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topazadine · 3 months ago

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Writing Research Notes: Horses

I have complained before about fantasy writers (and others) using horses without really knowing anything about them, so I'd like to share some basic Horse Facts. These aren't things about horse physiology, because you probably don't need that for your specific story, but things that you can add into your story for verisimilitude.

I'm not a horse trainer or Horse Expert, just someone who loves horses and rides on a regular basis. This is a casual guide to help give you some inspiration (and know what to look up for more information.)

So, what will we discuss in this embarrassingly long post? This.

General horse knowledge

Approaching and sanitizing Horse

Tack, the Horse Accessory Kit

Putting the tack on Horse

Getting on Horse (second best part!)

Riding Horse (best part!)

Being nice to Horse (most important!!)

General Horse Knowledge

Horses are generally classified as hotblood, warmblood or coldblood.

Of course, being mammals, they are all actually warm-blooded. This is more about temperament and size.

Hotblooded horses are lighter, bred for speed and maneuverability. Thoroughbreds and Arabian horses are hotbloods. They're known for being a bit more temperamental, but they are also very fast and responsive.

Coldblood horses are larger, stockier, and more even-tempered. This includes draft horses like Percherons, Gypsy Vanners, and Clydesdales.

Note that a big horse doesn't necessarily mean they're a good war horse, because war horses need to be fast and light. Draft horses are meant to pull, not carry. In a military series, you can use them as cannon horses or cart horses.

Warmblood are crossbreeds of hotblood and coldblood, giving them a good temperament but also relatively good speed. They're often used for hunting, dressage, and showjumping: disciplines that require both maneuverability and a strong working relationship between horse and rider. Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, and Irish Sport Horses are warmbloods.

Horses are herd animals and need friends.

Having a singular horse all by themselves is going to cause them distress and lead to mental problems. This is why people who only own one horse often stable them so that they can get social stimulation and professional care.

Like humans, horses have buddies, acquaintances, and enemies.

There is often a pecking order in a herd, with a leader and followers. Horses may make friends, break up with them, reconcile, etc, just like people do.

And horses, of course, have people they like more than others. To get a horse to like you, be gentle and mindful of their boundaries, pay attention to their feelings, groom them, and speak in a soft friendly voice.

Horses aren't mindless animals: they think, feel, and strategize.

They're actually very sensitive and empathetic animals who can get jealous, have their feelings hurt, or need a little bit of TLC on a hard day. And yes, they can scheme.

Similar to dogs, horses are a bit like toddlers: they need firm but compassionate guidance.

This is why you need to think both for yourself and the horse when riding, keeping your mind clear and focused on your goals. Horses can notice when you're not paying attention and they will do their own thing.

Therapy horses are chosen for both their good nature and their sensitivity to human emotions. They will notice when the rider is getting upset or losing focus, and they will stop what they are doing until the rider is back in the right mindset.

They should get as much outside time as possible.

Horses will come to accept and even like their stalls because it's a safe, quiet space for them, but they should be allowed free time outside as much as possible.

It's important to make sure that their pasture is clean, free of dangerous plants or pesticides, and safe from tripping hazards (horse legs are very delicate).

Make sure they are not gorging themselves on grass, though, as this can cause colic. Horses cannot throw up: they've got a one-way digestive system. Intestinal blockages are a medical emergency.

Horses do like working with nice humans.

This isn't cope, I promise. Just like dogs, they have been bred over thousands of years to look to humans for guidance and to see us as caretakers.

Horses who are treated well like having a job, just like dogs who are treated well will like training sessions. Jobs offer them mental stimulation, offer them praise and rewards, and keep them busy so they're not bored.

You can see this in happy horses. The therapy horse I use, Truly, used to be a jumper and hunter before she came to the therapeutic stable, and she gets really excited if she sees vaults because she loves doing that! She gears up for the trot; you can feel it in her stride. She's ready and wants to go.

But, this implies that you're treating your horses well, praising them regularly, and bonding with them outside of sessions.

Horses that are being mistreated will balk at work because they associate it with pain and fear. Horses that are treated well will happily come out of their stall, ears forward and eyes bright, because they associate work with fun and stimulation.

Approaching and Sanitizing Horse

Horses have a blind spot in front of them and directly behind them.

Unlike humans, their eyes are on the sides of their head because they are prey animals. This means approaching a horse directly from the front or directly behind them may make them spook - and, if you are by their butt, kick you.

Generally, younger riders are taught never to pass behind a horse for safety reasons, so you go around them in a wide circle or duck under their neck. You can also walk behind them if you are out of kicking distance (about 3-4 feet) or right up against them so they can't get their leg up to kick you.

When tacking up or grooming, you should keep a hand on the horse as you move.

This lets the horse know where you are if you are in their blind spot and is especially important if you are around their butt so they don't spook and wonder where you went.

With grooming, you go with the curry comb and hold the bristle brush where you intend to go next so they know what to expect.

Grooming improves circulation and is a good bonding activity.

You use a curry comb, which is a rubber comb with little nubs, and then a brush. The curry comb is moved around in a circular motion to lift dirt and shedding hair, then the brush is angled with the grain of the hair to sweep it away.

Don't use a curry comb on a horse's face, legs, or stomach, which are sensitive areas. If you do want to use a curry comb in these areas because they are super dirty, be VERY gentle and light.

Horses generally like to be groomed because they do this to each other in the wild. It's a good way to make a horse like you.

Picking a horse's hooves, and having regular farrier checks, are crucial for their health.

Like human fingernails, horse hooves grow continuously; they're made from the same material as our hair and nails, keratin. They have a V-shaped "frog" in the middle of the underside of their hoof that is sensitive, but the rest of it isn't very sensitive unless you, like, stab it.

Farriers will file down a horse's feet so they are even, and they will also apply horseshoes if necessary (not all horses wear shoes). You can't just put any old horseshoe on a horse: it has to be fitted to their particular foot. This is a specialized job that not everyone can do, so if your character is not a farrier, they're not going to apply horseshoes themselves.

Cleaning a horse's hoof involves a hoof pick.

When picking a horse's hooves, you take an angled piece of metal called a hoof pick and dig out any dirt or manure or whatever has gotten stuck around the frog, then brush it out with a small brush. If they wear horseshoes, you also need to make sure you get the crevices underneath the shoe.

Generally, we pick feet both before and after riding.

Horses need to be trained to give you their leg. This usually means leaning your body weight into their shoulder, sliding your hand down their leg, and squeezing at the soft indent right above the hoof. You might also need to say "pick it up" or whatever command they've been taught to use.

It's a little scary for a horse to be off-balance like that; how would you feel if someone made you stand on one leg while they clipped your toenails? Be mindful that they may get nervous or put their foot down before you're ready. If this happens, just try again until their feet are clean.

Keep your feet and hands out of the way of the horse's hoof!

Pay attention to where your feet are in conjunction with the horse's hoof so they don't slam their hoof down on your toes. Horses may not even realize they stepped on you because they don't have a lot of sensitivity down there.

Never curl your fingers around the horse's hoof; that's a surefire way to break your hand. Hold it like you're cradling a baby's head.

Do not wear steel-toed shoes in a stable.

It's a common misconception that you should wear work boots or steel-toed shoes; after all, big horse very strong very heavy smash on foot!

Yeah, but a furry hydraulic press will crunch that steel right into your damn foot, and then you have guillotined all your toes.

Wear special riding boots instead. These don't have the ridges that hiking shoes or tennis shoes have, so they won't get caught on the stirrup. Cheap short ones cost like $40 and will last you a few good years. No need to go whole-hog on the long dressage boots if you're a casual rider.

Horses are usually taught to be groomed, tacked up, and mounted from one side.

This may not apply to therapy horses, who are trained to accept whatever way is easiest for the rider.

For dressage horses, they are taught to be groomed, tacked up, and mounted from the left. You should stand on the horse's left side when leading them. You'll dismount from the right.

Tack: The Stuff That Goes on Horse

No matter your discipline, you'll have these general things:

Halter. This is for leading the horse around before you tack them up. Generally, you will tie up the horse to cross-ties while you're grooming and tacking them. It is removed right before you put on the bridle.

Saddle blanket/pad. Western uses saddle blankets, but with English, you'll use a pad. Sometimes, with older horses or those that need a bit more comfort, you will have a blanket and a pad. This goes on before the saddle.

Saddle. Western saddles are very big, made for riding long distances. They are made mostly of leather, including the stirrups, which are attached directly to the saddle. English saddles are much smaller and lighter, and they have more removable parts. I won't get into all the specifics of them because it's probably irrelevant to your story.

There are also more specialized saddles, like jockey saddles.

Girth. Old-school Western saddles have cinches that you tie with the same knot you use for a necktie, but modern ones that detachable girths just like English saddles. They have buckles on both sides. One side will have leather straps; this is the one you put on first, from the left. The other side has elastic so it's a bit stretchier. This goes on the right side.

Bridle. How you control horse. Goes over the face and you hold onto the reins. This is put on last, right after you remove the halter. Put the reins over the horse's neck so you have something to hold onto after you remove the halter!

Bit. This is a metal bar that goes in the horse's mouth, over the tongue. Snaffle bits are the most common; they are made of two parts that meet in the middle. They aren't as uncomfortable for horses as other types. Some people are moving away from bits entirely and using bitless bridles.

Putting Tack on Horse

English stirrups are "run up" when tacking up and leading a horse.

The metal stirrups can bang against things and hurt the horse if they are not pulled up against the saddle by running them up the leather strap they hung from. You'll then tuck the excess strap into the stirrup to hold them in place.

Stirrups can be adjusted with a buckle hidden under the saddle seat. You'll run them up, pull the buckle down to a comfortable height, and then adjust as necessary. Then pull the stirrup down to the bottom, put your hand against the seat, and lift the stirrup up to run along your arm. It should brush against your armpit for most people.

Most dressage stirrups have numbered holes so you can remember what your height is.

Western saddles have leather stirrups that may or may not be detachable or adjustable.

Never tie a horse's reins to anything.

Don't listen to old Western movies that show this. If the horse spooks and they are tied up, they could rip the bit out of their mouth and really hurt themselves.

Horses have bars in their mouth - a blank space with no teeth. This is where the bit sits.

To get a horse to accept a bit, you can stick your thumb into this blank spot to make them open their mouth, just as you can do with dogs.

You then pull the bit up over their front teeth and settle it in there so it's comfortable.

There should be a small bit of pull you can see from the wrinkles around their mouth, but it shouldn't be squeezing them to death. Gentle pressure, happy horse.

Tighten the girth (the strap around their tummy) right before you get on.

Horses like to "bloat," meaning they suck in a bunch of air when you're putting the girth on, then relax so that the girth is loose. You don't want this, because then you can slide off. So put it on loosely at first, then put it up a few slots once you're about to get on.

Don't rachet it up to the highest possible setting you can reach, and don't yank on it, because this hurts the horse. Gently pull it up until it's tight enough to hold on, but not so much that it becomes a corset. You should be able to slide three fingers between the girth and the horse's stomach.

Getting On Horse

Lead the horse to where you want to go by bringing the reins over their head and holding them under the chin.

Do not use a death grip! You don't need to. Loose and happy. Keep the excess in your other hand so it's not a tripping hazard.

Then, of course, put the reins back over their head when you're ready to get on.

Mounting blocks are convenient and safer for the horse.

These are kind of like step stools, and they get you closer to the horse's back. Mounting from the ground puts a lot of pressure on the horse's back and should only be used sparingly.

The procedure is like so for English:

Gather the reins in your left hand, which should be placed near the front of the saddle.

Put your right hand near the back of the saddle for balance.

Put your left foot in the stirrup.

Swing your right leg over.

Settle your right foot in the stirrup.

Don't jump up; you might fall the hell over, lmao. Gentle easy swing.

The stirrup sits on the ball of your feet, with the heel pointing down.

This is true for both Western and dressage. You want it on the balls of your feet so you have leverage and can pivot your ankle to lightly tap the horse on the side, and you want your heel down to help maintain your balance.

A lot of riding boots, including cowboy boots, will have stitching that runs across the top of the foot. You can align this with the stirrup so you know that you don't have your foot too far back in the stirrup.

Your leg is slightly bent when in the saddle.

You do not have your legs straight out, because then you don't have leverage and can't maintain balance.

My instructor says it should feel like you're kneeling, and then when you post (rise out of the saddle during the trot or canter), you should feel like you're coming out of a squat. You're not springing all the way out of the saddle and standing up, because then you will fall over.

Your leg should stay as still as possible, with your heels pointing down to the ground. You shouldn't move them up or forward when you're trotting, a common beginner mistake.

When training in a ring, you don't have a right leg and left leg: you have an "outside" leg and "inside" leg.

Outside leg is the one closest to the wall (or fence), and inside leg is the leg closest to the middle of the ring. This keeps you from getting confused when you change directions.

Horses also have an outside leg and inside leg that you use to determine when to post or perform other maneuvers.

Horses need to be trained to go both clockwise and counterclockwise.

This helps them maintain balanced muscle tone on both sides of the body; otherwise, it's like doing leg exercises with only one leg. When getting a lesson, your instructor will ask you to change directions once you've done a certain exercise so that you can try it the other way, too.

Actually Riding Horse

You shouldn't yank on the reins like you're in a tug-of-war.

This can really hurt the horse and, paradoxically, make them more disobedient. It's like someone put their fingers in your mouth and then stretched your lips as far back as possible.

Keep your body loose.

Your horse is listening to your body language and will feel when you're tense. Every little movement means something to the horse. If you're tight, they think they should be nervous too.

Stay calm, upright, and loose. Legs slightly bent, elbows flexible, hands in line with the sides of the horse's neck and a bit above the front of the saddle.

Squeezing or tapping the horse is called impulsion.

It should be used lightly and with just enough pressure to get their attention. Don't kick the horse with all your might. The more movement you need from the horse, the more intense your impulsion will be.

Don't squeeze with your knees.

Pressure on the horse comes from the thighs and calves, not the knees. Your knees are there to bend.

Yes, your inner thighs will be super duper sore when you're done. It gets better though, prommie.

In dressage, you post at the trot in rhythm with the horse.

This reduces pressure on their back so you're not banging on their spine with each hootbeat. You post when their outside shoulder comes forward and lightly land back in the saddle when their inside shoulder rises: not sitting all the way down, just crouching a bit lower.

When you want the horse to walk again, you will sit down and pull (gently!!) back on the reins. The added pressure makes them not want to trot anymore because it would hurt them when you bump around on their back.

Being Nice to Horse (so Horse Is Nice to You)

Respect a horse's personal space and power.

They are big strong animals that can break your spine if they buck you, or crush your foot, or give you brain damage if they kick you in the head. Healthy respect (not fear) is crucial.

If a horse is pissed off, leave them alone. If they're scared, treat them kindly and speak soothingly. If they're not doing what you want, find a way to redirect them instead of screaming at them and making them more anxious.

And remember that they are prey animals despite their size and power! They may get nervous about things that you wouldn't even consider. Truly, the horse I ride on the regular, gets freaked out by jackets hanging over fence posts and barking dogs.

That's okay and natural; I just have to reassure her that she's going to be alright. You are the leader and caretaker of the horse, making them feel confident.

Training tools like whips, crops, or spurs should be used sparingly.

Any trainer who tells a beginner to use spurs as soon as possible is an asshole who doesn't actually know how to train horses. They don't know how to teach riders to control their body pressure, so they go right to the aversives.

I left a stable because the trainer demanded I buy spurs after like two lessons; my current stable doesn't use these at all, ever.

You should be able to control the horse with your hands and feet without these tools before adding them, and they should always be used as gently as possible: a slight tap with the spurs or crop, not beating the horse with a crop or digging your spurs into their sides. Horses are very sensitive animals and will respond well to a light kick with your heels if they are properly trained.

I've developed such a good rapport with the therapy horse I use (and she's such a good girl) that she can tell when I want to her trot. I start working her up to her "party walk" as my instructor calls it, and then click my tongue, and she's off. No kicking necessary.

Reward, Don't Punish

Same as when training dogs. Don't yell at them and say "no!! bad horse!!" Instead, offer a small correction, like checking the reins, or redirect them.

Do not hit or kick horses when they don't do what you want. They are trained that tap means go; you're going to make them gallop instead of stop.

Give them a pat on the neck and say "good horse!" when they do a good job. You can also talk to the horse while you're grooming and riding, offering them compliments and assurance.

Again, horses look to riders as leaders. They want to know the're performing correctly; if you've built up a good relationship, they want to make you happy and perform well.

Most of the time, horses are not trying to make you mad. You're just miscommunicating with them and need to figure out how to make your commands clearer.

Abusive training tactics are counterintuitive in the long run.

This makes for a nervous, flighty, disobedient, and anxious horse who may become dangerous. They're 1,200 pound animals, and if they don't like what you're doing, they will kick, buck, or bite.

Kicking, hitting, excessive use of spurs or crops, and screaming at horses doesn't make your horse respect you: it makes them fear you. You want your horse to be excited to work with you, to look forward to your training sessions, and to have fun.

I've created a masterlist of writing resources that you can peruse at your leisure, all for free.

The posts I write can sometimes take me hours - they're always intricate, always thoughtful. This one took me about three hours to complete.

I do this as a labor of love for the writing community, sharing what I have learned from almost 15 years of creative writing.

However, if you'd like to support me, maybe you'll consider buying my book for $1.99?

9 Years Yearning is a gay coming-of-age romance set in a fantasy world. It follows Uileac Korviridi, a young soldier training at the War Academy. His primary motivations are honoring the memory of his late parents, protecting his little sister Cerie, and becoming a top-notch soldier.

However, there's a problem: Orrinir Relickim, a rough and tough fellow pupil who just can't seem to leave Uileac alone.

The book features poetry, descriptions of a beautiful country inspired by Mongolia, and a whole lot of tsundere vibes.

Oh, and horse!!! Horse love!! SO MUCH HORSE LOVE.

You can also check it out on Goodreads for a list of expanded distribution.

If you do purchase my book, don't forget to leave a review!

Reviews are vital for visibility on Amazon and help to support indie authors like me. Whenever you love a book, be sure to let the author know! It's much appreciated.

#horses #equestrian #fantasy writing #creative writing #how to write #writing research #writing resource #writing reference #writing advice #writing stuff #on writing #writing things #writers on writing #writing horses

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pierrotdoesnteat · 2 months ago

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FIVE STAGES OF FASTING:

- the process of fasting begins about 8 hours after your last meal, and has five different stages each with different benefits. I am by no means an expert, and am using various sources to piece this together; with that being said, if I get something wrong please feel free to correct me.

STAGE ONE:

- 8-12 hours after last meal. - blood sugar/glucose levels begins to dip; you may experience hunger, fatigue, food cravings, and trouble concentrating. - at around 12 hours, blood sugar levels begin to stabilize as your body starts tapping into stored glycogen. - also around 12 hours, your body begins to enter early stages of ketosis meaning your body isn't relying on carbohydrates for fuel and instead begins to burn stored fat. - short-term fasting may also lower blood pressure and increase insulin sensitivity.

STAGE TWO:

- 12-18 hours after last meal. - by now, your body should be fully in ketosis. your liver should begin converting stored fat into ketone bodies; these provide energy to your heart, brain, and muscles. - ketones suppress your appetite; this stage of fasting decreases ghrelin, the hormone that makes you want to eat a lot of food and stabilizes insulin levels which helps to reduce cravings. - you may notice an increase in mental clarity in this stage due to a boost in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

STAGE THREE:

- 24 hours after last meal. - this stage is referred to as autophagy, or "self-eating." this stage is when your body begins recycling old or damaged cells and reducing inflammation; this can provide an anti-aging effect.

STAGE FOUR:

- 36-48 hours after last meal. - 48-hour fasting can increase human growth hormone (HGH) secretion by up to 400%. HGH increases muscle mass, stimulates faster muscle repair, and can speed up the healing process for wounds and more serious injuries. - this stage is no longer considered intermittent fasting.

STAGE FIVE:

- 72+ hours after last meal. - this stage of fasting should not be taken lightly; if fasting for several days, make sure you drink plenty of water, get plenty of electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium. - by now, you should be in a deep state of ketosis and autophagy should be in full effect. - during this stage, your liver significantly reduces the production of a hormone called IGF-1, triggering stem cell production. - a study from 2014 found that prolonged fasts between 48-120 hours activate pathways that induce stem cell production, leading to cellular toxin resistance, immune system regulation, and protection against cellular damage caused by chemotherapy.

FASTING TIPS:

- regardless of the length of fast, stay hydrated. - keep physical activity to a minimum, or only do light exercises. walking, stretching/yoga, and meditating are great options during this time. - do not break your fast with large amounts of food, or processed foods. easily digestible natural foods, like bone broth, chicken, and green vegetables are your best option. avoid things like dairy, alcohol, and foods high in lectin like baked goods for the first couple days after your fast ends. - when breaking your fast, eat slowly and hydrate before eating. the less junk food your body is used to, the easier it is. - adding probiotics into your diet can make breaking a fast easier; your body needs these either way.

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covid-safer-hotties · 3 months ago

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Black Americans Are More Likely to Get Long COVID. These Clinical Trials Can Find a Cure - Published Sept 12, 2024

Millions of people worldwide, especially Black Americans, are experiencing long-term health effects after recovering from COVID-19, a condition known as Long COVID. While the initial stages of the pandemic saw significant progress in diagnosing and managing the virus itself, Long COVID remains a major public health challenge.

To address this growing concern, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. This initiative aims to understand, prevent, and ultimately treat Long COVID.

What is Long COVID? Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is a condition that can develop in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. It is characterized by a range of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after the initial infection. These symptoms can vary widely from person to person but commonly include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, joint pain, chest pain, heart palpitations, and digestive problems.

The exact cause of Long COVID is still being investigated, but it is believed to be related to the body’s immune response to the virus. Some experts suggest the virus may damage organs or tissues, leading to long-term health problems. Others believe that the immune system may continue to attack the body even after the virus has been cleared, causing ongoing symptoms.

The severity and duration of Long COVID can vary greatly. Some people experience mild symptoms that resolve within a few weeks, while others suffer from severe symptoms that can significantly impact their daily lives.

Why are clinical trials for Long COVID important? There are currently no established treatments for Long COVID. Clinical trials are crucial for developing effective therapies. The RECOVER Initiative includes a program called RECOVER-CT, which is the largest national clinical trial network specifically designed to investigate treatments for Long COVID.

Why should Black Americans consider participating in Long COVID clinical trials? Studies suggest that Black Americans are disproportionately affected by Long COVID, experiencing a higher prevalence of symptoms compared to other races. Participating in clinical trials allows Black Americans to play a vital role in the development of treatments tailored to their specific needs.

What are RECOVER-CT trials studying? The RECOVER-CT program is exploring a wide range of interventions for Long COVID, including medications, rehabilitation strategies, and alternative therapies. These interventions target various Long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle aches, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep problems.

Early success and looking forward The RECOVER-CT program has already achieved significant milestones. It has initiated five clinical trial platforms, encompassing eight trials and testing thirteen interventions across more than 100 sites nationwide. The program’s success is further exemplified by the rapid enrollment of the first trial within nine months and low participant drop-out rates.

Trial's official website: www.rti.org/impact/long-covid-clinical-trials

#mask up #pandemic #covid #covid 19 #wear a mask #coronavirus #public health #sars cov 2 #still coviding #wear a respirator #long covid #covid is not over #covid conscious #covid is airborne

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chrysanthemumgames · 1 day ago

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I have a perhaps personal ask, and at the same time struggling with how to phrase it. I've been looking into making an interactive story myself, however, I... cannot code. For the life of me. I can tell one hell of a story, but coding it beyond my grasp, and the system I currently use, while it ought to be simple enough even someone like me could do so, isn't exactly working for how I want it to. Do you perhaps know anything anywhere that I might start looking for someone who would be willing to work with me? I am so sorry if this is a bothersome ask.

Hi anon!

I'm probably not the best person for advice on this, because I've never been in that situation before. I've put some thoughts under the cut, with the caveat that only a small portion of them actually address the question you've asked, with the majority being related but perhaps not helpful for you, depending.

So, I think where you'd go to find a coding person depends on what language you're using. If it's ChoiceScript, probably the forums. If it's Twine... I honestly don't know. Maybe the subreddit, though you'll want to double-check that such requests are not against the rules there.

I sincerely doubt you'll have an easy time finding someone, though. Most folks who code in the systems used for IF are IF authors who taught themselves the coding techniques in order to tell their own stories, not someone else's.

That said, and this is the part you can ignore, because you know yourself better than I do, but... I'm pretty sure you can learn to code. It's not easy, necessarily, and it doesn't come intuitively to everyone, but there are resources out there to help you. Again, this will depend on what system you're using, but the CS forums are very useful for figuring out CS (as is the wiki, once you know enough to parse it). For Twine, there are loads of archived posts on their forums and on the subreddit for specific questions, but for general ones, the documentation for your preferred program (e.g. SugarCube), the Twine Cookbook, and similar resources will break things down into smaller, more digestible chunks. I personally recommend the Twine Grimoire (volumes 1 and 2), for basic interface aesthetics, once you get to that point.

Here on tumblr, @/nyhelism, @/cerberus-writes, @/manonamora-if, @/idrellegames, and others have all answered questions about Twine coding or even in some cases made templates that take a lot of the work out of it. Most have a masterpost regarding things they've answered about Twine or made for others' use, but be sure to check that they're currently accepting coding questions before sending them any, of course.

Learning to code may be slow and incremental, and lots of people manage better if they start with a small project just to learn how to do the basic things in their language of choice. I'd really recommend figuring out what you need your game to be able to do, and learning those functions one by one—it's less overwhelming than trying to tackle everything at once while also writing a huge project.

If all else fails, my most esoteric suggestion is to familiarize yourself with the basic principles of symbolic logic. I took a class in it as part of my degree, and have since also taught that class, and I think understanding things like the logic of conditionals (if statements) as they're used in coding (rather than natural language) really gave me a leg up in learning to code. Not that I'm an expert, but I know enough to make a basic game, at least.

Most (all?) of these things should be findable with a google search; I know there are at least some Twine tutorials on youtube as well, though I'm unsure of CS or any of the languages I'm less familiar with, like Ink, etc.

I do apologize that the section where I encourage you to do the thing you don't think you can do is longer than the one where I answered your actual question, but that's the part I might actually have something useful to say about. If you're absolutely certain you can't do it, I'm sorry for banging on about it, but if you're not sure or on the fence, maybe give it another go before trying to find another person. I've seen a lot of writers looking for coders in the past, but maybe only once was a coder offering their services to writers (and that was a long time ago).

#ask #jess gives dubious advice

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talonabraxas · 4 months ago

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Seat of Prana Talon Abraxas

What is Prana?

"He who knows Prana knows Vedas" is the important declaration of the Srutis. You will find in Vedanta Sutras: "For the same reason, breath is Brahman." Prana is the sum total of all energy that is manifest in the universe. It is the sum total of all the forces in nature. It is the sum total of all latent forces and powers which are hidden in men and which lie everywhere around us. Heat, light, electricity, magnetism are the manifestations of Prana. All forces, all powers and Prana spring from the fountain or common source, 'Atman'. All physical forces and all mental forces come under the category 'Prana'. It is the force on every plane of being, from the highest to the lowest. Whatever moves or works or has life, is but an expression or manifestation of Prana. Akasa or ether also is an expression of Prana. The Prana is related to mind and through mind to will, and through will to the individual soul, and through this to the Supreme Being. If you know how to control the little waves of Prana working through the mind, then the secret of subjugating universal Prana will be known to you. The Yogi who becomes an expert in the knowledge of this secret, will have no fear from any power, because he has mastery over all the manifestations of powers in the universe. What is commonly known as power of personality is nothing more than being successful in life, more influential and fascinating than others. It is all due to the power of this Prana. Such people manipulate everyday, unconsciously of course, the same influence which the Yogi uses consciously by the command of his will. There are others who by chance tumble unaware of this Prana and use it for lower purposes under false names. This working of Prana is seen in the systolic and diastolic actions of the heart, when it pumps the blood into arteries in the action of inspiration and expiration during the course of breathing; in the digestion of food; in the excretion of urine and faecal matter; in the manufacture of semen, chyle, chyme, gastric juice, bile, intestinal juice, saliva; in closing and opening of the eyelids, in walking, playing, running, talking, thinking, reasoning, feeling and willing. Prana is the link between the astral and physical body. When the slender thread-link Prana is cut off, the astral body separates from the physical body. Death takes place. The Prana that was working in the physical body is withdrawn into the astral body.

This Prana remains in a subtle, motionless, unmanifested, undifferentiated state during the cosmic Pralaya. When the vibration is set up, Prana moves and acts upon Akasa, and brings forth the various forms. The macrocosm (Brahmanda) and microcosm (Pindanda) are combinations of Prana (energy) and Akasa (matter).

That which moves the steam-engine of a train and a steamer, that which makes the aeroplanes fly in air, that which causes the motion of the breath in lungs, that which is the very life of this breath itself, is Prana. I believe, you have now a comprehensive understanding of the term Prana about which you had a very vague conception in the beginning.

By controlling the act of breathing you can efficiently control all the various motions in the body and the different nerve-currents that are running through the body. You can easily and quickly control and develop body, mind and soul through breath control or the control of Prana. It is through Pranayama that you can control your circumstances and character, and can consciously harmonise the individual life with the cosmic life.

The breath, directed by thought under the control of the will, is a vitalising, regenerating force which you can utilise consciously for self-development; for healing many incurable diseases in your system; for healing others and for other various useful purposes.

It is within your easy reach at every moment of your life. Use it judiciously. Many Yogins of yore, like Sri Jnanadeva, Trailinga Swami, Ramalinga Swami and others, had utilised this breath, this force, the Prana, in a variety of ways. You can also do so, if you practise Pranayama by prescribed breathing exercises. It is Prana that you are breathing rather than the atmospheric air. Inhale slowly and steadily with a concentrated mind. Retain it as long as you can do it comfortably. Then exhale slowly. There should be no strain in any stage of Pranayama. Realise the occult inner life-powers which underlie the breath. Become a Yogi and radiate joy, light and power all around you.

Pranavadins or Hatha Yogins consider that Prana Tattva is superior to Manas Tattva, the mind principle. They say, Prana is present even when the mind is absent during sleep. Hence Prana plays a more vital part than the mind. If you go through the parables in Kaushitaki and Chhandogya Upanishads, when all the Indriyas, mind and Prana fight amongst themselves as to their superiority, you will find that Prana is regarded as the highest of all. Prana is the oldest, for it starts its functioning from the very moment the child is conceived. On the contrary, the organs of hearing, etc., begin to function only when their special abodes, viz., the ears, etc., are formed. Prana is called Jyestha and Sreshtha (oldest and best) in Upanishads. It is through the vibrations of psychic Prana that the life of the mind, Sankalpa or thinking, is kept up and thought is produced. You see, hear, talk, sense, think, feel, will, know, etc., through the help of Prana and therefore Srutis declare: "Prana is Brahman."

SEAT OF PRANA

The seat of Prana is heart. Though the Antahkarana is one, yet it assumes four forms, viz., (i) Manas, (ii) Buddhi, (iii) Chitta and (iv) Ahamkara, according to the different functions it performs. Likewise, though Prana is one, it assumes five forms viz., (1) Prana, (2) Apana, (3) Samana, (4) Udana and (5) Vyana, according to the different functions it performs. This is termed as Vritti Bheda. The principal Prana is called Mukhya Prana. The Prana, joined with Ahamkara, lives in the heart. Of these five, Prana and Apana are the chief agents.

The seat of Prana is the heart; of Apana, the anus; of Samana, the region of the navel; of Udana, the throat; while Vyana is all-pervading. It moves all over the body.

SUB-PRANAS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Naga, Kurma, Krikara, Devadatta and Dhananjaya are the five sub-Pranas.

The function of Prana is respiration; Apana does excretion; Samana performs digestion; Udana does deglutition (swallowing of the food). It takes the Jiva to sleep. It separates the astral body from the physical body at the time of death; Vyana performs circulation of blood.

Naga does eructation and hiccup. Kurma performs the function of opening the eyes. Krikara induces hunger and thirst. Devadatta does yawning. Dhananjaya causes decomposition of the body after death. That man is never reborn, whenever he may die, whose breath goes out of the head, after piercing the Brahmarandhra.

THE COLOUR OF PRANAS

Prana is said to be of the colour of blood, red gem or coral. Apana, which is in the middle, is of the colour of Indragopa (an insect of white or red colour). Samana is of the colour between that of pure milk or crystal or of oily and shining colour, i.e., of something between both Prana and Apana. Udana is of Apandura (pale white) colour and that of Vyana resembles the colour of archil (or that of ray of light).

THE LENGTH OF THE AIR-CURRENTS

This body of Vayu is 96 digits (6 feet) in length as a standard. The ordinary length of the air-current, when exhaled is 12 digits (9 inches). In singing, its length becomes 16 digits (1 foot), in eating it comes to 20 digits (15 inches), in sleeping 30 digits (22 inches), in copulation 36 digits (27 inches) and in doing physical exercise it is much more than that. By decreasing the natural length of the expired air-currents (from 9 inches), life is prolonged and by increasing the current, duration of life is decreased.

THE CENTRING OF THE PRANA

Inhaling the Prana from outside, filling the stomach with it, centre the Prana with the mind, in the middle of the navel, at the tip of the nose, and at the toes, during the 'Sandhyas' (sunrise and sunset) or at all times. Thus the Yogi is freed from all diseases and fatigues. By centring this Prana at the tip of the nose he obtains mastery over the elements of the air; by centring at the middle of his navel, all diseases are destroyed; by centring at the toes, his body becomes light. He who drinks air through the tongue destroys his fatigue, thirst and many other diseases. For him who drinks the air with his mouth, during the two Sandhyas and the last two hours of the night, within three months, the auspicious Sarasvati (Goddess of speech) is present in his Vak (speech), i.e., he becomes eloquent and learned. In six months he is free from all diseases. Drawing the air at the root of the tongue, the wise man thus drinking nectar enjoys all prosperity.

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drjigarpatel · 6 days ago

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#gastroenterologist #digestive system expert #digestive health #ahmedabad doctor #gastrointestinal disorders #liver disease treatment

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000marie198 · 1 year ago

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In the second episode of Defenders of Berk, Fishlegs didn't know about rocks that well. He was anxious and confused in trying to recognize and remember which ones Meatlug ate.

However, he did know about limestones not agreeing with Meatlug'a digestive system back in season 1. Which makes sense of course considering limestone releases a lot of CO2 when calcite reacts with any acid.

Anyways, thing is, he didn't know that much about rocks in RoB/DoB, just having a general idea.

In RTTE though, Fishlegs seems to have become an expert petrologist, enthusiastic enough about rocks to build a rock garden and know about the various different types.

I believe he picked up learning petrology for Meatlug as she eats rocks so it would be best to know more about what she eats so he could provide her with the best rocks for her, especially after the whole fiasco in the Iron Gronckle episode. He would do whatever he can to make sure such a thing doesn't happen again and Meatlug stays healthy and happy.

#these kids love their dragons #httyd #httyd fishlegs #fishlegs ingerman #meatlug #httyd rtte #httyd rob #httyd dob #rob/dob #dreamworks dragons #riders of berk #defenders of berk #race to the edge #httyd race to the edge #rtte #how to train your dragon

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disturbingstar · 3 months ago

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐞

Shoutout to @aereaseastar for giving me the idea to post a kind of horror movie breakdown so others can know what the film is about without watching it

Plot summary

A mad scientist kidnaps and mutilates a trio of tourists in order to reassemble them into a human centipede, created by stitching their mouths to each others' rectums.

Banned

• In the UK, the film has been refused classification a by the BBC. The ban was eventually lifted, but only after several cuts were made.

• In Germany, as much as 17 minutes had to be cut, but even then, this wasn't enough to placate the authorities, ultimately banning the film outright.

• In Australia, the film initially passed uncut but ultimately had to be edited, albeit not to the extent of the UK cut, to pass.

• This film remains banned/has been banned in New Zealand, China and Iceland

Trivia

• Tom Six drew inspiration from his time as a director for Big Brother, where he observed the strange things people would do when they were alone and thought they weren't being watched.

• Akihiro Kitamura improvised his dialogue in the scene where Heiter explains his procedure

• The heating wasn't working in the scene where Lindsay falls into the pool, so Ashley C Williams's shivering was real

• Tom Six (the films director, writer & producer) kept the actual method of how the centipede would be formed secret from nearly everyone as long as possible

• The main villain is a surgeon, because Tom Six has a personal fear of hospitals and doctors

• Dieter Laser contributed many ideas about Heiter's character, the most notable of which was him swimming naked in front of his victims; he felt that since Heiter viewed the 'centipede' as his pet, he wouldn't be ashamed to be naked around them

• Tom Six claims that he got the idea for the film from discussions with a friend on how to punish child molesters

Breakdown

Lindsay and Jenny are two American tourists in Germany who attempt to drive to a local nightclub when their car breaks down in the nearby woods. After refusing a ride from a dangerous-looking truck driver, they walk through the woods looking for them when it begins to rain. They stumble upon a rural country house owned by a crazed surgeon named Dr. Heiter. Dr. Heiter pretends that he is calling for them when he serves the two young women drugged water, which upon drinking it they pass out. The women awake in a makeshift medical ward in the basement and witness Heiter informing a kidnapped truck driver that he is “not a match” and then killing him.

When the women wake up a second time, Heiter has secured a new male captive, Japanese tourist Katsuro. The doctor explains to his three captives that he is a world-renowned expert at separating conjoined twins but dreams of making new creatures that share a single digestive system. He describes in detail how he will surgically connect his three victims mouth-to-anus. After Lindsay fails in an attempt to escape, Heiter performs the surgery on his victims, placing Lindsay in the middle, Katsuro at the front, and Jenny at the rear. Before beginning the operation, Heiter explains to Lindsay that he had experimented with creating a 'three dog', also joined mouth-to-anus, which died shortly after surgery. Heiter tells Lindsay that the middle dog of his creation experienced the most pain, and as a punishment for her escape attempt she will become the middle part of his human centipede.

Once the operation is complete, the doctor tries to train his centipede as a pet and watches with great delight as Lindsay is forced to swallow Katsuro's excrement. However, Heiter eventually becomes irritated after being kept awake day and night by the constant screaming of his victims, and he soon realises that Jenny is dying from blood poisoning caused by the surgery.

A few days later, two local detectives, Kranz and Voller, arrive at the doctor's house to investigate the disappearance of tourists. Heiter decides to add them to his centipede as replacements for Jenny. Heiter fails in an attempt to drug the detectives, and they leave the house to obtain a search warrant.

The victims attempt to escape from the ward, crawling up the stairs, and Katsuro attacks Heiter, stabbing him in his left leg with a scalpel. Their attempt to escape ultimately fails. Katsuro confesses to the doctor, in Japanese, that he deserves his fate because he had treated his family poorly. He then fatally cuts his own throat with a shard of broken glass. Just then, the detectives return to the house and conduct separate searches, as Heiter hides in the basement near his swimming pool. Kranz finds the makeshift ward and then hears a gunshot. He discovers Heiter's victims before finding Voller dead in the swimming pool after being shot. Heiter comes out of hiding and shoots Kranz in the stomach, and Kranz responds by shooting Heiter in the head. Kranz then falls in the pool, dead.

Back in the house, Jenny and Lindsay hold hands as Jenny dies from her blood poisoning. Despite being aware that their captor is dead, Lindsay is left alone in the house, trapped between her two deceased fellow captives.

I haven't personally watched this film, so apologies if I made any errors

#horror blog #The human centipede #The human centipede trivia #horror #horror films #horror movie breakdown #horror facts #horror film #The human centipede spoilers #horror movie spoilers #horror spoilers #banned movies #disturbing films #disturbing breakdown

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anatheyma · 1 year ago

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btd/tpof characters don't seem to have official birthdays so i wanna share my zodiac sign hcs

(i'm not an expert in astrology this is just for fun)

strade: sagittarius

this is a bit awkward to explain since i'm a sagittarius myself. i don't relate to him, but he definitely has to be a fire sign and this one seemed the most fitting out of the three. first of all sagittarians are considered lively, passionate, outgoing and charming - traits that i think fit strade's description. he's carefree and fun-loving i guess you could say, but also intelligent in a way, or at least has a good technical information. gato has mentioned that strade has a fear of being limited or locked up which goes well with the thing sagittarians have with their freedom.

lawrence: capricorn

now that is a capricorn man if i've ever seen one. they're described as critical, sensitive and cautious, struggling with letting people in. capricorns are happy being on their own and fall in love slowly, they have to take time to understand you at first. it's clear that lawrence doesn't trust people easily. to me it seems like he wants to be in control of things, too. on surface level, those antlers remind me of the symbolized mythological creature of capricornus and regardless of his love for plants, i associate lawrence with snowy forests instead of green. (capricorns are born december 22 - january 19)

ren: libra

i'm not only saying this because i tend to be head over heels for libras okay let me tell you something; libras are often extroverted and sweet. they avoid conflict which is why they tend to be people-pleasers and we know ren is one. even when he's older in tpof, you can kind of call him out for not making his own decisions, but instead relying on the chat's suggestions and opinions. maybe he struggles with making them himself... and what's the biggest libra stereotype again? yeah, exactly that. librans are ruled by venus, the goddess of love, so they adore beautiful things. of course he'd want to dress you up all pretty for the live streams <3

mason: taurus

i admit i haven't actually diven that deep into this character yet, but right off the bat he strikes me as an earth sign. taureans love to relax in serene, bucolic environments, which i guess you could call his cabin in the woods. they're also built for endurance and tasks requiring concentration and determination, traits that i assume must be helpful when hunting. mason comes off as resourceful and tough, just like taureans.

celia: virgo

my beloved celia... like virgos, she's hardworking and intelligent, but also uptight and easily frustrated. understandably so, imagine being married to a man when you could run away with me 🙄 anyway, they're also perfectionists at heart and she'd probably enjoy training you with diligent and consistent practice, you're her little mouse after all. oh, and virgo rules the digestive system. hand over those donuts, ma'am!

derek: leo

bet you thought i'd say scorpio because of his tattoo? nah, he has leo energy. he's confident - even arrogant - and fits the leo description of both luxury-loving and drama-loving. leos love to lead, be admired and receive praise and respect of others. i imagine derek's like that due to possible daddy issues. sorry to come for him like that. my opinion might be completely based due to growing up with a couple of brats from upper middle class families who happened to be leos.

#boyfriend to death #the price of flesh #strade #lawrence oleander #ren hana #mason heiral #celia lede #derek goffard

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nye-the-ravenclaw · 5 months ago

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Hogwarts Legacy (Modern Medical AU)

(I’m currently watching medical dramas now and I just needed to get it out of my system - I’m sorry Medical Professionals and Nursing Dept if its inaccurate. It’s lengthy so more under the cut.)

MC / Protagonist : Emergency Medicine / Trauma Surgery - Caring for illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention (ER) as well as a history in conducting surgery for trauma wounds (stab, car crashes, crushes, falls, 3rd degree burns, gunshot wounds)

Definitely someone that jumps into action and the jackknife of medicine. Able to perform under high pressure and maintaining her cool. She works alongside Head Nurse (ER) Everett Clopton who is just as high-strung, reactive and able to keep up with her. Pages medical specialists for various patients, so she sees her colleagues periodically. Ominis Gaunt does come by to discuss certain patients’ care when required but the ER is frankly too noisy and fast-paced for him. In extreme situations where there is no medical posts or other specialists available, she is able to perform trauma surgery or provide assistance.

Sebastian Sallow also likes dropping by often to check in on her unannounced (though he also secretly enjoys the heated atmosphere of the ER).

Sebastian Sallow : Cardiothorasic Surgeon - Performing surgery on organs in the chest, such as heart, lungs and esophagus

Smart, fast, performs well with the adrenaline that comes with high pressure heart and lung surgery. Withstands long hours of precision surgery, able to perform bedside manner with respect and care. His need to jump with an action that is risky and yields the most results with success makes him prime for this department as nothing can be more dangerous than taking someone’s heart out and resetting it a hair away from death if done by the untrained and the weak-hearted. And Sebastian is none of those things.

Ominis Gaunt : Public Health / Health Policy - Researching evidence-based medicine and working with physicians to improve guidelines for treatment of conditions

The blind son of the Gaunt family, a renowned powerhouse and stronghold of medicine in the country. Ominis chooses to work at their least affiliated and poorest hospital (coincidentally also the furthest). His job is purely desk-bound, assisted by Anne Sallow as they work together to improve policies and garner funds for the hospital in the name of public health. Though nothing will stop them from heading out into the field to handle cases that they prefer to approach hands on.

Anne Sallow : Infectious Diseases Specialist - Diagnosing, treating and preventing infections in patients

An expert on Infectious Diseases and was a surgeon-in-training. After she had been diagnosed with cancer, she had to give up her studies to be a surgeon. She decided on helping others instead, affecting change at a higher level with Ominis. Shrewd, confident and charismatic, she and Ominis make sure the hospital is run to a t while dealing with insurance companies, philanthropists and the Gaunt family board members. She is in remission.

Natsai Onai : General Surgery - Performing surgery, treating diseases of abdomen, chest, head, neck, blood vessels, digestive tract, injured and deformed patients

The best surgeon this hospital has. She transferred over from Uagadou and with her experience, she is able to accomplish any surgery easily. With her strong need to help people, she has amassed extreme knowledge and drive to learn as many possible ways to carry out surgery on different ailments. She also allows the hospital direct affiliation with her mother hospital in Uagadou for resources and second opinions on abnormal cases.

Garreth Weasley : Pediatrics - Medical care of infants, children and adolescents

Family and children have always been a pillar of Garreth’s life. A cheerful and positive doctor, Garreth is a natural with children and has a hand in his family’s pharmaceutical company for manufacturing the branch of vitamin-based supplement chewables that are friendly for children. He is definitely an advocate of wearing a mask in his clinic as children really are the melting pot of diseases. He occasionally organises parties where he makes a lot of mind-numbing drinks for the other doctors, but those are rare as everyone never stops working and no one is willing to work hungover. He works alongside Poppy Sweeting often as their departments intersect. In a pinch, he is also able to deliver babies.

Poppy Sweeting : Obstetrician Gynaecologist - Treatment of pregnant woman, delivery of babies and the care of women’s reproductive organs and health

A firm but comforting presence in the OB/GYN unit, Poppy follows her patients from advisory stage and into the delivery room. When facing complications, she is able to keep her cool and remains a strong pillar of support for starting families. Poppy’s grandmother was an OB/GYN as well and Poppy decided to follow in her footsteps.

Leander Prewett : Oncology - Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

With family and history in medicine, Leander follows after the footsteps of his parents who are prolific doctors, gleaning their expertise and knowledge as pioneers in Oncology. While it is a study that is rife with morbidity, Leander possesses the tenacity and drive to keep a cool head and determine the best treatment and clinical trials for his patients.

After Anne was diagnosed with cancer, Sebastian stopped by Oncology way more often than he should for Prewett’s liking as he is akin to a fireball. But after working with him, Leander finds himself open to accepting newer, and riskier forms of clinical trials with an improved set of guidelines he formulated with Sallow’s opinion. In the past, he had low confidence in himself and believed that Sebastian was better suited for Oncology than he was, but after taking on Anne as his patient and seeing Sebastian’s reactions - it cements Leander’s confidence that only those with his measured temperament can do his job.

Imelda Reyes : Neurosurgery - Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect the nervous system, brain, spinal column, spinal cord and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system

Extremely intelligent, precise, determined and focused, Imelda possesses an eye and expertise for the human brain like no other. She does not tolerate nonsense in her office and in her operating room as one wrong move throws a patient into brain damage for life, a fate she decrees worse than death. She plays chess and sports in her spare time, her chess skills equal to being a grandmaster.

Amit Thakkar : Pharmacy - Dispensing and advising medical practitioners, patients, and nurses on safe, effective and efficient use

While it seems like a job with little excitement, it is the clear attention to detail and memory of every drug and pill in his storage that separates Amit from the rest. On top of dispensing medicine, he is also adept at chasing away unwanted abusers of his counter and is currently an advisory to procuring, discerning and looking for new drugs that could speed up patient recovery with lesser side effects.

Everett Clopton : Head Nurse with MC in Emergency Department - Directs nursing service activities in the emergency room

Everett is a trusted second-in-command to MC, and is able to handle, support her orders, and keep track of all patients and their welfare in the room. His main forte is dealing with all chains of command and patients in the chaos with a smile on his face and a sliver of veiled threats to keep them in line. He also takes time to make sure that MC is not overloading herself as she has a penchant for taking on more work than she should.

———————

(I know I’m missing some friends but they should be reserved for other areas such as anathesiologists, radiology, psychology, that sort. I might add on the Professors as well, but that is another post.)

Extra

Lucan Brattleby is definitely an intern with a flair for surgery but for which department? If anything I know he definitely idolises Sebastian and has a minor crush on MC.

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy headcanons #hogwarts legacy fanfic #ravenclaw mc #sebastian sallow #ominis gaunt #anne sallow #garreth weasley #natsai onai #poppy sweeting #leander prewett #imelda reyes #amit thakkar #everett clopton #Hogwarts legacy medical fic headcanons #if i have time i might write something for it #lucan brattleby

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entering--hyperspace · 2 months ago

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My Veilguard Thoughts (spoilers included)

I want to preface this with I am not an expert writer, and neither am I proficient in critiquing games in a way that is easy to digest or perhaps best gets my thought across. However, I care alot about dragon age and it greatly influenced be as a teenager, so I have a lot of thoughts on my first On Release Dragon Age game!

So, after finishing my playthrough and thinking about what I had experienced, I have come to the conclusion that Veilguard is a fun, whimsical if not somewhat cheesy ball of popcorn of a game with a lot of potential that it at times reached if only to stumble back. In my eyes, a solid 7/10, which is not a bad thing, but for dragon age fans might be divisive.

ROOK AS AN MC

To start, we have returned to a more solidified character backstory for Rook, an attempt to merge the gaps between origins, Da2, and Inquisition. Not as much as a fill in the gaps blank Mc as the inquisitor was, while not as much as a pre-built solid character as Hawke, or the time given to the very diverse set of Origins the Warden had. This was Mostly a positive, and at times something I kinda just looked around during. I played as an Elven mage (male) Shadow Dragon Rook, which I definitely felt satisfied given the amount of dialogue I felt included in, while at times being alienated by the game just assuming my investment in its own pre-established characters like the Viper, though no work was done in game outside of a written up quick summary to endear me to those it wanted me to feel for.

Continuing with Rook, I felt odd about them for a long time. Having a mc thrown into the chaos without the time to establish how you want to play them in a huge plot was not something I really like. In origins you have a plot itself, Da2 sets up the beginning of Hawke's story, and Dai works with the character being thrusted into the role of Herald because your character was truly someone just at the wrong place at the wrong time. None of things really apply to Rook, so it took me some time to really get into the role of them as the Protagonist.

I also think the responses weren't strong enough in their differences, and seemed to lack the more emotional responses I liked about Inquisition.

On the romance side for Rook, at least for Lucanis, I definitely feel not all the characters were given equal treatment bc man did his romance feel sorely lacking on content compared to the others. This isn't even about it being a slow burn because a slow burn has acknowledgement of what it is in how its story is told, this was just,,, a nothing burger. The almost kiss for Lucanis felt more romantic and longing than anything else his romance produced going forward, which was really just a lot of standing next to each other and talking. But anyway

Speaking of things missing! I was really disappointed that the gift giving system was so lackluster. I was hoping a short conversation about whatever was gifted, but its a simple reply. I did enjoy adding to the companions' space anyway!

THE COMPANIONS

Speaking of the Companions, I really adored each and every one of them, which is rare for me! There's at least ONE companion in Bioware game casts I usually don't like or care for, but this time around I found myself drawn to them all, some more than others, of course, but still! I felt the beginnings of their stories were all very genuine, and tangible. I particularly related To Bellara's grief over her brother, and not about accepting the death, but rather accepting her role in what happened. Or Taash, who struggles with their sense of self as a multicultural person, I am also Multiracial, and was excited to explore that. Lucanis reconnecting with family, Emmrich's respect and love for the deceased despite and because of his own fear of mortality, Davrin learning how to be a gentle caretaker to a young griffon, suddenly thrust into that role despite knowing only to protect and the sword he wields, to name my favorites. I have my own opinions i'll briefly talk about later about all of these, but for the most part I loved the companions! They were probably my favorite part of the game, which is why It frustrates me that the lighthouse is structured in a way that makes getting to them in their ambient conversations with each other inconvenient. This was a problem with Inquisition as well, to be fair, nothing but Origins' close camp-fire made it particularly easy to talk to your companions. Least of all when there's now no satisfaction in greeting them in the first place.

They chose to remove the ability to say hello and engage with your Companions at any time. to Save time, I think, but for me as a player, this limits my connection to them. It's removing the choice, the knowledge that I could go say hi just to do so, or to listen to another instance of a dialogue wheel again. Even if it's an arbitrary thing, It's the availability of that choice that makes me feel good, removing that hinders rather than improves, in my own experience.

I also just wish they felt more of a team outside of duty-Oriented group cutscenes, but more so as friends in a group than just 2 of them conversing somewhere.

THE STORY

The story of Veil-guard is definitely a mixed bag, purely taking it as it is, not even mentioning the lack of continuing with the world state. Games do this thing where they love tip-toeing in between being exploratory and linear while not giving either the attention needed to truly make this work. I thought the maps themselves were fine on a level design standpoint, big enough to not get too boring as parts of them unlock, but small enough to not seem as empty as they were in Inquisition, kind of returning to the older games’ layout. What really hindered the story was the tendency to bounce around all of these different areas, for freedom of choice, rather than focusing on an area and unlocking more as the game goes on through that progression.

It was The SIege Of Weisshaupt where I truly felt invested in other parts of the story outside of the interesting connection between Rook and Solas. It was the moment I recognized Veilguard has such potential in it’s story telling, giving us a very big, grand moment in the story that isn't afraid to take itself seriously and raise the stakes, which is perhaps why I’m not as disappointed in the story as much as I could’ve been, bc the potential was THERE. But instead of continuing the forward momentum some of these story beasts give us, they're dropped, and lose the momentum. Fire and Ice, fighting the blighted dragons felt like nothing after I had to take care of companion quests or conversations lest they disappear on me. The moments that fuck in the story, fuck HARD it’s so clear they have potential, my favorite parts of the story where genuinely where the momentum isnt afraid to keep going until it naturally needs to drop, as in The Point Of No Return Onward. God, the cutscene with Rook falling into the prison, the prison section in of itself, THE REVELATION OF VARRIC, Climbing out, getting back and choosing what the team needs to do, it was so GOOD AND COOL, but it was literally the last 3 hours of the game.

Outside of the main story before that I was really mainly invested in the companion’s stories and getting to the next conversation with Solas, or unlocking things within the maps, its a shame then, that none of these feel they were given the time to be fleshed out. I liked the Demon haunting Minrathous, but the set up is so sparse that the revelation doesn’t feel as satisfying as it would have had it been given just the tiniest bit of more attention or gravitas.

Smaller mistakes in the story happened in my mind all the time, WHat do you mean MINRATHOUS was just as affected by the blight as Treviso would be? If they had changed it to Dock town, the choice would’ve felt harder. But no, it was the Minrathous city of magisters or risking the blighted waters that run throughout the lives of a city only really “protected” by Assassins.

Why did nobody mention Varric as a clear mortal casualty? Just one mention of Solas making Rook forget mentions of him and maybe especially any mourning periods directly after his death would’ve made sense.

This is also not even mentioning lost plot-threads or dropped lore, that is better left to more knowledgeable people, but I can see how that may add to disappointment.

THE INQUISITOR, AND THE PAST (OR LACK THEREOF) CHOICES.

I actually switched my opinion on this, at first I was in the boat of I could see why the world state continuing wasn’t needed. We were in Northen Thedas, surely we wouldn’t need as much information although I still gripped about the more important decisions in Inquisition not being included like the well of sorrows or the next Divine.

For most of the game this opinion didn’t change too much, it wasn’t until the last parts of the story that it shifted. Once the game started singing the tune of how this was the BIG CULMINATION FINALE, and EVERYTHING LEAD UP TO THIS, I started to be like, now hold on a second, it doesn’t feel this way. It doesn’t feel this way because no, I didn’t have a lot of satisfaction in seeing even hints of what I had played previously being mentioned. Inquisition felt more like a culmination from the amount of lead up, references, and acknowledgements than Veilguard did. Where was Kieran in the talks or mentions of arche demons, wardens trying to find reversals of blights much like our warden, Divine justinia? Hawke in the aftermath of Varric’s death? The tiniest mention would’ve made me feel so much better, yet they were lacking.

Now, the inquisitor, well,,,,,I’ve always been in the boat that this should’ve been their story to finish, and for the most part I was fine with Rook untl I reached certain moments like everything with Mythal where I felt my inquisitor, having drank from the well, would’ve been a way more interesting person to be included, or even having them in the background fighting alongside Rook in the final boss given a choice in what class they were, you could see them offering assistance. Man, Even getting to talk more with them, maybe choosing what emotional dialogue they leaned more into like we did with Hawke so their statements didn’t feel so broad.

THAT BEING SAID, THE CRITICISMS LEAVING MY BODY AS SOON AS I HEARD THE INQUISITION LEITMOTIF, I regardless, enjoyed every second of them on screen, I literally screamed and scrumpt seeing them appear at the end to (in my canon) Help talk Solas down which felt a bit like the Hannah montanna taking off the wig when they revealed themselves I mean this in the best way possible I was eating everything up.

OTHER SMALL THINGS, MUSIC, GRAPHICS, COMBAT

Music to me was fine, what I’m grateful for since playing FFXIV is I have learned, love, accepted that I want music to be different, its COOL when genres don’t stay to the same old tune. I actually loved what I heard of Veilguard’s style, obviously some people said it sounded like Mass Effect music due to its use of more electronic sounding tunes, but considering we are dealing with ANcient Elven gods in advanced tech architecture and cities like Minrathous, I didn’t even see it as out of place. Honestly, OSTS rarely blow me out of the water on an initial playthrough, but I implore people to maybe open their minds to the idea that not every game needs to sound the same, even if theyre from the same series, I would have rathered this than the same style as inquisition, bc they are not the same game with the same story and environment. Personally, I find it boring to only contain one musical genre to one thing, Taking more leaps in creating a different sound to reinvent what we might consider “fantasy music”(for example) IS something I will always back.

GRAPHICS ARE INCREDIBLE, I love the more stylized look, I loved the lighting direction, I loved everything about the actual style of the game. I do agree about missing previous DESIGNS, but the ART STYLE itself I have no notes on, what a beautiful game.

Combat was so fun, it’s clear Bioware is taking notes from the pace of Andromeda’s gameplay, which I also enjoyed. Not a lot of thoughts here, it was fun, I was never a big fan of tactical games which made origins not very fun for me combat wise so I wasn't affected by the series continuing to evolve away from that over time was was prevalent since Da2 into Inquisition. I just wish we had more ability options ready to use.

The Tone:

I do think its silly to not acknowledge the clear tonal shift throughout dragon age, yes you could always CHOOSE to be silly, but to not see Origins as clearly tonally dark is a bit ignorant. I don't mind (I actually prefer!) Light hearted ganes, what I like most however, is sincereity and the ability to allow your story to be what it needs to. Veilguard has shown it has times where it is clear in wanting to have a serious mission, but also fails to deliver on it consistently.

I don't really have much of a problem with its dialogue as some? Gamer bros tend to? But I also want to point out one thing: sometimes, due to the fact you grow as a person, grow older, things you once saw as super cool serious and good, may not be so at your current age. Was the dialogue "millenial" or are you (talking to random gamerbros here) perhaps so unwilling to let yourself enjoy things you once did bc in your eyes they are "cringe" now? The nostalgia can be so blinding, and to ignore that the humor of the series has always been there is so incorrect. But these are also the same people who said veilguard is too woke when it was DA thay had 2 bisexual companions while bioware was getting hounded on by FOX news for its same sex romance, so....

CLOSING THOUGHTS.

It was Clear this game struggled with things cut for time, or ease of new players, if not both. I can only speculate an EA decision which hindered things, a tale as old as time, given weight since we know its production start was rocky alongside the dire state of AAA game industry. However when i am reviewing something I try not only to take account of the things that we may give marks to, like a consistent story, graphics, music, but more so one single thing: Did this game do what it set out to do? The answer, I feel, is Yes.

The game introduced us to memorable companions, it finished the set up of a previously started story, it was fun to play, it got an emotional reaction out of me, I do not regret buying it.

That perhaps, is most important. No game is perfect, certainly not ones as ambitious as Dragon Age as a serie. It is hard to implement every choice, to satisfy every player. In the end, it is not a perfect game, certainly not a perfect DA game. Especially not with 10 years of expectations and weight on its shoulders. To me, it didn’t need to be. I am allowed to be disappointed, but I am also allowed to be satisfied with the imperfect, and simply have enjoyed the ride. Video games are Art, Art is subjective. There are ways we can frame the basis of critique given the quality and what we expect from a studio, even at the whims of greedy overlords, but most importantly I think we should ask ourselves if our enjoyment matters most.

In a world where it has become easy to hate, where hate and anger and disapproval gain more clicks and reactions than those of joy, It is equally important for us to speak of our joy with as much weight as we would a critique. Joy is just as important to share, love for something is just as important to share as much as what you didn’t like.

I loved Veilguard. It wasn’t perfect, but I had fun running around, I had fun listening to my new friends, and perhaps that is what I take with me the most. If it’s any indication, I have decided to replay DaI and veilguard again right after, it scratched my DA itch.

As a side note, if you want to listen to a good video essay about the acceptance of the mid and the enjoyment still that shouldn’t be shamed in video games being ranked less than 10/10 which I recommend “In defense of the 7/10 games” by Nakey Jakey.

If you’ve reached this point I hope you enjoyed my thoughts!

#Dragon age #Dragon age The Veilguard #veilguard #dragon age review #veilguard review #i mentioned personal thoughts on companions but im a bit too tired to include that all rn ill get to it later

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