#and knight's the best imo but it would be way better if you could go into more buildings

[to-the-batcomputer]

i wish there were an official gotham city map that would be so fun

[juanabaloo]

HC for Faith in 3x14 Bad Girls: i don't have any real quibbles with Faith's spiral / reaction to accidentally killing Finch the Mayor's aide. i think it is logical. but i think it adds a delicious layer (JUICY ANGST) to her reaction if it reminds her of a previous death.

pre Sunnydale back in Boston maybe she doesn't know her own strength, esp if she recently got her powers. maybe she accidentally kills some guy she just means to shove, bc Slayer strength and all that. like she meant for him to take a step back and instead he goes back like 20 feet and gets accidentally impaled. later she figures it out (maybe Diana helps, maybe not) - and she says "i didn't know."

or perhaps it's a truly similar situation, Diana (her watcher) is keeping an eye as she patrols but these vamps come out of a club into the alley and there's vamps and regular people running around and she accidentally stakes a human.

Diana assures her it was just an accident and calms down a very upset Faith. Diana disposes of the body, telling Faith after how she did it. they talk about it at length afterwards, back in the safety of Diana's place (where Faith is living). says all the same stuff Giles does about how this has happened before. "how many people do you think a Slayer saves? it is terrible and regrettable but sometimes there are casualties" etc.

"you should not pretend it didn't happen but you cannot think about it while you are out on patrol. you have to move past it Faith. a moment's hesitation is all a vampire needs to kill you. you have to stay focused, this is your work, it is not meant to be carefree fun."

[really this works either way, the "don't know my own strength" version or the "vamps and people running around" version. bc Diana can help her process and learn from both.]

and Diana's reaction - calm and reasonable and supportive - really shakes Faith. she is NOT used to this. Diana did not assume the worst of her, didn't ignore her mistake but also assumed Faith would be better next time. Diana trusts her, doesn't limit her patrolling at all, and Faith gloms onto Diana even harder than before. (until ofc Diana dies, when Faith couldn't save her from Kakistos)

and then she and Buffy are in the groove and it's so much fun and then Bad Girls Finch happens and it immediately guts Faith. it reminds her of how alone she is, bc Diana is not there to help her, even just talking to her. it reminds her what a failure she is bc this is now THE SECOND time it happened. that she should have learned from before and she did not. it reminds her how she will never be as good of a Slayer as Buffy, bc ofc Faith doesn't know about how Buffy killed humans* before bc the show pretends it never happened and oh yeah CEO of repression Buffy never talks about it.

( * ) for the fact checkers: i believe the list is Ted (before she knew he was a robot), the zookeeper in The Pack, the coach in Go Fish, the germans in Homecoming, and a Knight of Byzantium. sure some of these are more passive and all IMO deserved but Ted is the biggest one for me.

Faith still blames herself for Diana dying bc she couldn't stop Kakistos. AND NOW it doesn't even matter that her and Buffy killed Kakistos and she "avenged" Diana (her words, not Diana's). bc the best things that Faith learned from Diana don't matter anymore. they aren't true anymore. Diana believed in Faith, believed Faith could become a better Slayer, that Faith could learn from her mistakes. Faith let Diana down (again) when she accidentally kills Finch. Faith now believes Diana was wrong to believe in her, and Faith loses all faith in herself. (sorry there really isn't a better word)

[real-fire-emblem-takes]

In regards to the unit identity conversation going around in FE spaces right now i wanted to throw in my general thoughts...

When people say "unit identity" in regards to gameplay, i feel like most people mean how the character in the story matches how the unit plays.

Fates has the best reclassing system imo, because units have to build support with other units to get their class via the friendship and partner seals. Building support levels has another function in that sense, and it's another incentive to experiencing them.

This creates another way supports effect the ways you can play. As for an example, when Takumi teaches Corrin how to shoot a bow in their support chain, Corrin literally gains access bows via the Archer class.

Fates also has heart seals which change the units class based on stats, skills available, personality, or personal background (They also function as partner seals iirc, but that's more of a waste, i feel).

Three Houses, due to its lack of a weapon lock, essentially created a system where "just put everyone in x, y, or z class to make them good" has become some of the most common advice to new players. This problem existed before, but essentially making classes little more than "this one has good stats, this one has bad stats put them in the one with good numbers."

Sure, it allows those "all mage" runs that are fun to mess around with a lot easier, but it also reduces classes down to just their stats. Want to use bow? Bow Knight's a good class, but can always go for Wyvern. Want to use axes? Try Wyvern. Swords? Swords aren't good, at least use lances or axes in Wyvern.

Engage has the same problem. In fact, despite having weapons locked to classes again, it's now even more of a problem (imo). This time the problem is that so many units are incredibly same-y. The difference between Etie and Alcryst is a couple of points in Str and Spd, same for Lapis and Diamant, for Zelkov and Yunaka it's Spd/Res/Str trade.

The characters feel same-y. Unsurprisingly if you watch build guides on these characters from multiple different people, you'll see the same couple of classes recommended repeatedly. Warrior, Wyvern, Griffin. Few Sages and Personal Classes, but besides that, most characters sit in those three.

Although i like the concept of passive skills unique to certain classes, i feel like they're often times incredibly weak. Or don't synergize well with the class itself. High Movement Bow Knight has a skill that increases hit rate when not moving (the one bow using class that can make good use of Momentum and having high movement and being a Cavalry type should sit still??? It's even more offensive because bows don't have particularly horrible hit rates, and bow units typically have decent Dex/Skill).

We can all agree Berserker getting a pretty weak skill for a weak weapon type that the okay at best defense class typically doesn't want to use... might not be a good balancing tool against the other infantry Axe class with Bow access and better caps in Warrior? Or the flying mobility and Lance or Sword access in Wyvern? Or hell, even the Defense from Great Knight? (although this class is another meme pick)

Don't get me started on S rank weapons also being mid, if not outright bad

I think if there were better skills for classes with lower stats (including movement), less weapon access, then that'd be cool. Or they could do a "Infantry classes have lower growths, but higher stat caps. Therefore they've about caught up midgame, and are better for combat late game, but have less utility due to not being able to ride a horse/flier"

If Personal skills were stronger, and units had more differing stats, Weapons/Proficiencies, or had access to more personal class and/or personal weapons, i think i wouldn't care about how easy it is to get into classes, because the units themselves would actually be unique in how you can play them, even if everyone is in the same class.

I mean, look no further than the bow users in Fates, since that weapon type and its weilders have been getting a lot of attention lately. Takumi has a personal bow with crazy might that gives him the ability to move without being impeded by terrain. Niles doesn't have a unique bow, and his class is already represented in Shura, and DLC Anna on the Adventurer route, and potentially Selena and Laslow for the Bow Knight route, but he has access to capturing generic units to fight for you and has stats that definitely differ from all of them.

Setsuna has a basic archer stats, a weak personal skill, and no personal weapon, and is naturally the perfect example of a bad archer. While Reina has good stats and a useful PS that essentially make her Birthright Camilla except with lances and bows instead of axes and tomes (and Kinshi isn't really seen as a good class!). Shura's whatever in CQ, but in RV he has maxed weapon ranks, giving him access to useful Stages ASAP and decent bow chip, especially with his debuffing PS. (Not much to say about Anna except why is she not in the Merchant class by default?? Magic Anna is not more important than Capitalism Anna 😤)

But i'm rambling, so i'll just say that with the unit/class design we have now, i'd rather have limited classes so that we can at least say:

"They may not be the best unit... But they are the best Swordmaster/Bow User/Magic Unit/etc."

(sorry for the length btw!)

.

[oxygen-stealer]

Scriddler fic recommendations!!!

Stay (2017) by iammemyself

Rating: General

49,873 words, 11/11 chapters (discontinued)

Arkhamverse

After Arkham Knight, Jonathan and Edward move to Canada together, where the full weight of Edward's grief crashes down on the both of them.

This fic is fucking miserable in the best way possible. It feels so grey and depressing like almost the entire time even with its ups and downs. Things get better, but it's fucking hard. Legit among my favorite fics. Also Jon's so obscenely old here I love it lmfao. (There's also a Stay (2016) I haven't actually looked at, might be a prequel or smthn idk)

I'm With You by nonbinaryspock

Rating: Mature

50,684 words, 35/35 chapters

Jonathan and Edward rekindle their somewhat messy relationship from their college years. Things are still a bit messy but they've at least got some hindsight.

Hella angsty, they're both so horribly dysfunctional <3 (specifically Jonathan will just say/think the absolute wildest shit and then just go on like that's normal). I really just love how visceral their emotions can be.

Runs In The Family by ChaoticMimzy

Rating: Mature

8,703 words, 5/5 chapters

Edward's father dies and he goes to his funeral (solely to be there for his sister, mind you) where he grapples with past trauma and catholic guilt.

Very very rogues podcast coded (highest compliment). It's mostly Edward-centric and doesn't focus on the scriddler too much but it's still worth a read. Edward's rage towards his childhood circumstances is so potent and agonizing I love it so much. He should get to kill god a little bit imo

(More below)

Let me play you a song on my violin by batmanforeverlol

Rating: Teen

7,206 words, 1/1 chapters

Ghost AU. Edward is a retired criminal turned private investigator who finds himself running through a cemetery, where he meets a man playing a violin.

Ngl I cried super hard reading this but it's also one of my absolute favorites. Why would you write this? Why would you hurt me in this way? (It's really sweet but also really fucking sad, you should read it. Share my pain)

Terminal by iammemyself, promethea (Aerosol)

Rating: General

7,073 words, 1/1 chapters

Edward gets brain cancer again, this time the Lazarus pits aren't gonna help him.

As you could imagine, this fic is just sad from start to finish. I cried so fucking much reading it its not even funny.

He Just Likes The Rush by Human_Resourccs

Rating: General

16,072 words, 9/9 chapters

Jonathan's thrill-seeking brings him some interesting company. (Or, as I know it: the fic where a fucking spider lives in Jonathan's hair for months and Edward still lets him touch him. If that's not love I don't know what is)

Sapiophile by XavIniesta685

Rating: Mature

17,529 words, 3/3 chapters

The Moon Is Not Made Of Cheese by Stry_Shttu

Jonathan has given up in every sense and is about to leave Gotham until a series of events change his mind. A lot of "falling in love within a day" fics can feel kinda forced but this one flows really naturally.

Rating: Teen

7,820 words, 1/1 chapters

Arkhamverse

Edward is lonely, Jonathan goes to see him while also being Jason Todd's really lame dad. A good mix of sweet and silly.

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side by 30PacketsofKetchup

Rating: Teen

21,542 words, 8/? chapters (this fic hasn't been updated in like 5 years so be ready for that specific brand of agony)

Teenager AU. Jonathan meets the mildly annoying new boy in town and they bond.

I looove this fic so much I'm absolutely heartbroken that it wasn't ever finished. Idk the vibes are nice and I love how flustered young Jon gets when he's got a crush.

South of Hell by nonbinaryspock

Rating: Teen

14,194 words, 35/35 chapters

Teenager AU. No one in their awful little town likes Edward or Jonathan, but they've at least got eachother. Very southern gothic.

Exit Wounds by nonbinaryspock

Rating: Teen

18,066 words, 38/38 chapters

Demon/supernatural AU. Edward is a private investor and his demon ex-boyfriend suddenly shows up after 5 years in need of a place to stay. Edward is thoroughly unimpressed.

I'm in love with this AU big time, it's got some pretty neat world building. I also love how distinctive the characterizations here are. BAH I'm not great at describing but it's very angsty and good.

Frighteningly Unprofessional by bookynerdgoblin

Rating: Mature

28,412 words, 11/11 chapters

One of Jonathan's students knows about his unethical experiments, however instead of reporting him, he offers to help in exchange for his partnership. Things spiral from there. Edward is purposefully being super obvious and Jonathan talks to his cat like a person.

Words by scarecrowv

Rating: General

4,651 words, 1/1 chapters

Edward's daughter keeps calling Jon "mama" and he has no idea how to handle it, aka psychology professor Dr Jonathan Crane talks to a 2 year old like an adult.

A Case Study in Step-Parenting by Ifthinkerwrites

Rating: General

16,053 words, 5/5 chapters

Another lil scriddler family fic, Jonathan navigates step-parenthood :)

Sitzfleisch by SproxGrail

Rating: Mature

1,205 words, 1/? chapters

Jonathan is living in Edward's walls and talks about him like a little freak. I need this fic to update again please please please it's so creepy I'm in love with it

Some series to look at as well!

Memoryverse by Enigmatic_Robin

Rating: General

15,393 words, 11 works

A bit more of a psychological horror/thriller than a romance. Jonathan is manipulating Edward into complete dependency. It seems easy while Edward is in love with him, but he'd better watch out for when that veil slips.

Scriddler Family AU by Enigmatic_Robin

Rating: General

17,722 words, 9 works

Scarecrow and Riddler end up raising Stephanie Brown and Tim Drake. And all the shenanigans that come with that.

Love Me Dead by lymongrab

Rating: Explicit

25,624 words, 6 works

Kinda just a nice progression in Jonathan and Edward's relationship with some added spice here and there. Mostly pretty sweet.

Arkhamverse by iammemyself

Rating: General

354,608 words, 28 works

In which Edward and Jonathan's relationship is a bit complicated, but Edward is also a robot dad!!

(Everything from here is nsfw centric)

This section would be longer but i actually found out the person who wrote some nsfw fics i really liked was actually a proshipper weirdo so I'm not including those. Why can't people be normal

Kiss The Go-Goat by korereapers

Rating: Explicit

5,203 words, 1/1 chapters

Demon AU. Edward summons a demon and gets a little carried away

Shout out to this fic for getting me into Ghost, the only band I ever listen to now lmfao. Anyway I'm a big sucker for anything involving monster/demon/creature!Jon

Connected by korereapers

Rating: Explicit

6,458 words, 1/1 chapters

A hookup gets wayyy more emotional than expected. But, y'know, they're not in love or anything. Right?

Comfort by curiouscorvid (prometheanTactician)

Rating: Explicit

4,866 words, 1/1 chapters

Mad Max AU. Edward is traversing the wasteland, where he finds and helps a desperate escapee.

I've found that Mad Max AUs are always so sad no matter what even though the movie itself is kinda silly lmfao.

worldly pleasures by leetheshark

Rating: Explicit

3,227 words, 1/1 chapters

Arkhamverse

Jonathan doesn't really know how to handle any sensation that isn't painful.

[stormflower8]

read the comic for the first time

so, bear in mind that I read the comic AFTER I watched the movie. so, yes, I am biased. very much so. sorry LMAO

SPOILERS FOR BOTH THE MOVIE AND THE NOVEL BELOW!!

that being said, here are my thoughts!

storytelling:

I feel like I could TELL it was written originally on tumblr. the plot just felt like it wasn't planned at all, and like the story was built on vibes alone

it kinda felt almost- rushed? like, it very very much FELT like a webcomic, and though it wasn't that bad a feeling, it was strange for a hard copy

that being said, I think I ruined it for myself a little cause I read it all way too fast. sneaking chapters in the middle of precalc may not have been my best decision. characters:

ballister definitely was more Villainous

he demonstrated a more malicious intelligence which was cool!

meanwhile in the movie he's so all over the place and just a dumb gay man which is equally a vibe imo

still cared a lot about ambrosius

this is also true vice versa

it's like that scene in the movie were ambrosius is like "I'll hunt down ballister" but he did that to protect him, while in the novel ballister is all "if anyone will kill ambrosius, it'll be me" but he also did that to protect him

ambrosius was so dumb I wanted to punch him /pos

"let's fight because that is my job!" sir get your silly ass hair out of here

I'm kidding I am not going to diss The Hair

kinda living for the more complex and messy goldenheart. love the soft vibes of the movie though. both are good alternatives.

nimona was standard grade nimona. no surprises. different genre of trauma, but still our nimona

in terms of character design, movie has gotta win for me.

this being said, I am south asian and VERY partial towards ballister's design

and east asian ambrosius is absolutely amazing

but The Hair. ambrosius's hair was awesome in the book. I wouldn't say the movie "nerfed" it or "ruined" it, I just think it's different and ties into his backstory better

and realistically, a knight wouldn't have very long hair and if they did, they'd have to tie it back

I'm biased for asians what can I say plot:

what do you MEAN ballister technically killed nimona??? what the HELL???

really liked the ending though

I feel like ambrosius didn't redeem himself as well as he should've considering his blEW UP BALLISTER'S ARM

I actually assumed that goldenheart would be pre-established in the novel like it was in the movie and was shocked when it turned out to just be implied overall? I liked the movie better! but I'm also biased as hell and I saw the movie first and I sped through the novel, and I already had most of it spoiled for me LMAO that being said, the novel was AWESOME and I actually loaned it from a friend and I'm considering buying a copy for myself! great book, would absolutely recommend to everyone -Storm

[toskarin]

what do you think of raito’s new versions of the character themes for unicel? i think most were good changes! but I will miss previous nanase theme deeply

I'm inclined to agree! to go over some quick highlights,

the character select theme is great, but not better than the original. it's still one of the best character select themes out there, but it was never gonna be easy to top Gathers Under Night. THAT BEING SAID I love the network theme

Tearing Bullet > Keep On Shining but that carries some bias for me preferring Kaguya conceptually to Tsurugi. Keep On Shining also just isn't a very memorable track imo

Icefield White Knight II trading out some guitar for that excellent piano solo is a trade I'll happily make. good fucking shit

Scraper Sky High II goes extremely hard. all good changes here.

Blood Drain Again II... it's Blood Drain. it's Blood Drain Again Again, and you know what? it's got more of Blood Drain in it. I'm really happy with it.

Night Walker II!! dude it's Night Walker! but II! I like the new additions and generally appreciate all that was done here

Beat Eat Nest II is good. what'd you expect. it's Beat Eat Nest. come on.

Bad Surface II is fun. I like it

the tuning changes on Gallant Girl II make it more listenable, but I'm still kind of sad it got less obnoxious. this is me being annoying, but I agree on missing the original

Maximize Power! II is Maximize Power! again, but I never cared for Maximize Power, so that's not really... a point of praise. I wasn't going to love a new arrangement of it lol

I miss the arps in Snow Sisters II. not a change I really enjoy

Forceful Step II is a remix of a song that was always kind of a joke. it really just needs to show up to be funny, and it does show up. it's good, even if I prefer the original

Mutual Situation II is different from the last time we heard it, specifically lacking a piano solo. I wonder whether that means it was cut or the soundtrack in this test is a different version. either way, it's fine, I'm actually one of the people who really liked Mutual Situation

I wasn't expecting to say that Unseen Entities II would be one of my favourite tracks in a UNI game, but this remake fixes most of what I didn't care for in the original. insane. it's not my favourite song of the batch, but it EASILY had the most dramatic improvement

Walk Like a Lily II didn't really need the guitar, but I could take or leave it. I like the song well enough to where I feel about the same about this version

Monochrome Memory II is one I imagine a few people were curious about my opinion on just because of that cover I did a while back. my opinion is that I'm glad I didn't arrange that far into the song so I can lie and rerelease my cover as a UNICEL version. (it's a nice refreshing of the track though)

[game-boy-pocket]

Today, I beat Super Mario Wonder

I'll do my best not to mention any spoilers.

I just don't know what to say. You know how I say I complain a lot because it's easier to voice what I wish was better than to explain why I already like something? Well that's what's going on here. This game has very little to complain about. At least in my eyes. I already see a lot of people being contrarian about this game. Far be it from me to say anyone's opinion is invalid but I just don't know what these people want.

The most ridiculous things I hear is that it's still just more of the same, both visually and mechanically, and to those people, I frankly think they don't actually want a Mario game. There's wanting things to be more creative and shaken up, and then there are people who want things to be too different, they don't even want it to be recognizable as Mario anymore and like... I get that indie platformers are doing a lot of crazy cool things with mechanics and art styles, but I just don't know where we got to this point of brain rot where platformers need to have very weird and experimental art styles to be considered worth a damn, as if Mario Wonder's art style isn't already fantastic, these people won't be happy until the game looks like Ori and the Blind Forest or Hollow Knight or Baba is You or some shit. As for it being "more of the same", again, what do they want? A story heavy survival horror game? No more power ups? I just don't get it.

This is probably the only 2D Mario that could go toe to toe with the NES and SNES games in terms of quality, NSMB games were good but very much "paint by numbers Mario" that not only didnt' do anything new or interesting, but cut out good things from past games or brought those things back but in a worse form. This legit could compete with some of the 3D Mario games, imo. I just don't know what the hell people could possibly want that this game doesn't do.

To me, there's not much I can think of.

Here are my biggest complaints that I would have liked to be done different....

!!SPOILER WARNING!!

The bosses. There are only two bosses in the whole game (arguably three but it's difficult to count what you find on airships as a boss ).... isn't the lack of boss variety one of the main things people don't like about the Koopalings? Ironically the Koopalings would have added aw whole lot of variety here. They also would have got some dialogue, since this is the first 2D Mario game that actually has dialogue. Koopalings being in Wonder would have fixed a huge issue with Wonder, and with the Koopalings themselves, as not only would they be able to display a little more personality through dialogue, but the Wonder power would have made their battles a lot more interesting than what we're used to. Mario has never had strong bosses but this feels like it was their chance to change that. I'll say this, the Boss battles in this game are pretty good, even though they re-use Junior over and over.

Yoshi being baby mode doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would but I still would have preferred and option to just ride a Yoshi without having it tied to multiplayer. The only way you'll experience Yoshi, is if somebody plays as him, there are no yoshi eggs out there like in Super Mario World for you to find and ride on a Yoshi who runs away if you get hit. Seems unfair to lock one of Yoshi's features to multi player, especially to people like me that enjoys playing alone more.

Nabbit still sucks and feels like a forced character. I swear they better have a pay off in mind for Nabbit if they're going to insist on him sticking around

That's all I got... level designs are solid, music is mostly good, ideas are great, I guess a flying power up would be cool but I don't care that much. There are a few enemies I wish I saw more often but I also wouldn't want them to be less special and oversaturated. This really is the best Mario game in a long time, I would probably even say it's the best one on Switch.

I have not yet 100 percent completed the game, I missed a few wonder seeds and badges in the second world. But I got everything in every other world, including the Special one. That's another point in this game's favor, they didn't lock anything behind post game as far as I can tell. You could challenge the harder levels in the game before you fight Bowser, and I appreciated that, though it did spoil some of the wonder flower events in the final act of the game, but it's no big deal.

I don't like giving number ratings but this really is as close to 10/10 as a Mario game gets. I'd call it 9.5 outta 10, if the things I listed in my bulleted complaint list were different, I'd maybe give it a perfect 10.

The game is wonderful. If you like Mario, don't sit on the fence.

This might be my last post about the game for a while, I'm gonna try and get the few wonder seeds I missed and all the standees ( even tho I don't use them ), if anything significant changes, I'll come back, but for now, consider these my final thoughts. Great fuckin' game.

[alicefromtheabyss]

1. The Switch is pretty neat I guess. I also absolutely love the DS/3DS line of systems. But currently, I play most of my games on PC for, uh, *puts on pirate hat*, reasons

2. In no particular order, Pokemon White Version/Pokemon HeartGold Versiin, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive edition, Octopath Traveler, Hollow Knight, Xenogears

3. The Radiance, because I get to live out my fantasy of beating the shit out of the sun

4. Ughhh, there are so many good ones. But if I'd have to narrow it down to one, it would probably be XBC.

5. So, the first gym in Pokemon BW always makes you fight the gym leader with the elemental monkey that's strong against your starter. What you are supposed to do is go talk to that one girl in the Dreamyard who gives you the monkey that's strong against the gym leader's. But because, as a kid, I basically never talked to npcs or engaged in proper exploration, I didn't get the monkey until after I had already beaten the gym. So what did I do? I grinded my Snivy to level 16 and overpowered the gym leader through sheer force.

6. Pokemon White Version

7. Haven't finished it yet, but Trails in the Sky (pretty good so far!)

8. Ys 10 Nordics

9. *sigh* fire emblem heroes. probably. but if we're talking about genuinely respectable games here, Pokemon HG

10. Also Pokemon HG.

11. JRPGs of all kinds, be it turn based, action or strategy. Metroidvanias are a close second.

12. Samus Aran

13. Grimm

14. Ys 5? Maybe? That game isn't really bad, it's just...kinda undercooked in a lot of ways.

15. Thracia 776. That entire game is a certified Kaga Moment

16. Singleplayer

17. Not anymore, fortunately.

18. There's quite a few, with the most recent one I can think of being the PSX version of Grandia.

19. XBC

20. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 broke me twice, with both times being during moments I had already been spoiled on.

21. XBC2 (again). I thought I'd like the gameplay but not the story, and ended up loving this game about as much as the first one.

22. Yeah, I guess

23. I mostly just go with whoever has the best drip, which, in most cases, just so happens to be the female option.

24. Probably in the world of Pokemon. I mean, it's literally just our world, except better, and with even funkier animals.

25. Gaur Plains, though Valak Mountain is also up there, as are a lot of other snowy areas in games. Also like a bunch of areas from XBC2. These games just have the best world design imo, so much fun to just run around in.

26. Swamps, especially poisonous ones (sorry miyazaki)

27. Metroid Prime

28. Yes

29. Pokemon White Version

30. Depends on the game. But a good OST is something that any game should have.

31. Pokemon White 2 for being Pokemon White 2 and also having like the most stuff to do in the entire series

32. I haven't really ever rage quit a game, but I have taken breaks or even dropped games due to getting frustrated. For example, FF2. That game isn't nearly as bad as people say it is, but it also is a game that is actively hostile to the player, and as such, can be kinda exhausting to play.

33. I could figure out how to deal damage to a specific boss in Metroid Dread despite it being pretty obvious.

34. That one sequence in Xenogears where Bart's butler guy comes in to save them on that crab helicopter thing

35. Uhhh I have a few plushies if that counts

36. Sigurd from fe4 if you know what I mean

37. Uhh fuck Klavier ace attorney, marry Testament guilty gear, kill The Radiance (I hate the sun)

38. I like XBC2 more than XBC3. Actually, liking XBC2 in general could be considered an unpopular opinion.

39. Silksong

40. The og Secret of Mana boxart. That shit deserves to be framed and hung on a wall.

Video Game Related Asks for Gaymers!

Platform of choice when gaming?

Top 5 games of all time.

Favorite boss?

Best game soundtrack (full album or single track)?

Most memorable gaming moment?

First game you ever played?

Most recent game you played?

Most anticipated upcoming game?

Most hours you’ve put into a single game?

Game you’ve replayed the most?

Favorite game genre?

Favorite game character?

Coolest enemy/boss design?

Worst game you’ve ever played?

Hardest game you’ve ever played?

Single player, multiplayer, or both?

Do you play mobile games?

A game you started, but never finished.

A game that you wish you could play for the first time again.

A game that made you cry.

A game you thought you wouldn’t like, but ended up loving?

Do you watch any other gamers?

Do you typically choose to play a male or female character (when asked to pick)?

If you could live in one of the games you’ve played, which one would it be?

Favorite environment in a game?

Least favorite environmental hazard (e.g. poison swamp, fire/lava, etc.)

A popular game that you just can’t get into.

Do you still buy physical games?

Favorite childhood game?

Favorite aspect of a game (e.g. exploration, combat, fashion/customization, environments, graphics, bosses, roleplaying, etc.)

If you could only play one game for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Have you ever rage quit a game? If so, what game and what caused the rage quit?

Most embarrassing gaming moment.

Funniest gaming moment.

Do you own any gaming themed memorabilia? (e.g. collector’s editions, posters, prop replicas, statues, clothing, etc.)

Hottest video game character?

Kill, Fuck, Marry (choose three characters)

An unpopular gaming opinion you have.

What’s something you want to see in the future of gaming?

Best game cover art.

[mothermystique]

Alright so here's the recs for Batman villain origin stories ! This is gonna be long and it's not even close to covering all of the villains. But these should be most of the big names that show up regularly, at least.

Catwoman : Batman Year One, Catwoman (1989), Catwoman (1993) #0 (in that order)

Clayface (1-3): Secret Origins (1986) #44 (there's multiple villains using the name Clayface; this issue has the origin stories for the three main ones)

ManBat : Secret Origins (1986) #39

Poison Ivy: Secret Origins (1986) #36 "Pavane" (old origin story); Poison Ivy #19-21 (current origin story)

Riddler: Detective Comics (1937) Annual #8 (this origin is not canon anymore but the modern version doesn't have a specific origin afaik. this annual is still the best introduction to the character either way imo)

Ra's al Ghul: Batman: One Bad Day - Ra's Al Ghul is actually a fine enough first read for him

TwoFace : The Long Halloween (multiple other rogues show up during this), Detective Comics (2016) #1065-1067 "TwoFace: A tale of three halves" (the TwoFace story happens in the backup issues, not the main ones)

Bane: Batman: Knightfall (mainly the first issue ("Vengeance of Bane") in the collected volume (TPB 1) but probably better to just read all of it since the arc is famous. Fair warning though, aside from the first issue it's going to be a bit confusing if you don't know Batman lore and characters)

Firefly: Detective Comics (1937) #661 (this is during the Knightfall arc, so if you read that one you'll get to this story anyways)

Scarecrow: Shadow of the Bat (1992) #16-18 (also set during Knightfall)

Hush: Batman:Hush (you probably should read about the other villains first though)

Harley Quinn: she was first introduced in Batman: The Animated Series , so I'd suggest watching her episodes in that

Mr. Freeze: his modern origin stories are usually based off of his backstory episode in Batman: The Animated Series, so similarly as with Harley that should be a good introduction. There is also Detective Comics (2016) #1069-1071 "Absolute" (again just the backup issues) which should give you a pretty good first look at the character as well

The Ventriloquist: for the original Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) there's a page detailing his origin in City of Madness #2. therd's a second Ventriloquist but she shows up rarely so idk if you want to read about her.

The Demon Barbathos: Batman: Dark Knight Dark City (worth noting that Riddler is in that story and that he is written unusually edgy, especially for that time, to the point of characters pointing out that he is acting ooc in the comic itself. so while this comic has Barbathos' origin story, you probably can more or less ignore Riddler's characterisation in it for the character in general)

unfortunately I don't know of any specifically good issues to get a first look at Penguin or Mad Hatter. the Batman: One Bad Day Penguin issue should be fine enough though

I also don't know what issues Killer Croc's origin story would be in, but Batman: Earth One has good Croc characterisation and might be worth reading for him. (Earth One is an AU verse though. So the things happening in there as well as character constellations and characterisations are not canon, they're reinterpretations. Killer Croc is relatively consistent with current interpretations of the character though. You could also read Batgirl's "I know what you did last Crisis" issue that just released for a look at Killer Croc though).

Have some origins for other characters, too:

Batgirl (1): Secret Origins (1986) #20 (there's multiple Batgirls, this is the first one, Barbara Gordon)

Batgirl (2): Batgirl (2000) #1 (the second Batgirl, Cassandra Cain, got her own run here)

Robin (1) : Dark Victory (there's multiple Robins, this is the first one, Dick Grayson)

Huntress: Batman/Huntress : Cry for Blood

(If you read Knightfall you're probably going to want to read Azrael and Robin 3/Tim Drake's origins, too, but idk what issues those are in. )

And that's it for Batman villain origins, at least for most of the big league guys! Hope this list helps you !

THANK YOUUUU LOVE YOU MWAH

[tinyetoile]

Bitchy ranting about botw/totk link n zelda below

In relation to the last post. I know I'm kind of mean to botw/totk link and zelda's relationship but man when I beat TotK I could not stop thinking about the contrast between the scene where Zelda is freed from the crystal in SS vs how Link treats Zelda post-fall in TotK. Like in SS when Zelda collapses, Link runs forward to catch her, how he escorts her out there holding her hand, how they both keep looking at eachother and laughing whenever Groose gets emotional.

And then in TotK after they fall from the sky and Link carries Zelda out of the pond he just... kneels, and doesn't make a single other motion to help her afterwards. Like, Zelda just transformed back into a person after spending a bajillion years as a mindless dragon and then fell from the statosphere into a shallow pond and you're not even going to her help sit up? You're just going to kneel there??? Not going to offer her any sort of comfort?????

I think... this post has helped me find words for one of my major problems with botw/totk Link and Zelda: they have all these moments that are supposed to be big grand setpiece moments (him rescuing her from Yiga assassins, the last catch) but they feel hollow because outside of those moments there are so few of the little moments that show subtle care, particularly from Link to Zelda. I'm not saying they don't exist (Link taking the torch from Zelda is one example) but I wish there were more of them. Because it feels like whenever Zelda needs some sort of emotional support Link leaves her high and dry. You don't even have to make him less of a stoic, stalwart knight to do it! I was rewatching the botw memory where Rhoam is a terrible father to her and all I could think about was how much better the scene would be if it had gone on for a few more seconds and shown Link rising from his kneeling position after the king leaves and putting his hand on Zelda's shoulder. That could've done so much!!! But instead he's always kneeling, barely looking at her, refusing to touch her unless absolutely necessary. It's borderline uncomfortable to watch.

Meanwhile in SS Link and Zelda DO have those moments of casual closeness, showing they care for eachother, enforcing they're important to eachother in subtle ways, and the relationship between them feels so much more lively and substantial because of it. And outside of skyward sword, I keep thinking to that scene in Spirit Tracks where after Malladus is defeated and the Lokomo leave, Link and Zelda just quietly hold hands in mutual reassurance that, it's over. We're okay. Everything's going to be alright now. Hell, these scenes even work- work even better IMO- outside of a romantic context, because it doesn't need to be A Romance for it to be obvious they have a close bond.

In conclusion Skyward Sword and Spirit Tracks are still the games with the best Link-Zelda relationship of all time

[heartaspects]

Listen. Look okay listen. I'm going to be incredibly honest with you. I unironically think that the way Homestuck presents Dave's relationship with his brother, and it's depiction of abuse, is actually one of the best portrayals of abuse in modern media. Especially coming from the perspective of what it's like being an abuse victim coming to terms with what you were experiencing being abuse.

Because when you grow up with that? It's incredibly normalized. And Dave's presented at both an age and an environment where his entire world view is to laugh off discomfort. It's not that he's uncomfortable, he's not ALLOWED to be uncomfortable, it's that he just does not get the layer of irony that his brother is on. And the way the comic frames abuse. Like obviously I don't think hussie intended to actually do a serious abuse narrative from the start, but as a result of that, the way people interacted with it as an abuse narrative feels more sincere then actual stories that set out to explore abuse and the effect of it on the psyche. Like people laughed it off, and it matches how Dave views his own situation perfectly, and it's only in hindsight how you look at it and go. Ohhh. Wait that was fucked up huh.

And just. Ugh the way the comic handles Dave's complex relationship with his brother as a result of his abuse. Dave is a character that, I would argue, so badly wants to love. His defining characteristic is his loyalty to his friends. Even the moments where he talks about how he doesn't love his brother, you can feel the hesitation and uncertainty in it. And those complex feelings just works so well. I think one of the biggest sins the fandom has when exploring Dave's relationship to his home life and brother, is making him sincerely and unironically hate his brother. I think. I think Dave wants to hate his brother way more than he actually does, because even with the knowledge of how poorly he was treated and how he didn't deserve to grow up in that environment? He still cannot get rid of what he wanted from his brother, because Dave just loves to a fault. Dirk was good not only for Dave, but for the fandoms perspective into Bro. And I could just go on and on...

Ugh. Ugh. Sorry to just pop off in your dms, stranger. I was already in a meta introspective mood, and your tags lit something in me. I hope you're having a good day, and take this as an invitation to pop off as well. Whether you agree or not, LMAO.

I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. regarding hussie's intent: id say 50/50. hussie knows what they're doing. that's where i like to start hs discussion. hs treats its serious moments as jokes. gamzee, the dancestors, alpha dave and rose, JAKE, etc. tragedy and comedy blend on purpose. and it's to make fun of us. and be Edgy. look, just expect pain to be written as funny.

the framing and dave's pov made the situation fly over heads. like you said, abused children consider their abuse as normal as washing the dishes. dave knew nothing but his bro for 13 years. you can see the insincerity in the way he talks about his home life. he was in survival mode. act 2 dave is lying to you.

"bro is cool it's just how he is no one GETS IT ok its not like that its not" - dave strider. we dont know 100% how dave regarded him but--imo--his view on heroism and interactions with dirk betray he wanted his brother to love him. disdain comes, but it took processing time. that was mistaken as everything being a-ok. hs releasing over years probably made the reveal feel sudden and uncalled for despite the evidence of dave's mounting discomfort peeking through his façade. hes a knight, man, if you believe him when he says everything is under control you totally fell for it.

i think youre right when you say the verbal confirmation of dave's abuse caused polarization because it was realistic. "hussie threw it in cheaply" "it was never implied in the text" "the fanbase is pushing it" etc etc. it couldve been handled better, but dave's background struggle with it is present in his pesterlogs.

i'm not even going to start on how refusing to acknowledge bro's abuse impacts reading dirk and dave's relationship as a whole. ignoring it takes away a massive part of what makes them so important to each other. that's a post for another day if society wants to hear me ramble, but dirk-likers who defend bro because he's dirk are honestly doing dirk a disservice. even DIRK is well aware of what he's capable of. we're talking about a destroyer class with a genius, cunning mind who was influenced by an erratically violent hellpuppet. there is no way he was a "cool brother".

tldr; the proof of bro's mistreatment is everywhere. dont make me get the image

[blorbosondeck]

fic rec masterlist

canon divergent/finale fix its

Anamnesis

THIS! FIC! this fic lives in my head rent FREE it is so good and it makes so much sense in the narrative that the shitty finale concocted, as to why they wouldn't mention cas or anyone else and its just. so good and they write chuck in the most villainous way that i love!!!

"Chuck is depowered, Jack is the new god, and the world is free. Dean and Sam get into the Impala and chase down the miles on an endless highway, and their story is finally, finally their own to follow. At least, that's what Dean tells himself. But the diners and motels and painted interstate lines are blurring together and the smallest details keep catching at his brain like tiny fishhooks and he can't quite shake the feeling that not everything is exactly as it should be. Fix-it/alternate series finale. Canon-compliant through the end of 15.19."

Sunset Sound: Stairway to Heaven by @adhdeancas

GOD FUCKING CHRIST this is so good and sweet and im such a sucker for team ups and reunions!!! its 3:30 am rn and i just finished it and i love it SO much it made me laugh a lot and the last few chapters i had the stupidest grin just plastered to my face

The Closer the Star, the Greater the Parallax by @rocksalts​

repressed bastard dean submits to the mortifying ordeal of being known and receives the rewards of being loved but only after some miscommunication i LOVE this i read it last night and it’s a fast favorite. my interests have overlapped and i am INTO it

“When Dean sits down to watch some bullcrap Discovery Channel episode with Cas, he doesn’t expect to actually learn anything. Except, with Cas explaining, he makes an effort to connect the dots.”

Don't We All Deserve To Be Happy?

VERY sweet and a VERY good pick me up. all around feel good fic!!! 

"Post-canon fix-it, divergent from 15x19 where Jack stays and Dean doesn't die and Cas comes back and everyone is happy. Take a shot every time I'm salty about the finale."

Keep Your Love Alive

okay. okay okay okay this may be my favorite finale fix it just because of how well reasoned it is. like this feels what should have happened i love it SO much

"Dean gets to spend eternity sharing beers with Bobby on the Roadhouse porch and riding around in his Baby with Sam. He’s at peace… or he feels like he should be. But a few things nag at him: Where is Cas, and everybody else Dean had been hoping to see in Heaven? Why does he feel like he’s stuck in a loop, reliving the same memories over and over again? And who are the strangers wearing Sam’s and Bobby’s faces?"

The GoldenRod Revisions by @aethylas​

this is one of the most well written things ive ever read. the script format DID make it feel more real and honestly? this is better writing than this show deserves. the finale that could have been ♥️

“A rewrite of Supernatural’s final two episodes, expanded into a five episode arc - in which Chuck needs to be defeated, Castiel deserves to be saved, and the characters in this story get a very different ending.“

Ascend by @wanderingcas​ 

THEE finale fix it fic!!! written by the AMAZINGLY skilled and talented @wanderingcas !!! it’s 50k of angst and hurt/comfort and pure bliss

“Something in the world is wrong.

Demon activity is rising where mysterious black substance oozes and unusual ecological events are shaking the world. Dean, grief hanging on his shoulders, restlessly searches for answers that might lead him to the Empty… and to Cas.

But what Chuck wrote can’t be undone. The narrative thread pulls Dean along, forcing him to comply. Because once a story already has an ending, it can’t be rewritten.

Or can it?”

Things Happen (They Do, And They Do, And They Do) by THEE @sobsicles

i KNOW everyone has already recommended this and likely you’ve all already read it. but it has to go here bc REPRESSIOOOOOOOOON i LOVE this so much it is one of the most perfect things i’ve read. are you bisexual? did you have a kind of weird relationship with your best friend and not realize that how you felt about them wasn’t necessarily how other people felt about them and you were maybe a little bit in love with them but were too repressed to realize it? you’ll feel seen. maybe a little too seen

Closer (isn't close enough)

are you a sweet and sappy yet horny bastard? do you like cas exploding light bulbs? you will like this.

“the one where they finally talk about what cas said before the empty took him”

You and Your Husband

it is exTRMELY sweet!!! repression dean strikes again <3

"Five times Dean corrects someone about his relationship with Cas, and one time he realizes he doesn't need to."

Tall Grass

miscommunication and a slowburn! despite being written in 2017 and finished in 2018, it feels like a fix it. ft. plant obsessed cas <3 

Invictus

a LOVELY and short (relatively) finale fix it

“They saved the world. They're free. It's done.

Except it's not, and carrying on is the last thing any of them are thinking about.

They still have someone they need to save.”

Unchained Link

post finale- it’s a great case fic and i am compelled i want more!!!

"It's after the end of things. Life continues on while Dean is "livin it up" in heaven. But it's never that simple, is it? A freak occurrence sends Dean into another time stranded back on Earth. And he thought his hunting days were over. But, no worries. His knight in shining armor comes to the rescue. Hijinks, therefore, ensue."

fun and time unspecified

Ladies and Gentlemen, This is Love Potion No. 5

very funny and sweet! miscommunication at its finest ♥️

"Cas gets drenched with a mystery potion from the ‘love spell’ shelf and... Dean has a sneaking suspicion, angel or no— the spell may have taken effect. And Cas might be in love with Sam."

The Way We Were

Y'all. It is so good its a great mix of funny and serious- extremely fun to see dean as like a base bisexual

"Dean and Castiel pose as a couple to gain access to a gated community known as 'The Glen', a pleasant if secretive location that the boys believe might be linked to several dead bodies showing up over the years bearing signs of ritualistic sacrifice. All seems well until Dean's memory is affected from an incident during a solo exploration, leaving Dean convinced that their cover story is true. Castiel is left trying to resolve their case without taking advantage of an increasingly enthusiastic Dean"

While You Were Sleeping

this is basically just the movie but replacing sandra bullock with cas. this is my comfort movie and imo, one of the most perfect rom coms. the fic isn’t finished but i still have the tab open on my phone and i will straight up go back and re read it when i need a pick me up. 

aus/rewrites

The Harvelle Gospels: Offscript

i know everyone ever ( @jewishcharliebradbury ) has recommended this fic. and for good reason go fucking read it

“The Apocalypse is averted, the angels are in Heaven, and Jo is free from the threat of possession. Somehow it couldn't be farther from a happy ending.“

absolute riots

An Ineffably Profound Bond

i honestly would have put this in the finale fix it section! look. i know. i know you've been burned by crossover fics before. but this is Thee good omens/spn fic you want. its funny as hell and immensely satisfying. im weak for everyone working together tropes and that is this

"After Chuck sets 'The End' in motion, the remaining members of TFW make a miraculous escape. Not willing to waste any time, Castiel comes up with a plan to travel to one of the other worlds to try and get help from the angels there, but after a fight with Dean, it's the hunter who gets sent into an alternate universe,with seemingly no hope of return.

When a mysterious human with a heavenly weapon shows up in Aziraphale's shop, he and Crowley learn that their world is not the only one. Now it is up to them to decide whether or not they want to join forces with the human and help him save his world or simply find a way to send him home."

Somebody Up There Likes Me by @lafilleredige

cas is hit with a spell that turns his vessel into a woman, hijinks and sexuality crises ensue etc etc sam is a supportive and bitchy little brother and its all SO fucking funny and also. horny as hell i love it i love it i LOVE it

“’Dean doesn’t want to talk about your breasts, it’s making him uncomfortable because he hasn’t acknowledged the complex fluidity of human sexuality.���“

Stray Cat Strut

a long crack fic that IS one of the funniest things i’ve ever read and i can’t explain why. it’s so ooc but its so funny that i don’t care. if you need a laugh you gotta read this

"Sam and Cas are immediately in love with the adorable kitty they find outside the bunker door, and occupy their time planning how to convince Dean--who they believe is off sulking after a botched hunt--to let them keep their cat. Along the way, Dean learns to use a litter box and hears some confessions he maybe wasn’t supposed to hear, all while realizing just how much he loves Castiel.

Now all Dean has to do is convince Cas and Sam their new pet cat is actually him before they do something crazy--like neuter him!"

canon compliant or slight canon divergence

Give

by @doublestuffedimpala post season 7 episode 7, kind of ambiguous ending but truly a cas is happy to bleed for the winchesters fic

Punch Like Bones 

short, post 5x04 homoerotic moment that i wish we’d gotten

[dave-classpects]

Could I ask for a session analysis with an heir of space (derse), seer of time (prospit), knight of light (prospit) and a witch of breath (derse) please? Thank you in advanced :D

This is the first ask in the inbox that has lunar sways in it, if I’m seeing things right!

So I’ve gone and tweaked things a touch colour wise!

This is also the first analysis using the new sprites! Please let me know what you think:)

Now I will admit I've been staying quite "middle ground" with everything, given I haven't been assuming lunar sways. This may be a touch more pointed than normal, thanks to this fact. Now, let's get down to things, shall we?

Heir of Space | Derse:

Heirs are players that take a long time to reach their power, and Derse dreamers tend to read as those that are prone to distrust and other “dark” things. They may go grimdark, they may not- I think it would be neat, personally. Using it as a “step in the other to figuring out who they are” is very neat imo. When this person gets where they need to, you best hope that they’ve got the forge going, and if not, you best help them get it going. It’s possible that their forge will not light until they have fully become a realized Heir of Space. They are likely very creative, and will have a good collection of hobbies under their belt if they are. There’s a good chance they’re the least down to earth person in their game, at the start. During the game, I suspect they’ll become more grounded, and centred as a person, still creative and inquisitive, but less lost in their own world, and focused more on everyone and everything. They will be a powerhouse in the late game.

Seer of Time | Prospit:

Unrelated, Seer is my favourite of the sprites.

On topic however, the Seer of Time will be the one person that keeps this damn session wholly on track. Able to see the outcomes of actions and act accordingly, the Seer of Time will be the equivalent of “that bossy asshole that is always right”, barebones. As a Prospit dreamer, they’ll likely be more positive and friendly about how they go, and be a touch unreasonably hopeful at times, but they’ll be there for the party, regardless. At first, they may struggle to keep the timeline going well, unclear of what the best outcome will be for the game, and unsure of how to get there, but as time passes(no pun intended), they will become better at the task of guiding the game, and better at helping things along where they need to go. This person may struggle with the knowledge given to them, as shown with Dave and Davesprite, of knowing about the dead and doomed timelines, and the knowledge of how many times “they failed” their friends. As a passive class, they may not be able to actively time travel, so warnings and heads up could be more common, or flat out railroading themselves into what they think is the best outcome, even if it’s self destructive(ouch), or just... giving up. If this person gives up, you better hope the rest of the group helps pick them up.

Knight of Light | Prospit

Oh boy, light is such a fun aspect, and Knight is an even more fun class. The Knight of Light will be the protector of this session. They may start overly cocky, and act like a know it all, but by the end of the game, hopefully, they’ll be a team player. They may act like a tough guy, but have impostor syndrome, or perhaps are just afraid of what would happen if they weren’t the rock in their friend group, if their “I’m the tough guy, I’m the smart guy” picture slipped, even for a moment, what would happen? This person is actually, probably very smart, but not in your standard “A+ in math” type way, but more... thinking outside the box, finding the less obvious solution type of way. They will use their knowledge to help themselves and their friends, and can use their powers to help nudge people towards the best outcome, though they may worry they’re doing it wrong(I feel the Seer and Knight will be close friends, if only for their ability to vent to one another about not knowing if they’re making the right choices. Fitting, considering our canon Knight and Seer interactions.). They may be more creative, thanks to their lunar sway, trying to capture moments in any way they can, pictures, drawings, dioramas, who knows. So long as they can remember those moments, they’re happy.

Witch of Breath | Derse:

Oh boy, now this. This is a hell of a combination. Witches change things, and break the rules pretty often. Breath players are all for freedom and movement, so this player will likely break rules often, and cheat where they can- which lends itself nicely to their Derse sway. They will likely be an all or nothing type person, who is very deeply invested in their friends, and how they are doing. Whatever their hobbies are, they do not hide them, and display them all with massive amounts of pride. This person will help people gain movement, in many ways. Physical movement, in the Heir’s case, as Space players are confined to their planet for the job of breeding a frog. They may grant other freedoms as well, though I am unsure how to describe them, they may help with mental and emotional movement or freedom. This person will push against every restraint and solid idea that may tie the game down, and try to bring things up, keep isolated ideas from being truly isolated, and keep the party together, never truly alone.

It’s hard to say what the powerhouse of this session is, but this is a very strong mix. This group feels like the type of party that wouldn’t need a scratch to win, but in the end, it comes down to how the game is played. One slip up too many and that’s it. If you do anything with this, I would love to see it!

[shouldprobablybereading]

Why Gavinor should not be Odiums champion

A way too in depth argument against a (sort off) crack theory

And I don’t mean in the “of course he shouldn’t he’s a baby” way. But that it would actively go against the larger ideological messages of the story.

Taravangian is strongly utalitarian, he believes that the end justify the means. It’s why he is willing to make a deal with Odium about preserving Karbranth at the expense of roshar as a whole. He believes this is the best option because he believes that it is the only way he can save anyone.

The knights radiant as a group believe in journey before destination, it is what you do that is important. It’s really only the windrunners that lean towards a kantian approach (actions matter and value the human life, but you can kill as punishment) Dalinar is imo more on the aristoteles route by looking at individuals that he views as just and then mimic their behavior (Gavilar, Nohadon etc.) Szeth is even more extreme in this case. What they exactly believe is somewhat irrelevant as the point is that they are not primarily utalitarian.

This isn’t saying that Sanderson or even the books are against utilitarianism, morals are complicated (an understatement) and I think there are few people who can actively choose one model that is applicable to all situations. Jasnah is notably utilitarian, although the story frames her approach very different from Taravangians. He is more or less an extremist and in a lot of ways a personification of some of its negative attributes.

This way the duel of champions becomes to a degree a fight between ideologies. Making Dalinar face of against Gavinor would be an extremely on the nose way of asking“would you kill a child if it meant saving the world” putting one innocent life against millions, making Dalinar lose as a result of this would make the statement that his morals is what made him fail, making Taravangian ultimately right.

That could be a very interesting story. We even see it to a smaller degree in Oathbringer when Jasnah has to decide whether or not to kill Renarin and ultimately lets her love for him win.

The problem is that it is Dalinar doing the fighting. His inability to murder children or even loved ones has never been a character flaw. See the burning of Rathalas. To pit him against Gavinor or any of his loved ones like Adolin would while creating great and enjoyable angst also suggest that the Blackthorn would have been able to save the world. Had he just remained as he was at his worst, never evolved or changed, the world would have been better off. This would be extremely unsatisfying after spending nearly 5 books working away from that.

Having an adult loved one like Adolin might work if the tension comes from a difference in belief as well as the pain of it being a loved one. Gavinor is just especially bad since he is too young to have any complex philosophical views or even consent to being a champion under fair terms. His unwillingness to kill someone like Sadeas would imo make for a more compelling conflict since him being too trusting of problematic people is an actual flaw that is consistent through his life. (Gavilar, Sadeas, Amaram, even Taravangian himself)

The tricky thing here is that he will most definitely have to loose somehow so it is possible that Sanderson will go this route. I just do not think that it would make for a satisfying or narratively compelling story based on the characters involved as well as the larger themes at play.

[crusherthedoctor]

Can you list anything you unironically like in the games (and cartoons and comics) that you don't like?

I won't bother mentioning music, since that goes without saying and is to be expected for a Sonic game... unless you're Chronicles.

Sonic Adventure 2 (mixed gameplay-wise, annoying story-wise) - While I prefer Sonic's SA1 levels for a number of reasons, I still think his and Shadow's gameplay in SA2 is fun on its own merit. I also don't mind the treasure hunting gameplay returning or how big the levels are this time around, since Knuckles and Rouge are still fast and not '06 levels of slow. It's mainly the gimped radar that creates the unfortunate domino effect of making them a problem.

- Introduced Rouge, one of my favourite characters for how playful she is and how she's a lot more nuanced and intelligent than you'd expect.

- Some genuinely good scenes, like Eggman's trap on the A.R.K and Sonic escaping from the G.U.N. helicopter.

- Had some good ideas going for it, like the Pyramid Base and the Biolizard as a scientific monster instead of an ancient one.

- Despite my thoughts on the backstory itself (or rather, its execution), Shadow has enough depth and subtle qualities and occasional unintended hilarity to stand out from the typical dark rival characters you see in media.

- The Last Scene's music in particular is one of my favourite cutscene tracks in the series.

Sonic Heroes (mixed gameplay-wise, loathed story-wise) - The gameplay is fun when you're not being screwed over by repetitive combat, overly long levels and/or ice physics.

- Boasts some of the most consistently Genesis-worthy environments in the 3D games, up there with SA1's and Colours'.

- The in-game dialogue that isn't the same tutorial drivel repeated ad nauseam can be interesting, funny, etc.

- Reintroduced the Chaotix, which provided me with another character I quite like in the form of Vector.

- Bringing Metal Sonic back in full force and front and center in the plot after a long absence (not counting cameos and the like) is a perfectly fine idea. Just... not like this.

Sonic Battle (decent yet repetitive gameplay, mixed story-wise) - Emerl's arc is compelling, and it earns the emotional weight of having to put him down at the end.

- While some characters are iffy (read: Amy), other characters are extremely well-handled. Shadow is probably the prime example.

- Gamma's belly dance healing animation is fucking hilarious.

- When I was young, and the game was first announced, I was really excited about being able to play as Chaos. This proved to be my downfall when it turned out he was arguably one of the worst characters in the game due to being slower than me during the writing process, but I still recall that excitement fondly.

Shadow the Hedgehog (comedy classic) - The sheer amount of legendary stupidity this game has going for it makes it practically impossible to actually hate. It helps that it's not quite as white-knighted on the same level as '06... usually. You know you're in for a unique experience when you hear a gunshot every time you click something in the menu.

- By extension, Black Doom never gained an unironic fanbase like Mephiles/Scourge/Eggman Nega did, which means I'm a lot more willing to take Doom's dumbass brand of villainy in stride. He even has a unique design... a terrible one that rips off Wizeman granted, but alas, even that is a step-up from Fridge Shadow and Bumblebee Eggman.

- Despite being... well, Shadow the Hedgehog, some of the environments would fit right in with any other Sonic game, like with Circus Park, Lava Shelter, and Digital Circuit. Even the Black Comet levels look pretty cool.

- This game understands amnesia better than IDW does.

Sonic '06 (what do you think?) - The obvious one: Shadow's character was handled pretty well, even if it came at the cost of everyone else being a dummy and being forced to interact with Mephiles.

- Like SA2, there are some good moments, like the Last Story ending sequence with Sonic and Elise.

- In the greatest form of irony ever, I like Solaris as a concept and design(s), and its backstory has potential to serve as a parallel with Chaos without being a complete ripoff. Iblis sucks, Mephiles sucks, but I'm fine with Solaris.

- Introduced legendary characters like Sonic Man, Pele the Beloved Dog, Hatsun the Pigeon, and Pacha from The Emperor's New Groove.

The Rivals duology (apathetic outside of Nega-related grumbling) - There were some cool zone ideas in both games that were sadly let down by the restrictive and limiting gameplay. I particularly like Colosseum Highway for thus far being the only full-on Roman level in the series instead of merely having a couple minor hints of Roman, and Meteor Base for the unique scenario of the space station being built into an asteroid. These level concepts and others deserve a second chance IMO. (At least Frontier Canyon got a second chance in the form of Mirage Saloon, amirite?)

- Ifrit has a better design than Iblis. Not saying it's amazing, but the Firebird motif it has going on is a lot more interesting for a fire monster than the Not-Chaos schtick they had with Iblis.

Sonic and the Secret Rings (a very frustrating gaming experience) - Erazor Djinn, A.K.A. Qui-Gon Djinn, A.K.A. Dr. N. Djinn, A.K.A. I'll Take It On The Djinn, A.K.A. Not From The Hairs On My Djinny Djinn Djinn, is one of the best villains not associated with Eggman in the series. He's a Mephiles-type character done right, and there's actual weight and reason to his actions, however sinister or petty.

- I don't have strong opinions either way on Shahra as a character, but the Sonic/Shahra friendship is sweet and well-handled.

- The ending is one of Sonic's greatest moments. The sheer contrast between how ruthlessly he deals with Erazor and how comforting he is towards Shahra speaks volumes... Still gonna make fun of the mountain of handkerchiefs though. (Before anyone lectures me, I understand the significance of it and can even appreciate it from that angle... doesn't mean I'm not allowed to poke fun at it. :P)

- Another game with some redeeming environments. I love the aesthetic of Night Palace, and Sand Oasis looks gorgeous too.

Sonic Chronicles (my personal least favourite game in the series) - Uh...

- Um...

- Er...

- I like Shade's design?

Sonic Unleashed (overrated game and story IMO) - The obvious two: the opening sequence and the Egg Dragoon fight deserve all the praise they get.

- Seeing Eggmanland come to life was an impressive moment to be sure. While part of me does feel it didn't quite measure up to what I had in mind (ironically, the Interstellar Amusement Park ended up being closer to what I had in mind), it still looks badass and works well for what it is. I also don't mind the idea of it being a one-level gauntlet... key word being idea.

- Obviously, the game looks great. Not a fan of the real world focus (real world inspiration is fine, but copy-pasting the real world and shoving loops in it is just unimaginative), but it can't be denied that the environments look good.

- This game pulled off dialogue options a lot better than Chronicles did, since they didn't rely on making Sonic OoC.

Sonic and the Black Knight (just kind of boring all around) - Despite my gripes with the story (Merlina wasn't nearly as fleshed out as her unique anti-villain status deserved, which ends up severely undermining the ambition of the plot in more ways than one, and the other characters go from being useless yes men for King Arthur to being useless yes men for Sonic), I will admit it provides interesting insight into Sonic's character.

- Like '06 and Secret Rings, the ending is very nice... well, aside from Amy being an unreasonable bitch ala Sonic X at the very end.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (apathetic) - The admittedly few new concepts sprinkled within had promise. They may not have been as fleshed out as they could have been, but level concepts like Sylvania Castle and White Park, bosses like Egg Serpentleaf and the Egg Heart, and story beats like the Death Egg mk.II being powered by Little Planet, all could have been brilliant had they been better executed.

SatAM (apathetic outside of SatAM Robotnik-related grumbling) - I'm not a fan of the environments on the whole due to them looking too bland or samey, but there are some exceptions that look pleasant or interesting, like the Void.

Sonic Underground (apathetic) - The character designs make me feel better about myself.

- Does "large quantities of unintentional meme material" count as a positive?

Sonic X (mostly apathetic outside of Eggman's handling) - Helen was a better human character and audience surrogate in her one focus episode than Chris was throughout his entire runtime.

- Actually, most of the human characters not named Chris were legitimately likable. Including everyone in Chris' own family not named Chris. Hilarious.

- Despite arguably having the most Chris in it, I actually don't mind the first season that much, partly due to slight nostalgia from seeing it on TV when it was new, but mostly because Eggman actually acted like a villain for the most part, and certain other characters weren't quite as flanderized yet. It's season 2 and onwards where things started going off the rails IMO. (Incidentally, Helen's episode was part of season 1...)

The Boom franchise (apathetic) - Along with Chronicles, the games provide yet more proof that just because someone isn't SEGA/Sonic Team, that doesn't mean they're automatically more qualified to handle the series.

- The show had some good episodes here and there, and Tails' characterization was probably the most consistently on-point out of the cast.

- Despite not exactly being favourite portrayals for either character, even I'll admit that many of Knuckles and Eggman's lines in the show on their own were genuinely funny.

Archie Sonic (pre-reboot is mostly terrible, post-reboot is mostly... bland) - Whenever I doubt myself as a writer, I think back to Ken Penders, and suddenly I'm filled with a lot more confidence.

Sonic the Comic (apathetic) - Fleetway isn't a comic I tend to recall much of aside from how much of a loathesome cunt Sonic is, but IIRC, Robotnik's portrayal is pretty good. Different, but good.

IDW Sonic (stop pissing me off, comic) - Putting their handling aside (and being too obviously "inspired" by MGS in the latter's case), Tangle and Whisper are good characters IMO.

- Same goes for Starline, before he was killed off-screen and replaced with Toothpaste Snively.

- Execution aside (noticing a pattern?), the zombot virus was a fine concept on its own and an interesting new scheme for Eggman.

- I get to remind myself that I've never drawn scat edits and posted them publicly on Twitter.

[spxllcxstxr]

Bumps and Bruises • M.M

(GIF is not mine)

Request: Hi! Sorry, May I ask for a Marlene McKinnon x fem!/gn! reader fic, Soulmate AU where they feel each other's pain. — anon

Summary: Two Quidditch rivals finding out they’re something...more (Soulmate AU)

Warnings: Mentions of food/eating, injury description, brief mention of blood

Word Count: ~2k

A.N: NonGryffindor!Reader, this is my first time doing a Soulmate AU so I hope this is ok! It’s hard to find a balance between Soulmate AU and normal AU, but I’m sure I’ll get better with it in practice! The ending is kinda iffy imo, but it’s not terrible. Hope you enjoy!

****

The first thing you feel when you wake up on Friday morning is a flare up of painful throbbing blossoming across the outer part of your right thigh.

You groan, prying your eyes open and pull back your blanket.

The pale light filtering through your curtains is enough to see the grotesque purpling of swollen skin. You poke and prod at your thigh, occasionally hissing out in agony.

The bruise is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Its circular shape is something you see all the time. As a Beater on your Quidditch team, Bludger bruises were commonplace. The issue is, and this is where the mark becomes unfamiliar to you, when you went to sleep last night, there was no evidence of any such mark.

This was peculiar because you never had a history of sleep Quidditch, and you’re sure that if you got up in the middle of the night in a trance, at least one of your dorm mates would’ve told you.

And this certainly wasn’t some accidental hitting your bed frame sort of injury. This was ten inches in diameter, black and blue like a ball of pure iron slammed into you. As a self proclaimed Quidditch expert, you’re fully aware of what caused this.

But this conclusion brings up more questions than answers. Sure, you had practice after classes yesterday, but you would remember being hit full force—and you don’t.

But you have no time to sit and ponder over this mystery, you have to make it down for breakfast and then endure hours of classes. If only you could skip ahead to tomorrow’s match against Gryffindor.

You limp your way through the dorm, unable to put the usual amount of weight on your right leg. The room is empty, save for Bedelia, who, as usual, is still snoring underneath her blanket. On your way out, you make sure to wake her up by slamming the door shut as hard as you can.

Hobbling down to the Great Hall with a bag of heavy books slung over your shoulder is no easy feat even when it’s something that constantly happens.

The Great Hall is buzzing, though most of the noise is coming from the Gryffindor table.

The ceiling reflects the morning, bright blue and not a cloud in sight.

By the looks of it, the Gryffindor Quidditch team just got back from their morning practice, still panting and sweaty. For the entire week leading up to a match, James Potter, their captain, makes them practice and go through relentless drills in preparation. When they’re not on the pitch, he’s quizzing them on maneuvers. You’re lucky that your captain and fellow Beater, Morgana Sharpe, gives you the day before a match off, mostly to rest and review. If Potter was your captain he would’ve ended up in St. Mungo’s by now.

Your eyes wander over to Marlene McKinnon, her blonde hair up in a bun, face red and splotchy from practice, bare arms showing off muscle. Her chest heaves under her scarlet top.

“Practicing getting your arses handed to you?” You joke, leaning against their table.

Marlene scoffs. “Oh, you wish.”

Her deep brown eyes find yours, a troublesome twinkle shining through.

“Focus, Marlene, can’t have you fraternizing with the enemy!” James laughs out between mouthfuls of eggs.

“More like flirting with the enemy.” Sirius snorts, leaning closer to Remus, who chuckles into his glass.

“Oi! Piss off, Black!” Marlene snaps, the red on her face spreading.

Dorcas squeezes in next to her, dittany in hand. “How’s the leg, Marls?”

“Aw.” You pout. “Did McKinnon get a boo boo during practice?”

She scowls at you. “Don’t you have a potion to blow up?”

You clench your jaw and ball your hand into a fist. She’s got a point.

“Alright, enough trash talk, you two, leave it for the pitch.” James rolls his eyes.

Instantly, a weight lifts from your shoulders.

“I gotta go eat, anyway.” You smile warmly at your sort of friends. “So I’ll see you guys in class.” You wave before turning to your own table.

You join the rest of your team the table, squeezing through the tight huddle. Parchment is scattered all over the surface, some with crude drawings of maneuvers, some with written stats.

“Right, now that we’re all here,” Sharpe grunts our in her thick Irish accent, shooting you a disgruntled look. “We have a change of plans.”

“Change of plans?” Webb, one of your Chasers, asks. He looks up from his diagram, eyebrows raised.

“Greene’s soulmate took a tumble and landed him in the hospital wing. Can’t play tomorrow’s match.” She scowls, drawing clenched tightly on her hand.

“Again?” Your team groans.

Rupert Greene spends more time in the hospital wing due to his soulmate’s clumsiness than from playing a dangerous magical sport. That’s the way it’s been for the four years you’ve known him, and you have a hunch that it’ll never change.

“So we’re gonna have to put in Knight? Against Gryffindor?” Webb cries out, eyes wide. “No offense, but he isn’t ready to take on those pricks!”

Sharpe runs a hand through her dark brown hair. “Well, I guess we all just need to pray to Merlin some Gryffindor gets knocked off their broom.” She sighs.

The news of Knight replacing Greene for the match against Gryffindor puts you in a sour mood, making the bruise on your thigh throb more painfully.

You march through the corridors, face contorted in a permanent frown, barely paying attention to your lessons. You do, however, manage to keep your potion from exploding, which Slughorn is thrilled about. Match notes and plays take over your free time, pushing all your homework to Sunday, quickly deciding that this match is far too important. Marlene sticks her tongue out at you whenever she gets the chance as she hobbles through the corridors or looks away from Flitwick in your shared Charms class.

Sharpe drags you and the rest of the team up to bed at nine, lecturing you all about a good night’s rest. You roll your eyes, but you do only spend half an hour studying moves before heading to bed.

You wake up jittery.

You’re always nervous the morning of normal Quidditch matches, but this isn’t a normal Quidditch match. Gryffindor has gone undefeated for the entire season so far, and you just need to beat them. You crave to watch the smug look fall from James’ face and the cocky attitude that Sirius is infamous for crumble. You want to win. At the same time, though, you’re hesitant to see the frown on Marlene’s face. Those perfect lips deserve to shaped in a perfect smile.

Your bruise isn’t as irritated as yesterday. It’s still black and blue, but you really need to dig your thumb into it for it to hurt.

You stretch, listening to your joints pop before strutting down to the Great Hall to join the rest of your team.

Taking a deep breath before making your way through the threshold, you try your best to calm down and radiate confidence. You crack your knuckles and make your way to your table.

Marlene throws you a playful glare across the room, which you teasingly reciprocate.

Breakfast is a quiet affair for your group. Feet tap impatiently against the stone, nervous habits running wild.

The weather is perfect for Quidditch. There’s a slight breeze and a couple fluffy white clouds drifting through the blue sky, providing the occasional blotch of shade. It reassures you and calms you down on your walk down.

Sharpe gives her usual pep talk in the locker rooms. It’s all about blood, guts, and glory, and how we better not mess this up for her or else “she’ll haunt us from the great beyond.” Knight is white as a sheet, trembling underneath his robes.

The crowd roars out from the stands just above, your cue to make your grand entrance. Brooms are taken off their positions in the wall and in a single filed line, you all follow Sharpe out onto the pitch.

“And here it is, everybody,” Remus’ voice calls out over the chaos. “Captain Sharpe, (Y/Ln), Webb, Byrne, Spade, Opal, and their reserve, Knight!”

Your house cheers louder at your introduction, your eardrums pounding. You smile and nod at the crowd, excitement bubbling up inside of you.

“While the two captains are taking positions and shaking hands,” You hear as you mount your broom, Potter and Sharpe facing each other. “I have been paid quite a significant amount to say that according to James Potter, Lily Evans looks absolutely gorgeous today—“

“That has nothing to do with the match, Lupin!” McGonagall cries.

“Godric, Minnie. I’m just doing some adverts, it’s all good. No need to—“

A large thwack echos throughout the pitch, but you’re too wrapped up in Hooch blowing the whistle.

Quickly, you soar up in the air, Beater’s bat in one hand, chasing after your teammates to defend them.

You barely hear Remus over the whistling of the wind and your own grunts.

You watch Marlene laugh after she bats a Bludger away from James, the bat giving off a wicked crack. You’re momentarily mesmerized by her figure. How her tongue peeks out in concentration and her ponytail bounces wildly in the wind.

A moment passes and your arm erupts in pain, and to add onto that, you’re hurtling towards the grass.

You clutch your arm and brace for impact, breath being forcibly ripped from your lungs. Tears well in your eyes from both the pain and the air lashing against your body. Your Quidditch robes flap wildly behind you.

The landing, however, isn’t that bad. You end up in the grass, your bad arm protected. You assume Dumbledore is the one to thank.

You let out strangled pants, sky spinning around you, a piercing whistle sharp against your ears. Your arm screams in agony.

“(Y/Ln)!” Sharpe calls out, broom clutched in one hand. “You alright?” Her face shines with sweat.

“Bloody hell, she’s got quite the swing.” You groan, face contorting in anguish.

In the corner of your rotating vision, you watch red and gold blurs crowding around someone else.

Madam Hooch and the rest of your teammates are talking, but you can’t understand a word they’re saying.

Tendrils of black fog enter your vision and suddenly you’re out cold.

You recognize the hospital wing bed immediately. It’s firm, but not unbearable, the white cotton sheets rubbing against any exposed skin.

“So (Y/Ln) and McKinnon, eh?”

It’s garbled and you’re unable to place the voice, but it’s understandable.

“What’s this ‘bout me and McKinnon?” You manage to slur out, eyes blinking open, the figures above you blurry.

The world gradually clears itself up, your teammates surrounding your bed. Your left arm is wrapped tightly to your chest with a white cotton sling. The pain is dull, but it’s the most noticeable feeling present.

“Ah, well...” Webb scratches the back of his neck, averting his eyes.

“They’re talking about how I finally felt my own strength.”

Slowly, you turn your head to see Marlene sitting up on her bed, carefully watching over you. Her friends surround her, knowing smirks gracing their faces.

Her blonde hair is a bit of a tangled mess from the wind, but her smile is blinding in the light.

“You mean...” Your eyes widen in shock.

Marlene nods her head. “Soulmates.”

You bite your lip in response.

“I mean, it was pretty obvious, wasn’t it?” Sirius asks, looking between his friends for approval. “They literally wake up covered in bruises after like every Quidditch match!”

“Shut up, Pads!” Remus hisses, smacking him on the leg. “They’re having a moment.”

Sirius rolls his eyes and holds his hands up in mock surrender.

Your eyes drift to your thigh where the mysterious bruise was.

“I’m guessing you got hit by a Bludger during practice?” You ask.

“And you’re the one that gave me that broken bloody nose during detention!” Marlene exclaims.

You nod shyly, remembering when Knight accidentally threw the Quaffle at your face during a late night practice.

“Are we really that bloody stupid?” You laugh.

“You want a real answer or...?” James starts, repositioning his glasses.

Marlene shoves James off her bed, and he yelps before ungracefully tumbling to the floor with a crash.

“Guess this is our cue to leave the two stupid lovebirds alone.” Lily giggles before patting her friend on the back and leaving, the Marauders and your own team trailing close behind her.

Because the bones in your arm are practically shattered, you’re confined to the hospital wing for at least another day, but with Marlene at your bedside, it’s been made bearable. You talk about all those mysterious injuries you’ve acquired over the many years and learn the extent of your idiocy.

With various bumps and bruises to match, at the end of the day, the two of you are much more than Quidditch rivals.