#considering doing a bigger art of moon

[asavt]

AU stuff I think? (I still don't have a name for this ough)

breaking into the burned down pizzaplex and playing around a bit, looking into the rabbit hole and finding the rabbit.

I really need a name for this au so I can properly tag everything of it.

[sleepsi]

All it takes is one interesting tag on ao3 and suddenly my brain chemistry has been rewired

[loudclan-clangen]

So, here is the pitch:

AU where Siltsplash finds out they are pregnant around the same moon that Eklutna gives birth to the boys. (Rather than an AU where Owl doesn’t cheat because then we wouldn’t have Song, Dance, or Dash and that won’t do)

It makes the betrayal even worse because it’s even more pointless since they were going to give Owl an heir.

Anyway, meet Spindlekit

She will eventually go blind I imagine, but if Owlstar suggest she retire she tells him that he should retire for being old lmao.

Warrior name is open to suggestion

I love her and I’m so mad that she doesn’t exist now.

The fact that Song doesn’t have a little sister is a CRIME. This is what he was born to do.

Not only am I okay with it, I would love to see it!

You are so right, here's a flashback that was cut for time from Moon 28:

Erminepaw has had a crush on Songpaw since they were in the nursery together, he just never called attention to it. He honestly probably doesn't even register that it is a crush, he's doing that thing that kids do where they're like this is my best friend, of course I want to marry him that's how everyone feels about their best friend. Nothing out of the ordinary here! Just my best friend that I must be holding hands with at all times for best friend reasons!

Yes! This is Fox----, he has been causing problems since the literal day he was born. You've met both of his parents, but I would be a little bit surprised if you guessed them correctly. Parental drama is kinda part of his whole deal. He's one of the first 3rd generation cats born in Loudclan.

I have SO much advice, about the images, the recommended size is 1280 x 1920 pixels, that's always a little too short for my panels, so I try to aim for 1280 x 2000 - 3000. It still deteriorates them a little bit, but people can always click on them for better quality. Bigger text and variation in values also help for readability regardless of size. (value meaning how light or dark a color is. if you want something to stand out it's more important to change the value than it is to change the hue generally speaking.) As for grabbing attention, I would recommend making sure that the image you're trying to show is visible above the cut off for longer posts, posts with only text visible are a lot less likely to get interaction. That being said, the most important thing for the longevity of your blog is making sure that it's something you are doing for yourself. There's nothing wrong with liking when your posts get attention, but it's not likely to happen for a long while (I think moon 5 was the first time I got double digit likes which was three months after I started.) I appreciate all of the love that Loudclan gets now, but if I had started with that as the goal I never would have been able to reach the point of it happening. (I actually started posting Loudclan with the intention of proving to myself once and for all that posting art was not a viable endeavor for me, so... I'll consider that a successful failure!)

You CANNOT DO THIS to me anon- "the canadian city"- YOU MEAN JUNEAU? YOU MEAN THE CAPITAL OF ALASKA JUNEAU?!?! JUNEAU?!?! CANADIAN?!?! When I catch you anon- anon when I catch you-

Come here, anon. I just want to talk. I just want to have a word with you.

[minsh0e]

mini astrology observations 1/???

hi hi ! these are my first (and probably last) astrology observations. i expect that you might not agree with any of these so i am open to criticism. i also want to point out, that i am not a professional. have fun reading <3

p.s. - the art belongs to kibong rhee/이기봉

...

☆ pisces/12th house placements 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽being tired/sleepy all the damn time for no reason

☆ your house/sign stelliums might refer to the part of your body you should focus on when considering fashion. for instance: people with pisces/12th house placements might really like shoes, person with aries/1st house placement can look great with anything related to head (glasses,ribbons,hats etc.), taurus/2nd house people might look great with necklaces or any jewelry...

☆ i don’t know why, but I always get attracted to men whose mars trines mine venus…like four men that i found to be amazing, had all mars in the same element as my venus. the aspects weren’t mostly even that tight, yet i felt something!? of course this might not apply to you (because you should consider everything else in natal charts, synastry chart etc.), but men are represented as mars and women as venus after all…try to check this next time you like someone or if you are with somebody.

☆ people who have 3rd house or 5th house placements that are negatively aspected might have problem with presenting (even the ideas) or social anxiety disorder. both houses are related to youth so it may have showed in their early years. this will most likely be seen/felt if the aspects are present in between these two houses (for instance square).

☆ this is very random, but your mothers moon might be in the same sign as your descendant.

☆ scorpio placements (especially moon, mercury and mars) are so hard to deal with and not just for the person who has them, but also for everybody else around. for instance: my mom and sister both have these and i can’t argue with them as i always loose and come out as the “bad one”. these placements always stand up for their opinions and might say something harsh without really meaning to. they also might try to find excuses/backup for something to avoid being hurt (in conversations as well). deep inside they are very fragile…this might apply to aries placements as well. 

☆ why are virgo mars men always thinking about “that thing” (aka. are h*rny). even when something innocent was said, they connect it with doing “it”. double points to those, who have mars in their 10th house.

☆ if the houses in the synastry are overlapping each other so that the 1st house overlaps with 1st, 2nd or 12th house (if the ascendants are close to each other), people with this synastry have bigger probability to complement/understand each other really well. that is because one persons placements may fall into the house that is same to their placement in natal chart or the natal chart of the other person. these people are at home with each other and probably went through the same life experiences, therefore they don’t need to be afraid to be judged. they just get each other. this is literally a soulmate connection. what i mean:

→ if you look at the neptune you can see, that they fall into the same houses. same goes for pluto etc.

☆ venus is what you like and what you want and therefore, it can represent your ideal partner and what you are looking for in them. this applies to both women and men.

...

okay, that is all. feel free to leave your feedback :)

edit: just checked this post and i don't know what to think...thank you all so much for such a reaction, i appreciate it a lot :D love you <3

[r0-boat]

Whb Kings as Monsters

Thank you @aet-tsu and @da-shrimping-station for the inspiration from your cute art and you're writing.

(I wanted to do them as pets but you two already got that covered so now they're monster hybrids just pretend they are your 'pets')

Sfw

Part 2 here with belphegor and Asmodeus

Satan

tiger hybrid/Weretiger! You saw this hybrid in the daytime while you were shopping, sitting at side, and the heat. His tail swishing, his shirt was off, trying to keep himself cool. His ears folded back. You walked inside the store, coming out with a bottle of water and some food, bringing it out to What you thought was the cat hybrid. He seemed to worry of you at first, but when he noticed you had food, His eyes widened, looking at the cooked chicken and back at you.

He looked pleased, His smile wide as he drank the water and ate the chicken. Poor thing must have been hungry! Well, you are so glad to feed a hungry mouth. That night, You heard scratching at your window; it was the hybrid from before! How the hell did he get here?! Did he follow you back????

It is now been one month, and the cat still will not leave. He plays idly on your bed, sleeping. You thought he was just a normal hybrid. However, you were greeted by something horrifying the next full moon. This hybrid was not a cat!!! You see that now. You now stare at the giant wear tiger now curled up on the floor of your living room. You thought this thing would kill you, but it has taken quite a liking to you. However, you are still getting used to the random temper tantrums, and your house getting destroyed because of it...

Despite being a tiger hybrid. He still acts like a cat. Laying in sunspots, making biscuits with your pillows(destroying them). He even brings you dead things mostly; it's a wild game. You hope to God he doesn't bring in a human corpse one day; your weretiger is just an oversized cat. Well, you don't know why you're surprised.

Satan is practically attached to your hip He goes wherever you go even to the bathroom. And you can't help but smile when your big cat starts to rubbing himself against you purring. When you stop petting him he demands you to keep petting him.

Mammon

A dragon, an ancient dragon waking from its slumber, its den filled to the brim with riches of the old world. Now here, as he walks among the humans using magic to make him appear human, He sees that this new world's wealth has changed drastically. He hungers for that wealth. However, he must lie low. With that, he comes to you bearing golden gifts, of course.

You are thinking that you haven't woken up yet. It's handsome man a suitcase full of solid gold bars coins and pearls asks to live with you and be yours. This man with a big grin swears that he can protect you. Dream or not, You are very much considering taking the money replacing all that furniture from Satan's rampaging is tiring.

The dragon's eyes widen when he spot it a familiar figure. Your cat boy (tiger) hisses immediately pouncing on the man. Even with the tiger's sharp terrifying clause It did nothing against the dragons almost indestructible golden scales. "I swear my friend you get shorter every time I see you!"the dragon laughs.

With his endless amount of wealth all of you move to a bigger house with a bigger yard. Mammon studies human money and how to acquire it. Mamon bellows in pride when he talks about his riches, and goes on and on about tell excited he is to add more wealth to his collection. And how he could take good care of you, His chosen master.

Since this time living with you, he has been liking you every day more and more, especially how tiny you are. He likes to pick you up and haul you around. Maybe he could even convince you to go flying with him.

Leviathan

A Naga, You're not sure why or how he's here. He just showed up in your garden. Underneath your wooden deck, He looks hurt. You finally have to lure him out with food.

He glares at you, and when you get close, he snarls, telling you to back away and don't touch him. But at the same time, he's the one who comes to you; he gets close, watching you intently. Even as he kisses and threatens to kill you, You try your hardest to tend to his wounds. Finally convincing him to let you touch and take care of him.

Over time, he slowly warms up to you. You notice how he gets possessive over You don't know much about monsters well except for dragons and were tigers. However, you did hear about Naga's being possessive over mates. But that shouldn't be right... How could this monster see you as his mate? He looks like he wants to kill you half the time.

Sometimes he has his whole body wrapped around you, trapping you in this coils, making sure no one else sees you but him. Keeping you like this calms him. Having you so close to him, like this, he feels like you were all his. Your warm human body is addicting to him.

Your other monsters hate him because he's practically claimed your room. Satan and him have brawls for your bed. And, of course, Mammon loves to provoke the Naga.

Beelzebub

Mothman/moth hybrid (hear me out): You heard a knock at your window. You see a handsome man with moth wings and antennae waving to you, giving you a wink, and gesturing at you to open the window. At this point, you are not surprised. Immediately opening the window. The first thing this winged man did was kiss you on the forehead and hug you. Next thing you know, your Levi tackles him to the ground, squeezing the lights out of him. He only stops when you tell him to.

Apparently, they know each other. As your are pissed off, Naga hides in your closet. You asked him how he found this place, And he said confidently, "I smelled you!" Moths find their mates by senses of smell. And he thought you smelled good, so obviously, you are his mate. You are not deterred by the fact that you already have three other monsters lined up for that title.

Beel Only shows up at night, leaving during the day sometimes; he's gone for days at a time. Only to just show up randomly, sometimes with random souvenirs as gifts. He is really good at blending into human society. They're already hybrids walking among the streets, and he does not need to do much.

He will always find you because no matter how bad his memory is he will always remember your scent.

Beel and Mammon, who are eager to learn about humans, Go out together. Beel teaches him all he remembers about humans. Sure, Beel and Mammon are no different parts of human societies, but they get along pretty nicely compared to the other two.

Lucifer

Vampire. He has already lived among the humans for quite some time. How you met him? Well, You haven't been out with people for a while now because of you certain somebody's usually chase them away, whether it be a friend or a date.

This person has already been your friend online and the two of you set up for a little date night. You thought it odd that he didn't order anything else but wine and drinks; however, He was paying for the meal, so you did not think anything of it.

Lucifer had no intentions with you in fact, he found you quite charming. He was not one of those vampires that lure people into their home as their prey; no, He is a doctor. If he needs blood bags, he will get blood bags without harming humans.

You got a little tipsy and he invites you to take you home. Forgetting about your four other things you agree... You're greeted at the door with a dragon with his arms crossed puffing out his chest a snarling yelling cat a hissing snake ready to pounce. And Beelzebub laying on your couch waving at you. Apparently, they know this vampire. Why does this keep happening?

Since you're already friends with his 'acquaintances' He drops the bombshell, which is honestly the most normal thing you've heard all week, that he is a vampire. Well, he is not ready to drink from you just yet (since he sees that as an intimate thing). He does drop by in his back form, which you had fun squealing over, and picking him up and petting him, which he reluctantly allows you to do.

[goldenshrikecomic]

FAQ

Please read these before sending asks! It's also good to check the tags listed on the pinned post to see if it's already answered. Where can I read GS? On Comicfury or DeviantArt. Two pages ahead on both Patreon and Ko-fi.

Who works on this comic? Only me, ratt/doeprince. You can call me either, I usually refer to myself as doeprince when it's more official, otherwise ratt or some secret third thing. I'm an amateur artist and I draw these comics for fun without much ambition to gain greatness. I want to make enough money to be able to keep working on more comics, and buy trinkets.

How can I support what you do? Why thank you for asking! All my income comes from making comics, so the support on either Patreon or Ko-fi is literally making my comic endeavours possible.

Do you have other projects? I work on some secondary comics. Jet and Harley and Honey are currently updating, Corpse is finished. You can find my other art on doe-prince.

How long will Golden Shrike be? I don't know how many pages. I hope it's less than 1000.

What programs do you use? SAI for lineart, CSP for coloring and bubbles, PS for text and backgrounds. Hoooow do you draw the antlers from different perspectives? I've made 3D models for each recurring antlered character.

Is GS going to have physical merch? Will it be printed? Consider this a no, but I won't say never.

Does GS have a map, official wiki or dub or something like that? No. There's a fan wiki out there full of inaccurate information so take everything in there with tons of grains of salt. There's no map. The dub on YT is separate from me, I've had no hand in it.

Can I make a fan character? Can they interact with yours? You can absolutely make a fan character! I just ask you not to make them interact with mine, at least not in any kind of heavy way. It's a slippery slope and I've seen people treat my characters very rudely to make them suit their needs.

Can I make fanart/writing? Yes! All sfw and well-meaning works are welcome. Just tag me so I can see them! Why are the borders black and sometimes white? White borders means it's a flashback.

Deer don't do that!!!!! Or birds!! Or plants! The moon shouldn't be that shape right now. Everything in GS is fictional for this very reason. I shall not be shackled by the chains of realism when there's entire new worlds in my fingertips. I aim to make things believeable in its context, not realistic. Are other animals sentient, can they talk? Sure they are and can, but not outside their own species. A frog can't hold a conversation with a deer, but a deer and antelope could possibly make it work. There's exceptions though.

How old are main characters? They're fawns right? No they are not, they'd all be in their early 20s if they were humans.

What does sire mean? It keeps popping up in different contexts. You can liken this term to 'father', as in your dad but also something like a priest. The priest isn't your dad but "father forgive me for I've sinned". So sire is a) respected stag, b) very formal way to address your father. Dame is the female counterpart. Why are the does so small compared to stags.... are you a freak... do you just hate women..... Listen when I started GS I had been dwelling in a place where monster deer characters had insane size differences and it became some kind of norm to me and of course it found its way into my comic. Now I just have to keep drawing those tiny women to keep up the consistency. I've created bigger ladies nowadays because I too think it's a little silly now.

Please please will this character ever get a mate? Will this pairing be canon? Will you please make this pairing canon? I won't spoil any pairings, I think it'd be the most boring thing to do to my own work! I'll only confirm the ones already established in the comic.

Is this a speck of ember? Is it snow? What is that floating thing, is it relevant to the plot? IT'S JUST MY DUST BRUSH LEAVE ME ALONE.

[bones-of-a-rabbit]

king of day Sun and lord of nights Moon, bonding with Cursed-AU Y/N,,,,,, bc they are simps in every au i make sorry i dont make the rules (BONUS: AU LORE/INFO BELOW, ALONG WITH ANOTHER [story-relevant] DOODLE!)

Some lore about the curse au, copy and pasted from the discord bc im lazy and im very very sorrys fjfkhdskjh:

Okay so. Casting magic takes energy, bc this is an angsty au

The bigger-more complex-more powerful the spell is, the more energy it takes. The most powerful spells can take as much energy as in multiple human lives. There’s legends of spells cast during wars or battles that fell entire armies at once purely just by being cast

NORMALLY, when casting a spell, the magic comes from the world/plant life/living things around the caster

A curse is a kind of Forbidden Magic that can span generations. If one casts a curse that the cursed one will never quench their thirst, or they will never have enough sleep (simple curses for example), the curse could be passed down to their children, sometimes for multiple generations

A curse is ALSO a kind of spell that goes out of its way to deliberately alter the future and continues to- it’s basically a spell that’s constantly working when most spells are more like they last for a few seconds or maybe a minute or two then they’re done and the magic is used up and gone

So if you’re cursed to never feel warmth, there’s magic around you or in you that is constantly sapping the warmth from you or putting chills into you. You can’t see it, but it’s always there, even if just in small amounts

So when a curse is cast, it takes a lot of energy. Like, multiple human lives’ worth

There are ways to circumvent the possibility of killing the people around you (or yourself), like having some animals recently sacrificed, which is the most commonly heard of version

But. Sometimes, very rarely. One might cast a curse on a whim, without planning on it or really considering the series of events leading up to it or following

Cursed AU Reader did that once. Cursed someone in a fit of rage or passion

They were standing in a field, ready for a harvest festival, at the time

The fields withered and died and it’ll take years for them to get back to being fit enough to grow anything in

The mark of a cursed witch, which is a sign from Wiccan culture meant for containing(?), basically keeps the Marked Person from taking any magic from the world around them

The only energy they can use is the energy their physical body contains- and if they use too much or too frequently, they’ll kill themselves in the process

Basically it’s a way of making sure the caster can never use enough magic to really do much of anything sjdgdhdhd

and,,,,, the concept art for a moment i might write abt at some point,,

[tsublue]

Annual Profections in Astrology

By @tsublue / All rights reserved to @tsublue

You can calculate your chart here!!

_______________________________________________

When you first calculate your chart you will have a wheel with all ages and signs.

The highlighted part shows what profection year you’re on & you can look up the chart of the transits for more detail which I TRULY recommend.

The chart is calculated from your ascendant and age which results in people having different profection year than you even if they’re the same age.

Aries year

Ruler of the year: Mars

Focus is on achievement and personal gains. You could have a sharper eye in your appearance and can possibly change a lot physically.

Taurus year

Ruler of the year: Venus

Begging you if not already doing to be in tune with your body, especially physical and really focus on the wellbeing of it. You’ll be more comfort seeking and cozy in your state of being considering mentally.

Gemini year

Ruler of the year: Mercury

You start to really be vocal and like creative arts like literature and creating it yourself which can also develop your self awareness & focus on your behavior. The sibling relationship will become more relevant for you this year too.

Cancer year

Ruler of the year: Moon

You start looking at your inner circle and focusing more on it than usual. When ur into psychology then it’s a great way and time to find out more about all of your relationships. Highlighting the family ones. You will be also more in tune with your emotions and if it harmonizes with your charts will make you experience more and new emotions & more intensely.

Leo year

Ruler of the year: Sun

If you want a career or recognition out of entertainment and such then it’s a great year for it. You will be more expressive even if it’s on a subconscious level since people will be noticing it more. If you are more of a calm and stable person mentally then your need for even a slight glance of attention need will skyrocket. You can also become more vocal. And you will be building up your status during the Leo profection year.

Virgo year

Ruler of the year: Mercury

You can become more aware at this time and focus on your vocals in many ways like for an example: making more jokes & finding your humorous side or finding yourself standing up for yourself more. You can be taking on more responsibility and your behavior can change.

Libra year

Ruler of the year: Venus

Your entrepreneurial stage will start and you’ll be really good at business. It’s important to include and talk to as many people as possible who can be beneficial for you in the work fields. You can also be more focused on your clothes and style and be into details and arts in many ways.

Scorpio year

Ruler of the year: Pluto

You will be looking into yourself and be more observant and really figuring out what you want out in the world for others to see and what not. You can really mature mentally and get more into spirituality and self discovery. This is the time of rebirth and like said you will be on the lookout and looking out for yourself and your well being.

Sagittarius year

Ruler of the year: Jupiter

You can be more motivated than ever, especially in your education and driven for higher education and understanding. This year can also be spiritual in a way. Travel, travel, travel and plans for the future will roam around. You will have an eye on the bigger picture.

Capricorn year

Ruler of the year: Saturn

Year of the work and career. You will be on the lookout to make an career out of anything. Everything and anything can be your next step. If you are fully stable in your plans then your work ethic will be incredible and you can have a lot of thoughts or experiences surrounding this.

Aquarius year

Ruler of the year: Uranus

You start to be more vocal on the internet. For an example: if you’re a “silent/quiet” fan of something then you’ll be more talkative about it in the internet. Your screen time is possibly increased since it fascinates you so much you spend more time on it. You will also be more focused on your friend group and surroundings as of friends and they’ll become more relevant than ever in your everyday life.

Pisces year

Ruler of the year: Neptune

Can be having more dreams than ever and them being lucid. Your subconscious will be at work more than ever, your intuitive side will be really strong and manifestations work out better than ever. Perfect time to prefect your spiritual side and get in tune with your body and mind. This is the year of relaxation and focus on the body & mind.

_______________________________________________

Happy October!!

Photo Credits:

@miaissobellebarker on Instagram @tesfayesabri on Instagram

Please do not copy, rewrite, repost, steal and etc any of my work. If wanted to use parts of it then contact the author and always give credits.

Love, Tsunami

[apiswitchcraft]

the ogham alphabet and their divinatory meanings

FIRST AICME

ᚁ beith

UPRIGHT: joyful beginnings, new possibilities, renewal and rebirth--even if it is uncomfortable

REVERSED: a blind path, wasted efforts, fixation on the past, longing for the impossible

ᚂ luis

UPRIGHT: clarity, attention to detail, purification, danger avoided or overcome, two paths are open to you

REVERSED: vulnerability, uncertainty, deception, delusion, something (possibly your own emotions) is misleading you

ᚃ fearn

UPRIGHT: protection and guidance, emotional security, good advice, prophecy, unexpected solution(s), music, poetry

REVERSED: willful blindness, refusal to listen to advice, arrogance or not enough information

ᚄ saille

UPRIGHT: go with the flow, intuition, dreaming, unconscious, letting go of preconceptions, feminine energy/connection to the moon

REVERSED: inability to adapt, feeling defeated or lost, lack of movement, difficulty that will inevitably pass

ᚅ nuin

UPRIGHT: connection and transformation, being a part of something bigger, fate, divine action/inspiration

REVERSED: isolation and boredom, being blind to (either good or bad) possibilities, take control and be assertive

SECOND AICME

ᚆ huath

UPRIGHT: patience, protection/purification, reserve, feeling suffocated, problems that will eventually change, self-sacrifice

REVERSED: you are acting too hasty, take a second to think OR you're at a standstill, you need to take action

ᚇ duir

UPRIGHT: sacred spaces, forward movement, power and energy, the power to endure, leadership, endurance

REVERSED: help from those in power, success despite means, borrowed strength, a gift, cowardliness

ᚈ tinne

UPRIGHT: challenges or tests, recommends decisive action, balance, integrity, talent/skill/expertise, growth

REVERSED: attack, hardship, aggression, lack of direction or balance

ᚉ coll

UPRIGHT: knowledge and learning, transformation and flexibility, creativity, daydreaming, rituals/divination

REVERSED: intellectual/creative blockages (art/writer's block), lack of insight, fear of failure, ignorance

ᚊ quert

UPRIGHT: happiness, healing, beauty, love affairs, awakenings and new experiences, opportunity (or the choice) to live more fully

REVERSED: despair, ailments, unavoidable choice(s), mixed gain/loss, procrastination

THIRD AICME

ᚋ muin

UPRIGHT: inspiration, prophecy or psychic senses, community and celebration, freedom, rest, examine life's lessons

REVERSED: burdens, difficulties, a need to relax/unwind, you're strung out or trying too hard OR overindulging

ᚌ gort

UPRIGHT: slow/indirect progress, wildness, purpose, determination, transformation, follow life's path

REVERSED: entanglement, think twice about what you're doing, and arduous path

ᚍ ngetal

UPRIGHT: vitality, awareness of environment, creating order from chaos, prioritizing personal health, you aren't finished yet

REVERSED: inability to act, need for healing and patience, you aren't ready to act yet OR you have done all you can

ᚎ straif

UPRIGHT: necessity/inevitability, fate or omens, death, rebirth, some things cannot be changed, wheel of fortune

REVERSED: pain, difficulty, retribution, necessary suffering, no choice is a good one

ᚏ ruis

UPRIGHT: resolution, completion, looking ahead, omen of success, difficulties permanently overcome

REVERSED: endings and departures, face the facts, shame, illness/disability

FOURTH AICME

ᚐ ailm

UPRIGHT: insight, grounded in the present, clear vision, start new project(s), new perspective, foresight

REVERSED: ignorance of the broader picture, unrealistic ideas, step back and reassess, fear and anxiety

ᚑ onn

UPRIGHT: energy, life, vigor, sexuality, attraction, gathering together, consider changing your life's direction

REVERSED: difficulties and delays, overconfidence, taking too many risks, unrealistic desires

ᚒ uhr

UPRIGHT: spiritual/magical power, forces of nature, deep connections, fulfillment, death and memories of loved ones

REVERSED: deception, deceit, loss of contact with nature/spirits, need for recuperation/reconnection in a relationship

ᚓ eadhadh

UPRIGHT: courage and tenacity, a struggle for victory, quest for inner strength, enlightenment

REVERSED: addiction, terror, declining health, compromise and negotiation, choosing a different path

ᚔ iodhadh

UPRIGHT: ancestry, aging or dying, things unchanging, old age, memory

REVERSED: stagnation and immobility, death or mourning, the past is a burden, things lingering past their prime

FORFEDHA

ᚕ eabhadh

UPRIGHT: spiritual wisdom, complexity, place of balance/harmony, presence of many factors, spiritual wisdom

REVERSED: confusion, bewilderment, too many factors at work to allow for a successful prediction/decision

ᚖ oir

UPRIGHT: radical transformation, abundance, sudden illumination or destruction that is set about by outside forces

REVERSED: patience, preparation, the path before you is a slow one, wait for outside forces to act

ᚗ uilleann

UPRIGHT: knowledge and lore, learning and study, wisdom of the past as a guide, private thoughts or secrets

REVERSED: ignorance, failure to learn from the past, future instead of past

ᚘ ifin

UPRIGHT: secrets and revelations, subtle influences, releasing emotions of guilt/shame

REVERSED: the situation is not as it seems, the information that you need is not available to you

ᚙ eamancholl

UPRIGHT: unexpected change, arrival of new influence, illness

REVERSED: sudden endings or disruptions

[thefrogman]

Recently I took a panorama of the Pittsburgh skyline at night that got a positive response. That was done on the spur of the moment with an iPhone. I want to do that again and more, but this time with a dedicated camera setup. It's been years since I've had one, so I'm basically starting over again. I'm mostly interested in getting day and night cityscapes, and maybe the carryings-on at this year's Anthrocon. Would you have any particular knowledge to pass on as I set off on this journey?

Since you didn't specify a budget I'm going to assume it is in the $10K range.

And you're probably thinking I'm going to suggest a Leica. Every dentist and his brother (who is also a dentist) gets a Leica. But I just can't take a camera brand seriously when they charge you an extra $2200 for the privilege of not being able to shoot in color.

Sure, you can hit a single button in Lightroom to get B&W and save some money, but then you won't be able to brag about how limiting yourself to only shades of gray has opened up new artistic pathways in your brain while a clueless person responds in mumbles during their root canal.

What you really want for your landscapes is a Hassie.

They were the first camera on the moon! How could you *not* want a Hasselblad? That is some camera gorgeousness right there. And it's so reasonably priced*!

*compared to their previous $40,000 camera systems.

And if you are doing landscapes with the Hassie you'll need a nice wide angle lens to go with it. This one is actually quite affordable*!

*compared to their previous $8000 lenses.

Can we all agree that is a work of art? They even use their H logo as the knurling.

That is just so... extra. And I love it.

Out of the entire alphabet I've heard Hs give you the best grip.

Man, I almost wish I was a dentist just so I could buy a fancy camera.

Sorry... I was just having a little fun.

I never get to recommend the super cool expensive cameras. Because, ya know, the economy and the fact that only dentists have Hasselblad money.

You probably think I'm being silly but there actually is an entire community of dentist photographers keeping the high end camera market alive.

Okay, let's get started...

Landscape Buying Guide

Opening Thoughts

For landscapes I would highly suggest a full frame camera and a high quality wide angle lens.

Full frame has several advantages but it is not necessary. You can go with a smaller sensor like APS-C and get great images. Personally I would not go any smaller, but there have been some great landscapes taken on micro 4/3 and even smartphones. Technique, knowledge, experience, and composition will usually win the day over a camera, but having a nice camera makes things a lot easier.

At this point, with full frame options being very affordable now, the main reason to get a smaller sensor is if you want a smaller system that is easier to carry for extended periods and easier to pack when traveling. Or if you aren't sure you want to take on photography as a hobby, you can get an old APS-C DSLR for under $200 to learn with and test out.

So if you need a very cheap OR very compact system, APS-C and Micro 4/3 might be worth considering, but a bigger sensor will cause less frustration most of the time.

Froggie Note: The expensive Micro 4/3 and APS-C systems are the compact ones. The cheap systems are about as bulky as full frame.

The biggest advantages to full frame are low light shooting, lens selection, and field of view. Full frame cameras have many, many more lenses to choose from. And since the sensor is bigger, it is much easier to get a wider field of view that is often needed for landscapes. And the high ISO noise performance tends to be better on full frame.

However, you can use full frame lenses on APS-C camera bodies within the same ecosystem. They just get a little... zoomier. Roughly 1.5x zoomier. A 35mm acts like a 50mm, for example. So if you want to spend a little less now you can get an APS-C camera with a full frame lens and then upgrade to full frame later on without having to buy a new lens. Full frame lenses work on APS-C bodies but not the other way around.

Most landscapists have a really solid 16-35mm lens and that covers almost all of their needs. So I would suggest something comparable. Please don't get suckered into some crazy 18-300mm superzoom. Just get the focal range you need for the photos you want to achieve.

A purpose-built lens always outperforms one that was made to do everything.

As far as where to get used gear, I highly recommend using KEH or MPB when buying used camera bodies. They check every device and offer between 3 and 6 months warranty to make sure the device won't crap out on you. Lenses are typically a lot more robust and a safer thing to buy on eBay or Facebook Marketplace if you can find a better deal. But the security of having a warranty and a return apparatus if something goes wrong might be worth the extra price when using these two sites.

I am going to recommend Canon, Nikon, and Sony systems. I feel they have the most complete ecosystems with gear that spans all budget ranges. I'm not saying there aren't good cameras from other brands, but you have to remember every camera has an ecosystem surrounding it. There are accessories and upgrade paths and niche lenses that may not be available with other brands. I think Fuji has some tempting options and if you like the look of vintage film photography, their emulation options are quite stunning. Their cameras are also quite attractive and have very satisfying knobs. But I still can't recommend them unless you have a specific reason for wanting their gear.

Just remember that for every Canon DSLR I recommend there is a comparable Nikon option available as well. There are more lenses for a Canon full frame DSLR body than any other brand with Nikon coming in a close second.

So if you choose not to go mirrorless yet, the Canon and Nikon DSLR camera ecosystems are immense and have tons of gear and accessories available to go with them. And since used gear holds up really well, those ecosystems will survive for decades.

Should you buy a mirrorless camera or a DSLR?

Mirrorless cameras are the latest camera technology for interchangeable lens camera systems. At this point they are superior in every aspect and they continue to improve year by year. Because of that, used DSLRs have plummeted in price. This allows people greater access to a starter ILC (interchangeable lens camera) without a significant investment. You can get professional quality images on either format, but mirrorless has a shallower learning curve and much better automatic modes.

The in-body image stabilization (IBIS) stabilizes *every* lens and the eye tracking autofocus make "focus and re-compose" extinct. These are huge selling points for a lot of people. With IBIS you can take photos with up to 2-4 second shutter speeds without a tripod. And never missing focus on a human or animal or bird is pretty cool too.

DSLR camera bodies are no longer being designed by most of the major manufacturers. Thankfully Canon and Nikon developed plenty of bodies and lenses, so you will always have options and upgrade paths. But you will not be able to upgrade to systems with the latest advanced features.

The best DSLRs available are probably the Nikon D850 and the Canon 5D Mark IV. That is as good as it will ever get. The technology ends there. So if you want to enter an active camera ecosystem then you will have to get a mirrorless camera.

DSLR Camera Systems

Full Frame DSLR Camera Bodies

Canon

If you buy a used DSLR, there are some very affordable full frame options. In fact, the classic much-praised budget full frame Canon 6D can be had for under $300 right now.

This is an old camera. It has no fancy features. It only has 20 megapixels. It just does what it says on the tin. But it has a big sensor and a *ton* of really cool lenses available for it.

If you are specifically looking to create really high resolution panos, you could also look at the 50 megapixel 5DS R for around $1000.

There is a community of landscape pano-maniacs that love to create "gigapans" that have endless amounts of detail where you can zoom in and find new details in every photo. I was only able to create a 120 megapixel photo, but you can still find things like people starting a campfire and a dude fishing and a truck on a far off bridge. So even though this seems expensive for a DSLR, you are looking at another thousand bucks to find anything with more megapixels than this bad boy, so it is quite a good deal relatively speaking.

Nikon

Probably the best DSLRs ever made were the Nikon D800 series and you can get the Nikon D800 for $464.

This is a newer camera than the 6D with more megapixels (36) and a better sensor. It also has a more modern autofocus system and about 3 more stops of dynamic range which can come in handy for landscapes. This is an incredible camera for this price.

APS-C DSLR Camera Bodies

If you aren't sure you want to commit to this hobby, you can look into a Canon APS-C sensor body like the Canon Rebels and Canon 60D through 90D models and get good results.

And there are many Nikon DX APS-C bodies that would be great starter cameras as well. If you get a Nikon, you'd have an upgrade path to the D800 if you get hooked by the photography bug. I would miss a few very special Canon lenses like the 100mm f/2.8L macro and the 400mm f/5.6 telephoto but I'm sure I could figure out some reasonable Nikon alternatives that would do roughly the same thing.

Canon APS-C

There is a Canon 60D for $139 right now that would be perfectly adequate for landscape work on a tripod.

That was my first camera and I took some very nice photos with it. Only 18 megapixels but it has a very convenient flippy screen which was really helpful for a disabled photographer trying to get low angles.

This was in 2014 and I didn't know what I was doing but that is a pretty stellar-looking sunset for a (now) $140 camera.

Nikon APS-C

And the Nikon D3400 would be a great option as well at around $184.

You get some extra megapixels (24) and it is a bit newer than the Canon. I get the sense that used Nikon DSLRs give you more value for your money right now but I don't have a large enough sample size to confirm that.

Full Frame DSLR Lenses

Froggie Note: I am recommending full frame lenses even if you choose an APS-C DSLR body so you have an upgrade path. But also very few purpose-built APS-C lenses had superior glass. Just remember, crop sensor APS-C cameras add ~1.5x to your focal length. So a 16-35mm will have the equivalent field of view of a 24-50mm lens. Still quite acceptable for landscapes, but you may benefit from doing panoramas more often. And if you upgrade to full frame down the road, you'll already have the ideal lens.

Canon DSLR Lenses

If you get the 6D or another Canon you could pair it with the beloved-by-landscapists Canon 16-35mm f/4L.

Honestly, it is blowing my mind you can get that combo for under $600. Me from 12 years ago is super jealous right now.

If you are worried you might need something to work in lower light and still want a zoom, the f/2.8L starts at around $434.

This might be the most famous landscape lens of all time. Kinda boggles the mind how many gorgeous vistas this thing has captured the light of.

If you can live without the zoom, you could get a much sharper prime lens that can also be used in even lower light. A used Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens is $439 would be a fantastic option.

24mm is still a very good focal length for landscapes and the sharpness of this lens lends well to panoramic stitches. Seriously, these art lens are so freaking sharp. Although 35mm is typically preferred for most street photography, I think this would do great for that purpose as well. It couldn't do close up portraits, but 3/4 and full body portraits would look great. I also love this focal length for doggos. It enlarges their heads a bit which enhances adorable-ness.

Though I probably wouldn't recommend the 24mm on APS-C for landscapes as it would put you near a 40mm full frame equivalent field of view.

Nikon DSLR Lenses

And on the Nikon side of things you could get the Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 for $399.

This is a great lens too. Very comparable to the Canon L glass. And paired with that D800 you would have a better shooting experience than with the 6D if it fits within your budget.

It's a little harder to find, but you can also get that same Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens for Nikon at around $528 used on Amazon and in the $400 range on KEH and MPB when it is available.

The older and softer Nikkor 28mm f/1.8 is a little more affordable and easier to find.

What if you are not a dentist but are willing to save up for something a little nicer?

Enter the world of...

Mirrorless Camera Systems

Sony currently has my favorite ecosystem of mirrorless cameras and lenses and they are consistently ahead of the other brands as far as technology and features. In fact, many other manufacturers use Sony sensors. They literally supply their competition with their own tech. They are also pretty good about updating firmware—even with older models. So I feel like Sony has a lot of future-proofing advantages over other brands. Sony has a great selection of 3rd party lenses like Sigma, Tamron, Viltrox, Laowa, Samyang, etc. These lenses often have nearly the same optical quality as Sony's G Master lenses at a fraction of the price.

Full Frame Mirrorless

Currently, I think the best value full frame mirrorless camera for landscapes would be the Sony a7R III.

This is very nearly a top-of-the-line landscape camera for a little over $1200.

That might sound like a lot, but I want to be clear...

This isn't just decent. This isn't "good enough." This is a spectacular professional grade full frame camera.

10 years ago you could spend $6500 for a *worse* camera. 5 years ago you could spend $3000 for a *worse* camera.

It can do every genre of photography except for maybe fast paced sports/action. It has an amazing 42 megapixels—which are not necessary but they do make editing and printing a lot less of a headache. The file sizes can get a little big, but storage is a lot cheaper than it used to be.

Oh, and it can be used for professional quality 4K video work too.

The a7R III comes with all of the modern bells and whistles including in-body stabilization (IBIS) so you can handhold at very slow shutter speeds. It has one of the best autofocus systems—complete with eye tracking. But not just human eyes! Dog eyes. Cat eyes. Bird eyes. If it has an eye, the Sony can probably lock focus on it. And it has an admirable 10 fps burst shooting mode.

APS-C Mirrorless

If you want to enter the Sony ecosystem but can't afford full frame quite yet, you could do the a6400 for about $600.

You still get the eye-tracking and the in-body stabilization, but you will lose some image quality at higher ISOs due to the smaller sensor size. However, you can get the same full frame E-mount lenses for it and upgrade to a bigger sensor later on and not have to buy new lenses.

Mirrorless Landscape Lenses

I think a good value landscape lens would be the very impressive Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8.

This is a newer lens so there aren't many deals on used options yet. But this is still a great price for the quality and versatility you get. You will never regret spending a little more on glass.

The 20mm range can fit an entire cityscape in the frame without needing to do a panorama. But if you zoom to 40mm and mount the camera vertically, you could stitch together several photos to get well over the 100 megapixel range.

Also, the 40mm focal range is long enough to do street photography and even head & shoulder portraits. The wide f/2.8 aperture combined with the high-ISO friendly full frame sensor and in-body stabilization means you can shoot in very low light without a tripod. You can also get some great pictures of stars if you travel to someplace with minimal light pollution.

The cheapest landscape zoom lens I could find was the Sony 16-35mm f/4 at $384.

It's one of Sony's older lenses and may not take advantage of all of the a7R III's pixels, but it would be a good option to get you started in this system and upgrade the lens later on.

Mirrorless Prime Lenses

Zoom lenses are great but you have to spend more to get tolerable quality. Kit zooms can be softer than even the tiny plastic lenses on your phone. So a great way to stretch your budget is to get multiple fixed focal length "prime" lenses. Primes can be built inexpensively while still having good low light performance and decent sharpness.

For instance, you could start with something like the Tamron 20mm f/2.8 for $175. And if you want to do more than landscapes you could add the Sony 50mm f/1.8 for $170 later on. Cheap primes will outperform any of those mediocre kit zoom lenses in that same price range. You lose some versatility and have to deal with the pain of changing lenses or zooming with your feet, but sometimes a tight budget demands a little pain.

There is also a higher quality 3rd party wide angle prime lens that is very popular right now. The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 is only $549 and the reviews say it has similar quality to lenses 3 times its price.

If you have to choose between a better camera body or a better lens, a good lens will help your photos more than a fancy camera body.

Froggie Note: These are examples. You should always do your own research before making a major technological purchase. This post could be a year old by the time you see it and there could be new stuff that is better. But all of the principles I tried to convey should hopefully guide you to a good decision. Also, feel free to message me if you want to ask about specific gear you are considering purchasing.

More Resources

This is my Encyclopedia of Lens Terms which is a helpful primer in understanding all of the wonderful and different lens options available on ILCs.

This is my buying guide for low budget used DSLRs. Similar to this post but less geared toward landscapes.

And this guide for getting decent landscape photos with any camera.

This is a free tutorial that teaches you everything you need to get started with an ILC system.

And this free tutorial by Karl Taylor is quite good as well.

[moonwatcher3]

SO…. i got a little too into wof this afternoon and cranked this out :3 I’m a christian btw so like i know some thinks about religion and the trauma that can come from it, so that was kinda what made me want to do this, that and the fact religion is heavily implied in WOF mainly in arc three w pantala but all the main Pyrrhian protagonist dragons hint at it at least once

Pyrrhian Wof dragon religion

So Wof religion, all the wings of fire dragons say “oh moons” and variations of that, so i assume that all dragons worship the moons one way or another but i imagine that nightwings started it, in the ancient kingdom when the first nightwings got powers from the moons they started worshiping them. They praised the moons for giving them these gifts and the nightwings named the moons, the would start building temples and their whole kingdom in ways the more dragonets were born with these powers, the other tribes gained things like art and war advantages,ect from the nightwings and they gained this worshipful practice from the nightwings here's each tribes reason for worshiping the moon and specifically how the go about worshiping the three moons

Mudwings: on theory it gave them success and helped their crops grow in the warm muddy locations they lived in. Every two full moons they dedicate a whole day to relaxing and thanking the moons for all they've done, when all three moons are full they celebrate with huge parties where they gave offering to the moons, many dragons use full moon days/nights to plant crops since they all believe it will make things grow better and bigger

Skywings: they felt the moon gave their dragonets more strength and better life ambitions while in the egg which would lead them to be a powerful kingdom full of scholars and brave dragons. Once a month they gather all the dragonets born in the month under the moons to name them, they think this awakens the dragonets mind with the gifts the moon gave them, in schools dragonets are taught to love the moons for being the smart younglings they are

Sandwings: they worship the moons assuming that they keep the oasis’ full of clean water for them to drink. They celebrate the moons with offerings of artwork and praise as well as requests to keep the waters flowing and the prey abundant

Seawings: they believe the moons keep the ocean currents from ripping up their homes by keeping the water calm, when there's hurricanes and really bad storms they assume they angered the moons. They hold what we would consider Sunday mass, families are expected to offer the best of what they hunted over the week to keep the moons happy.

Icewings: they believe the moons are what keep the snow snow-y. They base their religion on the idea that the moons keep their habitat cold for their survival. Similar to how the some dragons in the outer villages have days celebrating Caribou all the icewings even the nobles spend a week of the year celebrating the moon with parties art feasts, anything that spreads joy to all the icewings and makes them grateful to the moons

Rainwings: they believe in the power of the moons the least of all the tribes, many not believing in it at all, but those who do, believe that the moons gave them their venom

when they first moved into the rainforest. To celebrate the moons they offer fruits to altars that they set up in their huts and other sorts of rainwing homes

Since there's not only one religion in the world, I imagine that some dragons worship the queens of their kingdoms. They believe that each queen is a puppet for a higher power like the pope or any priest for humans almost?? For the skywings they believed Firestorm and Scarlet were a form of punishment for whatever reason excluding those who liked having those two as their queen of course, the same goes for all tribes really, otherwise various dragons might worship random things and other various made up idols of power, and i imagine all of them worship in ways similar to how we have christianity then for example we have mormons who are kind of like christians but with some different values, and some religion would vary across tribes like this:

Seawings worship the ocean for it allowing them to live in its depths

Nightwings (before it blew up) might have worshiped the volcano for its power

Sandwings worship the sand/sun for sustaining them with prey and heat

Icewings worship the snow for similar reasons to the sandwings with the sun

Rainwings worship the sun for its warmth and because it keeps the plants around them alive

Mudwings worship the mud for its healing capabilities

Skywings worship the mountains/wind for making them stronger (Authors note!! it was brought to my attention i forgot to add the factoid that skywings do have a reincarnation sort of thing for their dead (duh) so for that one, i feel they do that because they believe the mountains are able to heal them kind of how mud wings use mud and seawings use the sea, i imagine they would get this idea from an old story of a sickly old dragon who died and came to life when his family left him on a mountain peak Arthur Morgan style! so the skywings assumed that the mountains themselves brought the dragon to life again and they try to preform this ritual to bring their dead to life! i won’t clarify weather it works or not cuz i think that can be left to artists and fanfic writers who include the ritual :3)

It all varies, and id imagine they make music and art to praise these things just like us humans do

with these headcannons i can totally see the chance for a totally cool religion AU! I wouldn't mind at all ever if someone did use this for an AU! I would appreciate credit of course and id love to see how my work gets maybe used :3 but otherwise go wild!

I dunno if i want to do a pantalan one of this though 🤷

This has been a moonwatcher3 production 😎

[beeshoesometimesdraws]

This is going to be a big rant, mostly brought about by the most recent TSAMS episode so potential spoilers for that ofc but also I quoted @amphiptere-art a bit here cuz I liked a lot of the points they made in their post.

I took screenshots of it from messages with a friend (with perms from them ofc) because I’m not about to retype it all and I think the words expressed in the heat of the moment do this topic way better justice than I could now that I’ve calmed down. I also want to state that some of the things I say may be a little off as I have not watched the older tsams episodes for awhile and I’m going off memory here so please do correct me if I’m seriously wrong about anything but I just needed to get this off my chest.

AGAIN: I am not defending or condoning the terrible things Eclipse has done nor am I saying it’s okay just because he has trauma because it’s not, but I do think we need to look at the bigger picture here and take into consideration Eclipse’s side of the story and how deeply it has affected and swayed him (and the fact that current Eclipse is a NEW PERSON WITH OLD MEMORIES that belong to another version and that new moon and old moon are not as much heroes of the story as some preach them to be).

I apologize for the rant, I know this isn’t normally my kind of thing, but I just had to get this out and off my chest because it has been bothering me for a while and I honestly think it’s something more people in the tsams community should consider.

[serenityfails]

i finish da game

spoilers of course. also really long and rambly.

i finished the game a couple nights ago. i processed it for a little bit, then replayed the last couple hours to change ONE dialogue option to see if it played out different (it did not change anything but it did change how i felt about it, a little)

i think the strongest adjective i can find for the game is UNEVEN. the game is bad. the game is also good. it took ten years to make, and it was rushed.

a good point: the game is BEAUTIFUL. they put more pussy in these environments than can be imagined. every level has its own little WOW LOOK AT HOW PRETTY THIS IS section where you can take a dramatic screencap of your beautiful hero, cape blowing in the wind, and i did that, every time, of course i did. i actually feel like origins doesn't get enough credit for being pretty-- it's, yeah, pretty dingy and chunky potato, but it's got a lot of good looking settings too. but this one is like. immaculate. the textures and the lighting and everything are really, really well done. it might be TOO perfect, because the ~artstation concept artist~ of it all can maybe get a little much, but what the fuck ever, who cares. is it not enough to see a fantasy moon, huge?

another good point: there were some occasional minor bugs, and i understand other people ran into some bigger ones, but for me, it was the smoothest play experience i have ever had with a bioware game. i hit NOTHING that impeded my play experience outside one at the start that reset my CC options, and one minor visual glitch. every one of the other games i've had game breaking shit happen. whatever they did to get this one running, they did a great job.

a third good point: the combat is fun as hell. i always play on easy to start with but easy is like.... way too easy. i will go up a level or two next time i play. but even though it was on way too easy mode i was still really enjoying the pace and action of combat. it was fun! the gameplay is fun. yay for a game that is fun to play.

a fourth good point: i love rook! my plucky little hero! i think it's really hard to make a busted rook, they CC is really good (a couple things warrant a tweak, but it's so much better than the prev games CCs it's not even funny) and i love their stupid little personality. i picked briony corrigan's voice and the accent they gave the brit VAs... is so charming and good to me. i feel a lot more attached to rook than i did to hawke. i know this will not be true of many people. i do wonder how pre-determined their personality is, because it seems hard to deviate from "plucky young hero" in general, so i'll have to reserve that opinion for after i've played through it another time or two.

okay, some bad stuff.

the loss of the people who have left the studio, both before this game and during it, of their own will and against it-- it's plainly obvious, to me. the voice direction isn't what it used to be. the tone isn't what it used to be. the writing isn't what it used to be. the art isn't what it used to be. there are good and bad aspects to this. the game is more polished than any of the games before it. it's also as unfinished as DA2 was, just in different ways.

i feel like i'm not making any clear points here! time to consider some specifics.

the relationships (and romances) feel very shallow. i've been complaining about the game being too Nice. often, everyone does talk more like an HR seminar than people. there are some rare moments where humanity shines through, and that's not to say i didn't really like a lot of the characters and some specific really good moments, but overall i don't feel the weight of the revelations the characters are receiving, and i don't feel the characters have the same depth as the companions in previous games.

the final act of the game tweaked my opinion on that a little bit, but not entirely. the last act having such potentially disastrous losses does make it feel like they wrote everything preceding to be super nice and fluffy so you would feel the emotional weight of those losses when they happen. i don't think they succeeded in that, though. it just leaves the characters feeling incomplete. (i maxxed my factions and did everyone's loyalty missions, so i only lost Harding.) after that, i felt like this is a backstory for these characters rather than a final act. (specifically taash. taash feels VERY teenage. and since they lost their mom and then their girlfriend the last convo I had with them was just like "everyone i love dies" OKAY GOOD I GAVE THE TEAM TEEN UNRESOLVED TRAUMA)

the lead up to romancing davrin i was like okay this is dorky but it's got some juice... take me to juice town. and then there was this.... utterly lifeless love confession scene hours after rook and davrin had done one quick peck and some real "witch in the alps finding a lost cat" level toothless fluff. there was a tea party. all it needed was hair-braiding.

and then we had a "what if you die :(" talk that was very.... light and pleasant. and then davrin mentioned that talk later as if it was a fight. did we fight??? i thought we were just talking about being in love with each other like coworkers discussing what to bring to a potluck but okay i guess that was a fight. it got a little better from there-- i got a couple scenes that made it feel a little more natural and genuine-- but overall i was underwhelmed. i will have to replay and check out some of the romances i missed out on to see if they have any more meat on the bones. like i can boil the bones i got and make a juicy broth out of them, no doubt, but i was hoping for a bouquet garni at least.

(i'm the guy who found positive things to say about mass effect andromeda, mind. i thought vetra's romance kicked ass. i'm particular but ultimately not that hard to please!!!)

i think in general... i wanted a little more from davrin regarding willingness to die, because It Is My Duty As A Warden. this dovetails into my major compliment for the game: the Act One finale kicked insane levels of ass. I think that was the most fun the game got for me. everyone felt involved, the cinematics were great, i was feeling the scale of the fight and the emotional impact on the world. and davrin and lucanis burying their beef because they're both putting their asses out there, and the connection to the grey wardens and the act of slaying an archdemon.... it was all sick as fuck!!!

and then it kind of felt like.... especially romancing davrin, it didn't feel like it was addressing the hard question there of his inevitable gory death. we were too busy saying "i like-like you, let's raise our adopted son" and standing three feet apart.

(also for the record: he didn't have a gory death in my game. maybe more of that comes up if he does, i haven't watched the alt version.)

i am rambling so much. CONCLUSION: thin writing. some of it is very lovely, and some of it is very first draft. i can only imagine that a lot of single player game writing had to happen in not a lot of time given that the game got repurposed from the version that was live service online game bullshit and then after that bioware laid half the staff off.

i hated the varric-narration framing. aping the DA2 thing doesn't make sense. Varric isn't telling the story here: Varric is haunting the narrative, not crafting it. and the art is a severe downgrade imo. i saw some people like it-- and for me, it's not that it's Bad Art, it's that they're trying to reproduce nick thornborrow's iconic art and missing the mark by a mile. and also, as marie already said but it's so true, spoiling all the narrative suspense by putting a giant glowing pin in it every five fucking minutes.

it's actually completely appropriate that varric's presence in the game is this shallow because it's literally solas puppeting his corpse around as a shiny distraction for you, the player, and for his own gain MUCH LIKE BIOWARE AS A COMPANY HAS BEEN DOING HEYOOOOOOOOOOOOO

i said when mary kirby was laid off that i hope they WOULD kill varric off, so they can't keep doing that. and i got my wish!

my feelings on that: once again mixed. i got spoiled for that early on in my game by some jackass on twitter, which i was genuinely mad about. but then of course it became insanely obvious after i knew, a real snape kills dumbledore situation. i was getting increasingly mad about it as the game went on because i didn't know the specifics and was trying to puzzle them out and it wasn't making ANY sense. then of course i got the reveal in the game, and it made.... more sense than i expected it to, which made me less mad about it. (having it literally be a blood magic mindbending thing handwaved most of my questions. what it didn't explain is WHY DIDN'T MORE OF VARRIC'S FRIENDS SHOW UP AND ASK WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED. why didn't we hear ANYTHING from anyone who loved varric. he has too many people in his life to go completely unmourned by any of them!!!!!!!!!! (and of course they can't really do this, because they clean-slated the worldstate and all the schrodinger's characters can't appear without spoiling the illusion. i can only imagine this was also a choice built from constraints and not by choice, but it sucks.)

i am complaining so much and i could probably complain for another year. but in the end, i had fun playing it, and i hurt my own feelings. and it is simply not dragon age unless i hurt my own feelings. so it's got that going for it.

this post is way too fucking long and i'm going to spare you guys and write a different post about solavellan when i'm done. fuck. fuck!!

[mookymilksims]

I was struggling with how to respond to blackswan, and you said it all so perfectly! Thank you so much.

I want say this in general because the drama is done and we aren't ever going to get a response here.

Firstly, thank you for saying that, while I never look to represent anyone, it is a relief to know that I wasn't the only one thinking it.

I've wonder why simsecret is such an environment recently, and then I realized that the simblr community space is a PR warzone.

People, in general, are afraid to speak up, afraid to speak their minds, for fear of losing notes, being canceled, receiving anon hate.

There's a bizarre and unspoken rule here that you need to do everything publicly in a very calculated manner and it incentivizes people to not be themselves and think about how other's will perceive them more. Then you consider that a good chunk of people in this community are not very good people, so who's rules are we even playing by?

I've been hearing from a lot of new and old simmers who state that this space is very depressing for them because they felt lonely and anxiety when attempting to interact with each other. Anxiety when posting their gameplay. Anxiety when asking questions to other simblrs. Anxiety when reacting to other people's post.

Tumblr was made to connect with people. So why is simblr causing so much anxiety and pushing people who want to connect and interact and speak up; into silence?

Then spaces like Simsecret start to make a little more sense. It seems to be a rebellion to the atmosphere here in simblr. Same can be said for the anon feature here on tumblr.

When people are having an easier time connecting on FB, Reddit, and Discord than tumblr, despite being mutuals here it's safe to say there is a root problem in this space.

I think this whole situation reveals a bigger problem with simblr in general, that just hasn't really been addressed.

I want to offer some solutions here that are pretty simple so I hope no one takes this as being condescending:

If you really like someone's blog, don't even look at their notes. Heart it. Send them a direct ask off of anon and talk about what you love about their content.

Reblog their content, again, don't look at the notes, if you like it and it makes you happy, and you want it on your page, reblog it.

DM simblrs, I mean is this a stretch? Just reach out and say hello. If you want to befriend them, be the first to extend that olive branch. The worst they can say is no or not respond, that's not that bad.

Real life topics such as queer-phobia, racism, sexism, etc will always rear it's head into any space with humans in it. You bring your biases with you. If you see someone express very harmful views, speak up. This doesn't mean or have to mean you or that person is getting canceled. These could easily be teachable moments, and even healthy dialogue. Unless you literally studied and work in sociopolitical fields and are an active activist, the vibe should be to not expect anyone to know everything. These ideals are so deeply engrained into us from a young age, it wouldn't be fair to expect each and every person to know exactly how these complex super structural systems work.

Tell jokes sometimes, I'd love to know what sense of humor you guys have, we get memes like once in a blue moon. Let's try to not make this space so serious, it has everyone on edge.

There is so much beautiful art work and content in general right here on tumblr but I've heard simblrs express anxiety with reblogging that because they don't want to lose followers by posting non sims content. I literally love the rest of tumblr for the very reason that I can translate that work back into my game. And I just thought someone's photography or drawing or story was so good I wanted to see it on my blog.

I mean bouncing off the previous one, why don't we interact with the rest of tumblr? That would be dope.

And this shouldn't even be regulated to the rest of tumblr, I'd love to engage with more ts1, ts2, and ts4 simmers as well.

I mean I think I've made my point, because I can keep going with this. I don't think this is going to fix sim secret or the need for simmers like blackswan to dirty delete. I'm actually very disappointed in that whole situation because she could've received a lot of support but she dug herself into a deeper hole after her actions. I'm sad for her and sad that this situation was flipped into drama and not that black simmers in general are tired of the micro aggressions. Which is a way more serious message. But people are afraid to speak up. So I guess everyone active in this community will keep going around and around in this cycle. I certainly intend to KEEP applying the solutions I've outlined above, anyone feel free to join me.

[chhagiya]

My analysis of a potential season 2 of Strangers From Hell and likelihood of MJJW:

Now I might irk a lot of people in the fandom with this, I know. But, it’s just my own point of view, my opinion. If you don’t agree with it, that’s ok. I’m cool with that. I had to put this disclaimer cause I’ve been bullied before for my personal opinion. Anyways…….

So….. if we potentially get a season 2 for Strangers From Hell and if Moon Jo comes back, how would that look like ?

Now I know, most of the fandom (including me) ship MJJW. There are lots of theories, fanfics depicting them as romantic couple. But is that realistically, logically possible ? If there is a season 2, can we logically see a romance between MJJW without compromising the psychological thriller nature of the storyline ?

Unfortunately the answer is, probably no. But hear me out….

Seo Moon Jo and Yoon Jung Woo are definitely not traditional couple. Their relationship is also not traditional by any shape or form. Moon Jo likes him, Jung Woo is pissed at him and considers him to be Devil. So after what happened in Eden, things definitely cannot just jumpstart. If MJJW has any remote chance of even having a friendship, that has to come from Jung Woo, not Moon Jo. Jung Woo has to initiate that, not Moon Jo. But Jung Woo is PISSED. So he’s definitely not going to be eager to be around Moon Jo, let alone talk to him. So…… what now ??

There is not that much of a chance of them being together. However, in the spirit of nothing is impossible…. There is a slim chance of MJJW working out. But it will be like winning a Lottery Jackpot. Difficult, but not impossible.

Moon Jo fell in love with Jung Woo in the process of creating art. At the end, his masterpiece became a reality. Maybe in season 2, Jung Woo can do the same. Maybe Jung Woo can create art through Moon Jo and make it into reality. What do I mean ? Let’s say (just example) Jung Woo writes a novel where he writes some crime scenes, but he’s not sure about his writing. Jung Woo wrote something but he doesn’t have much confidence in himself. Enters Moon Jo. He reads the novel and executes the scenes in the novel in such a way that Jung Woo’s novel becomes a reality. Not only that, it becomes something that police, detectives cannot solve. The perfect crime. By doing so, Moon Jo proves to Jung Woo that he is, in fact, an absolutely amazing crime author. One of the best, maybe even similar to Raymond Chandler. That way Moon Jo can give back Jung Woo confidence and faith in himself and in his talent. Through Moon Jo, Jung Woo’s art would become a reality. Art and Artist will successfully exchange places.

If that can happen, THEN we are looking at a huge shift in Jung Woo’s opinion towards Moon Jo. At that point, they will bond. Like they bonded on rooftop in episode 2,3. Only this time, they will REALLY know each other and like each other for who they actually are.

Of course it won’t jump to romance. It will start with mutual respect and becoming each other’s confidant.

So yea, it’s actually quite difficult for MJJW to realistically become a couple but there are circumstances where they can become much more. No it won’t be a regular romance or friendship for that matter….but if they do…… it would be something much bigger and needless to say…. absolutely breathtaking……

[iwasjoking]

Titans Expansion Pack Part 2

Ok, so- I’ve neglected this topic far too long after my first ever post on these guys!

Now. I need to discuss some points of the Titan expansion pack AU.

Aka my rambling

What qualifies a bot to be a titan?

Art piece of a normal cybertronian, Delta-4 and a minor JS titan-

What mostly qualifies a Titan is if they can host multiple bots within their altmode and base mode comfortably, which can entail some minor JS titans can interact with bots normally, but it’s not often that occurrence.

There are four categories that can be broken down into subcategories

There are a lot of trends too, the bigger the titan, the more impartial and neutral they are, and their ability to communicate gains a bigger wall too. The larger a titan, the less ability they have to communicate, since they speak with so much data… but anyways, let's get to the categories

(Not in order of size)

Metro titans

Opus (JS) Titans

Star-faring Titans

Celestial Titans

Now before you think Celestial means they are godly, it actually refers to what they transform into. A celestial titan would count as a cybertronian who transforms into a moon, a comet, or a planet.

These aren’t really common since cybertronians usually don't get big enough to consider being that kind. They’re psychology differs quite a bit from the other titans, having to support such a large ecosystem, often not interacting with the entities that inhabit them. To them the amount of ecosystems or entity diversity is a source of pride.

Celestial titans

General information

Consummation?

Well, for the circle of life on Cybertron, and for the concept of ‘returning to the planet’ as shown in IDW comics, its possible for Titans who need the energy to convert that into their source. OTherwise the inertia and force of gravity can be turned into energy, having a magnetic force when taking massive blasts from the sun it circles around can also be a source of energy, as the energy is funneled to the poles which can also be a titan’s intake ports. These massive bursts of energy are enough to hold them on for millions of years. These Solar flares also have an off put, often having excess energy, these get turned into energon crystals. Since several solar flares hit this planet, many that aren't strong enough to affect the planet itself, but can all be funneled into their fuel intake.

Having A Good magnetic field.

Larger solar flares are more preferable to a titan, having a massive rush, like being on a food coma? (Being Theoretical)

Time

Scales of time for these giant mechs are much bigger than a cybertronian. Having a lifespan of about a billion years, these giants may see a million years as a blink of time.

Communication

All of them require specialized bots who can handle the information, specialized city speakers since bigger the bot the more systems and data that are controlled. This Leads to some very large communication barriers, but the ones who can interact with them are called ‘Celestial’s lips’ or… something cheesy like that. Or the ‘Celestial Orrator’ (aka me just looking stuff up in latin for Speaker and being ‘oRiGiNaL’/j)

Denizens

Many different types of entities can live on titans like these, more likely to live within a comet titan, or on the surface of Lunar or Planetary titans than other types. Citizens do have wildly varying cultures, can be seen. As they are massive habitats to living beings. More likely to have energon mines than other type of planet.

Adores their living ecosystems. (Sometimes)

Almost entirely impartial to wars, not willing to side with any place, and being totally neutral but caring about each and every individual. Sorta.

(How does energon get to other planets?)

Types

Comet titans

(OC by @/vic), the cultures on these different titans can vary widely, like on the comet I describe. Many bots decorate themselves with neon paints and patterns, considering a life more lively and filled with artistic crafts, isolated from cybertron as they slingshot around the sun. This can vary for each comet titan society, but the idea of it having a wildly different culture still stands. A yo-yo orbit leads them to be missing a lot from Cyebrtron only appearing every few million years in their skies for a vorn then disappearing for another lap around the sun. Comet titans are more unique than the other types of celestial titans, having times that the city is much brighter with energy due to being closer to the sun in orbit. Having whats more like seasons, warmer and brighter vorns, with colder and dimmer vorns too.

(Sometimes has a lap every 1 million years, to every 500,000 years)

Lunar Celestial titans

as the name suggests turns into moons, I have yet to see any but it’d be really cool to see one~

Anyways, I would think they are more attached, like a younger sibling relationship with their planet counterpart having attachment to whatever is there, yet not really being involved. Or being dormant for the most part. These titans are smaller and orbit a larger planet, but what differs them from an Opus (JS) titan is their shape and size, being a sphere and or a moon.

Planet celestial Titans

like Unicron and that one ‘Primus’ from LostLight, they are entire planets that transform. Having many inhabit them, and the requirements of a planet??? Whatever that is. This includes dwarf planets. Have fun with… them? Yah. Got nothing.

NEXT UP we have

Metro titans

Everyone knows the famous one, Metroplex

Image of Metroplex - :,)

General information

The giant cities that transform into bots. These are the canon and original titans, beautiful right? If only they had variation with what types there are. Well, that's what this expansion pack is for! Anyways, they also require a city speaker, not able to produce voices of their own due to their many systems they already have to run, and the complex amount of data they speak when interacting.

Consummation

These titans rely upon their denizens and primes to support them, but before they would support themselves by digging through the planet and supplying themselves with the energon they needed. When in space and controlling their own energy sources unconventional ones like absorbing the radiation from a star. Biofuel created from a planet can be converted into energon

Time

They tend to have a vast expanse of memories, just like planet titans, but they don't live as long. Maybe living up to 1 billion years, idk.

Communication

City speakers, like windblade interact with the mind voice of such a massive being, due to having so many systems bots who don't have the mental capacity to handle such a voice are incompatible to being able to speak with them, may obviously fry their processors.

Denizens

The bots who live within the city are mostly expected to keep the city itself alive, they are impartial to whoever they have, but not totally. Metroplex was an autobot titan so there are exceptions ofc.

Types

Traveler

These titans, like Vilgilim from Till all are one IDW comic, transform into stations that stay in space. They often travel between planets, stopping for refuge in each to gather energon. They don't efficiently convert energon from ambient particles, solar flares, radiation or other forms of energy. These titans are usually way more dependent upon their denizens than the other titans, or they would stay on the ground.

Civilian

As it suggests, a titan that serves as a civilian city. They are usually former conquerors who settle down and remove their weapons. Metroplex could be considered an example. These cities are whats left over after a colony expedition, like on Caminus. Are pretty settled down, usually… Poor Navitas :(

Conqueror

There aren't any conqueror titans left anymore, as they all settled down to become citizenry titans, after the colonies were founded and turned into cities. But these titans were fitted to travel long distances away from cybertron to colonize planets and expand. To colonize the far reaches of the stars after the star faring titans have considered the places safe.

Not as complex as celestial titans but still have their own challenges for them :D

Star-faring titans

General information

They vary in size but what differs these titans from their other counterparts is that they travel. Usually transforming into giant starships to smaller attack ships these titans fly through space with their cybertronian crews to explore, hence the name ‘star-faring’.

Denizens/Crew

Has massive crews or small crews, depending on ships. The LostLight had a crew of over 200 bots, while smaller titans like this, like Zip, hosts 20. The crew is in charge of taking care of said titan, and they try to keep their impartialness to the crew but often have a leaning to certain individuals. Explorer titans adore their crew, Impetum respect and revere their crew, and the Conqueror titans have a… complicated relationship between each titan? (WIP)

TIme

Lifespan can last up to 50 million years so they don't see time as quick as a normal cybertronian, having massive lifespans compared to their smaller counterparts. But they tends to have an extreme attachment to

Communication

Navis speaker or holomatter upon, their actual voices too low and have too much data for an actual bot to understand. Its less likely for a Navis speaker tho since Holomatters are easier to interact with, with emotion and such!

Consumption

Generally fueled up by the bots, has an energon scanner to scavenge around the planets they land upon and being able to convert fuel from star radiation and orbiting inertia. Quantum energy is also a useful tool~

There are subclasses, like Explorer, Impetum, and Conqueror.

Types

Explorer

like Verloren Hemel or the LostLight (From the sentient lostlight AU’s by @/Cuppajj) would be considered explorer and not suited for massive attack power. They tend to have designs to hop in space more efficiently instead of hulking up power. They are more compatible with exploring uncharted territories with massive data banks for recording such types of data.

Impetum Titans.

These Star-faring titans are weaponized for pure offense, or in a sort of militia of the old ages, since not there are not as many titans as there used to be. They lack travel speed unlike their Explorer counterparts. Tending to be more military/defense styled, they don't need that travel power, unless when heading out. (Me totally not using a latin word)

The Conqueror Titans

are a balance between the both. Once, Cybertron used to colonize other planets, sending out the metro titans to settle down in colonies, but what went before them? Conqueror titans would travel out before the metro titans and settle down with their crew first to clear out the area for the metro titans before they head out!

Being weaponized to tackle unknown targets, yet being small enough to fly quickly across the universe, they are a combination between attack titans and Explorer titans.

But they aren't as quick and far traveling as Explorers, or as powerful as Impetums.

They are smaller than celestial titans usually, and vary in abilities to project a holomatter within themselves. Otherwise have a navis speaker (Concept by @/cuppajj.. Also totally didnt use latin again)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

OPUS (JS) Titans!

I totally ripped Opus off of ‘Job’ in Latin…. Trust me, it sounds cooler. Anyways, in my last post I neglected to fill anything out on them

General information

Consummation

Usually granted by the crews that board them, and taken from the bombarding radiation using the specialized panels, or rings. Solar energy is at the end of what would be considered useful as such.

Time

Being the smallest of the titans, but still having longer lifespans than them, around 500 million if granted? Well, they tend to be more than the other titans about cybertronian history, denizens and bots who go around, well. Most of them.

Communication

Usually able to interact with their crew or denizens with a holographic avatar, and also being able to communicate via a city speaker (Which is rare- most aren't big enough to require it, and there are many of them than other types of titans who take precedence)

Denizens/Crew

Bots who either work closely with them, live aboard them, or just… show up ever couple years to say howdy. Station Bases, Data Harvesters and AvenTerra surveillers are the ones who usually have a crew. The others tend to work independently, or may have a few bots aboard, or interact with themselves.

Types

Attack Opus

Data Harvester (@/Rctdirectrix)

AvenTerra surveiller

GSP relayers

Deep Spacer interfacer

Station Base

Gee… There are a lot, so let's get down to it!

Opus Titans may have more of a society than bots realize, being able to interact with each other considering how many satellites there are… (I’m using earth as a comparison- possibly many?)

Attack Opus

- Basically its name, they are titans specialized in attacking, often orbiting the planet and shooting off any sort of meteor or comet that may threaten the planet and what lives below, or enemy ships. They often do have an inbuilt weapon within their frame. Being more likely on the outer orbits of planets, there can be many small ‘units’ or otherwise. Most of them have deep space canons to attack targets!

Data Harvesters

(IDEA AND CONCEPT BY @/rctdirectrix)

Like their OC’s, these satellites dig through data upon cybertron, having a better psychic connection to everything than the others, and having mental abilities. These tend to be far less common than the other Opus titans. Being able to dig through data, files, and targets. These titans are far less impartial to the bots than the other larger titans.

AvenTerra surveiller

(Totally didn't take the Latin again-...Partially)

These titans chill in lower orbit, scanning the planet's surface for events, danger or anything in general, keeping an eye on the environment. More or less ignoring bots, they also tend to crowd together in orbit, making ‘colonies’ of 1 or 2… being some of the lesser recognized bots they often pile up environmental data by themselves. They often are more on the lookout for hotspot rays, monitoring cybertron’s core and the activities of vector sigma.

GSP relayers (GPS??)

These titans orbit around, scanning below, being more focused on bot activity rather than environmental, marking out data constantly as places move, or titans move, mapping out cybertron’s areas detailed for bots to look. They tend to be more solitary, and orbiting around by themselves, often disagreeing with each other's findings on the strange behaviors of the main cybertronians, and the metro titans. Essentially can be used as GPS? Extremely aggressive?-

Deep Spacer interfacer

(haha, interface)

These titans often send out signals into space and then take them back, making accurate galactic maps from cybertron, and getting more and more curious about the space around them. Often not meeting with other titans of their class, or in passing by in orbit, these titans tend to be on the outskirts with the Attack Opus titans. Having bodies more specified onto sending out signals into deep space and reading back their findings, these titans tend to be a little eccentric with their scientistic discoveries? Do whatever you want with this- I’m just rambling at this point!

Station Base

These are the ‘Base titans’ from my last post, well, its exactly what it is. Similar to a star-faring titan, they have a massive crew, but these crew mates change out a lot. They are much bigger than the other Opus titans but not shaped or big enough to be celestial, not by a long shot. They inhabit many cybertronians like a small city, could also be considered a traveler metro titan, but has better energy conversion then them. These are one of the few Opus titans that need a city speaker.

End

And thats the end of my rambles….

Shout out to @/Rctdirectrix and @/Cuppajj and @/Vic for these concepts I just… stole- (I’m sorry D:)

…I’m deadTitans Expansion Pack Part 2