#and there are a number of quality of life elements that you can tell the devs have been brainstorming on for a while

[shyvioletlife]

After spending five and a half months deep in my Genshin hyper fixation, I think I can safely say that Sumeru is my favorite region so far in terms of writing, story, and pure overworld design (I’ve been to Fontaine functionally for resource gathering but avoided any story like the plague- though I have at least been broadly spoiled for the biggest beats). I have spent a pure month just doing quests here in Sumeru, exploring the overworld,and slowly making my way through the archon quest (currently on chapter 3 act 5!) and I’ve loved truly every moment of it. I’ve worked endlessly on and completed the aranara quest, I’ve been playing through the character story quests as I unlock them - something I completely failed to do for all previous regions. Just this week I finally progressed the main story and set out to actually explore the desert and I’ve been adoring that atmosphere too - the sheer amount of ancient ruins is deeply tickling an anthropological glee, especially since you can actually eventually explore these guys where in liyue they’re all superficial design.

I’ve admittedly been a little biased in wanting to learn about Sumeru because Nahida was the first five star I ever pulled earlier this year and I’ve been maining her ever since, so im very invested in her story, but I do also think that Sumeru is just overall much better and more comprehensively written in terms of what is still available in game. I’ve watched people talk about previous regions having experienced them as they happened, and it really shows in the current game just how much character and story was locked behind timed events in a lot of the early game - especially surrounding Inazuma. I knew before I even started playing about the balladeer - he well and truly broke containment when inazuma was happening so I saw so much talk about him and hype over his character. Imagine my surprise when playing through inazuma - the first time I ever interacted with his character in game was when I went through a domain quest trying to shut down the delusion factory and suddenly the balladeer is there, talking to me as though we’ve met before and the traveller and Paimon acting as though he’s been a massive thorn in their sides, and then we fight, I lose, he bounces with the gnosis off screen. It’s so bizarre and obviously missing context that it’s kind of hilarious. There are a lot of good story moments and I did genuinely really like playing through inazuma while I was in it, but there’s a stilted aspect to it from the missing story beats. Meanwhile in Sumeru, it feels like they got their act together around not putting important story behind limited events for the most part, because it actually feels like I’ve been through the story from start to finish with a connection to all the moving parts and a sense of buildup as more and more of the truth is revealed.

[crystaltoa]

I’m going to go the second one because I believe there’s a difference between ‘a robot could do this job’ and ‘a robot SHOULD do this job’. Even in a world where robots can emulate almost any human behaviour or skill.

(Content warning: I discuss some pretty heavy hypotheticals relating to medical abuse, eugenics, racism and ableism)

You know the rule that “a computer can never be held accountable. Therefore a robot should never make a management decision” Well, these days, people do delegate management decisions to robots. But the robot lacks human values and understanding of nuance. It is still impacted by biases, sometimes to an even greater extent than a human. And our understanding of bias, equality and equity is constantly evolving and is driven by human values. If you take humans out of the equation, who is checking the AI for biases and reasonable behaviour? Another AI?

Look at politics. Like it or not, a sufficiently powerful politician is going to have to make difficult decisions that will ultimately impact who lives and who dies (decisions on health, war, crime and the justice system, etc.) And a robot politician is going to face the same problems. An AI politician programmed with the objective of letting nobody die is going to fail horribly, since such a thing is likely impossible, even for the most advanced AI of the distant future. So, it will always have to act on the logic that a certain number of humans may die as a consequence of its actions, but that it should keep that number as low as possible using the information that it is given.

An AI is going to boil this down to a system of logic. If the goal is to use the available resources to minimise the number of lives lost, and no human life is inherently more valuable than any other, then it is going to spend the bulk of its resources on areas where it will have the greatest impact and save the greatest number of lives.

Now that sounds good on paper, doesn’t it? But there is a problem: if you reduce the issues down to a multiple choice game, it allows no space for inspiration, creativity, and nuanced discussion of ethics.

if you gave our robo-politician the trolley problem, it would quickly tell you that pulling the lever was the correct option as it minimises the number of lives lost. Okay, you might think. Sounds reasonable. Lots of humans who engage with the problem reach the same conclusion.

But the thing is, the robo-politician will pull that lever again and again and again without ever considering that perhaps it’s possible to change the system so that there aren’t so many people stuck on the tracks in the path of an oncoming train in the first place. If the robo-politician already thinks it has enough information to solve the problem, it won’t seek new information. It won’t try to come up with a better system. It will always be a two-choice logic problem that it already has an adequate solution to.

It’s theoretically possible that a robot politician might actually do an adequate job (at least compared to some human politicians) simply by playing this numbers game and emulating actions of past politicians that have produced good results before.

BUT

If you want meaningful systemic change driven by new ideas, you need human involvement. AI’s ability to at least simulate creativity probably will improve in the coming years, but balancing the new AI-generated solutions with a respect for human values and quality of life is a very complex thing.

Furthermore, there’s a need for nuance that AI may not ever be able to fully grasp. If the goal is only to minimise number of lives lost, in the most economically viable way, you could wind up with dystopian scenarios like the following:

“We want to reduce the number of people who die when receiving medical treatment. Therefore, euthanasia/medically assisted dying is now illegal, because that results in human deaths” (ignoring human bodily autonomy and quality of life needs)

Or conversely, “Keeping some disabled and chronically ill people alive takes resources that could be used for other purposes. Therefore, it makes economic sense to euthanise some of the higher-care needs patients so that those resources can be used to save other lives at a more cost-effective rate.” (Horrendously ableist)

“We want medical resources and funding to go where they will help the most people. No human life is inherently worth more or less than any other. This country has a lot more white people than black people. Therefore, it makes economic sense to focus funding, research, and training of future medical practitioners primarily on the care and treatment of white patients” (Perpetuating or even amplifying existing societal inequalities, dismissing helping minorities as not economically viable)

“We want to reduce the number of people affected by serious health conditions, which puts a drain on medical resources and reduces the number of lives we can save. Therefore, people who carry genes for certain conditions will be deterred or outright prevented from reproducing” (again, horrendously ableist and robs people of bodily autonomy)

“We want to reduce deaths from vehicle and other types of accidents that occur primarily outside the home. Therefore, there are now stricter regulations regarding when humans should be allowed to leave their homes.” (Authoritarian police state).

(Note: The intent here is not to imply that dedicating resources to vulnerable minorities is “objectively” illogical or wasteful. The point is that logic is only as good as the goals and principles behind it, and having overly simplistic success criteria without strong ethical considerations will result in those vulnerable groups suffering further mistreatment and neglect)

Humans have a wide range of needs, values and priorities that vary between individuals. Safety vs Autonomy, Privacy vs Protection, etc. And a politician must be compassionate and responsive to those values, even with all their contradictions, but to do so, human input and participation is required. No one politician, human or otherwise, is going to get it exactly right and please everybody. But a human is still going to have more success in trying than a robot, as it is near impossible to reduce the balance of these issues down to mere numbers and algorithms.

So while I’ll entertain the idea that a robot maybe could run a country, I don’t think anything would ever convince me that they should do so.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[luneboop]

₊ ⊹ 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓁'𝓈 𝓅𝓊𝓇𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒?

✶ deck(s) used: wild unknown tarot and woodland wardens oracle deck.

remember to use your intuition and leave the messages behind that don't resonate.

𝓅𝒾𝓁𝑒 1 - country house

I was blown away by how strong this pile was. And I’m not just talking about physical strength because this isn’t about that. This energy that I felt has got so much to do with your mental and emotional strength. This pile was giving me heavy warrior vibes for some reason, regardless of your gender. This was because I got the feeling that most of you are truly wise souls that have learnt so much in your past lifetimes and this one too.

Have trust in your intuition is another message I got. Some of you may doubt your intuition but have faith that it’s stronger than you think it is. You may be able to predict things, being able to foresee things before they happen, therefore this gives you the ability to move on from situations quicker and perhaps even easier than others. It’s not only because of your intuition that you’re able to do this — you have the ability to see things from a more positive perspective. You see challenges as opportunities for growth and that is why you appreciate life for the way it is. You embrace all parts of it, the good and the bad. You may be also quite tactical and reliable because of this too. This pile has gone through a lot but somehow you were always able to come out on the other side, wounded but still strong and standing. It’s beautiful really, and people are always amazed at how resilient your spirit is. Because of this strong energy, you may inspire others and this may be part of your soul’s purpose - to inspire others to ‘rise up from the ashes’ in a way and guide them to change. Almost like a life coach, if you will. 

Your presence provides a safe space for people to be themselves in their most vulnerable state, to be able to learn from you as well. You may naturally have leadership qualities too because of your wise and strong soul. A lot of your soul’s purpose is to truly experience life for the way it is.

𝓅𝒾𝓁𝑒 2 - cherry blossom tree

There is some disconnect between your true essence and your exterior currently, pile number 2. The cards have shown me that you’ve gone through so much loss and heartbreak that I’m not even surprised that you feel the need to have a wall around you, to protect your heart. To retreat. But that’s not who you truly are, isn’t it? And I can tell that you guys know that it isn’t but you can’t help it, you just don't want to feel that hurt again. 

You are naturally very artistic, you’re able to make something out of nothing, even when it comes to manifestation. You are very gentle when you’re in your true essence, very soft, very vulnerable. But because of the things you’ve gone through, you may have a lack of boundaries with people or people may have taken advantage of your kind, empathetic nature, making you feel very guarded and defensive. You have a beautiful, vivid imagination, pile number 2 and once you’ve tapped into this energy, you’re going to be able to channel this into creating something. Everything we create from our hearts is art, whether that be writing, baking, singing, dancing, painting, etc. these are all forms of art so no matter what you’re naturally drawn to, once you’ve truly tapped into your heart centre and open it up just a little more, you’re going to feel so much more aligned with your purpose and you’re able to manifest the things that make you truly complete. 

Allow yourself to be vulnerable, allow yourself to be loved again, pile number 2. You will feel in your element once there is a connection between your heart and your soul’s purpose, you just need to have faith in love again.

𝓅𝒾𝓁𝑒 3 - beautiful berries

For some reason before I started shuffling the cards for this deck, I got such a happy grin on my face, and I immediately understood why — this pile is vibrant, outgoing and just… refreshing. 

You may approach life with a certain kind of innocence but not in a naïve kind of way but in a way that makes you feel truly excited to experience everything and anything. Even if you don’t feel that way now, that is what your soul is truly craving for. By experiencing everything, it boosts your confidence, fueling your zest for life. I was also being drawn to say that you should have the confidence to be the naturally adventurous, curious person that you are as it replenishes your life energy. You must learn to build on your self-confidence because this path that you walk is going to be met with a lot of resistance and judgement from others and society in general, which is why I was being drawn to say that this path you’ve chosen is one that is completely unique to you and that you shouldn’t be afraid to immerse yourself in it. Really. Just follow your heart and see where it leads you, pile number 3.

At times it might get a bit lonely but trust that once you step into that energy of your higher purpose, that you will start to attract like-minded people and leave those behind that don’t see what you see. No one is supposed to tie you down emotionally in that way, you’re supposed to be free, almost like a little bird. Release any past beliefs, everything that people have imposed onto you, as these are the things that are holding you back. Romanticize your life and see how beautiful life can be. You may be attracted to pursue a lot of things too. Pick something that makes you feel happy and free and it will always lead you to your highest good, pile number 3, just have faith and keep shining brightly<3

[anim-ttrpgs]

The New Character Sheet for Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy!

You can tell a lot about a TTRPG by looking at its character sheet, so here is the mock-up for the latest version of the Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy character sheet. This version of the sheet will be coming to patreon backers alongside the biggest single content update to Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy since we started posting about it.

Some stuff has been rearranged, some stuff has been tweaked, and some stuff is entirely new.

At the top there you can see the Composure bar. It starts out filled in, and ticks down from right to left as the player-character becomes more stressed and fatigued, and the lower the Composure, the lower the maximum base skill modifier that can be applied to dice rolls. You can find a post going into more detail about the Composure mechanic here.

What’s new is the numbers below the check boxes, denoting exactly what is the maximum base modifier at that level of Composure. One of the goals for the newest version of the character sheet was making the character sheet not just a tool required to play the game, but one that actually makes it easier as well, providing quality-of-life features that remind players of certain mechanics at a glance. This is one instance of such additions.

Next to that is where you’d write the PC’s Truth. “Truth” is a belief, personal motivation, or element of the PC’s personality that is not exactly a "flaw" but that is likely to spur them to action, for better or for worse. When the character acts based on this Truth, they get a bonus to their skill checks. This is unchanged from the previous character sheet, but you can find more info on the Truth mechanic here.

Below that we have the HP stuff. Eureka has 2 types of HP, one for serious deadly wounds and one for more minor wounds, but both of them are important. When reduced to 1 HP of either type, the character is Injured, and must make an Athletics Skill Roll. This may leave them fine with no penalties (but still Injured), Partially Incapacitated which imposes a -1 to all their skill checks, or Fully Incapacitated which means they can’t make any skill checks unless they spend a Eureka! Point.

Below that, well, the Eureka! Point stuff. When PCs investigate things, they accumulate Investigation Points. Enough Investigation Points, and they gain a Eureka! Point. Different types of PCs, as well as other factors, may increase the number of Investigation Points needed to gain a Eureka! Point.

Eureka! Points are valuable resources that can be spent for the character to have a “eureka moment” and retroactively succeed on a failed investigation check, add an extra die to a non-investigation roll to increase the chances of success, or to take an action while Fully Incapacitated. Some traits, particularly the monster ones, give even more options for how Eureka! Points can be spent, and that’s why monster PCs need the most Investigation Points before they get a Eureka! Point. A fuller explanation of this mechanic can be found here.

Next, the skills. For the new sheet, we split the skills into the skill point modifiers and the trait modifiers, to make it easier to read the sheet. Skill point modifiers across all skills have to add up to 0 for a starting character, but Traits can also increase or decrease modifiers, so keeping these as separate numbers is very helpful for keeping track of that. If you’re wondering why one skill is blacked out, here is the explanation.

Also, some of those are blanks because there are a number of optional skills in the rulebook, plus players are also encouraged to write their own.

A new addition to the core skill list is the Wealth skill. This is not a monetary resource that goes up and down, but a skill that represents the character’s resources based on their economic class. Rolling the Wealth skill helps determine if a player-character can, say, afford to bribe the security guard. It can also be rolled to determine if the PC knows certain things about high-class culture that may be relevant to the case. Notably, the Wealth skill is also “reversible”. The modifier can be reversed, from negative to positive, or positive to negative, to determine if the PC knows more lower-class knowledge, like who frequents the local soup kitchens.

Below that is a place to write the names of traits, just as a little reminder for the player. The full text of traits is written on the next page.

At the top of the second page is inventory. Eureka does inventory a little differently, and that’s why there’s four boxes for it. On-person is obviously what they’re carrying, but “Vehicle Secured” and “Home Secured” are items that are inside their vehicle and home respectively. With the addition of the new Wealth skill, Wealth checks can actually be made to add items to the Vehicle and Home inventory. These things aren’t magically appearing obviously, in the narrative of the game they’re things that the PC has already bought before the adventure started, and a higher Wealth skill means that a PC is more likely to own more stuff, or at least more likely to be able to by useful stuff short-notice.

This also connects to a new character creation mechanic I might make a post about later that is coming in the big update: The Wealth Point system. I’ll explain it in brief here. Basically, during character creation, you roll 3D6+3+[Wealth] to determine the number of Wealth Points, then those points are spent on items the character starts with, including a house and vehicle. Houses and vehicles actually have some of their own stats and trade-offs, but generally the bigger and/or more expensive they are, the more of a bonus they give to the Wealth rolls that are used to add items to Vehicle and Home inventory mid-adventure. Houses are more likely to have a bigger bonus, but it’ll usually mean that the PC has to return to their home to actually retrieve the item, costing valuable investigation time. This is also more relevant now with Eureka’s new Ticking Clock mechanics that I'll also explain some time later but basically we added optional rules for tracking in-game time to add tension to the adventure. (The Ticking Clock mechanics were inspired by a mechanic in one of @gormengeist's projects, which in turn was actually inspired by Eureka!)

Also, “Unsecured” inventory is a place to write down useful items that are not exactly in the PC’s possession, like if they left a ladder leaning against the window of the abandoned building outside.

Next is another addition to the sheet, a place to write an equipped weapon. That’s pretty bog-standard for TTRPGs, but one unique thing about Eureka is how it expects you to keep track of every ammunition magazine individually, rather than just having a pool of bullets like a video game. And this is made easy by the magazine ammo counters here, allowing you to write the contents of up to 6 magazines and a check box noting which one is actually inside the gun. While not directly related, here is a post about Eureka’s exciting and deadly firearms combat mechanics.

Next is traits. This is where the actual bulk of the traits’ rules are written. The only change we made here is making them vertical boxes, because that seems more space efficient. Here is a post explaining more about traits in Eureka.

Lastly on this page is the PC’s Tiers of Fear. That was explained in the post about Composure, but basically it’s what they’re scared of and how scared they are of it, which acts as a modifier when they make a Composure Roll related to that particular concept. Right below that are little notes and boxes for tracking how well the PC is taking care of themselves. Eating and sleeping restores Composure over time, at least for most people. Also a “tick” is an abstract unit of time used by the new Ticking Clock mechanics. Each Night consists of 10 Ticks, so the PC must spend at least half the night sleeping in order to restore Composure.

This page is unchanged, except now it’s the third page instead of being the last page. It’s a place for you to write down those failed investigation rolls to remember them and use Eureka! Points to have your PC suddenly understand them later. This was moved up in the sheet by request of playtesters so that their eyes would be on it more often and they’d remember to use it, and it would keep those failed rolls fresher in their mind.

This page is for, well, keeping track of Grievous Wounds. Grievous Wounds in Eureka are permanent or semi-permanent wounds that debuff stats related to them. At the moment a character is about to get Fully Incapacitated, the player can instead opt for them to take a Grievous Wound, keeping them able to act, but at a great cost. For instance, instead of getting cut down into Full Incapacitation and then finished off by a maniac with a machete, a Grievous Wound may mean their hand gets cut off instead. They can continue to run or fight, but that hand is permanently gone, as are the benefits of having both hands.

Players wanting to play physically disabled characters may opt to start their characters with Grievous Wounds marked from the beginning. This provides no special stat benefit, but Eureka is not exactly about playing characters with optimal stats anyway.

Certain monsters, such as vampires, actually have their own list of Grievous Wounds they can take when taking a Grievous Wound, things that no mortal could survive, such as decapitation or bisection. These are, generally, much worse than losing a hand, but also really badass. Speaking of that, one of the aforementioned special uses of Eureka! Points that some monsters have access to is the ability to instantly regenerate lost limbs and restore all HP. That’s one of the reasons that they have to gather more Investigation Points before getting a Eureka! Point.

This last page is for special monster info. Each monster has a True Nature and a Weakness section, both of which tend to be quite detailed. They explain what the monster must do to their human prey to regain Composure, and how. Many monsters do not restore as much Composure from sleeping and eating normal food, they have to consume their prey to regain Composure.

The Weakness section obviously deals with their supernatural weaknesses, such as outlining exactly how a vampire reacts to silver, holy symbols, running water, etc. This section also contains info on various “tells” they have to be aware of, such as how people might noice that a vampire has huge freaking fangs when they open their mouths.

And that’s the latest version of the character sheet!

We hope you enjoyed reading this and we hope you will consider supporting us on patron to get the full version of this TTRPG for as little as $5. If not, consider downloading the free demo which comes with a free adventure module from the download link on our website!

For another chance to play the full thing, consider joining our TTRPG Book Club! TTRPG nominations are voted on, read, played, and discussed. Eureka is frequently up for nomination, and when a game wins, we will provide anyone who can’t afford to buy the game themselves with a copy for use in the book club so they don’t have to miss out. You can join the book club discord server from the invite link found on our website!

Oh and by the way, as of right now, we are planning to launch our Kickstarter for Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy in April or May 2024. Stay tuned.

[demifiendrsa]

Tales of Graces f Remastered - Announcement Trailer

Japanese version

General producer message

Tales of Graces f Remastered will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam) on January 17, 2025.

Title logo

Key visual

Screenshots Overview

In Tales of Graces f Remastered, players will follow the adventures of Asbel and his friends as they embark on a world-spanning adventure filled with unforgettable characters, shocking revelations, and unique companions brought together through promises made across time. The title is set in the world of Ephinea, a planet blessed with abundant greenery. The world is ruled by three great nations, each with the power of Eleth. Tales of Graces f Remastered is a remastered version of Tales of Graces f released in 2010 featuring quality of life improvements and additions, downloadable content from the original version and newly localized scenes that will be available in English for the very first time.

Q & A

What is Tales of Graces f Remastered?

This title will be a remastered title of Tales of Graces f (hereinafter referred to as the original version), which was released on PlayStation®3 in 2010 in Japan and Asia and 2013 in the Americas and Europe.

This title follows the original version, with improved graphics and various useful functions, as well as a number of downloadable content from the original version.

Will this work include the ““Lineage and Legacies”?

It is included. The “Lineage and Legacies” is a story that depicts the world six months after the end of Tales of Graces. You can enjoy an after-story that centers around Sophie.

Were any elements added or removed from the original version?

Added Elements

Quality-of-life functions have been added to the game to make the game more convenient and enjoyable for the player.

Includes many downloadable contents from the original version (some licensed downloadable content is not available).

Add overseas languages for some groovy chats.

Adjusted Elements

The online ranking mode was removed and converted into Trials of Graces, an offline mode found on the Title Menu.

Please tell us about the specification information for this work.

The framerate specs and graphics will vary for each platform. Please see the table below for details.

What is included in the “Digital Art Book & Soundtrack” in the Deluxe Edition?

The digital art book is an excerpt from the “Tales of Graces Official Complete Guide” published in 2010 and the “Tales of Graces f Official Complete Guide” published in 2011.

The digital soundtrack includes the background music included in the “Tales of Graces Original Soundtrack” distributed in 2022, as well as 13 BGM tracks newly added in the ” Lineage and Legacies.”

[justatalkingface]

You ever notice how quirklessness shouldn't exist in My Hero Academia. It doesnt add anything to the story. if you gave izuku a quirk that allowed him to change the colour of his hair or alter the number of freckles he has on his face, nothing in the story would chang.

Him being ostracised wasn't because of him being quirkless but because he was seen as a creepy otaku who kept personal notes on other people's biology.

People telling him he can't be a hero despite his dreams could just as easily stem from him having an extremely mundane quirk.

Other than Izuku no other characters seemingly faced any problems from being quirkless. Mirio was still extremely capable when he lost his quirk and was still able to continue on at UA without losing his status as one of the big 3. Melissa Shield didn't face any issues because of her quirklessness.

the worst thing to happen was to Pixie-Bob and that was the Wild Wild Pussy Cats decline in the rankings because they, objectively speaking, couldn't perform to the same standard as before.

The MLF aren't anti qurikless so much as they are anti weakness, wanting to be able to freely use their quirks with some kind of Might makes Right mentality.

Quirklessness only serves the purpose of making Izuku an underdog and that could be easily replicated with a mundane quirk. There is the whole only quirkless people can weird OFA thing now but that has been retroactively added to explain why the quirk isn't being given to someone else.

In a world that values quirks above all else being Quirkless should be a massive deal. Quirklessness should have a huge focus in my hero academia just from implication alone that 20% of the population is "biologically inferior" to 80% even if that inferiority in most cases is extremely negligible, but preceived biological superiority over meaningless differences has caused devastating wars in real life.

Melissa Sheild, despite who her father is, despite the quality of her work, she should face issues for being quirkless in a field that doesn't require a quirk at all, her work seen as somehow inferior with her needing to put in twice the effort for half the exposure.

Mirio and pixie-bob should have been blindsided by their newfound treatment for being quirkless.

But quirklessness doesn't really matter in canon MHA it's only there to showcase a Zero to Hero story with the main character.

20% of the entire world's population is quirkless, if its the same number as our own (low-balling cause its 200 years in the future not the present) at 8 billion then there is roughly 1.6 billion naturally quirkless people in the world. An absolutely massive demographic of people.

Yet there is only 4 quirkless people in the show, with 2 being made quirkless via special bullet or had their quirk stoled by AFO.

I genuinely believe that the concept of people being quirkless is so meaningless that it actually hurts the story and that the show, as it is presented in canon would be better if 100% of the population has quirks.

TLDR: Nothing is done with quirklessness. It's redundant, underutilised and meaningless. Anything quirklessness truly does for the story can be replicated by mundane quirks. I have no idea why the concept of quirklessness isn't explored and wonder why the author wrote about it at all.

Hmm. Beyond wanting to defend early Izuku, there's two ways to look at this: Quirklessness form a lore perspective, and as a story element.

The thing is that, lore-wise? Quirkless makes sense as a thing. Quirks are, what, only a couple hundred years old? Not only that, but the way that they escalated both in power, and commonality? If I had to guess, Quirks probably became 'common' maybe... a hundred years ago, and then things escalated to now, where Quirks are the standard. There's a place within the foundation of the setting itself for there to be a small population of people who are 'normal' in a world of abnormals.

Beyond that, I saw this in a fanfic somewhere and I haven't forgotten this concept: 20% is for the population as a whole. But, if you were to break it down by ages? Quirkless, in all likelihood, is an 'affliction' of the old, because Quirks are always more plentiful and powerful in each newer generation. The reason why we see all of three Quirkless people in story (beyond Hori laziness) is that, in all honesty? Izuku, Aoyama and Melissa are probably the last of a dying breed; within a generation or two, max, I'd expect will be no more Quirkless people born (you know, if the Quirk SIngularity, as in one or two stupidly powerful beings, don't accidently the human race, or people broadly become so powerful to the point where they become ungovernable and society collapses (or if, as some people theorize, Hori just doesn't axe Quirks somehow at the end of the story)).

Tying this back into Izuku? Well, first off, 'Izuku the creepy otaku' fanon really isn't a thing. The, at times infamous, notebook? It's called 'For My Future, Hero Analysis'. Bakugou is offended by it, and burns it, because their a sign of Izuku's ambition to be a hero, which he hates because he loathes Izuku. There's nothing there about... like, his classmates, as far as we can tell, there's just the idea of Izuku even vaguely possibly going near heroics, which would besmirching Bakugou's 'origin story', and thus it must be put down. That's what offended him, and no one else even cared about it.

(And, while I'm on the topic of this kind of fanon, even if you didn't actually bring it up: Izuku the stalker, or Izuku following around Bakugou is also bullshit. When they were little, little kids they were kind of sort of friends, and Izuku followed him then, as part of a group, but after the Quirks came in Bakugou turned on Izuku. Every time we've seen them since he was, what, five? Izuku is avoiding Bakugou, to the best of his abilities, which is complicated by them being in the same class. When they were in the same area he was always cringing, ducking, curling up, all defensive behaviors, because Izuku doesn't want to follow Bakugou, he's afraid of him, and for good reason.

Until well into their time in UA, Bakugou is the only one to initiate any sort of interact with Izuku, and Izuku only responses to him.)

Like, I'm looking at Chapter One right now: the reason all the kids are bullying him? Beyond Bakugou, the most popular kid in school with the same energy as the game winning quarterback the faculty panders to, actively bullying him and everyone following the leader? Izuku is weak, helpless to resist Bakugou's words (which are backed by technically illegal force, as they all know), and is basiclly getting above himself by daring to dream of being a hero when he has no Quirk. Explicitly, the bullying is focused around his Quirklessness.

I mean, hell, there's at least one mediocre Quirk in the room with that kid with the long fingers; while it's more useful than your freckles example, he's really not going to be a hero off a Quirk like that. Yet, the teacher says that everyone wants to be a hero, and everyone cheers... except Izuku, who is trying not to get noticed. I doubt anyone thinks Long Fingers Kid can ever be a hero, but he can dream that apparently universal dream, the same way most kids dream of being rich and famous, even if the know that they'll probably never be any such thing. Izuku, though? He's not allowed that dream.

Meanwhile, there's Aoyama, who we don't get much information on because Post War, but apparently his life was so miserable that his parents basiclly sold their souls to AFO just to get him a Quirk and thus societal acceptance.

Melissa Shield is an outlier on that dynamic of 'Quirklessness is something that society mocks and beats down on', because she's happy and apparently well adjusted, but there's some things about her which throws that metric off; most fundamentally, she's not from Japan. We don't know what it's like in the U.S., but we know that MHA Japan seems unchanged (bizarrely so, you'd really expect all these upheavals and advanced technology to cause more major changes), beyond Quirks and Heros, from our Japan, and from my understanding (though I'll admit I'm hardly an expert) Japan is generally less accepting of those who fall outside of societal norms, and more tolerant of things like bullying. Whatever it's like to be Quirkless in the U.S. could just be... nicer, than what it's like in Japan, which is canonly shit by all accounts.

And, while we don't see much of her life, the fact that her father's first instinct is to comfort her is telling that it is seen negatively there, at least to some extent. So, with all that in mind, I don't see Melissa as disproving the 'Quirklessness is bad' concept, she's just specifically lucky in not being around a Bakugou, along with being in what is likely to be a more welcoming environment in America and I-Island, along with the fact that we literally don't know her life. For all we know she was bullied for it to some extent, and it just wasn't as bad as Izuku had it.

The fact her work is more accepted than it should be... again, we don't actually know what American/I-Island society is like; maybe she did have to jump through more hoops, and we don't see it. Maybe she 'earned' her place a while ago, and was accept despite her Quirklessness because she's that good. Maybe her scientist father lends her legitimacy/protection from such things. There's a lot of ways to explain that off, but if I'm being honest I don't think that's something Hori actually put thought into, so I'm not surprised her backstory and what shaped her is unknown/more or less non-existent.

On the other hand, Mirio is in a completely different situation than someone born Quirkless, because he had a Quirk. He was a hero, he has a history of success, and had that taken away from him. Of course he's going to be treated differently!

He was normal, is the thing, and so from that lense the natural thing people would think of him isn't contempt for a lesser, but pity. If you look at Quirklessness as a disability, than while Izuku has, what, a birth defect(? Not really sure there's a good example to use, here), Mirio is a veteran with a missing leg.... though, again, after he loses his Quirk he's put on a bus until he gets it back, and even then he's barely there, so... we don't actually know how he was treated.

And all of that brings us to the other way to look at Quirklessness: as a story element. This is the end where so many complaints come from, and it's clear it's an element Hori dropped, and wanted to be forgotten, a long time ago. I've said it before, but MHA is a story with the bones of a completely different story in it; so much of early MHA is built around a lower key, lower power leveled dynamic, in the same vein as the one shot with the older Izuku who never gets a Quirk, one that was rapidly phased out for the newer flashier story... but it was never removed properly, and it suffers from that incomplete separation.

It's the same reason that Izuku gets through the Sports Festival largely with his wits, but not too long after he goes on the field trip and the only way he can deal with Muscular is with raw power, even though (as pointed out by @kingvamps a while ago in a comment) he has, like, a designated weak spot in his eye, literally a, 'hit here to beat him' area, which could have been used as the way a much weaker (Quirkless) Izuku could have beaten his much stronger opponent (if, admittedly, a version that is maybe less overwhelmingly powerful than what we see in canon), perhaps with some help from Kota: because the Sports Festival still has those bones from the original story, planned around that dynamic, where Izuku was presumably Quirkless, and so has to solve his problems with his mind, where by the time we meet Muscular we've completely moved past that into the new story, where, if it was possible, Izuku was never really Quirkless at all, and even if he was it never really mattered to him. Now let's watch him punch good!

(For the record, I'll point out that around that time period is where we transition from Bakugou having some (not enough) consequences to his actions/attitude, to his attitude suddenly being great and awesome, and isn't it funny how that works out?

You can see the bones, again, where Bakugou being a bad person was actually relevant in some earlier draft of MHA, until we reached the point where he was either written out of the story all together, and thus Hori was writing him without that guideline, or his role just became much more important and had to be altered accordingly, and so he, and how people reacted to him, changed out of nowhere to the new standard that has continued from then onwards.

The fact that Izuku's Quirklessness and how it affected him, and his traumatic backstory as a whole, would reflect negatively on Bakugou if it was focused on at all, who at that point seemed to be promoted in the manga's storyline is probably connected on some level to the fact that those factors also stopped being relevant. Though, admittedly, I doubt that that's the only reason why Quirklessness was phased out of the plot, I don't think it's an insignificant reason for it either. While this is technically correct and relevant, it's also something I think is a bit too off topic, so I'll leave it at this for now.)

You're right that, in this final product we've been given, outside of one or two chapters that could have been edited, there's no actual relevance with Izuku originally being Quirkless. It is, for all intents and purposes, a useless story element... but it shouldn't be. There is so much potential to exploring it, so much that could have been done to develop Izuku, Bakugou, and just the setting as a whole, that could have made everything deeper, and more interesting, and one of the biggest problems with the story is this, that a fundamental part of the main character was deemed inconvenient and abandoned.

[justforbooks]

Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive with songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957), and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on subsequent rock music.

Born into a middle-class black family in St. Louis, Berry had an interest in music from an early age and gave his first public performance at Sumner High School. While still a high school student, he was convicted of armed robbery and was sent to a reformatory, where he was held from 1944 to 1947. After his release, Berry settled into married life and worked at an automobile assembly plant. By early 1953, influenced by the guitar riffs and showmanship techniques of the blues musician T-Bone Walker, Berry began performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio. His break came when he traveled to Chicago in May 1955 and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess, of Chess Records. With Chess, he recorded "Maybellene"—Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red"—which sold over a million copies, reaching number one on Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues chart.

By the end of the 1950s, Berry was an established star, with several hit records and film appearances and a lucrative touring career. He had also established his own St. Louis nightclub, Berry's Club Bandstand. He was sentenced to three years in prison in January 1962 for offenses under the Mann Act—he had transported a 14-year-old girl across state lines for the purpose of having sexual intercourse. After his release in 1963, Berry had several more successful songs, including "No Particular Place to Go", "You Never Can Tell", and "Nadine". However, these did not achieve the same success or lasting impact of his 1950s songs, and by the 1970s he was more in demand as a nostalgia performer, playing his past material with local backup bands of variable quality. In 1972, he reached a new level of achievement when a rendition of "My Ding-a-Ling" became his only record to top the charts. His insistence on being paid in cash led in 1979 to a four-month jail sentence and community service, for tax evasion.

Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986; he was cited for having "laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance." Berry is included in several of Rolling Stone magazine's "greatest of all time" lists; he was ranked fifth on its 2004 and 2011 lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 2nd greatest guitarist of all time in 2023. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll includes three of Berry's: "Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", and "Rock and Roll Music". "Johnny B. Goode" is the only rock-and-roll song included on the Voyager Golden Record.

On March 18, 2017, Berry was found unresponsive at his home near Wentzville, Missouri. Emergency workers called to the scene were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead by his personal physician. TMZ posted an audio recording on its website in which a 911 operator can be heard responding to a reported cardiac arrest at Berry's home.

Berry's funeral was held on April 9, 2017, at The Pageant, in Berry's home town of St. Louis. He was remembered with a public viewing by family, friends, and fans in The Pageant. He was viewed with his cherry-red Gibson ES-335 guitar bolted to the inside lid of the coffin and with flower arrangements that included one sent by the Rolling Stones in the shape of a guitar. Afterwards a private service was held in the club celebrating Berry's life and musical career, with the Berry family inviting 300 members of the public into the service. Gene Simmons of Kiss gave an impromptu, unadvertised eulogy at the service, while Little Richard was scheduled to lead the funeral procession but was unable to attend due to an illness. The night before, many St. Louis area bars held a mass toast at 10 pm in Berry's honor.

One of Berry's attorneys estimated that his estate was worth $50 million, including $17 million in music rights. Berry's music publishing accounted for $13 million of the estate's value. The Berry estate owned roughly half of his songwriting credits (mostly from his later career), while BMG Rights Management controlled the other half; most of Berry's recordings are currently owned by Universal Music Group. In September 2017, Dualtone, the label which released Berry's final album, Chuck, agreed to publish all his compositions in the United States.

Berry is interred in a mausoleum in Bellerive Gardens Cemetery in St. Louis.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[angelofthepage]

What can we expect from Boris: Lone Wolf?

I have some questions about Boris: Lone Wolf.

For those unaware, in Bendy: Secrets of the Machine, one of the secrets is a poster that seems to indicate that Boris and the Dark Survival is getting a rebrand to Boris: Lone Wolf. We had some inkling that this might be the case. A couple months ago, a trademark for Lone Wolf was found, the trademark for BATDS was left to expire, and to top it all off, the devs were cryptically referring to BATDS as "the Boris game" in a number of tweets, but there wasn't anything 100% factual we could garner from that. Just speculation. But now that we have a poster with Dark Survival crossed out and Lone Wolf written on it, it feels like this is the direction things are going in. And I'm not opposed to a rebrand, that's certainly not a bad thing. There's a lot of fun to be had here! But I have some questions about how it's going to be implemented and what to expect from it.

One of those questions is pretty expected coming from me: what do we tag this new thing as? I'd rather no one be spoiled unless they consent to being spoiled, and given we have no idea when this thing is releasing, it'd be nice to have that ironed out sooner rather than later. Like do we tag it as Lone Wolf, do we still tag it as BATDS, is it LW, like, what will the fandom agree upon for its tag? I think I'm gonna go with just Lone Wolf, but I'd love to hear some thoughts on this.

The rest is a bit more complex. How significant of a change is Lone Wolf going to be from what we've come to expect of BATDS? Like, when you go as far as to change the name of your product, I'm expecting something pretty substantial. I'm hearing through the grapevine that the naming convention of the games is changing so that titles with "and the" are easily distinguishable as mainline entries while the rest are side content? And maybe that's all that this is, maybe it's just to make this game fit with that naming scheme. But I get the sense it's more than that.

With this week's SOTM update including a new image with Boris holding a frying pan while wearing a hard hat, and a recent tweet from theMeatly showing that the box is planned to open, those are two things we can reasonably assume will be in Lone Wolf. But what will the frying pan do? Is there some sort of combat element where we smack enemies with it? I mean if Sammy could knock out Henry with a dustpan, why couldn't Boris have a turn? Maybe it's some sort of cooking element, like a minigame, or health restoration on-the-go as like an emergency reserve?

As I was writing this, we got another tweet from theMeatly that talked about this game having "rogue like" elements and a story conclusion? I'm a little surprised, I thought BATDS had a story that came to a conclusion already. It set us up to foreshadow BATDR, that's all it really needed to do. What else could they possibly tell us here? Not sure what to make of "rogue like" gameplay, but that potential combat thing seems a little more likely? Also, once again, as I was writing this we got something new about permadeath on higher difficulties? What is the deal with that? Are we going to be able to select the difficulty we want to play on? That would be a nice quality of life update, not gonna lie, I'm down for more choices in gameplay.

Here's what I wanna know in the present: how are they going to implement this change? When Lone Wolf comes out, are they going to change the Steam page for BATDS to be updated into Lone Wolf, or is it going to be an entirely new Steam page for Lone Wolf that requires us to purchase it as a new product? I have a feeling it's going to be the first one, and if it is, I have a follow-up question: is Steam going to require that I update to the new game? With SOTM, it did not let me open the game unless I had the most updated version. If I own BATDS already, am I going to have a choice about whether or not I update to Lone Wolf? I paid for BATDS, that is the product I knowingly gave my money to, not Lone Wolf, so I want to have a choice to keep the product I chose to spend money on. If I make the choice to update and try it, on the chance don't like it, will I be able to downgrade to a previous version, or is that off the table? I would like to have some management of expectations on this matter, it would give me some peace of mind. I don't need to know anything else about this game until it comes out, I would gladly forgo any other news or information if that was confirmed for me. And that's saying a lot, you know I love keeping up with this series. Those are the things I want to know: what can we expect to happen when this update rolls out?

Given this tweet about how we likely won't get to keep our save files, I'm guessing this is a complete overhaul, or pretty close to it, on the back end. And admittedly...I'm kind of sad about that. Not about the not keeping of save files, no, I expected that given what happened with all of BATIM's updates. What I'm sad about is that it feels like Lone Wolf is going to feel significantly different from the game that came before it, despite being a rebrand of it. And I think, hearing that from me is likely going to surprise a number of you. If you've ever talked to me about Bendy, you'll know that I'm fascinated by how these games have changed over time. I delight in telling people who weren't there from the beginning how parts of BATIM moved around, the Sammy Lawrence getting shoes story is amongst my favorites just because it's so funny. And the thing is, most of the changes made to these games have been for the better, not just from a quality standpoint, but from the perspective of getting closer to the devs' vision for this story. And as someone who wants all creatives to achieve their visions and make things that make them happy, of course I'd want to celebrate that. So shouldn't I be happy that this game is supposed to be getting a number of improvements?

That being said...I'm also sentimental. Boris and the Dark Survival was released four years ago at the start of the pandemic. This game was one of the few things I had to look forward to at that point in time. It was how I ended up meeting a number of people that are still extremely good friends, people I cherish having in my life. I still think back to the note that used to be in it when the Butcher Gang was added in.

That's one of the most human things in this series. It's not in the game anymore, it went away when Sammy and the bathrooms were added in. But I've held onto it.

I'm...not ready for BATDS to change. I expect a game to change when it's getting a remaster decades after the fact, or if it's an online/multiplayer experience that's in need of patches to balance it better. I expect games to stop being playable when their hardware or software can't be run anymore, or the tech they're on physically breaks. But this game? I didn't expect this, and that makes the change feel big and scary. It feels like this came out of nowhere, like it's too young. I think...I'm not ready to let go of BATDS or BATIM, I don't want to see changes to either one, even if they're the best changes in the world, because they're so near and dear to my heart. I spent so much time with them, they got me through some of the most difficult moments in my life. I mean I just got done with a whole video essay on it. I don't want to come back and see that they've become something drastically different from the old friend I knew. I want them to stay the way they are and then have whatever comes next be the new stuff that's different.

I want to see Bendy grow and change, I want to see this series try new things. I want the team behind it to create something that they're proud of. But I also don't want the old to be adjusted for the new anymore. I'd rather we just move on, make the new things to be the best they can be, let the old exist as it is, and let everyone keep the parts that they loved all throughout. BATIM and BATDS are not perfect by any means, but they don't need to be perfect. They did what they needed to do, they did what they could with what they had at the time, and sometimes, that has to be enough. Sometimes you have to let the old be there so you can look back at it and see how far you've come. If I went back to every old art project I'd made to remake it, I would never have time to be innovative and play with new ideas in the present. Bendy should be allowed to change without getting stuck on the past. I may not love every single change that comes along, but let's be real, who does when it comes to stuff like this? I don't have to love all of it in order for it to be valid and enjoyed by the fandom as a whole. There's a lot to be excited for with Bendy in the near future. There's so many cool things to play with, so much potential for these stories, and there's several parts I am looking forward to. Silent City is probably the biggest source of excitement for me personally, but there's a lot to be curious about with the other recently announced projects too. That's what I want: to be able to be excited for the new and still cherish the old as it is at the same time.

I think, give me time, and I might be able to warm up to Lone Wolf. I might be ready for that change if I know I have the option to go back to the old. Or if I don't have that option, tell me in advance so I can mentally prepare for it and make peace with it first. I'd really appreciate some time to process on my own before the update comes out (especially since we have no idea when it's coming out), that way maybe I can work my way up to celebrating the good of the new with my fellow fans. Our fandom gets really loud and caught up in the rush, and I know myself. I need a heads up to be able to self curate and step away, that way when the fun begins, I can be there cheering everyone on. That's all I ask, my good puppet sir. Meatly, I don't get the sense you browse Tumblr, but on the chance you are, please, we really need more management of expectations when it comes to the future of Bendy. I get it, your whole thing is doing the unexpected, and I respect that. I love so many of the twists and turns you've put in here. I just feel the unexpected works best when it's mostly in the games/media and not in the stuff surrounding it. I want to be pleasantly surprised by what comes next. Please, I could really use some hope right now that things are gonna be okay.

[actiasteeth]

ASKBOX MEME 055 / BLUE EYE SAMURAI S01E01-03

All prompts taken from season one of Blue Eye Samurai (2023). Adjust as needed.

01. HAMMERSCALE

"Maybe I've been following you."

"You don't deserve my blade. You don't even deserve this blade."

"Go home."

"My whole life, I couldn't do anything right, but now I know what I'm supposed to do."

"A breeze can throw a crane off course. You are a typhoon."

"To a man lost in the dark, an ember can light the way."

"Have I defeated the undefeatable _____?"

"Think of it as an engagement gift."

"Every secret is revealed here."

"Yet an impurity in the right place is a quality."

"Are you stealing from me?"

"I do no know their names. I do know their fate. They will all die by my hand."

"You may be something shameful. You may also be strong."

"Oh, good. We get to kill you."

"A poor technique—easily learned, easily defeated."

"But... then you'll die."

"You've climbed some heights to be the prize of a miserable lot."

"You had a name for me."

"Thank you. No one has yet deserved my blade."

"Death comes for everyone. For you, today."

"Revenge is like gold. It does not rust. It will wait."

"I can never repay your kindness."

"You have spoken enough nonsense today."

"We cannot part in a lie."

"That is your burden to keep."

"You came to me as a stupid lost boy. If you insist on leaving now, it will be as a stupid lost man."

02. AN UNEXPECTED ELEMENT

"I do not want you anywhere near me. Stay away."

"I know why you think you don't want me around, but you can trust me."

"I'd never tell your secret—not ever."

"If I see you again, I will kill you and never think of you again."

"You will not find what you seek at my side."

"I am owed my revenge, and I will have it at any cost."

"My whole life has been a battle."

"Why didn't he just kill me?"

"Victory cannot come from dishonor."

"But what if he kills you this time?"

"There's no shame in making a home here and keeping your life."

"_____. Is your mind clear?"

"_____. Is your soul at rest?"

"Forgive my failure."

"This hand has taken many lives."

"We can only mind our own soul, _____."

"You do not try to change my mind this time!"

"You are not the hero of this family's story."

"Stupid girl. Too stupid to see—I am giving you an opportunity."

"Why didn't you stand up for me?"

"You think I don't know you, _____?"

"What choice do I have?"

"If we're running away, let's at least do it warm."

"I'm not even good at what I thought I was great at."

"You got somewhere better to be?"

"You have enemies now."

03. A FIXED NUMBER OF PATHS

"Killing it is a mercy. Do it already."

"Ugh—coward. I'll do it."

"Don't touch him."

"If that door opens, we die."

"You solve the problem."

"Is that an order?"

"So, if you might, my dear, dear friend—my trusted partner and clear equal, my right hand and both feet on land, fondest heart—spare a cup of concern towards our purpose... and do it your fucking self."

"If he dies, you die."

"You can barely stand, let alone hold that sword for long."

"I didn't kill you when I easily could have."

"How many days do you need before you're well enough to die?"

"You cost me my station and my honor. I'll have it all back when I return with your corpse."

"If you wanted me dead, you should've struck when you had the chance. The time to kill your enemy is when you can."

"You don't want revenge. You want a party."

"No one gets to kill you but me."

"There is no possibility this will be anything other than a trap."

"Revenge does not hesitate."

"Fight within your confines, not against them."

"I am not out here to learn a lesson."

"Count to ten, then climb out that window. Run."

"Been some time since I killed a man. I wonder if I still remember how."

"If you prefer, I can kill you now."

"You need me because you're weak."

"I can beat you with any weapon you choose."

"Oh, no. No, thank you. We're not going in that death trap."

"So if he's walking in to meet certain death, I'll be there to keep him and death from getting too friendly."

"To find out only now—you never believed in me."

"I look your way and don't even see you."

"I have no interest in money or power. I have no interest in being happy. Only satisfied."

"How do I trust you don't leave me in there to die?"

"My reasons are my own."

"What happens if I refuse?"

"Stop counting seconds till we die."

"Men like him like to talk so much they eventually tell you how to destroy them."

[the-lunar-library]

TO THE RAVENS

Alexandros the Peregrine, a dashing, cutting, irreverent prophet with a tame god.

When it comes to the inspiration for this character, that's easy: He's based on the real life prophet Alexander of Abonoteichos, the subject of Lucian's famous essay “Alexander the False Prophet”. But Lucian fans will also notice some references to Peregrinus, a lesser known but still colorful prophet whom Lucian also skewered on the end of his stylus. They're both interesting figures, and it was a lot of fun combining them into my Alexandros, the second most important character in the novel.

Read more to learn about this very pretty trickster.

Out of all of the characters, Alexandros most closely mirrors his real life counterpart (though even there, not very closely), so in that way he was an easy character to develop. And engrossing to research for. He's a false prophet who throws together his own religion. Religion as a subject fascinates me. Even before starting this project, I was pretty familiar with a number of niche religious movements, both those that would be considered cults and others that would more neutrally be called unique. So along with looking at Alexander of Abonoteichos' traits (as thoroughly criticized by Lucian), I also drew from these other references, though hopefully not too closely; I want the details of Alexandros' cult to ring true to real-world movements without sounding too derivative.

I think one of the things about Alexandros that required a lot of thought was setting the tone for his personality, the way he talks, the things he does, and overall his impact on those around him. On the one hand, we're talking about a cult. You can't realistically write about a cult and ignore how serious they are. But on the other hand, I still wanted to play around with humor. Religion – and I'm not writing this as any kind of skeptical or atheistic statement – is inherently funny. It's an important thing, and important things often have very funny elements to them, partially because of their very importance. According to Lucian, the real life Alexander made some extraordinarily ludicrous (and daring) gambles, and I wanted to play with that. Play with that, have fun with it. But – at the same time – you can never shut off your brain and pretend all of this is just funny.

As far as his design goes, Lucian tells us Alexander was handsome, even “godlike”. With my Alexandros, I decided to make his features almost uncannily ideal. We only ever see him directly in the heroine Akantha's pov, and when she meets him she's had very few men in her life who take her as seriously as Alexandros does, befriending her, caring about the things that hurt her, taking her into his secrets. So she's dazzled by him. It's arguable whether his dazzle is objective or comes more through her perception of him, but I do want him to have a beautiful, almost godlike quality at times.

I decided to throw in a small cheek scar. Sort of a permanent dimple, as well as a hint that at some point in his reckless and quicksilver past, things didn't go according to plan. It's supposed to be on his left cheek, though it appears on his right cheek on the book's back cover – I wanted to include it but he was facing to the right, so I'm guilty of a deliberate inconsistency.

I love writing Alexandros. My hope is that the reader finds him intriguing – perhaps funny and charming, perhaps perceptive and intelligent, perhaps some other things – and, above all, is never bored when he's on the page.

[filmsfromreel]

2023 Best Picture Nominees Ranked From Worst to Best

A late list from us at Reel, but a interesting night with some suprising winners meant plenty of time to reflect and discuss, eagerly anticipating the slate of films this year.

Whether or not you agree with the awards it’s safe to say that this year’s nominees for Best Picture were an eclectic group of films all bringing something different to the table. From franchise epics to dark comedies, from war films to music biopics, you cannot deny the quality on show. But, even though all the films were individualistic, some were better than others. Here is our ranking of the Best Picture Nominees from worst to best. 

10. Avatar: Way of the Water 

Most of the naysayers of James Cameron’s epic Sci-Fi sequel have been silenced as the film became the 3rd highest grossing film of all time. Absolutely nothing can take away the huge financial success of Cameron’s 3-hour water adventure, but, for all the vast landscapes, exciting action and visual wonder it offers, the film still gets bogged down by what plagued it’s predecessor.

For all its otherworldly qualities the film’s biggest problem is in its humanity. The multitude of characters, and their stories, feel like mere splashes in the ocean Cameron has created for us. While the visuals deservedly won big on Oscar night, there really isn’t enough consistency in Avatar’s vast 3-hour runtime, making the journey feel like a slog more so than the thrill-ride everyone was promised. 

9. Triangle of Sadness

Ruben Ostlund’s third feature had early signs it may follow a similar trajectory to the one Parasite had 4 years ago. Winning the Palme D’Or and getting nominated for a number of other awards across the globe, it looked like Ostlund would be celebrating deep into award season for his film. However, with no wins at this year’s Academy Awards, Triangle of Sadness has faded into the darkness as far superior films took the spotlight. This may just be circumstantial but arguably it’s because, despite being captivating in parts, this is Ostlund’s weakest effort.

When compared to The Square and Force Majeure, both of which have an enigmatic quality to their stories, Triangle of Sadness regularly smacks you on the head with its themes. Even when Ostlund is showing us some of the finest direction of the year (particularly in the dinner scene on the boat), it still gets dragged out to the extreme – hitting home ideas that were already communicated 10 minutes before. Having said that, Ostlund remains one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and despite Triangle of Sadness feeling weaker than his other efforts, there are still moments of brilliance scattered throughout.

8. The Fabelmans 

The biggest takeaway from Spielberg’s reflective life story is that the Director has never lost his touch. Sure, some of his more recent ventures pale in comparison to Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park and Jaws, but his understanding of the medium and how audiences connect to it are the shining light in The Fabelmans. Scenes in which Sammy Fabelman watches his audience react to his films are wonderfully constructed, making it clear that the legendary director has never lost his love for cinema. 

However, this film was always going to border on the self indulgent. If you compare this film to the reflective efforts of Cuarón’s Roma and Brannagh’s Belfast, The Fabelmans struggles to find a core reason to tell its story. Its backdrop dabbles with elements of depression, anti-semitism and bullying but never fully explores them and while Spielberg is telling the story with his heart on his sleeve, it still can’t find a genuine reason for the story it’s telling.  

7. Top Gun: Maverick

One of the year’s biggest surprises was the quality on show in David Kosinsky’s sequel to the cheesy 80’s classic. While it still adheres to its predecessors rules of topless sport and needless high-fiving the film’s technical aspects very often leave you in awe. The sound, visual effects and action set-pieces are wonderfully put together to create so much energy and tension – but the most surprising part of this sequel is the emotional attachments it holds to the first film. 

Tom Cruise’s performance as Maverick is reflective and softer while never losing the rashness of the character, and the emotional beats between Maverick and Goose’s son (named “Rooster”) win you over every time. This could have so easily turned into just another sequel, but Kosinsky’s controlled direction and modern approach make for a mature follow up that surpasses the original with ease. 

6. Elvis

Over the past few years we’ve had a slew of mediocre music biopics, often boasting a great central performance but never understanding their subject, which makes it a delightful surprise to have a film like Elvis come along. Baz Luhrmann took the story of an icon and told it with the energy and glamour that make the Director so distinct. But, what’s even more impressive is how the film understands just how emphatic Elvis Presley was as an icon. 

The film is by no means perfect, with Tom Hanks not quite hitting the mark as well as his co-stars, but this should be the definitive blueprint for music biopics to come. From his room-shaking begins to the darker days of his time in Vegas, Elvis tells us the story while never forgetting to inject the passion and personality that made Elvis Presley one of the most iconic performers of all time. Also, it’s impossible not to be impressed by Butler’s spellbinding performance.

5. Women Talking 

Sarah Polley’s chamber piece rightfully took home the Best Adapted Screenplay award for her talky adaptation of Miriam Toews novel. The script that Polley wrote is a beautiful balance between character, theme and discussion, lending personality and importance to create one of the most timely films of the year.

While Polley’s script is what shines the most it cannot be understated how important her direction is. Instead of being flashy and overbearing she opts for quiet and observational direction that allows her characters to shine with their own heartbreaking individuality. Like all great chamber pieces, Women Talking densely packs its small setting with so much – leaving you eternally affected by the film’s outcome. 

4. All Quiet on the Western Front

Edward Berger’s adaptation of Remarque’s novel takes a modern approach in its filmmaking to really hit home the timeless themes of the classic source material. Every battle scene is wonderfully constructed in order to capture the “War Is Hell” mantra of the film while never losing those individual struggles we see from the leading characters.

There are different threads that the film pulls on that don’t work quite as well as the core story, but these merely provide extra layers to a film that’s already packed densely with story. War films have to really do something special to stand out these days and Edward Berger has ensured that his film stands head and shoulders above a lot of films of a similar ilk.

3. Tár

At times Todd Fields’ near 3-hour character piece can feel strenuous. The script never hides away from the world it’s set in, often allowing long stretches of dialogue about Classical music to play out in front of its sturdy camera, but the film succeeds because of its subtle character evolutions. You’d be quick to dismiss this film as a discussion on “cancel culture” or even the separation of Art vs. Artist, but really what it’s doing is building everything into its central character.

Smartly made and marketed like a biopic, the film takes a grounded approach of talking about people who are considered otherworldly. Every action, conversation and thought Lydia Tár experiences is slowly etching away her mythical persona as one of the greatest composers of all time – until it all implodes in glorious fashion. The film will likely be remembered for Blanchett’s wonderful performance, but there is a quiet complexity to Tár that stays with you for a long time. 

2. Banshees of Inisherin

Martin McDonagh’s newest film is arguably his finest work. In Bruges loyalists will always argue against that, but McDonagh’s signature style has never felt more fluid than in Banshees of Inisherin. Not only that, but the razor sharp humour wonderfully compliments the quiet melancholic tone – as well as the allegory for the Irish Civil War. 

McDonagh surrounds himself with the familiar faces of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson who, along with the addition of two wonderful performances from Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan, anchor this film’s themes perfectly. The chemistry seeping from every scene shared between the cast amplifies the humour but also gives the film a sense of community, reaffirming the bigger questions of death and legacy, as well as the impact we have on those around us. 

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once 

Easily the most original and unpredictable film of the year – maybe even of the current decade – The Daniels’ bizarre vision of the multiverse is told with veteran control. You easily find yourself in awe of the film’s barbaric narrative, but what’s even more impressive is the it’s ability to find so much heart at the centre of its chaos. 

Amongst the confetti action, hotdog fingers and hundreds of other elements The Daniels pack into their film there is a quietly controlled narrative between Mother and Daughter, exploring their lack of connection and the solace they find in that shared experience. It’s a narrative that is extremely hard to balance at the best times but doing it with so much craziness surrounding it – as well as challenging a suffering marriage as well – is why this film easily stands as the best film nominated for Best Picture. Everything Everywhere All At Once won big at the Oscars and for the first time ever there isn’t a soul out there that can argue against with the wins.

[nightguide]

what life is actually coming to (22/5/24) Gumball edition:

(season 5 ep 32)

the world in the viewers eyes shift the narrative to the way Gumball misinterprets the life of Carmen if she never had it, Carmen is living in Gumball's expectations before she is the only one in the school thinking of what the actual heart in heaven would look like. Nothing like you would think but Gumball doesn't exist when you are Gumball watching Carmen's life as if you were trying to fix your own mistakes but does not want to tell you off, so Bocquelet tells off the heartbreaker's heart to be (you can say everything is satanic but the satanism doesn't exist when he just exemplifies the status quo in understanding what 2 people do when they are alone together)

happy couples reunite... but CN hates happy couples apart and where is all the love going to? :(

lackadaisical upbringing. makes sense if he tries to communicate to his lover that way since he doesn't need any reprimands of the highest order

'what the hell is kindness anymore but a facet of smug we all seem to have when we're not there'

mankind and the inner voice is his mom.

when you don't to be but you want to be but the world doesn't want you to either, you find reasoning in your Dad than you do with your Mom but he lets you fck it up so that you can see the bigger picture of your life's history one last time

'bars? don't you mean, 'life patterns'

the cause of the argument is the cause of the argument is not even a matter but is now an actual matter when open discussions don't even matter the matter but what matters is actually an open cause to suggest a solution: viewers win the argument by not caring about it but 'look, it's funny'

cartoons cannot draft, select and multiply meaning so where is the actual matter coming from. (did i just discover a new known element?) i might call it 'Elmorium' after the school Gumball went to out Carmen

psyche to cartoon physics work. all you have to do is think (holy shit, i made history)

no sign or evidence that you're not there (the actual heartbreaker right now)

(note: heartbreakers are known for reflecting their lives back into self worth, they attain their lives in being and they make it purely a living by being conscious of themselves and for others)

the mediocrity of saying 'no'

'you are one of those

assholes

who needed me

where are you now'

(gets pwned by his wife)

select what is and what isn't. you're afraid of what people think of you, don't you?

isn't cartoon to cartoon violence manipulated on screen happening in reality, then what is it when you're thinking so much that cartoon physics actually break... did they.... just create.. the atom bomb in.. front of us.. in hindsight? doesn't that mean reality is what you call a literal computer making that for you when all you have to do is cross off a tab then you destroy a world with it?..... what the heck are we made of? this is some otherworld science manipulation they don't teach you about but demonise it in the end which is actually a neurotypical heartbreaker. Ben Bocquelet is a guy who now is a world class philosopher with that kind of mind right now, i applaud this highly

2 dimensional physics should be studied as heart trainees at hospitals.

'i thought

it was over'

'so no nuclear warheads?'

Darwin is a fish of war

Tobias is not even here anymore, dividing against an opposable number only brings them to another CN show, possibly Regular Show because the portal equates maths into logic which is not even apparently held responsible there, Darwin just made history by being the.. first fish known.. seriously they're gonna put awards on fish on being existent to being existent on existence making Darwin an actual fish....... being the first fish known to mankind to ever equate logic within a heartfelt idealism within logic discovered by me, Linna Shaheen being the first human known to animation being the one to discover the world within a world and make it her own home

reality also means that your life is safe with cartoons. they bought with the cost of a heart (scroll down to see where i explain how and why your life being a celebrity comes at a cost)

'you can't out something you already have'

'big think numbers make me better than you in every. single. way.'

(wow, actually founding a reason to feel physics like me like i am animated. the world is a journey for anyone who can dream but employing a righteous reason to exist is nothing other than fundamentally questioning why like you were a 4yo, just take fun more seriously and pick fights with your elders cuz they are not as right as you are to them, they're not masturbating to your new world agenda's aren't they, so quit being a bitch and pick fights. lowkey feeling too strong to exist but highkey knowing all of it is mine (◕‿◕✿) ಠ‿↼

[joedaytoday]

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The Heard Museum is dedicated to the art, culture, religions, and histories of the state's Indigenous people.

We saw sculptures like the beautiful one show above by Doug Hyde.

One of the galleries featured beadwork by a few different Native artists. They were all beautifully done but the one pictured above was particularly striking to me. The piece is titled Maternal Journey and the artist is Rhonda Holy Bear. From the front you see the mother figure moving forward with one of her children. As you can tell

the craftsmanship is jaw-dropping and the symbolism beautiful. See below for a description in the words of the artist.

Shown above is a view of Maternal Journey from the rear allowing you see two more of the mother's children.

A number of compelling works by an artist named Brenda Mallory were on display.

I found the kachina dolls to be particularly intriguing. I have heard of them and seen them before but didn't know their significance before this. The museum had information regarding them but here is an overview from Wikipedia:

"Kachinas are spirits or personifications of things in the real world. These spirits are believed to visit the Hopi villages during the first half of the year. The local pantheon of kachinas varies from pueblo community to community. A kachina can represent anything in the natural world or cosmos, from a revered ancestor to an element, a location, a quality, a natural phenomenon, or a concept; there may be kachinas for the sun, stars, thunderstorms, wind, corn, insects, as well as many other concepts."

"Kachinas are understood as having human-like relationships: families such as parents and siblings, as well as marrying and having children. Although not worshipped, each is viewed as a powerful being who, if given veneration and respect, can use his particular power for human good, bringing rainfall, healing, fertility, or protection, for example. The central theme of kachina beliefs and practices as explained by Wright (2008) is "the presence of life in all objects that fill the universe. Everything has an essence or a life force, and humans must interact with these or fail to survive."

Dale and I found the overall experience at the Heard Museum to be particularly moving. In this country we are still so cut off from the Native experience. For myself I found that in order to appreciate the beauty of this work I had to acknowledge the systematic attempts to eradicate Native American culture from this land.

[cardologyclub]

Cardology & The Hidden Calendar

Hidden within the numeric values of the 52-card deck is our solar year calendar. Check it out:

Take a deck of cards, add up the values of each card from the Ace (one) to 10, then 11 for the Jack, 12 for the Queen and 13 for the King.

The total will add up to 364.

Then add the Joker’s value of 1.25 which takes up “the remnant of days” (the leap year) and brings the total of the cards to 365.25 days of the solar year.

Other wild synchronicities:

52 cards in the deck and 52 weeks in the year.

Add 52 together (5+2) for the 7 days in a week.

7 days X 52 weeks are 364 days. Add the Jokers value of 1.25 and you once again have the 365.25 days of the year.

There are 4 Suits and 4 Seasons in a calendar year.

There are 13 cards per suit and 13 weeks per each season of the year.

Add 13 together (1+3) to remind us of the 4 seasons in a year.

Multiply 4 by 13 and you have 52—once again, 52 weeks of the year, and 52 cards in the deck.

Amazing, right? When you include celestial values into the mix, there is even more evidence of a hidden number system. 

Add 52 together (5+2) for the 7 major planets in our solar system.

The 12 Crown Cards represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac.

13 cards per suit equal the 13 constellations, (includes Ophiuchus!)

13 cards = 13 new Moons per year. 

Add 13 together (1+3) to get 4, signifying the 4 cardinal points of the compass, the 4 lunar phases each month, and the 4 elements: water, air, fire, and earth.

HOW TO USE THE CARDS

Self-Understanding

Know Thyself! is the mantra when you use the cards to understand the conditions and agreements of your soul. These conditions and agreements support your unfulfilled desires from previous lifetimes. Your unfulfilled desires are the chains that bind your soul to the wheel of life. Know them!

Relationships

The magnetic qualities of love and hate attract us to others with whom we have unfulfilled desires - over many lifetimes. These desires include the desire for love, sex, sympathy, revenge, nurturing, friendship, support, protection, peace and understanding. The cards and planets combine to show us how to reconcile our relationships, or put them to rest.

Self-Mastery

The ancients knew of the spiritual and metaphysical Laws that govern all life. The cards reveal the outcomes of past actions in a never ending drama of cause and effect. You can master these laws - in real time - if you know what they are. The cards were designed to show you the way. 

Metasymbology is not a tool for telling fortunes, although it can be used for that. Nor does it associate karma with fate or destiny. Metasymbology is an ancient method of divine insight that shows you how you can reconnect to the qualities of your soul-nature and become the master of yourself.

[sobhainteriors]

Find Affordable Best Interior Designers In Bangalore

Introduction

Your living space tells a unique story, making interior design crucial in creating environments that reflect your personality and enhance your daily life. Finding the right Best interior designers in Bangalore who can bring your vision to life without breaking the bank presents a real challenge.

The bustling city of Bangalore houses countless design professionals, yet identifying skilled designers who deliver quality work at reasonable rates requires careful research and consideration. Many homeowners struggle with balancing their dream designs against budget constraints, unsure how to evaluate designers' expertise and cost-effectiveness.

This guide walks you through the essential steps to discover affordable interior designers in Bangalore who match your style and budget. You'll learn:

How to assess your design needs and set realistic budgets

Methods to research and evaluate local designers

Tips for reviewing portfolios and testimonials

Strategies to maintain effective project communication

Ways to save costs without compromising quality

From understanding market rates to identifying reliable professionals, this comprehensive resource helps you transform your space with professional expertise while keeping your finances in check.

Understanding Your Design Needs and Budget Constraints

A successful interior design project starts with a clear vision of your requirements. Start by creating a detailed list of your needs:

Functional Requirements

Number of rooms needing renovation

Storage requirements

Specific lifestyle accommodations

Special features (home office, entertainment area)

Aesthetic Preferences

Design style (modern, traditional, minimalist)

Color schemes

Material preferences

Lighting requirements

The initial consultation with your designer serves as a crucial planning phase. During this meeting:

Discuss your lifestyle patterns and daily routines

Share inspiration photos and design preferences

Review material samples and finish options

Get professional input on space optimization

Understand timeline expectations

Receive a preliminary cost breakdown

Professional designers can help identify cost-effective alternatives without compromising on quality. They often have established relationships with suppliers, potentially securing better rates for materials and fixtures.

Remember to factor in additional costs:

Labor charges

Material transportation

Furniture and accessories

Contingency fund (15-20% of total budget)

If you're considering a kitchen remodel, it's essential to read this before hiring a kitchen designer for valuable insights. For those planning a bathroom remodel, these tips for planning your bathroom remodel could prove beneficial. Additionally, understanding how to balance your design aspirations with financial realities is key; you might find this Reddit discussion on how people afford well-decorated homes useful.

1. Researching Local Designers in Bangalore

Local interior designers in Bangalore bring unique advantages to your home renovation project. Their deep understanding of the city's architectural styles, from traditional Kannadiga elements to modern urban designs, ensures culturally relevant and practical solutions.

Key Benefits of Local Designers:

Direct face-to-face interactions for better project coordination

Quick response times for urgent design modifications

Strong networks with local vendors and craftsmen

Knowledge of climate-appropriate materials and designs

Familiarity with local building regulations and permits

Prime Areas to Scout for Designers:

Chikpet - Known for its concentration of design studios and material suppliers

City Market - Home to numerous experienced designers with competitive rates

Koramangala - Hub for modern design firms specializing in contemporary aesthetics

Whitefield - Features design studios catering to luxury and premium segments

You can discover talented local designers through design exhibitions, trade shows, and professional networks in these areas. Many established designers maintain showrooms displaying their work samples, making it easier to evaluate their style and expertise firsthand.

2. Shortlisting and Consulting Designers

Meeting potential designers requires strategic planning to maximize your time and resources. Here's a practical approach to shortlist and consult designers:

Setting Up Initial Consultations:

Schedule meetings with 3-4 designers during their off-peak hours

Request virtual consultations first to save time

Share your project requirements and inspiration images beforehand

Prepare specific questions about their design process and timeline

Key Elements to Evaluate During Meetings:

Design approach alignment with your vision

Communication style and responsiveness

Willingness to work within your budget

Experience with similar projects

Availability during your preferred timeline

Reviewing Design Proposals:

Compare detailed cost breakdowns

Check for hidden charges or additional fees

Evaluate the proposed timeline

Look for innovative solutions within budget constraints

Assess material quality recommendations

Red Flags to Watch For:

Vague or incomplete quotes

Pressure tactics for immediate decisions

Unwillingness to provide references

Lack of proper documentation

Resistance to discussing budget alternatives

Ask each designer to provide a sample mood board or concept sketch. This helps you understand their creative vision and ability to translate your ideas into practical designs. Request references from their previous clients and examine their work quality, timeliness, and budget management skills.

It's crucial to be aware of potential pitfalls in the hiring process, such as budget overruns which can lead to significant stress and financial strain.

3. Reviewing Portfolios, Testimonials, and Legal Considerations

A designer's portfolio serves as a visual testament to their expertise and creative vision. You'll want to examine:

Project Diversity: Look for designs across different property sizes and styles

Before-and-After Comparisons: These showcase the designer's ability to transform spaces

Material Selection: Pay attention to the quality and variety of materials used

Space Optimization: Notice how designers handle challenging layouts

Client testimonials provide real-world insights into a designer's work ethic and reliability. Focus on reviews that mention:

Project completion timelines

Budget adherence

Communication effectiveness

Problem-solving abilities

Post-project support

The legal framework of your project requires careful attention to protect both parties. Essential contract elements include:

Detailed Scope of Work

Room-by-room specifications

Material quality standards

Timeline milestones

Change Management

Process for design modifications

Additional cost calculations

Timeline impact assessment

Request a sample contract to review these details thoroughly. A professional designer will provide clear documentation of all terms, including warranty periods and maintenance guidelines for installed features.

4. Maintaining Effective Communication Throughout the Project Timeline

Clear communication serves as the backbone of successful interior design projects. You need to establish regular check-ins with your designer to track progress and address concerns promptly.

Essential Communication Practices:

Schedule weekly progress meetings

Create a shared digital folder for design updates and changes

Document all decisions and modifications in writing

Set up a dedicated communication channel (WhatsApp/email)

Request photo updates of work-in-progress

Key Discussion Points During Project:

Material selections and alternatives

Timeline adjustments

Budget tracking

Quality control measures

On-site coordination with contractors

A proactive approach to communication helps prevent costly mistakes and delays. You can request your designer to provide daily site visit reports during critical phases like demolition or furniture installation. This level of transparency ensures your vision aligns with the actual execution and allows for timely course corrections when needed.

5. Cost Estimates for Interior Design Projects And Cost-Saving Tips

Understanding interior design costs in Bangalore helps you plan your budget effectively. Here's a detailed breakdown of typical project costs and smart ways to optimize your spending:

Cost Factors That Impact Your Budget

Room dimensions

Material quality selection

Furniture requirements

Custom design elements

Labor costs

Money-Saving Strategies

Mix high-end materials in focal points with budget-friendly options in less visible areas

Choose ready-made furniture pieces instead of custom designs

Retain existing furniture through strategic refinishing or reupholstering

Select local materials to reduce transportation costs

Plan electrical and plumbing layouts early to avoid costly modifications

Smart Budget Distribution

Essential Items: 50% of budget

Furniture: 30% of budget

Accessories: 10% of budget

Buffer: 10% for unexpected expenses

Package Inclusions to Look For

Free initial consultation

3D design visualization

Project timeline planning

Material procurement assistance

Installation supervision

Post-installation support

Many Bangalore designers offer flexible payment plans, splitting the total cost into manageable installments: 40% advance, 30% during execution, and 30% upon completion. This payment structure helps maintain steady project progress while managing your cash flow effectively.

Recommended Interior Designers in Bangalore

Bangalore's top interior design firms offer distinctive styles and competitive pricing to match diverse client needs. Here's a curated selection of established designers:

1. Sobha Interiors

Luxury residential design specialists

Premium material selection

In-house manufacturing facilities

Custom furniture design services

5-year warranty on installations

2. Notable Lighting Specialists

Aditya Lamps

Extensive range of contemporary fixtures

Custom lighting solutions

Energy-efficient options

Professional installation services

Kingdom of Lights

Specialized in chandeliers

Smart lighting systems

Designer collections

Competitive bulk pricing

These firms maintain dedicated project managers, ensuring smooth execution from concept to completion. Each designer brings unique expertise, from Sobha's high-end finishes to DesignCafe's space optimization techniques. Their established networks with suppliers help secure quality materials at better rates.

Conclusion

Finding affordable best interior designers in Bangalore doesn't mean compromising on quality. With the right knowledge and approach, you can create your dream space while staying within budget. Use these tips to guide you:

Define clear requirements

Research thoroughly

Compare multiple proposals

Check credentials

Maintain open communication

Bangalore has a vibrant design community with many talented professionals who can transform your space without exceeding your budget.  contact recommended designers, schedule consultations, and take the first step towards your beautifully designed space.

Remember: A well-designed home enhances your daily life, increases property value, and leaves a lasting impression. Investing in professional interior design services will pay off through optimized spaces and thoughtful solutions. Your dream space is within reach - take action now to make your vision a reality with Bangalore's affordable interior design experts.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the significance of interior design in enhancing spaces?

Interior design plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality, aesthetics, and overall atmosphere of a space. It transforms environments to reflect personal style while ensuring comfort and efficiency.

What challenges might I face when looking for affordable interior designers in Bangalore?

Finding affordable yet skilled interior designers can be challenging due to the competitive market, varying rates, and the need for quality work. It's essential to balance budget constraints with the desire for professional expertise.

How can I effectively outline my design needs and budget before consulting a designer?

Clearly defining your design needs involves assessing your personal style, functional requirements, and any specific preferences. Setting a realistic budget entails researching market rates and determining what you can afford without compromising on quality.

What should I consider when shortlisting interior designers in Bangalore?

When shortlisting designers, consider their local knowledge, previous work samples, client testimonials, and communication style. It's beneficial to meet with potential candidates to discuss your project and gauge their approach.

Why is it important to review portfolios and legal documents before hiring an interior designer?

Reviewing portfolios provides insight into a designer's style and reliability, while checking testimonials helps gauge client satisfaction. Legal documents like contracts are essential to outline payment terms and scope of work, protecting both parties from misunderstandings.

What are some cost-saving tips for interior design projects?

To save costs while still achieving quality design, consider repurposing existing furniture, exploring package deals based on room dimensions, and comparing quotes from different firms. This allows you to maintain a stylish space without overspending.

[epicfx]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Pakistani Wedding Photographer

Planning a wedding can be a whirlwind of emotions, decisions, and preparations. One of the most crucial elements that often gets overlooked is choosing the right Pakistani wedding photographer. After all, these photos will capture the essence of your special day, freezing moments that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. So, how do you find someone who not only understands your vision but can also bring it to life?

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about hiring a Pakistani wedding photographer, from understanding their unique style to tips for ensuring your big day is perfectly captured. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Pakistani Wedding Photography

Pakistani weddings are rich in tradition, culture, and vibrant colours. The photography style reflects this uniqueness, capturing everything from the intricate details of bridal attire to the joyous celebrations. A Pakistani wedding photographer knows how to encapsulate these moments, providing a visual narrative that tells your story.

Why Hire a Specialist?

Choosing a photographer who specializes in Pakistani weddings is vital. They understand the cultural nuances, rituals, and significance of each event, from the Mehndi to the Walima. A specialist will be more adept at capturing those candid moments that truly showcase the joy and emotion of the day.

Essential Qualities to Look For

When searching for the right photographer, consider the following qualities:

Experience: Look for someone with a solid portfolio showcasing various weddings.

Creativity: A photographer should have a unique artistic vision and the ability to think outside the box.

Communication Skills: They should be approachable and willing to listen to your ideas.

Different Styles of Wedding Photography

Every photographer has a distinct style. Understanding these can help you choose someone whose vision aligns with yours. Here are some popular styles you might consider:

Traditional Photography

This style focuses on posed shots, capturing the key moments and family portraits. It’s all about preserving memories in a classic format.

Candid Photography

Candid photography captures the essence of the event without staged poses. This style is perfect for capturing genuine emotions and spontaneous moments.

Documentary Style

This approach tells a story through a series of images, chronicling the entire event from start to finish. It’s a fantastic way to relive the day as if you were experiencing it again.

How to Research Potential Photographers

Start your search online. Check out local wedding directories and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Pay attention to reviews, testimonials, and any relevant work that resonates with you.

The Importance of Portfolio Reviews

Once you shortlist a few photographers, take the time to review their portfolios. Look for consistency in quality, creativity, and style. This will give you a clear picture of their capabilities.

Discussing Your Vision and Preferences

Communication is key. Arrange meetings with potential photographers to discuss your vision. Share your ideas, preferences, and any specific shots you want. A good photographer will be receptive and offer suggestions based on their expertise.

Understanding Packages and Pricing

Photography packages can vary significantly, so it’s essential to understand what’s included. Some factors to consider:

Duration of Coverage: How many hours will the photographer be present?

Number of Photographers: Will there be a second shooter to capture more angles?

Edited Images: How many edited images will you receive, and in what format?

The Role of a Photographer on Your Wedding Day

On the day of your wedding, the photographer plays a crucial role beyond just taking pictures. They often act as a coordinator, helping to ensure the timeline runs smoothly while capturing the day’s events as they unfold.

Tips for a Smooth Photography Experience

To ensure a seamless experience with your photographer, consider these tips:

Create a Shot List: Include specific moments or group photos you want to be captured.

Stay Relaxed: Trust your photographer’s expertise. Stressing about every little detail can hinder your ability to enjoy the moment.

Schedule Time for Photos: Plan a specific time for portraits and group shots to avoid feeling rushed.

How to Prepare for Your Engagement Shoot

Engagement shoots are a fantastic way to get comfortable in front of the camera. Here are a few tips to make the most of it:

Choose a Meaningful Location: Consider a place that holds significance for both of you.

Dress Comfortably: Wear something that makes you feel confident yet comfortable.

Be Yourself: The more relaxed you are, the better the photos will turn out.

Navigating Cultural Nuances in Photography

Understanding the cultural aspects of a Pakistani wedding is essential. From the significance of traditional attire to specific rituals, a good photographer will be aware of these nuances and know how to capture them effectively.

Post-Wedding: Editing and Delivery

After the wedding, your photographer will begin the editing process. This stage is crucial for enhancing the quality of the images and ensuring they align with your expectations. Discuss delivery timelines upfront to avoid any surprises later.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Pakistani wedding photographer is a vital part of your wedding planning journey. By considering their experience, style, and ability to understand your vision, you can ensure that your special day is beautifully captured. The right photographer will not only take stunning photos but will also help you feel at ease, allowing you to enjoy every moment of your celebration.

So, as you embark on this exciting journey, remember to take your time, do your research, and choose a photographer who resonates with your style and vision. Happy planning!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What should I look for in a Pakistani wedding photographer?

A: When choosing a photographer, consider their experience, style, portfolio, and communication skills.

Q: How much should I expect to pay for a Pakistani wedding photographer?

A: Pricing varies based on experience, location, and package inclusions. It's best to discuss your budget and expectations upfront.

Q: How long does it take to receive my photos?

A: Typically, you can expect to receive your edited photos within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the photographer's workload.

Q: Do I need to provide a shot list?

A: While not mandatory, providing a shot list can help ensure all your important moments are captured.

Q: What happens if it rains on my wedding day?

A: A professional photographer will have contingency plans in place and will be able to adapt to any weather changes to capture your day beautifully.