#Jelly Does RPG Things

[dailycharacteroption]

Subsystems and You 14: Firearms

(art by MattNB on DeviantArt)

To fans of the gunslinger class, today’s subject probably doesn’t feel like a subsystem, since it’s absolutely necessary to the class unless you play a bolt ace. However, it’s easy to forget that for a lot of fantasy rpg players, including technology above a certain level that isn’t “basically magic because it’s ancient and incomprehensible to the tech level of the current civilization” is sometimes a dealbreaker. It’s one of those “You got jelly in my peanut butter” scenarios. Some folks get upset about it even if they can’t adequately articulate why.

And even if that’s not the case, some settings simply don’t want to deal with firearms for a myriad of reasons, anything from the established tech level not matching up to philosophical reasons. (gunpowder does appear in LotR, after all, but only as a weapon used by Saruman in his obsession with progress at the cost of all good and wonderful things in the world, and it’s constantly depicted as loud, obnoxious, and a blight to the senses in addition to it’s destructive power, for example).

Plus, firearms do work a bit different compared to most other ranged weapons, so I’d say it’s fair to give them a full breakdown here.

Firearms have plenty of advantages and disadvantages on their own, and the specifics of each varies slightly based on the broad category, for firearms are divided into early firearms (representing flintlock designs and assumed to be the standard in the Lost Omens setting), and more modern designs with rifling, for if you want an even greater tech level and effectiveness.

Each firearm has a capacity, which represents the number of barrels in early firearms and the number of chambers in their modern equivalent. The fact that the capacity has to be loaded means that firearms are difficult to make multiple attacks with unless you can reload especially quickly. As is, each chamber takes time to load, so fully reloading can be a struggle in the middle of a fight unless you’re playing a gunslinger or an archetype that replicates some of their speed. Either way, the capacity and reload time encourages keeping back and using cover.

Probably the biggest advantage of firearms, however, is their capacity for piercing armor. For early firearms, this only applies at close range, though advanced firearms can do so much further away, rendering armor moot in most cases.

Of course, using volatile black powder isn’t without risk, and on an especially low roll can cause a misfire. For advanced firearms this just breaks the weapon. But for early firearms, the jam not only grants the broken condition, but also makes the weapon into a volatile bomb if you try and fail spectacularly again without clearing the weapon first.

Also, be sure to protect your black powder from water. A wet gun isn’t going to be firing anything.

Finally, a bunch of classic feats got updated to deal with firearms, such as rapid reload and deflect/snatch arrows, allowing them to interact with firearms in addition to other weapons and ammo types.

There’s a bunch of smaller nuances specific to certain types of weapons such as siege cannons and individual weapon types like fire lances and scatter weapons, but that more or less sums it up. I find that firearms lend themselves to a slightly different action economy, with at least some time being spent on reloading, even for high level gunslingers that reload like the wind. Just remember that firearms are prohibitively expensive for all non-gunslinging classes and archetypes.

That will do for today, but I hope this was informative. Tomorrow, we’ll be stepping away from First Edition to take a look at a subsystem from Starfinder!

[thecurrator]

𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 @daemonwritesstuff: Nagi Seishiro!

Compatability: ████████▒▒ 80%

Nagi is fine with just about anyone as long as they don't hurt his friends, so he'd have no problem getting along with you! Your first meeting with him might have been awkward as first, but once you got comfortable with him, he couldn't get you to leave him alone. That's how he makes most of his friends anyway. An extrovert just comes along and decides to adopt him.

He finds your confidence, good humor and chaotic energy admirable since those are the traits he lacks. He also likes how you're straightforward, as he isn't good at picking up social cues and finds communication much easier when people just say what they mean to him (ahem, his miscommunication with Reo). He never gets offended at your nonchalance and bluntness since he shares those traits of yours. Your habit of being able to talk for hours when you're comfortable works just fine for him as he isn't the type of person to say much. Even though he might not react often to your rambling, know that he listens to every word.

It's great for him, having a dad friend around because he does not take care of himself at all. Having you around to provide him (and anyone else you both are hanging out with) with the essentials for the activity you're doing is so convenient (and it stops Reo from buying new ones because he didn't think to bring them). The amount of times you provided him with sunscreen before walking around town or going to beach and saved him from sunburn cannot be counted with two hands. He takes to calling you "lifesaver".

Nagi tends to be quiet and clingy when hanging out with people he really likes, so he kind of ends up being your support dog? In a way? He keeps you from getting too deep and philosophical (and making yourself sad in the process) when you're left on your own for too long, draped over your lap like an oversized, sleepy cat and redirecting the topic of whatever you're rambling to him about.

He finds your tendency to text with kaomojis and emoticons cute. He finds really expressive texting cute in general. The most he'll do is :x sometimes, but maybe your habit will rub off on him over time and he'll start using :/ and :0 too. Revolutional.

He doesn't think much about your ability to pick up new skills easily, but others find it infuriating. His friends will begin to lump you in with him as geniuses. Expect them to start bugging you to join them in fun and casual or even more official competitions. You could get good at the activity with some practise, but watch Nagi trip and hit all the pins with a bowling ball on his first try. Whether you're envious or impressed is up to you.

History is his favourite subject, so he shares that interest with you! It's one of the few things he'll actually talk to you about. He also likes your stuffed toys since they're nice to touch and cuddle. If he ever visits an arcade, he'll try and win some cute stuffed toys or puppets he thinks you might like.

Your cooking/baking hobby is another thing that's good for him because he'd simply eat jellies everyday if it weren't for people placing nutritionally balanced meals meant to be chewed in front of him. There's no guarantee he'll finish what you make as he finds chewing a pain sometimes, but he is more likely to do so since you're the one that made it instead of someone he doesn't know.

GAMING! This guy is the gamer in blue lock, perhaps tied only with Hiori. He's probably played all sorts of games and is more than happy to play them with you. He likes rhythmn, rpg and gatcha games the most. If you're the type to play games late into the night though, don't expect him to join you. He loves his sleep.

He shares your love for manga too! Another thing he'll actually talk to you about, especially if it's a series you both like. But even if he's never heard about some of the things you've read, he'll listen to you talk about it. He doesn't mind spoilers, and he's unlikely to check most of them out. But he'll take your recommendation if you say he will like this one. He'll try it out and get back to you.

Physical touch is this guy's love language too! He's often draping himself over you or leaning his head on your shoulder so the weight of standing isn't so tiring. He's fine with receiving hugs from you, but beware, he'll trap you in his arms and force you to carry some of his weight. He's like a perpetually sleepy panda.

When you're dressed in your "IDGAF" outfits, you both look right at home with each other. But when you're in your crazy outfits, you both look hilarious side by side. The more elaborate your outfit, the funnier his hoodie and baggy pants look next to you. When you're dressed in your goth outfits, you both look like visual parallels. White and black. It's rather fitting.

[shadowredfeline]

Four in One Post

For my Filipino Friend’s On this Day Posts

Part 1

I bet Spot and Cude would wear a Federation uniform together if Both like to be part of the Federation.

Shadow R 😺🗡️: Spot, Cude. Since you both are part of the Cuteness Defenders Federation, and as part of your team, we’ll hope our defenders and federations work together and unite and peace to our friends and people. 🫡

Part 2

Looks like Munchy Beaver has the Mech to chop the wood and help Peanut Otter at the same time when saving their homes together. Just like Pinch Raccoon and Jelly Otter would both do and maybe the four can work together to save Lake Hoohaw.

Part 3

Tory 😺🩰: Riya. It is really nice of you telling us a true Impreza Story. Ever since your brother got to drive an Impreza too before you stuck with driving a Porsche and an Audi. Maybe you and your brother can race my brother. Not only does he drive a Ford Shelby GT, but in Maximum Tune, he drives a Toyota Supra. Since my mom and my brother always like to drive a Toyota.

And finally, a Response to my Filipino friend and while discussing our A-Pal’s On this Day Post and mine too.

Me 🇺🇸: Hey, I understand if this game isn’t your cup of tea, even when it comes to RPG titles, but I’m sure we’ll do these stories and titles together like playing along with the story. And yes, it can be a swell idea to have Mayu, Cude, Murukir and Popikir to tag along with Shadow. Especially if they want to save Star spirits or with the Thousand Year door and stop the Origami King and tossing confetti together, even Lisa can tag along like if we need six people to help out together.

Shadow R😺🗡️: Great idea, Creator! I would love to have you four tag along with me and Lisa. Plus Porsche and Jenny love doing stuff with Murukir and Popikir a lot. Especially when Loopy and Kukurin have other things they can do.

Me 🇺🇸: Yup. And if Spot and Riya have a custom race track, it would be fun to have Shadow and Tory race with them.

Tory 😺🩰: I bet go kart racing can be fun. Besides having Maxwell and his friends having and ultimate summer activities together. And maybe when Shadow goes on a vacation with mom and Lisa, I bet it’ll be fun for us to do something together, after I finish up my ballet work of course.

[jelenedrake]

Further Adventures of Jelly and Tabletop RPGs

Last week in one session my bard went blind twice, visited the Upside Down, got a baby gryphon, and accidentally got married to a druid. Busy Friday night.

Then on Sunday my paladin pulled some Wonder Woman type shit. Launched herself off a building to lasso a flying vampire out of the air. Following it up by yanking him off his feet and pulling him into her stake with a nat 20. Shortly after she dueled another vampire on the back of a giant centipede before tackling him off the beast into the waiting stakes of her fellows. Typical Sunday.

[clio-just-clio]

While I am supremely biased, I think West of Loathing is the best comedy RPG ever, because it is not merely funny, but it is clever. There is so much unique contextual dialogue or dialogue that is affected by the order in which you do things that it must’ve taken an insane amount of effort to put together, which may not be outwardly obvious from its very basic art style. And on top of all of that insane detail and writing there is an actual plot - several plots, actually - which the player can choose to completely ignore if they so choose. These plots involve ancient aliens, a cult of necromancers, and a long-prophesied battle between monstrous clowns and the hellcows that have ravaged the land of Loathing in the apocalyptic “Day the Cows Came Home”. But you are doing yourself a disservice if you stick to the main “plot”, which involves your custom character seeking fame/fortune/jelly beans by heading ever Westward, and in the process becoming a renowned gunslinger/railroad magnate/bean-throwing magician, with your trusty brooding sharpshooter/drunken doctor/brain damaged miner/goblin by your side. It perfectly encompasses the frontier spirit of adventure, but without the racism!

TL;DR: Cyberpunk 2077 wishes it had what West of Loathing does, unironically 

[randomfandomasks]

More Stardew Valley Headcanons (including my Farmer Blake)

So, my Farmer Blake is very insecure over the scar on their right eye, which is why they always wear a pair of sunglasses. This also means that nobody (except maybe Lewis since he knows Blakes since they were very young) has ever seen Blakes eyes, and nobody knows what eye color they have. I kinda imagine all of the villagers arguing about their eye color.

Blake, Sam, Abigail, Sebastian and sometimes Penny are often playing D&D together (or other video games, mostly RPGS though)

Everyone in this whole Village is smoking weed (except the Kids of course)

The Wizards and Linus are very close friends.

My Farmer Blakes is always bringing Linus some gifts, in return Linus lets them use his campfire to cook something (My poor farmer still doesn't have a kitchen)

Blake learns about everyones favourite dish, and writes it down. So, once they finally have a kitchen than they will try to cook everyones favourite dishes.

Maru and Penny are very close friends.

Blake is pretty short, which is kinda funny watching them running around with a Melon/Pumpkin that is way bigger than them.

Blake is not a big fan of Winter since for some reason they always feel a bit depressed during Winter.

They spend a lot of time in front of Grandpas Altar...just standing there and talking to him. They really miss him.

While Gus is a very good cook, and arguably the best chef in Pelican Town. Linus dishes are surprisingly good, too.

If Clint wouldn't SIMP that much over Blakes Girlfriend Emily, then maybe they actually would have a chance to become friends. That Jerk was trying to ask out Emily in front of them. (Yes! That happened in game during Clints heart event. Literally the next day after Blake and Emily started officially dating)

Abigail, Sam, Sebastian, Maru, and Blake love watching Anime.

While Blake does enjoy farming, mining, fishing and so on. Their most favourite thing about farming is that they can make different types of Jellies, Pickles, Wine and so on. They really love experimenting with crops and making their self-made Artisan goods. (I also have the Chocolatier mod that ads self-made chocolate, the Baker's Life that ads baking into the game, and quite a few mods)

Blake isn't much of a drinker, but they still go quite often to the Saloon, mostly either to play the arcade games, hanging out with Sam, Abigail and Seb or to silently watch over Shane so, that in case he drinks too much they can help Marnie to carry him home. (And not likes some creep to just stalk on Emily)

[udunie]

do you have any VR stiles thoughts? like where he gets trapped in a video game and fucked by the boss/a monster, or he does some online game that's the first of its kind where there can be Real World permanent effects and didn't realize people would see him and be like "let's fuck him up in here and out there"

Okay. So.

Imagine sometime in the (not so far) future, a big company comes out with a VR experience more immersive than ever before!!!!

The system is designed for the super rich, who can cash out for an experience that actually lets them LIVE in a game. It consists of a capsule they have to get into (either naked or in some fancy spandex suit) that gets filled completely with a jelly that allows their bodies to feel every sensation in the game - heat, touch, pressure, movement everything!

There is also a helmet and the usual sci-fi shit (+ there are feeding tubes when needed as a session can go on for multiple days - and also because i love feeding tubes lol)

Of course, such a thing can't be released without proper testing. (also, im aware that there are maybe multiple movies with 'stuck in VR' plots, but i can honestly say i have seen none of them lol)

Enter Stiles, who is a) in need of cash b) loves gaming, so when he sees an ad to be a tester for the new system??? With a LOT of money?? He is one of the first to sign up.

of course, he doesn't read the fine print, because if he did, he would know that:

as part of the testing process he will be scanned in perfect 3d and the company will be making a 24/7 3d recording of his experience

the company decides what 'games' he will be testing with the system and what 'roles' he will be playing

the company actually 'owns his experience' and is free to distribute any digital recording they capture

Stiles expects that he will be dropped into some fantasy rpg and slay some goblins for a few hours.

Instead, he spends the next 3 months running from hideous monsters with only a stick as a weapon. Whenever he is caught, he is brutally raped by the monsters (there is no damage caused in life, but he does feel pain - and occasionally pleasure - thanks to the revolutionary capsule technology).

When he is finally pulled out, the game is just being released and he has to realize that his image is plastered all over the internet as the new face of the company's brand new 'after dark' side brand for the VR system.

Legally, he can't do anything. Ppl recognize him on the street, pornhub is full of 3d clips of him getting fucked by monsters.

His life is ruined.

The company is kind enough to offer him a permanent position as a 'mascot' for their porn line - testing out and advertising every new erotic horror game they develop.

He really has no choice but to accept. :D

[aion-rsa]

15 Best SNES Platformers Ever

https://ift.tt/2UzmXAm

Platformers have long been an entry point for new gamers. Video games may have greatly expanded in scope over the years and now offer so many different genres and experiences that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them, but that’s actually a big part of the reason why it’s still so much fun to look back at these timeless games where the main objective was often to simply jump from one place to the next.

There is no console that celebrated the brilliance of the platformer better than the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The SNES may be best known for expanding the adventure and RPG genres, as well as raising a generation’s expectations for video game graphics, but few consoles have come close to rivaling the Super Nintendo’s library of classic platforming titles.

It’s hard to narrow this list down to just 15 games, but from action-based platformers to pure platforming classics, these are the best examples of this timeless genre that the SNES gifted the gaming world. 

15. Jelly Boy 

Putting you in control of a jelly baby (a candy that is popular in the U.K. and surrounding areas), Jelly Boy was only released in Europe when it debuted in 1994. The game has a colorful aesthetic and some unique platforming elements built around the main character’s ability to transform into a myriad of vehicles, tools, and other objects. Those metamorphoses will be familiar to anyone who has played a Wario Land title or Kirby’s Epic Yarn. 

Admittedly, Jelly Boy‘s mechanics can be a little clunky and the controls are deficient compared to some of the later games on this list. Still, you will be hard-pressed to find a more original platformer on the console that isn’t made by Nintendo themselves. You can even play it now via the Nintendo Switch Online service.

14. Demon’s Crest

Released by Capcom in 1994 as the third game featuring the character Firebrand (who debuted in the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series), Demon’s Crest is a forgotten gem in the SNES catalog. It adds some variety to the traditional action-platformer by giving the playable protagonist the ability to fly and shoot fireballs as well as access other upgradeable attacks and maneuvers as their quest rolls along. That feature adds a little Zelda-like adventuring to the mix, and you’ll certainly need those late-game power-ups because this platformer means business.

There are many difficult platformers on this list, but few boast the plethora of boss battles seen in this one. It’s actually similar to Mega Man in terms of its fighting style and jumping requirements, so if you are looking for an alternative to the Blue Bomber that keeps the basics of the genre intact, you’ll have a hard time doing better than Demon’s Crest.  

13. Joe & Mac

Joe & Mac is honestly a fairly basic platformer for its era. What gets it onto this list of the best games in that genre, though, is the creativity and execution of its setting.

The game sees you control two different cavemen who rely on basic prehistoric items such as fire, bats, bones, etc. The bosses are pretty cool (dinosaurs are fun for all ages) and the controls hold up well enough that you won’t ever feel like you have to force the avatar into doing something that the interface simply won’t allow for. The game spawned a sequel that was also released on SNES, but the original is unique enough to get the nod here. 

12. Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts

Despite what the title may suggest, Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts is actually the third game in the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series. Like the previous games, this classic sees you battle various monsters and bosses that fit the setting nicely. Although the game is maybe a little too action-heavy to get the nod over the SNES’ best platformers, it uses its platforming elements to elevate the entire experience. 

The difficulty is insanely high and the sheer amount of sprites on screen at once can lead to some lag that only adds to the frustrations of this arduous journey, but the game has a way of keeping things light and humorous when the frustration sets in. How many other games see the protagonist stripped of their armor, quite literally, when he takes too many hits?

11. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!

The third installment in the beloved Donkey Kong Country trilogy certainly isn’t hated by many, but it is usually viewed as a step down from the first two games. Whether that has to do with a change in composer for the soundtrack, the inability to play as Donkey or Diddy, or the fact it was released after the Nintendo 64 was on the market, the title’s sometimes mixed reputation often prevents it from being appreciated as a divine platforming experience. 

The environments and storytelling in this game are well-executed. If you’re observant, you may even notice that the developers were trying to say something about the sad state of ape habitats and pollution in the wild. Even if you didn’t dive too deep into that surprising bit of social commentary, you’ll likely find that the platforming in this one remains top-notch and that the overall experience remains severely underrated. 

10. DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure 

As the only game on this list that wasn’t initially released outside of Japan, many gamers may not know that DoReMi Fantasy is a whimsical experience that features some of the key elements of Mario and Kirby’s best adventures in terms of gameplay and graphics. Starring a young child whose objective is to reclaim music for the forest, DoReMi utilizes some clever puzzles that may not be unusual for the platformer genre but certainly add to the fun.

The game got a Virtual Console release in North America in 2008, but that’s sadly the best chance many gamers have had in recent years to take a chance on this title. It’s a great example of how people should be more open to experiencing games that weren’t localized the first time around.

9. Donkey Kong Country

Perhaps the most famous game starring Nintendo’s lovable ape, the original Donkey Kong Country was Rare’s first big title for the SNES and practically started their decade-plus long relationship as a second-party developer with the Big N. Tasked with showing off off the console’s pre-rendered graphics system, the crew from Britain proved to be up to the task. Honestly, this game still looks halfway decent in 2021. 

While the actual platforming is not as good as the Super Mario games on the SNES, it offered a different flavor of jumping that is still very much appreciated. The “weight” of Donkey Kong and Diddy means that the platforming is less flighty than in Super Mario games, and the rideable animal buddies you encounter along the way add a little flair to the experience. 

8. ActRaiser

As a game that serves as both an action-platformer and a God simulator, this underrated and forgotten gem from Enix and developer Quintet showed off the visual and audio capabilities of the SNES in the early days of the console. You play as the “Master” who is tasked with building towns around the world and fending off the evils that threaten them. It’s hard to juggle two completely different genres like that, but ActRaiser finds a great balance. 

The game was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2007 but has otherwise been paid little attention in the years since its release. That’s unfortunate because there aren’t many games from 30 years ago that provide this much depth and versatility. Both parts of the experience are extremely solid in their own right, and together add up to become something truly special. 

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7. Kirby Super Star

Even the most ardent Kirby fans would probably agree that the franchise can get a little stale at times. There are only so many ways Kirby can suck an enemy up, transform his powers to match theirs, and ultimately defeat King Dedede. That’s why Kirby Super Star is still arguably the best game that the pink cutie pie has ever starred in.

Featuring eight different games within the game, the genre-mixing in this one is really off the charts. There are racing elements, adventure tones, and shooting sequences amongst the different sections of the playthrough. The experience was so beloved that it was eventually remade for the Nintendo DS as Kirby Super Star Deluxe. There is something for everyone in this package, and it shows the best parts of Kirby’s history.

6. Mega Man X

The original run of NES Mega Man titles are arguably still more famous than all of the others, but Mega Man X just has more of what makes those games great. It retains the eight bosses and weapon upgrades that can be completed/acquired in whatever order the player chooses, and it even has that same incredible soundtrack that the Blue Bomber’s adventures are always famous for.

Mega Man X‘s graphical upgrades admittedly take some of that eight-bit nostalgia out of the experience, but the game ultimately makes up for it by offering new gameplay experiences. Jumping on walls and acquiring upgrades to defensive maneuvers gives Mega Man an even more badass skillset, and the game generally does an excellent job of emphasizing the “platforming” parts of its action-platformer mix.

5. Super Castlevania 4

Super Castlevania 4 is actually a kind of soft remake of the original game, and the developers at Konami did a great job of making that game more digestible for newcomers while keeping all of the iconic elements from the classic NES title.

The Castlevania basics are all here (you still control Simon Belmont, equipped with his famous whip and ax, and battle through the game’s 11 stages before reaching Dracula), but an ideal mix of combat and platforming makes this one of the most irreplaceable platformers in the SNES catalog. It’s still an airtight action-platformer experience in 2021. 

4. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

The second game in the DKC trilogy took all of the best parts of the first title and refined them to create a truly unique platforming game that was a lot more than fancy graphics (a reputation the original game has had a hard time shaking). Diddy’s Kong Quest expanded upon the game design that fans loved while keeping the jungle hijinx, masterful soundtrack, and weighted platforming intact. 

That last part is what truly separates the middle installment of this franchise from the other two. Many people have said that these games were sometimes more style than substance, but after playing through the myriad of environments on display in DKC 2, it becomes clear that this title has endured over the years because its tight mechanics are executed at a high level.  

3. Super Metroid

If this list were just a ranking of 2D games or if it encapsulated the entire SNES library regardless of genre, Super Metroid would most likely take the top spot. Alas, this icon of game design settles in the third spot because it isn’t the best example of a “pure platformer.” It’s more of an action/adventure affair, though the game’s platforming elements are still as satisfying now as they were in the 1990s.

What separates this game from so many that have tried to emulate it in the nearly three decades since release is that every ability upgrade and every part of the map fits together with nearly flawless foresight and execution. It’s never a hassle to re-explore a section that you’ve already seen. The game has a masterful flow that is incredibly modern and perhaps even more popular today because of the prominence of this design style on the indie game scene. 

2. Super Mario World

With its flawless controls, colorful sprites, cheerful soundtrack, and ageless platforming, Super Mario World is the title that all other 2D games in the genre are still compared to. The extra graphical power of the SNES gave Nintendo the opportunity to expand upon Super Mario Bros. 3‘s best ideas while exploring new concepts that simply weren’t possible before.

That is why this game remains so playable. Super Mario World combines the most enjoyable elements of the NES Super Mario classics and then elevates them to fully realize the world that Miyamoto imagined when this basic concept was created. It still doesn’t make sense to have a plumber jumping on top of turtles and occasionally getting lost inside of a house full of ghosts (those damn Boo mansions still haunt me), but when you combine this much creativity into one package, you have no choice but to admit how special it all is.

1. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Shigeru Miyamoto and his team knew that it was futile to try and surpass Super Mario World simply by emulating it. So when developing the sequel, they made the decision to craft an entirely different type of platformer in which Mario isn’t even the main protagonist. The concept was bold, but the execution needed to be flawless if the game was ever going to be more than another disappointing follow-up. 

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It’s safe to say Yoshi’s Island exceeded all expectations. Putting Yoshi at the forefront of a platformer that included mini-games, evasion, puzzle-solving, item collection, and the most timeless color palette in gaming history was brilliance personified. Yoshi’s Island is not as famous as its older sibling, but its daring creativity and irreplaceable charm have inspired many to argue that it is the better game in retrospect. Whatever your opinion is, the fun and escapism of the green dinosaur’s finest hour (as well as the horrors of Baby Mario’s screams) will be remembered until the end of gaming.

The post 15 Best SNES Platformers Ever appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[dungeonecologist]

I know I just said I wouldn't do one of these, but it's so easy I figured i might as well...

The first dungeon in Nostalgia/Winds of Nostalgio is just a sewer full of rats. Just rats and rats and rats, and then a big monster rat at the end. I get that the game is really leaning into this "classic" RPG adventure and this is almost a literal joke, but come on... It's a perfectly sound bit of world building, although it would have been nice to see evidence of the rats, not just scurrying around, but having nested down here some place; a pile of horded junk, or trash used as bedding in some back room/deadend. They were smart enough to make it a pretty quick dungeon, for as cliche as it was, I don't think it even took me a full 10 min to clear?

Also, once the boss is finished, the monster appearances do change up: Flying Fish, and Jelly, and Bats are added to the random encounters.

Having some variation on the classic Slime monster is cool and all, but man that thing is not "jelly," but I suppose a horrible glob of living trash does fit the dungeon.

I dont really know what the "ecosystem" of a victorian era sewer would've been like, would bats hang out in a sewer? Sure, it's vaguely cave-like, but would the smell and general chemical composition of the air being mostly noxious waste bother them?

The Flying Fish colors seeming to be a goldfish does make me laugh. (I don't know if Japan has the same weirdly engrained cultural image the US does about flushing your pet fish down the toilet.)

The combat order appears in the bottom screen with these awkwardly cropped but really nice illustrated portraits. It doesn't clarify wtf the Jelly is made of but it does make clear that the Bat and Flying Fish are sort of horrifying. I don't know what it is but JRPGs really love flying fish and fish with teeth.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Idk if this is asking to much but can you give quick thoughts on each of the headcanons tdp dropped on reddit? I love your analysis and opinions on the matter so much!

Well, I screenshotted all these thinking I’d use them eventually, but… sure, since I’ve made this so easy for myself, here you go.

I just did a theory post on this one about primal stones. Also Viren didn’t make his Sky primal stone. Ibis has one in his staff, and so does the Moonshadow elf from the intro. I’m guessing there’s one cool staff for each elven race, and its leader/most powerful mage controls it.

This one reaffirms that dark magic is complicated, but that it can accomplish good things with bad means. Which we been knew, but it’s always good to be reminded that everything has a cost, even good things.

Elven language comes in different forms that descend form a mother tongue, but it has a Common tongue, too, and the writing is all similar enough that elves can generally read each others’ languages. This is probably to do with why Ethari’s forge sleeves and Janai’s sheath have the same heat-protection rune on them, but in very different script. One is Sunfire script and the other is Moonshadow script. Headcanon confirmed!

Annika and Neha seem to be Aanya’s biological parents, because love finds a way. Guys, the fics this will create.

It’s apparently unlikely that half-elves currently exist, since it’s been many centuries since anyone explored whether humans and elves can have kids together. *eyes the above post* But love finds a way, so…?

Sunfire elves can live a really long time–which fits with the fact that Khessa’s grandma was alive 300 years ago–and Crow Lord is just trying to relax, okay.

Who wants to sign up for advanced Magical Genetics at XCC with me? Because that’s how we’ll learn what happens if two elves of different races have kids.

Also, “Callum’s Spellbook” will have more info about Earthblood and Tidebound elves, and it comes out early next year.

Claudia’s resurrection spell is not well known and it has a high cost, and we’ll learn more about that in S4.

There may be official map merch on the way. DUDE I LOVE MAPS!

Viren is responsible for Ezran being locked up after he abdicated–he was trying to minimize disruption and threat to his brand new rule. How… pragmatic.

Weirdobeardo elves. That is all.

Callum’s birth father is a “very compelling person.”

There are vegetarian elves and not-vegetarian elves.

There’s backstory to Soren’s relationship with Viren. I’m guessing it’ll be in that first book? 

Rayla may not know yet exactly what Viren meant when he taunted her with the coins in his pouch. Reason is her least favorite negotiation tactic, after all. Come on, Rayla. Just mention it to Callum, and he’ll piece it together for you. Then you can kiss him and the two of you can fly off to tell Ethari.

Did anyone else notice this, because yeah, magic rivers. I bet it’s the Tidebound elves’ work.

Horn cuffs = marriage. I’m betting each elf makes or designs their partner’s cuffs for them. That’s why Runaan’s are covered in swirlies and Ethari’s are pointy with Runaan’s eye color in them. Meanwhile, Lain’s and Tiadrin’s each have two raised bands on them, because they’re very alike.

Callum’s going to “obsess and work to connect with another arcanum.” That doesn’t mean he’ll succeed. But I bet it’ll be Moon.

Hello and welcome to another episode of “Everyone Hates Aaravos.” Archdragons and elves (with primal stone staffs, I’m hc’ing) ganged up to yeet him into the mirror. (Possibly because Queen Aditi tried it alone, failed, got turned human, ran off to Katolis, and everyone else panicked when she disappeared, so they posse’d up.)

Claudia’s not done casting big dark magic spells! Rut roh.

S4 will show us Viren without Aaravos to guide him. I’m guessing that could be because Aaravos has chosen Claudia instead, but we’ll see.

Soren and Claudia’s mom is in the first book, where we’ll get her name and the nature of her relationship with her husband.

We almost got full-Moonshadow Rayla there at the S3 finale. And powerful Moonshadows can shift into full Moonshadow form without the full moon! *braces for even more fics*

Other human kingdoms have dark mages, but they’re rare. Jelly tarts are based on hamantaschen.

Rayla had a lead role in High School Moonsical her senior year.

Some human kingdoms have a lot of religion and mythology, but Katolis isn’t heavy into it. There may be super secret plans for a tabletop/RPG set in Katolis. Earth arcanum stuff is druidic in nature.

There may be more questions I didn’t see, but these were all the nifty ones I saw get answered. Enjoy!

[leggomylino]

I saw someone else do one of these about a week ago, and it’s been on my mind to do one as well. It’s a very sweet gesture and I want to let all my mutuals know that not only do I see them and care about them, but I also really appreciate y’all as well! So without further ado, here’s my shoutout to each and every one of you! ->

@lovesickmark​ -> I’m pretty sure you’re like, the first person I really connected with on here? If not THE first then definitely one of the first. I know you’ve been going through a lot and I respect that; I’m cheering for you from the sidelines tho, just remember that! It’s been wonderful having you around so I hope you’re doing well and that you keep moving forward. <3

@jisungx2​ -> JOSIIIIIIIE >A< My INFP sister. I’m sure things have been kind of annoying and rough for you too, what with the holidays here and having to work Black Friday and most the rest of the season (holy cow I salute you and I’m really glad you didn’t die. Ily man.) It makes me so happy when you leave cute asks in my box like “hope you have a great day!” or “[enter cute chain mail here]”. You’re just very cute 😞😞 and I really wish you all the best this holiday season! I hope you’re taking care of yourself and remembering to take breaks when you need it. Remember the storage room excuse. Ily bro man.

@iiasha​ -> We haven’t been talking for very long but like, omgosh I love talking to you oops. 😂😅 Idk sis, I guess because most of my mutuals are a bit younger than me it’s nice to have someone who’s the same age I can relate to? And also someone to guide me through the confusing but quite entertaining world of the Seventeen fandom 💍 (I’m on my laptop and I couldn’t find the giant diamond emoji don’t @ me). ALSO! YOUR WRITING!! IS SO GOOD!!! Ugh I STILL gotta get to that Jimin alt. ending 😫😓 But I’ve been very invested in working and my language studies as of late while procrastinating on my other works rip. ANYWAY! I APPRECIATE YOU!! LET’S TALK MORE!!! YEEHAW!!!!

@joully​ -> You and I are still going to take over the kpop industry with our band, right? Shoot, what was the name of it again?? 😂😂 I don’t remember RIP...anyway, we don’t talk hardly as much but, I still see a lot of your posts and think about you! You’re really talented and I’m totally jelly of your piano skills 🥺🥺 Like dang I wish I could play half as good sis. Also, I’d really like to visit Germany one day! My dad’s best friend lives there, they met while he was travelling Europe in the army. He said we may go there one day and if we do, or if I just have to make my own adventure, I’d love to meet at a coffee shop and say hello. <3 Please continue taking care of yourself and come talk to me sometime! If you don’t, I will!! Lol 💕

@minniewoos​ -> 😎😎 <- SEE I REMEMBERED ❤️ I really hope your anatomy final went well! I bet it did <3 And if you haven’t taken it yet, you’re going to do great, I know! ^^ We haven’t talked for long but, I enjoy talking to you a lot. It’s always nice and appreciated to have another stay to bond with and just chat about how dumb boys can be but wow they sure are cute while doing it. Sigh. Anywho, I’m looking forward to talking with you more, and if you ever get a chance, I’m excited about getting to maybe study Korean together!  천천히 해 💓

@kpoptrashx2​ -> Luisa!!! We don’t really speak as often either 🤔 But I really appreciate that you’re always there to help me with my writing and give me pointers when I need it. Thank you so much for that! It’s truly very helpful because as a writer I have no idea how something is going to sound to others who have no idea what’s going on inside my head. ^^” Not only that but it’s a joy getting to chat with you as well. 💓 I hope you’re doing well and that we’ll get to catch up soon!

@hanniesunshine​ -> Omgosh sis I cannot wait for your story to come out! You know the one I’m talking about so I won’t accidentally spoil anything lol. But anyway! I hope you’re well and that you’re doing alright. We haven’t talked for very long but I had so much fun talking about your story with you, and I’m looking forward to chatting about even more stuff! 🥰

@bopping-to-my-kpop​ -> Sis you betta talk to me more or imma come after you 😤😤 Don’t test me I’ll dang sure hold another court case if I have to! And it’ll be totally rigged because I’ll be in charge of everything! The judge? It’s me. The jury? Also me~ Any outside opinions? I have influence in all of them! 💞 ...Nevertheless, I really hope that you’re well, and please know that you can come to me for anything :c Even if it’s just to take your mind off of something negative and you need a laugh. I’ll see what ridiculous shenanigans I can cook up for you, okay? You’re never a burden, I love helping people (esp. people I care about!) so please stop by anytime!! #westanemmainthishouse 🥀

@xxsanshinexx​ -> I haven’t talked to you in forever but I really hope you’re doing well! I haven’t seen many posts from you recently :(( Idk if you’re just busy or if I’m blind, but if you ever get a chance I’d love to catch up! Whatever you got going on please keep doing your best and remember to take your time as well. <3

@spuds-potato​ -> 🌟🌟🌟 B)) What’s poppin little sis? I hope you’re doing well as well, and I’m still waiting for my story 😤😤 Remember if Celi dies she’s dragging her bf down with her okay?! Okay. Some Romeo and Juliet action going on 😂😂 Aaaaaaanywho, I’ll have to pop in soon on Insta and you can tell me about your day! Remember boys are dumb and drink plenty of water~ 💗💗

@chanscoffee​ -> I know you’re super busy but I totally miss talking to you 😭😭 and I hope you’re well. I rarely use Snap but I need to hop on there sometime and maybe we can chat! Or on Insta. Idk we’ll see. Whatever you have going on just know I’m still supporting you and I’m here if ever you need someone. 💖

@daydream-jwoo​ -> Okay I’m telling you now imma be texting you soon! Seriously sis how have you been?! We have so much to catch up on! 😩😩 The holidays have managed to be both crazy and slow at the same time some how? Like time has been completely nonexistent and a total paradox lately. 🗿🗿 It’s wild. Anyway imma keep this one short bc it’s been so long and I’ll text you soon!! 💝💝

@thevampywarlock​ -> Give me a minute.........okay. *deep breath* AAAAH I THINK YOU’RE REALLY CUTE!?!?! ...Aaaaaanyway uwu” The stories you write are so cute and just, small wholesome things that you manage to extend and expand upon? Does that make sense? I really admire that. It’s like subtle but I definitely see it and eventually I’m going to come around to going on a reblogging spree \o7o/ But until then I hope you’ll consider stopping by and talking with me more? You’re a wonderful author and I think you have a kind heart. ^^ <3

@jisungsjheekies​ -> Oh sis. We gotta chat more too! Your stories are also very cute and well written and idk why but, I feel very compelled to support both you and @backhugsforhyunjin​ and whole squad. It’s very strange and I don’t mean to alarm anyone 😂😅 I just...can’t really explain it other than I feel like y’all are good people and I’d love to get to know you better. Anyway I’ll cut this short to avoid making anything unnecessarily weird, but, I’d really love to talk with you more! And I def support and appreciate you!!

@backhugsforhyunjin​ -> Sis you too, we def gotta chat more 😤 If you ever need anyone to talk to, I understand we aren’t close at all but I’m available to listen or give advice if you need it? 😅 Also, you’re a wonderful author as well. I really wish the best for you and hope to hear from you more in the future. If anything, please remember to take your time and know that there are people cheering for you! You got this, whatever it may be!!

@gaiyofanfiction​ -> Asdfghjkl now that we’re buds ofc I had to make you a part of this too 🤪🥳 I think we could use a team name, what do you think about #TurkeyDragons?  Bc the NCT float?? 😂😂 I like it honestly...but if you hate it lmk lmao. I hope we get to talk more soon and I’m really looking forward to an update of Twisted Karnival! One of the greatest fanfics I’ve ever read on here 😞✊ Of course with the Holiday season here updating isn’t super important, y’all pls take care of yourselves first and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season! (p.s. if anyone else is reading I wish this for y’all as well!) ❤️🎄

~~~

. . . That was a lot. If I’ve forgotten anyone I sincerely apologize and I love and appreciate you as well! Please don’t be mad at me 😩😩 At the end of the day I really do love and appreciate all my followers and mutuals, y’all are all fantastic and I’m always rooting and cheering for you like the Mom in every Pokemon rpg ;-;-;-; Keep going and become the Pokemon Champion okay? And I mean really go kick Gary’s ass, because he’s an ass and needs his ass whooped after all the crap he puts you through in Red/Green. I can’t wait for a reboot to come up on Switch so I can kick his butt all over again 😤🤭🥴 Anyway x9,000, thanks for coming to my Appreciation Ted Talks and I sincerely hope you all have a wonderful day and rest of 2019, as well as a happy New Year and an amazing 2020! ...Dear son of a biscuit it’s gonna be 2020. Wow. Letting that sink in. Where’s the rewind button? Actually I’m not sure if I wanna go back maybe it’s best if we bury this year for the most part and start over 👀💧

OKAY THAT BEING SAID EVERYONE GO OUT AND TAKE DOWN GARY!!! ILY ALL WOO 화이팅!! LET’S GET THIS 2020 BREAD after a cup of eggnog and some holiday celebrations uwu Peace out and again I love y’all! 💝

[darkmindsotome]

Obey me! Oc + HC

Thanks to @lxvescramble​ for their post HERE and their fun suggestion I ended up playing around as well and this is what I came up with. Dollmaker link here

Darkmindsotome Masterlist

Obey Me OC : Andromeda (Andi) Mundi plus HC of how the brothers react / interact with them.

Andi actually quite likes her name but it was a little bit of a mouthful when people were trying to call her so it became shorter by necessity. You might ask why such a good little girl would require such consideration and be given a nickname as a requirement. Well, that is because naturally curious Andi also gets bored easily. Not really an issue until she decides to get up to mischief. You see a good girl, in this case, is just someone who hasn’t been caught yet. Andi is a master of avoiding reprimands in the human world but in Devildom? She is a child who adores chaos and you can bet if Lucifer finds his hands full keeping Mammon in check, then Andi is simply going to add to that headache. That being said she never actually does anything intentionally terrible; it is all small pranks to break up the peaceful boredom. She enjoys reading and playing games.

Reactions and Interactions with the new Human:

Mammon: First thought of her as a big pain in the ass. I mean this whole exchange thing seemed like a great idea and everything (Plus no one was going to say no to Diavolo). Spent the first few days avoiding her like she was infectious until he was ordered by Lucifer to figure out who had broken into her locker at RAD and put a bunch of snapdragons in it. (Snapdragons are a weed in Devildom and not only snap they bite and leave nasty burns). He figured out who had done it and beat them up. Now he thinks of her as another sibling and she is basically his cute and adorable Lil Sis. He melts when she gives him puppy eyes and begs him for things. She gave him a scarf as a gift looking adorable when she did because it suddenly occurred to her it wasn’t like Devildom is cold or anything. It is not his most prized possession. (Asmo tried to borrow it once and nearly lost his manicures). Mammon went from running away from, to running to the human quickly and gets hellishly protective.

Leviathan: This shut-in hardly noticed her, that was his story and he stuck to it for a whole week. She was quiet and such a normie, he actually couldn’t stop checking her out in a very awkward way. She looked completely lost in the library in RAD. She was trying to carry a stack of books that was nearly as big as she was. He couldn’t stop thinking it was so cute like something from an anime or manga. He caught the pile as it began to tip before she could even cry out and he blushed the minute they made eye contact. Finds out as much as he is a super fan she is actually really into some manga’s and things from the human world he hadn’t even heard of and agrees to swap copies of them with him. (This is definitely a trope right? Yeah, it’s a trope and the boy is living his dream right now). He overhears Lucifer offering to help her with studies and immediately goes to her room later that night to ask if he can help her instead. He finds out that she finds it hard to focus when there isn’t noise around her so he drags in some games and things into her room. If Andi wants noise and distractions in the background in order to work he can do that, in a very Levi way. He now plays all of his RPG 1st player shooters in her room while she studies. (Not that he is worried about what will happen if her grades slip or anything).

Asmodeus: Was overjoyed they got a girl living with them, even if it had meant a lecture from Lucifer about inappropriate behaviour and respectful distancing. He finally had someone to go on dates in town with that wasn’t going to complain about the 4hrs in Majolish where he was picking out dresses that all looked exactly the same. (There were differences in fabric, cut, stitching and each one accentuated a different part of his already perfect body, how could you not want to try them all?). From day one realised she hardly did anything with her own hair after washing and brushing. He felt it his duty to inform her of all the beauty rituals he could which was met with about as much enthusiasm from Andi as red-hot needles in the eyes. She relented seeing how happy it made him promising to at least let him do her hair and nails for her sometimes. When it’s the weekends he tracks her down and sits behind her playing with her hair. It really was such fun having a girl in the house.

Beelzebub: You know this boy loves family and takes to her in a heartbeat. He listens to Andi talk about life in the human world, her life in foster care and finds it all amazing. (There are humans who take in other humans children to provide care and shelter for them until they are old enough to survive alone?) She's so small though he is worried he'll crush her, and he has to stop himself from hugging her several times when she makes him very happy handing him snacks in class. He really wants to show her he appreciates her thoughtfulness and never finds the chance to repay her kindness. After she screamed at a spider on their walk home from RAD Andi threw herself so hard into his arms they both landed on the floor in a heap. Yes she was small and a human but dammit this was now his human and he would protect her from every creepy crawly in Devildom (There is a lot of them).

Belphegor: So these two didn’t have the warmest of first encounters. During one of his searches for a good place to nap, he wandered into Andi’s room and caught her changing clothes. There was a lot of screaming and he was hit in the face with several plushies and a shoe. (Andi wrapped a towel around herself and came out into the hallway to retrieve her shoe just as the rest of the brothers appeared. That was one hell of a day). His uncertainty of her faded a little after she apologised for attacking him. She had spoken to the others and heard about his sleep habits and prepared a few sleep aid gifts from the human world. (The wheat bag cow cuddle buddy is his fave). One night after dinner she grabbed his blanket and did a disappearing trick on him. It took him half an hour to find her and when he did she was curled up in his bed. He now curls up near her, not because he wants to always nap with her but because he is now afraid she will vanish on him.

Satan: Nose in a book always. Humans don't interest him that much as a whole but when this one arrived; she had several big thick novels he had never seen before. For a while, he had forgotten them as Andi was more focused on settling in than reading but he noticed her one night in the library in the house of lamentation and remembered them. He thought he would be sneaky and tried to position himself near her so he could read his book and attempt to sneak a peek over her shoulder at her books. Andi noticed and as much as Satan tried to deny his actions he was happy when she offered to share with him. They now have their own book club where they swap books and then meet up to have tea and cake and talk about them. (It’s a peaceful time he wouldn’t miss for the world).

Lucifer: Finds her to be a pain at times or more precisely an annoying distraction. When they first met, he made the assumption that she was simply a very sweet little human girl, a good girl. So when he found someone had put itching powder in his dress shirts and wet sponges in the toes of his slippers there was no way he thought it was her. (Not that punishing Mammon was something that was never a requirement but he did feel a little bad for doing it without reason). He has taken to watching her more closely as he clearly cannot take his eyes off her for more than a few hours before discovering she has found a way to convert her boredom into chaos. Nothing that she has ever done has been more than a minor inconvenience, to be honest, if this was the best the human world could offer then he could take it easily in stride. She has a cute apologetic look on her face that turns him to jelly, so it actually makes harsh punishments difficult to issue. (He simply cannot allow the others to see that sinfully adorable face). He has to work hard not to reveal the smile on his face as something other than sadistic when he hands her the mop and broom so she can scrub all the floors in the house as punishment.

"How come the human gets that and I get strung up from the ceiling upside down?" - Mammon "

"She's human they are delicate. Besides if he hung her upside down her skirt was fall over her ears and even Lucifer isn't that crude." - Levi

Diavolo: Let’s face it this Lord of Mischief adores the unpredictability of her. He has heard all the pranks she has pulled with the brothers and was only sad he was unable to get a front-row seat to the events. Of all the exchange students he is over the moon she was chosen as one of them, he now had another partner in crime. He laughed his crown off during an official dinner when one of the attending demons asked her a question that clearly made her feel very uncomfortable. Her wordplay was one of the things that had interested him from the start. When she is uneasy she deals with it by making sure the situation is as difficult for everyone else as possible too. (It's rather amusing to see the unflappable Barb and Lucifer getting flustered).

Barbatos: Found her one day during grocery shopping and took pity on her as she tried to figure out the difference between dried petrified hellshrooms and fresh. Devildom had a wide range of food available to purchase, it was one of the things Lord Diavolo insisted on before the exchange. So he found it strange that she should be trying to use ingredients that weren’t human. When she explained she was in charge of cooking dinner but she was a terrible cook he smiled and offered to help. (How bad could she really be?) He quickly discovered the girl can turn any food into a weapon and after nearly destroying the castle kitchen decided to tell her he would personally deliver food to the house on the days she was meant to cook. All she had to do was put it on plates and serve it.

[cheetahtrout]

WHy hello, cheets. Where have you been? Hunting for a new job and getting my life back in order mainly, but also drawing sausages. So people can stop pretending that germany only has Weisswurst and “hotdogs”. All of the items depicted ount as sausage in germany. I will gladly go into more detail after the cut into German sausage and the curious case of the bratwurst (have fun) P.S. For all my paleonthology friends out here, I have something nice coming and for once it has nothing to do with fish.

As you can see in germany sausages get ordered into three families depending on their first preparation. raw, cooked and poached/baked. They are then organized into subfamilies depending on different properties. Rohwurst is probably the oldest variant, due to its preparation being at times nonexistant in wich case the sausage gets indeed eaten completely raw and not even smoked. I call it the standart Pen n Paper RPG sausage, cause the smoked and salted variants are extremely durable and suited for a long track through the land.

Mettwurst and Mettenden are what a zoologist would call “the most basal” of the sausages. They are raw with a bit of salt but not enough to count as salted. Mettwurst is sometimes mixed with minced onions in wich case it turns into the also well known “Zwiebelwurst”. It counts as a spread. There are almost as many regional variants of Mettenden as there are of german regional beers. Coincidentally the mettenden are a welcome addition to a beer evening.

Teewurst is the slightly more “sophisticated” brother of the mettwurst. Its smoked, slightly salted and gets exclusively produced in germany. The reason for its name “teasausage” is unknown, since tea was never an ingredient. It does however go very well with a rainy autumn afternoon, dark bread, a cup of tea and a cozy blanket.

Cervelatwurst and Salami ( or as its known in the americas “peperoni” ) are taking the salting to the extreme.Wich also gives the salami its name from the italian “saltsausage”. Cervelatwurst additionally gets minced. “Peperoni” in germany are actually a specific type of chili-like bellpepper.

Cabanossi are the other end of the extreme. Being strongly smoked. The ability to eat them with the peel and them surviving a lot of temperature conditions without much trouble makes them a very popular snack when on tours, but are also often used in creamy soups. The Kochwurst family is a curious one. with its variants being very different from one another due to their specific cooking contents of either fat, galert or bloodprotein.

Leberwurst (liversausage) is made fun of a bit. In part because with the finely minced one, you cant really be sure what the ingredients originally where, turning it into a very popular and fine spread. Its brother the Hausmacher Leberwurst is less common and many frown at it for being gray. It is only roughly minced and usually has more herbs added. Much like the Teewurst its regarded as an autumn sausage. The last one in the fat-based subfamily is the Pastete. And its a first sign that the form does not define something as a “sausage” in germany. In the end it gets baked in a dough hull. Now “hold up” I hear you, “if its baked, why isnt it a Brühwurst?” wich is a fair question. But you see the baking is only the second step after boiling the meat into a firm paste. So the baking aspect is only a secondary trait.

Gelatin is an ingredients won from boiling bones and removing most of the fat from the brew, resulting in a gooey substance when warm and a firm cutable jelly when cold. Presswurst and Corned Beef had a hight in popularity in the 60s to 80s, but presswurst in particular has still a lot of variants depending on meat used and what additional ingredients being thrown in such as bellpepper or mushrooms.

Lastly we have to get a little bloody with the Kochwürste, but only sort of. Blutwurst, Zungenwurst and Sülzwurst are all based on bloodplasma. Blutwurst in particular is considered to be one of the oldest sausages, known to appear even in Homers Odyssee at the 8th to 7th century BC. Emerged from a time when wasting even so much as a knuckle of a dead animal could mean not surviving the winter, these sausages probably received a second revival this late in germany due to the country being in complete utter poverty after WW2, making wasting blood, galert and bone almost a crime. Whilst once there was more variety, the three versions above have remained into today. The Zungenwurst is usually only sold at butcheries and does contain actual tongueslices from cows. The Sülzwurst can be eaten in slices cold like the blutwurst. But is usually fried secondarily and then peeled, turning it into a brown mush. All three are more commonly consumed by the older generations. The last family is the Brühwurst family. And it is massive.

covering the biggest amount of variants in every butchery. So I hope you can excuse me not going into enormous detail into every single variant.

Bockwurst and Wiener are only two of many regional variants. They are also the closest to what an american would call a “hotdog”. Some of them, like the Käsekrainer have additional ingredients like bellpepper or in this case cheese.

Lyoner is the finely ground but big variant of the Bockwurst. So big one slice usually covers a toast. It is also the base for all the many sliced sausage variants you see above. Meat mixes giving different parts of the sausage different colors alongside with inlets such as ham, bellpepper, pistacio and cheese open up many variants.

Jagdwurst, Bierwurst and Bierschinken only differ from lyoner by being less finely ground. All three commonly have peppergrains in them, with jagdwurst having extra herbs added and bierschinken having hampieces in it. Neither Bierschinken nor Bierwurst are made useing beer. As with the Teewurst the name merely hints at them being gladly consumed alongside a glas of beer.

we are almost done. But a list wouldnt be complete with these two oddballs. Lets start it off with the sober fact that weisswurst as you know it is entirely a bavarian thing. It is not common nor normal throughout germany, to a far northern variant exists. Despite the peel being technically edible, weisswurst usually gets zuzelt and depending on whom you ask this means something different. Some say you have to “undress” it as depicted above, others say you bite down on it a bit and suck it out of the peel and others insist that you have to cut the sausage in half along its length. Fact remains that it is a regional spciality and pretending that the rest of germany is a wild for them as bavaria is a mythos. Leberkäse on the other hand also originated in southern germany, switzerland and austria, but spread all through germany fast once introduced. And for a country this enthused about bread and sausage, it is really no surprise that a sausage getting baked like a bread in a breadform, wich can be sliced like bread making it a perfect fit for a slice of bread became as popular as it is. Its name means “livercheese” and whilst originally it contained liver, it is unclear where the cheese came from. So now where does that all leave us with the in germany so popular bratwurst? What type of sausage is it? You noticed that I left one Rohwurst out so far. The Krakauer. Originally the Krakauer can be eaten in thick slices unprepared. But much more commonly it gets secondarily fried. In a way krakauer is “a” Bratwurst “frysausage”. But in germany people go out of their way as to not call a krakauer a bratwurst due to different ingredients and consistencies. After all by that logic the Sülzwurst would also be a Bratwurst. In fact the Bratwurst brings us back to the very start of our journey. The Mettwurst. Or rather its absolute base: Mett. Mett is ground meat with specific ingredients and meats. When pressed into an unedible peel for spread consumption it is called a MettWURST, if it gets pressed in a thin edible peel with the intend of later fry-action it is a Bratwurst. And this is the sole difference between Mettwurst and Bratwurst. A thin peel.

Hope I could tell you something interresting this time! We will see each other again with inktober things and... hopefully.... some alvarezsaurs

[jelenedrake]

I Want You

There were a mess of knotted feelings twisting about in her brain. Thinking of when she first met Zeke, the cocky shit that dared to give Madame Genevieve a nickname. The time he took them all to that expensive place, when she terrorized the clientele by having her boots up on their pretentious table cloths and helped herself to the complimentary cigars more than once. He just smiled at her instead of being scandalized. Less than a day later when she was clutching her ruined hand, Zeke asked her want she wanted and when she said that Carver needed to die… He didn't question or say that her hand was more important… he got on his fucking horse and tried to kill Carver for her. He saw her at her worst after she lost her hand. Her temper and self loathing at its dark and twistiest… but he didn’t flinch. Ain’t no one cared if she got hurt before. Back in Gibson City, when she ran from the fight instead of standing her ground because she worried HE might get hurt on his own. She ain’t never done that before. Man has her twisted up but good. It didn’t seem like much, but the kinda life Billie has led up to this point hasn’t given rise to much opportunity for good things to come around often. It's been a long slow dance and it has been this unspoken thing between them. All she knew for certain is that Life is Short. People are Messy and she didn’t want to wait around anymore. Something good was going to happen. For once, she was gonna make it happen for herself. Crossing the distance between them, she says: “I want you.” before grabbing him by the collar and tugging him down to her height and pressing her lips to his.

[satoshi-mochida]

Nippon Ichi Software has released a new trailer, information, and screenshots for roguelike RPG void tRrLM(); //Void Terrarium.

Get the details below.

■ Dungeons

Each of the many dungeons that exist in this world have their own characteristics, and you should explore different dungeons depending on the resources you want to gather.

If your terrarium is heavily polluted, the “Pollution Source” dungeon may reveal the cause.

When you need useful tools, go to to the “Production Plant” dungeon. If humanity was producing machines and tools here, you should definitely be able to get your hands on something.

Dungeons change form each time you enter, so the resources necessary to take care of Toriko and items that aid exploration will randomly appear.

Traps may suddenly appear in the dungeons. If you fall to a dizzy state called “glitch” or step on a trap out of curiosity, you may be warped to a random location.

—The helper robot is not built for combat, but if it is for Toriko, he will do his best to fight.

■ Pollution Forecast

If the weather forecast is for the worse, such as “cloudy” or “stormy,” a haze of pollution spores will occur. Bad weather also affects exploration, as unlike days with good weather, items will become contaminated and enemies stronger due to the pollution.

However, some resources are easier to obtain in bad weather. Since there are also benefits to braving the danger of pollution, try to turn a difficult situation into an opportunity for reward.

■ Pollution

The items you can obtain in dungeons each have a “pollution level.” This affects not only the human Toriko, but also robots, so even if you finally obtain an item, there may be times where it is better to avoid using that item depending on the pollution level.

Polluted items will often become “faulty,” so it is essential to determine when to use them.

■ O.S.E. Watch

In the O.S.E. Watch displayed at the bottom left of the screen, you check Toriko’s status. Since you can get notified when there is something wrong with Toriko or when there is an accident in the terrarium while exploring, you can hurry back once alerted. It is OK to explore a little more… But if you ignore the notification and continue exploring, there may no turning back…

—Toriko got bored waiting for the robot to return. But when it returns, she is happy.

■ Skills

By defeating the enemies within the dungeon and heading deeper and deeper inside, the helper robot will acquire new skills and level up. There are various types of skills, including both close-combat and wide-range skills.

—The skill “Strike” will unleash a powerful blow unto the enemy in front of you.

—By activating the skill “Happy Slot,” you can get the item “Happy Capsule.”

■ Resources

Items obtained in dungeons will be converted into “resources” to be used for taking care of Toriko and replenishing the terrarium at the end of exploration. Even if you die during exploration, all of your items will be converted into resources, so picking up all the items you come across until the end is one way of doing things. By using resources to create terrarium decorations and items, the number of items you can hold during exploration will increase, your storage capacity will increase, and both exploration and taking care of Toriko will become more seamless and fruitful.

Toriko seems to sleep comfortably in the “container bed” created by the helper robot. By creating things, craft bonuses that increase the robot’s defense power will also occur. There are various types of beds alone, so remodeling every once in a while is one way of enriching Toriko’s life.

■ Storage

At the base, there is a “Storage Vault” where you can store the items you obtain. Be careful as food will rot if left alone for a long period of time. Food can be eaten even if it rots, but it can take a toll on Toriko’s body. In this polluted world, safe-to-eat food is extremely valuable. Please try to let Toriko eat food that is as fresh as possible.

—The robot gives Toriko food, but she does not eat it. Could she not be in the mood to eat, even though she is hungry?

—In cases where Toriko catches a cold or sleeps for a long time, it is necessary to make decisions according to each situation, such as feeding her liquid food or giving her medicine.

■ Medicine

While Toriko can get colds, she can also catch other unknown diseases. Specific treatments are required for each disease, which you can learn from the medical knowledge of factory AI.

—Toriko has fallen ill to the “Chicken Disease,” which causes her to grow feathers. By applying skin cream, you can remove the feathers and treat her.

—The robot has applied the skin cream to Toriko’s body, including her head. Be careful not to apply too much.

—Toriko has fallen ill to the “Crying Disease,” where she cannot stop crying. Perhaps a baby bottle will calm her down…

—Toriko’s body has turned to jelly. If you neglect the sick Toriko, her condition will steadily grow worse.

—Pour the melted Toriko into a template and harden it!

void tRrLM(); //Void Terrarium is due out for PlayStation 4 and Switch on January 23, 2020 in Japan. Read more about the game here.

Watch the trailer below. View the screenshots at the gallery.

[towaniegaita]

FAQs [Nozakibento, 16th October 2010]

Original post in Japanese

I collected together some of the questions I'm often asked.

 Basic Information

Name: Nozakibento

Date of Birth: 28th April 1986 (Showa 61)

Height: 177.5cm (as of 2018)

Weight: approx. 60kg

Blood Type: A

Home prefecture: Hokkaido. I was born in Sapporo. I also lived in Tokachi and Kushiro.

Current location: Tokyo (I moved there from Hokkaido in the year I turned 30)

Occupation: A 33 year old amateur idol

Hairstyle: I used to wear a wig, but now I mostly go for a messy style

Visual Acuity: Both eyes are around 1.5 without glasses

Characteristics: Nozakibento

Likes and Dislikes

Favourite food: Sliced senmai (boiled tripe), vegetables in general, meat in general (especially meat sashimi), seafood in general (especially octopus and oysters), anything cherry blossom flavoured, anything yuzu flavoured, rice, miso soup, soba, udon, niboshi ramen, yakuzen herbal soup, grated yam, tofu, shiokara, sushi, sashimi, seaweed, mochi, rice flour dumplings, wheat gluten cakes, keihan rice, oyster soy sauce, slow-boiled eggs, Indian curry from Tokachi, ice cream (especially citrus, mint chocolate, watermelon and vanilla flavours), hard gums, mini Ramune candy, agar jelly, almond tofu pudding, oroblanco

Least favourite food: None.

Favourite drinks: Tea in general, kale smoothie, scented but not sweetened sparkling water, vegetable juice, tomato juice, soba water, miso soup, dashi, non-alcoholic beer, ginger ale, black coffee

Favourite alcoholic drinks: Campari-based cocktails (especially Spumoni), Violet Fizz

Favourite animals: Daring crabs, spotted garden eels, owls, sea urchins when they eat cabbage

My type: Someone with a big heart, who isn't rude and doesn't complain all the time. Decisive, speaks logically and is a fast worker

Favourite scents: Bergamot, yuzu, oroblanco, lemongrass, lemon and lime, eucalyptus, vanilla, incense, hinoki cypress, the smell of hot springs, medicinal water, struck matches

Favourite sports: Table tennis, endurance running, non-competitive swimming, walking

Favourite instruments: When I listen to bands, I tend to focus on the drums, bass and keyboard. If I go to see a symphonic orchestral concert or something, I tend to watch the percussionists. I myself can't play any instruments.

Hobbies: Gaming, listening to game soundtracks, table tennis, reading, darts, being enveloped in aromas, checking my daily electricity bill using a bill management app

Special skills: Ability to work as a librarian, can sing The Tortoise And The Hare starting from different positions, a little bit of competitive eating (can eat up to about 2kg)

Qualifications: Librarian, teacher's licence (for primary, middle and high schools), certified member of the Sports Boy Scouts (link in Japanese), Kanji Aptitude Test Level 2, driving licence (for manual cars)

Person I most respect: My mother

Favourite subjects: Japanese (especially modern Japanese), contemporary society, ethics, politics and economics

Favourite season: The shade in midsummer

Favourite phrases: 

80% Preparation 20% Performance (dandori hachibu)

The early bird gets the worm (sente hisshou)

Niche business (sukima sangyou)

Information, Communication, Discussion (houkoku renraku soudan)

Easier said than done (iu wa yasuku okonau wa katashi)

Haste makes waste (tanki wa sonki)

Drink if you want, but be swallowed up (sake wa nondemo nomareru na)

The frog in the well knows nothing of the great ocean (i no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu)

A picture is worth a thousand words (hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu)

Stress-free

Favourite Japanese poem:

'If I live long,

I may look back with yearning for these painful days -

The world that now seems harsh

May then appear sweet and good!'

By Fujiwara no Kiyosuke, translation by Peter McMillan

Favourite place to hang out: Inside a game

Favourite characters: Domo-kun (NHK), Moji-kun (Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan), Zushi Hokki (official mascot of Hokuto city in Hokkaido), Jack Frost (Megami Tensei series), Morgana (Persona 5)

Favourite anime: Eureka Seven

Favourite manga: Love Roma by Toyoda Minoru

I Wonder If I Can Make 100 Friends by Toyoda Minoru

Yoake no Toshokan by Nonou Tao

Other manga I like: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun, PAPUWA, Final Request, Yu☆Yu☆Hakusho, Revelations: Persona, Mind Assassin, Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei, Arakawa Under The Bridge, Fushigi Yuugi, Ranma 1/2, Psychometrer EIJI, The Kindaichi Case Files, Rakudai Ninja Rantarou, Soul Hunter etc.

Favourite game: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

Other games I like: Shin Megami Tensei 1-4, Shin Megami Tensei 4 Final, Shin Megami Tensei if, Persona 1-5, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha 1 and 2, DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA Avatar Tuner 1 and 2, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1 and 2,  Little Magic, Jake Hunter: Let Time Pass By, LIVE A LIVE, Final Fantasy 5 and 8, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, Secret of Mana, Trials of Mana, Schoolhouse Horror Story, Banshee's Last Cry, Jungle Wars 2, Ranma 1/2: Hidden Treasure of the Red Cat Gang, Renegade, The New Hot-Blooded Tough Guy: The Eulogy of Kunio and Co., Puyo Puyo, Puyo Puyo 2, Saga Frontier, Monster Farm, Monster Farm 2, KOF98, SAMURAI SPIRITS, vib-ribbon, Clock Tower 2, Clock Tower Ghost Head, Maria: Kimitachi Ga Umareta Wake, Double Cast, Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die, Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan, RPG Maker Series, etc. As for social network games, I like Kuroneko no Wiz Dx2 Shin Megami Tensei Revelation, and Ensemble Stars!

What I most want right now: Time

Do I smoke? Never. But I have nothing against those who do. I don't mind if someone smokes next to me.

Things I struggle with: Exercise, exercise, exercise, exercise, English, mental arithmetic, making other people cross.

What I like about myself: Large earlobes

What I don't like about myself: The fact that I easily neglect my work if I lose focus.

Do I like nurses? I like them if they're good at giving injections.

Favourite way of heating things up in a microwave: 2 minutes at 500W

Ideal way to spend a day off: Sleep like I've melted into the bed, do the cleaning and laundry when I wake up, play games like I'm bathing in them, sleep again.

Novels I’m glad to have read and why: There's a lot, so I'll just list what I can remember off the top of my head.

★ Criss Cross - Konton no Maou by Takahata Kyouichirou, published by MediaWorks. This was the very first book that made me interested in reading novels.

★ Natsu no Niwa - The Friends by Yumoto Kazumi, published by Shinchousha. When I felt down, I read this and my heart was cleansed.

★ Rirekisho by Nakamura Kou, published by Kawade Shobou Shinsha. Because it gave me courage.

★ Tsubasa wa Itsu Made Mo by Kawakami Ken'ichi, published by Shuueisha. I simply thought that it was a really good book, and reading it made me want to read more books like it in the future.

★ Tsumetai Kousha no Toki wa Tomaru by Tsujimura Mizuki, published by Kodansha. This was the book that reminded me that I wanted to keep reading novels forever.

NicoNicoDouga and Dance covers

When did you start using NicoNico? 2007, in the earliest days of the RC version.

What kind of videos do you watch on NicoNico? Anything.

Were you learning how to dance? I've never learnt how to dance.

Why did you start dancing? I wanted to take part in the first large-scale Cirno meeting. (T/N: An event where a whole bunch of people from NND get together to dance to Cirno's Perfect Math Class. Here's the 2009 version.)

What's the average production time for a single video? It varies.

What's been the most fun thing to dance to so far? Ren'ai Hunter

Which of your own dance videos are you most satisfied with? Domo-kun's dance to MERRY GO ROUND

Where you happy to be chosen in the Geiran videos (A series where a gay man ranked dancers on NND)? I was.

Which version is your current Domo-kun?

Hokkaido and Tokyo version: Tiramisu (Original version. Mainly stays at home. On active duty)

Osaka version: Chocolat (Retired)

Fukuoka version: Fondue (Retired)

Tokyo version: Belgium (Retired)

Tokyo version: Demel (Retired)

What kind of expressions do you make and what feelings do you have when dancing as Domo-kun or in the blue full bodysuit? None

What would happen to you if you drank a strange potion? I'd become aggressive.

Aren't you going to wear a wig anymore? I'd like to wear one again some time soon.

Other

Were you in any clubs during middle school? I was in the table tennis club for all 3 years. My high school club is a secret.

Do you have a girlfriend? It'd be annoying to have to update this page if I got a girlfriend or if we broke up so that's also a secret.

What are your dreams and goals? To make the people I love happy. I want to live in a way that I can look back when I die and think that I lived a good life.

What are your habits? Looking at the ingredients and nutrition facts labels on food. Looking at the ingredients labels on shampoo. Moving around unsteadily. Clicking my tongue without any thought behind it.

What are your typical phrases? Okay (ii yo), I see (naruhodo), Why?! (nande dayo), hahahaha, hah hah hah hah, HAHAHAHA

What are your main principles? To always live calmly, and to never miss an opportunity

Does your Roomba have a name? It's called Junpei.

When did you first meet Domo-kun? A friend gave me a Domo-kun plushie for my birthday and the rest is history.

What was it that drew you to Domo-kun? His loveliness.

Where did you get such a large number of plushies from? Some of them I bought, some of them I received. A few of them I got from a crane machine.

What do you want to do right now? Sleep.

What part time jobs have you done in your life? Waiter at a sushi restaurant, library work, private tutoring.

If you have a child in the future, what book would you absolutely want them to read? You Are Umasou by Miyanishi Tatsuya, published by Poplar

Do you have any rivals? No (because no-one will compete in the same ring as me).

What's your image of the ideal human? Someone who can do fundamental things reliably.

What's your motto? Stress-free

What's the reason for your name?

Nozaki → Named after Nozaki Megumi from the idol group CHECKICCO

Bento → My inspiration

 -------------

First published 16th October 2010, updated 1st December 2019