#annual faves: 2022

[finitepeace]

my favorite ironstrange, read in 2022

last year I started to read ironstrange because "I love you in every universe" sounds like something stephen would've say to tony after endgame lol. haven't read much, but here's my favorite:

(who will love you) when we fall apart by JustWaitAndSee (words:14153)

Tony Stark and Stephen Strange were the kind of relationship that happened when your soul looked around and said, “same hat!”

They were science and discovery. Ego and snark. Fast cars and fancy watches. Italian coffee and confidence. All night binges and whispered regrets.

They were all of these things…

Until they weren’t.

Tether by Shortsnout (words: 63k) 

Trapped in a flying doughnut with Stephen Strange, Tony Stark is desperately trying to think of a way to save the universe, keep Peter safe, and not reveal a secret he’s been keeping since he was a child. The answer is simple. Destroy the Time Stone. No Infinity Stone, no end of life as they know it.

Things are never that easy.

Inadvertently creating a time loop, Stephen is stuck bouncing between the past and the present on the Q-Ship, tethered to a child as he watches him grow up.

‘Why do you always come when I’m at my worst?’ Tony muttered under his breath, ripping his hands free.

‘You love this, don’t you. Seeing me at my lowest! Afghanistan! My parents dying, boarding school. Poor Tony Stark, the psychotic wreck!’ Tony tried to get to his feet, shrugging Strange and the Cloak off him, feeling validated when he saw the sting of rejection in Stephen’s eyes. Good, he wanted him to hurt, wanted him to stop thinking Tony was weak.

Just An Accident by CucumbersInGold for mokiwrites ( Words: 1,705)

\ Stephen's hands act up

Through Space by graveltotempo for KassandraScarlett

The Universe needs the Infinity Stones to survive: Thanos, in his complete ignorance, does not understand this in any of the 14,000,605 futures Doctor Strange sees, does not see this in any of the parallel Universes in which he goes looking for the stones.

So Doctor Strange makes the biggest gamble of his life, and puts all his eggs in one basket. And then hands the basket into the hands that, across time and through space, will always charge themselves with the protection of the Earth.

+++

Anthony Edward Stark fell into the abyss of the broken universe in the spring of 2018 and died. Antoinette Evelyn Stark woke up in her bed in December 1991 with almost 3 decades worth of foresight, in a world she didn't quite remember with one single goal: save the Universe.

[duckprintspress]

Coming Soon: May Trope Mayhem 2024!

It’s almost time for May Trope Mayhem!

What is May Trope Mayhem? It’s Duck Prints Press’s annual multi-fandom/original work creation event! Our creators have shared their favorite tropes, and we’ve picked 30 (+1 free day!), one per day of May to make an awesome, fun, diverse list of prompts to inspire your creativity. Come May 1st, we invite everyone to create a ficlet, artwork, gif set, photo montage, or whatever else they feel like, inspired by the trope of the day. We’re open to any fandom or no fandom at all, original characters and old faves, any ship (yes even that one) or no ship or reader inserts or, or, or… basically, if you can imagine it, we can accommodate it!

This year marks our fourth-annual May Trope Mayhem. Curious about the event? You can learn some by checking out our previous three years!

the 2021 May Trope Mayhem list and rules

the 2022 May Trope Mayhem list and rules

the 2023 May Trope Mayhem list and rules

the AO3 Parent Collection

The rules for 2024 will be about the same as in the past, so the only big change will be in the tropes – some are repeats, some are not. And of course day 31 is still a free day – we’d love to know YOUR favorite trope, especially if it it doesn’t end up our list for this year!

The 2024 list goes public on May 1st. Mark your calendars, tell yours friends, and get ready to create with us! And follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Backers on Patreon can see the list early! It’s up now – become a backer and check it out.

[jadeittic]

HS + Y/I: 2022 (SERIES)

EXTRA (7) -- completely forgot about this account 💀 i'm back tho! (i think)

PREVIOUS. NEXT.

HARRY STYLES + PLATONIC!EX-1D MEMBER!FEM!READER

WARNINGS: i apologise for the countless changes of face claims! it's so hard finding pics for just one fc :((

yourinstagram

liked by harry_lambert, gemmastyles, and 1,164,019 others

yourinstagram is now a bad time to say that i am so terrified of what’s going to be in store for us in the next few hours? if not then lmk xo

view all 41,578 comments

username YN YOU LITERALLY HAVE LESS THAN 3 HOURS UNTIL THE RED CARPET

yourinstagram I KNOW THATS WHY IM PANICKING RN

harrystyles YN

yourinstagram HARRY

harrystyles PLEASE COME TO THE CAR NOW WE HAVE TO GET DRESSED SOON

username 😭

username THERYE COMING THEYRE COMING

username can we get an outfit peek?

yourinstagram best believe im still bejeweled

username WHAT WHAT WHAT

username oh my god

username youre so active on ig lately are you feeling okay

yourinstagram NO IM NOT OAKY IM IN THE CAR RN

username someone help this poor girl out shes boutta pass out

username ARE YOU TWO MATCHING

yourinstagram idk

username now yn…

username are you going to sneak food in again?

yourinstagram actually yes harry and i teamed up to bring pizza in

username NOW HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT

ynlnnews

liked by username, and 3,176 others

ynlnnews YN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO ON TWITTER

view all 102 comments

username WHAT’S GOING ON

username aight what did trevor do again

username WHAT HAPPENED

username I GEN DONT KNOW SHE HASNT UPDATED

username heart rate’s going 📈📈📈

username SOMEONE TELL ME WHATS GOING ON I’M SO CONFUSED

celebnews

liked by username, and 29,916 others

celebnews JUST ANNOUNCED: YN LN to host tonight’s 65th Annual Grammy Awards, instead of Trevor Noah. Reasons as to why have not been announced.

view all 583 comments

username OH MY GOD WHAT

username YN IS HOSTING YN IS HOSTING YN IS HOSTING

username ok fine i’m watching the whole thing

username OH MY FOD SOMEONE GIVE ME THE LINKS THIS IS BOUTTA BE THE BEST NIGHT EVER

username she’s already so nervous for the red carpet and the performance. i hope for the best for themmm

ynrry

liked by username, and 71,826 others

ynrry YN LN AND HARRY STYLES AT THE RED CARPET FOR THE GRAMMY’S !!

view all 483 comments

username WHATT EH EHLL

username YOURE KIDDING. YOURe KIDNDNDING

username its giving golden retriever and black cat energy

username SHUT IT DOWN

username IM GOING TO DO THE UNFORGIVABLE

username someone put me in jail before i do something none of yall will believe

username suddenly i passed out

ynrry

liked by 12,109 others

ynrry our fave duo at the red carpet

imissyn

liked by 29,715 others

imissyn I’M GOING FERAL I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE

celebnews

liked by username, and 32,572 others

celebnews “I’m quite nervous right now, can you tell? Dear Trevor Noah, why did you have to get sick?! Seriously, I feel like I’m going to pass out right this second. Adele is literally looking at me, I can’t handle this”. — YN LN at the Grammy’s 2023.

view all 274 comments

username HER DRESS

username SHE LOOKS LIKE ARIEL SHES SO WOW

username shes so good at hiding it what

username she’s freaking out about adele like people aren’t thinking the same about her

username NAHHHH CUZ SHES DOING SO GOOD RN YOU CANT EVEN TELL

username DID YOU GUYS SEE HARRY TRYING TO TAKE A PEEK AT HER NOTE CARDS

username he literally got slapped in the head moments after LMAO

username is it a bad thing to say that i’m glad trevor had to cancel last minute

username nu-uh ive been feeling this way since it’s been released hehebsjf

username SHES SO CUTE

celebnews

liked by username, and 121,006 others

celebnews Harry Styles and YN LN performing As It Was at the Grammy’s!

view all 311 comments

username WHAT THE FUCK

username I MISSed iT NO I FEKE ASLEEP

username their performance was INSANE i loved it so much

username someone make a new category for this performance and let them win

username i just know yn tried so hard not to say “sing it out for me” 😭

username ITS IN THEIR FACES HAHAHAHA

username i witnessed this live. LIVE.

username forever proud of them

username shut it down 😐 i am in tears rn

ynrry

liked by username, and 42,228 others

ynrry HS + Y/I is THE album of the year ❤️

view all 301 comments

username THEY LOOK SO HAPPY AWW

username HS + Y/I IS A GRAMMY WINNER WAHAHJDJAJW

username words can’t explain how happy i am rn stfu

username WHEN THE TEMPORARY HOST WALKED OVER TO THE FAN I KNEW

username the way their faces melted when it was announced 😭😭

username they were in DISBELIEF

username lizzo was recording i NEED TO SEE THAT VIDEO

username got robbed at soty but it’s all worth it at the end

ynrrymoments

liked by username, and 31,735 others

ynrrymoments “We would’ve never been here, right at this moment, if it weren’t for all of you. Words can’t explain how thankful we are. You all deserve the world, thank you, so much for this”. — YNRRY at the Grammy’s!

harrystyles

liked by yourinstagram, niallhoran, and 3,172,024 others

harrystyles Grammys, February 2023. It’s always us against the world.

view all 51,326 comments

niallhoran ❤️

username SHUT UP

username NO WAY

username IM SICK HE SAID ITS ALWAYS US AGAINST THE WORLD AHAIN

harry_lambert GET IT GET IT

username THE ALBUM OF THE CENTURY

username so deserved, so so deserved

username THE LIL GRAMMY ON HIS SHOE

sza last night was INSANE. congratulations!

username icons ICONS

adele Congrats, you both deserve it!!

username and what if she says “its always us against the world” too what will you do

yourinstagram let’s get drunk tonight

username if she says shes gon drink, shes gon drink

username i can feel the hangover from a mile away

username SO HAPPY FOR YOU TWO OH MY GODDDD

username it’s ynrry’s world, we’re js living in it

yourinstagram

liked by anthonypham, gracieabrams, and 3,176,018 others

yourinstagram first pic was me when i found out what was actually happening

i don’t even know where to start, this year has been so beautiful to us. you’ve all been so beautiful to us. we didn’t know where to start, and you all were there. we’re still in shock of what happened. harry is literally eating the pizza we didn’t manage to eat at the event. we’re just in disbelief, thank you. thank you, so so much. i love u i love u i love i love u

and harry, dear harry styles, you are one big motherfucker. you are the most annoying person i’ve ever met. thanks to you too, for everything that you’ve done to me. you’ve worked so hard for this album, your albums, and i will always be proud of you. you deserve everything that you have, literally. i love you so much, it will always be us against the world.

february ‘23, grammys !!

view all 59,831 comments

username tears are streaming down my face

conangray CONGRATTSSSS

lizzobeeating ❤️

username POST THE VIDEO PLEASEE

username I CALLED IT KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO SAY IT

jonnybernthal Congrats, you big babies ❤️

yourinstagram shut it shane

username is he crying like a baby

yourinstagram indeed he is, he just offered me some pizza

username I MIght KMS STOP THSIS

username if no one will put this in history books, i will do it myself

adele ❤️

harrystyles LEAVE ME ALONE

username HARRY

username LMAOO

username i’ve been staring at this for the past 15 minutes, i can’t get over this

username 2023 is their year i can feel it

yourinstagram via ig story

harrystyles via ig story

[enam3l]

(hooray!!! tumblr fixed the links so everything should be in working order lmk if there’s any issues - 4th may)

TAGLIST AND REQUESTS OPEN

follow the tag #enam3ls rockstar eddie to get new update alerts! best way of using the tag is to go onto my tumblr then use the search bar and enter the tag. then it shows everything tagged from newest to oldest!

rockstar eddie munson fucking hates tommy lee (ficlet?)

the story of eddie x readers life-long beef with tommy lee

these days, rockstar eddie doesn’t give a fuck (headcanon story)

in the year 2022, eddie munson is a husband, dad and oh yeah – a rockstar but now he’s in his 50s, he really just doesn’t give a fuck what people think

rockstar eddie does Halloween (headcanon story)

from celebrating his first halloween with you to the present day, all of eddie’s annual Halloween antics

rockstar eddie does Halloween pt.2 (4k / smut)

in 1992 a certain halloween costume gets you in trouble with your boyfriend eddie

rockstar eddie’s purpose in life was becoming a dad (headcanon story)

an intro to dad rockstar eddie and his daughters for the first time ever

rockstar eddie’s friends in the industry (ficlet)

eddie hates tommy lee but he’s also got lots of friends and others he admires – how they meet metallica 

rockstar eddie munson thinks any music is good music if it makes you happy (ficlet)

eddie loves taking you to see your fave gigs and festivals then later your kids too

the big one: how rockstar eddie met his wife (y/n) (11.7k / fluffy love)

in an interview in november 1999, eddie and wife y/n tell a journalist how you met by pure coincidence on February 11th 1989

rockstar eddie’s lipstick stained shirt  (2.6k / smut)

in July 1993 corroded coffin are performing in vegas and a surprise from eddie results in you struggling to keep it in your pants

rockstar eddie has a new member for the band (headcanon story)

as you’re pregnant with your first baby Sloane, you worry how being a dad rockstar will work and how other musicians will react

rockstar eddie munson is gonna get the girl and god help anyone who stops him (9.6k / angst / fluff / slight smut)

direct follow up to how you and eddie met for the first time. after spending all your time together, in august 1989 you take your first holiday together and trouble ensues

the munson kids and their friendships with other rockstar’s kids (blurb) 

rockstar eddie munson and his wife are still hopelessly in love (ficlet / fluff)

your youngest daughter maeve notices not everyone is as in love as you and eddie

steve harrington's happy ending (4.7k / fluff)

our boy steve gets the ending he's always deserved! we meet corey and the other nuggets mom for the first time

half the world away (4k / fluff / smut 18+ / slight angst)

following their first holiday together, eddie goes on corroded coffin's first nationwide tour and you're apart for the first time since meeting

like a rainbow (4k / pure fluff)

you might be heavily pregnant with your first baby but hell will freeze over before you miss an award show that eddie is nominated at

96' awards show bonus: kiss from a rose (ficlet / fluff)

an extra scene to 'like a rainbow'. yours and your baby's favourite song is being performed live and eddie is just... eddie

rockstar eddie learns about the kardashians (ficlet / fluff)

the munsons get a wedding invite - but eddie is wondering who the hell the kardashians are?

the wish (ficlet / fluff)

you want to make sure eddie’s first birthday with you by his side is special so you ask the whole gang for help

driving mrs munson (ficlet / fluff)

now you’ve left the city for hawkins, eddie thinks you might need a new ride

sunday morning (ficlet / fluff / allusion to smut)

a day in the life of you and your boyfriend eddie as you enjoy a cute sunday together

one embarrassing dad to rule them all (ficlet / fun / fluff)

maeve can’t resist capturing her dad eddie’s antics for tiktok

there’s something about marnie (ficlet / fluff / smut)

your daughters have eddie wrapped around their fingers but they just can’t seem to get him to buy a dog

he had it coming (ficlet / fluff / smut / light violence)

not long after having your first baby together, the media is buzzing with pamela anderson and tommy lee drama and eddie is sick of the paparazzi

munson family values (ficlet / fluff / mention of smut)

what’s not to love about being on holiday with your rockstar husband eddie and your three daughters?

this maeve-chine slays dragons (ficlet / fluff / angst)

eddie loves being a dad more than anything but is scared his youngest daughter maeve doesn’t like him

an eddie munson christmas (ficlet / festive fluff)

readers choice! your first ever christmas with eddie is your first real christmas ever

three fucking weeks (3.6k / filthy smut)

it's been three long gruelling weeks without eddie whilst he's been away recording and now you're finally reunited. cliffhanger ending!

the big question (4.6k words / pure fluff) NEW

continuing straight after 'three fucking weeks' eddie is finally prepared to ask you the big question.

little notes and answered questions 

eddie’s queer daughter Sloane (1) (2)

eddie’s middle daughter iris (1)

eddie deals with season 4 (1)

eddie’s industry pals and views (1) (2) (3)

aftermath of season four (1)

[striveattemptfail]

have some jayroy crumbs across two volumes of red hood/arsenal

not comprehensive bc i got too lazy to screencap everything. all panels are from red hood/arsenal (2015-2016) unless labelled otherwise

anyway here are some of my fave tidbits:

enemies think they're always together

(y'all a little married roy, just accept it lol)

they have a joint bank account together

they understand each other without words

jason respects roy immensely for his strength, especially when it comes to his addiction

jason refers to roy as his best friend + he fully understands the deep trust roy has in him and never wants to betray that trust

jason also refers to roy as his partner

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

jason refers to their partnership as "our lives" (affectionate) (literally)

and this scene, where jason admits that he believes roy is a good hero with so much compassion, and would be better off without jason—

—not only looks like a break up but is canonically called a break up by roy

red hood and the outlaws annual vol.1 #2

in conclusion:

red arse

(ETA: updated source for last image bc i was mistaken. rhato annuals are still on vol.1 as of aug 2022)

[devioustofu]

My girlfriend and I have been painting ghost Pokémon pumpkins annually since 2020. Here are the ones I painted by year:

2020 - gengar

2021 - mimikyu (forgot to get a pic of my gfs but she painted drifloon!)

2022 - hisuian typhlosion (In honor of my boy Stinky in legends arceus)

2023 - hisiuan zorua

I think my fave so far is mimikyu :)

[disgruntledkittenface]

Hi maggie! Hope you’re doing well!! I just finished rereading darling so it goes for probably the 5th time since i first read it in late 2022. And it’s my fave fic of yours and in my top 5 fics ever. I really admire your writing and characterization in general but in this fic specifically it’s really something else, i wanted to ask you where do you think this story’s louis and harry are doing today? Did they adopt? How’s their every day life going? Anything you want to share really i just want to know more about their life after the fic. Thank youuuuuu for writing such a masterpiece ❤️❤️

hiii anon thank you so much! I am flattered with compliments and I genuinely can't express how much this sweet message means to me <3 I am honored that you think this much of the Grace Kelly AU and that you have questions about their future!!

I think a lot of the early years of Harry and Louis' marriage is about balance. They're on the right track where I left off, but it's going to take time to figure out how to fulfill their roles, prioritize their relationship with each other, and be the type of involved parents that they both want to be. It would be an ongoing thing for sure. I love the idea of them finding a couples therapist who could help them navigate those challenges -- imagine Liam researching people and compiling dossiers that no one would call a dossier!

It's funny that you ask about the adoption possibility now. I just read this article about ethical concerns and while I'm not sure if they end up going this route for one of their children, I do think Harry would do research before making that decision. Especially because their family, and kids, would be under so much more scrutiny than others.

I think Louis and Harry teach their kids to play hide and seek in the palace like Louis and Liam did, and Philippe decides to take early retirement. They definitely keep up the tradition of homemade cakes for breakfast on everyone's birthdays, and they probably celebrate as many birthdays at their mountain house as they can. They always go to Harry's parents' house for Thanksgiving, and Gemma forces Louis to learn how to make one super easy thing that becomes a yearly tradition. (I can't cook, what's easy?? Like mashed potatoes?)

I think the friends that feature in the fic are going to remain in their lives as their chosen family. I picture group vacations and everyone being referred to as Auntie or Uncle. I feel like Audrey is the friend who doesn't marry or have children, but flies in and gives the best gifts and is who the kids would run away to if they ever needed.

I do remember things cropping up in my research that would naturally happen after the events of the fic, so I couldn't include them, like an annual gala in Hollywood for the Princess Grace Foundation (so, the Prince Harry Foundation). Oh, and there's like an annual television festival in Monaco, and I love the idea of that being something Harry looks forward to every year.

...okay I did not realize I had that much to say! Thank you again for the prompt to revisit these characters and think about what they're up to, I really loved writing them <3

[erielake]

five songs i'm into meme <3 these are mostly just ones that have been on repeat for me lately :) tagging @thirtybythirty @brazilianaunti @gwaha @leondaltons @valentinestombstone

good luck, babe! // chappell roan - girl, this is THEE song of the century. it's honestly one of my new faves and i can't wait to go see chappell next month :)

too sweet // hozier - also very excited to see hozier next month (same week as i'm seeing chappell!!!) people say that this is a harvey sdv song but i am co-opting it as a nash larkin song....

can't fight city halloween // michael giacchino - has been THE repeat focus song for writing lately. it's so fun. i love you the batman (2022) <3 you are so famous. to me.

burning down the house // paramore -this is SUCH a fun cover man, now that it's getting to be nicer out it really is a blast through your car speakers with the windows down type of beat

in the evening // led zeppelin - doing my tri-annual sharp objects rewatch and the use of this song in that show is one of my FAVORITE uses of music in anything ever...i love you camille preaker...

[golmac]

On May 13, nominations for Spring Thing ribbons will close. There is still plenty of time to get over there, play some games, and nominate your faves for ribbons. What kind of ribbons, you ask? Click the first link to see last year's entries and ribbons. Already know what you're doing? Click the second link to start playing and nominating games.

(why didn't Computerfriend get a ribbon, though?)

[simplylove101]

HORROR MOVIE CHALLENGE 2023 FAVES, HONORABLE MENTIONS & LEAST FAVES (AND THE ONES I COULDN’T FINISH)

Another year of my annual horror challenge has ended! This is technically posted a day later than I usually do it (cuz I usually get that next day off) but I ended up being tired the day after my Halloween movie marathon. But I also had plenty of movies to decide between for this too. 67 movies, to be exact. This year's challenge was interesting in comparison to last year's just because the sheer amount of watches that became instant faves of mine in 2022. I did find plenty of new faves again as always but I will say it was a little harder ranking stuff a bit too because there were many watches that ended up being... just okay. Definitely watchable but a fave? And since there's only allowed to be 30 pics used in a post, I try to keep each category to a certain number now that I make sure to include the movie posters.

Reminder: I never order any of these categories in order of preference, simply just the order of how they were watched, because that'd be kinda hard to do. I struggle enough as it is with this list already.

FAVE WATCHES:

The Menu: It's the first watch I did for the challenge that truly got me excited for it this year so that alone gets it on this list but also the wackiness of the whole concept really appealed to me. It made me laugh. I loved the cast. I will still not be forgetting that ending any time soon. This movie was very much my jam. It's not for everyone but it was for me.

2) M3GAN: Honestly, I'm not surprised this movie still made it on the faves list because while the idea of it may seem rather silly to most people, I dug it for what it was. It was fun and campy just as I expected it to be. Ready for the sequel. And also, Don Mancini, how dare you hype up a Chucky/M3gan face-off if that doesn't happen in some shape or form (regardless of the logic any of that would make lmao)

3) Infinity Pool: Now this one is very much a 'not for everyone' pick. I said in my review that we'd see where its standing in the rankings would be and well, while I'm still wavering between the faves or the honorable mentions, it's safe to say this movie stayed with me. There's visuals in it that I'll never forget. Brandon Cronenberg is like his dad in that regard. And well, you can't talk about this movie and not mention Mia Goth. She killed it with this one.

4) Scream 6: As a proud fan of the Scream franchise as a whole and how kinda let down I felt a bit about Scream 5 by choices made, I was pleasantly surprised by how strong this one felt in comparison. I genuinely found myself caring about the Core 4. I did miss Sidney and I lament what they could have done storywise for both of these movies (Bring back Stu! You mentioned him! lol) but what we did get was pretty cool. Gale's big scene was a highlight and it was cute seeing Kirby back even if they didn't use her to her full potential. Still, this is one of the more recent ones that I think can stand next to the original and you say, it's worthy of it. But that's just my opinion. lol Despite flaws, a fun and intense ride.

5) Evil Dead Rise: I still don't know where it stands against the originals/the 2013 reboot but honestly, as I said, I think they managed to make it their own so I won't compare them. The tone was darker too so that'd be hard. But yeah, this is a movie that had a lot of good things going for it that I had to put it on here. Definitely one of the best of 2023 in my book.

6) Escape Room Franchise: This is my one cheat. lol I'm pairing them together because I can and I watched them right after each other. And it's the only way I'd put them on the Faves list. They're silly fun these movies that happen to have faces I know in them. Now for the record, the second one I'm counting because I watched the non-theatrical version with Isabelle Fuhrman, which honestly is the version they should have stuck with. It's the one that gave a conclusion instead of dragging out an already convoluted plotline.

7) Renfield: Even if I expected to like it even more than I actually did, I feel like it still earns its spot on here because I really liked the concept. The pairing of Nicholas Hoult & Nicholas Cage was a fantastic idea, despite it not fully focusing on their dynamic as much as they should have imo. It still was fun. Very memorable action sequences that'll have you gasping. Still was solid enough at the end of the day.

8) Last Shift: I feel like I gotta give this little B movie credit. It had me on the edge of my seat and it's mostly just one woman stuck in one location having to deal with some pretty traumatizing stuff. I was definitely creeped out at parts so overall, I feel like it was effective and it helps that I went in with low expectations because I feel like it went beyond them. Thankfully, they had this poster because the other one is so rude and creepy. lol

9) Devil's Advocate: I think it's funny that I always mean to watch Angel Heart every year now and this one I just put on out of impulse. So basically I got to see Pacino play *spoiler alert* Satan before De Niro. lol Maybe next year? Anyway, this was really interesting. Keanu playing a character that's hard to like (much like Knock Knock) which is kinda more of a rarity with him and Al Pacino also giving an all-in performance. I appreciated how they handled the blend of legal drama & supernatural in the script. Some very memorable moments in there.

10) The Serpent & The Rainbow: Despite what I said about how the story gets a little lost in the second half for me once it gets really action heavy, I do still think this was an interesting movie. I feel like it had good intentions with the message it was trying to send about racism and exploiting cultures for personal gain. It was also a fresh take on the zombie genre at the time because it's about the actual origins of the word. It was also really cool how they incorporated the voodoo element as well. Yes, they went a little effects heavy but I will never forget that coffin scene with Bill Pullman because man, the visuals in that one alone. A+ camerawork. There's a lot to think about with this one.

11) No One Will Save You: This one kinda wavered between fave and honorable mention because it's just really odd. lol And my review wasn't as positive as you'd expect a movie making this list but honestly, looking back on it, it was kinda original. Because it wasn't just about aliens, it was also mainly about Kaitlyn's character's guilt. Still normally would have been put under as honorable mention but I think Kaitlyn Dever's performance was that good, it feels fair to put it on here instead. Wish the effects had been better and the narrative a little clearer but it was still pretty good.

12) Vacancy: Another one where it was like, do I put you with the faves or the honorable mentions?? lol But I actually thought this was pretty solid. Very simple story but sometimes those ones work best if and when executed just right because why complicate this story? We know who we're meant to root for and they're either gonna get out of this situation alive or not. I can't help comparing it to The Strangers because there's a lot of similarities but I actually like these characters/the actors more. Their urgency to survive was very clear. So, I was willing to watch this ride, despite any poor choices made along the way. My one true qualm is the ending just because it's entirely too abrupt imo but otherwise, I enjoyed it.

13) Insidious Chapter 2: In my review I mentioned it kinda felt like we were going through the motions with this one in comparison to the original but I do think it was still good. It felt like a proper way to end the story of The Lambert family (but then they just had to bring them back in The Red Door for a half-baked story) and at least there was an actual reason for why it felt like we were repeating things at parts. Patrick Wilson was good in the possessed scenes. Like, there were some flickers of Jack in The Shining imo so props to him for his performance. Also, they did a better job including the other characters like Barbara Hershey's and Specs & Tucker I think as well.

14) Totally Killer: As soon as I finished this movie I knew exactly where it was being placed because this was so fun. Very enjoyable to watch. The cast was great. Very funny and tongue-in-cheek just how I love my horror comedies. Kiernan Shipka was perfect as the lead and always excited to see Olivia Holt in anything. All the callbacks to Back to the Future made me very happy because they knew what they were doing. So yeah, this movie was made for me. lol

15) The Sacrament: In terms of enjoyment, this might not be high on people's lists but once again, maybe I was a target audience for it? That final act is quite grim but very effective. Especially because Ti West chose to use the found footage format. And I loved the reasoning for using it because it makes perfect sense for them to keep recording (the main characters being journalists) I genuinely don't mind that his movies lean towards a slowburner pace because it feels like there's a purpose to it. I did enjoy this a little more than The Innkeepers so I knew if either of Ti West's movies I watched this year was making one of the lists, it was gonna be this one.

16) I See You: Knowing what I know, I truly love how misleading that poster is cuz that was certainly a choice by the people behind it. lol That's all I'll say about that but yeah, this movie ended up being one of the surprise faves because I went in with the lowest of expectations. I went in completely blind and was glad for it cuz I worry the trailer reveals stuff. Very twisty little tale with clues thrown in there. Love when a movie can turn the narrative on its head and I can still appreciate it. And always cool seeing recognizable faces as well (Helen Hunt, Libe Barer, Sam Trammell & Judah Lewis for me) Might not be for everyone but this leans more for people who enjoyed their horror more grounded if you can believe it. lol

17) Ponytpool: There just was something really cool and unique about this concept. A zombie movie that doesn't feel like a one most of the time but is pretty effective in its execution for that genre imo. It takes place majorly in one location but they were able to accomplish a lot within that limitation. Stephen McHattie and Lisa Houle's chemistry was so good together, it honestly wasn't surprising to learn they're married in real life. It was definitely refreshing with how different it was.

18) The Frighteners: I just feel like this should be considered a 90's horror classic. It was fun enough. Michael J. Fox's last role as a leading man in movies. Horror icons Jeffrey Combs & Dee Wallace both hamming it up when they can. The effects were pretty solid too. Not to mention, it's the last of Peter Jackson's horror era. So, lots of notable things about it. I thought it was good. Definitely makes me excited to check out his other horror movies next year.

19) When Evil Lurks: Such a brutal watch. But the hype as it being considered the best horror movie from this year by some is very much deserved imo. Starts a little slow but once it gets going, I was down. It feels very unique with a lore that felt established. The gore is a lot to handle but it didn't feel excessive beyond what the story called for (I've seen a lot worse tbh) I just felt so bad for the main character obviously, because he truly was doing everything he could to save his family. Like I said, brutal. But I think it was great. It definitely had me. If you can't handle subtitles, I don't know what to tell you. But I will say besides the scenes where the lore is explained, it's not the hardest story to follow actually imo.

20) Talk to Me: Of course this was gonna be on here!! I'm glad this lived up to the hype for me. I would have been so sad if it hadn't. Especially since it's how I ended my Halloween night marathon. I just really loved the overall vibe of the whole thing and the cast was great. Sophie Wilde, you're a certified scream queen. You owned this movie. It deserves being labeled as the best of the year as well. I can't decide. lol Anyway, bring on the prequel and sequel! I'm ready for both.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Cobweb: I know this isn't a movie a lot of people would agree with probably because it has its issues I know but honestly, I actually almost put it as a fave originally. Just because when it got things right or it'd get scary, it definitely got me. There's a particular scene with Lizzy Caplan that had me in the fetal position ngl. lol But the messiness of the plot and me feeling not 100% on the appearance of the creature (not to mention it feeling very unfinished at the end), made it so I ultimately had to put it on the Honorable Mentions instead. But it was pretty memorable if nothing else.

2) Swallow: Horror fans would possibly come for me putting this one on here but hear me out, it is still a body horror movie. Just a very different take on that subgenre. And I just thought it was a good movie. Haley Bennett deserves all the praise. The cinematography is to die for. It had me squirming more than plenty of horror movies manage to so in that regard it definitely belongs in the genre imo. It was just a very interesting character study and is probably not a movie most people would expect to see on a list like this.

3) Phenomena: I wasn't sure if I was gonna put it on the list or not but I do think it was pretty good. Notable for being very different from Argento's stuff so I'm excited to watch more of his next year to see just how true that is. Now knowing that Jennifer Connelly was 15 in it makes me appreciate her performance more cuz I thought she was older. Very cool use of music and visuals. And ofc Inga the chimpanzee deserves a mention cuz aww.

4) Rings: Look at me putting a short movie on here but hey, say what you want, but what this thing managed to do in 17 minutes is still better than some of the full feature movies I watched for the challenge this year as far as I'm concerned. Some of the camera choices were interesting that dates it a bit but otherwise I think this was pretty solid. Continues to make me wish they had included in the final product of The Ring 2 but we move on. lol

5) Killer Klowns from Outer Space: It had to make the list!! lol It's just classic silly B movie fun. I don't care about any of the flaws. It was just as I was hoping it would be. It was peak 80's cheesiness in the best kind of way. I loved the design of the clowns and music. And those kills were beyond memorable with how out there they were. Cult classic I'm glad I finally watched.

(There were a few I debated on placing on here like The Good Neighbor or Hell House LLC Origins, maybe even Absentia cuz of Mike Flanagan bias or Saw X, but ultimately these are the 5 I decided that I simply couldn't leave off the list)

LEAST FAVE WATCHES:

Clock: This one was easy to place. It was one of the first watches to truly annoy me once I finished it because I hated that script. The concept could have been cool and I think Dianna did a nice job with what she had but that's about all my positives for it. There's some creepy moments in but they feel tacked on to make it fit the horror genre. Most of what this movie was going for fell flat for me.

2) The Strays: Sometimes I don't like feeling so critical of movies because I see what they're going for or it's not for me or maybe some of the acting isn't great but honestly, this movie was all three of those combined imo. So, clearly there was a reason for that and I gotta put it on here. It wasn't a very pleasant watch for me. There's a message behind it but it's done in such a messy way when it feels like it should be done with more care. Just cringey.

3) Wish Upon: When a protagonist annoys you so much that you're glad the movie is over. lol It's not Joey King's fault though, it's the script's. But seriously, when people you know are dying because of your wishes and then you keep making them even after realizing that, you lose me cuz what?? Selfish lol While the kills are kinda insane, I still managed to be bored. Nice cast wasted.

4) Quarantine: I decided to keep this section to 4 movies because there were so many duds I debated putting under it instead (and I wanted to save space for at least one image for the Couldn't Finish section). Basically, it was a hard year. Like, I did not like The Strangers at all but there's iconic moments for the horror genre in it. Insidious: The Red Door was a disappointment but I love the franchise & characters. Both Sara Snook movies that I watched I disliked, but she saved both of them with her acting. Skinamarink was an experimental film that just wasn't for me but I saw the merit in it. The list goes on. But this movie?? While it tries what it can to recreate the magic of the original, it's nothing but a carbon copy of it without any of the tension. [Rec] quickly became one of my favorite horror movies ever after my watch last year so I was feeling some type of way after I finished this so I'm choosing it for this spot. lol

COULDN'T FINISH:

So, this category is newer but I think it's a good one to have cuz it gives an idea of my limits with these watches. Sometimes I get bored, sometimes I get triggered, and sometimes I'm just too annoyed to finish. lol

Tell Me How I Die: One day I was scrolling through Tubi for something to watch and I saw Ginny's (Virginia Gardner) name and she just keeps popping up in these horror movies I end up watching. lol And there's some other familiar faces in it too (Nathan Kress from iCarly and Ryan Higa from YouTube fame) but goodness, this was bad. I actually did make it almost to the end but I decided not to count it because I stopped it before the credits. It was just dumb and lacked any tension whatsoever for me. Where was the logic for anything? That said, can't say I was surprised but I at least was hoping for a guilty pleasure watch but nope.

2. The Dive: I stopped this one early enough just because the similarities between this and 47 Meters Down was just too much for me from the jump. I couldn't get past it and the acting seemed like it was gonna be subpar anyway. So I don't really regret it.

3. Elevator Game: Another one where I didn't really make it too far past the opening scene just because this was screaming that it was gonna be cheesy. I was just not in the mood for it.

4. Terrifer: Don't ask me where I thought I would have the tolerance needed for this kind of thing. I just was morbidly curious how long I could stand to watch it. I know what's been said about these movies. But yeah, I actually made it farther than I thought I would but let's just say a certain hacksaw scene is the second I tapped out. I was stupidly eating at that exact moment and I immediately felt sick. Was already gonna stop it the second Art grabbed it but didn't stop it in time before I saw way more than I would have liked. Definitely not for me. lol

5. Halloween (2007): I've never really felt drawn to watching Rob Zombie's version of Halloween because it always felt pointless. Why try to recreate the classic? The slasher that really jumpstarted what that genre has become. And yet, he did it. I only turned it on because AMC was playing it and I figured I'd at least give it chance. I made it to about when he gets out of the mental institution and we see Laurie & her friends. It definitely upped the violence (the original shows no blood and still very effective) but where was the tension, Rob??? Like, it was non-existent. I was bored. lol

6. The Outwaters: I tried to watch this around the same time as Skinamarink to see if experimental horror really wasn't for me. The jury's still out for that subgenre as a whole but this one didn't really grab me either so I don't know. It was just very slow. I was at least able to get what Skinamarink was going for but I lost interest in this one pretty quick. I did hear the ending gets a little wild though so that's interesting.

And that's another horror challenge done! Spooky season may officially be over now but excited for next year's! Hopefully it'll be more successful than this one was though.

[finitepeace]

my favorite grindeldore, read in 2022

last year we got divorced grindeldore so it isn’t really a surprise for me to immediately dove into grindeldore tag in ao3. here are some of my favorites (9 fics): 

Beautiful Nightmare by occamybite (words: 4540) 

Albus Dumbledore wakes up with his partner, Gellert Grindelwald, in a world that they rule together For the Greater Good.

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder by ambivalens (mads999) (words:4878) 

 On the eve of his death, Albus Dumbledore goes to Nurmengard.

Most Desperate Desire by malfoytheunanxious (words:  2,299) 

[MINOR CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD SPOILERS] "What do you see when you look in the mirror, Professor?" How could he explain to an 11-year-old boy that he saw someone who once was closer than a brother to him, and now was his biggest regret? (Grindeldore)

Till Death Do Us Part by Ascel, The_Marron (words: 5259)

 Or Five Times Albus Dumbledore Divorced Gellert Grindelwald and One Time He Actually, Legally Could.

in ourselves by Roflskate (words: 2k) 

"The vision only confirms what he’s always known. He is destined to do great things."

-

Four times Gellert Grindelwald couldn't predict the future, and one time that he could. 2k

Lines We've Crossed by Ascel (WIP, 34k) 

In another world, when a niffler slips free in a catacombs of Père Lachaise, he finds his way to a silver pendant hanging from a coat of a strange looking man. It's not particularly shiny, but he niffs it anyway, and then goes on his way, until Newt Scamander catches him again. In this world, he doesn't, and so things change.

---

Or: Albus Dumbledore tries to fight a war without fighting at all, and then has to decide what cause is truly worth fighting for. 

Grey house by Spellbound_by_moon 

"You can never feel at home when a bigger, better home awaits you elsewhere."

Gellert is devastated by sorrow after the destruction of the blood pact.

_____ Set during and just after the finale scene in The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Their Effect by NiciLupin for azurish (words:6965) 

n which history takes a different course of events and Albus and Gellert live decidedly less lonely lives. (Written for the Grindeldore Holiday Exchange 2016.)

Phoenix Tears by PrincessElectra (46739 words) 

The summer of 1899 ends with less destruction and heartbreak, but love is not a victory march and the darkness is still a seductive temptress. 

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. I refuse to accept that there is any future where the world is better place with us apart.”

[duckprintspress]

Coming Soon: May Trope Mayhem 2023!

YES! It is almost time once more for May Trope Mayhem!

What is May Trope Mayhem? It’s Duck Prints Press’s annual multi-fandom creation event! We’ve picked 30 of our favorite tropes (+1 free day!), one per day of May, and come May 1st, we invite everyone to create a ficlet, artwork, gif set, or whatever else they feel like inspired by the trope of the day! We’re open to any fandom or no fandom at all, original characters and old faves, any ship (yes even that one) or no ship or reader inserts or, or, or… basically, if you can imagine it, we can accommodate it!

Want to know more? OF COURSE YOU DO!

the 2021 May Trope Mayhem list and rules

the 2022 May Trope Mayhem list and rules

the AO3 Parent Collection

The rules for 2023 will be about the same as in the past, so the only big change will be in the tropes. There are no repeats! Well, other than the free day, anyway, which will once again be on the 31st – your chance to pick your own favorite trope.

So mark your calendars, tell yours friends, and get ready to create with us! And don’t forgot to follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Backers on Patreon will get to see the list ten days early! The list will go live on Patreon on April 20th, 2023, giving folks there extra time to prepare!

Who We Are: Duck Prints Press LLC is an independent publisher based in New York State. Our founding vision is to help fan creators publishing their original works. We are particularly dedicated to working with queer authors and publishing stories featuring characters from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Want to always hear the latest? Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

[jenkinsknope]

Time for the annual year post lads

I am so glad 2022 is over. Going no contact with my mum is one of the most painful things I’ve ever gone through. I frantically had to find somewhere new to live after my landlord decided he wanted me out (presumably because I refused to pay more rent during my fixed term) and the communication from his office was confusing and appalling. I spent a lot of last year with a tense body and just about surviving. I really, really hope that 2023 is kind to me. 

But, as always, this is about pulling out the good things that happened.

1. I adopted a cat! I picked her up two days after my birthday and she is asleep in my lap as I’m writing this. She is so affectionate. She comes to meet me at the door whenever I return. Her walking towards me with a crooked tail and slow blinking is maybe my favourite thing in the world.

2. I feel a lot more confident in my abilities at work and I feel more comfortable giving my opinions. I was elected co-chair of the LGBT staff network and I like being in a leadership role. I’m good at it, because I’m organised and I’m responsive when people need me. 

3. I went on a bikepacking weekend for people of colour. It was my first time cycling off road and I definitely underestimated how challenging it would be, but it was also so much fun. We got to ride on top of a cliff with the sea below.

4. I cycled from London to Brighton and raised nearly £500 for the National Association of People Abused in Childhood. The scenery was beautiful and I actually really enjoyed the ride.

5. I went to Butch Please a bunch and helped host meet ups for people who needed a group to go with. I met and had some great conversations with queer people a couple of decades older than me.

6. I took on more responsibility in the mutual aid group I volunteer with and had relationships transition from acquaintance level to friend level. 

7. I made new friends through my cycling club including with someone who actively pursued being my friend! One of my fave evenings was a different friend’s birthday at the velodrome they work at. We did silly games around the track, hung out on the steps as the sun was setting and cycled under the moon. I spent a lot of time at the velodrome either getting my ass kicked at track or helping out with races and it was always fun. It’s nice to have a place that feels like a second home in a way. 

8. I was more vulnerable including disclosing some things about my childhood with a person I was dating. While that relationship didn’t work out, I’m proud of myself for trusting someone and turning away from shame.

9. I completed a counselling skills course which affirmed that I do want to be a therapist and I’ve been able to use some of the skills in conversations with friends. 

10. I saw Self Esteem and MUNA live and had a lovely and meaningful time at their gigs. 

[rollingsunblog]

Indie Roleplaying in Japan

Independent RPGs are a vital, vibrant part of the Japan's tabletop scene, both a movement in their own right and a talent incubator for publishers on the prowl for the next big thing. That said, this prominence is a relatively recent shift: during the boom years of Japanese roleplaying, indie titles existed on the margins of the market, produced by die-hards for die-hards. It would take the near-death and resurrection of the tabletop industry - and several decades of persistence - for these creators to finally get their due. 

The Fandom Factor

Like most independent RPG scenes, Japan’s indie output is split into original and derivative works. This in itself isn’t especially noteworthy: after all, a good chunk of the global small-press market is dominated by third-party releases for existing systems, ranging from mainstream juggernauts like Dungeons & Dragons to cult faves like Mörk Börg or Mothership.

Such as 2022′s Nobunaga's Black Castle, Japan’s first venture into the realms of black metal fantasy. 

What is notewothy is how the Japanese RPG scene has dealt with derivative products - especially the unauthorized ones. 

In the West, piggybacking on an established system or property has always been fraught with a certain amount of legal peril. The ‘80s and '90s in particular saw an assortment of dust-ups between big-name publishers like TSR and Palladium Books and smaller creators - particularly fansites - over both actual and imagined IP violations. Things shifted significantly with the introduction of the D&D Open Game License (OGL) in 2000, which allowed third parties to produce D&D-related content without having to pay fees or royalties. However, these products still had to adhere to an explicit set of guidelines - one that could force an incautious company to pulp an entire print run of books. 

By contrast, Japan’s rights holders historically didn't fuss much over derivative works, even ones sold for money, unless the infringement was particularly egregious. This resulted in the creation of a massive gray market of for-profit fanworks that has grown to annual sales in the region of US$800M - a not-inconsiderable chunk of Japanese otaku spending. Semi-protected as “parodies” in the eyes of the Japanese law, these products take various popular or nostalgic IPs and spin them off into new directions - respectful, comedic, pornographic, and everything in between. 

While the overwhelming majority of for-profit fanworks are comics or comic-adjacent material like artbooks, RPGs also carved out a niche in this market through unofficial supplements, adventures, and even entire roleplaying systems. Largely unconstrained by legal worries, Japanese tabletop fans could produce IP-infringing double whammies like 1993′s Dark Kingdom: a thoroughly unlicensed sourcebook that imports the cast of pop culture evergreen Sailor Moon into TORG, West End Games’ RPG of fractured realities. 

Dark Kingdom was an early showcase for Jun'ichi Inoue (井上純一), who would later enjoy a fruitful career at FEAR creating notable titles like Tenra Bansho (天羅万象 ) and Alshard (アルシャード). [IMAGE: Dragoon_Shaytan via Twitter]

Over the years, other popular IPs inevitably also got the tabletop treatment, resulting in fan-made adaptations of everything from ’80s anime relic Dream Hunter Rem and classic shoot-’em-up R-Type to contemporary megahits like Fate/stay night and Bleach. Even today, it’s possible for a creator to knock out an RPG based on Dragon Quest - one of Japan’s largest and most prominent roleplaying franchises - and put it on a digital storefront for US$16 without immediate fear of a thermonuclear-level copyright strike. 

However, until around 2010, these sorts of derivative works were more of a sideshow than anything else. That changed once Call of Cthulhu established itself as Japan’s best-selling RPG, buoyed by a series of popular - and irreverent - actual play videos and the Mythos-Goes-Harem antics of the Nyaruko: Crawling with Love media franchise. Suddenly, freshly-baked Cthulhu fans were appearing at gaming conventions in increasing numbers, resulting in a corresponding boom in fan-made CoC adventures and supplements.

As Call of Cthulhu grew to dominate the local tabletop industry, its fanworks cast an equally long shadow over the indie scene, eventually accounting for an estimated 80 to 90% of all derivative products on the market. This extreme popularity would have repercussions: in 2021, facing pressure from the game’s creators, Chaosium, CoC licensees Arclight joined forces with Japan’s most prominent RPG companies to create the Small Publisher Limited License (SPLL) program, which set content guidelines and royalty fee requirements for any third party publishing material for an established system. This was an unusual arrangement by Japanese standards, though one that also gave new legitimacy to derivative works within the roleplaying community.

As was the case with D&D, Call of Cthulhu’s rules have been used as a springboard into other game styles and genres. For instance, the Magic Academy CoC (魔法学校CoC) series reworks Chaosium’s system to accommodate Harry Potter-ish adventures.

An Interlude on Doujin Culture

Derivative works are just one facet of Japan’s indie RPGs, but an important one to start with - in large part because the impact of the Japanese fanwork scene extends much further than just Sailor TORG. 

Thus far, when I’ve used the word “fanwork,” it’s been to refer to what the Japanese would formally call “doujinshi.” In the West, that term is intimately associated with fan comics, especially pornographic ones, but the word simply refers to any independently created and published print product - more specifically, one put out by a doujin (同人) or “circle” of like-minded individuals. 

The doujinshi concept dates back to the 19th century, but only truly gained traction in the 1980s - a point where more affordable, accessible printing options made it possible for enterprising hobbyists to produce and sell comics as a full-on side gig. As the number of indie creators grew, events emerged to give these artists and writers a venue to market their wares - chiefly Comic Market, which began as a modest volunteer-run show in 1975 but would eventually grow into the world’s largest comics event by a significant margin. 

As the doujinshi market grew in size and scope, a new generation of printing companies emerged to serve this subculture through cheap, high-quality digital printing and low minimum order quantities. This further reduced barriers to entry, giving even amateur artists access to professionally bound products at an manageable price.

This ecosystem of affordable production and dedicated sales events created a vital foundation for Japan’s indie roleplaying groups - and a sorely needed one, as up until the mid-‘90s, the cost and complication of producing RPG products kept independent releases relatively scarce. As a result, early offerings like Bläde & Wörd (ブレード アンド ワード), ITHA WEN Ua ( イサー・ウェン＝アー), and Small Still Voice (スモール・スティル・ボイス) played it safe by skewing toward orthodox Western-style fantasy - and largely sank in the market with scarcely a ripple. 

Thanks to its multifaceted magic system, 1991′s Bläde & Wörd enjoyed somewhat more longevity than its fellows, eventually spawning a second edition under the somewhat unlikely title of “Acoustic Leaf“ (ブレード アンド ワード) in 1995. 

The ability to source cheaper, better-looking books at lower order quantities arguably helped RPG creators shake loose some of this conservatism - perhaps best exemplified by 1996′s Karma Saturday Night Special, later known by the shorter, punchier alias “Satasupe” (サタスペ). Set in an alternate history where the United States did not enter World War II and a nuke-ravaged Japan found itself divvied up by various superpowers, this gangster RPG dunks its players into a gonzo stew of Soviet narcotics farmers, voodoo practitioners, Japanophile mercenaries, biking Crusaders, criminal animal handlers, UFO cultists, and more besides.

Satasupe’s creators, “Jail House,” started off as a loose-knit collective with almost a dozen credited members, building up their audience and reputation over several years before striking paydirt with 1999′s SATASUPE Remix99 (サタスペ・リミックス９９). Remix99 would prove popular enough to attract attention from the wider industry, and in 2003, a revised and expanded version called Satasupe REmix+ ( サタスペ・リミックス＋) earned a release through Hobby Base, the publishing arm of the game store chain Yellow Submarine.

To clean the game up for its commercial debut, Jail House partnered with Adventure Planning Service, one of Japan’s oldest RPG design companies. The collaboration proved so fruitful that Jail House was effectively absorbed by APS, and Satasupe’s lead designer, Toichiro Kawashima (河嶋陶一朗), would quickly become one of the company’s most important creators, spearheading future hits like Labyrinth Kingdom (迷宮キングダム) and the now-ubiquitous Saikoro Fiction line. 

The evolution - and professionalization - of Satasupe’s rulebooks doubles as a mini-history of Japanese indie roleplaying as a whole. 

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

On the whole, the early 2000s were a transformative time for independent roleplaying. In the West, the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons made its debut alongside the Open Game License, which unleashed a new generation of hobbyists and small publishers eager to capitalize on the excitement generated by D&D’s first major new edition in 11 years. Around the same time, independent RPG creators also began establishing their own distinctive culture and philosophy, driven by influential online discussion forums like The Forge. And behind the scenes, indie creators of all stripes benefitted from the growing availability of sophisticated desktop publishing software, which continuously narrowed the aesthetic quality gap between “amateur” and “professional” games.

In Japan, the OGL attracted significantly less direct interest, though it would eventually inspire comparable “open-source” systems like FEAR’s Standard RPG System (SRS) and Adventure Planning Bureau’s Saikoro Fiction. A more notable development was the introduction of FEAR’s Game Field Awards in 2000, which allowed aspiring designers to submit board, card, and roleplaying games to the company for potential commercial publication. This proved to be an important new outlet for independent creators, and helped birth notable titles like 2005′s TORG-inspired Chaos Flare (異界戦記カオスフレア) and 2001′s Double Cross (ダブルクロス), which is credited with helping to establish the more systematized approach used by modern Japanese RPGs. 

2000 also saw the debut of Game Market - or “Gema” for short - a twice-a-year event that positioned itself as a Comic Market equivalent for analog hobbies. Though Gema’s foot traffic was only a fraction of its role model’s, the show would gradually establish itself as a go-to for unveiling new RPGs, especially once stewardship of the event passed to Call of Cthulhu licensee Arclight in 2010.

2010, in fact, seems to be generally regarded as the true starting point for Japan’s modern indie RPG scene - thanks again to the CoC craze, which not only produced a mountain of derivative products, but dramatically changed the size and demographics of Japan’s roleplaying fandom by drawing in both younger gamers and female players. This expanded audience appears to have to encouraged a greater diversity in game design and themes - less anime-inspired power fantasy, more high-concept exercises like “what if the players were actors in a movie production scrambling to finish shooting with no script and no budget before the whole project implodes?”

2012′s Reading! Manga Lord (爆走！まんが道) and 2013′s Idol Box! (どるばこ！) exemplify the indie scene’s broader swing towards less traditional RPG topics after 2010.

Surprisingly, some of this mindset even spilled over to Japan’s two biggest RPG publishers, Kadokawa and Shinkigensha - as evidenced by the fact that Satasupe received a mass-market release through the latter in 2008, eventually followed by other oddballs like the youth band RPG Strato Shout (ストラトシャウト) and Mofumofu Stream (もふもふストリーム), a game about YouTubers fighting crime with their psychic pets.

A final notable development in the indie scene was the emergence of online storefronts for independent RPG releases. While digital publishing has slowly become more prominent in the Japanese tabletop market, physical copies still dominate the indie space and groups invariably end their events with unsold game stock that needs to be offloaded elsewhere. The launch of Cokage in 2014, followed by Conos in 2016, provided an important outlet for excess copies and doubled as a means of making small-press games accessible to fans in rural areas who wouldn’t normally be able to attend a sales event. 

Notable Creators

There’s an enormous quantity of indie circles currently active in the tabletop space, with more joining the fray on a monthly basis. A comprehensive list of every group is a bit beyond the scope of this post, but let’s take a quick look at a few of the longer-running ones: 

Draconian: Originally a partnership between system designer Fuyu Takisato (瀧里フユ) and worldbuilder Shio Botan (潮牡丹, AKA Darya Tide), Draconian began publishing in 2014, gradually taking on more members to become a five-person operation capable of releasing multiple games per year. In 2018, the group officially crossed over into mainstream publishing with Silver Sword: Stellar Knights (銀剣のステラナイツ), a two-player RPG distributed by Kadokawa. Since then, the circle has put out several more titles through both Kadokawa and Shinkigensha while continuing to self-publish its more experimental work.

Draconian’s titles tend to focus on questions of identity, reality, and relationships with others, typically in fantastical or post-apocalyptic settings. Its more combat-intensive games share a battle system known as Diaclock, which was made openly available for use by other creators in 2020. 

In recent years, Kadokawa have begun experimenting with promotional trailers for their RPG releases - in this case for Stellar Knights.

Phantasm Space:  Founded in 2014, Phantasm Space is responsible for the steampunk aerial exploration game Skynauts (歯車の塔の探空士<スカイノーツ>), the Porco Rosso-inspired Il Paradiso Celeste dei Cacciatori Extro (チェレステ色のパラディーゾ), pastoral fantasy title Floria: The Verdant Way (翠緑のフローリア), and the comedic Villain’s Quest (ヴィランズクエスト). All four games have a lighter tone and showcase unusual ideas and mechanics; Villain’s Quest, for instance, throws its anti-heroes into pitched strategy meetings where participants use cards to advance various proposals; eventually, things climax in an analog tower defense game as the players scramble to protect their evil master from being slain once more. 

The circle’s leader, Lord Phantasm, went pro in 2020 by joining Adventure Planning Service under the pen name Eisuke Nanashi (中西詠介). In 2021, Nanashi and APS published a revised version of Skynauts through Kadokawa. That same year, Floria also received an English-language translation courtesy of Silver Vine Publishing.

Another Kadokawa trailer, this time for the 2021 edition of Skynauts. 

Rommel Games:  Though Rommel Games began publishing RPGs in 2013, the group’s big breakthrough would come the following year with Galaco and the Tower of the Broken World (ガラコと破界の塔), a mecha dungeon crawler set on a distant planet. The game’s slick, commercial-level production values made an immediate splash in the RPG scene, and a number of indie creators readily credit Galaco as an influence on their own work.

In 2017, Kadokawa picked up the circle’s fast-paced superhero title Deadline Heroes (デッドラインヒーローズ), which was followed by a villain-focused version entitled Black Jacket (ブラックジャケット) in 2019. The line’s success may be attributed in part to the buzzy My Hero Academia franchise, which made its anime debut in 2016 and continues to enjoy a dedicated following in Japan.

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New Game Plus: This collective of young game designers has maintained a healthy and eclectic output since first appearing on the scene in 2018, with titles that include Night Butterfly ( ナイトバタフライ ), an RPG about male nightclub hosts, and the aforementioned Mofumofu Stream.

Calling NGP an indie circle may be a bit of a stretch - the majority of its titles have in fact been released through Shinkigensha - but the group does put out the occasional doujin game. Sadly, its founder, former Group SNE associate Rikizo (力造), passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2020. 

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Shiawase Training Ground: Formed by systems engineer Go Yamauchi (山内剛), Shiawase Training Ground has been actively releasing material since 2014, producing offbeat titles like the medieval peasant survival sim Hoshikuzu Village Story (ホシクズ村々物語) and restaurant-focused A La Cuisine (アーレ・キュイジーヌ). Yamauchi’s upcoming “travel and escape” RPG We Will Happiness! (ウィーウィル・ハピネス！) has reportedly ended up with Adventure Planning Service, suggesting his mainstream breakthrough may be just around the corner. 

[lettersfromthecatcave]

2023 Kick-off Travel (1 of 2)

I've retreated into my privacy cocoon, but hello hello. We went on a 3-day vacation, just like we always do every December or January to wrap up the previous year and get ready for the coming year.

Personally, on these trips, I take a moment to read, relax, reflect and just bask under the sun, with the sound of the waves and the leaves. I used to take it as a strategic planning session of sorts, but 2022 was such a grit and grind year that all I wanted to do during the trip was relax, let go and send multiple thanks to the Universe.

I called it the Annual #TheGalaz Core Group Planning and of course, Fofo is with us. He's his usual behaved litol boi self. He was too excited he woke us up hours before leaving and won't stop until I packed all his stuff (i.e. vitamins, poop pads, clothes, food).

First stop over was the hostel, but immediately after that, we went to grab some coffee. Mas bet talaga namin yun Little Cat over El Union. Our fave is the americano (for me) and latte (for husband) both with the yum nitro foam. We also prefer the mood of Little Cat.

After we spent some time by the ocean side, we went back to rest and bond a bit at the hostel.

We were lucky enough to get a hostel that's pet-friendly, as well as very chill when it comes to the mood. There's books, guitar and some games to use. You can also have breakfast cooked by the Ates & Kuyas. It's our second time na sa hostel na ito and we'll keep coming back.

The first night we capped off with an early visit to Port San Juan. Last time kasi, we went to Flotsam and Jetsam for drinks pero ewan ko, di namin trip yun vibe. A bit snobbish yun atmosphere and then talagang pang-inuman. Maybe it's just the Tito and Tita in us, but we decided to just check out other "inuman" spots. Port San Juan is owned by Rico Blanco, we sabi namin doon baka chill. Truly, chill nga with lots of food options. May vegan pa and Thai.

After that, we saw La Kantina and got curious. We liked the vibe so we decided to drink there. Their burrata is soooooo good! Actually, yun buong platter mauubos ko sana since yun foccacia lang kinakain ni husband, but busog na busog na din talaga kami.

We ended the night relatively early (for the place) since we will do some trekking the following day.

(Part 2 of 2 on next post)

[chandler-monica]

2022 in gifs

tag your favourite and most popular posts from each month of the year 

i was tagged by my fave @miriammaisel 🥰🥰🥰 

tagging anyone that wants to do it!!! 😊 

january

most popular: jim and pam in deleted scene in 4.06

fave: the office rewatch - pilot

february

most popular: michael jackson at the 35th annual grammys

fave: the office rewatch - the alliance

march

most popular: coda and their academy award wins

fave: olivia rodrigo - driving home 2 u

april

most popular: jonathan bailey on the set of bridgerton

fave: kanthony - excerpt from “a bee in your bonnet” script

may

most popular: simone ashley at the 2022 met gala

fave: this is us - 6.17 the train

june

most popular: simone ashley receives the imdb breakout starmeter award

fave: jim and pam in every season - season 1

july

most popular: the office - 2.01 the dundies (superfan edition)

fave: michael scott + funko pops

august

most popular: jonathan bailey and simone ashley being cute during bridgerton dance rehearsals

fave: same as my most popular

september

most popular: jack harlow visits dr. gregory johnson

fave: i only giffed jack that month and i love and support it all

october

most popular: jack harlow on saturday night live

fave: jack harlow getting flowers from a fan

november

most popular: jonathan bailey on the set of fellow travelers

fave: jack harlow and his grammy nominations

december

most popular: simone ashley at the 2022 fashion awards

fave: abbott elementary and their golden globe nominations