









Character
Game | Tales of Maj'Eyal: Age of Ascendancy 1.7.6 |
Addons | Forbidden Cults 1.7.4Official Expansion!Not all adventurers seek fortune, not all that defend the world have good deeds in mind. Forbidden Cults is a big expansion for Tales of Maj'Eyal to let you explore the horrors that lurk beneath the surface, to delve in long lost knowledge and lore and as usual to die a lot!
Both those classes use a new resource called Insanity that gradually makes you both more chaotic and powerful as it fills up.
Items Vault 1.7.6Donators/Buyers bonus! Auto-Transmo Gems 1.7.0Adds a new game option "Auto-transmo gems", which will place gemsof the specified tier or lower into the transmogrification chest when initially picked up, as with other items. The option is ignored if you have any talents that consume gems, as a convenience to Alchemists. Also available as part of the ZOmnibus Addon Pack and ZOmnibus Lite. Possessor Bonus Class 1.7.4Donators/Buyers bonus! Restart Sustains 1.7.0Mark sustained talents for easy reactivation after being disrupted by an enemy attack. From the Restart Sustains dialog (bound to <alt-shift-s> by default), you can select sustains to be restarted, arranging them in tree order as needed to ensure that certain sustains are activated before others. In addition, if any of these selected sustains is forcibly deactivated by an attacker, you will be notified with a log message and a noticeable particle effect. Also available as part of the ZOmnibus Addon Pack Frequently Asked Questions: Free Respec But only stats and talents 1.7.4Allow trial and error for character building without restarting new game while minimizing inbalance. You can respec stats and talents freely at any time. based on Free Respec by youhei, which is based on Full Respecialization by Time to Die. Weight: 100 Superload: Online Indicator 1.1.0An experimental addon that adds an icon to the toolbar showing your connection status. Currently tracks three states:
Select your Escorts 1.7.0Allows you to choose which escorts you will encounter at the start of the game. There is an option to choose a random escort in case you just wanted to guarantee some unlocks before continuing with the base game's behavior. Note: You're only supposed to be able to choose the lost tinker once. (Must have the Embers of Rage DLC and unlocked by playing in the Orcs campaign) To reach me faster, please leave a message on the Steam Workshop page. I don't get notifications on te4.org so I may take longer to reply. Ashes of Urh'Rok 1.7.4Official Expansion!Many in Maj'Eyal have heard of "demons", sadistic creatures who appear seemingly from nowhere, leaving a trail of suffering and destruction whereever they go. Their Fearscape floats far above the skies, watching and waiting, but not idly; their agents scout the land, their legions build up their forces, and their scholars develop new spells and strategies. As the barrier between our worlds begins to crack under their scrutiny, helpless Eyalites have begun to disappear, whisked up to serve as their slaves and playthings. They imbue these victims with magical powers to better survive the ensuing stresses - can you use your new-found abilities to escape the legions of Mal'Rok?
Features:
Tooltip Cleanup 1.7.0Modifies the inventory dialog, clearing tooltips from equipment items when focus leaves the equipment slot's frame. Also available as part of the ZOmnibus Addon Pack and ZOmnibus Lite. Ignore Stat Prerequisites 1.6.7Makes the game ignore attribute prerequisites for skills and items. When collecting stat boosting gear they become meaningless anyway. Superloads 'engine/interface/ActorInventory.lua:canWearObject' and 'engine/interface/ActorTalents.lua:canLearnTalent' in a non-destructive way. Inventory Sort Order 1.7.0Improves the default sort order of items in the player's inventory. Also available as part of the ZOmnibus Addon Pack and ZOmnibus Lite. Embers of Rage 1.7.4Official Expansion!One year has passed since the one the Orcs call the "Scourge from the West" came and single-handedly crushed the Orc Prides of Grushnak, Vor, Gorbat, and Rak'Shor. The Allied Kingdoms, now linked by farportal to their distant, long-lost Sunwall allies, have helped them conquer most of Var'Eyal. The few remnants of the ravaged Prides are caged... but one Pride remains. Kruk Pride, isolated on an island, is the last orcish settlement that stands; they, too, face their impending doom. The Sunwall has blockaded the only exit point from the island, and now, the technologically advanced civilization of Steam Giants have come down from the mountains to take their homeland with machines and weaponry unlike anything else on Eyal. Kruk Pride has reverse-engineered their technology before; their only hope is to do it again and rise up against the Pride's foes. Features:
Extra Hotkeys 1.6.7Adds 36 hotkey slots in addition to the default 60, allowing you to put 36 more talents or items on your talent bar. Changelog1.0.0: Weight: 8314756 Enhanced Object Compare 1.7.0Improves the "Press
Also available as part of the ZOmnibus Addon Pack and ZOmnibus Lite. |
Campaign | Maj'Eyal |
Mode | Normal Adventure |
Sex | Male |
Race | Krog |
Class | Mindslayer |
Level / Exp | 13 / 32% |
Size | big |
Lifes / Deaths | no deaths recorded 4 / 0 |
Antimagic | Follower |
Primary Stats
Strength | 20 (base 11) |
Dexterity | 14 (base 10) |
Constitution | 14 (base 10) |
Magic | 8 (base 10) |
Willpower | 45 (base 39) |
Cunning | 35 (base 28) |
Resources
Life | 347/347 |
Equilibrium | 30 |
Psi | 105/105 |
Healing Factor | 1.3672895330003 |
Regeneration | 3.0764014492507 |
Speed
Mental | 0% |
Attack | 0% |
Movement | +22.7836465099% |
Spell | 0% |
Global | +100% |
Vision
Sight | 10 |
Lite | 6 |
Infravision | 5 |
See Stealth | 28.508560162218 |
See Invisible | 31.508560162218 |
Offense: Mainhand
Damage | 45 |
Accuracy | 35 |
Crit Chance | 23% |
APR | 7 |
Speed | 1.00 |
Offense: Spell
Spellpower | 8 |
Crit Chance | 8% |
Speed | 1 |
Offense: Mind
Mindpower | 35 |
Crit Chance | 10% |
Speed | 1 |
Offense: Damage Bonus
Lightning | +10% |
Light | +10% |
Nature | +5% |
Mind | +3% |
All | 0% |
Defense: Base
Armour (hardiness) | 17.5 (43.579428603723%) |
Defense | 30 |
Ranged Defense | 30 |
Fatigue | 3 |
Physical Save | 17 |
Spell Save | 18 |
Mental Save | 24 |
Defense: Resistances
Mind | + 9%( 70%) |
Lightning | + 20%( 70%) |
Light | + 30%( 70%) |
Nature | + 10%( 70%) |
Cold | + 9%( 70%) |
Physical | + 1%( 70%) |
Fire | + 41%( 70%) |
All | 0%( 70%) |
Defense: Immunities
Stun Resistance | 20% |
Bleed Resistance | 50% |
Instadeath Resistance | 100% |
Poison Resistance | 20% |
Knockback Resistance | 0% |
Inscriptions (4/4)
Infusions | Effective talent level: 1.0 Infusion: RegenerationUse mode: Activated Range: melee/personal Cooldown: 15 Travel Speed: instantaneous Usage Speed: Standard (100% of a turn) Is: a nature gift Description: Activate the infusion to heal yourself for 161 life over 5 turns. Its effects scale with your Constitution stat. |
Infusions | Effective talent level: 1.0 Infusion: WildUse mode: Activated Range: melee/personal Cooldown: 14 Travel Speed: instantaneous Usage Speed: Instant (0% of a turn) Is: a nature gift Description: Activate the infusion to cure yourself of one random physical effect and reduce all damage taken by 14% for 4 turns. Also removes cross-tier effects of the affected types for free. |
Infusions | Effective talent level: 1.0 Infusion: HealingUse mode: Activated Range: melee/personal Cooldown: 12 Travel Speed: instantaneous Usage Speed: Instant (0% of a turn) Is: a nature gift Description: Activate the infusion to instantly heal yourself for 50 then cleanse 1 wound, poison, and disease effect. |
Infusions | Effective talent level: 1.0 Infusion: MovementUse mode: Activated Range: melee/personal Cooldown: 16 Travel Speed: instantaneous Usage Speed: Instant (0% of a turn) Is: a nature gift Description: Activate the infusion to increase movement speed by 460% for 1 game turn. You gain 100% stun, daze, and pin immunity during the effect. Any actions other than movement will cancel the effect. Note: since you will be moving very fast, game turns will pass very slowly. Its effects scale with your Strength stat. |
Class Talents
Psionic / Absorption | 1.30 |
| 2/5 |
| 2/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Psionic / Augmented striking | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Psionic / Voracity | 1.30 |
| 0/5 |
| 4/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Psionic / Focus | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Psionic / Projection | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 2/5 |
Psionic / Psi-fighting | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Generic Talents
Cunning / Survival | 1.00 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Psionic / Augmented mobility | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 2/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Wild-gift / Antimagic | 1.20 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
Psionic / Finer energy manipulations | 1.30 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Race / Krog | 1.00 |
| 1/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 0/5 |
Technique / Combat training | 1.00 |
| 0/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
| 2/5 |
| 1/5 |
| 0/5 |
Effects
talent | Beyond the Flesh |
talent | Augmentation |
talent | Kinetic Shield |
talent | Skate |
talent | Thermal Shield |
talent | Kinetic Aura |
talent | Thermal Aura |
talent | Antimagic Shield |
Quests
You successfully escorted the lost tinker to the recall portal on level 2 of Ruins of Kor'Pul. Escort: lost tinker (level 2 of Ruins of Kor'Pul)As a reward you gained knowledge of tinker technology. | done |
You have found all the clues leading to the hidden treasure. There should be a way on the third level of the Trollmire. Hidden treasureIt looks extremely dangerous, however - beware. | active |
It is time to explore some new places -- dark, forgotten and dangerous ones. Into the darknessThe Old Forest is just south-east of the town of Derth. The Maze is west of Derth. The Sandworm Lair is to the far west of Derth, near the sea. The Daikara is on the eastern borders of the Thaloren forest. * You must explore the Old Forest and find out what lurks there and what treasures are to be gained! * You must explore the Maze and find out what lurks there and what treasures are to be gained! * You must explore the Sandworm Lair and find out what lurks there and what treasures are to be gained! * You must explore the Daikara and find out what lurks there and what treasures are to be gained! | active |
Explore the caves below the ruins of Kor'Pul and the Trollmire in search of treasure and glory! Of trolls and damp caves* You have explored the Trollmire and vanquished Prox the Troll. * You have explored the ruins of Kor'Pul and vanquished the Shade. | done |
You were asked to prove your worth as a fighter by a rogue, in order to participate in the arena The agent of the arena | done |
You met a half-mad lumberjack fleeing a small village, rambling about an untold horror lurking there, slaughtering people. The beast within | active |
Equipment
Psionic focus | ![]() Requires: - Strength 16 Crafted by a master 3.00 Encumbrance. Type: weapon / battleaxe ; tier 2 Power: 126% Range: 1.5x Uses stat: 72% Wil Damage type: Physical Mastery: Weapons Mastery Accuracy bonus: +0.2% crit chance (max 25%) Armour Penetration: +2 Crit. chance: +5.0% Attack speed: 100% On weapon crit: * Cripple the target reducing mind, spell, and combat action speeds by 30% When wielded/worn: Physical crit. chance: +12.0% Massive two-handed battleaxes. |
Light source | ![]() Infused by nature 1.00 Encumbrance. [Unique] Type: lite / lite ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Damage (Melee): 15 Lite Light Burst (radius 1) Changes resistances: +30% light Changes damage: +10% light Light radius: +5 Healing mod.: +10% When attacking in melee, deals 15 light damage and lights tiles in radius 1. It can be used to call light, dispelling darkness and lighting tiles in radius 20.(102 power, based on Willpower) Activation costs 9 power out of 15/15. A small crystal phial that captured Sunlight during the Summertide. |
On head | ![]() Infused by psionic forces 2.00 Encumbrance. Type: armor / head ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Defense: +21 (+10 eff.) Changes stats: +1 Con Changes resistances: +1% physical Critical mult.: +5.00% Psi each turn: +0.12 Psi when hit: +0.08 Maximum psi: +30.00 Mindpower: +3 (+1 eff.) Mental crit. chance: +2% A pointy cloth hat, very wizardly... |
On feet | ![]() Crafted by a master 2.00 Encumbrance. Type: armor / feet ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Armour: +1 Fatigue: -4% Changes stats: +1 Con Changes resistances: +6% cold Maximum encumbrance: +22 Physical save: +6 (+4 eff.) Light radius: +1 Infravision radius: +2 See invisible: +3 A pair of boots made of leather. |
Tool | ![]() Infused by nature 2.00 Encumbrance. Type: charm / totem ; tier 1 It can be used to harden the skin for 7 turns increasing armour by 16 and armour hardiness by 30% Activation puts all charms on cooldown for 17 turns. Natural totems are made by powerful wilders to store nature power. |
On fingers | ![]() Crafted by a master 0.10 Encumbrance. Type: jewelry / ring ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Defense: +6 (+3 eff.) Changes stats: +3 Cun Rings make your fingers look great! |
On fingers | ![]() Infused by nature 0.10 Encumbrance. Type: jewelry / ring ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Changes resistances: +20% lightning Changes damage: +10% lightning Rings make your fingers look great! |
Around neck | ![]() Infused by nature 0.10 Encumbrance. Type: jewelry / amulet ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Cut immunity: +50% Healing mod.: +11% It can be used to activate talent Heal, placing all other charms into a 30 cooldown : Effective talent level: 2.0 Power cost: 30 out of 35/35. Range: melee/personal Travel Speed: instantaneous Is: a nature gift Description: Imbues your body with natural energies, healing for 214 life. The life healed will increase with your Mindpower. Amulets make your neck look great! |
In main hand | ![]() Requires: - Strength 25 Crafted by a master 5.00 Encumbrance. [Unique] Type: weapon / greatmaul ; tier 1 It must be held with both hands. Power: 144% Range: 1.7x Uses stat: 78% Wil Damage type: Physical Mastery: Weapons Mastery Accuracy bonus: +0.2% base dam (max 20%) Armour Penetration: +7 Crit. chance: +1.5% Attack speed: 100% When wielded/worn: It can be used to activate talent Shattering Blow (costing 17 power out of 20/20) : Effective talent level: 2.0 Power cost: 17 out of 20/20. Range: melee/personal Travel Speed: instantaneous Description: Hits the target with your weapon, doing 124% damage. If the attack hits, the target's armour and saves are reduced by 11 for 6 turns. Also if the target is protected by any temporary magical or psionic damage absorbing shields there is 36% chance to shatter a random shield. Armor reduction chance increases with your Physical Power. This is a big, nasty-looking tree trunk that Bill the Troll used as a weapon. It could still serve this purpose, should you be strong enough to wield it! |
On hands | ![]() Infused by nature 1.00 Encumbrance. [Unique] Type: armor / hands ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Changes stats: +4 Cun / +4 Wil Changes resistances: +10% nature Changes damage: +5% nature Talent mastery: +0.20 Wild-gift / Slime Poison immunity: +20% Mindpower: +2 (+1 eff.) Learn an unarmed attack talent or enable 'Always show glove combat' to see combat stats. These gloves are coated with a thick, green liquid. |
Around waist | ![]() Crafted by a master 1.00 Encumbrance. Type: armor / belt ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Defense: +8 (+4 eff.) Effects on melee hit: * 10% chance to reduce all saves and defense by 23 Damage when hit (Melee): 6 mind Changes resistances: +9% mind / +3% cold Changes damage: +3% mind Stealth bonus: +6 A belt that goes around your waist. |
Cloak | ![]() Infused by nature Crafted by a master 2.00 Encumbrance. Type: armor / cloak ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Physical crit. chance: +2.0% Physical power: +1 (+1 eff.) Defense: +1 (+0 eff.) Fatigue: -3% Maximum life: +30.00 A cloth coat typically worn as a loose outer garment. It is spacious enough to be worn even over bulky metal armour. |
Main armor | ![]() Requires: - Heavy armour training - Strength 20 Infused by nature Crafted by a master 14.00 Encumbrance. Type: armor / heavy ; tier 2 When wielded/worn: Armour: +11 Defense: +2 (+1 eff.) Fatigue: +12% Life regen: +2.00 Maximum life: +21.00 Healing mod.: +12% A suit of armour made of mail. |
Inventory
![]() Requires: - Willpower 11 Infused by nature 3.00 Encumbrance. Type: weapon / mindstar ; tier 1 Power: 75% Range: 1.1x Uses stats: 50% Wil, 30% Cun Damage type: Mind Mastery: Psiblades Accuracy bonus: +0.2% crit chance (max 25%) Accuracy is based on willpower for this weapon. Armour Penetration: +12 Crit. chance: +2.5% Attack speed: 100% When wielded/worn: Changes stats: +2 Mag Changes resistances: +3% blight Changes resistances penetration: +15% fire Changes damage: +3% nature Talent granted: +1 Attune Mindstar Disease immunity: +11% Mindpower: +2 (+1 eff.) Mental crit. chance: +1% Light radius: +2 Infravision radius: +2 Mindstars are natural products. Natural gems covered in living matter, they are used to focus the mental powers of all nature defenders and psionics. Using mindstars in the offhand does not incur the normal offhand damage penalty. |
![]() Requires: - Willpower 11 Infused by nature Infused by psionic forces 3.00 Encumbrance. Type: weapon / mindstar ; tier 1 Power: 77% Range: 1.1x Uses stats: 50% Wil, 30% Cun Damage type: Nature Mastery: Psiblades Accuracy bonus: +0.2% crit chance (max 25%) Accuracy is based on willpower for this weapon. Armour Penetration: +12 Crit. chance: +2.5% Attack speed: 100% When wielded/worn: Damage (Melee): 3 mind / 4 darkness Changes damage: +3% mind / +3% darkness Talent granted: +1 Attune Mindstar Mindpower: +2 (+1 eff.) Mental crit. chance: +1% Mindstars are natural products. Natural gems covered in living matter, they are used to focus the mental powers of all nature defenders and psionics. Using mindstars in the offhand does not incur the normal offhand damage penalty. |
![]() 0.00 Encumbrance. Type: gem / black ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Changes stats: +1 Str / +1 Dex / +1 Mag / +1 Wil / +1 Cun / +1 Con When used to imbue an object: Changes stats: +1 Str / +1 Dex / +1 Mag / +1 Wil / +1 Cun / +1 Con Latent Damage Type: Acid Gems can be sold for money or used in arcane rituals. |
![]() 0.00 Encumbrance. Type: gem / green ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Defense: +2 (+1 eff.) Physical save: +2 (+2 eff.) Spell save: +2 (+2 eff.) Mental save: +2 (+1 eff.) When used to imbue an object: Defense: +2 (+1 eff.) Physical save: +2 (+2 eff.) Spell save: +2 (+2 eff.) Mental save: +2 (+1 eff.) Latent Damage Type: Nature Gems can be sold for money or used in arcane rituals. |
![]() 0.00 Encumbrance. Type: gem / yellow ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Physical crit. chance: +1.0% Changes damage: +2% all Spell crit. chance: +1% Mental crit. chance: +1% When used to imbue an object: Physical crit. chance: +1.0% Changes damage: +2% all Spell crit. chance: +1% Mental crit. chance: +1% Latent Damage Type: Light Gems can be sold for money or used in arcane rituals. |
![]() 0.00 Encumbrance. Type: gem / yellow ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Light radius: +4 Infravision radius: +4 When used to imbue an object: Light radius: +4 Infravision radius: +4 Latent Damage Type: Light Gems can be sold for money or used in arcane rituals. |
![]() 0.00 Encumbrance. Type: gem / yellow ; tier 1 When wielded/worn: Armour: +1 Changes resistances: +1% all When used to imbue an object: Armour: +1 Changes resistances: +1% all Latent Damage Type: Light Gems can be sold for money or used in arcane rituals. |
![]() Powered by arcane forces 1.00 Encumbrance. [Unique] Type: lite / lite When wielded/worn: Light radius: +3 It can be used to activate talent Fearscape Shift (costing 22 power out of 25/25) : Effective talent level: 2.0 Power cost: 22 out of 25/25. Range: 5 Travel Speed: instantaneous Is: a spell Description: Open a gateway to the Fearscape, stepping through it to a nearby location. As you step out, a burst of fire will leave with you, dealing 41.46 demonfire damage to everyone within 3 spaces and leaving flames which will deal an additional 41.46 demonfire damage over 4 turns. Additionally, shifting through reality enhances your awareness, allowing you to see all enemies within 8 spaces for the next 3 turns. The damage will scale with your Spellpower and the range will increase with the talent level. A strange orb of demonic origins. It glows with a surreal red light. |
![]() Powered by unknown forces 1.00 Encumbrance. [Plot Item] Type: orb / orb When carried: This orb will automatically identify items you find. |
![]() Powered by unknown forces 2.00 Encumbrance. [Plot Item] Type: chest / sher'tul When carried: It can be used to transmogrify all the items in your chest at once (also done automatically when you change level) Activation costs 0 power out of 1000/1000. This chest is an extension of old Sher'tul places of power. Any items dropped inside are transported to an other place, processed and destroyed to extract energy. The byproduct of this effect is the creation of gold, which is useless to process, so it is sent back to you. When you possess the chest all items you walk upon will automatically be put inside and transmogrified when you leave the level. Simply go to your inventory to move them out of the chest if you wish to keep them. Items in the chest will not encumber you. |
![]() Powered by unknown forces 2.00 Encumbrance. [Plot Item] Type: charm / rod It can be used to recall the user to the worldmap after 40 turns Activation costs 172 power out of 400/400. This rod is made entirely of voratun, infused with raw magical energies that can bend space itself. You have heard of such items before. They are very useful to adventurers, allowing faster travel. |
Achievements
Log
Talent Infusion: Movement is ready to use.
Talent Thermal Leech is ready to use.
Talent Realign is ready to use.
Talent Pyrokinesis is ready to use.
Talent Frenzied Focus is ready to use.
Talent Quick as Thought is ready to use.
Talent Wrath of the Wilds is ready to use.
Rested for 51 turns (stop reason: all resources and life at maximum).
There is an exit to the worldmap here (press '' or right click to use).
Ran for 9 turns (stop reason: at exit).
Shrexual Healing uses Telekinetic Grasp.
Shrexual Healing telekinetically seizes: steel battleaxe of crippling (125% power, 2 apr).
You gain 0.45 gold from the transmogrification of iron battleaxe of massacre (134% power, 1 apr).
Shrexual Healing wears (replacing cleansing rough leather armour of resilience (3 def, 2 armour)): impenetrable steel mail armour of Eyal (2 def, 11 armour).
You gain 1.56 gold from the transmogrification of cleansing rough leather armour of resilience (3 def, 2 armour).
You gain 2.17 gold from the transmogrification of impenetrable steel mail armour of lightning resistance (2 def, 13 armour).
You gain 4.76 gold from the transmogrification of woollen robe of Linaniil (0 def, 0 armour).
You gain 4.45 gold from the transmogrification of ancient woollen robe of protection (2 def, 2 armour).
You gain 1.72 gold from the transmogrification of warded steel shield of resistance (0 def, 4 armour, 36.5 block).
You gain 5.18 gold from the transmogrification of runic rough leather sling of true flight.
You gain 3.94 gold from the transmogrification of truestriking steel waraxe of projection (112% power, 3 apr).
You gain 1.85 gold from the transmogrification of quick steel longsword of massacre (127% power, 3 apr).
You gain 5.28 gold from the transmogrification of thought-forged steel greatsword of paradox (130% power, 2 apr).
You gain 1.65 gold from the transmogrification of chilling steel greatsword of massacre (151% power, 2 apr).
You stride into this area without a second thought, while stifling a yawn. You feel your time might be better spent elsewhere.