#and GOD both of them have a style of combat that deviates from the norm!!

[aidenwaites]

Thinking about him (Sir dinadin)

[daydreamindollie]

⏤𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚

𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘪'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦-𝘶𝘱 𝘈𝘜. 

𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥.

𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘪'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘪'𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭.

𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳 ⏤ 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘪'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘪'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘴𝘰 𝘪 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥: '𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳/𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘤'.

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⏤𝙢 𝙖 𝙜 𝙞 𝙘

⇢ some people are born with an affinity for a type of magic while others are not.

⇢ when people are born with an affinity for magic, they are considered blessed. This is because only a god/goddess is able to give them the gift of having an affinity for magic at birth. 

⇢ most people born with an affinity for magic are nobles whereas most commoners aren't blessed with any. However, some rare anomalies can still occur in both classes i.e commoners can be blessed with affinity whereas nobles cannot.

⇢ simply put : 0 to no affinity = mostly commoners ; relative affinity = most nobles ; high affinity = some nobles/some commoners

⇢ these anomalies cause uncertainty amongst nobles as their nobility is threatened; those that lack an affinity for magic struggle to stay nobles. Hence, some families that gradually decrease the amount of members with magic lose their noble titles. 

⇢ there are three types of magic and each type is associated with a god/goddess : 

spells + enchantments (Goddess Uries)

potions + alchemy  (God Exdur)

elemental ⏤ fire, water, air, earth (God Zirteus)

⇢ the specific element a blessed person can specialize in is up to their level of affinity ⏤ the higher their affinity = more elements they can control ; low affinity = can only control one element

⇢ there are no light and dark elements can be controlled by people because those are reserved for the Goddess of the Day (Brethys) and the God of the Night (Utorr)

⇢ the higher the affinity an individual has, the longer they are able to maintain their youthful appearance. Even if they are old, they still look young. This doesn't increase their lifespan, however.

⏤𝙝 𝙮 𝙗 𝙧 𝙞 𝙙 𝙨

⇢ hybrids are discriminated against and are feared for their raw power

⇢ hybrids are born with a special type of magic allowing them the abilities and powers of animals - these abilities and powers are enhanced by the hybrids' own magic

⇢ the hybrid's magic is called 'contracts/bonding' magic, which is pretty self-explanatory

⇢ when a child is born, they are gifted with an affinity for contractual magic from the Goddess Enneas, and they are instantly contracted with a spirit animal

⇢ how it happens is that animal spirits tend to wander around pregnant women that they feel would give birth to a suitable vessel for their magic, as soon as they sense this compatibility, the instant the child is born, they are entered into a contract with them

⇢ in addition to this, the animal spirits bless their contracted newborn with their special power that has more variety than elemental powers e.g they can control electricity, ice or plants and even have telepathic powers

⇢ this amount of power is what scares people

⇢ there are some downsides/advantage to this type of magic, however, and it's that the individual is given the features of the specific animal they are contracted with

⇢ this is a grey area because the animalistic features can lead to their discrimination from others but the features increase their abilities

⇢ because hybrids have an affinity for magic, they are mostly born into noble families but due to the prejudice against hybrids, they are abandoned anonymously into hybrid orphanages 

⏤𝙩 𝙝 𝙚  𝙙 𝙖 𝙢 𝙞 𝙖 𝙣 𝙞  𝙛 𝙖 𝙢 𝙞 𝙡 𝙮

⏤𝙢 𝙖 𝙜 𝙞 𝙘

⇢ the Damiani family have always remained nobles because they've never lost their magic affinity

⇢ therefore, they always look really young

⇢ everyone in this family always has a high affinity for all sorts of magic, not just one type - unlike most noble families who specialize in a specific type of magic 

⏤𝙝 𝙮 𝙗 𝙧 𝙞 𝙙 𝙨

⇢ the family has had rare cases of one member having an affinity for contractual magic for hybrids

⇢ on the outside it doesn't look like this person doesn't have an affinity for magic at all but always has very good physical strength, great at combat/martial arts + swordsmanship 

⇢ unlike other families, the Damiani family doesn't abandon their hybrid relatives and instead helps them disguise their animal features by enchanting them

⇢ even though it looks like they don't have magical powers, they are gifted with great physical strength and talents in combat 

⇢ these Damiani family members always become the Commander of the Order of the Royal Knights

⇢ so that none of the family secrets is leaked out, their staff about the mansion is very little but they are all hybrids

⇢ again, on the outside, they look like normal non-magic humans because of the enchantment the family bestows upon them

⇢ i.e in exchange for their loyalty, service and protection, the damiani enchants them to hide their hybrid features, treats them like family and protects them

⇢ staff consist of : Butler ; Maids x4 ; Gardeners x4 ; Head Chef ; Cooks x3 ; Commander of Damiani Knights ; Knights x5 ; Doctor

⇢ in total, the Damiani Family has 20 members of staff 

⇢ normally, with such a huge estate and mansion should have, at least 50 - 80 members of staff

⇢ the staff remain loyal because they are treated very fairly and are never belittled 

⇢ once the staff join, they change their names and swear an oath (happily) to the family

⇢ all of them (not just the knights and commander) have undergone martial arts training as well as weapons training of they highest degree

⇢ this is to protect themselves as well as the Damiani family

⇢ the staff also help protect the large estate efficiently from spies and assassins - they don't make a sound taking down the spies/assassins but they are quickly disposed of and then the head of the family is made aware of the situation 

⇢ they have a basement 'torture chamber' to get more info out of the spies/assassins that were sent, they get out as much information from them as possible before they are silenced for good

⇢ this information is usually about other noble families attempting to take them down or gather detrimental information about them, jealous of their power and close relationship with the royal family

⏤𝙘 𝙝 𝙖 𝙧 𝙖 𝙘 𝙩 𝙚 𝙧 𝙨

1st brother | Dominique Damiani | 23

• excels at spell casting + enchantments 

• working to hone skills in order to be prepared to take over the Damiani house after parents retire

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• intelligent, calm cool + collected

• naturally a man of little words

• secretly really loves small fluffy animals becomes even more intimidating when in public

WITH READER/MC

• helps her with spell casting + enchantments

• always there to comfort her and be her shoulder to cry on - never says anything, only gives comforting pats on her hair and rubs on her back/shoulder

• is the one reader/mc always vents to 

• reliable 

• has a pet rabbit that he adores and lets the reader/mc take care of called 'Hopkins'

APPEARANCE

• height : 6 ft / 182 cm

• hair + eyes : black, well kept and sometimes swept back with steel, piercing grey eyes 

• physique : tall + buff + broad-shouldered

• dress : cleanly dressed, can look good in plain dress pants and a white button-up shirt but can also look really good with all the embellishments i.e medals, fur-edged cape, sash, ties etc

2nd brother | Lyon Damiani | 22

•  excellent at mixing potions 

• great alchemist 

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• brainiac + big nerd 

• rambles about how fascinating alchemy is

• really good at threatening others + can pull a really creepy smile/scary face

• secretly very mischievous as he tends to deviate from the norm of potions mixing - tampers with the base recipes advised by the magic council 

• works well with Myles discussing ingredients + composition of potions

• helps take care of the estate's greenhouse

WITH READER/MC

• partakes in very intellectual conversation with her about ingredients and their chemical compositions

• love to cause mischief together using potions to dye others' hair or turn plants pink - unfortunately most pranks are done on Myles 

• love laughing and making memories together 

• always wanting to impress reader/mc through his new potions/techniques in alchemy 

• believes that the best way to learn is through having fun and making fun memories 

APPEARANCE

• height : 5"10 / 177 cm (shortest)

• hair + eyes : light brown, quite messy but still beautifully frames his face + olive green eyes 

• physique : slim and elegant

• dress : usually dressed casually and in comfortable clothing, prefering loose robes - greek style. Doesn't like the clean look in uniform and finds it uncomfortable when it's fully embellished but can definitely pull it off

3rd brother | Myles Damiani | 21 

• excels at elemental magic - masters all elements

• has a medical degree

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• great at gardening - cares a lot for his 'babies' (his plants) in the greenhouse

• loves cracking jokes only he can understand

• works well with Lyon on ingredients from the greenhouse + mixing of new potions 

• has sharp eyes and always looks like he's glaring, which makes people back away 

• fascinated by weaponry and how he can use those in combat alongside his elemental powers

WITH READER/MC

• always the victim of reader's + Lyon's pranks but doesn't mind 

• loves spoiling reader teaches her about all elements 

• loves helping reader/mc with her elemental powers + teaches her some medical stuff too

• tends to baby her 

• loves her, even more, when she laughs at his pretty lame jokes

APPEARANCE

• height : 5"11 / 180 cm

• hair + eyes : mossy light green hair, turquoise green eyes - icy and piercing 

• physique : tall and toned type

• dress : likes to look clean and put together but doesn't like any additional embellishments on the clothes as he deems them unnecessary, especially when they get in the way of his elemental training

4th brother | Ambrico Damiani | 20

• is a hybrid 

• people don't see his animal features because his Mum/brother, Dominique, enchant his extra limbs with invisibility for a limited time

• WHITE WOLF HYBRID 

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• strong and doesn't let anyone belittle him for, supposedly, not having an affinity for magic

• fierce and ruthless with a sword 

• has a lot of love to give and is a big softy for his family, especially reader/mc

• great at cooking great swordsman instead of mage 

• very in touch with his emotions

• a strict and intimidating commander of the knight order 

WITH READER/MC

• a second mum to reader

• loves cooking with her

• teaches her how to handle a sword and teaches her martial arts 

• also teaches her a lot about being understanding of people's situations and illustrates to her the importance of kindness

• if you want any advice about emotions, you go to him 

APPEARANCE

• height : 6 ft / 182 cm 

• hair + eyes : platinum blonde hair that's pretty long and goes down to a little beyond his chin + sky blue eyes 

• physique : definitely toned and muscular and tall but not as broad as the eldest 

• dress : usually in his armor/knight uniform, he's mainly in that attire so whenever he gets the chance not be in uniform he's in really light clothing that still looks crisp, clean and very comfortable

mother | Othelia Damiani | 45

• specialises at potions and enchantments

• married at 18 and had her first child/son at 20

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• a great cook

• totally in love with her husband

• loves being a mother and wife, so much so that she even acts like a mother to the staff a very caring mother loves her children dearly

• encourages creativity and curiosity to foster intelligence and open-mindedness amongst her children

• loves to dance with her husband 

WITH READER/MC

• always there to listen and never judge

• always has afternoon tea with her 

• both take walks in the garden together to admire the flowers and admire the seasonal changes in the landscape always 

• simps over her husband around reader because her sons always cringe when she does it around them 

• teaches her a lot about business and how to run a noble house alongside the husband as well as on her own 

APPEARANCE

• height : 5ft 5 / 168cm 

• hair + eyes : deep ebony hair, very long with subtle waves + warm chocolate brown eyes 

• physique : slim with subtle curves ; an elegant physique ; extremely beautiful

• dress : usually seen in long dresses that fall off her figure but she changes it up with different neckline cuts, shawls, layers, jewelry/embellishments, colors/patterns, and accessories.

father | Faques Damiani | 46

• great Elementalist

PERSONALITY/HOBBIES

• always proud of everything his children do 

• doesn't like exercising but he is always being dragged into training with the knights on the estate so he has a lot of physical strength 

• adores his wife and would do anything for her

• a great dancer because his wife loves dancing

WITH READER/MC

• loves to spoil her

• usually it's him that has to approach reader so he secretly loves it a lot when she approaches him first

• usually very stoic but has a very soft spot for his children and wife

• can be very understanding and patient despite his intimidating looks and glares 

• the typical stoic dad type that values respect and honesty above anything else 

• instills respect and honesty in his children 

APPEARANCE

• height : 6ft 3 / 190cm 

• hair + eyes : bluish with a green tint hair + ocean green eyes 

• physique : broad shoulders and slim waist, has muscle but not too much

• dress : when working, is always in uniform with well-kept hair but outside of that is usually in a white button-up shirt, abandons all accessories such as the gloves, unbuttons the top few buttons and with dress pants and more comfortable shoes

grandfather | Venerandus Damiani | 66

• specializes in potions and alchemy 

PERSONALITY/HABITS

• the most relaxed man

• smells of tobacco, fine wine, and peppermint

• seemingly always takes the children's side in arguments

• in front of the children, he is the fun and jovial grandfather away from the children, he is serious and wise

• his belated wife was a hybrid

WITH READER/MC

• loves telling her stories of the 'olden days'

• supports her in her, somewhat, dangerous experiments with her magic - as long as he supervises her

• loves talking about his belated wife to the reader because she never got the chance to reach the age of being able to vividly remember things

• teaches her about his favorite potions

• his lab is her lab

• they maintain the greenhouse together with her second + third brother (Lyon + Myles)

APPEARANCE

• height : 6ft 3 / 190cm

• hair + eyes : clean, well-kept silver hair + grass green eyes with golden flecks

• physique : broad shoulders, broad and muscly man

• dress : usually in a white button-up shirt, dress pants, and comfortable shoes, however, can pull off sweaters/turtle-necks underneath a blazer or coat with the usual pants, belt, and shoes. Likes wearing gloves and occasionally puts on his monocle

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happier cafe

small town of Raoluire(?)

city reader/mc grew up in(?)

damiani family mansion/estate(?)

✚              ✚              ✚

𝘪'𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘪 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵. 𝘪 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥   𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴/𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.  

𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴... 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 : dollieremi

[darspeaksout]

Questions & Answers on Writing

Tell us about your WIP! 

        It takes place in the Philippines and follows the story of two friends who are part of the same church, but throughout the story they drift apart. Ten years later, now adults, each is recounting the story to a loved one; one is telling it to his five-year-old daughter while the other to his co-worker.

Where is your favorite place to write?

        My room, at night. 

What is your favorite/least favorite part about writing?

       Favorite - making sense of my own experiences and letting people in on issues they probably don’t think about on a day-to-day basis. I also love creating dialogue. 

       Least favorite - I find it difficult to describe abstract, philosophical concepts that not everyone can easily relate to, such as how a person feels during worship or the spiritual connection one feels simply by sitting inside a church. (My current story has to do with religion so I run into this problem a lot). It’s not so much of a challenge for me to write these experiences for my characters, but when I begin to edit my draft I know I’ll have to find a way to introduce these things in a way that everyone - whether spiritual or not - can appreciate.

Favorite character you’ve written?

       It’s too early to say. 

Favorite/most inspirational book?

       Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Beautiful prose, eloquent style, solid voice, religious theme. Hands down the best book I have read. 

Describe your writing process

       Everywhere. I’ll start with the opening for the story, then jump all the way to the ending, then I’ll fill in some parts in the middle, and do some touches here, touches there. My process isn’t linear at all, which I think is common for many writers. I also think it’s important to not just stay home all day and lock myself with my laptop; in order to write meaningfully I must also go outside, experience the world, and really feel. Writing isn’t just about putting the right words down on the page, it’s a highly empathetic art - it involves a lot of feeling. That’s why it’s normal for me to be working on my story while simultaneously going on a trip whether nearby in nature, or a city across the world. I also like to read books of authors I admire while working on my project, to study their style and improve my own but also to get away from my own head for a while. 

What does it take for you to be ready to write a book? (i.e. do you research? outline? make a playlist or pinterest board? wing it?)

       What gets me going to write a book is my Idea, and yes - with a capital I. I ask myself, what is my Idea? And why do I want to tell it to the world so badly? This Idea keeps me up at night, is the reason why I’m always so restless, and is what fuels me. For my current story, I’ve had to research places in the Philippines because that’s where my story takes place, and I’ve only lived there for a few years before moving to another country. I have also conducted interviews of girls’ perspectives of being part of religious organizations for my female lead. Traveling also plays a role into how ready I am to tell a story, specifically to describe a location, accurately. I need to make sure I get all the details right, and so for my writing to read as authentic and not forced.

How do you deal with self-doubt when writing?

       Prayer plays a huge role. I start every writing session with a prayer, as I do with each morning before I tackle the day ahead. When I pray, I’m able to calm myself and be in the right mental space to write as honestly as possible. It also reminds me that my talent and passion were given by God, and that even though at times I may doubt myself and in how many people my story will reach, ultimately what I am meant to do with my writing is bigger than any self-doubt. When the love is stronger than the fear, the goal will be accomplished.

What things (scenes/topics/character types) are you most comfortable writing?

       Scenes - heavy with dialogue. Working on my current story, I realize that I feel so at home writing dialogue. Perhaps this is from watching so many Filipino movies, which have the sassiest and most sarcastic characters you could ever come across. That’s why I love crafting villains and power-hungry antagonists. 

       Topics - religion, masculinity, family, platonic relationships

       Character types - the one who struggles with self-acceptance, and worries that others won’t love him if he reveals his true self. 

How do you cope with writer’s block?

       I don’t care what anyone else has said to you; there is no “trick” or “hack” to get over writer’s block. The cure is simple: just write. I think people experience writer’s block often because they’re scared to take on the project in the first place. They’re scared because they don’t yet fully know their story, because they have confidence in this scene but are worried about another, because they don’t know how the people around them will receive it. To combat writer’s block, you really just have to surrender all your worries and just do it. It’s about channeling the drive to sit yourself down at your desk, open your laptop, and write. Write something, even if it’s garbage. Write something, even if you won’t end up using it in the final draft. In the outlining process of my story, for example, I was debating if I should include this whole supernatural element and mythical legend in my story. I spent pages upon pages developing this possible subplot, only to scrap it because I decided it wouldn’t contribute to my story. I didn’t end up using it, but at least I was productive and wrote something! I still persevered even though I felt stuck. And producing content I decided I wasn’t going to use, only gave me a clearer vision of what I did want to use. What’s also key is that you do not stop. Dedicate some time every day to write, depending on what suits your schedule. Don’t miss a day. Even if you’re just going to write two pages of dialogue but don’t have the narrative, just do it! What’s important is that everyday, you’re making progress. 

Any advice for young writers/advice you wish someone would have given you early on?

       You might think that your ideas are crazy and that no one could possibly relate to them, but you’d be surprised. We’re all pretty much the same even though we come from different walks of life; everyone is capable of feeling, empathizing, laughing, crying, getting angry, getting hurt, etc.! So if your characters are doing at least one of those in your story, I guarantee you someone will be able to relate. Just tell your story. 

What aspect of your writing are you most proud of?

       My tenacity and how I never stopped. 

Tell us about the books on your “to write” list

       Hmm... I don’t think about this often because I’m still drafting my first story. But eventually I would like to write a story about two friends who become rivals, as they are driven apart by competition in a prestigious university. 

How do you stay focused on your own work and how do you deal with comparison?

       I’m able to concentrate over long periods of time mainly because of prayer. It also helps that I’m very open with my friends and they support me on my writing journey, so talking about my plans only fuels me even more to write every day. As for comparison - I don’t compare myself to others. Whenever I read another writer’s work, whether they’re a National Bestseller or simply just starting like myself, I ask myself, “what do I like about this piece?” “How can I use some of their techniques and twist them so I can make them my own?” 

Do you like to read books similar to your project while you’re drafting or do you stick to non-fiction/un-similar works?

       Both. Reading books or watching movies - consuming any artistic medium, really - which relate to my specific topic provides some insight into the genre I’m working with, and how much I would like to deviate from the norm. Consuming content that is dissimilar to my story is something I still find to be useful, because it doesn’t matter what kind of writing it is: if it’s good writing, it’s good writing. And it can always teach me something new. For example, I’d say my current story is leaning more towards contemporary young adult, but I just read After Dark by Haruki Murakami, which falls into the genre of magical realism. I went into that book seeking to be entertained and inspired, and I was surprised to see that my story and Murakami’s share similar themes. 

Unpopular writing thoughts/opinions?

       Sometimes, the book isn’t better than the movie.

Post the last sentence you wrote

       “With that, Guang Fu offers me a sympathetic smile and steps into the building. All the way below I can hear a ship’s horn as it leaves the harbor, and the push and pull of the gentle tides.“

Are there any books you feel have shaped you as a writer?

       Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

       Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

       Crazy Rich Asians (the entire trilogy) - Kevin Kwan

��      South of the Border, West of the Sun - Haruki Murakami

What is the first line of your WIP?

       “It was a sunny afternoon in Manila when I dropped my girlfriend off at her house.“

[aion-rsa]

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Review – The First Real PS5 Showcase?

https://ift.tt/3pyICUD

While the Ratchet & Clank series has remained consistently popular over the last 19 years, the franchise has arguably never enjoyed a spotlight as bright as the one Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart finds itself in now. 

After all, Rift Apart is not only one of the biggest releases in what could prove to be a year of delays; it’s the latest entry in a key PlayStation franchise developed exclusively for PS5. There are many fans who hope that Rift Apart may just be the PS5 game that properly showcases the power and potential of the PS5 at a time when incredible circumstances may be preventing many developers from fully utilizing the next-generation of gaming technology.

Well, Rift Apart doesn’t quite achieve PS5 system seller status, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the console’s most enjoyable experiences and one of 2021 best games so far.

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Rift Apart Works Best As a Classic Ratchet and Clank Game

2002’s Ratchet & Clank distinguished itself from a considerable collection of platformers popular at the time through its action-focused gameplay that blurred genre lines and offered one of the most creative and engaging shooter experiences of the era. 

Years later, not much has changed. Rift Apart works best when you’re jumping around, using your various navigation tools to gain momentum, and shooting waves of enemies with a series of elaborate weapons. While the thrill and splendor of these encounters shine through in just about every action sequence, veteran players will definitely want to bump up the difficulty level a few notches to get the most out of it. Indeed, some of the game’s more intense moments on higher difficulty settings made my hands sweat, which is a reaction I can’t say I’ve gotten from a modern title since the Tony Hawk remasters.

So far as that goes, it certainly doesn’t hurt that Rift Apart is a stunningly beautiful game. While even the title’s quietest moments are filled with visual details that will excite photo mode enthusiasts everywhere, it’s Rift Apart’s action scenes and their side hustle as one of the greatest video game fireworks displays you’ve ever seen that steal the show. It’s often all you can do to keep from gawking at the onslaught of particle effects long enough to live to see the next visual showcase.

Actually, there are times when the game also seems to be struggling to keep up with the action. I was somewhat surprised by the amount of slowdown I experienced during Rift Apart’s biggest battles. I didn’t get to spend as much time with the optional Performance Modes and Day One patch update (they only became available recently), but I will say that both do seem to have helped performance overall, especially when it comes to framerate.

Some of the PS5’s other notable features end up being something of a mixed bag in the final game. For instance, I like the idea of using trigger sensitivity to swap between a gun’s primary and alternate fire modes, but in the heat of battle, it can be a little hard to utilize that function without making mistakes. The DualSense’s powerful context-sensitive vibrations are also sometimes so intense that they can actually pull you out of the action rather than push you further into it. Thankfully, both of those features are adjustable in the game’s settings menu.

Ultimately, though, Rift Apart is simply a blast whenever it’s throwing enemies at you and forcing you to maximize the potential of your arsenal to defeat them. I also found many of the platforming sections (especially those that led to hidden items or new pieces of armor) to be an absolute joy. It’s when the game tries to do…other things that the quality takes a slight dip.

There are all kinds of gameplay diversions to be found in Rift Apart, and some are certainly better than others. For instance, I liked many of the rail sliding action sequences, but most of the game’s puzzles felt tacked on. Actually, you have the ability to simply skip puzzles (even those that yield collectible rewards), so even the developers seem to be at acknowledging that they’re not the most essential part of the experience and that some players will want to simply move past them.

Even if some of those “diversion” sequences are better than others, I can’t say that any of them offered the thrill of a massive battle, the joy of upgrading a weapon (through both regular use and an expansive upgrade tree system), or even the old-school platforming pleasure of exploring Rift Apart’s various planets in search of every hidden item and optional objective. There is a very, very good game at the heart of the basic Ratchet & Clank experience, which makes it that much stranger that Rift Apart sometimes feels so determined to abandon that game in favor of pursuits perhaps best left to other titles.

You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned the “rift” part of the Rift Apart experience quite yet. Well, as it turns out, that’s both the game’s most enjoyable deviation from the Ratchet & Clank norms and one element of the game that often falls well short of its potential.

A Rift By Any Other Name

In many ways, Rift Apart’s interdimensional shenanigans defined the game’s pre-release promotional period. You’ve probably heard someone close to the project hype up the way the game would utilize the PS5’s SSD to allow you to seamlessly jump between vastly different dimensions in nearly an instant.

In reality, the game’s rift mechanic isn’t quite that ambitious. Most instances of interdimensional jumping are limited to highly-scripted sequences (which actually sometimes include “pseudo loading screens” disguised as cinematic transitions), quick jumps between areas of a combat arena, trips into secret zones, or a version of the kind of back-and-forth dimensional hopping previously seen in games like A Link to the Past (though that idea is certainly executed here in a more organic and technically impressive way).

While I don’t believe it would have been possible to feature all of those ideas as cleanly as Rift Apart often showcases them if it weren’t for the power of the PS5’s SSD and processing hardware, the game still occasionally reminds you that this is an early next-gen title and that Insomniac is still obviously figuring out the PS5’s full potential. I don’t know if it’s realistic to expect a game even this advanced to let you simply jump between vastly differentdimensions at will via some kind of Portal-like weapon (even if the game plays with this idea somewhat with an amusing late-game gun), but Rift Apart may leave you feeling like it’s teasing such exciting possibilities that it never quite fully realizes. 

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Having said that, some of the game’s most memorable moments are closely tied to its rift mechanics. Without getting into spoilers, there was one sequence in particular that played with the idea of Ratchet jumping between two distinct threats across different dimensional timelines that eventually come together in a fascinating and satisfying way. Even when the game is just using rifts as a way to change the scenery or as a shortcut facilitator, the ability to jump between dimensions with relatively little downtime still enhances the overall experience. 

Actually, most Ratchet & Clank games probably would have benefited at least somewhat from even Rift Apart’s simplest uses of the rift concept. There are, however, some ways that Rift Apart may have benefited from taking a closer look at what made those classic R&C titles work.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Sometimes Suffers From Cuteness Overload

2016’s Ratchet & Clank (a kind of remake of the first game based on the R&C movie) was praised by many for its gameplay, visuals, and accessibility, but criticized by some longtime fans who felt that the remake’s more “Pixar-like” style stood in stark contrast to the slightly drier, more sarcastic, and sometimes darker writing and characters of the original games.

Well, Rift Apart follows in the 2016 game’s footsteps so far as that goes, which is enough to ensure that at least that aspect of the game will once again divide fans. 

To Rift Apart’s credit, the writing feels stronger overall than it did in 2016’s Ratchet & Clank, and some of the new characters created specifically for this story (which includes the wonderful Rivet and some others I won’t spoil here) are quite good and fare better than some of the Ratchet & Clank mainstays who were reworked to match the universe of the 2016 game. By the end of the game, I found myself surprisingly attached to a lot of the new additions.

Rift Apart is also a pretty funny game that’s lighthearted nature often feels like a relief in comparison to the darker fare of so many modern Triple-A titles. While there are some lines of dialog that will inspire eye rolls, the game’s scenario writing is genuinely clever. Some of the best lines come from minor characters and some of the most laugh-out-loud moments occur when you turn a corner and find yourself facing a truly unexpected set of circumstances. There are times when the “new” style absolutely works.

Yet, there were other times when I also found my mind drifting back to the writing, humor, and characters of the earlier Ratchet & Clank games. I hesitate to use the word “edge” to describe the difference, but it did feel like those earlier titles benefited from occasionally employing more of a sarcastic and snarky vibe that balanced the more cartoonish tones of the classic platformers it was building upon. Without those darker tones, Rift Apart sometimes suffers from a cuteness overload that occasionally feels more disingenuous than it was probably meant to be. 

It’s highly unlikely that this is going to be the element of Rift Apart that destroys someone’s ability to enjoy the game, but it is another example of how there are times when Rift Apart fails to speak with its own voice and instead pulls a bit too hard from other sources out of what could be seen as the fear that this kind of game may not be as appealing at a time when pure action platformers are a relative rarity.

Yet, it’s precisely because there are so few games quite like Rift Apart that the experience proves to be so worthwhile.

The Eternal Joy of Ratchet & Clank

Even if Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart sometimes tries too hard to force gameplay variety or be a rough draft for the next Pixar film, those moments do little to diminish the joy of what’s made the Ratchet & Clank franchise work for all these years.

Rift Apart is a stunningly beautiful action platformer that offers an impressive array of sidequests, collectibles, and challenges that make it easy to pick up and play even after you’ve beaten its admittedly sometimes uneven campaign (though the unlockable Challenge Mode does offer a fantastic excuse to play it again). There just aren’t enough action platformers on the modern market, and even if there were more, it’s doubtful they could rival the joy this game so regularly delivers, and it’s even more unlikely they would be this visually impressive

Rift Apart’s unevenness and the specific nature of the things it does so well may not make it a system seller or even a must-have for every PS5 owner, but fans of this series and those who crave a colorful, fast-paced, and lighthearted adventure will almost certainly come to consider Rift Apart one of the most entertaining games of 2021.

While I would love to see what developer Insomniac Games can do once they’ve really figured out the power of the PS5 and perhaps the direction they want to take this franchise in, Rift Apart is, at the very least, a very good time that occasionally flirts with greatness.

The post Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Review – The First Real PS5 Showcase? appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2Rx5ZRG

[entergamingxp]

Bleeding Edge Review — One Little Victory (Xbox One/PC)

March 27, 2020 11:30 AM EST

A certain degree of imagination.

Team-based battle arena games are a dime a dozen nowadays. From League of Legends to Overwatch, many of the recent games that fall in that genre seem derivative, hardly deviating from the tried-and-true formulas of the past. However, there are new releases, like Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge, that essentially is a melting pot of those popular titles while still doing something unique and maintaining a quality experience.

Like many team-based battle arena games, Bleeding Edge pins two teams of four against each other in a competitive, objective-based match. Whether you win or lose, you’ll earn experience attached to both your profile and the characters you use. You’ll also earn currency to unlock rewards including mods, skins, boards (the game’s mounts), and emotes.

Where it Bleeding Edge begins to deviate from the norm is in its gameplay. It is essentially an amalgamation of Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, World of Warcraft‘s PvP arenas, and a simple hack and slash game. Yes, that is a long-winded comparison (and one that almost consists of all Blizzard games), but it captures elements of each culminating in a rather unique take on the genre.

There are two match types: Objective Control and Power Collection. Objective Control is similar to other Control or Capture the Flag modes where you have to capture and hold three points. However, the points that are active will cycle throughout the match.

The cycling points help keep the action moving throughout the map rather than having one team dominate one point for the duration of the match. It also gives the losing team a chance to come back. Essentially, the map resets, which means it gives each team an opportunity to gather themselves and set up for the next team fight.

Power Collection has two phases. The first comes when power cells are spawned around the map. After all of the power cells have been collected, a delivery phase begins where one or two points on the map become active for you to use to deliver your power cells. This takes a few moments and can be interrupted by enemy players.

The Power Collection mode also cycles its points, again, promoting more movement throughout the match rather than staying at any of the three points. The collection phase doubly promotes this as the spawn points for power cells are different in each phase. These power cells can be stolen if you kill an opposing player that collected some during the collection phase, which urges the losing team to engage in combat.

“Both modes are fun, especially if you have a team that works well together.”

Both modes are fun, especially if you have a team that works well together. The familiarity of the Objective Control mode made it easy to adapt to the game’s hack and slash inspired mechanics while still presenting a fun take on a traditional mode. Power Collection I found a bit tedious, but fun nonetheless. The act of collecting and delivering just takes a bit away from the actual combat portions. However, it does add more stakes, making each team fight feel meaningful.

The five maps are all designed well, albeit, some are definitely stronger than others. Most notably, Skygarden. This map is far and away the one I had the most fun with. On the surface, it’s pretty standard. There are three points, with one at the center and the other two at each end of the map. However, each point has a switch that activates a circular AOE that burns anyone within it. Again, this gives the losing team a chance to take the point for themselves.

The weakest of the maps is the Aqueducts. Again, for the most part, the map has a traditional layout. However, the A and C points continuously circle around the arena. With the game’s focus on keeping the action moving throughout the map, I understand why this map exists. But unlike the other four maps, it’s more aggravating than anything. Especially when you’re trying to deliver some power cells, and you come across an electrical fence that one-shots you.

“…Bleeding Edge brings hack and slash mechanics to the battle arena genre, and does so successfully.”

One main issue I have always had with any team-based battle arena game is camping or pushing the action to specific points that rewards staying put. There are some games that do it well; I know I’ve mentioned Overwatch a lot, but I think it is indicative of this. But mostly, any game that rewards a team for cheesing or camping is just bad design. I think it is really smart of Ninja Theory to design Bleeding Edge to always keep the action moving. The maps and mode design are really great, even if there are few options to choose from.

As mentioned, Bleeding Edge brings hack and slash mechanics to the battle arena genre, and does so successfully. Currently, there are 11 characters, all of which feel unique within their given roles.

There are three roles: DPS, Support, and Tank. Bleeding Edge recommends there be two DPS, one support, and one tank per team; however, you are freely able to choose whatever character you want. So, if you wanted a team composition of four DPS, you could, but unless the opposing team is a bunch of numbskulls, it is not the best strategy.

With how many battle arena games have introduced systems to standardize team comps, it is nice to see a game let people freely choose what they want, for better and for worse. While the four DPS comp wasn’t great, I’ve found success in having two tanks and two healers, and other odd comps that were against the game’s recommendation but still worked well.

There is a variety of characters to choose from in Bleeding Edge, each with their own unique style. Each character also has a set of basic abilities, specials, and supers (you choose one at the beginning of a match) to use.

The pool of DPS characters is the largest of the bunch, with five options both of the melee and ranged variety. However, I think the ranged options just stink. Especially Gizmo, who is armed to the teeth with giant guns, turrets, and even a mech (if you decide to choose that super). But even with all that ammunition, I felt the simplicity and close-ranged combat of a character like Daemon and Nidhoggr were both more effective and satisfying.

This notion is true of the ranged support characters as well. Two of the three supports use ranged attacks, and they just feel incredibly ineffective. In this case, it makes sense because they’re supposed to aid the team with healing or buffs. However, Kulev is a support that is more a hybrid that I found to be complete trash if he is your only support character on your team. Since he favors shielding allies or debuffing enemies, not much healing is going around. He does have a healing AOE, but it doesn’t feel like it does much by itself. That said, combined with Zero Cool or Miko’s heal, it has some use.

I only think this is a problem because the game recommends one support per team. If Kulev is you one support, not enough healing is going around and your team constantly dies. Of course, this could be a moot point if you have a god-tier Kulev player who just understands the character on your team. But this early into launch, players like this are few and far between.

The tank pool also only consists of three characters, all of which I think are fun to use and great for beginners. Since their survivability is high, it’s easy to just jump in with a tank and familiarize yourself with the basics of both match modes and the maps.

Each character can also equip three mods that buff certain abilities or stats. This can range from increasing the character’s base health to increasing the duration of an ability’s effect. While it may help a little, I never found them to be differentiating factors. Yes, I would favor some because they matched my playstyle, but it didn’t feel like it made a huge difference. This, in some ways, is a bummer, but having them make a difference may hinder it from ever becoming an actual competitive game.

While my qualms with Bleeding Edge‘s ranged characters may deter some, the eight melee characters are a blast to play as. With Ninja Theory as the developer, it makes sense that its melee hack and slash gameplay would be fun, simple, and intuitive. But the mix of the competitive battle arena genre and hack and slash gameplay is one I did not think could be done well. But if anyone was going to be able to, it would be the studio behind DmC: Devil May Cry, a game with brilliant hack and slash mechanics.

“Bleeding Edge puts quality over quantity.”

While I am pretty enthusiastic about Bleeding Edge, as it stands currently, there is certainly a lack of content there. Even compared to other launches of similar games, there really isn’t much to do. There really is only a quick play option, which randomly chooses a mode for you, a couple of quick tutorials, and a “Dojo” mode that lets you practice. That is it. There are also no filters or options when you join a match — you simply press “Fight” and start playing.

I can only assume more content will roll out for Bleeding Edge. As of now, the website does show the 12th character, but nothing more. While more maps would be great, simply adding more options when trying to find a match and a ranked mode would be great additions to add to the currently barren package.

Since this is an online-only game, it’s worth noting that I did have some lag issues throughout my experience. None of it made it unplayable, but it was definitely intrusive during team fights. Despite that, I was able to get into matches easily and quickly, which is nice, especially since there really is only one choice for getting into a match.

Bleeding Edge puts quality over quantity. The people at Ninja Theory have brought their expertise in the hack and slash genre and have translated it into a competitive experience that is both satisfying and distinct. But the lack of content and the boring ranged characters hinders it from really standing out amongst the overcrowded genre. Maybe in a few months, it will feel feature complete. But for now, Bleeding Edge will only have you strapped to your couch for a few hours before you decide to try something else out.

March 27, 2020 11:30 AM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/03/bleeding-edge-review-one-little-victory-xbox-one-pc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bleeding-edge-review-one-little-victory-xbox-one-pc