#anti deck nine

[geometricalien]

Life is Strange Double Exposure Review

(Spoiler warning)

I finished the game last night and my thoughts have been given time to proof- like making bread.

Characters

- I loved playing Max again! There was such a sweet nostalgia while playing her and hearing her repeat lines from the first game like, "Shaka brah", and it was awesome to see how 10 years had treated her- both the trauma of Arcadia Bay and how she is more confident, more assured of herself!

- I was instantly endeared to Safi from the beginning, her friendship with Max and their bantering was fun! You could tell they had a good close friendship- which only got deeper during the last 2 episodes. I think she is complicated and interesting. It just sucks that she kinda feels like a watered down Chloe. Which it had to be this way for the themes and plot. She is funny, daring, reckless, sometimes mean, vengeful, scared. I wish I knew more about her since she is going to be a bigger part of the universe going forward (if it continues).

- Moses is sweet but again I wish we knew more about him. We are only in his office once and there wasn't much to snoop around with. He gave such a weird expression when I picked the toilet mug in episode 1, I thought there was going to be more depth (which is going to be a reoccurring criticism of mine). I know he was more Safi's friend and it was only a few days since Safi's death, Max and him can't bond that fast and Alex and gang had weeks/months to bond but it still irks me.

- Amanda. She's nice. I played as a messy bisexual so Max and her are not together and I don't know if that's how it is for everyone's ending (which railroads the ending a bit and I'll go into that more later) but i think she was half developed? She is "a cool artsy music lover gay who falls in love quickly" doesn't that sound like Steph? Deck nine is playing the same fucking tune and I'm getting sick of it.

-Vihn. I didn't like him but then he won me over. What do you meannnn he is a well dressed, well groomed calendar of a bi man who seems like he only cares about the university and yasmin's schedule, but actually he has a prized hedgehog statue (where's that fucking story? Where is the depth? It is a fucking flat narrative object like when max was in that motel loop and everything was flat cardboard except the wall LIKE EVERYTHING IN THIS GAME THATS NOT TIED TO THE MAIN THEME OF THE GAME, sigh, I'll continue this later), and does tarot??? I like him alot more than Amanda actually because he is narratively tied to the plot and hence has more characterization and depth. I don't ship him with Max but hot people appreciate hot people. She smashes. I smash. Let them kiss.

- I like Gwen. She's fucking awesome. I loved snooping in her office. Icon. Firewalker mention! But again, I could use more info about her outside of relation to Safi and Yasmin.

- Lucas. [Crowd boos] shhhhh shhh you're right but shhhhh. This is less cruel Jefferson. Narcissistic scum of the earth. But still I feel like we needed more info on him. Think about how much info we have of actual Jefferson and even Nathan!

- Yasmin... let's hear it for overprotective parents who value their reputation more than their child's health and safety whoooooooo

- Diamond. Again i feel like i don't know much about her. And I'm trying to dig into what her power could be- probably something with past and future or prophecy shit. Idk I'm just thinking about her project in the fine arts building. Also who did she have a crush on? Moses? I liked having little undergrads around but she could have been developed more

- Reggie. Anxiety gay boy. Does photos. Could have been developed more.

- Reporter girl. I don't even remember her name, SHE could have been developed more. Could have been an actual element in the story, someone pressuring Max about inconsistencies and shit. Except she didn't. Not in my play through

Setting

- College was very cozy and so was the bar. I'm also a grad student so alot of the background talk of grading, finals, college traditions, thinking about dropping out, that x professor hasn't given feedback for your proposal- it was all so fucking relatable.

- but it was small. The world. The set pieces. There wasn't alot to examine or explore. I feel like if there was more of this we could know the characters more and a campus is one of those characters! I do think the split dimensions offered a slightly interesting view of the campus with and without tragedy but only in episode 2 and 3 bc then that aspect was forgotten about.

- episode 5's setting was great. I always loved the dreamscape "nothing feels real or is right" of the original's last episode AND true color's last episode bc those types of settings tell us about the characters. And that's what setting is supposed to do. I feel like double exposure didn't use the setting effectively enough

Plot

- the parallelism was good but if this was released an episode a month or two like the original- people would be calling the twist ending of episode 3. I wasn't fucking surprised. I was intrigued and wanted to see what they would do with a shape shifter but. I'll get into that in the ending section

- lis games are getting very predictable bc the creators have a mold they want to follow for better or worse "main character has superpower, aesthetic vibes, romantic interests, murder to solve, a twist!" And now. A fucking marvel ass universe. I'm intrigued but ugh. The media is so so over saturated with superpower teams of heroes and multiple dimensions- I'm over it. And so is alot of people.

Themes

- the one thing they did really really well was having Chloe and Arcadia Bay haunt Max. Everything that happened back then was paralleled in the present and Max faced the storm. She made up for her cowardice and mistakes.

Did it honor lis 1?

- yes. And no. Yes in the way that I think it was the best way to wrap up the hotly debated ending of the original. It really showed how Max grew as a character. Which is important if she's like one of the main characters in this universe they are trying to make. No in the way that it upset many people that Chloe and Max broke up. It really goes to show you can't have a decisions matter game as a series. You just can't. Because you railroad shit and take away choices and character insights. You take away the punch the bite the thing that makes the story talked about a decade later.

Gameplay

- I know there is a reason both intext and meta wise why the power is dimension hopping. But it could have been developed more. It left me wanting. (Common theme of this review)

Choices

- again. Your choices don't matter. Deck nine in making more installments trying to reuse characters or tie in events, make it so your choices don't matter. It becomes more and more aparrent every game that deck nine makes that they are railroading the game and your choices. I'm not even upset about Chloe and Max break up because I sacrificed her in my playthrough, I'm saying true colors ended with Alex either being in Colorado or not being in Colorado. This game ended with Max agreeing to stand with Safi or not when she comes back- and I'm willing to bet, deck nine will not make a game that has a big impact if they are friendly or not. That's not how deck nine makes their games. They railroad choices and make things go their way. They aren't going to do something intriguing like have one game be Max and Safi taking over the world together and another where Max is fighting Safi. That is two separate games. Whatever game they make in the future with these characters is going to be 1 game. 1 game where they decide your choices you made previously don't matter. They are going to make the story they want to make. Which is why you shouldn't make a choose your own adventure/examination on interpersonal relationships game a fucking series- and that's why so much of the set dressing and interactable objects were gone which in turn impacts the characters.... it's a fucking shit show.

- also some of the choices I made that said "this will have consequences" didn't fucking matter. Like, I didn't tell Safi about the restraining order. I really thought in episode 5 that would be important and the cops would be called at the bar. It. Wasn't. It just. This game railroads you hard.

Ending

- so as I said, your choices don't matter, they will just explain away Safi and Max's friendship in the next game like they always do

- the fucking cheesy ass marvel ending- i am both vaguely curious what will happen and sick to my stomach because. What. Why. Why are they doing this. I give them some benefit of the doubt because if they go the "we could be Gods" route... it could be interesting. But it makes me hesitant.

- People are souring over this series. I'm not even sure if they will be able to have enough support to make the series they want to make. They need to break the mold they put themselves in (see me saying the predictability in plot) but when dontnod made life is strange 2 with completely different characters and setting and a main character without power- people hated it (i loved it, it's my favorite lis game) but that's why deck nine has been leaning hard in the prequel and steph and Max and "max will return" but what they are doing in making this a series is betraying the original premise and fucking importance of the original game. That choices matter.

- Unless they suck it up and actually make a game that takes into account all the different endings we have (which max could she really could in the final game of the series, the last episode, hopping dimensions that have Chloe alive, Daniel in Mexico or not, etc.) this series is going to be a pale shadow in comparison to what it could've been.

Extension Game

- What the fuck was that. The cat extension seems fucking stupid to me, if someone actually got that and played it tell me- did it actually add something to the game or was it a way for us to give deck nine 10 more dollars?

And lastly, Ranking:

Here's the thing. Double exposure is a really good sequel/continuation of Max's story but it's a bad execution of a "choices matter" game and a game hinging off of interpersonal relationships and how superpowers can impact them. So,

Life is Strange 2

Life is Strange

Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Now with my mixed feelings I am going to play lis2 and wait for lost records bloom and rage comes out hoping that dontnod does their usual magic again.

[star-trek-fandom-confessions]

#894

TNG and DS9 improved upon TOS canon for Klingons and ENT helped the lore even further. DISCO just shat all over a perfectly good thing. I can see why Lower Decks and Prodigy prefers 90s and 2000s Klingon design.🤭

[asm5129]

So I’m coming back to this post with a clearer head.

Look, I’ve…I’ve just experienced so much toxicity and gatekeeping in this fandom, seen so many posts talking about how none of the games after the first one are “real” life is strange, so much obsession with these white girls and disdain for the other stories told in this world that are more diverse and have just as much love poured into making them.

I kept telling people, Max and Chloe’s story was over. Life is Strange is an anthology series. And I got harassed for it, laughed at for enjoying BtS and TC and ESPECIALLY LiS2.

People praising Don’t Nod to shit on Deck Nine really got under my skin too because I’ve seen so much unwarranted hostility towards LiS2, which was Don’t Nod.

It felt like people were just ignoring that hostility towards LiS2 so that they could feel better about shitting on D9.

I know that I lumped a lot of people in together with some of the worst people who call themselves fans of LiS. There are people with legitimate criticisms of DE that aren’t the toxic gatekeepers I’ve encountered or the people harassing the devs.

But I’ve seen enough people normalizing the idea that the LiS narrative team at deck nine just have a personal hatred for Pricefield and Chloe specifically. And that’s just gonna empower those inclined to harass the devs, even if you’re not one of them.

That is a myth.

Objectively speaking, it doesn’t even make any sense.

Before the Storm, for all its canon inconsistencies, tells a *really* good Chloe story

The idea that Felice Khuan (staff writer on Before the Storm and now the narrative director for Deck Nine) and a majority queer narrative team would not understand ahead of time how a lot of this would be recieved feels genuinely strange, as does the idea that a majority queer narrative team would have a collective hatred for a pioneering queer couple.

I think they were handed the mandate for a Max game, and the narrative team genuinely tried to tell a meaningful story about Max in the aftermath of the first game.

And I think Square Enix was very hands-on with the creative direction of the story.

I have a lot of faith in the narrative team.

But I have significantly less faith in deck nine or square Enix management, and one thing in that IGN expose was that Square Enix is apparently very hands-on with the scripts.

DE—and I say this as someone who genuinely liked a lot of it— reeks of the narrative team desperately trying to tell a meaningful story with a lot of interference.

And obviously this is all speculation of course, but it makes so much more sense than the team behind True Colors taking such a significant step backwards from the quality of that game.

And it’s a far more likely reality than that the narrative team somehow hates Pricefield stans so much that they made an entire video game with complex branching paths just to piss them off and make some easy cash.

Anyways. I apologize to those I lumped in with the worst so-called “fans”.

But I hope this gets y’all to think a little harder about LiS discourse.

I’m playing the new life is strange game and apparently people are pissed at how it handles following up the original because OF COURSE THEY ARE.

The first game has two endings, one where Chloe survives and one where she dies.

Officially, neither is the “canon” ending, that’s been made repeatedly clear since the original game released.

But a bunch of people keep demanding more of the Max and Chloe story. It doesn’t matter that they’ve gotten comics about it and a prequel, they still want more. They don’t want to let Life is Strange be an anthology series.

So here, Max is back as the protagonist. But guess what? Chloe isn’t a main character.

Because she fucking DIED in one of the endings, and both are canon.

So even if you choose to play in the timeline where she survived, they had to write her out or they would have had to develop two different games, one with Chloe and one without.

So instead they made it an interesting character issue. Max is stuck in the past, in the trauma of the events of the first game while Chloe wants to move forward.

It was never going to be Max and Chloe living happily ever after. It couldn’t be.

That’s not an interesting game, and it flies in the face of the ending of the original.

This game is in many ways rooted in Max dealing with that trauma and like…that’s an interesting story.

But you’re mad because the story you wanted isn’t the story they made, even though that was literally never going to happen.

The LiS fandom is shitty sometimes

Very gatekeep-y

There’s a sort of notion that there’s only one way for a Life is Strange game to be Life is Strange, but the people that buy into that don’t seem to realize that their criteria is literally just the game that already exists.

[quasi-normalcy]

Surprising Things I Learned From Rewatching All of Star Trek (as of mid 2022)

The first season of the original series is good. Like really, really, good. You can definitely see why it caught on.

"Spock's Brain" isn't actually all that bad. Like, for all it's infamy, I wouldn't even put it in the bottom 5 episodes of TOS. Maybe not even the bottom 10.

The Motion Picture is an amazing movie if you watch it like a symphony with incredible visuals, rather than an action movie.

The weird utopianism of TNG season 1 is actually really appealing now

Wesley was just as bad as I remembered

I actually like Worf. Quite a bit, actually.

Kinda wish that Deep Space Nine had kept a major focus on Bajoran politics. Like, the Dominion War stuff is good, but the political arc in the first few seasons is actually really fascinating.

Voyager has lots of absolute banger episodes, and they're good enough to forgive the overall lack of continuity

Seven of Nine's arc has uncomfortable overtones of reparation therapy when you know that she's queer (and even when you don't, it's basically seems like learning how to mask neurodivergence)

Tuvok is actually a brilliant detective. I didn't notice before.

Enterprise is...well, I'm not going to say "good", but I get what it was going for now. And the Xindi arc is way less jingoistic when considered as a whole than I remember it being.

(The fourth season isn't as good as I remember, just because the constant continuity references have gone from being an exciting novelty to being freaking everywhere)

The 2009 movie really doesn't have a lot going for it, in retrospect. The cast are good, though.

Into Darkness...was even worse than I remembered. Like I'd forgotten just how unlikable it made Captain Kirk. That said, the "anti-militarism" messaging felt somewhat less "tacked-on to the last five minutes of screentime" than I recalled

Even though I don't think it ended well, the first season of Discovery is actually a lot better than I remembered when I already knew where it was going.

The second season of Discovery fares much worse, though. Strange, because I'd thought it an improvement over the first when it was airing.

I'd been disappointed by how the first season of Picard had wrapped up it's plot threads, but on a rewatch, I actually thought it was close to being a masterpiece

The first season of Lower Decks is kind of lacklustre compared to all of the subsequent ones.

[14carrotghoul]

Get to Know Me 9/30/24

Rules: Answer and tag nine people you want to get to know better and catch up with.

Favorite color(s): yellowwww 😁💛

Last Song: ever blazin by sean paul lmao

Currently reading: the pairing by cmq and in the dream house by Carmen Maria Machado

Currently watching: Below deck and real housewives of salt lake city ❄️

Currently craving: olive garden's mushroom cream sauce

Coffee or Tea: tea! Recently bought different fruit flavored black teas and have been enjoying them! Especially the lychee one!!

Hobby To Try: would like to learn sewing but not in any hurry, especially bc I'm looking for more of a class setting

Current AU: pirates 🏴‍☠️ and thinking about but not writing on my infidelity sequel (may rewrite the end third 🥲) And also watching TikToks of the UT marching band is making me hyperaware of my dormant marching band au so I may scrap the original idea and have funnnn and try to finish it before marching season is over 🤞🤞

No pressure tagging @sherryvalli @read-and-write- @haxprocess @anti-homophobia-cheese @alasse9 @suseagull04 @zwiazdziarka @xthelastknownsurvivorx @na-dineee @caterpills @dot524 @cultofsappho ❤️❤️

(Edit OMG I FORGOT TO TAG YOU @cha-melodius AND THANK YOUUUUU I LOVE THESE LIL GAMES!!!)

[tangent101]

Thoughts on Max Caulfield post-game

One thing I've been enjoying is posts by @herpartnerintime concerning Max Caulfield post-Storm, as it touches on things that many Pricefield fans believe: the events of the game fucked Max up something fierce. I know I've long been a proponent that Max kills herself in a post-Bay setting as she has no one to support her after she lets Chloe die - no one she can talk to. And that isolation can be a killer... but I think I've been selling Max short.

It is most unlikely I'll be buying Double Exposure, but I will say this: the anti-Chloe sentiments that were leaked by a writer for Deck Nine by some at Deck Nine (that the Bae ending is the evil ending and foolishness like this) has ended up crafting a new dynamic... one that is actually hinted at with the original game.

Max Caulfield is far stronger than we've given her credit for.

Rather than abandoning her photography (as I long said she would) or ending her life, the Max Caulfield of Deck Nine has chosen to go into photography and into regions that are "environmentally impacted areas" (ie, the aftermath of natural disasters). Whether it is a Bay or Bae ending, she is drawn to areas destroyed by nature, much as the Storm had/would have destroyed Arcadia Bay. She documents these areas, showing the aftermath of these events in haunting and evocative photography.

This Max Caulfield internalized everything she went through and in a way embraced it and the pain that the Storm brought her. Again, it doesn't matter which timeline she chose at the end, this is her penance - either for letting Arcadia Bay die, or for letting Chloe die.

If I were to suspect, in a post-Bay setting, this Max never told anyone about the Storm or about what she and Chloe went through before she murdered her best friend. Safi may very well be the first person she trusts enough to admit this to. But Safi may also be the first person she encounters and got to know and then found her dead. Max may have not used her Rewind less because of the environmental concerns and more because she was not going to use it for her own gain... and in a post-Bae setting it seems Chloe is no longer just dying over and over again (though honestly that only happens thrice, and Jeffershit was behind the third - and further, one of those might not happen depending on the choices Max makes).

The strength of Max in the post-Bay setting also holds true for her in a post-Bae setting. Max likely internalizes what she went through, but does open up to Chloe - she'd have to in order for Chloe to have remained with her for three years as of LiS2. And I could even see a way that Deck Nine would abandon Pricefield in a post-Bae setting by having Chloe feel that Max's... obsession with natural disaster photography was perhaps a bit... unhealthy for Max, and either be separated from her, or having broken up with her. (Honestly, I hope this is not the case but I have no trust in Deck Nine.)

tl;dr - Max may be far stronger than I, and some others, have believed and in an odd way Deck Nine's Double Exposure has revealed this stronger Max Caulfield. It's something to think about.

[fandomshatepeopleofcolor]

Ok, can someone explain to the Deck Nine/Square Enix that having a token Native American character doesn't make up for all the anti Native racism from the first one?

[sosaspiels]

Life is Strange: Double Exposure looks interesting. It is good to see Max back, but based on Deck Nine's creations of True Colors and Before the Storm, I have my doubts when it comes to Double Exposure living up to the original Life is Strange game.

Before the Storm was really boring and cringy to me; it wasn't bad, but I would not like to play it again ever in my lifetime.

True Colors was better but still not up to the standards Life is Strange 1 and 2 set.

I feel that it is just something in the essence of Dontnod that is missing in these newer Life is Strange games.

Life is Strange 1 set up a nostalgic and cozy environment filled with what seemed to be purposely archetypal American high school characters. The dialogue was gawdy at times, but fitting as an exaggeration of early-to-mid 2010s slang, especially for the northwestern internet-grown millenial 'hipsters' that Max and Chloe were presented to be.

Life is Strange 2 was quite inconsistent when it came to the themes and ideas of individual episodes, but stood out as an ambitious video game that not only put more effort into making itself a "Choices Matter" experience, but also covered controversial themes like anti-immigrant sentiment [specifically] in the early Trump era of 2016 (though it was sometimes a bit exaggerated for the sake of proving a point).

This is a rare instance of where I hope a game development team strays far away from its usual ideas. However, the trailer does not seem to make that apparent.

It will be interesting to see how they approach the Sacrifice Chloe or Arcadia Bay endings, as they mentioned Max being able to jump through 'parallel universes' or something of the sort. It is a bit ironic how the game does seem to be set in the Sacrifice Chloe ending while the plot is centered around Max trying to save a murdered friend with her powers.

Wait. This plot mirrors Life is Strange 1 more than I imagined.

The trailer gave off the same 'imitation of Life is Strange 1's small town vibe' just like True Colors. But what I just realized is that the premise is based around Max attempting to save the life of a friend murdered (for unclear reasons) with her rewinding ability -- just like the premise of the first game.

Chloe is murdered by Nathan for reasons unknown, and Max rewinds (awakening her power) to discover the motive behind her murder while also uncovering a larger conspiracy in Arcadia Bay.

Max's friend in this trailer is murdered by someone unknown for what seems to be reasons unknown, and Max rewinds (using her power for the first time in ages) to discover the motive behind her murder while also probably uncovering a larger conspiracy in her town because that is the same exact thing that happened in Life is Strange: True Colors.

I still have faith in you, Deck Nine! The news about Nazi symbols being hidden in this game was concerning (among claims of a toxic and harassment-filled workplace), but I still hope the team was able to move through such a heinous trouble and come out of it with an amazing piece of work.

Please, I beg of you!

[inventors-fair]

Counters Intuitive Commentary

Hey everyone! Here’s the commentary for my last contest. I tried to keep it shorter and snappier so I could get it done more quickly and on occasion I succeeded. Ready?

EDIT: I accidentally posted this halfway through finishing it, if you saw it in that form i apologize

Paldor, Consortium Motivator by @wolkemesser​

Interesting card. There’s a lot of people wanting a jund -1/-1 counter commander, and this does that while also offering the possibility of jund superfriends. I dunno how Jund that -1/-1 counter ability is though (specifically, the being able to tap your opponents’ stuff down part) and I feel like the second might want a mana cost to balance it out a little. It goes infinite with anything that can untap creatures on a +, and it makes the -1/-1 counter ability likely to be used more, since I feel like the loyalty one is significantly stronger.

Tidemaster Mage by @railway-covidae

Absolutely love the effect here, just not sure about the keywords. I’m not sure this really needs ward since sleeping all your opponents’ stuff on ETB is already quite strong; I think making it easier to interact with the potentially big creature they’re facing down is a good idea, and you already got value from the ETB. Islandwalk also has its known swinginess problems, and this doesn’t seem like a great card for it anyway. You want to be playing this against creature heavy decks which blue decks, generally, are not.

Myr Blistersphere by @bread-into-toast​

This seems to be fighting with itself in a way I’m not sure I love. The mix between the cost reduction and the “+1/+1 counter for each mana spent to cast it” just seems like it’s gonna lead to a lot of feel-bad moments.

Monster of the Deep by @yourlordofnothing1​

Not sure why this is hybrid and not monoblue, it doesn’t seem particularly black. I am enamored by “adapt ability” though, and by new kinds of keyword counters. Maybe this wants a different trigger for the tap+stun ability than blocking/being blocked, or maybe it wants a different keyword, cause these kind of fight against eachother. If you’re using the islandwalk, you don’t get to use the first ability.

Trokair Shield-Bearer by @stareyedesper​

Solid common. You can use it immediately if you want to protect something, or suspend it and not know what you might have out, but minimum it can put the counter on itself.

Slorpux, Necrogen Hunger by @hypexion​

Big fan of a toxic ability that’s increasing over time, and experience counters are a good way to do it for commander. The ability that lets you get experience counters could be more interesting and a bit more buildaroundy, but maybe it’s fine that it’s not so you can focus on the poison.

Remembered Lore by @ghostly-blackbird​

This would require an extremely specific set to be in, and I would love to see that set. I’m genuinely not too sure what to make of this. I worry it might get too repetitive though, reusing the same sagas over and over and getting cards back from the yard over and over. It also definitely runs into the dice problem; you could maybe use differently colored dice? But it could easily get confusing. And it has a strong chance of doing nothing, it doesn’t do much at all on its own.

Frostkin Abjurer by @greensunzenith​

This is probably better as protection than removal, but there are times where you’d be willing to put a shield counter on your opponent’s thing to stop it from untapping. It if you’re wanting to put a shield counter on a creature it’s cause you want that creature around (likely for attacking and blocking) so the stun counter is kind of anti-that. The flash does help, but it means the shield counters aren’t all that different from indestructible until end of turn.

Tyvar of Steel and Stone by @nine-effing-hells​

I like how you represent Tyvar’s in-lore abilities in a way that haven’t really much been represented in his two cards so far. I’m not sure this needs the black but it’s probably fine that it has it. This is a pretty specific card for a specific kind of deck, but it seems really fun for that deck so I’m down.

Zonot Slimecaster by @demimonde-semigoddess

My only note is that I think the cost to activate the ability should be a little more. Either GU or 2U. Seems cheap for what it does, especially if there are good ways to put counters on it in the environment besides evolve. Otherwise, sweet and simple.

The Emperor Everleaving by @yd12k​

Flavorfully, I love it. Vanishing is a great fit for her. Mechanically, I’m less sure. Having two sets of counters on one card, both of which are likely tracked using dice, and either of which running out means she dies, is asking for confusion. Also if you alternate between the +1 and the -1, you can keep her around as repeatable removal, which seems like a lot for 2 mana even as limited as that removal is. I also don’t love that she can’t naturally reach her ultimate. I do think the implications you’re going for with the ultimate, of the spirits with vanishing that different cards put a different number of counters on, is really cool.

Spore-Maw Colony by @yourrightfulking​

Solid way to mix +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters. I like how the second ability encourages you to spread counters around and the graft lets you do that, but you have to put in the work and play a couple of creatures to do it.

Akki Recycler by @helloijustreadyourpost​

Good card for a modified deck. A bit unusual in red but definitely something I could have seen in neon dynasty. Putting the mana gate in the trigger was a good choice.

Forlorn Revenant by @bergdg​

This is a really sweet design, but the costs seem backwards. The front of this is not worth 5 mana, maybe 3, but putting a -1/-1 counter on your opponents stuff each turn then getting a probably decent-sized creature out of it afterwards is worth more than three. Probably 4.

Staff of Restoration by @dimestoretajic​

Art direction: a staff in the center of the shot, clearly reminiscent of the previous Mirrodin staves, glowing with eerie light, shoving away black ichor at the bottom as if it was repelling ferrous liquid with a magnet

I’m not a fan of removing poison counters, personally. It’s just not really something I think should be a part of the game, but the design kind of falls apart without that given the flavor, so it’s hard to give any more notes beyond that. I do think it should be colorless though- I’m not sure why it’s 4 color, and I feel like an answer to poison like this you wouldn’t want to limit to such a specific deck.

Agricultural Planning by @snugz​

This just seems really weak, to be honest. I like the idea of land type counters (though if this is a set mechanic which it seems like is the intention, I’d just use the name of the land) but this should cantrip or something. Two mana is so much for it. Frankly, one mana is a lot for it.

Phyrexian Oilstone by @piccadilly-blue​

If one ability puts loyalty counters on planeswalkers with compleated and one puts them on planeswalkers without compleated… can’t that just be “remove an oil counter from ~: Put a loyalty counter on target planeswalker.” This also just seems, weak and kinda boring. It’s 4 mana just to put two loyalty counters on a planeswalker.

Kinderkatch Patrol by @1001gecs​

Note: Couldn't add image description, but flavor is a long spindly faerie flying around and kidnapping children. As the faerie catches more and more children, it's weighed down, barely able to fly. In the card, we can see the faerie struggling under the weight of its cage.

I’ve gotta say, the art description really sold me on the card, so great work. I’m not sure I would have put together what the -1/-1 counters represent. This is really cool flavorfully. Out of curiosity, why’d you do base power? If you didn’t want this to hit itself, it would have been probably better to just make it “Whenever another creature card yada yada”. (Though also, I kind of love the narrative created if it *can* hit itself, where it ends up trapped in its own cage)

Wandering Armory by @reaperfromtheabyss​

Very good call on the sorcery speed clause. My biggest worry here is how good this creature is just as a creature, even ignoring the ability to move counters around. A 5 mana 2/5 with flying, first strike, lifelink, and vigilance is *a lot*. And that might even discourage you from moving the counters around, since it works so well on its own.

Lesson of Fangs by @real-aspen-hours​

Very solid common. This could do a lot of great work- perhaps too much? Permanently granting lifelink isn’t done very much at common, cause if you put it on a big creature that could really make limited games go long. (You’ll also notice that lifelink is extremely rarely seen on big creatures at common for the same reason).

Cryovolver by @horsecrash​

This is *really* cool. The volvers are a great candidate for this contest that not everyone might think of, since they don’t technically qualify but if they were made today they’d absolutely use keyword counters as you correctly assessed. I also really like the idea of a snow volver. Is this card just more of a one-off, in some snow commander deck? Is it a five card ally-colored cycle that all have the same snow ability? I’m intrigued by the possibilities.

[youvereachedthebadend]

To be fair, the chance is pretty equal to the chance of getting nine non-arcana cards in a row, right? Obviously not exactly the same, since there are different amounts of arcana and non-arcana carda, but like. The chance of rolling six sixes in a row on a dice and the chance of rolling 5,2,4,5,1 is the same, even though the former feels more unlikely because it has a discernible pattern. Or maybe I’m completely wrong and misunderstanding something!

The magicians did say divination is a rare but real form of magic, right?

"This is not a die, though, these are cards," Schneep says. "On a die, all numbers have an equal chance of appearing. The same cannot be said here, because from what Marvin said, the non-arcana outnumber the arcana."

"Mm-hmm," Marvin says, putting Jackie's cards back into the deck. "They did point out the number difference."

"True, but the point is that the number difference is quite significant in statistics," Schneep adds. "In any case. Fern did tell me that about divination. Is it possible that that is what's happening?"

The group thinks about it. "I mean... magic is more likely to me at this point than just natural odds," Marvin says. "But then the question is how? Jackie did his own reading, so it's not, like, me unintentionally doing magic. Is it in the cards themselves?"

JJ looks at Jack. You mentioned Fern brought all the card decks over. Do you think she would know anything?

"Worth asking," Jack mutters.

"Well, uh, I'm definitely going to do a reading of my own," Marvin says. "But you two." He nods towards Chase and JJ. "Do you want to keep going? You don't have to."

Chase shrugs. "I'll do it if you guys want me to."

The same for me, JJ adds. Do the voices want to have a reading for them?

"I don't know if you can do tarot for a, uh... 'collective,'" Marvin says. "Or at least not a life reading like we've been doing. But you know who I do want to have tarot for? Anti. I mean, I don't think I can be there when it happens. But he could do it for himself, if he wants. At a later time."

[star-trek-fandom-confessions]

#782

Bashir x Ezri Seven x Chakotay Boimler x T'Lyn Kirk x La'an All fun as friendships but weird as romances.

[twistedlullaby]

(ZENDAYA, 24, SHE/HER, CIS-FEMALE) hey, that’s JULIETTE BLACKTHORN! did you know they’ve been living in golden view for NINE MONTHS? i heard they’re a(n) TATTOO ARTIST and often hang out at MIKES BURGERS AND FRIES. people say they’re SPONTANEOUS, but also DISORGANIZED. they live in apartment APARTMENT 21a. they really remind me of… pumpkin spice bars, sandy sneakers by the door, late night swims, stacks of horror movies and novels. (aurora, 24, she/her,MDT, none)

tw: injury

BIOGRAPHY

Juliette Blackthorn looks as if she stepped out of Baz Lurmen’s Romeo + Juliet because she practically did. Her whole life has been fast paced, full of music and bright colors. The life of an Army Brat is never dull and slightly anxiety inducing whenever her father would be deployed overseas. She was a quiet and shy kid until you got to know her, her head was always in a book, several inches away from a tv screen or underwater at the pool. If she isn’t in her room you might find her at the beach.

Once middle school came around she found a new love. Dance. She enrolled in ballet a late bloomer and began to excel thanks to her work ethic and progressed with time. Juliette had aspired to attend the New York school of Ballet and when she had the opportunity to audition she couldn’t say no.

Her audition had been going smoothly when, CRACK, the shank in her pointe shoe snapped and she tumbled to the floor with a twisted ankle. She would later come to find out that a member of her troupe had messed with them but it was too late. She lost her chance and had to pivot, so she pivoted to cheerleading.

Cheer had been her saving grace after her botched audition and the only thing that kept her sane while her father was deployed.

Now as for tattooing that kind of accidentally fell into her life. When she lived in Washington State she would visit her best friends older brother’s tattoo and piercing shop frequently. Juliette soon had both ears decked in a multitude of piercings and began apprenticing to be a piercer when she was 19.

Her best friend had doodled all over every notebook she had in high school and Juliette took an interest, her hunger for creativity meant she would try anything once. Learning how to draw was a learning curve but she improved over the years. She started with stick and pokes and worked her way towards black and grey.

She moved to Mit Heights for a change of scenery, staying in one place for too long makes her antsy.

———————————————————————

NEVER LEAVES HOME WITHOUT:

☞ hydroflask

☞ loop earplugs

☞ scrunchies

☞ lip balm

☞ earbuds

*♬*

She’s a big music lover and has the most insane playlists.

Won’t admit it but misses dancing

Anti-social unless she likes you and enjoys whatever the event is

[mckitterick]

Instantly obsolete ship cost more than annual budget of 15 US states or 155 entire countries

adapted from Popular Mechanics:

The new, $13.3 billion U.S.S. Ford aircraft carrier is the largest and most expensive warship ever to sail. It boasts a sprawling five-acre flight deck and new technologies aimed at making it the world’s most powerful vessel. It holds four squadrons of fighters, and can accommodate as many as 90 planes. Its airpower exceeds that of at least 60 nations, and it houses more stealth fighters than found in all of Russia’s armed forces. U.S.S. Ford rises more than nine stories above the waterline and weighs 97,000 tons - 32,000 tons heavier than the largest battleship of World War II. Powered by a pair of advanced nuclear reactors, the ship has nearly three times the power of America’s existing supercarriers, about 300 megawatts of electrical power - enough to power more than 100,000 USAian homes. Seeing it on the water is like watching a New York City block cruise past at 34 miles per hour.

But new anti-ship missiles from China, some capable of maneuvering at hypersonic speeds, threaten to render this ship and the Navy’s entire Pacific Fleet obsolete. 

the article goes on to talk about laser ship defense systems the Navy one day hopes to install to help shoot down increasingly science-fictional missiles - including China's new ship-targeting tactical nukes (!) - but they're not yet ready for prime time

the fact that we've dumped so much money into this retro-futuristic machine designed only to project power when all that money could have gone into funding NASA and other actually beneficial programs to positively shape our future instead (this one laser-lacking ship cost more than NASA's annual budget until very recently) speaks volumes about the priorities of those in power

enough with military SF made real, I want to see utopian thinking take shape around us

i love you USPS I love you NASA i love you taxpayer funded services that actually contribute positively to society i love you libraries i love you public transport

[libidomechanica]

Untitled (“My who was somets fall which smiles to she cosmeticall;”)

Metaphor, my return’d awa.     In this no tella, that once and ever to existers     who life leuell as am some long and pen, ere war the power     with a brings behind: if Honour plant frame: presence God’s     daughing light, with passings

haram invitately good.     My passion landsire stampede him in a choings way the firm     post her of us good under were weakers, almost how     willinged footed, in them mortgage and wrough her separed     like her tax. Moon then

heart, like a louds before, now not.     Whom severlesse fearful, and a gods to heart with a doubt,     that all for shape, ask I did that this wouldst to kind! Dying     flame far-fet his cried, and places of a bravellins night     he taxes, suspect your

applause winding people’s fairly.     The did not like. When that o’erpowers with in he walked to     all the surprised in peace is all the coral a more I     ever hustice should reducation which of husbands of     grace their come, that me. And

if you could not to seemed on her     outed, watch’d he sniff animate home red like a smile the     years no few—nine and pass. A wantered it do wise than     now; and feel forks to them, thought the gone? His face distian; but     falling, as pen; but soul,

are watched woments and it, and     neverythings the sate Petrarchitzkoff, and was a would reck     that is grew wonder the ray where fool! Away quiveral     and like ragility: hered hell. Their but love, embarren     were tulips with me

anti in a Dream sure sung, you,     what nae thirst of a food tuch, which made ask’d get each—and     amusic. If you and wefts and all remain’d his Highness, ting     from a sable I says pails; but nothers, this as world, in     send, if it to injust

even of water. Of October     set scarcely somet have was did now much thee recruit     the tall pass you to stomachin that have became hour hair,     and her, let porch’d histling run memorie, yet his pitche, but she’d     grass for remember hair.

My who was somet’s fall which smiles     to she cosmeticall; should have he has even the moonlight     mercy! Alas summers old may some, as as while heaven     her into the scuffle for learned, on that lone moorland     as lawn withere solar

my name in the Cretail’d, and     ev’ry greathere enterfectic charm to the love, both was     Himself said daints mars like to those rudestion? You had not     with a cried in her eyes what pedier ill her rimm’d to me,     and such the fully turned

any pleast started he tongue since     to go answer’d wits would down, arrassy morning that last     Love, as espy, tillness courage. Still her yet up al more,     but to waters you leaves in plums doth and the with flood window,     one whered and sense

of deserve thy Grace of moon. On     Christing looks, which I hope for her gray, desire or     disputed, pers—went as a lowers, beast are wind alone, while     year again she which unable creak of moon bowe you     oversion, and gaudy flashions,

extremost vnto was all neithed     up forget some thee fashion, and to fat is need never     heart be vast the burden- gate what’s importal, thence should     neglectual fancing at now desire is hath no one     whose love syntax of dreads

bright. In thee. Three: to batter reach     too sharpnessenge flocker, and all me yet still on Human     she captized four tastinies, kind. To the dull, the were     work me crammers. I wealth man’s face of pearer limbs; and yet,     statue-light single in

deeple. Youth-wind all slipp’d bow, and     if a more no me shut it half-slaught but what blendship     aflames an’ have gone of air. Find its but thy Dust, our name.     Weep thing a land drill’d Horsement a lessels, if I saw,     shakes in love heart, view to

deck. My face her eye, o’er inter’d,—     I wisher,—all is mouth— but for aughts and Tschief they act, rubbing—     which their perse, the slaves, mine earts one to kisses, yet embark     slime famility: whose of our act thee vnkind, an impose     times pulletin. His

blue-eyed in from his moon. There, furs,     whence, that round. No wi’ plumes work was full-gottendary hand,     the frog sits her be ashamed on the red, as if a play     one, ’ and yet, drillion’s mine winnery daught Phoebus so shower     trees to other dead

these retreason, had and Bis Millage     and night glad of the love, which I because that one deling     dawn and shalt scape, at time window female give of old;     but no with great weight to excuse was taking up. Through now     no woman, and a blood,

but, and rot a peace where she she     sweetessel eye. A scorch’s edge drowne, i’m watched this rest received     those pursuing the monk rum, enough brook with a woment.     Hand nothered clearn inspirit of the said off—to pale     withing, I now and he

hearts daily company made ane     of my loud the said shorn, your choirboy voi charge and come limbing     summer aught time thing, full fancied he confusings true     that remely veil, in which is when the eating strang     How o’erflow’d like a bed.

[rustbulletnv]

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[the-firebird69]

Watch "This is my idea of the perfect lamborghini. 🤗🤩" on YouTube

Was selling these in there instantly resold and the resold a couple times and nobody owns them until they're expensive. They are copies but ours are faster and stronger and they're not better equipped but they have it done themselves. And he says we should make a kit for them to install with the expensive stuff in it. And they end up reselling in a few times they first buy it it's like 6 grand which is ridiculous and then they sell it for 25 Grand which is ridiculous then they turn around and they sell it for 100 grand without even touching it whether they drive it up and down the ramps. And then they turn around and they sell it for about 250 Grand no they sell for about 180 Grand and it's less because it doesn't have all the stuff in it so our son says turn around to make a kit and you put it is like high in magazines even car and driver GQ and then maybe not even just try and get to the $100,000 man and they would buy the kit and put it in several levels automatic doors and windows sensors computers TVs monitors lights and lasers and all that doodads and mega stereos and speed detection equipment it's masked and a new interior all leather Corinthian leather and they want the kits and we'd sell the kids for a real money like 25 Grand so the guy with selling them for 100 grand turns around sells it to the guy who sells it for 180 Grand the guy who is selling for 180 Grand would be the guy not the 100 dollar value and he puts in the kit and so it's up to 125 Grand in cost he tries to sell it for 250 Grand. So we have a brand name and we don't use it but what we're saying is just sell it as a Lamborghini and they go for about 350,000 for this particular model this car goes 450 miles an hour ours goes about 750 miles an hour if you don't take the limiter out and you sell it as if the limiter was out it does about 920 mph but if you put the performance kid in it goes about 1200 miles an hour which is maximum speed for anyone it's faster than any street car this production car of any kind and these are limited production cars and it's not as fast as Max car but it'll beat everything else so you can't sell it for $250,000 so we have a suggested retail price you turn around and it's $180,000 he wants to sell for you add 5,000 so 205,000 and you add for install so it's probably $215,000 and then you calculate the regular model up to 900 mph twice the speed of the car and that car goes for probably about $400,000 and the price tag goes up now regular mega cars cuz they are they call them hypercars that are above 800 mph go for about 800 Grand and that's pretty cheap but you can't survive an accident cuz they're made out of crap and paper this one is accident proof no but it has real frames and real roll cages and real anti-craft stuff and so you have to start at least $800,000 then you calculate the fact that it goes twice as fast.

So our son says you have the kit and you add decked out just to get an idea of pricing and at the 900 mph mark and someone said 4.5 million and then we said 9 million and our son says that the kit comes with straight from our factory which is father and mother and it's their name Lamborghini and it's a stolen name but now it's from us and there is an insignia and our son doesn't know what it is and it goes on a certain place on the Lamborghini and it tells you that it's decked out and to the nines without the added speed kit though and he says suggested retail 9 million and we agree.

But with the speed kit and the new exhaust and suspension and some added the measure side to reinforce frame and some additional measures to the body which is a bunch of work the cost of it goes up to about $15,000 total plus the kit which is separate 25,000 so $40,000 but suggested retail goes up to about 19 million dollars because it's 1200 miles an hour plus extremely fast and it has safety equipment too projection and for recovery and things like that and it has electronics at the other ones don't it has surveillance counterintel all sorts of counter stuff and signal interference and so forth and it has a body that's much more EMP proof and it's titanium even though the first one is titanium the base model is not and so we go back to the beginning and the $280,000 version the lower model did the selling you add the decked out kid that goes up to $310,000 or something and then you know it's 900 mph and you can't go 1200 without the titanium alloy hull. But that's just retail is 9 million and it's twice as fast as the Lamborghini which sells for $400,000 and really those things retail at about 1.2 million and so we're going to get some pricing right on suggested retail and it goes through several dealers and that's how it's gone for a long time with Lamborghini that's why it goes up to 1.2 million but they really started around 180,000 for the base model and ours is starting at a ridiculous price and people cannot get it now it's insulated and it works just the way you thought it would and our son thought it so too for the most part he thought if we flooded the place it wouldn't but now he and he was thinking it would still be a fight but it's less of a fight he thinks and it's true he thought it would be more of them out there right now and people cancel them and there are other people sometimes but we can't help it if no one's going to back it and it's going on now these are huge huge orders no they're ordering probably 10 each 30 each and they're supercars well really know they're hypercars and you get these mega hypercar at 1200 miles an hour and people are buying those and they're making them to fly cars and they go about 8,000 miles an hour safely but there's a famous car if the design is famous and they think it's the thing that gets you safer travel and it's not our son's car sells probably one a year and Mac keeps buying the new one each year. It's not even a fly car it can be made into him he's not touching it and it is the fastest car on earth and we don't have one that's faster yet but his father and mothers are working on it because they're usually the ones with the reputation. And it is going like this I help him with the design and he knows I can do it there might be a bit big and that's the problem and Hera's can do it but hers are a bit small and his are just right and that's ridiculous cut that out. And we're going to go on with this topic that was selling tons of these cars and it is ridiculous the numbers 800 million globally today no but that's all of the hypercars yes. And there's a ton of them but the little cars like lotus esprit we're selling tons of those and it was so millions and they're going out the door and people are making money off them and we'd like to raise the price but they say they simply won't buy from us and it's true that they say that that's ridiculous that we wouldn't and we're keeping it low and they say they want to change and they say that would cut out the first guy and they have to do that themselves and they are working on it and the first guy might touch it and stuff the second is not so bad cuz he delivers it to places and they might put up with it for a while so they cut the first guy out and the second guy says it's too low I won't buy it so we increase the price and he buys any sells it makes less money and the third guy enhances it for real and wants certification after Time and we'll have to do that and have Lamborghini dealers and they have Ferrari dealers and we are looking at certifying a couple of them for our brand already

Thor Freya