The changing of the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) to 18 story mass timber buildings has opened a door to new possibilities, but it has also created an array of new problems for engineers to solve. Naturally, as the scale of a design increases, the complexity, as well as the service loading tends to rise. Mass timber is no exception. As with all buildings, forming complete load paths is vital to the safety of the structure and its occupants. The connections bridging members together should be chosen with care. Pioneering new mass timber design can be intimidating, especially when faced with design forces other...