I don't know if I said this before, but Microsoft overpaid for Bethesda.

I've been using Zorin OS for a while, but I'm switching back to Mint.

Zorin is a rock-solid distro and I've never had any technical issues with it. It just works, and is better than Windows, but you could say that about most Linux distros. Well, maybe one minor issue. When dragging and dropping files to upload them, I always get a notification saying the browser is ready, but the files never upload. I have to click the button to open the file explorer and browse to the folder where the file is. This happens when using either GNOME or Xfce, and with all the different browsers I use. This does not occur on Linux Mint.

It's an annoying issue, but one I can live with. I wouldn't go back to Windows over that.

Another annoyance is GNOME itself. I knew it wasn't customisable before installing Zorin OS, but the desktop doesn't work in the same way as a Windows desktop. For example, many windows lack full header bars. The desktop is inconsistent in how it handles windows, and it seems that the designers prioritized style over functionality. It's strange, some windows have full header bars and others don't and sometimes you may have to hold down the mouse and the super key to drag windows around.

This distro is lauded by YouTubers as one of the best for Windows users looking to switch to Linux. However, it uses a desktop environment that is completely different to the Windows experience. The Start Menu isn't opened by the Super Key; it displays all the windows that are open. This is not something that former Windows users are accustomed to. I haven't used Windows 10 in over a year, and I never used Windows 11, so if that has changed, let me know. I'm starting to think that YouTubers are being paid for their reviews, because none of the channels I've watched have mentioned these issues. They're small issues, but they add up.

On a positive note, I really like the advanced window tiling feature. It was this feature that convinced me to install Zorin in the first place. Simply drag the window over the menu that drops down from the top and onto the grid to which you want the browser to snap. It's that simple! It's super smooth and easy, and I use it all the time!

The Zorin Connect app allows you to stream videos and music to your smartphone. I didn't know about it until I connected my phone to my computer. It's cool, but not something I need.

Xfce is another annoyance. If you cannot adjust to using the GNOME desktop, you can switch to Xfce instead. However, the problem with that is that it defaults to the Zorin Lite version, which is based on Xfce. If you change the Zorin Lite theme, it reverts to the default after about 30 seconds. That was my experience, at least. And the great window tiling feature that convinced you to try Zorin in the first place? It's not available with Xfce.

You might be wondering why not install KDE Plasma or Cinnamon? I'm not the biggest fan of KDE. I think it's too heavy (I prefer light desktops) and, from what I've read, it's difficult to remove completely. As for Cinnamon, you may as well just use Linux Mint.

You might think that this whole post is just me criticizing Zorin OS. It isn't. I think it's a very good distro, rock solid, but I can only recommend it to Linux users who know what they're getting into. Apparently, Zorin has experienced over three million downloads, largely attributed to Windows users who don't want to downgrade to Windows 11. I would like to know how many of those three million people are still using Zorin.

TL;DR: I'm switching back to Mint. Zorin is great, but Mint is better.

"If you open the map four times in vanilla Skyrim now, your game crashes to desktop." 

18 hours ago, AtomicGlitch said:

I wish there was a puke emoji. 

Your wish is my command. 

15 hours ago, RitualClarity said:

There was an article that stated that Linux A.I use was what pushed it over. Can't find the article now. It was suspected this happened but no real evidence. 

Out of curiosity, I looked at Awstats for our domain, and I saw that the number of Linux users had increased to 9%. That's a big jump.

I looked at visitor data, typed in 'Linux' and saw a bunch of visitors with this user agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) HeadlessChrome/151.0.0.0 Safari/537.36.

According to User-Agents.net, this user agent string belongs to the Headless Chrome browser running on Linux. It is developed by Google Inc. and renders web pages using the Blink engine.

https://user-agents.net/string/mozilla-5-0-x11-linux-x86-64-applewebkit-537-36-khtml-like-gecko-headlesschrome-151-0-0-0-safari-537-36

What is a headless Chrome browser? According to ChatGPT:

Quote

Headless Chrome is Google Chrome running without a visible graphical user interface (GUI).

In other words, Chrome can load and interact with websites, but you don't see a browser window on your desktop.

What is it used for?

Headless Chrome is particularly useful for automation and development. For example:

• Automated website testing — checking whether a website works correctly.
• Web scraping — loading JavaScript-heavy websites and extracting information.
• Taking screenshots — automatically capturing webpages.
• Generating PDFs — rendering HTML pages into PDF files.
• Automated browser tasks — logging in, filling forms, clicking buttons, etc.
• CI/CD testing — testing websites automatically on a server.
• Web application testing — simulating browser interactions without a desktop.

Tools such as Puppeteer, Playwright, and Selenium can control Chrome in headless mode.

In my opinion, there's no way that these are real users. I believe the article you read is correct.

The Five Great Gods

Shared Feline Traditions

Despite their differences, all five races share ancient customs believed to originate from their mythical ancestors:

• The Rite of the First Hunt: A coming-of-age trial in which young adults must demonstrate the virtues prized by their people, whether through hunting, endurance, wisdom, or service.
• The Gathering of Nine Moons: Once every nine years, representatives from all five races convene at a neutral sanctuary to renew treaties, settle disputes, exchange knowledge, and celebrate their shared heritage.
• Ancestor Veneration: Families maintain carved memorial stones, woven tapestries, or engraved metal plaques honoring distinguished ancestors whose achievements are retold through songs and stories.
• The Great Chorus: Festivals conclude with thousands of feline voices joining in a ceremonial chant said to honor the gods and reaffirm unity among the Great Feline Kin.

5. The Tigrathi

"Children of the Eternal Storm"

Physical Characteristics

Tiger-inspired warriors.

• Orange, white, red, or white-and-black striped fur
• Broad shoulders
• Heavy musculature
• Long saber-like canine teeth in some bloodlines
• Brilliant gold or green eyes

Religion

Storms represent the world's heartbeat.

Conflict strengthens civilization.

Principal Deity

Rathogar
Lord of Thunder

Domains:

• Storms
• War
• Valor
• Discipline
• Strength

Culture

Every citizen trains in:

• Martial arts
• Weapon mastery
• Strategy
• Athletics

Competitions replace many legal disputes.

Subcultures

Storm Legion

Temple Champions

River Clans

Thunder Monks

Architecture

Their cities resemble monumental fortress-citadels.

Characteristics:

• Giant gates
• Tiered walls
• Thunder towers
• Bronze roofs
• Fortress temples
• Courtyards for martial training
• Large ceremonial arenas

Materials:

• Granite
• Dark stone
• Bronze
• Iron

4. The Vardrak

"Children of the Frozen Peaks"

Physical Characteristics

Snow leopard-inspired.

• Thick silver fur
• Black rosettes
• Ice-blue eyes
• Powerful legs
• Large paws
• Thick tails

Religion

The mountains possess living spirits.

Strength comes through endurance.

Principal Deity

Khorrum
The Mountain Father

Domains:

• Mountains
• Endurance
• Winter
• Stone
• Protection

Culture

Stoic and disciplined.

Values include:

• Self-reliance
• Family
• Craftsmanship
• Perseverance

Subcultures

Stone Clans

Ice Monks

Peak Guardians

Crystal Smiths

Architecture

Entire cities are carved into mountains.

Features:

• Massive stone gates
• Pillared halls
• Crystal windows
• Ice bridges
• Fortress monasteries
• Underground forges

3. The Strivari

"Children of the Swift Wind"

Physical Characteristics

Inspired by cheetahs and servals.

• Slender bodies
• Long limbs
• Spotted fur
• Large ears
• Long tails
• Exceptional speed

Religion

Life is movement.

Stopping means stagnation.

Principal Deity

Vaelor
Lord of the Endless Horizon

Domains:

• Travel
• Freedom
• Speed
• Adventure
• Winds

Culture

They rarely build permanent homes.

Their society values:

• Exploration
• Curiosity
• Trade
• Storytelling
• Adaptability

Subcultures

Wind Runners

Sand Riders

Sky Scouts

Road Singers

Architecture

Temporary yet elegant.

Examples:

• Silk pavilions
• Curved wooden halls
• Elevated platforms
• Portable shrines
• Wind towers
• Rope bridges

2. The Umbren

"Children of the Endless Night"

Physical Characteristics

The Umbren resemble panthers and black leopards.

• Midnight-black fur
• Silver or violet eyes
• Sleek athletic builds
• Silent movement
• Long flexible tails

Religion

Darkness is not evil but a sacred mystery.

The moon reveals truths hidden from daylight.

Principal Deity

Nyxara
Lady of the Veil

Domains:

• Shadows
• Secrets
• Wisdom
• Dreams
• Stealth

Culture

Umbren society values:

• Patience
• Silence
• Intelligence
• Observation
• Precision

Subcultures

Shadow Walkers

Moon Seers

Night Blades

Dream Keepers

Architecture

Entire cities blend into forests and cliffs.

Characteristics:

• Black marble
• Moonstone
• Hidden bridges
• Underground halls
• Reflective pools
• Glowing crystal gardens

1. The Solari

"Children of the Golden Dawn"

Physical Characteristics

The Solari are leonine humanoids standing between 6½ and 8 feet tall.

• Golden, tawny, or white fur
• Thick manes (males and many females)
• Amber or emerald eyes
• Powerful shoulders and muscular frames
• Long tails tipped with thick tufts
• Broad feline muzzles

They are renowned for exceptional strength and commanding presence.

Religion

The Solari believe that the universe began when Aurelion, the Solar King, roared light into existence.

Light symbolizes:

• Justice
• Leadership
• Honor
• Sacrifice

Every sunrise is considered a sacred blessing.

Principal Deity

Aurelion
The First Sun

Domains:

• Kingship
• Courage
• Justice
• The Sun
• Protection

His temples are open-air sanctuaries where the dawn's first light reaches the central altar.

Culture

The Solari value:

• Honor
• Family lineages
• Oaths
• Military excellence
• Public service

Breaking one's sworn word is considered one of the gravest disgraces.

Subcultures

Sun Pride

Royal families and nobles.

Golden Shields

Professional soldiers.

Dawn Speakers

Priests, judges, and scholars.

Ember Hunters

Border rangers.

Architecture

Buildings resemble enormous sun temples.

Features include:

• Massive sandstone walls
• Golden domes
• Tall columns
• Lion statues
• Wide ceremonial avenues
• Open courtyards
• Solar observatories

Colors:

• White
• Gold
• Crimson

I'm posting this in a single thread because I think it's a better approach. There are no images for now because the AI suggests cat people that are not human enough.

Just replace the word Halo with Fallout or TES in this video.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: 5'10"–6'6"

• Ash gray or obsidian skin

• White, silver, or midnight blue hair

• Glowing violet or crimson eyes

• Extremely agile

Culture

The Noctari prize secrecy, discipline, and self-control.

Every citizen learns espionage.

Truth is respected—but only when wisely shared.

Subcultures

• Night Houses

• Whisper Guilds

• Moon Priests

• Shadow Blades

Religion

Darkness represents mystery rather than evil.

Silence is considered holy.

Patron God

Nyxaros

God of

• Night

• Secrets

• Dreams

• Fate

• Silence

Sacred Symbol

A black crescent moon surrounding a silver eye.

Architecture

• Obsidian towers

• Crystal caverns

• Hanging bridges

• Underground waterfalls

• Gothic arches

• Blue magical lighting

Cities resemble underground cathedrals.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: 5'8"–6'4"

• Athletic

• Copper, olive, or bark-colored skin

• Green, brown, auburn, or black hair

• Emerald or amber eyes

• Leaf-like tattoos appear naturally with age

Culture

Everything exists in harmony with nature.

Cutting down healthy trees is considered murder.

Communities are governed by councils of elders and druids.

Subcultures

• Moss Clans

• Oak Guardians

• River Tribes

• Moon Hunters

• Great Stag Riders

Religion

Nature itself is sacred.

Every forest possesses a spirit worthy of respect.

Patron Goddess

Elyndra

Goddess of

• Nature

• Growth

• Animals

• Seasons

• Healing

Sacred Symbol

A silver oak tree growing beneath a crescent moon.

Architecture

Living buildings grown from:

• Trees

• Giant roots

• Vines

• Flowers

• Mushrooms

Cities seem like forests untouched by civilization.

More images in spoiler.

Physical Characteristics

• Height: 6'0"–6'8"

• Bronze, charcoal, or ash-gray skin

• Black, crimson, or copper hair

• Orange or molten-gold eyes

• Resistant to heat and fire

Culture

Strength is measured through craftsmanship rather than conquest.

Every adult must master a trade.

Highly respected professions include:

• Blacksmiths

• Engineers

• Sculptors

• Armorers

Subcultures

• Iron Clans

• Ember Monks

• Forge Masters

• Lava Wardens

Religion

Creation through hardship is sacred.

Fire destroys weakness to reveal excellence.

Patron God

Pyrakor

God of

• Fire

• Creation

• Endurance

• Smithing

• Volcanoes

Sacred Symbol

A blazing hammer within a mountain.

Architecture

Constructed from:

• Black basalt

• Iron

• Bronze

• Volcanic glass

Common features include:

• Massive fortress walls

• Lava canals

• Giant forges

• Pillared halls

• Fire-lit temples

• Monumental statues

Courtesy of ChatGPT. This is actually what I had in mind for a world map: a big city in the middle and a country with a huge volcano, like in Morrowind.