#| on the official website.

[hallasimss]

trying to create a concert lookbook rn bc 1. plans of said sim dump may have been placed on the backburner bc oh God they're turning into an OC oh God i am catching feelings and 2. you're telling me Beyonce performs in London on May 29th [redacted bc spoilers] performs in the Royal Albert Hall three or so days later and i'm not supposed to incorporate that into my canon lore for this sim????? especially since even going to one of those concerts here in the US is currently a pipe dream for me?????? insane. you're trying to murder me that's homophobic

#* mine. #hallasimss #( * the wardrobe whiplash is so f*cking wild. like we have bling drip for the Beyonce concert but casual-ish for the second one #| stayed up last night recoloring cc just for the second concert. blurry af bad quality bc i ripped the art from photos of merch #| on the official website. #| why am i doing this to myself. why. )

[lambergeier]

truly can’t believe the entire internet used to be about playing little games. it was about having adobe flash and playing little games on nick.com

#spent just a few hours trying to find the old wild thornberrys wildlife rescue game tonight #turns out that game is officially 'lost media' #which sure is a weird term for something i so vividly remember playing for hour after hour in the evenings in 5th grade! #truly sometimes the ephemerality of internet media is not only bad but profoundly disorienting #there used to be so many WEBSITES on the internet

[aurorasulphur]

Disclaimer: none of these answers are official, and may not work for your particular use case. If there is a specific feature that an unofficial app had that you don't know how to replicate on the AO3, let me know in the notes and we might can crowdsource a solution.

A lot of people used the Archive Reader app to access stories on Archive of Our Own, and have been upset that the app is now charging to read longer than an hour a day. AO3 (and its parent organization, the OTW) has made it extremely clear in recent days that this app is unofficial and that there *is* no official app. They encourage people to use the website.

However, there are MANY reasons you might want an app, and in a bunch of those cases, there are ways to do those things without having to provide your login information to a random person running an app. Here is a round-up of solutions to the most common reasons I've seen people give for wanting an app instead of the plain AO3 website.

These solutions are based on the following assumptions:

You know what Archive of Our Own is

You often or primarily access it through a mobile device running iOS or Android

You understand what a browser is

You understand what a browser bookmark is

You understand what a site skin is

Edits:

Edited to clarify that you must be logged in to use custom site skins

Edited to add more tips and tricks from the reblogs

Edited to add new entry about notifications/emails

Edited to add new entry about reading statistics and the tracking thereof

I need a widget on my phone's homescreen, not just a browser bookmark.

You can do this with any website, not just AO3! Instructions here: https://www.howtogeek.com/196087/how-to-add-websites-to-the-home-screen-on-any-smartphone-or-tablet/

I need Dark Mode.

AO3 has a default site skin for Dark Mode, it's just called Reversi. Find it here, or at the bottom of any page on the website. https://archiveofourown.org/skins/929/

If you'd like Dark Mode on your whole browser (and you're on Android), sorrelchestnut has advice here: https://www.tumblr.com/sorrelchestnut/737869282153775104/if-you-want-dark-mode-and-dont-want-to-mess

I need to be able to read stories when I don't have internet.

Every work on the AO3 has a download button, so you can click on that and download the story for offline reading in the ereader app of your choice. More info on how to do that is in the AO3 FAQs: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/downloading-fanworks?language_id=en#accesslater

I need to be able to change the text size of the website itself.

If you have an AO3 account (and you should!!) you can do this with a personalized site skin! There is a simple tutorial here: https://www.tumblr.com/ao3skin/667284237718798336/i-have-a-request-if-you-dont-mind-could-you

I need to be able to change the text size in downloaded stories.

My personal recommendation: Don't download in PDF format. All the other formats you can download in can scale the text size up and down, assuming you open the work in the correct app. For me, I download works in EPUB format and read them on the built-in Books app on my iPhone. I hear good things about Moon Reader on Android as well.

I need to be able to replace Y/N in fics with an actual name.

ElectricAlice has a bookmarklet for that here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34796935

I need to be able to save specific tags and not have to search them up every time.

If you have an AO3 account (which you definitely should) then you can favorite up to 20 tags which will appear on the landing page. The AO3 FAQ explains how that works: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/tags?language_id=en#favtag

I need to be able to save specific filters and be able to apply them to any tag.

Reisling's beautiful bookmarklet has you covered: https://archiveofourown.org/works/33825019

I need to be able to permanently hide certain tags.

The best option is adding this to your site skin. (Must be logged in.) Instructions here: https://www.tumblr.com/ao3css/719667033634160640/how-to-permanently-filter-out-certain-tags-on-ao3

I also hear things about the AO3 Enhancements extension (just for Android/desktop, sorry iOS folks): https://www.tumblr.com/emotionalsupportrats/686787582579851265/browser-extension-everyone-on-ao3-should-know

I need it to save my place on the page and not reload.

This is really mostly a browser error--Firefox on iOS does this to me A LOT. Your best bet is to download the work and read it in an ereader app. A lot of people also will make an ao3 bookmark and write in the notes section which part they were at, but that assumes you aren't falling asleep while reading. (Which is the main reason I have this issue, lol.) For more info on bookmarks, see the FAQ: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/bookmarks?language_id=en#whatisbookmark

I need it to keep track of which stories I've already read/opened/kudos'd.

If you have an account (which you should) then the "My History" page keeps track of every fic you've ever clicked on. No, it isn't searchable or sortable, but it does exist. For fics you've kudos'd, I have yet to find a solution for iOS. For desktop or Android, you can use this excellent userscript: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/5835-ao3-kudosed-and-seen-history

@the-sleepy-archivist and @inkandarsenic have a solution for iOS here to use userscripts: https://www.tumblr.com/the-sleepy-archivist/737895174683885568/this-is-a-great-guide-one-thing-i-can-help-with and https://www.tumblr.com/inkandarsenic/737827438571192320/the-user-scripts-will-also-work-on-ios-there-are

I need an app because the website's search is terrible.

(I genuinely don't understand this one but I have seen it multiple times so on the list it goes!!) The search bar at the top of the screen is a keyword search. If you'd rather search within a specific field (like title or tag) then you'll want to click on the word "search" at the top of the screen and select Work Search or Tag Search. To search users, use People Search. To search Bookmarks, use Bookmark Search. (If this is you, please tell me what the heck you mean by "search is bad" and how an app helped with this.)

I need to be able to sort stories by date posted/number of bookmarks/alphabetical/etc.

You can do this using the filters sidebar. Pick a tag you want to filter on (like a fandom, character, or relationship) and then click on the "Filters" button. The sidebar will pop out and you can sort and filter on a boggling array of specifics. A good filtering guide: https://www.tumblr.com/saurons-pr-department/718665516093472768/if-there-is-something-you-dont-want-to-see-in

I need to be able to mark stories to read later.

AO3 has this feature built in! If you have an account (which you should) there is a "Mark for Later" option on every work.

Edit: Thispersonishuman reminded me that History and Mark For Later can be disabled, so if you're not seeing the Mark for Later option, check your settings.

I need to be able to listen to stories using text-to-speech.

Microsoft Edge web browser has a built in text to speech function. Supposedly it works on both iOS and Android, but I have not personally tested that. iOS also has a native accessibility feature in settings for text to speech that will work on the Books app, so I assume Android has a similar functionality. A bunch of people in the reblogs have more in-depth Android recommendations here: https://www.tumblr.com/protect-namine/737957194510794752/seconding-voice-aloud-on-android-for-tts-my, https://www.tumblr.com/smallercommand/737884523093704704/i-use-voice-for-tts-on-android-its-got-some, and https://www.tumblr.com/doitninetimes/737869463749263360/for-text-to-speech-on-android-you-can-also-check

I need to have in-app notifications for updates/I can't ever find story updates in among the rest of my emails/checking my email stresses me out.

Set up a separate email address using a free service like gmail, and use that email address JUST for AO3. Then the only emails in that inbox will be your story updates. I use Apple's Mail application for all my inboxes, but it's very easy to use the Gmail app instead, and you could log in to JUST the ao3 email and set it to notify for every email.

(Also as a general PSA: don't use your work, school, or military email as your AO3 email. Just don't.)

I want statistics like how many hours I spent reading, how many words I read, what my most read tags were, stuff like that.

So we've finally hit something that isn't easy and that requires a hell of a lot of manual work. Short version: AO3 does not track this data because they don't want to. (Mostly due to privacy concerns.) The lack of this tracking is a feature, not a bug. You can crunch these numbers yourself, but it will take a hell of a lot more effort, and it's something I personally found is not worth the effort the couple of times I have tried to crunch those numbers. If you are willing to download your history to an actual computer (not a tablet or chromebook) using Calibre, you can get a rough idea of your most popular tags via their tag browser, but it won't play nice with typos synned to a Common Tag (Canonical Tag/filterable tag) like ao3 does. (If anyone has used an app that gave you stats on this, please let me know in reblogs/replies/via ask how that worked because I am very curious.)

I need an app because <other reason>.

The AO3 Unofficial Browser Tools FAQ might cover your use case: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/unofficial-browser-tools?language_id=en If not, give a shout and we'll see what other tumblr users suggest!

#ao3 #archive of our own #ao3 app #ao3 tips #if you want official answers please use the contact forms on the ao3 or otw websites #standard disclaimer that while i am an otw volunteer i do not speak for the organization #my opinions are my own and do not represent anyone else

[bluastro-yellow]

Kurvitz stresses that Kim doesn't actually have a character sheet hidden in Disco Elysium's code. Imagining that Lieutenant Kitsuragi has only one natural attribute point in Motorics helps the ZA/UM team to understand the depth of his character beyond what's referenced in the game's dialogue. "We just came up with this stuff for coherency," says Kurvitz. "And because we're nerds."

"I like to think Kim has a Thought Cabinet project called Revolutionary Aerostatic Brigades that he's worked on since he was a teenager," Kurvitz says. "This raises the learning caps for his Reaction Speed and Interfacing."

Kim's high Volition skill makes him impervious to prying, Kurvitz says, as the detective can find out on occasions being met with Kim's brick-wall resolve. Kim often chastises these whims of the detective's, but will occasionally play along. The Lieutenant finds his new partner funny, says Kurvitz.

Kim is naturally shit at Motorics and thinks Harry is funny source

#THE GUY WHO SO MANY THOUGHT WAS THE MISSING MOTORICS BUILD IS BAD AT THEM #and thinks cop types are stupid <3 #the bajillion points in authority make even more sense. he probably has a lot of natural points in the purple skills? #(addition: so empathy too T_T !!!) #so this means he had to put a lot of points in composture on purpose. and had to learn how to sew and repair motorcarriages the hard way? #the interfacing learning cap is higher but he still had to put points in it to have more than 1 #his perception is abysmal and it stayed so #his hand/eye coordination is also bad. his shooting posture is horrible. I wonder how he got to 7/10 #I want to poke this nerd with a stick #disco elysium #release the kim character sheet now. what the hell is volta do mar I need to know #he must have volta do mar. h/e coordination. kinetic dressage #(and something related to authority) #first and last are red but it's a different shade than harry's red-pink physical skills #so they must have a different name. but h/e is yellow #maybe everyone has the 4 colors psy/phis/mot/int categories but they have different shades and names #<-all of this is from the official jacket they sell. it's in the description #ok no the color shades are just the website's fault. sad noise

[rainderthesomeone]

Just found out tf2 blog posts are a thing on the official tf2 website, great little bits of character info and lore I can use in my comics, also Soldier yelling at the photographer while getting his picture taken is the best thing I’ve read all day lol

#tf2 #team fortress 2 #tf2 spy #tf2 sniper #tf2 engineer #tf2 scout #tf2 demoman #tf2 soldier #tf2 medic #tf2 heavy #tf2 pyro #tf2 official website

[lilirot]

The Four Kings from the official website which afaik isn't anywhere else at the moment?

#hell #what in hell is bad #what in is bad? #whb #I stoled it from the website to use as my monitors background lol #not my art #I should grab the secret club CGs from the official site too eventually and use those as BGs when I want to feel spicy

[ryllen]

x

#HH i WAS just THINKING of drawing yuu visiting his place with a dress after attending the college event with everyone with usual suit get up #and maybe just did a little dance together and have him laughs at the fact she is dressed but actually barefoot; but then ... BUT THEN H #twisted wonderland #twst #sebek zigvolt #twst yuu #twst mc #fanart #i was thinking maybe this is set up by lilia again #but then i want trey senpai sincere *but goofy* compliment on the dress; maybe he helped to pick the dress #anyway that dress is so delicate and beautiful #that website has a lot of good green dresses #he actually suited up tidy just some while ago but he started dismantling himself when he got to be alone out of sadness & frustration #because of what he heard #maybe it was even an official announcement #details detai ls #one can only call her yumimi in several occasions -- or maybe forever if u get to that point of relationship with her #she prefer to be only known as yuu because she thinks the mimi in her name is too cutesy for her #i said this on tags on another post already but just for new people who are looking if u are reading this right now hello #i just wanted to draw yumimi in beautiful dress that was all #it's funny if i just imagine jade elbowing on trey and delivering better compliment for yumimi because jade knows the situation needs it #does it look more like cabbage roll #eeh

[casart]

Blood for the Blood God🐷👑

One of Us

#casart #mcyt #technoblade #technoblade fanart #technoblade never dies #I miss him so much #he would have been 24 today #kind reminder that all techno merch on his official website has a portion go to the sarcoma foundation❤️ #gone but never forgotten #we miss you king

[yumethefrostypanda]

Lieutenant.

Really digging the print of his balaclava *-*

#if only my graphics looked this good Q_Q #simon ghost riley #simon riley #lieutenant #ghost #call of duty #modern warfare 3 #mw3 #mwiii #cod mw3 #official still from the cod website with some of my edit style over it :3

[c-kiddo]

#its the official tmn art by littleulvar btw ^_^ from the cr website #kiddo say #unique and surprising post from me #caduceus clay #hes saur disabled coded its unreal ❤️ #see prev post

[leawesomesloth]

I don’t think I’ve posted this one here before! I just got reminded of this on that dying hell site Twt. It’s so cute so I wanna share again here ✨

#fengqing #mu qing #feng Xin #xie Lian #pei ming #tgcf #天官赐福 #digital art #fanart #art farts #clip studio paint #comic #quite proud of this one! #okay so since that stupid website is dying I will try to reupload old works here #slowly #I don’t wanna lose all the archived art there CRIES #tian guan ci fu #heaven official's blessing

[sketchy-tour]

Hello hi hello!

Welcome welcome, my name is Toast! But you may also call me Sketchy that is fine too!

I'm an artist who mostly posts my silly fandom work here, whether that be stand alone fanart or art of my fan characters/inserts interacting with canon characters! I draw a lot of ✨oc x canon✨so be aware of that!!! I use paint tool sai 2 to draw and I'm just winging it!

Current main Interest: WELCOME HOME!

Requests: Take them on occasions! Might not do em all tho!

Commissions: Not at this time!

OC Tag: #dandy leon

OC Ref: Here!

My usual tags are below!

#pinned post #text post #just rambling #my art #sketches #dandy leon #Oh end of my usual tags now I'm rambling #Of course the little divider gif and WH stickers is not my art its from the official WH website! #Sorry sorry I had to add them they bring me joy its like I'm decorating my page like those old internet days teehee #And then the little pixel gif of Wally and Dandy is made by PrinceDipper on TH!

[callsign-relic]

Y’all this man is about to become my personality be prepared

#relic answers #BRAVERN MY BELOVED #GIVE ME INE CHANCE LLEASE #THE FACT RHAT THIS IS OFFICIAL ART FROM THE WEBSITE??? HELLO?????? #anyway go watch bang brave bang bravern y’all

[craycraybluejay]

i once saw a Discord that asked for your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER to prove your identity. YEAH. Guys. I can't believe this has to be said but literally never ever legally identify yourself in any way on the internet holy shit

#be wary even on official government websites #genuinely identity theft is so insanely easy

[pjberribear]

Wally's official design!

Here's the sketch to now! <3

I finally finished Wally, now I'm working on Julie! I was going to make Frank & Eddie last, because they have more stuff to them when it comes to the background characters. Due to them having weapons, outfits, and mechanics. Plus, they have three design's in the game...

To be honest, the more I draw this little squirt the more I feel bad for him. I'm sorry buddy, it had to be done. You're too cute, you need to go! Also, I laugh at the fact that Frank and Eddie realized they didn't need to kill Wally after all. They feel bad now!

Oh yeah, no one isn't voice acting this cutie yet! Except for one of my buddies, but they are having some difficulties right now. So If you're interested in voice acting him then here's a link to my discord server!

If you have any questions then let me know. Anyways, enough chitter chatter! I hope you have goodess day! <3

#discord chat #discord server #voice call #voice cast #voice acting #official design #concept art #art #my art #fan art #welcome home #welcome home art #welcome home fanart #welcome home puppet show #welcome home website #welcome home arg #welcome home wally #wally darling #welcome home au #it takes two au #it takes two #video games #gaming

[darkwood-sleddog]

once again i am asking tumblr to hold public polls for users to vote on potential changes. imagine if you were the 'respect our users opinion website'. like that could be us but apparently not.

#not dogs #tumblr #not all change is bad but i think the new desktop changes are actually terrible? #i want less clutter not more #staff SAYS they want to give us options #okay so develop some options and have us vote for them before release #as an actual real life election official i want this #bc i think most physical changes to websites are entirely useless and redundant #also why would you copy a social media site that is FAILING #@staff you made polls. please fucking use them #and release the results publicaly i swear to fuck #like if you want users to spend money on this website you kinda need to uh. listen to them? #i also think TELLING people they are testing a new feature that may or may not be permanent would be good #so that people don't come in to change they think is potentially permanent #not that i think the desktop stuff isn't going to be #tumblr has shown time and time again that they value only new users coming in from twitter