken...