apathmakerstale

[apathmakerstale]

I watched Sonic 3 yesterday and honestly I thought Stobotnik shippers were just doing the usual ‘any interaction is shipping matieral’ that a lot of ships do, which I mean, go off, do you thing, ship those men I support, the job is up to you for makers too cowardly to make it canon.

But wow, like, no, Robotnik and Stone genuinely have almost romantic tension at multiple points in the film. Even more than the others. Almost every scene they’re in.

OH, and like there’s a scene where Eggman flat out says his appearance makes him undesirable to ALL GENDERS.

Legitimate 🤨🏳️‍🌈 from me.

I half expected Stone to flat out say he loves him during the whole scene where Robotnik fires him instead of cares. And the end where Robotnik spends his last seconds thinking of Stone. He literally calls him the only family he’s ever had.

Plus the haircut.

He didn’t need to do that.

Like no, my god these bitches gay. Good for them, good for them.

[apathmakerstale]

Literally used them like a Piñata to spread aether over The Empty.

I enjoy that in ffxiv that Primals aren't really a threat anymore almost solely due to the Warrior of Light. Like there aren't any in Tural or were introduced in Dawntrail, (partially for lore reasons if I remember right, something about less aether than Eorzea) and they're kinda replaced by Vidraal.

Like yeah, it's died out since the Grand Company of Eorzea is working to improve relations with the Allied Tribes and the Ascians are mostly dead, but like, most people know by now that if you summon a Primal then the WoL's gonna hunt them down. Like they still do get summoned, and the Summoner corps of Ul'dah and people like Fordola and other Scions take care of some of the weaker ones, but it can't be on a grand scale otherwise it'd bring down the WoL on top of them an no one wants that.

We are literally the natural predator to them by now.

Ifrit, Titan, Garuda, Leviathan, Ramuh, Odin, Shiva, Belias (From the Summoner questline), Phoenix, Bahamut, GOOD KING MOGGLE MOG XII, Enkidu, Ravana, Bismarck, Knights of the Round, Alexander, The Warring Triad, Susano, Lakshmi, Shinryu, Tsukiyomi, The Eden Primals, Elidibus' Warrior of Light, The Lunar Primals, Queen Gunnhildr, Daivadipa, The Magus Sisters, Anima, Asura (From Hildebrand questline), Hydaelyn, and Zodiark.

That's like three dozen, and what's more is that most of them we canonically solo'd and slayed multiple times.

We are the Maker's Ruin after all, making a World Without Gods.

[apathmakerstale]

I enjoy that in ffxiv that Primals aren't really a threat anymore almost solely due to the Warrior of Light. Like there aren't any in Tural or were introduced in Dawntrail, (partially for lore reasons if I remember right, something about less aether than Eorzea) and they're kinda replaced by Vidraal.

Like yeah, it's died out since the Grand Company of Eorzea is working to improve relations with the Allied Tribes and the Ascians are mostly dead, but like, most people know by now that if you summon a Primal then the WoL's gonna hunt them down. Like they still do get summoned, and the Summoner corps of Ul'dah and people like Fordola and other Scions take care of some of the weaker ones, but it can't be on a grand scale otherwise it'd bring down the WoL on top of them an no one wants that.

We are literally the natural predator to them by now.

Ifrit, Titan, Garuda, Leviathan, Ramuh, Odin, Shiva, Belias (From the Summoner questline), Phoenix, Bahamut, GOOD KING MOGGLE MOG XII, Enkidu, Ravana, Bismarck, Knights of the Round, Alexander, The Warring Triad, Susano, Lakshmi, Shinryu, Tsukiyomi, The Eden Primals, Elidibus' Warrior of Light, The Lunar Primals, Queen Gunnhildr, Daivadipa, The Magus Sisters, Anima, Asura (From Hildebrand questline), Hydaelyn, and Zodiark.

That's like three dozen, and what's more is that most of them we canonically solo'd and slayed multiple times. Plus we can even summon them ourselves too, and even fuse them together like with Solar Bahamut.

We are the Maker's Ruin after all, making a World Without Gods.

[apathmakerstale]

Prototype '3'

Prototype was the first game where I flat out started imagining and planning the plot for 3 since I knew it would never come out and I have to get the ideas out of my head after a full decade. This isn't all of it obviously, more the gameplay and basic storyline. I have way more ideas and go into more in-depth but I just want to get out the basics.

My idea for gameplay was instead of just having James Heller be the base form, instead bring back Alex Mercer and have them be stuck in the same body. Being the 'dominant' personalities, and have it that both of them focus on different aspects of the Blacklight virus. And then a third slot for the normal disguise.

Heller is the soldier, he's the combat guy, weapon guy. Having been trained as an actual soldier, he is better at full-on combat. The heavy hitter who's basically a juggernaut. He hits hard and his weapons do more damage at the cost of speed, but has more health and can use weapons better due to his training. Especially with his shields. He can actually make guns useful enough to use, and turn stuff into impromptu weapons, like tanks or helicopters. Lean into his juggernaut and have him have a special devastator where he upturns the ground with more tendrils and spikes than Alex ever could. Strength is his 'style' so to say.

Mercer on the other hand, is the scout, the people guy. He knows how to manipulate people, has spent months as other people and is perfect for stealth. He can wipe out an entire base without ever triggering the alarm, all though sneak attacks, consuming, patsies, and sabotages. That is to say he isn't defenceless, no he can output some heavy damage and still tear apart a tank, but he has less health and his attacks are faster. Lean into him knowing how to manipulate Tendrils even better than Heller could, and maybe bring back the Critical Pain devastator to emphasize precision for him. Precision is what his 'style' is.

Now you may think, "How is that possible? Heller killed and consumed Mercer and the rest of the virus at the end of 2?”

Simple!

PARIAH is still out there, and is said to be the 'Virus Incarnate', i.e he can do things no one else can. My thought was to have the prologue of the game be Heller investigating a abandoned Blackwatch base a few years in the future while having Dana as his mission control, with maybe even a small cameo by Maya who hacks into the comms to display that Dana's been teaching her some tricks to have her in the story.

Then PARIAH strikes, ambushing Heller and manipulating the virus in him to transform him into a mutated cocoon to take him out of commission, maybe declaring he wasn't 'ready' yet to make it more ominus and to establish how powerful he is.

Then after they both wake up, having a mental fight since obviously they hate each other but now have to work together and go out to find that PARIAH has completely taken over, maybe expanding beyond Manhattan, and into the New York proper. Here you can have a timeskip- maybe a few weeks, but I was personally thinking a full year, just to establish the stakes and allow other players to find out what happens.

From this then the story goes as it is, new nests, infected, hives, etc.

I had an idea than Rook actually goes on to be the guy who becomes the guy who manages to stall PARIAH, with a surprise turn that Dana is helping him as a sort of 'enemy mine' situation, not actually apart of Blackwatch, and still hates them, but acknowledges without a Heller or Mercer around the virus is too dangerous. (This is a BIG 'maybe', more throwing the idea out there with how much Dana hates them, absolutely might have her be sabotaging both) A neutral third party basically compared to Blackwatch and the Infected. Maya could then be the one who takes on the mission control too, catching up the two and directing them.

My big plot twist however, was at the end of the 'first act' or just before the end of 1/3 of the game, was to have a 'third base form' come out.

Elizabeth Greene!

Have it that PARIAH messing with them in the cocoon caused Greene's latent and subjugated personality be freed by them and come to the surface as the final base form. It'd even finally let her have some development and characterization as anything than just a roadblock and vague villain that shows up for like two scenes in 1.

Have Greene be the 'summoner', the mother and creator of the infected, so she can control and make them unlike the other. She can infect people, turn super soldiers into Hunter's or infected, turn regular people into infected, and be the one who just brings in numbers compared to the others. She can still use weapons like the rest, and has strength, but she's the weakest physically and relies on her attacks applying a stacking infection marker than turns people and infected to her side. Her devastator can even be the Pack Leader type that both Alex and Heller have displayed before, summoning Hunters, Jugernauts, or even Hydras. Numbers is what her 'style' is.

Not to mention the comedy that can come from the three/two having to share a body. Alex and James constantly insulting each other, Greene talking about them like children despite looking like a teenager, and the psychotic conversation they can have mid battle due to all of them being very very very unhinged.

Also the drama! After all, all three are enemies. They hate each other, despite being very similar to each other, they've literally all killed each other before. The tension and drama of being forced to share both a mind and body would allow for some great interaction! Maybe as an idea even have multiple endings where you can pick at the end who becomes the main personality- or none and the virus dies for good.

I even had a cool idea for side to the Web of Intrigue by having PARIAH's interference with them caused other personalities to come to the surface of the people they've consumed. Maybe have them be forced to give closure the the families of the ones they consumed, fulfill a last wish, or even just kill someone that the person really really hated- who coincidentally has become a apex infected now. It'd be a fun side mission that could also be sad.

This is scratching the surface, I had way more ideas that include all other aspects like the Evolved, consuming mechanics, lore, combo attacks, other locations, factions etc. The relationships between the characters, like how Dana would react to Alex being back, Maya and James, Greene and PARIAH. The running them of family and genetic connection of DNA vs non-tangible love, etc.

Oh, and I absolutely would've made Heller and Greene's codenames be Hades and Rhea. Missed the mark on theme naming, it works so well.

I just wanted to get this out of my head after years of daydreaming.

I really liked [PROTOTYPE] if you hadn't noticed.

[apathmakerstale]

I started leveling Monk in FFXIV, and I'm gonna be honest I am not vibing with the new basic combo animations.

The whole rotations strange now, but I can adapt to that, that's fine, simplified but fine.

I don't, however, like that Bootshine was replaced into a weird jump claw attack, it feels like I should be moving to the location and weird. it feels like a Chakra move almost.

Actually mid-thought, I'm kinda okay with Rising Raptor and Pouncing Coeurl, they grew on me. I just really hate Leaping Opo. It doesn't fit the starter vibe at all. It's actually killing the job for some reason.

Oh and getting rid of Elixir Field- I want my laser beams! It feels so boring now! Jumping up and shooting a laser was cool!

I just don't like it, it's actually killing my will to play it since it just looks off.

[apathmakerstale]

i have my delusions ready for today

kingdom hearts 4

but that's too easy, too simple, I will go higher

bloodborne remaster, fallout 5

even the ghosts of the past are not safe

sly cooper 5, infamous

why aim low if you believe none will hit

code vein 2

my delusion will reach heights never known

PROTOTYPE 3

it will make the fall that grander

KINGDOMS OF AMALUR 2

[apathmakerstale]

SOMEONE TOOK MY UNIQUE USERNAME I USE FOR EVERYTHING IN MARVEL RIVALS!

HOW

I SPENT YEARS BEING THE ONLY ONE

RAAAGHHGHGHGHG

[apathmakerstale]

[apathmakerstale]

I spent too long on this

[apathmakerstale]

I swear the Darkest Dungeon series was built for me. It literally solved the age old issue I had where I loved the idea of hope outshining all evil and the indomitable human spirit overcoming it, but also the inherent bleak uncaringness of the cruel universe of eldritch and cosmic horror.

It combines the two perfectly! Like year, it's horror and you’re getting killed all the time, but you’re also killing the horrors.

It’s foolish to hope, but that’s all you have and by god you will prove it’s not.

The starspawns from beyond the cosmos laid low by a a rugged man with black powder, the risen dead put to rest by a shamed nun and her faith, the wretches made of discarded filth fought back by a prancing singer, abyssal creatures dredged by a runaway thief with poison and knives.

The entire theme just speaks to me.

You will fail.

You will die.

You will lose everything.

But…

You will keep trying.

You will find more to carry the torch.

You will rebuild.

No matter what, if you do not give up then even the stars themselves will bend to your will and good will triumph.

[apathmakerstale]

The Legend of the Black Dragon. Schrade Kingdom, once upon a time…

[apathmakerstale]

It’s a detail that’s never stated in game, but I absolutely love that in Darkest Dungeon it avoids the whole ‘Dark is evil, but Light is also morally gray' that grim settings normally do.

Light is the manifestation of humanities belief in good. Humans managed to hope hard enough to create a being strong enough to rival a cosmic universal contestant of evil. And it doesn’t even do the ‘it’s good based what humans believe is good, so the people they persecute are left out.’

No straight up Light is nothing but pure good in it.

It shines down on the Abomination, meaning that it does not care what you are, but rather what you do and will answer if you call for help.

It heals without a price for any who use it and brings solace for any as many times as they need.

It guides and protects you regardless of how little is left from the smallest ember.

It’s even what saved Junia from her so called Light worshippers, and told her that her love was also pure regardless of what her superiors claimed.

It may have followers who are corrupted and evil, but it itself is nothing but pure and hopeful. I love that in a setting as dark and depressing as it, it does not bend in anyway at all. It stands for good and refuses to allow anything to change that.

It is the flame and hope and will never go out as long as there are a desperate few who believe in it.

[apathmakerstale]

There is no heterosexual explanation for this.

[apathmakerstale]

I'm leveling the rest of my Dawntrail classes back to max levels, and it's just not occurring to me how absolutely powerful the new abilities are.

Like really, I just unlocked Scholar and the Seraphism ability is so cool. Effectively infusing our fairy with enough aether that it sheds it's faeness and transcend back into a Seraph, since there are a few folklores that link fairies as Angels that were neutral, that were caught in between, children of those left on earth etc. It seems like that's the connection that Square is going with, which is interesting and one I like at the least.

But still back to the ability part, being able to effectively fuse with our Seraph and the whole transformation is super cool and super powerful. Same with Summoner effectivity making a fusion of Phoenix and Bahamut, the two most powerful primals in Eorzea, and being able to harness six egi's in comparison to Jajasamu's Ifrit and Titan and sheer lack of power in comparison. Even Dragoon's summoning a huge dragon out of the ground is awesome (I still want Spineshatter back Square).

Ugh, it makes me want to write a fic so bad to see other people's reaction to the Warrior consistently managing to not only outpace but blow past their abilities. Like, there's probably a subset of people who think the WoL's a god or something with how ridiculous they are. That'd be a funny fic.

[apathmakerstale]

It's super unlikely since it's a small company and it would be a lot of work, but I so want a map creator for Pacific Drive. Or at least a run creator where you could share custom made paths that you have to survive. Like one where you have to carry bunnies on you the entire time, or a highway run with like ten acid sprayers at once, or all Junctions have Eerie Darkness with no headlight and spike strips everywhere. Not to mention the potential for race maps or speedruns.

Like since you can already change basically everything about the gameplay, being able to place anomalies and make and share challenge maps would be super fun and add a lot more replayability!

That's a stupid amount of work for an indie dev though and I have no expectation, but I can dream!

[apathmakerstale]

you can pry starting sentences with 'and' or 'but' out of my cold, dead hands

[apathmakerstale]