#monetize your gaming skills

[hanzajesthanza]

allowed myself the time to spend to write a scene because the fancy took me, ended up destroying my sleep schedule to write it, woke up at 4 pm just to realize it’s not good and i would need to redo it

[astrobydalia]

Astro knowledge

A short more educational post for y'all!

work by astrobydalia

Pisces/Neptune rules marketing while Gemini/Mercury is more about sales. They’re both deeply related but difference is Gemini is the salesman that appeals to your reason and resorts to mind games (Mercury) in a one-on-one to convince you why you should buy into something. Marketing on the other hand is ruled by Pisces because it appeals to the collective unconscious (Neptune). It’s all about crafting subliminal messages that make you see that product/idea as more appealing even when you know what you're seeing is not realistic. Very related to propaganda as well. This is also a field that requires a lot of creativity, they're constantly using metaphors, hyperboles or even making up little fictional stories to sell a product...

I've already said this but for anyone new, the planet that rules real love is moon not Venus. See the full explanation here

Where Sagittarius is in your chart will bring luck and happiness, but Taurus does give off expansive (or dare I say expensive) energy too. Where Taurus sits in your chart is an area of your life that will be more grandiose in nature cause Taurus rules over indulgence and pleasure. You could experience some sort of privilege when it comes to this house, the themes of this house come to you in abundance with little to no effort. Some examples:

Taurus 1st house: have a striking and bold appearance, gives off luxury and attractive vibes regardless of their looks. These people could come across as a "high value woman/man" without trying

Taurus 7th house: very active and abundant love life, lots of suitors and business partners landing on your lab, they want to provide for you and/or give you lucrative opportunities

Taurus 9th house: having access to high quality education or elevated knowledge. Probably attended a very exclusive or expensive collage, payed vacations vibes, easy and frequent relocations

Taurus 10th house: almost untouchable reputation, very respected and liked by others, is always seen as innocent or harmless, lots of success with their ventures

The 2nd house also talks about your roots and upbringing but in a more objective and material sense. This house and the position of its ruler can be very telling of how your actual social and economic context shaped your basic values. It can also talk about your house as the 2nd house rules over real state, lands, properties, etc. The 4th house is more about your home, how you were raised within that reality and how it impacted you emotionally at your core

Example: Libra risings could come from an environment that shaped their values around survival and money gains due to Scorpio 2nd house (I've seen very commonly they come from marginalized groups or humble beginnings or very financially competitive environments). So they have a family that is very demanding and expected them to work or be a boss from a young age (Capricorn 4th house)

Speaking of, 2nd house does not ONLY rule money!!! It rules RESOURCES and anything that you own that is highly valuable and you can put a price on!!!! And yes of course since these things are valuable they can be easily monetized, traded, used to make you money. This can be your skills, assets, real state, etc. The 2nd house is your piggy bank basically

There's a lot of talk about how 11th house is how you make money in your career while 2nd house is how you spend it. Well this is technically true but I'd like to add more explanation to this. In derivative astrology 11th house is 2nd (money) from the 10th (career) so it does show how you actually make money from your career. 2nd house is where you get money but 11th house is how you make money. Your 11th house is the multiplier (credits to @cosmicpuzzle for that fact) while 2nd house is where your financial stability lies on. In other words 11th house is indicative of how you generate more but 2nd house is all about what you already have, its about what you can make with what you OWN already, it deals with money that is already available through your resources' value (again, you piggy bank). This does 'make' you money in a way like if you lose your job and are lacking money your 2nd house where you turn to for example if you own a house you can rent it, you can buy a rare item that costs a lot, selling your art or any other natural skill, etc. The concept of value is important in this house bc it can increase or decrease (while 11th house increases and multiplies). The more valuable your resources are the more potential money you have available which means more financial stability and wealth. Anyways hope all that makes sense

We often refer to water signs when talking spirituality but truth is fire signs are very spiritual in nature as well. Fire symbolizes the spark of life itself, nothing could exist or be created without it. Aries deals with the basic ontological conception of 'I am, I exist', Leo is about how the self manifests and create itself and Sagittarius is about the purpose of the self. Living beings need heat to thrive/live and just like fire radiates heat your spirit radiates energy, creativity, passion, action, inspiration, purpose... and that's what fire signs represent. I'd say fire represents the fundamentality of spirit while water is more about the complexity of inner world.

Just like Aries is the "natural" ASC for a birth chart, Libra is the natural ASC for a composite chart cause a birth chart represents the chart of an individual (Aries) while composite represents the mutual relationship between two people (Libra)

When you develop the themes of a certain house in a healthy manner, you naturally start attracting the themes of the opposite house. This goes to show you that things in astrology aren't as compartmentalized as they seem, everything works together in certain way SPECIALLY axis'. Examples:

You need to focus on yourself first (1st house) to find the right partner (7th house)

You need to investigate and learn (3rd house) in order to find higher answers (9th house)

When you invest successfully (8th house) you earn more available resources (2nd house).

When you develop your hobbies and individuality (5th house) you find keen people (11th house)

When you heal spiritually (12th house) you find healthier habits (6th house)

There's this misconception that you have to disregard your South Node in order to develop you NN, but the thing is the SN is the starting point that can lead you towards developing your NN. This can happen as a harsh and painful lesson tho if you liger too much on your SN. For example NN in Libra need to learn to compromise in this life, there's a lot of focus on the self and independence, but eventually this placement teaches them that if you really wanna develop yourself in full potential (Aries) eventually you'll need others (Libra). If they linger too much on Aries SN they could experience a harsh lesson that forces them to count on others

work by astrobydalia

[aventurineswife]

one request <3 (im really bad at explaining)

how some hsr characters would react to a reader that are into otome games?

HSR characters with a Reader who's into Otome Games

Synopsis: How would some of these characters react to having a Reader who's into Otome Games?

Tags: Veritas Ratio x Reader, Aventurine x Reader, Jade x Reader, Kafka x Reader, Blade x Reader, Jing Yuan x Reader, Headcanons, Fluff, Established Relationship or could be read as Platonically, Psychological Themes, Banter, Supportive, Deep Discussions.

Warnings: Teasing, Occasional Dark Humor, Discussions On Morality And Psychology, References To Manipulation, Themes Of Ambition And Power Dynamics, Light Romance, Exploration Of Past Trauma(?).

A/N: I wish there was a HSR mod where we could romance the characters 😪😕

Dr. Veritas Ratio

Ratio would be intrigued by the narratives and character development in otome games, seeing them as an interesting exploration of human relationships and emotional intelligence.

He might initially scoff at what he considers shallow romantic tropes, but upon further discussion, he'd appreciate the complexities and motivations of the characters.

He’d encourage you to analyze the storylines critically, turning your hobby into a learning experience about psychology and social dynamics.

He’d love to engage in debates about your favorite characters and choices, often challenging your views to foster deeper discussions.

Aventurine

Aventurine would tease you about your obsession with fictional characters, using his charm to poke fun while secretly enjoying the playful banter.

He’d be fascinated by the strategic elements of the games, perhaps even comparing life to a game of chance, finding ways to apply his risk-taking mentality to the scenarios.

He might surprise you with gifts that reference your favorite games, like custom trinkets or stylish outfits inspired by characters, showing his support.

Jade

Jade might initially appear skeptical, viewing otome games as frivolous, but would soon become intrigued by the underlying themes of ambition and emotional manipulation.

She’d encourage you to see beyond the surface, urging you to analyze the dynamics of power and desire within the narratives.

Jade might even suggest treating your interest as a business endeavor, perhaps exploring ways to monetize your passion through game-related content.

If you have any game merchandise, she might admire your collection, possibly wanting to trade valuable items or share insights about the game's market value.

Kafka

Kafka would find the psychological elements of otome games fascinating, especially the manipulation of characters and narratives, seeing parallels with her own skills.

She’d casually drop remarks about the games, comparing the characters’ strategies to her own, which could lead to deeper discussions about morality and choices.

Kafka would be especially interested in the character designs and fashions, perhaps wanting to discuss or even replicate certain styles for herself.

If the games feature memorable outfits or coats, she might express a desire to acquire similar pieces, leading to playful banter about your mutual interests.

Blade

Blade might initially express a cynical view of otome games, seeing them as naive distractions from the harsh realities of life.

He would likely make darkly humorous comments about the characters’ romantic dilemmas, providing a contrasting perspective that could spark interesting conversations.

Despite his cynicism, he might secretly enjoy the escape they provide, finding a strange comfort in the fictional dramas.

Blade would likely appreciate the themes of love and loss, connecting them to his own tragic past and engaging in deeper discussions about the nature of relationships.

Jing Yuan

Jing Yuan would appreciate the storytelling aspect of otome games, often relating it to historical tales and strategic narratives he values.

He might offer calm, insightful perspectives on the choices you make in games, helping you to consider the ramifications of those decisions.

Jing Yuan would be supportive of your passion, perhaps asking about your favorite games and characters, fostering a sense of connection.

He’d likely inject gentle humor into the conversation, lightening the mood and making the topic of otome games feel more engaging and less frivolous.

[eveletii]

Become the Bard!

Follow in the footsteps of the most prolific bard of all time in this mini version of the classic Legacy Challenge, that will stir up drama in your game! Give the classic Shakesperian tales your own spin and live out epic stories of love, comedy and tragedy in The Sims 4. It's going to be worthy of a standing ovation!

In total there are 5 Generations in this challenge, each representing a different Shakesperian play.

The official hashtag for the challenge is #ShakespeareLegacyTS4. Break a leg!

Overall Rules

Lifespan: Normal

Cheats: Allowed only when setting up scenarios

Recommended Mods: UI Cheats Extension e MC Command Center.

Necessary Packs

Lovestruck

Growing Together

Cottage Living

Horse Ranch

High School Years

StrangerVille

Get Famous

Recommended Packs*

Seasons

Nifty Knitting

My Wedding Stories

*These packs are not required to complete the challenge, but can add to the storylines.

❝You grew up wealthy, with a big happy family. There weren’t too many rules, except for one: the sims across the street are not to be befriended. But you were never one to follow rules anyway... Especially when one of the neighbors is so cute...❞

❤✧✦✧❤

Aspiration: Soulmate

Traits: Lovebug, Family-Oriented and Gloomy

Career: Romance Consultant

✧ Complete the Soulmate aspiration (or die trying!) ✧ After that dramatic beginning to your love story, you sure have a lot of advice to give. Monetize it by maxing the Romance Consultant career! ✧ Be the ultimate lover and max the Romance skill by interacting with your partner ✧ Create two households, with 5-8 Sims each. Pick a family to control ✧ Make sure there is at least 1 teenager in each household, they’ll be the main couple ✧ It is important that ALL adults from one household HATE the Sims from the other one, and vice versa! (Cheats may be used to achieve that) ✧ Elope with your partner as soon as you both become Young Adults and then move to a different Neighborhood or World ✧ Have only 2 children, twins or close in age ✧ Have a date night with your partner once a week. (You may do it on random days or create custom holidays using the Calendar)

❝You’re not easy. You know that. Your sibling knows that. Your parents know that. A smarty-pants with a temper, with too many ideas and too little patience. But does that mean you can’t find the one? If your parents did it, so can you, right? I mean, not that you’re looking for someone. Or... are you?❞

❤✧✦✧❤

Aspiration: Best-Selling Author

Traits: Hot-Headed, Bookworm and Romantically Reserved

Career: Politician

✧ Complete your aspiration and become the best-selling author on the San Myshuno Times! ✧ You have a lot to teach the world, but the world has one thing to teach YOU: kindness. Join the Politician career and max it, through the Charity Organizer branch ✧ Soften your edges by maxing the Charisma skill ✧ Develop a DIFFICULT dynamic with your family during your teenage years ✧ You can only date once you become a Young Adult ✧ Go on 3 failed dates before finding The One ✧ Have only 2 kids, both girls. (Cheats may be used to achieve that) ✧ You must get married when on Level 4 of your career, and then pick the Charity branch ✧ Work slowly on your charisma skill throughout your career.

❝A free-spirit with a heart of gold, you knew what you wanted from an early age, and left your home to run a wool farm, filled with sheep and llamas. You and your younger sister are two peas in a pod, even though you two are polar opposites. You, a tomboy, her, a princess. Once she graduates high school she comes to live with you at the farm. You thought it’d be just you two forever... That’s when a cute local comes along...❞

❤✧✦✧❤

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Traits: Animal Enthusiast, Socially Awkward, Rancher

Career: None

✧ Be the pride of Finchwick Fair by completing the Country Caretaker aspiration ✧ You must NOT join any careers throughout your life, and all the money you make must come from the farm ✧ Get first place at a Finchwick Fair competition at least three times in your life ✧ Show off your country skills by maxing the Gardening and Cooking skills ✧ Get at least Level 5 on the Cross-Stitching or Knitting skills (if you have Nifty Knitting) ✧ Become BFFs with your little sister as children ✧ Move out of your parents’ home as a teenager, half-way through high school to start your farm in Henford-on-Bagley (Start small, taking little money from the original household with you. Dropping out of high school or not is up to you) ✧ Have only 2 kids, both girls. (Cheats may be used to achieve that) ✧ You must date and marry only Sims from the world you live in ✧ You must marry at the end of your late Young Adult days/early Adult days ✧ You can only have ONE child ✧ You must use the Simple Living lot challenge in your home lot

❝Marriage? Never! You’ve had a serious partner once, and let’s just say it didn’t go well, and it gets worse! After all, exes are forever. You two bump into each other all the time and the fighting is endless. Could all this hatred just unhealed wounds from your love story gone wrong, or could all this fighting hide something more?❞

❤✧✦✧❤

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Traits: Noncommittal, Self-Assured and Mean

Career: Military

✧ Be the bane of your ex’s existence by completing the Chief of Mischief aspiration ✧ Get to Level 5 in the Military career and then switch to a new one of your choice. Achieve Level 5 in the new career ✧ Max out the Mischief skill and get to at least Level 5 on the Logic skill ✧ Your traits must be acquired in the following order: 1- Self Assured, 2- Mean, 3- Noncommittal ✧ Date only ONE Sim as a Teenager. After much fighting, break up before turning Young Adult ✧ Rekindle the flame and marry your ex as an Adult. Have as many kids as you please ✧ Join the Military career and stay in it until you get married. After that, switch careers to a career of your choice ✧ Start developing your Mischief skill during your teenage years

❝A creature of romance and drama, you were born to love and to shine on and off stage. Your life is the most daunting story in your family to date. But that’s probably because this Challenge doesn’t include The Scottish Play.❞

❤✧✦✧❤

Aspiration: Serial Romantic

Traits: Romantic, Creative and Erratic

Career: Acting

✧ Master the Serial Romantic aspiration and win (and break!) a lot of hearts ✧ Reach the top of the Acting career ✧ Get to Level 10 on the Mischief, Romance and Acting and at least Level 5 in the Charisma skill ✧ Have a close relationship with your parent who was the past generation’s heir and develop a Jokester family dynamic with them ✧ Date A LOT and from and early age, but only get engaged once. During the wedding ceremony, leave your partner at the altar ✧ Children are allowed, but not mandatory ✧ Begin developing the Mischief skill with your parents

[kosmokhaos]

So

Lol I seen that post going around. I don't want to reblog it because I disagree with a lot of the OP's ideas on it. Especially for a game like TS3 that barely gets any new custom content nowadays. However, I got a few words.

While I see the appeal of trying to make money in this dystopian, capitalist ass economy, it's a well-known fact that Sims CC paywall culture has become absolutely atrocious. With that being said: PLEASE DO NOT MONETIZE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO!! Particularly if it's a hobby that you love doing. Look into the dedication, time and care it takes to make a living off producing things you make with your own hands and creativity before just jumping in! Monetizing artisan skills "just because" is a recipe for burnout. And let me tell you, it sucks to be burntout and having to pump out content anyway because you decided to rely on it as a job.

Sims CC isn't something you should be relying on as a stable source of income in the first place. I know you've heard it all before, but—even if you made it from scratch, the moment you turn it into a package file, or something that goes in-game, EA owns that content. At any moment they can decide you're not allowed to use it for profit anymore and then your shit outta luck.

Still don't believe me? Look at most of the large content creators for any sims game. Do any of them actually play the game? Do any of them ever post just for fun and love of the franchise? Or is their entire blog dedicated to posting the CC that they monetize?

And tbh, I'm not saying that it makes them a terrible person if they don't post for fun. There are people who simply love creating certain types of things. But when it's always monetized, it does bring into question about whether they actually love and care about the game, or if they are just making content for profit.

[heartlilith]

The Power of Investing in Yourself

Investing in yourself can look different for everyone. Think of an investment; buying a house, a share, a business. Investments are something that get better and better with time. They become more valuable, the worth increases as time goes by. You, yourself, are an investment ... the most important investment of all.

The ways you can invest in yourself are limitless. From drinking water everyday to getting a college degree - it doesn't matter what you are doing, but the fact that you are doing it.

Ways to invest in yourself: Journal, go to therapy, eat healthy, drink water, read books, do things you enjoy, meditate, yoga, working out, going to college, studying, learning, going to the doctor, resting, having goals, skin care routines, taking a class, etc.

When you invest in yourself a lot of things happen, all of them being positive. There are no negative outcomes when it comes to investing in yourself.

#1: It makes people want to invest in you too.

Think of it this way; you're a CEO of a huge successful business. You're looking to hire people and you're reviewing their resumes. There's one position left to fill and you have 2 applicants.

The first applicant's resume is pretty good. They have a degree in business, have prior experience, and a glowing letter of recommendation. For hobbies outside of work they mention working out and taking walks. When asked what their strengths are, they write, "Being organized, a good communicator, and able to work well with others". Pretty good resume, could definitely get the job done and do a fair job.

The second applicant also has a college degree, a glowing letter of recommendation, and prior experience. This applicant also enjoys working out in their free time, they read books, they like doing pottery, taking dance classes, and hiking mountains. When asked what their strengths are, they write, "Being reliable, organized, ready to take on challenges. Finishing things I start and being a good communicator". They are even certified in CPR and took a public speaking course.

Who would you choose?

Applicant #2! Even though half the things they wrote don't correspond with the job, it lets the CEO know a little more about the person. "They take on challenges" - well I'm sure they do because hiking mountains seems pretty challenging. "Reliability" - they're able to stick to their hobbies. "Being a good communicator" - they took a public speaking course. It shows the CEO that they invest in themselves, and that's someone that they want to invest in, someone that invests in themselves.

#2: Investing in yourself attracts opportunities.

Going to a cooking class, the library, or even to the gym - you're bound to meet new friends that share a common interest with you. Through those friends, you could be introduced to other hobbies that you enjoy. You never know what could happen when you meet people, they could be your "in" to an amazing job. They could be a bridesmaid or best man in your wedding. They could introduce you to the love of your life. They could impact your life in miraculous ways.

Investing in yourself is attractive. Would you rather date someone who plays video games all day or someone who takes care of themselves and has hobbies? It's a lot more interesting and appealing to be around people that have extracurricular activities because those activities create stories to tell. Stories to tell creates connections. Connections create relationships and so on.

You never know what's going to come knocking at your door. Maybe you're out at a restaurant and someone near you drops to the ground and needs CPR. You took a CPR class one day and now you're saving someone's life. Maybe you start selling the pottery you make. Maybe you take your interest in astrology and monetize it. You never know.

#3 Increases confidence and independence:

Investing in yourself increases your confidence because you're working on different skills. If you're in a pottery class and you make your first vase - you're going to be happy and proud of yourself. It's an accomplishment. If you start an astrology blog and gain 10 followers, you're going to be happy. It's an accomplishment. When you go to college and get a degree, you're going to be proud. It's an accomplishment.

It doesn't matter how big or small the accomplishment is. When you create goals and complete them, a chemical reaction happens in your brain and literally makes you a happier person. Day after day, goal after goal, your confidence will rise. You will feel good about yourself.

Investing in yourself makes you more independent. When that guy or girl ghosts you or rejects you, it won't hurt as much. You won't be in the house all day waiting for them to call. You won't ruminate on why this and that happened. You'll be busy. By the time you get home or finish a project/goal, you'll notice that you were so focused that you forgot all about it. You'll have your own agenda. Not only that, but your relationship with yourself will be strong. You won't blame yourself as much because you know who you are. You learn who you are by spending time with yourself.

More on my Patreon

[dlartistanon]

the arknights endfield lore potential looks great (the statue of patriot, rhoses island landship crashing into the tower of babel) but the character designs....... why is the female endministrator so much shorter than the male one and why does the ch'en-looking lady look like... that

At first I wasn't wild about the designs and I even joked that the female administrator was the default/"canon" gender because they showcased her for their alpha testing... but the more I'm sitting on it, the less impressed I am.

It's not just the lackluster designs, but the creeping realization that they're riding on the coattails of other "3D anime games" as of late. The suspiciously similar UI, the vague futuristic sci-fi setting, the apparent weapon gacha??? If it's not craftable weapons, then yeah sure, let's copy super predatory monetization systems as well. This doesn't feel like AK. It just has AK's name on it to entice existing fans.

One of the things that makes AK stand out among other mobile games is that their monetization isn't so... in-your-face. Prominent. Aggressive. There is no weapon/equipment gacha. No BS RNG weapon stats. When you get an operator, after skill mastery and levels (and maybe a module), they're already at 90%-95% of their power. Dupes are negligible.

Part of me wants to delude myself into thinking this is some maneuver to grab some of that sweet HYV money and then funnel it back to OG AK like how it was memed how GI was just a fundraiser for HI3... until I learned that MHY screwed over HI3. (sorry, HI3 fans...)

But anyway, let me leave you with stuff I already said

[baby-xemnas]

One thing I enjoy about Law/Bepo is that I constantly see the debate surrounding “Is Law getting it?” Like, is the man so hot and stoic he’s constantly getting ass or is he a creepy workaholic weirdo with terrible social skills who couldn’t possibly get laid? And the LawBepo answer is both. The man fell in love with a mink at 14 and has not looked back. He can hook one guy, specifically a guy who apologizes like it’s second nature and thus needs constant validation and is over obvious with his feelings in a way that’s nye impossible to misinterpret. Man found his wife at 14 while recovering from a depressive spell and thus has never had to exist in the normal dating scene. Could not possibly hit on a woman at a random bar and be successful on anything but his looks but is, in fact, constantly getting laid cause he picked his wife up out of the snow during his preteens. A creepy little weirdo who built his sexuality around a mink and thus would have a terrible time in a regular dating scene, who is dating his co worker and thus can work and fuck at the same time. Man has a partner with a natural predisposition to swimming and would do great on a regular sail ship but instead chose a submarine so his partner can never be more that 100ft away from him. A workaholic creepy little weirdo with negligible social skills who is, in fact, constantly getting laid, it’s the ideal Trafalgar Law.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ASK ANON THANK YOU SO MUCH

Man found his wife at 14 while recovering from a depressive spell and thus has never had to exist in the normal dating scene

put that shit in GRANITE

constantly getting laid cause he picked his wife up out of the snow during his preteens Crying

😭😭😭

so. sooooo true. i love how he is so terrible when people flirt with him - easiest examples are Monet or Robin even if neither was serious about it we digress - he didnt even BOTHER being friendly like yeah yeah whatever whatever shut up bitch - he is such a rudeass, the type of rudeass that only comes with being extremely married. he is NOT interested, he will not lift a finger or bother with a smile

its soooo real how technically he has no game cuz he dont need it - i would argue with lack of social skills - he does have them he just doesnt use them - he can be charming as a person if he wants to (cuz how else do you collect such a big crew)

i dooo LOVE the thought of him being STRANGE AND OFFPUTTING and he is really saved by being a hottie when he is put in a fucking situation. he has to do very little, he is hot, and thats exactly what he does - bare minimum, he is so not invested - because he is thinking about how everyone is inferior to Bepo - also Bepo will be jealous if he finds out...Bepo..

BUILDING HIS SEXUALITY AROUND A MINK - YEEESSS thats my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its the same with just HAVING always been with Bepo ofc its fucking normal that a guy is a bear, why the fuck not. thats a guy, thats their guy - Law's special guy in particular whomst he treasures...like IMAGINE living with a permanent furry since middle school thats ought to become normal for you in like a few months..and Law seeing him LIKE THAT ruined humans for him fr...whatever...People? who cares. he has such a lovely wonder next to him. going thru puberty while your bestie, most loyal person to you is a furry...permanently altered brain chemistry. literally built different

you are sooooooooooooo right its so true and its the best

i love that Law a sexy guy who is completely off limits and unapproachable on purpose - he has sex life on easy mode because he saved Bepo once and have stayed a prince charming, knight in shining armor for Bepo EVER SINCE. he is always a hero he is always awesome and the best

laughing about a submarine being confined space lmao oh of course...you are trapped in there with him, Bepo (Bepo: yay \o/♥)

AND ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES LAWBEPO GREAT FOR LAWS CHARACTER - being in a long time established relationship - A CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART EVEN - makes him Very Cool. Oh you kept a good relationship for a decade and even developed it into a romantic partnership? Awesome. It makes a man complete dare i say! I love when characters are married as hell, genuinely a massive flex

thank you so much for the ask you are so fucking right im sorry if my reply is too chaotic xoxo thank you for loving lawbepo with me

[simmerstories96]

The Dark Side of Content Creating No One Tells About

My journey as a content creator has been a bit of a rough patch. By no means necessary am I looking for pity or anything like that but there are things about making content, no one tells anyone about. 😣

I opened my content creation shop, Skylar Designs, in July 2024. I got the name after my youngest daughter who’s the sole reason I’m doing this because I want her to know if you put your mind to it, you can basically achieve anything.

As much as I enjoy doing this and watching everyone use my recolors or poses or sims, as an added bonus.. there were the dark sides to this hobby I didn’t expect. No one tells you how much it can affect your mental health.

I have extensive editing skills from a few hobbies I’ve done in the past with video games so I came over to The Sims Community since I’ve been playing this game since the very first Sims game.

It’s disheartening when you’ve been at this for quite awhile and only see very little progress while someone who just joins Patreon or Boosty, grows rapidly with barely any content posted for download.

Me as a human being, I seem invisible to a lot because I’m a small content creator. I’m in no way huge like a lot of these awesome people are. But I’ve tried so hard and got so far, which was very little.

Not only that but this hobby also is a monetization hobby, so creators get paid for their creations. Well it’s alittle hard when some creators don’t allow early access when doing recolors (which is understandable) and I respect all creator TOUs. Me personally, I just don’t know how to create meshes and really have no interest because why should I try to learn something no one is going to even bother looking at.

I gave up on horse stencils because my first one was a botched project. I didn’t like it. I also know I cannot draw and I’m better at painting things.

This whole journey has just put me down deeper in the endless spiral of mental health. Even though I enjoy it, I don’t see why I should continue when the progress I’ve made or done goes unnoticed.

[motsimages]

A thing I am enjoying about Dungeons and Drag Queens is something completely unrelated to role playing games or this adventure but that is human nature: copying skills.

It is a thing we all do but we don't notice when we are doing it and it is how we learn. I love seeing people learn so this is extra fun for me.

You can see how Bob quickly picked up the describing from Brennan as soon as they began and you can see how little by little throughout the episodes, Monet starts to feel more confident in describing actions and feelings too the way she sees Brennan, Bob and Jujubee doing it.

You can also feel how the rules of body language and jokes develop because they copy each other. There is the obvious things like wishing together for a 20, and there is the more subtle things like actually impersonating your character or gesturing in a certain way.

Brennan sets the tone, invites them to describe and participate as they see fit and, each at their pace and ability, do so. Sometimes it is very subtle and for some it comes easier than for others but it is interesting because when you are playing, you are busy playing, you don't notice that everyone at your table is also doing this.

And this actually happens in any setting. You see how people do things around you and you follow them as you perceive it and understand it and feel confortable with it. Some people are fast in copying, so much so that it disguises the fact that they may not be as fluent in whatever it is their doing (Bob), some copy fast regardless on how well they are understanding or disguising the process of learning (Jujubee), some start slow but firmly pick it up (Monet) and for others it is confusing for a long time or maybe it is not really their thing or they don't know how to apply what they are seeing to themselves (Alaska), but it is always there and it comes quite naturally to humans in general.

So yeah, unexpectedly, one of the things I'm enjoying the most is that I am being able to see one of my favourite things about learning in action.

[adbros]

30 ways to make real; money from home

Making money online from the comfort of your home has become increasingly accessible with the growth of the internet and digital technologies. In 2023, there are numerous realistic ways to earn money online. Here are 30 ideas to get you started:

1. Freelance Writing: Offer your writing skills on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer to create blog posts, articles, or website content.

2. Content Creation: Start a YouTube channel, podcast, or blog to share your expertise or passion and monetize through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

3. Online Surveys and Market Research: Participate in online surveys and market research studies with platforms like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie.

4. Remote Customer Service: Work as a remote customer service representative for companies like Amazon or Apple.

5. Online Tutoring: Teach subjects you're knowledgeable in on platforms like VIPKid or Chegg Tutors.

6. E-commerce: Start an online store using platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or eBay to sell products.

7. Affiliate Marketing: Promote products or services on your blog or social media and earn commissions for sales made through your referral links.

8. Online Courses: Create and sell online courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.

9. Remote Data Entry: Find remote data entry jobs on websites like Clickworker or Remote.co.

10. Virtual Assistance: Offer administrative support services to businesses as a virtual assistant.

11. Graphic Design: Use your graphic design skills to create logos, graphics, or websites for clients on platforms like Fiverr.

12. Stock Photography: Sell your photos on stock photography websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

13. App Development: Develop and sell mobile apps or offer app development services.

14. Social Media Management: Manage social media accounts for businesses looking to enhance their online presence.

15. Dropshipping: Start an e-commerce business without holding inventory by dropshipping products.

16. Online Consultations: Offer consulting services in your area of expertise through video calls.

17. Online Surplus Sales: Sell unused items or collectibles on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

18. Online Fitness Coaching: Become an online fitness coach and offer workout plans and guidance.

19. Virtual Events: Host webinars, workshops, or conferences on topics you're knowledgeable about.

20. Podcast Production: Offer podcast editing, production, or consulting services.

21. Remote Transcription: Transcribe audio and video files for clients.

22. Online Translation: Offer translation services if you're proficient in multiple languages.

23. Affiliate Blogging: Create a niche blog with affiliate marketing as the primary revenue source.

24. Online Art Sales: Sell your artwork, crafts, or digital art on platforms like Etsy or Redbubble.

25. Remote Bookkeeping: Offer bookkeeping services for small businesses from home.

26. Digital Marketing: Provide digital marketing services like SEO, PPC, or social media management.

27. Online Gaming: Stream your gaming sessions on platforms like Twitch and monetize through ads and donations.

28. Virtual Assistant Coaching: If you have experience as a VA, offer coaching services to aspiring virtual assistants.

29. Online Research: Conduct research for businesses or individuals in need of specific information.

30. Online Real Estate: Invest in virtual real estate, such as domain names or digital properties, and sell them for a profit.

Remember that success in making money online often requires dedication, patience, and the ability to adapt to changing trends. It's essential to research and choose the opportunities that align with your skills, interests, and long-term goals.

[thecrazygamingzombie]

How Viviziepop kickstarted the third wave of indie animation.

Okay, I've been seeing a lot of people talk about the tweet below and how Viv doesn't deserve to take credit for the success of other indie animation projects online but the fact of the matter is...she does, in an indirect way at least.

First, let's start off with a brief history of indie animation:

everything started out on a site called newgrounds, I'm sure you've all heard of it. Created by Tom Fulp in the 90s to show case some of his half baked game ideas. Which eventually evolved into a place where indie creators could post anything they wanted without fear of censorship; the rating system that automatically removed any posts that dropped too low being the only source of quality control.

This gave indie animation it's initial foothold online but without any way of obtaining a revenue stream it never really moved beyond a fun hobby done to practice one's art/coding skills or just screw around with friends online.

This problem got more significant as time went on and many of the teenage artists that gave newgrounds it's inital success, such as RicePirate and Tom Fulp, grew into young adults who needed a revenue stream. Luckily they found one in the form of youtube.

With these monetization policies, many indie animators were actually able to go into animation practically full time. Their pre-existing income bolstered by that of youtube and what followed was a golden era of animation, just an explosion of content across the board. You had stuff like Eddsworld, Salad Fingers, ASDF movie, and tons of other creators bursting onto the scene.

all putting their content out there on Youtube for the world to see. All bolstered by revenue coming in from Youtube...but the good times never last

See, back then youtube's monetization policies were pretty simple: the more views your channel got, the more money you'd make. Great for short form animators and also great for clickbait youtubers who abused the system with deceiving thumbnails and titles!

To combat this, Youtube changed it's monetization policies in March of 2012: instead of being rewarded on view count, monetization would instead reward the time watched during a video. Which created a system where longer videos with frequent uploads were rewarded

In theory this was supposed to stop clickbait videos as people would just watch for a few seconds and leave. But in practice? It meant that animators were put at a heavy disadvantage as now they'd have to put in significantly more work for the same result.

This caused a complete and total crash of indie animation online. Between an unfair algorithm and the rise of gaming channels, most indie animators couldn't gather the same level of funding they could before and had to either quit or scale back.

Only the big name animators who could coast by on brand recognition such as Harry Partridge and TomSka among several others, or larger channels with dedicated teams similar to tv studios such as Mondo Media and Rooster Teeth. Were able to keep going.

This started a brief dark age for online animation until the advent of story time animators. People like Jaiden Animations, Swoozie, and TheOdd1sOut who relied on simplistic art styles with minimalist animation that focused on content reminiscent of old vlogs where the animators simply share stories from their everyday lives that allowed them to put out longer videos faster; thus working around the monetization system that had put so many animators out in the cold.

While they didn't solve the problem, in some ways they made it worse by starting a trend that attracted countless copycats, they did help sustain an interest in indie animation online and ensure there was a consistent audience for such a medium.

Now it wasn't a total wasteland mind you, as I said there were still plenty of animators who survived the purge. There were even a few channels such as Shut Up Cartoons and Mondo Media, again, that helped produce dozens of animated series from indie creators.

But even at it's best, these series were still very amateurish. The passion was obviously there but these were still very simplistic flash or stop motion animations with low budgets and small teams, focusing more on episodic skits than any sort of overarching plot

This environment of amateur passion projects, where animated series were usually very small scale and never really escaped from the limited sphere of youtube, went on for several years and kept the animation community alive. Until Viv posted Hazbin Hotel and brought about the third wave of indie animation.

Unlike the previous examples, Hazbin Hotel was a VERY different beast from most indie animation. Not only did it have an extremely distinct visual style but the animation was so fluid, so professionally made, it felt like something you'd see out of a mainstream studio. It felt leagues above the average indie project in terms of quality.

Now Viv had already a decent audience from her Zoophobia webcomic, her speed draws, and the die young video. So it wasn't like she was starting from nothing. But there was no denying that this new form of animation caught people's attention and caught it FAST.

You all can probably recall the explosion of discussion that surrounded the original pilot and how it was all the internet was talking about for awhile. Viv road that wave and used the momentum to launch 'Helluva Boss' another indie production with a similar style.

This made her even more popular, especially when she started cranking out new episodes of the latter series with the same high quality as before, and soon her fanbase swelled to millions. A fanbase that was more than happy to crowdfund Viv's work through patreon and merch sales. Then other animators saw this and realized that there was a sizable audience for animated content; one that could not only sustain professional level animation, but was desperate for more content of this scale. Soon several other series started cropping up like MurderDrones, Lackadaisy, Monkey Wrench, and the Amazing Digital Circus. All of which followed Viv's lead of producing high quality, fluid animation with overarching plots that drew funding entirely from legions of online fans.

For the first time in a long time, indie animation was breaking out of it's original platform and reaching far more mainstream audiences than it ever has in the past on a scale never before seen and it's all because Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss kicked off this new animation renaissance!

Now I'm not gonna say Viv was solely responsible, the series we enjoy now have thrived primarily on their own merits and the creative minds behind them.

But as it stands, her work played a big role in setting the stage for other indie animation projects and creating the perfect conditions for them to thrive amidst the current digital landscape. Like it or not, Viv is the catalyst for modern indie animation. To deny Viv her rightful place in history out of spite is nothing short of historical revisionism.

Give the gal her due, she's done some amazing things for this crazy world we live in.

Here's the videos I got most of my info from, it's important to cite one's sources after all!

[minecraftnewsnetwork]

If anyone wants to join MCNN for the looming 5th Life season, hit us up at @minecraftnewsnetwork

In light of recent cryptic Grian-posting, it looks like this series will happen sooner than expected!

We can always use more help with:

Administration and project management

Taking notes

Writing scripts

Recording in-game reports

Downloading clips

Creating art/ visual assets

Editing video

Even if you can only do some of those, or one of those, all help is good help! Our main requests are that you be up front about what you can do, and let us know as soon as possible if your availability changes.

Our account here at @minecraftnewsnetwork is a shared account between Lead Reporters @pixiemage, @the-joju-experience, @fearforthestorm, and @salemoleander. Feel free to send an Ask directly to the main MCNN account for Discord details, or Message any of us on our personal accounts if you have questions.

Please note: We cannot guarantee that we will accept everyone who requests to join - we could get 2 requests or 200, and at some point that's too many cooks in the kitchen. Requests will largely be first-come, first-served, with some exceptions/prioritization made for those with video recording and editing experience.

FAQs

What the heck is MCNN?

A fan-created, scripted video series that seeks to summarize and report on the events that occurred across every POV in the Life Series that week. We started with Limited Life, and now I guess it's time for our second rodeo. This is our YouTube channel.

Do I have to have experience in [Video Editing]/[Script Writing]/etc to sign up for it?

Not at all! Everyone is welcome to sign up for whatever roles they want to do. We do like to aim for a certain level of quality in what we make, so if you aren't very far along in your creative journey with that medium please make sure you're prepared to receive peer feedback and edit suggestions!

I'm a minor! Can I help?

We do allow people under 18 to help, yes! Limiting who gets to help on a fan project about a ~PG video series seems nonsensical; especially when many of the adults in MCNN got their Minecraft start well before they turned 18, and it sparked a longstanding creative interest. However: School, family, and your overall wellbeing come first. If at any time the project seems to be conflicting with those priorities, you will be asked to step back for the remainder of the season.

What applications/tools do you use?

We use Google Sheets to write timecoded video notes, Google Docs to draft and work together on scripts, a mixture of ReplayMod and OBS to record in-game reports, and DaVinci Resolve to edit video. All of these tools are free to use, and we are able to walk through settings and basics with you if you're unfamiliar with any of these.

Do you make money from this? What do I get from helping?

\We are not monetized, and have no intention of monetizing or turning on ads. This is a fan-created show, made for the love of creation and celebrating a series we like. We are all unpaid interns, here at MCNN. :D That said - this is a 2+ month project involving project management, editing, writing, and other real-world technical & professional skills. If you participate and want help adding this to your resume, or need a letter of recommendation for a job or school organization/event, we are happy to assist with that!

[xenodile]

@stasisarbiter This is definitely worth a full ask, because it's a bit of a mixed response. Nikke does a lot of things really good, and a lot of things really bad.

So. The gameplay IS fun. Like really fun. The PVE gameplay is like Time Crisis shooting, you have your team of up to 5 characters where you're directly controlling one at a time while the others are on auto target and tap/click to shoot, and automatically take cover and reload when not shooting. Enemies flash red before they attack and put markers on characters that are being targeted by particularly powerful attacks. Characters have different styles of guns, Assault Rifles, Machine Guns, SMGs, Shotguns, Rocket Launchers, and Sniper Rifles, that all handle differently, and some characters have uniquely functioning versions of those 6 archetypes. You can also order all characters to take cover and stop shooting until you give the order to attack again, and switch between which character you're controlling while doing so.

You also generate meter whenever your characters hit something, and when the meter fills you can use their Burst Skills. You can use up to 3 Burst Skills in sequence, as each character's skill is Phase 1, 2, or 3, and building a team involves getting characters whose skills compliment and chain together. When you do a full chain of 3 skills, you activate a Full Burst for 10 seconds, during which time you directly control all of your characters at once.

When your characters are strong enough, any stage becomes a cakewalk, but when you're playing at a power deficit is when things get really interesting, because the amount of precise manual control you have over each of your characters means you can overcome very high stat differences by prioritizing targets, using the right skills, and taking cover efficiently.

The boss fights are also really, really cool. Bosses have multiple parts that can be individually targeted and broken to alter their behavior and deal extra damage, they have special attacks where you have to do precision target shooting to interrupt them, and long multi phase fights. It's really fun stuff.

But as I said, Nikke does some really bad stuff too. For one, it has PVP, and there is no justice in a gacha based PVP game. PVP is an auto battler where certain teams are just invincible without an equally specific counter pick, all of which are locked behind SSR gacha rates, so that blows.

Leveling and upgrading characters is weird because there's a system that makes it so you only have to level up 5 characters and then every other character you have will be automatically synced to those 5, which is really nice. But that system has a hard cap that is not high enough to get through every part of the main story, and is only unlocked if you get FIVE SSR characters to max limit break, so depending on luck and spending habits, could be a very significant wall to progression for a lot of people.

Dailies are easy to complete and only take like 30 minutes tops, and there's no stamina or AP system so you can play as much as you want, but all experience and money games are time based. You CAN'T grind for experience or money or upgrade materials, you get them at a fixed rate per day. So it respects your time per day, but it WILL take months of playing to upgrade your characters, and even that is locked behind whether you get lucky on the gacha.

So like, the gameplay IS fun, but your ability to actually access that fun is locked behind really scummy monetization. It's a weird case where I've really been liking Nikke and having a ton of fun with it, but I would not ever recommend it to someone because the ability to make meaningful progress is luck based. It's why I started doing my story write ups because I think there's legitimately good stuff in Nikke that people should see and be able to enjoy without getting roped into its bad gacha shit.

Short answer, yes it's fun but it's not worth getting into, so enjoy it vicariously.

[blkdivinefeminine]

prologue, the mastermind.

Tennis brought more burdens than blessings.

It opposed relationships and what they stood for. It was psychological warfare—dissecting layers of you or your partner until you were bare. Every swing, every match point unveiled vulnerabilities and fractures. Every strategy was a calculated move for humiliation, weakness, and defeat. The echoes of their struggles reverberated in the sound of the ball hitting the court—a constant reminder of the fragility of their bond. The deeper one delved into the game, the more skill became misguided, and dominance became the only goal. From that point on, it was beyond a game; it was a relentless struggle for power that consumed everything in its path, especially regarding the paths of Idris Carter and Melanie James.

Born into the two most influential and historical Black tennis families in the world, Idris Carter and Melanie James were ideally a perfect match—on the court, in the eyes of their parents, and in the public's view. Despite what felt orchestrated, the bond that the two had formed since they were adolescents was visceral and undeniable, stronger than all odds. It was a bond that carried them extremely far, not only through their hearts but wherever life took them. Melanie's fierceness and passion echoed Idris's calm, composed nature. They were known on the courts as Quicksilver and the Flame, but in their own entity, they were the love of each other's lives. By the age of 25, after ten years spent winning continuous titles, the two had tied the knot and became pregnant with their only child.

To Idris, joy was an understatement. Family was something he had always longed for, one that nourished him emotionally and mentally. Yet for Melanie, it was an erasure—an erasure of her identity. Marriage was bearable, but when she found herself vomiting on the hotel bathroom floor the night of their awards dinner in Rockland, it felt like the inevitable end of a life that was just beginning. Motherhood loomed over her, and the fire that once fueled her game waned, smothered by the weight of demands and expectations in a new role she felt she did not have the patience or capacity to play. Tennis was all she ever knew and everything she sought herself to be. While tennis to Idris was all he ever knew, despite his loyalty to his passions, he deemed it a separate entity and yearned for something more.

So, Idris Carter held onto the oblivion of a love that was starting to deteriorate, while Melanie found her isolation growing stronger than the love she once had.

Tennis was no longer their common ground; it became the very thing that drove them apart.

And as for Ramona—she never needed to watch any games to understand. She observed it through and through. She was born to it. If Ramona Iris James had to be shaped to live or love this way, to hell would she detest it. It didn't matter how much money was spent on weekly tennis sessions, how often she was reminded by radio stations, the media, dinner parties at her grandparents', or overheard conversations from her mother about upholding their legacy. She would rather consume herself with the few things that made sense in her life: her record of "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," her munchkin-bred kitten, Margo, the Claude Monet and Van Gogh posters scattered all over her wall, and most significantly, her collection of canvases and paintbrushes she had gotten from her father every year for her birthday.

However, consumption of a world she cherished became harder to manage when silence settled over the dinner table, with stacks of divorce and custody papers scattered around. Tiny Dancer played on her cassette, blasting through her headphones every midnight at two a.m. to drown out the repetitive banter that echoed within those thin walls. The house, once lived in and full of life, became a storage unit plastered with boxes filled with the remnants of what once was. And those remnants would be cast into two separate homes, two separate lives—six hours apart from each other. Eight-year-old Ramona was now playing two separate roles, living as a temporary child under her mother during holiday breaks in California—known as "The Maverick"—and permanently residing in one of her grandparents' apartments in Brooklyn Heights alongside her father, as " just Ramona”.

Playing doubles was no longer fun anymore.

It mattered until it didn't.

Until she was no longer alone.

Until California's golden boy with thorns in his side appeared in her hindsight.

VENUS WRITES

sorry for the hiatus lovies! life

has been extremely hectic. But

the wait is over and chapter one

is in the works and will be out soon.

I hope u enjoy the prologue :)

tags: @jazziejax , @lottiematthewsceo , @victoria-daydreams , @kendyzzlewp @kurtcobaingirlie @slyeyed