#new talents

[thesecretcodeoffashion-blog]

FUTURE: THE MECHANICAL COUTURE OF YUNLI

[sleevebuscemii]

there is still time never kill yourself etc etc

[scribeofmorpheus]

Why Dragon Age Veilguard isn't a "Cathedral"

Concept art by Matt Rhodes

"To disinherit the storylines of past games goes directly against the notion of building cathedrals."

What is inherent with Veilguard that keeps bothering me is the fact that the world's choices truly didn't matter--and it doesn't simply bother me from a player perspective, it's not simply a grievance borne of frustration to what I (as a longtime fan) have lost. It's about the very culture of the arts under capitalism's new media habituation cycle [x][x].

Yes, I spent hours of my life playing and replaying each instalment of Dragon Age. Yes, I painstakingly curated a 'canon' world state by replaying what came before in preparation for Veilguard. Yes, I am even more unsatisfied with the end product--time hasn't helped, it's just widened the divide. But, and I can't stress this enough, these very personal gripes aren't what hit home the most. It's the inherent disregard of legacy. A legacy that the previous writers and game developers were building towards.

In the DAV artbook, "cathedral" is the word used to describe the process of making a game. Matt Rhodes' exact words are: "One artist can make a painting, but it takes a team to build a cathedral." Cathedrals took centuries to build. The architect who drafted the first blueprints would likely never see his work realised, he had to rely on those who came after him, like-minded and passionate, to see it through--for the culture, for the future, for legacy. Painters took on several apprentices for this reason too--giant frescoes were not completed by one man's hand, even if it is one man's name that immortalises them. Similarly, if you weave a narrative around choice, what good does it do to take it away at the final act if not to fall to caricature?

To disinherit the storylines of past games goes directly against the notion of building cathedrals.

Late-stage capitalism and profit-margin-obsessed game producers forcing developers to churn out meager content, to make a known brand into something it's not, to chase a fad or a popular trend... o, how reductive and cliche you've been forced to become Bioware. We have lost the cultural thought patterns relative to Cathedrals. We know only of barn-raised churches--done in a day but unlikely to last the turn of the seasons.

And don't even get me started on the music of Veilguard either. From Origins to World of Warcraft to Everquest to Baldur's Gate to Dungeon Siege, you can hear the intricate interconnected weave of sounds inspired by the Dungeons and Dragons-esque fantasy genre. You hear it in the repeated use of certain instruments, in the harmonic weeping notes of a bard-like singer or the foreboding echoes of drums as if of war. In tavern songs. But then, rather than hire someone who loves these worlds and this genre, who is a hungry artist looking to make a name, a legacy if you will, for themselves with a spectacular score, you hire any already sated composer, one well-into the encroaching years of career fatigue, whose notes repeat in countless projects, who feels less concise and more uninterested with each new project. One who has long since cemented his legacy. Someone in it for a paycheck and nothing else! And, to top it off, you let him compose something so minimalist? I am offended actually.

Cathedrals! We should have witnessed the final tile being placed on the Dragon Age cathedral. Instead, some architects walked up, tore down the interior and installed IKEA furniture and called it authentic before having to call the previous architects to come and fix the "load-bearing issues", forcing them to rush and add a coat of varnish and a few 'aged' details for authenticity.

[velnna]

New skrunkle just dropped his name is Roy

[sidras-tak]

I went to a high school performance of Hadestown this weekend (it was fantastic btw, so polished and professional and all the actors, pit, and tech did a marvelous job). The audience was great too, full of applause and enthusiasm after every song. But one of my favorite moments was at the end, when Orpheus turned around. You could hear audible gasps from the audience, and then there was perfect silence for a full minute while the actors transitioned to Road to Hell (Reprise). No scattered applause as sometimes happens when a song ends and the next scene doesn’t immediately begin. No murmurs or whispers. Just silence. And Hermes’ actress milked that silence for all it was worth. She had total control of that silence. It was glorious. I’m sure many people in that auditorium— parents, teachers, supportive community members— showed up that night, not knowing the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. My mother-in-law certainly didn’t, sitting just a few seats down from me. And that collective gasp, followed by heavy silence is exactly what it’s all about. That’s the whole point— it’s a sad song. It’s a sad tale, it’s a tragedy. But we sing it anyway.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

i vote that next year instead of reading Dracula we do a Jeeves & Wooster Book Club. those two never got the rabid tumblr shipping fandom they deserved (disqualified for the sheer technicality of being published a century too soon). we must correct this injustice

[linuxgamenews]

Star Traders: Frontiers latest update levels up the experience even further

Star Traders: Frontiers tactical RPG game adds in new talents for the game on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. All of this brilliance is a testament to the creativity and expertise of the team at Trese Brothers. That currently has a big discount on Steam. We have a new update for Star Traders: Frontiers. As the captain of a starship, there is a crew that depends on you and a universe full of possibilities to explore in this tactical RPG. You and your crew need to keep evolving to tackle the endless array of tests you might face out in the vast cosmos. That's where this new update for Star Traders: Frontiers comes in - it's an injection of fresh content to keep the game exciting. So, Star Traders: Frontiers update #321 is unique in that it goes along with a 50% discount in the Steam Summer Sale. But it doesn't stop there, it also bring in two powerful level 15 talents for your crew members. Think of talents as special skills or abilities that your crew can use during their adventures. First up in Star Traders: Frontiers, we have a brand new ability for the Soldier class, "Still Standing". It's a lifeline when you're up against the wall. This Star Traders: Frontiers talent turns your soldier into a defensive powerhouse, due to make them nearly impossible to take down. There's a catch though, activating this powerful defense uses up most of your turn. But if you're waiting for your Combat Medic to patch you up, it's a great way to buy some time.

Star Traders: Frontiers Trailer

Next is the Pilot's new talent, "Engage Fighters". This ability lets you supercharge your offense and defense against smaller enemy vessels. Doing so at the cost of accuracy and damage against bigger ships. Example: a swarm of annoying enemy shuttles is coming at you. Flip the switch on Engage Fighters, and watch your ship become an efficient, fighter machine. Now, what's unique about this update is that it makes your Star Traders: Frontiers AI opponents smarter. Their captains and officers can now use a wider range of talents, making them more challenging and random. This means that no two battles will feel the same. One moment you might be up against a heavily armoured battleship, the next a nimble squadron of fighters. This Star Traders: Frontiers update also throws a spotlight on user-created content, with some great creations highlighted. Picture a spy-themed storyline complete with a unique ship and upgraded diplomats and spies, courtesy of The Spy Pack 1. Also, how about a chance to customize your captain and officers with new faces from the Playable Contacts Head Pack? And if you're into designing your own ships, you might like @davea No More Mass Reducers, a mod that simplifies ship building by removing the mass consideration. Remember, this is all thanks to the vibrant community for Star Traders: Frontiers. The feedback and creativity continue to make the tactical RPG experience even better. And if you like this flow of free updates, don't forget to show some support for Linux with a review. This update promises a lot of new action and smarter enemies. In Star Traders: Frontiers, the only limit is your imagination. Available on Steam with a 50% discount, dropping the price to $7.49 USD / £6.39 / 7,39€. Along with support for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

[shyjusticewarrior]

Duke suggesting they do a lazarus pit simulation

Jason eating jokerized fries in front of Duke

They're both like this

[kimtaegis]

MUSE (noun) : a source of inspiration

in collaboration with @fluffypelusa-blog ↳ happy 29th birthday, jimin ♡

click for hd

[2hoothoots]

been chatting with a friend who's playing through PN2 again and i want it to be known i will not hear anyone say a WORD about Hollis giving Raz a hard time at the beginning of the game. if anything she is OUTSTANDINGLY accommodating to this random ten-year-old who wandered in unattended off the plane in the middle of an extremely tense situation

[gothwineaunts]

"Another Cog in the Murder Machine" New season, new RNF art. ~

[ping-ski]

hihi!! i got the COOLEST opportunity to be a spot artist for @LMKFanzine aka Megapolis Mania! and guess what? LEFTOVER SALES ARE OPEN NOW!

run along now and go check it out! we all worked super hard on it <3 https://lmkfanzine.bigcartel.com

[countingstars-17]

📸: Max recognizes baby Charles and he remembers his helmet from karting days

✍️: Max recognizes Charles' tweet from when his girlfriend was locked out of the apartment because Charles was live on Twitch

🔊: Max recognizes Charles' "i am stupid" team radio and what race he said it

It doesn't matter if there's a photo, text or audio. Max will always guess that it's Charles!

[mobius-m-mobius]

I can rewrite the story.

Loki 1x01 // 2x05

[unproduciblesmackdown]

Lackadaisy Enrichment

[leafsfromthevine]

the boys are fighting (together. homoerotically, even).