#Feel Unique Discount Code

[rosemaryhelenxo]

I've joined SEPHORA! (PR - Influencer Partnership)

I am so excited to share that I am now part of SEPHORA UK’s affiliates as one of their new influencers! For those new, Sephora.co.uk is a one stop shop for anything ranging from Skincare, Selfcare and Beauty!  With this new partnership it means I can bring you special content, a heads up on any amazing deals coming out and other exlusive goodies. It also means that I can offer you all my…

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#LFTF #LookFantasticTeamFanstatic #SEPHORA #15% off Sephora #Active Discount Code #AWIN Affiliate #Beauty #Beauty Blog #Beauty Influencer #Beauty Influencer Discounts #Beauty Review #Brand Affiliate #Brand Affiliation #Exclusive Discount Codes #Feel Unique Discount Code #Feelunique #Feelunique discount codes #Look Fantastic #Look Fantastic Discount #Look Fantastic Discount Codes #Look Fantastic Influencer #Look Fantastic Influencer Discount #Look Fantastic Korres #Look Fantastic Review #Look Fantastic Sponsored Blogger #Look Fantastic.com #LookFantastic Brand Affiliate #LOOKFANTASTIC Mankind - Advent 2022 #LookFantastic.com #LookFantastic.com Advent Calendar

[nanowrimo]

5 Ways Journaling Can Help You Write Your Novel

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Day One, a 2023 NaNoWriMo sponsor, is an award-winning journaling app. Today, author and journaling expert Kristen Webb Wright shares a few tips on how journaling can help your creative writing:

Aspiring novelists often find themselves on a challenging journey to bring their stories to life. The blank page can be intimidating, and writer's block can strike at any moment. However, there's a powerful tool that can help you overcome these hurdles and fuel your novel-writing dreams: journaling. 

Journaling is more than just recording daily events or jotting down your thoughts—it's a practice that can supercharge your creative process and sharpen your storytelling skills. In fact, numerous famous writers kept journals or diaries throughout their lives, using their personal chronicles to cultivate their literary masterpieces

 Here are five ways journaling can help you write your novel:

1. Draw Inspiration from Everyday Life

Novel writing often draws inspiration from the events and experiences of everyday life. Use your journal to document intriguing encounters, interesting conversations, or even mundane moments that can be woven into your story. Everyday life is a treasure trove of material for creating relatable and authentic narratives. Your journal can serve as a repository of these real-life gems.

2. A Private Space to Explore Ideas

Journaling offers a unique and private sanctuary where you can explore your wildest ideas without judgment or fear of criticism. It's a space where you can experiment with unconventional plot twists, quirky characters, or daring themes. Since your journal is for your eyes only, you can be completely honest and uninhibited in your exploration, allowing your creativity to soar to new heights.

3. Overcome Writer’s Block

Writer's block is a formidable adversary for novelists, but journaling can be your secret weapon to defeat it. When you're stuck, turn to your journal and simply write. Pour out your frustrations, write about your day, or describe your surroundings. The act of writing, even if it's unrelated to your novel, can kickstart your creativity and get the words flowing. Journaling serves as a safe space where you can experiment, break through creative barriers, and rediscover your writing flow.

4. Develop and Organize Plots and Character Details 

A well-organized plot is crucial for a successful novel. Journaling can help you outline and structure your story effectively. Use your journal to jot down plot ideas, timelines, and chapter summaries. Create mind maps or visual diagrams to visualize your story's progression. The act of putting your novel's elements on paper will help you maintain a clear and organized narrative as you write.

5. Track Progress and Set Goals

Writing a novel is a significant undertaking, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Journaling provides a space for tracking your progress and setting achievable goals. Record your daily or weekly word counts, celebrate milestones, and reflect on your writing journey. You can even use your journal to set writing goals and deadlines. It's a motivational tool that keeps you accountable and focused on completing your novel.

Journaling is a versatile and invaluable tool for aspiring novelists. So, why not pick up your journal and start harnessing its power to write the novel you've always dreamed of? Every word you write in your journal is a step closer to bringing your story to life.

Start your journaling journey today, and watch your novel flourish like never before. Happy writing!

All NaNoWriMo participants get 25% off a Day One Premium subscription throughout November. Use the discount code NANOWRIMO at https://dayone.me/subscribe to claim it. Offer expires November 30, 2023.

Kristen Webb Wright is the author of three books on journaling. With a passion for writing and self-reflection, Kristen uses her experience with journaling to help others discover the benefits of documenting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In her role at Day One Journal, she helps to promote the power of journaling so people from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of journaling.

#nanowrimo #writing #journaling #writing advice #writing tools #by nano sponsor #day one #kristen webb wright

[merakisphere]

After running my handmade mandala shop for over 4+ years, here are some popular questions I get asked:

Are these really handmade, or do you import them in from somewhere? - Yes, these are handmade by myself. Every order that comes in is handcrafted as you see in the video above.

If you don't have a style I want, can I request my own personalization? - Absolutely! I love custom requests, and can discuss with you about creating the perfect mandala. If I don't have the beads, I will go out and get it. :)

Where are you located? Do you ship to Italy? - I am in Edmonton, AB Canada, and just recently I now offer worldwide shipping, which includes Italy.

I want to try making it! Can I ask you how it's made? - Of course! No gate-keeping here. I believe the process is as soothing and enjoyable as the end product itself. I sell DIY kits with prepared pieces. All you have to do is assemble it. I also have many tutorials on my TikTok and Instagram accounts. Please feel free to ask me any questions as well.

What are some ways to use this mandala thingamajig? - Some ways I use mine, as well as how customers use theirs include: fashionable bracelet, hair bun basket, Christmas tree ornament, sensory fidget toy, unique desk decor, meditation tool, fruit holder, mantle display, air plant holder, gift idea, and more!

Shop my 3D wire mandala stims, bracelets, and Orbi Loops™ from my Etsy shop! Use this share & save link www.merakisphere.etsy.com | Use Code: TUMBLR for a special discount. :)

Thank you for your support! Please consider sharing this so others know my handmade mandalas are #actuallyhandmade! In a world of industrial goods and manufacturing, it’s sometimes hard to know which products are truly made by hand. 🙌🏼

Music: Wander

Musician: @iksonmusic

#actually handmade #stimblr #artists on tumblr #dopamine decor #something i made

[jariten]

April 2024 Roundup

A little delayed but I will try to keep it short. Did some quick catch up on stand alones and made some progress on various series. But I couldn't resist the siren call of the anthologies so I just have to mention those.

Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai I was really delighted to see licensed but when it dropped I forgot about it.... Or had to put it off for money reasons, I forget. But with a sweet discount code I finally grabbed all 5 volumes of part 1: Disciples of Avan starring the plucky Dai who was raised by monsters freed from the control of the evil lord who was defeated by the Hero and his party. Riku Sanjo's art also goes really well with Akira Toriyama's monster designs while overall having an identity of its own. With a story unique from the games it doesn't just feel like a quick buck manga tie on the game series but a representative work in RPG style fantasy manga from the 1980s and a great read for anyone who wants to be more familiar with manga from that decadeUnfortunately only 5 of 25 volumes of this edition are out for reasons Viz has not publicly disclosed so I will refrain from speculating. But it was comforting to know that Viz's release isn't the only international edition in limbo. Hopefully something gets worked out in the near future.

Okinawa by Susumu Higa also had a long and rocky path to the store shelves. I pre-ordered it I think in 2019 then that was cancelled, then the translation got a digital release then the print version was back on then, finally, in 2023 I saw it in stores. Finally read it and its a great companion to Shigeru Mizuki's Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths as a wartime criticism of the Japanese army, while the second part serving as a commentary and look into the recent history of Okinawa as a region still existing under soft occupation of the United States army.

Megami Tachi to (With Goddesses) is an anthology of stories written by Katsuo Kawai adapted by various female manga artists. I'm not familiar with his work so I won't go on to describe his style and oeuvre but the involvement of Yamaji Ebine made me want to check it out (her story is about a woman put in charge of taking care of a shrine and its kami, which turns out to be the bare empty basement of an apartment complex). I really liked the variety of stories taking place across various time periods and locations and how each manga artist's own individual styles stood out with the absurdist scripts. And to keep to the collaborative spirit while making his own contribution Kawai himself drew a story based on a script by movie director Satoko Yokohama about the day in the life of an old actor. Was also delighted to find out this collection contained the pro debut work of Yuriko Hara, who'd go on to make Cocoon Entwined!

Wakaba no Rhapsody is a companion to Hana to Waltz, two anthologies highlighting the new talents in the magazines Asuka and Aokishi. The big name draw is Kaoru Mori but I was very impressed by the artistic prowess of all the featured artists, whose impact was heightened by the HUGE trim size of the volumes. Featured in both volumes was Akira Shouno whose one shot collection Good Night Field I read last year and was very fascinated by. Especially the recurring immortal vampire and the yukionna he regularly visits. Really hoping the rest of the featured artists get their own one shot collection in the near future, but while waiting for those I might check out some of their long form series.

#recommendation corner #roundup #my scans #the links lead to the anilist so you can check out each involved artist!

[artistalley]

Valentine Girl No. 1 Art Print

by artist @artworkbyrese

Feeling the love yet? She's bold, colorful, and has her own unique vibe. Available in 8x8" in (20.32 x 20.32 cm) or 12x12" in (30.48 x 30.48 cm). Printed on archival-grade fine art paper.

Explore more of @artworkbyrese beautiful art right here on Artist Alley. Don't forget to use discount code TUMBLR20 for 20% off purchases from their store!

#tumblr artist alley #rese #art print #valentines #pink

[tragedynoir]

— introducing 004: A STORY & 005: AN ANTHOLOGY + [ discounted bundle link ]

a matching pair of easy to edit google doc templates loosely inspired by brutalism! they can be purchased separately, or for a 15% discount as a bundle. A STORY is a muse doc template that has a strong experimental aesthetic that's perfect for bold, youthful and slightly rebellious muses! while the template has specified sections, it should be easy to change them to fit whatever you need. there's also only two images that need to be switched out when using the doc. its sister template, AN ANTHOLOGY, is a matching all-in-one / multimuse template that is easy to duplicate to include as many muses as required! links to the individual templates (with full page-by-page previews) can be found through the link above or in the source code.

A STORY features:

5 unique 8.5" x 11" pages with three short sections, and a long section that are all easy to edit!

a connections page that can be easily copied and duplicated for more

all elements that are fully customizable within google docs & google drawings

AN ANTHOLOGY features:

4 different 8.5" x 11" pages: a first page for mun info, and three variants for your muse list that you can mix and match!

muse list pages that can be easily copied and duplicated for more

muse list that accommodates space for external links, muse name, a short blurb and a photo

all elements that are fully customizable within google docs & google drawings

terms of use:

you may edit to your heart’s desire. Change the colours, replace, add or remove elements and images etc.

you may remix pages with pages from my other templates.

you may not remove the credit from the templates.

you may not copy, sell or redistribute my templates whether wholesale, in part (i.e. taking out certain pages) or remixed (i.e. modified).

you will also receive an additional guide with images on how to use and edit google doc templates! if you have any problems or issues, feel free to leave an ask or join our discord server.

I hope these templates speaks out to some of you as this was a lot of fun to make! your likes + reblogs are always appreciated, thank you so much for the support. ♡

#google docs template #google doc template #muse template #multimuse template #rp resource #rp doc #rph #m #fave #m pr

[thynisia-pac-readings]

[ This is a bit similar to the previous PAC, except this reading has more to do with the specific road you "chose", whereas your path is more destined and general. I've used new divinatory tools in this reading! ]

Now breathe in and breathe out slowly, empty your mind and pick the first picture/number that attracts your eyes or that you keep coming back to. Or whichever way you always pick piles.

---

PILE 1

This road will require you to go deep within. To you, it might feel like you are going into your own pit of hell. But that is needed. If you do not go within and know yourself, how will you know where you want to go?

This road will actually help you to find your own path.

It seems that you are a bit unbalanced between your left and right brain. You may be using your left brain (logic/analysis etc) way too much. You are limiting your consciousness' growth. In truth, you are blocking yourself from merging more of your consciousness with your subconscious. It is creating illusions and stubbornness.

You must turn to your right brain and your feminine energy more.

You must go within, even if it looks like you are entering through a pitch black door into nothingness. I assure you, it is far from empty. You must be patient and let your eyes adapt themselves to their environment...and you will.see.

Find a place to withdraw to go within. Meditate. I emphasise, you really need to meditate. Slowly, your inner, rich wisdom will come out. And you will truly see.

You shed these masks and personas that you have created for yourself. They are only causing you pain. Gradually you shed them off, and once you've done that, you will feed so so much better. You will feel relieved. I can feel these masks making you feel so hot and suffocated, sweating and uncomfortable. Without them, you feel so fresh and nice. Without them, I can see your throat chakra getting healed again. But it's also related to your emotions and your heart chakra. Self expression and self love okay?

Now, I can also see that this road will definitely lead you to a happier, brighter and peaceful place. It's an inner place...aka state. I can see your higher self craddling your soul as if this life of yours is like a precious baby that has come to completion after you finish this road - and even as you go through it. It is really helping your higher self to evolve.

This road will balance and align you between the higher divine realm and the earth realm, in harmony you will live. Meditation, also, plays a big role in helping that process.

Your spirit family and you will be celebrating at this success.

While it will not be an easy road as you will have to face yourself, it is a highly rewarding one and you are asked to trust yourself and trust what you feel guided to do. Never question it.

A quote channeled by me: "White or Black. A strong bear, or a frail bird. Space, or Earth. Warm, or cold. Who are you?" ©️

Lamb, C. "Ti's the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected".

---

possible signs/country: South Africa (i.e. Port Elizabeth, East London, Lesotho, Swaziland), Madagascar.

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

PILE 2

Well Pile 2, you all are unique and different - more than everyone else. You walk the road that is not walked, and you walk it before anyone else. You choose the unbeaten path, it is not even a road yet! And it's not easy.

It's not easy to see things before everyone else, it's not easy to believe in things others don't. You're the visionary and you have innovative ideas. You want to manifest things - and you can. It's just, not easy.

There may not be as much support on the road you choose, whether financial, social or any other aspect. You might even feel lonely, either because there's no one to share your ideas with, or to partner up on this road. On the financial, legal or material aspects, you might also encounter problems or blocks or just slow progress in general. But Pile 2, don't despair. I feel strongly that the road you've chosen, only you all can do it, not anyone else. You've got the skills, the drive, the soul to do it. Whatever you create, people think that you've made it out of magic! You're that amazing, it's like you're guided by the divine. So here's some guidance from the divine.

My god Pile 2, some of these cards came out so violently 💀. Source/Spirit REALLY wants you to stop doubting yourself, and especially your dreams. Like "stop it already !!!". Stop judging yourself, stop this "I don't deserve this" mentality. Source wants you to realise that you are SO guided and protected. All your ideas and creations are not random, it's a team project between you and the divine, whoever that may be. Source, ancestors, guides, angels, Gaia... You're not walking this road alone! Far from it! So they want to realise that and hopefully that empowers you. Boost your ego a little Pile 2 😂

Now that this was said, all of you Pile 2, must find other 'Pile 2s', whether online or irl. Form a group! Support each other selflessly! Make each other thrive! Let the divine guide you to each other! Maybe even produce projects with each other. I feel so much creativity in this pile, whether it is in art or in any other field. Creativity is not just arts and crafts ! It could be social projects too.

For some of you, not all, be cautious of whom you put your trust into with these projects. Who you talk about your ideas and projects. Who you collaborate with. How you collaborate. Follow your gut feeling y'all, even if it looks good. :)

Again, Source is emphasising that even though this road might be intimidating or scary, you will never get lost as long as you lead with your Heart! It is the seat of your Soul.

Random but if anyone has seen Frozen 2, there's this song Unknown that Elsa sings. She was scared to follow her 'call', but as she did it, she found herself. Or more so, she faced herself. All of it. What did she find? A stronger self. A powerful self. A divine self. She was still her, but somehow she was even MORE of her. This is what's in it for you Pile 2! It's the road to your self.

A quote channeled by me: "A mirror is a reflection of yourself. So are your wishes." ©️

Cornwall, L. "Be mindful of the things you say and how you say them - 'you might upset a friend without even knowing".

---

possible signs/country: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Beira, 21 Jump Street

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

Pile 3

First of all, some of you guys are funny AF. I can't even. But some of you are super chill and slow. So relaxing. It's so interesting lol, you seem different at first, but actually you're all the same. And I feel like you're all very wise and knowledgeable, but people may be surprised by the funny peeps of this pile because they don't expect you to be that. Also, all of you Pile 3 have chosen the same type of road. So here we go.

This road you've chosen? It's both a literal road and a metaphorical one. Some of you might actually drive or fly back home, where you grew up or to your parents'. For some, you will go on a journey of self-rediscovery. For others, you will be pulled to finally face your past and accept it, so that you can finally let go. Or both of those. That will happen whether or not you go back home.

For some of you, whether or not you go back home, you might encounter some old friends. That will 'trigger' you, but for your highest good. It will do you good actually so this is most likely happening in a good sense.

Pile 3 you're all going to face something again, and you might find yourself looking at the past and the future. Eventually, on this road you will end up more grounded and in the present moment, and more in control/centred. This is amazing Pile 3! I feel so much power and confidence emanating from future you. Even more than now.

You might not have been ready to face those things before, and life gave you some time to just live. Now that you're ready, just follow wherever you're guided to.

Now for some guidance, advice... You guys, make amends. Or, let the other party make amends. Maybe both of you make amends, because a relationship goes both ways. As Cleo Wade said, love is selfless and ego is selfish. For example, you might have had a difficult relationship with your parents or your sibling. You might have left to another city as soon as you could support yourself. You haven't gone back in years. Maybe they got really sick and you feel like you should back home, just in case. But you've also grown, and they have too, and you feel ready to face them, and they want to say sorry and reconnect... The timing is there, don't miss it.

I'm definitely seeing you guys will find home again, both family wise but also in your heart. I feel like at the end of the road, you will find peace. I'm feeling emotional now, but in a good way! Like, what a relief! I'm in so much peace and I didn't know how much I needed - and wanted - that! In the future, your heart is finally smiling Pile 3. From deep inside.

A quote channeled by me: "You are not trapped in your body. Your soul is FREE." ©️

Lamb, C. "'Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected."

---

possible signs/country: India, far East India, Bangladesh.

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

Pile 4

Ego. Pride. False beliefs. Insecurity. Pile 4, this is reading is there for you to wake up before you fall deeper into quicksand. Yup, that's exactly where you're going on this road if you don't come to your senses. The cards are coming at me so directly that I have no choice but to tell it like it is. No sugar coating in this reading Pile 4, but you have to know the truth for you to actually approach this journey better, right?

Thing is, the key words I've mentioned at the beginning are what's standing in your way or your perception of yourself and your environment (physical and social). Ego, pride, false beliefs, insecurity.

You've got to be more humble, and you have to question yourself why you've become like this with yourself, Pile 4. It's going to be a different story for all you, and also, you have to figure it out yourself. So, question yourself why's, write it down as you do, dig deeper and deeper.

You need to wake up and open your eyes! There's more for you to see than what your closed mind, limiting beliefs, are showing you! And it's much more beautiful. And most of all, you have to see where you're going, so that you don't fall to your end. That's the feeling I'm given here.

Some channeled advice/insight, whatever resonates:

Some of you have a habit of lying or exaggerating things. It's not doing anything good for you, and Source/Spirit is asking you to stop doing that and find ways for you to manage this habit. You can do it.

Some of you may be surrounded by people lying to you, trying to take advantage of you. They want whatever you're having but Pile 4, stop bragging about it too. You brought (attracted) these people onto yourself. Both of you are wrong here. Again, too much pride/ego. Cut these people out of your life and learn about how to practice humbleness. It's a learning journey.

Some of you willingly believe in the lies and fake compliments of some people, because it feeds your ego, pride or insecurity. You seek external validation. Why is that? Source/Spirit is asking you to have compassion towards yourself. You should dig a little deeper to be more aware of why and how you've become like this. It's a healing journey, too.

Pile 4, take whatever resonates but also don't close your eyes again if you feel like parts of this reading is hitting something you don't want to face. You have to face it, because the cards are clearly saying that it's only going to create problems for you that you will not foresee. This road you've chosen, that you're on, it's an opportunity for you break out of your comfort zone and the illusion you've created. It's going to lead you to TRUE empowerment.

A quote channeled by me: "A mirror is a reflection of yourself. So are your wishes." ©️

Cornwall, L. "Be mindful of the things you say and how you say them - you might upset a friend without even knowing."

---

possible signs/countries: Island Galapagos, far East of South America, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia.

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

Pile 5

The wind is blowing one way but you're going in another? The road you've chosen Pile 5, it shows me a goal which you will reach by working with others and helping each other. But there's confusion or uncertainty on this road, or about the goal, or how to reach it. This wind is not an external force against you, it's your own mind, Pile 5.

Aw you guys are the sweetest. Also, you might have grown up in an environment where everyone knew each other, were close, or maintained connections... It was just important. It's like living in a little Chinese neighbourhood and everyone's your aunty and uncle, sister and brother. That stayed with you. And you're using that gift on this road you've chosen. Some of you may have become social butterflies if you're extroverted, and the introverts here would have become very social too though not as much. Connection is important.

I'm getting you're worried about how you appear and present yourself Pile 5. I think you may have also gotten that from where you were growing up. Maybe you were socially pressured to present yourself with grace and maturity, don't make the wrong step. You feel like you have to make things look effortless. Whether you're a man or woman. Physical and social appearances were given so much importance, in that little neighbourhood of yours. And now, you've chosen a road but these ingrained anxieties are getting the best of you.

Another thing you're worried about, as I mentioned at the beginning, is that you're worried about your goal and how to reach it. Pile 5, many of you are worried whether you can do it, if you have what's needed. "Do I have the potential? Can I see this through?"

Oh but you're all so sweet and lovely. There's no way you don't have what's needed for the road you've chosen. Be your genuine self, and you will be the most graceful and stable you've ever been trying. Because you won't be trying.

On that note, don't try so hard on this road. The easiest way to walk it is step-by-step. Don't try to see further than you can. You'll just miss everything eventually because you keep looking so far ahead, only to see nothing anyways. So this road you must approach progressively, stay in the present. You may look 2,3 steps ahead to plan, but no need to look into the horizon. You're no eagle Pile 5. You're a beautiful human.

Spirit wants to assure you that as long as you glide along this road in your time, even if you take some breaks on the side, you'll get there - it's a certainty. So put your worries aside my dear Pile 5. You're perfect as you are, you are loved and you are very capable. Your goal, whether it is, it's not going to disappear. Like the Sun rising up everyday, just keep your eyes on it but lose sight of the connections being made either.

A quote channeled by me: "You are not trapped in your body. Your soul is FREE." ©️

Source said let's give Pile 5 another quote so: "There is giving in receiving, and receiving in giving." ©️

Aww makes so much sense TT

Ford, H. "My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."

-----

possible signs/countries: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran maybe. Feels very "in-between".

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

Collective energy of this PAC

There is an overarching theme of healing and persistence in these Piles. All of you are transcending limiting beliefs you learned growing up. Also, you are walking past a blockage, a significant one. You're making a huge progress in your life, each of you. You are aligning with your purpose!! Everyone is getting lighter and lighter. So much growth and happiness coming your way because you are making space within you. That's what's waiting for you on this road, no matter what you're doing really. So happy for everyone. This collective has chosen a road, and it's yours only.

---

💁🏽‍♀️ To purchase a reading from me or to support ya girl -> https://ko-fi.com/thynisia

💁🏽‍♀️ Also check out my masterlist ~

#oracle #tarot #card reading #pac #pick a card #divination #pick a pile #tarot reading #oracle reading #psychic reading #intuitive reading #healing #journey #road #path #collective healing #pick a deck #pick an image #pick a picture #tarot community #tarotblr

[entropy-game-dev]

A Postmortem for Phylogenesia Automatorum

It's finally time for the retrospective on my 2 week roguelite/incremental cellular automata game jam hybrid!

It all started when, in late December, I saw a post on Reddit about the New Years Incremental Game Jam. I was both excited and hesitant to participate - excited because I had, for a long time, wanted to try my hand at an incremental-style game, and hesitant because I had already spent a few months working only very sporadically on my main game, Stellar Terminus. Nevertheless I thought it was a good opportunity to learn some more about Gamemaker Studio 2, and also to get back into regular programming.

What went right

There were a few defining moments when it came to developing this game. My favourite types of incrementals were ones that had awesome visuals that evolve over the course of the game, in the forefront of my mind as I had recently played and enjoyed (the) Gnorp Apalogue. With that in mind, I chose to base my game on Conway's Game of Life - a dynamic, interesting interface that could directly present and represent the choices you make in the game. When I streamed my first programming session to Z, which was just a 1:1 implementation of the Game of Life, he suggested a roguelite direction for this game, and that immediately resonated with me - I could absolutely see randomised upgrades (styled as genetic mutations) being a way to shape your simulation, while keeping things fresh and interesting over the course of the game.

I am a sucker for music in videogames that dynamically changes. When I asked @weaponizedslob for another (who's doing a similar thing for the music for Stellar Terminus), he suggested that each unique plant would have their own looping instrument, and I fell in love with the idea. Having a song that you personally build up depending on your choices and combination of plants was very appealing, and he worked in the background to provide this while I kept on programming.

The next key moment in the game's development was adding all 10 plants, but specifically the 0range. What started as just a dumb pun (all of its values were set to 0 (except point values) so it had 0% chance to spawn and generate points) turned into one of the defining characteristics of the game whereby you had to manage buying it not so early that it would impact your points, but not so late that you'd need to spend a ton of points fishing for the right mutations to make it produce points.

And the final moment was something I have already previously talked about - Lucinius suggested the player be given 5 free resets at the start of each game. This solved so many problems at once: the fact that point gain was probabilitic and variable, that some plants were more tempramental than others, mitigation of bad luck when it came to upgrades, etc. It also provided a metric in which I could balance each plant such that on average, they would yield at least 1 and at most 2 upgrades within those 5 resets, more than enough in most runs to get a foothold.

Other positive aspects:

It was my first true solo game that I had completed and released! I had previously done some gamejams with the help of Lucinius and Maza, of course, but relying only on yourself is a feeling I enjoy.

I was able to stick to a timeline and scope. While there was a bit of scope creep, I had accounted for it and had the majority of the planned features done by week 1, allowing time for polish and balance.

Testing commenced early and often, although I have a bad habit of not playtesting things myself, which I need to do more of!

Porting the aesthetics and some generic UI code from Stellar Terminus saved me a heap of time and headache

The logo for the game, despite me doing it 1 hour before submission, turned out really well and I always discount how a little bit of effort presentation-wise can have a huge impact on people's perception of things.

So what could have been improved upon?

The biggest issues people have raised through both playtesting and comments on the game, were that the game could use more work on its balance. I completely agree with this assessment, and I touched on this in my previous blog. I think incrementals in general are incredibly hard to balance as humans do not have a very good sense for exponentially increasing numbers. Without completely reworking some systems, I tended towards an easier game. Making the game brutally hard would have stifled creativity, experimentation, and different builds, as players would have to tend towards an optimal strategy every game. There is definitely a balance to be struck, but considering the appeal of a lot of roguelites is "popping off" with a certain build, I was not too dissatisfied with how things turned out. Plus, players could always compete with others or themselves for the least amount of simulation resets to victory.

The simulation and overall concept of the game was also quite difficult to understand. This was something I really should have realised earlier, as given an initial configuration of the Game of Life, it is almost impossible to predict how it will evolve. When you throw in multiple plants with different rulesets, a random starting configuration, and probabilistic spawning and dying, a player has no real chance to understand the ins and outs of the system. Of course, I had designed it with a vision that you wouldn't need to, rather, the aim was to just get a sense of the overall vibe (for lack of a better word) of the simulation, and nudge it in the direction you want it to go. Given more time, I would have had a before/after demo play when you're hovering over each upgrade to help players' understanding.

My biggest technical misstep was definitely not having a web version of the game on release. The incremental genre is largely played in a browser, and while previously we had always submitted downloadables for gamejams, I really neglected to think about the audience for this one. I ended up rectifying this about a week later, but the web version is not at parity with the downloadable version, with its performance being worse, and its lack of music. And in the end, the most amount of votes came in the initial rush, and so I definitely missed the boat there!

Other negative aspects:

Some plants definitely could have felt/behaved in more unique ways. However, that would have required adding more parameters into the database, which would further muddy the underestanding of the entire simulation, so I decided against it for this version of the game.

UI is still an ongoing struggle for me. Everything here had buttons and mouseover text which was great, but low-res pixel art and my lack of artistic talent doesn't lend itself well to UI-heavy games.

The spaghetti code was REAL, especially within the button object. There was quite a bit of technical debt I had to overcome implementing new features, but at the same time some features were implemented blazing fast by disregarding encapsulisation and robust coding principles.

The name. Argh! It's not bad, but it doesn't really tell the average player what the game's about, and, confession time, every time you've seen me write it, I've just copy-pasted it from the itch.io page because I'm afraid I'm going to spell it wrong. At least it ranks well on Google (when it stops trying to auto-correct it)!

BONUS: Stuff I learned about Gamemaker Studio 2!

They reverted back to a 1-time payment model, a huge step in the right direction from their previous monthly subscription model. Not only that but now, you can export your game for any platform (except consoles) for free, and you pay a $100 1-time fee if you want to then make money from your game.

Having CSV files open doesn't result in compilation errors, unlike GMS1. This saved so much time as I was able to tweak plant values on the fly. Also, GMS2 now has a native CSV import function, which is nice.

Its code flagging features were really nice. I honestly hated Feather, which is their smart code comprehension system, but just simple things like "hey you haven't used this variable name yet", and color-coding for local vs instance variables were awesome when it came to intercepting bugs early.

There were some weird editor behaviours that I noticed - from the sometimes blurry rendering of text, having multiple of the same code window open, and inconsisten behaviour when it came to tabbing/highlighting text, it was definitely something I had to get used to, and felt like a step backward from GMS1. The way the windows were arranged were a lot nicer though which partially makes up for it.

My .exe files don't get flagged by windows! I think GMS1 is just too old at this point but sending files to friends for testing was a lot smoother here.

And that wraps up the postmortem… well, almost. I'm going to make another small post later because this one is already getting to be a monster, regarding future directions and wishes for the game. But in terms of positives and negatives, that pretty much everything I wanted to say. On the whole? Super happy with how this turned out and the wonderful comments from everyone wherever I posted about the game. I felt it was a nice, self-contained project that was able to nicely achieve the very specific vision I had for it upon conception, and it even resonated with some of my playtesters who were either indifferent to, or actively disliked, incrementals, which is a huge plus in my book!

Here are some bonus stats from itch.io regarding how it has gone over the past week and a bit:

Thanks for reading as always!

#gamedev #videogame #gamemaker #devblog #programming #pixel art #indiedev #codeblr #postmortem #roguelite #roguelike #indiegame #incremental

[shandian-go]

Update: 2024-02-04

January 2024 Arrivals

This round's arrivals are all packed! If you had any orders in this round of arrivals, you should have received a second payment confirmation email or a hold notice email. Please remember to check your junk/spam folders!

If you still haven't heard from me but were expecting something this round, now's the time to email me :) You can check the Status page for a list of everything that arrived this round: https://www.shandiango.ca/status

Membership and In Stock

Since I will be busy reorganizing my packing area and planning for the cafe event this month, membership will reopen at the end of February and the membership period will last until April 30, 2024.

The Early Access sale for this period will be an In Stock sale which include extras and unclaimed items for past group orders (up to January 2024 arrivals). The regular In Stock sale will likely be held at the beginning of March :)

New Listings

I'll be preparing the listings for new pre-orders this week and will aim to have them up by this coming Friday (Feb 9). I'll take a look at any requests too so feel free to submit them here: https://www.shandiango.ca/more/request

Discount Codes

Frequent buyers in the 2023 year should have received an e-mail with a unique discount code that they can apply to pre-orders for the 2024 year. This e-mail may have ended up in your junk/spam folder so just a friendly reminder to double check :)

There's currently no formal process or set criteria for obtaining discount codes but I plan on reviewing joiners' order history every 6 or 12 months and will give out the codes accordingly!

#shandian go #announcements

[economicshomeworkhelper]

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[linuxgamenews]

Fear the Spotlight horror story revolves around two friends

Fear the Spotlight third-person survival horror adventure game launches on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to Cozy Game Pals for their amazing work and dedication. Available now on both Steam and itch. Plus 100% Positive reviews. Remember those old-school PlayStation 1 graphics that had a charm of their own? Well, Fear the Spotlight brings back those memories but with a modern twist. This third-person survival horror adventure isn't just about nostalgia; it's an interactive game. One that also draws inspiration from legends like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. The Fear the Spotlight story revolves around two friends - you and Amy. After being intrigued by supernatural mysteries, you both decide to delve into the unknown. So you perform a séance in your school after hours. But as you might expect, things don't go as planned. Suddenly, you find yourself apart from Amy, and you're going into an eerie part of the school. Which has also been shut off for years due to a heart wrenching fire incident. What makes Fear the Spotlight stand out is its attention to detail. It takes inspiration from a bygone era, the settings have a detailed design. The dilapidated hallways, rusting lockers, and the omnipresent foggy setting. Due to make you feel like you're truly there. Making your way through the ruins, with an obvious sense of urgency.

Fear the Spotlight | Launch Trailer

One of the unique features is the point and click mode. Unlike a typical horror title where you run and gun, here, you'll find yourself solving puzzles and interacting with the setting to find clues. Think of it as a clever blend of classic adventure meets suspenseful horror. Now, if you're used to battling monsters head-on, Fear the Spotlight offers a different kind of challenge. Instead of fighting, you'll need to strategize and sneak past these terrifying creatures. Since this adds an adrenaline pumping tension, as each step you take might be your last. Trust me, it's exhilarating! Try the Linux Demo on Steam. A special mention goes to the surreal soundscape that adds to the story. The subtle noises, echoing footsteps, and ambient music don't just play in the background. They also become a character in their own right, enhancing the overall mood. If you're wondering about its credibility, Fear the Spotlight was featured on the 2022 Haunted PS1 Demo Disc. An honour that only quality games get. Now, you might be thinking: such a comprehensive title must have be the creation of a big team. Fear the Spotlight is the brainchild of just two talented people. The passion and dedication are evident in every corner, every shadow, and every puzzle you encounter. Since they crafted this third-person survival horror adventure, with love. Dive in, unravel the mysteries, and embark on a nostalgic yet fresh journey. Fear the Spotlight is available now on both Steam and itch (plus a Steam code). Priced at $9.95 USD / £8.29 / 9,78€ with the 17% launch discount. Along with support for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

#fear the spotlight #third-person #survival horror #linux #gaming news #cozy game pals #ubuntu #mac #windows #pc #unity #Youtube

[strawberrynida]

Jewelry-Tober Day 14: Crystal Heart

October is over and I didn't have time to update my Tumblr! Sorry!

Thankfully, I only did Jewelry-Tober till day 16 which includes this crystal necklace! I was inspired to craft a silver-toned necklace featuring my favorite silver-toned pearls. There's something captivating about these pearls, especially when they mingle with sleek metal chains. It's a nice contrast.

To add a touch of enchantment, I combined these pearls and chains with clear quartz and clear flower beads. The heart charm, seamlessly integrated with dainty silver heart links, completes the composition, infusing a subtle elegance into this unique piece! I hope you enjoy <3

Details: ♥ Puffy Heart #1 | Silver-tine indented heart, 12 freshwater pearls, 925 mini hearts, clear beads, clear flowers, 925 chains, 6 clear quartz, paperclip chains.

♥ 18 inches at the tightest, 21 inches at the longest.

🖤 ₊ ⊹ This necklace has already found a home. But don't feel down! I create similar necklaces like this on my Etsy @Strawberrynida. Simply type it into Etsy OR click on my website link below to access it. Only one of one and handmade by me <3

Thank you and have a great day! 🖤 ₊ ⊹

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pssstttt, use code “TUMBLR” for a discount!

All socials are under the username StrawberryNida with the same profile picture.

Etsy: https://strawberrynida.etsy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strawberrynida/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/strawberrynida/

My account is a safe place for any kind, strawberry-loving, person <3.

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#crystal #clear quartz #jewlery #goth aesthetic #dark acadamia aesthetic #gothic #dark aesthetic #necklace #fashion #crystals #november #today on tumblr #handmade #aesthetic

[bella-wall-studios]

Our Home Runs off Coffee, Love, and Laughter Kitchen Wall Decal, Minimalist Decal, Hand drawn Line art A modern kitchen wall decal showcasing a hand drawn trendy line art drawing of a steaming cup of coffee will look great in your kitchen or dining room. Underneath the minimalistic cup of joe reads "Our home runs off coffee, love, and laughter". It truly is a feel good decal that would look great in any true coffee lovers home. La dimensions Basique (Small): 17.4"x12" Pratique (Medium): 26.1"x18" Classique (Large): 33.3"x23" Magnifique (Extra Large): 52.3"x36.1" If you would like this decal in a different size please contact us. * Depending on the size you order the decal may come in pieces ******SAVE AN EXTRA 10%****** For an extra 10% off your entire order join our mailing list and become a VIP member. Use this link https://mailchi.mp/40fdb628c1aa/new-customer-welcome-bella-wall-studios and you will be emailed a discount code for an extra 10% off. WHY SHOP WITH BELLA WALL STUDIOS? -Unique art work -Three different finishes to choose from -A portion of our profits is donated to charity (The Autism Science Foundation) -Premium interior adhesive vinyl made specifically for indoor walls -A special shopping experience -A unique high-end wall decal MORE ABOUT OUR DECALS Our high-end luxury decals are handcrafted using top quality interior vinyl which will allow the decal to adhere to most indoor walls and surfaces. We are the only shop that offers 36 different couleurs and three different finishes to choose from. Matte metallic, true matte, and semi-matte are the different finishes that are offered for your decal. Semi-matte vinyl will have slightly more of a shine to it than true matte vinyl. The result of using our premium matte vinyl is a stunning natural painted on effect with unrivaled quality that will stand the true test of time. In addition it will also reduce the amount of glare stemming from light or shiny objects. PROCESSING TIME It is important for us that your decal is absolutely perfect and that you have the best experience possible. For this please allow 2-5 days for your decal to be crafted and processed before shipping it to you. UNASWERED QUESTIONS If you have any unanswered questions please take a look at our FAQ section. If we still haven’t answered your question then please contact us so we can get your questions answered. We are always happy to help you out! OUR MOTTO "Our goal isn't just to make your wall beautiful, it's to make you feel special as well" - Bella Wall Studios https://www.etsy.com/listing/1392711702/our-home-runs-off-coffee-love-and

#Coffee Shop Art #coffee wall decal #Coffee sign #hot Cappuccino latte #Kitchen wall decal #Dining room sticker #coffee wall sticker #Funny coffee quote #coffee lover gift #coffee line art #line art quote #Minimalist Wall Art #Minimalist Decor

[utena-fanmerch]

GOGAI GOGAI‼️ Etsy is now giving buyers $10 off of eligible $40 purchases in your local currency!

Use the code YES10 an unlimited number of times between now and Oct. 11, Wednesday.

And yes, the code can stack on top of existing sales, as long as the subtotal is over $40 after individual shop discounts! Input YES10 into the Apply *Etsy* Coupon Code field at your basket/cart before checking out!

Even better is that sellers will still receive full earnings unaffected by the sale, so this is a great opportunity to save and support artists!

There are tons of Utena merch on Etsy, but keep reading to see a few listings to start with~

First we have a beautiful take on the Adolescence girls, Utena's armor design is dazzling and the piece gives me insurmountable feels.

We also have a lovely reproduction of Juri's heartache locket, with or without chain. The seller did restock in the past but there's 4 left at time of writing

Charm renditions of these cute masquerade designs are nearly sold out, but you can still get these fancy lil guys in sticker form! RIP Saionji, he was not invited.

Best boi Chuchu is sold out, but Utena and Anthy are still up for adoption! I absolutely love their gestures and expressions.

Moo.

A personal recommendation! I have both of these charms and I carry them everywhere with me, they are adorable and make me super happy. The enamel pin versions of these designs are soon retiring, but so far, the keychains remain available!

One of THE coolest and unique in-Untenaverse merch I've come across. Seal your letters with the official Ohtori emblem like the chairman that I hope you aren't. There's only 1 left at time of writing though!

Like the locket, the duelist ring with the iconic pink crest is weirdly elusive on Etsy, but there are a few options of different pricing!

There's a lot more I want to add, but this post is already long haha. Please spread the word and hope you find some shining things! ✨️

#revolutionary girl utena #rgu #rgu merch #utena merch #shojo kakumei utena #sku #shoujo kakumei utena #utena tenjou #anthy himemiya #utena x anthy #miki kaoru #touga kiryuu #nanami kiryuu #juri arisugawa #rose crest #pin #ring #wax stamp #charm #print #stickers

[detectiveconnor]

“A machine was destroyed.  And another machine was sent to replace it.  I don't understand what's bothering you.” (it) (cuts out the ‘I’ as much as possible) 

“The previous model was destroyed. I'm the new Connor.” (the) (not ‘a’ or ‘another’ but just ‘the’. the presumed new Connor. the necessarily required Connor. the destined next connor. the transient self)

“I’m not a unique model, am I? How many Connors are there?”�� (I’m) (still multiple - there is more than one Connor/more than one machine that could fill this role/but ‘I’m’, and ‘are’)

“If I don't solve this case, CyberLife will destroy me. Five minutes. It's all I ask.” (I, me, separate from Cyberlife who is capable of malevolent (at least negatively-coded) action) 

transient like smoke. transient like it is not made to be held onto, it cannot be held at all. transient like he is a passer-by in people’s lives and he is surprised to find people have thought about him while he’s not there. transient like the only space for him that is going to be his is space that he holds for himself (and he holds it well, he holds things very well). transient like ‘i am loved like an ache in my throat’ and being held-space-for is startling, and sometimes sharp.

transient like ‘wanted’ is a feeling worth noticing.

transient like being torn into and taken and taken and taken and taken and taken from was at least at one point what he was there for. intended function (there has to be a way to talk about that without using those words, which feel dirty). prototype.

transient, is what the feeling is, often. even still, in his day-to-day life. he is still there and he is still warm and he is still doing what he needs to do, but people look away and he does not make them look back again. It’s not that Connor doesn’t think he is worth more than it, it’s not that he seeks to be it, it’s not that he thinks people do not love him, it is not that he is undervaluing himself or his work. he knows he is good, and the work that he does is good, and he is an excellent part of the teams that he works in.

but it’s that there is that background, quiet thought, just around, a learned set of rules for navigating his life which he can slip into or slip on if he isn’t paying attention. rules he learnt through the prototype he was and the things cyberlife did with his body.

there’s always that little flash of surprise and affection when someone has Noticed Connor and/or Remembered something about him. it is rare that people pay attention. he is quiet, does not demand the attention of people who discount him, does not care whether people are seeing him or not when he does the good work that he does. but it is nice to be seen. his name is connor. it is nice to be seen.

#about connor #that's the post i wanted to make about 'transient' thanks #headcanon

[gefdreamsofthesea]

Even though I've been talking about Baldur's Gate 3 a lot Pathfinder 2e is still my preferred system and here are some reasons I think you should play it:

It is union made.

You can actually start characters at first level because they can take more than a few hits.

When they want to write a sourcebook based on real world cultures (like say the upcoming Tian Xia books) they put together a team of people from those cultures, so you know you're getting a quality product that avoids racist stereotypes and cultural appropriation.

Ancestries, Heritages, and Lineages - There are your standard core ancestries like humans and elves, and then you have catfolk, leshies (plant people), poppets (doll-like constructs), and even skeletons. On top of that you also choose a heritage (basically a subrace). There are half-elves and half-orcs, there are heritages specific to certain ancestries (like say desert elves) then there are "versatile" heritages like tieflings, aasimar, dhampirs (the children of vampires and mortals), changelings (children of hags), and duskwalkers (connected to planar entities that protect the dead and fight the undead) among others. There are also lineage feats where you can choose to be descended from a particular kind of fiend, celestial, vampire, etc. Versatile heritages can be applied to any ancestry, so yes you can be an elf AND a tiefling!

The game is pretty well balanced and manages to avoid the issue in D&D where some subclasses are just straight up better than others (ex. Beast Master Ranger vs. every other Ranger, Grave and Death domain Clerics vs. Necromancy Wizard). It's also IMHO more difficult but not impossible to make suboptimal builds (tip from experience: when you can choose a key ability, make sure you give your character equipment that actually scales off that ability).

You can but don't have to only multiclass into one of the core classes. Archetypes give you some neat abilities and you don't have to feel like a discount version of a certain class. You can also use archetypes if you don't meet the requirements for a certain class but want some of the same benefits. As an example, my very religious Investigator took the Blessed One archetype which gave him access to some Champion (Pathfinder's Paladin class) abilities but didn't require him to follow a Champion code.

Okay so you want to play D&D? Which setting are you using? Which pantheon of deities do these people worship again? In Pathfinder, unless you're doing a homebrew campaign, you're playing in Golarion. There's a consistency that I like (YMMV).

If you don't know where to start as a GM, you can pick up an Adventure Path and have an entire campaign plotted out for you. No need to design encounters, agonize over whether you're giving your players too many magic items, and the like. There are many APs for both 1e and 2e that all have unique themes.

These are just some of the reasons I love Pathfinder and I think you should also love Pathfinder.