sirblastalot
Addl wisdom: some people make jokes when they’re uncomfortable, as a defense mechanism. If you have a player or players constantly trying to lighten the mood, consider that the atmosphere you’re trying to create may not be a good fit for your party, and/or parts of your party may not be a good fit for your game.
I understand, but also, please don’t. As bad as it is right now, the world is still a better place with you in it. Call or text 988 if you’re feeling suicidal, there are people there ready to listen and help.
This kind of thing can be fun. It can also be just as or more fun to sit around with nothing more than some scrap paper and an idea. Especially no shade on people that don’t have unlimited budgets to spend on setups like this.
My headcanon is that it’s entirely perception. Kind of like how plating the same food in a pretty way can affect how you rate it’s taste. The replicated food can be identical down to the molecule, but the knowledge that Sisko’s Dad handmade your dinner makes you think it’s tastier.
I would really like to commission that one artist that does the WWI kobolds to do a piece with 3 kobolds running a vintage SMG as if it were a crew served weapon. (But sadly they won’t return my emails)