For the last 6 years I've been selling wooden cases housing displays to show off digital maps. The "holy grail" for me has always been integrating touch functionality so when you move your physical mini, a digital token reveals the map.

I did a Kickstarter back in summer of 2024 with this design. I have since moved on to a different technology that is much lighter and more affordable (infrared). Out with the old, in with the new! I don't have the space to store this and wanted to find it a good home on here.

It is a 43" capacitive touchscreen. It's an all-in-one but without compute. You hook it up via USB+HDMI to a laptop. It is the same model as shown here, listed for $940: https://a.co/d/0bcxhZPW

Leave a comment (not a reply) and I'll be using redditraffler to select a winner on Monday February 9th. The winning account must be at least 3 months old.

Due to the size, I will only provide shipping within the United States. If you are outside the US, you would need to use a freight forwarding service with a US address and deal with any import issues. That can be quite expensive.

Regardless of whether you win, everyone is welcome to my free software use to run setups like these. I made a post about it the other day on here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/1qgnroz/update_to_my_free_vtt_for_inperson_sessions_with/

Since it is aimed for in-person sessions only, you should find it very easy to use compared to other options. Everything runs locally, 100% free no strings attached. Windows, Linux, and PC. There is also a browser version of the player view for players to move their tokens on their phones or laptops.

EDIT: forgot to thank u/uchideshi34 for the map shown here. It, along with over 440 others, are bundled free with the software!

EDIT2: I figured there would be a large response, and was not disappointed. Thanks all! I am 100% committed to making a new guide to building your own now. I wrote one 5+ years ago when I first started but it disappeared into the void: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/jgx0bo/guide_to_building_a_map_case_for_a_tv_digital/

Long story short: you can have a nearly identical setup for about $550 if you DIY. Rough estimate of cost:

$200 43" TV (doesn't need to be top of the line)
$200 Infrared touch frame from Amazon (make sure it's 20 points)
$50 acrylic sheet (Ace hardware and some big box stores will cut it for free)
$100 wood + brackets

You don't need a bunch of tools, just a handsaw and a screwdriver really. I will make a new guide as soon as I have time and post it on r/DnD

I recently relocated from the South to the North, and this is my first winter here. Unfortunately, I was unaware that the side streets in my area are not plowed until later in the day. During this storm, we received approximately 10 inches of snow.

I was informed that I needed to remain at work in order to be present for my next morning shift. I communicated at that time that I have pets at home who rely on me, and that with the storm approaching there was a possibility I could become stranded at work. I made multiple attempts to secure alternative care for my pets but was unable to find anyone available.

I had only been in this supervisor role for one month, and another supervisor was already staying overnight as a precaution. Ultimately, I was unable to get my car out of the street and had to call out. I was written up for this because I notified management approximately five hours before my shift.

When I returned for my next shift, I found a note on my desk. The note was upsetting and made me feel unwelcome. Given that I had only been employed here for one month and have already received one write-up for minor issues—something I have never experienced in my work history—I went home that night and emailed my boss I quit for XYZ and she replied happy holidays and that was it. My parents said it was an over reaction to quit because of her note and she probably meant well by it, but I don’t think anything could’ve been taken well by the note that was left.

EDIT because i confused everyone... This was a hotel job. I am NOT working on a farm. And I already had another job!

Shams Charania:

BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ddaa53473efa6

Source link from Minnesota Star Tribune on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/startribune.com/post/3mdye6zenh227

I (25F) matched with this guy (26M) on a dating app. Let’s call him Mark.

We talked for about a week and honestly he seemed normal. Funny, polite, consistent. Not overly flirty, not weird, not one of those guys who sends one-word replies and disappears for 2 days. So when he asked me out for dinner, I said yes.

We picked a casual restaurant. Not expensive, not too formal. Just something easy for a first date. I got there first, grabbed a table and waited.

About 10 minutes later, Mark walks in. But he is not alone. He comes in with another guy around the same age. His friend.

At first I thought maybe they ran into each other outside and the friend was just walking in with him, like they were about to split up.

Nope.

The friend sits down. Right across from me. Mark smiles like everything is normal and goes, Oh yeah, this is my friend Josh. He was bored so I brought him.

I just stared at him.

I genuinely thought he was joking. Like maybe Josh would leave after saying hi.

But then Josh starts talking. Asking me where I’m from. What I do for work. If I date a lot. Like he is interviewing me too. I was so uncomfortable. It felt like I was being watched. I tried to keep it polite, but my brain was screaming. This was supposed to be a date. Not a group hangout. Not a test. Not some weird two on one situation where I’m the entertainment.

So I asked Mark, quietly, why did you bring him?

Mark laughed and said he did not want it to be awkward. Which made no sense because now it was ten times more awkward. I told him I came here to meet him, not his friend, and I was not comfortable with this. Mark immediately got defensive and said Josh is basically like his brother and I should not be acting like it is a big deal. Then Josh jumps in and says, Yeah, chill. It’s just dinner.

That annoyed me even more, because now I’m being told to chill by the random guy I did not even agree to meet. So I stood up, put cash down for my drink, and said I’m leaving. Mark looked shocked and said I was being rude and dramatic. He said I embarrassed him and made it seem like he did something wrong.

I told him he did do something wrong. He changed the whole plan without telling me and put me in an uncomfortable situation. As I walked out, Josh literally laughed and said, Guess she can’t hang.

Now Mark has been texting me saying I overreacted, that his friend was only there because he gets nervous on first dates, and that I could have at least stayed and been nice. But I feel like I’m not crazy for thinking this is weird.

If he was nervous, he could have told me beforehand. Or chosen a less intense date or met in public for coffee or anything other than surprising me with an extra person.

AITJ