#finally got around to taking a screenshot but i ended up fixing a TON of things

[howlcraft]

part 1 of my project to recreate liminal space images in minecraft!

#minecraft #minecraft build #liminal spaces #liminal tumblr #this one's been in the works for months now #finally got around to taking a screenshot but i ended up fixing a TON of things #and messed around with shader settings for probably a half hour #then took like 30 screenshots in hopes that at least ONE would turn out good #and then realized too late that i got the perspective Slightly Off. which is infuriating. BUT IM STILL PROUD OF THIS OK #and i actually REALLY enjoy projects like this! i enjoy building in mc using real life photos for reference #builds #liminal builds

[blancamz]

“It’s Over Isn’t It” Reanimation progress

Honestly one of my favourite parts about animating is posting the WIPs online. Here’s the step-by-step of how I went about doing my reanimation for the end section of “It’s Over Isn’t It” from the Steven Universe episode Mr. Greg.

1) Idea and Prep

I was flicking through Steven Universe: Art & Origins. I think at the time I must’ve been between jobs or bored or something, because it came into my head to do a bit of animation based on the pilot style SU. I’ve always been quite fond of the pilot style, especially Pearl’s David Bowie / LaRoux look. The little tux design by Hellen Jo was quite snazzy as well, so I decided to have a go at doing a segment of “It’s Over Isn’t It”, using these designs.

I traced the turnaround from the book in Clip Studio Paint and approximated Jo’s design to it. At first I had the colour turnaround, but did the low-colour turnaround with the heads to give me a better idea of where the lines are and proportions of the body. I also get a clip of “It’s Over Isn’t It” and trim it down to the section I want to do.

This is a long one so strap in.

2) Sketch Pass

I’ll be using gifs that show the first 100-130 frames of the animation, because the full segment is 22 seconds long.

Very very loose animation of what I’m going to be doing with this segment, done in Adobe Animate. I have a video of the real segment in the corner of the stage and audio in the timeline, and closely reference them for layout and acting.

I’ve decided I want to go really nuts with the animation. Lots of angles on her face, smooth movement, secondary animation / follow-through on her various clothing elements. Technically her earring’s supposed to be on the other side but I want to animate that flailing around dangit, so I change it so it faces the camera.

3) Rough Pass

I tidy up the rough I did somewhat. It’s still very rough, but Pearl is better proportioned and the motion is more complete. I get a better idea of how she moves by focusing on drawing keys (the most important drawings) and breakdowns (drawings that help you figure out the motion a little bit, without full animation). I have Pearl, her suit, ruffles and earring on separate layers so I can turn things on and off or lower their opacity as needed.

4) Tiedowns

At some point between the rough and tie-down phase I realized that I’d been animating at 30fps instead of 25fps like I’d meant to, so I had to end up shifting all the roughs I’d been doing. Bad news: having to wrestle with getting the timings I’d so carefully planned out in the rough to still look good. Good news: I have to animate and clean up 5 fewer frames per second, so that’s 110 fewer drawings to worry about. Yussssss. For reference, the above clip has now gone from 132 frames to 107.

During the tiedown phase, I go over the roughs and more carefully try to match the proportions in the turnaround. I keep a flattened version of the first frame of animation to use as reference thoughout to prevent morphing. Sometimes when you’re animating, things will get bigger or small as you re-draw them, so it’s good to have a base drawing to refer back to and make the sizes stay consistent.

At this point I’m way more aware of reasons behind the big design change for Pearl between the pilot and the show. She’s so dang skinny and tall with that extra poof of hair up top that she’s really annoying to frame up. If you want to keep all of her in the frame, there’s going to be tons of empty space.

I also find that my turnaround isn’t enough reference for Pearl’s awkwardly-shaped head. I snap me a bunch of screenshots of pearl’s head from different angles and collate them into a big sheet.

5) Inbetweening

Inbetweening, aka filling out all the gaps in the timeline between the keys and breakdowns. If you’ve done your keys and BD’s well, inbetweening can be a pretty straight-forward.

But I’ve got like a million bits of secondary animation to content with, which means this still takes a significant amount of time. The hair and ruffles have to move a little later than the rest of the body, and some parts of the ruffles have to move at a different rate from the rest. I’m trying to animate like there’s wind since Pearl’s on top of a tall building. I keep animating until it feels good enough.

This is what my timeline and stage look like in Animate by this point. The animation is mostly on 2s, with some 1s, 3s and 4s thrown in when needed.

6) Cleanup and Colour

I did the cleanup in Toon Boom Harmony. As a program, I like it was more than Animate, even though it isn’t without it’s flaws. But it’s also really dang expensive. Fortunately, by this point I’d been working on the upcoming Deadendia series for Netflix. What with the pandemic, we were working from home and the studio gave me a license for Toon Boom. So I exported my frames from Animate, put ‘em in TB and started cleaning up.

I’ve found that cleanup is something that’s often offloaded to new or less experienced artists at studios because blah it’s just tracing the rough animation. But you’ve got good cleanup and bad cleanup, and a good cleanup artist will compensate for flaws in volume and have a good, clear and natural line.

I’m not terribly fond of doing cleanup myself. I feel I tend to end up rushing, which leads to sloppy work. I tried really hard to keep up a standard here.

7) Comping

a.k.a. Compositing, the final layering of the various elements before exporting a film. Another stage I don’t quite care for because of its nuances. Also drawing backgrounds.

I admit that I’m not very good at drawing backgrounds or environments. I tried to do the one for the second shot of this animation, since it was acutally really important. In shots 1 and 3, you don’t really see the ground or even the railing that Pearl is leaning on, but 2 is a wide shot. My first attempts at it were unfortunate. Fortunately my husband @joe-sparrow is both good at backgrounds and good at imitating the style and colour palette of the show. He volunteered to do the BGs and I accepted. See mine vs. his:

So yeah, get me some nice backgrounds, put the animation on top, then fiddle with a couple of elements in the comp to give things a little bit more depth. During this stage, errors that had happened during the animation progress that I hoped would just go away became annoyingly obvious, so there was a fair bit of going back to fix them.

So that’s how I done made this animation. I started April 2018 and posted in on January 1st 2021, so that’s over 1.5 years it took me to do these 22 seconds of animation. However, I wasn’t working on it continuously through that time. Sometimes I’d be working on it every day, other times I’d not touch it for weeks or months at a time. It really depended on how busy or whatever I was at the time. I think if I’d been working on it non-stop, it still would’ve taken me at least like 2-3 months to finish it.

If you made it to the end of this post, I hope you found all this information interesting.

Happy drawing.

It’s over, isn’t it.

#animation #wip #art #Flash #toon boom #fanart #steven universe #pearl

[commenter2]

New Rift Apart trailer breakdown

We finally got a new trailer for Rift Apart and it is filled with TONS of new info about the story and gameplay. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p_gg9UW9k4

Like I promised here is a breakdown.

Like some people were theorizing, the trailer opens with what I think will be the opening cutscene of the game as Ratchet and Clank, and probably Qwark given the balloon and holograms, are being celebrated at a parade to thank them for saving the universe time and time again. We then see Ratchet and Clank presented with the Dimensionator which I bet the people of the parade gave to them (after Clank and others fixed it) so that Ratchet could go visit the Lombaxes in there dimension if he wanted to as part of universe's appreciation. However to there shock Dr. Nefarious (whos mech was hiding in a Dr. Nefarious balloon which is clever and funny) takes it.

The next big cutscene I think takes place at the end of the gameplay demo we got in August as Nefarious’s mech is damaged here, likely as a result of crashing after the Dimensionator blew up. Here Nefarious opens a portal to the dimension where he always wins and Ratchet and Clank get sucked into it, though I bet the end up somewhere else first. Ratchet calls out to Clank and is shocked to discover another Lombax and we see that Clank lost his arm somehow and he meets the female Lombax. An interesting note here is that Clank lost his right arm, just like the female Lombax did, which is intriguing and a relief as I was nervous that Ratchet was going to lose his own arm during the adventure like she di if it turns out she is just a female version of him. I wonder if Clank gets a replacement arm and because of it being made of materials from an alternate dimension, he gets his new interdimensional powers ?

After all this time we FINALLY learn the female Lombaxes name which is………Rivet ! I’m still kind of meh about the name but I bet I’ll learn to love it.

Were quickly given two bits of gameplay info here, one is that Clank WILL be teaming up with Rivet just like he does with Ratchet and we get a new gameplay mechanic obviously inspired by Insomniac Games’s Spider-Man as with the aid of the gravity boots Rivet (and likely Ratchet) can run on metallic walls. We also see that Rivet also has a swingshot AND a rift tether and can use it on yellow rifts.

Speaking of rifts if you look closely at that swinghsot scene, there seems to be a blue rift ! I wonder if they can only be accessed by Clank or after doing a hacking puzzle like I mentioned before ?

We then get a few scenes of some of the levels that Rivet and Clank will be able to go to in the game, one looks like AU Sargasso, one looks like a shipyard with a building with a Mr. Zurkon statue on it, a market on AU Torren IV, and some kind of asteroid field.

That last one is the most interesting as after Rivet hits a crystal it with her hammer, she and Clank seem to go to a new dimension. Maybe unlike Ratchet she has to use them to travel the omniverse ? Another idea is that this is an example of Clank’s interdimesional powers as the area that Rivet and Clank appear in does have some similarities to that weird area they were in before hitting the crystal. Maybe there in some sort of space between dimensions and hitting specific crystals can take them to specific dimensions ?

We then hear and later see a female robot surprised to see Emperor Nefarious return, followed by our Nefarious lying about being the emperor. I wonder if she’s the AU Nefarious equivalent of Lawrence ? By the way where is Lawrence ? This is interesting as it seems that the real Emperor Nefarious is gone, meaning he will probably be introduced later on in the game and when he does he will have something big planned.

We then get a scene that reminds me of a scene from ACIT as Ratchet sneaks up on Nefarious and after seeing a troubled Clank (which makes him sad) he accidently reveals himself, surprising Nefarious and we get a funny scene of Ratchet shushing him and hitting Nefarious across the face. I wonder if just like in that scene from ACIT this will cause Nefarious to get another crack on his dome and eye, but this time on the other side of his face XD

After a scene of a ship flying on Torren IV, we then hear Rivet talking about how Ratchet and Clank’s Nefarious is just like hers and is also surprised to see another Lombax. A quick note, I believe that segment of her gameplay from earlier in the trailer is the gameplay that leads to Rivet and Clank back to her base of sorts. We then see Ratchet take a Nefarious ship, likely the same one I mentioned earlier. Could this confirm that there will be space battles and if so could we ride Aphelion ?

While a battle take place on Torren IV while the giant robot shoots down a ship, just like in his bio card from twitter we hear Clank says that every dimension could be lost if they don’t get the Dimensionator back. During that screenshot of the shot ship going down, there is a statue of someone on the bottom right corner who I think could be a new character. He could be an AU character as he kinda looks like captain slag on a Vorselon like body.

We then see that the robot will go after Rivet and Clank (who is still missing his arm) as it is about to stop them while on the rails. This kinda reminds me of that Kerchu guardian boss fight from TOD which mean its seems like this will be a multi step boss fight which I love. I also feel like Torren IV is the place in the game’s story where Ratchet and Clank reunite and where Ratchet meets Rivet.

The next few scenes happen quite quickly but there are some interesting things here.

HOVERBOOTS CONFIMRED ! It also seems that he acquires them while Clank is still with Rivet.

Some new gameplay as unlike Ratchet , when Rivet dashes to the side we see her make several hologram versions of herself which actually seems to draw fire from the enemies ! We also see her wielding a new pistol weapon of sorts. Maybe it could be a modified or V5 Burst Pistol ?

There is a scene of Rivet ALONE riding a bug as she chases a bug shaped ship.

We see Ratchet AND Clank on Ardolis, specifically a remake of that room we break into in the caves to get to the Lombax artifact in TOD, blasting robot pirates with a machine gun weapon. This scene seems to confirm that maybe at certain points during the game Clank will switch between partnering up with Ratchet and Rivet. That or they are together because this is early in the game and like in the August gameplay they get separated when they get on that ship being attacked by that squid.

A Clank less Ratchet uses a grenade launcher of sorts at an enemy. Instead of exploding though the ball seems to move around pretty fast, striking the enemy multiple times.

The trailer ends with that bug shaped ship from earlier crashing and Rivet about to hit the driver with her hammer. I think that will be another multi step boss fight as a part of the ship was missing.

An awesome trailer for sure but thanks to VTNVIVI there is more info about Rift Apart. Thanks to him I found a link to PlayStation blog filled with new info: https://blog.playstation.com/2021/04/26/meet-rivet-the-mysterious-new-protagonist-in-ratchet--clank-rift-apart/

One minor thing stated here is that the level ruled by Emperor Nefarious is called Nefarious City, which I’m surprised we didn’t call it that before, oh well.

Its confirmed that Mark Mothersbaug composed the music. He was behind the music of Crash and Jak and Daxter which is interesting. Speaking of music you can actually listen to some of the soundtrack on the PS Blog, one of which is called “Ride Though the Omniverse” which on a minor note confirms that there calling this an omniverse instead of a multiverse, just like in ACIT.

We get to see the 5 armor sets that comes with preordering the game digitally. Its confirmed that they are cosmetic and you can “mix-and-match” sets of armors. Though theses armors are cosmetic I still think the Carbonox armor will work like regular armor and reduce damage.

This trailer was very needed but guess what were getting more Rift Apart news ! We will be getting 15 minutes of new gameplay at the next PlayStations State of Play which is this Thursday the 29th at 2pm Pacific/5pm Eastern ! I'll probably be busy around that time but do expect a breakdown of it later this week.

With that said what were your thoughts on the trailer and the blog news ? What was your favorite moment from the trailer ?

Did you notice anything that I missed and what theorizes do you have about Rift Apart ?

#ratchet & clank #ratchet and clank #insomniac games #rivet #dr. nefarious #ratchet and clank: rift apart #ratchet & clank: rift apart #playstation 5

[bokutosbestie2]

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Ah thanks to those who are reading this story! Love you all ☻

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Y/N Pov:

After getting dropped off by Atsumu, I check my phone to only see 20 miss calls from Semi.

Yikes, he probably thought I died or something...

I decide to call him back.

" Hello. "

" Y/N WHAT HAPPEN TO YOU! I WAS TRYING TO FIND YOU ALL OVER THE PARTY! " he shouted through the phone.

" OK FIRST OF ALL CALM DOWN! I'M OK DON'T WORRY! "

" Thank GOSH! I REALIZED YOU WERE GONE AROUND 3 am?! "

" Wow what a nice friend realizing I was gone after 5 hours at the party! " I say with sarcasm.

" HEY! AT LEAST I REMEMBER?! "

" YEA! You right... " I laughed.

" OH ALSO?! How did you get home your car is still at the Venue?! " Semi asks confused.

" WELL!  A guy name Atsumu helped me out when I was completely out! "

" ATSUMU?! THE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER?! LIKE THE REALLY GOOD ONE?! "

" Yea?! The one with the twin! "

Why is he so surprised?

" DO YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER?! "

" No, we just met last night! How do you know him ?" I asked curiously.

" We used to play volleyball together in high school same with his brother Osamu! Also, Osamu catered for the party! "

" Hmm, interesting... Well, I met Osamu at his restaurant."

" Osamu is the calmer twin but he still pretty crazy, on the other hand, Atsumu is a big flirt with the girls watch out!" Semi laughs on the phone.

" Yea not interested. "

" Haha, that's a loss for him! Anyways you need a break from volleyball players. " Semi laughs.

" Yea I do! Alright SEMI SEMI I'm gonna get going now I have to finish a couple of things from work. Also, I need to cure this hangover before tomorrow. "

" Ok then ILL LET YOU GO! BYE! "

" Bye Semi! "

We both end the call.

Now I need to find a way to get my car before noon because I have tons of work to do.

I can't ask Semi to take me there because he staying at a friend's house, I can probably ask Kenma to help me. I haven't seen him in a while so maybe we can catch up a little also.

I shoot a text to Kenma.

Texting on phone:

Y/n: “ Hey are you free right now? “

5 minutes later

Kenma: " yea why? "

Y/n: " Do you think you can come over right now?!

Kenma: " I don't see why not. "

Y/n: " PERFECT! "

I put my phone down on the counter and change into different clothes because I was still in Atsumu shirt.

I guess I'll be keeping the shirt until we meet again, or if we ever.

30 minutes later

I hear my doorbell ring, and it was Kenma.

" KENMAAA COME IN! " I say happily."

" Hey what's up its been a while! " he says as he went in for a hug.

" Nothing really.. "

" Bs I heard you and Kageyma broke up.. "

" FROM WHO?! " I say confused.

" Hinata... "

" OH YEAAA HIS BESTFRIEND... "

" Yea, he didn't really tell him but Hinata suspected when he texts him " how are things going with y/n, " and let's say he didn't take it well. " Kenma said in a conflicted tone.

" WHY did he not take it WELL! He the one who broke up with me?!" I say angrily.

" Did he ever tell you why he broke up with you? " Kenma asked.

" No, he just said I dOn'T LOvE yOu aNyMoRE "

I’m so annoyed right now why is he acting like the victim.

" That's it? " Kenma was surprised.

" YEA! "

" Oh wow, I really didn't think that the reason like... Strange."

" Who cares, I don't like him either. "

Obviously, I was still hurting but it's fine I don't need him.. Screw him.

" If you say so! "

Kenma Pov:

Yea no she still likes him...

Y/N Pov:

" Enough about him... DO you want to help me get my car?! "

" Wheres your car? " Kenma asks confused

" UH well, It's at a Venue.. "

" Did you go to a party or something? "

" Yea Semi had a party yesterday and let's say I got a little too wasted... BUT don't worry someone helped me out... "

" Uh, who helped you out? "

" I don't know if you know him but he is also a Volleyball player, his name is Atsumu the last name is Miya? "

" Wait a minute the one with the twin? "

" YEA HIM!"

" Are guys friends?! " Kenma asks

" No, I literally just met him last night. "

" Atsumu is a nice guy he just a big flirt. "

" THAT'S WHAT SEMI SAID?! "

" Well, it's because he is always out with a new girl every week. "

" Yea no thanks... " I say weirded out.

" Ok, so are we going to get your car?! " Kenma asks in a bored tone.

" Ok, let us go! "

I got into Kenma's car, luckily the venue is only 20 minutes away.

" AHH MY Precious car!! " I shouted.

" SHEEZ be louder next time will ya. "

" Kenma stop being grumpy... " I say as I try to keep in my laugh.

" Yea whatever go get your car now! "

" Already kicking me out... "

" Yes! "

" AH YOUR SO COLD! " I laugh

" Ok well thank you Kenma! We actually need to hang out ok?! "

" Fine... We will one of these days. " he smiles.

I get out of the car, wave to Kenma then I get in my car.

Finally, I can go home now and start working on projects.

After the 20 minute drive, I get in my house and start working on the three projects.

Meanwhile At this time:

Atsumu pov:

I'm sitting on the couch, my phone started buzzing uncontrollably.

What the heck.

I flip my phone over only to see texts from my friends. I open up the group chat and see something unexpected. A PHOTO OF ME AND Y/N IN THE CAR ON “ THE PEOPLES “ TWITTER PAGE.

The big 4 :

Sakusa: Oh so is she another new girl?

Bokuto: Already Atsumu?!

Hinata:  Isn't that Kageyama's ex!

Me: NO NO THEY GOT IT WRONG WE ARE NOT GOING OUT!

Me: ALSO HINATA DID YOU JUST SAY?! KAGEYAMA EX?!

So that's who broke her... What a small world.

Sakusa: Sure that's what you say about every girl..

Bokuto: Can we get a Rip

Hinata: Rip.. Also Yes

Sakusa: Rip

Sakusa: Damn already making moves on a girl who broke up with her boyfriend.

Bokuto: Wow..

Hinata: HAHA I WONDER HOW KAGS IS GOING TO REACT TO THIS..

Me: CAN YOU GUYS STOP THAT?!  YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG...

Sakusa: Ok then if she, not a random hook up who is she, and does she know she on " the people's " Twitter account label as mystery girl?!

Bokuto: YEA DOES SHE KNOW!?

Oh my, we just met and she isn't going to like this.

Me: NO SHE DOESNT KNOW...But she was some random girl at the party Osamu was catering. I decided to help her out because she was alone and drunk so I took her to Osamu's house, so she can sober up. The next morning I took her home because she left her car at the Venue... I DIDNT THINK THE Paparazzi WOULD CARE SO MUCH?!

Hinata: Wow Atsumu that was nice of you.

Bokuto: ^^^

Sakusa: Well you're going to have to tell her or do something about it because we all know how crazy your fangirls get.

Me: Fine fine let me tell her right now.

After texting the group chat, I was about to text y/n only to remember... I don't have her number, but I think Osamu has her number.

I texted Osamu, now I have to wait for him to respond.

Now back to y/n :

Finally, I'm almost done with this projects...

Then all of sudden I get a text from Tendou.

I looked at my phone and I can't believe what I see... He sends me a screenshot of Me and Atsumu in the car... It was trending on Twitter. The title was " Star setter mystery girl? "

Texting On phone:

Tendou: I didn't know you guys were going out?

Y/n: OH MY GOSH? Please tell me this is a joke?!

Tendou: No I don't think so...

Y/n: WE ARE NOT GOING OUT... I MET HIM LAST NIGHT!

I explained to Tendou what happened last night.

Tendou: this Has to be the most miss interpreted picture ever. LMAO!!

Y/n: YEA IT IS NOW EVERYONE AT WORK IS GOING TO ASK ME... OH NO KAGEYAMA PROBABLY SAW THIS!

Tendou: HAHAHA.. WHO CARES HE BROKE UP WITH YOU... His loss..

Y/n: YOUR RIGHT! BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE KNOW AS ATSUMU ANOTHER GIRL?! I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE GUY!

Tendou: Has he talked to you about it?!

Y/n: No HE DOESNT EVEN HAVE MY NUMBER?!

Tendou: Well this is going to be fun to watch...

Y/n: NO it's NOT..

I stressfully put my phone down on the counter...

What I'm I going to do?! HOW DID I GET INTO TO THIS MESS?

I hear another notification go off on my phone... It was an unknown number.

Text message:

Hey can we talk?

Y/n: Who is this?

Atsumu: Its Atsumu

Y/n: NO WE CANT TALK DID YOU SEE TWITTER?

Atsumu: YES I KNOW THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TALK?

Y/n: Also? HOW DID YOU GET MY NUMBER?

Atsumu: OSAMU GAVE IT TO ME!

oh, yea I forgot I gave him my number.

Atsumu: WELL HEAR ME OUT! This will die down tomorrow, me and the team are leaving for Osaka in the morning so you don't even have to see me again.

Y/n: Sheez that's a harsh way to put it.

Atsumu: I mean if you want to see me you can~

Oh my, I can hear his flirtatious tone from here.

Y/n: NO!

Atsumu: AW you're SO MEAN!

Atsumu: ALSO I DIDNT KNOW Kageyama was your boyfriend...

Y/n: Who told you that?

Atsumu: Hinata! We play on the same team..

Y/n: OH Gosh NOW IT SEEMS LIKE IM JUMPING AROUND Guy to Guy...

Atsumu: YOU THINK IT MAKES YOU SEEM BAD? IT MAKES ME SEEM BAD TOO!

Y/n: Atsumu Shut up! Everyone knows you're a big flirt.. now I'm going to seem like I'm one of your little playthings.

Y/n: WHAT IM GOING TO SAY at WORK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK IF WE HOOKED UP?!

Atsumu: I have an Idea.. What if we pretend we're dating?

Y/n: HUH?

Atsumu: It will fix both our reputation.. I won't be seen as the guy who hooks up with every chick and people at work can stop questioning you. There's a BONUS we can make Kageyama jealous... You can win him back.

Y/n: IF we do this... together in private we don't have to act as a couple right.. I just MET YOU...

Atsumu: Yea don't worry your not even my type, this should be easy because I won't be near you.

Y/n: DEAL!

Atsumu: PERFECT! Just let me know if anything happens tomorrow! Ill fill you in too!

Y/n: Fine.

I place my phone down on the nearby table.

WHAT HAVE I DONE? IS THIS REALLY GOING TO WORK?

Atsumu pov:

Why couldn't have it been with much cuter girl? Now no girl is going to talk to me.. Stupid paparazzi.

Chapter 5

#msby atsumu #atsumu x reader #miya astumu #hq atsumu #fanfic #haikyuu time skip #osamu miya #haikyuu x female reader #atsumu fanfic #haikyu timeskip #msby black jackal #msby four #hq sakusa #msby 4 #atsumu x y/n

[pestopascal]

why are you defending cyberpunk so much? its a really buggy mess, it barely works on even some of the best pcs, they lied when they advertised it working on the ps5 but not ps4, and there were a ton of issues even before release happening with their social media team

my point is that people pick and choose when they wanna throw their arms up over the standard that is AAA gaming releases, and has been since prooooobably da2′s release (14 months to produce and release a game). maybe even earlier if you consider kotor2′s release (aka, given 11 months to make a game).

my point is that fallout 76 was an unplayable, game breaking, exploitative game riddled with many of the same issues. and i dont know anyone who continues to play it to this day but i know faaaaaar more people who refunded it or cancelled their orders just prior to launch because they didn’t want to brick their consoles.

my point is that one of the biggest blowbacks towards crunch was in regards to rockstar and red dead redemption 2′s release, a game which is now heralded as one of the best of all time, despite the way it treated everyone who worked on it. the moment it fixed everything, people forgot about just how hurt people working on that game were

my point is that skyrim is treated with this gentleness and fondness for dragons flying backwards and giants leaping into the sky and glitched quests (and how trophies, still to this day, sometimes will never work so you will have to put in another 100+ hour playthrough to be able to MAYBE get something). the irony in sony going after cp77 but STILL not forcing companies to fix broken quest lines

remember daa, with the silver mines? how if you happen to get that bug, that’s it. you basically have to restart. all ur items are gone, you can’t proceed. boom. bioware has never made an effort to fix it. they just released awakening as is, and proceeded onto their next project.

you also have to take into account that, okay sometimes they can’t pick up on all the glitches prior to testing like one or two are gonna slip through! but there’s a difference between that and a glitched out unplayable mess. cp77 honestly isnt unplayable, in fact it is one of the better games ive played at launch in a long time. do you know what gets these ppl notes and likes on the internet? blowing this shit out of proportion. in my 30+hrs of playing already, where im still just wandering around and picking up side missions and checking out clothes and whatever, sincerely have not seen half the shit ppl have said. not that it isnt true! the screenshots and vids are there! but people are piling it on, completely and totally, just for the sake of interest.

remember when mass effect andromeda dropped, and they had that beta test version that like journalists got to play, and how the models for cora and ryder had weird kind of motions and how sara ryder’s facial expressions are still a meme to this day? and how it kept getting piled on sooooooo much when it was like... not actually like that gameplay wise, and the story was quite nice, but who actually talks about that when you can talk about how bad the game looks ugh loading sequences ugh 360 head spins. fallout 4 had those weird smiles coming from npcs that are quite haunting, weren’t fixed.

you can actually tell that cdpr paid attention to writing a story that works, the endings are cathartic and not 2edgy2bedifferent like me3′s fucking starchild bullshit. also speaking of games who spent so long in production their story fucked up: persona 5 and final fantasy 15 are examples of spending too long being worked on with the story that despite how good it looks, it is a vapid excuse of a game that you HAVE to play either sequels or the dlc to get the full brunt of it. remember persona 5′s advertising? COMING SUMMER 2013. final fantasy 15 was ff versus for the lonnnngggeeesssstttt time too before square enix took it upon themselves to fuck it up and then GET MAD when ppl pointed out the story was kind of shallow (and also “why arent you releasing ff7r already”)

oh and then we also have things like kingdom hearts 3, which was quite frankly? awful and was FULL of corporations just getting their hands on it and doing whatever with it story wise (disney wanted frozen to feature so bad they intervened completely). borderlands 3 which keeps messing with the dlc and im amazed they even keep trying. bl3 was the sequel no one asked for, because it had no idea what it was doing. it was setting up to a story that i think very few ppl are now interested in.

yes cdpr lied. yes there are issues with their social media team. who do you actually blame though? the investors? corporations like sony and microsoft who no doubt wanted the game released as well? project managers, their bosses, the CEO? shareholders? fans who wanted the game now instead of putting up with another delay because lets be real: if a company needs to delay the game, they need to delay the game. its a demand and supply thing going on and the ppl who sit behind desks just see numbers they dont give a fuck about the people and we all know this. it fucking sucks.

this is not the first company, this is just the most public blowup because this game was teased in 2012 and people have held out for years and i get it! i do! ive been waiting for this game for years as well. and we can argue about how you shouldnt preorder games or not play stuff at launch or like how you should already have the latest console that has been sold out since it was announced and wont arrive in your country until march ! this can go back and forth and we can talk circles around cdpr but the point is: this isnt the first instance of it. it wont be the last.

if sony actually gave a fuck, they would review every single goddamn game that has been released to this day and has had bug reports. they dont. this is to clear up their public image. these companies truly dont give a fuck. bethesda admits to relying on fans to make their games playable with modding and to ALSO keep track of their story because it doesnt matter to them.

#replies #if you play on pc you can get a fix from a modder #which is in no way an appropriate venture considering it should be the company's responsibility #but you can get fixes and changes and whatever. #sony especially is one of the worst companies and are only pulling it because of this whole 'refund poliicy' #because NOTHING matters more to sony (and microsoft) than public image #remember the shit with sw battlefront 2 and the lootbox issues? #disney got soooooo mad that they had parents ringing them complaining #they are the only company who pulled ea AND sony into line with doing something about it #long post #im not putting this one under a cut im not sry #Anonymous

[beecherdrysdale]

Hello my bbs, hope everyone’s ok!.

The amounts of screenshots I took for this....

To start: haha I guess brigid and Dylan are in the same car together, but who’s at the front? Like Dylan better keep his hands to himself of Jamie’s gonna get jealoussssss. And it’s gonna be chaotic and quinton is gonna jump out of the car lol. Unless you put quinton upfront with you? Haha yes you ignore them and just talking to quinton hehe.

Brigid I do that as well, so get ready to lose when the light turns green! Kesh also likes to drive fast so it’ll be chaoticcccc.I am banishing Ryan to the back because I would definitely lose concentration. Quinner or Braden are the only ones that can sit upfront. Preferably Quinner so that I can hold his hand🥺 but I love you too braden. There is so much to see while driving in Canada, so frequent stops will be made. Plus the boys love Canada #nostalgic.

Lmao being in the car together would be so fun!!. Haha Dylan and Jamie braiding your hair would be hilarious, like they get into the biggest knot, why do I feel like Ryan would take a picture of it and post it on his insta story and would write “nice”😂 I do wanna see it tho. but like kesh said they would be giving you puppy eyes because they don’t want you to be mad at them, I’m not sure how you would react tho?. Hehe me pulling over, and quinton and devon just redoing your hair, and then I’d make them do my hair as well:). Ok so driving with the windows down and blasting music is good with everyone, I think we would playing all music lol , country for Brigid and Kirby? I think you like country? I’m playing 2000’s music- like a g6 would be so fun to blast in the car. Everyone is just dancing in the car. Some rap will be played for the boys. Kesh what music do you like? Does anyone else have any music suggestions? Haha cozzy, Devon and Braden just being passed out for the drive and literally not waking up to the music. Late night drives are adorable, esp with the make outs hehe.

Ok so we have decided that kesh is the most responsible on the trip which I totally agree with, somebody’s gotta keep us in check. Cozzy is apparently still sleeping, boy must be tired from all those nhl games hehe. Lmao sending Kirby with us, and you yeeling at Dylan not to buy a tv😂. We would so chaotic in the grocery store, like riding in the shopping cart, but also everybody’s racing to get their food, which would be majority of junk food hehe. Honestly we would buy so much food we are literally on a vacay with hockey players who eat a lot haha. The cash register would be shocked. Awww kesh, you being like “kirbs I didn’t even give you that many directions” but him being totally clueless and just trying to kiss you. him being “hmmmm but we didn’t get a tv, and we got some carrots and veggies” lmao I love that kesh please keep writing those.

Haha you got it right, I would be so confused, like how did we get so much food ?! Brigid, you did go overboard but I love it and we will eat our candy :) Dylan bring a ps5 is the funniest shit ever. Food discussion: yes to all of those candies, all dressed ruffles are delish so imma throw in a few bags. Dark chocolate is a must, hehe we should buy fruit and veggies. I don’t think I last that long with junk food hehe. Oo yess we are go a get an Nanaimo bars and poutine :) ooo and BEAVER TAILS . Those are sooo good. I can buy for everybody, esp quinner so that we can recreated that gif of him eating one.

Haha yes, Ryan and I will be there with the non stop chirps. We love them, but still you and Dylan getting 🥵 is 🤌. Hehe yes I mean Dylan h is gorg as well so quinner better work quick lol. Ooo brigid is feeling up some muscles, we love that. But also yes to the straddling and being soft w Jamie. Kesh they are a blushing mess, because they wanna be with Brigid all the time. We are absolutely recreating those wakeboarding lake pics, we have to witness that again- esp you brigid w Dylannnnn. We love some sunscreen and aloe vera.

Thank you, boats are fun! Yess Brigid is sharing the tube with Dylan and Jamie or just making the boys jealous 😏 and me or Ryan would probably make you intentionally fall off the tube lol. Maybe I can get quinner to go with me. Ryan is just waiting for that moment for Quinner to leave to push me in but I would be to quick and grab him as well 😂. Haha brigid needs a break and is just watching us lol. Haha Braden and Ryan pulling pranks on dyl and Jamie we love that. Aww kesh Quinner is being protective and wants to be with me.oh yes, Jamie and dyl staring at Brigid cuz she’s gorgeous in her bikini. We all look hot tho. Kesh is just chilling w kirbs. Lmao “I feel like we should stop Dylan and Jamie before they hurt themselves” and then kirbs being like “Devon is with them, there goes Dylan and Jamie” I love these.

Awww Quinner following me around 🥺 we’d be cute drunks. Ooo yes, Dylan and Jamie getting jealous, but they wanna be constantly around you, so I understand. Clubbing is a success, we are all pumped up w alcohol hehe. Lmao Devon and cozzy trying to get a girl but Ryan and Braden keep foiling their plans 😂 hehe kesh just chilling and wanting to help dev and cozzy but Kirby is to busy watching quinner, also question who is he doing the body shot on?

Yess the locked room would be not a Lexi and Ryan chaos, aw yes I get to know Dylan better:)) I wanna be friends! He he yes he would start getting jealous but then maybe I’d help him get your attention, but we still gotta let you have your Jamie moments🥺

Awww we do love a body positive Queen, y’all are gorgeous !! Haha yes we need a girls day! Some good shopping will be happening, we gotta get Brigid some summery clothes. The guys would be in awe, esp Jamie Dylan and kirbyyyy !!. I do wanna steal their clothes tho. We got so handsy boys over here!. Aww kesh you would looks so cute in kirbs big shirt but also in a bikini.

Yesss Dylan and Jamie are in awe, like she’s gorgeous. Same with Kirby m.

Aww kesh you’re to nice😭 you made me cry. Me abs Quinner!

Ok imma add more gtg to practice

Xo Lexi

okkkk so i’m finally home from school and practice now so i’m ready to respond. i’m taking notes from kesh and adding a keep reading bc this is gonna be longgggg so be warned to anyone reading this

haha yes i’m keeping quinton up front with me bc i don’t want him to jump out of the car lmao. i’m not going to subject him to the possible sexual tension that would be going on in the car if dyl or jamie were in the front. like if one of them were in the front they would just start touching my thigh or something knowing the other one could see it but couldn’t do anything about it. and then i would get distracted from driving and we wouldn’t win lol. so i’m making jamie and dyl sit in the back so they mostly dyl can just yell at me to drive faster so that we win. and then i’ll just chill and talk to quinton bc i want to annoy the other two lol

haha don’t worry, me and dyl (and jamie and quinton) will dominate once again. like you guys might drive fast, but i can guarantee i drive faster. especially if dyl is yelling at me to go faster lol. haha but yes you’ll definitely have a better chance if you banish ryan to the back so he can’t distract you. so you let quinner sit in the front with you and hold your hand 🥺 but as soon as he tries to put it anywhere else you banish him to the back so you don’t get distracted lol. but we would definitely have to make a bunch of stops for the boys bc they’re back in canada

haha yes dyl and jamie try, they really do, but they can not seem to get the whole braiding thing down. and then it ends up in a huge knot and ofc ryan just laughs at my misfortune and takes pics of my hair to post on his story. haha and i’d pretend to be soooo mad at them, and i can be scary when i’m mad so they’d be freaking out and just giving me puppy eyes and being like i’m sorry i’ll make it up to you. but then eventually i can’t keep up the act anymore and just start dying of laughter and then they would be annoyed bc they were freaking out lol. but then we have to stop so that our hair can be fixed.

yesss i love driving with the windows down absolutely blasting music and then whenever you drive past someone they just turn and look at you lol. i’m really into rap and i feel like a lot of the guys are too, so we have to have a lot of rap lol. and then country for kirby and i like country too, so i’m down with that. and then for lexi we have early 2000s music, which i also like and i feel like the guys would be down with that judging by the fact that they played it in the locker room at wjc lol. kesh any other music suggestions? and somehow even tho the music blasting cozzy, devon, and braden are just out, like nothing is waking them up. omg yes late night drives are so cute 🥰 esp with a make out sesh lol

haha yes, kesh is definitely the most responsible one, bc most of the rest of us just have sm crackhead energy it’s unbelievable. somehow cozzy is still sleeping, like how? idk, but then he’s not coming with and neither is kesh so she sends kirby as the responsible one, and let’s just say that doesn’t end too well. haha us getting a million things, and then i, for once being somewhat responsible, say no we’re not buying a tv or a ps5, that’s so expensive. and they’re just like, but babe we have our nhl salaries, we can pay for it, so then i give in lmao. and everyone in the store would just be judging us bc we would be so chaotic and be running all over the store lol. and riding in the cart too lmao. and then we also have a shit ton of food and the cashier is just like wtf, but yk it’s fine. like we would have sm candy and chips, and then we would also get poutine and nanaimo bars and beaver tails. omg i want to try beaver tails soooo bad they sound so good. and then we can recreate the quinner gif lmao. but then we also have to have at least a little healthy food so we feel better about ourselves since we’re all athletes who are supposed to be following diets lmao

haha yes you and ryan would be chirping everyone for literally everything. but mostly me with dylan and jamie lmao. like literally anytime i even touch one of them you guys are all over us, and i’m just like whatever, but the guys are blushing sooo hard lol. but then since i don’t care i keep doing whatever, so like putting sunscreen/aloe vera on them and i’m straddling them, and ik we’re gonna get chirped, but i just don’t care

haha yes boats are so fun, but us on a boat = chaos. hehe all of us on our tubes, but then we’re all trying to flip each other over. and then when we’re finally being slightly calm on the boat and just sitting on the railing, ryan has to come and push lexi in, and then she pulls him in with her and it’s just chaos again. and then i’d be sitting there laughing my ass off, and then someone else decides to push me in lmao. and we’re all looking hot in our bikinis obviously so our boys are all trying to get our attention the whole time. lmao and then kesh is just chilling with kirby and trying to be the voice of reason to get jamie and dyl to stop trying to show off and then kirby’s like no they’ll be fine. they are not fine

hehe yes lexi and quinner being the cutest drunks, just being super soft with each other and clingy 🥺 but then also kind of wild bc apparently quinner is doing body shots off of you. which also i really want to do. like i don’t care if it’s jamie or dyl, but please can one of them do body shots off me? and then let’s say dyl does it first, then jamie sees him doing it and ofc he’s jealous so then jamie has to do one too. and then kesh is chilling with kirby and she’s like hey you should go be a wingman for devon and cozzy, make ryan and braden leave them alone. but kirby’s too busy watching the rest of us do body shots lmao

yes lexi finally gets to actually have an extended convo with dylan, when they’re not trying to annoy everyone who’s actually trying ofc. but then you notice him getting jealous of me with jamie, so you chirp him at first but then he’s getting really annoyed. so then you have to be like calm down, let them have their moment, you’ve have plenty lol. she likes both of you, you know

haha yes we def need a girls day where we’re not being chaotic for once lol. and then we get a lot of cute clothes and stuff. and then when we get back the guys make us model all of it for them lol. and all of them are in awe. like kirby and quinner are just like 😍😍 about you guys bc they think you’re so cute. but then also they love our clubbing clothes and are getting super handsy when we go lol. but then after clubbing we just steal their clothes and live in them for most of the rest of the vacation and they pretend to be annoyed, but they secretly don’t mind bc they think it’s hot when we wear their clothes, esp if it has their name

overall, yes i love all of this and both of you 💖 sorry it took so long lol

#ask answered #anon answered #skating anon

[grisdidthis]

So, things are progressing slooooooooooooooowly, but at this point I have the main hood developed enough that it feels lived in and more like a cozy, grunge-y mini-world than a field with some houses scattered throughout. I still need to release most of the sims I’ve spent the last few days creating in TBS (and make up some more; I’m nearly done with the Mad Science crew, now I need “normal” townies) but gameplay is no longer the same bunch of ten people interacting. Yay!

I’ve also, after a TON of tweaking, settled on final looks for every playable character (except the Strange Isle sub-hood sims, who I’ve been neglecting) and updated the character entries for everyone over at the P42 side-blog. I’ve also changed the layout of the blog itself to make it easier to find stuff. So on the story-I’m-sharing-with-people side of things, everything is also starting to look a ton more organized. 

Aside from the cosmetic changes I’ve been harping about already for the past week, here’s what’s I’ve been doing to everyone’s face:

Juniper and Cory have nicer hair. There were some styles that I liked a lot but didn’t use for them because of how crappy they looked in screenshots, because I STILL haven’t figured out how to get the “enable smooth edges” function to work and am by now resigned to the fact that I probably won’t.  But then I made BFFs with the Photoshop blur tool, and all is well in the world now.

The Madhavis all got very tiny adjustments that aren’t really worth going into. Except Izza, who I made more visibly aged, since before she almost looked younger than her adult children.

Philemon got re-done from scratch and doesn’t look like an aged Tenth Doctor anymore, since that ended up being too weird for me to handle.

Eilis Cartaine got a hat, and all the sisters got character descriptions. 

Winifred gets to have normal green eyes. The demonic yellow was a bit too on the nose. The rest of the Govender/Marais household got given a complete overhaul, since I put 0 effort into the kids and Joko the first time around. (Because kids, and because Joko was meant to get fridged. But then I decided to spare him, and if he’s going to stick around I’ll be damned if he won’t be conventionally handsome.) I’ve also amended character descriptions to reflect the aforementioned sparing-of-Joko. 

AS FOR THE STORY ENTRIES. I think I’ve settled on a text/dialogue format that is not too painful to read (one of my main problems re: some sims stories I like but can’t follow consistently is that they use small, multicolored fonts that are hell on the eyes for anyone who checks tumblr mostly on the phone. So I’m trying to avoid that issue in my own.) I’ve also gotten somewhat better at wrangling the scene-setting, screen-capping and image editing aspects in the last week, so hopefully it won’t take an age and a half for the next entries to appear.  On that note: Episode 1 of The Survivors (Formely Rita’s Story) has been redone and re-uploaded, because I can work my way around a lot of things, but not the fact that the main character looks completely different down to the eye color. I toyed with the idea of doing the same for the Madhavi entry, but that one doesn’t need a remake that badly since the changes in the characters were minor enough that they mayyyyyy sneak through. I am fixing the text formatting and doing some color adjustments, however. 

At this rate I may even be able to set an update schedule for story entries soon-ish! Much excite! 

#ts2 #p42 worldbuilding #p42 ts2

[aftermathdb]

DEATH BATTLE Review: Genos vs. War Machine

So I only recently remembered that my other preferred opponent for War Machine was Steel from DC, and that I still wanted Genos to fight Cyborg.

So throughout the episode proper, Wiz pronounces Genos as “Jen-Os” while Boomstick says “Gene-Os.”

Genos’ Preview.

So to start off, Genos was an ordinary kid until his family was killed by a rampaging robot cyborg. However, he found a scientist who rebuilt him into a cyborg as well, allowing Genos to fight back and take his revenge.

However, Genos would soon meet Saitama, and train under him to learn more after nearly dying to a mosquito lady that Boomstick openly expresses is very attractive.

Regardless, the two became friends, and Genos was very popular due to his appearance and attitude.

But in order to fight giant monsters and evil dudes, Genos would need a lot of weapons.

Some of his weapons, like his adhesive from the heels, were built-in as a response to other threats.

Genos is also equipped with special sensors in his eyes that let him track heat and image signatures.

He has a wide assortment of weapons, like detachable body parts, missiles, and incinerator cannnons.

And when he wants to get really serious, he blasts foes with two of them at once.

Unib- I mean, uh, Spiral Incineration Cannon!

He’s got a stronger one that I unfortunately didn’t get a screenshot for, but yeah. It’s strong.

All of this leads into a Wiz and Boomstick segment where they finally fixed Boomstick’s smile.

Adding on, Genos once used his incinerator cannons on a mountain, which resulted in a blast worth over 66 kilotons of TNT.

He’s even managed to tag and track a massive meteor, which means that he can move 200 times faster than sound.

And remember the mosquito lady?- Her swarm of mosquitoes once covered Genos completely.  While that may not sound intimidating, he was swarmed by nearly 65 Trillion of those things. Which equates to 358178 tons of mosquitoes. I doubt that there’s a masochist that would still want to get it on with the bug-lady if those are her party-mates.

But regardless of his weakness of his power core being the one thing that fuels everything, Genos has shown time and time again that he can compete with the best.

And Boomstick provides a nice little heartwarming moment that while Genos hasn’t found his family’s killer yet, he’s found a new family with Saitama and friends. And that he’ll keep getting stronger.

Y’know, I forgot how much of an edgelord he could be before he met Saitama.

War Machine′s Preview.

So right off the bat, we go into a brief backstory about Colonel James Rupert Rhodes and how he wanted to be in the military annd wound up helping out Iron Man, so Iron Man helped him back.

Eventually, Tony offered Rhodes a suit of his own and Rhodes became War Machine.

Worth noting: Boomstick absolutely gushes about the amount of weapons Rhodes has on deck. It’s kinda nice to see him going back to his “Lover of weapons” persona rather than his “pervvy redneck” one.

Anyways, Rhodes has a massive amount of weapons, including a powerful beam that he can fire from his chest. Spiral Incin- I mean, Unibeam!

And all this talk about weapons leads into our next Wiz and Boomstick segment.

Real men wear pink… Except for Dan. Dan just sucks.

Regardless, the hosts go over how Rhodes has gotten multiple suits, each stronger than the last.

The latest one comes equipped with camo and Ghost tech, allowing Rhodes to turn invisible and intangible. Making him immune to most attacks.

And should the suit ever be in danger of falling into the wrong hands, Rhodes can detonate it. I guess that’s a thing this episode since Genos can do the same thing.

Also worth noting is that since Tony isn’t one for half-measures, Rhodey’s suit is just as strong as the Iron Man suit, just not as maneuverable what with all the weapons. This means that it can scale to Tony’s suits in terms of strength. What does this mean?

It means that he can survive massive blows.

This one in particular was worth over 2.5 Megatons of TNT.

And despite the lack of maneuverability, the suit is still fast. In a short ammount of time, Rhodes managed to get into orbit. This means that he was moving at over mach 600.

Rhodey’s PTSD can make it hard for him to keep his head on straight in a fight, but when it comes down to protecting the people, his friends, the planet, or even just punching some dictator in the face, he’s always going to power through.

Also, remember how in Iron Man vs. Lex Luthor, Iron Man’s end quote was just him showing off his weapon?

Same verse as the first it seems.

The Battle Itself.

RT 2D Animation team on deck for this animated fight (directed by Jordan Battle), Genos will be voiced by Howard Wang and War Machine will be voiced by Mark Allen Jr. Therewolf made K.O Computer , and audio by Chris Kokkinos.

So, Rhodes is basically taking a nice flight when an explosion interrupts him and makes him spill some of his coffee. Credit where it’s due, he takes it more in stride than when Leonardo lost his food.

So, after confronting Genos, the Demon Cyborg determines that War Machine is another cyborg. Lack of credit where it’s due: He jumps to conclusions just as fast as Jason did.

So, right off the bat, it’s fairly clear that Rhodes has some advantage in at least one area. As he was just able to catch Genos’ punch with ease. It’s either in strength or defense.

More likely to be defense because Genos’ Incinerator cannons don’t really do much against the War Machine.

So we get a really nice fist clash, and with Rhodes keeping up, he may either match speed or surpass it.

He certainly takes tech. He was able to find some flaws in his opponent that Genos simply can’t counter.

But credit where it’s due: Genos doesn’t go down easy.

We cycle back into another punch clash right before the fight is brought back down to the ground.

Rhodes turns on his invisibility and Genos, well…

He can’t find him. Genos believes that he went home, but then he makes the mistake of insulting the tech, which ticks off Rhodey.

So Genos retaliates by rendering the invisibility useless with his adhesive making Rhodes visible enough to hit, which Genos follows up with…

Rhodes  counters…

God I love Beam Struggles. Genos kinda wins this one and gets a bit overconfident. But…

Rhodes was still standing.

Anyways, Genos starts spamming an attack.

Like… You know that one scene in the Days of Future Past HISHE where Mystique just tries to shoot Trask but it doesn’t work? Yeah, this is pretty much like that.

So Rhodes escapes the glue trap and starts his attack.

Finishing Blow in

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Verdict + Explanation.

Okay, so right off the bat, Rhodes was just a better Genos.

Experience was obvious. Rhodes has seen way more than what Genos has, and that’s before putting on the suit.

Genos knocking around the Elder Centipede is impressive, as it clocks in at about 725 meters, and the amount of force to knock it around would be over 15 Megatons of TNT

But Rhodes has taken on far stronger and dealt way more damage.

Tony-Designed suits can bust up mountains, and those feats are worth over 280 Terratons of TNT. And yeah, they made a typo here. Better start asking questions or telling them to fix this. Pretty sure that it doesn’t matter in the long run, but still.

Rhodes was also way faster.

And even if Genos could get in a hit, he’s got no counters for the massive amounts of tech that Rhodey has at his disposal, like energy draining tech or “Ghost Chameleon” mode as Boomstick put it.

Overall impression.

So the previews go by pretty fast, essentially glossing over backstory and personality, and focusing on each character’s stats feats, and arsenal. Which, while I’m not against, kinda makes this episode feel really fast-paced with little room to breathe between each stat. This, while being an interesting way to show the character off, makes it really hard to keep up with what each character can do and what they have at their disposal. In comparison to the previous episode, where they do have room to breathe between each stat, these characters seem as if they are only analyzing their stats and nothing else.

It just seems as if this was written in a rush is all. Trying to get as much information out as possible, and that rush job is pretty apparent when you see those typos.

Not to mention that the animation felt a bit repetitive in certain parts. Like the punch clashes. I like those and all, but there’s a reason why the Jotaro vs. Kenshiro one is a better one. It’s because the punches actually clash. Heck! Even the Venom vs. Bane punch clash was better.

Also, it seems odd that they chose this battle to be a hand-drawn one. I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of fan-made Genos sprites or even official ones too. Not that it isn’t spectacular or anything, I’m just kinda curious.

Also: I was looking around in the comments section, and there are a lot of comments about audio. Maybe it’s because my mother could surpass Sindel’s loudest scream when watching Basketball, but I didn’t notice anything. Maybe you did.

7.5/10. Great fight, just a weird one…

Next Time…

Y’know, maybe I should start watching one of these.

I mean, I wasn’t interested at all in Yu Yu Hakusho until Hiei made his debut, and now I’m pushing for Krillin vs. Kuwabara (People who think that Krillin vs. Saitama is a good fight should honestly just admit that they want a baldy battle and be done with it).

Is there a fight that you want me to review? - Send an ask/request, and I’ll look into it!

Do you want to read my fanfic based around DEATH BATTLE itself? click here!

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time for…

From what I understand, a missed opportunity for Icy vs. Elsa.

#Death Battle #Deathbattle #review

[notajinn]

Top 10 Games I Played in 2019

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am finishing this at nearly 2 AM in the morning, so I did not proofread. Excuse any typos.

With 2019 closing out the decade, I want to make a "Top 10 Games of the Decade" list, but first I have to point out my favourites of the year. I actually played over 10 games this year (which is very unusual), so I chose my top 10. As usual, these are not all games that came out in 2019, but I played them for the first time this year. I'm not ranking carried over mobile games this time, although at this point the only mobile I play is Dragalia Lost.

Let's go.

10. Untitled Goose Game (Switch)

There's a lot to love about this game concept alone even though I ignored it for the longest time pre-release.

Pros

The entire goal of the game is just that you are a goose and also an asshole. I've talked many times about how I think being unique is overblown in place of being high-quality, but this is a unique take that really works.

With a vaguely open-world that you're thrown into with no real purpose, you really capture the feeling of just setting out that day to be a jerk. I appreciate that there is a progression system with a list of mischievous tasks you have to do to reach the next area, but it's still presented in a very free way. You'll do some of them accidentally just trying to be a jerk, and others you'll really have to think about. Eventually there will come a clear end goal, which I was pleasantly surprised by.

Controlling the goose is also perfect in how unwieldy and overconfident you feel. You don't exactly move quickly, and there's no attacking, but you still feel better than the humans around you.

The minimalist art design helps sell the really low-stakes nature of the goose's quest. Sound effects are also pronounced thanks to this, and sound is very important for the goose. I also like the slight stealth gameplay that's not at all punishing, as someone who enjoys but is bad at stealth.

Cons

Even for a budget game, it's quite short to reach the "end goal". It's very much a game you can continue to mess around in, and there's a "New Game+" set of tasks you receive, but as far my "have to reach the end" mindset...I was expecting it to take a little longer. I'd say it was maybe 3 hours max, including lots of goofing around.

I also found that I VERY much don't enjoy being a jerk to children (see screenshot), and very begrudgingly did the minimum mean things to get past the kid. Luckily there is only one kid.

Final Thoughts

Honestly the lower ranking is not so much because of negatives, but because I played so many good things this year combined with this being mostly a fun little novelty. I feel like people who are interested would have already played it (if they have the console). Really you can go with your gut instinct of whether or not being an asshole goose sounds fun for you.

 9. Kingdom Hearts III (PS4)

If you told me Kingdom Hearts III wouldn't even make my top 5 in the year it was released, I'd think you were crazy. But here we are with the long-awaited game.

Pros

So much of this game is fanservice for the series, and I had fortunately caught up on the spinoffs enough to enjoy it. Seeing the 358 crew and the BBS crew, all the Organization members...there's a lot of love here.

KH3 also has some of my favourite worlds in the series in Toy Story and Pirates of the Caribbean. Pirates in particular managed to scratch that Wind Waker sailing itch just enough. Meanwhile Toy Story going for a unique plot really helped pull me in, and there's that now infamous Woody scene that I love. Even other worlds like Monsters Inc get some great scenes (like Vanitas and the doors). Tangled is also one of my favourite Disney movies, so while the world itself was pretty average, I was happy to be in it.

Combat-wise, I appreciate getting so many options like dodge roll and blocking right off the bat regardless of your initial choices; previously I always forced myself to take the Shield so I could start with the super-useful dodge roll.

The music is as stellar as ever, although they loop far too quickly given how much time you'll spend in a single area sometimes (looking at you, Toy Story).  I especially love Don't Think Twice, which had the bonus of being a complete surprise.

 Cons

KH1 was the first Aladdin. KH2 was Return of Jafar. So logically KH3 should have been King of Thieves. Instead we get no Aladdin at all!  Just the Genie as a summon I think?

For all the character fanservice, it still feels like only the main trio, Riku, and Mickey are really useful. I can't believe how poorly Aqua does as a Keyblade Master. I can't believe Kairi and Axel's training basically amounts to nothing. I know it's Sora's game, but it's still so frustrating.

And the final fight with everyone is very much so "good idea, bad execution". It just feels so messy. The entire climax is just not paced very well.

The Frozen world is one of my least favourites in the series. Nearly nothing interesting happens (outside of one good Larxene scene), you don't get Elsa as a boss or a party member, and the progression is just "got to get to Elsa's castle, oh no we fell" repeated three times. Also did they really need to put the full Let It Go song in there? I say this as someone who likes the song. This whole world is just a mess, and I think we'd be better off it was cut. And replaced with ALADDIN 3!

Where is the Wreck-It Ralph world? You know, the Disney movie about video games?

The combat somehow feels less smooth than KH2, possibly because of so many things constantly going off. The Park Attraction skills are fun at first, but later they take so long and often aren't worth bothering with. But I think HP of the enemies assumes you'll use it, because some enemies get really spongy later on.

There was also literally no reason not to end Sora's plot with this game; they had a very easy chance. But they also had an easy chance to end at KH2 and they didn't. I don't know why they're so afraid to use a different protagonist. Even if they don't want to make one, there's so many other potential-protagonists in the game already. Some of whom are also technically Sora!

Also the stupid Toy Story music loop is like 10 seconds long. Stop it.

I was actually originally going to put this at 8, but after typing out these Cons I moved the ranking back.

Final Thoughts

For as many pros and cons as I wrote out, the biggest thing about this game is that it's somehow incredibly forgettable. Kingdom Hearts 3, the game we waited over a decade for, is forgettable. And that really hurts.

The ReMind DLC has some real potential to help with this, but it also costs $40 CAD. If you're on the fence for KH3 as a whole, maybe wait and see what people say about the DLC fixing stuff.

  8. Cadence of Hyrule (Switch)

 It really hurts to put Cadence of Hyrule this low, because there's so much I love about it. And I want to see more third-parties work on Nintendo IPs.

Pros

You can finally play as Zelda in a proper Legend of Zelda game! Yes there's the rhythm mechanic and roguelike nature, but you're ultimately still going around a 2D LoZ overhead map in the same way you would a mainline game. But now you can have Zelda go around and play a little differently. For example, you have no regular shield but you have the Nayru's Love barrier which can work defensively in a different way. I appreciate that the characters all play differently when the developers could easily have easily given you three different sprites with one moveset.

The rhythm mechanic of moving on the beat works very well with the LoZ map style. Being able to see the bar speed at the bottom also helps a lot to learn in the first place. Most importantly, you have the option to completely turn it off to play this like a classic LoZ. Obviously the soundtrack itself is full of great LoZ remixes.

The difficulty is just right without being too rough or too easy with only occasional exceptions, and the game is fairly forgiving about respawing when you do die; it usually doesn't feel like a BIG deal. There's tons of LoZ equipment to use, which I really appreciate after how barebones Breath of the Wild was in that regard.

As with any roguelike, you also have a lot of replayability with the map changes and different characters and equipment to try out.

Incorporating classic bosses with musical instruments is also really fun.

Cons

It's as short as you would expect a budget game to be, but it's more expensive than your average budget game. I'm going to chalk that up to using a first-party Nintendo IP, but the price fools you into thinking the game will be longer.

I also personally don't really care for roguelikes, so the selling point of replayability isn't for me. It's a bit unfair to judge the game for something the genre is supposed to do, but I don't think it's a bad game for being like this. I just think it's a game I like less because of that emphasis.

There's also one boss in particular that was super frustrating, and I think it's because I didn't understand the "trick" to beating it.

Final Thoughts

I do honestly recommend this if you like classic LoZ, but just know what you're getting into; something that emphasizes multiple playthroughs and won't take too long on a single run, but which executes the LoZ formula itself really well.

 7. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC)

 I can't believe how long it took me to play XCOM: Enemy Unknown given that Fire Emblem is my favourite series. I also owned it for years on Steam, but it was just this year I finally booted up this strategy RPG.

Pros

You want a challenging SRPG? Here you goddam go. This game is punishing as hell, but as long as you don't play Iron Man mode it's still reasonable to deal with. I don't usually care for games that sell on difficulty, but I've played enough SRPGs that I don't mind more difficulty in the genre that's not cheap. XCOM very closely skirts the line of difficult and cheap, again if you are not playing Iron Man (which prevents you from restarting missions).

There's so much dumb RPG numbers to gloss over and spec, and I love it. Things to research, order to research, facilities to build, equipment to craft, skills per each character to learn. If you like pouring over resources like me but don't like the real time nature of an RTS, this is perfect.

I also like the idea that you start off so overwhelmed against an absurdly powerful alien force, and everything you're doing is basically just trying to survive while looking for a way to hold your ground. There's a real desperation in the gameplay that captures the feeling of war in a way that Fire Emblem struggles with.

 Cons

I haven't seen RNG that hates me this much since Fire Emblem: Sealed Sword. And it seems to be a universal experience that the RNG is more stacked against you than it leads you to believe.

I've also seen many people online suggest Iron Man for a person's first run, but that is AWFUL advice. It's why I almost quit the game twice, but ultimately just made a new file without Iron Man. It sounds fun for a second or later playthrough, but there's so many unknowns happening constantly in your first run that it just feels unfair to go Iron Man.

The aesthetic is sci-fi apocalypse; two designs I generally hate. Everything is so gloomy and blue and tech. It's all very forgettable to look at.

Healing options are so limited, at least in the relatively early sections I'm in (I did not beat this). Actually this is one of the very few games I started but did NOT beat before playing something else, which in itself means there's something that I really disliked. At this point I can't remember what that is.

Final Thoughts

If you like Fire Emblem gameplay but want it to be even more resource management based, and can deal with a drab aesthetic, absolutely grab this. Especially since it gets really cheap on Steam. Just do NOT start on Iron Man mode.

 6. Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within (PC)

There was a Joker live-action movie this year; an entire movie dedicated to him. And yet Telltale managed a better Joker.

Pros

I am one of those weirdo people who considers Joker one of his favourite comic characters. I'm a sucker for a good villain, and it was probably Joker in Batman: The Animated Series that is responsible for that. So I love seeing a good fresh take on the character, and Telltale delivers. This is season two of Telltale Batman, and we briefly got to see "John Doe" in the first season as a proto-Joker who's definitely a violent jerk, but not necessarily a villain just yet. While there are many plot threads in Enemy Within, the main one is about how John grows among the mess that is Gotham. Depending on how you play, you can actually push him to become a vigilante and ally of Batman instead of the villain. This is itself not only a fun take on the character, but also the most uniquely any Telltale game has branched.

I remember explaining once that Telltale is not so much "choose how the story ends", but more "choose how your character's relationships with others changes". But there, you get a wildly different final chapter depending on whether John is a vigilante or villain. I really appreciate the effort it took, but it's also bittersweet since this was one of the last games the studio worked on before being closed.

Telltale gives us other character portrayals that range from standard to occasionally good. They have Harley play the big mob boss who has John wrapped around her finger this time, and they do a good job selling it.

You'll get some great dialogue options, and it seems almost impossible to please everyone. Being forced to make hard choices that will inevitably make someone mad at you is what this genre is about, and it's often not exactly clear cut what the consequences will be.

 Cons

Like other Telltale games, action sequences are done with QTEs. These are relics in this day and age, so I really didn't care for them. It's a good way to get around a probably costly combat engine, but it's ultimately filler to me to get back to the plot. Since this is a Batman game, it has more action sequences than the average Telltatle game.

Other sequences like searching for clues are less annoying, but still not really fun. I did not grow up on point-and-clicks, but it seems the developers did.

You also can't easily restart sequences if you selected an option by mistake; you have to restart that entire chapter. And a chapter is multiple hours. I get the implication of "you have to live with your choices", but when it's an actual mistake because I'm using a PS3 controller on my PC mapped to Xbox buttons...I get a little annoyed.

Final Thoughts

It's a little weird to start at Enemy Within if you didn't play the first season, and it will retroactively spoil things, but you honestly could. It is more fun than the original (which is also good). Easily the big selling point is being able to shape John the proto-Joker; if that doesn't appeal to you, this may not be for you.

 5. Super Metroid (SNES Classic)

Not only is 2019 the first time I played (and completed) Super Metroid; it's also the first time I completed a Metroid game at all! I had played a decent amount of Fusion and the first Prime before, but fell off both of them. This time, I absolutely saw Samus reach her goal.

Pros

How do you talk about such a beloved game? First of all, the SNES era is still visually my favourite in video games. This has a lot to do with nostalgia since I grew with the SNES, but also because it was the height of sprites before the industry turned to 3D models. And as amazing as N64 and PS1 graphics looked back then, they did not age well. The SNES, however, still holds up so well visually.

For a game with a sci-fi aesthetic that heavily takes place underground, I loved the variety and colours Super Metroid offered outside my expectations. This is definitely up there as one of the most beautiful games of the console.

Where I think the game excels the most is Samus' controls. The level of precision they built into her abilities is nuts. Obviously there are games where characters have larger movesets (such as fighters), but for a platformer I love how well you can maneuver Samus. For example, when you do a moving jump. If you hit the D-Pad and then jump, you do the Spin Jump. If you jump and then hit the D-Pad, you do a more standard jump. It may not seem like much now, but I feel like for the time it's very impressive.

There's so many fun abilities you get, and the majority of them can be used simultaneously for some really fun platforming.

You also learn very quickly even without text based on the way power-ups and obstacles are laid out. Even storytelling is done well simply through gameplay; no cinema scenes or text explanations needed.

The bosses feel stressful but almost never too cheap; you always feel like they're possible to deal with. Occasionally you may need more missiles or energy, but it's usually learning and countering patterns.

Music can effectively be atmospheric or lively depending on where you are, and I retroactively wish we had a few more Metroid tracks in Super Smash Brothers.

Also even though I'm not a 100% completion-ist type of person, I appreciate when I do find some secret missile tank by really examining the area.  

Cons

When you're not used to the controls early on, it can be tricky to handle Samus. Mostly those spin jumps. The wall jump also never really got easier.

Weapon switching is a weird situation. I appreciate you can do it on the fly with the Select button, but the fact it always goes in a certain order means it can often take a while to get to what you want.

Personally I also thought Ridley was a hell of a difficulty spike, and the game actually calmed back down in difficulty afterwards? Maybe I'm just bad at fighting such an aggressive and fast boss.

Phantoon was also a tough boss made tougher by the fact the closest working Save Point was a good 5+ minutes of platforming away for me. I like that the nearest Save Point doesn't work because the electricity is off, and it builds on the haunted ship atmosphere, but boy was that frustrating to jump all the way back nearly four times to fight that boss.

Final Thoughts

If like me you've somehow not played Super Metroid, you really should. It still holds up, and it's relatively short (my time was about 6 hours). It may be a little weird at the start with the limited abilities and getting used to the precise controls, but if you stick with it you're in for a good time.

The reason it's number 5 and not higher is not due to any particular negatives, but simply because the next few games left me with more positives.

 4. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (PS4)

The fact that this game exists is incredibly stupid, and I love it.

Pros

Persona 3 is not a happy game in a traditional sense. There are happy moments, but most are bittersweet. It's a game about dealing with and overcoming tragedy, and has a dark visual atmosphere to match.

So the fact we get to see that cast dancing around with bright colours is nuts. But not at all in a bad way. These characters go through so many difficulties; they absolutely deserve to have a fun dance party where they don't have to think about anything else. This isn't the happy kids deciding to dance; this is a bunch of stressed out people who need a break. And as someone who loves Persona 3, it makes me so happy to...well, see them happy.

The majority of the original voice actors were brought back (the main exception being Elizabeth), and they do just as good a job as in the old days.

We get mostly great remixes of the P3 songs, and the original versions of others. Each song has a particular character assigned to it so they can more effectively match their dancing style. The models look amazing.

There's also minor Social Link elements which are used in place of a story, and their personalities are mostly intact. There's certainly some Flanderization, but it's not as bad as Persona Q.

You also get a decent progression system of unlocking songs in batches, and needing to beat them to get the next songs. The Social Link requirements help make repeating the songs fun while giving you something to work towards.

The rhythm game itself is hard to judge since I play very few rhythm games. I found it fun once I got the hang of it on normal difficulty. There's tons of modification options to make it easier or harder depending on your preferences.

 Cons

As with every modern Persona game, the DLC is awful. Tons of Day One DLC, and they even locked Shinji to DLC! Does he not also deserve to have fun without paying extra? There's also a few songs I would have liked, but not at those prices. Otherwise DLC is mostly costumes and accessories which I both don't care about, and which are overpriced.

I also hate that we had an EASY chance to get the FeMC Minako in this fun low-stakes plot game, but didn't. It's not like Atlus forgot about her either; she was in Persona Q2 which came out a little later. If anything, SHE should have been DLC and Shinji should have been in the base game.

The jump in difficulty between Hard and All-Night is absurd. I can beat most songs on Hard with good ratings, but I can't beat the first song on All-Night at all.

Koromaru is not in the game, which inherently prevents it from being perfect. He could have jumped in during Fever Time at least!

Final Thoughts

This game is only for Persona 3 fans, but boy is it some great fanservice for us. If you're a Persona 3 fan that at least slightly enjoys rhythm games, this is for you.

 3. Indivisible (PS4)

 As of writing this, I have not actually beaten Indivisible. If I had to guess, I'm at the 2/3 mark? A big plot thing just happened, but it's clearly not the final plot thing.

Since this game is less known, it's a platformer/fighter/RPG hybrid with a heavy South Asian influence.

Pros

It's a platformer/fighter/RPG hybrid with a heavy South Asian influence.

Look at that sentence! These are all things I love!

I grew up on platformers and RPGs, and I have a lot of fun when I get into a fighter. And as someone who always desperately tries to find even one brown character in most video games, I'm all about a cast that is mostly South Asian!

The combat system is really fun. It utilizes something similar the classic Final Fantasy ATB style system, but at a very quick refresh rate and tons of fighting game elements thrown in. For example, a key is doing combos with your various party members. Each character has 3 standard moves, and knowing when to use what depending on the enemy's position is where the strategy comes in. There's also one party-wide meter that everyone dips into to use Supers. It's a very aggressive and offense-oriented battle system, but they manager to incorporate healers and support units comfortably. But yes, everyone is basically a fighting game character in an RPG battle system.

The platforming starts off very basic, but you get access to so many moves and can use them all fluidly together. There's some really fun platforming segments that really force you to use everything Ajna can do.

The character designs are top-notch, even removed from how ecstatic I am about the diversity. Again, they are designed as fighting game characters who have to be distinct and high-quality. Everyone also feels extremely unique in combat.

I wouldn't say the overall story and writing is amazing, but there's some good moments here and there.  It also follows a somewhat less traditional path for Ajna so far, even though I'm expecting a fairly traditional climax.

 Cons

Okay, so this is in some ways a fighting game. Which means you should have a move list you can look up. While you get a brief explanation of each character's gimmick when you recruit them, there's NO MOVE LIST!

That sucks, but you can go into Training and figure out the moves for yourself, right? Yes, except you don't unlock Training until almost 10 hours into the game! Which means for the early part of the game when you're still learning the mechanics of the system as a whole, you also have more trouble learning what each character can do. Combined with a very high rate of recruiting new characters early on, this can be overwhelming. If they didn't want to make a move list, they should at least have made Training available from the beginning.

Backtracking can be a bit of a pain; there's minimal fast travel points. Ajna doesn't cover as much space as Samus relatively to the game world, so it really takes some time to go around. Enough that it sometimes discourages exploration, which is not good in a platformer.

The sense of progression is also pretty slow once you get past the 1/3 mark. You don't get new characters quite as quickly, and it's not as though your characters learn new moves (they shouldn't, based on how the battle system works). You also only have levels for Ajna, which in my experience don't make a huge difference. And there's no equipment or items give you that sense of growth. What you have are the Ringels; collect enough of them and you can get a major defense upgrade, or add an additional attack slot per turn to every character. They're great upgrades, and fun to explore and find, but it's a long time between upgrades.

I also feel like healers and support are tough to use well in such an aggressive battle system, which is unfortunate because I traditionally love support-type characters.

Final Thoughts

Despite liking it more than most of the games on this list, it's a tough recommend. It's very specific to what it is, and there's nothing to really compare it to. However I really like it, and I especially love the South Asian influence.

 2. Celeste (Switch)

If you showed me a 10-second clip of Celeste gameplay, I'd dismiss it as some easier Super Meat Boy clone.

I'm so glad I didn't.

Pros:

In many ways, Celeste can be called a long series of platforming challenge rooms. Basically once you clear a distinct "screen" and die, you move forward. You die, you restart on the same screen in seconds. There's infinite lives and no timer. You take as long as you need, and you keep pushing forward. It's a compromise of making a classically difficult platformer that removes all elements that make the classics feel cheap. And it's also a great representation of the story Madeline is going through.

Having a young-life crisis, non-mountain-climber Madeline sets out to climb the famously difficult mountain Celeste. There's a few other characters to deal with, but the majority of the game is spent with Madeline and the reflection that represents another side of her. A side of her that's always bringing her down and trying to force her to turn backIt's a short and well-written story, and absolutely worth experiencing. I love the weaving of the "keep trying" gameplay and story, and the fact an Assist Mode to make the gameplay easier is available from the start is important.

The music also nails that Super Metroid feeling of atmospheric or lively depending on what's happening.

Controls are similarly precise but reasonable, and the incredibly low stakes of failure make even the cheaper platforming segments doable. Some of the platforming is legitimately annoying, but being able to try again in literal seconds makes it less frustrating than easier platformers.

Cons

I don't care for the character sprites. They are small and faceless. You understand what they're going for, and I know they have to be small in relation to the area of the game. But it's just not visually appealing.

...I can't really think of any other cons.

Final Thoughts

I feel like Celeste is an important game that will stay with me, far beyond just a good game I played in 2019. It's short, it doesn't cost much, and it's absolutely worth your time if you have any sort of anxiety or self-esteem issues.

 1. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)

 My favourite series finally returns to a home console after nearly a decade. And boy does it deliver.

Pros

There's two critical things I look for when judging a Fire Emblem game; the cast, and the core gameplay.

The cast in Three Houses is nearly fully presented to you from the start of the game. You have your three separate houses with their individual students, and you choose one to lead. Fortunately you can recruit most students from other houses with some work, so you don't have to worry too much about mutually exclusive units. You will see a few new faces over the course of the game join your team as well, so there's still some surprises. At first glance, many of the characters can be relegated to anime tropes. Claude is the charismatic schemer, Marianne is the quiet girl who likes animals, Hilda is the lazy high-confidence girl, etc. But as you progress through the story and the Support conversations, you'll find that nearly every character has a lot of writing effort put into them. I do not want to give any examples because it's better to get to them yourself throughout the game, but don't take the characters at face-value. Don't expect a full 180 personality shift, but do expect lots of depth to explain both currently personalities, and being able to see the growth of these characters. There's some very relatable issues some of the characters face.

Honestly, it's not a stretch to say Three Houses has some of my favourite characters in the series. It's a big plus that one of the main Lords is dark-skinned for the first time in series history.

Then we have the gameplay. Off the bat we're into some very non-traditional Fire Emblem stuff with the academy system; you use things like lectures to build the weapon levels of your students. Also Cavalry, Heavy Armor, and Flying have their own weapon levels now? Also you don't buy spells, you learn them with weapon levels? There is a LOT that's different.

But what remains the same is the core formula of the strategy-RPG battles. Your process to build your units may be different in many ways, but you're still using the tactics you would expect in an FE game. There's just a few other things to consider now.

Basically I feel that Three Houses' new systems are a good compliment to the classic system as opposed to being a full replacement. Which is why even as an old FE elitist, I absolutely loves playing out the fights. Also they brought back Fog of War!

I really love the incorporation of visible agro lines. Basically when you move your character within enemy range, you actually see direct lines from the enemies so you see who will attack you. Combined with ability to go back to a previous turn, this helps make bad RNG feel less frustrating.

The story is also hands-down the best of the modern Fire Emblem era (everything from Awakening and beyond). It may start off as anime high-school, but having a cast of characters from entirely different countries attend school together as teenagers and then skipping forward to when they are leading their respective countries to war against each other...it's a lot to take in. And you have four different ways to experience the game, all of which are fairly distinct.

New gameplay elements like the lectures and academy activities are actually pretty fun, and dip into a bit of that Persona itch. You also get a better feel for the cast as you see them going about more normal activities. And it's all done in voice acting. Even every generic NPC dialogue in all four routes. Honestly the level of voice acting is incredible for a first-party Nintendo game. Voices also help the game feel so much more alive.

As always, the music is wonderful. The main theme Edge of Dawn is up there with Kingdom Hearts songs among my favourite video game vocal tracks.

Seriously, listen to it:

The option to freely change class so long as you can pass certification is weird, but feels far less busted than Awakening and Fates due to skills taking longer to learn, and mostly being less overpowered. It's also great aesthetically. Being able to use any weapon with any class was also an interesting change.

Also we have gauntlets as a weapon in Fire Emblem now. Which means you can run up to a goddam Wyvern Rider and punch them in the face. This is amazing.

Another plus is that despite incorporating a time skip, there is no child system. Which means Support is not longer a means to getting a perfect gene child unit, but instead to see how characters grow together while also getting a slight stat boost.

 Cons

I kind of miss the Weapon Triangle. I know it's not even the most important thing in the old game, but I have nostalgia for it? You can sort of get the Weapon Triangle abilities once you raise your respective weapon levels enough.

As for more of a real problem...gender locked classes. It's very frustrating that there is only one class that focuses on Gauntlets, and it's locked to males. Like, have you seen Leonie? She's made to be a puncher! And I made her one, but I had to make her a Warrior.

Similarly, the only Master class that focuses on magic is locked to females. It didn't present a problem for me in the Golden Deer route, but I'm sure at one point during the other 3 routes I'll want to make a male magic user. Oh, the Dark Mage line is also locked to males, but doesn't have a Master class.

Master classes in general are a problem. Nearly all of them are Cavalry or Flying, and it's visually annoying. Also because most of my Advanced classes were infantry, so my characters didn't really learn Cavalry or Flying with certain exceptions.

I wish there were no gender-locked classes, and more infantry Master classes.

Also I know it doesn't make sense story-wise, but I wish I could recruit Claude to Blue Lions or Black Eagles because I really don't want to hurt him when I play those routes.

Final Thoughts

I mean, it's number one on my list. Obviously I love it. But it's important to note this is my favourite Fire Emblem game in a long time. I feel like I need more distance from it (and to play the other routes) to really compare it to my favourites, but for now it's at least my favourite game of 2019, and my favourite Switch game.

#games of the year #games of 2019

[takuchat]

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Today we got a huge amount of Final Fantasy VII Remake Information as well as a ton of interviews and pictures. Below you can see a large compilation of the information.

There may be some redundancy in here as I gathered info from multiple sources.

Weapon abilities

Each weapon has its own unique weapon abilities that increase in proficiency the more they are used. When an ability’s proficiency level reaches the maximum, that ability is then learned by the wielder and can be used when wielding any weapon.

Here we see Cloud’s Buster Sword upgrade screen. The different options allow you to improve the wielder’s status or increase the number of Materia slots available.

Switching to Classic mode

Classic Mode can be activated by selecting “CLASSIC” from the difficulty menu. In Classic Mode, party members will act automatically, with the ATB gauge filling up as they do so. In this mode, the player only needs to select which abilities, magic, and items they will use their ATB charges for. This brings the feel of the gameplay closer to the menu-based battles from the original FFVII but with the amazing immersive graphics of the remake.

It is also possible to revert to direct control at any time during Classic Mode by pushing buttons on the controller.

Using characters’ unique abilities

The triangle button activates each character’s unique ability. Cloud’s unique ability is to switch between different fighting styles. He can switch between “Operator Mode” which has a good balance between attack and defense, and “Punisher Mode” [pictured] which is geared heavily towards offense. In Punisher Mode, Cloud’s movement speed is reduced, but his basic Square button attacks are upgraded to even mightier blows.

Assess Materia

Assess – Materia that allows you to use the Assess ability. When you use Assess on an enemy, you can see their resistances and weaknesses, making it easier to defeat them in battle.

Up close with Avalanche

We have some new screenshots of fan-favorite members of the anti-Shinra group Avalanche: Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge.

Biggs is calm, cool and collected, even in the most extreme circumstances. He’s tidy by nature, and loves nothing more than cleaning and taking a shower.

Jessie is in charge of procurement for Avalanche. She can get her hands on everything from explosives to fake IDs. She’s also a skilled engineer, and earns money for the group by fixing water filtration units and devices to sell on. She does have a weakness for handsome men though…

Wedge is an invaluable member of Avalanche, who uses his wits and charm for to gather information and defuse tense situations – including those within the team. He also has another very important role – he tastes new menu items in Seventh Heaven. Well, someone’s got to do it, right?

Meet the Turks

The Turks are a small, elite organization with Shinra. The shadowy group does everything the company needs it to – be it scouting out candidates for SOLDIER, protecting VIPs, or even assassination. Here’s a look at a couple of them.

Reno has flaming red hair and a cynical, aloof attitude. In battle, his agility and specialized weaponry and attacks make him a real threat.

Rude is instantly recognizable thanks to his shaved head, sunglasses and imposing stature. A man of few words, he relies on martial arts and his strength in battle, and completes missions as efficiently as possible.

Getting to the action

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE features a fast-paced real-time battle system that gives you lots of choice in how you approach combat.

Each character a unique ability – in Cloud’s case, he can switch between Operator and Punisher Mode.

Operator Mode offers a good balance between strength, defense and mobility.

A press of the triangle button puts Cloud in Punisher Mode. Movement speed is reduced, but his attacks become much more powerful.

Cloud also has access to powerful attacks, including Triple Slash, which hits all enemies nearby with three consecutive strikes…

…and the ranged attack Blade Burst:

For a detailed rundown of how FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE’s battle system works, check out our full article on the subject:

So how does FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE actually play?

See our Impressions of the game here!

Switching to Classic Mode

For those players who prefer overall strategy over moment to moment action, or want an experience closer to the turn-based gameplay of the original FINAL FANTASY VII, Classic Mode is for you!

In this mode, characters perform basic attacks automatically, and when the ATB gauge is full, you can select a special ability to use from the menu – similar to how the original game played.

Here, you can see the option for Classic Mode in the difficulty menu:

Iconic locations reimagined

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE faithfully recreates beloved areas from the original game. It also adds new areas that couldn’t fit into the original game.

Here we can see the iconic Church in the slums. Just a stone’s throw from Sector 5, it’s one of the only places in the slums where flowers can grow, making it a very special place for Aerith.

The next shot is of Aerith’s home. Nestled in the corner of Sector 5, it’s a beautiful house that contrasts with the slums surrounding it.

Let’s Assess some Materia

Cloud and company are able to use special abilities, including magic, summons and more.

It’s all thanks to materia – orbs of crystallized mako energy that, when equipped, imbue the wielder with incredible power.

Case in point, here we can see Aeirth using the spell Fire:

Of course, not all Materia is about offense. Take the Assess Materia, pictured below. It shows you an enemy’s specific strengths and weaknesses, helping you refine your strategy when you take it on. Knowledge is power after all!

  Meet the new Chocobo and Moogle

Summons are a special, exceptionally powerful form of Materia. Equip one, and once the summon gauge is full, you can call a powerful ally into the fight.

In the past, we’ve showcased the firey Ifrit and cool-as-ice Shiva. Today we can reveal a new Summon that’s just as powerful, but a little… cuter: Chocobo and Moogle.

Moogle can Blast foes:

The dynamic duo can also use Stampede to trample the enemy with a herd of chocobos. It’s adorable… although probably not for those on the receiving end of it:

Side activities and minigames

These new screenshots highlight some of the additional things to do in FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE.

If you need a break from battling Shinra, you can play a game of darts in Seventh Heaven:

You can also enjoy fast-paced bike battles. In this shot, we can see Cloud and Jessie in a thrilling chase with Shinra operatives.

Time For the Interviews!

YOSHINORI KITASE – PRODUCER

In the several years following 2009, when I was running around all over the world promoting the FINAL FANTASY XIII series, I had opportunity to speak to many fans and journalists. The question that I always got as we got up to part ways was, “When are you making the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE?”

It was to the point where it almost felt like an alternative way to say goodbye, so eventually I started pre-emptively giving my response to the question before they’d even asked it. “If we were to create a remake of that now, it would be an enormous amount of data, and who knows how many years it would take. But, if the ‘right time’ comes along, we might just do it someday!” This is how I’d respond back then, who knows how many hundreds of times. To all the people I had a chance to meet with back then, the “right time” has finally arrived.

For the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, developers who worked on the original game have come onboard once again as core members, including myself as Producer, Tetsuya Nomura as Director, Motomu Toriyama as Co-Director, and Kazushige Nojima on Story & Scenario.

Additionally, we also have people like Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi who are now part of the core development team, who was just a fan of FINAL FANTASY VII back then. And, to my delight, creators from younger generations all over the world have come forth upon hearing news of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE’s production. While ensuring that the spirit of the original game is kept intact, these members are adding to it the power of a new generation.

As a result, the game that is about to be born surpasses even my own expectations as the one who voiced the desire to take this endeavour on in the first place. In fact, the one who’s looking forward to playing this game the most right now might actually be me.

TETSUYA NOMURA – DIRECTOR & CONCEPT DESIGN

I started up the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE project around the time of Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII. We’d gone through Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus, and I was planning this by myself for about a year as the fifth and final entry in the compilation.

Since that initial plan and my first ideas, other projects took-shape and I became very busy as they moved forward, but I never stopped thinking about VII. As such, I feel like I’m looking forward to the release as much as anyone, as I’ve been carrying around these ideas for a long time.

Opportunities for discussing our true intentions are few, but with regard to the size of the game that many are asking about – there’s no reason at all to worry. Even in this Midgar portion alone, the density and volume are so great that I had to give directions to lighten them.

With regard to new characters, of whom I said during past interviews that there would be “none” – though they aren’t main characters, their numbers ended up growing considerably in the process of creating a rich depiction of Midgar. When you think of Midgar’s final boss, you probably think of the M.O.T.O.R., but in this game new bosses will appear and add to the excitement of the story even more.

We’ve already begun working on the next one as well, but I’m confident that playing through this title will expand your expectations just like the world that extends beyond Midgar.

Until next time.

KAZUSHIGE NOJIMA (STELLAVISTA LTD.) – STORY & SCENARIO

It must have been in the very beginning stages of developing FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE that I got to see the Remake version of Cloud for the first time. It wasn’t post-Advent Children Cloud, with kindness brimming from within. Rather, here was a young man with fiery features, looking straight at me through the screen with aggression in his eyes. I knew right t hen: “Oh, this is it.”

This time, it was this Cloud that I needed to depict. When Cloud came to Midgar and was hired by Avalanche, this was the sort of look that he would have had on his face. So I revisited the experiences that he’d had in his life so far, thinking of the effect that each individual event would have had on him. His attitude toward his childhood friend Tifa. How would he act toward Barret? What sort of distance would he keep while interacting with passers-by on the street? I picture the scene of Midgar in my mind and imagine Cloud moving through it. Write new lines of dialogue to add for him. This is how Cloud in the Remake Version came to be.

It was an exciting task to introduce a new current of wind to FINAL FANTASY VII, but at the same time, there was some fear. The original game used cartoon-like, stylised art, and the story was completed by players using their imagination to supplement portions that couldn’t be depicted as a result. Even if they were seeing the same scene, the information they took away from it and how they interpreted it differed depending on the viewer. Perhaps it’s what might be considered a narrative form of storytelling nowadays.

In FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, there will be much less room for player imagination. This fact will probably change the feel of the story considerably. People who know the original might not know quite how to take it. Such is the fear that I have. But I also have conviction. It should be possible to feel a much deeper connection to Cloud as you join alongside him. It would be amazing if you could feel that fiery flame together with him.

NAOKI HAMAGUCHI – CO-DIRECTOR (GAME DESIGN / PROGRAMMING)

When the original FINAL FANTASY VII was released, I was just another student who dreamed of being in the gaming industry. I of course played the game, but I also re-read the guidebook over and over again, my heart stolen by the engaging universe. I remember wishing strongly that I’d be able to create a game like it someday.

Twenty-two years later, that student who dreamed of FINAL FANTASY VII is now involved in developing the remake. I can’t help but feel like it’s fate.

In this title, I handled overseeing the development team overall, such as deciding development milestones, constructing a workflow using Unreal Engine, and taking responsibility for game design.

Here, I met staff members who were involved in the original game, who entered the industry with childhood dreams of FINAL FANTASY VII just like me, and those who were drawn by the allure of FINAL FANTASY VII and joined the dev team from overseas. It was a gathering of amazing creators with passion and ambition towards the game. All I have is gratitude for having the opportunity to meet this team.

With all this in mind, I’ve considered the following phrase important: “respect for the original.” FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE takes on the challenge of creating something that’s created specifically thanks to the technological power and entertainment quality that matches the current generation, while treating the captivating elements of the original game with respect.

For those who’ve played it: “new but familiar.” For those who haven’t played it: “experience the charm of FINAL FANTASY VII, which moved the hearts of many, now created with the most exciting modern technology available.” I hope you enjoy it!

MOTOMU TORIYAMA – CO-DIRECTOR (SCENARIO DESIGN)

For the original game, I joined the project as a planner who was just starting out on my career, and I worked on Sector 7 slums and Wall Market.

In producing FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, the thoughts and feelings I had when I was just starting out back then were revived, and at the same time, I took on the challenge of new methods of expression that I’m able to execute now that I have the experience.

The original version was a forerunner when it came to RPGs that used 3D CG, but the characters were made of polygons, the dialogue was in text only, and cameras weren’t able to be used for cutscenes.

In FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, we’re using the newest visuals, voice acting, and character facial expressions to redesign the FINAL FANTASY VII universe to be more realistic. By increasing the realism of the universe within the city of Midgar, which is made prosperous by mako energy, we of course also reimagined the characters who reside there, like Cloud and Tifa, more vividly as living and breathing human beings, depicting their daily lives and feelings in a more in-depth manner.

We took care to remake not only the main characters, but also characters like Johnny and the Shinra Middle Manager who I created back then. Please keep your eye out to see how they make their new appearances. Additionally, when remaking the Honey-Bee Inn at the Wall Market, we revived it is as a pantheon of entertainment, which couldn’t be realized back then. Here, the scene that many of you have been eager to see, where Cloud disguises himself. Please enjoy.”

SHINTARO TAKAI – GRAPHICS & VFX DIRECTOR

I created the effects for the original FINAL FANTASY VII. Back then, the scope of development was so exorbitantly massive that I just threw myself into the tasks for which I was responsible, without even fully understanding what sort of game we were creating.

Near the final stages of development, when I finally tried playing the test version, I remember being surprised by the graphics and the depth of the story, as well as how fully realized it was, and I remember enjoying the game as a player. It’s been 22 years after that, and I’m participating in the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE project as a developer, and today, I’m able to experience the impact and fun similar to that of the previous title.

For the remake, I’ve mainly directed the effects section, while also crossing over into other sections for decisions and directions on overall graphics.

Among the many major games that are celebrated for their photorealistic graphics, FINAL FANTASY VII is a little different. Not only is it realistic, but I believe you’ll notice that it incorporates “playfulness” in the design and colours for an originality not found in other games. Effects are an area that is particularly conducive to expressing various elements of “playfulness.”

I hope you’ll enjoy various effects that are not only beautiful, but also convincingly portray realism and magic!! Various elements of game design and graphic design have been packed into every corner of the vast Midgar. I hope you enjoy it!!

TERUKI ENDO – BATTLE DIRECTOR

When I played the original version, I wasn’t on the game creation side of things, and I remember enjoying it as a player and feeling constant surprise at the evolution of games. The three-dimensionality of the stage and the dynamism of the battle scenes have left a strong impression on me. Back then, I never even imagined that I would someday be on the side of creating games, or that I would be able to be involved in that game.

Speaking to my own personal experience, I had mostly been creating action games thus far, so for this title, I took on the challenge of remaking a system that was not of an action game originally and incorporating action elements into it.

Production was completely different than that of a pure action game, and the need for new design philosophy often arose. Production involved constantly searching for the best balance between action and command elements, but I believe we’ve managed to do this in an exciting new way.

In order to create battles that are surprising and never boring, we worked hard to create a variety of strategic elements for each boss and enemy. Also, in constructing battle systems for each character, we wanted to respect the image of the original version while additionally introducing many new abilities. I hope you’re able to find your own style of battle by combining those abilities with Materia.

TAKAKO MIYAKE – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTOR

For FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, the graphics team worked to the theme of “how would Midgar look if it existed in real life?” As such, as the environments team, we examined those portions that were once left to the players’ imaginations, fell outside of the on-screen area, or were between scenes, and tried to supplement them in detail.

For all the fans out there, we worked our hardest in hopes that you’ll be able to relive an experience that also surpasses your memories.

For all of you who are playing for the first time, we worked our hardest with the sole hope that you’ll experience this amazing universe that has remained beloved by so many for 22 years, and to be able to convey its charm.

Additionally, in order to create a fitting backdrop for the drama unfolding around the main characters, and in order for it to be a stage where the various characters living in Midgar can be their vibrant selves, all of teams, including the environments section, came up with ideas and worked collaboratively. Midgar is a closed city. However, I would be very happy if by experiencing the drama unfolding around its residents and the main characters who go through it, you feel as though Midgar actually exists.

I am a FINAL FANTASY VII fan, so being able to take part in the Remake was something that made me happy but also nervous. It’s been an unforgettable development experience. I truly hope that everyone enjoys it.

IICHIRO YAMAGUCHI – LIGHTING DIRECTOR

FINAL FANTASY VII, for me, at the time when I was in school, was a very impactful game. It really pierced my heart as I was at such a sensitive age, with not only a rich story, but charming characters, world setting and music, not to mention that it was the first in the series to be in 3D polygon format. This was the piece that really brought out my interest in CG in general.

When I was able to join the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE team, I started by thinking back to how I felt when I first played it. Midgar, with its’ abundant mix of different elements and original characters like Cloud, became something unbreakable and the “standard” for me in FINAL FANTASY VII.

In the world of the game, just like in real life, if there is not some form of light then you won’t be able to see anything. So when putting up lights just anywhere, Midgar could lose its token Midgar-ness, and Cloud wouldn’t be Cloud anymore. I’ve taken as much care as possible to recreate the world that I had saved in my mind and attempted to remake it to a fresh and modern standard.

The positions of the few lights that illuminate the entirety of Midgar, the adjustments made to each and every voluminous cut-scene… it’s all a lot of work to do! However, alongside the rest of the wonderful lighting team we feel that we’ve brought something great to the table. We’ve left in the elements that will have you going “Ah, that’s what it was like!”, and yet you’ll still be able to enjoy the world of FINAL FANTASY VII in its new and fresh style!

MASAAKI KAZENO – CHARACTER MODELING DIRECTOR

I was amongst those who bought the original game on the day of its release and played it constantly, clearing it in under a week. Those that also have cleared it will understand this, but I also wasn’t quite satisfied with the locations, so I continued to play it after clearing in the same places as well.

And so, my memory of FINAL FANTASY VII was how I actually started studying CG, after being left with the strong motivation to want to create a FINAL FANTASY game when playing it and truly being moved by it.

So I just made my mind up and bought a PC to help me study – something that I had never even touched before. So for me, someone who had been so strongly influenced by the original, to be working on the characters of the remake, I want to do everything I can to make them in a way that shows both a charm and freshness whilst keeping that nostalgia.

So I want them to reflect in a fresh way that that also allows players of the original to remember the time that they played the original, as well as make them detailed and charming enough to give first-time players the understanding of just how charming they are.

I’ve ensured to arrange things like hairstyles and outfits to re-create the design from the original, so I encourage anyone to take time with their camera angles when playing to take a look. Also, there are several characters that stand out other than just the main characters that you’ll find. So please see for yourself as to what kind of appearance and characteristics they have! Other than that, we’ve got enemies in there perhaps too close to the original, and there are many surprises coming in the Remake for you to all look forward to! Keep your eyes out!

YOSHIYUKI SOMA – ANIMATION DIRECTOR

When FINAL FANTASY VII came out, I was actually more of a SEGA Saturn fan, so I didn’t play it straight away. However, when it was decided that I was to join SQUARE, I was put on the development of FINAL FANTASY VIII, and so I thought to myself “I’m screwed if I don’t know about FINAL FANTASY VII!”. That’s when I bought a PlayStation and played it so much.

Those memories feel like only yesterday. So I can’t say this too loudly, but I actually started it out of obligation rather than as a fan. However, I was absolutely enthralled by the world and lore as soon as I picked it up!

For the animations; each and every member of the team – from those responsible for battles, fields, simple events, cut scenes, mini-games, facial expressions, to swinging things in the background, actual behaviour settings – have all worked together to improve as one.

We’ve done our best to ensure that whatever you do, it feels like the characters are alive there with you. We really hope you enjoy the story of Midgar on a huge screen, with Cloud and his friends.

–Sources-

PSBlog

Square Enix

Square Enix

Square Enix

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New Final Fantasy VII Remake Pictures, Summons And Interviews Final Fantasy VII Remake Today we got a huge amount of Final Fantasy VII Remake Information as well as a ton of interviews and pictures.

#action #aeris #aerith #Aerith Gainsborough #berret #cloud #Final Fantasy VII Remake #jrpg #square enix

[astronomyparkers]

The Princes and The Pauper

Warnings: Drug mention (very brief)

Pairing: Tom Holland x reader x Harrison Osterfield

Word Count: 4.7k

A/N: Here it is guys!  The au everyone has been asking for since last summer!  I roughly outlined the plot of this in a long post of text screenshots, but here is the full, finished first part!  This series will become very NSFW as time goes on, and because of that, I think I may do a bit of a different posting schedule?  The way i see it in my mind right now (which could very easily change because I am a deeply indecisive person) is that after the first few chapters, this au will mostly just become smut, without much driving plot.  I know not all of you want just smut, and would like to see some actual developing plot and characters, so what I may do is have two stories going at once, and swap on updating them?  That way, those who want smut will get smut, and those who want plot will get plot.  The only problem with this is that we all know I’m not the most reliable for updating?  So I’m not quite sure how that’ll work out. But!! That’s further down the road! For now, here is the first part! I really hope you like it, and let me know what you think!

{masterlist}

You weren’t exactly sure what the proper thing to be running through your mind as you raced down the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art should be.  It’s not like there was ever a time where you thought that the situation would come up.  And even if there was, you certainly didn’t expect to be in a long gown like some kind of modern Cinderella, chest heaving as you raced to escape the three security guards following behind you.

Maybe you should’ve been thinking about what exactly had led you to crash the gala, attended by New York’s wealthiest.  Maybe you should’ve been thinking about how you knew better than to listen to Jade’s crazy plan.  At the very least, you should’ve been thinking about your phone number, hastily scribbled on the hand of one of the very men standing on the steps above you, watching as security chased you down the famous stone steps.

Instead, as you dove head first into the waiting taxi cab, barely inside before Jade and Penelope yelled at the driver to step on it, the door not yet shut behind you, all you could think was,

Next time I have to run away from security, I should wear block heels instead of stilettos.

It had been Jade’s idea in the first place, which should have been your first clue that it was nothing but trouble.  Yes, your friend was brilliant, ambitious, and cunning, but whenever you got involved in a plan of hers, it usually ended with something unpleasant.  Like when she had convinced you and Penelope to go to a “group study session” at a frat house the night before your psychology final. Or when she had said “Really, Y/N, drinking raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce together will totally cure your hangover!” the morning of your psychology final.  You loved Jade dearly, but most of her plans brought you way out of your comfort zone.

Like this one was about to.  Even before she had explained it, you could sense that it wasn’t going to be completely enjoyable.  The mischievous shine in her eyes was never a good sign, especially when you noticed it in the middle of Central Park.

“So I know we had planned to go to the Empire State Building tonight,” Jade began, pausing to sip her ridiculously expensive coffee as she spoke. “But I have a different idea.”

“What?  But it’s supposed to be really clear tonight!  We could see so many stars and—”

“We can still see stars.” Jade interrupted your response. “Just…not the kind you’re probably imagining.”

“What do you have in mind?” Penelope asked in a curious voice.

“Well…” Jade dragged out the word, a smirk coming over her features. “When you two were standing in line for coffee, I overheard an interesting conversation about a gala being held tonight, at the MET.”

You felt your stomach drop. “Jade.  Please tell me this isn’t going where I think it’s going.”

“Aw, come on, Y/N! It would be fun!”

“How is getting arrested in New York fun?” You asked incredulously. “Look at me!  I wouldn’t survive in jail!”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Okay, first, you’d just need to find the scariest inmate and become their prison bitch.  Second—”

“That sounds terrifying!”

“We wouldn’t get caught!  And even if we did, they wouldn’t throw us in jail.  Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Jade, you’re like, the queen of dramatics.” Penelope said, amusement in her voice. “Have you met you?”

“Nevertheless,” Jade shrugged and paused her walking, leaning against a metal fence. “I still think we should try to go.  We brought formal wear, right?  We might as well use it!”

“You know this could end horribly, right?” You fiddled with the coffee cup in your hands. “Like, really horribly?”

“Look, it’ll be a fun night!  And, worst case scenario, we end up in a McDonald’s at midnight, slightly overdressed, with a really fun story to tell.”

“Jade—”

“Y/N.” She mimicked your voice as she pouted out her bottom lip and gave you puppy dog eyes. “Please?  It’ll be so much fun!  And, if it does end badly—which it won’t—I give you full permission to say ‘I told you so’ as much as you like.”

Biting your lip, you glanced between your friends. “Penelope?”

“I don’t know…” Penelope shrugged, a small grin coming over her face. “It does seem like it could be fun…”

“See?  Even Penelope wants to go!” Jade finished her drink with a satisfied smile. “That’s a majority vote.  We’re going.”

“Fine!” You exclaimed, rubbing a tired hand over your cheek. “Fine.  We’ll go.  But you’re the one who has to call my mother and tell her what happened when we need bail money.”

Jade tossed her coffee cup in the garbage and linked her arms with yours and Penelope’s as the three of you resumed walking.

“Tonight is going to be life-changing.  Just you wait.”

 The rest of the afternoon passed by in a blur of hairspray, walk-in waxing appointments, and last minute trips to the closest drug store to pick up lipstick after Penelope accidentally dropped her favourite shade of pink in the hotel toilet. Despite your reluctance at trespassing at a gala at the MET, attended by New York’s wealthiest, you had to admit: it was fun to have somewhere to go that allowed you to wear sparkly, strappy heels and a beautifully beaded crimson dress.  It was something you had purchased for a cousin’s black tie wedding the previous fall, only for the wedding to be called off.  While the wedding was cancelled before a refund on the venue was too late, the same couldn’t be said for the formal gown you were left with.  You had thought you would never have anywhere to wear it again, and you would almost be thankful for this night if it didn’t make your palms sweat with anxiety.

In the back of the taxi on the way to the MET, your friends could tell you were nervous.  You kept adjusting your choker, fiddling with your hair, and tugging at the sleeves of your dress like you usually did with sweaters in the winter.  Jade took your hand and gave you a calm smile.

“Y/N. Breathe.  Remember, nothing bad will happen.  We’ll get in, hang around for a few hours, and then get out.  It’s just a museum visit.”

“Right.  Just a museum visit.” You said, taking a deep breath as you twisted the silver ring on your finger. “Just a museum visit to one of the most famous museums in the country, filled with priceless works of art, surrounded by rich socialites and tons of security.  Just a museum visit.”

Penelope rolled her eyes as she smoothed her flowered skirt. “Just keep your mouth shut and smile, okay?  You’re a horrible liar.  Let Jade and I do the talking.”

You swallowed hard and nodded as the cab pulled up down the street from the MET.  Penelope climbed out first, grabbing your hand and tugging you out as Jade pushed you from behind.  You stumbled onto the sidewalk with less grace than you would have liked.

Jade laughed a bit and shook her head as she paid the cabbie while Penelope held your shoulders to help you balance.

“Remember. Mouth shut, Y/N.” She said, fixing a strand of your hair.

You nodded again and followed her and Jade up the famous stone steps.

There was a long line of people waiting to go in, people with old money, new money, and everything in between.  You took a deep breath and gripped your small beaded clutch tight to try and calm your shaking hands.

The line moved quickly, and the closer to the door you got, the more afraid you were.  There was a security guard there taking tickets and checking bags of the partygoers, and you just knew that you were going to get caught.

“Jade—”

“Calm down.” Jade squeezed your arm reassuringly. “There’s a huge group of socialites in front of us.  We’ll sneak in with them.”

However, it seemed the group of socialites had other plans.  When their bags were searched by the guard, you could see he had found something unsatisfactory.

“Mr. Prescott, you know substances like this aren’t allowed in—”

“Aw, come on.” The young man he addressed flashed an artificially whitened smile and pulled out his wallet. “What will it take to make it allowed, sir?  My father would be happy to make a donation to any…cause of your choosing.”

You looked at Penelope and Jade with wide eyes, trying to signal that it was time to go.  Your friends, on the other hand, seemed to pick up a different sign.

With their heads held high, they subtly grabbed both of your arms and marched you behind the security guard, who had become distracted by the bribe he was receiving. Before you knew it, you were inside the MET.

You kept walking as fast as you could without seeming suspicious, the click of your high heels abnormally loud in the vast hall.  The three of you didn’t stop walking until you were camouflaged among the crowds of society’s finest, hidden in plain sight.

“Oh my God.” A smile spread over Jade’s face. “We actually did it.”

“Why do you look so shocked?  Didn’t you believe we could?” You asked as you eyed the crowd around you.

“Yeah, of course! Like, I believed we had a solid eighty-three percent chance to—”

“Eighty-three?” You raised your eyebrows incredulously. “You banked our freedom on eighty-three percent?”

“Hey, that’s an A- grade.” Penelope laughed as she grabbed three flutes of champagne from a passing waiter. “Thank you.”

You accepted the glass from your friend, sipping it to try to calm your nerves.  You had never been one for champagne, but seeing as how one glass of the liquid being served probably cost more than your university tuition, you thought it couldn’t hurt to enjoy.

“So, Jade…” You rubbed the corner of your mouth to make sure no lipstick smeared. “What now?”

“Now?” Jade glanced around the room. “We walk around.  Make some small talk.  Enjoy the art.  Let’s say we meet back here in around two hours?”

Your brow furrowed. “Actually, I think sticking together would be—”

“Come on, Y/N, live a little.” Penelope rolled her eyes and delicately lifted her skirt. “I’m going to head to the west wing.  Jade, you were saying you wanted to go to—”

“The east wing. For the Renaissance exhibit.”

You exhaled heavily. “Okay.  Fine. I’ll look around here a bit.  But in two hours, we meet back here.  And don’t be late!”

Jade grinned. “Oh, never.  Cross my heart.”

“Hope to die.” Penelope’s smile matched Jade’s as the two of them said their goodbyes and went off in different directions, disappearing into the crowd.

“Alright then.” You muttered to yourself, sipping your champagne liberally. “Guess it’s just me.”

 You wandered among the people, keeping to yourself as you looked at the exhibits.  As nervous as you were, you soon became entranced by the art around you.  Paintings you had only read about in books were displayed on the walls, and statues you had seen in countless films were close enough to touch.  Of course, no matter how much the marble beckoned you, you didn’t dare reach out a hand.  The last thing you needed was a reprimand from security, especially since you weren’t rich enough to pay them off.

Of course, being alone didn’t help you blend in.  Nearly everyone else attending was in a group of four or more, whispering among themselves as they milled about the museum halls.  Only one group of two stood out from the crowd as they conferred quietly in the corner, drinking champagne and glancing at the crowd with bored eyes.

They were two young men who looked close to your age, but that was where the similarities between you three stopped.  It was obvious from the way they carried themselves to the quality of their suits that was noticeable from across the room that they had been born into this life of privilege.  There was an air around them that even the other socialites in the room seemed drawn to; you could see multiple people making eyes at them.  And you had to admit, you could see why.  Maybe it was the champagne you had drank, or the aura of wealth in the room, but they had to be two of the most attractive men you had ever seen in your life.

As soon as the thought crossed your mind, the one with longer hair looked directly at you, making eye contact that froze you in your spot.  Knowing you had been caught staring, you felt heat rush to your cheeks. It seemed the man could feel it as well; a smirk began playing on his lips as he winked at you.

Flushing more, you quickly turned away and tried to busy yourself with staring at the art. Your hands nervously clutched at your empty champagne glass as you focused on admiring the marble statue that was in front of you.  You did your best to block out everyone else in the room as you took deep breaths to calm yourself, but heat continued to crawl up your neck.  Your heart was pounding so loud that you could hear it in your ears.  And it was pounding loud enough to drown out the footsteps approaching you, so the smooth, accented voice took you by surprise when it appeared in your ear.

“It’s called Venus Italica, by Antonio Canova.” The man said, his breath hot on your neck.

You cleared your throat and tried to steady your voice. “E-excuse me?”

“The statue.  Venus Italica.” The man moved to stand more directly beside you, and you turned more towards him without thinking about it.

Now that he was closer, you could really take him in.  His hair seemed to have a soft curl to it, but it was styled slightly up and back, so you couldn’t be sure.  His skin looked porcelain smooth, his teeth blindingly white, his lips a flushed red. His eyes were brown, and when you met them it was hard to look away; they were like a hearth, warm and inviting.

Your own eyes blinked as you tried to focus your words. “I—yeah.  Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

The man nodded. “Is this your first time seeing it in person?”

You nodded, turning your gaze back to the statue.

“It was commissioned by King Ludovico in 1804, after the French had taken a statue of Venus from Florence to the Musée Napoleon.” His voice was soft as he spoke in a British lilt. “It was completed in the 1820s.”

You nodded again, unsure of what else to say. “That’s…interesting.”

The man mimicked your head movement, his gaze focusing back on you. “I haven’t seen you at one of these before.  I’m Tom Holland.”

The way he said his name made it seem like he expected you to recognize it.

“Right, right.” You faked a smile and clutched your empty glass tighter.

“…From Holland Enterprises.  My father Dominic owns the company?” Tom continued, confusion tinting his eyes. “And you are?”

“Oh, um…Y/N. Y/L/N.” You said cautiously. “Nice to…meet you.”

Tom’s eyes drifted to your hands and the glass flute. “Oh, you’re empty!  Allow me to refill you, I’ll just—”

“I’ve got it.” Another accented voice appeared from behind you, and when you turned around, you were greeted with the sight of the other man who had been standing next to Tom. In his hands he clutched two full champagne glasses, one of which he extended to you. “Here you are, love. Let me take that.”

You accepted the new champagne flute as the new man swiftly took the empty glass from you and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter.

“Um, thank you.”

“Not a problem.” He smiled at you, blue eyes shining with mirth. “Harrison Osterfield, of Osterfield Inc.”

“Which your dad owns, right?” You guessed, running a finger around the rim of your glass.

Harrison nodded as he sipped his champagne. “And your name, love?”

“Y/N Y/L/N.” Tom answered for you, stepping around so he could stand next to Harrison in your line of vision.

Harrison repeated your last name to himself. “Huh.  I’ve never heard that name before.  What does your family do?”

“Well, my dad works in…real estate.” You answered slowly. “And my mom is, um, a lawyer.”

What you said wasn’t a lie.  In fact, it was the truth.  Your dad was a real estate agent, and your mother was a lawyer.  Of course, your father wasn’t making multimillion dollar deals for houses, and your mother worked at a small legal firm and did a lot of pro bono work.  Neither one of those jobs made enough money to even be in the same category as Tom and Harrison.  But you didn’t feel the need to correct the assumptions they were clearly making as they eyed you up and down.

“You’re new money, then?” Harrison asked, slipping his hand into his suit pocket.  The gesture made the perfectly tailored sleeve bunch up slightly, and you could see the platinum Rolex adorning his wrist.

You blinked quickly. “Uh—”

“And here by yourself?” Tom questioned, stepping the slightest bit closer to you. “Or are your parents with you?  I’d love to meet them, maybe introduce myself?”

“I would, as well.” Harrison echoed the sentiment. “My father works with a lot of real estate companies; I’m sure he’d be interested in meeting with your father.  And we could see a bit more of each other if—”

“They’re not here.” You said quickly as your palms started to sweat again. “They had, um, an emergency with our…summer house.  A pipe burst, and they had to…go take care of it.”

Okay, now you were lying.  Plainly, blatantly lying.  And you were certain you weren’t doing it well.  Nevertheless, Harrison and Tom seemed to believe it.  Perhaps it was because you looked the part, or because they didn’t think anyone with your social status would be able to make it into the gala, or because they just wanted what you were saying to be true. Either way, each boy continued to show interest in your conversation.

Tom and Harrison each placed a hand on the small of your back and began leading you through the exhibit, pointing out different statues and works of art and giving you a brief history.

“How do you know so much about all of this?” You asked as you sipped your champagne.

“Art History at the Mountbatten Academy for Boys.” Tom said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “That’s where Harrison and I met.  We were roommates from Year Nine to Year Thirteen.”

“The Mountbatten—what?”

“It’s a private school in England.” Harrison explained, his thumb just barely rubbing your back. “The finest in the country.”

“And so it should be, considering what our fathers paid for it.” Tom laughed a bit, finishing of his champagne and grabbing a fresh glass before he had finished swallowing.

“Where did you go to school?” Harrison asked curiously. “Did you stay in the country? Or go abroad?”

“I—in the country.” You finished your champagne as well, quickly grabbing a new glass. “An, um, all-girls school in…New Hampshire.”

Harrison frowned. “I didn’t know there was an all-girls school in—”

“So what brings you two to New York?  If you’re from England?” You asked quickly, eager to change the subject.

“New York brought us to New York.” Tom smiled easily, half charming and half cocky. “Why wouldn’t we want to come here?  We have a penthouse here for a reason.”

“You’ll have to see it sometime.” Harrison nodded in affirmation of Tom’s statement. “We have houses in London, Milan, Greece…but our New York penthouse is my favourite.”

“And, tragically, the one we spend the least amount of time in.” Tom sighed, shrugging his shoulders. “But, c’est la vie.  Whenever business brings us to New York, it’s never for more than a few days.”

“Tragic.” You echoed quietly, fixing your gaze on a Monet painting as you passed by.

It occurred to you that Tom and Harrison were the very definition of arrogant.  Whenever they finished a glass of champagne, they snapped their fingers and a new one appeared.  They walked through the crowds like the expected them to part because they wanted them to.  And they did. Their suits were designer, their shoes were designer, and you suspected their entire lives were just that. Designer.

They talked about how they went to Cambridge University and how they both worked for their fathers now.  But, from the stories they told you about the work they did, it was clear that not much actual work was done.  Harrison and Tom’s fathers were business partners, but it seemed what Harrison and Tom mostly did was—

“Networking.” Tom said in response to your question about their work.

“Which is a fancy word for partying.” Harrison grabbed two new glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and tossed a fifty dollar bill on his tray. “Cheers, mate.”

“So what does networking entail?” You asked as Harrison passed you your fourth drink of the night.

“Well,” Tom ran a hand through his slicked back hair. “All sorts of things.  Attending galas, luncheons, parties, and connecting with current clients and future clients.  The social side of business.”

“It’s all politics.” Harrison rolled his eyes before pulling you in close. “Tell me, love. Look around the room.  What do you see?”

You did as he said. “I see…priceless works of art?”

“Exactly.  And is anyone here actually looking at the art?”

“Well…no.” You frowned as you glanced at the crowd. “They’re not.  They’re all talking.”

Harrison nodded in satisfaction. “They’re all playing the game.  A well run business needs all its different parts to run smoothly. Having a working business model is only part of it; you need connections to make it into an empire.  A game always needs players, you see.  And players always need allies.”

Those words got to you.  Even if Tom and Harrison were the very definition of arrogant, they weren’t dumb. It was clear that they were very, very smart.  And very, very attractive.  And smelled very, very good.  And their hands felt very, very nice on your back.

And it seemed that you were very, very tipsy.

“Is that why you started talking to me?” You asked curiously, swirling the golden liquid in your glass as you avoided the two pairs of eyes staring at you. “Networking?”

“Partially.” Tom shrugged. “But the low cut neckline on your dress didn’t hurt either.”

You felt heat flash up your neck and into your cheeks again, and you cleared your throat.

“Tell—tell me about this statue.  Here. It’s Degas, isn’t it?”

Harrison smirked at your subject change, but answered you accordingly. “Yes.  La petite danseuse de quatorze ans.  Edgar Degas. Sculpted in…1920?”

“1922.” Tom corrected, stepping closer to the statue. “It was the only sculpture Degas ever titled and exhibited.”

You nodded, fighting the urge to reach out and touch the bronze girl’s tutu. “It’s beautiful. I love—”

The beeping of your phone in your clutch interrupted your sentence.  You frowned and opened your small bag, pulling out your phone to a text from Jade.

At first, you were confused.  It wasn’t time for the three of you to meet up again; what did she need?  But when you read the text, you instantly sobered up.

“Security is here looking for party crashers and we need to go!!  Meet us outside!!”

“What’s wrong?” Tom’s voice sounded concerned as he rubbed the small of your back. “Is everything okay?”

“I—no.” You said shortly, shoving your phone back in your clutch. “No, I-I have to go.  Right now.”

“What?” Harrison asked in a bemused voice, brow furrowed. “Why on earth do you have to go? It’s not even midnight yet!”

“Yeah, well,” You shot gunned the last bit of champagne in your glass and handed the empty flute to Harrison. “It’s time for my carriage to turn back into a pumpkin. Or time for my taxi to turn back into a pumpkin…I’m kind of unclear on that analogy, to be honest.  I’m not quite sober.  But I think the pumpkin thing is the important reference here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Listen, it’s a long story, and—” Over Harrison’s shoulder, you could see two large men in suits and earpieces enter the room. “And I really, really, don’t have time to tell it.”

“Y/N.” Tom grasped your wrist, not tight enough to hurt, but not loose enough to allow you to slip away. “What is going on?”

“Okay, the short version is, basically,” You pushed your hair out of your face. “I kind of have to go before I get arrested for trespassing?  But I, surprisingly, had a really good time with you two!”

“Surprisingly?”

“Trespassing?”

“Tom, could I borrow a pen?” You asked, holding out the hand that wasn’t caught in his grasp.

Tom complied wordlessly, reaching into his suit jacket and passing you what looked like the most expensive pen you’ve ever seen in your life.

“Seriously?  You can’t just go to Staples to buy pens like everyone else?” You examined the pen closer. “Is this monogrammed?”

“Why are you mocking my pen?”

You grabbed Tom’s arm in way of response and quickly scribbled your number on his hand before handing the pen back. “I really do have to go, but, um, call me if you two ever feel like slumming it.”

“Slumming it?” Harrison frowned as Tom examined the ink on his skin. “Seriously, Y/N, what’s going on?”

“I—” Your sentence was interrupted as you saw the two security guards spot you.  They began to make their way to you, the bouncer from earlier not far behind them. “Got to go!”

Before Harrison or Tom could stop you, you hiked your dress up to your thighs and started running towards the door on the other side of the room.

“Hey!  MET Security!  Stop!”

You could hear the heavy footsteps of the three security guards following behind you, and you ran faster, your heart pounding in time with the clicking of your heels on the floor.

Stiletto heels had really been a bad choice.

Chest heaving, you bounded down the hallways of the MET, through the front atrium, and down the concrete steps.  You felt the cool New York air on your legs and thighs, and the thought of random passersby seeing a lot more than you had planned occurred to you, but you couldn’t afford to pause to think about it.  The guards’ steps were getting closer, you were growing tired, and you could see a taxi waiting below.

“Y/N!  Hurry!” Penelope and Jade were hanging out of the open door, reaching out their hands as if they could pull you closer as you bounded down the steps.

With the shouts of security in your ears, you barely made it to the taxi.  You stumbled inside, half falling and half being pulled by Penelope before you slammed the door behind you, locking it for good measure.

“She’s in!  Step on it!” Jade yelled at the taxi driver, who peeled away from the curb so fast you could smell burning rubber.

You fought to catch your breath as Penelope and Jade began to giggle, and, in spite of yourself you did too.

“Jade,” You gasped, pressing a hand to the stitch in your side. “I told you so.”

“Hey, we made it out!” She laughed, running a hand through her hair. “Look!  Security isn’t even following us!”

The three of you turned around to stare out the back window.  The three security guards were standing be the curb, watching as you drove away.  And standing at the top of the steps above were Harrison and Tom, staring after the cab with confusion and bewilderment.

“Who are Prince Charming One and Two?” Penelope asked you with curiosity.

You turned back around and pressed a hand to your forehead. “It’s a long story.”

{part ii}

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[the-rogue-apostate]

Out of the Darkness - Chapter 6

Sorry for the delay on this chapter, but it’s here now!

Have a screenshot to go with it! 

Anyway, as always, I’ve posted a link to the fic on Ao3 as well in a separate post. But here’s a quick link for you anyway!

No warnings other than the usual apply for this chapter. 

Stay tuned for more screenshots, & please enjoy (under the cut)!

   Chapter 6  

   Kara was safe, at least for the time being.  

   As far as the people of Haven were concerned, she was a hero. It wasn’t something she took lightly, but it just wasn’t sinking in for her. She could still hardly believe any of it was really happening.  

   Varric Tethras, who somehow decided to stick around, felt the same way. She’d met up with him after her encounter with Cassandra and Leliana in the Chantry. He was still friendly as ever, and pretty soon they’d become kindred spirits in the “I can’t believe this shit is real” club.    

   He’d been kind enough to fill her in on a few key things she ought to know; mostly about Cassandra. She could tell immediately that he was intimidated by her, though he covered it with a thin veil of sarcasm. He’d already told her that she was a Seeker of Truth, a secret order that outranked the Templars in the Chantry, and that she’d pretty much been running the show as far as the Inquisition was concerned. He was also kind enough to mention that Kara, believe it or not, had missed much of her “frothing rage” while she was unconscious; she found it hard to believe that Cassandra could have been more frightening.  

   Things had also calmed down considerably since she closed the Breach; though it had only been a temporary fix, it was enough to stall the “end of the world” mindset among the soldiers and villagers. Initially, though, there were still a handful of people who were skeptical about Kara’s involvement. According to Varric, three separate people attempted to kill her while she was unconscious - they had since been removed from the village.  

   He was definitely worried, though, that much Kara could see. He covered it well with his sarcastic quips and jokes about “running at the first opportunity,” but he had the look in his eyes of a man who had seen some truly terrifying things. Someone who’d spent days fighting demons without an end in sight; she knew, because she saw that same look on everyone she’d met that day.    

   The conversation didn’t last very long; she had tons of questions for Varric, mostly about his writing, but felt there was a time and place for such talk. She’d only have an hour of free time before her presence was requested back at the Chantry. Cassandra explained that the advisors to the Inquisition wanted to meet with her, and to discuss the best way to move forward with the situation at hand. After all, the Breach might have been stable, but it was still in the sky. She knew she couldn’t provide much input, only the tool to close it, but she didn’t dare refuse.

~  

   “Does it trouble you?”

   Kara didn’t even realize she’d been contemplating her hand as she and Cassandra walked down the long corridor of the Chantry. When the Seeker’s voice interrupted her reverie, sure enough, the first sight she saw was the green shard in her palm. She sighed.  

   “That would be putting it lightly,” she remarked. “I just wish I knew what this damn thing was, and how it got in my hand.”  

   They stopped a few feet away from the door. Cassandra’s gaze softened slightly.  

   “We will find out,” she assured. “What’s important is that your mark is now stable, as is the Breach. You’ve given us time, and Solas believes a second attempt might succeed - provided the mark has more power.”  

   Kara wasn’t sure she liked where Cassandra was headed. What did she mean by “more power?”  

   “The same level of power used to open the Breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by.”  

   There it was.  

   “Do you really think that’s wise? I mean, a ridiculous amount of power had to be used in order to open the Breach? Do we really want to risk making things worse?”  

   Cassandra chuckled slightly. “And people call me a pessimist. Come, we will discuss this further.”  

   The best word Kara could use to describe her reaction to Cassandra’s response - underwhelmed.  

   Kara immediately recognized two of the three advisors as she and Cassandra entered the room. There was Leliana, of course, who had been there seemingly from the beginning. The Commander, whose name Kara didn’t yet know, who they’d encountered on their way to the Breach. And finally, a third woman, who wore her hair in a perfectly braided bun and donned a yellow and purple silk dress; out of the five of them, she definitely looked the most out of place.  

   “You’ve met Commander Cullen Rutherford, leader of the Inquisition’s forces,” Cassandra began, motioning to the man across the table.  

   Kara made eye contact with him, and he smiled politely.  

   “It was only for a moment on the field. I’m pleased you survived,” he told her.  

   She simply responded with a small smile and a nod, holding his gaze a little longer before returning to Cassandra.    

   “This is Lady Josephine Montilyet,” she continued, referring to the well-dressed woman. “Our ambassador and chief diplomat.”  

   Josephine nodded. “I’ve heard much. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last.”  

   Her accent indicated to Kara that she was Antivan, making her seem that    much more out of place.    

   “And of course, you know Sister Leliana.”  

   For what was likely the first time, Leliana flashed her a small smile before replying.  

   “My position here involves a degree of-”  

   “She is our spymaster,” Cassandra said bluntly.  

   Leliana’s gaze narrowed a bit. “Yes...tactfully put, Cassandra.”  

   The timing of the moment was almost humorous, but Kara knew it wasn’t the time for snickering. She simply nodded once more.  

   “It’s good to meet you all,” she told them.  

   “I mentioned that your mark needs more power to close the Breach for good,” Cassandra continued.  

   “Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help,” Leliana declared matter-of-factly.

   Kara blinked at the suggestion. Was this woman serious? She didn’t think it was a bad idea, exactly...but were they really considering asking the rebel mages for help? She could never imagine the mages agreeing to such a thing, especially with the Inquisition technically originating from the Chantry. Not to mention their constant struggle of evading the Templars; even before Kara left Redcliffe, the Templars had been close to bearing down on the village…  

   “And I still disagree. The Templars could serve just as well.”  

   This suggestion had come, rather sharply, from Commander Cullen. Surprisingly, though, no one else in the room seemed to be like minded.    

   Cassandra sighed before saying, “We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark-”  

   “-might destroy us all,” he countered. “Templars could suppress the Breach, weaken it so-”  

   “Pure speculation,” Leliana cut in.  

   “I was a Templar. I know what they’re capable of.”  

   On instinct, Kara took a small step back from the table, hoping the others didn’t notice. She was admittedly caught off guard having learned the Commander was a Templar. For obvious reasons, she’d spent her entire life avoiding them, and never thought to find herself in the same room with one by choice. Still, he did say was, and it wasn’t the time to dwell on such things; and as far as she knew, everyone was savvy to the fact that she was a mage, anyway.    

   As far as the Breach solution was considered, as much as she hated to admit it…  

   “I think the Commander might have a point,” she found herself telling them. “The power that most likely caused the Breach had to be some sort of magic. Using more magic to try and fix it might just make it worse.”  

   There was a tense silence in the room. Commander Cullen nodded upon her response, while Cassandra and Leliana’s expressions couldn’t quite be read. Thankfully, Josephine chimed in.  

   “Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet,” she explained, gesturing to Kara with her quill. “The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition - and you, specifically.”

   Once more, Kara had to hold back a snicker, though she wasn’t nearly as amused. Normally, she could care less about the Chantry, but having them specifically “denounce” her meant they were calling attention to her - she couldn’t think of anything worse.  

   “That didn’t take long,” Kara commented plainly. “Glad to know that they still think I’m guilty.”  

   “Shouldn’t they be busy arguing over who’s going to become Divine?” Cullen joked, almost bitterly.    

   “That is not the entirety of it any longer,” Josephine told her. “Some are calling you - a mage - the ‘Herald of Andraste.’ - and that frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harboring you.”  

   “Chancellor Roderick’s doing, no doubt,” Cassandra realized angrily.  

   Josephine made another comment, but it was drowned out by a loud whooshing sound in Kara’s ears. Or perhaps it was manifested by her mind, considering she was convinced that it had stopped working. For she couldn’t possibly have heard the ambassador correctly just a moment prior.    

   “I’m sorry, I-I need to stop you for a moment,” Kara cut in, turning to Josephine. “Did you just say I’m being called the ‘Herald...of Andraste?’  

   “That is correct,” she replied politely.  

   Kara glanced between the four of them briefly, and scoffed before asking:  

   “How exactly am I the Herald of Andraste???” She could tell that she sounded manic, but she didn’t care.  

   “People saw what you did at the temple. How you stopped the Breach from growing,” Cassandra explained. “They have also heard about the woman seen in the rift when we first found you...they believe that was Andraste.”  

   Oh is that all?  

   “Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading-” Leliana added, before being cut off by Cassandra once more.

   “-which we have not.”  

   Leliana shot her a pointed look before continuing. “The point is everyone is talking about you.”  

   “It’s quite the title, isn’t it?” Cullen pointed out, seemingly amused. “How do you feel about that?”

   Kara felt it would be inappropriate to scream at that moment, so she attempted to calm herself internally before replying.  

   “Well...it’s...a little unsettling, to put it lightly,” she told him calmly.  

   He snickered. “I’m sure the Chantry would agree.”  

   Kara didn’t know much about the Commander, save that he used to be a Templar. Ordinarily, that sort of fact would shape her opinion of him indefinitely, but she couldn’t help but appreciate his sense of humor when it came to the Chantry.    

   “People are desperate for a sign of hope,” Leliana continued. “For some, you’re that sign.”  

   “And to others, a symbol of everything that’s gone wrong,” Josephine added.  

   Kara was beginning to panic. She was more well-known than she thought; there was no way that could end well. For her...or for the Inquisition, from what they were telling her.  

   “Is my presence here going to cause any...serious issues?” she asked.  

   “Well let’s be honest - they would have censured us no matter what,” Cullen told her, almost reassuringly.  

   “And you not being here isn’t an option,” Cassandra declared.  

   “There is something you can do, if you wish to help further,” Leliana chimed in. “A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable.”  

   Kara was more than willing to help the cause, but she didn’t see how being thrown to the sharks would be in any way helpful. Despite Leliana’s confidence, this was one request Kara had to question.  

   “Why would someone from the Chantry help a declared heretic?”    

   “I understand she is a reasonable sort,” she explained. “Perhaps she does not agree with her sisters?”  

   It was rare, but there were a select few individuals in the Chantry who weren’t completely brainwashed by the organization. And to now have a woman who wanted to simply speak with her rather than bring the wrath of the Maker down upon her was somewhat encouraging.  

   “Fair enough. Where can I find this Mother Giselle?”    

   “You will find her tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe,” Leliana told her.  

   “At the Crossroads, I’m guessing?”  

   “That is correct.”  

   Kara nodded; she knew the area all too well. She’d visited the Crossroads a few times in the last few months, and assisted the refugees whenever she could. She very well could have spoken to this Mother Giselle and not even realized it; there were many who flocked there to help those caught up in the war.  

   “Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition’s influence while you’re there,” Cullen suggested.  

   “We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you’re better suited than anyone to recruit them,” Josephine added.  

   Kara held back a groan as she thought of the prospect of being the “face of the Inquisition,” gathering supporters everywhere she went. She was more than willing to help the cause, in addition to remaining to close the Breach, but she was never one to rally people together. It came with the territory of keeping to herself...it had always been better that way.  

   And then, as if reading her mind once more, Cassandra spoke up.  

   “In the meantime, let’s think of other options,” she told them. “I won’t leave this all to the Herald.”  

   She was really starting to like this woman.  

~  

   Before the meeting was adjourned, Leliana explained her plan for advancing on the Hinterlands. The area was wild and dangerous to begin with, but with the Mage-Templar war, it was worse than ever. Rogue mages and Templars hunted each other on a daily basis, and neither side gave a care to who was caught in the middle. The Crossroads had become something of a refuge for the civilian casualties, in addition to those who didn’t want to take sides in the conflict. She sent word to her scouts in the area and advised them to eliminate as many rogues in the area as possible. Hopefully it would allow them enough time to get Mother Giselle out of the area alive…  

   In the meantime, however, Kara was about ready to lose her mind. As she exited the Chantry, the phrase “Herald of Andraste” kept repeating in her mind. She could barely comprehend the implications of such a title. Surely, the people who came up with it couldn’t have understood, because there was no possible way that Kara was delivered unto the people of Thedas by the Holy Andraste herself.  

   “Good talk?”  

   Kara jumped as Varric suddenly appeared before her. She’d been so lost in thought as she made her way back through Haven that she didn’t even notice his approach. She looked down at him as he cocked an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued by her bewildered expression. Honestly, she didn’t feel she had to say more than four words for him to understand her mood.  

   “‘The Herald of Andraste?’”  

   “Ah,” he said, raising his head slightly. “Yeah, after a few of the townsfolk tried and failed to kill you in your sleep, the title started floating around. I didn’t think it would catch on, myself, but there are a lot more believers out there than I thought. I would’ve warned you sooner, but I couldn’t think of anything better to say than ‘Oh by the way, everyone’s been calling you the Herald of Andraste.’ Not the best thing to spring on someone out of the blue, in my opinion.”  

   Fair enough, she thought.  

   “Well, here’s hoping I can live up to that title...which I won’t.”  

   Varric smirked empathetically. “I wouldn’t count yourself out just yet. I mean, the fact that you survived that explosion at all is pretty amazing in my book.”  

   Kara looked up at the Breach, contemplating it for a moment. A sudden wave of sadness overtook her, and she hoped it didn’t show.  

   “It is...isn’t it?” she muttered. “The only survivor...it’s hard not to feel guilty after something like that, despite how incredible it was.”  

   She looked back to him and saw him staring at the ground thoughtfully. Fearing she was making him uncomfortable, she quickly followed up with:  

   “I can’t focus on that now, though, I know. I’ll just do as much good with the time I now have.”  

   Varric reached up and patted her on the arm. “That’s a good attitude to have; the kind we all need to have. There are a lot of people in the Inquisition willing to take up arms against this disaster, which is what we need, but this…”  

   He turned away from Kara and stared up at the Breach a moment.  

   “You know, heroes are everywhere...I’ve seen that. But the hole in the sky...that’s beyond heroes. We’re going to need a miracle.”  

   Kara was taken aback by his words, mostly because he was exactly right. This wasn’t a job for just anyone with a sword willing to put their life on the line. This really did need a miracle... and somehow, she knew, people were expecting her to be the miracle. All because of the mark in her hand…  

   “You may be right about that,” she told him. “I just ho- oof!”  

   Her sentence was cut off as a sharp pain suddenly ripped through her stomach. She doubled over slightly as she hugged her abdomen with one arm.   

   “Whoa, hey, you all right there?” Varric asked, clearly concerned as he rested a hand on her back.  

   Kara didn’t know how to respond. The pain was intense, but odd, almost like… 

   Oh…  

   “I think I’m fine, Varric,” she told him, straightening up. “I think my body just realized that it hasn’t eaten in a week.”  

   Varric breathed a sigh of relief, then chuckled.  

   “Don’t worry, I think I know how we can fix that.”

#out of the darkness #oc: kara bristow #dragon age fanfiction #my dragon age fic #dragon age: inquisition

[cereittanyprincess15]

Unfortunate hiatus (very long post)

Hello darlings, I’d like to have a not-so-quick word. I know I’ve been very scarce with posting since last year, I’m very aware of it in fact, and while I’ve still managed to get a few MEP parts out and one pretty long video since then it hasn’t been nearly enough compared to have much I wanted/needed to have finished. The thing is, I burnt myself out trying to finish my TTWU audition on time, it was so bad I was losing major amounts of sleep, and the day it was due I was actually running on fumes and only getting some rest in the hours it was rendering before I had to run to work because it ended the exact hour I started. It was really bad, but I got in and I was so happy, but because the burnout had begun I wasn’t able to summon that same amount of drive to finish the first round and ended up falling into a very deep depression.

I loathed myself for working so hard to get in and then dropping out before I could finish that first entry when everyone else was working so incredibly hard around me and that spot could’ve gone to someone else, someone who could’ve told their own story, and that depression mixed in with the burnout to create the biggest blackhole of inspiration I have ever experienced in my years as an editor. So I stopped editing for a while, and became what I hated the most: a deadline-missing unresponsive unreliable MEP letdown. 

I joined so many MEPs before the rp started that I was left with no drive to finish the parts I had left, and I felt so embarassed and hypocritacal in not finishing anything that I feared going up to the hosts to explain why I wasn’t done. If I had no intention of finishing the part because I lost interest I ended up lying because I felt they had waited so long, I should just suck it up and give them their part anyway, and if I wanted to finish my inspiration to actually sit down and work was still gone so I had to keep asking for time. I was disgusted by myself for letting my reputation, at least how I saw it, fall because I was becoming that awful type of person who disappeared once the deadline came around, and I wanted so badly to finish everything but no matter how long I regained my strength or how inspired I became by those really awesome parts I was looking so forward to I just couldn’t bring myself to work for longer than an hour or so if I was lucky.

That was last year, and so many people are still waiting on me. There are for certain MEPs I want to leave because I just don’t care enough anymore, and ones I want to finish, and while my friends were telling me to put my own feelings first and just leave the MEPs, I never could. Well, now I have to.

Last week I was downloading the last movies I needed for a HUGE multiship video I’m doing for a friend (who’s also been waiting ages for this and I am so thankful for her patience) and while I was away from my laptop my drive holding all of my movies decided to crash. I plugged it back in and it popped up after about ten minutes of it being so frozen that even my laptop was freaking out, and it appeared to be fine, until I tried to play a video. It disappeared from my computer list and the drive itself started to make a horrid clicking noise, and after a second of panic I unplugged the drive and checked the internet for an answer on my phone seeing as my laptop was also acting very very bad. 

Naturally, the sound was even worse than I’d expected. According to the internet, it could mean there’s a piece inside the drive that’s out of place, and the clicking was it possibly ruining my data. That, or the drive is already dead. It’s been unplugged since then and tonight I was able to bring it in to get it sent off just like the last time my drive broke. This time, instead of just agreeing on the expensive price and sending it off, the woman behind the counter told me she can’t do a thing with it until I bring in a receipt for the drive. That, and $1600. Then it’d be sent off to I’m guessing Toronto to get checked out, where there’s a chance that my data couldn’t even be recovered.

That was the last screenshot I took (back in January so there were tons more now) of how many movies I had and how much space I had left to show my friends when I told them I really had no more room. That’s just the movies, which I’ve bee collecting for a decade with almost all of my animation ones being in 1080p, with some rarer ones being my greatest pride of them all after years of searching. The rest of the stuff on that drive was my documents, including plans for videos and all my stories that I’ve been writing but not posting since gradeschool, all my pictures including ones of friends I no longer talk to, family, a lot of fanart I’ve collected, and gifts, all my music which is mostly on my laptop but there’s a good amount I deleted off here to make space, all of my downloads including my sister’s old videos that not even she has anymore, more gifts from friends that are no longer available online at all, videos I love and have been watching since 2006, and all my own videos that I’ve made since then as well. I have the vegas and AE files themselves on another drive to free up room and get it all in the same place, but my videos themselves I may’ve just lost. Completed ones, incomplete ones, random ones I made for myself, some animation projects I did for school, all the bits and pieces of old manips for really old projects, all of that might be gone now and after leaving the store knowing that it could be gone for good even if I had the money to send the drive off I spent the next hour or so crying alone in the car because of how frustrated I was.

I’ve heard the old ‘sometimes these things just happen, gotta move on’ spiel, I’ve heard it a lot over a ton of different subjects. But this was my past, 12 years of it, all collected into one place. If this stuff is gone I’ve lost so much that I’ve personally created and found joy in doing so, and I’ll never be able to recreate it or get it back. I find it impossible to just ‘move on’ from something like that, and it’s tearing at me so hard that I can feel my chest physically hurting.

So, now that this has happened, I’ve officially lost my inspiration. I’m taking a long break from editing now that I’ve lost so much of my material, and almost all of my non/disney collection, and will be withdrawing myself from most of the projects I’m in sans a few, which I will list in a bit. I have a mobile backup downstairs where I can get a good deal back, but most of those files are old and I don’t have the money or space to get a brand new drive to copy it onto and start my movies collection over again, nor do I have the energy. I have around 100 of those 753+ movies on my editing drive, and I still have all my shows, but that doesn’t really help a non/disney editor much if all she has is anime. 

I was hoping to open up my first rp contest this summer, so I could become more active with the community and make up for how little I participated in TTWU; I wanted so badly to be apart of the group, but I felt I didn’t deserve to speak to such awesome and talented people when I couldn’t give it my all, so I disappeared just like Jim and tried to let myself be forgotten. I wanted to make up for that with this new rp, and make more friends, but this had to hit me right as I was finalizing the details and now I just don’t have the energy to even think of starting it.

Things I’m leaving, I’ll message the hosts:

Girls Like Girls - Belle and Anya (halfway done, no masking)

Game of Survival - Helga and Tarzan (never started, lost inspiration)

Unhealthy Relationship - Gothel and Bernard (really lost inspiration)

Hit Me Baby - Tulio and Belle ft Louie and Jane (never started, unsure of deadline?)

Meteor Shower - Elsa and Peri (really wanted to do but never started)

Over the Sea - Jane and Pocahontas (cancelled I think?)

Body Electric x Control - JD and Rapunzel (never started, lost Heathers)

I Took a Pill in Ibiza - Hollina (never started)

Young Love - Miguel and Sinbad (never started)

Things I’m finishing (if the hosts still let me):

The Heart Wants What it Wants - Ariel and Lottie ft Eric (halfway done, no masking) 

Perfect Ruin - Aurora, Tulio, and Jim (almost done, haven’t lost anything) 

Gasavages - Phoebus and Dimitri/Peter (still fixing up to personal perfection) 

Gasavages - Mulan and Esmeralda (never started) 

Dirty Dancer - Felicie and Camille (halfway done, lost inspiration) 

Ghost Lights - Jane and Mulan ft Eris (gunna talk to host about it) 

Personal projects I need to finish:

That multiship video (only lost those final movies, have lower quality ones on mobile drive just in case, everything else is on editing drive)

All my collabs are on hold unless the other person wants to just cancel them considering what happened, granted I only have collabs with two people but still

All my requests are still written down and are doable but now I have to rely on what I have left and screenshot sites so that unnecessarily complicates making them

All my MEPs have no deadlines now seeing as I have parts in all of them and I’m obviously not going to be finishing them anytime soon, either way the deadlines all passed last year so it’s not like setting new deadlines will matter right now. I feel so bad about having to walk off of so many considering they’ve waited so long for me, but I don’t want to lie to anyone any longer and keep them waiting on me. I never wanted to be so unreliable but I ended up being a real shithead when it came to deadlines, so maybe I deserve this as karma. Either way, this blog probably won’t have many additions to it in the near future unless a miracle happens and I get my drive fixed, but I won’t be holding my breath. Maybe now I’ll get the chance to work more with Teen Titans again and do some anime videos, but that’ll only be after this sadness wears off.

#ray talks about stuff #i've been needing to make this post for months #i just wish it had never come to this though

[homestuckhiveswap]

END OF YEAR 5 - Since the Hiveswap kickstarter was funded: A hopefully final development chronicle

via /r/homestuck

Some of you might be too young to remember the heady days of mid-2012. A time where Homestuck still updated pretty much every day. The fandom had rode strong and true through the EOA5 hiatus and crashed through to the unexplored pastures of Act 6 with nary a whinny of hesitation. And after the coolness that was [S] Caliborn: Enter, Hussie returned from a hiatus with a troll ancestor walkaround to open A6I3... and an extra project: the 'Homestuck Adventure Game', and its corresponding Kickstarter.

The plan is this. I'll finish Homestuck some time in 2013 . . . When Homestuck is done, that's when our full attention will be on actual development. The game will be scheduled for release in 2014.

-Homestuck Adventure Game Kickstarter campaign (Sep. 4 2012)

As we now know, the Kickstarter was a big hit, and reached its funding goal 32 hours after its launch, on September 5, 2012, at roughly 10:30 pm. Five years ago, to this day. The campaign went on to end with $2.5 mil on October 4, however no one expected to see much more on the game until Homestuck ended. Eventually, Hussie paused for two months before A6A6 started (on 4/13/13) to work on the game, and intended to finish Homestuck in the upcoming months after the pause.

This is Homestuck's final push . . . To alleviate some of the suspense and wild speculation, I will give you a very loose estimate of my schedule, from now until the end of HS. Please observe these facts, as organized by this really awesome "html table" I have designed for this purpose.

-MSPA news update (Apr. 13 2013)

Then a bunch of A6A6 happened. The dreaded, terrible, Gigapause began. Hussie planned to continue making Homestuck, but handling the final section of the story in one big chunk, instead of regularly updating. And also work on the game. He didn't even give a time estimate on the Gigapause's length, probably to avoid tying himself to any expectations.

I also have to allocate some time to work on the Kickstarter game . . . I'll probably have a more substantive update on that before the end of the year. There hasn't been much to report yet since it's mostly been in a high level planning and writing phase. And firming up tons of legal minutiae.

-MSPA news update (Oct. 17 2013)

It took until New Year's Eve for us to get our first news on the game itself. It wasn't much to see, but one fact that is important to us is that it seems that Hussie had already agreed to create the game with The Odd Gentlemen, as he said that he didn't want to announce the developers of the game at that time. It took another six months of Gigapause to get another update on the game, which was when the partnership with The Odd Gentlemen was formally announced. The game seemed already to clearly be on schedule for late 2014 at the very earliest.

Note there was no target month given, because I really didn't know what the timeframe was down to that level of specificity . . . When the Kickstarter ended, that is not really when development began in earnest. That's when we began getting a lot of boring legal stuff in order, which took a while. Probably around six months I'd say . . . So if we are behind schedule (which may not even be technically true), I guess it could be by that amount of time. But I'm anticipating a major surge in development in the latter half of 2014.

-Kickstarter backer update (Jun. 20 2014)

The Gigapause finally ended a year after it began. And soon after it ended, Hussie outlined an entirely new plan for the Homestuck Adventure Game, now finally revealed to be titled Hiveswap. There's a lot that was said in that update (available here). But to condense it to one point: Hussie decided to pull development of the game in-house and over the last 'couple months' set up a What Pumpkin game studio for that purpose. Remember that it had been only four months since The Odd Gentlemen were revealed as the developers, which means that the decision to take back developing duties happened very promptly after the developer was announced!

The original plan had us testing the game by this point. Looks like testing within first half of next year is more likely. One major change to the plan I've settled on is to release the game episodically, to shorten the gap between now and when something is ready to be released.

-Kickstarter non-backer update (Oct. 30, 2014)

It took until after A6A6I4 had concluded for our next update, which was promising: Hiveswap had a website (since redesigned) and actual screenshots. Hussie stressed how development had amped up, especially considering that "Back in October of last year we hadn't even bought, like... computers.", and was overall very optimistic about the development progress, both in terms of speed and quality.

This point and click adventure has 3D graphics, puzzle solving gameplay, and an original story spanning four content packed Acts that will release throughout 2015.

-What Pumpkin Studios press release (Feb. 17 2015)

The future seemed bright. There was an asset reel, a playable demo at conventions, and a trailer ("Have you noticed that we're posting more updates lately? That's because things are really moving on the game right now, and there's a lot of exciting progress to report."). A second press release mentioned a mid-2015 release date (the press release was later still available - with the date edited out!). However, time came and went... and nothing happened. Just as A6A6I5 was ramping down with the Omegapause about to begin, we received more news on the progress of the game. It said that the WP Studios operation at NYC was expanding, and necessitated a bump in the development of the game.

So we'll be taking the little adjustment period this month to revise the schedule and come up with a new date to reflect the amount of polishing and testing we think the game could still use. We'll announce a new release date once we're sure the estimate will be final.

-Kickstarter non-backer update (Jul. 20 2015)

We kept waiting for EOA6 and A7, waiting for Hiveswap, and then suddenly finding ourselves in utter radio silence again. But something extremely worrying started to happen: in late October, a large amount of WP Studios NYC employees were laid off at the same time - surely a sign that the game was being abandoned. With no official word on the matter, people started trying to glean the truth by following said former employee's social media presences. The hysteria rose to such a point that on this very subreddit, someone took it upon themselves to dig up everything they could on these employees in a dangerously insensitive way. (And then Makin fucking stickied it without even fully reading the post. He says "I'm sorry".) The resulting backlash ended with Hussie saying that news on the game was coming before 2015 ended just to calm everyone down. And news did come:

We've been taking the last several months to pause production on Hiveswap and revise the overall approach to the game, as well as the visual direction, to make things a little more cost-efficient, and more rapidly producible over the full span of the series.

-Kickstarter non-backer update (Dec. 25 2015)

Hiveswap had transitioned to 2D, and in the process WP Studios NYC had been shut down (the expansion earlier that year seemingly for naught) and development was moved to a decentralized operation with less physical presence. Even though the previous update claimed to have a release date coming soon, no hint of any such thing was made now. Fans were relatively pacified after months of thinking that the project had been cancelled, and turned their attention to the upcoming end of Homestuck. It was generally assumed that Hussie was working on getting Homestuck done by 4/13, and that after that he would be free to turn his full attentions on the game. Our last crumb of official news came six months after the last, in the newspost for the release of Volume 10.

Since 4/13 I have been preoccupied with a wide variety of projects. Some are related to Homestuck, some are not . . . I have kept busy, and do not feel there is much to report yet. But there probably will be over the next couple of months.

-MSPA news update (Jun. 12 2016)

Four months came and went in deadly silence. Hiveswap was still under active development, but from the outside, nothing appeared to be happening. All official forms of communication were silent. The official website hadn't been updated in a year and a half, and still contained screenshots of the 3D version of the game. It seemed like the project had died (yet another) silent death behind the curtains. But suddenly, unexpectedly, one little update showed up on the game's website:

Hiveswap: Act 1 will be released January 2017.

-Hiveswap.com news update (Oct. 1 2016)

(quickly deleted, then undeleted on Oct. 6 2016)

A launch date??!? A new trailer! The 2D style makes it pretty now! THE GAME IS COMING OUT! After such a long time with a seemingly dead project, things were suddenly moving at breakneck speeds. Hiveswap was submitted to Steam Greenlight (in December) and overwhelming support got it approved almost instantly! Plus, we got the Homestuck credits flash and the snapchat stuff that's happening! Could this be a revival? Wait... isn't January almost done already, how come we haven't heard anything el-

Status of Hiveswap: the game is just about done. It could still use some more testing to be absolutely certain we are not releasing a buggy piece of shit! To that end it will be worth waiting another several weeks or so.

-MSPA news update (Jan. 26 2017)

Oh. Well, alright. It did seem a little odd though, since we never got an exact release date, and the game is getting delayed for 'bug-fixing'. But that means it's essentially finished anyways, so we just have to hang on a little longer. Say, 4/13 is coming up - and three months' time should be enough to quash any pesky problems. Of course, we'd gone back to not hearing anything about Hiveswap, but it seemed like a reasonable expectation given the timeline of things...

So, the game is nearly done . . . Some things take longer to implement or polish than we anticipate, but our intent is not to mislead you. I promise. We want to keep you in the loop as much as we can . . . The next time you hear a release date from us, it’ll be because the game is about to launch. In the meantime, we thank you, one last time, for your continued patience and understanding.

-What Pumpkin tumblr post (Apr. 13 2017)

Well, we'd gotten another trailer. And an apology. And by the time those two started to wear off, we got what we should have had all along: semi-regular communication from WP in the form of a series of developer interviews, art, and track releases. It was, at least, something to look forward to while waiting. But the lack of real MSPA content of any kind combined with the passing months meant dissatisfaction continued to mount. It was supposed to be just bug fixing, after all! Until finally:

We’re excited to let you guys know that HIVESWAP: ACT 1 has a release date, and it is September 14th!

-What Pumpkin tumblr post (Aug. 29 2017)

Here we are, everyone. Act 1 might actually be released. It's been a long and hard wait as the years went by, but the light at the end of the tunnel draws near. I hope you're all as happy and excited as I am about it! And I fervently, desperately hope not to have to repost this next year. But at the same time, there's one vital, inscrutable, heart-tightening question that we will have to find an answer for soon...

When's Act 2 coming out?

#hiveswap #homestuck #article

[aftermathdb]

DEATH BATTLE Review: Ganondorf vs. Dracula

Denizens of darkness duke it out in a duel to the death to determine who is the true duke of the dark power.

Sidenote: Really sorry if this feels blunt or rushed, but I lost the first draft and I got really mad about it.

Ganondorf′s Preview.

So, everything started when the Demon King demise wanted to destroy the world, and was stopped by the Hero and the reincarnation of the Goddess. In his rage, he cursed them to feel the manifestation of his hatred come to life.

The hero and the princess would be forever locked in battle with a being known as Ganondorf.

Ganondorf had a lot of teachers to help him out with the magic stuff. From energy bolts that would make for one intense game of tennis, to your usual dark magic shenanigans, Ganondorf has it all.

Ganondorf’s got an arsenal to boot!

From swords, to maybe two, ad sometimes on horseback, Ganondorf is skilled with a blade.

However, Ganondorf is much more famous for his piece of the Triforce, the Triforce of Power.

With this, Ganondorf gets an immense power boost… Because, you know… Power.

Thankfully, that boy in green had defeated him.

It’s moments like these that are going to make watching these two trying to kill each other in the series finale all the harder.

Thankfully, Ganondorf isn’t that invincible. Sure, you can hurt him with regular weapons, but it usually takes a holy weapon to really put him down.

It’s like Pokémon type effectiveness. Yeah, you can bring him down with non-holy weapons, but it’ll be a pain to do.

Ganondorf once survived his castle falling on top of him. By the size of it, annd accounting for a hollow interior, that equals a little over 11,000 tons.

If a castle falling on top of him isn’t enough, then a castle exploding on him would.

Using the size and accounting for Violent Fragmentation, the hosts have found that this equals

Just under 2 Kilotons of TNT.

It’s also worth noting that Ganondorf has defeated Link in at least one timeline. And Link ca dodge lasers, putting him at about 11% the speed of light.

After so may stabs, slashes, and seals, Ganondorf is onne hell of a guy to go up against, and he won’t stop until he brings about your demise.

Dracula′s Preview.

So for Dracula’s preview, we basically open with a Wiz and Boomstick segment regarding Dracula’s origin story and how God works in the Castlevania universe. Also, I’m aware that I misspelled Matthius’ name, I just can’t be bothered to go back and fix it. I was off by one instance of the letter “t”. So sue me.

No need to worry, I have it all listed down. Goth kids don’t have to worry, because I took notes for them.

Anyways, much like a certain other character whose original rival I want to see in a DEATH BATTLE, Matthius rejected his humanity, and became a vampire.

(Johnathan Joestar vs. Leon Belmont, when?)

So after becoming Dracula, Matthius spent the rest of his time being… pretty chill actually. Guy even found a woman to love and had a son… Until a rerun happened, and his wife got killed by a bunch of religious nutjobs, sparking a war he would wage against the God they worshiped.

Ad Drac doesn’t have to do it with just some bog-standard vampire powers. He gets power from Chaos himself, giving him all sorts of superpowers.

Aside from the usual set, Dracula has necromancy, soul manipulation, alchemy, and a bunch of demonic transformations. Like to the point that it can become a running gag.

Now, much like old ‘Dorf up there, Dracula also had his castle drop on top of him.

That’s the literal Castlevania, by the way. Using the game’s official artwork, that means that Dracula was crushed under over 2,000,000 tons of rubble.

With all that power, he’s pulled off some crazy things.

Not only does he command Death itself, but he’s destroyed entire towns, created black holes, and all sorts of crazy stuff.

His hubris might get him in trouble more times than not, but Dracula is one hell of a fighter.

So long as evil exists, so will Dracula.

The Battle Itself.

SFM Animators David Ficher, Doovan Hohdan, Daitomodachi, and Devil Artemis are on animation. Ganondorf will be voiced by William T. Sopp and Dracula will be voiced by Steven Kelly. The Dark Lords by Brandon Yates, and audio is led by Chris Kokkinos.

So after all this time, we finally have a fight story for a 3D battle again. It’s about time.

So, it’s your typical stuff. Ganondorf wants Dracula’s castle, and old Drac is’t having any of it.

And right off the bat, we have fanservice. Really good fanservice.

So, Ganondorf goes in for an attack, but not only does Dracula dodge, he manages to bitchslap Ganondorf!

I have a screenshot of this without the borders by the way. Check out the Deviantart page to check it out if you want to use it as wallpaper.

And Ganondorf’s face here is just so great! He just looks so incredulous that someone would bitchslap him. I never knew that Ganonndorf being bitchslapped was something that I either wanted or needed, but now I know. I got me a new running gag for the fic.

Ganondorf and Dracula have a quick back-and-forth to try to gain advantage. But try as they might, speed isn’t going to be a way to pull that off. Nor will dark magic either.

This is one hell of a Halloween episode.

And Ganondorf proves his point by just going inn for the kill in 5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Yeesh, that’s brutal. But you want to know what’s eve more brutal?- The fact that this isn’t the end.

So, Drac goes Beast Mode, and starts dominating the fight again.

So Ganondorf responds in kind. Or rather, Ganon responds in kind.

God, this fight is just so full of fanservice.

After another quick blowout, Ganon pins Drac to a wall, and the latter just up and decides to end it.

And the castle blows up. Because it’s these two.

Yeah, (real) finishing blow in

5…

4…

3…

2…

1…

Verdict + Explanation.

So, right off the bat, they were about even in dark magic. But there are a few things that set them apart that gave Dracula an edge. Like soul manipulation. Ol’ ‘Dorf didn’t really have a solid defense against that.

But the difference in durability is pretty clear cut.

Compared to Ganondorf’s surviving the castle blowing up to how Dracula can survive a meteor to the face. That’s over a thousand times the amount of force that Ganondorf could survive.

And Dracula has plenty of ways to detach Ganondorf from his power.

And Dracula has access to holy magic too.

That Holy Nuke is better than swinging a sword around, which was admittedly the very few ways for Ganondorf to net a win.

Surprisingly, Ganondorf was underpowered to the might that Dracula has. Drac has the power of Chaos, which is a whole universe. Compared to the power of the Goddesses, that’s quite a lot.

The best way (according to Wiz) is to look at it from the idea that they’re both using batteries to fuel their powers.

Overall impression.

If it took this long to get a Halloween episode, then it was worth it. This has a great blend of horror, humor, and action. Especially with that Dracula bitchslapping Gannondorf scene.

I should make a gif of that later.

Regardless, I really liked this one. The animation is gorgeous. I know I throw that word around a lot around these parts, but this is some top-notch stuff. I’ve only seen one of the animator’s prior works before this, and I can say they make some good stuff. If it means we can get some great fights like this one again, I wouldn’t mind seeing their names again.

9.1/10.

Next Time…

Sweet. Some psychics settle serious simulation of violence.

Get ready for a psychic showdown!

Is there a fight that you want me to review? - Send an ask/request, and I’ll look into it!

Do you want to read my fanfic based around DEATH BATTLE itself? click here!

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you next time for…

A Psychic Pounding…………… Wait…

#Death Battle #Deathbattle #review

[ookamihanta]

i absolutely in love with bruiseshipping too! And I was wondering why you like them so much? I just love how their character developments involve one another!

//breathes inSorry for any spelling errors. Im writing on mobile.

I’m leaving this TL;DR version here.IM A SUCKER FOR BEST FRIEND TROPES AND STRANGERS/RIVALS/ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE.I really, really like the way Cole’s and Jay’s relationship is handled too. Since literally, s2-5ish does many things centered around their “rivalry”.

But before that, they’re best friends. They’re best, friends. Meaning they have a level of trust and companion ship that are a little more than what they have with the rest of the team.

And what i find really damming about the start of their developing friendship in the beginning, is that the show tries to make the whole s3 love triangle thing into their fallout. Into their whole, “ i hate them so much because __ ” kind of thing. (Which is usually a situation that both characters misunderstand and thus leads to drama.)

Many ppl have pointed out before that the s3 love triangle shit actually strengthens the ship and I agree. Jay has the misunderstanding that Cole is trying to date Nya when he’s really not and Cole is simply mad at Jay for assuming so. (This problem is also, pretty much Nya’s fault anyways so uh-)

This leads to a rivalry part of the story as the two “try to win Nya’s heart” when really, it was A) Cole trying to prove Jay is an asshole for assuming Cole would ever want to be with the girl his bEST FRIEND likes and B) Jay trying to prove to Nya, or more likely himself that he is the better suiter for her.

Either way, this goes on for a while. A whole seasons worth, which means we get plenty of scenes where the two display their feelings about each other. When Lloyd goes around trying to get the team together, Jay’s and Cole’s reasoning for not wanting to go back is literally because they do not want to see each other; when in fact it’s later revealed they wanted to apologize to each other sooner.

But ofc, they’re both stubborn af.

So skipping to the scene which I like to call “ the moment bruise really fucking solidified for me ” scene.

Here, Cole and Jay have been bickering for a shit ton now, and are finally able to unleash their emotions through fighting each other in the tournament of elements.

It’s shown that even though they are furious at each other, there’s a peice of them that truly missed the other and their friendship. (As we could see in the 10sec of them warming up for the fight before seeing the photo of one another and realizing that they are going to have to fight their BEST FRIEND).

They may act like they hate and want to fight the other, but really, they realized they’ve dragged on their silly misunderstanding for so long that they’re not sure how to fix the things they broke.(They’re friendship ofc)

So when they actually go to fight, they end up just confessing their true feelings on the fucking spot(like okay???). Cole is def the more mature one so that’s why he was the first to say “hey maybe we should stop cause i care about you bro”.

And the lines they say to each other is what REALLY got me attached to them.

They are, and I quote, “ I never meant to hurt you, Jay. If I knew it would ruin our friendship, I would take it all back. ”

MEANING, COLE LITERALLY PUTS HIS BOND WITH JAY, OVER THE GIRL HE (POSSIBLY?BUT NOT REALLY) LIKED.

then jay fUCKING GOES TO SAY :“ Well, if we’re being honest. I was upset about losing Nya, but I take blame for that. I was more upset about losing you. ”(thATS FUCKING GAY JAY.)

So what Jay’s saying is that he knows the reason why Nya left him was because he overreacted to the whole “perfect match thing” and that he takes HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH COLE OVER HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIRL HE’S HEAD OVER HEELS WITH.

That is some motherfucking shoujo bullshit right there.

Cole even says he wishes they would of just talked it out earlier instead of being stubborn and refusing to get along, even though they both know that they’re both in the wrong.

(Random irrelevant fact here : Jay’s VA says he believes Jay and Cole have the strongest relationship on them team (when concering Jay’s relationships). This is also, ironically, confirmed by Tommy Andearson as well. Jay’s VA also accidentally said without knowing that he ships Bruise Lmao)

Now that they’ve kissed and made up during the tournament arc, it’s obvious their friendship is back to what it was. Terrible jokes, teasing, always there for the other, support, and just genuine appreciation of the other’s presence??

Which is shown with Cole in s6 when he’s stuck on the island with Nya and Lloyd. He says and I quote, “ I was just wondering what Jay would say. ” and proceeds to do the best impression of Jay ever. This tugs at my heart strings a little simply because the 3 are literally stuck on a island right now. And all this dude can think about is Jay.

(Also irrelevant canon here : Remember when Jay sat on Cole’s lap and asked him to do something and fucking pulled out the best friend card? Yeah, me too)

Let’s not even start on DotD. That shit made me almost shed a tear with these two.

Let me start by saying, wow, someone at the production studio must have a soft spot for these two or some shit cause there’s a lot of small Jay/Cole interactions that I really appreciate.

1) When Cole lost control of his vehicle, Jay was the one who went to go help him first. He was the one who was ahead of everyone fyi while Cole was the last.

2) Jay was the one who reacted the MOST when he remembered about Cole and frankly, was probably the most surprised he forgot him.

3) THE SCENE WHERE EVERYONE THOUGHT COLE DIED BASICALLY AND JAY SAID “ Oh no! Cole’s gone forever! I’d do anything to have him back! ” MAKES ME WEAAAAK. He looks like he’s about to fucking cry. And Jay is literally the only one to have canon crying scenes. 1)Him smelling apple pie 2)Nya dyingWHICH MEANS COLE’S DEATH(Lol not really) HAS JUST AS MUCH OF A EFFECT ON JAY AS DID THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS DYING IN HIS ARMS.

I haven’t watch much of s7 yet, but all I’ve really seen is that Jay and Cole are partners. That’s all that really matters.

(Random irrelevant fact here : That moment when Nya literally said that Cole and Jay belong together)

(Another random irrelevant fact : There’s the perfect screenshot of Jay producing lightening in the shape of a heart in front of Cole somewhere and is def some sketchy proof that an animator for Ninjago has a thing for Bruise)

Anyways. Yeah. That was long but I really do love bruise with all my heart. It’s funny, I can write a 10pg essay about my otp, but not for school. Makes sense.

So @ the lego ninjago movie :From the trailers and screenshots, I see you guys have a thing for glaciar but for my peace of mind, pLEASE have a scene where the awkward Jay tries to have a conversation with the almost moody and mute Cole. Because their relationship is gOLD.