#sigmascape

[stimulantstage]

My favorite FF14 Boss

Neo Exdeath

Kefka

Hephaistos

Heavy Metal Theme! So I was really enjoyed playing this boss battle.

I'm really looking forward to the DAWNTRAIL update that will be coming to Korea in December.

More metal ! More Muscles! More Darkness Boss!

[dizgreen]

I think I’ve been on here long enough, so it’s about time I talk to y’all about my Grand Theory of Masculinity.

Yes that is what I call it.

Foreword: I’m a millennial, I’m about thirty years old and if there’s one thing that genuinely makes me think “god I hate the new generation” it’s all this bullshit Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson shit about how to be a “real man.” I absolutely despise this narrative that being a man is all about only caring about yourself and forcing others down to build yourself up. I see it corrupting more and more young men every day and I truly dread the point in time that it takes hold enough to bring back toxic masculine fathers and grandfathers and RUINS an entirely new generation of kids.

So I decided to sit down and think about why it bothers me so much. I’m of the belief you can’t reasonably say you disagree with something unless you have some kind of reason or alternative solution. Thus, I’ve boiled down what *I* consider to be the true essence of “what makes you a man”

To start off with, I don’t believe that you need a certain set of genitals to be considered a “real man”, which is why I put such an emphasis on the word “masculinity.” I believe that sorting people according to exclusively their genitals or their preferred identity is a bit archaic, but I DO believe you can sort anyone, regardless or pronouns or genitalia, into specific definitions of masculine or feminine traits and behaviors. I believe in defining those things as two sides of a whole, like a yin-yang, and that it shouldn’t compromise someone’s identity in any way just for displaying or taking pride in those traits.

So, here’s my big definition. Are ya ready?

Safety.

Masculinity, TRUE masculinity, I believe, is defined as when someone has a certain aura that makes you feel safe or protected when you’re around that person.

Now a lot of you that are attracted to masculinity might be disagreeing saying stuff like “oh but I like dangerous men” or “no I like it when someone feels a bit scary” but attraction, which is a totally different aspect that’s specific to you. Even then, the VAST majority of people that say they like “dangerous men” typically mean “I like it when men are dangerous and threatening but treat me with love and care” and THATS SAFETY, BRO.

I believe that the true concept of masculinity has been corrupted overtime by the machinations of insecure and weak men trying to convince others that they’re actually what people want in a man. All the signs are there.

A man should be strong to help you feel protected.

“WELL IM GONNA GET ALL BUFF WITH BIG MUSCLES SO THAT NO ONE WANTS TO MESS WITH ME”

but you also have to show you CAN protect them.

“WELL IM GONNA FREAK OUT AND TRY TO FIGHT EVERYONE THAT LOOKS AT ME WRONG SO NO ONE WOULD MESS WITH ME”

A man should be able to provide for his family so they feel safe and comfortable in their lifestyle.

“WELL IM GONNA WEAR A SUIT AND CONSTANTLY BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY I MAKE SO THAT EVERYONE THINKS IM RICH”

you know you actually have to give them attention as well though, right? You can’t JUST provide a paycheck.

“WHATEVER, ILL GET A COOL CAR AND IF THEY GET ANNOYED ABOUT ME NOT SPENDING TIME WITH EM ILL JUST GET A NEW GIRL, ILL TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY ANYWAY!”

A man should be able to be confident in his decisions so that the people around him feel secure and more confident in their own choices.

“OKAY SO WHAT IM GONNA DO IS WALK AROUND AND TELL EVERYONE ELSE TO FUCK OFF AND SAY I DONT CARE ABOUT THEM! THAT WAY PEOPLE WILL BE FOOLED INTO THINKING IM CONFIDENT WHEN IM ACTUALLY DEPERATELY CRAVING THEIR APPROVAL”

When I try think of the most MASCULINE MAN MAN I can possibly think of, you know what the image that comes to mind is? A dad. A slightly overweight dad with a blue collar job and a beard who works his ass off to provide for his family and then comes home exhausted and still finds the time to play a game of catch or wrestle with his kids. I believe that image to be the absolute peak of masculinity.

I truly believe that when people have an attraction to men or women or nonbinaries, they seek certain aspects of masculine or feminine behavior. I believe that when people are attracted to masculine qualities, if you boil down the very core essence of what makes them happy with a masculine partner, you’re going to get “they make me feel safe.”

Again, I’m not saying this is something you need to care about at all or should use to define your gender. This is just my analysis boiling down what I think went wrong which led to this bullshit idea that a real man needs to walk around and demean others and ignore his family and only care about himself while disregarding everyone around him.

I think if we use this one little core tenant as the base idea of what to consider “masculinity”, it could really help the men, women, and nb’s that are seeking a goal or ideal to strive for in what kind of person they want to be.

Sorry for the long post but, TL;DR:

Masculinity is when you make someone feel safe in your presence. NOT when you ignore or demean others around you in an attempt to look bigger.

So Fuck off, sigma bitches

[bakuzen-xiv]

Just some of my favorite shots of Orion looking ethereal on a train

[umbralaether]

Stasis

[impossible-rat-babies]

astro hit 70 so celebratory glam photoshoot

[hrms-t]

[valkariel]

Techstep

Updated version of Celestial Revelation.

Inspired by Lakira' Kina's SIGMASCAPE. Love this top/bottom combo! Works well with my favorite aiming shoes too :>

Head: Virtu Dancer's Headdress - pearl white Body: Omega Jacket of Aiming - dark purple Hands: Hypostatic Gloves of Aiming - jet black Legs: Eastern Lady's Loincloth - dark purple Feet: Ktiseos Sabatons of Aiming - default

Alt Head: Island Leaf Headdress |Mheg Deaca Circlet

Earring: Augmented Radiant's Earrings of Aiming Neck: (Augmented) Radiant's Choker of Aiming Wrists: The Emperor's New Bracelet Right Ring: The Emperor's New Ring Left Ring: The Emperor's New Ring

Alt Neck: Ktiseos Choker of Aiming | Edengate/Edengrace Choker of Aiming

Main Hand: Augmented Twin Moons - gunmetal black Off Hand: --

Fashion Accessory: -- Minion: -- Mount: -- Location: Ultima Thule - The Lost Hydraulic (Umbral Wind)

Shader: Faeberry Bokeh

[shizucheese]

So....I made affiliate on Twitch.

I literally just saw the email like 2 hours ago so I'm still kinda shaking over it. Emotes coming soon I just didn't have time to get that all set up in time. Sorry things might look a little....sloppeh at least for tonight while I get things sorted out. That being said....we're streaming as usual! When last we faced off against Omega, he....they? it? decided that threatening everyone we love and all of the innocents of the world in order to bring out the WoL's potential was a good and smart idea that wouldn't at all result in our girl wanting to punch a permanent dent into his dome.

Tonight we make Omega face the consequences of those actions as we jump into Sigmascape. Minimum ilv, no echo as always.

We've also got rank up quests available for the Ananta and the Kojin!

Catch me on Twitch every Sunday starting at 4:30 central and every Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 7:30 central! I've finally made affiliate, so let's keep that momentum going! Every view, bit and sub helps, and I appreciate you all!

[sir-adamus]

delighted that they brought back the Phantom Train from FFVI for Sigmascape

disappointed you can't suplex it like you could in VI though

[otherworldseekers]

FFXIVwrite2024: On Cloud Nine

WoLNero (indirectly) 715 words Post-Stormblood/Between Delta and Sigmascape Thancred and Severia meet over a meal to catch up with each other. Thancred gets the wrong idea.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s up?”

Severia narrowed her eyes at Thancred as she collected the last of the stew in her bowl onto her bread and popped it in her mouth. “Have you not been paying attention for the last 20 minutes?”

Thancred leaned his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. “Yes, your blow-by-blow account of your fights against Omega were riveting. Somehow I doubt that accounts for you suddenly being on cloud nine.”

Severia’s brow furrowed. She still didn’t get some of those idioms that were found in the common tongue. “What’s cloud nine?”

“It means overjoyed, ecstatic, elated, walking on clouds, extremely happy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m totally normal,” Severia protested. 

Thancred had strong doubts about that. He’d been walking by the Ironworks headquarters earlier that day and seen a number of them gathered in some kind of meeting, Severia among them. Curiosity and instinct took over and he had hidden himself close enough to get a good look at the proceedings. There was nothing abnormal about the matter under discussion. They were preparing to make their second foray into the Interdimensional Rift. What had struck him in particular was the Warrior of Light’s body language. 

It was the kind of thing he had been trained to notice. And he knew his friend well enough to know that there was a definite change in the way she held herself and the way she contributed to the discussion. There was a brightness to her that wasn’t her natural state, an eagerness she rarely exhibited. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she couldn’t wait to get back to the Rift. But her account of her battles just now had not indicated any such keenness for more. It had been nothing but complaints. The first battle was boring. The second was gross. The third was tedious. The fourth had taken her by surprise and got her injured. So what exactly was she so excited about returning to the Rift for?

He had his ideas, but he was hoping she would be willing to confide in him. “Is that so?” he said, prodding her gently. 

“Should it not be?” she evaded his question with her own. When he sighed audibly she added, “I’m sorry, Thancred, I’m just not really sure what you’re getting at. Can’t you just ask a straightforward question?”

Tell me, Severia, are you in love with someone? He snorted and downed the rest of his mug of ale. There was no way he’d get an honest answer to that. But he didn’t get the sense that she was lying either. Could she actually just be oblivious? Oh yes, she could, no doubt. 

“Forget it. You just look well. I wondered if something good had happened while I was gone.”

Was that a little color rising to her cheeks? Perhaps not entirely oblivious then. But who could it be? Someone in the Ironworks. Certainly not Biggs or Wedge. Jessie? Someone he didn’t know perhaps? Or… He kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner. It had to be Cid, didn’t it? The two had certainly spent a fair amount of time together over the years. And he had rescued her more than once. And now they were spending entire days together out at the Yawn. It made perfect sense. 

Cid, huh? It could be worse. Only, he had the distinct impression that Cid Garlond thought about very little other than the Ironworks and its projects. A man more married to his work he had seldom encountered. He hoped it wouldn’t end in disappointment for Severia. Ought he have a quick word with the man? Give him a little hint about her feelings?

He vetoed the idea as soon as it occurred to him. She wouldn’t thank him for interfering. And she was a mature woman. She could handle herself. And well, if things did go badly, he would always be there to offer comfort. But he hoped it did work out. 

Later when they had finished their meal and catching up on all their news, the two Scions bid each other goodnight. 

Good luck, my friend, Thancred wished silently as he strolled to his quarters. If anyone deserves to find happiness, it‘s you.

[writerman]

Spent all my time as a sage in Sigmascape V2 flying around in the little plane not healing my wife or her friend :3

[umbralaether]

Breath of the Earth

[impossible-rat-babies]

tank cheese leads to funny crab time

[dragon-hoard]

OKAY did the copied factory and

that fuckin engels fight man. I got rezzed and then EVERYONE ELSE on my team died so I got limit break for the first time and came in clutch. got 5 recommendations from it!!

quite the haul too: the healer top and boots, 2b outfit coffer, orchestrion roll, and the white pod minion

so funny when a downed ally was like can u lb pls and I couldnt even reply cause I was dodging aoes lmao

still gotta do 1st eden, orbonne monastery, and sigmascape. can you tell I've been putting them off??

[farfromdaylight]

bro i'm so pleased with myself

i decided that i wanted the pants from O7S, sigmascape 3.0 savage. it's a stormblood fight from the middle of the tier, and i know how easy a lot of the other omega raids are unsync, so i was like, you know what, i'll try it solo.

AND I DID IT. BLIND AND WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIGHT, I CLEARED IT SOLO. took a couple wipes but i succeeded and i'm so!! WHAT A DELIGHT. i don't usually enjoy blind runs, but since i know the normal version quite well, it was pretty easy to figure out the mechanics? and honestly it wasn't a difficult fight in terms of mechanics, it was just a matter of survival. i tried on summoner first and got blasted in no time, so i went on warrior and relied on all my self heals.

AHHH I'M SO PLEASED. i ended up clearing twice on catboy and i need to do the same for reis, but i might try to PF it for her since her gear isn't quite as good. mostly i'm just happy to have gotten the pants ✨