#swtor nature of progress

[rajakaen]

Let me take you back to 6.1 Back then, I was invited to be the main tank in a Nature of Progress HM Operations Group that had lost their tank just before. During the "Stair Boss" I had to go AFK for about 5 minutes and upon my return I was treated to an interesting and well-thought-through maneuver...

One of the members from the OPs Group later asked if someone had recorded this display of high-intelligence performance and edited the video into the format you're now watching. For me, this was a moment of, "Err, guys, I'm back. What did I miss… well, never mind."

For those who are unfamiliar with what's happening - you cannot drag a Mob with Boss immunity along with you into death, even if you have Grapple and Hydraulic Override activated ^^

[legends-chauvinist]

Do droids ponder moons of electric cheese?

[tiredassmage]

brb sobbing, the most peaceful 2 seconds i’ve ever seen this man have and then the force was like “hey btws, saw the future, maybe, looked terrible have you seen this shit??? now you have!!!” and he was like >: ( skfnlsdnflks savosta i love u

[certified-anakinfucker]

VARHOPA TIIIMMMEEEEEE WAAAAAAAAAAAA THANK YOU OLIVER 🌹🌹🌹🌹

varhopa time....

var is mine, ahopa is @certified-anakinfucker's <3

[Commissions Open]

[sullustangin]

Spoiler Free SWTOR 7.5 comments

As it says on the tin.

Honestly, I am really liking the consistent content that Broadsword is putting out. Big patches are 4-6 months apart, little ones are pretty regular. Each patch -- whether it's a big 7.x or it's a 7.5.x -- has something that tries to address a player request/complaint. Since Broadsword took over, the amount of content might be more modest in terms of scale, but it seems like more care has been applied to it. Based upon the player survey and other quality of life improvements -- and even some hasty u-turns--, they are taking player feedback into account. I feel better about the game in Broadsword's hands than I did with Bioware.

Technically, I did not experience major problems with the patch. As reported in the patch notes, there is one cinematic where a key character's mouth does not move. That doesn't break the game, though you may want to wait to record the scene if you're into that. There's another point where you have to hit the right spot on the floor for your jetpack to disappear so you can pass through the next door, but that's an easy fix. Gearwise, I'm seeing reports of being at least in 332 greens, but as usual, player skill may vary.

Patch 7.5 starts the conclusion of the two storylines that have taken the mainstage of 7.0: the Holocron of Nul storyline and the Heta Kol storyline, which started back in 6.2 (pandemic patch). I feel like some of the "huh?" in the plot was baked in from where Bioware started it, so Broadsword is trying its best to finish the story they were given. Is it a busfire? Yes. Is it their fault? No, but they have to finish it.That said, this patch actually makes the player make choices, and you AGONIZE over them. It's not just personnel choices but also diplomatic ones. I haven't felt that way in a considerable amount of time. Yes, you do make choices in 7.0, but it's one person living or dying, be a jerk or don't be a jerk. Lower stakes. The stakes are higher here in 7.5 -- or at least it feels that way. That's an important part of game writing: even if the choice does not matter, there needs to be the illusion that it does -- a certain level of immersion. You do have cascading consequences of choices as well. I'm looking forward to playing this patch on my LS toon to do different choices, more so than I did previously. "Let's not be a jerk this time" is less than compelling than "Can I do it differently, this time?"

Overall, there is progress in the storyline -- this doesn't feel like a "busy work" patch or "here's a new daily area to keep you occupied". (To be clear, I loved the Port Nowhere and Ord Mantell content in 7.4 -- it was a giant love letter to smugglers -- but at the same time, it was a bit of filler, to be honest). The quests you need to do are necessary to gain the trust of a naturally fearful faction of sentients (no spoilers) -- it makes sense they aren't your besties for life right off the jump. You will yell at the screen at the end of the whole thing, because it does make sense and yet it's the worst option for your character, personally, and it's out of your hands. (And it is not out of character for the person who makes that decision...)

No new date night content -- maybe in 7.5.1. There is some romance content for those of us that romanced Lana and Theron.

If you are big into Mandos and have been impatiently waiting for Lane to give you a buzz, this is your time and your hour. If you enjoy training hunter pets in other games, your time has arrived.

There is also a new Spring Festival event on Dantooine. In truth, I find it sort of derivative of the Tillers' reputation you could earn in World of Warcraft during Mists of Pandaria. It isn't exactly the same (we don't have a cooking profession), but the general ideas apply, right down to the dailies involving having a beer and going fishing, as well as scouring the world for seeds. There's also animal rescue built in here as well, so it's a bit of everything for any hero who wants to retire or at least slow down.

But of course, something sinister is on the farm, and so I anticipate Scooby Doo Mystery Hour shall continue as the event carries on.

~~

Given that Broadsword "maintains" games such as Dark Age of Camelot, there has been the fear that they'll move SWTOR into retirement, but I don't think that will happen, as it's still a live intellectual property (Star Wars), they're making gobs of money off it due to Cartel Market, and there's still a player base. (And let's be real, Favereau and Filoni play it, and they do matter to Disney and EA.) I don't know when 8.0 will come out, so we may have another round of storylines in 7.0 -- sort of like how we had an extended 5.0 (Iokath and Traitor Arc) after Bioware was stripped down in 2017. That said, Onslaught was quite good after the KotXX shenanigans and dev changes had settled. I still hold the view that Bioware is a sinking ship, and EA moved the Goose that Lays the Golden Egg to Broadsword for safekeeping. I think we might get an 8.0 in 2025 or 2026, but how that will look or work -- no idea.

[sealeneee]

what's this. this bitch writes sometimes.

fandom: swtor

«failures», 762 words, pg-13, gen

warnings: swearing, suicidal themes, possible ooc

characters: theron shan & katona nardanna (oc); don't tag as ship

if you notice any typos/mistakes please let me know

Night has long fallen on Odessen as the Commander effortlessly steps over the railing of the base's roof. Carefully keeping her balance at the very edge, she grabs the banisters behind her, flinching at the coolness of the metal. Someone with a less grim mood would probably admire the starry void above.

"Going somewhere?"

The man's voice is rather casual for the situation he's facing. Katona smirks. At least he knows better than to get all teary-eyed at her.

"Yeah, wanted to go grab some bantha milk."

"What, you'd leave your kids all alone? I knew you were capable of cruelty, but that seems excessive even for you."

"«Kids», hah. Half the base's older than me, Theron."

"Aww, we're all still your little ducklings. Don't be silly."

The half-sincere, half-sarcastic tone of the conversation doesn't change. It has always been like that for them — masks of fake cheer not strong enough to cover the bleak nature of the conversation, but enough to chase away the heartrending unease of talking about your feelings.

"Seriously, though. What's bothering you? No promises on a resolution, of course, but I can offer things like getting blackout drunk or wreaking havoc."

"I already do the latter almost on a daily basis, Shan."

"True. So?"

"So."

The silence stretches for a couple minutes. It's never truly quiet — the soft hum of the electricity and the distant sounds of the local wildlife fill the void.

"I just feel like... like I'm running in circles. Powerless. Chasing shadows. Grasping at the faintest leads, and feeling them slip away from my fingers. I've accomplished nothing so far."

"Tona. You have an entire military base under your command."

"That was all Lana. I didn't even know it existed", she gestures at the buildings below them. "I didn't even want to lead this! But as usual, nobody else can, blah blah, it falls to me." The dramatic offense in her voice is insincere, playful.

"Right. And the killing of the Emperor was Lana too?"

"No, but if you didn't notice," she taps her temple, "that wasn't very successful either."

"Jeez. You really find a way to undermine all of your achievements."

"I'm just stating the obvious. I've failed spectacularly in many aspects of my life." Katona chuckles and shifts her weight, still balancing on the edge of the building. "Yet somehow that hasn't stopped people from assigning more shit to me."

"I don't see how most things in your life can be categorized as «failures»."

"Let's go through the list, then. Getting rid of the Emperor? Certainly didn't work out. Stopping his kids? Work in progress. Makeb? Not sure, but I was chewed out by Saresh anyway–"

"Hey, as if she doesn't chew everyone out for every onething."

"Not the point. Still wasn't a good result. You know what else wasn't a good result? Fucking Ziost."

Theron's face darkens at the mention of the Imperial world. The failure of that operation can't be attributed to a single person, but he always seemed more affected by it than the rest.

"Anyway", Katona continues, not pausing to take a breath, "you get the point. I've failed many times. Guess the biggest failure is at being a Jedi — don't think I need to elaborate that one to you."

"No, you don't. But you know what?", he steps closer to the rails, "you're not the only one who failed at being Jedi here, Tona."

Katona turns to look at him, her expression skeptical. What he said is somewhat true, but the circumstances couldn't be more different. Theron doesn't stop at that.

"From one failed Jedi to another, let me tell you this. It gets better. Not quickly, that's for sure. But it does. And for days when it doesn't, I'll be here for you. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who shares the sentiment."

She doesn't answer him for a bit. When she finally does, her voice is softer, almost a whisper.

"Thanks." She smiles gently, turning her head to look at him. "So that's what we are, huh?"

"Yeah. Two nocturnal fuck-ups standing on a roof in the middle of the night."

Katona snorts.

"You came here of your own volition."

"Yeah, and now my volition says we're both leaving. You need at least a few hours of sleep."

Theron outstretches a hand, and Katona takes it, hopping back over the metal fence. The stars above them are just as uncaring, and the night air is just as cold, but something about the atmosphere doesn't feel as hostile and unwelcoming anymore.

[a-artist-a]

Drain the poison from my heart (SWTOR Fic)

Without anyone to turn to, Jedi Knight Rha tries to help herself by keeping an journal.

(warning: dealing with depression)

Bare pages laid before her like a doom. The journal was thick, so that she may not have an excuse to stop and she cursed herself, the lockbox next to it both promise and damnation. It required her fingerprint and the use of the Force to open, enough to keep most curious finger away. An holocron would be safer, but she did not want to listen to her own voice. She could just change it but – talking felt like an confession. Rha did not want to confess.

Was following the advice of a bunch of strangers on the holonet the best idea? Likely not. But it wasn't like she could go ahead and ask anyone else. Sure, she could, but she wouldn't. Cells looked better from the outside. Really, she was just taking mercy on the poor sod who'd be sent to apprehend her.

The bitter part of her wanted to laugh at the idea of getting advice from one of the Masters. Then she remembered she was one of them and it started to scream. Her promotion surreal to her, half nightmare, half fever dream. How could they not see her failures, her darkness?

Or perhaps they had seen it and chosen to be blind. It was a bitter thought and she pushed it away.

Next to her hand stood an cup of caf, precarious close to the new journal. Rha lifted the cup to her lips and drank. A bit to hot, a bit to bitter. She rolled back with her chair until she could see the kitchen, unlocked the cupboard and levitated the sugar over.

Right. Where had she been?

Writing.

Her mind was blank.

Maybe she should start simple. Like writing an diary. Normal people did that. In the holomovies. It wasn't like she knew anyone not a Jedi who wasn't an enemy. What did she do?

Yesterday I killed forty people.

Rha sighed and crossed it through. However high the true count was, forty barely made in dint in all her – kills, victims, targets? Hm. Permanently defeated enemies?

The true number was lost to her. Not beyond the first. That cursed first kill, the sole clear memory amidst a haze of agony and madness.

Rha took another sip of caf.

False. Ghila's face, her last words, her love, bright in the bond between them, then the lightsaber, red, then the cut and the hollowness. Thinking of it no longer caused an rush of power, only pain. She breathed in and let herself acknowledge the sorrow. No week passed without her missing her first master, but it was no longer every day, every hour, every moment.

Progress. Never thought she'd see the day.

But it made her wonder. Did Sith also have to switch between power sources? Was it another failure of hers? No true Jedi, no true Darksider.

If only she was allowed in the most restricted Archives. But her fellow Shadows had recognized something off in her, a hint of her true nature, and forbidden it. Or they just had seen her change.

The eye was an liability. Rha paused and wrote that down. Removing it would be safer, she even could put in an prosthetic and have two working eyes. She snorted. Funny, how the same people that usually looked down on cybernetics, suddenly had wanted her to have one.

I like my eyes. I miss the color they had when I was ten. Green, yes, but also blue and grey.

Nowadays her good eye often changed between shades of green and yellow, the other ever dark, red, black and sparks of gold. For days they brightened once she was enraged, all her secrets laid bare in its gleam.

Maybe she should track that. There had to be some way to tell if she fell further into to dark. She snorted. Could she? What even was an “Fall”?

Over years she had watched Sith and Jedi alike use the Force in a myriad of ways, walking from one path to another, sometimes willing, sometimes not. She dreamed of it. Nightmares. Only ever nightmares. Of her mind being cleaved apart and scorched with light. All she was, erased.

Should she not be happy? Should she not want to return into the fold?

Now she was alone, a dark star, falling in silence amidst emptiness.

There were a handful of Jedi who at first glance had looked like her, but then they revealed their true nature and she found them to be apart in heart and mind. Despite everything she did not want her people gone, for all that they would want her to be. But perhaps she was just blind. She had not felt her Master change. Would she feel herself change?

Had she not changed already?

The wound festered. She should have killed them both. Him and her. It would have been an fine death. Two traitors gone.

Rha sighed and tipped her head back. But she was grateful, in small and quiet ways, to have lived. Half the time. Maybe. If she was being generous.

At home it was easier. In the temple she could pretend to be an child again, innocent. But she had not been home for months now and then only for a few days. Too good at slaughter to stay.

She knew she should call someone. A friend. But she did not want to – to talk, confess, anything. And well, they were busy anyway. Healers. Important. Good Jedi.

Everything she was not.

She was supposed to get better. Years. So many years.

She had a Padawan now. Responsibility.

She swore herself she would not cause the same pain in her Padawan. There was nothing like it – the bond, the pain, both of them in so much pain, then silence before her own screams. So alone. So damn alone.

Her breath hitched.

Rha grabbed her cup. One can't cry while drinking. Old trick.

The caf was cold. She sighed, got up.

Her datapad pinged. Time to go.

[angstmongertina]

Throwback Thursday to WIP Wednesday

As I said, I had an important meeting this morning so I absolutely didn't have time to work on my WIP Wednesday. Instead, I'll be doing it today!

Accountability sentences under the cut.

Oh Brother: Nadia/Thomas (1 sentence but I tacked on an additional sentence fragment)

But unlike certain other members of her family, she knows better than to insert herself into situations when she might cause more problems than provide solutions, and so she keeps her mouth shut as best she can. A task made all the more difficult when Thomas manages to misunderstand every hint that Aster drops.

forever i'm yours, forever i do: Artem/Rosa second anniversary (2 sentences that is incredibly rough because I can't write spice help)

He feels more than hears her reply, the way she trembles against him, the whisper of her consent ghosting across his cheek. He presses closer still, buries his face into the crook of her neck, feels himself stiffen at the roaring in his veins.

That Which Binds Us: FEA Chrobin (3 sentences)

As the leader, as the captain of the shepherds, he ought to brush it off. He knew that, could remember the lessons about not showing weakness in front of his men that his father had drilled for almost as long as he can remember: Ylisse could not stand strong against her enemies when her leaders exhibited any signs of weakness. And yet, in spite of himself, he hesitated.

Officium et Honestas: SWTOR Regency AU (4 sentences, once again rough af lol)

If anything, her friend’s expression only turned sharper at his father’s words, this time matched with more subtle but no less curious attention from her family. Equally unfortunately, Earl Barcaria had evidently selected that moment to pause in his retelling, casting his gaze about his audience until it too followed that of the others, though his expression held more concern than curiosity. “Is aught the matter, Miss Hei?” “No, my lord.” She drew a breath, letting it out slowly before pasting another smile, this time more genuine in the face of his good nature, upon her face.

Evenly Matched: Jaslen/Falon (1 sentence)

His face darkens more still, an expression that is as enticing as it is dangerous, and she finds herself sitting up a little straighter, her pulse racing far more than it has any reason to, when he storms across the room to glare down at her, this time in close quarters.

Dinghun Zhou: CinderLia AU (1 sentence)

“You may have fooled one man, my dear, but not me.”

Once again, I would have liked to have written more, but since I am already behind, I will just call it here. Fingers crossed that I will have more progress next week!

[motheatenscarf]

Okay, apparently my brother is waiting on me before progressing story stuff into Stormblood, but I wanted to take a day off to sort through screenshots, but it's taking longer than anticipated because... um.

Most of them are either of Talia, important dialogue, or Aymeric.

Like, I'd say the 3400 screenshots are divided pretty evenly between 1/3 each of good shots of Talia, dialogue I need to remember for later, or just Aymeric.

Just Aymeric.

So naturally, rather than sort through or get rid of any, I uninstalled SWTOR to make room and start progressing more story content.

So um.

That's where we're at on the FF14 brainrot!

[sith-shenanigans]

SWTOR Character Ask Meme, #8 and 20 for Ahene and Orinara, please :)

Ahene:

8. Is their voice different to the voice of the character in-game, and if so, how?

Yes, though the early-game f!inquisitor sounds much more like her. There’s a very particular progression that Xanthe Elbrick was going for, and it doesn’t actually… fit. So Ahene’s voice is definitely the f!inquisitor’s, but her accent is slightly less Kaasi-Imperial than the f!inquisitor’s, and her intonations mostly range from “blandly subordinate” (think all the times the baby inquisitor goes “As you say.”) to “cool and professional,” to “extraordinarily, exactingly sardonic,” with very occasional forays into “completely non-Imperial-accented and sincere.” She does not do the “no-I’m-dangerous-and-unstable-really” thing that the game’s voice acting is frequently trying to (especially later on), and the times where she actually is trying to convince someone that she’s dangerous and unstable, she tends to get very flat—quiet and intense, not sadistic. (You can predict sadism. You can predict fury and cruelty and all the things most people see as “unpredictable,” because all those things are emotions that can be roused. She wants people to see her as threatening in the way a natural force threatens: implacable, and with no levers at all.)

20. What's happening in their Heroic Moments?

Ghosts, mostly. Less with the orbital strike and such, but it’s not inconceivable that she could call in some close air support…

Orinara:

8. Is their voice different to the voice of the character in-game, and if so, how?

Nnnope. She sounds like the f!warrior. And all f!warriors, unfortunately, sound like her.

20. What's happening in their Heroic Moments?

Honestly… nothing, really, storywise. 99% of the time, she does not have Secret Zap. The Heroic Moment ability isn’t anything but a game mechanic for her.

[swtor character ask meme]

[bardic-tales]

Sitting here today and thinking about how Noktis would burn the entire galaxy if it met Cynthia was safe. He can be a bit of a hypocrite, as he would extinguish world if it would prevent her death.

It was only the natural progression for her to become the Hand of Jadus in the storyline. It also makes Corellia that more tragic when he withdrew from space without telling her why -- only to summon her like after the events of the Agent storyline.

@serenofroses just tagging you for swtor. 😊

[vespertine-legacy]

Also!

Forgot about actually seeing the Invincible! debuff on my bar for the first time when we were doing Huntmaster yesterday (why the fuck someone stimmed me while we were doing Huntmaster is fucking beyond me), and I couldn’t get a screenshot of it, because, yanno, actively trying to heal, but the details of the Invincible debuff:

Invincible! Alacrity increased by 25%, movement speed increased by 50%, incoming healing greatly reduced. If a second instance of this effect is applied to you it will cause your heart to explode. You feel invincible! Whether or not you actually are is up for debate.

[detritusvortex]

more snapshots from lovely dxun

[voidendron]

BOTH of the teams I'm on are progging Dxun now 😭

[villainship]

“Why are there so many stairs?”

The Nature of Progress: Stairmaster fitness program!

[unbreakable-oaths]

So many options, so little time...