#them playing a boardgame is my favorite thing ever

[eso-terrors]

devastating

[cosmerelists]

The Favorite Food Show of Each Order of the Knights Radiant

I do love a good food-based show, like the ones on Food Network or the Bon Appetit youtube channel before it imploded. So naturally I wondered which show the various orders of the Knights Radiant would like best. The result...is this.

[Previously we've seen the Knights Radiant play boardgames, go to musicals, have sleepovers, have fandom jobs, and be birds]

1. Stonewards: Cutthroat Kitchen

Cutthroat Kitchen is a show where contestants can bid money to give each other silly disadvantages (involving a LOT of spreaders, for some reason). You get to keep the money you don't spend at the end, if you win.

Honestly, I think the Stonewards would be good at being on this show, not just watching it: they'd naturally just accept every disadvantage thrown at them without ever harming another player, prove to be really good at putting up with any and all "torture," and then win in the end.

It's the Stoneward way.

2. Edgedancers: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

This is a show about discovering greasy spoon restaurants and giving them attention for their great food. I am not only saying this because of Lift either! I think there's a sense of bringing attention to restaurants that might, uh, otherwise be forgotten or something. Look, it makes sense in my head.

3. Truthwatchers: Reverse Engineering with Chris Morocco

This was (is?) a Youtube channel with Chris Morocco on Bon Appetit. He's blindfolded and present with a dish, which he can smell, taste, touch, but not see. He then has to try to reverse engineer the dish based on his initial investigation. I think the Truthwatchers would dig a show like that, about investigation, trying to figure out the truth...

4. Bondsmiths: Chopped

On Chopped, contestants are given a basket of four ingredients that are...unusual or hard to put together, and then they have to make a coherent meal out of it. Doesn't that sound like something a Bondmight would like? You gotta unite the four ingredients into one coherent whole.

5. Elsecallers: Good Eats

This is a show hosted by Alton Brown, and it's basically a quiet informational show about food, its history, ingredients, which kitchen gadgets you really need, etc. It tries to take a scientific angle toward everything as well. I just think it would suit the intellectual Elsecallers more so than some of the wilder Food Network shows.

6. Skybreakers: Iron Chef

I haven't watched much Iron Chef, but it is a one-on-one battle between a contestant and one of the current Iron Chefs, who are a board of, like, really good chefs. And they have a signature ingredient and each have to make a dish which then gets judged by a panel of judges. Somehow this formal cooking battle feels like something that would appeal to the Skybreakers.

7. Dustbringers: Kitchen Nightmares

Now, this one I've never watched, but I know it's a show where Gordon Ramsay goes and yells at restaurant owners who are really bad at maintaining their restaurants. I get the sense that it's the fun kind of chaotic disaster, especially if you like to see people who are bad at things get called out on it. For all of these reasons, this feels like a show a Dustbringer might enjoy.

8. Willshapers: The Great Food Truck Race

Per the webpage I found about this show, it's all about "adventure" and "new challenges." It's a show about new food truck owners who travel to new towns every week and then try to sell their food and complete various challenges. That sense of freedom and adventure seems like something the Willshapers would be really into.

9. Lightweavers: Cake Wars

I think the Lightweavers would enjoy any of the many shows about elaborate decoration and presentation, so I picked Cake Wars since I think that's what it's about. They'd probably also like those "Is It Cake?" shows as well, to be honest...

10. Windrunners: The Great British Bake-Off

I have no real justification for this. I just want to imagine Kaladin and the rest of Bridge 4 bundled up in blankets, snacking on sweet treats (for the women) or whatever they can scrounge up that is vaguely similar to a sweet treat for the men (fruit?), watching a purely wholesome show where the worst thing that ever happens is somebody messes up their bake (we don't talk about the Baked Alaska incident).

I just think it'd be good for them.

[sunseed-fandump]

Beware the Fae King

Another quick Liar's Circus blurb! This one is about how Shadow Milk Cookie describes Elder Faerie Cookie to the Kids!

Enjoy!

“Are not!” Wizard Cookie snapped.

“Are too!” Came Gingerbrave’s well-thought-out reply.

Gingerbrave and Wizard Cookie had been arguing like this since they got back from their trip into town to get groceries. The trio were lounging in Gingerbrave’s tent, the boardgame they had been playing forgotten in favor of a petty argument. Strawberry Cookie had given up on trying to break them up and resigned herself to watching with a tired sigh.

She had been winning too…

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on over here, my Little Stars?” The Ringmaster floated over from who-knows-where, putting himself between the bickering friends.

“We’ll ask the Ringmaster about it, then!” Wizard Cookie said, not taking his eyes off of Gingerbrave, “He knows everything, which means he’ll know that I’m right!”

“Well I do know everything…” The Ringmaster said with a pleased chuckle, “But I must admit I am ever so very lost on what you two are fighting about! Mind filling me in, kids?”

When Wizard and Gingerbrave just kept glaring at each other, Strawberry decided to fill in the Ringmaster herself.

“It’s about faeries.” She said, failing to notice how the word made their mentor twitch.

“… Faeries?” His smile grew a bit strained, “Now wherever did you kiddos hear about… those?”

“A nice old lady in town told me a story about them!” Gingerbrave finally broke his staring contest with Wizard. “She said they might give us gifts if we’re nice to the forests! I was talking to Wizard about it but he says they’re not real!”

“They’re just rumor and superstition!” Wizard Cookie huffed, “Faerie Cookies are just something adults made up to trick kids into behaving! Tell him, Ringmaster!”

“They’re totally real and cool and nice!!!” Gingerbrave stomped his foot with a huff.

Both boys turned to the Ringmaster with expectant looks, wanting him to settle this argument once and for all.

Shadow Milk Cookie barely contained an amused chuckle at their adorably serious expressions. Why did kids always have to take such frivolous things so seriously? And why did their expressions just look so goofy?

The Ringmaster cleared his throat.

“Well…” He pressed his hands together as he thought about how to phrase this. “Yes, Faerie Cookies do exist.”

“HA!” Gingerbrave puffed out his chest, feeling victorious. Embarrassment colored Wizard Cookie’s cheeks as he glared at his friend from under his bangs.

“However, the myths of them being nice are wrong.” Added the Ringmaster.

“Whaaaat?” Gingerbrave wilted, disappointed that he might not be able to make a faerie friend.

Strawberry tugged on the Ringmaster’s sleeve, gaining his attention. She shuffled her feet as she asked, “Have you ever met a faerie, Ringmaster?”

He timed his hesitation before responding, “I have a bit of a history with them, yes… Though I must admit, I’m a rather biased party! After all… It’s hard to feel fond for one’s jailors.”

“HUH?!” The children gasped, taking the bait - hook, line, and sinker.

Shadow Milk Cookie turned his back to them to hide the small grin he could feel spreading across his face. He covered his mouth with his fist to sell the idea that he was slightly distraught.

“But didn’t you say it was the Witches who locked you up?!”

“You’re a really powerful cookie, how could a bunch of faeries keep YOU locked up?! How strong are they?!”

“But the story I heard said they were guardians of the forests!”

“Alright! Alright!” The Ringmaster turned back around, putting his hands up to stop the barrage of questions and exclamations, “I’ll answer all your questions… In the form of a story! And it’s about your favorite characters too!”

The children perked up in interest at that.

“The Five Great Heroes?!” Gingerbrave had stars in his eyes. They all loved the Ringmaster’s stories, but Gingerbrave seemed to have a special fondness for them.

“That’s right!” With a flourish, the kids were lifted off their feet and three cushions were brought over from Ginerbrave’s bed. They were gently seated as, with another wave of his hand, the Ringmaster summoned a small puppet theater before the trio. “But I must warn you, I’m afraid your favorite heroes don’t come out on top this time…”

Gingerbrave, who had practically been vibrating in his seat, paused. The other two children looked rather confused as well. The Five Great Heroes always won in the Ringmaster’s stories…

The Ringmaster vanished behind the puppet theater. The lights in the tent visibly dimmed, immersing the group’s focus on the little stage before them.

“Now… Where to begin…” The Ringmaster’s voice filled the entire tent. “Well… Can’t beat the classic opener! AHEM!”

Once upon a time…

There were Five great Cookies. Baked to be perfection incarnate! Great heroes who were so radiant, so glorious! They rebelled against their evil creators and began to forge a new future for the Cookies! One free of the tyranny of Witches!

Ah, but their greatness drew envy from many Cookies. But one Cookie’s jealously rose above all the others! He was known as…

The Faerie King!

A loyal servant of The Witches, he believed he had been baked to be the strongest in the world! Any Cookie who challenged him was dealt with, without mercy!

He stole the Life Powder from the Cookies foolish enough to give him their names…

He cursed the Cookies who wandered into the Faeriewood to wander lost forever…

Any who dare challenge him to battle? Was swiftly cut to pieces!

And should the Witches will it, he would kidnap small cookies into the night… To offer them to the Witches to EAT! Ah! How terrifying! I can barely look!

 Oh, but he was the REAL fool! Yes! Such a fool indeed…

And yet, despite his foolishness, he was dangerously sneaky, oh, so sneaky!

“Great Witches! How do I defeat these foes so I may become the strongest Cookie in the world?” He asked his dark masters.

“Alas, there is no way you can best them in battle…” Replied the Witches, “However, we know a way to remove them from the world forever!”

And so their evil plan was put into action…

The Faerie King challenged the Five to a great battle! But just as it looked like he would loose…

WOOSH! BOOM!

Silver rained down from the skies! Chains wrapped around the Five like snakes! It was a trap!

The Five Great Heroes, their bodies reduced to crumbs, had their spirits sealed away inside a magical Silver Tree. What a tragedy!

And so the selfish, cruel, but ohh so so foolish king punished the Five Great Cookies according to his own whim!

“HA HA!” He laughed, “Now I will protect this tree and all who stand against me will be offered to the Witches!”

The Faerie King still protects the Silver Tree to this day. For he refuses to ever give up his title as the Strongest! And any Cookies who have tried to free the Heroes and bring about the end of the Witches? Wind up as crumbs!

He rules the forests with an iron fist! His faerie knights attack any wingless cookies they see! And if you’re alone and wander too close to the wood… You might just wind up never being seen again!

They’re tricky! They’re evil! They’re sneaky! They’re cruel! Yes, the fae are not to be trusted one itty-bitty bit! And you should never be foolish enough to meet their King!

So be wary of the forest, kids! And never come home late!

Lest you meet the Faerie King and wind up on a plate–!

“EEEK!” Strawberry Cookie’s scared cry startled Wizard Cookie and Gingerbrave, who replied with their own screams.

The three of them instinctually huddled together, seeking the safety they knew came with being close.

“I’m sorry, kiddos! I didn’t mean to scare you THAT badly!” A voice behind them cooed and suddenly they found themselves being wrapped in the Ringmaster’s arms.

On the inside, Shadow Milk Cookie thought their reactions were hilarious.

“Th-Th-That story isn’t REAL is it?” Strawberry asked, eyes already watering.

“I’m afraid it is, sweetheart.” Said the Ringmaster, “Elder Faerie Cookie is super-duper dangerous! And the last thing I want is for any of you to get cut down by his sword or offered up to the Witches!”

“Y-You just wanted to warn us…” Wizard summed up. His little body trembling like a leaf.

“After that story, I hope I never meet any faeries, ever!” Gingerbrave shook his head vehemently.

“If you do, you’ll have nothing to worry about!” The Ringmaster said with a sunny smile, “I’ll protect you! Alright? You can always rely on me!”

The kids cuddled closer to him. Though he was a spirit and lacked any warmth, they still felt safe in his arms.

Yes, they would definitely be able to rely on their Ringmaster to keep them safe…

[st4rgzer]

Can you write a about the reader loving Matt sm but knowing he doesn’t like her back. Liek don’t have a super happy ending but also don’t have a super sad one. Do it inspired by me and …

UNREQUITED (matt sturniolo)

summary: the reader experiences some unresponsive feelings from a special someone

genre: angst

cw: taylor swift references maybe…? Is that a warning? Other than that I really don’t think theres much

a/n: as always, @iha8you ‘s request, ly, also dw you’ll get him🙏

This winter had been hell for me, it was always my favorite holiday, the cool air, snow, when it rained and I got to stay home playing boardgames with my mum, or I finally got to read that book that had been collecting dust on my shelf for ages now that it was dark and rainy. No, none of it this year. Every time I hung out with him I held my breath, in fear I’ll do something wrong, take too much space, become too much of a liability. Its stupid, just stupid, I’m his best friend, known him since i was 16 years old, but he seemed so much more older, and wiser.I belittle myself next to him, instead of just letting go, I take a mental note of every little gesture he does that correlates in any way to me, every choice of words, I save them to then divulge them later. It’s draining, not knowing if its just all in your head. If you’ve got it wrong…

“y/n? Hellooo, are you there” i snapped out of my meditative state.I was cross legged on my bedroom floor with two of my closest friends, I didnt even remember what we were talking about anymore.

“yeah sorry i was just distracted” I sighed tying my hair back into a low ponytail and resting my hands on my knees

“we were talking about Matt? Y’know you actually have a chance with him, did you see the way he talked to you earlier?” My friends were only feeding into my delusions, the other nodded in agreement. Even if he did actually see me like that, i dont know what i would do, we’ve been friends since highschool, everything would just be too weird and messy, it wouldn’t be right, no, not with me, not with him.

“No, guys, stop, you’re all just talking nonsense and it just makes everything worse” I groaned, placing my head between my hands.

“C’mon, who could ever leave you?” She says giggling, looking over at my other friend, it wasn’t funny, not in that moment at least. I felt despaired, I know it’s obvious I like him, maybe no one actually takes it seriously when i throw in some extra compliments once in a while of some flirty remarks, but I never try to hide it, except the real thing of course. I know my love should be celebrated, I shouldn’t settle for someone who just tolerates it, but I keep going back to the same thing, always, no matter how many people I see, no matter how many excuses I make to not hang out, its like a moth to a flame, I know im bound to get burnt, trust me. My friends keep convincing me, I feel petty having to listen to them try and make me feel better. Sometimes I come close to actually getting serious then I just think its a waste of time, he just always assumes im fine when my eye contact becomes non existent and my words get mixed up, I dont think he notices it at least, I dont think he ever notices. I guess this means im just doomed, It doesn’t matter how many times my friends reassure me, how many “glances” i pick up from him, Im never going to be one of his main concerns, unrequited. Im always just dimly lit, just enough. I should start trying to accept, settle, “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”.

a/n: this is kind of sht i wrote this at 1:00am, I’ll write more with requests🙏😊😊

[ashenprofessor]

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: Rua

Pronouns: they/he

Birthday (no year): 02/10 (I share my birth with Kaze and am also a twin!)

Where are you from? What is your time zone? From UK, GMT

How long is your roleplay experience? however long Byleth has been in TOA

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? tbh, I'm not even sure. Just found TOA somehow despite not really being a tumblr user and yeah... here I am.

How were you introduced to TOA? see above answer

Do you have any pets? Yes. A black void cat who's mine and family dog.

What is your favorite time of year and why?(Season, holiday, general period) Autumn because the temperatures mean can snuggle up with games/book/videos but not freeze your ass off. Plus autumn colour is so pretty.

What is your IRL occupation? Structural Engineer

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? I like fantasy and sci-fi books, playing boardgames and rock climbing.

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Kingdom hearts, Professor Layton, Persona, Yakuza (Like a dragon), Pokemon, Final Fantasy, lot's of games really 😅

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: Dark type. Lycanrock (Duskform)

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! I'm a black belt in taekwondo, I like to crochet and I've just started learning drums.

How did you get into Fire Emblem? I bought Awakening after watching a top 10 3ds games video where it was described as 3d chess. Played a bit then got very invested in Fates as it was releasing. Bought my copy birthright with first ever paycheck.

What Fire Emblem games have you played? Engage, 3Houses and 3Hopes, Fates, Awakening, Echoes, Warriors (started), Fire Emblem Binding Blade (Currently playing)

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: first was technically Awakening but I didn't finish it till 2023. First finished was 3 houses. My favourite? Either fates or 3 Houses.

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! Byleth, Shez, Kaze, Dimitri, Xander

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! Dimitri for his story arc. And eyepatch. And later hairstyle.

Any Fire Emblem crushes?

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays?- Awakening:- Fates:- Three Houses:- Engage:

Favorite Fire Emblem class?

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? Ninja or tactician.

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? (Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, Church of Seiros, Those Who Slither in the Dark, unaffiliated civilian, other - for example Almyran) Blue Lions

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Boon: Reason Bane: Heavy Armour. Budding Talent: Gauntlets

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? (Firene, the Kingdom of Abundance; Brodia, the Kingdom of Might; Elusia, the Kingdom of Knowledge; Solm, the Queendom of Freedom; Lythos, the holy land of the Divine Dragon; Gradlon, the desolate land of the Fell Dragon)

How do you pronounce TOA? T-O-A

Current TOA muses: Byleth

Past TOA muses? Chrom, Shez, Dimitri

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Byleth. Don't think I could ever drop them.

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? Mostly with MC as less anxiety of getting the portrayal or lore/canon wrong. I do like Lords too.

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? I wish I could write a soft/tragic character which people would love/protect. Or a complete arsehole but I always feel bad being too mean.

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? I've really enjoyed writing pokemon AUs and word count challenges.

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? Maybe some other type of AU which aligns with other interests like Persona/KH/ Camp Half-blood etc.

Favorite TOA-related memories? Just the love and support from everyone here and the fun we all have together hyping each other up. Plus Lore events. Especially Unscripted 2022 where Shez became a K-pop idol in dance offs while Byleth was in a apocalyptic future. The dichotomy was hilarious.

Present or past tense? Past tense is what I default to writing but my dyslexia means I can swap part way through sentence! Third person.

Normal size text, small text, no preference? Normal text as easier to read.

Got any potential muse delusions to share? If I could handle 2 muses I would love a Shez rerun

[lpsotd]

hopefully this isn't too weird to say but - i read the tags on your last post, and you said you were on your last year of childhood – don't worry about that!

im currently 25 and im starting to collect lps again, and ill tell you, even though there's more responsibilities, you still get to be a kid! no one ever truly grows up! my 67 year old grandma keeps one of her ragdolls from when she was a kid and always sews it new dresses. one of her favorite hobbies is watching anime with me! my 46 year old mother loves tv too, but one of the things she's crazy about is boardgames! we have a big collection and we all always play together. (she's got crazy competitive spirit btw. i never win). my 28 year old sister goes out with her friends just to wander around town and eat fast food like she did back when she was a teenager. you're never too old to have fun :) you just gotta let yourself have it. <3

thank you for this !! tbh it's kinda hard to let myself be a teenager when i seemingly have so much to do kgjdnbkjgb, and it doesn't help that i have less-than-supportive around me (not friends. i mean family) who are quick to belittle me or dismiss the things i'm interested in. i just can't stop thinking about the time my aunt saw my lps collection and started laughing, it hurt a lot especially since she's (usually) the more understanding one, and it may have been a "woah??" kind of surprised laugh instead of a "i'm making fun of you" laugh, but it felt that way kjgsnbkjgsfbn

i did have friends who actively made fun of me for what i was into (i no longer associate with them, so phew), and they're one of the main reasons i'm always so hesitant to share and infodump about the stuff i like kjgnbkjdbnkdfgjb

i feel like kids shouldn't be pressured to grow up fast. like, once you reach a certain age, you shouldn't have to stop playing with dolls or watching cartoons. you can stop doing those things when you aren't interested in them anymore, not when people tell you that you should stop, because they don't know anything.

in february i'm gonna be 18 and it's a tough concept for me to grab. i've always been told that i am ""mature for my age"" (i am not, by the way.), and i think that also kinda warped my perception of myself, because i've always felt like i Had to act a certain way, or else people are gonna see me as childish instead of this serious and mature person, but i was only like, what, 14, 15 ?? i should not have felt that way !! i should've been doing what young teenagers usually do, not feeling the need to impress middle aged adults.

it's only now that i feel like i have a sense of self because i'm trying to distance myself from certain people (ahem. family) who made me feel that way, and i'm trying to embrace who i really am: i am not mature or serious at all. i'm 17 years old who enjoys toys, cartoons, coloring, and playing video games with my friends. but i'm also ready to embrace my up and coming adulthood, and i'm serious when i need to be. i'm me and i think that's good enough.

very sorry i went on a bit of a mini tangent there. your ask made me very happy, so thank you !!

[bmaxwell]

Game of the Year 2023: The Top 10

2023 was a great year for the videogames industry. A lot of great videogames were released in 2023. It was a fucking lousy year for the industry if you had a career there. It has been deeply disappointing to see record sales and critical acclaim alongside frequent layoff announcements. It feels like the pursuit of endless profit, whatever the cost. It's not sustainable and, as someone who has loved this hobby for my entire life, seeing the people who create games treated as disposable is disgusting. So, as much as this post and this blog are about YAY GAMES, there's also an undercurrent of filth that we have to keep in mind.

Apart from that, 2023 had its usual ups and downs for me. I played non-mobile games on my phone more than ever, thanks to two things: I got a Razr Kishi adapter to clamp onto my phone, turning it into a tiny Switch. Oh, and I got a pretty decent new phone. And Honkai Star Rail hooked me. That's three things.

Speaking of HSR, the ability to access cloud saves from my phone and my desktop PC was a godsend. This is true for Game Pass as well. Frequently I'd pull out my phone in the breakroom at work and pickup whichever game I'd been playing on Xbox, and it worked surprisingly well. I played a lot of Dead Cells this way, and finished Fuga 2 and Dordogne there.

If you'd told me at the start of the year that my best experiences of the year would include Baldur's Gate, a Harry Potter title, and an ALAN WAKE game, I'd have been pretty skeptical. But here we are. Also, if you're a theater kid I feel like this year had a couple of really special moments for you.

2023 also marked a return - at least somewhat - to the hobby of boardgaming. I was neck deep in the hobby from 2008 - 2015. I recently picked up Wingspan and it became a Sunday afternoon staple for myself, my wife, and our youngest child. I've missed the tactile non-digital experience of boardgames. It's nice to be back.

10. Honkai Star Rail

Well. You win universe. A gross free to play mobile game chock full of microtransactions and gacha mechanics is one of my favorite games of the year. The Genshin Impact people made a turn based RPG, see. And it's stylish as hell, and music is great, and when you get a new character from the loot boxes you get this little dopamine hit, and...

The game's events have been really surprising and well done. There's one involving staffing and stocking a museum, one involves shipping logistics, one's themed around ghost hunting. I wish I could have the $70 version of this game that isn't compromised by trying to squeeze players for money. The problem with that, of course, is that this game would not exist without all the bullshit.

But it feels good to play, it looks incredible, and I can swap between playing on my PC and my phone pretty effortlessly. So, despite the predatory MTX bullshit, I have really enjoyed my time with Honkai Star Rail this year.

I think my second biggest issue with live service games is that I don't get a sense of closure. I can't Finish Honkai Star Rail. And I'm not going to play it forever. So I get really into it for awhile (most of the year in this case) and just kind of...stop.

9. Goodbye Volcano High

This one is reminiscent of Night in the Woods; it's a coming-of-age story about anthropomorphic dinosaurs graduating high school, with all the fears and doubts that come with that. Some folks seem to have their entire future mapped out, some are just gonna work an hourly wage job and play D&D, and your character is serious about making a career in music. More serious than her bandmates are. Also, there's a meteor coming and it looks like it might hit Earth.

This game resonated with me on a few levels. The writing is great, the characters are well written and, unlike Stray Gods, the music landed for me. It does a great job of showing us different attitudes and values clashing into one another while making each of them relatable. The hope, resentment, and willful blindness of "My friends aren't invested in this thing we're doing together as much as I am" really blindsided me. It dredged up some feelings I haven't examined in years, both for better and worse. I didn't have much in the way of expectations for this game, but Goodbye Volcano High wormed its way into my heart. Goodbye Volcano High is the game mostly likely to be the game where I look back in the future and regret putting it outside of my top 10 for the year.

Hah! Suck it, me! Top 10 babyyyyy!

8. Pikmin 4

I've never really engaged with Pikmin, but this one was a blast. It does the Honey I Shrunk the Kids thing of "tiny dudes in a normal environment so it looks all big" thing that I love. Solve lots of puzzles by throwing little plant being at them. I love that the inspiration for the series was Miyamoto watching ants carrying leaves in his yard. It still has that feeling all these years later.

It feels odd to call Pikmin a relaxing experience, as you can and will lose Pikmin. Sometimes due to the natural attrition that comes with war, sometimes when the wrong little doofuses wander into water or fire, etc. There's also a timer, which is usually a dealbreaker for me. And the story revolves around rescuing fellow space travelers who have been transforming into mute plant people on this hostile planet. In fact the whole thing sounds like a pitch for a horror game. Despite all that, there's an easy charm to Pikmin. Your little astronaut dorks keep their spirits high, and there's playful music as you explore this huge, colorful world. I found it to be a great way to unwind at the end of the day for a couple of months this year.

7. Persona 5 Tactica

Persona 5 achieved mainstream success that the games before it never reached. Atlus has been milking it for all it's worth too - Persona 5 Dancing in the Moonlight, Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers, and an upcoming Persona 5 mobile game. Some folks are feeling understandably burned out - I didn't get into dancing or strikers, and didn't play Royal (after putting 120 hours into Persona 5) so I was geeked when they announced a Persona 5 tactics game. On paper it's a strong pitch for me.

And in execution it's every bit as good as I'd hoped. My only complaint is the chibi art style. It isn't bad, just not to my taste. Beyond that? It's got the Persona charm, the banging music, and good solid tactical gameplay with just enough of a twist to not feel dull.

The "one more" mechanic from the series is key here, allowing the members of your 3-person team extra movement and actions. This is especially important because of the game's version of the all-out attack, which forms a triangle between your 3 party members and deals heavy damage to enemies caught inside. This makes combat an experience that rewards putting thought into. The game even has some side battles that are basically puzzles, giving you one turn to finish.

The game's new characters - Toshiro and Erina - are a welcome addition to the Phantom Thieves crew as well. I came around on Toshiro in a big way and was immediately in love with Erina. The game is about fighting against oppression and finding your courage to resist. Your friends are there for you when times are tough. It's hammy and melodramatic in the way that Persona is, and I love it. I love the game's revolutionary aesthetic, even if it's largely window dressing.

The DLC has been great so far too, starring Akechi and Kasumi in gameplay I can only describe if "What if Persona and Splatoon had a tactics baby?"

6. Diablo IV

The Diablo series has been the most consistently great video game series for me. I love the first 3 games and spent a TON of time with each. Diablo IV has the worst longevity of the series, but the best campaign. Now, I have to add a bunch of qualifiers here. The "best campaign" is a pretty low bar to clear. Diablo has always been - and continues to be - find new gear/numbers go up. The cutscenes are, as usual, top notch. While the story wasn't necessarily riveting, it was nice to have an antagonist with a personality and some ideas beyond RAWR I AM VERY EVIL RAWR. In fact, I was half-expecting the game to ask if I wanted to side with Lilith near the end, and I just might have done so. And the cinematic of the human army marching into hell while Lilith and Imperius have a philosophical discussion was incredible.

As for the replay value, maybe they'll find their way much like Diablo III did. My main issue with Diablo IV is the way new content is handcuffed to new seasons, how seasonal characters are siloed off from the rest of your characters, and how the game feels like it was built around microtransactions and milking money out of the player.

The game feels good to play. Abilities feel powerful and interesting, the loot grind is fun, and exploring the variety between the classes is a joy. Diablo IV is one of the best games released this year, it's just a shame that, like a lot of modern games, Diablo IV feels compromised, it feels like a Product in a gross way. Still, every previous game in the series has had a long tail for me, so I'm not counting Diablo IV out yet.

5. Darkest Dungeon II

Darkest Dungeon is my favorite game. I have a tattoo of it on my arm. It's impossible to expect a sequel to improve on that or even meet it. Subsequent journeys into a fiction can never be special in the same way that first one is, and Darkest Dungeon II is no exception.

The game is immediately recognizable - you'll see some familiar faces lined up in a tug-of-war formation against a group of enemies. A row of skills at the bottom of the screen, a torch at the top. Artwork with thick, dark lines and plenty of shading. The moment-to-moment gameplay IS a lot like the first game, but the trappings around it are not.

Gone is the persistent campaign of the first game, replaced by a more familiar roguelike structure. You embark on runs that either end in victory or failure, unlocking new things between runs. This makes the game more approachable and forgiving, but it means the lows are less low and the highs are not quite as high. In the original title losing your veteran Crusader you've sunk hours and hours into feels like a real gut punch, but by the same token finally - FINALLY - conquering the darkest dungeon feels incredible. Those extremes are lost in the sequel, and that probably makes for an objectively better game.

It's not just the same run every time; there are 5 chapters to conquer, each themed with a personal failing: Denial, Resentment, Obsession, Ambition, and Cowardice. The game's personality is still here in full force thanks to Wayne June's narration, Stuart Chatwood's music, that incredible artwork and gallows humor that I love so much. Each of the characters is treated as an individual with their own dark backstory this time around, each crafted in loving detail and unfolding by way of cutscenes and/or interactive gameplay moments. The stress mechanism is still here but takes a bit of a backseat, while relationships between characters are brought to the forefront.

Darkest Dungeon II is just what I wanted from a sequel to my favorite game. I'm glad they didn't just make the same again but prettier, but still kept the game's bones intact.

4. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Yakuza has become one of my favorite game series over the past few years. I'm down for whatever they throw at us. Bringing Kiryu back yet again? Sure. New protagonist? I'm down. A period piece starring the cast as historical figures? Fucking bring it on.

I love the series. The melodrama that hits me in my feels, the never-ending parade of lovable weirdoes and freaks in Kamurocho, the deep well of fleshed-out side games like bowling, pocket circuit racing, and karaoke - it's all here. I'm not tired of it. I thought I would be, but I'm not.

Kiryu is a lovable, stoic doofus with a strict moral code and penchant for helping out anyone who needs a hand. This time they gave him a Clark Kent disguise after faking his death, and also a bunch of James Bond Spider-Man gadgets. Let's go.

I will never get tired of my big hearted himbo beating people with bicycles and helping out folks in need. And I got misty-eyed at the ending. I was not prepared for my stoic boy to full on ugly cry. Still waters run deep.

3. Hogwarts Legacy

In the years since JK Rowling outed herself as a human shaped pile of garbage, I've distanced myself from the Harry Potter universe. And when Hogwarts Legacy released, the game was a lightning rod for controversy. I decided to see for myself, and was treated to a wonderful, smartly written game that managed to capture the magic of the world without constantly referencing the movies and books that everyone knows. It's the same trick that Jedi Fallen Order pulled a few years ago, and it works every bit as well here.

The school feels massive and detailed, and it was a joy to explore or just get lost in. The game world outside the school was unexpectedly huge as well, and the broomstick flight felt so good and natural that I rarely bothered to travel by floo. Optional side activities like growing your own plants for your potion brewing, decorating your Room of Requirement, and breeding creatures were all pleasant distractions that served to flesh out the world of Hogwarts.

The game's cast is fairly diverse, and most students felt like real people rather than caricatures of their Hogwarts houses. Most students do have their house traits, but they're not constantly front and center. The side stories and main story kept me engaged throughout my time with Hogwarts Legacy, and I was a little sad to see it end. It's a shame the IP has JK Rowling's stench on it, and that a lot of people will miss this game because of that.

2. Alan Wake II

Alan Wake and Control are both posterchildren for games with incredible world building and lousy game play. I've started both multiple times only to end up walking away in frustration. Alan Wake 2 largely fixes my complaint with those previous games by letting me explore and become immersed in the world without throwing frequent contextless fights in my way.

Alan Wake 2's combat isn't necessarily more engaging, but there's far less of it. What you're left with is the good stuff, a Twin Peaks-like horror mystery in a small town where everything and everyone feels a little bit off. Sometimes a lot off. It's a game where the characters play everything straight, but there are plenty of winks and nods in the margins. The game is full of wonderful freaks and weirdoes, many of whom had me frequently grinning like a fool. Alex Casey. Warlin Door. The Koskela brothers. Rose. Odin and Tor. Alan and Saga. Ahti. Thomas Zane. All hamming it up in a story that gets entirely up its own ass in the best way.

The Herald of Darkness scene is one of the best things I've ever seen. Ditto for the late game scene on the lakeshore. Hell, the game had me sitting and watching a short Finnish art house film at one point. It's a game full of glee and confidence from a studio with the belief in itself and its fans that allow it to swing for the fences. Not every part of it works for me, but the parts that do are so effective that the whole experience is lifted up on high. I wish Remedy's gameplay worked for me, which is never has. But this is a terrific work of art, and the good stuff far outweighs the bad.

Baldur's Gate III

My love of Baldur's Gate and the CRPG genre was something I'd left long in the past. Despite playing excellent modern entries like Divinity Original Sin, and Pillars of Eternity I hadn't been captivated by one of these in some 20 years.

It's hard to put into words what a triumph Baldur's Gate 3 is. I can't name a single thing it really does to revolutionize the genre but Larian executed on every single element of the game. Starting with the story, they make the stakes incredibly personal on top of the usual "Oh shit the world is in danger!" thing we always see. A mindflayer puts a parasite in your brain at the beginning of the game. World saving aside, getting that out of you feels pretty important.

Or not! You can decide to lean into it, and the writers did a great job of mixing viewpoints into the story. Mindflayers are horrible monsters but wait. Are they really though? Your party members will have their own opinions on the matter, as well as their own traumas and baggage and backstories. The writing and voicework for these party members are the best part of one of the best games ever made.

The game's ensemble cast might be the best of any game. By the game's end my party was my Tav, Karlach, Jaheira, and Astarion/Gale depending on the situation. There are party members I missed, and one I may or may not have killed (I regret nothing). Baldur's Gate III's story branches in so many ways, it all feels like it's a hair away from collapsing in on itself but it never does. My friends and I were exchanging stories about what we'd seen and done in the game as we played, and the variance is impressive. Baldur's Gate III is like a dude spinning plates while juggling chainsaws, and people keep tossing stuff into the mix and you think "Well no WAY can he keep all this going!" but goddammit, it all keeps going.

The way the game rolls with whatever choices you make (or dumb shit you want to try) whether in or out of combat, is truly incredible. It feels closer to having a DM than anything I've ever played. If you want to do something weird or dumb, the game does an incredible job of yes and-ing you. And it's not without consequences, the game reacts to the wide array of shit you can do within the D&D ruleset. The game sets up storylines both big and small early on, and manages to pay them off in interesting ways before it wraps up.

The combat was a sticking point for me in Divinity Original Sin 2. It's not that it was bad, but it was overwhelming. Combat could be long and difficult, and losing after an hour only to reload a save was incredibly deflating. Baldur's Gate 3 threaded this needle almost perfectly for me. Most combats were challenging but not crushing, and did not overstay their welcome.

I kept waiting for the game to drag and lose its momentum, but it never happened. I was glued to it for the entire 100+ hours it took me to roll credits. I fully plan on replaying it one day.

[nekosd43]

15 QUESTIONS FOR 15 FRIENDS

thank you for the tag @epersonae !

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I was told I am named after an Uncle named John who sometimes went by Jack.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? This morning actually (it wasn't a bad cry)

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED? There was once a time in grade school where I considered being a track and field kid, and then the first time I was in a race I tripped, fell, and broke my arm :,) I basically have stayed away from sports ever since.

DO YOU USE SARCASM? it depends on the context I think. I don't THINK of myself as a sarcastic person, but I also work with teenagers and that does rub off on you.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Clothes or hair. I'm actually really bad with remembering faces so clothes and hair are usually my best ways to recognize people.

WHAT'S YOUR EYE COLOUR? blue!

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I'm always a happy ending person BUT I am also the person who stays up until 2 am reading the wiki of some obscure horror media that I will literally never watch/read/play because I get too spooked within a few minutes and have to stop.

ANY TALENTS? besides the obvious ones (drawing/writing), I'm pretty good at picking out board games people will like based on their personalities.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?: California!

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? I draw, knit, write, and embroider, I do needle felting occasionally, I collect dice and tarot cards, I own over 200 board games, and I apparently like to buy indie ttrpgs and then never play them.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Honestly after 19 years of having two cats it's been really hard to actually remember the answer to this question is now NO. I am currently petless and it sucks and I still look for my babies all the time :<

HOW TALL ARE YOU?: 5'6"

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? It was english, particularly reading/lit studies, but I also liked art and biology.

DREAM JOB? If we don't consider teaching as the dream job, which it pretty much always has been, my pie-in-the-sky DREAM job would be like... idk working in a cat-and-boardgames cafe or something. Not owning, but just always getting to be there and be around.

Anyone who wants to do this can do it, I'm not tagging 15 people lol

[lost-highwayy]

Ahoy! 🌟

Merry Christmas and get well soon! Do you celebrate anything today on the 24th, or only on the 25th/26th?

I'm really bad at chess too, I never once won and it's never even close. But oh well. What are some of your favourite boardgames?

We finally got some snow the other day! In the city it melted quick, but up where I live it's still all white!

Oh, losing them on a trip is just the worst, that's when you need them the most!

It's really cool, and has a super nice, warm sound that I really like. It's not even that expensive either! I also have a Cort acoustic lying around, but it's a child sized one and not even mine... I'm supposed to take care of it for someone. Why do you not like your bass? It seems pretty cool to me based on a quick search!

I like a pretty weird comedy, so I might be checking it out over the holidays too 😁

It does have a similar vibe to paprikás if that makes any sense - if you like fish soups and paprikás, then you're sure to like this one too!

That sounds really good - I've never tried lamb, but that sounds like something very fitting for the holidays!

I've never heard of that album, but I will check it out now!

Oh, I see, that makes a lot of sense! We got to keep stuff like Christmas as we weren't exactly in the USSR just closely related, but my parents still joke about how during that time we had "pine tree holiday" instead of Christmas. (And it was illegal to give workers their pay just before it, so that they can't go buy fancy presents)

Yes, that's why I went to the Nick Mason concert too, they play my favourite era of Pink Floyd - I hope they're going to tour again, maybe then you get to go! Last time I checked BÖC are performing at things like rock themed cruises, so I might not be rich enough to ever see them haha

Oh, that's so cool to be able to see a band before you even really get into them - I think live is the purest from of hearing the music! And I hope Tom Keifer is going to tour again so you get to see him!

I'm feeling surprisingly good, usually I'm not so well mentally this time of the year. I'm doing some cleaning around the house these days, and tonight we have Christmas with my immediate family. On the 26th we have Christmas with the extended family and then I'm going to a party. But I'm actually working on the 25th, so it's not all fun and games haha. Do you have any plans?

I have a lot of special memories, it's been a really good year that I mostly throughoutly enjoyed! My favourite is maybe the small festival my best friend's girlfriend is an organiser of. Everyone was incredibly friendly, it was a really lovely atmosphere. And my favourite current Hungarian band, Hakumba was performing!

Do you have any favourite memories?

I should be making lists, because I'm always asked what I would like to get, but I just forget haha. Do you?

-⛄

hello!!

i'm a bit late as always but merry christmas!! i hope you have the best traditions! we celebrate on the 24th (also my brother's birthday haha) 25th and "in the USSR style" on the 7th of January. there is no such thing as too much christmas!

one of my favorite games right now is uno, as well as monopoly and some types of card games. and what about you? i'm so glad you have snow! that's what you need for a real christmas. though we still haven't had it again. apparently the grinch stole the snow haha.

my bass looks pretty cool but it's actually quite simple and requires an upgrade after purchase but for a beginner it's a good option.

now i definitely know i'll be making this on vacation! yes lamb is quite suitable for a holiday and it's especially nice when it's a special family recipe. oh some things from the USSR sadly spread to neighboring countries but i think that the holiday "Old New Year" in January fortunately remained only there lol.

oh i still hope that BÖC will perform somewhere besides cruises because we all would like to see them. i don't know much about their music but what i heard is definitely magical. and if you recommend something i will be happy. and i believe that Tom Keifer will decide to tour outside of America someday but probably not in the next year lol.

omg working on christmas is terrible haha! on this day i would only want to have fun but 3 years ago i also worked on christmas and at my work they constantly played the song Last Christmas. it was doubly terrible. but i hope after work your christmas will be wonderful! i think i managed to fulfill my plans i managed to buy more presents and give them and on sunday we will have a mini party with friends.

i am very glad that your year was wonderful! and left warm memories! and i wish the next year to be just as wonderful and bring lots of new impressions, travels and of course concerts! oh i would listen to the band Hakumba. to my shame i only know one old hungarian band Omega but they sound great! this year was quite difficult for me but i think the main memories are small trips. yes wishlists are very useful! but i usually give more than receive haha!

and once again merry christmas! my most sincere wishes for you! 🩵🎄

[pureundilutedawesomeness]

My top 100 favorite boardgames

(all pictures taken from boardgamegeek.com)

83- Welcome to...

As previously mentioned- I LOVE roll & write games! (well, this is a flip & write, not a roll & write, but basically same thing (instead of rolling dice to see what options are available to you on a turn, you flip over several cards to see what options you have instead.)

In this game you build a neighborhood. There's quite a few options of how to gain points- build parks, build pools, increase the value of estates of specific sizes, utilize the temp agency more than all the other players, and fulfill bonus cards.

You can also take negative points to utilize a couple options too.

What really puts this over the top for though is that there are also seasonal expansions that give you an additional way to score points:

On the summer board you try to chase the ice-cream man to get as many frozen treats as possible.

On the spring board collect as many Easter eggs as you can, autumn- go trick or treating, Christmas- put Christmas lights on as many houses as you can. And then there also a zombie invasion board and a nuclear doomsday board. And each board, you fulfill the bonus task in a different way. (so like, collecting Halloween candy is different than how you collect Easter eggs for example)

What puts this over Super-Skill Pinball for me is that this is always the perfect length. In SSP, especially in the earlier games in the series, the game could run too long.

Oh, also, this plays great solo too. (I prefer the solo mode from the base game, the solo mode they sell separately is garbage)

82- Artisans of Splendent Vale

This game is like a mega-ginormous hug to all queer neurodivergent/ otherly disabled people!!!!!!!!!! (and it's made by an autistic queer/trans person! (and iirc they're ADHD too!)

It's a campaign game.

It's kinda like Gloomhaven (minus any of the MANY MANY MANY flaws of that game)!

There's 4 different characters to choose from:

-Farah (ze/zir) is an autistic tailor that's also really good with plants. Iirc they're trans and bisexual too.

-Soraya (she/her) well, I can't remember much- she's a mason (iirc she makes magic runes?).

Iirc she's a lesbian? (at the very least, under likes it lists flirtatious women). Almost certain she's a lesbian. I want to say she's blind too? But I might just be thinking of Toph from AtLA.

-Ramani (they/them and she/her) is a bisexual short person apothecary. She's the neurotypical friend that EVERY SINGLE autistic person has ever dreamed of!!!!!

-Javi (he/him) iirc is a gay polyamorous ADHD trans man artificer with a prosthetic arm. (and possibly autistic too).

ALSO, all 4 of them are non-white!

And they're all REALLY good representation too!!!!!

I'm using Farah and Ramani for my playthrough because between the two of them, they use all three sets of my pronouns!!! (well, Farah is ze/zir, whereas I'm zie/zir, but basically the same!)

The game is a little bit clunky because I'm playing it solo and you HAVE to use at least 2 characters, but if solo is your only option, it's ABSOLUTELY still worth playing!!!

A really cool thing about this that I haven't seen before in games is that the characters you're not playing with, they're still present and you can still interact with them! (I mean, not in battles, but like in the town phase afterwards). Also, the characters actually have lives that progress and they do stuff.

The combat so far is a little easy, but very satisfying. (I'm 17% through the campaign)

(I MUCH prefer this combat vs in Gloomhaven where you have to play flawlessly AND not get screwed by luck to win. This game wants you to actually enjoy playing it!)

But also, combat isn't even the best part of the game! Practically everyone's' (myself included) favorite parts are the exploration afterwards and the town phase!!!

I legitimately cried when I first learned there's an autistic trans character that uses ze/zir in the game!

Obviously there doesn't exist any product that EVERY person will enjoy. But also, I REALLY want to say that EVERY SINGLE queer neurodivergent person should seriously look into this game!!!!!

Oh yeah- the characters's queernesses/nuerodivergences/other disabilities are actually part of the game and the story.

Also the components quality is phenomenal too!

This game used to be in my top 10.

The only reason it's not anymore is because I haven't played it in well over a year. (not that I stopped thoroughly enjoying it- just that I've got ADHD. But also, looking through the game as I typing this, I'm remembering how awesome it is and so I'm going to play it today!

[dollycas]

Special Guest - Dave Dobson- Author of What Grows From the Dead #AuthorInterview / #Giveaway - Great Escapes Book Tour @GCDaveDobs @davedobsonfromiowaon @frosthelmbooks

What Grows From the Dead by Dave Dobson I am delighted to welcome Dave Dobson to Escape With Dollycas today! Hi Dave, Please tell us a little bit about yourself. What are three things most people don’t know about you? I lived in Dublin for a year in 5th grade and attended public school in a two-room six-grade neighborhood elementary school. I learned a good bit of Gaelic, although I retain little of it now. In March of that year, we went to then-Soviet Russia for a week, because Russia in the winter was the only tour we could afford. I have played the largest tuba in the world in concert back when I graduated college in 1991. I played Asleep in the Deep with backing from the Harvard Band. One of my favorite experiences. If you’re curious how it sounded, I have a recording here. I have drunk a two-liter of Mountain Dew in under two minutes (1:54.84). That was a very stupid thing to do.  LOL - Mountain Dew is my drink of choice.  What books/authors have most inspired you? In mysteries and thrillers, I loved Dick Francis’ horseracing books. My wife shared them with me shortly after we met, and I just loved his dogged characters pursuing what’s right while often being beat up or pushed around. Learning more about horseracing was fascinating too. I also really like Harlan Coben’s early work and have tried to emulate that in what I do. I am also a big fan of lots of fantasy and science fiction. As a younger reader, I loved Tolkien, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Heinlein, Andre Norton, Ursula K. Leguin, Harry Harrison, and many others. More recently I’ve gotten into John Scalzi and Nnedi Okrafor. I really love Barry Hughart’s Bridge of Birds and his other books, and William Goldman’s The Princess Bride (book and movie). Both of them are exciting adventures in their own right, mixed with humor and gentle observations about people.    What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I write in a very seat-of-the-pants style without a lot of outlining or plotting ahead of time, so most of my research comes up as I go, as I discover a need for it. When I’m working on a project, I actually post a thing I call “This week in author Googling” on Facebook with all the weird facts I’ve had to look up. For What Grows From the Dead, I spent a good bit of time researching complex bits like what happens when you’re arrested and taken to jail, how search warrants work and are executed, and how cell phone towers are identified. I’ve also enjoyed consulting with friends about specific more detailed elements of books, like sailing and guns, neither of which I was very familiar with but wrote myself into. I’m lucky to have friends with a wide range of expertise, many of whom I’m in contact with through my college class of alums. Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block? Not usually when I’m in a groove, but sometimes after I pause a project (for a vacation, or because a big event comes up) I have trouble restarting. This has gotten better for me as I’ve written more books. I think I’m no longer daunted by the prospect of trying to finish something. When you are not writing what do you like to do? I play a lot of video games and watch a ton of movies. I have been performing improv comedy at my local comedy club for the past 18 years, which lets me enjoy wonderful and fun group of people doing something really silly. I love boardgames and play any chance I get, sometimes including D&D or other RPGs. I’ve designed a few boardgames also, and I’ve self-published a series of puzzle card games. I enjoy walking and going places with my wife and visiting my kids, who are grown and launched into interesting lives. I have been in a couple of community theater productions recently, too, and I’d love to do more of that. I also enjoy trying to conquer the universe on my Attack From Mars pinball machine (from 1996). I still play tuba sometimes with the oompah band at the college where I worked for 25 years. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? I have always wanted to see the pyramids and other sites from ancient Egypt. I love ancient places. My favorites in Europe were always the crumbling castles, and the ancestral Puebloan sites in the US like Chaco and Mesa Verde have a special magic for me. Figuring out how to get to Egypt, set up a tour, and avoid risks from regional conflicts is a little daunting, but I’ll get it done before long. What is next on the horizon for you? I just released a new fantasy novel, so I’ve been working a bit on promoting that and also reaching readers for What Grows From the Dead. I haven’t decided whether my next book will be another mystery or whether I’ll do sci-fi next. I do enjoy writing in multiple genres, although that can make it a bit tricky trying to establish myself in any of them. Thank you, Dave, for visiting today! _____ Keep reading for more information about  David and What Grows From The Dead. About What Grows From the Dead What Grows From the Dead Mystery Stand-Alone Setting - North Carolina Independently Published (March 9, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 367 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8884545977 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CXN1KQ1B Morris Drummond is not at his best. Well, he hasn't been at his best for a while now. But having just suffered two crushing losses, he's almost at rock bottom, which for him means driving ride-share in his mom's beat up Chevy, drowning his sorrows in tacos and spray cheese, and avoiding anything related to ambition, self-care, or laundry. Morris is about to learn that he didn't even know what rock bottom looked like, and it's all thanks to his mom. A secret she left behind comes to light, and that brings down a lot of unwanted attention on Morris, the kind that looks likely to send him either to prison or to the hereafter. Blood and treachery from long ago rise to the surface, and Morris has only his lawyer Annie, who's an old high school friend, and a few unexpected allies to call on as he tries to figure out what his mom was up to and why so many people want him out of the picture. A humorous mystery with elements of suspense and thrillers, What Grows From the Deadis set in present-day small-town North Carolina, not far from the mysterious Uwharrie Forest. Content warnings: Coarse language throughout; some gun violence (not graphic). Great Escapes Praise for What Grows From the Dead by Dave Dobson Warning: Choose carefully your location before beginning What Grows From the Dead. It is known to cause audible chuckling, chortling, guffawing, and even hooting on occasion. Highly recommended. Five Kitties! ~Jane Reads About Dave Dobson  A native of Ames, Iowa, Dave loves writing, reading, board games, computer games, improv comedy, pizza, barbarian movies, and the cheaper end of the Taco Bell menu. Also, his wife and kids. Dave is the author of Snood, Snoodoku, Snood Towers, and other computer games. Dave first published Snood in 1996, and it became one of the most popular shareware games of the early Internet. He's recently published some puzzle card games in the Doctor Esker's Notebook series. Dave taught geology, environmental studies, and computer programming at Guilford College for 24 years. He does improv comedy at the Idiot Box in Greensboro, North Carolina. He's also played the world's largest tuba in concert. Not that that is relevant, but it's still kinda cool. Flames Over Frosthelm was Dave's first novel, released in 2019. He followed it a year later with Traitors Unseen and The Outcast Crown, then Daros in 2021, The Woeling Lass in 2022, and Got Trouble and Kenai in 2023. He released his first mystery novel, What Grows From the Dead, in 2024, and he's currently at work on a humorous epic fantasy novel. Author Links Website   Facebook    Facebook Author Page    Instagram   Twitter/X    BlueSky    Mastodon     GoodReads Link     Purchase Link Amazon  Also Written by Dave Dobson TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops. June 18 – Jane Reads - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST June 19 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT June 20 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY  June 22 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT June 23 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT June 24 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT June 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 25 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT June 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST June 27 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST June 27 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT June 28 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT June 28 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST June 29 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW June 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[addictofsupernatural]

Domestic Bucky Headcannons

You guys own so many blankets. Don't ask me why, there's just no such thing as too much blankets to have with him

He cannot cook for the life of him, but he will devote himself for rinsing and cutting anything you ask him to

You will stand in doorways and act like you won't let him through, and he'll just kiss your cheek and hug you to spin you out of the way

It is impossible for him to not kiss your neck when he sees you on your laptop

You lean on his metal arm on a hot day cause it's so cool feeling, and he just soaks up the cling to him

Baths together are a must, at least twice a month

Sometimes when you guys are lazing around on the couch, he starts to massage your feet

It touched you so much that you bought a massage book and would occasionally massage his shoulders and back

Very touchy with you in your shared apartment

Literally cannot keep his hands off of you for no longer than 30 minutes if you're home

Chuckled out loud when you say that you had bought a blow up mattress for him

He brought you into a hug when you pouted out of embarrassment of the gift for him

It was to ease him into sleeping more comfortably and work his way onto the bed

Refused to let you sleep on the floor with him

You have an addiction to buying boardgames for the two of you

You can't help it, playing boardgames with him is one of your most favorite things ever

He becomes a little serious in the games but tries to cover it up and you love it

You buy him 40s music vinyls and put them up on the wall

He wanted to return the favor by making a CD collection for you of all the music you like

You bring him along to any shopping you have to do

You offer to just go alone with grocery shopping, but he prefers to go with you

Sometimes he even pushes you in the cart

Loves it when you ask him for his opinion, whether it be about clothing or buying house items

His opinion matters to you and the reminder of that melts his heart

You told him to loosen up when inside your apartment, so the next day he went up to you in his briefs and pretended not to see you on the couch and sat on you

"Oh, sorry about that. I was just loosely behaving inside my apartment."

You teased him back and said it was a good look for him

He finds it cute that you find every outfit of his nice, no matter if it's just a regular fitted shirt

You always come up with unique compliments to give him and it makes him feel so loved

He struggles with giving you compliments face to face that isn't just the typical "you look good"

He writes them down in his little journal and one day nervously asks if you can read them

You were so happy with them that you were showering him with affection the rest of the day and next

You sometimes wear his dog tags and words cannot describe how much he loves it

Relies on you to catch him up on the world

Whenever you sit on the couch you usually have your legs on his lap, which he rubs up and down

Other times you guys are just snuggled up chest to chest

You'll fall asleep on either arm, and it makes him feel special and trusted

You can't help it ^^ either his body heat is intoxicatingly comfortable or the metal is nice and cool

He once asked you why you would fall asleep on his arm, being that it's an extremely high tech weapon

You chuckled sleepily "You say that like I'm supposed to be afraid of it. There's no reason for me to be when it's attached to you."

He enjoys doing little things for you cause he feels lucky to be with someone like you

Opening jars is such a pleasure, you look so impressed and grateful

This man will suck up his pride for you any time of day I swear—

Need period products? Done

The very first time you asked him to get you pads the poor baby was so confused

People were giving him weird looks at his concentrated stares in the pad isle

That was when he remembered that it was for you, and you deserved the right kind

So he called Sam and only told him that he needed him at the store asap, so Sam flew over there to find him in this predicament

After a worthy amount of teasing, Sam showed Bucky the right brand and told him to buy size 4 just in case you have a heavier flow, and then panty liners too in case you have a smaller flow or to just use for the aftermath of your period

Okay story end cause I'm getting sidetracked oops–

He watches almost everything you want since he doesn't know really anything

You love to watch movie franchises with him just to see which of them will stick for him

He requires that you send him pictures of yourself on the couch or of your dinner while he's out on missions

Self conscious about taking pictures? Psh not possible

He will constantly tell you about how beautiful you are and how he loves having pictures to think of you by

He loves loves loves changing his screen savor and lock screen every so often, all pictures of you

The first few times you had to show him how to change the pictures, being embarrassed by him asking you to scroll through a whole ass album of you

You only really like taking pictures if it's with him, just as an excuse to have pictures of him

He rarely budges when you ask for a picture of just him T-T

Also, mans is like the worst picture taker

Blurry af

He'll feel bad if you ask him to take a picture of something and you were excited about it, it makes you fell so bad ^^;;

You will definitely be the picture taker

Does not matter how bad you are at taking photos, you are better than him

Sometimes he just stares at you because this man is head over heals, and it results in one or two things :

The first thing being that you smile at each other when you catch him and softly just "hi :)" "hi :)" and kiss him

The second thing would be that you get a little embarrassed because this man of perfection is looking so intensely at you, causing you to laugh and put your hand over his eyes "haha whattt?" "nothing ^^" and you kiss

Either way you give kithhh

[imasucker-4-memories]

Thanks @lingonberryjamistakenwhat for tagging me in a “tag 9 people to get to know them better”! 😁

Favorite color: I typically say any shade of blue, but I also really like an pastel/soft colors or dark colors even though most of my wardrobe is black.

Currently reading: I usually jump around when I'm in the mood to read. The ones I've been reading the most of is Lovecraft Country and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Mostly reading Lovecraft Country after learning that H.P. Lovecraft was a massive racist and bigot and the book is a play on his racism. I do want to read Lovecraft's literature just because of the fascination of monsters. Ever since reading Fahrenheit 451, I've been trying to find more books that were written in the mid 1900s that were predicting the sci-fi aspects of the future. I think I have Brave New World somewhere 🤔

Last Series: last new series I watched was The Bear. I do recommend it if you like drama cooking that isn't reality tv.

Last Movie: I'm pretty sure the last movie I watched was Kiki's Delivery Service. I know this isn't the same thing, but it's got me wanting to watch more of Mamoru Hosoda's films because I loved Belle, The Boy and the Beast, Summer Wars and the Digimon Movie.

Currently working on: I mean the goal is "myself" and being comfortable, but if we're talking about tangible things than my boardgames and I'm working on a Pokemon D&D campaign for some friends and I. I'm really excited for that because I'm going to be the GM and creating the world and scenarios have been an exciting process.

Tagging the most recent people from my notifications and more because why the heck not (don't feel like you have to if you don't want to):

@kawaii-pigeon @imreadyforthesuntoset @theabsolutemost @softcorepeachpit @smoothdecember @puri-fied @istherepricetoburnthisparadise @midnightportals @whatthehelliswrongwithhim @vanillacocacolla @gemstonerose @akiseyu @shuttupimsopunkrock @saidtostaine @milkgremlin

[oficmag]

Contributor Spotlight: Mimi

Now that Issue #1 is live, we at OFIC Mag are excited to shine a light on some of the amazing contributors from our inaugural issue. We hope you all love them as much as we do!

Today’s spotlight is on Mimi | @pcandaa, who wrote “i want to get away (you make me want to stay)” for Issue #1.

Tell us a bit about yourself!

Wow. Head empty no thoughts. Why is this question so hard? 

By day I work in gender justice (the field that kid-me said I would never enter), and by night I write sapphic and other kinds of queer fiction, mostly romances, but I've been trying to craft a thriller lately, and it's been interesting. Aside from writing, I like playing boardgames with my friends weekly, trying to convince my knees that I can run cross country again like I used to, and listening to history podcasts. I also do art when I have more than two seconds to spare, and I'm still gunning towards being exhibited someday. 

How did you find fandom?

Through Harry Potter, in 2006. I used to lurk on a website called harrypotterfanfiction.com (which afaik is being imported into AO3 now). Then I discovered fanfic.net, and then later AO3. 

I started posting fanfic on AO3 for Jane the Virgin in 2016, and wrote fics for All For One (the webseries—go check it out it's cool!) and some other small, niche fandoms. 

What fandom are you in now and what brought you here?

I currently almost exclusively read Supercorp fanfic and do very little else, and I hate to say it, but racism brought me here—I adore Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, but fandom is never really a safe space for fans of colour, and the casual racism implicit in many LoK fics threw me off and stopped me from being able to read most fanfic for it. 

I wanted to continue reading decent femslash, but without having to deal with the racism, hence my pivot to a fandom with two white women placed front and centre. I don't watch Supergirl and never intend to, but I've found several amazing AUs that I've enjoyed deeply over the years, though I'll always wish we had the same energy for non-white characters. 

My experience with ATLA and LoK threw me off participating too deeply in fandom in general, especially for shows with women of colour, so I lurk and enjoy fanart and not much else.

What’s your favorite book of all time and what do you love about it?

I don't think I have a singular favourite book of all time, but a few highlights over the past couple of years would be: 

The Sea and Stars Trilogy by SD Simper: Absolutely sizzling chemistry between the leads of the likes I have rarely read before. Plot is also gripping AF. SD Simper can really tell a story. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tasmyn Muir: Gideon is possibly my favourite protagonist ever, she's hilarious and mouthy and butch and unabashedly loves women—I want more characters like her! 

The Red Country by jilbrais (Ao3): A stunning prequel to Alice in Wonderland with a gutwrenching story between the Queen of Hearts and the Red Queen—I'd highly recommend it, the prose is beautiful and the story is incredible. 

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers: That book was written for me, about me, and that is all I have to say about that. More books about black girls that include whimsy and dreams and the agonising reality of unrealised dreams please! I would absolutely read anything else Morgan Rogers writes. 

I also really enjoy Jenny Frame's romance novels, she writes in a way that is so earnest and honest, and she handles narratives of grief and loss extremely well. She's also really good and amping up chemistry between her leads, and of course, each of her books has a butch lead in it, which I absolutely adore.

What projects are you working on right now?

I had a whole thing planned to write more fiction this year and I've since been swamped with research projects and prepping a chapter of my thesis for publication. Some Real World Stuff right there bleargh. Ideally I'd be working on the following original fiction projects: 

See Me In Hindsight: A sapphic Ocean's 11 retelling. Featuring cheek and chaos and some family drama thrown in for fun. 

Tightrope: A woman waits for her spouse to return, only to find that they've brought their dead twin's mistress to the house. The two women tiptoe around each other, each believing the other to be the enemy, but the true enemy in the house is not who they think. 

Untitled Spite Novel: In 2011, a 16-year old is overwhelmed by academic pressure and confides in her teacher. As they begin to grow closer as mentor and mentee, and eventually into something less and less appropriate, the girl is plagued by visions of violence, and the unyielding spectre of a woman with no face. 

Untitled Supernatural Romance: Mehreen Kazi is one of the most powerful vampires in Osower and the High Princess of the Osower Council, but she's broken one of the cardinal tenets of the city: no sex with the humans you feed on. But she can't let the girl go, even though she doesn't know who she is and hasn't seen her face, because the dampners at the feeding house prevent her from doing so. Aisha Isa is a mage who's been searching for the secret to immortality, and finds a temp job PA-ing for Mehreen Kazi, who might have the answer she's been looking for. In the meantime, she's part-timing as a feeder for a high-profile mystery client who's broken one of the city's cardinal rules with her, but Aisha's already too hooked on her to care. As the two of them bicker and clash against each other during the day, unknowingly loving each other at night, Mehreen's sister Mira lurks in the background, waiting for just the right moment to see her fall.

What are your aspirations as a writer, big picture or small?

To experiment with different genres and improve my prose style. I'd love to get published one day, indie or big house doesn't matter, and as a writer based outside the Global North, I know my odds are absolutely stacked against me! But I also want to continue to find joy in creating stories and learning to craft them better and better (and I really, really want Untitled Spite Novel out in the world someday). 

If you could give one piece of advice to beginning writers, what would you tell them?

Write what you like! Write badly! I made this mistake as a young writer because I was too much of a perfectionist to write as often as I needed to. It wasn't till I was in my early 20s that I actually learned to tell a good story because I was writing pretty much anything that came to mind, whether it was good or not, whether I completed it or not. 

The more you write, the more you'll understand your own process, the more you'll learn about what to do and what not to do, and the kind of stories that matter to you. Don't think that your stories don't matter just because you don't see other people telling them. They will always matter. Always remember that.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE OFIC FAMILY, MIMI! WE’RE SO THRILLED TO SHARE YOUR WORK WITH THE WORLD.

[lovecanbesostrange]

Out of these choices I HAVE to vote for my beloved quartet. We never got enough interaction, even though the hilarity of it is endless. (Yes, okay, and when I put my shipping goggles on all I see is a B'Elanna/Seven & Harry/Tom doubledate, ssshhhh, not even going there now).

Harry and B'Elanna love to prank Tom. He is their guy, they are allowed. Then Seven joins in and Tom thinks for a hot minute this will even out the playing field. He is friendly towards Seven early on, he includes her, surely she must be on his side - WRONG! Sorry, pilot bro, it's team engineer against you.

Luckily Harry enjoys all of Tom's hobbies and they agree on something. Captain Proton time is important. Seven has her own Opinion about recreational activities, but while exploring her humanity and social interactions, she will have some praise for the effort Tom puts into his holodeck creations. He does thorough research and has a remarkable attention for detail. Acceptable for a human. Now Tom and Harry will find a way to make Seven enjoy the holodeck. B'Elanna gives her own suggestions that start off very sarcastic, but ugh, if this is what it takes so Seven will occupy her free time outside of HER engine room. The Doctor is so peeved when he finds out. He IS a hologram, and he oversees Seven's journey from a medical/physical/psychological perspective, clearly-- that's it, B'Elanna is so in to create the best Borg-approved simulation ever.

Seven is in peak physical condition. Her hand-eye coordination is off the charts, as the kids say. Remember the little game of ping-pong we got? More sports please! Nice 2 vs 2 games. B'Elanna and Seven team up for that, girls vs boys. For obvious reasons. Gonna wipe the floor with them. For trivia Seven prefers to team with Harry. He has a system to learn the most random things. Tom calls foul on this anyway, because Seven simply knows too much.

They are team Delta Flyer, those seats were made for their well rounded butts specifically. They should have crashed with it together at least once. (Although my favorite crash scenario involves Seven, Torres, Tuvok and the Doctor, but that's another story.) Or just imagine them on an away mission and when they return Voyager is in disarray, (like a TNG throwback; Genesis or Timescape). The energy when those four work together to solve a weird mystery while their whole Voyager family is trapped a wobbly nightmare anomaly.

There is a time Samantha Wildman gets to go on an away mission, but oh, Neelix is coming too, the designated babysitter. It's probably less than a day, Naomi will be fine, but she asks Seven to be the one with the official responsibility. Naomi responds well to Seven, Samantha knows all homework will be done and this is fine. But then Tom beeps at the door, because he knows Seven will be all about The Rules and hallo, when your Mom is out for a day it's an unspoken rule to have extra fun. B'Elanna wants to see that conversation. Harry shows up with a boardgame he liked as a kid. Naomi says she heard about Captain Proton, but Tom says she is too young for that. Harry shrugs and says they could adjust for that. And somehow now the five end up doing play pretend in the Wildman quarters. Seven points out every flaw in the story and makes suggestions how the imaginary evil party could succeed, so Harry starts to play that part (he is a band kid, but there is an inner drama kid underneath). The building of a pillow fort is involved. Naomi agrees she is too young for the real thing if there is the type of kissing involved Tom and B'Elanna showcase at some point.

Tom doesn't realize how Seven and B'Elanna use their connection to him to get around physical check-ups with the Doctor. Harry's loyalty is tested, because he notices. Rat them out and save Tom from the embarrassment?

There is a special entry in Janeway's log about the two week long prank war. Those four where at the core of it. You cannot say it was Tom's fault alone. The way Seven and Harry played with the internal sensors from Ops and Astrometrics to send B'Elanna on a wild goose chase for a malfunctioning gel pack that didn't even exist. And how B'Elanna retaliated by getting into Cargo Bay 2 and putting everything in there half an inch to the left.

Sometimes Seven takes solace in the fact she can always work with Tuvok to counteract the chaotic energy she is sucked in. But she appreciates Tom's spontaneity, B'Elanna's passion and Harry's optimism. Don't make her admit it, but they shape her view on humanity a lot.

We all know how wonderful the friendships between Janeway and Tuvok, Tom and Harry, and Janeway and Chakotay are (honestly Janeway's friendships with all the main characters are pretty interesting and get talked about at least occasionally) and of course Tuvok and Neelix's odd friendship gets attention if nothing else because of that time they shared a body (RIP Tuvix). However there's a lot going on with the other characters that I think is heartwarming and interesting.

[thebreakfastgenie]

your choice of star trek blorbo for the character ask game :]

MY CHOICE??? MY CHOICE???????

I choose SPOCK. The original blorbo <3

favorite thing about them

His whole storyline about learning to accept himself and his human half and learning that logic is a beginning and not an end and finding a found family and reconciling with his father and falling IN LOVE. Also he's canon dyslexic which like, I like Discovery anyway but it was honestly worth it just for that!!!! Holy shit!!!!!!

least favorite thing about them

I actually love this from a character standpoint it makes him complex but is legitimately mean about humans in TOS (in the movies he gets a lot of character development). If I knew him it would be a problem for me. He genuinely believes the Vulcan way is superior which isn't very IDIC of him, but it's a problem with Vulcan culture generally, and in his case a lot of it is related to his struggles to accept his own human side.

favorite line

God this is such a gimme but "Do not grieve, Admiral. It was logical. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one." Honestly one of my favorite death scenes ever even though it didn't stick.

brOTP

Bones!! I also love him with the rest of the Enterprise crew, especially Uhura, and with the S'chn T'gai siblings.

OTP

K/S. The Premise. Spirk 'til I die. They're in love.

nOTP

I really don't enjoy spones as a romantic pairing. Also, Spock with any woman because that man is gay. He's gay because I said so. (I literally wrote a fanfic called Spock Comes Out.)

random headcanon

Not saying gay because that is just canon. It's just the truth. He played human as well as Vulcan boardgames with his siblings and he was a sore loser. That boy has such youngest child energy and that's CANON.

unpopular opinion

Spock is not a victim of racism for being a Vulcan (except when that guy profiles him because Romulans look like Vulcans). Vulcans are NOT an oppressed minority in the Federation. He does deal with some oppression related to being of mixed heritage, but more from Vulcans than from humans. Anyway he gives as good as he gets. He's a little bitch.

song i associate with them

Parts of No Limit by Fred Small! I made an edit with some of these lyrics and Spock and his siblings once.

favorite picture of them

I'm not tracking down pictures but that shot of Kirk cradling him on the burning planet. Also any time he pets anything. Or gets that little bitch look on his face.