LessWrong (30+ Karma) Training PhD Students to be Fat Newts (Part 1)
Nov 26, 2025
Dive into the quirky world of Reddit gaming memes, starting with the hilariously perplexing 'Google En Passant' from chess culture. Explore the turn-based strategy game Battle Brothers, where managing spreadsheets trumps action-packed gameplay. Uncover the 'Fat Newt' meme, a humorous take on optimizing teams through fatigue management. Learn why building a squad of reliable, fatigue-neutral characters can outsmart rare heroes. This entertaining discourse blends gaming lore with innovative PhD training ideas.
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Optimize By Choosing The Right Dump Stat
- The "fat newt" is a counterintuitive, fatigue-neutral build that ignores fatigue to maximize defenses and utility.
- This approach converts 1-in-100 fragile heroes into roughly 1-in-10 reliable, durable performers.
Avoid Stat-Spreading Hero Builds
- Avoid spreading stats thin trying to create multi-attack heroes who require exceptional rolls and talents.
- Invest points in defenses and accuracy instead of chasing high fatigue that collapses on missed attacks.
Strength Defined By Weaknesses
- Fat newts are defined by their weaknesses: they can only attack once per turn but excel in armor, defense, and utility.
- Under right conditions, optimizing is mostly about picking which stat to dump rather than maximizing every ability.
