#and a landmark for my future improvement!

[astronobeebzzbzz]

drew some beautiful, wonderful, perfect, amazing, one-of-a-kind, one-in-a-million, superb ladies from a warm-up doodle page! oh, and dale's there too, i guess. hi dale.

[elaemae]

The premium version of human is here to wreck house, mfs.

[Twst x Obey Me!AFAB!reader]

CHP. 4

PREVIOUS CHP.: PROLOGUE 3

Thank you guys for the likes, reblogs and comments.

Also, to the people who became my followers, I'll be forever grateful for that😊

CW: When MC gets mistaken as a guy, they get referred to as he/him, but the problem is that there's too many males around the MC.

So, I've decided to color the pronouns blue when it's MC that's being addressed. Just to avoid confusion.

CLARIFICATION: The headmaster, and MC knows that Yuu is from another world, so MC decided to play along and pretend that they're from the same world as Yuu. (The human world where MC came from is mostly similar to the human world that Yuu describes. i.e. landmarks, cultural, knowledge, current trends, anime and manga are all mostly the same.)

REMEMBER: Read this before the chapter.

Experience changes people.

If you see MC doing something you think you won't do and you decide to complain about it, remember this:

• You act the way you do because of the things that you've gone through in your life.

• MC is the same.

• They experienced a lot of traumatic events and almost lost their lives a fuck-ton of times.

• Because of that, they've changed. They've diverged from being you into the MC that they are now.

• The life you're living now shall be treated as the MC's canonical past.

• Also, because The Obey Me!cast feels bad from all the times you suffered and almost died because of them, they tend to overcompensate you.

• You get dressed in the finest of fabrics, most luxurious jewels, as well as housed and fed with the best things that the three realms have to offer.

• You don't take them for granted, but years of living with that lifestyle had raised your standards to new heights and changed the way that you act towards certain things.

• You're free to make up your own head canons if you don't like mine, also y'all can give me feedback if you want so I can improve my work.

• This story will be set a few years after the canon of the Obey Me games.

• • • • •

Who would've thought that it would be a bad idea to try to trick someone who literally reeks of luxury to live in an old, bout-to-fall-apart dormitory?

Well, certainly not Crowley.

That fact became known when 'The shady looking dorm leader™' and also, the tablet decided to tag along with you, Yuu and Crowley, but then had to help Yuu in holding you back so that you wouldn't beat the ever living crap out of the headmaster the moment he dared to bring y'all in front of this rustic establishment and say "It had charm". (Too many You's)

Oh really? really?? Oh you'll see real charm when I beat you straight into the afterlife you greasy son of a bitc–

*Ehem*

It did not end well.

So instead of that, the headmaster had to temporarily put you and your fellow stranded-in-dis-school-human into the infirmary as your temporary abode and promised to fix the shoddy dorm so that it can safely house people in it. (Grim will appear in the future, dw)

*Que Azul tryna make you stay in Octavinelle and you vehemently declining that offer.*

Also, you're starting to get creeped-out by the floating tablet that keeps following you around and won't stop with taking pictures. there's also the small maniacal giggles coming out of the device.

• • • • • •

So there you two are, two people that've been kidnapped by this school's fuckin carriage are now bonding in the infirmary and distracting each other by venting about problems back home. (You two are too wary to be able to sleep properly.)

Like, yes Yuu, I'm in a polyamorous with more than a dozen problematic individuals.

Yes, it works out. somehow

Damn, three assignments due tomorrow all from the same subject? Have you ever tried cheating off of your classmates?

Oh— wait what?! a classmate from biology was caught fucking with a professor in a classroom!? Seriously??

No, I unfortunately no longer have a grasp on the concept of private space and poverty.

Yes, maintaining a relationship with a lot of people at the same time can be hard.

A lot of them are rich.

Wait, a seatmate of yours really gave two free expensive sketch pads just because you asked?? Where can I find that person??

Yes they all act like my sugar daddies and my man-children in one way or another.

No, don't you dare pimp yourself out, okay? There may be a lot of people in my life but the important thing is that we all love each other.

We support, comfort, protect, and guide each other to the best we can.

No— that didn't happen in a day, I had to bend over backwards and almost die a shit-ton of times before I managed to wiggle myself firmly into the hearts of those fuckers.

...Q- Questions about our sex life will be automatically ignored.

Just.. be nice to others, even if it's seemingly stupid.

Unless they are absolute scum then just maintain distance.

You just gotta eyeball it to figure out when to stop being nice to someone.

Never and I mean NEVER treat anyone badly unless they did something unforgivable to you.

Don't call me kind. It's easier to have a grasp on other people if you're nice.

Pft— You once saw a book called "How to be a sugar baby 101" in the school library?! And you saw your principal reading it?!

Sure-sure, I'll help you with your math homework— wait a second.. Seriously?? We've been kidnapped, I ain't allowing you to do math. Where the hell did you even hide that thick-as-fuck test sheet anyways?? Up your ass?!

• • • •

You sigh for the third time this hour, looking at Yuu who's making a "Mom.. I threw up in the carpet... I'm sowwy🥺" expression as they stand beside your bed.

"What happened?"

Yuu winced, feeling embarrassed as they hear you talk to them like a disappointed parent, they had failed to appeal to Crowley about becoming a temporary student of this school and now had to be a janitor/errand kid.

"The headmaster said that I'll be the handy-man of the campus while he searches for a way to get us home..."

You feel a vein in your head throb and your eye start to twitch by of the sheer audacity being shown in front of your face.

You are now feeling the immense urge to hex that bird-bitch.

Satan sat straight in his seat, speaking out to the others in the meeting table.

"I can feel irritation and the urge to curse someone again." He said.

It would've been funny if this was another situation.

"That's definitely from MC, isn't it? You mentioned being half-asleep and feeling MC get agitated through your pact mark, right?" Diavolo asked.

"Yes, at least our pacts are still intact..." Satan nodded.

"Great, we can use this to monitor MC even if they're far away." Lucifer stated.

Countless search-parties and interrogations have already been conducted, but they're still clueless on where you can be or who could've taken you.

Even Barbatos couldn't see what had happened.

They're starting to get agitated, MC..

• • • • •

Jade watched as Azul frantically drafts and redrafts a new plan of his.

It seems that something caught the eye of their housewarden in the ceremony today.

"What could be so eye-catching that you're in such a hurry to obtain it, Azul?" Jade couldn't contain his curiosity and asked.

"It's a new student, Jade." Azul started.

"He possesses such a large amount of magical artifacts in his hands, It's unbelievable! They were all high quality too!"

Jade blinks.

"Don't you have enough magical artifacts around?"

Jade is confusion.

"You don't know it because you weren't there." Azul narrowed his eyes at Jade.

"I first thought those jewelry of his were similar to the ones that you can buy with enough money in annual auctions, but then I realized that it's very likely that those jewelry are customized."

"...How so?"

"So I decided to try and take a closer look, but when I actually got closer and almost touched one of them, I felt a strong thrum of magic that I haven't felt before!"

Oh?

Now that got Jade's attention.

Azul has been exposed to a lot of strong, powerful people and magical artifacts over the years that he and his twin were following this dormleader of theirs and yet there was actually an artifact so strong that he can feel strong waves of magic by just almost touching it?

How curious..... If the magic of the artifact was so strong, why didn't Azul sense it up until he literally almost held it in his hands?

Seems like this year won't be boring, after all..

• • • • •

BONUS: Someone has a crush.

"Brother, Your package has arrived— What are you... Are you making fan art of Mr. [L/n]...?"

Idia screams like a dumb girl in a horror movie as he tries to block the screen with his body.

"O-ORTHO?! WH-WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT KNOCKING FIRST??!"

"And... what's with the pose?"

Ortho tilts head innocently, confused on why his brother is drawing a new student in a pose that can often be seen on videos that are called "Thirst traps". he's still confused about why they're called that way.

Idia: "O- ORTHO THIS ISN'T ANYTHING BAD I SWEARAHGJSI—"

*Starts to fuckin steam*

"brOTHER YOU'RE BURNING THE CHAIR!"

"AH CRAP!"

← Pr.3 | Chapter List | Pr. 5 →

Don't forget to like, comment and reblog guys, It's a big help :3

What do y'all think of the chapter? pls respond, I need feedback🥺

I woke up today and decided to kick canon's ass.

Elae: Thanks for reading this far.☺️

See y'all next time~

Next chapter: Prologue 5

@f0urleafedcl0ver

@a-traveling-void-human

@speckle-meow-meow

@leviathans-tail-scales

@citrus-cinnamon

@prefesro

[louisupdates]

LOUIS TOMLINSON PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR HIS SHOW AT THE O2 IN LONDON

WED 22ND NOVEMBER, 2023 | 12:38 PM

At London’s O2 Arena, Louis has it all.

Words: Jessica Goodman. | Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett.

“I’ve got these lot behind me, who the fuck is gonna stop us?” This question, asked by Louis Tomlinson moments after headlining his Away From Home festival for the first time two years ago, has become something of a mantra for his fans. It’s been shared on social media ad infinitum, worn on homemade merch, waved proudly on banners and signs, and shouted to the rafters at his concerts. Headlining a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena on Friday night, it seems clear that the answer to his question is that no one ever will.

Taking place just over a year after the release of his celebrated second album ‘Faith In The Future’, and almost twelve years to the day after One Direction released their first record ‘Up All Night’, in the city where 1D formed and where he played his first full headline show as a solo artist, this might be the greatest full-circle moment of Louis’ career so far. But tonight isn’t a nostalgia trip, and there’s little time spent walking down memory lane. Instead, this show is all about the here and now, celebrating how a shared passion for music and the community that creates can build something that feels like magic.

From the moment he walks out on centre stage in front of his fans, Louis Tomlinson is at home – and his fans make themselves at home right along with him. Opening with ‘The Greatest’ – a song written for and about crowds and nights like tonight – it’s clear that, though it might’ve taken him a long time to get back here, stages like this one are where he belongs.

For tonight’s landmark show, he pulls out all the stops. A specially recorded video introduction? New and improved light shows? Pyrotechnics? A strings section on stage?! At London’s O2 Arena, Louis has it all. His dedication to making the night special is met by his fans in equal measure, using phone torches and synchronised apps to create light shows of their own.

A distinctive figure in trackies and a vest, Louis commands the room with ease. Playfully flipping fans off while singing, crouching down between songs to be closer to the people he’s talking to, he’s the star with his name in lights, but his show remains just as much about celebrating with the people that support him as it is about celebrating the music. Any mention of this sold-out show’s success is talked about as a collective. “O2, sold out?! You lot, unbelievable, right?!” he congratulates the crowd between songs.

Even when he’s talking about his own emotions, saying, “This might be the first time in my career where I have been under pressure tonight, and I feel fucking great about it,” it’s with acknowledgement to the people filling the room who make what he does possible. “You don’t have that confidence onstage unless you know you’ve got the best fucking fans in the world,” he states. “I never feel like I can find the words to ever truly thank you, but thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Restyling old songs to fit the sound he found for himself on his latest album (sir, we’re going to need a recording of ‘Back To You’ rock version ASAP) and giving a nod to his home county with a cover of fellow South Yorkshire sensations Arctic Monkeys between leading rapturous crowd singalongs to fan favourite hits, this is Louis Tomlinson at the top of his game.

“Look at what we’ve fucking done!” he yells to the room mid-set. The message, it seems, is clear: ain’t no one stopping Louis Tomlinson now.

MORE PHOTOS

[bleongambetta]

Heroic Sacrifice and The Warlord (BL-G Hack)

I saw a post yesterday from @drakeanddice about Blaze of Glory mechanics in tabletop games and was going to just show him what I'm doing for that in (the still obnoxiously named) The BL-G Hack, but then realized it could maybe be a post of my own.

Let's talk mechanics for heroic sacrifice.

Okay, maybe I lied, we're going to talk briefly about WHY mechanics for heroic sacrifice make sense for a game. This is still going to be mostly me dumping over a box of toys, a quick glance at planned mechanics, but I want to ground it a little bit first.

Why would a player want to have a heroic sacrifice moment?

Thematic Payoff: Fantasy fiction is full of moments of a character (especially one who has broken oaths and bonds) sacrificing themselves for the good of the many. We want to see a someone who we didn't think could live up to being a hero doing it.

Strategic Goal Reaching: Setting up a heroic sacrifice will often allow a momentary contract between the GM and the player; I really want X to happen, so much so that I'm willing to give up my character. In exchange, will you give us the cool thing? Yeah, nice.

Character Shuffling: Players don't always want to stick with one character or may have an RL reason that they need to change. This lets them not just fade away.

Kicking Up Drama: In a lot of games (lookin' at you dnd) combat can be lengthy and cumbersome for players that want dramatic play. This shortcuts combat (usually) in order to hit that drama.

With these goals in mind, an ability that does heroic sacrifice needs to be redemptive (it makes the character feel heroic even if they have not been previously), effective (it succeeds at a task), lethal (it definitely kills them), and big (the moment feels important).

The BL-G Hack's Approach

As discussed elsewhere the BL-G hack is a class based DnD-like that uses PbtA inspired abilities and has a focus on World Map play in a West Marches style.

If that sentence didn't make sense, don't worry, it's a game where you do fantasy stuff.

Characters in the BL-G hack will be able to gain Abilities through leveling up, circumstances, equipment, etc, and some of those will be Heroic Sacrifice moves. One of the classes that gets one of these abilities is The Tactician.

The Tactician is based on using martial prowess and tactical knowledge to improve your party's fighting and provides an inroad to the Map Phase. It's based on the 4th edition Warlord pretty explicitly, though it's exchanged martial healing for troop movement in a way that I think will be fun. Here is the Tactician's Heroic Sacrifice Move.

Sheath the Sword: When all is bleak and you take position at a choke point, you may give up your life to hold the position for as long as your allies need to escape to safety. You have a moment to speak with them, confessing your weaknesses and sharing your love for them. You battle long, until the ground is slick with blood and the bodies have stacked before you, weakening the enemy and ensuring that pursuit is delayed long enough to give your allies a true advantage. The spot you died becomes a Landmark where future heroes can use this ability at will.

Notice how this move is aimed to handle those four pieces:

Redemptive: You confess your weaknesses, a fitting redemption for a class that is about not showing weakness.

Effective: It definitively allows your allies to escape to safety from a bad situation. It specifically weakens and delays the pursuit.

Lethal: There's no roll, you die.

Big: Your sacrifice is so noble and awesome that the Map is permanently changed.

When a player picks this ability, they are letting the GM know that they want to have one of these moments and they are setting themselves up for it. It lets the GM know that they can kick up the danger, somebody has an out and they'll want to use it when the moment is right.

Not all classes will get Heroic Sacrifices (multiclassing is SUPER supported and I don't want the classes to feel same-y), but others will include magically pulling down a building onto yourself to destroy a major villain, healing those around you and creating a healing garden around your grave, and writing your soul into a song that can later be played to strengthen your friends.

Roadmap

Work on The BL-G Hack continues to slowly roll on according to my whims and lunch breaks. The actual PDF of it is probably a little bit off, but I'm hoping to have an accessible, playable version available soon. Being honest, Deadly Kobold Racing is going to come out before this in all likelihood, but BL-G Hack should be close behind.

If you'd like to get it as soon as possible, consider backing my Patreon where I'll be doing an announcement post with a link soon! There'll be an itch page too, but it'll need to be more final before that.

When it does come out, maybe I'll have a Heroic Sacrifice contest and add a Dramatic Location to honor whoever manages to pull one of these off first.

Additional Edits:

Thiago makes such a such a good point! I've got two concepts that I think could handle this well to make it a little bit more tempting to take one of these possibly hard-to-pull off abilities.

I might take a look at adding an additional smaller rolling benefit onto these moves. Probably in a way that builds up their reasons for making the move! If I do that, I'll need to make sure that it's not too hugely impactful on it's own; I want it to be a little cherry on top, not a reason on it's own to get the move.

Also, free Abilities are DEFINITELY going to be a thing! My intention is that Abilities are given out like candy, look to Compendium Classes from Dungeon World for some idea of what I'm talking about. You hit a trigger, you get an ability, you have future level up options!

[dailytomlinson]

“I’ve got these lot behind me, who the fuck is gonna stop us?” This question, asked by Louis Tomlinson moments after headlining his Away From Home festival for the first time two years ago, has become something of a mantra for his fans. It’s been shared on social media ad infinitum, worn on homemade merch, waved proudly on banners and signs, and shouted to the rafters at his concerts. Headlining a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena on Friday night, it seems clear that the answer to his question is that no one ever will.

Taking place just over a year after the release of his celebrated second album ‘Faith In The Future’, and almost twelve years to the day after One Direction released their first record ‘Up All Night’, in the city where 1D formed and where he played his first full headline show as a solo artist, this might be the greatest full-circle moment of Louis’ career so far. But tonight isn’t a nostalgia trip, and there’s little time spent walking down memory lane. Instead, this show is all about the here and now, celebrating how a shared passion for music and the community that creates can build something that feels like magic.

From the moment he walks out on centre stage in front of his fans, Louis Tomlinson is at home – and his fans make themselves at home right along with him. Opening with ‘The Greatest’ – a song written for and about crowds and nights like tonight – it’s clear that, though it might’ve taken him a long time to get back here, stages like this one are where he belongs.

For tonight’s landmark show, he pulls out all the stops. A specially recorded video introduction? New and improved light shows? Pyrotechnics? A strings section on stage?! At London’s O2 Arena, Louis has it all. His dedication to making the night special is met by his fans in equal measure, using phone torches and synchronised apps to create light shows of their own.

A distinctive figure in trackies and a vest, Louis commands the room with ease. Playfully flipping fans off while singing, crouching down between songs to be closer to the people he’s talking to, he’s the star with his name in lights, but his show remains just as much about celebrating with the people that support him as it is about celebrating the music. Any mention of this sold-out show’s success is talked about as a collective. “O2, sold out?! You lot, unbelievable, right?!” he congratulates the crowd between songs.

Even when he’s talking about his own emotions, saying, “This might be the first time in my career where I have been under pressure tonight, and I feel fucking great about it,” it’s with acknowledgement to the people filling the room who make what he does possible. “You don’t have that confidence onstage unless you know you’ve got the best fucking fans in the world,” he states. “I never feel like I can find the words to ever truly thank you, but thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Restyling old songs to fit the sound he found for himself on his latest album (sir, we’re going to need a recording of ‘Back To You’ rock version ASAP) and giving a nod to his home county with a cover of fellow South Yorkshire sensations Arctic Monkeys between leading rapturous crowd singalongs to fan favourite hits, this is Louis Tomlinson at the top of his game.

“Look at what we’ve fucking done!” he yells to the room mid-set. The message, it seems, is clear: ain’t no one stopping Louis Tomlinson now.

[dreamings-free]

Wed 22nd November, 2023 Words: Jessica Goodman | Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett

“I’ve got these lot behind me, who the fuck is gonna stop us?” This question, asked by Louis Tomlinson moments after headlining his Away From Home festival for the first time two years ago, has become something of a mantra for his fans. It’s been shared on social media ad infinitum, worn on homemade merch, waved proudly on banners and signs, and shouted to the rafters at his concerts. Headlining a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena on Friday night, it seems clear that the answer to his question is that no one ever will.

Taking place just over a year after the release of his celebrated second album ‘Faith In The Future’, and almost twelve years to the day after One Direction released their first record ‘Up All Night’, in the city where 1D formed and where he played his first full headline show as a solo artist, this might be the greatest full-circle moment of Louis’ career so far. But tonight isn’t a nostalgia trip, and there’s little time spent walking down memory lane. Instead, this show is all about the here and now, celebrating how a shared passion for music and the community that creates can build something that feels like magic.

From the moment he walks out on centre stage in front of his fans, Louis Tomlinson is at home – and his fans make themselves at home right along with him. Opening with ‘The Greatest’ – a song written for and about crowds and nights like tonight – it’s clear that, though it might’ve taken him a long time to get back here, stages like this one are where he belongs.

For tonight’s landmark show, he pulls out all the stops. A specially recorded video introduction? New and improved light shows? Pyrotechnics? A strings section on stage?! At London’s O2 Arena, Louis has it all. His dedication to making the night special is met by his fans in equal measure, using phone torches and synchronised apps to create light shows of their own.

A distinctive figure in trackies and a vest, Louis commands the room with ease. Playfully flipping fans off while singing, crouching down between songs to be closer to the people he’s talking to, he’s the star with his name in lights, but his show remains just as much about celebrating with the people that support him as it is about celebrating the music. Any mention of this sold-out show’s success is talked about as a collective. “O2, sold out?! You lot, unbelievable, right?!” he congratulates the crowd between songs.

Even when he’s talking about his own emotions, saying, “This might be the first time in my career where I have been under pressure tonight, and I feel fucking great about it,” it’s with acknowledgement to the people filling the room who make what he does possible. “You don’t have that confidence onstage unless you know you’ve got the best fucking fans in the world,” he states. “I never feel like I can find the words to ever truly thank you, but thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Restyling old songs to fit the sound he found for himself on his latest album (sir, we’re going to need a recording of ‘Back To You’ rock version ASAP) and giving a nod to his home county with a cover of fellow South Yorkshire sensations Arctic Monkeys between leading rapturous crowd singalongs to fan favourite hits, this is Louis Tomlinson at the top of his game.

“Look at what we’ve fucking done!” he yells to the room mid-set. The message, it seems, is clear: ain’t no one stopping Louis Tomlinson now.

[milks-shake-cafe]

I know I said I was gonna do this months ago but now I'm finally gonna talk to you guys about my J.JK self insert!

♧ She works at a little café! She has 0 clue about the sorcerer world; she's sort like that guy with the 5 sisters who got rancid vibes from Ge.to and quit on the spot FNTUHJHH She can generally feel when something's off and will hightail out of there

♧They're usually on the morning shift so they're learning how to bake pastries and the like!

♧My insert first meets Iji.chi due to their job. He was doing a coffee/breakfast run for everyone (which bless him, we all know Go.jo's order was a mile long and overly complicated on purpose FNTUHJ) while my insert was running the cash register. We had a little chat while everything was getting prepared and he appreciated that I was genuinely polite to him!

♧After awhile, he begins to develop a crush on them. He always gets questioned as to why he gets red in the face everytime he picks up coffee now

♧My insert knows his, Iji.chi's personal, order by heart! I make it automatically and put it to the side for him around pickup time. It even happens on days where he doesn't come in, force of habit fbtuhjyg

♧I start trying to make cute designs on his stuff, like a cat or bear on his bread, but um. They're really wonky. (One of my friends joked, saying he probably mumbles "Looks like a cursed spirit..." FBTYBJ)

♧My insert practices a lot of baking and designing at home to finally give Iji.chi something cute to enjoy. Once he finally has it down-pat, Iji.chi compliments my improvement and almost doesn't want to eat/drink it because of the cuteness

♧This endeavor led them to finally share phone numbers and the majority of texts where me sending pictures and progress updates of my at-home bakes. While he doesn't have a hobby like that due to work, Iji.chi usually ends up sending me pics of stray cats he encounters throughout the day (A lot of these are ideas my friends came up with. Their brains are so huge and I love them, mwah)

♧Btw, Go.jo can and will steal this poor man's phone and send chaotic messages and selfies of him running away from him GNGYHJ

♧This guy would be so fucking adorable. He'd send pics of himself in front landmarks and stuff doing a shy little peace sign. WHY IS HE SO CUTE??

♧A few times he shows what he ate somewhere and recommends it to me, I go "Yeah! We should totally go there together!" And he flusters at the idea of a date

♧Iji.chi really tries his best of keeping his work separate from our relationship. He wants to keep this one thing his; I make him feel appreciated and less anxious and he doesn't want it to disappear!

♧His actual job slips out by accident. We go on a date and there's a curse spirit just sitting right next to us. He tries to subtlety get us to move to a different area but I'm here like, "Hey, I think we should go somewhere else. I'm really uncomfortable" while looking straight at it. So he just has this sigh of relief of "Oh thank goodness you can see cursed spirits too" while my insert is like ???

♧He really thought this man was a school chaperone and accountant for the longest FBGYGH

♧While he's thankful that I listen to my gut and I'm happy that it's not my anxiety and paranoid going overdrive all the time, he still gets concerned that I'll get attacked by something I cannot see. He's worried when he isn't around but tries to protect me in ways he knows he can.

♧I can and will parade him around my and his friends, loving on my soggy towel of a man! I honestly think he's waiting for the other shoe to drop; for me to one day realize I can do better and just leave. Meanwhile, I'm here like, "No, we're gonna get married in the future. You're stuck with me. FOR LIFE"

[quinnkdev]

BLANKSWORD dev #2: What’s the endgame for this?

Welcome back to another BLANKSWORD devlog!

This past week, a lot has happened! I am getting tutoring for Game Maker code from my friend Will Bowerman, and this combined with tutorials by Friendly Cosmonaut and Shaun Spalding means we’re finally starting to have a game!

In the span of a week, in this test map, I’ve implemented:

A free camera with a slight forward pan while moving

A controller object

Running

Depth sorting (through use of a store asset, granted)

The future for BLANKSWORD is looking bright! But what exactly is my aim with this game? Well, look below the cut to find out!

The concept of BLANKSWORD as a game is simple: Create a relatively long-form indie RPG (~15-20 hours) that incorporates a reset-and-loop (”roguelite”) mechanic while still telling a cohesive story and remaining captivating.

This will be achieved through a number of ways:

Randomisation and consistent discovery. This game’s traversible space will be partially randomised, or dealt out gradually in such a way that repeat-plays of the game will have something new to see - either through the player learning new skills, BLANK learning new skills, or both.

Landmarks. At points that the player is supposed to recognise even through the randomisation, landmarks will be placed to remind the player of any new pathways that may have opened up.

Character sidegrades that influence the world. The game’s sidegrade equipment slots will not only open up new combat possibilities, but change the capabilities and drawbacks of BLANK as a character as well, again opening up (or closing) paths that you may not have seen in previous playthroughs. A levelling system provides a steady climb upwards, but the improvements are minute; think of the levelling system more like the one in Dark Souls than, for example, the one in Pokémon.

NPCs. A lot of non-player characters in BLANKSWORD have different things to say for many of the runs you take. They’ll remember you from last time, or will react to new things you’ve seen or done since.

Expressive and dangerous combat. Combat in BLANKSWORD will be precarious, but can be learned. It’s turn-based, but concessions are made to make it difficult, but feasible to bounce back from a “bad roll”. It also changes a lot depending on which sidegrades you have in use.

From a thematic standpoint, BLANKSWORD is an absurdist game, in both meanings of the word. A looping mechanic turned out to suit this very well - what better constitutes a Sisyphean task than always being pushed back to the start with every failure?

It is also a game, in a lot of ways, about living with disability: BLANK can never be a normally functional person again after what happened to him at the start of the game, and you have to work with rather than against the problems he faces as a result.

BLANKSWORD’s cast of characters is a bunch of little weirdos. I’m thinking I’ll introduce another new character next week for these logs.

Feel free to tune in!

-Quinn

[louistomlinsoncouk]

“I’ve got these lot behind me, who the fuck is gonna stop us?” This question, asked by Louis Tomlinson moments after headlining his Away From Home festival for the first time two years ago, has become something of a mantra for his fans. It’s been shared on social media ad infinitum, worn on homemade merch, waved proudly on banners and signs, and shouted to the rafters at his concerts. Headlining a sold-out show at London’s O2 Arena on Friday night, it seems clear that the answer to his question is that no one ever will.

Taking place just over a year after the release of his celebrated second album ‘Faith In The Future’, and almost twelve years to the day after One Direction released their first record ‘Up All Night’, in the city where 1D formed and where he played his first full headline show as a solo artist, this might be the greatest full-circle moment of Louis’ career so far. But tonight isn’t a nostalgia trip, and there’s little time spent walking down memory lane. Instead, this show is all about the here and now, celebrating how a shared passion for music and the community that creates can build something that feels like magic.

From the moment he walks out on centre stage in front of his fans, Louis Tomlinson is at home – and his fans make themselves at home right along with him. Opening with ‘The Greatest’ – a song written for and about crowds and nights like tonight – it’s clear that, though it might’ve taken him a long time to get back here, stages like this one are where he belongs.

For tonight’s landmark show, he pulls out all the stops. A specially recorded video introduction? New and improved light shows? Pyrotechnics? A strings section on stage?! At London’s O2 Arena, Louis has it all. His dedication to making the night special is met by his fans in equal measure, using phone torches and synchronised apps to create light shows of their own.

A distinctive figure in trackies and a vest, Louis commands the room with ease. Playfully flipping fans off while singing, crouching down between songs to be closer to the people he’s talking to, he’s the star with his name in lights, but his show remains just as much about celebrating with the people that support him as it is about celebrating the music. Any mention of this sold-out show’s success is talked about as a collective. “O2, sold out?! You lot, unbelievable, right?!” he congratulates the crowd between songs.

Even when he’s talking about his own emotions, saying, “This might be the first time in my career where I have been under pressure tonight, and I feel fucking great about it,” it’s with acknowledgement to the people filling the room who make what he does possible. “You don’t have that confidence onstage unless you know you’ve got the best fucking fans in the world,” he states. “I never feel like I can find the words to ever truly thank you, but thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Restyling old songs to fit the sound he found for himself on his latest album (sir, we’re going to need a recording of ‘Back To You’ rock version ASAP) and giving a nod to his home county with a cover of fellow South Yorkshire sensations Arctic Monkeys between leading rapturous crowd singalongs to fan favourite hits, this is Louis Tomlinson at the top of his game.

“Look at what we’ve fucking done!” he yells to the room mid-set. The message, it seems, is clear: ain’t no one stopping Louis Tomlinson now.

[tanadrin]

wish list for the steam version of dwarf fortress:

let me discard a world when generation is done if i don’t like it, rather than only offering “play now” and “save and quit to menu” as options.

let me examine the world closeup at my leisure as you might in embark mode before letting me choose to play now, save and quit to the menu, or discard the world.

it should be possible to view, at least roughly, the lie of the embark area before spending points on preparing your journey, naming your fortress, etc. occasionally--but often enough to matter--the embark area is flawed in a way that makes a restart necessary

when preparing for embark, let me enter a numerical value for items rather than just clicking the ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons over and over again. or at least let click-holding on those buttons do something.

it should be possible to edit the world in more detail, including bringing back the old world painter. i think some of this is actually planned for future versions, though.

but i would love the option to edit civ names and starting locations, edit or add gods to the pantheon, and name or rename specific areas or landmarks.

the tooltip that shows the details of the square you’re currently mousing over shouldn’t vanish just because you’re queuing up zones or construction or other orders

clicking on a dwarf’s portrait from any screen (like the labor menu) should bring up that dwarf’s character sheet.

bring back civilian alerts!

when choosing to specify a material for a crafting job, whether from the workshop screen or the work orders screen, show me how much of that material i have

alphabetize all materials and jobs lists. i cannot stress this one enough.

let me collapse the view of the contents of chests in the trade menu.

let me page down to the end of the current chest or item category i’m viewing in the trade menu

improve the dwarf construction ai. specifically, stop causing construction orders to be suspended because the construction area is a bit crowded. let dwarves build walls in squares they can only access diagonally (they will often build diagonally if the square can be accessed orthogonally, but won’t build at all if it can’t be), let dwarves build multi-level walls without awkward scaffolding in at least some circumstances, let me designate large buildings for deconstruction all at once without risking causing collapses, auto-convert a mining order on a constructed wall into a remove construction order, and let me queue up a construction order, e.g., a floor at the top of a not-yet-built staircase, if it will eventually be valid (as is already permitted when designating, say, a multi-tile floor extending away from a freestanding staircase). if nothing else, let me build a ceiling from below.

indeed, all relevant mining orders should be silently converted to deconstruction orders as appropriate; it never made much sense to me to begin with that “channel” and “remove floor” are, from the perspective of the player, two completely different actions. especially given that the underlying game logic does not meaningfully differentiate between natural and artificial walls and floors.

add keyboard shortcuts for “suspend” and “cancel construction” when selecting a building or furniture item

let dwarves climb down from trees on their own, and risk jumping off low ledges if the alternative is starving to death bc they’re stuck (dwarves can already climb in certain rare circumstances!)

don’t show blocks currently used in constructions in the stocks menu!

let me issue specific orders to specific dwarfs in emergency situations, e.g., hostiles are approaching and a wounded dwarf is not being recovered correctly.

allow me to choose which notifications to pause on. allow me to hide certain kinds of notifications.

allow me to optionally choose specific objects to target with jobs like “decorate with X”

allow me to filter lists of historical figures in legends mode and in the statue subject selection mode with types like “forgotten beast,” “deity,” “dwarf/elf/human,” and by other interesting features, such as which civilization they belonged to, whether they were the ruler of someplace, how many kills they have, etc.

add a map to the legends mode. have it both display relevant information and be usable as a way to find, e.g., battles or figures associated with specific sites.

in general the UI is much, much better, but it has a long way to go; its insufficiencies are more tolerable when the game is the (free!) passion project of a lone creative genius working in the ASCII wilderness. plus the new version fixes some things that used to really annoy me (like not being able to queue up constructed walls if constructed floors were present), and i hunger for more improvements along those lines.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted against legislation that would protect interracial marriages on Wednesday, despite the fact that he's married to an Asian American woman.

McConnell, who is white, is the husband of former U.S. Secretary for Transportation Elaine Chao, the first woman of Asian heritage to be appointed to a presidential cabinet.

The Kentucky Republican was one of 37 GOP senators who opposed a motion to advance on the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), but the procedural vote succeeded with a bipartisan majority of 62, with one senator not voting.

The Senate is divided, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans, but the vote means that formal debate could take place on the legislation, while the Senate could pass the bill as early as Thursday.

The RFMA passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote in July.

Many social-media users criticized McConnell following the vote and pointed to his relationship with Chao, whom he married in 1993.

"Mitch McConnell, a man in an interracial marriage, votes against protecting interracial marriage," tweeted former Democratic congressional candidate Nina Turner.

"My guess is McConnell's opposition has to do with same-sex marriage, not interracial marriage," wrote Brendan Kirby, investigative reporter with Fox10 News.

Newsweek has asked Mitch McConnell's office for comment.

The RFMA would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and would require each state to recognize marriages that are valid in the state where they were performed.

The legislation is intended to protect same-sex and interracial marriages amid concerns that the Supreme Court could potentially overturn landmark rulings such as 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges, which effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Previously, marriage laws differed by state, and ceremonies performed in one state were not necessarily considered valid in other states, particularly in the case of same-sex unions. The Supreme Court found that bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional in the 1967 case Loving v. Virginia.

Concern about potential future Supreme Court cases comes after the Court overturned landmark abortion precedent in 1973's Roe v. Wade in June 2022, leading many states to impose new restrictions on abortion.

Twelve Republican senators voted in favor of advancing the RFMA, and some spoke in support of the bill, including Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who addressed the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Obergefell v. Hodges.

"Regardless of one's views on that possibility, there is still value in ensuring that our federal laws reflect that same-sex and interracial couples have the right to have their marriages recognized, regardless of where they live in this country," Collins said.

McConnell was re-elected as leader of the Senate GOP on Wednesday in a vote behind closed doors, following disappointing midterm results for the party and amid a challenge from Senator Rick Scott of Florida.

"I'm honored that my Republican colleagues have reelected me to lead our outstanding Conference," McConnell tweeted. "Our united team is full of energy and ideas. We're going to fight Democrats' recklessness & promote our commonsense conservative vision to improve families' lives & strengthen America."

[fortifice]

"Oh, what a quaint little place this is." Aventurine smiles in the city center of Belobog. "Your family sure is lovely~" He waves goodbye at the guitarist and young girl standing behind the captain a ways yonder. "Say, you're a pathstrider of The Preservation as well, aren't you? Blond too. I can totally fit in, don't you think? How old are you Captain Landau? Wouldn't you like a dashing older brother?" Aventurine laughs.

Their home had been segregated for centuries, receiving outsiders after rectifying the stellaron crisis still held with it an imposing surrealness. to witness those streets once traversed in solitude by those hailing from the planet toured by the IPC’s ambassador left him with a stark sense of incongruity, never within his years had he thought there might be a dawn where new presences would breach the rampart set to protect their people from the fragmentum. Gepard knows he is to present himself as affable and yet it does not come to him without effort, in that sense is Serval not a saviour to the ever solemn captain, sweeping their guest up in blithe conversation. she was good with people in a way her brother could not hope to imitate, her penchant for friendly banter felt desultory when he ventured to try his hand at it. Deciding he would rather not make a dreadful impression upon Aventurine he assented to being ushered into her workshop alongside the promise of warm drinks to ease the cold, those who had not weathered it for years woefully unprepared for the inhospitable chill. It was better like this, he thinks; he does not doubt that the meticulously composed speech he had earlier prepared encompassing belobog’s historical landmarks would have felt prosaic juxtaposed to Serval’s effervescent enthusiasm. He reminds himself to offer her his gratitude later, extricating him from an undertaking he believes would have been as exhilarating as watching paint dry. If they were to host other guests in the imminent future he would have to determine ways to embody the way she could immerse her audience, perhaps he should ask her for tutelage. he sighs, softly, hopefully unnoticed as his sisters wave them off, the IPC’s envoy being the most recent friendship added to his sister’s notched belt. “Thank you, my sister has a talent for engaging others.” which did not extend to her brother even a modicum, determined by him, not that she hadn’t reassured him that if he strove to improve he would find his relations far less constrained. the innate relation from captain to subordinate was easier to navigate because it did not rely as heavily upon variables like likability and geniality, while he fostered decorum and benevolence he could not wear affability in the carefree way Serval did. “ even before she employed those skills in her music she was capable of captivating those around her.” the compliment was one his sister deserved, he could not have recounted the sheer number of dull narratives that were rendered riveting because she told them. A pathstrider of the preservation - he was, they were similar in that regard. “ with how the three of you got on I would not be surprised if they welcomed it.” he could only envision the grand adventures that might await Aventurine if he were stolen away by either of his sisters. “ my age ? I am twenty eight.” he adjusts himself as if it were a query upon his status, he had spent a great deal of his life in service to belobog, he wondered rather dismally if that delineated him as unexciting. in contrast to the colourful lives led by his sister’s perhaps his was a narrative of predictability. “ I cannot say I would be opposed to it, I feel that my sisters would not be so forgiving If I were to say otherwise.” 

[citiesandstories]

Heart of The Liberties: The Liberty Belle and Tom Young

This project focuses on The Liberty Belle pub and its owner, Tom Young an important figure within this community. Initially inspired by Fontaines DC's song "Liberty Belle," my exploration revealed the pub's deeper role in the local social fabric.

I chose to create a short film to capture the essential of The Liberty Belle and Tom's impact on The Liberties. Through interviews and footage, the film highlights how the pub serves as a communal centre for locals and blow ins alike. So all could see the film, I designed a poster with a QR code, displayed on the pub notice board. .

The project was successful in showcasing the pub's role and Toms role, beyond its musical inspiration, highlighting its community significance. However, the audio quality of the film wasnt great, an aspect I aim to improve in future projects. This experience has emphasized the importance of technical skills to effectively convey a story, particularly in documentary filmmaking.

This project not only celebrated a local landmark but also enhanced my skills and understanding of community-centered storytelling.

[deoxygenated]

had a dream where whoever i was first at the shore, playing in the waves. we were with some kind of group and had to kill a few people to protect the area even if they weren't criminals themselves.

it was ordered we had to kill this 13yr old child and decided the best method to do that and hide ths body would be to drown them in the far ocean. the boss' lackey is to do it at first.

however he can only teleport 50 something so I volunteer bc i can teleport about 200 something. he takes us and the unconscious child into the ocean at first and once we're teleported out it's my turn. i grab them and use my ability.

it feels like we're in the middle of nowhere because it's so vast. the lackey looks at me and then i hold the kid underwater. the child wakes up enough to struggle, theyre drowning, and i suddenly teleport me and the lackey back to the shallows.

the boss is there, the lackey looks disgusted at the sudden teleport and reports in. he seems satisfied and thanks me with a cruel smile.

in the next few days im constantly patrolling the shore. im playing around but also looking for any signs of the kid as they could wash up back here. they were drowning but i didn't finish it so theres a small chance they're alive. whoever i am feels no real guilt other than not completing a job and because of that decides if the kid appears they are to help them.

---------

the next part of the dream segues into a vast fantasy land. it borrows some names from ffxiv but otherwise is nothing alike.

i remember whoever i was here racing with several people to get to the great tree of the forest via gridania by using aqueducts designed also as throughways. they took various exits to get there but i was sure only me and one girl who rode the water to the second to last exit were right.

this dream skips around time wise so while i'm the same person i'm now sitting at a table with a friend. he's new to the city and i'm helping him send a letter out. we recruit a post office lady who helps us write the letter.

i get mad at her bc i passive aggressively indicate i can write but she's sure a country bumpkin from nowhere like me can't do it well of at all. so she refuses to leave us the supplies and instead is doing it for us.

my friend dictates a letter and then asks her to get the address from me since i know it well.

'gridania right?' she asks.

'well yes but you have to put the great tree first, thats important, and more of a landmark.' i tell her.

'ok so the great tree of the forest, gridania--'

'portside, dock 12, #16.'

she looks peeved at me. and tells us we don't have proper addresses. i tell her this will do to locate it asking around, as my country doesn't yet have a proper postal service.

--------

the final dream might be the future of that port. a large ship with vast porthole is among the docks. its where people of the land work in harmony with the dolphin people of the waves.

however someone has taken over and made a of number of improvements. deployable engines through the ports, piercingly bright lights made from these blue petals, and so on.

i try to stop the lamp production but i can't so i go to the leader of the group doing this. its the friend who needed a letter from the last dream. he's dressed fancy in a suit, arms behind his back, weak as ever on his own but strong where people listen to him. whoever i am here doesn't know him as anything but the person single handedly causing bad relations with the dolphin people.

i walk in and get his attention, telling him how his improvements are hurting and isolating our long time allies. he doesn't at all care since it's for advancement and has me kicked out.

theres a timeskip that shows me coming back to a much worse situation. the docks used to be more plant than anything are now cleared down to the gravel and mud. you can see oil spilled and large shipping containers start to be stacked on the shore.

i don't even see the dolphin people any longer. in my fury i topple two of the containers and march toward the ship in charge of it all still. someone follows me protesting the damage but not doing much else to stop me.

arriving at the ship, i take out the rear guards with ease and begin my incursion. all i remember here is a rack of cheap really cheap plushies and passing that on my way in.

i do attack the ship but the feeling here were more like a being only focused as a predator. one goal in mind but taking out everything in my way. a tunnel vision, grey warping, the senses of a beast on the hunt, and no thoughts of the man inside.

its like that until i reach the captains quarters where he stands, waiting for me. the grip of the beast shirks away as i talk about the loss of the dolphin people, the destruction of my home's habitat, and his pollution of the environment.

he turns, lecturing me for destruction and needless death, if everyone was listening to him, who am i as one person to come in and kill everyone to change it?

im almost taken aback by this, knowing there is blood on my hands. but not as much as his. how many people died pursuing his innovation? at least the cost of a whole people.

so i kill him now in cold blood. i throw his corpse to the shipping containers.

the person following me question what i'll do and not even i know. i guess ill haunt this place. stop people from coming here until it can regrow. hold out hope for the dolphin people.

and i wake up just as they are deciding their sad, solemn duty of mourning and revenge.

[thepixelpenguin]

Mario Kart Tour: Oxford Foray

Told you this page would be random.

I think an underappreciated aspect of Tour's city track design is their atmosphere. They don't just tour recognisable landmarks in a believable layout, they really capture the city's character! From New York's dazzling nightlife to LA's casual appeal, Singapore's extreme extravagance to Sydney's energetic simplicity, Vancouver's splashes of colour and natural beauty, Amsterdam's effortless harmony with canals and nature alike, Rome's ancient architecture with comfortable life on top, Madrid's modern bustle with impressive history underneath, Athens' proud (and hilly) past and Bangkok's humble yet hopeful future, and Berlin's seamless integration of all eras: they're all accurate as far as I can surmise. There's only a few that I think don't quite hit the mark. Paris’ modernity is smothered in quaint romanticism, though what else could one expect, Tokyo has little of its maximalist flair, but perhaps the graphics limited that, and then… London.

I'm certainly biased, it being my home country and the only city on the list I've seen for more than a day, but it seems to only hit the beats of its most recognisable icons: laudably no doubt, but the city isn't just its imposing imperial riches! What strikes me about London is its fast-paced mishmash of cultures that fill in all the gaps between the great British statements like water running over cobbled streets: history and novelty around every corner! The course gives me the impression of the former but not the latter. 

I'm not sure I'm qualified to rectify this, but I can make up for it with another English icon! My hometown has its history, but not enough to base a tour around. My current homestead, however, is undeniably culturally significant, and it's not just that. I hope I did well to convey the place as storied and not just interesting, but inviting, a genuinely fun place to stay for a day or a year. That's how I feel about it at least.

HERE WE GO

1: Our foray begins on the left side of the picturesque High Street, between Queen’s College and the Examination Schools. It’s a noticeably wide street (and a noticeably wide gothic limestone starting gate with a waving chequered flag to boot), with a cobbled dividing strip, and plenty of buses to crowd the way! As the road narrows and items are collected, there’s a right turn into the Covered Market, which has three narrow lanes to choose from, and a few opportunities to weave between.

Out of the market is a sharp right turn down a walled alley, with the lovely Exeter and Lincoln colleges adjoining. This is before a huge 180 turn with another item set around the Radcliffe Camera, an impressive dome in the middle of a big communal square. Having lost its fence, at that, so if you’ve got a mushroom and are prepared to miss out on items, the shortcut is worth it! Racers continue north past All Souls College and the Bodleian Library to reach the roundabout connecting Broad Street and Holywell Street. Remember the Bridge of Sighs to your right.

The route continues up Parks Road, a leafy avenue with plenty of boost panels, before splitting around Keble College! If you continue straight forwards, you get an easy wide road, and a view of both the Natural History Museum and University Parks. However, if you take that subtle sharp left, you can find a potentially faster cut-through that’s a bit tougher to navigate. I didn’t even have to design this one!

Both options reconvene at the apex of St Giles, where a patch of off-road leads to an optional ramp, and the road broadens to quite a degree, leaving room for a ridiculous row of coins. The abbreviated straight ends at the Martyr’s Memorial, which now has just a humble patch of grass behind it instead of an entire church, just to improve the flow.

A quick left turn introduces Broad Street, which, you guessed it, also widens out, somewhat narrowed by some of the city’s numerous bike racks. However, this one has its right half covered in short wooden ramps, for the first half! These can be useful for some trick boosts, but more coins lay the other way. Items are given at the halfway point. Before reaching the roundabout at the end, there is a conspicuous diversion past the Sheldonian Theatre (which has no fence, to make way for the race) and through the library complex towards the Bridge of Sighs. Racers may either run straight through the gate (tricking as they go) or take the grated glider ramps to make it over the bridge!

The return to the start line via New College Lane and Queen’s Lane is a winding, narrow path, walled in by the historic namesake colleges. You’ll have to forgive them for not having karts running through their grounds. Nonetheless, navigate those chicanes and a final left turn (with a sneaky cut over the pavement) brings you back to the line. It’s a long one alright!

2: As in track 1, we begin on the High Street, though this time we forge ahead past the Covered Market, the traffic turning off before the Carfax Tower, until the course swerves into the Westgate Centre. In a strikingly similar manner to Coconut Mall, the route has two walkways either side of an optional drop with escalators, before a right turn into a more open area where the drop and escalators are forced. I swear it’s coincidental! The decor is distinct at least. 

After grabbing items wherever you may encounter them, exit the mall via another sharp right turn onto open road. Make use of its breadth before you have to navigate the Castle & Prison, which is exactly what it sounds like! A couple of narrow turns later, there is a brief anti-grav uphill to wind up the Castle Mound to a big glider ramp, from which one must avoid the dreaming spires of Nuffield College and St Peter’s College some random church, or grab some of the revolving coins if you’re daring…

Though you could just drop onto the street, the Ashmolean’s grand ionic forum is a perfect landing place, where one can drift around to jump down the stairs and find themselves heading onto Broad Street once again! This time, the route heads past the theatre and turns at the roundabout, so the other lot of ramps, this time occupying the left half, can be made useful. The lap ends the way you’d expect after turning at the roundabout.

3: Unlike both 2 and 1, we start our race on Cornmarket Street (under a long hanging sign of oil paints on wood, the closest I can get to putting a pub in a kids’ game), a place I would be remiss not to include, along with its clutter of bicycle parking. If there’s one thing you notice about transit in Oxford, it’s how many bicycles are in the way. However, if you can dodge around the racks, you may find some coins or even dash panels…

Anyway, Cornmarket is a simple, if not uninterrupted, straight, which racers take south, spying once again the Carfax Tower and then the Town Hall and impressive Christ Church. You know, the big one. The road continues down St Aldates with all its traffic, but soon turns left through the open gates of Christ Church Meadow! The next half of the lap takes place in greener pastures, first down a puddle-ridden southward straightaway with sparse items and Moo Moos spectating, then when the course meets the Thames and Folly Bridge, a more wide open snaking route with grass shortcuts abound! The riverside path remains intact, but still off-road.

After doing this eastward a while, the course drastically narrows as it winds its way northward strictly following the meanders of the Cherwell. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from driving through the river itself, but the bumpy terrain and drag force balances any advantage of breadth. A wiser path is found by jumping onto a series of punts, which can be quite hard to aim for, but offer a trick each time. They’re not hard to come by in Oxford. This continues all the way to the Botanic Gardens, which can themselves be snuck through via a gap in the fence. Those wishing for a complete row of item boxes and, of course, the exquisite surroundings, can find themselves jumping over the pond in the south section before reaching the north, where a quick right around the fountain directs you between the greenhouses to reenter the river. The river, of course, does continue past the gardens, but who would want to miss out? Especially when that part of the bed gets so muddy…

When you’ve finally made it to Magdalen Bridge, you need only drive under it to find a wide slope up to the roundabout, which is drifted around before crossing the bridge to witness the lovely Magdalen Tower! We then cross the line - the line from the other versions, that is - before sneaking past the University Church to reach the road past the Radcliffe Camera. The Bodleian Library can now be dashed through for a guaranteed double box, if you can find the narrow entry! The rest is obvious: take Broad Street one last time, westward now, to reach the top of Cornmarket Street.

So how might these all fit together if they were given the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe treatment? Honestly, probably better than the individual courses! Lap 1 takes version 1, of course, but stops short of Broad Street, instead cutting through via Cornmarket to start lap 2, with version 2 taking over by way of a right turn at Carfax Tower. Lap 3 simply commences from the High Street and doesn’t bother with the whole Broad Street diversion: we’ve already seen it!

Oh right, I also made the music for it! You'll have to forgive Musescore's playback engine, they try, bless 'em.

It too had to be truly emblematic of Oxford, and besides the obvious historical, academic, fancy vibes, no sound reminds me more of this place than the echoing of church bells! And there are choirs in every college. So I ended up with a rather baroque piece, arpeggiated bass, change ringing, suspensions and all, which certainly suits the locale, but does NOT typically suit Mario Kart's encouraging energy. Heck, they almost always rely on synths, too, let alone their melody-first composition style that is entirely unfamiliar. How did I fit the mould? By focusing on intensity of Biblical proportions! If there's one thing choirs and organs can do, it's a ramp-up of DRAMA. With enough build and release, it's got the natural energy. Slap on a drum-beat and it ends up shockingly fitting. With all the zero inspiration I had to go on, I seriously surprised myself with this one. Judge for yourself!

Oxford is quite a convenient place to work with: most cities are so massive that you have to smush all the landmarks together and the layout doesn’t quite come naturally. But this place is already so compact, and packed with unmistakable buildings! Also, I know they’re trying to be flattering, but can you believe London saw not a drop of rain?! I think Oxford should be partially cloudy by contrast, providing a gentle rainfall, but with enough streams of sunlight to pierce the depressing grey… it could make the meadow look positively angelic!

Perhaps one day I’ll try my hand at Hong Kong Hustle to address Tokyo’s plight… or Shanghai Streets, I can’t decide! And then there’s one that is so easy to make that it’d be kind of funny just to do for the sake of it. We’ll see.

If anyone wants to take the names Rio de Janeiro Jaunt, New Delhi Journey, Moscow Scoot, Stockholm Swing, Cairo Cruise, Geneva Chase, or best of all, Brussels Bout, be my guest. And if any modders feel like 3d-modelling most of Oxford for me, I would love to give it a look :D

[albertonykus]

Doraemon Movie Review: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004)

What is Doraemon? The title character of the Doraemon manga and anime is a blue robotic cat from the 22nd Century who keeps an array of high-tech gadgets in a portable pocket dimension on his belly, and has traveled from the future to improve the fortunes of a hapless schoolboy named Nobita. Although relatively obscure in the English-speaking world, Doraemon is a Mickey-Mouse-level cultural icon in East Asia (and some other regions, too). The Doraemon franchise was a big part of my childhood, and there are still elements of it that I enjoy now.

Doraemon has released theatrical films almost annually since 1980, most of which involve Nobita and his friends (kind Shizuka, brash Gian, and crafty Suneo) getting swept into adventures thanks to Doraemon's gadgets. Despite being of potentially broad appeal to fans of science fiction and animated films, there are very few English reviews of the Doraemon movies, so I'm embarking on a project to write about all the films that have come out so far. Good luck to me…

Movie premise: Nobita does something about the local stray problem by sending abandoned dogs and cats to a safe haven 300 million years ago. The stray animals then start their own civilization.

My spoiler-free take: This film contains the right elements to be a great Doraemon movie, but has room for improvement in the handling of its story.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT

Review: This movie is a landmark, being the last film to come out of the classic Doraemon anime that started in 1979. All the remaining Doraemon movies from here on out were (and will be) released following the 2005 anime reboot.

Befitting the old anime series’ final cinematic hurrah, this film has an interesting art style that almost seems “transitional” between the visuals used for most of the classic series and those of the reboot series. There’s no other Doraemon movie that looks quite like it.

The storyline of Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey has many ingredients that could make a great Doraemon movie: there are time travel shenanigans, emotional connections between the protagonists and movie-exclusive characters, and decent action sequences with creative application of gadgets. However, I thought that the execution of the story was not as fluent as it could have been. There are times when the plot simply moves too fast, leaving little time for major developments to sink in, and the reveal that Sharmee, a cat idol singer who Doraemon falls in love with, was working with the villain would have been more impactful had it not been shown to the audience before being made known to Doraemon.

In addition, the characters make a few strange decisions in the name of plot convenience. For example, at one point most of the protagonists and their allies escape from the villain’s base while knowing that Doraemon is still imprisoned inside, but only decide to go rescue Doraemon after they’ve already left the base. Luckily for them, the villain chooses that very moment to leave the base himself in his time machine, bringing the captive Doraemon with him, which saves the heroes the trouble of having to go back inside. What are the odds?

Also, Doraemon’s romantic subplot with Sharmee felt awkward considering that he was shown going on a date with his girlfriend in the beginning of the movie. (His girlfriend is a regular house cat, if you’re wondering.)

On a different note, it was hard for me not to feel a sense of wistfulness as this movie ended, not so much because of the content of the film itself, but due to its status as one of the last works from the 1979 series, which was the Doraemon anime I grew up with. I think the main voice actors on the current Doraemon anime are excellent, but this movie made me realize how much I’m going to miss the old voice cast.

It’s wild to think about how long this franchise has been going. A child who was the same age as Nobita and his classmates when the first Doraemon movie was released would have been 34 by the time this one came around! And though there has been a changing of the guard, this remarkable robot cat and his friends show no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Star rating: ★★★☆☆