#minor character building

[roseofhybrids]

something quick before I leave for work

Doll in her I-came-down-here-to-avenge-my-parents-and-it-did-NOT-go-as-planned-and-now-I-have-to-babysit-two-feral-drones TM jacket

a part of this small collection 1 2 3

[ryanthel0ser]

[wri0thesley]

tbh one of the things that always jars me in otome games is when i remember the mc has like a Canon Appearance and i see them in a cg im like. oh. maybe this character wouldnt like me actually bc i am Way Bigger Than This Bitch

[ratwithhands]

Got dragged to two (2!!) parties and had to wait until I got home so I could stay up and finish this. So verrry tired.

Anyways, here's Emmet at Anville taking pictures of the turntable from the bridge. Thought I'd give him a typical railfan hobby, so here he is doing train photography. I heard that photographer railfans in Japan are called Toritetsu so ig that could be a descriptor? Homeboy just likes getting their good angles to look at later. Hope you like it and see you later.

[maplefield]

finally started honkai impact 3rd. can someone please explain to me how anything works. i'm confused

[frogs-in3-hills]

yall were right hxh 1999 is even better than 2011

[sunset-peril]

Social Makeup Study - Hateno Village (HFS, TotK)

Village Structure

Leadership system: Eldership and a monarchy-like structure both appear to be used at once. An electoral system has become popular with some citizens, and Hyrule's monarchy has begun to restore itself, both further complicating the matter. Traditionally, Hateno used an eldership system exclusively, but Hyrule's sudden destruction 100 years ago brought elements of a monarchy (primarily that there is one leader who inherits the position).

Leader/Ruler: Reede Imperial (leader/mayor, under dispute), Link Hyrule (elder, under dispute, King of Hyrule)

Economy: As a former land of exile, Hateno is traditionally non-exporting. However, the village became known for agriculture and dye production after the Age of Burning Fields. Recently, the village has become a hub for textiles such as clothing and hats. The past century has brought significant changes in this area, which has also brought unease.

Demographics: Historically was 100% Pedigreed Wolfbred, although the modern village has a makeup of approximately 50% Wolfbred/Wolfbred Hybrid and 50% Hylian. This shift was also brought about in the last 100 years.

Beliefs and Afterlife: A Hylia-worshipping village. Wolfbred mythology depicts them having been created by the Twilight's interaction with their ancestor and believe that the Twilight became heritable through his line. Although the Twilight Realm is not an afterlife realm (nor was it intended to be), the Wolfbred still believe their ghosts will be returned to the Realm when their bodies fail because of their own Twilight, and believe that Midna created the Celaeno Orientalis constellation (a wolf-like constellation that appears over Hateno) as a replacement for the Mirror of Twilight to help their souls return "home". Due to the Mirror of Twilight's destruction, there is no way to confirm or deny this belief; however, it appears to have been reinforced by Link's successful command of both Wolfbred-like spirits and Hylia's Honor Guard (souls of past heroes) in battle.

Citizens

Link (Imperial) Hyrule: The last documented male Wolfbred, and the last Wolfbred born under exile. For this reason, he’s referred to as the last “Pedigreed Wolfbred”.  Champion of Hyrule/Hylians, despite not technically being Hylian, and beloved mate of Princess Zelda. Died during the Great Calamity, but not before becoming King of Hyrule. The first Wolfbred King since Kakku. Cause of death: fatal battle wounds. He was resurrected 100 years after his death, and reigns over Hyrule today with his beloved. The Sheikah crowned him King Sovereign before Calamity Ganon was sealed for good, as the throne would pass to whichever of King Rhoam's heirs/relatives was found alive first. Called "Grandpa" (sometimes written "Grandpaw") by his extended family. Has developed blindness in one eye as well as joint pain, two common signs of a Wolfbred's aging, and is technically retired from all soldiering.

Zelda (Esmerelda) Hyrule: The first Hylian to marry into the tribe in 10,000 years due to the exile, and mother of Hyrule's first (chronologically-speaking) Wolfbred-Hylian hybrid: Zelda Ivee. Said to be the only true Hylian who could speak the Wolfbred tongue fluently before the Calamity. The Sheikah's crowning of Link restarted the Kingdom of Hyrule, so this Princess hasn't seen a need to rush her ascension to the Queen's throne. Her temper was found to be of Wolfbred descent, as she is Karu’s descendant. A beloved teacher at the newly build Hateno Schoolhouse.

Zelda Ivee Hyrule: King Link and Princess Zelda’s beloved little girl and the new Princess Zelda. She is the first Wolfbred hybrid since her distant ancestor Karu, and her soul is over a century old despite her age of five. Her upbringing will likely shape the future of Hyrule, as her parents come from such different backgrounds. Current studies regarding her aim to identify whatever might trigger the aggressive tendencies her family tree is infamous for, so her exposure to such triggers can be limited. 

Reede Imperial: Leader of Hateno Village and descendant of Sydnei (Link's sister). He retains a strong desire to stay in tune with his heritage and prides himself on keeping Hateno just the way it was during the exile: a safe haven for the Wolfbred. He inherited the antagonistic tendencies of his family. Although he is generally a very peaceful, vegetable-loving man, he has recently begun to display aggressive behavior, and has gotten in a few fights. (Now that the villagers think about it, so has Link.)

Clavia Imperial: Reede's wife and the mother of Karin. Clavia is Hylian, but has been accepted into the Clan as if she was Wolfbred. While her daughter is in school, she spends time at Link and Zelda's, often helping tidy the place so the half-blind Link can keep his last good eye on his pup. Besides, she believes it does Link good to have someone other than Zelda to talk to.

Karin Imperial: Reede and Clavia's daughter, and a pupil of Zelda's. Currently, Karin is not affected by her family's tendencies. Purah aims to prevent exposing both her and Zelda Ivee to whatever causes those tendencies to develop. Although, considering how riled up their fathers have suddenly gotten, Purah and her fellow researchers may have to work fast to identify the cause and isolate it from the girls.

Sophie and Cece: A pair of Wolfbred-Hylian sisters. Cece is eldest. Their existence greatly influences modern Wolfbred-Hylian relations as Sophie is considered legally Wolfbred, while Cece is the first hybrid to not be legally Wolfbred, at least within the village. Surprisingly, Sophie is the more docile of the two. Cece recently moved back in after traveling the world to study fashion. Village opinions are mixed. Link and Sophie are friends. Link and Cece are not.

Ivee: Daughter of the family who runs East Wind General Store. It's rumored that she was actually named after Zelda Ivee, as Hateno thought she'd been killed in-utero during the Great Calamity.

Pruce, Amira and Azu: Family of Ivee, runs East Wind. Ancestor was a dear friend of Ordon, which strengthens the rumors about the origins of Ivee's name. Father, mother and younger brother, respectively. Azu has taken fondly to "protecting" the village, a tendency that often develops in Wolfbred males as they approach and reach puberty.

Tamana: A former Cucco rancher, and Teebo's mother.

Teebo: A very polite Wolfbred pup and Tamana's son. Has shown an immense interest in weapons and the warrior arts since he was very young, and now fills a slot on the day-shift Hateno guard. His apparently innate interest in warrior arts and protection have brought him and Link into a mentor-mentee relationship.

Medda: A tomato-raising farmer, and Aster's father. His wife passed many years ago, but he and his daughter seem to be doing well.

Aster: Medda's daughter. Loves tomatos and froggies, and recently moved next door to Link and Zelda.

Dantz, Koyin: A family of Wolfbred who live outside the town on a farm in the forest, completely devoted to the ways of their ancestors. Father and daughter, respectively.

Sayge, Senna and Sefaro: Family running the Kochi Dye Shop. Sayge and Senna are devoted artisans, who are thriving with Hateno's new textile based market. Sefaro, however, is a much more studious soul who prefers to read history books at the schoolhouse. He's tried to badger Link into teaching him more sensitive history like the Great Calamity, Wolfbred Exile and Sheikah Fallout; currently to little-to-no avail. Perhaps when the little historian is older... or when other tensions in the village smooth over....

Prima: Said to be the prettiest Wolfbred after Midna Marie. May be related to Linky due to the strong facial resemblance to his mother, but is clearly not of the Imperial family.

Worten: Prima's husband. A Wolfbred-Hylian hybrid like his wife, which was seen as a milestone for the species (as hybrids had become distant enough to interbreed again)

Uma: An elderly Wolfbred-Hylian. One of the first hybrids to be born, and has lived since the Age of Burning Fields. Full of knowledge about the village and its history, with a priceless ability to see multiple perspectives for almost any conflict in the village. She usually attempts to soothe Link and Reede when they are riled, often with more success than their wives.

Hyrule's Final Stand Masterlist

[reading-writing-dying]

Starting to plan/write a hotguy/cuteguy fic but am indecisive so help me make a decision:

[blancheludis]

Whumptober 2024 Day 5: "If my pain will stretch that far"

Fandom: Star Wars Characters: Cody, Obi-Wan Kenobi Tags: Minor Character Death, War, Grief, Building Trust

Summary:

Cody finds quickly that no training or simulation could have ever really prepared him for the realities of war. After a battle, he walks the field, walks amongst his fallen brothers, certain he will never get used to the grief.

He is only mildly surprised to find General Kenobi out here, doing his own rounds.

"What are you doing?" he asks when Kenobi kneels down at a dying man's side.

"Taking their pain," Kenobi answers, as if that is supposed to make sense. As if there is nothing strange about a natborn caring whether or not a clone dies in pain.

- Cody, Obi-Wan, and slowly beginning to trust each other.

Real war is different than the simulations. Cody knew that. He knew it before they shipped out from Kamino and has experienced it often enough since then. But he will never get used to it. To the earth going muddy with blood, caking to his boots. To bodies littering his surroundings to the horizon and beyond. To calling out to brothers and never getting an answer back.

Perhaps worse than the dying, however, is the aftermath for the brothers still alive. The reluctance to accept this reality. The pain. The grief.

As Commander, Cody has a thousand things to do. Reports to write and review. Supplies to organize. People to command. Yet, he finds himself walking over the battlefield, stepping carefully between droid parts and bodies too similar to his own. He does not even know all their names. He hopes all of them already had one.

He is tired. Not just the exhaustion that comes from fighting day and night, but something that sits deeper, rattling his bones with every breath he takes. This war has just begun and he is already done with it. Done with the very reason he exists. There will be nothing beyond this for the clones. Privately, Cody thinks that might be all right. This cannot be a good purpose to create life.

"Cody, my dear." a voice rips him out of his dark musings.

General Kenobi appears out of nowhere in the middle of the battlefield. He has not changed his robes, has probably not even sat down since the fighting ended. Of course, Cody has not either.

"General."

Cody's body slips into a salute automatically. He is thankful for these ingrained instincts. General Kenobi has not yet given any sign that he demands strict adherence to protocol at all times, but Cody knows better than to test him. Some natborns have shown their real colours immediately, their disdain for clones and the war palpable in every single interaction. The general, as most Jedi, truly, has not been anything but kind, but that does not mean he will remain so. They are all tired.

Kenobi walks towards him, steady and calm, not untouched by the battlefield around them but moving on anyway. He is, Cody has learned, very good at compartmentalizing. 

"Are you making your rounds?"

"Yes, sir." If that is what the General wants to call his grieved wandering, Cody will take it. "I'll be back in the command centre in a few minutes."

"No need." Kenobi shakes his head, offering a smile that is distinctly sad around the edges. "The battle is won. The stronghold is secured. We can go back to strategizing tomorrow." Softer, he adds, "You should get some sleep."

No matter how short they have been at this, Cody has found out quickly that General Kenobi is a hypocrite. He constantly tells the men to take breaks, to eat, to sleep, yet he never seems to do so himself. He is up at all hours, pouring over datapads in his office, haunting the training rooms, spending hours in calls with the Council or other generals, even mingling with the troops. A few times, Cody has found him meditating, only to jump immediately back into action if he is needed. He spends little time in his quarters and Cory can only hope that he, at least, rests there. The rings under Kenobi's eyes only seem to get darker with every day, and the Jedi robes might hide the rest of his body, but his progressively gaunt cheek are very much visible for anyone with eyes to see. Cody sees.

With anyone else, Cody would command them to go to the mess and then to bed. Everyone else does not hold his life and that of his men in their hands, though.

"Are you going to take a break, too, sir?" he still asks. They were made for the Jedi. Surely that means more than that they are supposed to die for them.

"Don't worry about me, dear," Kenobi replies as expected. "I'll be finishing my round out here and then I'll go to the medics tent."

The tension that has been slowly bleeding out of Cody at finding his General unharmed and exuding calm is back with a vengeance.

"Are you hurt?" he asks, eyes roaming over Kenobi's form. Blood sticks to the robe in a number of places but he holds himself upright and does not look hurt. That does not mean anything, of course. Nobody would know better than Cody, who will always uphold his duty to his men first before taking care of his own pesky needs.

"No," Kenobi reassures him, although, in this matter, his word do not count for much. "I'm going to see if I can help out with the men."

A completely different tension creeps into Cody's muscles at that. "I didn't know you also trained as a healer," Cody says, just barely swallowing his scepticism. Belatedly, he adds, "Sir."

From what he has heard from the other commanders, the Jedi might have ordered an army to fight this war, but have also neglected to train their own people accordingly. A number of the Jedi are fighters and truly an asset to have on the battlefield. But few have more than passing or historical knowledge of warfare. Of troop movements. Of supply needs. Of strategic manoeuvres. The 212th is lucky to have Kenobi who, after a brief adjusting period, has shown himself to have a keen mind - and is willing to listen to Cody, who knows his men and their capabilities much better than any outsider ever could. Other battalions do not fare so well. So, he has come to trust the general's instincts and knowledge when talking strategy and when dealing with the more political side of the war. But this?

"Oh, nothing beyond the basics," the general says, nonchalant as if the admission does not set Cody's heart racing.

No matter how nice it is that General Kenobi wants to be involved with the men, Cody is not sure how to tell him that it would be better to leave the healing to trained professionals. Helping can quickly slide into making things worse when one does not know what they are doing.

Carefully forming each word, like he is navigating a minefield, Cody says, "I don't think the medics are so overwhelmed that you need to sacrifice your rest to help."

"It is not much of a sacrifice," Kenobi says with a smile, making things worse.

"Let me accompany you on your rounds, then, sir," Cody decides more than offers. If he is with Kenobi, then he can try to steer him past the medics when they return. It will not be hard to find some pressing matter they need to discuss. Neither of their desks is ever empty. And with them having been occupied with this battle, the flimsi will have stacked up exponentially.

That, of course, gives Kenobi halt. "Have you rested?"

"I will, after," Cody says and keeps his tone polite, even though his eyes are piercing into the general. Hypocrite, he thinks loudly, still not sure whether the Jedi can read thoughts or not. He definitely deserves to read this one.

Kenobi raises a single eyebrow at him, which could mean anything, really. But then he inclines his head. "Very well."

They walk in silence. Cody looks at every dead brother they pass, takes in the details on their armour. Mentally, he checks them against the casualty report he demanded as soon as they were all back in camp. He does not yet know all their names, but he will. It is the least he can do.

It is a terrible thing, to walk amongst so much death. The sun is beginning to set and the sky is slowly turning blood red, a fitting accompaniment to this tragedy.

The camp is long out of sight, when Kenobi suddenly hastens his steps. He hurries to where a few bodies are thrown over each other. Almost carelessly, he pushes the two upper bodies to the side. Cody's hands ball into fist of their own volition and his mouth opens, chain of command be damned, to stop Kenobi. Never before has he shown such callousness when dealing with the troops, but -

There is a whimper. Low and choked, but undeniably there. Cody's feet are moving before he has fully grasped the implication. Together they unearth a trooper, still clinging to life amongst so many that have already marched on.

He will not make it. Cody can see that immediately. One of his legs is mangled, almost ripped off, and it is still bleeding but only sluggishly. Blaster bolts riddle his torso. And now that he is free, his hands are coming up weakly, grasping for something only he can see.

"It's all right, dear," General Kenobi says, kneeling down in the bloody dirt without a second thought. Everything about him is gentle; voice, face, hands. He mutters quiet reassurances as he makes to unlatch the bucket.

That is what gets Cody moving, having frozen in place at the sight before. Several squads have already gone over the battlefield to recover the hurt and help the dying. It should not surprise him that they have not found everybody. The field is a mess of dead men and broken droids, and everybody is tired. He is choking at the mere thought of dying out here alone, his brothers carried away, only empty bodies remaining, nobody to wait for him for the march ahead.

The bucket comes off, revealing more blood underneath and glassy eyes, tracing invisible things. His lips move, forming words he does not have the strength to actually say.

Kenobi cups the man's jaw with one hand while the other settles down on the mangled remains of his leg. He closes his eyes and suddenly looks peaceful. Cody can only watch, helpless, pouring all his energy into swallowing down the scream building in his chest. All he wants, right now, is to bundle up his brothers and leave for the Wild Space, anywhere that is not here.

Whatever Kenobi is doing, the trooper calms. The whimpers die down, his breathing evens out, his eyes actually settle on the General.

"There, my dear," Kenobi says, voice hoarse but still so very gentle. "That's better."

Cody does not know what is happening, but he uses the chance to take the trooper’s hand. "What's your name?" he asks, feeling inadequate, but he needs to know. Nobody should be left behind.

The trooper looks at Cody, almost certainly does not recognize him. "CT-5-"

"No," Cody interrupts him softly, squeezing his hand. "Your name."

"Tumble," he says, barely a whisper. Then he closes his eyes. "'m tired."

"I know, Tumble." Cody wants to cry but keeps his tone light. "It's all right. You can rest now."

"The fighting -" Tumble asks, cut off by a coughing fit that wracks his entire body. "'s done?"

"Yes," Cody says and can do nothing against the way his eyes burn. "You did good."

Command classes in Kamino prepared Cody for a large-scale war. For directing a vast number of men where they need to go to win the most battles. It prepared him for managing losses from a logistical and strategical standpoint. It did not prepare him for kneeling in the middle of a battlefield, holding the hand of a dying brother.

No clone is a stranger to death, to losing some of their own. There were clean deaths, brothers being called in for meetings with Nala Se and never returning afterwards. And there were less clean deaths. Training accidents, punishments. Priest's battle circle. The clones are a product, made to be used. Made to be expendable. Yet, for all their clinical training and theoretically optimized procedures, the Kaminoans did not manage to breed feelings out of the clones. Right now, Cody almost wishes they had.

They sit there, together, Marshal Commander and General, holding a dying man, waiting until the breathing stops and the eyes go unseeing again. Cody wonders, briefly, whether he should offer to end it. But whatever the General is doing, Tumble does not seem to be in any pain anymore.

"Ni su'cuyi, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum, Tumble" Cody says, quietly, as he closes Tumble's eyes. Since being deployed, the words stopped sounding clumsy on his tongue. Just another terrible thing they are getting used to.

They remain sitting there for a moment longer, exhaustion sinking even deeper into Cody's bones.

"I'm sorry, Commander." General Kenobi then says, voice breaking halfway through.

Cody's head snaps up, staring at Kenobi. What would he apologize for?

"You found him, sir," he says, still haunted by the very thought of suffocating underneath his brothers' dead bodies. "I'm grateful he didn't have to die alone."

But Kenobi shakes his head. "I'm sorry he had to die in the first place," he corrects, none of the sharp edges in his tone directed at Cody. "It is cruel to create an entire people only to send them to war."

Unsure what to say, Cody drops his eyes to Tumble, to any of the bodies around them. He does not want to offer platitudes. Kenobi is a Jedi and the Jedi ordered them. Reality often looks different than dreams or simulations but, as a natborn, Kenobi should know that much better than Cody. During training, the clones did not have time for dreams, nor, really, any comprehension of what those are. There were classes and training and scores. There was survival or decommissioning.

With a small sigh, Kenobi gets to his feet. He does not seem as steady as he did before, but when Cody jumps up and offers an arm, he waves him off with a smile.

Silently, they continue their round. Kenobi finds two more brothers that are barely alive and beyond saving. For each, he kneels down, calms them. For each, Cody asks their name and commits them to memory.

After, Kenobi looks progressively worse. The rings under his eyes seems to get darker, his shoulders are hunched and now he is limping, if only slightly.

"What are you doing to them, sir?" Cody asks, less meant as an accusation but more with growing concern. Kenobi obviously cares about the men, but a well-placed vibroblade will help them just as much and might not injure their singular, very much not expendable Jedi General.

"I'm taking some of their pain," Kenobi says as if that is supposed to make sense. "I am not a healer, but I can do that for them, at least."

As glad as Cody has learned to be for the Force, he still cannot even begin to grasp what it is capable of.

"Take their pain?" he questions, brow furrowed. "As in muffling it?"

Cocking his head to the side, Kenobi looks at him. "More like siphoning it out. Taking it for myself."

That is not - "Sir," Cody protests, entirely out of his depths. "You can't -"

"It's all right, Cody," Kenobi cuts him off, still calm, like he has not just dropped a conversational bomb on Cody. "It's not harming me. It's just a little bit of pain. With a bit of rest, I'll be as good as new."

If he ever allowed himself to lie down and properly rest, perhaps.

Cody cannot help but stare. The very thought that a natborn would willingly take on pain just to ease a clone's death is overwhelming, even with how long he has known Kenobi now. Even with how many of his expectations Kenobi has defied. 

"The medics could take care of them," Cody offers, pushing the words out around the sudden block in his throat.

"They are busy caring for those that can be saved."

This is worse. This is General Kenobi admitting that he actively decided to search for and help the men that will die, no matter what they do. He is sacrificing himself for dead men.

"I'm grateful that you found them, but next time, let me or one of the troops end their suffering." Nausea rolls in Cody's stomach at thinking about a next time. Likely, Cody's entire life will be made up of next times, right up until it is his turn to die. That is what he was made for.

"No, my dear Cody," Kenobi argues with all the stubbornness of a natborn. "You are already doing so much. This is a burden I can take from you. And I see them as my men just like they are yours." Quieter, he adds, "It is the least I can do."

As if he is not doing enough. As if he is not fighting for them in every call with politicians and officials. As if he does not learn the name of every soldier he comes across. As if he does not have a kind word or deed for everybody.

"We need you more than we need them," Cody says, trying to ignore how much these words taste of ash and bile. It is what is demanded of him as commander, however.

"No," Kenobi counters, just like that. "Every life is sacred. Everybody deserves as much comfort and dignity as we can give them, living or dying. Jedi exist to serve life. Already, this is so far from where I expected to end up when I was a child. Let me do my part, Commander."

There is nothing Cody can say to that. He is grateful, even knowing that he should not be, that he should tell Kenobi to stop wasting energy on them. But then Kenobi touches him, just lightly, on the arm, a feeling of serenity layering over his skin that is definitely not his own but needed nonetheless.

"I'll be going to the medics, now," Kenobi says, half an offer, half a dare. "See whether they need a hand."

"Thank you, sir," Cody blurts out.

And, with a smile, Kenobi answers, "Always."

Together, they walk back to camp. Together, they see to the suffering of Cody's people. And, perhaps, he is beginning to believe that General Kenobi truly sees them as his people, too.

[skitskatdacat63]

The real main character of Oppenheimer: Cillian Murphy's slutty waist

[general-sleepy]

Finally watching Overlord with AD. Already noticed an interesting choice of wording, with the narrator using "Nazis" and "Nazi soldiers" instead of "German soldiers." You could argue it's less technically accurate, but serves a purpose, and it's a reasonable decision in the context of the story. Audio description is cool.

Edit: They use a combination of "Nazis," "Nazi soldiers," "Germans," and "German soldiers." The choice is still significant.

[roraimae]

i'm so normal about all the things swimming around in my head right now, i'm chewing on the walls

[finalgirlagatha]

what's your ranking of all the books, handbook included?

ohhh okay! Remind me to revisit this after I finish my rereading but so far it's 1> 3> 2> 3.5 (handbook)> 4>5>6

[pandaemoanium]

my adventurer, Valtiel! he's an ex-soldier turned bard who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty if he can't sweet talk his way out

[despair-tea]

"should fighting games remove motion inputs" has always been the wrong way of looking at things. Should there be different input styles? of course! diversity for the genre is a good thing... and there HAVE been games without motion inputs for a long time.

But you look at a game like SSBM (an insanely popular, well-selling game that's still played today*), and it turns out that that game is way hard to play at any competent level for reasons that have nothing at all to do with inputting a quarter-circle.

Even if the special moves are easy to perform, there are going to be techniques that are difficult. Even basic things like "dash into up-tilt" (you have to turn around and make sure you don't get dash attack or up-smash, both of which will get you whiff punished) or "shorthop into back air" (you jump a little and hit back + A. or back-C. but actually hitting a moving player with it is another thing entirely! and whoops, you accidentally did a full jump so silly) are barriers from controlling your character the way you want. Meanwhile more traditional fighting games like DNF Duel or Pocket Rumble get passed up by exactly the audience that says they want simpler-to-input fight games.

Ultimately, I don't think the ease of use alone will make for a lively game that "casual audiences" will get more invested in (and if they get more invested, they're not casual anymore, right?).

That said, I think games like DNF, MBTL, and SF6 are extremely fun to play with Baby Beginner** players. The rules are more clear, they can use more of the tools immediately, and it's easier to see how they can have fun the next time.

This part is the most critical, to me. It doesn't matter if they're hardcore or casual - the moment a player decides to give up on your game forever is the moment they stop growing and their part of the game stops growing. 'Coz fight games are living things. They only live while we play them; simply acknowledging their existence without getting your hands dirty and playing the game does nothing for the game itself.

Personally, I want every game to thrive. That's why I play everyone's game. If I want other people to indulge me and help keep my games alive, then I need to pitch in and help bring their game to life, even if it's just a little bit. Are you playing your game in the corner of your locals and no one wants to challenge you? I'll fight you. Hit me up any time.

I'll accept any challenge, especially the ones I'd lose. All is for the sake of the culture!

*: nintendo may have deleted SSBM from the culture so sorry if no one's playing melee tomorrow **: a player who has just gotten their hands on the game or who has never put any serious effort in. maybe they "just want to mash buttons" or maybe they're picking up a game seriously for the first time ever and have just started their journey. at any rate, an important part of the community. not to be mocked.

[perpetuallyfive]

I thought fully catching up to One Piece would make me feel a little less obsessed, but it's somehow made it worse. I know I'm over a quarter of a century late, but oh man do I have it bad now.

Why does a part of me want to start a reread?