#genshin labyrinth warriors

[ultimategenshintournament]

Ultimate Besties Tournament: Round 1

Propaganda below cut

Fatui Freaks (submitted 1 time):

Childe and arlecchino only ever interacted on arlecchino's story quest. As brief as their interaction was, it was laced with gossiping coworker vibes. I really enjoyed how the conversation was both tense and funny without undermining the seriousness of the topics discussed (arlecchino's loyalty to the tsaritsa and her role on the HOH previous problems). Overall very interesting dynamic as coworkers with clashing ideologies who don't let their differences stop them from spilling the tea whenever they see each other. Also they are probably the only "real" humans among the fatui and i think that counts for something.

Labyrinth Warriors (submitted 1 time):

No propaganda submitted

[endlessskymaster]

Childe: *sighs* I wish I can stay here a while longer. The more time you spend somewhere, the more joy it brings you when you return. You're like the stars, in the night sky, Lumine. You never cease to surprise me.

Me: Childe admitted back then that Lumine brought him joy and wishes to stay with her longer. Further proof is this is from the Fontaine Archon quest before Childe goes to prison 🥹

[sakuramoussy]

Xinyan art for my build showcase!! She's so underrated, I actually love her so much.

[possibly-not-a-ghost]

It...would be a shame that when we finally see Childe again... if he experienced the same time distortion akin to his first time in the Abyss. Wouldn't that be a terribly interesting shame? 👀👀👀

[dkniade]

GoodNotes doodles & colour adjustments in post

Also I’ve been slowly watching the Labyrinth Warriors event lately…

[sunnyvaiprion]

...

[cannolicorgi]

Every day I go to sleep and dream of a genshin with Labyrinth Warriors as a permanent game mode and then I wake up and cry

[vortexbloom]

Hello, I hope I didn't bother you. If you haven't, Can you make a Mydei x Fem! Reader? Reader is injured or harassed by someone, but when Mydei sees this, he decides to take matters into his own hands. I had an incident similar to this, so I asked, if you are uncomfortable, please don't do it. English is not my first language, but I hope I was able to write it correctly<3

Hello dear anon 😙

Don’t worry, I‘m comfortable with writing this.

I‘m sorry to hear that something like this happened to you in real life, I hope you’re doing better now <3

Also, your English is good, I understood everything 😌

A Devine Reckoning (OneShot)

Pairing: Mydei x Female Reader

Fandom: HSR (Honkai Star Rail)

Warnings: Reader gets harassed, there isn’t much plot tbh

─୨ৎ────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────୨ৎ─

Masterlist - Honkai Star Rail

Masterlist - Genshin Impact

Moodboards - Genshin Impact

Masterlist - Marvel

Boycott List

─୨ৎ────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────୨ৎ─

English isn’t my first/native language, so there might be misspellings etc.

I do NOT own any Characters !

Have fun reading this :D

Art by: @crycry84488 on X (Twitter)

The shadows danced between the marble columns and the air was thick, danger often lurked in unexpected corners. The city’s intricate alleyways, though beautiful, could become treacherous labyrinths for the unprepared.

As you navigated these winding paths, the distant hum of the city’s life provided a comforting backdrop. However, the serenity was abruptly shattered when a figure emerged from the shadows, his intentions evident in his predatory gaze.

"Well, what do we have here?" he sneered, advancing toward you with a menacing grin.

Before you could react, he seized your arm, his grip like iron. Panic surged through you, but before you could cry out, a commanding voice resonated through the alley.

"Release her. Now."

Both you and your assailant turned to see Mydei, the crown prince of Kremnos and the warrior of Okhema.

"This is none of your concern," the man spat, acting like the person he’s talking too isn’t Mydeimos.

Mydei stepped forward, the air around him shimmering with latent energy. "Here, all matters of justice are my concern."

The assailant released you, attempting to flee, but with a swift motion, Mydei ran after him, managing to catch the guy.

"You dare defile the sanctity of Amphoreus with your actions?" Mydei’s voice was cold, each word measured. "Such transgressions cannot go unpunished."

With a subtle gesture, Mydei threw the man away, making him land harshly on the ground. The man cried out before collapsing, unconscious but alive.

Turning to you, Mydei’s demeanor softened just a little bit, though he was still pissed at that guy. "Are you harmed?"

You nodded, still shaken. "Just a bruise. Thank you."

He extended a hand, helping you to your feet. "These streets are meant to be safe for all. I regret that this was not your experience tonight."

As he spoke, you couldn’t shake of the fact that your heart was beating so fast. After all, you’re standing before Mydei. It doesn’t help that he looks so handsome either. Though, you managed to get out of your thoughts after hearing Mydei’s voice again.

"Rest assured," he continued, his voice firm yet comforting, "such acts will not be tolerated. Should anyone threaten you again, they will face the full extent of Amphoreus’s justice."

In that moment, you felt a profound sense of safety, knowing that Mydei was there.

Tbh, I‘m not really proud of this OneShot, but it is what it is 😔

I just feel like I could’ve done better.

Have a good day/night/evening/morning/afternoon ☼꥟☽

[blood-orange-juice]

More childesplaining to the gods of childesplaining

Labyrinth Warriors chilumi edition

Remember how Childe's passive talent increases normal attack level for everyone in the party? I think there can be two lore-friendly explanations for this First: he explains techniques to people Second: he's just very annoying and angry people put more strength in their blows It's probably both

[bestgrrl]

Kujou Sara is Genshin’s most tragic character. With sources.

Sara spent her early life without even a name. (Character story: vision) She had no identity beyond being a tengu warrior, and according to her, tengu warriors have an explicit and specific responsibility of guarding forests and mountains (Chat: Duty). Even as a child her identity revolves around duty and violence.

She lived in a forest overrun by monsters, and being a young child, was injured and almost killed by them before she received her Vision.

Instead of adopting her or entrusting her to the shrine, Yae “used the pretext of "training" to bluff her into asceticism in the mountains” when she was a child. (Kagura’s verity lore) She also orchestrated Sara’s adoption into the Kujou can because of Sara’s “unruly nature.”

Upon entering human society, Sara was immediately groomed into military service and religiously indoctrinated by her adoptive father.

Her adoptive father does not care about her compared to his biological sons, and treats her like a tool. She is hurt by his treatment of her, but feels so indebted to him that she doesn’t allow herself to even speak of it. (More About Kujou Sara: IV)

She has known little else but subservience to the authority of Takayuki and the Shogun for her entire life among humans. When confronting Takayuki during the Archon Quest, she says: “Ever since I was adopted by the Kujou Clan, you taught me the importance of loyalty from servants to their superiors…”

She is not allowed to be a part of society. She is alienated from humans by being a yokai (literally, her tengu wings prevent her from standing too close to people (Kujou Sara's Troubles)). And the one time she had friends, they were punished and she was isolated further. (Character story V)

She does not have any personal aspirations besides serving the Shogun. (About Kujou Sara: Aspiration)

She trains obsessively and literally religiously, with her “personal regimen being over ten times tougher than that which the ordinary troops go through.” (character story II) She does not have hobbies—when asked about her hobbies, she first mentions her bow training, but then says she “wouldn't call it a hobby so much as a lifelong discipline.” (Kujou Sara's Hobbies)

The goddess she worships does not actually exist, and it is unclear if the real goddess knows of her existence, despite Sara being one of her leading generals and carrying the title of “devotee of the divine.” (From the genshin website)

About eternity, Sara says “To manifest Eternity per the Almighty Shogun's will — that is what I aspire to.” (Chat: Eternity) But she says herself that she does not understand the goals of the Shogun in ‘About the Raiden Shogun: Trust’:

“As I'm sure you've heard many times before, the Almighty Shogun seeks Eternity — an existence beyond the dominion of thought and longing. "Abandon mortal ties, strive for an unchanging Eternity"... The Almighty Shogun's manner is always resolute, and I do not always fully grasp the meaning of her words. But this is her decision, and I trust her.”

And instead of the Raiden Shogun determining and saving her life like she believes (About the Vision) Sara has always been manipulated by people who simply used her. She was literally made to be a complacent servant.

Think about all the times we the player lie to her and let others manipulate her—in the Archon Quest, the labyrinth warriors event, Kokomi’s story quest, the Irodori festival.

She’s easy to lie to because all the indoctrination and manipulation was successful—too successful. She is the perfect servant and perfect soldier, who’s only aspiration is to serve.

Unlike Takayuki, who wants to further the Clan, Sara does not have personal goals that involve herself in any meaningful or tangible capacity. Everything she does is to serve the Shogun and Inazuma and the Clan in the most direct and earnest way, because that is all that has been taught to her and all she can understand.

Every facet of her identity and self—a tengu, a soldier, a Kujou—are all the same to her because they mean duty and service to the Shogun and Inazuma and the Clan. And duty and service are all that she is because she has never known anything else.

[ultimategenshintournament]

Ultimate Besties Tournament: Round 2

Propaganda below cut

Labyrinth Warriors (submitted 1 time):

#getting adopted into the family in the first minute sndjdj #I still think about that scene to this day (via @spiraledabysmally)

Waterlogged (submitted 1 time):

#idc what the writers say they’re besties to meeee (via @gothambelfry)

[the-witchs-cafe]

Hi there- I hope it's not too much to ask, but, if that's alright, do you have any advice on designing witches in general? Or if there's a certain philosophy you follow in regards to it?

It isn't at all, dearie! Thank you so, very much for asking in the first place!! I cannot emphasize how much this has warmed my heart ^^ /v v pos

My most important advice above all else...if you ask me, I say it's best to take all the time that you need- even if it took weeks, months, or even a year or two, it's best to allow your brain to cook at its leisure. In the meanwhile, I also recommend setting up a way you could archive any and all inspirations/ideas that come your way- whether we're talking about an inspiration board or even a discord server that only exists to compile information, just find a method that best suits yourself and stick with it.

Don't be afraid of going off the walls when designing the witch themselves, either; so long as a theme has been established and everything is sticking to it, you won't have a thing to worry about.

I mean, come on! Ophelia is dubbed as the Witch of Wudan, with a European name serving as a reference to Hamlet, possesses a candle for a head, and has powers over illusions. Candeloro, meanwhile, is a headless little toy known as the "witch of dress-up", whose labyrinth possesses a river of blood contrasting with the idyllic scenery of her labyrinth, and had taken all the measures she's managed to come up with in order to keep her familiars from leaving her alone.

To bring my own creations into the spotlight of shame, and ironically so when considering who he was, Sayf al-Muharib is the Gladiator Warlock who resembles a sheep-wolf hybrid with design elements invoking both the Golden Calf and a "wolf in sheep's clothing" (full credit goes to @gummybonebanes for the wolf part esp), is constantly burning/melting so that he could further imitate his hero, has an Arabic name that means "the warrior's sword" in spite of Gladiators being a mainly Roman thing and his weapon being a HALBERD, and the center of his labyrinth even looks like a soccer arena once you take a good look at it.

All these aspects may look like they make little to no sense for them to be put together, but, once you look at them a little closely and inspect the people they once were, it all begins to fall into place. Like working with individual cogs of a machine, just try to find the piece that keeps the design operational and working in the manner that befits what you had in mind. I also recommend looking at other media that possess story elements that happen to be similar to PMMM's witches for further inspiration as well, such as the Baal bosses from the Bravely series, or the abyss enemies and the concept of the samsara from Genshin Impact.

Finally, and I know this sounds corny as hell, but...don't stress about the design and the labyrinth too much, and try not to push yourself to write even when you're nervous or are dealing with other unrelated strifes. The reason why I regret how Bianchi and Liang-Hui turned out they way they did is because I was, for lack of better terms, not at all in the chillest of moods to write, and, boy, do I regret that now. Find the right mindset and mood you want the labyrinth to embody, try to capture that very emotion and sensation, and just go from there!

For example, the reason why Kealamauloa Kinimaka's labyrinth is the way it is and why I am so proud of it is because not only does every little detail symbolize an aspect of Hau's life, but it invokes a certain emotion; comfort and disconnection from the struggles around you, and, by letting go, you could even float high up to the skies. Sayf al-Muharib's, meanwhile, invokes the emotion of being watched at all angles; denied of freedom by the people surrounding you as you struggle to strive forwards through these suffocating hallways, with the withered statues of his older brother looking down on him- casting a reflection of the beast and failure he has become.

Remember, a labyrinth is the "mental headspace of a magi prior to witchification", as stated by the creators themselves; it can be interpreted as their own worldview and how they saw themselves in the story they're in, the magnitude of their life struggles in their eyes, or are just places that exist to keep the witch's wounds wide open at all costs- a cage forged from their own curses, locking them in this eternal hellish state. Don't be afraid to exaggerate aspects of their lives when it comes to labyrinths; make us plunge into the eyes of the magical people they once were and how they saw their problems! It is all about perspective here.

Best of luck and wishes, anon- and godspeed!

[sparkliest-bard-bracket]

The ✨Sparkliest Bard Lineup✨!!

Here is our sparkly, bardly, lineup!

Polls are live! Vote today!!

Oh, and don't forget to keep everything civil! This is just a little game for fun, and we're all here to have a good time :D

Feel free to submit pictures and propaganda for your bards (see this post for more info)! The more, the merrier!

(Full Bracket with fandom names & poll links under the cut.)

1 - Jareth the Goblin King (Labyrinth) vs David Bowie (Real Life) 2 - Thom Merrilin (Wheel of Time) vs Gurney Halleck (Dune) 3 - The Bard/Kiwi (Wandersong) vs Daeron (The Silmarillion) 4 - Callie Cuttlefish (Splatoon) vs Finrod (The Silmarillion) 5 - Apollo/Lester Papadopoulos (The Trials of Apollo) vs Apollo (Greek Mythology) 6 - Bill Cypher (Gravity Falls) vs Chong (Avatar: The Last Airbender) 7 - Max Rebo (Star Wars) vs Edgin Darvis (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) 8 - Dimentio (Super Paper Mario) vs Will Scarlet (Robin Hood)

9 - Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (The Muppets) vs Link (The Legend of Zelda) 10 - Katalina (Tabletop Time) vs Starling Birdsong (Realm of Elderlings) 11 - Orpheus (Greek Mythology) vs “Weird Al” Yankovic (Real Life) 12 - Dave BruBot/The Major Player (Toontown: Corporate Clash) vs Carrie Wilson (Julie and the Phantoms) 13 - Kvothe (The Kingkiller Chronicle) vs Elan (Order of the Stick) 14 - Raz'ul, Son of Daz'ul (BomBARDed) vs Edward Chris von Muir (Final Fantasy IV) 15 - Binary Bard (Poptropica) vs Christian (Moulin Rouge) 16 - The Bard (Shovel Knight) vs Fflewddur Fflam (The Chronicles of Prydain)

17 - Man with the Harmonica (Once Upon a Time in the West) vs Kyoami/The Fool (Ran/King Lear) 18 - Diedrich Knickerbocker (Headless: A Sleepy Hollow Story) vs Hannah Montana (Hannah Montana) 19 - Bard the Bowman (The Hobbit) vs Leliana (Dragon Age) 20 - Sprig Plantar (Amphibia) vs Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer) 21 - Neil Banging Out the Tunes (Tumblr) vs The Muses (Disney Hercules) 22 - Robinton (Pern) vs Thistle/Sissel (Delicious in Dungeon) 23 - Loquatius Seelie (Critical Role) vs Cicero (Skyrim) 24 - Michael Jackson (Real Life) vs Oli/TheOrionSound (Empires SMP)

25 - Megamind (Megamind) vs The Onceler (The Lorax) 26 - Mettaton (Undertale) vs Gamzee Makara (Homestuck) 27 - William Shakespeare (Real Life) vs William Shakespeare (Something Rotten) 28 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Classicaloid) vs William Shamspeare (Ace Attorney) 29 - Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time) vs Brook (One Piece) 30 - Gerard Way (Real Life) vs Sea Hawk (She-Ra and the Princess of Power) 31 - Snufkin (Moomin) vs Frank Sinatra (Real Life) 32 - Lias "Cliff" Bluestone (Discworld) vs Rick Astley (Real Life)

33 - Alan-a-Dale (Robin Hood) vs Essi Daven (The Witcher) 34 - Lúthien Tinúviel (The Silmarillion) vs Stefen (The Heralds of Valdemar) 35 - Roman Sanders (Sanders Sides) vs Remus Sanders (Sanders Sides) 36 - Bard (Crypt of the Necrodancer) vs Kass (Legend of Zelda/Breath of the Wild) 37 - Steven Universe (Steven Universe) vs Glenn Close (Dungeons & Daddies) 38 - Miss Piggy (The Muppets) vs Nydas Okiro (Critical Role) 39 - Charlie Pace (Lost) vs Dob the Half-Orc Bard (Oxventure) 40 - Kitagra (Kings of the Wyld) vs Kaylie Shorthalt (Critical Role)

41 - Father Gabriel (The Mission) vs Gabrielle the Battling Bard (Xena: The Warrior Princess) 42 - Haer'Dalis (Baldur's Gate) vs Tsukasa Tenma (Project Sekai: Colorful Stage!) 43 - Tom Bombadil (The Lord of the Rings) vs Sylvando (Dragon Quest 11) 44 - Steve McKenzie/Jester (Galavant) vs Gieve (The Heroic Legend of Arslan) 45 - Jaskier/Dandelion (The Witcher) vs Kubo (Kubo and the Two Strings) 46 - Guiliastes/Gui (1/2 Prince) vs Rocky (Lackadaisy) 47 - Asmodean (Wheel of Time) vs Neil Ciciregea/Lemon Demon (Real Life) 48 - Kermit the Bard (Tales of Tinkerdee) vs The Pied Piper (The Pied Piper of Hamelin)

49 - Venti (Genshin Impact) vs Sir Robin's Minstrels (Monty Python and the Holy Grail) 50 - Oscar Wilde (Rusty Quill Gaming) vs Franz Liszt (Classicaloid) 51 - Eddie Munson (Stranger Things) vs Puss in Boots (Shrek) 52 - Freddie Mercury (Real Life) vs Hoid/Wit (Cosmere) 53 - Noise (Roleslaying with Roman) vs The Amazing Devil (Real Life) 54 - Klavier Gavin (Ace Attorney) vs Rickety Stitch (Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo) 55 - Ron Stampler (Dungeons & Daddies) vs Thancred Waters (Final Fantasy XIV) 56 - Raine Whispers (The Owl House) vs Jack Black (Real Life)

57 - Scanlan Shorthalt (Critical Role) vs Éile (The Witcher: Blood Origin) 58 - Hap Gladheart (Realm of Elderlings) vs Alastair Nobledrifter (Saving Throw - DnD Podcast) 59 - Maglor (The Silmarillion) vs Bill & Ted (Bill & Ted) 60 - DJ Cadence (Club Penguin) vs Imp Y Celyn (Discworld) 61 - Bard Otter (The Last Dragonlord) vs Yara of Nowhere, the Wandering Bard (A Practical Guide to Evil) 62 - Dorian Storm (Critical Role) vs Maria von Trapp (The Sound of Music) 63 - Demyx (Kingdom Hearts) vs Hisirdoux "Douxie" Casperan (Tales of Arcadia: Wizards) 64 - Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) vs BMO (Adventure Time)

[longhairedboybracket]

Long Haired Boy Bracket All Contestants

The polls will start this tuesday the 2nd

Bracket A

1 - Ling Yao Fullmetal Alchemist vs Will Turner Pirates of the Caribbean

2 - Chigiri Hyoma Blue Lock vs Kasanoda Ritsu OHSHC

3 - Squidward Tentacles Sponge Bob Square Pants vs Link Legend of Zelda

4 - Heimdall Mcu vs Enoch Drebber Ace Attorney

5 - Izuru Kamukura Danganronpa vs Silver Pokémon

6 - Wei Wuxian Mo Dao Zu Shi vs Hua Cheng Heaven's Official Blessing

7 - Wataru Hibiki Ensemble Stars vs Akoya Gero Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Love

8 - Su Honkai Impact 3rd vs Reyson Fire Emblem

9 - Vanitas Vanitas no Carte vs Athos 3 musketeers

10 - Destruction The Sandman vs Eliot Stardew Valley

11 - Neightan Rot Monster High vs Haruka Hashida Blue Period

12 - Kian Stone Just Roll With It, Show vs Aion Show By Rock

13 - Shulk Xenoblade vs Antonio Identity V

14 - Beelzebub Granblue Fantasy vs Kiun Noragami

15 - Alex Harvey-Iniguez Magical Warrior Diamond Heart vs Fabian Blush Blush

16 - Lord Cedric W.I.T.C.H vs Eithan Aurelius Cradle Series

Bracket B

1 - Korekiyo Shinguji Danganronpa vs Hong Lu Limbus Company

2 - Alucard Castlevania vs Finn The Human Adventure Time

3 - Sakurayashiki Kaoru "Cherry" Sk8 Infinity vs Rosado Fire Emblem

4 - Geralt Of Rivia The Witcher vs Elrond Lord Of The Rings

5 - Inigo Montoya The Princess Bride vs Fire Lord Zuko Avatar The Last Airbender/Avatar The Legend Of Korra

6 - Natural Harmonia Gropius "N" Pokémon vs Loki Mcu

7 - Samsom The Old Testament vs Aramis 3 musketeers

8 - Interdimensional Prince Monster Prom vs Furanui Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Happy Kiss

9 - Ichirota Kazemaru Inazuma Eleven vs Lucas Rune Factory 5

10 - Helia Winx Club vs Gunpowder Tim The Mechanisms

11 - Shinjiro Nozomi Entropic Float vs Dia Akedia Court of Darkness

12 - Jareth The Goblin King Labyrinth vs Br'aad Vengolor Just Roll With It

13 - Little Creek Spirit vs Bigby Wolf Fables

14 - Terry Bogard Fatal Fury vs Prince Phobos W.I.T.C.H

15 - Dyuradyura Show By Rock vs Noah Kawaii Mansion

16 - Howell Wizard Bee and Puppycat vs Zero Megaman

Bracket C

1 - Inuyasha Inuyasha vs Lucius Fire Emblem

2 - Legolas Lord of the Rings vs Greg Universe Steven Universe

3 - Melli Pokémon vs Shatterstar Marvel

4 - Klavier Gavin Ace Attorney vs Lan Wangji Mo Dao Zu Shi

5 - Chewbacca Star Wars vs Cousin it The Addams Family

6 - Captain Hook Peter Pan vs Edward Elric Fullmetal Alchemist

7 - Tarzan Tarzan vs Razor Genshin Impact

8 - Gerard Keay The Magnus Archives vs Deidara Naruto

9 - Yan Qing Fate Grand Order vs Porthos 3 musketeers

10 - Yue Cardcaptor Sakura vs Headmaster Precure

11 - Kurama Yu Yu Hakusho vs Gillion Tidestrider Just Roll With It

12 - Sitka Brother Bear vs Lord Cob Tales Of Earthsea

13 - Kidou Yuuto Inazuma Eleven Go vs Takumi Ichinose Nana

14 - Peter Cook W.I.T.C.H vs Alec Swordspoint

15 - Peking Duck Food Fantasy vs Karurusu Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-Bu Happy Kiss

16 - Blue Knight Tokyo Mew Mew vs Yakari Yakari

Bracket D

1 - Asakura Hao Shaman King vs Soren Fire Emblem

2 - Sesshomaru Inuyasha vs Christopher Yugioh Zexal

3 - Lord Farquaad Shrek vs Katsura Kotaro Gintama

4 - Jesus The Bible vs Sephiroth Final Fantasy VII

5 - Aoba Seragaki Dramatical Murder vs Basil Hawkins One Piece

6 - Kamui Gakupo Vocaloid vs Nahyuta Sahdmadhi Ace Attorney

7 - Jon Snow Game of Thrones vs Grusha Pokémon

8 - Terumi Furo "Aphorodi" Inazuma Eleven vs Joseph Identity V

9 - Nahobino Shin Megami Tensei vs Kite Hunter x Hunter

10 - Ogron Winx Club vs Niklaus Just Roll With It

11 - D'artagnian 3 musketeers vs Monmon Show by Rock

12 - Xie Lian Heaven's Official Blessing vs Olivier Vanitas no Carte

13 - Xiao Yin Dislyte vs Thane Bauer Watashi no Oshi Wa Akuyaku Reijou

14 - Toki Wartooth Metalocalypse vs Madmartigan Willow

15 - DJ Grooves A Hat In Time vs Jae-ha Akatsuki no Yona

16 - Nezumi No.6 vs Ashe Bradley Witch's Heart

[dkniade]

Childe (English dub) says in the third part of the Labyrinth Warriors event “I was born to fight, and as long as I draw breath, there will be no end to my purpose. My limits vanish behind the horizon with every step that I take.” (Well, with the way his Griffin Burns delivers the lines, the way those last few words are enunciated, he sounds determined in an unsettling way)

But then immediately after, he goes, “Let go of your confusion. Sorrow and hesitation are the enemy of an implacable weapon.” (…I don’t actually know how to describe his voice here. If it wasn’t for the idea of a weapon, you’d think he’s talking about being a performer🤔)

But in the original Chinese dub, he says “舍弃困惑吧。带着忧愁和犹豫，可没法成为无情的兵器啊。” Basically, it sounds casual even in text ‘cause of the particles 吧 (ba) and 啊 (a). The VA says something closer to 哦 (o) but anyway, same tone.

Something like, “Now let go of your confusion. You can’t be a merciless weapon if there’s worry and hesitation in you, you know?”

Meaning-wise it’s roughly the same, but the way this line is written and how the CN VA Yudong delivers it, again you’d think he’s talking about being a performer or something

[themediadoctor]

New Patient: Genshin Impact

Diagnosis: We Need Cash Prescription: 900mg of You Don't Need Cash, taken with [recent Genshin reference].

What To Fix

Firstly, I want to preface this by saying - i have only played Genshin Impact as far as about Sumeru. I quit a few years back because it was destroying my mental health. As such, my criticisms may not be as up-to-date as someone else's is, and I would be very happy if some of these have naturally or artificially improved over time.

Lots of elements of Genshin demonstrate to me that there is talent in this game. The character designs are often repetitive, but some of them are gorgeous and detailed. Some of the NPCs have genuinely phenomenal storylines- Teppei, Ruu, Jeht and her father, Kazari, Zhiqiong; these people are far more interesting and developed than a lot of the PCs. The combat is, at least, foundationally good, it's not excellent, but it's relatively simple and provides useful building blocks for the rest of the game. Some of the events are fucking amazing (by that I mean the Labyrinth Warriors event in 2.1 and no others), and some of the storylines (inazuma's Main Quest comes to mind) have well-written moments. There is talent here.

However, Genshin is also a very, very lazy cash-grab. Most of the playable characters are almost obsessively pandered to the player- even the "bad guys" are justified too much, almost as if the creators are afraid they'll lose money if this character isn't adored. Characters have been getting repetitive as they recycle popular designs and personalities. Gacha systems are inherently exploitative and stressful- Genshin Impact is only barely F2P. The introduction of Dendro was very poor and didn't balance the game correctly at all. The storyline is very clearly meandering, to a frustrating extent, and characters are being added to an overwhelming number, which is confusing and reduces all the character depth. The sexualisation and fetishisation of the characters is genuinely unbearable- while sexuality can be an important part of a character, in Genshin it's all very unnecessary.

I think this game could be improved, but it would require probably starting from the beginning. Bear that in mind for the next section.

How To Fix

Integrate Dendro initially. It was a mistake and a very clear cash-grab to introduce Dendro mid-game, and it fucked with the balancing of the combat system, which either took a while to or has never been rectified. All elements should be present initially in the game.

Lower the number of characters, and put effort into the ones that are kept. Have writing be in-depth and proper - show me why characters are the way they are, don't list lazy traits. I don't care if less characters fuck up your Gacha system, you'll figure it out.

Do not be afraid of a hated character. Complex characters are essential to a good storyline. If your players hate a character that is well-written, it is what it is. Hastily and clumsily fixing or justifying every "evil" character is putting yourself in shallow water. Don't be afraid to kill off PCs, either.

Make a game because you wanna make a game. Prioritising money over everything else is lame and exploitative. Show me that you actually love this game, more than it is for the cash. This company must be worth millions now, you can switch things up.

Chill out on the sexualisation. It's clear none of the sexualisation in this game is relevant to characters or the plot. If it isn't for that, it's fanservice, and therefore it sucks. Do better.

I don't really expect Hoyoverse to ever take my advice, nor the fans of this game. I'm unsure if Star Rail is any better. I think having characters be hot is the point, so, sorry if I missed it, I expect better from games.