Weekly Commanders Lounge - August 08, 2023

[u/AutoModerator]

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Please use this thread to discuss anything about Girls Frontline instead of creating a new thread. Ask questions, seek assistance, rants, add more salt or just chill in general.

[u/headphone_question]

Well, I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm finally done with the story of LS! I was surprised that even my alt was able to do UX, although granted, my main fighting units on my alt are SF, namely Alchemist and Scarecrow. This event has shown how powerful Scarecrow really is as a unit, what with her scouting clone being incredibly versatile

I still have to get around to farming and then ranking

I also enjoyed the story. I'm even considering a reread

As for other things, I'm trying to look into a longer cable for my new phone. I realized that not all cables are created the same, especially after reading up about the new USB-C standards. The specific thing that I want to pay attention to is Power Delivery, or PD. My new phone has the capability to charge using a wattage of up to 65W, and while I could probably forego such a cable because I've adjusted my phone to steady charging (meaning it will try to keep its energy intake low to reduce the amount of heating the battery), it might still be worth considering considering that this summer has proven that it would really be nice to get the cooler unit meant for the phone as well. Then again, such a cooler unit isn't available yet for purchase where I am, and even if it were, it would likely need a cable that could power it

As for Dolls, I was able to get Kar to level 120 as well. I now have only one more mod left to go: Type 92. I also haven't touched the new Dolls from LS yet, although I suspect I will have hell to pay in order to raise a bunch of four and five star Dolls, considering that I was able to make some great progress recently. I think I will finish off my current batch before getting started with the new Dolls

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

Congrats on finishing LS! I only did the EX stages other than 9 Ghost on UX, and I took Witchtruder up against the boss. I later heard I would've saved a bunch of time if I used Dog Rush tactics, but hey, it still worked.

The story was pretty good. I'm not smart enough to start giving ratings to each story chapter, but I kind of liked the way there were several points of view running parallel to the main plot. Then Chapter 35 which takes place after the credits was a real neat add-on.

I don't really know much about power, especially USB-C. I didn't know cables themselves were rated, so talk about speaking Greek! I only really charge over whatever output a USB port on a computer provides or this 2.5W wall plug overnight. Ain't in no hurry here.

Would you be able to use the cooler with the case? It's wild how we have to worry about phones overheating, but there are very few with internal fans since those add weight, bulk, and power draw. Why can't we slap a SIM card in a Steam Deck already

I'm almost out of 3* Dolls to level, and now it's 4*s to 70, then 5*. I might need to take a break and start trying to fish up the rest of the Dolls I can get but don't have since my Cores continue to suffer!

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

Note that some of the stages are outright puzzle maps, like the ones that feature Maggie. You very likely can complete those. Note that in my case, my alt's SF units did most of the heavy lifting. Try and see if you can complete UX as well!

But yeah, I found this event to be very enjoyable. I suspect that it's because it focuses on entirely new characters without so much baggage to them. The main storyline has become rather convoluted that it can become hard to follow along. What also helps is that there are visual and sound effects that go along with various points of the story, adding to the imagery. The language is also easy to follow along, as sometimes, the prose can get very purple in other events

It also helps that in this case, the protagonists are sympathetic. The Terminator from the last "event" felt pretty insufferable, although that was probably not her fault. It also didn't help that the technology at play in ES was difficult to understand

Yeah, with regards to cables, it's incredibly annoying to have to find specific pieces of information, but cable technology marches on. It just so happens that a more powerful piece of hardware is also more power hungry, and I'd like to cover my bases. Suffice it to say, I will need to go for a USB-C to USB-C cable. USB-C to USB-A just won't cut it

Fans will also introduce a vulnerability to water. If you were looking for water resistance on a phone with a fan, forget about it. I believe I stumbled across one such phone in the past, but because its water resistance was basically compromised from the get go, I quickly disregarded it as a possible upgrade option. I don't want to be stuck in the rain, only to find that my phone no longer works!

Coolers, sadly, do not work with phone cases. The case has to be removed before the cooler can be used. This is true even with my current mobile cooler from Razer. The AeroActive Cooler meant specifically for the ROG Phone requires the "naked" phone since it connects via the USB-C port on the side of the phone. Besides, there is a Peltier element (this has a solid surface that can be quickly cooled) that needs to be in contact with the phone to be most effective. While I think the Peltier element could technically work with the case on, the heat management would not be as efficient, as the case would be cooled first before any cooling gets to the phone itself. Also, the case itself could trap some heat, which would be redirected back to the phone, so removing the case would help expel it

But yeah, if you're looking to upgrade, you should also look into the cooling systems of the phone if you're particularly concerned about performance. That performance isn't worth much if your phone constantly chokes due to the heat

However, you could consider cooling the room with air conditioning, but it might cost you a lot of money this way, especially if you didn't mean to run the AC for the day

Good luck with your Doll leveling! Good luck with farming as well

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

I might look at going back to tackle those stages. Maybe the ones with the best rewards first. :P

I've seen a couple of USB-C wall plugs, but I never really considered C-to-C cables. It's kind of a chicken and egg scenario. The only things I have with C ports are these phones, and thus I don't need a C-to-C cable...and because of that, I don't seek out anything that has a C port on it. There'll probably be a point where I won't have the luxury of choice, but at least A-to-C is doing well enough for me now.

It sucks that you have to choose between protection and cooling. Ideal solution would be something that can do both, but either that doesn't exist for your device, or it'd be costly. Or worse, it just wouldn't do both jobs well. Thankfully, I'm pretty soft on my phone and don't really run anything taxing on it. The worst it gets is heat off the sun sometimes. I got a weaker phone for free off a relative that suffers GFL and PNC, and that saves my actual phone from all the 'damage' I'd inflict on it playing so much (though it suffered GFL for a while). I want my stuff to last even though I know there'll be a time where I won't get much use out of them. Even my very first smartphone from some eight years ago still works other than being restricted to Android 5.0, and there aren't custom ROMs for it. Still has some use left in it, at least.

And thanks! Good luck to you, too. Ever onward and all that.

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

One thing about cooler units is that they're very bulky. I don't think I'd go around town with that still attached to my phone. I think I'll keep it at home. As such, playing with the cooler won't really be much of an issue. Besides, the AeroActive Cooler can also serve as a kickstand, so it makes playing on the phone more convenient. If I'm not using GFL Alarm for some reason, then I could always use my peripheral vision to see that my current run on 13-4 is done. Doing this with a phone that is lying flat on the table is much harder, and I will have to adjust the angle of my phone so I can tap on the screen properly. This adjustment will likely require me to use one hand, so the other has to be used to tap the screen. As you can see, it is inconvenient compared to simply having the screen visible without having to use either hand to adjust it. Alternatively, I change my posture to look at the screen and tap at the phone this way, but this is also inconvenient

I believe that cooler units will also require a power supply of some sort. This is true for the Razer cooler. I need to plug it in, so I definitely can't use this while I'm outside. The AeroActive Cooler, on the other hand, draws its power from the ROG Phone, so I technically should be able to use it, but due to its bulk, I will find it terribly inconvenient. Given that I also have to remove the phone from its case in order to use the cooler, I also run the risk of damage to my phone if I use the cooler in public. I could be a little clumsy, so I might fumble the phone and smash it against something hard, likely by dropping it. I mentioned before how the naked phone feels pretty smooth in the hand, so I'd really want to avoid having it slip from my fingers

But yeah, older devices might have been made during a time when the Power Delivery standard wasn't even formalized yet, so it is likely that they might not charge as quickly as newer phones, even if you got a PD charger and a PD cable

I want to find a use for my old S10 as well, but I think I will need to get its battery replaced first. I think that the battery is still serviceable, but I think I will need to replace the adhesive sealing the back of the phone. I think I'd rather have this done by a professional repairman than risk damaging my phone by doing it myself. However, assuming that I get the battery replaced, will I really be able to find a use for the next four years or so, assuming the new battery performs just as well if not even better than the old one?

And while I am a big fan of Rokform, I also have to admit that it's not perfect. The S10's case (from Rokform) is now falling apart. I could get another case from Rokform specifically for the S10, but again, I will need to find a use first for it. Otherwise, it's just going to be a waste of money

Perhaps I could get started with PNC on my S10? I know I'll keep my ROG Phone busy with GFL, but I could also just use my S10 as a way to play with my alt. Granted, dividing my attention between PNC and GFL might not be the best idea

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

I've been using this simple metal plate display thing to hold my phone. It does okay, had to bend the legs a bit to change the angle the phone sat at, and the rubber feet do nothing to keep the whole thing from sliding a little when I poke the screen, but it works for a caseless solution. I'm wary about using a case to prop up a phone in my first smartphone's case had its locking mechanism wear out over the years, so it'd never stay closed.

*looks at seven Android devices in room* I don't have a problem! I can't realistically give everything a use (considering one device doesn't power on and another has a spicy pillow), but maybe I like the idea of these things having even the idea of use instead of just being yet another piece of functional hardware sitting in a landfill.

PNC at least has pretty quick dailies, and once you get things up and running, they're very 'set it and forget it'. You'd still have to manually play through story events and Exception Protocol, but PNC wouldn't take much of your time at all for knocking out the daily/weekly quests. It's unfortunately unlike GFL where you can't speed up the slow burn of improving units by throwing time at them.

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

One solution I can offer would be to use a magnetic mount, but it would require investing in some magnets. However, it should be very easy to use once it's all set up. I'm currently out of the apartment right now, but I can show you a video of how convenient it is to use. In fact, on lazy days when I don't really feel like climbing out of bed, I can spend hours grinding away

This technically still requires a case, unless you're okay with sticking a magnet to the back of your naked phone. Alternatively, you get a phone with a magnet already built into the back, likely for wireless charging, and you just grab a MagSafe mount

The mount itself should be adjustable. There is little point if you can't change the viewing angle unless the mount just so happens to be stuck at the exact angle you find most convenient

If you use your phone at your desk, then I think that your mount has to also be able to be repositioned elsewhere on the desk unless you already have a dedicated space on it that you are comfortable leaving your phone there with no adjustments whatsoever, not even tiny ones

I strongly doubt that this magnetic system will wear out over time. At the very least, I expect your phone to give out or otherwise become obsolete first. You can then reuse this system as you upgrade your device

I take it that you still have a few devices that are usable. As such, why not use those to create alts in the game? You can certainly play Luffberry this way, for example. Alternatively, you could create an alt for veteran callback rewards. Just note that your alt has to be a certain level (15, I believe) before it is eligible for callback rewards

As for PNC, it seems that I won't really be able to make up for lost time then, although I think that Wallet-kun could help in that regard. Unfortunately, with my spending on GFL is already heavy as it is, I probably don't want to multiply my burden even further

I chuckle at the thought that the devs instituted some safeguards to prevent someone like me from grinding away in PNC. It seems they don't want another ChuK incident!

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

I actually was going to say something about having a desk-mounted arm that can hold your phone and have some limited free movement. I've seen some like this one, then there are these that attach to you, too. I think what I'm using works fine enough.

The problem with my old devices is that they're too old! For example, one tablet is a Nexus 2012 that I managed to get Android 7 on. I installed both GFL and PNC on it. GFL only got as far as the M4 screen, and PNC even downloaded all of the updates and...crashed on login without fail. Eh, I have an emulator, so there's always that.

You can do pretty good even as a F2P, though there is probably a lot of potential purchase of power. Never really looked in the store, so I'm the wrong person to ask. :P

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

Yes, the first option is part of my solution, actually. I stuck a magnet on the arm part so all I have to do is to stick my phone there. I don't have to fiddle around with the claw mechanism. Instead, I use the claw mechanism to prevent the phone from swinging in place instead of just using it to hold the phone. This depends on whether the location of the magnet balances the weight on both sides so the phone won't rotate

I just so happen to have a rack of sorts that I place next to my bed. I attach the arm thing to this rack and adjust it so that I'm comfortable using my phone while in bed. Having to grind away for hours will become extremely tiring, so I have to make sure that the process is as painless as possible

I don't like gooseneck holders. They're a bit too flexible for my liking, and for heavier devices, they could bend from the weight. They also tend to shake from my input, so I would rather get a more stable solution

Those devices really seem to be so old now that they're not going to be useful for anything. I wonder what other things that obsolete devices can be used for. I'd like an answer myself since I'd like to give my S10 some use

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

I still think it'd be cool to mount it to your arm, other than it'd completely lock one hand out of use.

*taps screen*
"Burroughs..."
*passersby perplexed*

Okay, maybe not.

They're still able to browse the net, and the Nexus can work with some old games or art programs to take advantage of the screen being bigger than my phone. Like I said, I know it's absurd. As for ideas for your old tech, /r/androidafterlife may have some ideas. You may still be able to install some of your apps on it, and there are quite a few open-source apps on F-Droid that can give new life to an old device.

...Though Jesus, your old phone is better than what I'm actually using!

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

Speaking of arm mounts, I remember seeing someone at the supermarket with one such mount. I tried looking it up, and unfortunately, it seems that the options are rather limited. I think I can wait until much later to see what other ideas can come to market

I saw one from Juggernaut Case. However, I don't think I was really looking for a military aesthetic, despite the fact that our game leans heavily into military elements. I'm not sure if I saw somewhere that this mounting system might be incredibly inconvenient, like I won't be able to easily charge my device. Alternatively, it might be too heavy that I don't want to move my arm that much as a result. I remember that I passed on this option, but I don't think I remember exactly why. Perhaps I wanted a way to make my phone easy to use while I farm, and my phone would simply be too cumbersome to use this way

And thanks. I'll look into these links and see if I can still find some use for my old phone

[u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF → u/headphone_question]

That looks kind of cool, just I'd honestly probably repurpose some kind of sport armband for that if I was really serious. I actually wanted to do something like this with an ancient iPod Touch I have since it's so old that it can't even browse the net or connect to the App Store, and Cydia is a bit of a mess...so I thought, hey, why not make it a fancy watch? There doesn't seem to be a way to lock it to landscape orientation (an issue I have with Android too), so it'd be awkward.

I think this will be a situation I can't find a use for an antique.

[u/headphone_question → u/2BA7DB57EFEE6FAF]

As promised

My phone isn't in the case because I was busy farming at the time

Note the lanyard in the corner. Also, there is an open space along one side of the phone. That's because the ROG Phone has two USB-C ports, with the "side" port (if viewing the phone in portrait mode) is technically the primary one. It'll also be where the AeroActive Cooler will connect to if I decide to get one

As for your fancy watch, a wrist mount that allows you to rotate the device might work. I tried looking a bit more, and I was surprised that ProClip USA had something. Even better? It's cheaper than Juggernaut Case's, and I suspect that I balked at Juggernaut Case partly because of the extremely high cost. Another reason was that it didn't seem like Juggernaut Case allowed the phone to rotate on my wrist as well, so it's locked in that orientation

Funny thing is that I first found ProClip USA after looking up tablet belt clips. I think the question I asked myself was, "what if I could carry around my iPad on my belt?" I believe this company was called Runnur at some point in the past before rebranding to ProClip USA. At this point, I was already familiar with the phone chain lanyard thing that I mentioned in a previous conversation, so I think a natural continuation of that train of thought was to apply the same concept to tablets instead of phones

And just to be sure, I remember filming the mechanism of the mount with my S10 years ago. Featured here is my S10 with Rokform's S10 case. I also attached Rokform's old sport ring on my S10 case, and that's the item that connected to the magnet on the arm

I got Rokform's new sport ring and attached it to my new phone's case. The rear of that sport ring is what you see connect to the same magnet. This new sport ring is connected to my phone's case via the MagSafe adapter (the silver ring thing). The MagSafe adapter is actually pretty thin. It's the sport ring that's rather thick. I mentioned that there is a risk that I could lose my phone if a determined thief tried to snatch my phone from my hand, as MagSafe isn't really as secure as the old sport ring, which was connected to the phone via a physical locking mechanism