#pro val player

[karlienhypen]

why have i suddenly become a pro at valorant?

jkjk.

i only won like 7 games in a row and went from bronze 2 to silver 1, but i was on a roll! something took over me yesterday i swear haha

(the streak has been broken 😭)

[thesummerstorms]

I know that it's because Inquisition had to leave the option for players to back either side of the Mage/Templar conflict and for either side to potentially be allied vs conscripted. Therefore, Veilguard cannot assume what kind of model the Inquisition set forth on the issue for characters like Harding.

But when I get Harding's dialogue with Neve about Templars in Tevinter and "What do you do when you can't trust the people in power to do the right thing?" my gut reaction is something like:

Lace. Sweetheart. Did you not listen to anything the Inquisitor [my mage Trevelyan who was gentle/polite/well behaved enough to be considered one of the "good ones" in her Circle, something her noble blood helped considerably, but was still almost driven to suicidal depression] had to say about the southern Templar Order as a whole? Ever?"

And my Inquisitor became less and less Chantry-appeasing and more and more openly pro-Mage as she went, too. Leiliana became Divine, permanently allowed the Mages to live outside Circles, and immediately began massive Chantry reforms.

But if you want to take what is mostly just a function of necessity in video game programming/ writing the script broadly to not invalidate past choices and make it work in universe?

It does kind of circle back nicely to the idea of the Inquisitor as a person and their personal convictions or decision making versus the Inquisitor as someone who has become living religious iconography, a symbol that people interpret into their own faith and world view.

It isn't that my Inquisitor Trevelyan didn't manage to use her position to make very significant progress for mages (and her other causes, which are less relevant here). Again, the Circles are done with. She put her thumb on the scale and Leliana, a reform driven, pro-Mage Divine is in place in Val Royeaux. That's a remarkable amount of change from the last several ages in southern Thedas.

But her power was acquired in a very specific manner. She had games she had to play for security, and a role she had to perform to be seen as deserving of that power. She was not in favor of the Chantry, but the Inquisition still was born from a Chantry organization and lead by former Chantry officials. Many if not most of her followers were there because of their faith in Andrastianism. The Inquisition is still a religious institution, even if the Inquisitor wants to break free or is left screaming on the inside.

So you end up with someone like Lace Harding, who is generally kind hearted and driven by good intent, still not understanding why the Inquisitor chose the Mages over the Templars.

The history the Templars have if you aren't Andrastian or if you have magic or if you are a non-human who either isn't sufficiently integrated into the local culture or who isn't allowed to be? Somehow didn't get communicated even though a good portion of the message was "The Templar Order as an institution is cruel and cannot be trusted; the Chantry has not used its authority in a way that is appropriate".

(Along with "No one should have this much power over someone else's life and personhood much less due to an accident of birth", but again that's the less relevant statement to the post.)

And Lace even has the line in Treviso about not always liking the people she found in Chantries! So I don't think she's entirely unaware. She's definitely not malicious.

But somehow with the cultural influences and pressures of the south, the use of the Inquisitor as an Andrastian symbol, willing or unwilling, and probably a long childhood of hearing about how Templars protect people and "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him."

You still end up with a Lace Harding, kind and driven by justice as she is, who is confused by northern Templars being corrupt and doesn't make the connection that the Templar authorities in the south also couldn't be trusted.

[korshrimpski]

WHAT CHAOS: Jordan Spence has the NHL's most interesting backstory

my favourite moments from this podcast [Youtube] [Spotify]

First of all they open the podcast like this: "You are the only player from Manly, Australia. Do you feel pressure being the NHL's only Manly man?"

One of the big reasons why the spence family moved to canada was too see what jordan could do playing hockey at a higher level because Japan's big sports is baseball (which he used to play) so hockey was kinda in the background

Spenny mentions how he got into hockey because his dad used to play it growing up. And he also explains where his passion for hockey outgrew baseball is when he would go visit Prince Edward Island in the Spring to play Spring hockey tournaments.

Jordan talks about youth hockey in Japan and how he played people older than him and when he moved to P.E.I people would ask him if there was even hockey in Japan, which was a very common question.

The host asked, "Have you ever crossed paths with Aito Iguchi?" who is a very popular japanese player and used to make hockey content on youtube. And this is another common question spenny is asked (btw the answer is no, he has never skated with him)

They asked if spenny ever had to do early morning training in japan and spenny didn't have any morning practices and the host find that wild

SPENNY TRIVIA #1: he had to travel an hour to go to his team in Japan

There is apparently a lot of Canadian hockey players that live in japan to play pro there so spenny found it cool growing up focusing on their skills and all that (ik i'm terrible at writing and explaining things, please forgive me)

He was not a chirper when he was younger

Part 1 of my favourite part of the podcast: context; when spenny moved to canada he didn't know english. And something that helped him understand english he asked his teammates "what are some bad words i can say" and in return he would teach them bad Japanese swear words

Part 2 of my favourite part of the podcast: when spenny was first trying to learn english he would speak in 3rd person and to quote, "so i would be like, 'oh Jordan hungry' or like, 'Jordan go to bed.'" LIKE?!? that isfucking beautiful i love it so much

then the host actually makes a funny joke saying that it's devastating spenny's english progressed from there because it would be intimidating if he said something like, "Jordan dropping 'em."

they ask about him being trilingual and this is his reaction (please he's so funny)

14. He would like to think he is trilingual but he kinda isn't? Like he can speak japanese and english.

15. But with french he would like it to be known that when Phillip Danault speaks french to him he can understand it, he just finds it tough speaking french.

16. he picked up french because of school and in the Q a lot of people speak french and when he was traded to Val-d'Or (north quebec),everyone spoke french so he had to learn.

17. he called phillip danault 'the man' twice because they were talking about how he was so popular in quebec and montreal

18. he also found it funny that people would speak french in front of them thinking they won't understand it but spenny would (i wish they delved into this more but sadly they didn't)

19. he found the australia experience very awesome and mentions how a lot of content was around him and how that was cool. But at the same time it was weird for him because he doesn't really feel connected to australia because he was only there for a year and a half and has no memory of it, so he felt like an imposter being called australian (I an australian dub the, Jordan Spence, to be a honorary aussie)

20. spenny wishes he had an aussie accent and him saying this made me feel very powerful like yes.... hehehe we are amazing.. hehe

21. then one of the host says, "Imagine if you were out their still having not finished learning English also speaking in an Australian accent." spenny cuts in and says, "third person as well." then the host continues, "third person as well... but doing like 'Jordan hungry' in australian accent, man you'd be, you'd have outrageous endorsement deals." | Like i'm so sorry i found this so funny because now i'm imagining spenny with a mangled aussie accent saying "jordan dropping 'em" and its beautiful 😭😭

22. then spenny does an... okay ish aussie accent. Idk it sounds the same as all the other non-aussies saying "good 'ay mate"

23. QUINTON BYFIELD MENTION 🗣️ (context: the host mentions how spenny learn qb was german through their podcast)

24. also this moment, "I had no clue (context: qb was part german). And you know, I'm really close with him... You know we hang out all the time." Like physically i am well, emotionally my heart has swollen 2 times

25. then they move onto talking about fantasy football and i'm sorry i don't understand fantasy football (i simply cannot comprehend NFL, so this bits going to be with the things i do understand) which is: qb and spenny have been team owners together for the past two year and so far their top guy isn't doing well

26. "whats [qb] like as a buddy?" 27. "he's such a goofball, it's actually crazy." JORDAN SPENCE DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW UNWELL YOU JUST MAKE ME "he's such a goofball" SPENNY AAHAHAHHA

28. hold on the answer continues, "He's such a goofball, it's actually crazy. It's funny for me you know, cause like I know how he is around the boys and like a great guy like he loves fooling around with the guys, you know pranking guys, joking around. And then you'll be- I'll be beside him, he'll just be doing the media and he's like dead serious. And it's like so funny to me cause like that's pretty much the only time he's serious is if he's doing something for the media or obviously when he's playing. So like he's you know, everyone loves him and he's a great player and you know, i'm, we hang out all the time and it's a lot of fun but it's, that's like on of the biggest thing that's kinda funny is the only time he's serious is like when he's playing hockey really." LIKE YES SPENNY!! ramble about your bestie (he's like me fr i will talk about my friends all day long)

29. One time qb and spenny were spotted on an ebike together and the host ask if doubling up on an ebike is a regular occurance and spenny says, "um yeah i think." and the host is like me fr saying, "fuck yeah." to the info

30. they ask about halloween and if spenny and qb have a couples costume planned and they don't. and spenny explains last years costume and how quinton suggested it and how it was very last minute.

31. also spenny is wearing a mets hat but he's not a mets fan he's just a fan of cool hats

32. then they start talking about baseball... i do not understand baseball either,, sorry. I'll try my best for this bit.

33. spenny likes baseball but doesn't have any teams and he usually watchs games for japanese players. and he would love to mention shohei ohtani

34. they ask him his relationship with drew doughty because spenny's family dog is named after hi. Because growing up jordan didn't really root for any team he mainly had players (his top 3 players were, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and Drew Doughty (doughty being his fav))

35. spenny calls drew a "goofball" in his rant about how cool drew doughty is and can i just say i love spenny describing people as goofballs

36. after the draft he is asked a questionnaire and one of the questions is "do you have a pet if so what is their name" and jordan was sitting there like "shit this is going to look so bad, because people might think i just got the dog and named it doughty." like my man was stressing

37. but it wasn't until 2 years ago when drew actually found out about the dog because spenny's roommate alex turcotte (a little tidbit: alex and spenny have been roomates for the past 3-4 years) and jordan is pretty sure turkey is the one that told dewey and dewey just starts laughing (thank you turkey for your service to the cause of embarrassing spenny)

38. Now spenny doesn't think to much about the dog being named after drew but when that happened he was so embarrassed

anyways hope you all enjoyed my incoherent rambles :3

[always-rolling-my-eyes]

Here are my thoughts on the DWTS Cast and Partnerships

Who I’m excited for:

-Stephen and Rylee - Mr. Pummel Horse Man! Before the Olympics even started I thought it would be cool if DWTS got a male gymnast for a change and after he went viral I knew he was a lock for the show. He’s clearly the early frontrunner and barring anything catastrophic, I can’t see them not making the finals because even if his dancing skills are subpar he will for sure be the People’s Prince and will be raking in the votes. I’m a little disappointed he didn’t get paired with Britt or Daniella, but I lowkey feel like Rylee is being primed to be the new face of the show to attract a new generation so, I’m not too surprised they gave her the ringer of the season. Plus, I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do choreography-wise with a competent partner. They’re my preseason winner pick

-Illona and Alan - Love her personality, love her attitude, love her confidence, love her. I am SO happy she is doing the show. I was worried they wouldn’t want more than one Olympian on the season but I am so glad that wasn’t the case. Not only do I think she is going to kill it but I also think she will be the most fun. I have high hopes for Alan, he’s usually pretty reliable when it comes to choreography. I don’t really remember anything remarkable from him over the years, but I also don’t remember anything super terrible, so I think he knows the potential he has with this partnership and he won’t waste it. I think she could be the closest to spoiling Stephen’s win and it’s crazy how possible an all-Olympian Final 2 is

-Tori and Pasha - Donna Martin graduates! Sorry, but my fellow 90’s kids will know exactly what I’m talking about. I cannot be the only person who can’t believe she hasn’t done this show before, especially considering how many other 90210 cast members have been on already (RIP Shannon Doherty 💔🕊️) I don’t think she’ll be a great dancer, probably more middle of the pack, but she does have Pasha as a pro, and that goes a long way in this competition. I think with Pasha’s ability to teach / choreograph to his partner’s strengths and being the perfect 90’s nostalgia vote for the demographic, I can see her going far…unless she’s super, super terrible 😬

-Reginald and Emma - Oh, hi Big Guy! I didn’t even like Family Matters all that much but I still can’t tell you how lowkey excited I was when I heard his name, and I think a lot of others will feel the same. I think he’s going to be lovable and sweet and another one who will hit this demographic right in all the nostalgia feels. And with Emma as a partner, well that girl has proven herself (time and time again 😒) to being a miracle worker, and as frustrated as I am that she always gets partners like this, I can’t say I don’t enjoy the partnerships because she is just so good with them. He’s either an early boot or going far and the show will have to manipulate his elimination

Who I’m intrigued by:

-Danny and Witney - All I know is that he’s a football player and they notoriously do well on this show, so I have to admit I am very interested to see what he can do and WITNEY’S BACK! The last time she came back from a break she was better than ever so I am very much looking forward to seeing her in the ballroom again and I think this pair will be a dark horse to look out for

-Chandler and Brandon - I have never heard of her before. Disney girl, Pretty Little Liars spinoff, that’s all I got when I looked her up. I think she’s going to be a great dancer and Brandon will do great with her, however, I worry about her coming in with what could potentially be a very young and small fanbase and I don’t think the producers will go out of their way to help Brandon, do I can see this couple being a sacrificial lamb to help move forward the producers agenda. Then again, I had never heard of Xochitl last season and she won the whole damn thing so, who knows 😂

-Phaedra and Val - THIS A’INT PHAEDRA! (RHOA fans will understand) She’s hysterical, works hard and knows what needs to be done but doesn’t take herself too seriously. I think she will be a great performer but perhaps some of the more technical dances might be problematic for her but I think her personality will shine through no matter what. Still hate Val.

-Jenn and Sasha - I don’t watch any of the Bachelor / Bachelorette, but I heard she had a DEVASTATING night on Monday, like oh my god. This last minute addition does feel a little bit icky, like ABC is trying to ease some of the blowback they got from fans and the media for how she was treated during her finale, but I hope she has fun and enjoys the experience…well, as much as she can enjoy is with Sasha as her partner. I have zero faith in Sasha’s abilities. Why DWTS feels the need to continuously shove this untalented, misogynistic, offensive gremlin down our throats I will never know but all I can hope for is Jenn gets a positive experience out of it

Who I’m ehh on:

-Joey and Jenna - Like I said, I don’t watch any of the Bachelor / Bachelorette so I still kind of have no idea who this man is. Jenna’s a terrible teacher, so unless he has dance experience already he is not going to be good, but Bachelor Nation will probably carry him to at least the middle of the season, but I am curious if they will split votes between Joey and Jenn. I wonder who Bachelor Nation would rally behind, Joey or Jenn? But the real question is, who would the producers rally behind, Sasha or Jenna? 🤔 Watch this space…

-Brooks and Gleb - I have no idea who this woman is. A Sports Illustrated model? Great, more mediocre, sexy dances from Gleb, just what I was hoping for. I think they’ll get to week 3, MAYBE week 4, until Gleb checks out and they’ll end up being a middle, unexciting elimination

Who I wish I didn’t have to acknowledge their existence:

-Dwight and Dani - Never a fan of SA allegations, so I will not be supporting. Sucks Dani has to deal with this because I know she is probably going to come up with some amazing choreography for him but 🤮

-Eric and Britt - YUCK. So problematic, I just…don’t understand why they would even cast this man…did they think there would be a chance Julia would show up in the ballroom? Who am I kidding, they would’ve settled for Emma, but neither is happing, that’s for damn sure. Why do they keep doing this to Britt? She deserves so much better (no female pro deserves to have to deal with this, for the record) DWTS is never kind to her but at least she’s getting a husband out of it

-Anna and Ezra - I don’t care. I just…don’t care. The ankle monitor just shows how low this show is willing to go which is especially gross when there are plenty of celebrities who have been campaigning to get on this show for years and she doesn’t even seem to want to be here. Ezra, I am so sorry, but maybe they’ll let you choreograph one of the pro numbers?

Me being petty:

SOMEONE CHECK ON SCHEANA (Vanderpump Rules fans will understand 😂)

[inmaki]

HIIII val anon checking in cuz i havent been back in awhile LMAO just wanna pop by and say hi i hope you’re doing well ‼️‼️🫶

- ur fave pro val player ( real )

VAL ANONNNN IMY <3 im doing well i js finished a huge project so like. im gonna work on one of my many text reqs!!! and then my gojo fic maybe !! HOW ABOUT UU HOW IS LIFE!!!

[dodgebolts]

also I’m still fucking crying at the fact that basch and I (iron-bronze aka lowest few rankings) queued into a tdm against a literal pro Val player on their top 5 NA radiant account LIKEWJDKHFDB RIOT FIX UR SHIT

[ofhousekadara]

Minrathous and the Shadow Dragons

*This is part of a personal challenge for how I’d work largely within the existing framework to tweak things. It’s fun to think about.

For factions/locations, I am structuring them in terms of world state is like as well as some quests that I thought would be interesting.

Minrathous + Dock Town

I was pretty disappointed that the extent that we really explore was only Dock Town.

Minrathous would be a primary location like Arlathan, with players being able to access High Town and Dock Town. Dock Town would be mostly for Neve’s cases and exploring the Catacombs, and the High Town area from the beginning of the game would be for Shadow Dragon quests and some of the main story beats.

Dock Town would remain a place showcasing the downtrodden and commoner experience, with dock workers, small merchants, and impoverished people. There would be a slave population working as well, with frequent Templar presence. Aesthetically, it would remain the same, with low magic. On the flipside, the High Town area would be expanded, with a focus on verticality and building atop elven ruins. It would be brighter with more upper class citizens around and finer amenities. (The attire would shine here like in Val Royeaux) If Rook is a qunari or elf, players would be treated with disdain, while humans and dwarves would have neutral responses. This location would be a chance to show off what magic could do in a controlled and defined way, as an alternative to the wild magic of Arlathan.

If Minrathous is left to fend for itself, the building damage would be increased a bit, requiring shortcuts to navigate the city and retrigger the waypoints. (*Not in a complicated way for gameplay sake. For example, if a waypoint was on the ground, now there's rubble in the spot and it gets triggered via a ladder.) Additionally, there would be more Venatori presence in areas that were relatively quiet before as well as evidence of blood magic and rituals, even in High Town. Latent magic would attract more demons. The SD hideout would not be affected entirely since it would be relocated, but the group would still be targeted with less members in the hideout or ambushes as a SD Rook. However, the chaotic state of the city has pushed some citizens to rally against the cultists and corrupt leadership. Some citizens will offer help for the Shadow Dragons against the Venatori. The idea is to provide a pros/cons situation for which city to help. The player would not know this necessarily, but it would be an opportunity for replay and also arguing Rook's stance.

Enemies

Venatori

Demons (Pride, despair, envy)

Mercenaries

----

The Shadow Dragons

The Shadow Dragons would be an active freedom fighting group that is busier now with the Venatori threat on the horizon. Their primary hideout would be moved to the sewer area that is an extension from the pawn shop. This is a group with people from all walks of life, including some that were past slaves that you can talk to and learn more about. There are also some that are high ranking magisters and leaders who must be careful, so players would only encounter them during certain missions or in the High Town area. Neve is not officially a part of the group but is a contact for them in their work. This allows her to have enough distance to not compromise the faction as she encounters powerful enemies.

Quests

Slaver Auctions: Freeing slaves and other captured people from being purchased and used by the Venatori in their rituals.

Venatori Ranks: Following up on potential Magisters amongst the ranks of the Venatori. Keeping them alive provides information but they are still threats.

Rumors: Dorian has heard talk of magisters losing their powerful objects. Getting these things out of the hands of magisters is a plus, but where is it going? Following up on reports of elusive elves that may be Fen’harel agents.

[kroashent]

Faebruary '25 # 18 - Janed the Chough

"Perhaps there is some agreement we can come to. I am sure you will be quickly convinced of my... diplomatic credentials..."

------------------------------

Faebruary: I am very excited to share this monthlong project with you all! Regular viewers of this channel will know that a lot of my creative focus goes into Kroashent, my ongoing fantasy series. There's a ton of background lore for the series, so I thought it might be fun and helpful to run a little project to introduce to viewers new and old, to the characters and creatures of Kroashent, with a twist!

For the month of February (or rather "Faebruary!" I will be posting drawings of the characters of Kroashent as different creatures from Alvez, their world. To begin, these creatures will be the "Tuath", the sapient, social creatures of the world (think the playable species of D&D). (We'll address the beasties and things that go bump in the night in a future project)

------------------------------

Dugez Janed "Ar Flamme" Monforz: Janed is the Dugez (Duchess) of Letha, representing the pro-fae Ermine faction in the ongoing civil war that has engulfed the Duchy. A skilled tactician and diplomat, she has no hesitation in leading her own soldiers in battle, leading to her nickname of "fiery" Janed.

Chough:The avian servants of Winter, the Chough are fierce berserkers, reknowned for their unrestrained frenzies in battle. Originally the cursed army of a haughty island Queen, the Chough have a reputation for unbridled passions and inhibition free lifestyles.

[Wiki Entry Pending]

Val's Notes: Janed is an important character in the world of Kroashent, a major player in the overarching events that shape the lands where the Forthaves occupy. Janed is actually inspired by a real historical figure Jeanne of Flanders, a 14th century ruler and certified badass. In Kroashent, She is a claimant to the Dugal throne in the ongoing civil war, but her role in regard to the protagonists is still in flux as I develop the plot and world.

The Chough, similarly, are in transition and refinement. They are inspired by a series of different sources, including the legends of the Irish Morrigan, the haciography of Saint Benedict, the descriptions of Celtic armies by Julius Caesar and others. I would be remiss in not mentioning the Raven transformation series drawn by @IvanksMW, in which various Kroashent characters have made guest appearances. Including the ravens as a canonical part of Alvez seemed like a fun way to return the gesture, and the chough are the result of that, albeit with some changes to better fit the world's lore. I hope to publish a proper writeup for the chough

------------------------------

If you are interested in supporting Kroashent and projects like this one, considering showing your support on my Patreon! Patron's will get an exclusive nude version of most of the Faeburary pictures, including this one!

[blowflyfag]

WOW MAGAZINE : march 2000 vol. 1 Issue 11

THE LOWDOWN ON D’LO BROWN

FORMER NATION OF DOMINATION BODYGUARD TARGETS A WWF SINGLES TITLE

[D’Lo Brown is finally getting his shot in the World Wrestling Federation.]

Of all wrestlers’ walks down an entrance ramp to a ring, D’Lo Brown’s version is one of the most memorable. Brown does not spray beer or raise his hands in sort of symbolic gesture. Instead, he struts to the ring with his head waggling, revealing all the confidence a wrestler should have when he boasts for World Wrestling Federation European championships and one Intercontinental championship on his resume.

Brown [real name: A.C. Connor] debuted in Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1994 and began his WWF career in 1997 as a bodyguard for The Nation of Domination. He quickly moved on to individual pursuits and remains a threat for any singles title. In this exclusive WOW Magazine interview, conducted in Miami, Brown talked about his success and the origin of his head waggle, among other topics. 

Q. Who is your favorite wrestler to work with?

A. Of all the guys I have wrestled, I’ve gotta give that credit to X-Pac. He is definitely my favorite opponent. Something about our styles just match, and it’s really good to be in the ring with him.

[D’Lo Brown gets Al Snow in a headlock.]

D’LO’S DISH

HEY, D’LO. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THESE FOLLOWING WORDS?

MARK HENRY… “Potential”

TERRI RUNNELS… “Drop dead gorgeous”

VINCE McMAHON… “Consummate professional. It’s a pleasure to work for him.”

DROZ…”I love him.”

TED TURNER… “Businessman who doesn’t have a clue about the business.”

THE ROCK… “Phenomenon”

STEVE AUSTIN… “Phenomenon to the highest power”

HARDCORE WRESTLING… “Enjoyable.”

SOCKO… “I don’t have a clue how that damn thing got started or why it got over (laugh).”

IVORY… “Beautiful”

MONEY…”Important”

GOLDBERG… “Outstanding superstar who came out of nowhere”

JERRY LAWLER… “Funny as hell”

JIM ROSS… “Total straight shooter”

IDOL… “Muhammad Ali

FUNNY… “Watching any Mark Henry skit”

CHRIS JERICHO… “He’s a major player.”

CHYNA… “My baby sister”

Q. What was your most memorable match?

A. The night I won the Intercontinental title from Jeff Jarett [July 27, 1999]. It was a great match, and my name went into the lineage of all the former great Intercontinental champions. Being the only person to have the two belts at the same time, the Intercontinental and European titles, made it a great night for me!

Q. What cities do you most enjoy coming back to?

A. Chicago, definitely. My heart is always there. Chicago is certainly a great place to go, but my favorite city to wrestle in is New York City. If you can go into Madison Square Garden and entertain those fans, then you’ve done something special.

Q. What is it like behind the scenes in the World Wrestling Federation?

A. We’re like one big family. We’re like a big fraternity in the locker room. The boys like hangin’ out and having fun. We’ll sit and play dominoes and cards or interactive games on our laptops. From the office down to the guys who set up the ring, it’s very professional, and I've never experienced that anywhere else.

Q. How did you come up with your famous entrance, the head waggle?

A. Two years ago, my character was very generic. I just walked to the ring and that was it. I was in the shadows and on the coattails of other people, so I tried to find something that was unique. It developed from Merton Hanks, who until this year played pro football for the San Francisco 49ers. Now he plays for the Seattle Seahawks. If you see him intercept a pass and run it back for a touchdown, watch the way he shakes his head. When I got that really cool version of The Nation entrance music, the head shake went from something little to something that nearly breaks my neck!

[D’Lo Brown in action: Pinning Val Venis (left) and whipping Jeff JArrettt into the corner (below).]

Q. Who came up with your entrance music, “Danger at the Door?”

A. Jim Johnson, the federation’s music coordinator, came to me with an idea, and I took a song that I liked and asked if he could make something along those lines. My first music was a little down and mellow, and the fans didn’t really get into it. We found a local artist in New York City, wrote some lyrics and came up with something just phenomenal. I love it. People all over, especially now that [World Wrestling Federation: The Music] Volume 4 is out, tell me how much they enjoy it. People can get into it. They hear the music and they know that D’lo’s coming to the ring!

Q. What titles do you hope to win?

A. Well, there’s always the Intercontinental title. And you know, I'm damn sure that one day I’m going to be world champion!

Q. Name one celebrity you were thrilled to meet?

A. I’m going to be a Florida mark here. It would have to be Dan Marino, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. I was very excited to meet him.

Q. What famous person do you most want to meet?

A. Muhammed Ali

[paleyshelie]

NBA 2K25: Tis the Season Event Brings Galaxy Opal LeBron James and Holiday Cheer to MyTeam

The holiday season is here, and NBA 2K25 MT is celebrating in style with the highly anticipated Tis the Season event. For players, this event promises a mix of elite player cards, exciting challenges, and festive content that will help you build a competitive MyTeam lineup and enjoy the spirit of the season. Headlined by the release of Galaxy Opal LeBron James, this update is one of the most impactful events of the year, both in terms of the cards available and the festive spirit surrounding the game. Whether you’re diving into packs or eagerly awaiting free content, there’s something for everyone in this holiday extravaganza.

Let’s break down everything you need to know about the Tis the Season promo, the standout player cards, potential future updates, and pro tips to get the most out of this limited-time event.

The Star of the Show: Galaxy Opal LeBron James The centerpiece of the Tis the Season promo is none other than the Galaxy Opal LeBron James, one of the most highly sought-after cards in NBA 2K25. As soon as this card hit the packs, it was clear that LeBron would be a game-changer. With an array of insane stats, this version of LeBron is primed to dominate every facet of the game.

LeBron James: A Must-Have Addition to Your Lineup This Galaxy Opal card boasts a stunning 97 Speed, 92 Three-Point Rating, and an incredible 98 Driving Dunk. These attributes alone make LeBron an elite option in MyTeam, both offensively and defensively. Whether you prefer driving to the rim or spotting up from beyond the arc, this card offers unparalleled versatility.

LeBron is already one of the most dominant players in NBA history, and his digital version in NBA 2K25 stays true to his on-court prowess. His combination of size, speed, and basketball IQ makes him an excellent option for any lineup. Whether you’re trying to take over in MyTeam Unlimited, progressing through challenges, or simply enjoying casual play, having LeBron as your centerpiece will give you a significant advantage over your opponents.

In addition to his impressive stats, LeBron’s animations are as smooth as ever, making him one of the most enjoyable cards to use in the game. His dunking ability is unrivaled, and his ability to facilitate the offense through passing makes him an ideal choice for players who love to run their offense through a playmaking forward.

For MyTeam enthusiasts, this Galaxy Opal LeBron James is not just a top-tier player — he’s the centerpiece of an elite lineup.

The Other Stars: Galaxy Opal Penny Hardaway and More While LeBron James steals the spotlight, there are several other top-tier cards in the Tis the Season promo that shouldn’t be overlooked. One of the most exciting additions is Galaxy Opal Penny Hardaway, a versatile point guard who is perfect for players who love to run their offense through a tall, smooth playmaker.

Penny Hardaway: A Tall, Versatile Point Guard Standing at 6’7” with a 93 Speed rating and elite ball-handling stats, Penny Hardaway is a dream card for players who like to create offense with a lengthy and smooth point guard. Penny is an exceptional passer, a great defender, and can also score efficiently from all areas of the court. His ability to run the floor, create plays for teammates, and score on his own makes him a must-have card for any player who enjoys an uptempo offense or switching between multiple offensive schemes.

Aside from LeBron and Penny, the promo includes several other notable players, ranging from Pink Diamond to Diamond tier cards. These cards ensure that even players who don’t want to spend a lot of VC can still find solid options to improve their team.

Other Notable Cards in the Tis the Season Set For those looking to diversify their roster without breaking the bank, the promo offers a variety of Pink Diamond and Diamond cards. These players bring strong stats and excellent gameplay potential, making them valuable additions to your lineup.

Yao Ming (Pink Diamond) Standing at an imposing 7’6”, Yao Ming is a powerhouse in the paint. While his three-point shooting is limited at 54, his size, strength, and defensive presence make him an absolute nightmare for opponents in the post. His ability to dominate on the boards and protect the rim ensures that he’s an excellent option for players looking to add a dominant center to their roster. While his true potential may shine later in the season, particularly around the Chinese New Year, Yao is a solid card for players who like to play a traditional big man role in the paint.

Kyle Korver (Pink Diamond) Korver is one of the best pure shooters in NBA 2K25, boasting a staggering 98 three-point rating. While his driving dunk and speed are relatively average, Korver’s ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots from deep makes him a vital asset for teams that rely on spacing and perimeter shooting. Players who prefer a shooting-heavy lineup will appreciate his ability to sink threes from virtually anywhere on the floor. His smooth release makes him a great option for players looking to fill the role of sharpshooter.

Steve Smith (Pink Diamond) Steve Smith, the versatile 6’8” wing, brings solid all-around stats to the table. His great animations and combination of scoring and defense make him a reliable option for building a balanced roster. Whether you need a secondary ball handler or a lockdown defender, Smith can do it all. His ability to hit threes, finish at the rim, and guard multiple positions makes him an excellent value for players who prefer a well-rounded team.

Brad Miller (Pink Diamond) The inclusion of Brad Miller in this promo has surprised many, but it’s one that offers value for players who are looking for a budget-friendly center. Standing at 6’11”, Miller has decent shooting and mobility, making him an intriguing option for those looking to fill the center position without breaking the bank. His versatility and ability to stretch the floor make him a solid, affordable option for building a competitive team.

The Call for Better Free Content: Locker Codes and Holiday Events While the pack contents are exciting, many players, including myself, have been hoping for more robust free content. The Tis the Season event has introduced the 12 Days of Giving, but so far, the rewards have been underwhelming. For players who are hoping for something truly special, a free Galaxy Opal Locker Code could be the perfect holiday treat. Previous years have seen exclusive cards like Zion Williamson and Ja Morant made available through Locker Codes, and the community is eager for similar rewards this year.

In addition to Locker Codes, a Christmas-themed event, similar to past Hoopsmas events, would add a layer of excitement to the holiday season. The idea of collecting presents in exchange for exclusive rewards like Hall of Fame badges, event packs, or even free player cards would keep players engaged and motivated throughout the season. After all, rewarding players with meaningful content keeps the holiday spirit alive and ensures that MyTeam remains exciting during the festive period.

What to Expect Moving Forward Looking ahead, we can make some educated guesses about what 2K has in store for the rest of the holiday season:

Locker Codes: It’s almost certain that at least one major Locker Code will drop on Christmas Day, likely offering a free Pink Diamond or Galaxy Opal player to celebrate the holiday.

Holiday Events: Limited-time events like the Season of Giving have been hugely popular in past years. A similar event would provide players with the opportunity to grind for exclusive rewards while keeping the festive spirit alive.

Auction House Activity: With Galaxy Opal LeBron James now in packs, the Auction House will likely see an uptick in activity as players scramble to afford the King. This could be a great time to grab discounted Pink Diamond cards with extra Hall of Fame badges.

Budget-Friendly Additions: The promo typically includes a variety of Diamonds and Amethysts that are both effective and affordable. Players who don’t want to spend too much MT should keep an eye on these hidden gems.

Pro Tips for the Season To make the most of the Tis the Season event, here are some helpful tips:

Invest Wisely: If you spot a Pink Diamond LeBron James with multiple Hall of Fame badges in the auction house, grab it. With the release of the Galaxy Opal version, prices for the Pink Diamond will be at their lowest. Stay Updated: Keep an eye out for Locker Codes and event announcements. Follow reliable sources for the latest updates to maximize your rewards during the holiday season. Enjoy the Grind: Even if the free content doesn’t match the packs, take advantage of events like the 12 Days of Giving and other limited-time opportunities. Every reward counts when building a competitive lineup. Final Thoughts The Tis the Season promo in NBA 2K25 has already delivered excitement with the release of Galaxy Opal LeBron James, but the true test will be how 2K balances the pack content with rewarding free offerings. While the pack content is undeniably enticing, it’s up to 2K to deliver meaningful and engaging content that will keep players coming back throughout the holiday season.

As we look forward to the rest of the holiday events, the community remains hopeful for Locker Codes, additional surprises, and an overall enriching experience for MyTeam players. Whether you’re hunting for Galaxy Opals, building a competitive squad on a budget, or just enjoying the holiday festivities, there’s no better time to dive into NBA 2K25. Happy holidays and good luck on NBA 2K MT Coins your journey to building the perfect team!

[vigilskeep]

the truth is that as interesting as it can be conceptually, i find choosing between your companions for the next divine to be kind of cripping for worldbuilding because it forces you to defang what a medieval pope is actually like if it’s exclusively people you have already sold as the player’s potential besties who will all happily work together. (of course dai defanged the chantry in general just for no reason and then villainised divine vivienne anyway but let’s not talk abt it rn.) it also weakens the strength of those companions’ beliefs, like oh so they’re all just... fine, when it swings the other way? none of them try to do anything, they just get handed the role? makes them very passive characters

since i’m very interested in developing some high-level chantry clerics because women in the role of medieval religious powerhouses is fascinating, and i’m not really doing the conclave, and i’m absolutely not creating a situation where the chantry would start looking to your party for candidates during the game because most of the chantry will still be doing the inquisition, i don’t see why i have to be locked into that. honestly it would be weird to force. the setup does mean the player could only really approach clerics who are in opposition to the inquisition but that kind of usefully explains why you only have a couple of options

tentatively saying that there would be a few “main options”: maybe option 1 is a take on mother giselle, an orlesian who is loved for her charitable reputation because she is the PR woman of all time, and is also with you from the start as your PR woman. she has goals to restore the chantry and its image, and if anything maybe to slowly coax mages back to their circles over time rather than force it, which is what she sees as justinia’s mistake. option 2 is a fereldan cleric (i would love to do smth crazy and medieval, like a sort of warrior bishop-prince who has her own arling) who is a radical who thinks there should not be a divine in val royeaux and will basically split the chantry if she becomes the most popular voice when the inquisition falls. i want to let you instigate a schism so fucking bad. sort of a high risk option for the future that some say could cause more religious war everywhere, but depending on your politics the rewards are potentially great. absolutely the most pro mage but in her bizarre kind of nationalist kind of fantasy protestant way where she thinks that monarchs should be the ones to decide what to do with their own mage subjects, bc i won’t let any chantry leader be normal. and then maybe there should be an option 3 who is the most traditional, like someone who is not quite happy abt justinia’s choices but still sticking to the chantry during this and firmly pro-circle, and you can convince her it’s for the good of the chantry’s safe transition if she steps back and is still standing when the inquisition falls...? which would be aimed mainly at those roleplaying loyal chantry-goers who were caught up in this against their will and don’t really oppose the inquisition’s goals so much as their methods

other ones to throw in there: i would consider vivienne as a wildcard option because i do think she’s the most interesting of the original options. not sure abt that though because there’s kind of enough to deal with here and i want to do other things with her. otherwise, if there really is a late-game evil route where you side with the inquisition, that would create an option with idk you could put in someone from the inquisition or, and i honestly really like this one, the herald themself. i could see it just locking you into option 3 if that’s too much though, i’m already complicating the issue a lot

if i say that in my dai rewrite i would write chantry leaders back into the world rather than be like “oh well everyone powerful died at the conclave so nevermind”, would you guys all just promise to believe me that it would be cool and interesting to have them there and to make you choose who to side with. source: trust me

[phamphamz]

BRUNURI I DONT PLAY VAL R THOSE GOOD OR BAD STATS 😭

-🫧

THEYRE AMAZING IM A PRO PLAYER

[hamausagi]

every other pro val team having cool ass player cards in their bundle:

my two favorite teams having the most plain and ugly card in the world:

[alleyhearts]

Hello and welcome!

My name is Puppet, I use she / it pronouns, and I am over 25 years old. My detailed rules and muse list can be found HERE! This is a sideblog, and follows back from @scuttlingsinner.

Due to the nature of the source material, there are certain topics which are unavoidable when engaging with this content. There is a non-zero chance that you will see dark and disturbing content, much of which will likely be untagged. It's not just a bag of dead dove here, it's the whole fridge. Please keep in mind that one of my high activity muses is, in fact, Valentino. I do not intend to fully censor what kind of person Val is.

Other " standard " content warnings will be applied, listed below. If you are copy / pasting from this list into a blacklist

rape cw ( one of the few exceptions to the rule of " you should expect this if you follow, so it will not be tagged " )

underage cw

spoilers cw

incest cw

feral cw

vent cw

drama cw

If any avoidable subject needs to be tagged, please do not hesitate to send me a message. I will ask no questions.

This blog is 18+ only, and the player aligns with pro-fiction / " pro-ship " ideas. I believe that as long as there is no intentional harm being done to a living human, I do not care what someone writes or enjoys within the confines of fiction. It is none of my business unless I'm writing with you, and even then, it is only my business as long as we're writing it. I also do not have a DNI list, but if you do, and I fit it, please do not break your DNI to follow me.

Take care of yourselves, don't be an asshole, and have fun!

[compacflt]

have you ever considered writing more about icemav's respective childhoods? i'm always thinking about val kilmer saying in his memoir and documentary that he had obsessive dreams about ice's father who made him feel he had to prove himself as The Absolute Ideal Man and that the interactions he dreamt about between ice and his dad surely "imbued ice with greater fury" and his obsession with perfection made him arrogant.

yeah i go into ice’s childhood a little in my slider one shot since they’re right out of high school when they meet. But val and I took it in two completely different directions. Val’s ice has daddy issues and a poor relationship with his father (extrapolating from excerpt above); my ice has lack-of-daddy-issues and NO relationship with his father. No dad = no man to model himself on = overcompensating. When I said, in mavericks POV (debriefing), that ice “clearly doesn’t know how to talk to other men,” I meant that with my whole chest.

i appreciate Val’s insight, and I’m not sure when his memoir was published, but i think TG86 Ice is complicated DEEPLY by his plot-necessary accession to COMPACFLT in TGM22. At least for me, his end rank of O-10 casts him in a totally different light. It implies that what he wants is not necessarily to be “The Ideal Man,” he wants to be The Ideal OFFICER. And there’s a lot of data to back up that claim in Top Gun 86, too: he’s so gentle with Maverick, even when he’s trying to intimidate him (take the intonation of “I heard that about you. You like to work alone,” for example—is that how you’d say that if you were trying to piss someone off?); and there’s also the fact that two of the five times Ice talks directly to Maverick are explicitly about his safety practices and how they affect the safety of the TEAM (“Who was covering Cougar while you were showboating with this MiG?” / “I don’t like you because you’re dangerous.”). I said in a post last week that I don’t think Ice is a team player—but a good OFFICER doesn’t have to be a team player to make sure that the rules are followed and everyone stays safe. I think if Ice were trying to be The Ideal Man, he’d look a lot more like super-cool bad-ass rule-breaker MAVERICK (the buff daredevil male protagonist of a pro-military propaganda movie), who is canonically overcompensating for HIS relationship with his father/his incredibly unhealthy toxic masculinity.

So, yeah. that’s just how i see it. Again, idk when Val’s memoir was published—the writers of TG and TGM treat Ice as a character very differently, and both characterizations necessarily reflect on the other. I did not get the sense that TGM Ice was “imbued with fury,” for instance. So I think Ice trying to be/feeling pressured to be the best OFFICER makes more sense in light of TGM than Ice trying to be/feeling pressured to be the best MAN.

I feel very shrug about mav’s childhood. Kinda seems like he got over that in TG86. He got to save his team the way his dad did, AND lived to tell the tale. Yay. His development’s pretty much done for the franchise.

[hxllblazer-a]

the unofficial companion guide to the DA AU

Generally selfish and pointed to try and avoid the greater issue at hand, John has no particular opinion in the greater war or well… much of anything outside of his home in Nevarra other than maybe it’s time for a change and this is the great big ‘told you so’ from Andraste. He is crass, annoying, prone to openly flirting with everyone as a joke, not much of a team player, and tends to distance himself from everyone—out of safety, of course, but when needed he can cooperate.

General approval:

Be selfish and dismissive.

Ally with mages and make pro-mage choices.

Take him to Val Royeaux at least once.

Be anti-Circle.

Flirt with him.

Do just about anything that’d upset nobles.

Be open to discussions about taboo magic like blood magic and demons.

Inquisition specific approval:

Do not exile the Grey Wardens.

Publicly expose Florianne.

Let Morrigan drink from the Well.

Support Leliana for Divine.

Collect Venatori tomes for him.

Imprison: Alexius,

Execute: Denam, Erimond,

Conscription: Samson

Pardon/Give to the Wardens: Blackwall

Put to common people’s work/charity work: Florianne (if alive), Poulin

Put remains to use: Florianne (if dead)

Refuse to judge a Warden: Ruth

Arm and exile to Te.vinter: Movran

Lock up in F.erelden: Dedrick

Recruit as a smuggler: Crassius

DA2 specific approval:

TBA

DAO specific approval:

TBA

Probably the list of people John gets along with (Inquisition specific):

 V.arric, Sera, Iron B.ull, Josephine, L.eliana

Probably the list of people who’d want John to jump off a cliff (Inquisition specific):

B.lackwall, Vivienne, Cassandra, Cullen, S.olas, Dorian

Definitely does not like being around (Inquisition specific):

Cole

Probably the list of people John would 100% try to get with:

Josephine, Iron B.ull, Dorian